Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Monday Night Raw Results & Report! (3/18/19)
The Beast returns to Raw!

Raw turns Chicago into Suplex City as the Beast, Brock Lesnar, returns! Will Seth Rollins have something to say to him this close to Wrestlemania?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush VS Finn Balor & ???; Finn & Strowman win.
- Elias VS Now Way Jose; Elias wins.
- Kurt Angle VS Chad Gable; Angle wins.
- Sasha Banks w/ Bayley VS Natalya w/ Beth Phoenix; No Contest.
- Ricochet VS Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers; Ricochet wins.
- Raw Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey VS Dana Brooke; Rousey wins and retains the Raw Women’s Championship.
- Apollo Crews VS Baron Corbin; Crews wins.
- Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Beast opens Raw!
Brock Lesnar and his Advocate, Paul Heyman, head to the ring while Heyman lets someone else introduce them to Chicago. Chicago boos while Heyman takes up a mic of his own. “Ladies and-” The booing drowns out Heyman so he stops. Lesnar eggs the fans on by raising the WWE Universal Championship belt. Heyman starts again but fans boo. “Ladies, gentlemen, and things that live in Chicago”, Heyman gets through his intro for himself and the reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion. Heyman then turns his attention to Seth Rollins. Rollins is the one who needed an appearance tonight by Brock Lesnar. Rollins came out like he’s the baddest, but he’s not. He’s a revisionist, #BurnItDown arsonist, and not just a Shakespearean but Heymanean spin doctor that Lesnar has a problem stylistically against guys Rollins’ side and speed.
But here is where Rollins turns out to be a fool. Heyman will ask as if the fans’ opinions mattered. Lesnar VS AJ Styles, who won? Not Styles! It was BROCK LESNAR! Lesnar VS Daniel Bryan, who won? Not Bryan! BROCK LESNAR! Lesnar VS Finn Balor? Not Balor, BROCK LESNAR! And now Rollins comes out and wants to say things to Lesnar on the same night as Drew McIntyre?! McIntyre is a career killer! Not like Lesnar, but still pretty good. McIntyre took out Roman Reigns, he took out Dean Ambrose, and 20 days away from Rollins having the fight of his career, he wants that fight?! What is Rollins thinking?! But Rollins doesn’t come out, it’s Drew McIntyre! “Well, well, well. It is refreshing to finally get the respect I have earned here in the WWE!”
McIntyre tells Chicago to shut their mouths and open their ears, because he’s the man who brutalized Roman then did the same to Ambrose! As for Lesnar, make sure to find a new opponent because after McIntyre brutalizes Rollins, Rollins will definitely not make it to Mania. But Rollins ATTACKS with a chair! Rollins gives McIntyre several fast chair shots and Chicago is fired up! Referees tell Rollins to leave but fans want “One More Time!” So Rollins listens to the fans! He SMACKS and SMACKS and SMACKS away on McIntyre’s back! Rollins glares at Lesnar and heads for the ring! But Lesnar leaves.
Fans boo the Beast, but Lesnar laughs as he heads for the back. but taunts of “Slay The Beast!” get Lesnar to reconsider. Heyman tells Lesnar they’re better than this, they’re not gonna destroy Rollins for free. Lesnar listens to Heyman and leaves. Will Lesnar be leaving New York champion against The Architect?
Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush VS Finn Balor & ???
The Rocky Mountain Machine and Man of the Hour have gone back and forth with The Extraordinary Man, all over the WWE Intercontinental Championship. But who will be Finn’s friend in this match against such a duo? Find out after the break!
Raw returns and Finn wishes everyone a late Happy St. Patrick’s Day! The luck of the Irish were not on his side last week because he lost the title to Lashley. But Finn says he doesn’t plan being a former champ for too long. However, he’s interrupted by the current champion. Lashley & Lio walk out and Lio has a mic of his own. “Hey, Bobby. It looks like the little leprechaun is upset because you’ve got his pot o’ gold around your waist.”
Before this match starts, Lio feels Lashley needs to show the new favorite pose. Lashley lifts the belt. Finn says Lashley should enjoy the belt while he can because he plans on getting it back real soon. As for tonight’s mystery partner, Lio should remember this guy very well. This guy plans on getting his hands on both opponents. It’s BRAUN STROWMAN! The last time Strowman was around, Lio was plastered through barriers. Will Strowman do that again this week?
The bell rings and Strowman starts against Lashley. They circle and tie up. Lashley pushes Strowman and they tie up again. Lashley pushes then flexes, but this time Strowman shoves him! Strowman flexes and roars, but the two collide shoulders. Lashley bounces off Strowman! Lashley bails out and Strowman dares him to return while we go picture in picture.
Lio and Lashley regroup and Lio coaches Lashley up. Lashley hops up on the apron but Strowman runs over. Lashley manages to catch Strowman with a hotshot! Then he throws forearms and haymakers. Lashley runs but Strowman runs him over! Strowman drags Lashley up and over and tags in Finn. Strowman wrenches and Finn drops ax handles. Finn keeps on Lashley with kicks but Lashley puts him in a corner. Lashley runs but Finn dodges. Finn kicks but gets caught! Lashley elbows Finn down, but Finn gets back in at the ref’s count of 3. Finn gets stomped right away, and Lashley scoop slams him down fast. Cover, ONE, but Lashley is on Finn with more stomps. Lashley tags Lio in as we return to single picture.
Lio drags Finn up but Finn fires forearms back. Lio tags out to Lashley and Lashley clobbers Finn down! Lashley digs his knee in while putting Finn in a chinlock. Finn powers up as fans rally and throws hands. Finn runs but into Lashley’s complete shot! Cover, TWO! Lashley tags Lio in and Lio chokes Finn on the ropes. Lio lets up on 4 and slingshots in. Finn rolls through the sunset flip to dropkick Lio! Lio tags out again, and Lashley knocks Finn back down. Fans and Strowman rally for Finn but Lashley wraps him up in a chinlock. Finn fights up again, reaches, but has to forearm Lashley away first. Lashley whips Finn to a corner but Finn boots back. Finn runs but Lashley catches him to put him in the corner! Lashley goes corner to corner but Finn sends him into the post!
Lio tags in, Final Hour misses, and then Lio gets scared by Strowman! Finn hits Lio with an elbow drop DDT! Fans fire up as Finn crawls. Hot tag to Strowman! Lio manages to avoid Strowman once, but not the second time! Strowman tosses Lio then squashes him in the corner, to toss him again! And a third time! Lio is drooling from being topsyturvy. Strowman drags Lio up to club him back down! Strowman scoops but Lashley SPEARS! Finn’s back and trips Lashley for double stomps! Lio kicks Finn out hard, and climbs up top. He aims at Strowman, Final Hour! Cover, TWO! And Lio flies off Strowman at that! Strowman glares at Lio and fans want Lio to “Get These Hands!” Lio slips out of the ring and the chase is on.
Finn stops Lio, and now Lio is trapped. Lio can’t escape to the ring, and Finn holds on to Lio. Lashley saves Lio but HE gets blasted by Strowman! Lio kicks Strowman and runs, but gets run over! Strowman drags Lio up and CHOKE SLAMS! Lashley leaves?! Strowman drags Lio up for a MONSTER SLAM! Cover, Strowman and Finn win!
Winners: Braun Strowman & Finn Balor, Strowman pinning
The Monster Among Men and the Extraordinary Man win, and it seems Lio has lost more than just a match. Will both Strowman and Finn head for a title match come Wrestlemania? Will Lio go crawling back to Lashley in more ways than one?
Ronda Rousey and husband arrive to the arena.
The Baddest Woman on the Planet is confronted by various officials. She’s late to the show, and after what she did last week, management has deemed it necessary there is extra security. No one wants another incident like last week, but will Ronda even care?
It’s time for A Moment of Bliss!
The Goddess will host this year’s Wrestlemania, but first she’ll continue to host her hit WWE talk show. She and her special guest, Elias, will talk after the break.
A Moment of Bliss, and therefore Raw, returns and Alexa gives us the introduction. The Road to Wrestlemania has the 1 BILLION followers buzzing. Alexa throws it over to commentary for the Wrestlemania match card rundown. Back to Alexa, she knows the Oscars didn’t have a host, but this is Wrestlemania. The only person worthy of hosting is Alexa. And she’s not going to talk herself up, but she feels she’s a great host. She inspires people all over the world, like Lily Singh. Alexa takes full credit for Lily’s success. And now, ladies and gentlemen, Elias. The Drifter walks out with a strum of his guitar, and takes a seat. “Hello, I am Elias.” “Hello, I am Alexa.”
Alexa knows Elias is a fellow victim of interruptions, but she guarantees no one will ruin his big announcement. Elias thanks her, and then announces he will be the headline musical act at Wrestlemania, in the greatest city of all, New York. A Moment of Bliss is again great at breaking big news. But Alexa has a big question for Elias. Elias said last year would be his greatest performance of all. But what happened is the reason this all happens! Elias uses last year as motivation for this year. He is born for the pressure and he thrives off it. But to put things in perspective even Chicago Bears fans can understand: if his performance at Wrestlemania was a game winning field goal, Elias would make it every single time.
This year will be the best by anyone anywhere. Prince, Queen, Johnny Cash, but all better. Mark Elias’ words: Mania night, if anyone dares to interrupt, they- No Way! It’s Jose! Oh and Heavy Machinery. The conga line has grown by quite a bit, but conspicuous by his absence is Jose himself. Alexa says Dozer was way too early. This was supposed to be a gag, at the end, so as not to interrupt. C’mon, Otis. They had TEN rehearsals. Elias wishes to teach Dozer a lesson in timing. And someone attacks! The masked taco is JOSE! Talk about great timing. Will Elias give Jose a preview of his Mania performance? Or will Jose simply say “No Way” to the Drift Away?
Elias VS No Way Jose!
Raw returns as The Drifter rides the Airplane Spin! Jose goes around and around, then goes around the other way! The conga line cheers Jose on as he turns it into a rolling senton! And a festive splash! Cover, TWO! Jose keeps on Elias in a corner with buckle bumps and heavy forearms. Jose brings Elias corner to corner for another buckle bump! He whips Elias but Elias reverses. Jose goes up and over and arm-drags Elias into a keylock. Elias gets up and whips but Jose hops over to arm-drag again! Elias fights back with forearms and chops, then even slaps Jose around. The conga line continues to cheer Jose while Elias pulls him into ropes by his hair. Elias whips corner to corner but Jose dodges! Jose rallies with big lariats! Hip toss to neckbreaker!
Jose runs in at Elias corner to corner for a big splash! He rolls Elias to then climb up top. Jose leaps but flops on the mat as Elias dodges! Elias fires off kicks and punches in the corner! The referee backs Elias off but Elias comes back to kick Jose more. Elias whips and runs Jose over with his own clothesline. “Who wants to walk with Elias?!” Elias goes back to Jose for more haymakers and chops. Jose hits back with forearms and elbows. Jose runs out but into a scoop slam! Elias drops a knee then climbs to the top rope. Macho Elbow! But Elias isn’t done with Jose, he drags him up and fisherman for the Drift Away! Cover, Jose wins!
Winner: Elias, by pinfall
The party’s over and no one’s happy as Elias shuts Jose down. Will Elias be uninterrupted and give his best performance ever at Wrestlemania?
Kurt Angle heads to the ring!
The Olympic Hall of Famer promises to let us know who he wants for his final match at Wrestlemania, after the break.
Raw returns with the ovation of “You Suck!” Angle thanks the fans, and says his Farewell Tour continues! He’ll be having a match here in Chicago! With 20 days left, Angle prepares for his last match ever. Fans chant “Thank You, Kurt!” but he thanks them. Angle thanks the McMahon Family for allowing him to choose his last opponent. There are so many he’d love to face, but there’s one he wants to beat. The man who made Angle’s life a living Hell since being Raw GM, Baron Corbin. Angle would be so happy to make Corbin tap out in his last match at Wrestlemania. A big move for Angle, but for tonight, it’s Chad Gable! Will Angle win this battle of fellow Olympians?
Kurt Angle VS Chad Gable!
The bell rings and Gable shakes Angle’s head. Gable lets Angle know he’s a hero and is thankful for this opportunity. They circle and tie up, and Angle puts Gable in a corner. Angle backs off clean and goes with Gable again. Gable gets a headlock and Angle powers out. Gable runs Angle over! Angle sits up fast and Gable keeps his eyes on him. They circle again and Angle shoots in. Gable blocks and standing switches. Angle does the same but Gable gets an armlock. Angle headscissors but Gable pops out and fans applaud. They circle again and tie up. Gable reels Angle in, spins around and drop toeholds Angle down!
Gable floats to a facelock but Angle powers his way up. Angle wrenches and headlocks but Gable powers out, only for Angle to run him over. Gable gets to a corner and elbows Angle away, only to run into Angle’s belly2belly! Angle waits as Gable bails out. Gable gets up while fans let Angle know “You Still Got It!” Gable returns and circles with Angle again. They tie up again and Gable gets the leg to waistlock. Gable throws Angle down, but Angle sits up. Angle powers up and arm-drags Gable down. Cover but Gable keeps a shoulder up. Gable headscissors but Angle pops out again. Gable gets the leg to a cover, ONE, but he’s on Angle’s arm again. Angle endures as Gable wrenches. Gable snapmares and goes after the arm with knee drops! Cover, ONE, but Gable is still after the arm.
Gable wrenches and grinds it down again then whips. Angle reverses and Gable hits buckles hard! Angle keeps on Gable with a facelock to grind him down. Gable works his way back up but Angle knees low. Angle whips but Gable grabs ropes. Gable sends Angle out hard, but both men are down while the ring count begins. Angle slowly stands and climbs in at 5. Gable dropkicks his legs out! Gable goes after the knee now like he did the arm. Cover, TWO! Fans rally for Angle as Gable wrenches the knee in a spinning toehold. Angle endures as Gable spins again. Angle shoves Gable off then clotheslines him out. The Farewell Tour is having a rough go while we go to break.
Raw returns and Gable is back on the outside. Angle catches his breath in the ring but Gable’s back in fast. Angle sends Gable out. Gable skins the cat, only to get run over! Angle rallies with lariats and a whip to a big back drop! Gable gets to a corner and boots Angle away. Gable leaps for a sunset flip, but to an Ankle Lock! Angle turns Gable over but Gable victory rolls, TWO! Angle gets Gable with a German Suplex! He holds on but Gable rolls through, to an Ankle Lock! Fans don’t like Gable stealing Angle’s favorite hold. Angle endures and rolls to send Gable into buckles! ANGLE SLAM- DDT counter?! Cover, TWO!! Gable almost had the legend, but he won’t go easy, either. He climbs up high for another shout out to Angle, MOONSAULT! But it flops!
Angle grabs the leg and puts on the Ankle Lock! Gable flails, reaches, but the grapevine makes him tap! Angle wins!
Winner: Kurt Angle, by submission
The Farewell Tour continues successfully at 2-0! But the celebration doesn’t last long, because here comes Baron Corbin. Corbin says Chicago shouldn’t greet Angle’s Wrestlemania opponent with boos. Corbin loved laughing at Angle and humiliating him, and it was good. But it’ll be even better when he does it all again in Angle’s very last match. It doesn’t matter what Angle’s done in his entire career, because everyone will remember only his last match. “Oh it’s true, it’s damn true.” Fans chant “We Want Cena!” but they’re getting the Lone Wolf. Will Angle use his farewell match to shut Corbin up?
Baron Corbin talks with The Revival.
He hopes they saw what he did to Angle. Yes, funny stuff. But Apollo Crews comes by. Bedore Angle shuts Corbin up for good, Apollo wants a chance tonight. Really? Apollo has Intensity and Integrity, but- Is that a yes or no? Let him finish. Yes or no? Let him fi- Yes or no? YES! See, Corbin, this is why no one likes you. He’s so difficult. People like him! The Revival does, right? HELL NO! The Revival and Apollo laugh as they leave Corbin behind, but will Apollo make sure to take Corbin seriously tonight?
Sasha Banks & Bayley are here!
The Boss & Hug connection bring the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships to Chicago! Why? We’ll see after the break.
Raw returns and Charli Caruso is there to interview them. Bayley & Banks vowed to take on all comers, but they haven’t been on SmackDown. Are the IIconics right in thinking they’re avoiding them? Bayley keeps Sasha calm and reiterates that they’ll face any team who makes the challenge. So expect the Boss & Hug Connection to make a special SmackDown appearance! And it’ll be “IIconic.” But when it comes to Wrestlemania- Natalya interrupts! And she isn’t alone, she brings out Beth Phoenix! The Queen of Harts and the Glamazon, the Divas of Doom, head to the ring together! They pick up mics as Chicago cheers.
Beth tells Bayley and Sasha that she respects the Hell out of them. She watched as they worked so hard to make these tag titles a reality. And she knows how much they do to bring respect to the titles. The Divas of Doom would’ve loved such a moment back in the day, but Beth has enjoyed watching things unfold before her eyes. At least, until Nia Jax & Tamina setting the whole Division back with jealousy. But Nia and Tamina did do something else, too. They awoke the dragon! Beth got to thinking, “Maybe Natty’s and my dream can still become a reality.” Beth loved her career, but there was one thing missing. And since the champs will take on anyone, anywhere, how about Beth un-retires, joins Natty, and challenges for those WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships at Wrestlemania? Chicago loves that idea!
Bayley and Sasha talk it over, and such a match would be a huge honor. But are they sure about Wrestlemania? Doesn’t Beth need more time to prepare? All due respect, she’s been out for six years, and competition around here has evolved. Well with all due respect back, this is Beth Phoenix! She is a WWE Hall of Famer, and she won the WWE Women’s Championship here in Chicago! Beth isn’t afraid to fight superstars like you. Sasha asks Natty who she thinks she’s talking to. The Boss & Hug bleed for this business. They know who Beth is: the woman whose coattails Natty’s riding into Wrestlemania! Natty SLAPS Sasha! So Sasha tackles Natty!
Beth and Bayley pull their friends apart but Beth throws Sasha down. Bayley gets in Beth’s face now, so Beth shoves her down! Referees hurry to keep the peace, are we going to get Beth’s in-ring return already?!
Sasha Banks w/ Bayley VS Natalya w/ Beth Phoenix!
Raw returns, and it won’t be Beth’s return just yet. Instead, The Boss and the Queen of Harts go right at it with the bell! Sasha hits a Thesz Press and rains down rights! Natty gets up and throws rights of her own. Sasha shoves and blocks the kick to give a kick. Sasha runs in at the corner but misses. Natty gives Sasha the rebound sit-down and the basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Natty keeps on Sasha with a standing abdominal stretch. Fans rally while Sasha endures. Sasha fights out but Natty goes to hip toss. Sasha counters to a wheelbarrow, and victory rolls! TWO, and Natty denies the backstabber by going backwards. Sasha uses that to her advantage by throwing Natty into buckles!
Sasha goes corner to corner for Meteora! And then runs back in, only to miss. Natty hits the discus clothesline! Sasha bails out, but here comes Nia! The Irresistible Force simply wants to comment on Beth coming out of retirement. Beth thinks Nia is jealous of her? Nia did more in three years than Beth did in her entire career! Beth is jealous of Nia, and wants to come back because Nia has all this attention. Nia is really just a prettier, stronger Glamazon. And then Tamina attacks Beth from behind! Tamina also SUPERKICKS Bayley and SUPERKICKS Sasha!
No Contest
Tamina runs away before Natty can get at her. Natty checks on Beth while Nia laughs. The Samoan Dynasty regroups and says they’ll see them all at Wrestlemania. Will such a challenge be honored? Will the Boss & Hug Connection only get more of the same when they show up on SmackDown?
Mojo Rawley speaks, to himself again.
“They’ve always told you how much ‘potential’ you have.” Potential? He hates that word. “What good is ‘potential’ if you don’t do anything with it?” Why can’t he figure this out? WHY!? Mojo demands he figure himself out, but is that easier said than done?
Ricochet VS Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers
The King of Flight usually appears alongside the Embodiment of the End, but not tonight! He’ll go it alone, after the break!
Raw returns and the Modern Day Maharaja circles with the One and Only. Mahal powers Ricochet to a corner and grinds him into the buckles. He backs off at 4 but Ricochet dodges his sucker punch. Ricochet headscissors Mahal to a corner, then runs in. Mahal puts him on the apron but Ricochet hits back. Ricochet springboards for the missile dropkick! Mahal bails out and Ricochet builds speed, but he fakes Mahal and the Singhs with the Superhero Landing. Fans applaud and Mahal is speechless. Mahal hurries back in but Ricochet slingshots out. Ricochet misses but adjusts to shoulder in. He slingshots up and over to SUPERKICK and whip. Mahal reverses but Ricochet boots him away. Ricochet punches and kicks back, but the Singhs anchor his feet! Mahal clobbers Ricochet to the apron!
Fans boo as Mahal drops springboard knees on Ricochet. Mahal digs his knee in, but backs off at 4. Mahal and the Singhs chant Shanti before Mahal scoop slams Ricochet. Cover, TWO, but Mahal keeps on Ricochet with knees to the back. Mahal wraps Ricochet up in a chinbar and half nelson. Ricochet endures while fans chant “USA!” Ricochet powers up and fights out, but Mahal back suplexes. It becomes a crossbody and cover, TWO! Mahal wrangles Ricochet into a chinlock! Fans rally again and Ricochet feeds off the energy. Mahal wrangles him back down to the mat, but Ricochet refuses to quit. Ricochet powers his way up and fights with elbows. Mahal whips Ricochet hard into buckles then drags him up for big knees. Mahal taunts Ricochet as he chokes him against the ropes. The ref counts and Mahal backs off at 4.
The Singh Brothers taunt Ricochet while Mahal throws a big haymaker. Mahal taunts Ricochet more as he stomps him. Mahal drags Ricochet up for haymakers and elbows, then puts on the chinbar half nelson. Ricochet endures as fans rally again. Ricochet fights out but Mahal knees low. Mahal whips but Ricochet boots and enziguris! Ricochet somersaults to the shotgun dropkick! Mahal hits buckles and falls while Ricochet fires himself up. Ricochet counter punches Mahal, then headscissors him to a corner again. Ricochet runs in for the shoulder tackle, then springboards for a flying uppercut! Standing Shooting Star! Cover, TWO! Mahal bails out and regroups with the Singhs, but Ricochet builds speed. Ricochet hits the Sasuke Special! Fans fire up with Ricochet as he puts Mahal back in. Mahal’s in the drop zone and Ricochet climbs, 630 senton!! Cover, Ricochet wins!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall
Whether in a team or by himself, The One and Only always finds a way! Will Ricochet find himself fighting for a title one way or another come Wrestlemania?
WWE hands out the 2019 Warrior Award.
Senior director of talent relations, Sue Aitchinson is an unsung hero who means so much to the WWE superstars backstage. After 22 years of excellence, she definitely deserves it!
Backstage interview with Seth Rollins.
With his wild attack on Drew McIntyre, is this a glimpse of his plan to take down both the Scottish Terminator and Brock Lesnar? Well for McIntyre, he hurt Rollins’ brothers so he hurt McIntyre back. If Rollins has to keep doing that, then fine. Tonight is for Roman, for Ambrose, and in a way, for Lesnar. Rollins won’t be pushed around by anyone, and he’ll fight fire with fire. McIntyre finds that out later tonight, but can Rollins burn Suplex City down to the ground?
Raw Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey VS Dana Brooke!
The Baddest Woman on the Planet no longer cares about anything but destroyer her opponents. She only does this out of obligation, but can Dana make the most out of this opportunity? Or will she just be an example to everyone else on the roster not to get on the Baddest Woman’s bad side?
Raw returns and Dana has her own interview. Has she really thought things through? Ronda’s on a warpath against Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch. Those women are former champions of their own, but Dana’s… Dana knows she’s the underdog, but Wrestlemania season is about dreams coming true. She isn’t naive. She’s not better than Ronda, but all she has to do is be better for three seconds to become the new champion. Dana has all the optimism in the world, but is it enough for a true shocker?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we begin! Dana catches a kick and SLAPS Ronda! But Ronda hits a big knee to Dana’s face! Then knees to her body! Armbar on, Dana taps, Ronda wins!
Winner: Ronda Rousey, by submission; still Raw Women’s Champion
But she doesn’t let go! She makes Dana suffer until she’s good and ready to let go. She shoves a referee down! That’ll be another fine. But Ronda doesn’t care, she just talks with her husband at ringside. Security runs in but she beats them down! And so does her husband, Travis Brown! Ronda’s husband gets Ronda out of there as she says it doesn’t matter how much money she’ll be fined. Ronda is definitely ready for Wrestlemania, but will her new attitude come to cost her?
As for Dana, she cries while clutching her arm. Forget competing for a championship, will Dana ever compete for Raw again?
Apollo Crews VS Baron Corbin!
The Lone Wolf may be the final opponent for Kurt Angle, as picked by Angle himself, that doesn’t mean Apollo can’t humiliate him before then. Who will have the last laugh here in Chicago?
The bell rings and Corbin ties up with Apollo. Corbin pushes Apollo to a corner but backs up. Apollo dodges the sucker punch but Corbin whips him to a corner. Apollo goes up and over and they bump shoulders, but Corbin comes back to run Apollo over. Things speed up and Apollo dropkicks Corbin to a corner! Apollo handsprings but Corbin rushes him. Apollo goes up and over and Corbin slides out, and Apollo springboard moonsaults onto Corbin! He puts Corbin back in the ring, then shoulders and slingshots, only to get a hard right! Corbin soaks up the boos and jeers from the fans while mockingly applauding. Corbin points to the Wrestlemania sign before throwing forearms. He puts Apollo in a corner and throws more rights.
Corbin runs in, Apollo goes up and over again. Corbin slides out and in, but Apollo dodges the clothesline. Apollo runs but into a back elbow! Corbin wraps Apollo up in a half nelson and chinbar. Fans boo Corbin and cheer Apollo as Apollo endures. Apollo slowly fights his way up and out of the hold. He throws more hands then elbows Corbin away. Apollo hops up but leaps into Corbin’s hand. Corbin lifts but Apollo slips out, only to run into Deep Six! Cover, TWO! Apollo survives but Corbin keeps his cool. Corbin mockingly applauds again before pointing back at the Wrestlemania sign. Corbin rains down rights on Apollo while fans chant “We Want Cena!” To which Corbin replies, “You can’t have him!” He drags Apollo up and reels him in, but Apollo slips out of End of Days to a cradle! Apollo wins!
Winner: Apollo Crews, by pinfall
And Corbin is furious! Corbin let his ego get ahead of him and now he’s embarrassed in Chicago! Will the same thing happen against the Hall of Famer on the Grandest Stage of Them All?
Dave Batista is live via satellite!
The Animal has what he wants at Wrestlemania: one last match with Triple H, in No Holds Barred! Batista is home in Tampa, Florida as he answers questions. Why is he so angry with HHH? “I just don’t like him.” Batista has wanted nothing more but to come back and beat him one more time. Well that’s a bit vague. There must be more to this. How long does this trace back? To Evolution? No, it goes even further. Batista keeps hearing that he owes his career to HHH, HHH made him a star. Even before Evolution, HHH just groomed Batista into being his bodyguard. HHH’s career speaks to that, even in DX. He used Batista as a meat head, and held him down or shut him out. But he also underestimated Batista.
Nine years ago, Batista quit the WWE, at the height of his wrestling career. This is also HHH’s fault. And quit? Batista didn’t quit. Imagine someone who is your friend, but he’s also your boss and he’s also jealous. HHH held Batista down because of his insecurities. HHH wouldn’t give Batista fair chances, because Batista didn’t come off as a star. But look at what Batista’s done since leaving. He’s a huge movie star in control of his own life, without HHH. Batista demanded the match he deserved, and he got it. Michael Cole argues that HHH has done so much for so many, but Batista doesn’t believe how naive Cole is. HHH manipulates and controls people. HHH is the most insecure control freak in the world.
Batista makes two bold predictions: one day, hopefully soon, Vince will fire HHH to end his business career; and at Wrestlemania, Batista ends HHH’s wrestling career. Now get out of his house! The Animal and The Game go one last time in No Holds Barred, but will it end the way Batista wants?
Backstage interview with Braun Strowman.
There is clearly still some resentment in The Monster Among Men for SNL star and Wrestlemania special correspondent, Colin Jost. Jost didn’t help things with a gift last week, because Strowman ripped it apart! And Jost only makes it worse by saying (on social media) that Strowman could learn some discipline and self-control. Strowman says Jost is the one who needs to learn things. Strowman will take his frustrations out in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, and then when he finds Jost backstage-
Alexa Bliss comes over to let him know that she can’t let the show be disrupted. She wants to broker peace between Strowman and Jost. Alexa doesn’t need to broker anything, because Strowman is gonna leave Jost and Michael Che broken after he gets through with them. That’s not what that means. And this is what she’s trying to avoid. Give Alexa a week to figure it out. Fine. But if Jost still disrespects Strowman, Strowman will show Jost what “discipline” really is. Will The Goddess be able to bring about a Wrestlemania truce?
Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre!
The Architect made sure to kill two birds with one chair as he attacked the Scottish Terminator while sending a message to The Beast. McIntyre must still be stinging from the steel chair shots, but will he make Rollins regret his attack? Or will Rollins #BurnItDown in Chicago on the way to Wrestlemania?
Raw returns and McIntyre wishes to speak first. “Actions speak so much louder than words.” As such, McIntyre shares footage from last week’s Raw. McIntyre ruined Roman Reigns’ in-ring return with head-rattling Claymore kicks. He promised it was just the beginning, and in the present, McIntyre speaks on Roman’s return. Roman has become weak, and relied on his brothers for the heavy lifting. But the Shield is no more thanks to McIntyre. Rollins had to attack like a coward! Why? Because just like the fans, Rollins is living in a fantasy world. Everyone wants to believe in heroes, but McIntyre pulled back the curtain. This is McIntyre’s Yard now!
McIntyre takes a moment to speak to Roman Reigns directly. No, not Roman the superstar, but Joe Anoa’i the man. That’s what Joe wanted, right? Joe the husband, father and man sitting at home because of McIntyre! If Roman/Joe wants to truly inspire the people, then McIntyre has a challenge for him. He and Roman will fight at Wrestlemania! And everyone already knows the answer, but Joe needs to look at his family. They must have tears in their eyes, because they’re hoping he says no. McIntyre agrees, Roman should say no. Because if Roman accepts, last week will look like nothing! McIntyre vows to destroy Roman! But Rollins has a response on the titantron! “That right there is why I did what I did to you earlier tonight, Drew.” Rollins replays footage of his own now, of that attack from just earlier in the show.
Rollins says those chair shots were for his brothers. But this match tonight is for him. Rollins makes his entrance, and it’s time for a fight! McIntyre rushes Rollins on the ramp and they brawl! Referees and security come out to separate them, because this needs to happen in the ring. But Rollins and McIntyre don’t care, they continue to brawl! Both men are ready, but we go to break!
Raw returns again, Rollins fights out of a hold. But McIntyre drags him down by his hair and back into an armock! McIntyre digs his fingers into Rollins then grinds his forearm in. Fans rally and Rollins fights his way up. Rollins throws haymakers and whips, but McIntyre reverses to elbow Rollins down. Cover, TWO! McIntyre stalks Rollins and drags him up by his hair for another armlock. McIntyre puts on a chinbar, too, and cranks back. Fans rally for Rollins and Rollins breaks free again. McIntyre knees low then whips but Rollins boots him away. Rollins hops up and over then runs to tilt-o-whirl, but McIntyre suplexes Rollins! McIntyre deadlift suplexes Rollins then covers, TWO! McIntyre keeps his cool as he stalks Rollins to the ropes. Fans cheer but McIntyre CHOPS Rollins off his feet.
McIntyre stomps Rollins then brings him back into the chinbar and armlock. Rollins fights up and reaches but McIntyre keeps him from the ropes. McIntyre brings Rollins down and digs a knee into Rollins’ head. Fans build to another rally and Rollins gets up again. Rollins haymakers but McIntyre shoves. Rollins kicks McIntyre away then dumps McIntyre out. McIntyre drags Rollins out but Rollins throws haymakers and chops! Rollins whips but McIntyre reverses. Rollins stops himself from hitting steps then elbows McIntyre. He hops up the steel steps but McIntyre swats him out of the air! The Terminator has the better of the Architect while we go to one last break.
Raw returns once more, and McIntyre covers! TWO, but barely! McIntyre glares down at Rollins as Rollins clutches his lower back. McIntyre sits Rollins up to CHOP, then stomp him down! “I’ve taken out your brothers. You’re next!” Fans boo as McIntyre drags Rollins up for a bomb. Rollins huricanranas out! McIntyre rolls out of the ring but Rollins builds speed. Rollins DIVES but McIntyre throws him into barriers! McIntyre paces while the ring count climbs. McIntyre fetches a chair! He wants to return the favor from earlier, but the referee tells him not to use it. McIntyre smacks the post to test the chair, Rollins hops up to SUPERKICK McIntyre down! Both men are on the ground while the ring count restarts.
Fans count along as the count passes 5. Rollins sits up at 6 and McIntyre follows at 7. They both stand at 8 and get in at 9.5! Rollins immediately clotheslines McIntyre out and DIVES! This time he hits! But Rollins keeps going to DIVE again! Rollins keeps moving but McIntyre returns, to get a slingblade! SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! McIntyre survives the adrenaline rush from Rollins and both men are down. Fans fire up as Rollins drags McIntyre up. Rollins goes to bomb but McIntyre resists. McIntyre back drops and gets through the boot to elbow Rollins. McIntyre brings Rollins up, inverted Alabama slam! Cover, TWO! Rollins survives and McIntyre is beside himself. McIntyre brings Rollins up to the top rope while fans rally again.
McIntyre chops Rollins then climbs up to join him. He lifts Rollins into position, but Rollins slips through to try a bomb. McIntyre punches Rollins down then adjusts. McIntyre drags Rollins back up to the top, but Rollins fights back. They both brawl and McIntyre headbutts Rollins away. But Rollins returns so fast, SUPERPLEX! Roll through, McIntyre tries to counter but Rollins still gets the Falcon Arrow! Cover, TWO!! Rollins freaks out but the fans keep him focused with chanting. “Burn It Down!” Rollins aims at McIntyre, SUPERKICK! But Brock Lesnar’s music hits! Because Lesnar’s still around! Lesnar heads for the ring, Rollins turns around into a CLAYMORE! Cover, McIntyre wins!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
Lesnar and Heyman laugh, because that’s all they had to do to screw Rollins over! The Terminator sweeps The Shield, but it was The Beast’s presence that beat Rollins. Will this only fuel the fire Rollins will use to burn Suplex City down?
My Thoughts:
This was not one of the better Raws, but it still had some really good stuff. Lesnar opening for Heyman to talk, that was good. McIntyre showing up was a surprise, but so was Rollins hacking away with that chair. Rollins VS McIntyre was a great main event, and it was actually a great move for Lesnar to distract Rollins for a loss. Since Lesnar isn’t going to compete on television, the only way he can keep even in the build is if he costs Rollins momentum. This also makes McIntyre’s story against the Shield brothers a bit stronger. McIntyre VS Roman sounds like a really good match for Wrestlemania, and it’ll be a great way for Roman to truly return to in-ring action. But it does seem a shame if Ambrose isn’t going to have anything to do, unless he’s meant to help Roman somehow.
Michael Cole didn’t really help things on commentary when it came to Finn’s mystery opponent. While Strowman has teamed with Finn before and it was a natural choice, it also seemed like an odd choice since Strowman has his own weird story going on. Strowman gets the win for Finn, but he already said he’s in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal. I wouldn’t be surprised if Strowman eliminated the majority of the competitors this year for a dominant victory. As for Finn, he’s still technically on course for one or both Lashley and Lio and that Intercontinental Championship. Though, obviously having Strowman fight his battles for him isn’t a good move, there should’ve been a way Finn got the pin on Lio instead.
It’s rather interesting that now of all times, Raw is deciding to get lower card guys going. No Way Jose gives Elias a good match but Elias wins because I’m still sending Elias VS Jeff Jarrett in a real good match with some guitar smashing. Mojo Rawley has another promo after being gone for a bit, perhaps he makes a big impact on the battle royal, too. And as was made a story point in the night, Baron Corbin was not anyone’s choice for Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania, except for Angle’s. I suppose other names, like John Cena, weren’t going to work out if they only figured this all out recently. WWE craps the bed again, but at least Corbin got comeuppance already for Apollo Crews to get something for himself. I hope that Angle’s farewell is successful, it’s not like Corbin would be hurt losing to Angle.
The Women’s Division did pretty well tonight. Bayley & Sasha promise to show up for SmackDown, but we’re also getting two strong contenders in the Samoan Dynasty and Divas of Doom. With everything that went down, this is definitely no less than a Triple Threat Tag Team Match, probably up to a Fatal 4 Way. Beth Phoenix coming back is great, even just for Mania, but I wonder if they’ll give her an in-ring return in these last few weeks left just so she isn’t working off the rust at Mania. And as I said last week, Ronda Rousey going Heel like this is actually going great, and it was quite the nice surprise for her husband to get in on the action. And poor Dana, she should’ve gone to SmackDown when she had the chance.
Batista’s interview promo was an interesting one. It’s still not really clear how it was HHH held him down when Batista won various titles multiple times. But perhaps it’s something about Batista not being seen on par with The Rock or John Cena doing all the media and Hollywood. Of course, Batista has a good point that he still made it in Hollywood. Whether his motivations are spot on or not, Batista is doing a great job in this new Heel persona he has. I’m pretty sure HHH will have a response next week where he’ll basically deny Batista’s points tonight and give his side, but the words won’t really change things at this point, No Holds Barred will still be good.
My Score: 8/10
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Time to fill out the Fyter Fest Fatal 4!
Claudio Castagnoli or Komander, Mascara Dorada or Hechicero, who will advance to the AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way Qualifier: Claudio Castagnoli VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes; Claudio wins and advances to Fyter Fest.
- Six Man Tag: Roppongi Vice & Konosuke Takeshita w/ The Don Callis Family VS Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii; RPG Vice & Konosuke win.
- AEW Continental Championship Eliminator: Kazuchika Okada VS Anthony Bowens; Okada wins and denies Bowens a title match.
- Mina Shirakawa VS Skye Blue; Mina wins.
- Gates of Agony VS GMO Kaminari & Cosmo Orion; Gates of Agony win.
- Six Man Tag: La Faccion Ingobernable VS AR Fox & Top Flight; LFI wins.
- AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way Qualifier: Mascara Dorada VS Hechicero; Dorada wins and advances to Fyter Fest.
PLAY BY PLAY
AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way Qualifier: Claudio Castagnoli VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes!
The Swiss Cyborg and the “Space Commander” had a bit of a confrontation on Wednesday Night Dynamite during the Mixed Six Tag, but this dates back to the Continental Classic and the Miracle on 34th Street! Komander cost Claudio his title opportunity then, will he do it again now? Or will nothing stop this Death Rider from going after Kenny Omega’s gold?
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. Komander and Claudio tie up, and Claudio puts Komander on the ropes. The ref counts, the fans rally for Komander, but Claudio CHOPS! Claudio kicks low, UPPERCUTS and stomps away in the corner! The ref counts, the fans boo, but Claudio stops. Abrahantes coaches Komander but Claudio CHOPS! Komander goes to a corner, he shoves Claudio but Claudio CHOPS again! Komander CHOPS! And fires body shots! And repeat! Komander backs Claudio down, headlocks, but Claudio powers out. Claudio RAMS Komander, then THROWS him down!
The fans boo but Claudio just scowls. Claudio grabs at Komander but Komander lifts and leaps to tilt-o-whirl RANA! The fans fire up and Komander ENZIGIRIS! Claudio goes to a corner, Komander goes to the other end! Komander tightrope walks, ARABIAN PRESS HOTSHOT! Claudio staggers, Komander springboards, FLYING- NO, Claudio turns rana into GIANT SWING! The fans count along, Claudio TOSSES Komander at seven! The fans boo, they wanted a longer swing, but Claudio kicks Komander to the outside. Claudio soaks up heat from El Paso as he SMACKS Komander off barriers! And then CHOPS him!
Komander staggers away but Claudio is right on him for a CHOP! Claudio whips Komander into the riling, refreshes the ring count, and storms back up on Komander. The fans chant “SI SE PUEDES!” and Komander fires CHOP after CHOP! Komander kicks but Claudio KNEES low! Claudio hits a BARRIER BACK SUPLEX! Komander flops down. Claudio taunts him, and he drags Komander up and into the ring. Claudio stalks Komander to a corner, the fans rally up, and Claudio whips corner to corner. Komander goes up and out, then KICKS Claudio to ROCK him! Komander springboards to stand on Claudio, then he springboards again for a FLYING ARM-DRAG!
The fans are thunderous as things speed up! Tilt-o-whirl RANA and Claudio tumbles out! Komander DIVES! Direct hit on Claudio and the fans fire up again! Komander hurries back inside, the fans get even hotter, and Komander climbs a corner! Tightrope walk, but Claudio is in! Komander leaps, but into a BACKBREAKER! BACKBREAKER! BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Or as El Paso reminds us, “DOS! DOS! DOS!” Claudio digs his knee into Komander’s back while putting on the HALF CRAB! Komander endures, the fans taunt Claudio, and Komander fights around. Claudio stomps him down, then reels him in.
Claudio lifts, but Komander slips free to hit a FACEBUSTER! The fans fire up as Komander goes up! Tightrope walk, CIELITO- NO, Claudio moves! Komander lands on his feet, runs up, but Claudio RAMS him! And fireman’s carries to the apron! Claudio goes up the corner and the fans get worried. Claudio says this will end it! But Komander shifts to SUPER DUPER STEINER!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio survives and Komander can’t believe it! The fans rally and Komander climbs up the corner! But Claudio runs up, so Komander jumps down, springboards, SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Claudio survives again but Komander won’t stop!
The fans rally, Komander aims, and he runs corner to corner to go up, up, and PHOENIX- UPPERCUT!! Claudio reels Komander in, GOTCH NEUTRALIZER!! Cover, Claudio wins!
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli, by pinfall (advances to Fyter Fest)
Komander tried to fly higher and higher, but he only came crashing down to Earth! Will Claudio follow in Moxley’s footsteps and become a champion?
AEW shares footage from after Dynamite.
Prince Nana talked with Swerve Strickland about the Ospreay and Hangman situation, and Renee Paquette walks over to ask them about that. Can he work with Ospreay and Hangman to finally bring down the Death Riders? Swerve says he is going to clear up this misconception. He owned up to what he did, he said he deserved what happened. But that doesn’t make them friends or a team, and they never will be. But then Ospreay barges in and says he has his own question: Who is the bigger threat to AEW? The Death Riders? Or Hangman Page? The only time Swerve was beefing with Hangman was because they both wanted the same opportunities. Tell Ospreay he’s lying.
Swerve had the world title! He did it! He became AEW’s first Black world champion! And he wore that title with pride! But is Swerve happy that Moxley’s stuck it in some briefcase? Because Ospreay isn’t. Ospreay says that belt should be around the best wrestler in the world right now, and right now that is Hangman! Swerve says, “No, it’s not.” Swerve has beat Hangman twice. But did Swerve beat Moxley? Has Ospreay beat Swerve? Swerve says the truth hurts, don’t it? But this team Ospreay is trying to put together to go against the Death Riders, Swerve just did that at Double or Nothing, Anarchy in the Arena, Swerve is done with that.
Swerve says Ospreay is delusional, but Ospreay won’t let Swerve leave because he’s not done talking. Swerve shoves Ospreay, so Ospreay hits back! They brawl right in the parking lot! Swerve sends Ospreay into railing, Ospreay comes back for ore! Ospreay says they are on the same team, whether Swerve likes it or not! Will Swerve, Ospreay, Hangman, and the rest of the roster put their personal history aside to finally and truly save the soul of AEW?
Six Man Tag: Roppongi Vice & Konosuke Takeshita w/ The Don Callis Family VS Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii!
After the confrontation during the TNT Championship match, Paragon battles RPG Vice, but with some added names to the mix! RPG Vice brings in NEVER Openweight Champion, Konosuke Takeshita, while Roddy & Kyle conglomerate with NJPW Strong Openweight Champion, Tomohiro Ishii! Could this Six Man Tag open some doors to more golden opportunities?
The Don Callis Family doesn’t wait for anything, they just go after Ishii & Paragon! The fans boo but Konosuke THROWS Ishii into railing! RPG Vice beat up on Paragon, and they throw Roddy out so they can mug Kyle! The fans boo more but Rocky slides to do his soccer celebration. Trent then PLANCHAS, but Kyle KNEES him outta the air! Rocky DIVES on Kyle, but Roddy give shim a BARRIER BACKBREAKER! Roddy CHOPS Trent, Ishii CHOPS Trent, repeat! They make Trent sit down, they CHOP away more, then Roddy KNEES Konosuke! He and Ishii add The Alpha to this, and Kyle is on the apron! DOUBLE MISSILE DROPKICK!
The fans fire up, Callis is upset, but Roddy puts Trent in the ring. This is finally a match and Roddy CHOPS Trent! Tag to Kyle, BACKBREAKER AND KNEE DROP COMBO! Kyle clamps onto Trent, he tags Ishii, and they mug Trent. Ishii CHOPS Rocky, the fans cheer, and Ishii CHOPS again! Ishii talks trash on Konosuke, then he bumps Rocky off buckles. Tag to Roddy, Roddy CLUBS Rocky but Rocky fires body shots and KICKS! Tag to Trent and now RPG Vice double whip Roddy. Trent runs up but Roddy dodges the splash! Roddy picks Rocky up to RAM him into Trent, then he hits a BACKBREAKER on Rocky! But Konosuke jumps in and BOOTS Roddy!
The ref reprimand but Konosuke throws hands on Roddy. The refbacks Konosuke off, but that lets Callis get a cheap shot! The fans boo that jackal, but Trent CHOPS Roddy in the corner. Roddy CHOPS back, but Konosuke fires hands! The fans boo as Trent CLAWS Roddy’s face, and Collision goes picture in picture.
The ref reprimands so Trent lets go, but Rocky BITES Roddy’s forehead! Roddy fights back, CHOPS Trent, then he runs, but into a fireman’s carry and DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO! Trent is frustrated but Roddy kicks at him. Trent stomps Roddy, tags Rocky, and Rocky KNEES Roddy to a corner. Rocky CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Roddy CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Rocky TACKLES Roddy, tags Konosuke, and they split the wishbone! Konosuke clamps onto Roddy with a HALF CRAB! Roddy endures, reaches out, and fights his way to the ROPEBREAK! Konosuke lets go and tags Trent.
Trent stalks Roddy, CHOKES him on the ropes, but lets off as the ref counts. Roddy gets up to CHOP! And kick low! But Trent keeps him cornered! Trent ROCKS Roddy, then he tags Konosuke. They stomp away on Roddy, dig their boots in, then step off as the ref counts. Konosuke drags Roddy up, snapmares him into a chinlock, and he grinds Roddy down. Konosuke shifts to a COBRA CLUTCH, but Roddy still endures. Collision returns to single picture, fights up, and he fires body shots.
Konosuke CLAWS Roddy’s eyes, whips him, and scoops, but Roddy slips free! ANGLE SLAM! Both men are down and the fans fire up! A standing count starts, but we get hot tags to Kyle and Trent! Kyle BOOTS Trent, KICKS Trent, then KICKS again! Rocky is in, Kyle BOOTS and fires off more strikes! SWEEP THE LEGS! The fans fire up while Rocky bails out. Kyle runs and ROCKS Trent, then wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Kyle whips, Trent reverses but Kyle slips up and under to KNEE and GERMAN SUPLEX! AX & SMASH! Cover, Konosuke breaks it with a deadlift! Kyle fights free with elbows, but Konosuke ROCKS him in return!
Konosuke runs, Kyle KNEES him at the ropes! Konosuke falls out, Rocky runs in, but Kyle DUMPS Rocky! Kyle tags Ishii so he can FLYING KNEE Rocky down! Ishii stalks Trent, brings him up, but Trent fires a forearm! No effect! Trent fires another, and another, but Ishii DECKS Trent! Konosuke tags in, and the fans fire up as these two DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT! Konosuke BOOTS Ishii, GERMAN SUPLEXES, and then Rocky BLASTS Paragon! Trent sends Rocky in but Ishii puts him on the apron. Trent runs up, ENZIGIRI LARIAT COMBO! Then Trent scoops and SLAMS Ishii, and Konosuke fires up!
Konosuke climbs while Rocky holds Ishii in place. But Paragon TOSS RPG Vice! Roddy ROCKS and CHOPS Konosuke, fireman’s carries him, and gives him a GUT BUSTER DROP! Kyle KICKS, Ishii SLIDING LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Konosuke survives but Ishii roars! Ishii reels Konosuke in, Konosuke wrenches out, but Ishii ROCKS him first! Ishii reels Konosuke back in, but Konosuke suplexes! Ishii slips free, ducks an elbow, but the ALPHA ELBOW hits! BLUE THUDNER BOMB!! Cover, Roddy BOOTS it apart! Rocky runs up, Roddy blocks one kick and ducks the next, but the REWIND HEEL finds him!
Kyle fires knees on Rocky! Rocky avoids a sweep to KNEE, but Kyle LARIATS on return! Trent is back but Kyle wrenches. Trent CLAWS Kyle’s face, then SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! Ishii LARIATS Trent! Konosuke ROCKS Ishii! Ishii HEADBUTTS Konosuke! Konosuke ALPHA ELBOWS again! Ishii RISING UPPERCUTS! The fans fire up with Ishii and he suplexes, but Konosuke knees free! Konosuke shoves Ishii into the ref! Callis laughs as Konosuke then KNEES Ishii down! Konosuke winds up, but Ishii slips around! Konosuke switches, Ishii switches, but Rocky LOW BLOWS Ishii!! The fans boo but Konosuke hits the RAGING FIRE!! Cover, Don Callis Family wins!!
Winners: Konosuke Takeshita & Roppongi Vice, by pinfall
Underhanded as it was, that was still a win for the family! And bigger than that, the NEVER Openweight Champion just pinned the NJPW Strong Openweight Champion! Will The Alpha look to take the Stone Pitbull’s gold the next time they meet?
AEW Continental Championship Eliminator: Kazuchika Okada VS Anthony Bowens!
From one title opportunity to another, The Rainmaker moves on through the roster after successfully retaining at Double or Nothing. But now, the Pride of Professional Wrestling steps up to the plate! Will this be a homerun for the 5 Tool Player? Or will it take more than just Bowens’ combination of power, athleticism, intelligence, the look, and The It Factor to earn a golden ticket?
The bell rings and the fans cheer already as Bowens and Okada circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Okada’s height gives him the leverage to put Bowens on ropes. The ref counts, Okada lets off, and he fakes the chop to pat Bowens on the shoulder. The fans applaud and Bowens does admit that’s clever. The two reset, circle, and tie up. Bowens digs his heels in and now he pushes Okada back with that power! The ref counts again, and Bowens fakes the chop to throw up the scissors. The fans are torn but Okada shoves Bowens. Bowens shoves back! Bowens wants Okada to wrestle, but Okada kicks low.
Okada headlocks, Bowens powers up and out, then Bowens drops down. Okada ducks ‘n’ whips Bowens but Bowens hurdles! Bowens mule kicks, front kicks, runs and FAMOUSERS! The fans fire up and Bowens stalks Okada. Okada rises, Bowens fireman’s carries, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Okada knows that move from his old friend, Goto. Bowens has the fans singing, “Oh~ Scissor Me, Bowens~!” Bowens CHOPS, whips, but Okada ducks ‘n’ dodges and slides out! Okada wants a breather, but Bowens says nope. Bowens goes out and storms up on Okada to CHOP! Okada ROCKS Bowens! Bowens ROCKS Okada!
The ring count climbs as the forearms go back and forth, Bowens fires a flurry then ROCKS Okada! Okada hobbles away, Bowens refreshes the ring count, but then Okada kicks and DDTS to the floor! Okada suckered Bowens in and watches him writhe while Collision goes picture in picture.
Okada paces, then he goes back into the ring. Bowens drags himself up as the count hits 5 of 10. Bowens leans on railing, hobbles his way back to the ring, and slides in at 8! Okada is right on Bowens for a NECKBREAKER! Cocky cover, ONE!! Bowens is tougher than that, but Okada isn’t bothered as he stalks Bowens to a corner. Okada CHOPS, but Bowens snarls. Bowens fires forearms, but Okada ROCKS him in return! Okada whips corner to corner, runs in, and ELBOWS Bowens! Bowens staggers and falls, and Okada pushes him to a cover. TWO, but Okada stays calm as he clamps on with a chinlock. Bowens endures as Collision goes to break.
Collision returns as Okada brings Bowens up to scoop and SLAM! Okada goes to the corner, climbs up, and MACHO ELBOWS! The fans fire up as Okada winds it up, and we get the Rainmaker MIDDLE FINGER! Okada shoves it in Bowens’ face, but Bowens uses his scissor fingers to grab Okada’s! Bowens rises up, and he CHOPS! CHOPS! CHOPS! Okada blocks the superkick, ripcord, but Bowens ducks the lariat! STRAITJACKET NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Okada stays in this but Bowens drags him to a drop zone. The fans rally as Bowens climbs up, but Okada ROCKS Bowens first! Okada climbs up, but Bowens CLUBS Okada.
Okada hops down, Bowens adjusts, but now Okada CLUBS Bowens! Okada climbs up, but Bowens slips under to SUPERKICK a leg out! ENZIGIRI as Okada is in the Tree of Woe! DRAPING SIDEWINDER!! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives and Bowens grows frustrated. The fans rally up and Bowens brings Okada up. Clinch and- NO, Okada fights with elbows! Okada shoves Bowens, but Bowens kicks low! Bowens whips, Okada reverse, but Bowens avoids the dropkick! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Okada escapes, stands, but Bowens gets him for a backslide! TWO, Okada goes to a corner, and Bowens runs up. Okada pops Bowens up for the REVERSE NECKBREAKER!
The fans rally up again while Okada scowls. Okada clamps on with the MONEY CLIP! “This is Awesome!” as Bowens endures! Bowens fights up, RAMS Okada into a corner, and he is free! Bowens CHOPS, but Okada just gets mad. Okada BOOTS Bowens, CLUBS away on Bowens at the ropes, but the ref counts. Okada stops, but Bowens BOOTS! And CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Bowens kicks low, HAMMERS and CLUBS away on Okada, then CLUBS him down! The fans fire up with Bowens, he goes to a corner and runs up, but Okada ducks the lariat! Ripcord and RAIN- NO, Bowens ducks and spins, but Okada stops the Molly Whop!
Okada slips around Bowens now, ROLLING- ELBOW, but from Bowens! ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS, SUPERKICK! Okada is down and the fans fire up! Bowens demands Okada get up, and now MOLLY- DROPKICK from Okada! Ripcord and RAINMAKER!! Cover, Okada wins!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (denies Anthony Bowens a title opportunity)
The Rainmaker continues to be undefeated not just in 2025 but as the Continental Champion. Will anyone ever slow Okada down? Bowens came close, what more will it take for him to be a contender?
Backstage interview with Daniel Garcia & Matt Menard.
Lexy Nair is with Red Death & Daddy Magic, and asks after that tough loss to FTR at Double or Nothing, what is next for Garcia? Garcia says a tough loss is an understatement. That was one of the hardest tag matches- Menard cuts Danny off there. Menard wants Garcia to think. Garcia has been moving around this whole week. Garcia wants others to fight his battles for him, but what did he think was gonna happen? Is that the first match he’s ever lost? Does Garcia think it’ll be the last? Don Callis interrupts Menard’s rant to ask, “Is this your version of an inspirational speech?” Then he asks Garcia, “What’re you doing with this guy?”
Garcia says Menard is his mentor. Oh, wow, [Censored] Magic is his mentor? Callis says Garcia is a Lamborghini. If you need to tune the Lamborghini up, you don’t take it to someone who’s never been under the hood, you take it to the number one mechanic, and that’s Don Callis. Garcia should join the family, instead of listening to this. Menard says let’s ask Kenny Omega or Will Ospreay how good of a “mentor” Callis is, huh? Garcia says he is sick of old men telling him how to do his career. Garcia tells Callis to get his “boiled hot dog looking ass” out of his face. Archer gets heated, but Callis has him stand down.
Callis says Garcia is right about one thing: he is an old man; a RICH, SUCCESSFUL old man! But the Family wants volunteers, not hostages. He is just asking Garcia to do something he hasn’t been doing for awhile, and that is think. Callis leaves Garcia to think on this offer, will the answer still be no?
Tony Schiavone is in the ring.
Collision returns and Schiavone welcomes us back, and he also says this has been a great crowd in El Paso. The fans cheer, and Schiavone says the fans all around the world, please welcome out… FTR. The fans boo now as Cash Wheeler, Dax Harwood & Stokely Hathaway make their way out to the ring. Their win at Double or Nothing has made them THE winningest tag team in AEW history, and Nigel on commentary says he learned just how good they are. He just hopes FTR holds up their end of the agreement to just leave commentary alone. Stokely still rudely takes the mic from Schiavone, and he excuses Schiavone back to the desk.
Stokely says, “Sunday at Double or Nothing, FTR proved once again that they are the greatest tag team alive today.” The fans boo, but Stokely says FTR proved they are indeed Living Legend Killers, and more importantly, they proved they are right about Nigel McGuinness. Behind that commentary desk is where he belongs! They give Nigel an A for effort but a D for execution. But Stokely moves on from that. They are in El Paso, Texas! That Mexican border is just a hop, skip and a jump away. And FTR, out of the goodness of their hearts, because they are good guys, have issued an open challenge to any tag team south of the border!
Stokely has the full terms of that contract right here! He hands it to Cash to hold for him, and Stokely reads it. “Andale, andale, mami, eya eya OOOOH~! What’s poppin’ tonight?” But wait! Atlantis Jr. is here! The fans fire up as he and Templario of CMLL make their way to the ring! The luchadores are ready to go right here and now, but FTR has them back up. Cash says they respect both men so much. They are big fan of Atlantis’ father, a huge legend in lucha libre! But what everyone might know is that FTR are living lucha legends themselves. See, they had gold down in how you say, “Mehico,” and well…
They’ve been “Seven Star FTR’ for a little too long. Maybe they become Eight Stars? Maybe they go to CMLL and add that gold? These two can be a nice little warm-up for that! Dax says hold on, hold on. Does this mic work? Dax claims it isn’t good enough for him, so he gets a new mic. Dax says there is no issue here. He is Dax, nice to meet you. That’s Cash, that’s Big Stoke, but the fans say they’re really “CULERO~! CULERO~!” Dax says hold on, hold on. FTR are really big stars in the USA. Everywhere they go, people recognize them. Maybe now that AEW and CMLL have their joint show on June 18th, Arena Mexico, Dax needs to get to know them.
So the first question is, FTR is big in USA, but how does it feel being recognized by your countrymen? Dax pulls the usual interrupting shtick, because he says the “Mighty Morphing Power Ranger” masks keep people from knowing who they are! The next question is, in Arena Mexico, Grand Slam, HUGE conglomeration between their companies, what would their dream match be? Because Dax is pretty sure that has to be with a big star team, like FTR! Unfortunately, Tony Khan has bigger plans than that for FTR, so they can’t wrestle Atlantis y Templario. But again. big fan of Atlantis Sr, the OG. He’s had great matches as a FIVE-TIME CMLL World Tag Team Champoin.
And even still today, Atlantis Sr, at 62 years old, is still wrestling! Impressive! Can Dax send a message to him? Please tell your dad, “Keep your old ass at home and not mess with FTR.” The fans boo but Atlantis Jr. takes the mic! Atlantis says his dad isn’t here to defend himself, but Atlantis Jr. is! If FTR wants to say something, then just say it, PERRO! FTR wants the CMLL guys to calm down, they don’t want trouble. This is all about AEW and CMLL teaming up. The fans still let FTR have it, but then FTR sucker punch the luchadores! The fans boo as they get Templario up! But Atlantis GAMANGIRIS Cash off the corner!
Atlantis climbs, Templario gets free, CROSSBODY onto Dax! Templario uses Atlantis as a step to launch and DROPKICK Cash! The fans fire up as Atlantis runs, get a boost, and he DOUBLE DROPKICKS FTR! The fans fire up and then Templario FOSBURY FLOPS out onto the #TopGuys! Atlantis tells FTR, you do NOT disrespect his familia! These two are the stars of lucha, so see you very soon, because they are gonna kick your ass!! The fans fire up for that one! When and where will the second generation sensation and the Lion Warrior show FTR what lucha is all about?
Mina Shirakawa VS Skye Blue!
The Fighting Gravure Idol may have fallen short at Double or Nothing, but she won’t stop until she’s on top! Will AEW be all about #MinaNow? Or will the Chicago Skye rain on Mina’s parade?
The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, go around, and then break. The fans rally as Mina and Skye reset, tie up, and Skye waistlocks to trip Mina! Skye scuffs Mina, taunts her, but the fans rally up. Mina fires a forearm! Skye fires back! The forearms go back and forth as the fans duel! Mina fires a flurry, runs, but Skye kicks low! Skye snap suplexes, then runs to PENALTY- NO, Mina ducks the kick, rolls Skye, then dodges Skye to slide and shake. Skye stomps Mina, mocks the shimmy, then stomps Mina more! Skye CLUBS Mina, whips her to a corner, and the fans rally as Skye runs in. Mina slips outside to bumps Skye off buckles!
Mina goes up, and AX HANDLES Skye down! The fans rally, Mina brings Skye around to SOBAT! Mina knuckle locks, and she goes up, up, and shakes around before a FLYING KNEE DROP! Cover, TWO! Skye scrambles away to the apron but Mina runs up. Skye avoids the shoulder to KNEE Mina, then brings her out to the apron. But Mina wrenches free, ROUNDHOUSES, and she waistlocks! Skye fights with elbows, catches Mina, and APRON FLATLINERS! Mina sputters and the fans are torn while Collision goes picture in picture.
Skye drags Mina off the apron to SMACK her off the apron! Skye stalks Mina, brings her around to the barriers, and CHOPS! Skye stalks Mina again, but Mina ROCKS Skye! Mina whips Skye into railing, then winds up to CHOP! The ring count climbs but Mina brings Skye around. Skye CLAWS Mina’s eyes! Skye puts Mina in, covers, TWO! Mina is still in this but Skye rains down fists! Skye then covers, TWO! Skye is annoyed but she drags Mina up to bump her off buckles. Skye digs her boot in, but steps off as the ref counts. Mina sputters, Skye runs and handsprings to ROCK Mina! Skye then brings Mina around to snap suplex! Cover, TWO!
Skye frowns but she drags Mina up. Skye puts Mina in the corner, puts her up top, then CHOPS! Skye climbs up, brings Mina in, but Mina fights the suplex! Mina fires body shots, then ROCKS Skye! Skye falls back, but she rushes up, into a BOOT! Mina reels Skye in, TORNADO DDT! Collision returns to single picture and Mina runs up, SHINING WIZARD! The fans fire up as Skye flounders to ropes. Mina ROLLING ELBOWS! Skye flounders, stands, and into a NECKBREAKER DROP! Skye gets up, Mina blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! The fans fire up, Mina brings Skye around, and she steps through.
Skye boots Mina away to a corner, runs up, but Mina slips out! Mina ducks, ROCKS Skye, and goes up to FLYING0 NO, Skye blocks the kick to ROCK Mina! Skye tucks Mina in, CHEEKY NANDOS! Skye grins, then gets under Mina to bring her off the corner! SIT OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Mina survives and Skye seethes. The fans duel, Skye fireman’s carries, but Mina slips free! Mina fires a flurry, but she’s running on fumes! Skye ROCKS Mina, runs, but Mina ELBOWS her! Mina runs, Skye SHINING WIZARDS at the ropes! Skye keeps moving, btu Mina follows! Skye SUPERKICKS! Skye runs, but into an URAKEN!!
Mina roars while Skye flops down! The fans fire up and Mina hurries to go up a corner. The fans fire up more as Skye stands, and Mina FLYING SLINGBLADES! Cover, TWO!! Skye survives, the fans rally, and Mina dragon sleepers! GLAMO- NO, Skye slips free to full nelson! But Mina victory rolls, TWO! Skye has the cover, TWO! Mina stands, Skye blocks a kick and KNEES her! But Mina ROLLING ELBOWS! And URAKENS! And then dragon sleepers! GLAMOROUS DRIVER MINA!! Cover, Mina wins!
Winner: Mina Shirakawa, by pinfall
Redemption from Double or Nothing, but wait! Julia Hart CLOBBERS Mina! The sinister friend of Skye puts Mina int he HARTLESS LOCK! Skye adds stomps, but wait! Here comes Toni Storm! The Timeless AEW Women’s World Champion is here to save her friend! GERMAN SUPLEX for Skye! Julia lets Mina go, but that lets Toni TOSS her! Toni has a close-up, but Julia saves Skye from the Sweet Hip Music! Toni tells the “slop tarts” that they will get theirs! When and where will Toni & Mina have a co-starring role against these spooky BFFs?
Gates of Agony VS GMO Kaminari & Cosmo Orion!
Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona have been pursuing gold ever since moving on from ROH, but they’ve been just out of reach. Will they run right through Aerospace to have another chance?
The teams sort out, and Cosmo starts against Kaun. The fans sing for their local guy, but Kaun TOSSES Cosmo to a corner, CHOPS him, then laughs and applauds. But Cosmo BOOTS, ENZIGIRIS, and then dodges! Cosmo runs, hurdles, but Kaun ELBOWS Cosmo down. Kaun then clinches for the URENAGE BACKBREAKER! And then a RUNNING SUPLEX! The fans are torn but Kaun grins, and stalks Cosmo. Kaun whips but Cosmo RAN- NO! Kaun stops the rana, to BUCKLE BOMB! Tag to Liona, and the Gates TOSS Cosmo to his corner! The fans fire up and Cosmo tags GMO. GMO goes up, hesitates, but he AX HANDLES Liona!
Liona isn’t even bothered, and GMO clutches his hands! Liona BODY SHOTS GMO again and again, then fires off in a corner! The fans rally, the ref counts, and Liona stops to roars and storm around. GMO gets up and dodges Liona, then DROPKICKS! Liona frowns, GMO panics, but Liona CLOBBERS him! Kaun steps in and SHOTGUNS Cosmo! Aerospace are in the corners, Liona HIP ATTACKS GM and Kaun METEORAS Cosmo! Then OPEN THE GATES! They stack GMO & Orion, cover, and win!
Winners: The Gates of Agony, by pinfall
Kaun says, “That is YOUR fault, what happened tonight! That’s on you!” Is Kaun blaming the AEW World Tag Team Champions, the Hurt Syndicate?
Max Caster met with fans today.
It was the AEW All Elite Experience in El Paso that Platinum Max tried to teach fans his chant: Let’s Go, Max! You’re the Best Wrestler Alive! Some picked up on it, but it seemed like most didn’t care. Caster says that’s right! They love him! Now, anyone who wants pictures is welcome, but he needs them to sign his petition to make AEW recognize him as THE Best Wrestler Alive. Is that okay with everyone? The fans seem okay with that, and they sign up. Caster has the fans line up, then he runs for it! He just wanted the signatures! Will someone, anyone, ever humble him?
Six Man Tag: La Faccion Ingobernable VS AR Fox & Top Flight!
LFI is finally at full power as Rush, Dralistico y Beast Mortos team together again, ready to take over AEW once and for all. But will these bulls stampede all the way to the top? Or will the big money trio prove they’re worthy of the gold?
LFI doesn’t wait for anything to sort out, they go right after Fox & Top Flight! They toss Darius aside, mug Dante and Fox, then they TOSS Fox out! Leila Grey hurries away so as not to get run over! Dralistico y Mortos mug Fox, Rush rips a buckle pad away, and then they send Fox in! Rush CHOPS Fox, CHOPS him again, then goes for the bare steel! Fox stops that to fire back! Fox goes Matrix to then PELE! Mortos SMACKS Fox, Dralistico shoves him down, and the mugging continues! The fans are torn but LFI double whips Fox. Fox stops himself at the ropes, Dralistico runs up, and Fox TOSSES him out! Mortos runs up but is put on the apron!
Fox sweeps the legs, then he runs to SLINGSHOT STOMP Mortos, and CANNONBALL onto Dralistico! But Rush CLOBBESR Fox! Darius DIVES onto Rush! Dante DIVES onto Mortos! The fans fire up with Angel Dorado and he slides in. Darius puts Rush in, Dante somersaults and SATELLITE DDTS! Cover, TWO! Rush survives and Mortos WHEEL KICKS Dante down! But Darius runs in, runs past Mortos, and he TIGER WALL KICKS using the corner! Dralistico runs up to DREAMCAST KICK! Fox BOOTS Dralistico! Rush THROWS Fox up and over into the corner! LFI stands tall, the fans cheer them on, and Mortos puts Fox in a corner.
Mortos CHOPS Fox, Rush tags in and he CHOPS! Rush whips Fox to then LARIAT him down! Rush whips Fox to the bare buckle, then SPLASHES! Fox flops down, Ruch ROCKS him! Rush then goes corner to corner, “No pasa nada, PERRO!” But he just feints the dropkick to BOOT Fox! Rush rolls back to tranquilo, and El Paso fires up while Collision goes picture in picture.
Rush soaks up cheers, brings Fox up, then he GRINDS Fox’s face off ropes! Rush argues with the ref, Dralistico holds Fox against ropes, and Rush SMACKS Fox down! Rush wrenches Fox, tags Mortos, and they mug Fox in the corner. Mortos whips Fox to a corner, UPPERCUTS, LARIATS, and GAMANGIRIS! Then he SNAP POWERSLAMS Fox down! Cover, TWO!! Fox survives but Mortos is on him with a chinlock. Mortos grinds Fox down, but Fox fights up to his feet. LFI rushes in to BLAST Top Flight! Rush sends Darius into steel steps! Dante fights back with forearms! Rush whips Dante into railing hard!
Mortos stomps Fox in the corner, tags Dralistico in, and Dralistico whips Fox back into the corner. Dralistico ELBOWS Fox, sits him down, and runs side to side for a SUPERKICK! Dralistico lounges up top and Collision goes to break.
Collision returns and Mortos has Fox in a facelock. Mortos KNEES Fox low, then he SPITS at Top Fight! The ref keeps Top Flight back, but that lets Rush help Mortos whip Fox to a corner! Rush sends Mortos in, LARIAT! Rush sends Dralistico in, SPLASH! Rush adds a SPALSH of his own! Snapmare and TRIPLE BASEMENT DROPKICK! Mortos covers, TWO!! Fox survives and the fans fire up! Mortos whips Fox to the corner, Fox BLASTS Dralistico and BOOTS RusH! Fox BOOTS Mortos, goes up, up, and CANNONBALLS! The fans fire up while both men crawl! Hot tags to Dralistico and Darius!
The fans fire up as the Air Wolf rallies on LFI! He BOOTS Dralistico, runs, and HOTSHOT BULLDOGS! GAMANGIRI for Rush! SUPERKICK for Dralistico! Step-in FLATLINER! Cover, Mortos breaks it! Dante waistlocks Mortos, Mortos backs Dante down but Dante sends him into the bare buckle! Dante runs up, Mortos puts Dante on the apron but Dante goes up, over, around and GAMANGIRI! Darius waistlocks, Dante steps in, but Mortos fights! He still ends up in the SHOTGUN GERMAN! Rush shoves Dante, Darius gives Dante the boost up and over, then Darius kicks off of Dante to TORNADO DDT Rush!
The fans rally, Fox joins in, and Top Flight sends him in at Dralistico! A-LIST LARIAT! Dante RAMS Dralistico, Darius UPPERCUTS, then Fox skins the cat to SWINGING DROPKICK! RIPCORD CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Dralistico survives and the fans fire up again! Top Flight regroup, Darius brings Dralistico up and Dante climbs. But Dralistico shoves Darius into the ropes to trip Dante up! SUPERKICK for Darius! Then a springboard FLYING DESTROYER!! Cover, Fox breaks it! Rush runs up, Fox goes Matrix but Mortos SOBATS! Mortos KNEE SMASHES and Rush GERMAN SUPLEXES Fox away!
The fans fire up again and Dralistico sets up in the corner. Dante runs in, Dralistico dodges for Rush to ROCK him! Dralistico springboards to FLYING CODE BREAKER! Dante flounders out, Dralistico FLIES to take Fox down! The fans fire up again as Rush now wrenches Darius and sends him to Mortos, POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Darius is in the corner, Mortos DIVES onto Dante! “This is Awesome!” as now Rush brings Darius around. Rush stomps away in the corner, then “You mess with the bull…!” BULL’S HORNS!! Cover, LFI wins!
Winners: La Faccion Ingobernable, by pinfall
The ungovernable trio takes the win, and perhaps now they take the lead in the title chase. But Rush isn’t done, he grabs his favorite green cables! He LASHES Darius, CHOKES him, and the ref reprimands! LFI mugs Darius, but here comes Speedball & Komander! The fans fire up as Bailey SUPERKICKS Mortos and Komander brawls with Dralistico! Rush lets Darius go so he can brawl with Bailey, but Mortos is back! The 3v2 goes LFI’s way, but Fox and Dante are back! Now it’s 5v2! LFI is sent into retreat, what will this mean for the title chase for the Summer?
Mark Briscoe speaks.
“Wednesday night, Mixed Six Tag Team match, and I took the L. Jon Moxley, you caught me in your little bulldog choke, ref called for the bell, ding ding ding. It happened. Now, Thursday, my five-year-old son comes up to me when I get home, and he said, ‘Daddy, did you quit last night?’ I said, ‘Son, no, I did not quit. I would never quit. You win some and you lose some in life, but you never quit, and I did not quit!’ But you see the predicament I’m in now, as my kids are doubting me. Mox, I want you one on one, Denver, Dynamite. This ain’t about that title you got. This is about something bigger than that for me.
“So I’m have to line the kids up in front of the TV, and they gonna watch me whoop a man’s ass! So Mox, you better be ready to man up!” The Sussex County Chicken is ready to run wild, but will he tear down the Maniac AEW World Champion for Fyter Fest?
BREAKING NEWS for Fyter Fest!
Not only do we have Moxley VS Briscoe in a non-title match, but with all the wild action tonight, there are many tag matches to be had! LFI will take on Speedball, Komander, and the returning Kevin Knight in a Six Man Tag! Julia Hart & Skye Blue will battle Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa, with Mercedes Mone watching from commentary! And FTR will have no choice but to face Atlantis Jr. y Templario, just weeks before Grand Slam: Mexico! Plus, “The Toxic Spider,” Thekla, will have her AEW in-ring debut, and The Hurt Syndicate will address what, and perhaps who, is next for their business agenda! A HUGE FOUR HOUR NIGHT, don’t miss a moment!
AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way Qualifier: Mascara Dorada VS Hechicero!
Brody King qualified on Wednesday, and Claudio qualified earlier tonight. One represents the USA, the other represents Switzerland, and Kenny Omega represents Canada as the champion. Mexico will have a contender, but will it be the Second King of the Ropes or the Alchemist of Lucha that joins the Fyter Fest Fatal 4?
The bell rings and the two circle. Dorada offers a handshake, Hechi reaches out, and he tentatively takes it. The two circle, then Hechi slides to dazzle with his magic. The two knuckle lock, Hechi wrenches and wrangles Dorada fast. Dorada fights up, wrenches back, but Hechi spins and slips through to break free. The fans cheer, and the two reset. They knuckle lock, Dorada rolls to get a leg in a toehold, then he ties the legs up for a modified deathlock. Hechi powers up to push through, and he hits a KNEE JAMMER! Dorada grabs at Hechi but Hechi shoves him down. Hechi CHOPS Dorada, but Dorada KICKS and KICKS!
Hechi blocks a kick to TWIST the foot, then he hits a spinning toehold! Dorada still CHOPS, KICKS, but Hechi shifts to a headlock. Dorada slips out to hammerlock, facelock, then fireman’s carry takeover. Dorada clamps on headscissors, then pulls on the arms! Hechi rolls back, O’Conner Roll into a wheelbarrow, but Dorada arm-drags free! Dorada kips up and the fans cheer the standoff! Dorada and Hechi tie up, Hechi waistlocks then shoves Dorada to ropes. Hchi then runs past, but Dorada ducks a lariat. Dorada hurdles, only for Hechi to catch him in a FLAPJACK! Hechi clamps onto legs, CHOPS Dorada on the back, and he has the arms!
The fans cheer as Hechi pulls Dorada into the ROMERO SPECIAL! Dorada endures, fights to get his arms free, and he stands on Hechi’s legs! Dorada turns things around on Hechi to have the legs, then the arms! Up, up, and away into the ROMERO SPECIAL! The fans cheer, but now Hechi fights free! Hechi rolls Dorada to pull him around by an arm. A bit of a stumble but Hechi still whips Dorada, blows past, and then slides out! Dorada runs to slide out, but Hechi slides in! Hechi toys with Dorada, Dorada slides in, and then Dorada and Hechi continue their cat ‘n’ mouse. Dorada fakes a springboard and Hechi slides out!
Dorada runs up to the corner to FLYING RANA! The fans fire up and Dorada puts Hechi back in. Dorada climbs as the fans rally, and Dorada uses the corner so he can DOUBLE JUMP FLYING RANA! The fans fire up as things keep moving, and Hechi HEADSCISSOR LEG DROPS!! Dorada staggers up, Hehich runs up and KNEES him in the corner! Dorada flops down, the fans rally up, and Hechi fires up! Hechi brings Dorada up, whips him to a corner, and LARIATS as Collision goes picture in picture.
Hechi LARIATS again, and again, and then JABS! JABS! JABS! Dorada drops but Hechi DECKS him all the same! Dorada flops out of the ring, Hechi pursues, and Hechi brings Dorada around to RAM into steel steps! Dorada hobbles and falls but the fans rally up for Hechi. Hechi drags Dorada up, fireman’s carries, and hits SNAKE EYES off the apron! Hechi puts Dorada in the ring, brings him around, and pulls at the mask?! The ref reprimands and Hechi stops to chicken wing Dorada’s arm. Hechi keeps pulling at the mask’s strings, but the ref reprimands. The fans boo and give thumbs down, so Hechi stops.
Hechi drags Dorada up, pump handles, and hits a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO! Dorada stays in this and Hechi is annoyed. Hechi kicks Dorada around, brings him up, and puts him in a corner to CHOP! Dorada sputters, Hechi runs up, but Dorada BOOTS him! And RANAS him! But Hechi comes back to LARIAT! Dorada is all folded up but Hechi stomps him. Hechi drags Dorada into a motorcycle stretch. Dorada endures, fights up, and Collision returns to single picture. Hechi shoves Dorada to a corner, fires body shots and a CHOP! The ref counts, Hechi whips, but Dorada reverses. Dorada runs in but Hechi puts him on the apron!
Hechi takes a swing but Dorada GAMANGIRIS! Then he slingshots, hops on, but Hechi reverses the momentum! Dorada lands out, avoids the boot, then he runs in and tilt-o-whirl RANAS! Hechi tumbles out, the fans fire up, and Dorada builds speed to TORNILLO!! The fans fire up and Dorada high-fives the front row. The fans rally, Dorada storms up on Hechi, and he puts Hechi in the ring. Dorada aims from the apron, goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Then he tilt-o-whirls, but Hechi throws him away to wheelbarrow! Victory roll, and POP-UP into the REAR NAKED CHOKE! Dorada endures, fights through to ghost pin, TWO!
Hechi has a cradle, TWO! Ghost pin, TWO! Chicken wing and SEATBELT, TWO! Dorada has a press, TWO! The fans fire up as both men stand. They both run in, and DOUBLE BOOTS take them both down again! The fans rally up while Hechi and Dorada stir. Dorada goes to a corner, runs in at Hechi, but Hechi puts him up top! Dorada backflips away but Hechi DISCUS SHOULDERS him down! Hechi knuckle locks, Dorada lifts but Hechi uses that to rock back and YANK Dorada up to a torture rack! But Dorada tilt-o-whirls through to RANA! Somersault and CODE RED!! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Hechi survives!
Hechi crawls to the ropes, Dorada aims and builds speed. Hechi avoids the boot to CHOP, and DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Dorada keeps the leg trapped, and he stands on it to STOMP it down! Dorada writhes but Hechi climbs, FLYING ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Dorada survives and the fans fire up again! Hechi huffs ‘n’ puffs and he watches Dorada. Hechi wants the mask, but Dorada CHOPS! Dorada fires up, but Hechi CHOPS in return! Dorada rebounds to CHOP! Hechi nods and JABS! JABS! JABS! Then CHOPS! Hechi runs, but into a scoop and LUMBAR CHECK! The fans fire up as Hechi is now in a drop zone!
Dorada goes up, up, and aims for the DIVING- NO, Hechi dodges, and he dropkicks the leg out! Hechi brings Dorada around, puts him up top, and uses that to Electric Chair Lift! They go up higher, but Dorada fires hands! Dorada hops down, GAMANGIRIS, and then he goes back up! SUPER POISON-RANA!! Dorada puts Hechi in the drop zone, goes back up top, and he SHOOTING STARS!! Cover, DORADA WINS!
Winner: Mascara Dorada, by pinfall (advances to Fyter Fest)
And there you have it! The Golden Mask 2 is now part of a golden opportunity! Will Dorada take the title from Kenny? Will it be Brody or Claudio instead? Or will the Best Bout Machine find a way to still be champion?
My Thoughts:
A great episode of Collision, even with it being prerecorded and then further delayed because of NBA Playoffs. A lot of last minute build to Fyter Fest, and I don’t even mean the qualifiers. Both qualifiers were awesome, and while I figured Claudio would win against Komander, I’m pleasantly surprised Mascara Dorada beat Hechicero in a great main event. That’s now technically three Faces and one Heel for the Fatal 4 Way, and just for the sake of story, I would hope the Death Riders don’t get more gold. They need to stay desperate about holding onto THE AEW World Championship while the proverbial walls are closing in.
Speaking of which, great promo from Mark Briscoe to call out Moxley, and they are going to have a great match, even with no title stakes on the line. And also a very good promo from Swerve with Ospreay to add their own tensions to this team-up story. Swerve doesn’t want to work with Hangman, he wants Ospreay to back off, but Ospreay is the one speaking sense again. Ospreay, Hangman and Swerve are the big 3 in terms of Faces, and then, whenever Darby Allin returns, that is quite the fearsome four to take on the Death Riders.
But the “last minute” stuff is the other tag matches they made for that HUGE four hour show. Mina of course beat Skye Blue, and I should’ve figured Julia would show up. Good save from Toni, and they’ll have a good tag match that I would think Toni & Mina win. Unless Mone gets involved, because she will be there on commentary. Great Six Man Tag of LFI VS Fox & Top Flight, and a very good win for LFI. Speedball & Komander making the save was good stuff, and I appreciate Kevin Knight will be joining in since he’ll be back from Japan by Wednesday.
Gates of Agony of course win their match, and I do feel they need another chance back to the tag titles. FTR had a very good promo with Atlantis y Templario, and that tag match could be a show stealer. It really should also lead into something bigger for Grand Slam: Mexico. FTR did mention they want tag titles, and the CMLL World Tag Team Champions are Los Nuevos Ingobernables, aka the NEW Ungovernables, Angel de Oro y Niebla Roja. I wonder if they’ll interact with LFI at all…
Great Six Man Tag of Don Callis Family VS Ishii & Paragon, but I figured the Family would win. Konosuke pinning Ishii really should lead to Konosuke challenging for the NJPW Strong title at either the next NJPW event in America, or even through AEW. Good promo from Garcia with Menard and Callis. Menard is being a bit harsh on Garcia, but I would hope Garcia doesn’t join up with the Callis Family. I’m just not sure how well Garcia fairs in a feud against them when his backup is sadly just Daddy Magic while the Callis Family has the most members it has ever had.
Hilarious promo from Caster where he is really trying hard with this Best Wrestler Alive thing, but in a new direction. I’m sure he’ll try getting fellow wrestlers to sign that, only to get beat up like with his Open Challenge. And an awesome match from Okada VS Bowens, even with it just being an Eliminator. Okada still wins as there might still be pans of Okada VS Omega, Winner Takes All, but Okada’s gotta have someone at least challenge him along the way. If nothing else, test the waters of what a 20 minute draw does for the eliminator and give someone a shot at the Continental Championship for the FOUR HOUR “Summer Blockbuster” on June 11th.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Could this be the biggEST and strongEST SmackDown of the year?
SmackDown in Knoxville sees the returns of Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes and John Cena, along with some final Money in the Bank qualifiers!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax; Naomi wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa; Mateo wins.
- Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar; Los Garza win.
- Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration; Zelina wins.
- Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu; Andrade wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bianca Belair is here!
Knoxville fires up for their strongEST, fastEST, quickEST, toughEST, roughEST, and greatEST hometown hero as she struts out to the ring. Bianca high-fives and hugs fans along the ramp, as well as mom and dad at ringside. Bianca then grabs a mic to say, “Man, it feels good to be in Knoxville!” The fans cheer and chant for “EST! EST!” Bianca says she loves them so much. And she couldn’t come out here without singing Rocky Top! Y’all ready? The fans cheer, and the music plays! Bianca conducts the fans as they sing for the University of Tennessee. In fact, the Lady Vols softball team is playing in the Super Regionals right now!
Bianca smiles and says this city is so special to her. Not just because it is her hometown, but because it is her safe space. She has her love and support from mom ‘n’ dad, and has all the fans who show up and show out for her. With everything Bianca’s been going through, losing at Mania, getting injured, losing tag titles and friends along the way, she just wanted to come back home to her safe space. The fans cheer, and Bianca says she came home to heal. While she’s not 100%, she is doing everything she can to get back to the ring and continue to show us why she is the EST of Tennessee and of WWE! The fans cheer that!
Bianca says with all that said, Knoxville, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown! But wait, she’s interrupted by Naomi! The fans boo but Naomi says, “Oh my gosh~! Finally! B, I am so glad you finally here on SmackDown!” Bianca says now is not the time, Naomi. Naomi asks Bianca to please hear her out. It has been way too long. Not a day has gone by when Naomi doesn’t think about what happened to them. What is there to talk about? What could Naomi say? What could she want from Bianca? The fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at Naomi, and Naomi says she just wants forgiveness. She is begging for it!
Naomi knows things go toff the rails, but she is here because she wants to fix it, she is trying to fix it, but she alone can’t fix it. Months have gone by, and Naomi has tried to communicate, to say the past can be the past and that they can move forward. Bianca has not responded back to Naomi once. Naomi even visited Bianca’s parent’s house! But no one would answer! WHAT?! Mom ‘n’ Dad don’t know about that, but Naomi says no one was home, so she let herself in! Naomi looked through the photo albums, the one right on the front coffee table. And in those photos, Bianca looked so happy. It reminded Naomi of how they were as tag team champions.
Bianca stops Naomi there. Naomi, Bianca will make this perfectly clear. They were best friends, but Naomi betrayed Bianca’s trust. Naomi took their friend, Jade, and threw her onto a car, then lied about it for months! Bianca said she was done with Naomi, she meant that, and if Naomi ever comes near her family again, what Naomi did to Jade will be nothing compared to what Bianca does to Naomi. The fans fire up for that! Naomi gets emotional, but then she gets mad. “Y’know, Bianca, it wouldn’t be good for you and your mama to be in a wheelchair.” The fans boo as Naomi laughs maniacally. Naomi says she’d hate if something happened to Bianca here and now!
Naomi storms up on Bianca, but then JADE makes her way out here! Naomi is even angrier now, but this Storm starts throwing hands! The fans fire up as Jade BOOTS Naomi down! Bianca and Jade look to each other, neither really saying or doing anything. Naomi runs up but Jade TOSSES her out! Jade and Bianca look to each other again, but then here comes NIA! The Irresistible Force won’t be left out of this, especially when this is the Women’s Triple Threat Qualifier for the night! This match now opens the night, who earns SmackDown’s final golden ticket to the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match?
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax!
SmackDown returns, this match is already going, and Naomi POSTS Nia! Naomi stalks Jade, rains down forearms, and the fans boo. Naomi stomps to BITE Jade’s hand! Jade still fights back, so Naomi has the arms to STOMP Jade down! Naomi flexes, the fans boo, and Naomi puts Jade in a corer. Naomi runs to DROPKICK Jade in the corner! Naomi SLAPS Jade, drags her into the drop zone, then goes up, up, and twerks! HIP DROP! Naomi covers, ROPEBREAK! Naomi is annoyed but she sits Jade up to stomp a mudhole in. But Nia runs up! Naomi dodges, the HIP ATTACK hits Jade! Naomi goes to the apron to ROUNDHOUES Nia!
Naomi reels Nia in for a HEATSEEKER! Nia flops to the floor, the fans rally for Jade, but Naomi kicks her around. Naomi goes up the corner, leaps, but Jade catches her! Jade FALL AWAY SLAMS Naomi, then kips up! Knoxville fires up with Jade and she runs up to LARIAT! And ELBOW! And SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, Nia breaks it! The fans boo but Nai huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Naomi up. Nia whips Naomi, pops her up and HEADBUTTS her down! Then she SAMOAN DROPS Naomi! Nia soaks up heat, then lines the two up. Naomi grabs at Nia’s leg but Nia CLUBS her down! Nia stomps Jade for good measure, then drops a leg, brother!
Nia TOSSES Jade out, then goes up the corner. Nia SUPER LEG DROPS on Naomi!! Cover, TWO!!! Naomi survives and Nia is shocked! The fans rally while Nia stalks Naomi. Naomi clings to ropes as Nia pulls at her arm. Nia CLUBS Naomi, whips her to ropes, then SAMOAN DROP- NO, Naomi makes it a CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Ghost pin, TWO!! Nia survives the sudden turnaround, Naomi sees Jade crawling in, and Naomi goes after her as SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Naomi KICKS Nia while she’s down, then kicks her more. Naomi puts Nia in a corner, CHOKES her on the ropes, then clamps on with a SLEEPER! Nia THROWS Naomi away, then TOSSES her out. Nia soaks up heat, but Jade runs in and rolls Nia up! TWO! Nia stands, and she HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia looms over Jade, drags her up, but Jade fires forearms! Jade backs Nia down, then runs, and she CLOBBERS Nia outta the ring! Jade fires up and has the fans with her. Jade drags Naomi up from the apron but Naomi fires hands. Nia is back to HIP ATTACK Jade against the POST! Nia soaks up more heat, then taunts Naomi.
Naomi stands on the apron, argues with Nia, but they apparently agree to mug Jade for both their benefit. They put Jade in the corner, Naomi digs her boot in, and then Nia sends Naomi in for a SPALSH! Nia adds a SPLASH of her own! Naomi snapmares Jade, runs, and SLIDING LARIATS! Jade sputters and Nia taunts her. Nia and Naomi soak up the heat together, but Jade fights back! Nia HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia drags Jade up, and Naomi KICKS Jade low! They soak up more heat, talk trash on Jade, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Nia scoops and SIDEWALK SLAMS! Naomi runs to SPLIT LEG DROP! Cover, but Nia drags Naomi away!
Nia and Naomi argue again, and then Naomi rolls Nia up! ONE, and Nia grabs Naomi to shove her to a corner! Nia SPLASHES, then pushes Naomi down. Nia runs to SENTON! Nia grins while Naomi sputters and the fans rally up. Jade rises to fire forearms on Nia! Then she ELBOWS Naomi in a corner! She ELBOWS Nia, but then Nia follows Jade! Jade dodges so Nia SPLASHES Naomi! Jade then SUPERKICKS! Nia wobbles, Jade SUPERKICKS again! And SPINEBUSTERS! But Naomi METEORAS! Cover, TWO! Jade survives and the fans rally up. Naomi goes up, SPLIT- LEG MOONSAULT on Nia! But Jade has Naomi in the chicken wings!
Jade brings Naomi around, JADED!! Cover, Nia CLOBBERS them both! The fans rally while all three women are down! Nia climbs a corner, Jade is after her with forearms! Naomi joins in, drags Jade back, but now they trade shots! Nia DOUBLE CROSSBODIES! Cover on Jade, TWO! Cover on Naomi, TWO! Nia grows frustrated but the fans rally up again. Nia drag Naomi up, fireman’s carries, and she climbs the corner! The fans already anticipate what’s coming, SUPER SAMOAN DROP!! Cover, JADE FROG SPLASHES IN!! Cover, TWO!!! The fans fire up while all three women are down again! “This is Awesome!”
Jade rises, she clamps onto Nia, but Nia HEADBUTTs her! And HEADBUTTS Naomi! Jade BOOTS Nia down! Cover, TWO! Jade runs up on Naomi but Naomi BOOTS her! Naoim goes up top but Jade is right on her! They fight for control, but then Nia joins in! TOWER OF DOOM!! Nia double stacks her opponents, for a A-NIA-LATOR!! Naomi avoids it, Jade takes it all! Naomi ghost pins Nia, AND WINS!!
Winner: Naomi, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Nia did a lot of the damage, but it is Naomi who wins out! Will everyone in the Women’s MITB Ladder Match now have to #ProceedWithCaution?
Solo Sikoa’s crew arrives.
Solo says they will win Money in the Bank together! Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, whichever one wins MITB wins it fof the family! But then they hear R-Truth talking to… Lil’ Jimmy? Solo says Truth’s childhood hero beats him, and now he’s talking to ghosts. Truth taps Solo on the shoulder and asks if there’s something Solo wants to say. Solo says Truth is crazy touching him. JC Mateo steps up but Solo has him stand down. Truth says he wants to be honest. He’s never seen JC a day before in his life. Is this Solo’s son? He’s husky! Truth asks if he can teach Solo’s husky son a lesson in the ring. Solo says that sounds good to him.
Truth says he’ll go talk to Nick Aldis. “Boy, y’all big boneded!” Truth heads off, and Solo says don’t worry, they’ll take care of him. Let’s have fun. Fatu says keep it 100. They can have their fun, he’s got his own business to take care of. Yadada mean? The Imperial Unit against Truth, Samoan Werewolf in a qualifier, will everything go the family’s way?
Chelsea Green confronts Nick Aldis.
The Hot Mess hides behind a cardboard cutout of herself as she tells the SmackDown General Manager, “What happened on Saturday night was a deliberate-” Piper Niven has to direct Chelsea to point at Aldis, and Aldis says he can’t quite understand her from behind the cardboard mask. Piper holds the mask between Chelsea and camera, though we do get a glimpse of her fancy headgear. Chelsea repeats herself, but Aldis says she needs to be looking at him when they talk. Chelsea hides her face in shame, but she says it is still a deliberate hitjob put on by vicious Zelina Vega! Even her Secret Her-vice could not stop it!
Chelsea demands that Zelina be suspended, stripped of her title, and that Chelsea be reinstated as the champion! Chelsea, no need to be so ugly about this. Gasp! Aldis says what he means is, no suspensions, and we can talk a rematch down the road once Chelsea is medically cleared. Then he is doing nothing for what Zelina did to Chelsea?! Alba says if he won’t, then they will! Yeah, Zelina VS Alba! Tonight! Alba is a bit surprised, but Aldis says, “Chelsea knows best. Alba VS Zelina, I actually like the sound of that. I will make that official right now, if you do one thing for me. Please leave me alone.”
The Green Administration hurries away, but will Alba make sure Chelsea brand justice is served? Or will La Muneca just keep racking up the wins?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Women’s Champion, and says that MITB is around the corner. Tiff successfully cashed in her own contract to become champion, but how is she handling the pressure of knowing the same thing could happen to her? Tiff says she can’t wait to see who wins MITB. Then she can handle the pressure by being prepared. Having this title makes her the top threat to the division, but let’s be fair. She’s always been the girl everyone has been obsessed with. So whoever wins, targeting her will be a big mistake. But then in steps Naomi.
Naomi says if Tiff thought Nia was a problem, then she ain’t seen nothing yet. Naomi vows to win MITB and cash in for Tiff’s title, wherever and whenever she wants. And in case Lil’ Miss Tiffy forgot, when Naomi was fighting for a championship, Tiff stayed in Naomi’s way. Wanna know what happens when people play with Naomi? Just ask Jade. Naomi heads out, and Alexa Bliss steps in. Alexa says she wouldn’t be so worried about Naomi. Be worried about Alexa. Alexa heads out now, Tiff clutches to the title a little bit tighter, who will be trying to run the clock out on Tiffy Time?
R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa!
To Solo’s point, #RonCena could not make John Cena see the light at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Truth might be relapsing if he’s talking to Lil’ Jimmy again. But will Truth relapse so far that we get the R-Truth that was once United States Champion? Or will a Tour of the Islands send Truth off the deep end?
SmackDown returns and JC makes his entrance, Solo backing him up. The bell rings and Truth runs up, only for JC to RAM him into a corner! JC RAMS Truth again and again, then lets off. JC whips corner to corner hard and Truth falls in a heap! JC whips corner to corner again just as hard, and Truth falls in a heap again. Solo talks trash but the fans rally behind Truth. JC runs up but Truth dodges! Truth SHOULDER TACKLES! JC stays up, so Truth runs and SHOULDER TACKLES! “What’s Up?” Truth runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and SHOULDER TACKLES! Then he hits the SPIN OUT- CROSSBODY! JC then gets up to GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT!
JC smirks as he looms over Truth, and Solo says to finish this off now. JC runs to SENTON but Truth moves! Truth calls for it! “YOU CAN’T SEE ME!” FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Truth fireman’s carries JC, but JC is too much! Truth falls over again! Solo laughs, JC whips, TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, JC wins!
Winner: JC Mateo, by pinfall
Truth tried to be like John Cena of old, but it just wasn’t meant to be. JC beats up on Truth more, then stands him up for Solo! But here comes BIG Jim! Jimmy has a chair, he runs JC off, but Solo stands his ground. Solo says his brother wouldn’t hit him with that chair, would he? Jimmy steps to Solo so Solo steps out, but that lets JC CLOBBER Jimmy! But then Solo has JC stand down! They’re family! Solo and JC leave, leaving Jimmy wondering what this is about. Will Jimmy make it clear to Solo that Jimmy’s not the one who has to come to his senses?
The Street Profits are here!
The WWE Tag Team Champions walk through the smoke to be on stage and the fans cheer. Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford hold up the titles, walk to the ring, then step inside. The fans cheer as they hold up the belts again, then the Profits grab the mics. Ford says, “Knoxville, Tennessee, oh I love everything about you, and what I have, too. But lemme rap to y’all real fast. This tag team division that we’re a part of, the greatest tag team division on any brand, any promotion… It’s on fire right now.” Dawkins says, “Talk to ’em.” Ford says, “But just like how the gorilla fears us, make no mistake about it, let’s not forget who’s leading the charge right now: The Street Profits.”
The fans cheer, and Dawkins says hey, they got all the teams coming at ’em! DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, and now… The Wyatts?! The fans cheer that, and Ford says that’s sick. But what big bro is saying, it don’t matter who it is, the Profits will defend against anybody. Well hold on, here comes Fraxiom! Nathan Frazer & Axiom go to the ring to stand with the Profits, and they have mics. Frazer says alright, since the Profits are talking about defending the titles, well, Frazer & Axiom didn’t exactly get a fair shake. Ford says, “Fraxiom, is it?” He congratulates them for being on a roll, but up until the Wyatt Sick6 got in the Profits’ business…
Yeah, the Profits had them beat. Wow, oh, okay. Sure, maybe… But maybe not. Thanks to the Wyatts, we’ll never know. And now that those shenanigans are behind us, it is fair to say that Fraxiom and the Profits need to run it back! The fans like the sound of that! But wait, here come the Machine Guns! Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin have mics, and Shelley says okay, hold on, sorry to interrupt. Fraxiom’s entire basis for a rematch is that the Profits never beat them. Well, last time Shelley checked, the Profits never beat MCMG! So if they’re handing out title matches, MCMG will take one. But naturally, here comes DIY!
Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Candice LeRae have their own mics, and the Poison Pixie says no no no no. She is pretty sure “you losers” have had a million chances, and “the nerds” just got here. Whoa, hold on? Just got here? Sounds like Candice just got back, so she should do us a favor and shut up. Gargano says you shut up, idiot! The reason DIY brought in Gargano’s beautiful wife is to even the odds against all of what this is! Everyone can see there is a conspiracy in the tag team division to hold down the BTTITW! And now with the Wyatts showing up- Ciampa has Gargano ixnay on the amily-fay.
Do not talk about you know who, scratch that, let’s get to business. All these teams have all KILLED the tag division that DIY built! Matter of fact, let us hold a moment of silence for the death of the SmackDown Tag Division. Everyone, stand up, bow your heads, and give a moment of silence… now. OH NO! The lights go out! All the teams panic, because when the lights turn on, UNCLE HOWDY is on the corner! Howdy laughs, because the rest of the Wyatts flank the ring! Erick Rowan drags MCMG out to DOUBLE LARIAT! Dexter Lumis is up top to CANNONBALL onto the Profits and Gargano! Joe Gacy is in, and he handsprings to bring Fraxiom to the UPSIDE-DOWN!!
Lumis then runs, POWERBOMB SENTON COMBO on Axiom! Ciampa freaks out, turns around, and Nikki Cross is there! CROSSBODY onto Candice! The fans fire up, and Howdy has Frazer for SISTER ABIGAIL! “We’re here!!” It is just as the Profits said, and now it is clear. Will some killer combination of the Wyatts go right after the gold?
Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar!
Worlds Collide is just over a week away, and all four of these men will be involved. The Immortal Firebird and the Young OG are going after the NXT North American Championship in a Fatal 4 Way while Legado Del Fantasma will be taking on AAA’s Pagano, Psycho Clown y El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. Who will be heading for Los Angeles with all the momentum behind them?
Speaking of that North American Championship, the champion is here! Ethan Page joins commentary and says what a year for him, to be honest. Wade says that title has never looked better than on Ethan’s shoulder. Fenix makes his entrance now, followed by Je’Von’s. The teams sort out and Fenix starts against Angel. Angel and Fenix circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Angel fires a forearm, Fenix fires back, repeat! Fenix gets the edge but Angel shoves then drops down. Fenix cartwheels over the dropdown, then comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and RANAS! Angel tumbles, the fans fire up, and Fenix somersaults, but into a fireman’s carry!
Fenix slips free, ripcords to ROUNDHOUSE, but Angel HEADBUTTS! Both men stagger back, tags to Berto and Je’Von! Je’Von dodges and springboards to BOUNCY~ roll-up! TWO, and Berto mule kicks! Berto CLUBS Je’Von, whips, but Je’Von reverses and slips around. Berto bucks the O’Conner, springboards and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Berto drags Je’Von up, but Je’Von kicks! Berto blocks, but the ENZIGIRI hits! Je’Von runs up, and BOUNCY~ RANAS! The fans fire up and Je’Von DROPKICKS! Berto bails out, Angel runs in, but Je’Von goes Matrix to dodge! Je’Von kips up, and STUNNERS! Angel flops back and the fans fire up!
Los Garza regroups, Je’Von tags Fenix, and they build speed, but have to dodge Angel first. Fenix SOBATS, Je’Von KICKS, and both men ENZIGIRI! Berto is up top, he leaps, but into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Fenix runs to basement CALF KICK! Cover, TWO! Berto stays in this for Los Garza while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Fenix drags Berto up to RAM him into the corner. Tag to Je’Von and they mug Berto. Berto fires hands back on Je’Von, but Je’Von headlocks. Berto powers up and out and Angel tags in. Berto drop toeholds Je’Von into Angel’s KNEE at the ropes! Angel TEARS OFF HIS PANTS! Angel drapes those over Je’Von before he KICKS Je’Von in the side! Angel stalks Je’Von to the corner, tags Berto, and they shove Je’Von for a double hip toss, TU LO SABE! Then DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Berto covers, TWO! Berto argues the count but the ref defends it. Berto shoves Je’Von to ELBOW him down! Berto then DUMPS Je’Von down to be under the ropes.
Tag to Angel and Berto sits Je’Von up on the apron. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von down! Santos joins in with Los Garza as they soak up the heat, and Angel drags Je’Von back in. Angel stands Je’Von up, hoists him to the top rope, then climbs up behind him. Angel CLUBS away on Je’Von, mocks the clapping, and he THROWS Je’Von down. Angel KICKS Je’Von in the arm and Je’Von clutches his hand. Angel drags Je’Von to the ropes, CHOKES him, and the ref reprimands. The ref counts, Angel steps off at 4, and Berto BOOTS Je’Von down. ANgel clamps onto Je’Von with an armlock and chinbar but Je’Von reaches for Fenix.
Angel keeps hold of Je’Von but Je’Von fires hands! SmackDown returns to single picture as Je’Von dodges the lariat, leaps, but Angel catches him! Angel puts Je’Von in a corner and through ropes. Angel pulls an arm and leg against the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von in the ribs! Je’Von slumps to the apron, and Angel sucker punches Fenix! Angel goes back for Je’Von but Je’Von fires body shots! Angel blocks a kick, slips around and Gory Especials! Angel walks over, tags Berto, and Berto slingshots, GARZA ESPECIAL! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up for Je’Von but Berto clamps onto him with a chinlock.
Je’Von endures, even as Berto traps an arm. Je’Von fights up, pries the hold open, and he arm-drags Berto! Je’Von leaps but Berto grabs a leg! Ethan laughs from commentary, but Je’Von kicks free to SUPERKICK! Both men are down, Je’Von and Berto crawl, hot tags to Angel and Fenix! The fans fire up as Fenix rallies on Angel with forearms! Fenix then dodges a shot to springboard and FLYING ARM-DRAG, to a DOUBLE STOMP! Fenix fires off KICKS on Berto, then fires up with Knoxville! Fenix uses Berto to jump up and RANA Angel! Fenix then goes corner to corner to JUMP SOBAT! Fenix fires hands, shoves Angel aside, then goes up.
Fenix springboards to QUEBRADA! Cover, Berto breaks it! Berto whips Fenix, Fenix goes Spider-Man, and Je’Von tags in! Fenix says HASTA LA VISTA, BABY! Angel is up, he pops Fenix up to KICK him! But Je’Von springboards to FLYING LARIAT! The fans fire up, Berto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! All four men are down and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as Angel and Je’Von crawl. Angel CHOPS Je’Von, Je’Von CHOPS back, and the fans “WOO~!” Angel CHOPS again, so Je’Von CHOPS again! Angel fires a forearm, Je’Von fires back, and they go around with forearm after forearm! The fans fire up, Angel CHOPS, a
nd Je’Von SUPER PUNCHES!
Je’Von runs, BOUNCY- NO, Angel makes it a SIT OUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ethan is surprised and the fans rally up. Angel hoists Je’Von up top, tags Berto in, and they hoist Je’Von up even higher! But Fenix SHORYUKENS Angel down! Je’Von fires hands on Berto and SHOVES him down! Fenix climbs up to join Je’Von now, and ADIOS AMIGO DOUBLE STOMPS for Angel! Je’Von adjusts, to SUPER DUPER SWANTON onto Los Garza! Ethan says don’t get closer, keep this in the ring! He taunts both his challengers, Fenix and Je’Von stand down to put Los Garza in the ring. The fans rally up, but then Ethan CLOBBERS Fenix & Je’Von!
Ethan TOSSES Fenix over the desk! But Je’Von SUPERKICKS Ethan down! The fans fire up, Je’Von hurries in, and he dodges Angel! But Berto rolls Je’Von up, TWO!! Je’Von dodges Berto, rebound and RED DOT!! Berto is down, Angel gets up, but Je’Von DECKS him! Je’Von goes up, up, but Santos distracts the ref! Ethan SHOVES Je’Von down! The fans boo but Berto tags Angel! Los Garza hoists Je’Von up for M T Y!! Cover, Los Garza win!
Winners: Los Garza, by pinfall
All Ego grins as he screws over two of his three challengers, and now Legado is rolling towards Worlds Collide. But will these rudos get everything they deserve in LA?
The Wyatts speak.
“We won’t stop. Not until we get what’s owed.” A simple yet ominous threat, are the tag titles only the beginning?
Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration!
La Muneca held onto the WWE Women’s US Championship by smacking The Hot Mess in the face with a foot, and obviously Chelsea is not happy with it. But will Alba get payback on behalf of her fearless leader? Or will things only get uglier for the Green Regime?
The bell rings and Piper distracts Zelina so Alba can CLOBBER her! Alba fires off hands, then bumps Zelina off buckles. Alba bumps Zelina off more buckles, then more buckles! And then the fourth corner! Chelsea says Zelina should’ve never messed with her! Alba fireman’s carries but Zelina fights free. Zelina KICKS Alba, KICKS again, then KICKS, but Alba CLUBS Zelina. Alba whips, scoops, and- NO, Zelina swings through to RANA! Cover, ONE! Zelina headlocks but Alba fights up and lifts Zelina. Zelina holds on but Alba powers up and out to RUN Zelina over! The fans boo but Chelsea cheers as Alba stalks Zelina.
Alba ROCKS Zelina, whips her to ropes, but Zelina wheelbarrows and arm-drags! Zelina then runs up on Alba in the corner and rains down fists! Alba shoves Zelina away at three, but Zelina comes right back to rain down more shots! Alba stops Zelina at four now, but Zelina wants another go! Alba stops Zelina at four again, and RAMS her into the corner! The fans boo but Alba grins. Zelina BOOTS Alba, goes up, and FLYING RANAS! Alba tumbles out, Piper helps her up, and Zelina goes to the apron. Alba trips Zelina up, spins and ROCKS Zelina, then gets her up. Gory Especial, but Zelina flips through to arm-drag Alba onto ropes!
The fans fire up as Zelina dials up, but Chelsea is on the apron! The ref argues with Chelsea while Zelina redials, but Piper trips her up! The fans boo but Alba SUPERKICKS Zelina! Alba salutes to Chelsea, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Alba stands on Zelina’s hair while pulling Zelina’s arms! The ref reprimands, Alba steps off, and she drags Zelina up to suplex for the GOURD BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Zelina stays in this and Chelsea argues with the ref. The ref says the count is fair, so Alba clamps onto Zelina with a COBRA CLUTCH! Zelina endures, the fans rally, and Zelina fights up. Zelina fires body shots, Alba ripcords and wrenches to SUPERKICK! Zelina rebounds to SHINING WIZARD! Both women fall and the fans fire up! Piper coaches Zelina, the fans rally up, and both women rise up. Alba is on Zelina and brings her to a corner, but Zelina buckle bumps Alba first!
The fans rally as Alba stalks Zelina, but Zelina bumps her off buckles again! Alba tries again, but Zelina ELBOWS Alba away. Then BOOTS her away! Zelina fires forearms on Alba, backs her down, then whips. Alba reverses but Zelina dodges to LARIAT! The fans fire up as Zelina LARIATS again! Zelina blocks a kick, ELBOWS Alba, but Alba blocks the saido. But Zelina keeps Alba from running, SNAP SAIDO! The fans rally for Zelina as she runs corner to corner, METEORA! Zelina pushes Alba out and goes up top! The fans cheer for some Latina Heat, and METEORA! Cover, TWO! Alba survives and Chelsea is relieved.
Zelina grows frustrated, but she goes back for Alba. Zelina reels Alba in, suplexes, but Alba blocks! Alba knees low, suplexes, but Zelina hits STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Alba is down, Zelina goes up, MOONSAULT FLOPS! Alba goes up now, and she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, TWO!?! Zelina survives and shocks Alba! Chelsea is upset again but Alba hurries to bring Zelina up. Alba KICKS Zelina out, and now Chelsea takes off her face mask?! She tells Piper to stand Zelina up! Piper does as told, and Chelsea takes a swing, but Zelina ducks! The face mask SMACKS Piper!! Chelsea is shocked, then furious, and then she chases after Zelina!
Zelina slips into the ring, Chelsea gets on the apron, but Zelina sends Alba at her! They almost collide, and then Zelina rolls Alba up! Zelina hops on, CODE RED!! Cover, Zelina wins!!
Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall
Chelsea tried so hard to screw Zelina over that she just screwed up her own team! Zelina survives again, will no one take down the Vega Administration?
The Miz pep talks Carmelo Hayes.
Melo looks good, and he just has to follow the plan. If Melo follows that plan, with no mistakes, they will win. Melo says he knows what he’s doing. Miz asks if he really does. Because Miz has taken Black Mass after Black Mass, sacrificing himself for Melo. Does Melo understand? Miz gave up this chance at MITB for Melo! Miz has already done it twice! If Melo wins this match tonight, Miz will guide Melo to make sure “we are Mr. MITB.” Wait, we? Miz says, “Who do you think got you in this position?” Melo says Melo did. Melo appreciates everything Miz has done for him, from sacrificing to taking hits for him, and helping him win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
But nobody told Miz to do that. Melo will run the play exactly as Miz designed it, but what brought Melo to the dance is Melo’s talent. Melo goes out there and does it better than anybody else. Melo puts up 40 points on a bad day, because he is H1M. And Miz just needs to let Melo be H1M. They good? Miz nods, and Melo says okay, let’s do the thing. They are Melo Don’t Miz and they are Awes-H1M. Miz still nods, but he doesn’t seem genuinely happy. Will Miz let Melo be Melo? Even if that means letting H1M fail?
Giulia speaks.
“Throughout my entire career, even back when I started in Japan, I had one goal… It’s not to be ‘the best.’ Everyone says that. It’s hollow and empty. My goal is to be indisputable. You can love me or hate me, admiration or disgust, it means nothing. But I’m impossible to deny. My opponent doesn’t matter, because I only view them as an opportunity to build my legacy. Evidence you cannot refute. SmackDown, you will see. I will hit harder, move faster, think sharper, and conquer everything, just like I’ve always done. The question isn’t, ‘Who’s going to let me?” It’s, ‘Who’s going to stop me?'” She adds in Japanese, “If you can stop it, stop it.”
Will SmackDown and all of the WWE soon succumb to The Beautiful Madness?
Zelina returns backstage.
She refreshes for a second, but Giulia is there! And Giulia says she sees Zelina, but she also sees that title more. Zelina scoffs and leaves. Could Giulia be aiming for everything once she becomes Ms. Money in the Bank?
Damian Priest is here!
Knoxville cheers as The Archer of Infamy heads to the ring, victorious from Saturday Night’s Main Event and that brutal Steel Cage match. Priest grabs a mic to tell Tennessee, “Ever since I beat Drew on Saturday, it’s like I’m breathing in fresh air. Y’know, there was a time when I lived on the street, if we were beefing with another street, that war could go for years. But in WWE, you have a beef with somebody, you have a match and it’s over. But with Drew and I, we went well over a year, and that’s not normal. But we took that beef into a cage. Now, I can feel it, you can se it on my face, we went to war.
“At the end of this war, at Saturday Night’s Main Event, I gave him a Con-Chair-To, I walked out the door, and I put his ass in the past.” The fans cheer that. Priest says now he knows Drew is somewhere recovering from his scrambled brains, but he knows Drew is watching, so this is for Drew. “I still can’t stand yo ass. But the Drew McIntyre that stepped in that cage wasn’t the guy that hides behind his phone on social media. That was the old Drew, the warrior, and I appreciate that.” The fans applaud, and Priest says he won’t ask what is next for himself, he’ll just tell us all. And it is the same thing he wanted when he came to SmackDown: Championships!
The fans cheer, and Priest says this war with Drew cost him an opportunity at being in MITB. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his eyes on a certain champion. Somebody who he has unfinished business with, and a champion he considers the most badass. The fans know that means Fatu, and he knows they know! Priest calls out Jacob Fatu! Priest respects Fatu. Priest knows where Fatu came from, what Fatu had to live through, how it feels to stand in this ring as a champion. Real talk, Priest is proud of Fatu, he congratulates Fatu, that’s real. But what Priest doesn’t respect is the crew that follows him around.
Wait, check that. What Priest doesn’t respect is the crew Fatu follows around. Priest knows at some point, they will get in this ring, handle business, but that’s for them. As for Fatu’s so-called family, if they wanna get involved, they can catch a fresh one, too. Priest won’t make it just a nickname or moniker, he wants this to be fact! Priest is and forever will be EL CAMPEON! The fans cheer that! But will the Archer soon take aim at the Samoan Werewolf? Well, speaking of, Fatu makes his way out here for tonight’s other Triple Threat Qualifier! Fatu nods to Priest, but if Fatu wins his way into the ladder match, will this showdown have to wait a little longer?
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu!
SmackDown returns and El Idolo makes his entrance, followed by H1M. The bell rings and Miz distracts Fatu and Melo attacks! Fatu ELBOWS Melo away, Andrade is on Melo with forearms, and then Fatu adds a LARIAT! Fatu looms mover Melo but then turns to stare down Andrade. The fans rally as these two step up. Andrade fires forearms but Fatu SHOVES him to a corner. Fatu runs up, Andrade dodges then whips. Fatu reverses, Andrade goes up and out to then ROCK Fatu! Andrade goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, ONE! Melo CLUBS Andrade, TOSSES him out, and then CLUBS away on Fatu!
Miz says that’s the way! Melo HAMMERS and CHOPS, then whips, but Fatu blocks! Fatu whips Melo, Melo springboards, but into an UPPERCUT! The fans fire up and Fatu sees Melo go outside. Fatu builds speed, but Miz trips him up! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Fatu drags Miz into the ring! Melo goes to roll Fatu up but Fatu stays up! Fatu YANKS Melo up, scoops, but Melo slips free! Melo SUPERKICKS and Miz DUMPS Fatu out! The fans boo but Melo builds speed, only for Andrade to LARIAT! The fans cheer, and now Miz sees he is in trouble. Fatu snarls, but Andrade DIVES, into a HAYMAKER!
Fatu then SUPERKICKS Miz! Fatu THROWS Miz into barriers! The fans fire up and Fatu grins. Fatu runs in, HIP ATTACK against the barriers! The Samoan Werewolf has dominated three men at once and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Miz sputters and Fatu leaves him behind to go around the way. Melo is there to kick Fatu, RAM Fatu, but Fatu blocks another whip! Fatu ROCKS Melo and Melo staggers away. Fatu stalks Melo, Melo checks on Miz, but Fatu ROCKS Melo! Andrade goes after Fatu now, but Fatu THROWS Andrade into barriers! The fans cheer as Fatu lets Andrade go to the ring. Fatu brings Melo up, SMACKS him off the desk, then pushes him down. Fatu clears the desk off, but Melo CLUBS Fatu against the desk! Melo storms into the ring, brings Andrade up, but Andrade RAMS Melo into the corner! Andrade RAMS Melo, CHOPS Melo, then stalks Melo.
Andrade whips Melo, Melo reverses and Andrade hits buckles hard! Melo CHOPS Andrade down! Melo brings Andrade up, soaks up some heat, then makes it Latino Heat. But Andrade blocks the suplex to suplex Melo! Andrade hangs Melo out to dry, and Melo flops to the apron. Fatu is back but Andrade fires forearms first! Andrade whips, Fatu reverses, and Fatu BODY CHECKS Andrade! Fatu geeks out and the fans are with him while he stalks Andrade. Fatu drags Andrade up to HEADBUTT him into the corner. Fatu shoves Melo off the apron, then he HEADBUTTS Andrade again. Andrade sputters but Fatu is all fired up.
Fatu CHOPS Andrade, UPPERCUTS, and HEADBUTTS him again! Andrade CHOPS in return! SmackDown returns to single picture and Andrade CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Fatu UPPERCUTS and Andrade falls back! Melo stomps Andrade in the corner, then tells Fatu to come on in. Fatu runs up, but Andrade gets away! Hip attack hits buckles! Melo ENZIGIRIS Fatu, Andrade runs to dodge Melo and FLYING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Andrade kips up! Andrade has targets in the corners, and he rallies the fans with “SI! SI! SI!” CIEN KNEES for Fatu! CIEN- NO, Melo tilt-o-whirls and LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally, Melo runs to stomp away on Fatu, then he brings Andrade up. Fatu stands to CLOBBER Melo! Andrade SUPERKICKS Fatu! The fans rally, Melo brings Andrade up and springboards, but Andrade stops him at the ropes! SECOND ROPE SPANISH FLY! But Fatu SENTONS Andrade! The fans fire up as Fatu SENTONS Melo! Fatu drags Melo to a drop zone, then goes to the corner! The fans rally for Fatu as he goes up, up, but Andrade YANKS him down! Andrade goes up top, MOONSAULT DOUBLE!! Cover, Melo breaks it! The fans rally while all three are down! “This is Awesome!” as the three stir.
Melo brings Fatu and Andrade around, and he fires forearms on each of them. Andrade fires back on Melo, then Fatu UPPERCUTS! Andrade ROCKS Fatu, but Fatu UPPERCUTS Andrade! The fans rally as the three rise, and Melo springboards! DOUBLE FADE AWAY DDT!! Cover on Andrade, Fatu breaks it! Melo and Fatu stare down, and they run up! Melo dodges to hit the FIRST 48! Andrade adds a POISON-RANA! Melo slips around Andrade to KNEE and suplex, CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Andrade survives and Melo grows frustrated. The fans rally for Fatu while Melo shakes his hands out. Andrade is on the apron but Melo rises.
Melo brings Andrade up but Andrade trips Melo! They go out to brawl, and Melo SUPERKICKS Andrade down! But Fatu SUPERKICKS Melo! The fans fire up for Fatu as he lines up a shot. Fatu gets the fans even more fired up, then he geeks out! Fatu runs in the full length, but Andrade & Melo move! HIP ATTACK through barriers!! The fans go nuts as Fatu crashes into the timekeeper’s area! Fatu sputters as SmackDown goes back to picture in picture.
Fatu stirs while Andrade and Melo go to the ring. They roll in, Melo grabs at Andrade and vice-versa. Melo fires a forearm, then goes back outside. Andrade goes to the opposite end while Melo looks under the ring. Melo makes Knoxville happy by bringing out a table! But then Melo makes them mad by dropping it! Melo goes after Andrade but Andrade ROCKS him first! Andrade brings out a chair! Andrade aims, but Melo dropkicks the legs out! Andrade crawls, Melo shakes his head, and he grabs the chair now. Melo aims, but Andrade kicks Melo low! Andrade and Melo go into the ring, and Andrade puts Melo in a drop zone.
Andrade goes up the corner, but Melo trips him up! Andrade is stuck up top and Melo hits the SLINGSHOT PLEX! Melo flexes, then decides to step through on the legs! Andrade cradles that, TWO! Melo and Andrade stand, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men fall and the fans look for Fatu. SmackDown returns to single picture as the fans rally, Melo and Andrade sit up, and Melo CHOPS! Andrade ROCKS Melo, then rolls away. Melo hurries to clamp onto Andrade with a facelock, but Andrade RAMS him into a corner! Andrade puts Melo up top but Melo fires forearms. Andrade drops back, Melo aims, but Andrade GAMANGIRIS!
The fans still want tables but Andrade climbs up to get Melo. They’re on the very top, but Fatu is back! Fatu makes the SUPER SPANISH FLY part ROCKER LAUNCHER!! The fans are thunderous as Fatu goes up now! SWANTON BOMB onto Melo! Cover, Andrade breaks it!! The fans rally up again and still want tables. Fatu runs at Andrade to SPLASH! Then Fatu runs at Melo, but Melo BOOTS him! Melo runs up, but into a pop-up! Melo fights the Samoan Drop, and Andrade adds the SHADOW ELBOW! But Melo makes it a ghost pin! Andrade adds a stack, TWO!!! Fatu survives the double cover, but here come Solo & JC!
The fans boo as Solo is here to coach Fatu up. Melo and Andrade trade forearms, then Melo dodges to springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, Fatu breaks it! Fatu snarls, drags Melo up, and he HEADBUTTS Melo! Fatu finally notices Solo & JC, but Fatu puts Melo up top. Fatu CHOPS Melo, then he fireman’s carries Andrade. Fatu adds Melo to this, but Melo slips free. SAMOAN DROP for Andrade, and then Fatu goes to the corner. Solo says Fatu’s got this now! BEST MOONSAULT EVER FLOPS and Melo hits NOTHING BUT NET!! Cover, ANDRADE BREAKS IT! Andrade underhooks Melo, THE MESS- NO, Melo RANAS through! Cover, TWO!!
Andrade has a cover, TWO! Melo has a cover, TWO! Andrade has it, TWO! Both men stand, SHADOW ELBOW! FIRST 48!! SHADOW ELBOW AGAIN!! All three men are down and the fans are thunderous! Fatu crawls, Melo rolls to a corner, and Andrade stirs. Fatu rises, he brings Andrade up, IMPALER DDT! Then Fatu has Melo to RAM him into a corner. Fatu runs and HIP ATTACKS Melo! Andrade is up, Fatu hits him with another IMPALER DDT! Fatu puts Andrade in the drop zone, and he hits the BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Solo says yeah, do that again! The fans boo but Fatu glares at Solo. JC says do what Solo is saying, Fatu!
But wait! Jimmy YANKS JC down, and SUPERKICKS him! The fans fire up, and then Melo RAMS Fatu into Solo! Then FIRST 48! But Andrade rolls Melo into THE MESSAGE!! Cover, ANDRADE WINS!!
Winner: Andrade, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Solo just screwed things up for Fatu! Solo does his best to keep the peace between Fatu and JC, but the point is: Andrade is headed to Los Angeles! Will he make this El Idolo in the Bank?
Backstage interview with LA Knight.
Byron Saxton segues from congratulating Andrade for qualifying to welcoming in someone who already has qualified, but The Mega Star says, “My gawd. What is it with punching tickets around here? Everybody talks about punching tickets. WWE Instagram, punched tickets. Commentary, punched tickets. You’re talking about punched tickets. I guess I punched my ticket to MITB, it’s only eight days away. A few other guys who punched tickets, who are they? You got Andrade, you got Penta, you got what’s his name, Seth Rollins. You got Solo Sikoa! They’re all in it! They all punched their tickets!
“And everybody’s gonna be climbing that ladder, trying to get up, put everything on the line that they can. Now, if this was a one-on-one match, I’d go ahead and call my shot, and I’d say I’m gonna run up there, grab the case, and cash it in. But you gotta understand, this is my third year in a row, so I understand what this is. You can call me the vet in this match. Some people say maybe that Seth is the vet in this, but they would be wrong. For three years in a row now, you’re talking about the most robust and the most recent experience, YEAH. And what that means is now it’s anybody’s game. Anybody can come out with it, and I understand that.
“But with or without the case, what you need to understand is that the WWE title, the world title, they’re all in my future. With the way I’ve been running, at this point, they should be in my past, maybe even my present. Why don’tcha go ahead and punch that ticket? While we’re talking about-” Knight stops himself when he spots someone walking in. It’s Aleister Black! And Aleister says that win was supposed to be his. But he tells Knight, “You’re welcome, though.” The Dark Father lets the Mega Star shine, if only for now. Will LA win big in LA when we finally reach MITB?
Fatu and Solo regroup backstage.
Solo wants Fatu to listen. He was just trying to help. Fatu tells Solo to listen. For the last time, Fatu does not need his help! Fatu storms off, JC steps in, but Solo has nothing else to say. Is the Samoan Werewolf going to break away from this dysfunctional “family?”
Cody Rhodes is here!
Knoxville fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, high-fives fans along the ramp and the front row, and even signs autographs. Cody goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and he hears the fans chant his name. Cody fires the fans up more, then hears them sing, “Cody! Cody Rhooodes~! Cody! Cody Rhooodes~!” Cody says, “So, Knoxville! Whaddya wanna talk about?” The fans cheer, and Cody says, “I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that we could talk about the record crowd here this evening!” The fans cheer that, too! Cody says he loves them, too, thank you very much.
Cody says they could also talk about WrestleMania 41. The fans boo, but Cody says after WrestleMania 41, he went home, he drowned his sorrows, might’ve touched the “Tennessee Cough Syrup” a little bit, and he had a moment of doubt. He reached out to a friend. A friend who helps him prepare to wonderful audiences like this one here, or speaking to everyone at home. Cody asked him, “Was I a good champion?” The fans cheer for that, but Cody says the friend told him wasn’t quite as simple as yes or no.
The friend told him, “With everything that you faced here in the ring in front of all the fans, and with everything that you faced behind the scenes, being pulled in different directions, the waters that you had to navigate that no champion has ever had to navigate, yes, I feel that you were a good champion.” Cody says he felt good hearing that, it turned into a hopeful moment, the silver lining on a dark cloud. Cody looked back on his whole year. He thought about AJ Styles faking retirement to get the drop on him. Cody thought about his friend, Kevin Owens, sucker punching him against his bus while Cody’s family slept inside.
Cody thought about his boss, Triple H, who pushed Cody to the limit, and sees something in Cody that Cody doesn’t even see in himself. Cody even thought about The Final Boss, how he asked Cody for his soul, and the entire world wondering what that meant. As preposterous as that sounded, The Rock was 100% serious. No matter how many times Cody said no, the offer still stands. And Cody also thought about John Cena. The fans initially boo, but the “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” starts up. Cody takes a moment, and then he says, “I thought about John Cena doing exactly what he said he was going to do. He forced me to make a choice, and I hesitated.
“I don’t know if John Cena is going to ‘ruin’ professional wrestling. But if he does, then I’m partially to blame. Now, I know, I’d love to say this to John Cena’s face. Not sure if he’s going to come out here right now, but if you are listening, if you are listening, Champ, I need you to know that I will never hesitate with you again!” The fans cheer that, and Cody says no matter how much Cena will tout the amount of days he has left, how much Cena will talk about what remains before he absconds with the WWE Championship and leaves all of us forever, that is NOT Cena’s expiration date! That is on the other side of Cody’s corneas, and it will burn Cena’s ass up!
The fans fire up for that, and Cody calms it down. Cody apologizes for that. This is his first night back on SmackDown, he is getting worked up. He thought so much about what he could do, what he could do for the fans. Hell, how about a surprise? The fans already “YEET! YEET! YEET!” so Cody says they’re hungry for it. Let’s yeet. Well, hold on, that’d be a very big surprise. That’d be the biggest surprise. That’d be Cody’s partner riding into battle for MITB, and hell YES he is here! Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the World Heavyweight Champion, MAIN EVENT JEY USO! The fans go wild as Jey makes his way in from the pavilion!
The fans sing along with Day One Ish and bounce for that YEET! Jey makes his way down through the crowd to ringside, one verse at a time, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Jey joins Cody in the ring now, mic in hand. Cody and Jey hear the fans want an encore, so we get even more YEET! But then John Cena makes his entrance to ruin the fun! The fans sing “JOHN CENA SUUUCKS~!” even though he wears that University of Tennessee orange and white. Cena goes to the ring, towel draped over his head, then grabs a mic before he joins Cody and Jey in the ring. Cena hears the fans boo, and he says, “I’m upset, too. If it isn’t professional wrestling’s biggest wannabes!” Cena tells Cody he is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe, and that Jey is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe.
The fans boo but Cena says they both wanna be Cena so bad, it makes him sick! Cody wants Cena’s fame, Jey wants Cena’s money, but they will get neither because Cody is too desperate and Jey is too lazy! There is only ONE other human being in the WWE who embodies hustle, loyalty and respect, and he’s got the fortune, fame and followers to back that up! Surprise, losers! Cena’s partner is here, too! The fans boo already, because “EY YO~!” Logan Paul IS here! The Maverick swaggers his way out, and Cena gives him a proper introduction. “Oh, you mad? You’re mad because Logan Paul does WWE better than any professional wrestler?”
Cena says Logan doesn’t need to pay his dues, because he is paying Jey’s mortgage! Everybody in this building did NOT come to see Jey! They came to see John Cena and Logan Paul! Logan asks, “What the hell you crying about, Knoxville? Look! I could walk on water, and y’all would still find a way to tell me it’s because I can’t swim! John Cena speaks the language of Logan Paul, and that is the truth! The truth! It is right in front of you! You deny it all you want, but look around, you stupid, stupid, simple Tennessee people! This is a moment in history! All of you get to witness the moment that John Cena stood side-by-side in the ring with Logan Paul.
“And look, all of you will live long, pathetic, miserable lives. But at least you will get to say that you saw that.” The fans tell Logan to STFU, and Cena tells Logan to ignore it. Logan says yeah, yeah, they’re so ungrateful. They don’t know what’s good for them. There is one problem, though. This does seem too perfect. The problem is… Logan should be standing next to THE WWE Champion as THE World Heavyweight Champion! Logan should’ve been the one to leave Saturday Night’s Main Event with that title around his waist. But look at him, Jey. Jey got lucky. Jey got lucky! He knows it, Logan knows, it, the fans know it, CODY knows it!
Jey needed Cody to save him! When Cody interfered with the match cuz these two cheaters can’t do a single thing in this business without it being handed to them! “These two nepo babies were born on third, thinking they hit a triple.” Logan points to himself and says, “Self-made man!” He points to Cena and says, “Self-made man!” Five years ago, nobody every would’ve believed Logan Paul would be a WWE superstar. And they certainly never ever would’ve believed that he’d be teaming with the Greatest Of All Time! But look at Logan now. He’s not just a superstar, he is THE superstar! His time is now! Cena told us that his time is almost up!
Cena is the Last Real Champion, Logan is the inevitable face of the WWE! So Jey, Cody, at MITB, if you want some, come get some. Jey tells Logan they don’t gotta wait! They can handle this right now! UH UH, YEET!! The mics drop, Cena and Logan talk this out, and Logan wants to throw hands while Cena wants to leave. Cody asks what they’re arguing about. They gonna go to the back so Logan can polish Cena’s Peacemaker? Now it’s a fight! The fans fire up as the hands are flying! Logan TOSSES Jey, Cena picks Cody up! Cody slips free, Jey is back to SUPERKICK! Cody hits the DISASTER KICK! Cena bails out, Jey PLANCHAS out onto him!
Logan goes to the apron, slingshot and- NO, Cody dodges the “Snapshot” Lariat and Jey SUPERKICKS Logan! Then Jey sets Logan up for the CODE D!! The fans fire up as Cody picks up the WWE Championship! Will Cody and Jey make it through Logan and Cena to then clear a path for the American Nightmare’s redemption? Or will Cena & Logan ruin wrestling together?
My Thoughts:
A very good SmackDown, but maybe with some wheel-spinning. As fun as Chelsea Green continues to be, can’t we move on from her and Zelina? Or are we about to do that with tonight’s win over Alba and then Giulia confronting her? Ironically, that seems to give away Giulia isn’t winning MITB. Giulia had a good promo video right before but they undercut it by giving us that confrontation. That said, Giulia deserves to be all the champions, but I suppose starting with the Women’s US Championship would be a good route. Very good promo from Bianca and Naomi to not just have Bianca’s homecoming, but to keep the feud between them alive.
The Women’s Triple Threat had a slow start but it turned out to be a very good match. Great win for Naomi, and good promo from her, Tiffany and Alexa to tease potential MITB winners. Great stuff in the tag match to build Worlds Collide just a touch. We only got one moment of Berto being passive aggressive towards Santos, and then Ethan Page screwing the Faces over, but that was still enough for the North American Championship. Of course, it depends on how many fans watch not just Raw and SmackDown but also NXT so that the fans already understand the story. But as someone who does, I do appreciate they’re bringing NXT story onto SmackDown.
Good promo from Priest to give some shoot respect to Drew and Fatu, but Priest wanting after the US title kinda gave away what was happening with the Men’s Triple Threat. It was a great Triple Threat, but of course Solo & JC cost Fatu. That team is just one moment away from breaking up, and it might be at MITB when Solo just expects Fatu to help him win the briefcase and Fatu refuses. And Fatu VS Priest will still be awesome whenever it happens. Good promo from Knight, and a good bit from Aleister with him, which I suppose means that’s the next feud for them. Was kinda hoping for Aleister VS Nakamura but that really depends if Nakamura is sticking with WWE or going home to Japan via Pro-Wrestling NOAH as rumored.
R-Truth relapsing to talking to Lil’ Jimmy is certainly a choice. I kinda wish he’d keep up the “Ron Cena” stuff, or they’d let Jeff Cobb do his own John Cena bit from NJPW, but I guess some things in WWE still won’t change. And closing with a big promo segment was also certainly a choice. Cody still did a good job, and nice surprise to have Jey show up. Not sure they needed to take a commercial break for Jey’s entrance, especially when they were obviously going to let Jey do his YEET encore. And Cena really must be brainwashed to put Logan over as if Logan’s on par with peak Cena. But naturally a brawl happened and the Faces stood tall.
Don’t count this as go-home math yet, they could easily revisit this on Raw and even next week on SmackDown. Even then, I still feel like Jey and Cody should win at MITB to properly set up Cody VS Cena 2 at SummerSlam. Raw on June 9th is still the move for the World Heavyweight Championship, but there’s also Saturday Night’s Main Event in July, who knows if Jey makes it to SummerSlam as champion.
My Score: 8.7/10
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TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
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