Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE 205 Live Results & Report! (2/19/19)

Who’s next for the unstoppable Buddy Murphy?

Published

6 years ago

February 19, 2019

The Cruiserweight Champion continues to be the Juggernaut, Buddy Murphy! Who will step up to challenge him next? Do they stand a chance of dethroning him?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

TJP VS Humberto Carrillo; Carrillo wins.
Ariya Daivari VS Johnny Lyons; Daivari wins.
Mike Kanellis w/ Maria VS Cedric Alexander; Alexander wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

At Elimination Chamber, The Cruiserweight Champion outlasted the Stamina Monster!

Buddy Murphy took everything Akira Tozawa threw at him, but it wasn’t enough to slow down the Juggernaut. Now we move to the home stretch of the Road to Wrestlemania. Starting next week, there will be another Cruiserweight tournament! The winner of the field of eight will take on Buddy Murphy in New York! Therefore, tonight’s matches are a last-minute moment to make a case for entering the tournament!

First up, a first-ever match of the first-ever (New Era) Cruiserweight Champion and the newest star to the Division. TJP is a technical wizard but Humberto Carrillo is the Ultimo Ninja! Will Carrillo fly high over the FilAm Flash? Or will TJP make a huge leap towards bring the title back to where it all began?

And in the main event, The Lover and Fighter, Mike Kanellis, will take on another former Cruiserweight Champion in Cedric Alexander. Mike has impressed despite losing to Kalisto and THE Brian Kendrick, but Maria says every loss is a step closer to THE win Mike needs. Mike wants to show the third time’s the charm, but can he break his losing streak by breaking the Soul of 205 Live?

TJP VS Humberto Carrillo!

The Cruiser-Great always feels entitled to big opportunities, but just like everyone else, he’ll have to earn his way through the coming #1 Contender’s Tournament. The Ultimo Ninja is more than ready to prove himself against the inaugural champion, but is he ready for the inaugural champion?

The bell rings and Humberto circles with TJP. Fans like both guys as they tie up. TJP waistlocks to snapmare and ghost pins, ONE and Carrillo gets his own cover, ONE. The two circle and tie up again, and TJP gets a headlock. Carrillo powers out but TJP slides under. TJP shoves but things speed up as Carrillo keeps up with TJP. Carrillo runs and acrobatically arm-drags TJP out of the ring! Carrillo builds up speed but spots Drew Gulak and Jack Gallagher coming down the ramp. The Submission Commission want Carrillo to stay safe and sound with feet on the ground. TJP slides in while Carrillo actually listens to Gulak & Gallagher for a moment. Carrillo and TJP tie up and TJP cartwheels to a hammerlock. Carrillo flips through but TJP wrenches again. Fans rally for Carrillo as he handsprings and sweeps the leg!

Carrillo gets a Gulak approved takedown to a standing kneebar. TJP spins with the headscissors to bring Carrillo down! TJP claps along with the fans but Carrillo powers his way up. Carrillo cartwheels through the next spin, then leaps, but TJP throws him down! Cover, ONE! TJP puts the shoulders down again, ONE! TJP goes to put his weight on Carrillo but Carrillo acrobatically monkey flips him away! Carrillo runs into the corner at TJP but TJP puts him on the apron. Carrillo rocks TJP then climbs up, big crossbody! Cover, TWO! Carrillo CHOPS TJP, then runs in for another acrobatic move, only for TJP to plant him on the mat! Gulak tells Carrillo he shouldn’t have done that. TJP traps one arm and grabs the other to YANK it! Carrillo writhes, clutching the arm, while TJP looms over him.

TJP drags Carrillo up and wrenches the arm. TJP whips and runs Carrillo over with an elbow. Fans duel and rally while TJP drags Carrillo up. TJP scoop slams Carrillo down, then slingshot sentons! Cover, TWO! TJP drags Carrillo up while Gulak & Gallagher coach Carrillo. TJP kicks and dropkicks Carrillo down then wraps on a chinlock. Fans rally while TJP toys with Carrillo. TJP hammerlocks and chinlocks Carrillo but Carrillo fights his way up and out. TJP whips but Carrillo rolls over TJP’s back. Carrillo dodges in the corner then runs back in. TJP goes up and over and Carrillo hits post! TJP hoists Carrillo into the Tree of Woe, then gets the fans clapping along as he stands on Carrillo’s face. The ref counts and TJP backs off, to go around the world for a basement dropkick! Cover, TWO, to Gulak’s and Gallagher’s relief.

TJP snapmares Carrillo back into a trapped arm. TJP goes after the other arm again and pulls. Fans rally up as Carrillo endures. Carrillo powers up to a fireman’s carry, but TJP slips out. TJP shoves Carrillo to a corner but runs into an elbow. TJP runs back in but into a boot. Carrillo hops up and leaps, big sunset flip! TJP rolls through but Carrillo dodges the Penalty Kick. Carrillo kips up, misses the roundhouse but hits the enziguri! TJP bails out and Carrillo FLIES out onto him! Carrillo takes TJP out but Gulak and Gallagher scold Carrillo for that. Carrillo puts TJP in and covers, TWO! Gulak and Gallagher coach Carrillo on staying in the ring and on the mat. Carrillo heads to the corner and climbs up high, not at all what they said.

Carrillo leaps but rolls through as TJP gets under. TJP huricanranas but Carrillo sunsets! TWO, and Carrillo fires off more kicks! Carrillo reverse somersaults to the moonsault! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up as Carrillo keeps his cool. Carrillo drags TJP to the drop zone and hops up for the headstand. TJP pushes him over but Carrillo shoulders and slingshots back in. Carrillo wheelbarrows but TJP rolls through to the STF! With a modified crossface! Gulak and Gallagher say Carrillo got himself into this situation, now he has to get himself out. Carrillo crawls and crawls and gets the ropebreak! TJP lets Carrillo go but the damage has been done. Carrillo gets on the apron and TJP joins him out there.

TJP toys with Carrillo then drags him up. Carrillo shoulders TJP but TJP fires off forearms. Carrillo rocks TJP with one big right, then runs in, but is put back in the ring. TJP misses the shoulder and gets rocked agani. Carrillo leaps up, missile dropkick! Headstand, Aztec Press! Cover, Carrillo wins!

Winner: Humberto Carrillo, by pinfall

It wasn’t safe and sound on the ground, but a win is a win! Gulak & Gallagher accept that much, and Carrillo has pinned the former champion! Gulak & Gallagher join Carrillo in the ring, and compliment him on the ground game he did right. They have the fans applaud Carrillo’s victory! The young Cruiserweight is hoisted onto the shoulders of the Submission Commission, but will he live up to his potential?

Tony Nese speaks.

“I finally proved to Noam Dar once and for that I’m the better man.” When he was beating the Scottish Supernova to a pulp, it finally occurred to the Premier Athlete: 205 Live is his for the taking. He could be better than anyone in the Division, it’s just about believing in himself. Whatever mental block that’s been holding him back, Nese smashed it down when he smashed Dar through the timekeeper’s area. This is a Premier Promise: he will win the tournament, he will win the Cruiserweight Championship, and he will do it at Wrestlemania. But will he really do it against his Body Guy buddy, Buddy Murphy?

Backstage interview with Mike & Maria Kanellis.

Mike’s had a hard time picking up wins. Was it wise to go after someone as accomplished as Cedric Alexander? Maria speaks on Mike’s behalf. Is it wise to ask about Alexander’s accomplishments when Mike has accomplished so much himself? Mike has been in the business for 16 years and has been a champion all over the world! Does anyone think Mike has been successful for taking the easy way out? That’s a question, Kayla. Mike has not taken the easy matches or the easy opponents. Because you don’t make it to Wrestlemania that way. Tonight, Mike defeats the Pride of 205 Live to prove why he’s the most dangerous man here. Will this be the night Mike turns it all around?

Ariya Daivari VS Johnny Lyons!

The Privileged Lion is sick of being a sidekick, he’s finally putting himself first again. He tells the fans in New Orleans that they are bearing witness to the Daivari Destruction of the Cruiserweight Division. He swears to beat his opponent so bad, no one here can say the referee made the wrong call. Football fans will get that better than most. Because unlike the Saints, Daivari’s actually going to the big game. But will Lyons have a surprise for the Persion Lion?

The bell rings and Daivari circles with Lyons. They tie up and Lyons gets a headlock. Daivari pulls Lyons’ hair and puts him in a corner. Daivair jabs away on Lyons and then stomps a mudhole into him. He throws Lyons corner to corner but Lyons goes up and over and dropkicks Daivari back! Fans fire up but Lyons misses in the corner and gets a big roundhouse from Daivari! Nawlins rallies for their local Lyons but Daivari drags him aruond to kick him while he’s down! Daivari stomps away on Lyons, then wrenches him into the hammerlock lariat! But Daivari isn’t done there, he drags Lyons up again for a cobra clutch! Daivari puts on body scissors, Lyons taps out!

Winner: Ariya Daivari by submission

Cobra clutch or Million Dollar Dream, Daivari uses it to destroy the dreams of young Johnny Lyons. Daivari will want to live a dream of everyone’s and go to Wrestlemania, but will he bust in the Contender’s Tournament?

Buddy Murphy speaks.

“I’ve got to hand it to Drake Maverick.” It must be so hard for a GM to run a brand with a champion as strong and dominate as Murphy. Maverick’s trying to get Murphy the challengers he wants. First was Mustafa Ali, the Heart of 205 Live. Murphy left Ali heartbroken. Next was Cedric Alexander, the savior of the Division and wanted to redeem himself. But the Age of Alexander came crashing down. And then the Royal Rumble put Murphy against three big names: the leader of the Lucha House Party, Kalisto; the savage striker, Hideo Itami; and the Stamina Monster that dethroned the King of the Cruiserweights, Akira Tozawa. Murphy got the challenge he asked for and beat that challenge.

Tozawa got a second chance at Elimination Chamber, but it ended like every other night: Murphy’s hand held high. So who’s next? Maverick put this tournament together to pit eight of the best to fight THE best. Murphy declares he’s the greatest of all time, but who will meet him on the Grandest Stage of Them All?

Mike Kanellis w/ Maria VS Cedric Alexander!

For Mr. & Mrs. Kanellis, it isn’t about the losses, or even about the wins, it’s about getting THE win that will define a career. Will Mike get that win tonight on the verge of the #1 Contender’s Tournament? Or will the Age of Alexander begin its resurrection on the road back to Wrestlemania?

Maria does not join commentary this time. Perhaps she’s sick of Aiden English grilling her about Mike’s win-loss record, despite her philosophy on it. She moves her chair up in front of commentary and takes a seat to watch her husband even closer. Alexander makes his entrance, and we begin.

The bell rings and fans already cheer Alexander on. Alexander claps along as he circles with Mike. Mike and Alexander tie up and Alexander gets a waistlock. Mike gets to the ropes then reverses to a wristlock. Alexander trips Mike and gets a facelock, then scrambles around. Mike reverses the facelock but Alexander powers him to a corner. The ref calls for a break but Mike turns it around. Mike shoves Alexander then eggs him on. Alexander rushes Mike but Mike uses ropes as defense. Alexander toys with Mike but Maria says it’s fine. Mike and Alexander circle again and tie up. Mike gets a headlock and grinds Alexander down. Alexander powers up but can’t power out of Mike’s grip. Mike grinds Alexander down more but fans rally up.

Alexander feeds off the energy and powers out this time. Mike runs him over with a shoulder, then things speed up. Alexander arm-drags Mike down into an armlock! Mike scrambles around but Alexander grinds him down. Alexander wrenches but Mike kicks low. Mike CHOPS Alexander, then again. Mike elbows Alexander down then drags him back up. Alexander handsprings and headscissors Mike down, then dropkicks him, too! Fans cheer while Mike gets to a corner. Alexander CHOPS Mike back, and Maria seethes. Alexander buckle bumps and CHOPS Mike again. Mike kicks back but misses his chop, Alexander CHOPS Mike again. Alexander snapmares Mike to dropkick him in the back! Cover, TWO! Alexander keeps his cool while Mike gets to a corner again.

Alexander stomps Mike down then CHOPS him yet again. He whips Mike corner to corner then runs in, but Mike puts him on the apron. Alexander hits Mike back then springboards, but Mike punches him out of the air! Alexander is dazed and Mike catches his breath. Mike rains down rights on Alexander but fans rally up for the former champion. Mike snapmares Alexander to then drive elbow after elbow into Alexander’s shoulder and chest. Maria applauds while the fans boo. Mike says he’s the best in the world as he drags Alexander over. Mike snapmares Alexander for more elbows into the shoulders! He sits Alexander up to basement dropkick him against the ropes! Mike pulls Alexander back against the ropes but lets up at 4. Mike drags Alexander onto the apron and rocks him with another right!

Fans boo and Mike tells them to shut up. Mike stalks Alexander but walks into a CHOP! Alexander CHOPS Mike more, then brings him out for European Uppercuts. Alexander runs but into a pop-up, that he turns into a wheelbarrow victory roll! TWO, and Mike rocks Alexander again! Mike whips Alexander face first into buckles! Alexander is dazed again while Mike grits his teeth. Mike drags Alexander to a cover, TWO! Mike puts Alexander in a chinlock but Alexander endures. Maria likes what she sees as Mike grinds his knee into Alexander’s back. Fans rally up and Alexander powers up. Alexander jawbreakers free! Both men stagger and Alexander throws haymakers. Mike responds but Alexander bobs ‘n’ weaves and CHOPS! Uppercut! Alexander dropkicks the legs out then dropkicks Mike in the face!

Fans fire up as Alexander gets to a corner. Alexander and Mike slowly stir while Maria grows worried. Alexander rallies on Mike with forearms and elbows. Mike kicks but Alexander blocks to the stiff back elbow! Alexander runs, handsprings, Neuralizer kick! Mike staggers to a corner, but dodges Alexander. Alexander goes to the apron and springboards, but his legs give out and he tumbles down! This happened to Alexander weeks ago, is it a bad sign? Mike takes advantage by stomping the legs! Fans boo and jeer but Mike and Maria laugh while the referee checks on Alexander. Mike comes back and grabs the bad leg. Mike spins through but Alexander cradle counters! TWO, and Alexander SUPERKICKS Mike down! Mike and Alexander are both down from exhaustion and pain.

Fans rally for Alexander while Maria shouts for Mike. Alexander stands first and hobbles over to Mike. Alexander lifts but the bad leg prevents much more. He throws forearms into Mike instead, and tries again, but Mike fights out. Mike fireman’s carry but Alexander slips out. Alexander pushes Mike, handsprings through, but into Mike’s SUPERKICK! Mike picks Alexander up, Samoan Driver! Cover, TWO!! Alexander lives and the Kanellises are furious! Fans rally up but Maria tells them to shut up. Mike drags Alexander back up, but Alexander uppercuts him! Mike throws another right, but Alexander kicks! Alexander misses the back hand and Mike pushes him to a corner. Mike runs into a boot, Alexander hops up, but Mike hits another rocking right!

Mike drags Alexander out, Backpack Stunner! Cover, TWO!! Mike grows frustrated, but he slaps himself back into focus. Mike drags Alexander up once more but Alexander shoves him away. Alexander rolls Mike up, TWO! Penalty Kick misses, small package, TWO! Backslide, TWO! Sudden Michinoku! Cover, TWO!! Now Alexander is shocked, but Maria is still worried for her husband. Mike crawls to the ropes but Alexander grabs the legs. Mike kicks Alexander away but Alexander comes back. They brawl between the ropes, Mike hotshots Alexander down. Mike drags Alexander back up to suplex but Alexander lands on the apron. They brawl more and double boot! Both men fall but Mike lands on the floor. Alexander’s still in the ring as the count begins.

Mike starts crawling away, he doesn’t seem to care anymore. But Alexander staggers his way over to Mike, only to get a SPINEBUSTER on the ramp!! The referee checks on Alexander as he writhes in pain. Mike crawls back towards the ring and gets in. The ring count passes 5 but Alexander hasn’t gotten up. Alexander crawls at 7, at 9, and gets in at 9.9!! Mike is furious but he goes right at Alexander. Alexander grabs ropes to deny the hold. Mike stomps Alexander out and drags him back over. Mike turns Alexander over for a Boston Crab! Alexander endures the leg and back pain as he crawls for the ropes. He reaches, but Mike sits down deep! Alexander still gets the ropebreak! Mike and Maria are beside themselves but New Orleans is loving this!

Mike paces to keep his cool while Maria glares at Alexander. Alexander makes it to the ropes as Mike blows a kiss to Maria. Mike runs in but Alexander dumps him out. Alexander builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit takes Mike out! Alexander puts Mike back in but can barely move on his own. Maria gets in Alexander’s way! Fans boo as Maria plays goalie, but Alexander gets past. To get a SUPERKICK!! Dragon sleeper, swinging neckbreaker! Cover, Mike wins!? No, no! The referee saw Alexander get his shoulder up! It was a TWO!! Alexander kicks out by mere inches, but it’s still a kick-out! The match must continue! Mike runs into Alexander, Alexander rolls but Mike sits on it! TWO, into the LUMBAR CHECK! Cover, Alexander wins!!

Winner: Cedric Alexander, by pinfall

The narrowest of margins was the difference between a victory and a defeat! Alexander finds himself on the upside of the decision, but Maria actually smiles. Does she still believe the career-defining win is on the horizon? As for Alexander, is he going to repeat his path to Wrestlemania from 2018? Or is there a roadblock in the way for both of them just around the corner?

Drake Maverick speaks.

The 205 Live GM has made his decision on the first Cruiserweight superstars to enter the tournament. Deciding was not taken lightly, as he again considered both recent performances as well as past accomplishments. Therefore, the first of the first round matches Maverick has decided on are: Kalisto VS Tony Nese; and THE Brian Kendrick VS Drew Gulak. Half the field has been named, which of these first four in will make it to the finals? Who else will join as the last four in and join them on the Road to Wrestlemania?

My Thoughts:

A really great episode of 205 Live, and I like the announcement of another Cruiserweight tournament. Last year when Drake Maverick was first introduced to the show, the tournament was a necessity because of circumstances (Enzo Amore) but it was so good, doing it this year is a good move. Learning half the field now is alright, and gives Maverick time, in kayfabe, to figure out the other four after the matches we just got tonight. Kalisto VS Nese and Kendrick VS Gulak are going to be great, and the stories are all there. Nese wants to finally be champion, even if it’s going to be against his good pal, Buddy Murphy. Kendrick and Gulak are enemies and will fight even fiercer now that a chance at the title is involved. Nese is a given but Kendrick VS Gulak could probably go either way.

I was wondering when Gulak & Gallagher would make themselves Carrillo’s corner men and turns out that was tonight. Carrillo and TJP had a great match, and it’s great for Carrillo to defeat another Cruiserweight Division staple. I almost thought Gulak & Gallagher were going to Electric Chair Drop Carrillo while celebrating, but there’s a lot of time for their story to develop. As great as Carrillo is, his story with Gulak & Gallagher will sidetrack him from the title one way or another. Daivari sadly can’t do the story he was going to with Hideo Itami after Itami got his release. Daivari had to settle for getting cheap heat off of local sports teams. I’m not sure if he’s in the tournament, but his new push would dictate that he is, and probably reaches the semifinals just so he looks good.

Alexander VS Mike was incredible, certainly Mike’s best match since coming to the WWE. Which is a shame, he should’ve been doing way more on Raw or SmackDown than what they had him do. Mike might make it far in the tournament, if he’s even in it. Alexander is definitely in the tournament, but I feel like it’d bee too easy to say he’ll return to Wrestlemania. As Murphy said in his promo tonight, he’s beaten just about everyone around, and he continues to establish himself as one of history’s best Cruiserweights. I’m betting on Kushida finally debuting in WWE to skyrocket to the top. He’ll make every match he has in the tournament into an instant classic, and then give us another one at Wrestlemania with Murphy to take that title and stop the unstoppable.

My Score: 8.5/10

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Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW Road to New Beginning Results & Report! (1/30/25)

GO! ACE! GO! ACE!

Published

5 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Steven Mitchell

Tanahashi’s Final Road to New Beginning!

Evil couldn’t end President Ace, but will The House of Torture still take the NEVER Openweight Six Man Championships from him?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Kickoff – Masatora Yasuda VS Daiki Nagai; Time Limit Draw.
YOSHI-HASHI & Katsuya Murashima VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson; Oiwa & Jackson win.
8 Man Tag: El Phantasmo, Jado, Shota Umino & Togi Makabe VS The United Empire; ELP, Jado, Shota & Makabe win.
Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Taiji Ishimori; Sanada & Taiji win.
Tomohiro Ishii & Tomoaki Honma VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Hiromu win.
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; War Dogs win.
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins and become the new NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions.
Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, El Desperado & YOH VS TMDK; TMDK wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano & Boltin Oleg VS The House of Torture!

Evil tried to make WrestleKingdom 19 the last time we saw President Ace in this ring but he failed! However, his minions will not stop in trying to ruin the rest of Tanahashi’s last year. Will Ren Narita, Yujiro Takahashi & Sho take these titles back to the House? Or will The Ace, Joker & Rook stand tall?

The House walks out here showing off the belts they literally stole back at New Year Dash, but now the tables have turned! Tanahashi and team attack The House from behind! The fans cheer as The House finally tastes their own medicine! Tanahashi snatches back the belts so that he, Yano & Oleg can stand with them in the ring. The House protests but they’re one to talk. The introductions are skipped, the bell rings, and the brawl is back on as Tanahashi’s team goes back out after The House! Yano whips Sho, but Sho reverses to send Yano into railing! Sho stomps away on Yano, then helps Ren mug Oleg!

Yujiro turns things around on Tanahashi, and then he brings Tanahashi out to No Man’s Land! Sho bends Oleg’s fingers, puts his hand through the railing and pulls! The fans rally for Tanahashi’s team while the ref reprimands The House. Yujiro puts Tanahashi in, then he, Sho & Ren all stomp away! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but The House all put one out on Tanahashi. Yujiro stands Tanahashi up, then he and Sho double whip Tanahashi corner to corner. Yujiro runs in but Tanahashi dodges! Tanahashi then dropkicks Sho’s leg, then he dropkicks Narita’s leg! The fans fire up and Tanahashi runs at Yujiro.

Yujiro dodges, but Tanahashi ELBOWS him away! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up again as Tanahashi air guitars. Tag to Yano and he TOSSES Yujiro out! Yano then brings Yujiro out into No Man’s Land, then to the back of the crowd to THROW into some open chairs! The fans cheer as Yano brings out that Great Bash Heel side, but the ref reprimands Yano. Yano tells the ref to leave him alone, and he has a chair! The ref stops Yano from hitting Yujiro! Yano argues with the ref, but now Sho & Ren mug Yano! The ref reprimands them but the mugging continues. Ren leads the ref away so Sho & Yujiro can CHOKE Yano with a chair!

The fans boo while The House also beats up Oleg & Tanahashi. Yujiro drags Yano up and then brings him back to ringside to POST him! Ren brings Oleg around with a headlock and sends him into railing! Then more railing! Then into the crowd! Yujiro uses Yano’s red chair to CHOKE him! The ring count finally starts, but Ren JAMS Oleg up with a chair! The count reaches 10 of 20 and The House returns to the ring. Yano is still down at 15! The fans rally, Yano rises up at 17, and he lurches in at 19! The fans cheer but Yujiro is annoyed. Yujiro drops a leg, then an elbow, then a HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO!

The fans cheer as Yano stays in this, but Ren sends Tanahashi into railing! Yujiro tags Sho, Sho CHOKES Yano with a boot to the neck! The ref counts, Sho stops, then Sho TOSSES Yano out! Sho keeps the ref distracted while Ren JAMS Yano up with a chair! Ren pushes Yano in, Sho covers, TWO! Yano survives and Sho is frustrated. Tag to Ren, he drags Yano up, and Ren whips Yano to ELBOW him down! Cover, TWO! Ren BLASTS Tanahashi off the apron! Ren grins as the ref now keeps Oleg back. Ren CHOKES Yano on the ropes, Sho joins in to CLAW Yano’s eyes, but then the ref counts. Ren lets off and Yano flops down.

Ren drags Yano up, but Yano pulls hair! Ren breaks free, knees low, then runs up. Yano dodges, clinches, and BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES! The fans fire up, Yano hot tags Oleg! Oleg jumps in and CLOBBERS Ren! Oleg then deadlifts Ren, but Sho attacks! The fans boo, Sho runs, SPEAR bounces off of Oleg! Oleg then deadlifts Sho! Shake, Shake, Shake! But Yujiro CLUBS Oleg! Yujiro & Ren double whip, but Oleg DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES! The fans fire up and Oleg runs at the corner to SPLASH Ren! Then he scoops and TOSSES Ren! The fans fire up as Oleg then runs to SPLASH! Cover, TWO!

Ren survives but Oleg deadlifts Ren right to the fireman’s carry! Ren fights free, CHOKES Oleg, but Oleg breaks free! Oleg winds up but Ren ducks the chop! Ren CHOKES Oleg, the ref counts, but Oleg CHOKES Ren! The fans cheer, and then Oleg TOSSES Ren to the corner! Tag to Tanahashi and the fans fire up! Oleg and Tanahashi haul Ren up, double whip him corner to corner, then Tanahashi sends Oleg in! Oleg ELBOWS Ren, then Tanahashi SPLASHES! Tanahashi scoops and SLAMS Ren into the drop zone! Oleg goes up, up and VADER BOMBS! Tanahashi goes up to SUNSET SENTON! Cover, Yujiro breaks it!

Oleg CLOBBERS Yujiro for that, then goes out after him. The fans fire up as Tanahashi powers up. Tanahashi runs, but Sho gets a cheap shot in! Ren BOOTS Tanahashi, tags Sho, and Sho BLASTS Yano! Yujiro turns things around on Oleg and now The House double whips President Ace! Sho runs in to forearm SMASH! Yuijro BOOTS! Ren ELBOWS Tanahashi! Ren & Sho snapmare Tanahashi, then hold the legs open! Yujiro shoves the ref aside, then FALLING HEADBUTTS Tanahashi down low! The fans boo but now Sho covers, TWO!! Tanahashi survives and Sho argues with the ref! The fans rally for Tanahashi, but Ren has his repaired pushup bar!

Ren takes aim, Tanahashi dodges, SHOTEI! Sho kicks, Tanahashi blocks to DRAGON SCREW! Yujiro runs up, but gets caught into a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up as Tanahashi crawls for his corner! Hot tag to Yano! Yano unties a buckle pad! The fans cheer, Yano whips, but Sho reverses! Yano stops from hitting the buckles, then he dodges Sho to send him into bare buckles! Yano rolls Sho up, TWO!! Sho escapes but Yano hurries to get Sho’s legs! Oleg hops in, CATAPULT into Oleg’s BELLY2BELLY! The fans fire up as Yano then stands Sho up, ONIGO- NO, Sho fights free! Sho dodges, but the ref stops him from hitting a low blow!

The ref and Sho argue, but Yujiro & Ren mug Yano! They double whip Yano, but Yano grabs ropes. Yano then sends Ren into Yujiro to DOUBLE LOW BLOW them! Atomic drop for Sho! Tanahashi runs up, SLINGBLADE! Oleg deadlifts Sho right into a fireman’s carry and DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! But YOSHINOBU KANEMARU is here! The Heel Master gets on the apron, but Young Lions already apprehend him! Yano hauls Sho up, for ONIGOROSHI!! Cover, KANEMARU TOSSES THE YOUNG LION ONTO THE REF! The fans boo but Kanemaru attacks Yano! But then Yano hits him with an atomic drop!

Kanemaru WHISKEY MISTS!? Sho LOW BLOWS Yano!! Sho rolls Yano up, HOUSE OF TORTURE WINS!!

Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)

What a travesty! A miscarriage of justice! Evil isn’t even here, but his army of darkness just won the gold! Yano is upset, Tanahashi is disappointed, but Oleg is mad! Oleg storms back in, only for Yujiro to BELT SHOT him down! Yujiro then kicks Oleg out, and shows he’s pretty sore from the low blow. Will these belts help the House feel much, much better?

Six Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, El Desperado & YOH VS TMDK!

The Fierce Warrior won the New Japan Ranbo to earn his shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, so that means he and Zack Sabre Jr. will do battle for the New Beginning! Will the Rogue Luchador & Direct Drive help Goto gain the upper hand? Or will Kosei Fujita & Robbie Eagles help The Mighty Front Man prepare for war?

The teams sort out while all of TMDK’s title belts are put aside. The Japanese Young Punk steps to Despy, so Despy accepts. The fans cheer and the bell rings. Despy and Fujita stare down while the fans rally. Despy has the majority, and the two circle. They feel things out, Despy facelocks but Fujita slips around to waistlock. Despy slips out, moves around, but Fujita stays on him. They go around, break, and the fans cheer. They tie up, Despy wrenches to hammerlock, but Fujita elbows free to hammerlock back. Despy switches, Fujita switches, repeat! They go hammerlock for hammerlock, but then Despy top wristlocks to wrangle FUjita!

The fans cheer, Fujita fights up, but Despy shifts to a cording hold. Fujtia whips but Despy reverses and arm-drags! Fujita comes back, he avoids the arm-drag, and then he CHOPS! Despy is stinging, but Fujita CHOPS him again! And CHOPS him again! The fans cheer, Fujita CHOPS again, but now Despy CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS, Despy ends up in the Mighty corner, and Eagles tags in. Eagles CHOPS, but then Despy CHOPS! Eagles shoves Despy and says he’s bored. He wants Yoh! The fans rally for Yoh, so Despy tags him in. The fans cheer as Yoh and Eagles circle. Wait, Yoh starts up the “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!”

Eagles is rather amused, and says not bad. Eagles starts it up for himself, but Yoh sneaks up! Eagles stops the schoolboy and sits on the cover, TWO and Yoh has the sunset flip! TWO, both men stand and point at the other! The fans applaud, then Yoh kicks low. Yoh whips, Eagles reverses to go up and around to arm-drag! Eagles runs in, Yoh sidesteps but Eagles hurdles. Eagles RANAS then WHEEL KICKS! Eagles kips up and the fans cheer. Eagles puts Yoh in a corner, and he says “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP! “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP! “ROBBIE!” CHOP! “ROBBIE!” CHOP! “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” CHOP CHOP CHOP!

The fans cheer while Yoh flounders around. Eagles whips, Goto sneaks a tag, then Goto & Yoh DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Eagles! They BLAST ZSJ and Fujita, then call to Despy! Despy says no thanks, they can go ahead. “Se~ no!” DRUM BEAT on Eagles’ back! Goto asks if Despy is sure he doesn’t want in, and Despy says it’s fine. Goto CLUBS Eagles, but Eagles fires body shots! Eagles fires a forearm, but Goto knees low! Goto fireman’s carries, but Eagles fights free. Eagles waistlocks, Goto elbows free and runs, only for ZSJ to trip him up! Eagles BLASTS Yoh & Despy off the apron while Fujita basement dropkicks Goto!

ZSJ spins Goto around to be on the apron, then gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans cheer and ZSJ brings Goto out to UPPERCUT him down! ZSJ brings Goto up to UPPERCUT again, then UPPERCUTS him again! Goto stumbles and falls, Eagles CHOPS Yoh, and Fujita CHOPS Despy! ZSJ brings Goto up and wrenches his arm, then wrenches it again. But Goto fires forearms in return! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Goto again, the CHOPS continue by the ramp side, and ZSJ puts Goto in. Eagles tags ZSJ in whiel Fujita and Despy CHOP each other back and forth. ZSJ clamps on a headscissors and he squeezes tight!

Goto endures, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go cleanly and brings Goto to the corner. Tag to Fujita and he stomps Goto. Fujita drags Goto up while fans rally, and Fujita wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Fujtia wrenches again, ELBOW BREAKER! And again, ELBOW BREAKER! Fujita wrenches, top wristlocks, and he wrangles Goto to the mat. Fujita STOMPS that arm, then he tags Eagles. The Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions get Goto’s arms while ZSJ steps in to have a leg! Goto endures as TMDK cycles through the armlocks and leglocks! Red Shoes counts but TMDK keeps rotating before he reaches 4!

Then TMDK returns where they started, and Goto endures the DOUBLE STRAIGHT ARMBARS and INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Red Shoes counts, all three men let go at 4! ZSJ stands, he still has the deathlock, and he bridges back! Goto endures, keeps his shoulders up, but ZSJ stands to tag in Eagles. Eagles drags Goto around, then hits a KNEE JAMMER! Tag to Fujita, they drag Goto up, and they double whip him to ropes. They DOUBLE ELBOW Goto down, ZSJ hops in for a NECK TWIST! Goto sits up into a DOUBLE PENALTY KICK! Cover, Despy breaks it! The fans cheer but Red Shoes reprimands.

Despy stands down, but Fujita BLASTS him off the apron! Fujita drags Goto up, wrenches, and whips him to a corner. Fujita runs up to CHOP, then he snapmares to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer but Fujita coordinates with TMDK. Fujita drags Goto up, and he wants to do the Chaos drum thing? ZSJ isn’t so sure but Eagles is for it. Eagles steps in, but Yoh runs up! Eagles kicks Yoh, and “Se~ no!” Eagles & Fujita DRUM on Yoh! The fans cheer and ZSJ acts like he doesn’t know what’s going on. The fans cheer for ZSJ to join in, but he puts up the X, that’s not for him. Eagles & Fujita DRUM away on Goto!

Goto stands up and grabs Fujita by the face! Eagles CLUBS Goto, he and Fujita double whip, but Goto DOUBLE LARIATS first! The fans fire up while they’re all down! ZSJ storms in and grabs Goto’s leg! ANKLE LOCK! Goto endures, fights around, and rolls through to throw ZSJ! ZSJ comes back to RAM Goto, then he runs, only for Goto to RUN him over! The fans fire up while both men are down! Goto crawls, hot tag to Despy! Despy runs at the corner to ELBOW Fujita! Despy reels Fujita in for a suplex, high and hard! Cover, TWO! Despy fires up and the fans are with him! Fujita underhooks, PINCHE- NO, Fujita fights free!

Fujita swings but Despy blocks the chop! Despy knees low, whips, but Fujita reverses to GAMANGIRI! The fans cheer while both men are down! Fujita roars while he rises up, and he storms back to Despy. Fujita waistlocks, deadlifts Despy, but Despy fights the suplex with elbows! Despy is free, but Fujita runs up to slip around and backslide! Despy rolls through, Fujita KICKS him down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Fujita fires up again. Fujita drags Despy back up, reels him in, and suplexes, but Despy fights that. Despy wrenches, but Fujita ROCKS him! Despy ROCKS Fujita in return!

Fujita and Despy keep the wristlock while they fire forearm after forearm back and forth! The fans rally up as the shots go faster and faster, but then both men wobble! Fujita fires a forearm, then another! Despy ROCKS Fujita in return! Despy runs, Eagles slips in, SOBAT! Fujita UPPERCUTS! Eagles scoops Despy but Yoh makes the save! Eagles kicks Yoh, he and Fujita double whip, but Yoh reverses to crisscross them into each other! FALCON- NO, Eagles slips out, but Yoh switches! Yoh feeds Eagles to Despy’s ELBOW! Yoh reels Eagles back in, FALCON ARROW! The fans fire up but Fujita runs up!

Despy & Yoh double kick, double whip, but Fujita DOUBLE SHOTGUNS! Fujita kips up, the fans fire up, and Fujita whips Despy, but Despy reverses to SPINEBUSTER! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita and Despy crawl for their corners, hot tags to Goto and ZSJ! The fans fire up as both men run in, Goto LARIATS ZSJ! Goto roars and the fans are with him! Goto fires a flurry of forearms, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs in, MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! ZSJ survives and Goto fires up again! Goto fireman’s carries but ZSJ pulls on an arm! Goto powers out and ROCKS ZSJ!

Goto runs, ZSJ wrangles him to a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Eagles & Fujita BLAST Yoh & Despy off the arm! They have Yoh & Despy stuck on the outside with armlocks while ZSJ has the DISARMER! Yoh breaks free of Eagles and DROPKICKS ZSJ! Eagles returns to SUPERKICK Yoh! Despy is in, Eagles slips around and feeds him to Fujita’s MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up and TMDK drags Goto up. But Goto fires forearms on Eagles & Fujita! They DOUBLE CHOP, then double wrench! MAX- NO, Goto fights free and kicks Fujita! Goto deflects Eagles’ kick to LARIAT! Fujita kicks Goto, runs, but Goto follows! LARIAT!

ZSJ RAMS Goto, whips, but Goto reverses! Fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! The fans fire up while ZSJ clutches his head. Goto hauls ZSJ up, dragon sleepers, but ZSJ drops down! Goto drops onto ZSJ for a cover, TWO!! ZSJ is up, Goto sends him into a corner! RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP, into a GOTO SAN SHIKI!! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ escapes, BOOTS Goto, then runs! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so DOUBLE LARIATS collide again! Goto roars, runs, but ZSJ KCIKS the lariat, PELES the other arm, then SWEEPS the legs! Goto falls, but then sits up, into a PENALTY KICK! The fans fire up and ZSJ hurries to drag Goto back up.

ZSJ scoops, ZACK- NO, Goto slips free and has the SLEEPER! Goto sits ZSJ and rolls him, GOTO NI SHIKI!! TWO!! ZSJ has the legs, JAPANESE LEG ROLL CLUTCH, with bridge!! TMDK WINS!!

Winners: TMDK, by pinfall

It was a fast and furious finish of technical holds, but who else but the best technical wrestler in the world would pull it out? Goto is frustrated for getting caught like that, but will he avenge himself in just 12 days?

As for TMDK, Eagles starts off by saying, “G’day, Sendai!” Eagles then pretends to check his watch, and asks, “Rocky doki desu ka? <Where is Rocky?> Zabishii. <How lonely.>” The fans chuckle at Eagles’ fake crying, and Eagles then tells Yoh & Rocky that next month in Osaka, see you then! The fans applaud, and then Eagles offers the mic to Fujita. The fans cheer Fujita on, and Fujita accepts. “That lariat turned me inside out, so I’ll keep this short! I’m beating El Desperado!” The fans cheer that, ready to see Fujita challenge Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on Tuesday, February 4th!

And lastly, that brings things to The Front Man. ZSJ takes the mic to say, “People of Sendai, thank you very much!” The fans cheer, but then ZSJ tells “Ko-kun” and “Robbie-chan” to “cut that drumming bit. It was lame.” The fans chuckle again, and ZSJ says 2025 isn’t the Year of the Snake. No, it’s all orange! ZSJ promises that TMDK won’t just paint NJPW orange, but the entire world! “Osaka will be here soon enough. Goto, this is your last chance. Let’s make the most of it.” The fans like the sound of that! ZSJ says they’ll end with this: This year revolves around TMDK! Arigato gozaimashita! The fans are ready, will the New Beginning in Osaka be Mighty?

My Thoughts:

A very good event for NJPW, though “Road to” always indicates more tune-up filler than thriller. Gabe Kidd going after Yota Tsuji and the Global Heavyweight Championship is an interesting development, but that is going to be a great match. The NEVER Openweight Six Man Championship match was really good stuff, and I was only a little surprised that The House of Torture won. Firstly, Tanahashi has to lose those titles at some time, so might as well pull off the Band-Aid now before The New Beginning events. Then this works with the story from Oleg and Josh Barnett where Barnett wants to help Oleg reach that singles title level.

And very good Six Man Tag main event to not only build Goto VS ZSJ but also Desperado VS Fujita. Great win for TMDK, but we have a lot of other Road to New Beginning events to build Goto VS ZSJ. A lot of filler 10 Man Tags are on the schedule, but I probably won’t be bothering with those. Despy VS Fujita will be great, but Fujita and Eagles are already the tag champions, so I don’t see Fujita winning. As for Goto VS ZSJ, ZSJ said it himself that this is very likely Goto’s last chance at ever being the top champion in NJPW, but I don’t see Goto winning. It’ll be an epic battle, but I feel like ZSJ is going to stay on top.

My Score: 8.7/10

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Coverage

Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 1.30.25

Are we gonna get consecutive weeks of momentum or we gonna get the “LOL TNA” moment already?

Published

7 hours ago

January 30, 2025

Andrew Balaz

Coming off the first Live iMPACT! in 8 years, it has been pretty universally agreed upon that it was not a bad show. Good favor, a larger audience then they’ve had in years and TNA actually did fairly well establishing themselves as not a third rate duelist.

Let’s see if the good tidings continue or if things start to well…TNA.

The official liaison between @WWENXT and TNA, @AriannaGraceWWE, was rudely interrupted by Tessa Blanchard while speaking with @MeanGiaMiller!

Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/9IIhMDrtkn pic.twitter.com/8ImgauBAiO

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 31, 2025

Ratings:

Cora Jade vs Hyan: Cora wins via Jaded – ** 1/2
Brian Myers w/The System vs Leon Slater: Myers wins via Roster Cut – ** 3/4
Laredo Kid vs Mustafa Ali: Ali wins via 450 – ** 3/4
Eric Young & Josh Alexander vs Sinner & Saint: No Contest? EY Turned Heel – N/A
Ace Austin vs Wes Lee w/Tyson & Tyriek: Wes wins via Cardiac Kick – ***
Kaiba Boys (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) vs Fir$t Cla$$: Kaibas win via Danger Zone – ***

Results:

Nic Nemeth comes out to talk, doesn’t complain and says he’s just gonna dust himself off and start again. Ryan comes out to complain on behalf of “hiissss brrooother” and run down Hendry. Nic is playing babyface still and Ryan is instigating is typical little brother fashion. Nic tries to appease Ryan saying this could be a big year for both of them, so Fir$t Cla$$ music hits and KC Navarro cuts them off and hands off to AJ Francis. Ryan get mad at them interrupting, Nic tries to calm the situation but Ryan decides to agree to a tag match that Nic doesn’t seem like he wanted to go there. But Santino comes out and makes it official.

EXCLUSIVE: @XiaBrookside welcomed @WWENXT's @CoraJadeWWE to #TNAiMPACT, but things got HEATED fast!

Don't miss #TNAiMPACT TONIGHT at 8/7c on @AXSTV in the US, @Sportsnet 360 in Canada, and streaming worldwide on TNA+!

Get 1 month FREE of TNA+ with code: NXTNA pic.twitter.com/LP8ghA78Pv

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 30, 2025

Cora Jade vs Hyan

Hyan tries a Pump Kick, Cora catches it, lays her out and kicks her feet up in the corner getting cocky. Snapmare with the Hair, into a Springboard Single Stomp from Cora, Hyan is getting throttled along the ropes and putting up much of a fight to start. Hyan is usually just enhancement talent in TNA, even though she does have a solid pedigree in the indies and internationally. Hyan finally moves so Cora smashes herself into the corner, Wasteland from Hyan for a 1 count, Cora counters Hyan’s attempted offense and then hits Jaded for the win!

The match did what it needed to, Cora tried to lay in the boots further, Xia runs out to make a save but Cora baits her into a false sense of security and goes after Xia. So Masha comes out for the save on the person who made the save. Cora comes off looking pretty good and Masha scaring her off helps Masha’s aura.

.@MeanGiaMiller tries to get answers out of @WesLee_WWE, @TyriekIgwe_WWE and @_Tysonwwe_ for his attack on The Rascalz ahead of Lee's match with @The_Ace_Austin TONIGHT on iMPACT!

Watch #TNAiMPACT now on TNA+: https://t.co/9IIhMDrtkn

Get one month FREE with code: NXTNA pic.twitter.com/UIU5GgiylE

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 31, 2025

Brian Myers w/The System vs Leon Slater

Myers grabs the quick Headlock into the Shoulder Tackle and welcome back to 1997 wrestling starts. Myers got cocky, shot Leon into the ropes and eats a Shoulder Tackle from Leon, so a little showboating from Leon gets under Myers skin and causes him to make a few missteps. Leon hits the Feint Mule Kick into the Handspring Back Elbow for 2, but when he tries to continue, Myers pulls him down into the buckles. Myers looks for a Spear, Leon Leap Frogs and Myers eats turnbuckle. He powders, the System shields him from a dive, and we’re starting to see the numbers game come into play.

A Thrust Kick from Myers rocks Leon as he’s coming back in, Strong Irish Whip into a Gator Roll and then Sleeper Hold. Again, offense brought to you by Bill Clinton. Leon gets away from the Sleeper, tries to hit the ropes and Myers does his Baseball Slide Trip. Slow heel moves from Myers, Sleeper, Facelocks, Back Elbows…just slow classic heel offense. Leon tries to fire, eats a Knee Lift. Irish Whip but Leon counters by hoping the ropes to the apron, quick pop shot and then Springboard Crossbody into a series of Lariats and a Shotgun Kick! Leon has the momentum, Blue Thunder Bomb for two! Leon goes to the top, Myers is up, Leon rolls to the other side to avoid Myers, Myers eats a Leg Lariat from Leon and Myers pushes off, Bicycle Kick, Thrust Kick into Implant DDT for only two! Myers looks to Spear, gets rolled up in a Small Package, Kick out, dumped outside, Leon flies over the corner onto Myers!

System surrounds Leon, tries to get a few shots, but Leon has some quick offense for everyone. In the chaos, Lish puts a Ring on Myers’ hand so a Loaded Punch into Roster Cut and Myers wins!

Laredo Kid vs Mustafa Ali

Slow start with Ali being arrogant into a Lucha stalemate section where there’s Satellite counters, Headscissors and a powder to break the nonsense. Corner counters, Overhand Chops from both, they tussle on the top rope, Ali backflips off the ropes, Laredo tries a Crossbody but Mustafa hits a Dropkick. Grounded Abdominal Stretch from Ali, Laredo tries to fight up and out, but Ali slams him back down, talks smack, slaps him and then eats a Michinoku Driver out of nowhere! But only a two count! Ali manages to pull Laredo into the corner pads, tries a dirty pin with feet on the ropes but the referee sees it, Laredo tries a Roll-Up in the disarray, Ali kicks out, they run back and forth, Ali just slides out thinking he’s outsmarted Laredo but Laredo hits the Suicida for a solid pop. Ali pokes the eye and grabs at the mask, Laredo is off kilter, Ali baits Laredo through the corner, hits the Draping DDT off the apron, slides Laredo back in and 450 for the win.

Eric Young & Josh Alexander vs Sinner & Saint

Jabroni duo comes out, and they look stupid, their music is generic Hot Topic trash and the one with hair walks like he’s pretending to be a Delirious fused with a Dinosaur. They look so insanely pathetic.

Dino-nerd tries a stand switch and suplex but Josh no sells and looks like the older sibling judging the little sibling’s stupidity. Bald jabroni tags in, does nothing, blind tag just for Josh to single handedly lay both out. Of course they’re trying to establish the loser squad, so the eventually have a good defensive moment that catches Josh and isolates him in their corner. He still mostly takes care of both of them. This is honestly pathetic.

Locomotion counter switches in the corner before a Shotgun Kick wipes out Josh, Dino-nerd tries a Lio Rush style splash but misses, Josh tags out, EY looks to tee off but he turns and lays out Josh. EY turns heel…that was not on my Bingo Card, but I’m not mad about it. EY has the maniacal look in his eyes again, so Sanity or Violence by Design could be back? Can he call the group SAnitY since they’re working with WWE now?

Ace Austin vs Wes Lee w/Tyson & Tyriek

Things start slow then a few quick strike spots from Ace. A grounded Heel Kick and Enzuigiri rocks Wes, Wes slingshots back in, Sunset, Ace dodges tries to stay crouched to get cute but Up Kick from Wes kicks Ace in the face. Wes crotches Ace on the top rope, Enzuigiri, Suicida leaves Ace laying on the ramp. Wes hits the Street Fighter combo in with Ace shoved in the corner, the crowd chants “Boring” so Wes revels in the negativity and mockingly does the Rascalz taunt. A few quick shots and Ace kicks out at one and holds the ropes as Wes just lights him up with kicks. Ace asks for more, and goes full Strong Style. A few round kicks to the chest before Wes decides to do the hell thing and a Spinning Thrust Kick to the side of the face. Wes puts Ace in a Key Lock and Ace struggles to his feet before barely slipping the lock.

They trade strikes, Triangle Kick misses for Ace but he manages to connect after with a strike, a few more, Click Click Boom, Seated Miz Lariats in the corner, Wes falls out of the corner, Triangle Kick for the near fall, but the offense isn’t over and Ace hits the Gutwrench Sitout Powerbomb! Ace looks for The Fold, Tyson and Tyriek make their presence felt, Ace does the apron dance and kicks them both in the face. Wes gets dumped out of the ring, Ace with a Fosbury Flop (not the best one he’s done), Tyriek picks the ankle long enough to slow down Ace as Ace walks into the Cardiac Kick!

Wes and crew attacks Ace after the match, so The Rascalz make the save. We’re obviously going to get a 6 man soon, and this is perfectly fine.

Kaiba Boys (Nic & Ryan Nemeth) vs Fir$t Cla$$

AJ starts with Ryan and just shoves him away and demands Nic, Nic gets the best of AJ but AJ tags in KC and KC gets in a few quick shots, some cute counters and showboating before eating a Dropkick from Nic. AJ comes in to try and take out Nic, the Kaibas take out AJ and then dump KC into AJ’s arms and hold the ring going to commercial.

During the commercial a little blind tag and Spiderman in the ropes taunt from KC caught Ryan off guard so First Class is in control. AJ is beating the hell out of Ryan in the ropes, then hits Tennessee Whiskey for the “Money Money Money” taunt. KC tags himself in and starts slapping Ryan around, Dropkick into 305 as KC cuts off Ryan from Nic, throws Ryan in the corner, Rolling Uppercuts, Snapmare, Roll through, Chest Stomp into a near fall. KC tags in AJ and a little tandem offense gives them another near fall but Mokuba refuses to lose…so far. AJ steps on Ryan’s chest and then lays in a few Overhand Chops. AJ slowing things down, looks for a power move but Ryan slips it into a Sleeper Attempt but AJ counters and slams Ryan down for another two count. Two Sidewalk Slams after getting bounced out of the corner, but Ryan keeps kicking out.

AJ takes Nic off the apron, looks for another Sidewalk Slam but Ryan turns it into a Satellite DDT. Simultaneous tag time, KC eats the fire from Nic, two Lariats, Stinger Splash, Rude Awakening, 10 Count Shots to the Heart for…AJ breaks it up! AJ looks for a Down Payment but Nic slips, Superkick, Ryan tries to rock AJ to no avail so they both Lariat AJ out and Avalanche Polish Hammer from Ryan lays out AJ. KC tries the Flash Pinfall but Nic rolls out, a few quick shouts, Spinning Heel Kick from KC for a 2 count. Nic hits a FAMEasser into Danger Zone after Ryan’s blind tag so Ryan gets the cover as Nic just laughs and takes it in.

Overall Score: 6.25/10

Nothing to really be offended by. Some of the stuff was a little low stakes or obvious filler, but stories moved forward with Cora, Wes and the Kaibas. Plus you know, Eric Young turning on Josh is a little unexpected. EY has been the fill in Dreamer/Scott with the “Ra-Ra” speeches and feel good crap for significant shows, so having him go back to Maniac is a nice twist.

Tessa also steering into this “Locker Room bully” persona is smart. It’s not a stretch from what people already think, so steering into the skid is very smart. I may not have been blown away by anything in this episode, but it was definitely decent and did a solid enough job showcasing the partnership and not making the TNA talent feel like an after thought.

All in all, very nice.