Coverage
Mitchell’s NXT TakeOver: Phoenix Results & Report! (1/26/19)
NXT takes over Phoenix! With so many titles on the line, who comes out holding gold at the end of the night? Will Aleister finally make Ciampa #FadeToBlack?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT Tag Team Championships: The Undisputed Era’s Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong VS The War Raiders; The War Raiders win and become the new NXT Tag Team Champions.
- Matt Riddle VS Kassius Ohno; Riddle wins.
- NXT North American Championship: Ricochet VS Johnny Gargano; Gargano wins and becomes the new NXT North American Champion.
- NXT Women’s Championship: Shayna Baszler VS Bianca Belair; Baszler wins and retains the NXT Women’s Championship.
- NXT Championship: Tommaso Ciampa VS Aleister Black; Ciampa wins and retains the NXT Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
Welcome to the NXT TakeOver Preshow!
Join Charly Caruso, Sam Roberts and Pat McAfee as they review the action that led up to tonight’s incredible match card!
It’s finally time for the Year End Awards for 2018!
These awards are great honors for the superstars of NXT, but they’re even more special because fans voted for the winners!
The first award awarded tonight will be the Breakout Star of 2018! So many great nominees, but the winner is… The One and Only Ricochet! Ricochet is the second North American Champion and is already a winner with this award. Ricochet had a great 2018 but to pinpoint his favorite moment, was winning this NXT NAC. How will he keep running so high now that it’s 2019? By beating Johnny Gargano in their match tonight, of course. Will the wins keep racking up for the King of Flight?
Second is Match of the Year for 2018! Every match on the nominee list was an instant classic, but only one can be the best for 2018, and that match is… TakeOver: Brooklyn, Andrade Almas VS Johnny Gargano for the NXT Championship! Gargano has had many great matches, but does he feel his match tonight will be even be better? Well this is Gargano’s second MOTY award, and this match in particular was the transformation of Johnny Wrestling into Johnny Takeover. However, there are two sides to every match, and Zelina Vega arrives to accept Almas’ part of the award on his behalf. And she doesn’t get how Gargano can talk like that when he lost this very match. Gargano’s ego is going out of control.
What has Gargano done since losing to Almas? Almas is on SmackDown, beat Rey Mysterio and is taking over the main roster. Meanwhile, Gargano is “still coming up short.” 2018 was Johnny Takeover’s year, but 2019 is the Year of Tranquilo. Gargano admits to that. But he’s going to get himself a third MOTY, and a title. Will Vega’s trash talk be the motivation Gargano needs to overthrow the One and Only?
The third award is the Male Competitor of the Year. Needless to say, champions have advantage in this category, and the winner is THE NXT Champion, Tommaso Ciampa! Ciampa doesn’t care about the golden bell, he has his golden belt to hold onto. Will Ciampa still have that belt after facing Aleister Black?
Moving right along, the Female Competitor of the Year is just as stacked with championship level talent. The winner is the Pirate Princess, Kairi Sane! Ahoy, the Mae Young Classic’s inaugural winner has a golden bell for all her own. She thanks all her fans, she’s so happy to have won this. 2018 was a great year, of course, but she’ll do her best in 2019! She loves the fans, she loves NXT and she loves wrestling! Bye~! Will Kairi sail on for even bigger and better in the new year?
The Infamous One, Bobby Fish, joins the panel! And he’s ringing a golden bell. Pat teases Fish that Adam Cole is letting Fish speak for the team. Fish gets Pat back by not knowing who he is. But Fish is here to say that the Undisputed Era are the NXT Tag Team of the Year for 2018. Pat says the War Raiders are flawless from their feats of strength to their great beards. Fish says his beard is better, but as for that tag title match, the Undisputed Era will just be the Undisputed Era. TakeOvers are their events, and that won’t change. Pat tries to talk but Fish rings his golden bell each time he starts.
Will this award be extra motivation to win tonight? They don’t need extra motivation, NXT is already their show, this is already their Era. Then will Cole and Fish do something to help Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong? Yes, by eventually capturing the other two titles and making the Undisputed Era completely golden. Fish mocks Pat’s jorts, but Pat takes pride in his cannon leg. Will O’Reilly and Strong be able to back up Fish’s confidence when they go against Ray Rowe & Hanson?
Finally, the Overall Competitor of the Year! We know Ciampa is the winner of the Male Competitor award and Kairi is the winner of the Female Competitor award. But which one of them won more fans over? It is KAIRI SANE! The Pirate Princess returns and has a second golden bell to hold! “I can’t believe it! Are you sure?” Yes, she is! This deserves no less than a celebration dance. Kairi can’t thank the fans enough, she is so honored. This is clearly the fans thanking her for her time in NXT, what’s next for Kairi? She vows to again be NXT Women’s Champion! “I love you!”
“In the desert, the heat burns.”
But the hottest thing won’t be the sun or the sand, it will be the fights in the ring. New blood takes on old guard. Hunters become the hunted. And an Era is at war. The snake looks to keep itself wrapped around the title, but a Dutch Destroyer looks to break the snake’s fangs. Who will take over Phoenix?
NXT Tag Team Championships: The Undisputed Era’s Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong VS The War Raiders!
Do you hear the drums? Do you hear the calling of the horn? The war has come to Phoenix! Will Hanson & Rowe raid the Undisputed Era’s treasures and take those tag titles away? Or will 2019 stay golden for Strong & O’Reilly?
Introductions are made, the belts are raised, and the teams sort out, only for Strong and O’Reilly to jump the Raiders! They throw Hanson out and then Strong wrecks him with a dropkick! They gang up on Rowe now, double whip but Rowe runs them over! Strong and O’Reilly bail out but Hanson runs them over on the outside! Rowe and Hanson regroup on the apron , for a scoop slam senton! Fans are thunderous as Row e throws Strong into the ring. Strong dodges Hanson but then bounces off Hanson’s shoulder! Tag to Rowe and Hanson squashes Strong before feeding him to Rowe’s shotgun knee! The Raiders work together for a spinbuster hip attack! Rowe covers, TWO!
Rowe drags Strong over to tag in Hanson. They want to end this quick but O’Reilly saves Strong from Fallout! Strong stops Hanson, then the Era throws Rowe into him! Tag to O’Reilly and O’Reilly fetches Hanson. Hanson hits him back but Strong clubs Hanson in the ring. The Era mug Hanson then O’Reilly throws kicks and knees. Tag to Strong and they mug Hanson more with kicks and chops! Strong brings Hanson over with a suplex but Hanson blocks. Hanson suplexes Strong but Strong slips out. Tag to O’Reilly and they mug Hanson more. But Hanson blocks the double whip so they chop and kick him more. They double whip and then add kicks and elbows. O’Reilly grinds Hanson down with a facelock but fans rally up on both sides.
Hanson pushes O’Reilly back while crawling, then powers his way up. O’Reilly does his best to keep Hanson from Rowe with a guillotine, but Hanson powers through! Tag to Rowe and Rowe runs Strong over. Rowe rallies with forearms on both champs! Tilt-o-whirl gutbuster, but O’Reilly throws a forearm. Rowe doesn’t care, he just throws Strong at O’Reilly! Rowe drags O’Reilly to the apron, then elbows Strong away. O’Reilly kicks Rowe’s legs out, then Strong runs in for a wrecking ball dropkick, but Rowe catches that! O’Reilly hits a leaping knee! Hanson clotheslines Strong out, then DIVES! But Strong gets clear and Hanson hits the floor! Fans lose their minds over that massive crash landing! O’Reilly goes after Rowe in the corner, but he runs into a BIG urenage!
Rowe shotgun dropkicks Strong then scoops O’Reilly, but Strong saves O’Reilly. Strong takes the hit but O’Reilly chop blocks Rowe! O’Reilly keeps on Rowe but Rowe hits back hard! Tag to Strong, and Strong gets Rowe with a backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Strong keeps Rowe down and tags in O’Reilly. The Era stomp Rowe down then drag him back up. They double suplex and hang Rowe out to dry! O’Reilly keeps on Rowe with elbows and knees to the ribs. He runs for a sliding knee, then throws down palm strikes. Fans duel as O’Reilly wants the armbar. Rowe resists and rolls, but O’Reilly makes it a triangle. Rowe deadlifts but Strong tags in, and gets him with another backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Rowe survives and Strong is frustrated.
Strong drags Rowe over then tags in O’Reilly. O’Reilly drags Rowe up but Rowe breaks free. Rowe swings but gets caught into a hold. Hanson returns but O’Reilly and Rowe push each other around. Rowe keeps pushing for his corner so Strong hits Hanson. It does nothing! Hanson gets in but the referee stops him. Strong drags Rowe back and the Era get away with more mugging! Tag to Strong but Rowe fights his way out. Rowe throws O’Reilly at Strong with an exploder! Both members of the Era are out of the ring, and Hanson shouts for Rowe to hurry over. Rowe staggers and crawls, but O’Reilly trips Hanson! Hanson doesn’t fall, but Strong wrecks him with a dropkick! Strong dropkicks Rowe next, then covers, TWO! Strong keeps his focus as he tags in O’Reilly.
Rowe kicks O’Reilly, throws knees, but turns not a kick and elbow from O’Reilly. O’Reilly turns into the discus forearm, then boots. But Rowe gets O’Reilly with Ace Ten Mao! Both men are down but fans reach a fever pitch! Rowe and O’Reilly crawl for their corners, hot tags to Strong and Hanson! War Beard blasts Strong with a forearm then tosses him with a back drop! Hanson fires off backhands and haymakers, then whips Strong into a side slam! He keeps moving, crossbody splash! Strong flounders but dodges in the corner. Hanson hits a seated senton! Hanson cartwheels and clotheslines O’Reilly! Phoenix is fired up for Hanson as he takes aim at the Era.
Hanson pumps up and starts a clothesline train! Strong, then O’Reilly, then back to Strong, repeat! O’Reilly runs but his boot goes into Strong! Hanson hits O’Reilly with a powerslam! Then Strong gets a bronco buster! Cover, TWO! Hanson can’t believe it, but he keeps his cool as the match continues. Fans already know “This is Awesome!” as Hanson throws heavy hands on Strong. Hanson backs off at 4 but Strong boots and enziguris back. Strong runs into a scoop but slips out to hit a leaping lariat! Hot tags to Rowe and O’Reilly. O’Reilly kicks but Rowe just takes it. Rowe’s clothesline is booted away, but O’Reilly slips out of a scoop. Strong runs in but is caught, so O’Reilly sweeps Rowe’s legs!
Hanson boots Strong, but O’Reilly knees him. Rowe rocks O’Reilly with a right but gets a fireman’s carry gutbuster! Hanson hits Strong, O’Reilly hits Hanson, but O’Reilly runs into Thor’s Hammer! Hanson DIVES on Strong outta nowhere! Rowe covers O’Reilly, TWO!! “Fever pitch” doesn’t even describe how fans are loving this. Rowe gives O’Reilly a backbreaker, then gut wrenches. Hanson tags in then climbs as Rowe bombs O’Reilly. Hanson leaps for a Viking Splash! Cover, Strong breaks it! Rowe throws Strong out and the War Raiders regroup. Hanson climbs again but Strong gets in. Rowe throws Strong out and lifts O’Reilly. O’Reilly slips out and fights back. Strong gets Rowe out and then goes after Hanson up top. SUPERPLEX! O’Reilly leaps in with a super knee! Cover, TWO!! The Undisputed Era cannot believe they haven’t won yet!
Fans give a standing ovation as Rowe fights the Era on the apron. Strong lifts Rowe for an apron backbreaker! O’Reilly tags Strong and they go after Hanson. Ax and SMASH, then Olympic Slam! Cover, TWO!! Hanson lives again and the Era doesn’t understand. Fans hope they “Fight Forever!” but this is just the first match! Strong tags O’Reilly but Hanson scoops. Strong hits a knee, STRONG ANNIHILATION! Cover, TWO!? Hanson survives something that never fails! Strong and O’Reilly fire themselves up but Hanson grabs them both. They break free to mug and go again, but Hanson escapes with a cartwheel! And then a handspring back elbow wipes them out!? Tag to Rowe, and the Raiders double stack Strong and O’Reilly for the powerbomb powerslam combo! Then O’Reilly gets FALLOUT!! Cover, The War Raiders win!!
Winners: The War Raiders, Rowe pinning; NEW NXT Tag Team Champions
The war came to Phoenix and the raid was successful! The Undisputed Era’s era is already over! Rowe & Hanson now reign over the Tag Team Division, is this only the beginning of their conquest?
Matt Riddle VS Kassius Ohno!
The King of Bros and the Knockout Artist had the fastest match in TakeOver history! But those seven seconds weren’t enough to satisfy the bitterness in Ohno, and now it’s come to this. Will Ohno finally break the Original Bro? Or will Riddle get a 3-0 sweep?
The bell rings and the two start throwing hands! Riddle backs Ohno down but Ohno shoves Riddle away. Ohno bails out so Riddle follows, and hits a flying forearm from around the corner! Fans chant “Bro! Bro!” as Riddle keeps on Ohno. Ohno ducks the kick and avoids a moonsault but not the senton! Riddle rams knees into Ohno’s ribs then gut wrenches Ohno up and over! Ohno bails out again while fans applaud that show of strength. Riddle walks into Ohno’s kick, then Ohno whips Riddle to ropes. Riddle reverses but Ohno tumbles to the apron, only to get a forearm. Ohno holds on but Riddle slingshots for a sunset flip bomb! Ohno hands on to the apron skirt, and uses it to blind Riddle! He stomps Riddle in the head!
Riddle flounders back into the ring but Ohno grinds his boot into Riddle’s ear. Ohno then runs to drop a BIG leg drop! Cover, TWO! Riddle gasps for air while Ohno goes after him with a cravat. Ohno grinds Riddle down but fans rally up for Riddle. Riddle gets up and throws body shots. Ohno shoves him but Riddle returns, only to get a tricky back elbow! Cover, TWO! Ohno kicks Riddle back down then eggs him on as he stomps Riddle down. He calls Riddle a “bum”, and boots Riddle again. Riddle SLAPS and chops away on Ohno! Ohno puts Riddle in a corner for furious forearms and backhands! Ohno backs up to boot Riddle out of the ring! Fans boo and jeer while Ohno drags Riddle up. Ohno throws Riddle into a post! Ohno drags Riddle up in a cravat to throw him into steel steps!
The referee reprimands Ohno as Ohno refreshes the count. Riddle writhes and gasps on the outside but fans rally up. The count passes 5 as Riddle gets up and in. Ohno is right on Riddle with a forearm but Riddle stands back up. Riddle’s glare worries Ohno so Ohno boots him. But Riddle stands back up and goes right at Ohno! Ohno stops Riddle with a suplex, but Riddle slips into a sleeper hold! Riddle wraps tight around Ohno but Ohno gets ropes. Riddle lets go, to instead waistlock. Ohno stomps Riddle’s foot! Riddle’s bare feet are his biggest weakness now against Ohno’s boots! Ohno goes to knee but Riddle blocks and gets the German Suplex! Bridging cover, TWO!
Fans rally up as Riddle gives Bro Kicks to Ohno’s chest. Kick after kick after kick, but Ohno grabs the foot. Again, bare feet are bad as Ohno BITES a toe! Ohno reels Riddle into a knee! Ohno picks Riddle up, but Riddle fights in the powerbomb position, only to get the sit-out bomb! Cover, TWO! Ohno is shocked but he keeps going. He climbs up top, to MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Riddle still lives and Ohno is beside himself. Ohno sits up and grits his teeth as he aims at Riddle. He spins, but Riddle ducks, only to get a boot! And a back senton! Then another, but into the sleeper! Riddle has Ohno but Ohno rolls to ropes. Riddle lets go but then takes his anger out with stomps! He backs off but still has a lot of rage.
Ohno begs for mercy from Riddle, but fans don’t believe him when he puts out the bro fist. Riddle doesn’t either, knee trigger! Sleeper hold suplex! And then Riddle drives elbow after elbow into Ohno’s shoulders! Ohno taps! Riddle wins!
Winner: Matt Riddle, by submission
Riddle leaves Ohno tapping and sobbing, and still without a win over him or at TakeOver. Will Riddle finally be able to leave Ohno behind and go for some gold?
Velveteen Dream is in Phoenix!
The Patrick Clark Experience seems to channel any number of legends who charmed the ladies given his valets. While Dream isn’t on the TakeOver card, he’ll be part of the huge WWE Worlds Collide tournament! Watch that tournament all next Saturday on various outlets, but watch the finals exclusively on the WWE Network!
NXT North American Championship: Ricochet VS Johnny Gargano!
Whether Johnny Gargano was manipulated by Tommaso Ciampa or not, Gargano still wants to be champion. However, he’ll have to take on the One and Only King of Flight to take that title. Ricochet isn’t about to let Gargano do what he wants, but will he have a choice in this ever intensifying feud?
Introductions are made, the belt is raised, and fans duel already as we begin. The two circle and tie up and push each other around. Ricochet gets a wristlock but Gargano spins to reverse while fans agree they like “Both These Guys!” Ricochet spins and rolls to reverse back but Gargano pushes him away. Gargano arm-drags and rolls Ricochet to a ghost pin, TWO! Gargano gets a facelock and holds on as Ricochet rolls around. Cover, TWO, and Ricochet avoids Gargano’s superkick! Gargano dares Ricochet to return and the two circle again. They tie up and fans duel again. Gargano brings Ricochet to a keylock and headlock takeover. Ricochet rolls to a cover, TWO!
Gargano keeps the hold but Ricochet stands up. Ricochet fights out but Gargano runs him over. Ricochet kips right up but Gargano throws him down. Gargano runs but Ricochet gets up and arm-drags him. Gargano wheelbarrows and rolls Ricochet around but Ricochet rolls back to a fireman’s carry! But Gargano slips out and rolls Ricochet up. Ricochet gets out and things speed up, Gargano blocks a kick but Ricochet filps through. Gargano tilt-o-whirls but Ricochet handsprings through, Gargano comes back to try again but Ricochet still handsprings through! Fans give an ovation to this amazing exchange! Ricochet wants to know which Johnny he’s getting, and offers a handshake. Gargano takes it to throw a sucker punch!
Ricochet knows which Johnny it is now, and they start throwing hands. Gargano CHOPS Ricochet in a corner, then whips him corner to corner. Ricochet goes up and over and things speed up again. Ricochet handsprings to headscissor then dropkick Gargano! Gargano bails out, Ricochet fakes him out. Ricochet hops, and moonsaults off the post! Direct hit takes Gargano down and fans are loving this! Ricochet gets Gargano up for more chops, and follows him around the corner. Ricochet chops Gargano into the ring then follows. Gargano crawls to a corner but Ricochet runs in, only to get an elbow. Gargano hops up but Ricochet SHORYUKENS! Ricochet climbs up and sits Gargano up, but Gargano grabs a leg. Gargano pushes Ricochet but Ricochet SLAPS him back.
Ricochet climbs up but Gargano sweeps the legs! Ricochet’s face hits buckles! Gargano catches his breath before raining down left hands. He drags Ricochet up for a snapmare and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Gargano keeps on Ricochet with a wrench. He hooks the arm as he wrenches the neck. Fans rally up as Ricochet endures. Ricochet fights out and gets free. He whips but Gargano reverses, only for Ricochet to reverse back. Ricochet goes to moonsault but Gargano kicks him out of the air! Gargano drags Ricochet up for a modified neckbreaker using his knee! Cover, TWO! Gargano keeps on Ricochet by pulling him up by his ear. Gargano wrenches back to that arm hook, then makes it a cover, TWO! But now Gargano has Ricochet’s head hooked!
Fans rally as Ricochet endures, and Ricochet makes it a cover. TWO and Gargano throat chops Ricochet down! Gargano kicks Ricochet at the ropes, then drags Ricochet up for CHOPS against the ropes. Ricochet CHOPS back but Gargano punches him down. Gargano whips but Ricochet reverses, only for Gargano to sunset flip. Ricochet breaks free and deadlifts, but Gargano slips out to shove. Gargano runs but is put on the apron. Ricochet turns around but avoids the slingshots spear! Standing moonsault lands on Gargano’s back! Both men are down but fans fire up. The count passes 4 but both men stand. Gargano throws a forearm but Ricochet gives it back.
They go back and forth with forearms and chops, but Ricochet gets an edge. Ricochet shoves, lariats, runs and headscissors Gargano to a corner! He runs in for an uppercut, back elbow then throws Gargano to buckles for a tiger feint kick! Springboard uppercut! Fans fire up with Ricochet as he rolls Gargano up to a Northern LIghts! Then roll through to a deadlift brain buster! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet grows frustrated with Gargano but fans are loving this. Ricochet brings Gargano up but Gargano blocks the pumphandle. Gargano throws palm strikes then wants his own suplex but Ricochet elbows him away. Ricochet runs in but is put on the apron. He punches Gargano away and springboards, but Gargano gets under. Ricochet shoves Gargano, then rolls into a powerbomb! TWO, but Gargano gets a crossface!
Ricochet endures but crawls, so Gargano rolls him away from ropes. Ricochet reaches, but Gargano wants his own take on the hold. Gargano can’t get the arm so he just rolls to a Mahistrol! TWO and Ricochet just narrowly ducks the buzzsaw! Ricochet sends Gargano to the apron, but Gargano kicks back. Gargano slingshots, but the DDT is blocked!? Ricochet dumps Gargano back out hard! Ricochet builds speed to FLY! Direct hit takes Gargano out! Ricochet puts Gargano in quick but Gargano rolls all the way away. Fans chant “Mamma Mia!” after that high spot. Gargano boots Ricochet but gets a European Uppercut. Gargano goes up and over to roll Ricochet back, but Ricochet rolls to hit a standing shooting star! Then hops up for another moonsault! Cover, TWO! Ricochet grows frustrated but fans know “This is Awesome!”
Ricochet goes to another corner but Gargano scrambles to anchor the feet. Gargano gets kicked away but he comes back to try again. Ricochet and Gargano brawl as both men fight for control. Gargano climbs up but Ricochet gets him in a fireman’s carry! Gargano fights back and adjusts, SUPER STEINER denied! Ricochet brings Gargano up, but Gargano STILL Steiners! But Ricochet lands on his feet! Fans are thunderous while Gargano is speechless! Gargano walks into a right hand but gets an enziguri. Ricochet uppercuts, ducks the clothesline but misses the Pele. Gagano’s superkick misses and Ricochet hits a knee strike, only for Gargano to SUPERKICK back! Ricochet ducks the lariat to hit the PELE! Ricochet runs to handspring, but into a takedown! GargaNO Escape!! Ricochet endures and deadlifts Gargano for a Fall Away Slam into buckles!
Fans are fired up as Ricochet climbs up. Ricochet aims but Gargano rolls all the way away. Gargano goes to the apron but Ricochet just smirks. Ricochet runs corner to corner, but Gargano drops down to deny him again. Ricochet doesn’t mind, he just LEAPS over the post! He puts Gargano in quick, then springboards for a 450! Cover, TWO!? That superhuman heart of Gargano’s is back, but Ricochet won’t stop now. Ricochet climbs up again, takes aim, and leaps for a shooting star! ONTO KNEES! Cradle cover, TWO!! Gargano and Ricochet go to opposite ends as fans duel again. Gargano grits his teeth and aims, SUPERKICK! But it sends Ricochet all the way out of the ring! Gargano builds speed to DIVE, but into Ricochet’s fireman’s carry! Ricochet pops Gargano up, but REVERSE-RANA to the floor!
Gargano puts Ricochet in quick, slingshot DDT hits! Cover, TWO!? Fans are giving another thunderous ovation of the night as they chant “NXT! NXT!” Gargano drags Ricochet around but his anger is boiling over. Gargano borrows a page out of Ciampa’s book by pulling up floor mats! He drags Ricochet out onto the apron, but the referee warns Gargano. Gargano stops himself and puts Ricochet in the ring. He walks into a small package! TWO, but Ricochet blocks the superkick. Ricochet spins Gargano to clothesline his head off! Ricochet climbs again, Phoenix Splash misses! SUPERKICK! Gargano runs, but into a tilt-o-whirl toss! Ricochet STEALS the GargaNo Escape!! Gargano endures his own hold as he reaches for ropes!
Ricochet wrenches back but Gargano flails and crawls. Gargano gets free and gets the ropebreak, keeping Ricochet away. Fans hope these two “Fight Forever!” just like they did for the tag team championship match. Ricochet joins Gargano on the apron, but Gargano shoves him into the post! Gargano sees the bare concrete again, and is torn on what to do. He drags Ricochet over, BRAIN BUSTER ON CONCRETE!! Fans lose their minds and the referee checks on Ricochet. Somehow Ricochet is okay to continue, and Gargano puts him back in the ring. Gargano grimaces as he looks down at Ricochet. Gargano says he’s going to win, and he slingshots for another DDT! Cover, Gargano wins!!
Winner: Johnny Gargano, by pinfall; NEW NXT North American Champion
Whether he’s Johnny Wrestling, Johnny Venom or Johnny TakeOver, he is now Johnny Champion! Gargano has the title like he wanted, and he did it by any means necessary. But will he have this title for long? Or will he soon become Johnny Forever?
NXT Women’s Championship: Shayna Baszler VS Bianca Belair!
The Queen of Spades is the first two-time Women’s Champion, and has made opponent after opponent #NapTapOrSnap. However, the EST is the strongest, fastest and boldest, but she still needs to prove she’s the best. Will Bianca stay Un-De-Fea-Ted all the way to the end of this match? Or will Shayna show everyone that win streaks mean nothing against a mean streak?
Introductions are made, the belt is raised, and fans duel all over again with the bell. Bianca and Shayna are not intimidated by the other as they circle. They tie up, and Shayna gets a headlock. Bianca powers her to a corner then backs off. She dares Shayna to come back but Shayna just grins as they go again. They push each other around but the strength goes Bianca’s way again. Bianca lets up again, but Shayna catches her bragging! Shayna sits Bianca down in the corner, but Bianca gets her back! Un-De-Fea-Ted, but Shayna shoves. Bianca shoves, but runs into a headlock. Shayna wrenches and shifts around through locks. Bianca powers out and things speed up, Bianca runs Shayna over.
Bianca dares Shayna to stand, and then whips her corner to corner. Shayna reverses but Bianca goes up and over and shows her agility! Bianca runs Shayna over again! Shayna rolls out but Bianca pursues. Bianca bumps Shayna off the apron, but Shayna throws Bianca at the post. Bianca slips to the other side but Shayna uses Bianca’s own long ponytail against her! Shayna reels Bianca into the post! Shayna leaves Bianca behind while Bianca clutches her shoulder. Bianca gets up at the count of 6, but that arm bothers her. She still gets in at 9, but Shayna is right on her with stomps and fists! Shayna covers, TWO, but she’s right after that bad arm. Bianca kicks and flails as Shayna twists her arm in different angles. Shayna has the arm stuck, and hammerlock stomps it!
Bianca writhes and scrambles to a corner, but she doesn’t want to give up. Shayna hammers away on Bianca, then stalks her around the ring. Shayna wants to know where the confidence went as she goes after the arm again. Bianca endures as Shayna has a spinning armbar. Shayna YANKS the arm, then grins as she circles Bianca like a shark. Shayna kicks Bianca while fans duel again. She wraps Bianca’s arm around the ropes, but backs off at 4. She rolls Bianca to a cover, TWO! Shayna keeps focus as she goes after the arm with another mounted wristlock. Bianca endures the pain while fans rally up again. They stand and Bianca uses her good arm to fight out. Shayna ducks and gets the sleeper! But Bianca backs Shayna into buckles. Bianca’s free but not for long! Shayna fires off forearms and rocks Bianca with a knee! Cover, TWO!
Shayna still grins as she toys with Bianca. Fans duel more as Shayna taunts Bianca. Shayna stands Bianca up and tells her she’s O-Ver-Rate-Ed. But then Bianca SLAPS Shayna! Then she dodges Shayna and baits her into a corner! Bianca rams her knee in, then tosses with her good arm! Bianca barrels into Shayna with the bad shoulder, but dropkicks Shayna to a corner. Shayna comes back but Bianca dodges and SPEARS! Cover, TWO! Bianca gets her bad arm moving then tries again, ONE! Bianca grits her teeth as she drags Shayna up, but Shayna gets the bad arm with legs. Shayna can’t get the hold, Bianca stomps away on her! Bianca runs and splashes, but onto knees! Step-up shining wizard! Cover, TWO! Shayna grows frustrated with the seemingly toughest woman in NXT, but fans rally up for them both.
Shayna drags Bianca up for a forearm, but Bianca hits back. They brawl with forearms, but Bianca kicks the bad arm. Shayna dodges Bianca’s swings to then throw fast strikes! Bianca falls, but HAIR WHIPS! Shayna writhes from that stinging ponytail attack! It left a mark! Bianca drags Shayna up in double chicken wings, but Shayna rolls, and sends Bianca into the ref! Shayna grabs Bianca by her hair, but Bianca reels her in with it for a forearm! Bianca torture racks, KOD!! Cover but the ref is out! The fans count past 6 but it doesn’t matter! Bianca is furious, she’s the angriest woman right now. And with no ref, here comes Marina Shafir! Bianca tacklse her down, and is ready for Jessamyn Duke! Chicken wing bomb of Jessamyn onto Marina! Bianca drags Shayna up but Shayna throws her into the Kirafuda Klutch!
Bianca flails as the ref revives. Fans boo but Bianca is trapped! Bianca keeps moving, keeps trying, and holds her breath to power up!! Shayna holds tight, but Bianca turns the hold into a suplex!! Both women are down but fans have new respect for Bianca! Bianca drags herself to a corner and to the top rope, but the Horsewomen return. Bianca kicks them away, then leaps at Shayna! 450 splash, but into the KIRAFUDA!! Bianca flails, reaches, claws at Shayna’s arms, but she’s fading! She tries again, and somehow gets a second wind, only for Shayna to drag her right back down. Shayna squeezes tight, but Bianca won’t stop! Bianca somehow stands again with a THIRD wind, but she falls again. Bianca is out, Shayna wins!
Winner: Shayna Baszler, by submission; still NXT Women’s Champion
The Horsewomen stick together and keep that title with The Queen of Spades. The EST came so close, but she just didn’t have the numbers to win. Is Shayna done with Bianca forever? Or will the EST only grow stronger for this experience?
NXT Championship: Tommaso Ciampa VS Aleister Black!
Is the Psycho Killer a puppet master? Is he truly THE greatest in sports entertainment? It doesn’t really matter because he is THE champion of NXT. However, he only got that belt thanks to the main puppet in Johnny Gargano. Can Ciampa keep the belt after finally having it out with the Embodiment of the End? Or will Ciampa’s reign with “Goldie” #FadeToBlack?
Introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we begin. Fans duel again as the two men go right at each other! They tie up and go around, then out to the floor! They break and return into the ring, and fans applaud as they stare down. Ciampa SLAPS Aleister, but Aleister gets a waistlock slam and floats all over. Ciampa gets to ropes and Aleister backs off. Aleister dares Ciampa to get back as fans agree they like “Both These Guys!” They tie up again and fans return to dueling. Ciampa has the wristlock, Aleister rolls but Ciampa throws him down by his hair. Ciampa stands on Aleister’s hair but lets up at 4. He does it again but again stops at 4.
Ciampa throws Aleister’s arm down then wrenches it. Aleister pushes Ciampa to a corner then whips. Ciampa reverses but Aleister goes up and over. Aleister gets a headlock and turns Ciampa’s push into a takedown. Cover, ONE, but Aleister gets the headlock takedown again. Fans rally as Ciampa goes after Aleister’s ear! Ciampa gets out of the headlock and goes for an underhook but Aleister back drops out. Aleister hits a running headlock takedown and has Ciampa back on the mat. Ciampa endures and stands up to power Aleister to a corner. He doesn’t honor the break right away and gets a sucker upnch in. Aleister hits back but they end up in another corner. Ciampa swings but Aleister counter punches. Ciampa knees low and whips but Aleister rolls off his back to kick away!
Aleister kicks Ciampa out of the ring but fakes him out to springboard. Ciampa runs in but avoids the kicks, so Aleister sits down in front of him. Ciampa boots Aleister right in the face! He rains down rights and stomps away on Aleister! Ciampa drags Aleister upt o whip but Aleister rebounds so easily! Aleister throws Ciampa out then gets Ciampa on the return. Ciampa gets away but Aleister FLIES! Direct hit takes Ciampa down, but Aleister puts him in quick. Aleister knees away then elbows and kicks to hit the shotgun knee. Fans applaud the ferocity, but Ciampa wants a timeout. Aleister sees the sucker punch coming and sweeps the legs. Then quebrada! Cover, TWO! Aleister drags Ciampa up but Ciampa gets away again. Ciampa comes in from another side to drag Aleister out. Aleister ducks the clothesline to roundhouse Ciampa off his feet!
Aleister drags Ciampa up but Ciampa throws him at steps. But Aleister stops himself and kicks back, only for Ciampa to block the kick and throw the foot at the steel! Ciampa then throws Aleister at and over the other steel steps! Aleister is down and Ciampa takes a moment to catch his breath. Ciampa comes back and suplexes Aleister into the steps! Aleister’s legs collide with the steel, and Ciampa just laughs. Ciampa drags Aleister up and into the ring as fans continue to duel. He goes after Aleister’s leg and jams it across his own knee. Ciampa uses a modified stretch to pull on the knee, then gets a heel hook to wrench the foot. Aleister kicks with his free leg but Ciampa rolls to throw Aleister around. The legs are still locked and Ciampa kicks Aleister down again and again.
Fans rally up and Aleister keeps fighting back. Ciampa kicks the leg and puts Aleister in a corner. Aleister elbows back, but Ciampa puts the leg on the rope to kick it. Ciampa drops a knee on the vulnerable leg! Ciampa stomps and drops more knees. He traps the leg in the ropes and pulls Aleister away to create more torque. Then he rams his braced knee into Aleister’s! Ciampa says Aleister is a “one trick pony”, because the Black Mass is his only move. Ciampa pulls Aleister into the post to swing the leg against it! The ref counts but Ciampa refreshes the count so he has more time to swing the leg into the post! Ciampa drags Aleister out, shin breaker on the announce desk! Aleister writhes while Ciampa mockingly applauds. Ciampa even mocks sitting cross legged while he sits on the desk.
Fans duel while Ciampa gets himself a bottle of water. Ciampa takes a big sip, but Aleister kicks the water out of his mouth! Ciampa flounders into the ring while Aleister hobbles after. Aleister walks into a basement dropkick! Ciampa grabs and yanks the bad leg, then hooks Aleister’s nose. He sits Aleister back to grind his foot in! Ciampa brings Aleister up for an STO, then rolls him around to a corner. Ciampa hoists Aleister up backwards, and naturally puts Aleister into a Tree of Woe so he can stomp away. The ref counts and Ciampa stops at 4, to then go directly after the knee with elbows! Fans boo but Aleister kicks back with his good leg! Aleister gets out of the Tree while Ciampa climbs up. Ciampa throws hands but Aleister comes back with a step-up enziguri! Both men crash and burn to the outside!
The referee checks on both men but they’re okay to continue. A ring count begins but both men stand at 3, and return to the ring at 5. Aleister supports himself on ropes but Ciampa gets the bad leg. Aleister elbows Ciampa away then throws hands. Ciampa still wants the leg but Aleister denies him with the good knee! Aleister suplexes but the legs won’t let him. Ciampa wants the leg but gets kicked away. Aleister waistlocks, Ciampa elbows him away, but Ciampa walks into Aleister’s kick! Aleister rallies with forearms and lariats. Fans fire up as Aleister manages another kick! Cover, TWO! Aleister keeps his cool and hobbles over to Ciampa. He brings Ciampa up but Ciampa packages, TWO!
Ciampa dodges, catches Aleister in underhooks, but Aleister fights out. Black Mass misses, Ciampa backslides! Aleister rolls through but Ciampa underhooks. Ciampa lifts for Fairy Tale Ending, but Aleister slips out! Ciampa manages to intercept Black Mass with a forearm! he underhooks again but Aleister back drops. Ciampa sunset flips but Aleister sits on it, TWO! Roundhouse to snap German! Bridging on one leg, TWO! Fans applaud the heart of both men as Aleister stands again. Aleister grits his teeth as he tries to lift Ciampa with his foot. The leg hurts too much so Aleister brings Ciampa up. Ciampa dragon screws to a Half Crab! And deep!
Aleister reaches but Ciampa drags him away. Aleister rolls over and pushes Ciampa away, and Aleister gets a leg. Ciampa throws hands but Aleister still gets his own Half Crab! Aleister’s bad leg gives out but both men are down. Ciampa goes out to the apron but Aleister goes after him. Ciampa grabs hair but Aleister spins and elbows out! Aleister aims at a dizzy Ciampa, runs, but Ciampa moves! Ciampa comes from the other side to drag Aleister out for a Tower of London! Cover, TWO!! Ciampa hits the Psycho Knee! Cover, TWO!! Aleister survives to big moves in a row and Ciampa grows frustrated.
Fans duel again as Ciampa steals the foot lift. Aleister hits him with a knee trigger! But Ciampa hits back with one! Both men are dazed but Ciampa drags Aleister up. Ciampa throws hands but Aleister only grows stronger for them. They brawl back and forth with heavy hands and fans are divided. They pick up speed and fans fire up. Aleister kicks but Ciampa ducks to boot! Ciampa runs but into a boot! Aleister runs but Ciampa drops down to victory roll! TWO, and Ciampa tires again. Aleister sits on it, TWO and Ciampa sunset flips, TWO! Aleister knees Ciampa then fires off strikes. Ciampa lariats Aleister! Ciampa runs from a corner, but Aleister blocks the knee! Aleister sweeps the legs, pulls down his own knee pad, and fakes Ciampa out into double stomps!
Aleister suplexes but the bad leg bothers him again. Ciampa boots, Aleister blocks and spins him, and then Aleister kene triggers Ciampa in the back! Aleister tries another suplex, brain buster! Cover, TWO!! Ciampa survives and rolls all the way out. Aleister runs again, asai moonsault from the corner! Direct hit! And Aleister puts Ciampa back in. The water makes Aleister slip a little, Fairy Tale Ending!! Cover, TWO!? Aleister lives and Ciampa can’t believe it! Fans again want a match to “Fight Forever!” but Ciampa has the same idea Gargano had earlier: he pulls up floor mats! The referee reprimands Ciampa, too, but fans chant “DIY!” because devious minds think alike. Ciampa drags Aleister over, then tells the referee to stop bugging him. But Aleister hits METEORA to the floor!
Aleister forces himself up even after the double edged attack. He puts Ciampa in, BLACK MASS!! Aleister crawls to a cover, but Ciampa rolls just in time! Fans are thunderous while Aleister keeps his cool. Aleister and Ciampa slowly stand, and Aleister swings. Ciampa uses the ref as a shield, but still gets Aleister’s knee! But Ciampa rolls Aleister to a draping DDT! And Fairy Tale Ending!! Cover, TWO?! How?! Fans are loving this match, but Ciampa wants it to finally end. Ciampa underhooks again, for a THIRD Fairy Tale Ending! But he’s not done there, he wants a fourth! Aleister roundhouses! But the leg gives out before he could Black Mass, Fairy Tale Ending #4! Cover, Ciampa wins!!
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa, by pinfall; still NXT Champion
The Dutch Destroyer was so close and yet so far from a win, and the Blackheart makes him fade out! Ciampa survives with “Goldie” still in his possession. The NXT Champion makes his way up the ramp and to the stage, shouting “I win!!” But here comes the new NXT North American Champion, Johnny Gargano! They both have titles, and they both hold them up proudly! Is DIY resurrected in darkness and gold?!
My Thoughts:
Another incredible TakeOver for NXT USA! The Year End Awards went to a lot of the right people. Ricochet had a great 2018, the Undisputed Era dominated the Tag Division by any means necessary, Kairi Sane has been great from her Mae Young Classic debut to the rest of 2018, and even Tommaso Ciampa was a great choice as the Male Competitor because of his transformation into the Heel he is today. I’m really happy to see Kairi was the one to win Overall Competitor, she is obviously beloved and WWE has only scratched the surface of her ability, so I hope she gets to show even more this year, whether on NXT or on main roster.
NXT Tag Team Championship matches seem to be the traditional choice for opening TakeOvers, and that’s actually perfect because they keep impressing beyond expectation. The War Raiders had an almost Wrestlemania style entrance, so naturally they had to win this. It was so good, and this is actually better for Undisputed Era’s mission to get all the gold. Now we can have reDRagon, Fish & O’Reilly, being the ones challenging for the tag titles, Strong can try for the North American and of course Cole goes for THE NXT Championship. As such, it was also good that Gargano won the title off Ricochet. Ricochet VS Gargano was great, especially with the familiarity both men have and that allowed them to counter and dodge all over. Gargano wins obviously to also set up the final moment, a natural choice.
Ohno VS Riddle was so good. They took what they did in their second match and upped it a couple notches. Riddle wins to make a clean sweep, but the way it ended this time was actually just right. I can’t be sure what’s next for Ohno, because losing again doesn’t really bode well for him trying to take on Keith Lee. Maybe Ohno finally goes to the main roster with the Rumble match tomorrow? Then Aleister VS Ciampa was another instant classic for that title. Even with the DIY moment at the end being a natural closing image, I am rather surprised Ciampa won. The story of the bad leg was great, and Aleister reached his own superhuman levels of heart. But now we have Heel DIY as singles champions, I wonder if the Undisputed Era would end up being Faces against them…
The only flaw in tonight’s booking was how the Women’s Championship was handled. Bianca had to have won a good number of fans with her performance tonight, but I’m really annoyed Shayna had to win with help from the Horsewomen. Shayna should’ve put Bianca over to keep that Un-De-Fea-Ted streak going and get the MMA Horsewomen going on the main roster. Maybe Bianca gets another shot and wins on Wrestlemania Weekend, but WWE seems to only make win streaks to break them for someone else’s sake. See: Charlotte beating Asuka. I’m curious to know what the plans were if Dakota Kai stayed healthy, because I again say there should’ve been one Six Woman Tag of the Horsewomen VS Kai, Shirai & Sane, and then who knows? Kai comes full circle to face Shayna and win?
My Score: 9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)Â
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports PodcastÂ
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Can the Last Real Champion handle The Truth?
While the King & Queen of the Ring tournaments reach their semifinals, John Cena has his first match on SmackDown in years, against Ron Killings!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Queen of the Ring Semifinals: Asuka VS Alexa Bliss; Asuka wins and advances to Night of Champions.
- Aleister Black VS Kit Wilson; No Contest.
- King of the Ring Semifinals: Randy Orton VS Sami Zayn; Orton wins and advances to Night of Champions.
- Charlotte Flair VS Chelsea Green w/ The Secret Her-vice; Charlotte wins.
- Bronson Reed w/ Paul Heyman & Bron Breakker VS LA Knight; Knight wins, by disqualification.
- John Cena VS Ron Killings; Killings wins, by disqualification.
PLAY BY PLAY
LA Knight is here!
Grand Rapids fires up as the Mega Star marches right to the ring. Knight grabs a mic while the fans chant his name, and he says, “LEMME TALK TO YA!” The fans cheer, and Knight says, “Let’s just go ahead and rewind our mind a little bit. We go to back to Money in the Bank, Seth and his boys, they just happen to come down and screw this guy.” The fans boo that. Knight says usually, he lets things slide. But he just figured he couldn’t let it slide, so he made sure to screw on of Rollins’ boys in their title opportunity, King of the Ring. But then they came back, paid it back and screwed Knight outta KOTR, so he had to go and screw the other one over!
And it just has Knight thinking. Fans “YEAH!” and Knight says there is only one way this can go. He has gone back and forth between Raw and SmackDown, where it ends, nobody knows! Except Knight! He knows! He knows where this ends! The fans cheer that! And Knight says it ends with him and Rollins! And what better place than here? And what better time than now! Knight tells Rollins to come on out and talk to him! But “Ladies and gentlemen…” The fans boo as Paul Heyman walks out and gives his introductions. He serves as the Wise Man to Mr. Money in the Bank, Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins!
Heyman says you do not boo that name. And you screwed up your cue, so they’ll do this again. He serves as the Wise Man for Seth Freakin’ Rollins! The fans keep booing, Heyman wants to try again, but Knight says shut up and get to the point! Why is Heyman here?! Heyman walks to the ring and asks permission to step inside. The fans chant “O T C! O T C!” but Knight steps back. Heyman steps into the ring, and he says yes, there has been a lot of bad blood between Knight and Mr. MITB, Seth Freakin’ Rollins. However, Heyman happens to be, with all due respect to everyone here in Grand Rapids, Michigan…
The fans chant “C M PUNK!” at Heyman now and he frowns. Knight says Heyman has a lot of enemies. Heyman says he is the biggest LA Knight fan in all of WWE! Heyman’s been waiting a long time to say this: YEAH! Now, because of that, Seth Freakin’ Rollins (the fans boo again) has allowed Heyman to say to Knight, as a favor to Heyman… It is time for Knight to get the hell outta Grand Rapids, Michigan. Because if he does not, something really bad is going to happen to him before the end of the night. Have a nice evening. Heyman turns to go but the fans cheer Knight on. Knight says he couldn’t help but notice, but did you~ (poking fun at Heyman’s voice cracking) threaten Knight?
Because Knight wants to wrap his head around this. He’s heard Heyman say stuff like this before, because Heyman is a liar, a swindler, a grifter, a scammer and a schemer! Heyman leeches on to any talent that has a bit of hype, sucks ’em dry, then moves on to the next! Rollins just happens to be the latest in this. But where next? Who cares! But the bottom line is, Knight asked for Rollins but he got Heyman. And while he got Heyman, he got a Heyman out here talking all tough. So it has Knight thinking, he has a great idea.
Talking about wise man, wisdom, there was a point in time if Heyman had said something like that, a man like Knight would look at a “thing” like Heyman and punched his wisdom teeth down his throat! Knight won’t do that, yet. But here’s the deal: Heyman’s talking all tough, but if he can’t bring Rollins out here, then the only thing to do out here in Grand Rapids is Knight fighting Heyman here and now! The fans fire up for that! Knight asks if the fans want that, and they cheer! “HUH?” “YEAH!” “HUH?” “YEAH!” “YEAH!!” Knight promises he’ll turn around, take his vest off, and Heyman gets the first shot. He better make it good, or Knight will molly whop his ass right outta Grand Rapids!
The fans fire up as Knight does as promised. He turns around, his vest is off, but Heyman bails? The fans boo as the Wise Man doesn’t play along. Heyman says, “Remember when I told you to get the hell out of Grand Rapids or else something really bad is gonna happen to you before the end of the night? That wasn’t a prediction. That… was a spoiler!” Heyman throws down his mic, and here comes Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker! Rollins’ behemoths head to the ring, but Knight fires off on them first! The fans rally as Knight throws hands and feet, but then Bron TACKLES Knight! Bronson joins in and they mug Knight right out of the ring!
Bronson drags Knight up to TOSS him over barriers! Bron clears the desk, he wants Bronson to put Knight through it! But Knight has a chair! He JAMS Bron, JAMS Bronson, then SMACKS Bron and SMACKS Bronson! Knight gets in the ring, ready to hit whoever gets in! The fans cheer Knight but Heyman has Bron & Bronson stand down. Will Heyman have the henchmen try again before the end of tonight?
SmackDown returns and…
Heyman has Bron & Bronson calm down, they have this under control. It is all in their favor, and it always will be in their favor. That is the whole point behind this. Byron Saxton steps in and wants to talk to them, but Heyman has to hold Bron back like the dog he is! Heyman says no need to bite Byron. Byron apologizes, he has word from SmackDown GM, Nick Aldis, that Bronson Reed VS LA Knight is set for tonight. Heyman says okay, thank you, and goodbye. Byron leaves and Heyman smiles. He told them! Patience is not a virtue, it is strategy. Bronson smiles and nods. Will Auzsilla destroy LA here in Grand Rapids?
Queen of the Ring Semifinals: Asuka VS Alexa Bliss!
Two great returns to action through this tournament, and now they cross paths with each other. The Empress of Tomorrow overcame Ivy Nile, Raquel Rodriguez and Stephanie Vaquer while Lil’ Miss Bliss outsmarted Alba Fyre, Candice LeRae and Charlotte Flair. But whose comeback story overtakes the other’s here just one match away from Night of Champions?
The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Alexa headlocks, but Asuka powers up and out. Alexa RAMS Asuka, Asuka roars, and the fans fire up as Asuka fires hands! Alexa blocks a kick to THROW Asuka down, then basement DROPKICK! The fans cheer as Asuka and Alexa reset. Alexa kicks, Asuka blocks and slips through to waistlock. Alexa elbows free, runs, but Asuka runs past her to then RUN her over! The fans fire up and Asuka runs in again, HIP ATTACK! Alexa falls to the floor and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Asuka lets Alexa stay down while she soaks up the cheers. The ring count starts, Alexa rises, but Asuka goes out after her. Alexa slips inside and DROPKICKS Asuka’s leg! Asuka falls from the apron but she has to nod respect for that savvy move. Asuka steps back in at 6 of 10, and she resets with Alexa. They circle, feel things out, and tie up. Asuka wrenches and wristlocks, but Alexa rolls and wrenches to hammerlock. Alexa waistlocks, rolls Asuka, TWO! The two stand off again and they both nod respect. They reset, the fans rally up, and the two feel things out. Asuka trips Alexa, clamps on with a headlock, and she grinds Alexa down.
Alexa endures, Asuka turns her over to go after the arm, then she stands on Alexa’s arm. Alexa endures, Asuka shifts arms, but Alexa wrenches out to wrangle Asuka. Alexa shifts to a cording hold, but Asuka fights up and fires body shots. Alexa whips Asuka to a corner, but Asuka elbows her away! And BOOTS! Asuka goes up, leaps, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Alexa stays in this but Asuka stays focused. Asuka drags Alexa around and gives her Kawada Kicks! SmackDown returns to single picture, and Asuka wrenches for a chicken wing! Alexa fights the Asuka Lock and JAWBREAKERS free! Alexa runs up to RUN Asuka over!
The fans rally as Alexa rallies, then hits a BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up as Alexa SLAPS, ROCKS, and KNEES Asuka down! Then SOMERSAULT SENTON! Cover, TWO! Asuka stays in this and Alexa grows frustrated. The fans rally while Alexa brings Asuka up. Asuka breaks free to URAKEN, SOBAT, FRONT KICK, and GERMAN SUPLEX! Alexa tumbles away, Asuka runs up, SLIDING KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Asuka stands and takes aim. But Alexa ducks the buzzsaw! Cover, TWO! Alexa clinches, TWISTED- NO, Asuka rolls Alexa up! TWO! Alexa sits up, BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO!! Alexa survives but Asuka just fires up!
The fans rally as Asuka goes to the corner. Asuka climbs from the outside, and MISSILE- NO, Alexa dodges this time! Alexa kicks and DDTS! Cover, TWO! Asuka stays in this and the fans fire up! “This is Awesome!” as Alexa drags Asuka into the drop zone. Alexa goes up, up, and the fans fire up! TWISTED- NO, Asuka moves, so Alexa stops. Alexa won’t let Asuka sneak away, but then she gets caught in an ARMBAR!! Alexa flails, rolls, but ends up in an omoplata! RINGS OF SATURN!! Alexa fights around, pops her arm free for a cover, TWO!! Asuka reels Alexa in, NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Alexa stays in this! Asuka fires up, the fans are with her, and she runs up, only for Alexa to ROCK her with a right! Alexa puts Asuka in the Tree of Woe, and she DROPKICKS Asuka out of it! Alexa climbs back up, and TWISTED BLISSÂ onto knees!! Asuka still counters the moonsault, and hits the EMPRESS IMPACT!! Cover, Asuka wins!
Winner: Asuka, by pinfall (advances to Night of Champions)
The Empress says no one is ready for Asuka, and that has certainly been the case! But on Raw, we find out, will it be Jade Cargill or Roxanne Perez that meets Asuka in Saudi Arabia?
Jade Cargill, Mia Yim & B-Fab watch backstage.
And Fab says damn, Asuka just came back and she’s already making statements. Almost like she never left. Michin says maybe they need to make their own statements. They need to talk to Aldis about the tag titles. Fab agrees. Fab & Mia wish Jade luck before heading out. Byron walks in and asks if he can have a word. Jade says shoot. Byron says Asuka just advanced, but Jade has her match on Monday with Roxanne Perez. How does Jade feel about facing a talented competitor like Roxie? And how does she feel about the possibility of facing Asuka in the finals? Jade says “Rox” has potential. Roxie is quick and scrappy.
But she’s still trying to prove herself. And this isn’t a proving ground, this is a throne room, and Jade was built for royalty. As for Asuka, there’s a storm on the horizon. But news flash, Jade is that storm. This entire tournament wasn’t built for the future, but for a woman who can walk through fire, shatter glass ceilings, and take her crown on the way to the top. This Queen of the Ring, Jade isn’t just walking in to win. She’s here to reign. Will the Prodigy be washed away by the storm this Monday?
Alexa Bliss returns backstage.
And Chelsea Green finds her. Flanked by her Secret Her-vice, The Hot Mess asks, “Hey, little fu-fu, how’s your boo-boo?” Alexa asks back, “How’s yours?” Piper tells Chelsea not to get upset, Alexa is just jealous. Chelsea says this serves Alexa right. Chelsea should be Queen of the Ring, and she’d be building her parliament if not for Alexa! Oh, if she has that big of an issue, then try facing her in the ring. Chelsea says she will! But then Charlotte Flair walks in and says if anyone should’ve still been in this tournament, it’s her. But had Chelsea’s “replacement” tapped out sooner, maybe she would.
So here’s the deal: Charlotte will have a match made and tap Chelsea out instead. N-Not if Chelsea makes it a bank holiday! ROYAL DUTIES! NICHOLAS! Chelsea hurries away with the Secret Her-vice following, and Alexa tells Charlotte that she doesn’t need Charlotte’s help. Oh, that’s cute. Because Charlotte wasn’t helping Alexa. Charlotte leaves now, leaving Alexa to chew on that. Will The Queen chew up the Hot Mess and spit her out now that she has nothing better to do?
Aleister Black VS Kit Wilson!
The Dark Father is also directionless now that he is out of the King of the Ring tournament, but he never lets that bother him. Will he make himself the direction all roads lead when things #FadeToBlack? Or will Kit prove he can be Pretty Deadly all on his own?
Wait, who is attacking Kit? It’s R-TRUTH! But why’s Ron Killings going after Kit?! He POSTS Kit, drags him back out, and puts him in an STF!! The fans fire up and Kit taps, but it won’t matter when this isn’t a match! Killings lets Kit out of the hold and demands a mic. A mic is given, and Killings says, “Get John Cena out here now. I’m driving! On my terms! Cena, get out here!” The fans fire up and then Killings puts Kit back in the STF! Aleister is rather confused, but producers hurry out here to stop Truth. Truth lets Kit go, Jamie Noble asks Truth wait for the main event. Truth seethes, but he accepts the terms.
Killings leaves, walking right past Aleister. Will there be no denying The Truth when he finally gets his hands on the Last Real Champion?
Jamie Noble talks with Truth backstage.
Jamie says Truth has to calm down. Truth says he wants John Cena NOW! He’s driving! Yes, okay, but just wait. Truth promises that when he sees Cena, he is killing him tonight! Aleister steps in and asks Truth why he is getting involved in Aleister’s match. Truth says it wasn’t personal, it had nothing to do with Aleister. These two stare down, and then Damian Priest steps in. The Archer of Infamy has Aleister stand down. Truth is going through a lot, let Priest talk to him. Oh, of course. Aleister says, “Ron.” “Black.” Aleister leaves, Priest tells Truth that there’s no need for any of that. Priest gets Truth is frustrated, but he can’t just go beat up people for no reason.
Priest used to do that, and Truth was the guy there to make him smile. Truth made the world smile! All that anger and negativity, focus that on the match tonight. Focus that on John Cena. Go out there and handle business with Cena, then Priest and Truth can go downtown to celebrate. How’s that sound? Truth says sounds good, DP. They shake hands, and Priest heads out. Truth is still seething, but will he make sure it all explodes on Cena?
Cody Rhodes is here!
Grand Rapids sings along as The American Nightmare makes his way out, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, he high-fives fans in the front row, then looks closely at the King of the Ring’s crown. Cody goes to the ring and grabs the mic. He hears the fans cheer him on, but then Jey Uso is here! The fans fire up as Main Event Jey makes his way down through the crowd! A young fan joins in bouncing along, but so does all of Grand Rapids! Jey continues down the stands, finds another young fan, and they bounce along again. Jey then reaches ringside, high-fives the front row, and he joins Cody in the ring as we get the next wave of YEET!
Grand Rapids might want to YEET all night, but Jey hugs it out with Cody before he gets his own mic. The music dies down, the fans chant, “One More Time! One More Time!” and Cody says sure, one more is fine. Jey says okay, and yes, the fans get to YEET again! Jey says hey, Cody doesn’t even have to say nothing. They been in the trenches! “YEET!” Still in the trenches! “YEET!” From fighting The Bloodline… “YEET!” To winning tag titles… “YEET!” To finishing their stories at WrestleMania! “YEET!” They’ve both been to the mountaintop. “YEET!” But Cody, on Monday, there is only room for one of them.
The fans are intrigued, and Cody nods. Jey says there’s only one that can go. Cody VS Jey, Jey VS Cody, and Jey knows Cody will bring it. Jey has to get his, Uce. He has to, just like Cody has to get his. But that said, Uce, it ain’t personal. This all business. But that all said, too, Uce, on Monday, after they go to war, please believe that it will be four letters, one word, uh uh… YEET! Cody smiles and the fans cheer. They shake hands again, and wait! Here comes Sami Zayn! The fans cheer as the Great Liberator makes his way to the ring. Sami grabs a mic to say, “This is nice, isn’t it? I get to share the ring with two great friends.”
The fans applaud, and Sami says he is in the ring with two of the very best that this business has to offer! The fans cheer that, too! Sami says he’d be lying if he denied there was a part of him that sees the three of them in this ring, and notices how only one of them has never been world champion. Jey, Sami wants him to know, man to man, this year, Sami missed Mania. Sami had no reason to be in Las Vegas, but he got his ass on a plane to Vegas for one reason: To congratulate Jey the moment he won the World Heavyweight Championship! Sami loves Jey, and he is proud of him. And Cody, for years, everyone watched as Cody finished his story.
And when Cody did, he did the unthinkable and pinned Roman Reigns in the middle of this ring, Sami was the first one out here to congratulate Cody. Sami is so proud that Cody finished his story. So he hopes both men understand that now, it is time for Sami to finish HIS story! The fans cheer, but then here comes Randy Orton! The Viper looks at the crown, then goes to the ring. The fans sing along with Voices and Orton grabs himself a mic. “So Cody, same deal as last week but I’m gonna say it again. There is no line I will not cross, even if it means going through you, so that I can get to John Cena at SummerSlam, beat him, and get my FIFTEENTH world championship!”
The fans cheer, and Orton tells Jey, “Man, I respect the… Hell outta you, dude. Our families go way, way, way back. Nothing but love, dude. But if you’re standing across the ring from me at SummerSlam, it’s not gonna be four letters, one word. It’s gonna be three letters, one move.” The fans say it, “R K O!” And Orton says he not only speaks for himself but for everyone here in this arena when he says, and from the bottom of his heart, one day and one day soon, Sami Zayn will be world champion. But not at SummerSlam. Because tonight, Sami is on the receiving end of the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment: R K O.
Orton drops the mic, and it is time to put those words into action. Will it be the Legend Killer or the Underdog from the Underground that heads for Saudi Arabia?
King of the Ring Semifinals: Randy Orton VS Sami Zayn!
SmackDown returns, the bell rings, and these two circle. They tie up, Sami wrenches, ELBOW BREAKERS, then wristlocks. Orton endures, fights up, and the fans duel. Orton wrenches Sami in return to then headlock. Sami endures, powers up to wrench again, and he grinds the arm. Sami wrenches and CHOPS, and Orton goes to the corner. Sami CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! The fans “WOO~” but the ref counts. Orton pushes past Sami, bails out of the ring, and he is pretty red already. Sami builds speed but he fakes Orton out with the Arabian Press! The fans fire up and Orton has to admit that was good.
Orton goes up the steps and steps back into the ring. The fans rally, Orton and Sami tie up, and Orton puts Sami in the corner. Orton lets off slowly, but he pokes Sami in the eyes! The fans boo but Orton UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! But Sami pokes Orton in the eyes! The ref caught that one and reprimands Sami. Sami TOSSES Orton out, goes to the apron, but Orton YANKS Sami down! Sami hits off the apron, and Orton reels him in, DESK BACK SUPLEX! Sami writhes and Orton rolls into the ring, just to refresh the count. Fans want that “One More Time!” and Orton agrees! DESK BACK SUPLEXÂ again!
Sami writhes more and whatever monitor wasn’t busted, they’re busted now! Orton leaves Sami behind for a moment while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Orton goes out to fetch Sami, but Sami fights off a third back suplex! Orton kicks low, brings Sami over, but Sami blocks the smack off the steel steps! Orton sputters, Sami stalks him, and Sami decides to give him some payback! But Orton ROCKS Sami first! Orton SMACKS Sami off the desk, puts him in the ring, and covers, TWO! Sami stays in this but Orton looms over him. Sami rises, Orton puts him in a corner, and Orton fires body shots. Orton climbs up and rains down fists! Orton gets to eight before Sami fires back! Sami has Orton in another corner, climbs up, and Sami rains down a fast TEN!
Sami huffs ‘n’ puffs and CHOPS! Orton is stinging but Sami CHOPS him again! Sami wrenches, ELBOW BREAKERS, and whips! Orton reverses, Sami hits buckles hard, and Sami falls in a heap. Orton dusts himself off and looms over Sami again. Orton stomps Sami’s hand! Sami writhes and clutches his finger. Orton stomps Sami’s foot, ten the other foot! And then the other hand! Sami sits up, SmackDown returns to single picture, and Orton CLUBS away on Sami’s chest! Orton DECKS Sami, the fans cheer, and Orton brings Sami up. Orton whips, Sami goes up and over, and Sami LARIATS Orton down! The fans fire up again as Sami rises!
Sami goes to the corner, Orton runs up, but Sami ELBOWS him! Sami goes up, AX HANDLES, and the fans fire up more! Orton takes a swing, but Sami slips around! Orton fights the Blue Thunder, then LARIATS! And LARIATS! Orton dodges Sami to SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up while Sami goes to the apron. Orton drags Sami in through the ropes, and DRAPING DDTS! The fans fire up as Orton hears those voices! Orton watches Sami rise, but then Sami bails out! The fans are torn but Sami is smart to avoid what was coming. Orton goes out to fetch Sami, SMACKS him off the desk, and then back suplexes, only for Sami to lands out!
Sami CLUBS Orton, and hits a DESK BACK SUPLEX on Orton! Sami puts Orton in the ring, goes to a corner, and the fans fire up as Orton rises. Orton runs in, Sami dodges, and Orton POSTS himself! Sami runs corner to corner, HELLUVA- SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Sami survives and Orton seethes. “This is Awesome!” as Sami goes back to a corner. Orton runs back in and he LARIATS! Orton runs but Sami follows! But Orton dodges the Helluva Kick! Sami gets stuck on the to rope, frees himself, and hobbles into an RK- NO! BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Orton survives and the fans fire up again!
“This is Awesome!” as Sami drags Orton to the drop zone. Sami goes up the corner, Orton stands and he gets under the leap! R K- NO, Sami SLAMS Orton down! And then HELLUVA- RKO!!! Orton crawls to the cover, Orton wins!!
Winner: Randy Orton, by pinfall (advances to Night of Champions)
Sami fought his heart out, but the Viper still strikes! Orton is going back to back in KOTR finals, but will he win the crown this time?
Nia Jax is here!
Grand Rapids boos as The Irresistible Force goes to the ring. She grabs the mic dot say, “You know what’s crazy? Tiffany Stratton approached me to be under my wing, because she knew exactly what I could do for her. And look, she’s thriving! And what kind of thanks did I get for it? She betrayed me. She has MY title!” But wait, here comes Tiffy! Grand Rapids cheers as the WWE Women’s Champion has the mic to tell Nia, “You’re like that toxic ex I just can’t get away from. News flash: get over it! You make excuse after excuse, but when are you just gonna admit that maybe I’m just better than you?”
The fans cheer and Tiff heads to the ring. Nia says yeah, okay, if Tiff is so much better, then give Nia a rematch without kicking a chair into her face. Tiff says if Nia’s so desperate for a match, it is her lucky day! She made it official for next week: Tiff VS Nia! And Tiff will have more fun adding more scars to that “five head” of Nia’s. Because it won’t just be a regular match. It will be Last Woman Standing! Nia takes a swing but Tiff dodge! Tiff fires off, kicks low, and runs up, but into a POP-UP HEADBUTT! And then Nia drops a leg, brother! Nia holds up the belt and soaks up the heat. Nia thinks about leaving, but decides to add on! ANOTHER leg drop, brother!
The fans boo but Nia says that’s not enough! Nia tells Wade & Joe that she’s taking the title! But wait! NAOMI is here, with a ref! Is she doing it!? Is she doing it?! But Nia YANKS Naomi out! Naomi tells her back off! Nia doesn’t, Naomi shoves her, but Nia still grabs at her! Tiff DROPKICKS Naomi onto Nia! Tiff avoids a cash-in because Nia was in the way, but is she setting herself up for failure with that extreme title match?
Charlotte Flair VS Chelsea Green w/ The Secret Her-vice!
The Queen was denied her crown, but she’s not even angry at Alexa Bliss, the one who took that opportunity from her. She instead looks to humble the Hot Mess that claims she would be queen if her demands were met. Who vents their frustrations and comes away with the win?
SmackDown returns and Charlotte makes her entrance. The bell rings and the fans actually cheer on Chelsea. Alba distracts Charlotte and Chelsea sucker punches her! The ref reprimands but Chelsea SMACKS Charlotte off the mat again and again! Chelsea salutes, but Charlotte CHOPS! Chelsea KNEES low, whips, but Charlotte goes up and out at the corner. Charlotte BOOTS Chelsea away, avoids Alba and KICKS her! Chelsea runs up, Charlotte RAMS her, and then Charlotte climbs up. CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Chelsea scrambles away and Charlotte runs up, but into an ELBOW! Charlotte GAMANGIRIS!
Charlotte snapmares, Chelsea distracts the ref, and Alba grabs Charlotte by the hair! Alba HOTSHOTS Charlotte and Chelsea hits a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Chelsea is furious but Charlotte stays in this, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Chelsea hops onto Charlotte for a SLEEPER! The fans rally, but Charlotte hits a BACKPACK SENTON! Charlotte is free, Chelsea runs back up, but Charlotte gives her a BACKBREAKER and BUCKLE SHOT! Chelsea falls back, Charlotte huffs ‘n’ puffs and runs up to fire hands! The fans fire up as Charlotte CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Charlotte CHOPS again, then clinches for an EXPLODER! And a kip up! The fans fire up and Charlotte salutes to poke fun at Chelsea. Charlotte runs, dodges, and handsprings to LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Chelsea survives but Charlotte stays on her by going for a leg.
Alba gets on the apron, so Charlotte BOOTS her down! The fans cheer, but Charlotte turns around into a ROUGH RYDER! Cover, TWO!! Charlotte survives and Chelsea is furious! Chelsea takes off her face protector and drags Charlotte up. Chelsea has the arms, turns Charlotte, but Charlotte shoves her away! Charlotte dodges and SPEARS! Cover, TWO!! Chelsea survives but Charlotte has the leg! FIGURE- CRADLE!! TWO!! Charlotte has the leg again, FIGURE FOUR! And the bridge for the FIGURE EIGHT!! Chelsea TAPS, Charlotte wins!
Winner: Charlotte Flair, by submission
But then Piper Niven SENTONS onto Charlotte!! Alba storms in, she and Piper mug Charlotte, but here comes Alexa! She RAMS into Piper, she ROCKS Alba, then she catches Chelsea! Charlotte LARIATS Alba out while Alexa hits a TWISTED SISTER ABIGAIL! And then Charlotte BOOTS Piper down! Charlotte and Alexa look at each other, and despite what either one thinks, maybe they both need the other after all. Alexa offers the handshake, but Charlotte walks right past Alexa. Alexa lets that slide, but will Charlotte come around soon enough?
Solo Sikoa talks with JC Mateo.
Why is JC taping up? Uh, duh, he’ll take out Jacob. No, Solo is going out there alone to talk with Jacob. Solo was the only one that Jacob would listen to. Jacob needs Solo. Solo will smooth things over. JC accepts that, but Solo does say that JC should stay ready. Solo is covering his bases, but will he need the Imperial Unit to put down the Samoan Werewolf? Or will it all be alright between them all?
Solo Sikoa heads to the ring.
SmackDown returns as the former Tribal Chief makes his way out, and Grand Rapids boos. Solo grabs the mic, takes a moment, and says, “Alright, Jacob. I’m out here in the middle of the ring, all alone, with open arms, willing to talk to you face to face. I feel terrible about what happened. So if you’re back there, come on out so we can clear the air.” Jacob Fatu makes his entrance and Grand Rapids cheers! Fatu holds up the United States Championship before he steps into the ring, and he has a mic of his own. The fans cheer on “FATU! FATU!” and Solo says he didn’t come out here to fight him, okay? He’s not here for that.
Solo wants to make it clear to Fatu that he loves him, always has loved him, no matter what. One thing Solo learned from being Tribal Chief is how to love family and how to take care of them. That’s all he’s trying to do. Families fight all the time. They fight, they argue, they forgive, and then they move forward. So they should move forward together, Jacob. Move forward as one. The fans boo that, but Solo says nobody saw the potential in Jacob except Solo. Nobody wanted Jacob here in the WWE, except Solo. That is why Solo brought Fatu here and gave him the chance to change his life and put food on his family’s table.
And why did Solo do that? Because Solo loves Jacob. He does. And to be honest, Solo doesn’t have anybody else. Fatu isn’t sure about that, but Solo says all he has is Fatu. And he’s all Solo needs. So come back to the family, and even if Jacob doesn’t say those four words, Solo will. Solo will say it for him, to him, loud enough so everybody can hear it! Solo tells Jacob, “I love you, Jacob.” The fans boo, they don’t trust this. Fatu paces as he thinks on that. “So you love me, huh?” Solo nods yes. So this is what it comes down to, huh? Solo loves Fatu? The way Fatu sees things, Solo has been using Fatu! Solo has been using Fatu to gain power, to fight his battles, and to stay Tribal Chief.
Hell, Solo brought Fatu in so Fatu could bring Solo fame! Solo brought Fatu in because he thought Fatu would bring him gold! Is that all this is about? Fame? Gold? Power? SOLO, LOOK AT HIM! Solo looks up from the floor while the fans cheer Fatu on. Fatu tells Solo that ever since he won the US Championship, Solo is the one that’s been acting different. And maybe Fatu isn’t the problem. Fatu just figured it out! The problem… is this. The problem is the US Championship. Fatu sets it down between him and Solo, and he says if this is what he thinks it is, then just fight him for it! Fight Fatu for the title! The fans fire up for that!
And Solo, Fatu will only warn you one time: If you ever think about coming this way, you know what Fatu is about! You know what’s poppin’ with Fatu, blood! And you know Jacob Fatu is all gas, no brakes with it! YADADADA- SOLO TAKES A SWING! Fatu blocks the spike and he HEADBUTTS! JC Mateo rushes out here! Fatu HEADBUTTS him, too! But Solo CHOP BLOCKS the legs! The fans boo but JC & Solo mug Fatu! But then here comes JIMMY USO! The fans fire up as #BigJim slides in, dodges Solo, and SUPERKICKS JC! And then he SUPERKICKS Solo! But JC LARIATS Jimmy down! JC HAMMERS Jimmy and Solo has him put Jimmy in the corner.
The fans boo but Solo tells Jimmy that he should’ve chosen Solo’s side, not Jacob’s! But speaking of, Fatu is up! The fans fire up as Fatu BODY CHECKS JC! Then he SUPERKICKS Solo! Solo is in a corner, Fatu fires off on him, HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! SUPERKICK for JC! HIP ATTACK for Solo! The fans are fired up for the Samoan Werewolf, and he locks eyes with Jimmy. Jimmy came to Fatu’s rescue, Fatu just saved him, so Fatu goes up, up, only for Solo to bail out! No Best Moonsaults here in Grand Rapids, but will Fatu cut Solo down soon enough?
Bronson Reed w/ Paul Heyman & Bron Breakker VS LA Knight!
The Wise Man warned, or rather threatened, the Mega Star that he should just cut and run, but that’s not how he does things. Knight is ready to fight, but will he survive a battle with Auszilla? Or is a Tsunami about wipe out LA?
Wait, Knight doesn’t enter from the stage! He enters from the crowd! And he POSTS Bron! The fans fire up as Knight evens things out! He TOSSES Bronson out, throws his vest at him, and Bronson snarls. Bronson has Bron stand down, and says, “Tonight, I kill him.” Bronson steps into the ring, the bell sounds, and Knight fires off! The fans fire up as Knight fires hands, but Bronson puts him in the corner. Knight ELBOWS back, Knight fires more hands, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight whips but Bronson blocks! Bronson whips Knight to a corner, runs up, but Knight dodges! Bronson POSTS himself, and Knight stomps a mudhole in!
The fans rally, the ref counts, and Knight goes corner to corner, but into a fireman’s carry! Knight slips down to sunset flip, but Bronson stays up! Bronson jumps but Knight avoids the hip drop! Then Knight basement BOOTS! The fans fire up and Knight storms up on Bronson. Bronson TOSSES Knight to the apron, but Knight slingshots back in! Bronson catches Knight to a fireman’s carry! Knight flails free and he RAMS Bronson into a corner! But Bronson holds ropes to deny the Jump Neckbreaker! Bronson runs but Knight avoids the senton! The fans fire up as Knight goes up, up, and FLYING BULLDOGS! That’s a Steiner move!
The fans fire up and spell it out, “L! A! KNIGHT!” but Bronson bails out! Knight runs to WRECK Bronson with a dropkick! Knight goes back up, springboards, CROSSBODY to the ramp! The fans fire up with Knight and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Bronson has Knight up top. The fans rally as Knight fights back with body shots! Knight ROCKS Bronson, ROCKS him again, and ROCKS him again! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Bronson finally falls and Knight adjusts position. “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” BOX JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Bronson survives and Knight is rather stunned while Heyman is relieved. Knight aims, kicks, but Bronson denies the BFT! HEADBUTT, then a fireman’s carry! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO! Knight survives the “Jagged Edge” DVD but Bronson brings him right up. Bronson reels Knight in and says thumbs down.
Bronson lifts Knight up, but Knight flips the bomb into a DDT! The fans fire up but Bron barks at the apron! Knight DECKS the dog, tells Heyman to get the same, but Bronson runs up! Knight DUMPS Bronson out, builds speed, but BRON SPEARS!!
Winner: LA Knight, by disqualification
The fans boo but Bron handed Knight the win with that one. Bronson stands Knight up so Bron can build speed and SUPER SPEAR!! Grand Rapids is torn but plenty of fans bark. And now Bronson goes up!? TSUNAMI!! Bronson goes up again, the refs hurry out here, but TSUNAMI AGAIN!! The fans want another, so Bron scares the refs off to let Bronson go back up! THIRD TSUNAMI!!! Have Rollins’ rooks just broken Knight into pieces? Is this a message to everyone that no one can stop the vision?
Jacob Fatu speaks.
“Yeah, c’mon on widdit! I just spoke to the man, and you know the man makes everything possible here on SmackDown! So next week, next week on Saturday, me ‘n’ you, Solo! Night of Champions, mano a mano, I’m about to dog walk yo’ ass for the US Championship! Solo, you better get in where you fit in. Cuz if you don’t, then baby, it’s ’bout to be all gas, no breaks with it. Yadadadada mean?” The Samoan Werewolf will get to sink his teeth into Solo, but will he stay golden through it all?
John Cena VS Ron Killings!
The Undisputed WWE Champion was the exact opposite of grateful for R-Truth saving him from Randy Orton at Backlash, and he doubled down when Ron tried to show him the truth at Saturday Night’s Main Event. So, if Cena doesn’t want the Truth, he’ll get someone who knows about ruthless aggression! Will Ron Killings bring an early end to the retirement tour? Or will Cena continue to ruin wrestling for everyone else?
SmackDown returns as Cena makes his entrance. The fans sing “JOHN CENA SUCKS~!” despite him wearing the Detroit Pistons colors. Cena makes Mark Nash give the “proper” introduction: “He is the Greatest of All Time, the Never Seen Seventeen, gracing Grand Rapids with his presence one final time… He is the Last Real Champion, JOHN CENA~!” The fans boo, the bell rings, and Truth stares at Cena while Cena smirks hearing the “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” Truth TACKLES Cena! He fires off hands but Cena bails out! So Truth goes out to DECK Cena! “What’s up!?” “WHAT’S UP!” Truth has Cena at the desk and SMACKS him off it!
Truth ROCKS Cena again, and shakes his hand out from hitting so hard. Truth SMACKS Cena off the apron, storms in after him, and whips him to a corner. Cena hits buckles hard and falls to the mat! The fans continue to duel while Truth keeps his eyes on Cena. Truth storms up on Cena while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Truth stands Cena up, whips corner to corner again, and Cena hits buckles hard! Cena sputters, Truth looms over him, and Truth ROCKS Cena! Cena ROCKS Truth! They go back and forth with haymakers, and then Truth dodges to SHOULDER TACKLE! Truth still uses Cena’s own moves against him, and that includes the SPIN-OUT BOMB! Truth raises his hand and Grand Rapids joins in! “You Can’t See Me!” But then Cena bails out so Truth can’t hit him! Truth is annoyed, the fans give thumbs down, but here comes Truth. Cena ELBOWS him down! Cena drags Truth up, POSTS him, and he brings Truth back into the ring.
Cena HEADBUTTS Truth, CHOKES him on the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Cena stomps away on Truth, then runs to KICK Truth in the back! Cena talks trash, then he runs to SHOULDER TACKLE! Cena takes his time, knowing it is what the fans want. Truth rises up, Cena runs to SHOULDER TACKLE again! Cena watches Truth rise again, gets around him, SPIN-OUT BOMB! And Cena raises his hand, reveling in the cheers and jeers. “You Can’t See Me!” SmackDown returns to single picture for the FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Then Cena fireman’s carries, but Truth slips free! THESZ PRESS! And fast hands!
The fans fire up and Truth has Cena in a corner. Truth runs to STINGER SPLASH! Truth hitting all sorts of other iconic moves! Cena tumbles out and grabs the belt! Cena doesn’t care about this match anymore, he doesn’t need to take this! Truth says hold up! Truth runs Cena down and fires hands on the ramp! The fans fire up but Cena CLOBBERS Truth with the belt!!
Winner: Ron Killings, by disqualification
Cena wants to get another shot, but wait! PUNK IS HERE! Cena runs away into the ring, and he catches Punk as Punk slides in! The fans boo Cena but he huffs ‘n’ puffs. Cena drags Punk up, but Punk fires hands in return! Punk DECKS Cena, grabs the belt, and he holds it up! The fans cheer, and Punk aims, but Cena LOW BLOWS! Cena has a sinister smile as he grabs the belt. BELT SHOT for Punk!! The fans boo even more, but Cena decides to up the ante! Cena brings out a table! The fans cheer, everyone loves tables! Cena puts the table in the ring, then watches Punk sputter around. Cena sets the table up while the fans rally behind Punk.
Punk stands but Cena has the belt again! BELT SHOT!! Cena drags Punk up, fireman’s carries, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTÂ through the table!! Cena made Punk snap into a Slim Jim, and then he grabs a mic. Cena laughs at Punk, and then sits up on the corner. “Punk… As you lay there in your most uncomfortable…” Cena pretends the mic cut out, taps it, and then says, “Somebody’s afraid of what I’m gonna say.” Cena grins and the fans boo as Cena flips the iconic “Pipebomb” moment on it’s head. “As you lay there in your most uncomfortable, I hope you can listen. I hope you can digest.
“Because before I leave here in six months with that WWE Championship, I gotta get a whole lotta stuff off my chest. First thing’s first, I don’t hate you. I don’t even dislike you. I like you. I like you more than anyone you ever shared a locker room with, that’s for sure. I hate this idea of you. This idea that you’re the Best int he World. You’re not. I’M the Greatest of All Time.” Grand Rapids is a bit torn on that statement, but Cena says Punk is better than Cena at one thing: You’re the best BS artist in the world. Oh no, kiddos~! John Cena just dropped a curse word! That means the show is off the rails! Hey, Stu, shoot this. Hi~! “I’m breaking the forth wall! HAHA!”
Cena then says the truth is, Punk… Cena is jealous of you. Cena is jealous that Punk has conned the fans into believing the myth that Punk is the Best in the World. Oh how they chant for Punk! Which they literally do right now. Hell, the fans even sing for Punk now. But they don’t believe a damn word you say. Because Punk changes his values as much as Cena changes his shirts! Punk is just a loud mouthed opportunist who steps on the necks of those who actually work hard if it gets him ahead. Oh, hey, look, another cameraman! “Hi, Claudio Castagnoli! Hey, Nic Nemeth! Hey, Matt Cardona! How’re you guys doing?”
The fans can’t believe Cena is going this far but Cena is loving it! “He’s heating up! He’s on fire! And there’s nobody back there that’s gonna cut my mic to save your ass, cuz I’m your only friend! Remember who gave you the stage for your pipebomb, pal! And what’ve you done with it since then, huh? You just regurgitated the same five microphone moves of doom. You’re promo potato salad, pal. Hey, you’re no longer the Voice of the Voiceless, you’re a friggin’ millionaire despite yourself. You’re not a punk, you’re a capitalist! And you’re not against TKO, dude, you are Mr. TKO. Cuz they knocked your balls technically off your body.
“Your tweets are strong, but your actions are weak. And in Saudi Arabia, you’re gonna face some loud, loud music when I finally prove to the world that each and every day, day in, day out, no days off for 25 YEARS, I have been the Greatest of All Time!” The fans cheer that a bit more now, to Cena’s surprise. “See, they know. And they know that you were the Best in the World… for seven minutes, 14 years ago. And if after Night of Champions, you’re still delusional enough to believe that you’re the Best in the World, well… I guess it’s a small world after all. You’re welcome, Grand Rapids.” The fans cheer, and Cena lets the world hear it.
Cena tells Punk to bring his A Game to Night of Champions. If Grand Rapids is any indication, the mood is starting to change. Refs finally appear to check on Punk, Cena says no, that’s fine. Punk needs to rest up for his big title match. Get a good shot of this: Best in the World VS Greatest of All Time, for THE most coveted prize in sports entertainment, THE WWE Undisputed Championship! And Cena knows the fans will sing and chant, but he also knows even the idiots are smart enough to see the truth: The Champ is Here. And USA Network, keep the extra two and half minutes. He doesn’t need a bomb to blow the “mother fudging” building.
Oh, and thanks, Punk, for letting Cena rip off your best promo just to make you look even more foolish. Cena finally drops the mic and he raises the belt up again. If the proverbial tables have turned this drastically, is there no saving WWE from losing its north star championship?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown with an awesome ending. All those years ago, when CM Punk dropped THE OG “Pipebomb” promo, no one could’ve ever in a million years guessed that here tonight, we would’ve gotten the John Cena remix. Not only was that promo of the year, but Cena blew up go-home math. I can’t see Cena losing the title to Punk now. He can lose the match since Cena loves getting disqualified, and there’s the possibility of Rollins trying a cash-in, but Cena is leaving Saudi Arabia as champion to then go to SummerSlam. It also works because Cody Rhodes still feels like the favorite for King of the Ring.
A lot of that has to do with how Sami lost to Orton tonight. Great promo from the four semifinalists, especially since it was Jey, Sami and Orton kinda keeping Cody from talking since there isn’t more Cody needs to say. Win or lose, no explanations needed at this point. Sami VS Orton was an awesome match, but I could just feel an RKO countering the Helluva Kick as the way to go and that’s what they did. Now, as awesome as it would be for Jey to beat Cody, and then for Jey to beat Orton to go for the World Heavyweight Championship again, there are a lot of moving parts right now that it would just be the easiest for Cody to win the crown and have his rematch with Cena.
And while talking the WHC, Gunther VS Goldberg IS confirmed for the title, but has also been confirmed as Goldberg’s last match. This is a huge indicator that despite Rollins teasing a cash-in on the Undisputed title, he will likely be thwarted and then falls back to the title he feels is rightfully his. That is to say, Rollins cashes in on the winner of Gunther VS Goldberg, which I half expected even before all this talk of Goldberg’s last match. Rollins can take this title from Gunther and Goldberg, and then we can throw Jey and even LA Knight into the mix as things are getting heated between Knight and the henchmen.
Great promo from Knight with Heyman, great match with Knight VS Bronson, and a really powerful beating Knight takes from Bron & Bronson. If nothing else, Knight costs Rollins his cash-in. Truth going after Kit Wilson was an interesting move. Also a shame Elton Prince is hurt, Pretty Deadly gets going and then something happens to slow them down. But Kit was going to lose to Aleister so this really messes Aleister up more than anything. Priest keeping the peace between Aleister and Truth was good stuff. Priest and Truth being allies on SmackDown can be some real fun stuff, and I feel like they’re already set up for a feud with Aleister.
Very good stuff with Fatu, Solo and this US Championship story. Fatu VS Solo was the natural move, and I like that Jimmy Uso ends up an ally for Fatu. The title match is set, I wonder if we get a tag match first. In fact, next week is title night in Riyadh with Tiffany Stratton giving Nia the Last Woman Standing match, and basically setting the stage for Naomi to cash in. She almost did tonight but Nia was again able to stop her, so I would think Naomi waits until the very end of the Last Woman Standing match to take full advantage. Then, if Jade wins Queen of the Ring, we get Jade VS Naomi at SummerSlam.
Good promo from Jade, B-Fab & Michin watching Asuka VS Alexa. Asuka winning made the most sense, Alexa clearly has story with Charlotte and Asuka is just that good. Jade VS Roxie will be a good match but Roxie’s story in Judgment Day might keep her from winning. But then the fallback there is Roxie might actually sub in for the tag titles like I was thinking. Charlotte VS Chelsea was very good, and of course the Secret Her-vice does what they can to help. The beatdown they put on Charlotte and then Alexa making the save, that’s going to be one of those “can they coexist?” tag matches for sure.
Honestly, a little surprised we didn’t get any tag team promos tonight, unless I completely missed something. I believe title night is going to have Profits VS Gacy & Lumis for the tag titles, too, so that’s going to be something wild. And while DIY is scared of the Wyatts, I feel like they’re going to interfere because they don’t want the Wyatts to take the titles. But at the same time, the Wyatts need something substantial this time around, so maybe they win the titles at SummerSlam.
My Score: 9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)Â
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports PodcastÂ
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 6.19.25
Are we going to start trending upwards with Slammiversary to build toward?
Last week’s episode was lacking in ring work but had decent story moments and segments. Starting the build to Slammiversary we can either launch nicely or things can always get worse. Jason Hotch and KC Navarro are the real shining stars of the last few months, so lets hope once they get over this Leon Slater idiot ship, they can push X Division wrestlers with actual talent for pro wrestling and not just flippy charisma vacuums.
Oh and let’s not forget, it is the episode they celebrate the 23rd anniversary of TNA! TWENTY – THREE!! Somewhere PCO hates this.
.@Kelly_WP is back in TNA Wrestling and has a message for TNA Knockouts World Champion @mashaslamovich!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/cF0F1ZKKuL pic.twitter.com/tnm4TIuPUz
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) June 20, 2025
Ratings:
- Sami Callihan vs Eric Young w/Losers: EY wins via Piledriver – ** 3/4
- Lei Ying Lee & Masha Slamovich vs The Elegance Clique w/M & Personal Concierge: Elegantos win via Rarefied Air – ***
- Eddie Edwards & JDC w/Alisha & Brian Myers vs Matt Cardona & Home Town Man: HTM wins via Cradle – *
- Champion’s Challenge: The Rascalz, Joe Hendry, Leon Slater & Elijah vs The Kaiba Boys, Moose, Steve Maclin & Trick Williams: Elijah wins via Highwayman’s Farewell – ***
Results:
Sami Callihan vs Eric Young w/Losers
Sami knocks them all off the apron before the bell rings, he levels the loser children, finds a chair, attacks EY but EY counters and this is the excuse to use weapons since the bell didn’t ring yet. EY tries to break Sami’s hand on the steps with the chair, but Sami moves, throws EY back in the ring, bell rings and EY hits a Belly to Belly suplex for two. They slug it out, Sami goes for Headbutts, then Sami wants to run the ropes but a loser trips him, distracts long enough for EY to knock him out of the ring and loser children swarm as loser children do. EY does the classic, throw back out for losers to attack while EY grabs and distracts the ref. Sami is selling a few lame attacks from the losers like he got shot. It’s an excessive sell, so it’s honestly a dumb transitional moment.
EY levels Sami, Lariat into Scoop Slam, looks for the Macho Elbow but Sami hits the ropes to crotch EY. Sami Superplex time, but EY bites the face to make Sami drop, EY jumps at him but eats a straight right hand. Cactus Driver, but no, EY tries his Piledriver…they both gouge eyes at the same time, Sami catches an EY charge into a Flatliner as they’re both down…for…reasons? The selling in this match seems…poorly timed and kinda stupid. Hard Irish Whip, EY Flair Flips the corner, levels Sami, Macho Elbow for 2.9! EY threatens to hit the ref, but then goes to mad dog commentary. EY then wants to attack fans…he’s more unhinged than World Elite EY. Sami gives him the old Dick Twist into a Stunner but only for two! Losers try to distract, first one gets taken out, second one uses a chair, EY hits the Piledriver on Sami, EY wins.
I feel like this is gonna continue for a few weeks since it wasn’t a clean win.Â
Mustafa Ali’s group comes out, and I refuse to say the name because it’s dumb and they’re already fraying at the seams. Ali wants an apology session, Tasha and Hotch apologize to him but Skyler bites back and refuses, even shoved Ali. So Ali challenges him to a “Call to Arms” match. What in the hell is a Call to Arms match?Â
Lei Ying Lee & Masha Slamovich vs The Elegance Clique w/M & Personal Concierge
ASH does her borderline racist fake karate before Lei stares her down and tags in Heather. Heather avoids Lei, Lei throws a few Tornado Kicks to make a point and Heather tags out. Heather being 4’8″ helps her here. Concierge says “There’s no Karate in wrestling”. ASH, Lei and Masha are in the ring, ASH is trying to decide who she wants to face, but the Concierge google translated it and hands it to ASH, before the face team rocks ASH. Masha lifts up Lei and Lei does the Liu Kang Bicycle Kick, steering more into her Mortal Kombat aesthetic. Senton off the apron from Lei and Masha dives into the pile, the comedy heels are getting leveled. We go to commercial and come back with Lei getting Double Teamed but she spins it into a weird Neckbreaker..but can’t tag out just yet. Lei blocks Heather, Enzuigiri, simultaneous tag, Masha is Yakuza kicks for all and the 2 for 1 Lariat/DDT special. Near fall, but Masha goes for murder, but Heather breaks it, Rocket Launcher/Code Breaker from Elegance but Lei breaks up the pin. ASH tries to intimidate Lei with her fake Karate before throwing her out of the ring. Heather hits Lei with a handful of Glitter and then bounces her face off the post. Masha tries to stop ASH, Kelly’s music distracts Masha, Rarefied Air gives ASH the win.
Santino comes out and GOD DAMMIT no one wants to see Tommy Dreamer fight Mance Warner…that’s a useless thing. Pivot away…no one wants this. Oh no, now we have to listen to Steph talk too. Okay it seems to be a pivot, thankfully. Steph and Mance talk shit, Dreamer says something about Something is gonna happen…and Jake Something comes out. So…I guess we’re gonna build him up for 2 months and then job him out for 6 before he fucks off to his home galaxy or whatever?Â
.@indi_hartwell has a run in with Tessa Blanchard!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/cF0F1ZLikj pic.twitter.com/I6UCCk2fAG
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) June 20, 2025
Really wish Indi just opened with the Billy Butcher classic of, “Oi Cunt!” – but this wasn’t bad.Â
Eddie Edwards & JDC w/Alisha & Brian Myers vs Matt Cardona & Home Town Man
I hate… Cardona so much more now. Heel reasons for Cardona…go away heat for Deaner.
JDC wants the Home Town Man to start…and Deaner does his stupid Flip Flop and Fly, Cardona tags in, JDC is eating some offense, Cardona wants the Reboot, JDC powders, Cardona Dives but then Lish and the general numbers catch up to Cardona. Eddie is legal, and now they isolate Cardona with some decent tandem work and isolation. This turns into kind of a schmoz, lots of silly spots, near falls and then Home Town doofus gets the cradle pinfall on Eddie.
Whenever Deaner is involved I can’t be asked to care. The System beats Cardona and Deaner down, but Eddie did eat a pin. Which is embarrassing not even for work reasons, like it’s just sad.
Champion’s Challenge: The Rascalz, Joe Hendry, Leon Slater & Elijah vs The Kaiba Boys, Moose, Steve Maclin & Trick Williams
Elijah and Nic start things off, slow push off, arm wring, top wristlock, simple chain wrestling start. Nic breaks the chain and hits a Dropkick, Elijah runs the ropes and hits a Diving Lariat and starts the Rope Walk. Nic seems far to awake and alert for that move then, I hate how people pull that off too early. Wentz gets tagged in, Nic tags in Maclin who wasn’t looking for a tag, but him and Wentz have a nice clash, Trey tags in, they try to double him, but they pause and look at each other. Maclin asks for a tag, no one tags him so he Chops Ryan to tag him in and throws him in.
The little nod to Maclin and Rascalz history and the fact the faces realize Maclin isn’t a piece of shit. A little MCMG homage tandem attacks on Ryan, Wentz punctuates with the Handspring Knee Lift, Ryan tags out to Trick. Trick and Wentz go back and forth, Rascalz have Trick eating offense, Moose tries to slow things down, both Trick and Moose powder, Rascalz Double Golden Triangle Moonsaults. Trey gets tripped by Nic, Moose hits Lights Out, but there’s no referee so it’s a little chaotic.
Out of the commercial things are controlled kinda and we see a simultaneous tag to Moose and Leon. Leon comes out hot, level Moose with a Leg Lariat, attacks Nic Nemeth, attacks Ryan, and then Moose hits Leon with the Stun Gun. Moose looks to tag in Maclin but Maclin jumps off the apron. Trick takes the tag, keeps control, Trick forcibly tags in Maclin but Ryan tags himself in and pulls Leon to the Champions’ corner, Nic tags in and isolates Leon, with the Kaibas quick tagging and keeping Leon down.
Moose tags in, tries to Suplex Leon about four times but Leon stops it then counters the Suplex. Moose tries to cut him off, but the Champions distract the ref so the ref can’t see Leon tag out. Nic and Moose doubling up and Leon is the bump guy of this last portion of the match. Big Uranage from Moose…Moose looks for Lights Out but Small Package almost ruined things, Body Scissors Cradle, GAME CHANGER! Moose looks to hit a Jacknife Powerbomb but Leon turns it into a DDT. Maclin and Ryan start fighting, Nic Superkicks Maclin, Hendry and Nic tag in, Hendry is a house of fire. Sack of Shits for everyone! Nic, Ryan, there’s a pause when Hendry is face to face with Trick and Trick gets Uppercuts first then Sack of Shit! Standing Ovation on Nic, but Ryan blocks, Kaibas try a tandem attack but Hendry Lariats them both. Elijah tags in and is the maestro of the crowd and chopping Ryan to some fun. Ryan goes for a Polish Hammer but eats the Knee Lift. Signature spam time…
Ryan tries to use the International title but Maclin grabs the title away from Ryan, clocks Nic, Standing Ovation into the Highwayman’s Farewell. Champions lose!
Overall Score: 4/10
Well this was a rough one boys and girls. Sami and EY was just an overbooked shitshow, Lei Ying Lee is unfortunately in a spot where it’s obvious TNA has no clue how to use her, the Elegantos are the New Beautiful People, and I’m not mad at that. But you need to space out your goofball crap. You can’t have Elegance Clique, Home Town Moron and Santino in 3 consecutive segments. And if anyone goes “it was 3 out of 4” that’s doesn’t lessen my point, the beauty of Pro Wrestling being a variety show is…FOR VARIETY! When the lead match feels stupid because of bad pacing, poor selling and overbooking with two losers, it feels like a useless match with idiots, then comedy, followed by more comedy…you see how that’s literally NOT VARIETY.
Figure it out seriously. This was a disappointing episode. If you’re a casual viewer than it’s just chalk for TNA doing cringe and borderline goof crap since they’ve always steered a little more into the carny than other companies. But this show was…where’s Jisoo and Jenny? I feel like I need that gif:
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
 MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)Â
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports PodcastÂ
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
4 Corners Podcast: The Fabulous Finals
The NBA and Stanely Cup Finals near their respective conclusions. Dave and Pat break down the action and whether anything...
4 Corners Podcast: Serving Up A Classic
Patrick returns as he and Dave discuss the Stanley Cup Finals, the NBA Finals, Coco Gauff's epic triumph, and a...
4 Corners Podcast: The Rematch & The Rebuild
Dave and PC Tunney preview the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals as the NBA and NHL reach the conclusion...
4 Corners Podcast: Blown Off Course
Dave and Tunney break down the Conference Finals in the NHL and NBA, discuss the NFL going to the Olympics,...
4 Corners Podcast: Bettor Late Than Never?
Dave, Patrick, and Tunney break down the NHL and NBA Playoffs and a pretty stunning decision from the MLB Commissioner's...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (6/20/25)
It's Electric!
Bandwagon Nerds #293: Father Figures
The Nerds review the latest trailers for Iron Heart and Superman. A Spaceballs sequel is now official and why are...
Bandwagon Nerds #292: Where’s Michael’s Guitar?
The first ever Movie Year Draft highlight's this week's Episode. Plus, the Trailer Park rolls on, as does the search...
Attitude Of Aggression #310- Unidentified History: The Battle of Los Angeles
Unidentified History returns as Dave recaps his visit to Contact in the Desert and the guys do a deep dive...
Bandwagon Nerds #291: Its Pronounced Tuh-Doom
The Nerds cover all the best trailers from Tudum, discuss DC- Marvel crossovers, and get concerned for the future of...
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: Our Revolution Victory Lap
Join DJ, Rob and Jason every week as they give their "Mindless" takes on Pro Wrestling and much, much more!
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (6/20/25)
One step closer to the end!
DWI Podcast #479: Ron The Truth Simmons
Don't drink and drive, drink and podcast! Join AJ, DP and PC weekly for their thoughts on RAW, SmackDown and...
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 6.19.25
Are we going to start trending upwards with Slammiversary to build toward?
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (6/19/25)
Rumble, Bad Man, Rumble!
Mitchell’s WWE Evolve Results & Report! (6/18/25)
Can the BOAT Evolve?
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (6/18/25)
Viva La AEW!
Babyface Heel Podcast: LOL Charlotte Wins… AGAIN!
Even when she's not wrestling, Charlotte Flair keeps winning! Greg and Patrick breakdown her latest winning comments!
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (6/17/25)
Trick'N Ain't Easy
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (6/16/25)
The last spots are on the line!
