Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Live Results & Report! (1/1/19)
It’s the first SmackDown of 2019 and it’s big as JOHN CENA returns! What will the Face that Runs the Place have to say and do in this “Fresh Start” era?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Jeff Hardy VS Samoa Joe; wins and joins tonight’s Fatal 5 Way #1 Contenders match.
- Mandy Rose w/ Sonya Deville VS Naomi; changed to…
- Sonya Deville w/ Mandy Rose VS Naomi; Deville wins.
- Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelina Vega VS Becky Lynch & John Cena; Lynch & Cena win.
- WWE Championship #1 Contenders Fatal 5 Way: AJ Styles VS Rey Mysterio VS Randy Orton VS Mustafa Ali VS Samoa Joe; Styles wins and will face Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
PLAY BY PLAY
Awwww~ Steel City~!
Don’t you dare be sour! Clap for your world famous five-time tag champs, and feel~ the power~! The New Day open the first SmackDown of 2019! Babe-E New Year leads the way as he, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods hit the ring with pancakes for all! “Welcome to the very first SmackDown of a brand new year.” Pour one out for 2018, because 2019’s here, babyyyyy~! And ya bois have a very, very important announcement: Kofi, Big E and Xavier will all be in the Royal Rumble match! Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona and 15 THOUSAND screaming for that match! For all the freaks in Vegas, put some stacks on these three, because if you take their 33 and a third percent chance of winning, and their opponents’ 3 and 33% chance–
Big E, stop. Why is he doing Steiner Math? But in the end, the point is, all three are in the match, so they do have a better chance of winning, which means they have a better chance of main eventing Wrestlemania to become WWE Champion! And they could also challenge for the WWE Universal Championship. But that guy might not show up anyway! “He don’t wanna come to work!” Kofi comes to work every day! He has for 11 years! Yet he hasn’t gotten his shot! Oh no, Kofi, calm down, please. They’ll get that shot for him. Kofi calms down and vows to help win the Rumble, but there are some New Year’s Resolutions first.
This comes with a heavy heart after speaking to the doctors. Their resolution should be to cut back on pancakes. From now on, they’ll be handing out lettuce- E, stop sneaking pancakes! Doctor’s orders. No more “scrumptious, delicious, fluffy-” E, stop!! The fans still want pancakes, and he has some in his… diaper? Big E hands out the pancakes. No one does their resolutions! Not really. But, those were in the diaper… Well, okay, Kofi will skip that resolution but has another: getting a yellow bug that he becomes friends with, and then learns that with both friends and life, there’s more than meets the eye. Isn’t that just Bumblebee the Movie? With John Cena. 94%, certified fresh!
Woods, wearing a blindfold, vows to master having no sight, while also directing his children to safety! That’s Birdbox. But speaking of plots, the plot thickens tonight because of the Fatal 5 Way, and the winner going on to face Daniel Bryan at Royal Rumble! In one corner, The Destroyer, the Samoan Submission Machine, SAMOA JOE! Fans don’t like Joe. In the other corner… Who? Who who who? Jeff Hardy! And he appears! The Charismatic Enigma gets fans fired up as he makes his entrance, because that match is NEXT!
Jeff Hardy VS Samoa Joe!
The Enigma and the Destroyer have issue with each other, because Joe has issue with Hardy having issues in his past. But that was then, this is now, and this match means so much for both men’s near futures! Who will win to then join The Phenomenal One, King of Lucha Libre, Viper, and Beacon of Light in that furious Fatal 5 Way?
SmackDown returns as Joe makes his entrance. This is also a rematch from last week’s Christmas SmackDown match, which ended when Hardy went too far and got himself disqualified. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up and Joe pushes Hardy back. Hardy pushes Joe and they end up in a corner. Joe lets up only to kick Hardy in the leg and throw fast hands. The ref backs Joe off but Joe comes back for more kicks to Hardy’s legs. Hardy blocks one but Joe gets him into a kneebar takedown! Hardy endures and drags himself over to the ropebreak! Joe lets go at 4, then stalks Hardy to a corner.
Joe stands Hardy up for jabs and chops. He grins at Hardy before bringing him out for headbutts. Joe stomps Hardy then drags him up for a whip. Hardy reverses and reels Joe in for a jawbreaker! Hardy drags Joe over to throw his leg into a post! And again! And again! Hardy lets off and Joe hobbles away. Hardy grabs that bad leg, and wants a figure four. Joe drags himself away and out of the ring, and throws a tantrum while Hardy and fans chant “DELETE! DELETE!” We go picture in picture while Joe seethes.
Joe hobbles around the corner, but Hardy goes after him. Joe drags Hardy out and throws hands, but Hardy counters punches. Hardy throws haymakers then throws Joe into the barriers. Hardy says “DELETE!” before clubbing Joe down. He puts Joe in the ring, drops an elbow, and then a leg drop! Cover, ONE! Hardy keeps on Joe with a buckle bump and corner punches. He gets nine and makes the tenth a headbutt! Cover, ONE! Joe is tough but Hardy keeps on him. Hardy drags Joe up for a snapmare and dropkick! Cover, TWO! Hardy keeps his cool while Joe rolls away. Hardy bumps Joe off buckles and then rams his shoulder in. He throws hands on Joe’s bad leg, then dropkicks it out!
Hardy stomps Joe to the ropes, but the ref backs him off. “DELETE! DELETE!” starts up again and Hardy wants the Twist. Joe denies it and then clobbers Hardy with a clothesline! Joe gets that bad leg moving again, and he stomps Hardy down. He drags Hardy up into a modified cobra clutch. Hardy endures as Joe holds tight. Hardy fights his way up and out, but Joe throws him down by his hair. Joe grins as he looms over Hardy. He stalks Hardy to the corner as we return to single picture.
Joe drags Hardy up to slap him, then jab him in a corner. He drives his elbow in, then tells Hardy “You started this!” Hardy hits back with haymakers but Joe covers up. Hardy runs but into Joe’s big back elbow! Cover, TWO! Joe keeps his cool as he stands Hardy back up. Joe gives big palm strikes and elbows, then whips Hardy corner to corner. Hardy elbows back, then climbs up, but Joe trips him up! Hardy is in the Tree of Woe, Joe goes side to side for the basement dropkick! Joe grins and drags Hardy out of the Tree for the cover. TWO, but Joe is only moderately annoyed. Joe wrenches Hardy’s neck but fans rally up. Hardy feeds off the energy and fights back. He whips but Joe reverses, only for Hardy to hit back!
Hardy hits the atomic drop, leg splitting leg drop and dropkick! Cover, TWO! Hardy hits the Twist of Fate! Off comes the shirt as Hardy heads up top. Hardy hits the Swanton Bomb! But Joe rolls out of the ring! Joe survives, but Hardy won’t leave him be. Hardy swings for the dropkick but Joe drags him into a Coquina Clutch!! The ring count begins and climbs past 5, but Joe holds on to choke Hardy out. Joe leaves Hardy for dead and gets back in the ring. The referee starts the count over despite Joe’s protest! Hardy is still down at the new 5, but stirs at 7. Hardy stands and gets in at 9.5! But into another Coquina Clutch! Hardy flails but fades, he’s out! Joe wins!
Winner: Samoa Joe, by submission; advances to the WWE Championship #1 Contenders Fatal 5 Way
The Destroyer puts the Enigma to sleep, and now joins four great superstars in the main event! Will Joe still have more in the tank to outlast Styles, Mysterio, Orton and Ali?
Vince and Shane McMahon talk in their office.
The Chairman is so excited to see Samoa Joe added to the main event match tonight, “he makes the difference.” Shane knows the winner of that match will have truly earned their WWE Championship match. However, AJ Styles visits! The Phenomenal One is still seething but it was the McMahons who asked him to appear. Are they sure they want to see him? Maybe Styles should apologize, but he won’t. Vince provoked Styles on purpose. Vince wants the “real” Styles? Then watch what happens tonight. Unless he wants to see it in person again. Shane gets up to defend his father but Vince keeps him calm. Styles leaves, and Shane has to ask Vince, too. Does he want to see the real Styles? Absolutely. Then be careful what you wish for.
Welcome the NEW WWE United States Champion, Rusev!
It was the best Rusev Day ever on Christmas, not just because it was also Rusev’s birthday, but because he won an amazing match against Shinsuke Nakamura! The Bulgarian Brute again holds the US Championship, and now he and Lana stand proud in the ring. Fans chant for “Rusev Day!” and Rusev says it himself, it was the greatest Rusev Day of them all! It was such a big moment, but how will his reign different from Nakamura’s? It will be very different, as Rusev takes pride in holding this title. His reign will be long and luscious, like his beard. But he will also be a fighting champion, with courage, strength, honor, and animal magnitism, plus a natural scent of bacon and cinnamon buns.
Rusev’s word is his pledge, and he pledges allegiance to the title of the United States! Rusev Day, USA! But Nakamura appears and attacks out of nowhere! Nakamura stomps away on Rusev, until Lana leaps on his back! Lana pries Nakamura off Rusev, then Rusev MACHKA Kicks Nakamura! But Lana takes damage from the fall! Rusev checks on his Ravishing Russian, but then gets a kick from Nakamura! Fans boo as Nakamura takes aim. Nakamura gives Rusev a KINSHASA! The King of Strong Style wants the title back, but with no rematch clauses, he’ll have to earn his shot. How many more superstars will get a #Knee2Face before Shinsuke resurrects the United States of Nakamerica?
Mandy Rose w/ Sonya Deville VS Naomi!
The Golden Goddess has tried to be a golden homewrecker with how she flirted with Jimmy Uso, husband to The Glow Incarnate. Will Naomi snatch Mandy bald for making moves on her man?
SmackDown returns as the duo formerly known as Absolution make their entrance. Naomi is ready to strike but the ref keeps her back. Mandy takes off her merchandise shirt to reveal she’s wearing an Uso shirt! Now Naomi is really mad! Mandy gets away and the bell rings, and Sonya’s in the ring?! This was supposed to be Naomi VS Mandy, but it seems there was a bait and switch. But Naomi doesn’t care, she’ll fight anyone right now!
Sonya Deville w/ Mandy Rose VS Naomi!
The bell rings and Naomi throws hands with the Gladiator Gal! Naomi gets an edge, then stomps Sonya out. Mandy climbs onto the apron but runs when Naomi rushes at her. Sonya rolls Naomi up, TWO, and Naomi rocks Sonya with a dropkick! Naomi adds a sliding SLAP! Mandy distracts Naomi but again runs off when Naomi rushes at her. Naomi turns around into Sonya’s sliding knee! Cover, TWO! Naomi is practically in a handicap match, and now endures a chinlock. Sonya and Mandy both taunt Naomi while Sonya thrashes her around. Naomi fights her way up, then stomps on Sonya’s feet. Naomi rocks Sonya with a big back elbow, then runs to springboard enziguri! But Mandy gets on the mic!
“Hey, Naomi. Earlier today when I was getting ready, I couldn’t help but think of your husband. So I sent him this.” Mandy shows the world a picture of herself, in nothing but a towel! Naomi is done with Mandy, but not with Sonya! Sonya hits another big knee, then a suplex to swinging slam! Cover, Sonya wins!
Winner: Sonya Deville, by pinfall
Give the assist to Mandy’s mind games, the duo once known as Absolution takes the win. Will Naomi make Mandy pay for trying to poach her man?
Randy Orton speaks.
“Mysterio knows first hand what it’s like to be one of my victims.” And after tonight, there will be more names on his list. Then Orton will win and become champion again, making the world championship known by the most dangerous letters in sports entertainment: R K O. Will the Viper strike down not just one but four major contenders in one match?
Rey Mysterio speaks.
“I proved to Randy Orton that I am not someone who can be pushed around.” And tonight, Mysterio proves it to everyone that he didn’t come back for nostalgia. Mysterio’s back to again be WWE Champion. Will the King of Lucha return to his throne?
Mustafa Ali speaks.
“I used to be known as the Heart of the Cruiserweights. But now, I want to be known as the Heart of SmackDown.” It won’t just be about in-ring technique. He pinned Daniel Bryan because of heart. Tonight, he steps in the ring with four men who want the same thing. And Ali knows he’s the underdog. But Ali has hope and heart. Will Ali’s heart light shine brightest in the biggest match of his WWE career?
SmackDown superstars share their New Year’s Resolutions!
The IIconics vow to be the inaugural WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, and make those titles #IIconic! Strike the pose!
The Club’s Good Brothers, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson, want to make Anderson’s eight pack into a ten pack. Gallows reminds Anderson that they’re going to eliminate all of SmackDown’s tag team… Um, what was it? Oh yes, NERRRDS!!
Shelton Benjamin thinks resolutions are fakes, because no one will live up to any of it! Time to end resolutions once and for all! Benjamin yanks down the curtain, and pops a balloon, yet still wishes everyone a Happy New Year. Will the Gold Standard skip resolutions and instead be resolute in going for gold?
Samoa Joe speaks.
“Earlier tonight, I showed Jeff Hardy that I was telling the truth all along.” Hardy is obsessed with Joe, and like every obsession, it will be his downfall. Joe vows that when he wins tonight’s Fatal 5 Way, he’ll defeat Bryan at Royal Rumble, and only push Hardy deeper into his madness through jealousy by raising that WWE Championship up high. Will Joe make his words into truth once again?
John Cena is here!
Pittsburgh is thunderous for the return of the 16-time world champion Franchise Player! Cena picks up the mic as fans continue their ovation. Cena can tell they’re still mixed like the last time he was here, but he’s grateful to have that energy. Because New Year’s is a great time to look ahead and to look back. Cena’s had one hell of a 2018. He was a fan to Wrestlemania, and it was great. Probably shouldn’t have had those beers before his surprise match with Undertaker but that’s on him. Cena’s love life played out for all to see, and it is what it is. He wrote a children’s book and is grateful to those who supported it. He lived in China for six months, and still thinks his current hairstyle is a good idea.
But Cena admits that through it all, the ups, the downs and in between, he can still float like a butterfly and sting like a bumblebee. See what he did there? #CertifiedFresh! Cena sees the fans are here, there’s energy in the building, but there’s just one question. Not what or who (who who who?) but why. Why why why why why is Cena back now? He doesn’t know yet. But the best thing about SmackDown is that any time now, someone’s gonna show up and try to tell him he’s “an old, broken down, part-timing Hollywood wannabe who should get a haircut and leave WWE faster than Nikki Bella left me.” Well that cat’s out of the bag, so please, give Cena a reason to be here! The superstar to answer the call is… Becky Lynch!?
The Straight Fire, the Lass Kicker, The Man, heads to the ring! Becky fired up and tore it down in 2018 ever since getting out from Charlotte’s shadow, but now she stands in front of THE John Cena? Pittsburgh’s on her side about it, too. “So how does it feel?” she asks Cena. To be back? It’s great. No, not that. How does it feel that Cena expected a man but didn’t expect THE Man? Cena feels back where he belongs? Well it’s not that simple anymore. 2018 wasn’t just Becky overcoming Charlotte, she was aiming for Cena, too. Cena has been everywhere for the last 16 years, and personifies what WWE is. Wait, more like “was”.
Now it’s time for someone new to step up and step into his shoes. And Pitt surely agrees that that person is Becky! And it sounds like they do! If Cena has a problem with that, Nikki Bella won’t be the only woman to drop him this year. Cena appreciates the one liner, but before he can respond, Andrade “Cien” Almas and Zelina Vega appear! La Muneca hates to interrupt this oneupmanship, but the fact is they’re both former champions, aka are old news. The McMahons promised a fresh start, with new faces and opportunities. 2019 just started and Vega only sees an older face in Cena, and a broken face in Becky. She still looks a little rough, just saying.
Vega properly introduces herself to Cena, the business manager to El Idolo, the future of SmackDown and the WWE, Andrade “Cien” Almas! 2019 will be the Year of Tranquilo! Cena introduces himself properly, and she might know him from being John Cena, so allow him to tell her how it’s done ’round here. Vega is hitting way out of her weight class, and “Padre”, Cena’s pretty sure Becky could kick your teeth down your throat. So instead of yapping, let’s get to fighting! Becky dared Cena to find out what it’s like to be in the ring with her, he’d like to find out in a Mixed Match Tag right now!! Pittsburgh wants it, Almas & Vega accept it! We’re having this match, after the break!
Andrade “Cien” Almas & Zelina Vega VS Becky Lynch & John Cena!
SmackDown returns and Becky tells Cena she’s got this. The ladies start and we have one first-time-ever match-up. Becky ties up and gets Vega in a headlock. Vega fights out but Becky runs her over. Becky brushes off her shoulder in perhaps a reference to Cena’s past, then things speed up. Becky calf kicks Vega down then stares Almas down. She goes back to Vega but Vega gets to the ropes. Vega tags to Almas and Becky wants to face Almas herself! But this is mixed match rules, Cena has to come in. Becky reluctantly agrees with a stiff chop of a tag. Cena shrugs it off and circles with Almas in the other first-time-ever match-up.
Almas ties up and gets a headlock, but Cena powers out. Almas goes Tranquilo and Vega joins her. Cena just shrugs it off and circles with Almas. They tie up and Almas gets another headlock. Cena pries his way out, and puts a headlock on Almas. Fans want Becky back in, but Almas forearms Cena first. Almas clubs Cena and pumps himself up before throwing more forearms. Almas puts on another headlock but Cena endures. Fans still want Becky, and Cena reaches. Almas uses a takeover to keep Cena away, and he taunts Becky while he holds Cena down. Cena gets back up, and pries his way out again. Cena kicks low and runs, but Vega stands in his way! Almas clubs Cena down, then pushes Cena to the corner.
Almas throws knee after knee in, then Vega gets a cheap shot in! Becky is furious but the ref keeps her back. Almas covers, TWO! Vega and Almas are annoyed but fans rally up. Cena crawls but Almas stomps him down. Almas taunts Becky and drags Cena back up. Cena blocks the suplex, to then suplex Almas back! Both men are down but crawling for corners. Fans are thunderous but Almas runs Cena over! Cover, TWO! Almas keeps his cool while staying on Cena, and we go picture in picture.
Almas stomps a mudhole into Cena, then runs corner to corner for CIEN KNEES! Cover, TWO! Cena survives because we all know he’s Super Cena! Almas kicks Cena while he’s down, and Cena crawls for Becky. Almas keeps stomping Cena, then throwing big haymakers. Cena rolls to ropes but Almas keeps on him. Almas drags Cena to a drop zone then climbs up top. Almas moonsaults, lands on his feet and moonsaults again! Cover, TWO! Almas grows frustrated, and he grabs Cena for an armlock. Cena endures and fights his way back up. Cena reaches for Becky but Almas keeps him back. Almas puts Cena in the corner and fires off forearms. Almas grinds his knees into Cena at the ropes, but then Vega gets another cheap shot!
Fans boo and jeer but Almas and Vega say they’re too smart for Cena. Cena gets to a corner while Almas taunts Becky. Almas stomps a mudhole into Cena then climbs up for corner punches. Almas gets all ten, then grinds his boots into Cena again. Vega tells Almas to end it, and Almas goes corner to corner. Cien Knees miss! Fans fire up and Cena crawls for his corner! Hot tag to Becky! The women both come in but The Man rallies with a slam! Becky back kicks and barrels into Vega! Becky stomps a mudhole into Vega now, then rocks her with European Uppercuts! She throws Vega with the Becksploder! Becky then climbs up top, and leaps for a missile dropkick! Cover, TWO! Vega survives but Becky doesn’t let up. Becky grabs the arm, but Almas saves Vega!
Cena barrels into Almas with the signature shoulders and hits him with the spin-out bomb! “You Can’t See Me!” Five Knuckle Shuffle! And of course, the Attitude Adjustment, into the Lightning Punch! Cena sends Almas flying out of the ring with his Sixth Move of Doom, but Becky throws Cena out?! Becky wants to be the hero of this story, but Vega rolls her up! ONE, into the Disarm-Her!! Vega taps, Becky and Cena win!
Winners: Becky Lynch and John Cena, Becky by submission
The Man gets the win for her and Cena, and Cena actually wants to shake her hand. Becky fakes him out to say “You Can’t See Me!” Cena is intrigued, but will he and Becky meet again down the line?
The Miz meets with Shane McMahon.
The Co-Besties are both present, and Miz thanks Shane for giving him a chance. Miz has never opened up like he did in front of the WWE Universe last week, and he hopes he didn’t embarrass Shane. Not at all. Shane told Miz last week, he really empathizes with Miz. But Shane has a lot of stuff going on. He’s not backing out, is he? He said yes last week. A McMahon’s word is their bond, right? Yes, and Shane is still on for #BestTagTeamintheWorld. Okay then, because Miz got something for him. Miz has a presentation. All good tag teams think together and work together, but they also dress together. So Miz made a quick mock-up of Shane in one of Miz’s jackets! “This is our new style!” Looks a bit Matrix. Yeah, right, Miz isn’t feeling this look anymore, either.
Then how about something that matches Shane’s fiery passion. Not the shirt Miz is wearing now, that’s his new merchandise available on WWE Shop’s website. Miz presents his second wardrobe idea, of the RED jacket he wears! If Shane likes that hot on the outside, check the inside. The trunks! “Oh my God…” Right?! What are those~! Did Miz use Goldberg’s body or something? No, Shane’s body looks way better. Shane tells Miz to go all the way with fluorescent colors and lights. Yes! Miz will get his people on it, and they will even look like the #BestTagTeamintheWorld! But Shane has slipped away. Miz still thinks the red is a good idea. Will this new team match wardrobe or just focus on winning matches?
SmackDown takes another look at the coming new faces.
Lars Sullivan says he’s “not here to fit in or make friends. I don’t care about being loved and adored.” The Leviathan was put on this planet to instill fear. He vows to make everyone suffer!
Lacey Evans vows to use her Woman’s Right to clear out and clean up the Women’s Division, while maintaining her manners.
They’re COMIIIN’! Heavy Machinery will use the power of #SteaksAndWeights to bring the good times and the big fights to the Tag Team Division.
“You wanna play? Play with Nikki!” The Loony Lass has no fear, there’s only chaos. Nikki Cross is on her way, who wants to play?
And of course, last but certainly not least is the #TopOnePercent. The Best Here, the Best There, the Best Everywhere is prepared to rack up #VictoryAfterVictory no matter where he ends up.
Asuka and Triple H meet backstage.
The new SmackDown Women’s Champion is happy to see the NXT boss again, and he’s happy to see the Empress of Tomorrow again. She’s been on a great little roll, but it’s time for the Royal Rumble. Who does Asuka feel deserves a shot at the title? “I will fight anyone! It doesn’t matter, because no one is ready for ASUKA!” HHH loves it! And wouldn’t you know, Charlotte Flair comes in. The Queen says Ronda Rousey is the only reason Asuka won the title. She deserves her second chance. But the Princess of Staten Island, Carmella, comes in and reminds everyone she was champion for 130 days while beating both Charlotte and Asuka twice each. She deserves another shot. Charlotte tells Carmella to take that Seven Second Dance Break somewhere else. But then Becky barges in and reminds everyone there is only ONE option to face Asuka.
HHH likes all these points. He will consider all these options and let them know when a decision is made. Is Asuka taking on the Queen, the Princess, The Man, or all of them? She doesn’t seem to mind either way. We’ll know when they all know who faces The Empress at The Rumble!
WWE Championship #1 Contenders Fatal 5 Way: AJ Styles VS Rey Mysterio VS Randy Orton VS Mustafa Ali VS Samoa Joe!
The Destroyer has already had a match tonight, but he’s still very confident and determined in his hunt for the world title. Will he be able to survive the Phenomenal, the King, the Viper and the Heart? Or will one of the others come out on top to take on “The New Daniel Bryan” at this year’s Royal Rumble PPV?
SmackDown returns as the bell rings, and surprisingly, Ali goes after Joe! Joe throws Ali off while Orton obviously goes after Mysterio. Styles goes after Joe, always eager to fight his old foe. Styles ducks Joe’s punch to enziguri Joe out! He then goes after Mysterio with a buckle bump and a whip tot he ropes. Mysterio gets a tilt-o-whirl backbreaker! Orton goes after Styles, but Styles is ready! Styles clubs away on Orton all around the ring, then stomps away. Styles chops Orton then runs, but Ali trips him up! Ali goes to throw Styles at a post, but Styles turns it around and sends Ali flying into the steel! Styles drags Ali up and into the ring but Orton gets Styles first! Orton then stalks Ali but Ali is on the apron. Orton drags Ali through the ropes but Ali kicks back!
Ali aims, somersaults and hits the facebuster! Cover, but Joe breaks it! Joe throws Ali out while we see Bryan is watching this backstage. Joe turns around into Mysterio’s springboard seated senton! Styles goes after Mysterio with another whip. Mysterio bounces off the buckles hard, and Styles drags him back up. Styles whips Mysterio again and just as hard into buckles. Styles shows that “real” aggression Vince wanted as he whips Mysterio again. Mstyerio comes back with a kick, then springboards back into headscissors! Styles falls out of the ring, and Mysterio runs, but into Orton’s powerslam! Ali hits Orton with a flapjack dropkick! But Ali runs into Joe’s overhead belly2belly! Styles returns and Joe runs in, but into an elbow!
Styles hops up, Moonsault DDT! Cover, TWO!! The Phenomenal One is furious but he’s the only one standing while we go to break.
SmackDown returns once more to see Orton stomping Styles out. Styles is gasping after the many stomps to the chest, but Mysterio goes after Orton now. Mysterio backs Orton down with strikes but Orton hits back with a EuroUpper. Bryan still watches backstage as Orton brings Styles up. Styles hits the Phenomenal Blitz, but Mysterio comes in. Styles kicks Mysterio away, then clotheslines Orton out. Joe returns but gets a dropkick. Mysterio gets thrown out, but Ali mule kicks Styles to a corner. Ali whips corner to corner but Styles reverses. Ali puts Styles on the apron but Styles hits him away. Styles prepares the arm, but has to fight Orton off. Joe sweeps Styles’ legs and he lands rough on the apron. Orton grabs Styles for a back suplex onto the apron! Then Joe urenages Styles through the announce desk!!
Fans lose their minds over the combined viciousness of the Viper and the Destroyer. They stare down now, but Ali FLIES in to take out Joe! Mysterio FLIES in to take out Orton! Everyone is down on the outside but Pittsburgh loves it. Now it’s Mysterio and Ali in a first-ever encounter! Ali and Mysterio shake hands, but then Mysterio gets a waistlock. Ali standing switches but Mysterio bucks him off. Things speed up, tilt-o-whirl headscissors throws Ali but Ali lands on his feet! Mysterio is impressed but he still kicks and whips. Ali reverses but Mysterio slides under. Things keep moving and now Mysterio headscissors Ali down. Ali puts Msyterio on the apron but Mysterio hits him away. Mysterio climbs but Ali stops him. Ali climbs but Mysterio fights. Ali flips back and lands on his feet, to get back up and hit the SUPER Spanish Fly!!
But Ali can’t make the cover right away! Ali crawls over and gets the pin, but Joe breaks it up! Joe drags Ali up and rams his knees in over and over. Joe drags Ali up to whip him corner to corner. Ali slips out to then hop up, and hit a tornado DDT! Joe is in a drop zone, and Ali climbs again. 0-5-4 flops as Joe rolls away! Joe drags Ali into the Coquina Clutch! Ali flails and reaches for the ropes, but no disqualifications means no ropebreaks. But Mysterio gives Joe the 619! Mysterio dials it back up, to 619 Ali! But Orton yanks Mysterio down to then go after Ali. RKO! Cover, springboard leg drop from Msyterio breaks it! Orton goes after Mysterio but gets an enziguri! And a 619! Mysteroi gets caught by Joe but headscissors him down!
Springboard 450 from Styles on Orton!! Styles wins!!
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall; NEW #1 Contender to the WWE Championship
The Phenomenal One stays phenomenal as he earns his rematch with “The New Daniel Bryan”! Will the real Styles get revenge and become the new WWE Champion?
My Thoughts:
An incredible episode to open 2019! SmackDown gives us quite a lot in one episode to put this “fresh start” to the test. The New Day have a great opening segment to both hype up the episode but also stake their claim to the Royal Rumble. I would love for The New Day to finally make big leaps in the singles department, for Kofi’s sake. Kofi Kingston is just a world title away from his Grand Slam, and it would be really interesting for them, a trio that loves to use Freebird Rules on titles, to have a singles title. Would they all really share it? Or would the man that won it suddenly become greedy? Would it cause them to split? Or at least have a New Day Triple Threat? This fresh start would truly be a thing if any of those things happened.
This week’s Hardy VS Joe was pretty great, and I suppose it all works for their story that Joe wins. Joe enters the Fatal 5 but does not win it because he is a Heel and so is the New Daniel Bryan. However, this can up things for Hardy and Joe to have it out in some kind of No Disqualification type match after the Royal Rumble PPV. Obviously they can both meet and ruin each other’s chances in the Rumble match, but their blow-off will be 1v1 and should be extreme. Shelton Benjamin ending the Superstar New Year’s Resolutions in more ways than one surely means something. Rusev still has Nakamura after him, but since there are no more rematch clauses, it’d be great if Benjamin managed to earn himself a United States Championship match with Rusev first, or even joins as a Triple Threat.
For starting their feud through social media then escalating with the Christmas SmackDown, this story of Naomi VS Mandy is taking some clever turns. Mandy is upping her Heel game by using Sonya as her muscle while heavily implying her flirting with Jimmy Uso. Mandy and Naomi should have their own situation similar to Joe and Hardy, going from a fight during the Rumble match to a proper blow-off after. Perhaps Naomi gets a tag team partner and part of the blow-off feeds into the Women’s Tag Titles. However, I’m still confident the IIconics are SmackDown’s top contender for those.
As for the SmackDown Women’s Championship, I would love if Asuka takes on multiple contenders to reestablish how dangerous she can be without someone’s assistance. Becky wants her rematch, but after her great Mixed Match with Cena, I’m really torn. Becky VS Ronda has to be what we’re getting by virtue of WWE not doing co-ed matches, but I almost wish WWE would ditch that just once for Becky VS Cena. It can be done in traditional wrestling rules where there won’t be strikes, so Cena won’t have to actually hit Becky. I’m thinking HHH’s decision will be a #1 Contender’s Triple Threat, and sadly Becky won’t win, but that’s okay because she can move on to the Royal Rumble, win it, and challenge Ronda.
That Fatal 5 was phenomenal, and not just because Styles won. Everyone in that match looked great, even with Styles going off on everyone like that. Orton and Mysterio clearly still have more for their story but this gave us hints at any number of other great ideas, such as Ali being the next opponent for Orton or Joe after finishing with Mysterio and Hardy. And with Styles getting his rematch with Bryan, all four other men have their won spots in the Rumble to get some shine. Styles VS Bryan III will be a great match now that Styles is ruthless and Bryan is conniving. That match could go either way, but with Elimination Chamber and Fastlane still to come before Wrestlemania, we could still see someone else enter the world title scene to keep that fresh start true to its word.
My Score: 8.5/10
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Will Swerve’s House rumble, bad man, rumble?
While Swerve Strickland has Death Riders and Hangman Page on the brain, he has Shane Taylor in the ring! Will Swerve still be AEW’s Most Dangerous?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Jon Moxley w/ Wheeler Yuta VS AR Fox; Moxley wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Daniel Garcia & Bandido VS Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita & FTR; Kyle, Konosuke & FTR win.
- Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana VS Shane Taylor w/ Shane Taylor Promotions; Swerve wins.
- Mixed Six Tag: Holo.grm, Mark Briscoe & Willow Nightingale VS #MXMTV; Hologram, Briscoe & Willow win.
- JetSpeed VS The Gates of Agony; JetSpeed wins.
- 8 Woman Tag: Thunder Rosa, Queen Aminata & TayJay VS Athena, Thekla, Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford; Athena, Thekla, Bayne & Ford win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Stokely Hathaway, FTR & #ProtoShita speak.
#BigStoke says after what happened on Wednesday was a complete and utter embarrassment, and they all vowed to never let it happen again. Now that Cash Wheeler is back, FTR is complete, and they have #ProtoShita with them! Tonight, they will win! Stokely clearly has confidence enough for all five of them, but will it really go their way? Or will Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Daniel Garcia & Bandido make sure tonight happens just like it did in Mexico City?
Jon Moxley w/ Wheeler Yuta VS AR Fox!
The Maniac feels the walls closing in as we move closer to All In, but an animal is only more dangerous once it is cornered. Will Moxley ruin the Whole Fox’n Show? Or can Fox take down Mox?
The bell rings and Fox DROPKICKS Mox! Fox fires off on Mox in the corner, the ref counts, and Mox shoves Fox away. Fox comes back to LARIAT but Mox stays up. The fans rally for Fox and he LARIATS, but then Mox takes a swing! Fox goes matrix and comes back to ENZIGIRI! The fans fire up and Fox runs in at the corner, A-LIST LARIAT! Fox shoves Moxley to then climb up the corner, FLYING- FOREARM from Moxley! Mox’s antiair takes Fox down and the fans boo. Moxley drags Fox up for an X-PLEX! Fox writhes, Moxley stomps him, and then Moxley brings Fox to the ropes. Moxley puts Fox through the ropes to bend him!
The ref counts, Moxley CLUBS Fox down, and then Moxley storms out after Fox. The fans rally for Fox but Mox CHOPS! Fox hits back, Moxley hits again, and repeat! the fans rally but Moxley BITES Fox on the face! The fans boo but Moxley DECKS Fox! Moxley talks trash, drags Fox up, and he puts Fox in the ring. Fox KICKS Moxley in the ropes! Then DRAPING DDT! The fans fire up and Mox flops back. Fox runs to BLACK HOLE STOMP! The fans fire up while Moxley falls to the floor! Fox goes up the corner to MOONSAULT ATTACK! Seattle is loving this as Fox puts Moxley back in the ring.
Fox shouts at Yuta to move, then Fox climbs. But then Yuta trips Fox up, all behind the ref’s back! Moxley climbs up and he CLAWS Fox’s back! The fans boo and the ref counts, but Moxley TWISTS Fox’s ear, then BITES it! The fans boo more, the ref reprimands again, but Moxley has a KATAGATAME up top! Moxley then hits a SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO! But now to the CROSSFACE! The fans rally as Fox endures, but Moxley twists him around and thrashes the hold! Then he rolls to have Fox in an INVERTED RINGS OF SATURN! Fox fights around, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, the fans cheer, and Moxley lets go at 4.
Moxley glares at the ref, then goes back for Fox. Moxley KICKS! Fox frowns at him and eggs him on! The fans fire up as Moxley KICKS, but Fox still eggs him on! Moxley BOOTS, runs, and KICKS, but Fox blocks! The fans fire up and Fox says F Mox! But Mox KICKS back! Fox PELES and Moxley falls out! The fans fire up and Fox FLIES! Down goes Moxley! Fox puts Moxley in, he BOOTS Yuta for getting too close, then he SUPERKICKS! BUZZSAWS! But Moxley ducks the heel kick, only to get a BASEMENT CUTTER! Fox fire sup, runs and BOOTS Moxley! Then snapmare roll and CUTTER! Moxley staggers up, but he LARIATS Fox down!
The fans boo but Moxley drags Fox back up. GOTCH HOLD PILEDRIVER! Moxley then rains down forearms on Fox’s head! Fox can’t guard anymore, and Moxley puts on the REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Fox is OUT, Moxley wins!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission
The fans boo, especially as Moxley doesn’t stop! Moxley lets go, but they’re still not done as he and Yuta mug Fox! The fans boo but Moxley gets a mic to call out Hangman Page. This guy, this cowboy, Moxley has been watching him piss away his opportunities for years! Moxley’s been watching Hangman piss away his God-given gifts for years! And Moxley doesn’t have the same patience as the fans do for their cowboy! Moxley is sick of waiting for Hangman to get his act together. Moxley is sick of this crybaby cowboy’s crap! The fans boo more, but Moxley says this is a tough sport and a tough business. So on July 12th at All In, Moxley will run the Hangman outta this sport for good!
The fans boo even more, but Moxley tells Hangman he can just go back to counting chickens or whatever it is he does, because this business is NOT for him! The Maniac has given his warning, but is it all bluster knowing Hangman isn’t around? Or will nothing and no one stop the reign of terror?
Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Daniel Garcia & Bandido speak.
The AEW TNT Champion says Grand Slam: Mexico was one for the ages. Not just for him but for Bandido, for Danny, that was a great night. They wish Roddy was there, but tonight, they keep the party going with an 8 Man Tag. Tonight, AEW Collision is back on TNT, and the TNT Champion says there is nothing sweeter than their team getting a victory. And that is Undisputed! That match is next, will it be all about the BOOM here in Seattle?
8 Man Tag: Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Daniel Garcia & Bandido VS Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita & FTR!
The bell rings and the teams sort out. Bandido starts against Dax Harwood and they circle. The fans rally, but Stoke distracts the ref so that Konosuke can pull Bandido in, and then the whole team mugs the Most Wanted! Dax bumps Bandido off buckles, CHOPS him, then stands him up again. Dax whips corner to corner, runs in, btu Bandido goes up and over. Dax runs Bandido over, things keep moving, and Bandido hurdles. Bandido slips through a scoop to DROPKICK Dax! The fans fire up, Cash steps in but Bandido backs him off. Dax goes to an open corner, Bandido is on him with a CHOP of his own!
The fans cheer and Bandido wrenches to a wristlock. Dax flails but Roddy tags in. Roddy KNEES Dax low, wrenches again, but Dax DECKS him! Dax tags The Alpha and they mug Roddy. Konosuke ROCKS Roddy again and again, then CHOPS! Konosuke whips, Roddy reverses, but Konosuke TAKESHITA LINES! Konosuke taunts Roddy’s team, then brings Roddy over to tag Kyle. The Don Callis Family boys mug Roddy, then Kyle fires hands. The ref counts, then he backs Kyle off. Kyle runs back up, but into a BOOT! Roddy CALF KICKS Kyle then tags in Garcia! Garcia fires hands on Kyle and he CHOPS!
Garcia whips, Kyle reverses, but Garcia ducks ‘n’ dodges to LEAPING LARIAT! The fans fire up for Red Death, and he LARIATS Kyle in a corner! Garcia rains down fists, goes to nine to then wind it up, and TEN! The fans cheer and Garcia whips, but Kyle reverses. Dax gets a cheap shot in but Garcia DECKS him, DECKS Konosuke, and DECKS Cash! But Kyle GAMANGIRIS! Kyle rains down fists, the fans boo, but Kyle tags Dax. Dax snap suplexes Garcia to then drop a leg, drop an elbow, and drop a HEADBUTT! Cash says look at the ‘stache! The fans boo but Dax covers, TWO! Dax chinlocks and he grinds Garcia down.
Garcia endures and the fans rally up. Garcia rises, fires body shots, but Dax CHOPS! Dax headlocks, but Garcia hits a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Garcia crawls, hot tag to Bandido! Bandido rallies on Dax, DECKS him, then he DROPKICKS Konosuke! Kyle storms in but Bandido dodges to tilt-o-whirl and DDT! Cash is back, Bandido dodges and scoops to BACKBREAKER! Dax is up, Bandido fires hands on him, then a SUPERKICK! Cash runs up but Bandido TOSSES him out onto Dax! The fans fire up and Bandido builds speed, to DIVE! But FTR catch him, and DOUBLE ATOMIC SLAM onto the desk!
The fans boo but Cash mocks the finger guns while Collision goes picture in picture.
Stokely talks trash on Bandido, and Dax sits Bandido up so he can rain down fists! Cash taunts Bandido’s team, the ref keeps the peace, and Dax drags Bandido up into the ring. Dax tags Cash, then SMACKS Bandido off Cash’s boots! Cash mocks Bandido more, then drags him up by his mask. Cash CHOPS Bandido down! Cash UPPERCUTS, Bandido goes to the corner, and Cash UPPERCUTS again! Cash tags Konosuke, they mug Bandido, and Konosuke CLUBS Bandido down. Konosuke drags Bandido around, scoops and SLAMS him down, then tags Kyle. ProtoShita puts Bandido in a corner, whips corner to corner, then they DOUBLE BOOT!
Bandido flops over and Kyle flexes while he soaks up heat. Dax joins in, then Kyle stomps away on Bandido. Kyle drags Bandido over, tags Dax, and they mug Bandido. Dax hoists Bandido up top, CHOPS him, then ROCKS him! Bandido fires back, Dax CHOPS, and they continue to brawl as Dax climbs. Dax CLAWS Bandido’s eyes, Collision returns to single picture, and Seattle rallies for Bandido. Bandido fires body shots, then a CHOP! Dax falls and the fans fire up! Bandido stands to TORNILLO ATTACK! Both men are down, the fans fire up, and they crawl, hot tags to Kyle and Cole! Cole dodges Kyle to BLAST Konosuke & Cash!
Kyle runs up but Cole ELBOWS him! And BOOTS him! And then LARIATS him! Cole rallies on Kyle, BOOTS him down, and the fans fire up! Cole fireman’s carries, Kyle slips free, but Cole breaks free to PELE! BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Kyle survives but Cole is right on him. Tag to Roddy and Paragon works together. Kyle slips free, shoves Roddy at Cole, tag to Dax! Cole SUPERKICKS Kyle, Dax ROCKS Cole! Roddy ROCKS Dax and suplexes, but Dax slips free! Dax waistlocks, Roddy switches, but Dax switches back. Roddy switches again to ANGLE SLAM! Konosuke runs in but Garcia intercepts with a BOOT!
Garcia LARIATS Konosuke and himself out! Roddy gives Dax a GUT BUSTER DROP! Cole adds a SHINING WIZARD! Roddy covers, Cash breaks it! The fans boo but Cash knows that was in time! Roddy drags Dax up, puts him in a corner, and he hoists Dax up. Cash runs in, Roddy ELBOWS Cash, but Dax ROCKS Roddy! Dax puts Roddy up top and CHOPS! Dax climbs, Cash also climbs, and we get a SUPERPLEX for the Power! DIVING SPLASH for the Glory! But Bandido FROG SPLASHES Cash! Konosuke POWER DRIVE KNEES Bandido! Garcia spins Konosuke around to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Kyle scoops Garcia for a MICHINOKU DRIVER!
Cole and Kyle run up, DOUBLE FORFEARMS! DOUBLE BOOTS! Cole blocks a kick to SUPERKICK! Only to run into a LARIAT! Kyle hauls Cole back up, but Cole suplexes! GHOST BUSTER! All eight men are down and the fans are thunderous! The teams regroup while the fans cheer “A E DUB!” for making this the opener. The eight men stare down, and then it explodes into a brawl! The fans fire up as Cole has Kyle, Garcia has Cash, Roddy has Dax and Bandido has Konosuke! Things go to the corners, then Cole TOSSES Kyle! Garcia TOSSES Konosuke! Cash TOSSES Garcia, then Cash CLUBS Roddy!
Cash & Dax double whip Roddy, but Cole SUPERKICKS Cash! No Shatter Machine here! Kyle SUPERKICKS COle! Bandido SUPER MOONSAULTS onto Konosuke! Roddy saves Cole from a brainbuster! Roddy fireman’s carries Dax but Dax fights free! Dax CHOPS and ROCKS and repeat! Cash si back, FTR double whip, but Roddy slips around to shove Dax into Cash! Kyle SUPERKICKS Roddy into SHATTER MACHINE!! Cover, #DCFTR wins!!
Winners: Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher & FTR, by pinfall
The Don Callis Family and FTR make for a winning combination tonight, and Stokely says he called it! But they’re not done, they keep on beating up Roddy, Cole, Garcia and Bandido! The fans boo but there’s no one to stop them! And then Cash calls for reinforcements? Cash & Dax set Bandido up, but wait! THE OUTRUNNERS rush out here! Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd are here as backup for Bandido! FTR & ProtoShita get outta there, but will there be a receipt coming there way?
PROGRAMMING NOTE!
Collision may have returned to Saturday tonight, but next week will be a special Thursday Night Collision! Make sure your DVRs are set properly so you don’t miss the action!
Thunder Rosa, Queen Aminata & TayJay speak.
Tay Melo tells Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford that they know what happened last time. Tonight is round two! And Anna adds that there are so many more ways they wanna hurt them. The One True African Queen says Thekla may have won, but she knows she got hit hard, huh? She ain’t seen nothing yet! And La Mera Mera reminds Athena that she’s coming for that ROH Women’s World Championship. Tonight, she takes Athena’s head!
Athena, Thekla, Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford speak.
The Fallen Goddess thanks the Toxic Spider, Megasus & Superbad Girl for accepting the invitation. But even then, Athena still doesn’t like crazy spider lady, still doesn’t like Ford, and is still bigger and badder than Megan. But tonight, it’s ATHENA Elite Wrestling! So let’s get it together, girls, so Athena can have her moment. And if they do, they can be her Minions. Ford keeps Megan from storming up on Athena, but can these war goddesses hold it together to be victorious?
AEW shares footage from after Grand Slam: Mexico.
Renee Paquette was with the NEW CMLL Women’s World Champion, Mercedes Mone, and says what a huge night. Another history making moment as she is now #SixBeltsMone! Mone says damn straight! Unfortunately, not everyone was in the mood for celebrating… Toni Storm rained on her parade a bit. Mone tells Toni, “You think you’re gonna play mind games with me? Well, I am the master of any game! So bring it! Tonight’s win was just a preview for what’s to come at All In: Texas. Toni, you call yourself ‘Timeless?’ Well, I’m iconic! I’m Six Belts Mone! The Conversation, the Blueprint, The C E O!”
And the Money Train is on a roll! Toni’s time is ticking, and it is almost up. See you in Texas, b*tch! Mone rolls on, but will she have lucky number seven? Or will the AEW Women’s World Championship be the one prize she doesn’t get to have?
Swerve Strickland w/ Prince Nana VS Shane Taylor w/ Shane Taylor Promotions!
The Realest may have a house, but Big Bad Shaney T. Boy has an entire promotion! And while this is Swerve’s homecoming to Washington, will he have homefield advantage? Or will Shane show him how to rumble, bad man, rumble?
The bell rings and the two circle. Shane swings, Swerve dodges to waistlock, but then Swerve avoids the elbow. Shane stops the Eddy Gordo Rana, brings Swerve up to back suplex, but Swerve lands out. Shane blocks a boot, Swerve reels him in and sunset flips, but Shane stays up! Swerve avoids the fist drop to SHOVE Shane out of the ring! Swerve builds speed, but then just hits the Griddy! The fans cheer, STP is upset, and Bravo says he’s got money riding on this. Shane storms into the ring to circle with Swerve. Swerve bobs ‘n’ weaves to avoid the shots, but Shane stops the wrench. Shane blocks the whip, too, but then Swerve BOOTS him!
The fans cheer, Swerve eggs Shane on, and the two reset. They feel things out, Shane fires hands, and wait, Nana is gambling with the Infantry? Shane DECKS Swerve, his odds might’ve just gone up! Shane drags Swerve up on the apron and Bravo wants Tony Schiavone to get in on this? Shane lifts Swerve, Swerve fights free, and he slips under! The Infantry freaks out as Swerve pulls on Shane, but Shane grabs Swerve to SLAM him off the apron! Then he APRON SPLASHES! The fans boo while Swerve falls, and Shane claims it’s HIS house now! The fans boo more while Collision goes picture in picture.
The Infantry mockingly offer Swerve some money, but Shane drags Swerve up to HEADBUTT him! Shane puts Swerve in the ring, tells Nana he’s about to lose more money on this, and then goes into the ring. Shane clamps onto Swerve with a chinlock and he grinds Swerve down. Swerve endures and Nana rallies the fans. Swerve fights up, fires body shots, then he KNEES Shane low! Shane ROCKS Swerve with a left! Then SAIDOS! Swerve staggers over to ropes, Shane storms up on him, and Shane CHOKES Swerve by standing on him! The ref counts, Shane backs off, and Swerve goes to the corner. Shane storms up to Swerve again while Collision goes to break.
Collision returns, Shane has Swerve in a corner to talk trash, then he runs up, only for Swerve to dodge! Swerve then wraps Shane’s arm around ropes, CLUBS away on the shoulder, and runs side to side for a DROPKICK to the arm! The fans fire up and Swerve dropkicks the legs out! Swerve drops a KNEE on the arm, then runs to KNEE Shane down! Cover, TWO! Shane is tougher than that but Swerve stays focused. Nana says it’s over for STP now! Swerve KICKS the bad arm, and the fans cheer for “DEFY! DEFY!” Swerve runs up, Shane shoves him to the corner but Swerve comes back, only for Shane to HEADBUTT!
Shane URENAGES Swerve down, but that was the bad arm! Shane runs, SPLASHES DOWN into an armbar! Swerve has Shane caught and he even HAMMERS Shane’s head! Shane endures, fights back up, and he powers out! Shane KNEES Swerve down! Cover, TWO! Swerve survives and Shane grows frustrated. Swerve goes to a corner, Shane says time to bet it all! Shane goes up the corner, the fans fire up, and Swerve ROCKS Shane first! Swerve throws more hands, then he goes up to get Shane for a SUPER DUPER BACK SUPLEX! The fans are thunderous and Swerve is feeling it! Shane flounders to the apron, but Swerve fires hands!
The fans rally, Swerve runs and returns, but into Shane’s grip! Swerve KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Shane drapes over the ropes and Swerve BOOTS him! Swerve goes up, takes aim, APRON KILL STOMPS!! The fans are thunderous again and Swerve steps inside. But the Infantry gets all up in Nana’s face! Swerve FLIES out onto the Infantry! And then a HOUSE CALL for Shane!! Cover, Swerve wins!
Winner: Swerve Strickland, by pinfall
Swerve finally has his 50th singles win here in AEW, and Nana rakes in the dough! Having green is nice, but will Swerve find himself aimed at gold again?
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing… Timeless Toni Storm.
Seattle cheers as Toni Noir stands on stage. “Mercedes Mone…” The fans boo that name. “I am disappointed in you. Three weeks ago, you shook my hand and said we would have the biggest women’s match of all time. And since then, you have been eating steak, playing on your telephone, and trying to kiss me. And now, you are still in Mexico because you have won yet another title.” The fans boo that, too. “Is that all I am to you? Is that all this is to you? Another trophy for your shelf? Another toy for your collection? Now, I want to say this as nicely as possible. Mercedes, I am not some other mother-effer.
“I am TIMELESS Toni Storm! I am the AEW Women’s World Champion! And if you make one false move, I am going to eat you alive!” The fans cheer that! “I demand your best, Mercedes, because that is what you are. One day, my reign will be over.” The fans don’t like the sound of that, but Toni says there is no one more deserving than Mone. “The day I met you, I knew what you were destined to be. You were the first woman to wrestle at Madison Square Garden, the Tokyo Dome, Wembley Stadium AND Arena Mexico… But I was the last woman to wrestle at the Wodonga Sports & Leisure Center before it got closed down for a cockroach infestation.”
The fans cheer that last part, and Toni says she sincerely believes that Mone is the greatest of all time. Toni is not, nor was she ever meant to be. For she is a “manic, neurotic, erotic, sexually questionable, consistently sweating, bottom heavy, transatlantic whore!” The fans still cheer for her, and Toni says when this belt is upon her bosom, she makes magic happen! So unless Mone plans on pulling a rabbit out of her ass, Toni highly doubts Mone can say the same! At All In, in front of the entire world, and all those little girls watching at home, Mone will look Toni in the eye, and she will realize that Toni only has to beat Mone while Mone will have to KILL Toni!
The fans cheer Toni as the spotlight fades out to black. Will All In: Texas be yet another instant classic in Toni’s already timeless career?
Mixed Six Tag: Holo.grm, Mark Briscoe & Willow Nightingale VS #MXMTV!
Undefeated at 25-0 and now 4 million Pesos richer, the futuristic luchador now conglomerates with the Sussex County Chicken and the Babe with the Power! But will this change in the line up keep things fresh against Mansoor, Mason Madden y Taya Valkyrie? Or will MXM TV serve Hologram his first taste of bitter defeat?
The trios sort out and it is ladies first as Willow circles with Taya. They tie up, Taya waistlocks and shoves, then she soaks up the heat while she struts. Willow kicks Taya in the butt! Taya gets mad, runs up on Willow, but Willow LARIATS her down! Then Willow struts, and shakes them hips! Taya gets up, Willow waistlocks and shoves her to the corner. Taya dodges, stomps away, but the ref counts. Taya stops at 4, whips corner to corner, but Willow cartwheels! Willow comes back to CLOBBER Taya, then she runs to SPLASH! Cover, ONE! Willow tags Hologram and Taya tags Mason! Hologram and Mason tie up, and Mason THROWS Hologram!
The fans boo but MXM celebrates like they did something. Mason swings on Briscoe & Willow but they both get clear. The fans boo Mason but Hologram DROPKICKS Mason! The fans fire up and Hologram runs in again. Mason puts Hologram on the apron, but Hologram RAMS low and GAMANGIRIS high! Hologram goes up, up, and springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! Mason tumbles out but Mansoor runs in, only for Hologram to kick and whip. Mansoor reverses, Hologram handsprings but Mansoor dodges! Mansoor runs up, Hologram dodges and tilt-o-whirl RANAS! The fans fire up and Mansoor bails out!
Hologram builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and the fans fire up! Wait, Mason gets Hologram for a BLACK HOLE SLAM on the floor! The fans boo but MXM TV cheers while Collision goes picture in picture.
Mason drags Hologram up, puts him back in the ring, and Johnny TV taunts Briscoe & Willow. Mason drags Hologram back out so he can CLUB him down. The ref reprimands, Mason drags Hologram back up and SMACKS him off the apron. And then throws him into railing! Taya soaks up the heat while she vogues, and Mason refreshes the ring count. That just lets Mr. & Mrs. TV stomp away on Hologram! They stop as Mason goes back out to fetch Hologram. Willow & Briscoe back the rest of them off while Hologram is in the ring. Mansoor tags in, he whips for Mason to scoop, and they CAT WALK LEG DROP! Cover, TWO!
Mansoor keeps Hologram down with a Camel Clutch, but Hologram endures. Mansoor stomps away on Hologram into the corner, but stops as the ref counts. Mason gets a cheap shot in while Mansoor argues with the ref! Johnny does, too! Mansoor drags Hologram to an ELBOW DROP, then covers, TWO! Mansoor drags Hologram over, tags Mason, and Mansoor holds Hologram down for Mason to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Mason drags Hologram back up, throat chops him, then tags Taya. Taya mugs Hologram with Mansoor’s help, then tags Mansoor. The ref reprimand but Mansoor stomps Hologram around.
Collision returns to single picture and Mason tags in. Mason sets up at the ropes, and Mansoor CATAPULTS Hologram into the hips! The Mahogany Hunk poses, Johnny joins in, but the fans boo. The ref reprimands and Hologram hops off the apron. Mansoor & Mason mug Hologram again, then they whip, but Hologram tilt-o-whirl DDTS! The fans fire up, Mansoor back suplexes, but Hologram lands out! He dodges Mansoor, hot tag to Briscoe! The Chicken rallies on MXM with CHOPS and forearms on repeat! The fans fire up as Briscoe fires off on Mansoor! Mason waistlocks but Briscoe BOOTS Mansoor and PELES Mason!
The fans fire up with Briscoe, he ducks a kick then blocks a kick to FLIP Mansoor! And SHOTEI! The fans fire up but here comes Mason! Briscoe DUMPS Mason out, then builds speed! Briscoe WRECKS Mason with a dropkick! The fans fire up more and Briscoe takes aim! Taya distracts the ref and Johnny anchors Briscoe’s foot! Mansoor goes up the corner to BEAUTIFUL DISASTER KICK! Hologram runs in, hammerlocks, snapmares, then SPANISH FLIES! But Taya is up top to FLYING RANA Hologram! Willow storms in while Taya fires up, and Willow whips Taya for a SPINEBUSTER! The fans fire up but Mansoor grabs Willow’s hair!
The fans boo but Briscoe steps in and spins Mansoor around! REDNECK KUNG-FU UPPERCUT! Willow adds a POUNCE~! PERIOD! Hologram hurries in and torture racks, spin and spin and spin, for the PORTAL BOMB!! Briscoe BOOTS Mason off the apron, Hologram SUPERKICKS Johnny! Hologram & Briscoe build speed and DOUBLE FLY! Down go Johnny & Mason! The fans fire up as Briscoe climbs, FROGGY-BOW! Cover, Conglomeration wins!
Winners: Hologram, Mark Briscoe & Willow Nightingale, by pinfall
New amigos but still undefeated, Hologram is feeling what it’s like to conglomerate! Will nothing stop them from building momentum towards title opportunities?
Backstage interview with Kris Statlander.
Lexy Nair is with The Galaxy’s Greatest and brings up the big win for Willow’s team. Kris asks if they’re really doing this. Every single week! Yes, everyone loves Willow. But when is Kris going to get a chance? In the All-Star 8 Woman Tag? Uh, uh, didn’t think so. So if you think she’s going to stand here and talk about how important everyone else is, you’re dead wrong! But then Yuta walks over and says he hates to say he told her so… Kris tells Yuta to shut his grimy little mouth! She knows who he is and what this is! If he thinks she wants any part of this, get out of her face! Yuta tries to talk her down but Kris SHOVES him down! And then Moxley steps in.
Moxley picks up Kris’ phone for her, but tells her to never, ever, let anyone else tell you who you are or what you’re worth. Moxley hands Kris her phone, and Kris is rather shaken. But did Moxley just encourage someone? And will Kris Statlander follow his advice to go out and take what she deserves?
Tony Schiavone is in the ring.
Schiavone asks Seattle to please welcome… Don Callis. The fans boo as The Jackal walks out here, accompanied by Josh Alexander & Lance Archer. They join Schiavone in the ring and Callis stops Schiavone already. He has a very special announcement! He would like to introduce to us the greatest wrestler in the history of Japan! Better than Rikidozan, than Inoki, than Muta, than Tanahashi… the NEWEST member of the Don Callis Family, the Rainmaker, Kazuchika Okada! The fans boo even more as the Continental Champion makes his way out to the ring. Okada shakes hands with Callis, and Callis interrupts Schiavone again.
Callis says that he and Okada would like to show everyone some very special footage. Roll the tape! The tape is of course the last time we saw these two, and the horrible trap they had set for Kenny Omega. Schiavone says that was one of the most despicable things in wrestling history! Callis says you can almost smell the diverticulitis coming outta Omega’s mouth! Schiavone says how dare Callis laugh at someone coughing up blood! What is wrong with him!? Callis says he is sick and tired of Schiavone coming out here and talking bad about him and Okada and the Callis Family, “like the sleezy feline that you are!”
But Callis and his family are here to talk about Kenny Omega! “Kenny, how does it feel to know that your greatest opponent, Okada, and the man who knows all your weaknesses, Don Callis, have teamed up against you?! I know, Kenny, you’re laying in a hospital bed right now…” The fans tell Callis to STFU but Callis just talks louder. Omega surely has tubes coming outta his guts, with a colostomy bag hanging out the side! Omega won’t even make it to All In! But IF Omega does make it there, and wrestles the greatest wrestler in the history of Japan, then Omega needs to know that he will truly be alone.
Omega destroyed his friendship with the Young Bucks, with Callis, and is alone in this world with not even one friend left! But then out steps Mark Briscoe! The fans cheer as The Chicken tells Callis, “My Lord, would you PLEASE shut the hell up!? You sound stupid, you weird lookin’ bastard! You say Kenny has no friends? Well sheesh, I’ll be damned, I’m his friend! But y’know what? I’m not his only friend.” Because KOTA IBUSHI IS HERE! The fans go nuts seeing the Golden Star return to AEW! Archer rushes them, but Briscoe attacks first! That lets Ibushi strut right up to the Walking Weapon in the ring!
The fans fire up as Ibushi dodges Alexander, then fires off a strike fest! Alexander ducks a kick, Ibushi ducks the rolling elbow, and Ibushi ROUNDHOUSES Alexander down! The fans fire up while Callis freaks out, but now Ibushi and Okada are alone in the ring. The fans go nuts already as Golden Star and Rainmaker stare down. Okada fires a forearm, but Ibushi fires back! Okada UPPERCUTS, but Ibushi fires off a strike fest! SOBAT and ROUNDHOUSE! Okada falls and he scurries out of the ring! Callis is there, and he gets his new moneymaker outta there! Will Ibushi make sure Omega gets a fair shake in Texas?
Collision returns to a brawl!
Apparently, the Workhorsemen got into it with Big Bill & Bryan Keith in the back, and now it has spilled out to ringside! JD Drake & Anthony Henry have the advantage as they use chairs on the Redwood & Bad Apple! Henry sits Keith in a corner of the railing, then runs around the way! But Bill BOOTS him down! The fans are fired up, but then Drake CLUBS Bill! But Keith SMACKS Drake with a chair! Keith shouts for Bill to get ’em! Bill stands Drake up, SMACKS him off steel steps, then Keith SMACKS Drake off steps! And repeat! Keith stomps Henry, SMACKS Drake off steps, and then Bill SMACKS Drake off steps!
Henry shields Drake but that just gets him a CLUBBING forearm! Keith sets chairs up together, Bill SMACKS Henry off steps, and Keith has Bill haul Henry up. Bill gives Henry a SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAM onto the chairs!! Henry falls in a heap with all that steel, and Bill wants a mic! Wait, now Christian Cage wants to be out here? The fans are fired up either way as Captain Charisma leads The Patriarchy out here. “Seattle… Sit down and shut your mouths while I conduct my business!” The fans boo instead. Christian says they know it and he knows it. The only good things to ever come outta Washington are Mother Shayna and Nick Wayne! So again, show some damn respect!
The fans boo more, and Christian tells Bill & Keith that Christian likes a good backstage brawl as much as the next guy. But when it spills out to ringside and takes away from his air time, then he has a problem. Especially when he was coming out here to make a huge announcement. But hey, maybe they should stand there and listen with the rest of these “sweat hogs,” because this is a pretty damn good announcement. Now, it is no secret that these past couple months, his son, Nick Wayne, has been wrestling at a godlike pace! The fans cheer for Nick, but Christian tells them to shut their mouths while he’s talking!
But believe him when he tells you, that has everything to do with Christian’s guidance. Yet, there are still those who have the audacity to mistake friction for building toughness. But the proof speaks for itself! Nick stands here as the youngest champion this company has ever seen! So why stop there? Why not keep going? Why not make more history? Time for Christian’s son to walk beside him instead of behind him! Time he and Nick embark on a journey that takes them to the top! That sees them become the first-ever father-and-son AEW World Tag Team Champions! The fans are torn on that, but Nick smiles as Christian pats him on the shoulder.
Bill says, “Sorry, did you say that that is your son? Maybe your adopted son. Because if all the things that I’ve heard about Mama Wayne are true… That kid’s real father could be literally anybody. It could be that guy right there! Or what about that guy right there? Oh, oh, wait a second, dead ringer! Dead ringer! Oh my God, that could be your father right there! There he is!” The fans cheer but Bill says if they don’t like what he is saying, then how about Christian come down to the ring to do this right here. Christian says first of all, there is nothing of the sort happening here in Seattle. The fans boo and he asks if they wanna see it.
Well, here’s a question, Big Bill. Is that you talking or is that the bottle talking? Did he fall off the wagon this weekend? Go on a bit of a bender? Maybe he fried too many braincells because he clearly doesn’t know who he’s talking to. Bill doesn’t call the shots, Christian does! He is the Patriarch and this is his Patriarchy! He IS the Face of TNT now and forever! The fans boo but The Patriarchy steps away. Will Bill & Keith take them down all the same?
AEW shares footage from after Summer Blockbuster.
Anthony Bowens was in a bad mood but Billy Gunn wanted to talk things out. Lexy Nair caught up with them first and Billy has “Brittney Spears” hold on. In Lexy’s defense, that outfit really is classic Brittney. But anyway, Daddy Ass tells Bowens it will be a struggle. Bowens says Billy is supposed to be helping him get better. Does he want Bowens to end up like Max Caster? Billy says he got hit in the face by Lance Archer! Well, that’s not on Bowens. They need to get their act together, because Bowens is the Pride of Pro-Wrestling, he needs to climb the ladder in AEW, and he needs to win. Billy says he knows that. What can Daddy Ass do to help Bowens finally hit some homeruns?
Ricochet is here!
The One & Only still wants to assemble a dream team that can help him achieve his dreams, but he rejected Blake Christian & Lee Johnson, the only guys who actually came to see him about it. Is he thinking of recruiting someone from this next match?
JetSpeed VS The Gates of Agony!
Kevin Knight & Mike Bailey have been plotting their own course to titles, namely the AEW World Tag Team Championships. They need to prove themselves to the Hurt Syndicate, can they do that here in Seattle? Or will Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona slam the gates shut on those flight plans?
The bell rings and Speedball starts against Kaun. The fans rally, Kaun rushes up but Bailey dodges. Bailey headlocks, Kaun powers up and out and he RUNS Bailey over! Bailey kips up, then dodges Kaun and hurdles over. Bailey drops down, DROPKICKS Kaun, but Liona tags in and CLOBBERS Bailey! Ricochet vents about losing out on the 4 million Pesos, he blames Lio Rush, and he crosses off CRU as candidates for his crew. Liona TOSSES Bailey to a corner, fires fast hands, but the ref counts. Liona steps on Bailey, steps off, and then drags Bailey up. Tag to Kaun and the Gates double whip. They DOUBLE HIP TOSS, but Bailey lands through!
Bailey dodges lariats and hot tags Knight! The fans fire up as Knight springboards to FLYING ARM-DRAG Kaun! Liona runs up, Knight dodges, but Liona blocks the arm-drag! Liona YANKS Knight up but Knight DROPKICKS Liona out! The fans fire up with Knight, and he scoops Kaun to SLAM! But Liona grabs Knight by his hair! Knight PELES Liona, then says “TOO FLY!” UFO SPLASH but onto knees! Kaun turns things around, Ricochet says that’s smart. Kaun whips Knight into railing, into the apron, and back into railing! Kaun then brings KNight all the way around to send into the LED barriers!
The fans boo but Ricochet applauds. Bailey aims at Kaun and PLANCHAS, but Liona BLASTS Bailey outta the air! Ricochet likes that even more! He applauds, Liona pats Ricochet on the shoulder, and the Gates go back to the ring while Collision goes picture in picture.
The Gates soak up heat, then Kaun puts Knight in the ring. Liona is there to CLOBBER Knight and cover, TWO! Liona drags Knight into a shoulder claw! Knight endures as Liona leans on him, then he fights up. Knight JAWBREAKERS free, then runs, only for Liona to LARIAT him back down! Liona drags Knight up, puts him in the corner and tags Kaun. The Gates double whip, then double hip toss into the DOUBLE SLAM! Kaun covers, TWO! Knight stays in this but Kaun stomps Knight around. Kaun then drags Knight up to put in a corner for more stomps. Kaun fires fast hands, then more stomps, but stops as the ref counts.
Kaun argues with the ref and that lets Liona get a cheap shot in! Kaun drags Knight up while Bailey protests, and Collision goes to break.
Collision returns and Kaun has Knight up top. Knight fires hands in return but so does Kaun. Knight ROCKS Kaun, goes up, and he FLYING LARIATS! Down goes Kaun but both men are down, and the fans fire up! Kaun and Knight crawl, hot tag to Bailey! Bailey goes up top and he MISSILE DROPKICKS! Kaun tumbles, the fans cheer, and Bailey SOBATS, AX KICKS, and BUZZSAWS! Kaun sputters, Bailey runs, SHOOTING STAR misses as Kaun moves! Kaun stands Bailey up but Bailey wrenches to fire LIGHTNING KICKS! Kaun goes to a corner, Bailey runs up, but Kaun ELBOWS him! Kaun goes up, but Bailey GAMANGIRIS!
Bailey goes up, Liona is after him, but Bailey elbows him away! Kaun SHOVES Bailey but Bailey backflips through! Liona runs in, Bailey dodges, Liona goes up and out with his splash! JetSpeed hit an UPPER ROOM BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet says it takes more than that! Kaun sits up, Bailey aims, but Liona CLOBBERS him! Liona trips Knight on the top rope, then fireman’s carries! Bailey is up but Liona cdatches the crossbody! FALL AWAY SLAM SAMOAN DROP COMBO! The fans fire up and The Gates set up. Liona runs in and HIP ATTACKS Bailey! Kaun adds a METEORA! The Gates then lift Bailey up, OPEN THE-
NO, Knight saves Bailey! But Kaun ROCKS Knight and Liona HEADBUTTS him! Knight falls back, the Gates drag him up now, and they OPEN THE- DOUBLE SATELLITE DDTS!! Liona runs up, JetSpeed dodge and DOUBLE DROPKICK him out! Ricochet says that’s cheating! But JetSpeed build speed to DOUBLE TOPE CONJILO!! Ricochet has no idea what is happening here! Bailey puts Kaun in the ring, calls to Knight, but Liona YANKS Knight down from the apron! Only for Knight to send him into the steel steps! Kaun SPLASHES Bailey, suplexes, and RUNNING BRAINBUSTER! Fireman’s carry, FALL FROM MOUNT OKU!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous and Ricochet is frustrated, but Kaun underhooks! Only for Bailey to backdrop! STANDING MOONSAULT KNEEDROP! And then the TIME ADVENTURE!! Tag to Knight while Bailey hits the GOLDEN TRIANGLE on Liona! Ricochet says this is all cheating! Knight hits the MOTHERSHIP SPLASH!! Cover, JETSPEED WINS!
Winners: JetSpeed, by pinfall
Ricochet is beside himself, but Knight & Bailey have brought down former ROH World Tag Team & ROH World Six Man Tag Team Champions! Is this more than enough to earn their shot at Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin? Will Ricochet have to look elsewhere for henchmen?
8 Woman Tag: Thunder Rosa, Queen Aminata & TayJay VS Athena, Thekla, Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford!
We heard from both sides of this all-star main event, but now it is time to back up those words. Will La Mera Mera, the Queen, the Blackbelt and the Star of the Show prove theirs is the winning combination? Or will the Fallen Goddess, the Minion Overlord, the American Joshi, the ROH Gatekeeper, the FOREVER ROH Women’s World Champion (all Athena’s nicknames) lead her team to victory?
The teams stare down, and then Athena throws the first punch! She brawls with Rosa, Thekla attacks Anna and Megan has Tay, leaving Aminata to stare down with Ford. The bell rings, Aminata and Ford start pushing, and then they start throwing forearms! Ford gets the edge, whips, but Aminata reverses. Ford wheelbarrows, victory rolls, but Aminata rolls through. Ford still runs up to DROPKICK Aminata against ropes! Ford fireman’s carries, but Aminata slips free to snapmare and wrap on the headscissors! CHOCOLATE KISSES~! But Megan stops that with a waistlock and SLAM! But TayJay DOUBLE SUPERKICK!
Thekla CLOBBERS Tay and throws her out! The brawl starts up again, and Athena meets Rosa on the apron! They fire forearms, Rosa fires the back suplex, but then Athena fights off one in return. Aminata ROCKS Athena, Ford BLASTS Rosa, and they stare down again. Ford and Aminata each dare the other to go up, so they go up! The others brawl in a cluster, Ford and Aminata are up on the very top! They both SUPER DUPER MOONSAULT! The fans fire up as everyone goes down, and Collision goes picture in picture!
Ford drags Aminata up to POST her! Megan makes her way into the ring, she has Aminata for a BEARHUG, then RAMS her into a corner! And RAMS and RAMS and RAMS again! The ref reprimands, Megan CHOPS Aminata, then Ford handsprings in for a BACK ELBOW! Ford goes side to side to tag Athena, and then Athena runs in and handspring FOREARMS! Athena whips Aminata to Megan for the BACKDROP! Athena then drags Aminata up to CLUB her down! Athena rains down fists, the ref backs her off, and Athena tells Posey to back off! Same ol’ Athena… Athena drags Aminata up but Aminata ROCKS her!
Aminata hurries, hot tag to Anna! Anna runs up but Athena wrenches her. Anna wrenches back to HOOK KICK! Anna whips Athena to a corner, runs and LEG LARIATS! Anna reels Athena in, but Thekla attacks! But then Rosa goes after Thekla! But then Ford joins in, and then so does Tay! Megan and Aminata also get in there, and now it is a 4v4 battle for control! They go back and forth, fighting off suplex again and again. Both sides get frustrated and break off, then Tay & Rosa DOUBLE SUPERKICK Thekla & Ford! Aminata and Anna end up in fireman’s carries, and then Megan and Athena add Rosa and Tay! DOUBLE SAMOAN DROP FALL AWAY SLAM COMBOS!!
Collision returns to single picture while the fans fire up! Athena kips up, Megan roars, and the goddesses stare down. Anna fires hands on Athena but Athena CLUBS her! Then she tags Thekla, but Anna hot tags Aminata! Thekla fires off on Aminata, snapmares, but Aminata avoids the kick! Another smapare, and now a BASEMENT SUPERKICK! Aminata goes to a corner, Thekla runs up, but Aminata dodges. Thekla goes up, BOOTS Aminata, then reels her in for the HANGING HEADSCISSORS! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Thekla lets Aminata go. Thekla smiles while she hangs upside-down, then she kneels for a cover, ONE!!
Thekla drags Aminata up, the fans rally, and Thekla winds up. Aminata wrenches to LARIAT! And LARIAT! And snap suplex! Thekla roars and she ROCKS Aminata! Aminata HEADBUTTS Thekla! Aminata falls on the cover, TWO!! Thekla survives and the fans rally up. Hot tags to Tay and Ford! They fire furious forearms, then Tay ROCKS Ford! Tay slips around, ripcords, ROCKS Ford again, and DDTS! The fans fire up and Tay covers, but Megan breaks it! Anna CLUBS Megan, TayJay mugs her, then they double whip. Megan crisscrosses TayJay, then DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEX them!
The fans are fired up but Tay is back up to BOOT Megan out! Tay and Ford are down, they crawl, hot tags to Rosa and Athena! The fans fire up as these two step up to fire forearms and CHOPS on repeat! Then it is just CHOP for CHOP! Athena fires another forearm, Rosa fires back! Athena laughs that off and fires more shots! Rosa fires those with interest! Rosa whips, Athena reverses to KICK, KICK, and ENZIGIRI! Rosa wobbles, the fans fire up, and Athena whips. Rosa DROPKICKS in return! The fans fire up again and Rosa runs corner to corner! UPPERCUT to the back! Then a NECKBREAKER!
Rosa fires up, runs at the ropes, DROPKICK! Rosa drags Athena to the cover, Ford breaks it! Rosa runs up on Ford, Ford goes Matrix and hits the STUNNER! But then Tay kicks Ford and pump handles for a GOTCH PILEDRIVER! Megan runs in, and she LARIATS Tay! Anna runs in, Megan fireman’s carries, but Anna slips free! D D T! Thekla is up, she goes Spider Walk and that takes Anna aback. Thekla then springs up to SPEAR! But Aminata has Thekla for the TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Athena is in and she blocks a kick to slip under and gut wrench! TOMBSTONE!! Athena seethes, but Rosa fireman’s carries! Spin and DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!! But BILLIE STARKZ distracts!
The fans boo but RED VELVET slides Athena the title belt! She CLOBBERS Rosa with it!! High stack, cover, Team Athena wins!
Winners: Athena, Thekla, Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford, by pinfall
The Chef says, “You’re welcome.” The ROH Women’s World Television Champion is going to team with the ROH Women’s World Champion for ROH Global Wars: Mexico, was this just an appetizer for how that’s going to go? Will this win help Thekla, Megan & Ford also find their way to some golden opportunities?
My Thoughts:
A great Collision here, especially as a follow-up to Grand Slam: Mexico while also helping build Global Wars: Mexico. The All-Star 8 Woman was a great main event, but it sure got the short end of the stick when it came to time. I’m not sure if something went long, but it also feels like AEW relies too much on TNT giving them overrun. Red Velvet helping Athena win was a nice touch, given their tag match against Rosa and Persephone. That match happened in reality already but they gotta keep the kayfabe alive. Though, that’s going to be a busy Thursday with Collision being pushed off Saturday, again.
Great promos to hype up the All-Star 8 Man, and that was a great match, too. The Heels winning makes sense there, too, as Kyle needs momentum before he challenges Cole again, and it adds more heat onto FTR. The Outrunners going after FTR was a nice touch, because A) they’re amigos with Bandido and B) they were friends with FTR like Garcia, so now it is The Outrunners’ turn to settle things with Dax & Cash. Bill & Keith have a good brawl with the Workhorsemen, but I’m a little surprised that’s all we got from them before bringing out The Patriarchy. I almost thought Christian Cage was going to name Kip as his tag partner, but I feel like he wants it to be Nick so he can keep Nick close, and possibly leave him hanging at some point.
Great opening match from Moxley with Fox, but of course Moxley wins and then sends a message to Hangman. And it is definitely a case of “Mox Fears Hangman” for him to talk all tough when he knows Hangman isn’t in Seattle yet. Great match from Swerve VS Shane, especially with all the shenanigans going on ringside. Great win for Swerve, and I guess technically Nana, too. Very good promo from Bowens and Billy to show there is some tension between them now. It is mostly Bowens’ frustrations making him lash out, but I wonder if Bowens starts to distance himself from Billy to truly be a solo act now.
Great to see Ibushi back in AEW, and great tease of Ibushi VS Okada. I suspect Briscoe and Ibushi will team up against Alexander & Archer, and that can help lead to Omega’s return from the “devastating” attack to have some final math on the Omega VS Okada dream rematch. And if Ibushi sticks around, that brings in some intrigue on whether or not we get Golden Lovers back together. I could see either story happening, where Golden Lovers go for a Two Man Power Trip kind of run, getting gold together. But I could also see them being friendly rivals, competing over the same title(s), especially with the “Unified Championship” bringing Continental and International Championship “divisions” together.
Good promo from Mone and a great promo from Toni to hype up their match, but we’ve still got time before there’s any real go-home math. But I said it before so I’ll say it again: It’s called “All In,” so whatever belts Mone has by All In, Mone should go ALL IN with her belts against Toni. Now obviously Mone has no reason to, and Heels never want to “put up or shut up,” but if Toni goads her into putting her money where her mouth is, maybe Mone does it out of anger. And honestly, if Toni wins at All In, wouldn’t she then be owed a match for any number of Mone’s titles anyway? AEW makes good use of the rule that pinning a champ earns a title match, so just cut to the chase.
Very fun Mixed Six with Hologram joining Briscoe & Willow as perhaps the newest member of Conglomeration. But at some point, Hologram needs to win a title or his streak means nothing. Good promo from Kris after that match and how she shoved Yuta. Kris being afraid of Moxley at first was a nice touch, since we’ve seen Mox makes no qualms about hitting a woman wrestler (namely Willow) with a cutter. But then Moxley actually adds to Yuta’s recruitment attempts by being nice to Kris. It makes me wonder if Kris becomes a Death Rider, and maybe the Women’s Division becomes the group’s next phase. Honestly, if not for Mone collecting belts and what not, Marina should’ve gotten a title shot herself by now.
And a great tag match of JetSpeed VS Gates of Agony. I guess with nothing else for them, the Gates defaulted back to being Heels. Ricochet was good on commentary, and as I figured, his story of finding faction members is failing because his standards are too high and he as a personality is too sensitive to put grudges aside. CRU was the right choice to me but then he said no thanks cuz of that Pesos match. As for JetSpeed, they will certainly get that tag title match with Hurt Syndicate, but I feel like MJF will be why the Hurt Syndicate retains.
My Score: 8.8/10
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The Ace VS Everybody’s Kokeshi, for the final time!
Hiroshi Tanahashi’s farewell tour continues on, and his New Japan Soul will shine bright against fellow icon, Tomoaki Honma!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Tatsuya Matsumoto VS Zane Jay; Time Limit Draw.
- 8 Man Tag: Toru Yano, YOH, Master Wato & Daiki Nagai VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- 8 Man Tag: YOSHI-HASHI, Jado, Shoma Kato & Katsuya Murashima VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Six Man Tag: Tomohiro Ishii, Togi Makabe & Tiger Mask VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- Six Man Tag: Taichi, Yuya Uemura & Ryusuke Taguchi VS The United Empire; Taichi, Yuya & Taguchi win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Tomoaki Honma; Tanahashi wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, Boltin Oleg & Shota Umino VS TMDK; Goto, Oleg & Shota win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Tomoaki Honma!
The year is half over, meaning we’re that much closer to The Ace reaching the end of his Final Road. One way or another, he checks off another name on the list, but will the Ace be high? Or will Everyone’s Kokeshi be like a roadblock up ahead?
Both men take off their coats and the fans cheer the muscularity. The bell rings and the fans rally up, with a lot of “HONMA! HONMA!” coming out! Tanahashi nods in respect, and the two circle. They tie up, Tanahashi waistlocks, but Honma switches. Tanahashi switches back, but Honma wrenches free. Tanahashi wrenches in return, but then so does Honma. Honma has the wristlock, but Tanahashi drops down for a leg pick, then he floats to the headlock. Honma fights up but Tanahashi hits the takeover. Honma headscissors, Tanahashi kips free, and the fans cheer the standoff. The two reset and circle again.
The fans rally, and while Tanahashi tries, the Honma fans are still louder. The two tie up collar ‘n’ elbow and are in a deadlock. Honma digs in his heels and he starts pushing Tanahashi back. Honma puts Tanahashi on the ropes, the ref counts, and Honma lets go. But then Tanahashi turns things around! The ref counts and Tanahashi slowly lets off of Honma. The fans applaud, but then Tanahashi takes a swing! Honma dodges to CHOP, CHOP, and CHOP! The fans rally, Honma whips Tanahashi to a corner, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him! Tanahashi goes up and CROSSBODIES! Direct hit and the fans cheer the air guitar.
Tanahashi storms up on Honma, brings him up and fires forearms. Tanahashi whips, Honma reverses, and Honma ELBOWS Tanahashi down! Fans fire up as Honma runs, but Tanahashi avoids the Kokeshi! The fans are torn but Tanahashi brings Honma up to whip. Honma grabs ropes to stop himself, then he runs to RUN Tanahashi over! Honma runs again, but Tanahashi again avoids the Kokeshi! The fans boo but Tanahashi doesn’t let that get him down. Tanahashi stomps Honma’s legs, Honma crawls away, but Tanahashi brings him up. Tanahashi bumps Honma off buckles, then bumps him off buckles again!
The fans rally as Tanahashi dribbles Honma off the buckles! Honma stops to throw hands on Tanahashi! And now Honma puts Tanahashi in the corner. But Tanahashi turns things around! Tanahashi puts Honma’s leg in the ropes but the ref reprimands. Tanahashi assures the ref he won’t do anything, but then he DROPKICKS the leg after all! The fans are torn, and Honma falls to the mat. The fans rally up for Honma, Tanahashi drags him by his leg, and then drops an ELBOW on the knee! Tanahashi has the toehold but Honma grabs at Tanahashi’s hair. Tanahashi elbows Honma then pulls on the leg.
Tanahashi shifts and has the DEATHLOCK! Tanahashi pushes on the legs but Honma endures. Honma CHOPS but Tanahashi eggs him on. Honma CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Tanahashi HEADBUTTS Honma! But that was double-edged and Tanahashi feels dizzy! Tanahashi lets the leglock go, and he drags Honma back to center. Tanahashi pulls on the bad leg but Honma kicks him with the good leg! Tanahashi eggs Honma on, so Honma BOOTS him! Tanahashi stomps Honma again and again, the fans rally up, and Honma eggs Tanahashi on now! The fans rally behind Honma while Tanahashi keeps kicking!
Honma blocks a kick, fires a forearm, but Tanahashi fires back! Tanahashi eggs Honma on and the forearms keep going! Tanahashi fires his strike combo! Honma wobbles, but he still blocks a kick, and DRAGON SCREWS! The fans cheer as Honma gives Tanahashi a taste of his own medicine! The fans rally as Honma crawls away to the ropes. Tanahashi stirs and rises up, and Honma runs up to RUN Tanahashi over! And he ELBOWS Tanahashi down! Then he scoops and SLAMS Tanahashi! The fans fire up while Honma brings Tanahashi around. Honma CHOPS, and CHOPS, and he CHOPS Tanahashi into the corner!
Honma whips corner to corner, runs in, and ELBOWS Tanahashi again! Honma then runs to BULLDOG Tanahashi down! The fans fire up as Honma goes for it again! KOKESHI FLOPS as Tanahashi avoids it once more! That was a close call, though. Tanahashi runs and he FLYING FOREARMS Honma down! The fans rally while Honma goes to a corner. Tanahashi kicks Honma, fires forearms, and fires up. The fans rally as Tanahashi goes corner to corner, but he blocks a boot! Tanahashi holds on as Honma tries to kick free. DRAGON SCREW! Honma is down and the fans rally up. Tanahashi brings Honma back up to scoop and SLAM!
Tanahashi has Honma in the drop zone, adds an ELBOW, then he climbs! SUNSET SENTON! A solid one at that! The fans fire up and Tanahashi goes back up! But Honma hits Tanahashi first! Honma climbs, CLUBS Tanahashi, and the fans rally as he brings Tanahashi to the top. Tanahashi fires body shots and a forearm, but Honma holds onto the ropes to stay up! Tanahashi fires more shots, and Honma falls! But he rises again to trip Tanahashi! Honma CLUBS Tanahashi, climbs back up, and the fans rally again! Tanahashi fires hands, and another HEADBUTT! Honma staggers back, but then RISING KOKESHIS!
Honma climbs, he brings Tanahashi up again, and hits the SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up for that heavy landing! Honma rises as the fans cheer him on, and he hits a KOKESHI ROCKET! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and the fans fire up again. Honma brings Tanahashi back up, throws some heavy back elbows, but Tanahashi eggs him on. Honma has Tanahashi down, then gets both wrists! KAMI-GOYE KOKESHI!! Cover, TWO!! But Honma doesn’t fret, he just goes up top! The fans fire up for the FALLING KOKESHI, but Tanahashi moves! Another crash landing for Honma and the fans can’t believe it!
The fans rally as hard as they can for Honma and he rises up. Honma goes to a corner, he and Tanahashi run at each other, and Honma LARIATS first! Then KOKESHI!! It finally hits!! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives but Honma powers up again! The fans rally as Honma brings Tanahashi back up. Honma suplexes but Tanahashi blocks! Tanahashi fires elbows, fights free, but Honma roars! Tanahashi DRAGON PALMS! Honma HEADBUTTS! Honma runs, but Tanahashi dodges, only for Honma to SWAT the Slingblade! Honma runs, but into a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi runs as Honma rises, SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous but now Tanahashi goes up top! HIGH FLY FLOW!! Cover, Tanahashi wins!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall
In their final showdown, The Ace and The Kokeshi fought like there was no tomorrow! But in the end, Tanahashi comes out on top! He shows his friend respect, and the fans applaud. The Final Road still has many stops left, but who will be next?
Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, Boltin Oleg & Shota Umino VS TMDK!
After Dominion, The Fierce Warrior is still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, and BARS is now NEVER Openweight Champion! The Roughneck still wants to prove himself worthy, will he and Team Hontai be rolling towards the G1 Climax? Or can Zack Sabre Jr, Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson remind us that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The trios sort out and Oiwa starts against Oleg. The fans rally as they circle, tie up, and Oiwa headlocks. Oiwa spins to hammerlock, but Oleg switches that onto Oiwa. Oiwa switches, Oleg switches back then headlocks. Oiwa wrenches the hold open, the two fight for control, and Oleg powers Oiwa down with the top wristlock. But then Oiwa headscissors! Oleg kips free, headlocks, and he grinds the hold. Oiwa fights up, Oleg wrenches and fireman’s carries for a takeover! And another takeover! And another! Oiwa headscissors but Oleg kips free and the fans cheer the standoff. The two reset again and tie back up.
Oiwa headlocks but Oleg powers up, only for Oiwa to hold on tight. Oleg fires body shots, powers up again, but Oiwa still holds tight! Oiwa grinds the hold but Oleg fires body shots. Oleg lifts, but Oiwa hits a flying takeover! The fans rally, Oleg fights up again, and he fires body shots. Oleg powers up and out, Oiwa whips, then Oiwa drops down to DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Oiwa hits a headlock takeover! Oiwa hooks a leg for a cover, TWO! Oiwa keeps the headlock but Oleg fights up. Oleg powers up, powers out this time, then Oleg hurdles to HIP TOSS! The fans fire up and Oleg runs, runs, and SPLASHES DOWN! Cover, TWO!
The fans applaud as Oiwa stays in this. Oleg stomps Oiwa, brings him up, and wrenches an arm. Oleg CLUBS Oiwa, then tags in Shota. Shota takes the handoff to wrench and wrench and wrench again. Goto then tags in and he takes the handoff. Goto wrenches to YANK the arm, CLUB the arm, and then wrench again. Tag back to Oleg and Oleg takes the handoff to wrench and wristlock. Oleg tags Shota back in and Shota CLUBS the arm. Shota stares down ZSJ, he and Oleg stomp Oiwa, then they double whip. They DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE, and ZSJ runs in! Shota sends him into Oleg’s CHOP, and Goto RUNS ZSJ over!
Goto BLASTS Hartley, then brings Oiwa up. Goto has the others join in on BEATING THE DRUM! The fans cheer as Hontai learns to play the Chaos classics. Shota then brings Oiwa up for an UPPERCUT! Shota UPPERCUTS again, and UPPERCUTS again, then whips Oiwa to ropes. Shota ELBOWS Oiwa down, runs and basement DROPKICKS! Oiwa hurries to FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Oiwa keeps cool. The fans rally up and Shota brings Oiwa around. Shota reels Oiwa in, Oiwa resists the lift, so Shota fires KNEE after KNEE! Oiwa sputters, and then Shota CHOPS him to a corner.
Shota whips corner to corner but Oiwa comes back. Shota dodges the lariat, but Oiwa blocks Shota’s to underhook and BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Both men are down, so TMDK BLASTS Goto & Oleg! ZSJ goes out to UPPERCUT Goto down, and Hartley tags in. Hartley CHOPS Shota down, then suplexes him! Cover, TWO! Tag to ZSJ and the fans cheer as The Front Man UPPERCUTS Shota! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Shota again, and again, and again! The fans rally as the UPPERCUTS just keep going, until Shota falls over! Tag back to Hartley and he drags Shota. ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Hartley stomps Shota.
Hartley drags Shota over, tags ZSJ, and ZSJ RAMS Shota! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Shota, shoves, RAMS low, then UPPERCUTS again! ZSJ cravats for the neck wrench but Shota endures. The fans rally, Shota fights up, and Shota powers up and out with a throw. Shota then sunset flips, TWO! ZSJ prawn holds, TWO! Shota sunsets again, TWO! ZSJ high stacks, TWO! Shota sunsets again, TWO! Shota avoids the Penalty Kick to arm-drag, but ZSJ headscissors and NECK TWISTS! ZSJ drags Shota over, tags Oiwa, and Oiwa uses a STRAIGHT ARMBAR! Shota endures, so Oiwa drags him out and drops a LEG on the arm!
Shota endures the modified arm scissors, and he kicks around to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Oiwa lets go, and Oiwa stomps Shota’s arm. Oiwa kicks Shota, eggs him on, then stands him up. Shota ROCKS Oiwa! Oiwa shakes that off, comes back and kicks low! But Shota fires more forearms! Oiwa kicks low, runs up, but Shota dodges to wrench and TORNADO- NO, Oiwa powers out, slips around, but Shota fights the high crotch suplex! Shota CLUBS Oiwa, Oiwa runs up, but Shota ELBOWS and- NO, Oiwa ducks the Pele! Oiwa whips, Shota reverses, TORNADO DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up!
The fans rally while Shota and Oiwa crawl, hot tag to Goto! The Fierce Warrior runs over The Mullet, then he BLASTS TMDK! Oiwa kicks low, runs, but Goto follows and LARIATS! Hartley runs in but Goto kicks low! Hartley blocks Goto’s suplex to suplex Goto, but Goto fights that! Goto then suplexes Hartley onto Oiwa! The fans fire up while Oiwa sputters. Goto stands Oiwa up, whips him to a corner, then runs in for MURAMASA! Then the SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Oiwa survives but Goto is right on him. Oiwa fights the fireman’s carry and CLUBS away! Then ROLLING ELBOW! Oiwa runs, Goto follows, but Oiwa ducks!
Oiwa wrenches Goto and hits a DDT! The fans fire up and Oiwa hot tags ZSJ! ZSJ runs to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and ZSJ brings Goto up. Goto fights the scoop, fires body shots, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Goto fires a forearm, ZSJ UPPERCUTS again, and repeat! ZSJ UPPERCUTS again and again and again, but Goto fires more forearms! ZSJ wrenches an arm to PELE! ZSJ whips, Goto reverses and fireman’s carries! ZSJ slips free, Goto ELBOWS him, then Goto blocks a kick! But ZSJ uses that for an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Goto endures but TMDK YANK Oleg and Shota off the apron!
Oleg is sent into railing, Oiwa keeps Shota down with an armlock, and ZSJ breaks Goto’s grip to have the ARMBAR!! And then the LEGLOCK on top!! Goto flails, reaches out, ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer, ZSJ lets go, but now Hontai is sent into railing again! ZSJ grabs Goto’s hand and bends the fingers! And he STOMPS the arm! Goto writhes but ZSJ stomps him more. ZSJ runs up and BOOTS Goto, but Goto stays up! ZSJ tries again but Goto blocks the boot to DECK ZSJ! The fans fire up and Goto roars, but he runs into a BOOT! ZSJ scoops, Goto slips free, but ZSJ PELES! And PENALTY KICKS! But Goto is up to LARIAT!
Both men are down and the fans fire up! Goto and ZSJ crawl, reach out, hot tags to Oleg and Hartley! The fans fire up as the big men DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT again! Then they start throwing CHOPS! Oleg DOUBLE CHOPS, runs, but Hartley CROSSBODIES! The fans fire up, Hartley BLASTS Shota off the apron, and he aims from the corner. Hartley runs in, Oleg dodges, and then Oleg comes back! Oleg SPLASHES, then gut wrenches! But Hartley’s too big! Hartley breaks free, fires boxing elbows, and an UPPERCUT! Hartley reels Oleg in, suplexes, but Oleg fights it! They fight for control, and Hartley suplexes Oleg!
The fans fire up and Hartley rises. Hartley runs but Oleg avoids the senton! Oleg drags Hartley up, scoops and SLAMS! The fans fire up as Oleg goes up, up, and VADER BOMBS! Cover, TWO! Hartley stays in this and the fans rally up. Oleg brings Hartley around to gut wrench! Shake, Rattle & THROW! Oleg kips up and the fans fire up! Oleg brings Hartley up again, fireman’s carries, but Oiwa kicks low! Shota kicks Oiwa, UPPERCUTS him, then whips. Oiwa reverses and UPPERCUTS Shota! Oiwa then gets around Oleg to HIGH CROTCH PLEX! ZSJ adds a NECK TWIST! Hartley adds the SENTON! Cover, Goto breaks it! The fans fire up while ZSJ goes after Goto!
ZSJ fires forearm after forearm, but Goto fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Oiwa runs up, Goto sends him into Shota’s LARIAT! Shota stands Hartley up, he and Goto double whip, but Hartley breaks the lariats! Shota sends Hartley into Goto’s FOREARM! Shota ENZIGIRIS! Goto hits URA GTR, and Shota adds a LARIAT!! The fans fire up and Oleg has Hartley up! Fireman’s carry for the KAMIKAZE!! Cover, Hontai wins!
Winners: Hirooki Goto, Boltin Oleg & Shota Umino, by pinfall
The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but they can still fall! Oleg brings down big bad Hartley, can TMDK rise back up before the G1 begins?
As for Hontai, Oleg scored the fall so he gets to speak! Oleg says good evening to Yamagata and the fans cheer. Oleg knows he only just became NEVER Champion, but he promises to work even harder and become an even greater wrestler, so please continue to support him. The fans applaud, and then Oleg asks who wants to speak next. Goto lets Shota go next, and the fans cheer Shota on. Shota thanks the fans for the great energy all the way through the show tonight, then he takes a bow. The fans applaud, and Shota adds that Yamagata is both hot and amazing. This New Japan Soul series is important, but so is the upcoming G1 Climax.
Goto is going to defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against ZSJ in Nagoya before the tournament begins, and regardless of who wins that, Shota vows to win the G1 and challenge the champion. Shota tells Goto that he hopes to face him again with the title on the line. The fans applaud and Goto nods. Shota says naturally, the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion will now close us out. The fans applaud again and Goto is handed the mic. The fans cheer Goto on, and he also thanks everyone for coming out tonight. Goto knows it took a long time, but he is proud to finally return to Yamagata as world champion.
The fans cheer, and Goto adds that he wants to make it through his next defense to then take this title into the G1. The Goto Revolution is far from over! Be sure to follow him until the end! The fans cheer that, and Goto says that lastly, he of course wishes to talk about Goto’s G. The fans applaud, and Goto realizes, there’s a G in Yamagata, too. So then, the G in Yamagata and IWGP stand for Goto! The fans cheer and the Fierce Warrior is ready! Will he thwart ZSJ’s efforts in one more rematch? Will he make the G in G1 also stand for Goto?
My Thoughts:
A very good night for NJPW as part of their New Japan Soul series. While I skimmed the other matches, I do like how Sho is wearing a mask like he’s a luchador now and it isn’t obvious it’s just him. The House of Torture wins their matches to keep momentum going, and the other matches were about building towards the G1 Climax qualifiers. Tanahashi VS Honma was good, and I like that the fans cheered Honma. Truth be told, we know Tanahashi is going to win most of these Final Road matches, so that is probably why the fans hope for the opponents to do well. And with the G1 coming up, maybe Tanahashi gets one last good run to try for the finals.
Very good Six Man Tag main event, but it works for Hontai to win. Goto is the top champion, Oleg just became a champion, and NJPW wants Shota to build up given he’s one of the Reiwa Musketeers. Goto VS ZSJ will be a very good match but I feel like Goto’s going to win to bring the title along and add drama to his G1. ZSJ can still have his own great showing in the G1 and maybe makes a case for himself to be the winner again.
My Score: 8.8/10
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