Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Monday Night Raw Results & Report! (1/21/19)
Raw Women’s Champion, Ronda Rousey, defends her title at the Royal Rumble, but she first tests the waters against Sasha Banks in tag team action!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Finn Balor VS Braun Strowman; Finn wins, by disqualification.
- Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush VS Apollo Crews; Lashley wins.
- Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre; Rollins wins.
- Six Man Tag: Lucha House Party VS Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers; Lucha House Party wins.
- Elias VS Baron Corbin; Corbin wins.
- Heavy Machinery VS The Ascension; Heavy Machinery wins.
- Raw Tag Team Championships, Special Referee: Curt Hawkins; Bobby Roode & Chad Gable VS The Revival; Roode & Gable win and retain the Raw Tag Team Championships.
- Ronda Rousey & Natalya VS Sasha Banks & Bayley; Banks & Bayley win.
PLAY BY PLAY
WWE honors Martin Luther King Jr. and his dream.
WWE has a 10 bell salute for this great man and his fight for “love and justice between fellow human beings.” #LongLivetheDream
The Beast returns to Raw!
The Royal Rumble approaches, and that means a WWE Universal Championship match comes with it! Paul Heyman has a mic and while fans boo and jeer, he again introduces himself as The Advocate for “the reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion, BROCK LESNAR!!” And to get down to business: on last week’s Raw, in front of a global television audience, Finn Balor pinned John Cena. It was not a fluke, it was not controversial, it was simply Finn Balor stepping up and seizing the moment. “So much so” that John Cena took to the mic to say he believes in Finn. Cena should, because the WWE Universe has declared “We Believe in Finn!” And the WWE Universe should, because even Paul Heyman believes in Finn!
Heyman gives Finn credit where credit is due, because even Finn believes in Phoenix, he will do the very same thing he’s always done: capitalizing on fate and opportunity. And not just in any match, but a title match. Not just any title match, but a Universal Championship match. And not just against any Universal Champion, but against Brock Lesnar, who trained to prepare for Braun Strowman. Lesnar wont’ defend against the temperamental Monster Among Men but against a man with a completely different style. And that is why Finn believes in Finn, and why Heyman believes Finn believes in Finn. And that’s why when Finn says this himself, you should listen to him, for he is the voice that matters.
However, Heyman’s is the voice that martyrs. At the Royal Rumble, Brock Lesnar will make Finn into that martyr, “sacrificed for the sin of making you believe he can conquer the unconquerable”! Sacrificed for believing Finn can take what Lesnar’s got! Sacrificed for thinking Finn is a “Slim Reaper” who will slay The Beast. But here comes that spoiler alert for Raw and the Rumble: “Even miracles fear Brock Lesnar.” Sunday, Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona, THE Royal Rumble PPV, Brock Lesnar will put to bed the “ridiculous notion” that Finn Balor even belongs in the same ring, with Finn looking up from the mat saying “Oh my God, I believe in Brock Lesnar.” But wait, that’s Vince McMahon! And The Chairman heads straight for the ring!
Vince takes up a mic and with fans cheering him, he tells Heyman that he’s actually going easy on Finn. That was some old school promoter style drumming up of business. Heyman saying FInn stands no chance against Lesnar is rather passe. Now you should try David and Goliath. One day, David went out, ate all the mushrooms, and thought he could take on a big nasty giant. He did, and Goliath beat the hell out of David, until he was reincarnated as Finn. What? Vince says Finn earned his opportunity, and both men have their fans, but even in “Hillbilly Land” Oklahoma City, the fans know- What’s wrong? He’s speaking too fast. Well if any fans actually believe Finn will win, then you all believe in fairy tales. But this is no fairy tale, this is BRAUN!!
The Monster Among Men may not get Lesnar at the Rumble, but he wants Lesnar now! Vince asks Strowman what the hell he thinks he’s doing out here, but Strowman and Lesnar are too busy staring down. Fans chant “Get These Hands!” while Lesnar grins and gives Strowman space to enter. Strowman has his own mic and says “Last Monday was the worst night of my life, thanks to Baron Corbin.” $100,000 and a title match down the drain. But that was also the luckiest night of Lesnar’s life. If Lesnar still has the title after Sunday, Strowman will be waiting on the other side to rip Lesnar up like that limousine! Vince warns Strowman, he’s lucky to still have a job. But here comes Finn Balor! The Extraordinary Man smiles but so does Lesnar as Finn joins everyone in the ring.
Finn says “Same old Monday Night Raw.” Braun doing Braun things, while Finn’s the guy who beat three other men, including the GOAT, John Cena. Heyman says he’s the second greatest, behind Lesnar. Well Finn still earned his opportunity against Lesnar. As for Vince, he may not believe in Finn, because he doesn’t leave in fairy tales, but Finn does. And Balor Club believes. And at the Royal Rumble, Finn will take back his Universal Championship! Strowman says he definitely could’ve beat Lesanr, and has no idea if Finn could, but he better. Finn appreciates the support, but keep your nose out of his business because he’ll do what Strowman hasn’t. Lesnar laughs as he wants to leave but Vince says Lesnar should stick around for this.
Finn tells Vince has the story backwards. David stood up to Goliath and everyone laughed at him. But they didn’t know who David was, and what he was made of. Goliath fell face down in the dirt, BOOM. And no one was laughing after that. Vince has an idea: Lesnar should be ringside to watch this real-life David VS Goliath! Finn VS Strowman, even Vince will stick around for this! Will Finn prove the story true? Or will Strowman prove he should still be the man to face The Beast?
Finn Balor VS Braun Strowman!
Raw returns and Finn jawbreakers free of Strowman’s grip! Strowman knees low but runs into a dropkick! He stays standing and runs at Finn in the corner. Finn dodges and kicks him back! Lesnar laughs and Strowman gets distracted. Finn SLAPS Strowman, and that only angers Strowman! Finn goes for the legs but gets clubbed down. Strowman drags Finn up but Fin n lips free. Finn boots Strowman but his slingblade is denied! Strowman clubs Finn down again! Strowman kicks Finn out of the ring but fans rally up for Finn. Finn drags himself up but Strowman runs out to run him over! Even Lesnar was impressed by that.
Strowman drags Finn back into the ring, then stalks Finn to a corner. He squashes Finn with a splash then hauls Finn up. Finn slips out and gets to a corner but gets another splash! Cover, TWO! Finn lives but Strowman keeps his cool. Strowman clamps on a nerve hold and Finn endures the grip on his shoulder. Fans rally and Finn stands, only to be headbutt out of the ring. Strowman goes for another lap, but Finn slingblades him! Lesnar is now impressed by that. Finn hurries back in the ring and the ring count begins. Fans chant “Too Sweet! Woop Woop!” as the count rises to 5. Strowman stands and shakes it off to enter at 7, but Finn dodges in the corner.
Finn comes back with forearms, but Strowman only staggers. Finn keeps trying but Strowman grabs him! Strowman scoops but Finn slips into a sleeper hold! Finn holds on tight but Strowman backs him into buckles. But Finn hops back on! Strowman drops to a knee, but pries Finn’s arms away! Finn drives elbows in fast and furious! Fans fire up as Strowman falls back, Finn double stomps! Finn fires up and climbs. He makes sure Lesnar is watching, but Strowman grabs Finn to throw him at Lesnar! For Lesnar to throw overhead! Finn just took a quick visit to Suplex City, then he gets in the ring with Strowman. The match-up we were meant to get might go down here, but Finn trips Lesnar to dropkick him into a post!
Finn gets back in the ring with Strowman, builds up speed and FLIES onto Lesnar! Lesnar’s down but Finn has Strowman still chasing him. They go around and into the ring, and Finn throws hands. Finn runs, slingblade again! Finn dropkicks Lesnar out of the ring, then goes out to dropkick him into barriers! Fans are thunderous for Finn as he grits his teeth. But Strowman grabs Finn by his head and hauls him right up! Strowman hip tosses Finn in, but misses in the corner to hit post! Finn runs back at him for a shotgun dropkick! Strowman’s down, Finn climbs up and fans fire up with him. COUP DE GRACE! But Lesnar attacks! F5!!
Winner: Finn Balor, by disqualification
Finn wins here but not the way he wanted. The Beast is mad, but will he just be the Goliath to Finn’s David?
Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush head to the ring!
The Rocky Mountain Machine is the NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion, and both Men of the Hour had a part in making it happen. Lio Rush praises Bobby Lashley as being better than both Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins. Lashley is also better than everyone else in the locker room. Lio and Lashley aren’t issuing an open challenge, open challenges are for kids. Lashley is a professional fighter. A fighter! They don’t do this for fun, but for the money. They are here to celebrate, and what better way than for Lashley to stand on a podium and show off his physique? Lashley stands on the podium while Lio puts the title on Lashley’s waist so everyone can see why Lashley IS The All Mighty! Hit the lights!
Lashley stands in the spotlight as Lio straps the belt on him. Lashley flexes but Apollo Crews comes out! Apollo joins Lio and Lashley in the ring with his own mic. He congratulates Lashley on becoming the new champion. There’s no doubt that Lashley is a stud, just look at him. But let’s be real: no one paid money to see Lashley pose. They paid money to see Lashley compete. Now Apollo knows this isn’t going to be a title match, but how about they lock up? Lio says Apollo is not in Lashley’s league! But hey, maybe if Apollo wins in a pose off, he’ll get a match. Pose off? What? Apollo doesn’t know how to do that. Well judging from his track record, he doesn’t know how to be champion, either!
Lashley stands on the podium again, the spotlight hits, and we get the double guns! Apollo mocks the flexing as he gives a little pop-lock action! And some Hulkster and Savage. Lashley takes another turn for the side chest. Only Lio is impressed. Apollo takes another turn, and winds it up for his own side pose! Fans like Apollo way better. Lashley takes one more turn, for his Most Muscular! Lio thinks Lashley has won this, but Apollo gets his final turn, for a spin and flex. And Lashley attacks! Lashley whips Apollo but Apollo throws Lashley out instead! And then Lio gets caught, for a trophy lift toss at Lashley! Apollo flexes and Lashley is furious! Will Apollo get his match after all?
Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush VS Apollo Crews!
Raw returns, and yes he does! But Lashley also has Apollo in a bearhug. Apollo endures the squeeze and fights out with haymakers. He runs but Lashley follows, to get Apollo with a complete shot! Cover, TWO! Lashley keeps his cool and drags Apollo up into a corner. He throws hands and whips corner to corner. Lashley rams his shoulder in, then hauls Apollo up top. Apollo kicks Lashley away to then missile dropkick him down! Both men slowly stir and stand, and Apollo mule kicks and boots. Lashley swings but misses while Apollo hits a leaping lariat! Apollo kips up and fans fire up with him. Apollo climbs up and aims, but Lashley gets under. Lashley runs but Apollo leaps over! Roll up, TWO!
Apollo raises the roof because he raises Lashley in a trophy lift! Apollo drops Lashley but it took a lot out of him, too. He manages to stand first, though, and drags Lashley up. Apollo tries again, and gets a proper drop. Lio protests and distracts, so that Lashley has time to avoid Apollo’s moonsault. Apollo dodges to enziguri Lashley down, but Lio distracts again. Apollo tosses Lio in but Lio runs around and dodges. But Lio gets caught into another trophy lift, only for Lashley to SPEAR Apollo! Cover, Lashley wins!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by pinfall
The 24 Year Old Piece of Gold pays dividends again as he helps Lashley leave Apollo down and out. But they don’t get time to celebrate this win, because here comes Seth Rollins! Oklahoma City is ready to #BurnItDown, but The Architect isn’t here for Lashley. Rollins has a match with Drew McIntyre, and wants that match next. Will Rollins gain some major momentum going into THE Royal Rumble match?
Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre!
Raw returns as Rollins takes up the mic. “Today we celebrate the life and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” Even now, perhaps especially now, we can learn a lot from him. MLK once said a measure of a man is not where he stands in times of convenience, but in times of challenge and controversy. Rollins feels like he’s in times of challenges and controversy. He had two titles and two brothers, but now he’s got none of either. But life isn’t about what we don’t have, it’s about what we do have. What Rollins has is what he’s always had, and it’s the business. As long as Rollins has the ring, the fans and the fire, he’ll win the Royal Rumble! Even saying it out loud makes it sound like a crazy long shot, but Rollins has always been about long shots.
Rollins knows he’s not huge or powerful, but he’s from a small town much like Oklahoma City. His parents were working class, he could’ve been working in a factory, on a farm or driving a truck himself. But the reason he’s not is because of this feeling. Love, passion, determination, whatever it is isn’t just in his chest but ingrained in his soul! Long shot, sure. Thirty men putting it all on the line to headline Wrestlemania. But Rollins promises to be one man left standing and going to Wrestlemania, and that is THE MAN, “Seth Freakin’ Rollins!” But now, the Scottish Terminator makes his entrance.
McIntyre tells Rollins that he’s going to kick his head off tonight, but he must also offer a rebuttal. McIntyre does not stand idly by as Rollins lies to the fans! Rollins is not winning the Rumble, and it’s just Rollins’ style. His reckless abandon will get him eliminated. But what would happen if Rollins harnessed that same passion into the body of a Terminator? That’s “Drew Freakin’ McIntyre!” This means everything to Rollins, so McIntyre hopes they’re the final two, because McIntyre wants to see the look in Rollins’ eyes when he’s thrown out and hears the announcement that the winner is Drew McIntyre! Fire fights fire, after the break!
Raw returns as McIntyre runs back into the ring, only for Rollins to clothesline him back out. Rollins then builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit floors McIntyre, but Rollins puts him back in quick. Rollins springboards and hits a flying clothesline! Cover, ONE! Rollins keeps his cool as he CHOPS McIntyre at the ropes. He whips but McIntyre reverses, only for Rollins to kick him away. Rollins elbows McIntyre, then puts him out all the way tot he floor. McIntyre clutches his back while Rollins assesses the situation. Rollins climbs up high, aims from the post, and leaps! But McIntyre sends him into barriers! McIntyre wraps Rollins around the post and pulls back! He lets up at 4 to then cover Rollins, TWO!
McIntyre keeps on Rollins with an armlock, but fans rally up. Rollins feeds off the energy but McIntyre throws him down by his hair. McIntyre returns to the armlock and adds a chinbar. Fans continue to rally and Rollins powers up again. Rollins jawbreakers free! Rollins runs but into a big elbow from McIntyre! Cover, TWO! McIntyre stalks Rollins and drags him up for a CHOP of his own! McIntyre stomps away on Rollins while fans cheer Rollins on. Rollins throws haymakers and whips, but McIntyre reverses hard! Rollins tumbles up then down, McIntyre covers, TWO! McIntyre stomps Rollins more, then chops Rollins to a corner before tossing him overhead! Cover, TWO! McIntyre turns to the armlock to keep Rollins down.
Fans continue to rally for Rollins and Rollins fights up again. Rollins whips but McIntyre reverses, then kicks Rollins out of the air! Rollins rolls out but McIntyre pursues. McIntyre chops Rollins then drags him up for the Inverted Alabama Slam to the floor! The Terminator dominates and smirks while we go to break.
Raw returns again and both men slowly stand as fans declare “This is Awesome!” Both men start chopping away, but then Rollins runs and dodges to slingblade! He boots McIntyre out of the corner and hits a blockbuster! Cover, TWO! Rollins grits his teeth while fans fire up again. He goes back to McIntyre for a powerbomb but McIntyre back drops. Rollins sunset flips, TWO! McIntyre flips Rollins around for his own powerbomb lift, but Rollins huricanranas! Cover, TWO! Rollins runs, tilt-o-whirl to Falcon Arrow! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre survives but Rollins keeps his focus. Rollins gets to the ropes to stomp, “Burn It Down!” Fans chant and Rollins mule kicks. Rollins runs but misses the stomp! McIntyre clubs and scoops but Rollins lands on his feet to shove McIntyre into buckles!
Rollins puts McIntyre up top backwards, but McIntyre elbows him away. Rollins hops up to swing kick McIntyre into the Tree of Woe! He climbs but McIntyre sit sup for a suplex! But Rollins gets back up and runs in, only to miss! McIntyre gets up and runs, but into a SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre lives but both he and Rollins are down. OKC again says “This is Awesome!” as they both stand. Rollins and McIntyre brawl and chop and forearm back and forth. Rollins gets an edge but walks into the Glasgow Kiss! McIntyre is too dazed to cover, but he gets himself back up. McIntyre drags Rollins up for a fireman’s carry, and then climbs a corner. He prepares Rollins, for a SUPER Celtic Cross! Cover, TWO!! But right into a sit-out bomb!! Cover, TWO!? Rollins shocks McIntyre and OKC!
McIntyre crawls over to Rollins and drags him up again. Fans hope they “Fight Forever!” but this has to end. McIntyre swings Rollins but Rollins rolls him up, Rollins wins!!
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall
The Architect survives to surprise the Terminator! Can Rollins surprise everyone by keeping his word of winning the Men’s Royal Rumble match?
The Revival plead their case to Vince McMahon.
First there was the pin on the wrong man, and then there was the missed ropebreak, they are feeling robbed! Vince wants to know what they’re after. The Revival wants one last chance at the titles, with a very special guest referee. Someone who has 20/20 vision and is going to call it right down the middle. But then Curt Hawkins comes by and wants one more shot to break his own Streak. Maybe Hawkins should be the Revival’s referee. Well Hawkins does know three counts. Vince makes the deal, and The Revival make nice with Hawkins. Will the History Factory be the man to help The Revival get justice?
Dean Ambrose speaks.
“Earlier tonight, a certain Architect quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.” It was cute, made Ambrose tear up, but another quote from MLK is that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. And it is an injustice that Ambrose is not Intercontinental Champion right now. Rollins and “Bend Over’ Bobby, he’s coming for you both at the Royal Rumble. He’ll chop them in the throat and kick them in the balls, and then dump them both out of the ring. 2018 was not Ambrose’s year, after he spent half of it in the hospital. He owes it to himself to win this year’s Rumble, it will be his Miracle on Ice. Ambrose vows to own the Road to Wrestlemania, and justice will be served. Will the Moral Compass redirect Raw down the right path? Or just down his path?
Six Man Tag: Lucha House Party VS Jinder Mahal & The Singh Brothers!
Kalisto, Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado have had a lot of fun since forming, and it’s even led Kalisto to the Cruiserweight Championship this Sunday. But there’s no room for fun with The Modern Day Maharaja and his Bollywood Boys. Which trio will make big inroads towards titles on their own Road to Wrestlemania?
Mahal starts against the Golden Lynx, but Lince has to worry about Samir & Sunil. Mahal puts Lince in a corner but backs off at 4. He swings but Lince dodges to kick away. Mahal pushes and scoops Lince to slam him down! He wraps Lince in a chinlock and the Singhs want in. Mahal tags Samir and they mug Lince. Samir gets an atomic drop and dropkick from Lince but tags in brother Sunil. Sunil runs but into a big back drop! Lince CHOPS Sunil then tags Kalisto. Kalisto gets help for an elevated splash, Lince adds the planking! Cover, ONE! Kalisto keeps on Sunil with a CHOP, then an acrobatic arm-drag! Sunil runs but into another arm-drag. Sunil grabs Kailsto’s mask to whip Kalisto hard out of the ring, then tags Mahal.
Mahal drags Kalisto into the ring, covers, ONE! Mahal keeps on Kalisto with a rough chinlock, but fans “Lucha! Lucha!” Tag to Sunil and he wraps on a headlock. Kalisto endures as Sunil leans on him. Kalisto powers out but gets caught short of his corner. Sunil hits Lince, Kalisto hits a heel kick! Both men are down and crawling, hot tag to Gran Metalik! The King of the Ropes springboards to crossbody, then springboards to triangle dropkick Samir and Mahal! Metalik handsprings but Sunil dodges, only to run into a scoop backbreaker! Cover, Lucha House Party wins!
Winner: Lucha House Party, Gran Metalik by pinfall
Mahal is furious but the fiesta is rolling in Oklahoma City! Will this victory help the luchadores head for tag titles? And what of Kalisto’s own title match at the Royal Rumble?
Dana Brooke is impressed by EC3’s Top One Percent physique.
She asks him fitness and match preparation tips, but The Drifter passes by. EC3 does his best to explain his “alone time” to Dana, but we’re getting Elias next!
Ladies and Gentlemen: Elias.
Oklahoma City is glad to see him and hear his guitar playing. “Brothers and sisters, 2019 is going to be an incredible year.” Elias will win the Royal Rumble but there will be more rivers to cross and mountains to climb. No matter how far he goes, there will always be a truth that brings him back: that WWE stands for “Walk With Elias!” OKC knows that. As for tonight, Elias has a song that might be his finest work yet. Elias sets to playing but Baron Corbin walks out to interrupt. Fans boo the Lone Wolf but he tells them to shut up, too. Corbin tells Elias that he ratted Strowman out and almost got Corbin killed. Fans like that, though. Corbin realizes Vince is right that OKC is a bunch of hillbillies. But Corbin is going to put Elias in his place!
Elias doesn’t know what world Corbin is living in, but he’s not the Raw GM. So Elias is gonna sing that song after all. Corbin keeps talking over Elias, but Elias has Corbin’s mic cut. Elias likes that. He’s skipping his Rumble song to sing a new one. “Baron interrupts my performance. Will this ever end? Baron against Elias, do we really need to see that again?” At the Royal Rumble, Corbin stands no chance, Elias sees it clear. So Corbin needs to shut his mouth, so that he can hear: Nobody cares, people are tired. Why does Corbin still wear that stupid vest? Remember, he got fired! Fans remind Corbin that, “You Got Fired!” But Corbin rushes Elias! Only to narrowly avoid the guitar shot! Elias and Corbin will throw down again, who gets the last word before the Rumble?
Elias VS Baron Corbin!
Raw returns and Elias goes Old School but for an arm-drag! Corbin bails out but Elias wrecks him with a dropkick! Fans fire up with Elias as Elias rams Corbin into barriers. Corbin retreats to the ring but Elias is on him on the apron. They brawl, Elias blocks a kick but gets pushed into the post! Elias goes down in a heap and Corbin acts like he’s already won something. Corbin drags Elias back up and throws him face first into the post. He puts Elias in the corner, then rains down rights. Fans rally up for Elias while taunting Corbin with “You Got Fired!” Corbin tunes the fans out but Elias hits back with body shots. Elias whips but Corbin slides out then in to lariat! Cover, TWO! Corbin grows frustrated, but trash talks the fans first.
Corbin throws Elias out but Elias stays on the apron. Elias hits back, then shoulders in, then jumps over Corbin’s slide. Corbin comes back in but into a leaping knee! Inverted swinging neckbreaker, TWO! Elias grows frustrated but he stomps away on Corbin. The referee backs him off, but Elias comes back to whip. Corbin holds the ropes and the ref backs Elias off again, only for Corbin to rock Elias with a right! End of Days! Cover, Corbin wins!
Winner: Baron Corbin, by pinfall
The fans don’t like it, but Corbin did win. Corbin rolls on towards the Rumble, will he be the End of Days for 29 other superstars?
It’s time for another Moment of Bliss!
The Goddess appears on her set and takes a seat before picking up her custom mic. Alexa welcomes the fans back to her show, and notes that Sunday will have the Women’s Rumble match for a chance to main event Wrestlemania. As such, this Royal Rumble edition will present just some of the 30 participants for that match. Obviously there will be Carmella, who won the right to be Ms. 30, but there are also the IIconics, the Riott Squad, the Samoan Dynasty, Ember Moon, Zelina Vega, Nikki Cross, Alicia Fox, Bayley and Charlotte Flair. As for Alexa’s guest, her best friend and worst enemy, and perhaps the odds on favorite for the Rumble, Nia Jax! The Irresistible Force is all smiles as she joins Alexa on set.
Alexa cuts to the chase. Nia winning means choosing either champion to face at Wrestlemania. Which brand would Nia choose? But before she can give a proper answer, Ember Moon appears! The Goddess did not invite the War Goddess here. Ember snatches Nia’s mic and Nia tosses a chair over. But Ember says she got tired of waiting for an invitation that would never come. She is making her mark, and vows to win the Women’s Rumble. But the Captain, Alicia Fox, comes out. She snatches the mic and tells everyone that as Captain of the Women’s Division, she’s setting a course for Wrestlemania. It starts by going through the other 29 women this Sunday. But then Mickie James appears! She thinks it’s “super cute” they’re all arguing, but Mickie stole the show at Mania once, and looks to do it again.
The four women argue, but out come The Riott Squad! Alexa wants a little bit of control on her own show. She gets up on her chair to shout for them all to stop. This is HER show, okay!? Hers! If this becomes some kind of brawl, they’re all embarrassing themselves as catty women, but also they’re ruining this show’s reputation! Everyone hears Alexa out, until Nia starts trouble with a shove! The women all brawl, and Nikki Cross is even in the mix without being an official member of Raw! Referees hurry to get them tot he back, but that only puts the brawl into the gorilla position! Nikki throws Ruby around while Ember tackles Nia into the curtains! Alexa is at a loss for words. The only thing she can say is that the entrants this year are very passionate.
But this Moment of Bliss will be one we won’t ever forget: because Alexa is officially back in action in the Women’s Rumble! But wait, it’s Lacey Evans! The Lady of NXT turned the Model Soldier says “What a bunch of nasty, classless little girls” she just saw. Luckily for the WWE Universe, the winner of this year’s Women’s Rumble will not be some sawed off girly little runt, i.e Alexa. It will be Lacey, a “classy, sophisticated lady.” Lacey leaves Alexa speechless even more than that brawl. But has she only incurred the wrath of the Goddess?
Titus O’Neil speaks.
Many think him winning the Royal Rumble will be nothing short of a miracle, but luckily he believes in miracles. And that is why Titus enters the Rumble- Hey, who is that interrupting his shot? Just walking in and then out? Well excuse you! But will Titus Worldwide~ be the one to head to Wrestlemania?
Heavy Machinery VS The Ascension!
Tucker Knight & Otis Dozovic are COMIIIN’ to the main roster, but before choosing a side, the #BlueCollarSolid boys will show the WWE Universe what the power of #SteaksandWeights can do! Is it enough to avoid the Wasteland against Konnor & Viktor?
The teams sort out and we start with “Dozer” and Viktor. They tie up, and Dozer powers Viktor to a corner. The ref backs them off but Viktor shoves Dozer. Dozer comes back but Viktor throws hands. Viktor bumps Dozer on buckles but Dozer fires up. Viktor dodges but Dozer throws him off to then scoop, spin, spin, spin some more, and then slam Viktor! Tag to Tucker, and they give us some BOOM SHAKA LOO double falling headbutts! Viktor flounders but boots Tucker away. Viktor chops away then whips corner to corner, but Tucker goes up and over to crossbody! Tag to Dozer, and Heavy Machinery march around. They double belly bump Viktor, then Konnor runs into double shoulders!
Dozer does the kick pump, into the elbow drop! Dozer squashes Viktor in a corner, then fans fire up. Otis pumps up and gives us the Caterpillar! Tag to Tucker, and Viktor gets the Compactor! Cover, Heavy Machinery wins!
Winners: Heavy machinery, Tucker Knight pinning
HASHAAA! Tucker & Dozer win their debut, but this is only the beginning! Will Heavy Machinery steamroll the Tag Team Division right out of the gates?
Raw Tag Team Championships, Special Referee: Curt Hawkins; Bobby Roode & Chad Gable VS The Revival!
The #TopGuys are convinced that it’s somewhere between a conspiracy and utter incompetence, but for whatever reason, the other referees on Raw haven’t given them a fair match finish. But now they’ll put Mr. Losing Streak in the stripes to see if they can’t get the justice they deserve. Will Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson finally get those titles? Or will the champions continue to be Absolutely… GLORIOUS?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and the teams sort out. Dash starts against Gable and ties up. Dash wrenches the wrist but Gable rolls and bridges through. Gable gets a headlock, armlock then drop toehold fast! He has the arm then tags Roode. Hawkins is very strict about the tag, insisting that Roode needed to hold the tag string. The tag does not count, and Dash gets away with throwing Gable down by his hair. Dash calls Hawkins over to officially tag with Dawson. Dawson bumps Gable off buckles then throws chops and forearms. Dawson throws European Uppercuts and Gable bails out. Gable fights back but Dawson whips him for a hard hitting EuroUpper! Dawson rocks Roode, which Hawkins reprimands him for, but The Revival double whip Roode. Roode dodges and then baits The Revival into Gable’s clotheslines!
Roode and Gable throw both Revivals with exploders! Gable builds speed and Roode helps him FLY onto Dash! But Dawson runs Gable over! Hawkins works to regain order while we go to break.
Raw returns and Dawson reels Gable in, but Gable reverses to a big back suplex! Both men are down but fans fire up as they crawl. Hot tag to Dash, and Dash stops Gable. He scoops but Gable slips out to tag Roode! Roode rallies on Dash and hits a back drop! Dawson flies in but into an urenage! Roode fires up as he runs in at Dash, for a big shoulder tackle. Roode hops up, takes aim, but Dash dodges. So Roode clotheslines Dawson out before giving Dash a spinebuster! Fans fire up more as Roode goes after Dash on the apron. Roode suplexes but Dash makes it a crossbody! Cover and Dawson holds Roode’s feet down! But Hawkins sees that! He’s being a fair referee by reprimanding Dawson for that.
Roode gets Dash but Dash reverses and scoops. Roode slips out and rolls up, TWO! Dawson with a cheap shot that Hawkins doesn’t see! Dash rolls Roode, but puts his feet on the ropes and Hawkins catches him! Hawkins reprimands the Revival for this, so Dash tags Dawson. The Revival double whip but Gable tags in. Roode kicks Dawson but Dash clotheslines him out. Gable flies but Dawson rolls through! He’s holding the tights! Hawkins sees that again, so Dawson gives up. Dawson throws Gable out, then starts shoving Hawkins. Hawkins reminds him who the ref is, and Dawson runs into Gable’s shoulder. Gable sunset flips but Dash keeps him from falling over! Hawkins breaks that up, Gable gets his sunset flip, Gable & Roode win!
Winners: Chad Gable & Bobby Roode, Gable pinning; still Raw Tag Team Champions
The plan backfires! The Revival tried to cheat to win but Hawkins would not let them get away with any of it. Dash & Dawson try to reason with Hawkins, but they end up beating him down instead! But here comes Zack Ryder! The Broski fights the #TopGuys off, protecting his former Edgehead bro. Is this a save for old time’s sake? Or are we seeing a reunion in the making?
Backstage interview with Ronda Rousey.
The Baddest Woman has a tag team match up next, what would she say to challenger, Sasha Banks? Ronda wants to focus on her match tonight, but she’s trying to figure out why she should apologize. And she’s concluded that she doesn’t owe Sasha a damn thing! Ronda took her moment to hype up Sasha, and then Sasha goes and turns it all into an insult? What does Sasha expect from Ronda? Ronda’s been respectful since day one. Is she supposed to wash Sasha’s feet? Ronda practically had to beg Sasha to have this match! Sasha is too busy living the Boss life than actually try to be a champion! Sasha’s so high on herself that she’s not hungry anymore! That’s the difference between them, and Ronda will show that even The Legit Boss answers to someone!
Ronda Rousey & Natalya VS Sasha Banks & Bayley!
Ronda is definitely rowdy tonight, and she joins forces with her pal, The Queen of Harts, to face the #LegitHuggable best friends! Will the Baddest Woman build some last momentum before going 1v1 with Sasha at the Rumble? Or will tonight be #BossTime rolling into the title match?
Raw returns once more as Natalya makes her entrance. The Boss & Hug connection enter as Natty works to keep Ronda calm. Sasha picks up a mic to talk about resentment. Who does Ronda think she is? Sasha’s the four time champion, one of the first to be a in a Hell in a Cell, and lasted 40 minutes in that inaugural Women’s Rumble. Yet Ronda just shows up and gets handed everything. Sasha and Bayley put their hearts and souls in the ring every day, yet Ronda talks about desire? Stop talking about worthy competitors, Sasha already is one. She earned her shot by beating Nia and making her tap out. And that will happen to Ronda at the Rumble! This fight is ready to go now, and each friend has to keep Ronda and Sasha from tearing into each other.
The referee keeps the peace, and teams finally sort out. Natty convinces Ronda to stand down, and she starts against Sasha instead. The two circle with the bell, Sasha hits Ronda! Sasha gets Natty down while the ref keeps Ronda back! Sasha wrenches Natty and tags in Bayley. They double whip and crisscross Natty into the corner. They double suplex Natty down, Bayley covers, TWO! Bayley keeps on Natty with buckle bumps, then tags in Sasha. Sasha and Bayley uses Poetry in Motion to hit Natty, then tag back. They double whip and double hip toss, Bayley back elbows and Sasha boots! Ronda just runs in and tackles Bayley! Ronda throws Sasha, and now she controls the ring while we go to one last break.
Raw returns once more and Bayley fights out of Natty’s waistlock. Bayley runs but into Natty’s tackle into the corner! Tag to Ronda, and they give Bayley a Rowdy Hart Attack! Sasha did swipe at Ronda but it didn’t bug her at all. Ronda and Sasha trash talk but the ref keeps the peace. Ronda tags to Natty and Natty fetches Bayley into the ring. Bayley crawls but Natty stops her from reaching Sasha. Natty snap suplexes Bayley down, then stomps her down before covering. TWO, and Bayley hurries to Sasha. Tag made, Sasha knees Natty! Bayley adds a knee side to side before Sasha hits a swinging meteora! Cover, TWO! Sasha trash talks Ronda back before dragging Natty up. She bumps Natty on buckles and hauls her up. Bayley tags in as fans rally for Natty. Tag again, SUPER STEINER to METEORA! Cover, TWO!
Sasha keeps her cool while Ronda reaches for Natty. Sasha swings on Ronda, then hops up onto Natty. But Natty holds her, tag to Ronda! Electric Chair drop, roll through to Rowdy Slam, but Sasha throws elbows! Sasha backslides, ONE! Russian leg sweep, into Bank Statement crossface! Ronda endures but Natty breaks it up! Sasha throws Natty out but Ronda rolls Sasha up, TWO! Ronda boots Sasha, but Sasha boots Ronda! Tag to Bayley, back stabber but Ronda counters with a judo throw! Ronda covers Bayley, TWO! Ronda fires up again, and throws heavy knees into Bayley. Then a big boot puts Bayley in a corner. Rowdy dares Bayley to stand, but Sasha stands in her way. Bayley pushes Sasha out of the way and still gets those strikes! Ronda wants more, but she runs into a toss from Bayley! Tag to Sasha!
Sasha climbs, Bayley has Ronda, ax handles to Ronda’s arm hit. But Ronda gets Sasha with a takedown into the armbar! Sasha scrambles towards ropes, and they end up under them. Ronda lets go but reaches for Sasha. Sasha kicks Ronda, but Natty tags in. Natty suplexes Sasha in hard! Natty walks all over Sasha then hits her with a basement dropkick! She puts on the Sharpshooter! Sasha endures but Bayley saves her! Bayley tackles Ronda, but runs into the discus! Natty goes back to Sasha, powerbomb lift but Sasha slips out to knee! Back stabber, to Bank Statement!! Natty endures, but taps! Sasha & Bayley win!
Winners: Sasha Banks & Bayley, Sasha by submission
Ronda returns and Sasha lets Natty go. The Boss tapped out The Queen, but what about the Baddest Woman on the Planet? These two stare down and trash talk more, and fans want to “Let Them Fight!” We go off the air but we know this fight is coming. Who will win when the title’s on the line?
My Thoughts:
This was not a great go-home but this was better than most Raw has had as of late. It had a really good beginning and a pretty good end, but the middle was rough. To get those out of the way, Lucha House Party VS Mahal & The Singhs wasn’t much of anything other than a filler Six Man Tag. I don’t know if I want a feud between these two trios, but I do appreciate it means the Bollywood Boys are getting actual matches on television. I would also appreciate it if it meant they were joining the Cruiserweight Division and 205 Live per the Fresh Start initiative. Then another Elias VS Corbin is literally what Elias was saying we shouldn’t be getting in his song. Corbin wins to keep himself afloat, but Corbin really should just leave Elias alone after the Rumble, regardless of what happens.
The opening segment, for being another 20+ minute talking segment, was a good talking segment because Heyman did good again, Vince going off on a truly inaccurate retelling of David VS Goliath, and then it all leads to that really fun opening match. Throwing Lesnar in at ringside and having him do those shenanigans was actually a good move to me, it gets some heat between Lesnar and Finn quickly since this is all rather sudden. There has been talk all over about if Demon Balor returns and what that would mean. I’m pretty sure Demon Balor returns only if Lesnar is losing, which is still an uncertainty. I obviously want Finn to win, especially as Demon Balor. And if the talk of Rollins winning is true, Finn VS Rollins to bring the Universal Championship full circle would be great.
The pose-off between Apollo and Lashley was cheesy, but their match was pretty good. Apollo didn’t win but I hope he still gets a chance at the Intercontinental Championship. I feel like those two could really give us something great in such a match, I’m just not sure if Apollo would win. Rollins VS McIntyre was great, but perhaps Rollins winning with just a roll-up means there will be more to come after the Rumble. Again, if Rollins wins, him and Finn would be great for Mania, but that doesn’t mean McIntyre can’t go after the title at Elimination Chamber or Fastlane. Now depending on the validity of John Cena’s ankle injury, McIntyre’s story with him might be on pause, but that can allow McIntyre to do a lot of other things while waiting.
Heavy Machinery was a lot of fun in their debut, it was reminiscent of their early matches in NXT. I just hope going against The Ascension doesn’t foreshadow how they’ll be treated. I’m hoping they go to SmackDown, but even over there, if a team like SAnitY can’t get any screen time, I’m not sure about Heavy Machinery. Then going into The Revival’s segments, it seems like their tag team division concerns are only going to grow. Obviously it’s story, but Hawkins being an exceptionally good referee messes The Revival up again, and now it seems The Revival might be going against a revived Edgeheads. This will be great for Ryder & Hawkins, but it just means more mouths to feed in the tag division, which hurts The Revival and all teams on Raw. But maybe The Revival’s concerns will wake creative up and all teams get a fair shake.
I’m still not sure about EC3 being the Top One Percent Mute. When is he going to get his in-ring debut like Nikki Cross and Heavy Machinery? Lacey Evans had a good appearance after a fun third Moment of Bliss. Is Lacey going to be the woman to make Alexa Bliss turn Face? That would be big for Alexa, but also because she’s officially okay for action. I don’t know the chances of Alexa winning the Rumble, but her and Lacey being each other’s Road to Mania feud is great. I just hope Alexa doesn’t need to take that Woman’s Right punch if the concerns are for Alexa’s head.
And of course, the main event featuring the women was actually really good. For one, Ronda’s promo and Sasha’s counter were pretty good, though I think Sasha’s was better. The story in the match was good, and we never really got a prolonged Sasha-Ronda moment, so that leaves a lot left for them in their match. I’m still confident in thinking Ronda wins, Becky wins, and Mania gives us some sort of Undisputed Women’s Champion match, even with a third opponent via the Women’s Rumble. But I’m thinking Sasha is going to give Ronda one of her toughest matches in sheer technical skill and charisma.
My Score: 8.1/10
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Will Angel Dorado breathe with the Switchblade?
After battling in the Casino Gauntlet, and then over the Unified AEW & ROH Trios Championships, Jay White and Dante Martin are on a Rampage to go 1v1!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Jay White w/ The Gunns VS Dante Martin w/ Top Flight; White wins.
- Rocky Romero VS Kyle O’Reilly; wins.
- Konosuke Takeshita w/ Don Callis VS London Lightning; wins.
- AEW TBS Championship Manitoba Massacre: Willow Nightingale VS Skye Blue; wins and
PLAY BY PLAY
Rampage opens with Kenny Omega down in the ring.
As seen in the closing moments of Dynamite, The Cleaner returned home, only to be betrayed by The Young Bucks as they continue to become tyrants of AEW. FTR is with Omega, as is a medic, given the vulnerable and life-threatening state of his diverticulitis. The Elite leave, and Omega is helped to a stretcher. The fans cheer in support of Omega as he’s wheeled out, will he be alright physically and emotionally?
Wait, as the stretcher reaches the ambulance backstage, The Elite return to attack FTR! Matt & Nick mug Dax while Okada & Jack are after Cash! Omega is powerless to help the guys who just helped him! Now Okada throws uppercuts into Dax while Jack THROWS Cash! Then Dax is sent crashing into railing! But then The Elite all surround Omega! Omega is writhing in pain while Matt says he loves Omega to death. But this is just business, Kenny. They’ve gotta change the world, right? The world needs them more than it needs him. They SHOVE the stretcher over!! Omega falls right off, and then Matt almost mockingly says for someone to check on him.
Medics hurry to help Omega but have to be careful. Have this new and downright evil Elite all but forced Omega into retirement?
Jay White w/ The Gunns VS Dante Martin w/ Top Flight!
Don’t adjust your screens or worry about your eyes, Bullet Club Gold is carrying three sets of belts. That’s because they’ve brought back the classic AEW World Trios Championship belts while still parading around with the hot pink Acclaimed trios belts and the ROH World Six Man belts. But all the hardware aside, this battle is because The Switchblade and Angel Dorado were part of the wild Casino Gauntlet, and they want to settle the score! Will Dante earn his trio a golden ticket back to a trios title match? Or will Winnipeg soon Breathe With The Switchblade?
The bell rings and Dante CLOBBERS White to a corner! Dante fires off forearms over and over and over, but the ref backs him off. White bails out but Dante pursues to CHOP! Dante CHOPS again, but White knees low! White CHOPS now, then brings Dante around. Dante blocks a chop to CHOP back! Dante puts White in the ring, runs up, but White knees low again. White stomps Dante in a corner, then JABS, JABS and CHOPS! The fans “WOO~” and White whips. Dante rolls off White’s back, ducks ‘n’ dodges to then flip and RANA! White bails out again but the fans fire up with Dante. Dante goes out after White again to CHOP!
White shoves Dante but Dante flips up and into the ring! Dante DECKS White off the apron, then DIVES! Down goes White and the fans fire up with Dante! Dante stalks White around the way, brings him around, but White knees low. White CLUBS Dante, whips, but Dante goes up and backflips off the apron! Dante then JUMP KNEES White down! The fans fire up and Dante puts White in the ring. Dante runs corner to corner, but White puts him on the apron. Dante GAMANGIRIS, springboards, but White YANKS him down! Dante hotshots off ropes, calls for the ref, and White says call it off! The ref checks on Dante and we go picture in picture.
White mockingly asks if Dante’s done while Dante checks his face. White brushes the ref aside, stands Dante up, and CHOPS him to the corner! White CHOPS again, and Dante sputters. White brings Dante up again, whips corner to corner, and Dante rebounds into a LARIAT! Cover, TWO! White keeps cool as he stomps Dante’s leg. White stomps and stomps, but Dante kicks at White from below! Dante goes to ropes but White gets the legs, ROPE GUILLOTINE! Cover, TWO! Dante is still in this and White is frustrated. White steps through to tie up the legs, into the INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Then White swags his way back into the MUTA LOCK!
Dante endures, flails, but White fishhooks the face! The ref reprimands, but then Dante CLAWS White’s face! White lets Dante go and protests, but the ref says he just did that to Dante! White goes back, Dante cradles, TWO! Dante victory rolls, TWO!! White escapes, kicks low, but Dante dodges the chop to CHOP! CHOP! And run, but into an UPPERCUT! White UPPERCUTS in a corner, reels Dante in and scoops, for a SHOULDER BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Dante survives again and White is growing frustrated. White clamps onto Dante and pulls hair to dig him into a knee! Then it’s a chinlock, and Dante endures.
Rampage returns to single picture, the fans rally and Dante fights up. Dante moves around but White CLUBS him! White snapmares and clamps on another chinlock. Dante endures again and the fans rally back up. Dante fights up again, throws body shots, but White CLUBS him! White keeps on the cravat, Dante throws hands, but White CHOPS! White snapmares but Dante rolls through and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while both men are down! Dante pounds the mat while the ref starts a standing count. White and Dante rise, White runs up but Dante flips up and over! Dante CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS again!
Dante whips White, White reverses and runs in, but Dante slips out to go up and around! GAMANGIRI! Dante springboards and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! White survives but Dante throws off his elbow pads! Dante snarls and storms up on White. Dante gets a leg, stands White up, but White has ropes! The ref counts but Dante clotheslines White up and out! The fans fire up with Dante and he goes out after White. Dante puts White back in fast, and then storms up, only for White to clinch and URENAGE! Cover, TWO! Dante survives, White shakes his head, and White clamps on a SLEEPER!
White drags Dante up, for the SNAP- NO, Dante throws elbows! White CHOPS Dante, CHOPS him again, and CHOPS him again! White eggs Dante on but Dante fires forearms! Dante CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! White CLAWS the eyes! The ref reprimands, White THROWS Dante out, but Dante is on the apron! White storms up, Dante HOTSHOTS him! Dante springboards again, to NOSEDIVE! Cover, TWO!! White survives and Dante can’t believe it! The fans fire up and Dante hurries to get White up! Waistlock, full nelson, but White slips free to SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEX!! Dante staggers, into the BLADERUNNER!! Cover, White wins!
Winner: Jay White, by pinfall
The Switchblade cuts down Dante, and he celebrates with all the gold! But then White then shows respect by helping Dante up. White says Dante has heart, and he raises Dante’s hand! The fans cheer, this is quite the surprise from Jay White. But then BRAINBUSTER for the hell of it!! Top Flight rushes the ring but White gets away! Will nothing stop The Bang Bang Gang from collecting belts and taking cheap shots here in AEW?
Backstage interview with Deonna Purrazzo.
Arkady Aura is with The Virtuosa, and notes that she attacked Thunder Rosa after losing the match to her last week. The question then is: Why? Deonna repeats, “Why?” Why what? She has a question for everyone else: When is enough enough? She’s not just some random girl who walked in and became All Elite. Deonna has been at this for 12 YEARS! She is a FIVE-TIME Women’s World Champion, and THE Virtuosa. And after last week, she’s starting to feel like herself. Time for the rest of the locker room to feel it, too. If Rosa doesn’t wanna heed Deonna’s advice, then they can make this personal!
Do you know what happens when you make things personal with a Jersey girl? Arkady does not. Then pray you never do. Deonna says vafanapoli with the hand gesture, will she stick it to La Mera Mera?
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What will The Cleaner have to say to The Elite?
Finally, Kenny Omega returns to AEW! But given how his friends, The Young Bucks, gave Tony Khan a piledriver, will his homecoming be a dour one?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- AEW TNT Championship: Adam “Edge” Copeland VS A member of The House of Black; Edge wins and retains the title.
- Samoa Joe VS Isiah Kassidy; Joe wins.
- FTW Championship: Chris Jericho VS Katsuyori Shibata; Jericho wins and retains the title.
- Claudio Castagnoli VS Brian Cage; Claudio wins.
- Serena Deeb VS Mariah May w/ Toni Storm & Luther; Deeb wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Tony Khan speaks.
“Welcome to AEW Dynamite. I’m here live in Jacksonville, Florida, and I’ll be producing tonight’s show here in the offices of the Jaguars. I wish I could be live there in Winnipeg for Kenny Omega’s return in his hometown tonight at a perfect time. Unfortunately I’m not cleared to leave Jacksonville, Florida, due to the actions of AEW’s Executive Vice Presidents, Matthew & Nicholas Jackson, and the reinstated Jack Perry.” Something’s going wonky with Tony’s video as he explains the head and neck injuries suffered… And then The Bucks cut in to say they’re “losing” Tony. Technical difficulties. Sorry, TK, they lost connection.
But hey, Tony may not be here, but the Bucks are. And some of you may be asking, how is that cool after what they did last week? How are they not fired? Well, see, iron clad contracts, with a founder’s clause. They won’t get into the details, but let’s just say that they and their colleagues are not going anywhere. And in those same details, it says that if Tony Khan cannot physically be at an event, the EVPs would succeed him. In other words, The Bucks are in charge now! With that said, they’re going to run the new show open! It’s all Elite, as in all Bucks, all Jack and all Okada! They said they wanted to change the world, is that change just more of themselves?
Swerve Strickland is here!
Winnipeg cheers as Prince Nana leads the way for the AEW World Champion! Swerve takes the mic to say, “What’s going on, everybody? Three matches, three shows, in one week. That is the type of champion that All Elite Wrestling deserves, and that is the type of champion that Swerve said he was always gonna be.” The fans cheer that! Swerve says what AEW does not deserve are selfish, greedy, childish, power hungry EVPs that think they can just throw their weight around without any kind of consequences. Swerve stands on his words: What the Bucks did was a b*tch move. Now that’ll be handled at some point, but Swerve will get to business.
Who is going to be Swerve’s opponent for Double or Nothing? The fans ask “WHO? WHO? WHO?” and Swerve says he doesn’t know. Winnipeg doesn’t know. But whoever it is, come, present yourself. But wipe your feet before you step into whose house? “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” But then The Bucks interrupt on the tron. They tell the champ congrats. But guess who else are champs: The Bucks! And uh, they also wanted to stop by because something else has been bothering them. It seems that success has gone to Swerve’s head. The first time he talks after winning the big one, and he badmouths his bosses, the EVPs, on national television, and using curse words?
The network hated that, that is a fine. And maybe Swerve just needs a dose of humility. How do you do that? Well, how about The Bucks arrange the very best, the perfect opponent, for Swerve at Double or Nothing? This man happens to be one of the best Canadian pro-wrestlers of all time. He’s a former champion, and hasn’t been around. But he’s waiting at the go position, ready to meet Swerve! Hit the music in three, two, one. GO! It’s… Christian Cage?! The fans are a bit torn as they were hoping for a different Canadian star, but The Patriarch leads Mother Shayna, Nick Wayne & Killswitch/Luchasaurus to the ring.
Christian gets a mic as he goes up onto the apron. He steps inside, Shayna Wayne by his side, but Nick and Killswitchasaurus lurking outside. There are fans who cheer on Christian, and then he sucker punches Swerve with the mic!! Christian fires off hands and knocks Swerve down, and Nana can only cower in a corner! But Swerve gets up to fire back! And he DECKS Nick! And he BOOTS Killswitch! But then Shayna gets in Swerve’s face. Killswitchasaurus turns Swerve around to HEADBUTT him! And he CLOBBERS Nana! Christian snatches the world title, drags Swerve up, KILLSWITCH on the belt!!
The fans are again torn, but Christian then drags Nana up! He holds Nana in place so Nick can hit WAYNE’S WORLD! Christian then goes back to the mic, and he looms over Swerve to tell him, “There’s something you should know about me. I never forget. I haven’t forgotten that some months ago, you broke into my son, Nick Wayne’s gym and left him in a pool of his own blood. I haven’t forgotten- Keep it down while I’m conducting my business!” The fans boo but Christian says he didn’t forget that at one time, they were a tag team at the biggest show in the history of this business, and Swerve lost! Swerve embarrassed Christian!
Christian’s been waiting for the right moment to make him answer for those mistakes, and Swerve went and won the world championship. It seems like there’s no better time than right now to make Swerve pay for those mistakes. Christian will embarrass Swerve the same way Swerve embarrassed him. Christian will end Swerve’s reign before it even begins, and make him a footnote in the history of AEW! The fans boo more but Christian says he heard that speech last week, Swerve talking about his path to this title, how grueling it was and how he put every ounce of himself into it, to where his own daughter doesn’t even know him.
Christian tells Swerve that when he’s done with Swerve, Swerve’s daughter won’t want to know him! But Christian will promise Swerve this: Swerve’s daughter will have a father she can be proud of for the rest of her life! Christian tells Winnipeg that the same way the Colorado Avalanche walked into their house and took their championship dreams away, Christian will walk into Swerve’s House at Double or Nothing and rip this AEW World Championship from his hands. But Swerve, know this: “The pain has just begun.” And with that, Luchasaurus PULLS Swerve’s hair out of his head! Luchasaurus shows off the braid, will that only be the first trophy The Patriarchy takes?
AEW TNT Championship: Adam “Edge” Copeland VS ??? w/ The House of Black!
After defeating The Rated R Superstar, as well as Mark Briscoe & Eddie Kingston, at Dynasty, the House of Black has answered the call of the #CopeOpen. However, they’re going to keep us guessing until the very moment it’s time to fight! Malakai Black speaks from the shadows that everyone expected him to come out here, all the bells and whistles. But why should Malakai fight Edge now, when watching what he did to Edge infiltrating Edge’s mind is so much more rewarding? Malakai laughs, but then who is coming for the gold? It’s the Aussie Juggernaut, Buddy Matthews! The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the House Always Wins!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as Edge and Buddy stare down. The two tie up, Buddy headlocks, but Edge powers up and out. They RAM shoulders and neither falls. The two reset, tie up again, and Edge headlocks. Buddy powers up and out, they RAM shoulders, and again neither falls. The fans rally as the two circle, tie up, and Buddy headlocks for the takeover. Buddy holds off the headscissors but Edge powers through. Edge has the headscissors, Buddy kips free, but turns around into a headlock takeover. Buddy headscissors, Edge kips free, but Buddy sweeps to a cover! ONE, and Edge sweeps to a cover, ONE!
Buddy kip sup and stares Edge down and the fans cheer. Edge and Buddy circle, tie up, and Buddy waistlocks. Edge pries at the hold, switches back, and he CLUBS Buddy. Edge back suplexes, Buddy lands out and RANAS! Edge tumbles out, Buddy builds speed, but then he stops as Edge is ready. The two stare down, Edge eggs Buddy on, and Buddy kicks him. Buddy whips, Edge reverses and TOSSES Buddy out! Edge builds speed but Buddy hurries in, Edge DUMPS Buddy back out! Edge gets moving and DIVES! Down goes Buddy and the fans fire up! Edge shakes out his arms and gets to his feet as Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Edge storms his way over to Buddy at the ramp, drags him up, and sends him into the steel steps! Edge refreshes the ring count, then stalks Buddy to the barriers. Edge brings Buddy around to whip him hard into the railing! The fans fire up as Edge storms over to Buddy, CLUBS him on the back, but then Buddy kicks back! Buddy SMACKS Edge off barriers, makes him take a seat, then runs to KNEE Edge into barriers! Buddy shoves Edge down, then brings him back up to ROCK him with a forearm! Buddy puts Edge in the ring, storms his way up the steps, and then storms up to Edge. Edge throws body shots and forearms in return!
Edge has Buddy in a corner, but Buddy shoves Edge away. Buddy runs up, into a kitchen sink knee! Buddy sits up clutching his stomach, but Edge pushes him down for a cover, TWO! Buddy bails out, Edge pursues, and Edge brings Buddy around to SMACK off steel steps! Edge ROCKS Buddy with forearm after forearm, but then Buddy WRINGS Edge’s arm into the apron! Buddy rolls into the ring, Edge drags himself back up, and Dynamite returns to single picture. Buddy runs up but Edge fires hands! Edge bumps Buddy off buckles, then HOTSHOTS him! The fans rally and Edge drags himself back up, to RAM into Buddy, only for Buddy to make it a DDT!
The fans rally while both men are down. Edge and Buddy rise up, and Buddy stomps Edge to a corner. Buddy stomps a mudhole in, the fans boo and the ref counts. Buddy stomps Edge more, then CHOKES him! The ref counts and fans boo but Buddy lets off at 4. Buddy drags Edge up, snapmares and KICKS him in the back! Edge writhes while Buddy soaks up the heat. Buddy sits Edge up, runs and stops to clamp on a chinlock! Buddy grinds Edge down, almost has a Bulldog Choke, but Edge endures. The fans rally up as Edge moves around, then rises to his feet. Edge RAMS Buddy into a corner, but Buddy holds on tight!
Edge flails, pries at the hold, and he RAMS Buddy into the corner again! Buddy won’t let go, and Edge starts to fade! The fans rally up again and Edge fights up. Edge RAMS Buddy in again, gets free this time, and comes back, but into a BOOT! Buddy runs up, but into a FLAPJACK! The fans fire up while both men are down again! Buddy rolls to the apron on one side, Edge goes to another. Edge finds Buddy at the corner, but Buddy fires hands! Buddy climbs up now, but Edge resists the lift! The fans fire up as Edge throws body shots then haymakers! Buddy gives those right back, they hockey scrum right up top!
Buddy HEADBUTTS and both men fall back! They both hit apron and then the floor! The fans fire up while the ring count begins. Both men stir at 4 of 10, flounder at 5, and sit up at 7! They stand at 9 and slide in! The fans fire up as this match continues, and the two start throwing forearms! Edge gets the edge, but Buddy still hits back! Edge stands, reels Buddy in but Buddy wrenches out to shove and FOREARM! Buddy runs, but Edge follows to FOREARM! Edge runs, Buddy swings, Edge dodges, but then Buddy dodges! DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! The fans fire up again as both men are down!
The ref checks both men, Buddy sputters and has some blood in his mouth. Medics are called over, is Buddy already done for? He gets checked on while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
The ref double checks Edge, he seems alright. Buddy is still coughing for air, but there doesn’t seem to be any critical damage done, so the match continues. Both men stand, and they fire haymakers! The hockey scrum is back, Edge ROCKS Buddy then KNEES him low! Buddy backs to a corner, Edge whips him corner to corner hard! Buddy coughs for air again as he doubles over. The ref checks him, Buddy says he’s good to go so Edge digs his knee into Buddy’s face! The ref counts, Edge drags Buddy up, and Edge DECKS Buddy with a forearm! The ref again checks on Buddy, but he refuses to stay down, so Edge DECKS him again!
Buddy sits up in a daze, so Edge brings him up to DECK him again! The ref has Edge stay back to double check on Buddy, but somehow Buddy is hanging in there. Dynamite returns to single picture, and Edge CHOPS Buddy in the corner! And CHOPS again! Edge keeps Buddy standing, then climbs up the corner. Edge rains down fists and the fans count all the way to TEN! But Buddy YANKS Edge down into the buckle! And again, and again, and again! Then Buddy gets up and under Edge, for a SITOUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Edge survives but Buddy is too sore to be upset. The fans rally up as both men stir, and Buddy rolls his way to the apron.
Buddy drags himself up, climbs a corner, but Edge runs up to trip him up! Buddy lands on the crossbar, and then Edge BOOTS him! Edge then climbs up the corner, he CLUBS Buddy on the back again and again, and he brings Buddy to the top rope. Edge fires a few more fists, but Buddy hits back! Buddy SMACKS Edge off buckles, then goes up and over to SUNSET FLIP! Edge holds onto the ropes so Buddy lets off. Edge mule kicks Buddy right in the chest! But Buddy comes back to UPPERCUT! Buddy climbs, Edge fights the superplex and shoves him away. Buddy comes right back to try again, but he just gets more body shots!
Edge brings Buddy up, for a SUPER IMPALER!! Both men are down as Edge can’t make the cover! The fans are thunderous as Edge crawls over, cover, TWO!! Buddy survives, showing some serious toughness! The fans cheer on “A E DUB! A E DUB!” and then fire up as Edge rises! Edge takes aim from a corner as Buddy rises up. Edge runs in, but into a KICK! And a KNEE! And another KNEE! Buddy then suplexes, JACKHAMMER!! Cover, TWO!! But into a CROSSFACE!! Buddy has Edge caught, but Edge endures and fights around. Edge reaches out, the fans rally as hard as they can, and Edge turns things into a cradle! TWO!!
Buddy swings, but into an OLYMPIC SLAM! We reach the 20 minute mark, time is running out! Edge finds the cover, TWO!! Buddy is still in this after everything he’s taken, but Edge aims to finish this. Buddy rises, Edge runs in, but Buddy sends him into buckles! Buddy then fireman’s carries, to GO TO SLEEP!! Buddy staggers back but he aims! Buddy runs up, but Edge dodges the stomp! Edge shoves and SPEARS!! Cover, EDGE WINS!
Winner: Adam “Edge” Copeland, by pinfall (still AEW TNT Champion)
The Rated R Superstar retains, but in many ways survives this challenge! But there’s rage boiling over and he CLUBS away on Buddy! Edge goes out and looks around, and he finds two chairs! Everyone knows what Edge does with chairs, and he gets in the ring! Buddy flounders, stands, but Edge SMACKS him back down! Edge puts that chair under Buddy’s head, and then gets the other chair! Fans are torn, but is Edge really gonna do this? Edge seems to be conflicted, as well, but then the lights go out! When the lights come back up, MALAKAI BLACK is there! The Dark Father tells Edge to do it!? Do what he was going to! And even Buddy wants it!
Edge raises the chair, but then aims at Malakai! The lights go out again, and the House is gone. Was The Rated R Superstar about to give in to his darkness? Or will the guiding light of being TNT Champion help keep him safe against the House of Black?
Samoa Joe VS Isiah Kassidy!
The King of Wrestling Television may have lost his crown, but he hasn’t lost what made him champion in the first place. Will he get back on track with a win tonight? Or will Brother Zay earn a title shot (shot shot) of his own by pinning the former champion?
The bell rings and fans sing “Joe is gonna kill~ you!” Zay brushes that off as he and Joe circle. They feel things out, but Zay gets back, and he grabs Joe’s towel! Zay mocks Joe, does a dance, and Joe smirks. Joe CHOKES Zay using the towel! The ref counts, Joe lets off, but Zay claws the eyes! Zay tells Joe he wants none of this! Zay runs, but Joe FLAPJACKS him! Joe then JABS! JABS! JABS! Joe fires off on Zay in the corner, then OVERHAND CHOPS! Joe applauds with the fans while Zay bails out. Joe builds speed, but he stops the dive as Zay slides in. Joe goes back to the apron but Zay runs up to triangle jump STUNNER!
Joe falls back, Zay fires up and builds speed, and Zay FLIES, but Joe just steps aside! Zay crashes ‘n’ burns as fans cheer Joe’s signature dodge! Joe drags Zay up, puts him in the ring, and the singing continues, “Joe is gonna kill~ you!” Joe drags Zay up, but Zay throat chops! The fans boo but Zay hobbles, runs, and flapjack DROPKICKS! Joe ends up in a corner, Zay hobbles over and rains down fists! And elbows! Zay MONKEY FLIP- NO, Joe is just too big for that! Joe puts Zay up top, HEADBUTTS, then tucks him in! MUSLCE BUSTER!! Joe drops into the cover, and wins!
Winner: Samoa Joe, by pinfall
Championship or not, Joe is still a dangerous man! Will all the champions of AEW have to watch out for Joe coming after them?
Skye Blue speaks.
“Willow Nightingale, my former best friend. You’re a damn fraud! You know last time one-on-one in that ring, I had you pinned. If it weren’t for that bald b*tch on a leash, Stokely Hathaway… And Julia and I, last time in Canada, we beat both you and Statlander in a Street Fight. So you know I have your number because I have proved it every damn week. And if you’re even half the woman that you say you are, come prove it tonight on Rampage, and put the TBS title on the line.” The Chicago Skye has made the challenge, will Willow go on a Rampage with her?
Orange Cassidy is here!
Winnipeg fires up for Freshly Squeezed, but surely he is in a sour mood after how the Parking Lot Brawl went. It wasn’t even that Trent Beretta beat Chuck Taylor and won. It was that after the match, Trent used a monkey wrench to all but shatter Chuck’s leg just because he could! Cassidy gets in the ring now and has a mic to say, “I hate this. See, I thought after Saturday, when my Best Friends, Chuck and Trent, got into a parking lot, beat each other up, and get everything out of their systems, we’d come back together, stand here in this ring together, as Best Friends. But see, that’s never gonna happen.
“I have been told that because of what Trent did to Chuck after the match… I have been told that my Best Friend, Chuck Taylor, will never wrestle again.” Fans are shocked and upset, and Cassidy takes off the sunglasses. “So now I’m standing in this ring alone, to tell you, Trent Beretta, that the next time I see you-” Trent interrupts! And he says wow, big surprise! Cassidy is making things about himself again! Trying to make somebody else’s career ending about himself! Cassidy rushes out but the security guards get in the way! Trent says Cassidy is too selfish! That’s why this all happened! Chuck’s career is over because of Cassidy, not Trent!
Cassidy is still pushing through the security guards so Kris Statlander hurries out here to stop him! Trent says Cassidy is the selfish one! Then Don Callis walks out here!? The fans boo as Callis talks Cassidy down, and whispers something to him. Trent says Cassidy is selfish, and Cassidy actually walks away with Callis?! Trent gives a mocking thumbs up, but just what is going on here?
Backstage interview with The Young Bucks.
Renee Paquette is with Matthew & Nicholas Jackson, and says tonight is a big night. Can the EVPs give her any nuggets as to what else is planned? Matt says first off, she’s killing it as always. How’s the family? How’s Jon? Oh, they’re all g- That’s great to hear. But they don’t really have time to talk right now, they’re looking for an old. Has she happened to bump into him yet? No? Okay. Well, they’ve had way too much TV time tonight already, let’s give some to their good friend, The Scapegoat, Jack Perry! Jack tags in for the interview and Renee asks him just what the hell was he thinking attacking Tony Khan last week.
Jack says he meant what he said last week. The only thing he wants is what’s best for AEW. And some people might not see it, but that’s what he did. The funny part to Jack is that Tony Khan is the one who made Jack into “The Scapegoat.” It hurt at the time, but he accepted it at the time because he realized that it was a sacrifice that someone was gonna have to make. But we all have to sacrifice, Tony. And thanks to you, we are entering a new era of AEW, under The Elite! Jack & The Bucks head out, what else is going to happen in their era?
FTW Championship: Chris Jericho VS Katsuyori Shibata!
The Learning Tree has not only changed his attitude and his song, but now he’s changed his look when it comes to his ring gear. All this along with how he has supposedly changed the meaning of the acronym. This is now the #ForTheWorld Championship, because he claims to be doing all this for the world! Well, will The Wrestler cut down The Learning Tree for the sake of the world? Or will even Shibata have something to learn from The Wizard?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly the master!
The bell rings and Jericho claps along with the fans as they rally up. Jericho and Shibata tie up, Jericho arm-drags, then gets all fired up for himself. Jericho waves to the fans, then circles with Shibata. They tie up, Jericho waistlocks, but Shibata switches, snapmares, and clamps on a chinlock. Shibata then floats to a top wristlock, even as fans actually cheer on the “LEARNING TREE!” Jericho fights up, Shibata wristlocks, but Jericho has the ropes. Shibata lets off slowly, but Jericho CHOPS! Shibata CHOPS back! Jericho CHOPS, Shibata CHOPS, repeat! The fans ‘WOO~” and Jericho CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS!
Jericho whips, he CLOBBERS Shibata, then LIONSAULTS legs onto legs! Cover, ONE!! Jericho stays cool as he goes out of the ring. Jericho looks under the ring, goes around the way, and he keeps searching. What does he want? It’s the trash can lid! Just like in his match with Hook! Jericho SMACKS Shibata down! Jericho goes back out and looks for something else. He brings out a black bag! Those are never good… Jericho brings the bag in and dumps out… HOCKEY PUCKS! The fans cheer that, because those are Winnipeg Jets pucks! But then Shibata hits an STO onto the pucks! Jericho writhes, and Shibata drags him up, to snap suplex onto pucks!
Jericho writhes, again suffering from his own idea. Shibata stomps Jericho, grabs that trash can lid, but puts it aside. Shibata brushes the pucks away with his feet, to CHOP! And CHOPS! The fans “WOO~!” as those CHOPS echo out! Jericho stands, but Shibata CHOPS again! Jericho CHOPS, Shibata CHOPS, and then Shibata eggs Jericho on! The fans fire up and Jericho nods. Jericho CHOPS, but Shibata CHOPS! Both men’s chests are getting redder as the CHOPS keep going! Jericho CHOPS, Shibata barely flinches! Shibata CHOPS, Jericho winces, but he still CHOPS! Shibata CHOPS and the fans are all fired up!
Jericho goes to a corner, grits his teeth and comes back to CHOP! Shibata CHOPS right before Dynamite goes picture in picture!
Jericho is starting to get frustrated, but he still CHOPS! Shibata CHOPS again! CHOP after CHOP, neither man is backing down! Oh, but Jericho does feel that one more than the rest! Shibata eggs Jericho on, and Jericho frowns as he looks around. Jericho stares Shibata down, then winds up to CHOP! Shibata CHOPS again! Jericho huffs and puffs but that one really stung. Jericho still CHOPS, Shibata CHOPS again, and this CHOP fight isn’t stopping! Jericho pumps up to COHP! Shibata pumps up to CHOP! Jericho takes a moment, his entire chest is red! Jericho gets in Shibata’s face, snarls and fires up the fans, to CHOP!
The CHOP fest hits another stride! Shibata CHOPS, and CHOPS, and then CHOPS again! Jericho ends up in a corner, he CHOPS back and they speed back up! Shibata CHOPS overhand and Jericho is sent reeling! Shibata doesn’t even seem to care that his chest is bright red! The CHOPS just keep going back and forth, over and over! Jericho needs to catch his breath from the impacts, but he doesn’t stop coming back for more! Winnipeg fires up as the CHOPS just keep going and Dynamite returns to single picture! The fans cheer on “A E DUB! A E DUB!” as the CHOPS just keep ringing out!
Shibata CHOPS, and CHOPS and then finally goes to forearms in the corner! Shibata gives one more CHOP, then he goes corner to corner, but Jericho CHUCKS a puck! Shibata takes it and comes back with haymakers! Jericho trips Shibata into the WALLS OF JERICHO! The fans go wild as Shibata endures! Shibata fights around, reaches out, but Jericho keeps him from ropes! Jericho sits deep on the hold, but Shibata pushes up, tucks ‘n’ rolls and gets the ankles to trip Jericho! Shibata steps through into a FIGURE FOUR! Now fans “WOO~” for a different reason! Jericho grabs another puck as he sits up, to CHUCK it into Shibata’s face!!
Shibata clutches his nose as he lets the leglock go, and Jericho has more pucks! The fans fire up as Jericho goes out to search under the ring. He brings out a kendo stick, and a trash can! Jericho is again recreating his match with Hook, but he also adds another kendo stick. Jericho puts the can around Shibata, then SMACKS it with the stick! And again! The stick is breaking as Jericho SMACKS away with those headshot strikes! Wait, Shibata is standing up!? Shibata is perhaps using the can as armor as he steps into the strikes! Jericho keeps hitting Shibata but Shibata keeps backing him down! Now Jericho’s cornered!
Jericho apologizes, but Shibata TRASH CAN HEADBUTTS him! Jericho sits down, Shibata kicks him, then takes off the trash can! The fans fire up as Shibata lets Jericho hold the can, then runs to HYDRAULIC DROPKICK it into Jericho! Jericho flounders, Shibata covers, TWO! Shibata clears some space, and he finds the kendo sticks! The fans fire up as Shibata dual wields, only to give one to Jericho! Shibata wants a fair fight, after all! Jericho and Shibata circle, but then Shibata sits down? So Jericho does the same. They square up, and Shibata SMACKS Jericho on the ear! Jericho SMACKS Shibata on the shoulder, Shibata returns fire, and the fans fire up!
The SMACKS go again and again, then they clash stick to stick! Shibata disarms Jericho to then SMACK away on Jericho’s leg! Then he gets around, KENDO STICK SAIDO onto the pucks!! Jericho writhes, Shibata goes out and looks under the ring. Shibata brings out a TABLE! The fans go wild seeing that! Shibata puts the table into the ring, props it up in a table, and he fires off JABS and CHOPS! Jericho wobbles with every shot, so Shibata CLUBS him again and again and again! Then CHOPS him! Jericho is against the table, Shibata runs, but into a CODE BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Shibata survives!
Jericho aims from a corner, takes aim, JUDAS- SLEEPER!! Shibata has Jericho caught, but Jericho flails around! Jericho reaches for ropes, but Shibata grabs that arm, ripcords and CHOPS! Jericho falls and Shibata goes back to the table. The fans duel as Shibata takes this table and stands it up in the drop zone. “This is Awesome!” but wait! BIG BILL is here! And he BOOTS Jericho down!! The fans boo as Morrissey saves the Learning Tree and then SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAMS Shibata through the table!! Bill leaves it to Jericho, and Jericho crawls to cover Shibata in the wreckage. Jericho wins!
Winner: Chris Jericho, by pinfall (still FTW Champion)
Bill saved Jericho #ForTheWorld, and Jericho seems to appreciate that. Will The Learning Tree take Bill under his wing- er, branches, and guide him to success?
BREAKING NEWS for Collision!
May the Fourth be with you as AEW takes Saturday night off for the Star Wars movie marathon!
Backstage interview with Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander & Stokely Hathaway.
Renee is with the TBS Champion, the Galaxy’s Greatest and #BigStoke, and she brings up last week’s confrontation with Mercedes Mone. It seemed there was major miscommunication there. Yes, Kris wants to apologizes. Mone had no right to interrupt, Kris was just trying to diffuse the situation, but it backfired onto Willow, Kris is so sorry. Renee pivots to later tonight on Rampage with another challenger in the form of Skye Blue. Yes, Willow will accept the challenge. Because lucky for Skye Blue, last week left Willow in a fighting mood. So Mone, don’t think Willow will forget about that cheap shot.
But Skye, if you want a fight, honey, Willow will mop the floor with you! With this title on the line, Willow will maim, massacre, right here in Winnipeg, Manitoba! Stokely speaks up, saying the worst part is what Skye said about him! And he can’t complain to nobody because those p*icks, the Young Bucks, beat up Tony Khan! And worst part about that is, they did it before payday! But then a technical aid brings Renee her phone. Oh, it’s a text from Matt & Nick… They tell her she’s doing a good job, though she could be smiling more. And let Stoke & Kris know that they are now BANNED from ringside during the TBS Championship! Any interference will strip Willow of the title!
Okay, aside from Stoke’s own words and actions, what’d he do to deserve this!? Kris and Stoke head out, and she makes sure he knows it was his fault. Renee wishes Willow luck, Willow thanks Renee, and she fires herself up. Will the Babe with the Power still be the Face of TBS after tonight?
BREAKING NEWS for Dynamite!
After checking Buddy off the list, and then almost taking him out for good, Adam “Edge” Copeland is moving on through the House of Black to face Brody King! Will the Rated R Superstar go two for two? Or will the House win out in the end? Plus, after the tense confrontation from tonight, Freshly Squeezed will look to avenge Chuckie T with his own two hands! Orange Cassidy takes on Trent Beretta, who will prove they were always the best Best Friend?
Claudio Castagnoli VS Brian Cage!
The Swiss Superman gave Swerve an awesome fight last week on Collision, and believes that he is the best not because he always wins, but because he always shows up, day after day after day. Claudio acknowledges he isn’t the “shiny new toy,” because he’s the one that’ll never break! Will he prove that even against The Mogul Embassy’s Machine? Or will the #Swolverine get his stuff in and take the win?
The bell rings and both men run in to DOUBLE LARIAT! They fire forearms back and forth as fans chant “MEAT! MEAT! MEAT!” Claudio winds up to LARIAT! Cage stays up, and he LARIATS back! Claudio rebounds to LARIAT! Cage rebounds to LARIAT! The LARIATS go back and forth, then Cage UPPERCUTS! Cage suplexes high and hard! Claudio gets up in a huff, and he UPPERCUTS back! And UPPERCUTS again and again! Claudio reels Cage in for a BIG suplex! But Cage gets right up! Cage ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl RANA! Claudio stands up, into a DROPKICK! Cage asks, “Who betta than Cage?”
Cage whips Claudio to ropes, but Claudio KICKS back! Claudio then runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Cage drops, only for the hurdle to be caught! Claudio makes it a BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up as Claudio roars, and Claudio drags Cage up. The fans rally as Claudio fires forearms, then he whips Cage to a corner. Cage goes up and over, schoolboy and BOOT! Cage storms up on Claudio, brings him up to fireman’s carry, but Claudio slips free! Claudio shoves Cage to the corner, runs up, but into an ELBOW! Cage runs up, but into a scoop! Claudio holds Cage up before the SLAM! Then Claudio ninja runs to DOUBLE STOMP!
The fans fire up and Claudio fires off on Cage in a corner. Claudio rains down fists, the fans count along, but Cage dumps Claudio over before five! Claudio hits back, ELBOWS Cage, but Cage GAMANGIRIS! Cage goes up the corner, and the fans fire up for the deadlift SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up and Cage flexes while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Cage storms after Claudio, and he CHOKES Claudio on ropes! The ref counts, Cage lets off and stomps Claudio down, then stomps a mudhole. The ref counts again, Cage lets off at 4, and Claudio sputters. Cage drags Claudio up, but Claudio ROCKS him! And ROCKS him again and again! But Cage JUMP KNEES! Cage reels Claudio in to scoop and SLAM! Cage then runs to drop the leg, brother! Cover, TWO! Cage is annoyed but Claudio snarls. Cage pushes Claudio around, but Claudio CHOPS! Claudio goes to a corner, Cage COHPS him in return! Cage stalks Claudio to another corner, and CHOPS again.
Claudio goes to the fourth corner, but CHOPS in return! And CHOPS again, and again! Claudio whips corner to corner, Cage reverses and Claudio hits buckles hard! Cage stomps Claudio, soaks up the heat, then storms over to Claudio in the corner. Cage whips corner to corner, runs in and UPPERCUTS! Then spins to clothesline! Then wrenches for the SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Claudio stays in this but Cage stays on Claudio with a chinlock! Claudio endures, even as Cage squeezes tight! Claudio fights up to his feet, but Cage wrangles him down with a leg sweep! Cage leans on the chinlock and grinds Claudio into the mat!
Claudio endures, fights back up, and Dynamite returns to single picture. Claudio throws body shots, then elbows. Claudio whips, Cage reverses and SUPERKICKS! Claudio ends up on ropes, Cage dials it up, 619! Claudio staggers, Cage DISCUS LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Claudio survives but Cage stays focused. Cage pump handles, lifts, but Claudio lands out! Claudio dodges to springboard, FLYING UPPERCUT! The fans fire up while both men are down! The standing count starts, Claudio rises at 3 and Cage is in a corner. Claudio runs up to UPPERCUT! Claudio UPPERCUTS again and again and again as the fans fire up!
The ref counts, Claudio lets off, but then jukes to UPPERCUT again! Claudio roars, runs and BOOTS! Cage BOOTS back! Claudio BOOTS again, so Cage kicks, Claudio blocks to UPPERCUT, SUPERKICK and then Cage is on ropes! The fans fire up as Claudio dials it up! SWISS-1-9!! Cage flounders up, into a DISCUS LARIAT from Claudio! Cover, TWO! Cage survives but Claudio keeps his cool. Claudio drags Cage up and reels him in, Gotch lift, but Cage Alabama Lifts, to ALABAMA BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio survives but Cage hauls him up! Fireman’s carry, but Claudio fights free! Claudio shoves, Cage ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Claudio comes back to POP-UP UPPERCUT!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Claudio calls for it! Claudio gets Cage’s legs, for the GIANT SWING!! Cage goes around and around and around, and the fans count along! Claudio goes all the way to nine, then steps through for a Canadian favorite, the SHARPSHOOTER! Cage crawls forward but Claudio drags him back! Cage is caught, he taps! Claudio wins!
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli, by submission
The Swiss Superman proves tougher than the Swolverine, because that is the power of never stopping! Will Claudio not stop on his way back to a championship?
Backstage interview with Rocky Romero.
Renee is now with Azucar, and brings up the Best Friends tearing each other apart. Next week on Dynamite, Cassidy VS Trent, can she even ask Rocky who he sides with? Rocky says he doesn’t side with anyone in this. Who’s the real winner anyway? The whole thing has been tearing Rocky apart and he just can’t take it anymore. He’s done with it. He told Trent, Chuck, Kris and Cassidy that he’s out. Rocky Romero does his own thing from now on. And that thing is becoming a champion here in AEW. Rocky has been a champ in NJPW, in ROH, and in CMLL. The only way Rocky knows how to do that is by challenging the best.
And speaking of, there’s one guy that brings out the best in Rocky, and who he brings the best out of in return. Just a couple weeks ago, they brought the best out of each other when taking on The Undisputed Kingdom. Rocky tells Kyle O’Reilly that he wants to face him again, here tonight on Rampage, in the great city of Winnipeg! Rocky VS Kyle one more time, may the best man win. Renee wishes Rocky luck and he says thanks, he’ll need it. Will #CombatKyle give Azucar the best fight either man has ever had?
Serena Deeb VS Mariah May w/ Toni Storm & Luther!
The Professor of Professional Wrestling said last week that she is going to prove herself as THE best wrestler in the AEW Women’s Division, and that of course means becoming THE AEW Women’s World Champion. Will Deeb not only put the “understudy” to the test, but prove herself worthy of facing the leading lady?
The bell rings and the two tie up. Deeb headlocks, spins, wrenches, hammerlocks, headlocks, and repeat! Then Deeb hits the takeover, but Mariah headscissors. Deeb kips free, the two stand off, and the fans applaud. The two reset, tie up again, and Mariah waistlocks. Deeb reaches up, slips her hand into the waisltock, then wrenches free. Mariah wrenches back, but Deeb rolls, rolls, then wrenches to wristlock and wrangle Mariah. Deeb then grabs a leg, has a standing toehold, and she smiles at Storm as she ties up Mariah! Mariah ends up in Paradise! Deeb shows it off to the fans and they cheer while Mariah is frustrated.
The fans rally, Deeb goes to a corner, and she runs up to DROPKICK Mariah outta Paradise! Mariah flounders to a corner, Deeb eggs her on, and Mariah runs up. Deeb dodges, spins Mariah, and snapmares to then run and run Mariah over! Things keep moving, Deeb turns Mariah’s hip toss into a takedown, then she gets the legs to turn her over, SEATED SURFBOARD! Mariah endures and the fans cheer! Deeb lets Mariah go to let her get away. Deeb runs in, Mariah goes up and over to ROCK Deeb! Mariah puts Deeb up top, then CHOPS! Deeb snarls as Mariah swaggers, then Mariah comes back with the STRATUSPHERE!
Mariah keeps moving, and she SHOTGUNS Deeb down! Deeb flounders to ropes, Mariah poses, and the fans cheer as Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Mariah storms up on Deeb while Storm smiles with pride. Mariah digs her boot into Deeb, lets off as the ref counts, then snapmares Deeb so she can scuff her. Mariah stands Deeb up to CHOP her, and Deeb goes to ropes. Deeb CHOPS, but Mariah CHOPS again! Deeb CHOPS, CHOPS, but Mariah knees low! Mariah scoops to hit a SPINNING SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Mariah keeps cool as she keeps on Deeb with a chinlock. Mariah shows her own technical prowess with the grip as she grinds Deeb down. Deeb endures, fights up, and throws body shots! Deeb is free, she runs, but Mariah LARIATS her down!
Deeb staggers back up but Mariah is on her. Mariah scoops and carries Deeb around, for a SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Cover, TWO! Deeb stays in this but Mariah swaggers around. Mariah drags Deeb up, pushes her around, then SLAPS her! Mariah runs, but Deeb drops, sets up, and blocks the kick to SLAP and SLAP and SLAP Mariah in return! Then DRAGON SCREW! Mariah writhes and Deeb fires herself back up. Deeb again eggs Mariah on as Dynamite returns to single picture. Mariah runs up, Deeb dodges and UPPERCUTS! Mariah goes to a corner, Deeb runs in to clothesline! Deeb whips, Mariah reverses, and Mariah runs up.
Mariah blocks Deeb’s kick, but Deeb uses that to reel her in for a KNEE! Deeb goes out to the apron, catches Mariah and turns her, for a NECKBREAKER HOTSHOT! Mariah flounders away, Storm is upset, but Deeb reels Mariah in. Mariah wrenches out, swings, but into a ripcord! Mariah ducks the elbow, but Deeb kicks low! Deeb reels Mariah in but Mariah wrenches out. Mariah facelocks but now Deeb wrenches out, and TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up with Deeb and she storms around the ring. The fans cheer on “DEEB! DEEB! DEEB!” Deeb brings Mariah up, reels her in, tucks the arms, but Mariah slips under!
Deeb ducks the roundhouse and UPPERCUTS Mariah! Deeb reels Mariah in, but Mariah breaks the full nelson and throws elbows! But Deeb shoves Mariah to the ropes and SNAP GERMANS on the return! Deeb hauls Mariah up, hammerlock and PEPSI TWIST! Cover, TWO!! Mariah survives but Storm is still worried. Deeb has the fans rallying again, and Deeb gets a leg. Deeb lets out a “WOO~” but Mariah denies the figure four! Mariah runs up, but Deeb puts her on the apron. Mariah ducks a shot to ROUNDHOUSE! Mariah goes up the corner, to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up as Deeb flounders away!
Mariah goes to the other corner, says kiss this, and she runs in, SWEET HIP MUSIC! Cover, TWO!! Deeb survives but Mariah runs, because IT’S GONNA KNEE MAY!! Cover, TWO!!! Deeb survives and Mariah is beside herself! May vows to end this, and she storms back up on Deeb. Mariah fireman’s carries, tucks, but Deeb uses that for an OCTOPUS STRETCH!! Mariah then shifts around, sunset flip, but Mariah sits on it! TWO and Deeb finishes the flip, TWO! Mariah swings, into a spin and spin and spin, and a little more spinning, for the backslide! TWO!! Mariah survives, staggers up, and HEADBUTTS a la Storm!
Mariah wrenches, for the SAIDO!! The fans fire up as Deeb goes to a corner! Mariah runs up, but into an ELBOW! Deeb hops up, Mariah returns, but Deeb turns Stratusphere into HALF CRAB!! Mariah is caught as Deeb sits deep! Mariah reaches out, Storm coaches her, and Mariah crawls forward! But Deeb drags her back! Storm panics as Deeb SMASHES the knee over and over! Then a DEEP CRAB!! Storm THROWS IN THE TOWEL, Deeb wins!!
Winner: Serena Deeb, by forfeit
Deeb smiles at Storm, because it shows she’s gotten in her head. And now, she’s gotten her match! The graphic goes up to show it is official, Deeb is the #1 contender and will have her match in Las Vegas! Storm is furious, but who wins when she and Deeb go Double or Nothing?
Backstage interview with Adam “Edge” Copeland.
Renee congratulates The Rated R Superstar on his win tonight, but asks if he’s okay. He seemed out of sorts out there. Edge says yeah, he’s… Uh, yeah, he’s okay. Kyle O’Reilly walks in and says to Edge that as a kid from Canada, Edge’s career has meant a lot to him. And now Kyle is sharing a locker room with him, watching his matches, and seeing what’s going on with The House of Black. Kyle doesn’t dig it, man. So if Edge needs back-up or something, Kyle will be there. Edge appreciates that. Brody King is up next, and uh, hey, eyes up here. Kyle gets caught looking at the TNT title, but Edge understands.
Edge also knows Kyle’s got Rocky Romero on Rampage, so good luck out there. Edge heads out, will he be able to handle the House alone? Or will he call upon #CombatKyle when the deck gets stacked?
And now…
“HE is a former AEW World Champion. HE is the only wrestler to hold the AEW World title, Tag Team titles and Trios titles. While most dream of reaching it, HE actually achieved the illustrious seven-star rating. HE is the pride and joy of NOOOOORTH~ CAROLINA~! However, HE is the Golden Boy of Winnipeg, Manitoba! Tonight, HE returns to AEW. Tonight, HE returns… home. HE is the Cleaner, HE is the Best Bout Machine, HE is a Founding Father of AEW. HE is… KENNY! OOOOOOOOOOMEEEEEEEEGAAAAAAA~!” The fans go wild as the man himself makes his way out to the ring, in a sharp suit and shades.
The pyro goes off for Kenny as he makes his way down the ramp and steps into the ring. Kenny gets the mic as the fans cheer him on, and he says they’re making this tough on him. He’s never been good at this sort of stuff. The fans chant “Welcome Home!” and Kenny smiles. Kenny says he’s never been good at talking about injuries, illness, weakness. A few months back, he was diagnosed with diverticulitis. Fans boo diverticulitis, it sucks, and Kenny says he’ll spare fans the gory details if they don’t know what that entails. But after spending 10 days in the hospital, the doctors told him, “You’re one of the lucky ones. You were 24 hours away from dying.”
So to that, Kenny said, “Cool story, Doc, can you patch me up and send me back to Dynamite?” The doc said it wasn’t that simple. They needed to get what’s in him outta him, and if they cut him open now, they’d have to filet him open, and give him a colostomy back for six months, maybe 12 months, maybe even the rest of his life. Kenny told the doctor, “And if I don’t?” The doc said that’s fine, but then for the rest of his life, Kenny will have a ticking timebomb right in his gut. He might not know where, when or why, but he might just one day wake up in the hospital, having the surgery anyway. Any sort of blunt force trauma to the stomach could kill him.
Kenny says since that day, he can’t lie. He had to stop… Kenny gets emotional here as he says he had to stop watching. He had to stop watching AEW because his hands would shake. He was scared. For the first time in his life, Kenny was scared. He felt pathetic, felt like a coward. Like maybe the point today, this whole thing, was to come out and explain to the fans that he’d have to retire. The fans don’t like the sound of that, but then Kenny did something. He turned on AEW for the first time the other day, and he watched Dynasty. Did anyone else watch Dynasty? The fans all cheer that!
Kenny says he saw Swerve make history! He saw Ospreay and Danielson put on one of the greatest matches he’s ever seen in his LIFE! And he wishes he could say he was happy. But he looked at his hands, they were shaking again. The tremors got worse. Kenny thought to himself, “Am I really scared of being a wrestler?” No, it wasn’t fear. When he came out here, hearing Justin Roberts’ introduction, and hearing every single fan chanting his name, it made Kenny realize something very important. Yes he was scared, but that’s life! Everyone’s scared of something! The reason he was shaking was from WITHDRAWAL! The fans cheer that!
Kenny knew he needed to be back in this ring. More than he wanted to breathe! Because living for Kenny is being in this ring! Being called the Best Bout Machine is what fuels him! And it hurt him, and he hated it, that all the best shows, the best PPVS, the best wrestlers on this planet are in the conversation, and Kenny’s being forgotten! So Kenny made a promise to himself, and he makes it to each and everyone watching. “This isn’t over until I exhaust every option! If there’s a 10% chance, a 5% chance, a 1% chance, bag or no bag, you guys aren’t done with Kenny Omega yet.” The fans cheer that!
Kenny says he made a mission statement, #ChangeTheWorld! And that brings him on to the second piece of business. Speaking of colostomy bags, let’s talk about two other bags of crap right now! “Matthew and Nicholas! You’ve been running roughshod over this company and embarrassing yourselves more than you’ve embarrassed yourselves ever before in the past. And you’re free to do that as EVPs. But what you forget… Is that there’s also one other EVP. I may be ‘fired’ from The Elite, but you can’t fire me as an EVP. So as far as I’m concerned, until someone says otherwise, a part of the power in this company belongs to the Best Bout Machine!”
The fans love hearing that! But then the coin drops, and Kazuchika Okada makes his way out here! The Rainmaker, the Continental Champion, is also in his own great suit, and has his own mic. Okada steps into the ring with Omega, these great rivals meeting once again. The fans lose their minds seeing this, and Omega tells “Ohh hisashiburi da na, Okada.” AKA long time no see. The Rainmaker, The Best Bout Machine. Funny, Omega and Okada had a rivalry in NJPW, right? How about Okada gives Omega a couple months, and they’ll settle things right here in AEW? The fans REALLY love the sound of that!
Okada thinks, then says, “I’m sorry, Kenny. I’M the Best Bout Machine now.” And then JACK PERRY ATTACKS FROM BEHIND! The fans boo as The Scapegoat takes a cheap shot, and then Omega gets a chair! Okada slides that in for Jack, and Jack swings on security! Guard after guard goes down, and then Jack aims at Omega! Omega dodges the shot to JAB! JAB! JAB! And then he ROCKS Jack, KNEES him again and again, then brings Jack into a full nelson! SNAP DRAGON! But Omega winces and clutches his gut. The fans rally for Omega but Omega is risking his life just doing this! Omega stands, takes off the suit jacket, and he fires up!
Omega rips his shirt open, takes aim at Jack, and BANG! Omega runs, but Omega trips him up just enough! Omega kicks at Okada, but then Jack JAMS Omega with the chair!! The gut shot takes Omega down! Fans boo but Okada grins and Jack smirks. Okada sputters, The Bucks hurry out here and are very upset. Though, they were also upset last week with the attack on Tony Khan… The Bucks have Okada and Jack stand down, Omega is still their friend. Omega sputters and coughs, the fans rally behind him, and he manages to sit up. But then the Bucks each take a hand, for an E V P TRIGGER!!!
The fans boo as hard as they can as The Elite close in on Omega again. But here comes FTR! Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood aren’t 100% either but they’re not gonna let that stop them! They run The Elite off to make sure Omega stays safe. Medical stuff checks on Omega, will he be alright? Will the Top Guys tear down this corrupt Elite once and for all?
My Thoughts:
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