Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Monday Night Raw Results & Report! (4/8/19)
What happens on the Raw After Mania?!

It’s the Raw After Wrestlemania! The Architect, The Demon and The Man are all champions once again! But who will have the hardest Post-Mania road ahead?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Raw Tag Team Championships: Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins VS The Revival; Ryder & Hawkins win and retain the Raw Tag Team Championships.
- Alexa Bliss VS ???; Bliss wins.
- Ricochet & Aleister Black VS ???; Ricochet & Black win.
- Dean Ambrose’s Farewell Match: Dean Ambrose VS Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush; No Contest.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Finn Balor VS Sami Zayn; Finn wins and retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
- WWE World Championship & Universal Championship, Winner Takes All: Kofi Kingston VS Seth Rollins; No Contest.
- Seth Rollins & Kofi Kingston VS The Bar; Rollins & Kingston win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Seth Rollins opens Raw!
The Kingslayer is now the BEASTSLAYER! And he is the NEW WWE Universal Champion! Raw takes a quick look back to see how Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar tried to use a scheduling audible to throw Rollins off his game. But of course, Lesnar also tried a pre-match beating unlike anyone’s seen before, too! But Rollins endured, took advantage of the ref going down, and then used multiple Curb Stomps! And in the end, Rollins finally burned Suplex City down!
But in the present, Rollins stands before the New York crowd as they chant “You Deserve It!” He corrects them by saying “WE Deserve It!” Rollins waited a long, long time to be in the ring with that title. All it took was climbing the mountain and beating the most dominant champion in WWE history. Fans say “Thank You, Rollins!” for doing that. Rollins thanks them back and says he actually feels terrible. He still got run over by a truck, and took suplex after suplex to F5. But Rollins always got back up. Rollins took everything Lesnar had to give, and he got back up! Rollins even took a “questionable” tactic to gain an advantage, but truth be told, Rollins didn’t do anything to Lesnar that he wouldn’t have done to Rollins.
Fans chant “Full Time Champ!” knowing Rollins will be here more, but Rollins has some news. Rollins heard Lesnar and Heyman were taking that flight to Vegas for “meetings”. As far as Rollins is concerned, but they can stay in Vegas! Lesnar is no longer the reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion, Rollins is! And to do one better, he will be the reigning, defending, fighting, undisputed Universal Champion who everyone in the world can be proud of! Awwwww~ Brooklyn~! Clap for the NEW WWE World Champion, and feel~ the power~! Because yes, The New Day and Kofi Kingston are here! And Kofimania is running wild with the world title around his waist! Kofi and the New Day join Rollins in the ring for a meeting of champions!
“Now Seth, I can see the look on your face right now.” This is confusing, because it’s Monday, not Tuesday. But it is yo bois, The New~ Day~! This isn’t a Superstar Shake-Up, that’s for next week. But for now, the New Day is here early to celebrate! And they couldn’t wait for SmackDown, no. Rollins is WWE Universal Champion by defeating the Beast! Fans boo and Rollins explains they don’t like him. Oh they don’t like Bw-w-w-w-w-w-w-wrock, Lesnar? Not at all. But then Kofi Kingston did the unthinkable! His dream would not be deferred, because he finally won that W, W, E, World, Heavyweight, Championship~! Big E does splits! And after that match, Kofi was hanging out watching that Winner Take All Main Event. That was great for Becky, huh?
So perhaps, how about the NEW Universal Champion and the NEW World Champion have their own WINNER TAKE ALL!? Fans erupt hearing that! Now while The Shield may not be a thing anymore, Kofi will forego The New Day at ringside and these two go 1v1, title for title! Fans already know “This is Awesome!” But Rollins’ answer? “Challenge accepted.” This might be the BIGGEST Post-Mania Raw in history!! Both new champions put up their belts already, who will be the new DOUBLE Champion after tonight!?
Raw Tag Team Championships: Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins VS The Revival!
Speaking of putting titles up right away, The Losing Streak only just ended, but the Major Brothers are willing to give the #TopGuys a rematch without a second thought! Will Ryder & Hawkins retain while still in their home state? Or will Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder #SayYeah to a second reign?
Raw returns as the introductions are made and the belts are raised. The teams sort out and Ryder starts against Dawson. They circle and tie up and Ryder puts Dawson on the ropes. Dawson gets Ryder to the Revival’s corner and tags Dash. Ryder gets away and the Revival have to back down. Dash circles with Ryder and ties up. Dash gets the headlock but holds on as Ryder tries to power out. Ryder powers out on the second try, but Dash runs him over. Things speed up and Dash kicks Ryder away, only to run into a lariat. Ryder tags Hawkins and the Major Brothers combine for Russian Leg Sweep STO! Cover, TWO! Hawkins wrenches but Dash forearms him down. Dash drags Hawkins up and CHOPS him against the ropes.
Tag to Dawson and Dash feeds Hawkins to Dawson’s knee. Dawson kicks Hawkins then gives him an uppercut. Dawson stomps Hawkins’ hand then mocks the fans. He drags Hawkins up to bump him off buckles. Dawson CHOPS and haymakers Hawkins, then headlock takeovers. Hawkins denies the cover and powers his way up. Fans rally as Hawkins powers out, only to get run over. Things speed up and Hawkins dropkicks Dawson down! Hawkins runs in for a big forearm in the corner. He fires up more as he throws hands. Dash grabs Hawkins but gets a Pele! Ryder tries to help but the ref stops. Hawkins whips but Dawson reverses, and Dash drives a knee into Hawkins’ back. Dawson tags Dash and the Revival combine for a Hart Attack! Cover, TWO!
The Revival grow frustrated but Ryder and fans rally for Hawkins. But Hawkins is down and in trouble while we go to break.
Raw returns as Dawson keeps Hawkins from Ryder. Dawson whips but gets a big knee from Hawkins! Hawkins and Dawson crawl, hot tag to Dash and Ryder! Ryder facebusts Dash then hits Dawson. He knees Dash away then hops up for a missile dropkick! Dawson runs in but gets a flapjack! And then Dash gets a flapjack, too! Ryder aims from a corner as fans fire up. Broski Boot for Dawson, tag to Hawkins. Broski Boot for Dash, then Hawkins hits a Macho Elbow! Cover, TWO!! The Revival survives but Hawkins keeps his focus. Hawkins drags Dash up but Dash blocks the suplex to give one. Hawkins slips out but his leg jams! He still cradles Dash! TWO!! Dash swings but Hawkins clobbers him with a clothesline! Hawkins drags Dash over and tags Ryder.
The Major Bros double clothesline but Dawson drags Hawkins out! Dash rolls Ryder and uses the ropes! TWO, but Dash clobbers Ryder! Dawson gives Hawkins a Brain Buster! Dawson tags in and the Revival coordinate, torture rack knee drop! Cover, TWO!! Ryder keeps the Major Bros alive and Brooklyn loves it! The Revival can’t believe it, but they stay on Ryder. Fans chant “Woo Woo Woo!” as Ryder resists the suplex. Dash helps Dawson suplex Ryder in but Ryder counters with double neckbreakers! But Dawson held onto ropes, and then rolls Ryder up, TWO! Dawson waistlocks but Hawkins tags in. Dawson hits Hawkins and Ryder gets SHATTER MACHINE! But Hawkins rolls Dawson, Hawkins & Ryder win again!!
Winners: Ryder & Hawkins, Curt Hawkins by pinfall; still Raw Tag Team Champions
The winning streak continues at 2-0! How far can Hawkins & Ryder take this title reign? What will it take for The Revival to get back on top?
Introducing: Baron Corbin!
The ring announcer lists all of The Lone Wolf’s accomplishments, but leaves his defeating Kurt Angle in Angle’s final match for last. Fans boo as Corbin comes out, but Corbin just soaks it all up. Corbin takes a mic and mocks the fans booing him. And he takes their insults as compliments. He heard everyone for weeks whining and complaining about Angle deserving someone more worthy of being a Wrestlemania opponent. But Angle chose Corbin himself, and Corbin showed Angle doesn’t deserve to be in a match with Corbin. Fans also tell Corbin what he should do. “Real classy, New York.” But look! Even with that long list of accomplishments, he’s used to having doubters. Corbin proved he’s better than a gold medalist! And after that victory, Corbin feels like he deserves a medal of his own.
But here comes Kurt Angle! Brooklyn greets Angle with another ovation of “You Suck!” Angle joins Corbin in the ring and fans chant “Thank You, Kurt!” Angle thanks them back then talks to Corbin. He admits Corbin was the better man last night. And Angle’s in-ring career is officially over while Corbin’s is only getting going. So Angle wishes Corbin all the luck in the world, and shakes his hand. He wishes BAD Luck! ANGLE SLAM! Fans fire up as Angle takes off the jacket to give one last Ankle Lock! Corbin taps now despite surviving last night! Corbin crawls out of the ring and Angle lets go. Angle may not have won but he gets the last laugh. Where and when- Wait. Is that… LARS SULLIVAN!?
The Leviathan is finally here! The horror movie monster come to life finally comes to Raw, and goes right into the ring. He stares at Angle and fans aren’t sure what to make of this. Angle isn’t sure, either, but he doesn’t back down. Lars reels Angle in for a FREAK ACCIDENT! Fans boo as Lars looms over a downed Olympic Gold Medalist, but Lars isn’t done. Lars climbs up to the top rope! And LEAPS for a Leviathan Heabutt! Lars glares down at Angle as he roars victoriously. If this was his debut, what will the Mile High Monster do now that he’s on the main roster?
Alexa Bliss VS ???
The Goddess was the host for Wrestlemania, but now she’s back in the ring! She issued this challenge via social media while busy with Mania duties. She wanted one of the Boss & Hug Connection, but who answers the challenge? It’s Bayley! Will the Huggable One get back on a winning track? Or will Alexa shake off that ring rust in one night?
The bell rings and Alexa mocks Bayley losing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Bayley rocks Alexa with a right! And bumps her off buckles! Bayley throws rights then flapjacks Alexa off buckles! She throws Alexa to the apron but Alexa trips her up and out. Alexa rocks Bayley back with her own wicked right! Fans cheer as Alexa drags Bayley back in. Alexa clubs away on Bayley and wraps on a chinlock while fans sing for Bayley. Bayley feeds off the energy and fights out of the hold, only for Alexa to clobber her again! Alexa runs in at Bayley in the corner, to SLAP her! Bayley goes reeling but Alexa toys with her on the ropes. Bayley grabs Alexa and powers her to a corner for body shots. She throws in shoulders but Alexa rocks her back down!
Alexa hops up and hits a sunset flip, but Bayley sits on it! Bayley has the ropes so the count doesn’t cuont. She gets up and knees Alexa back into the corner, to sunset flip bomb Alexa into buckles! Cover, ropebreak! Alexa saves herself but Bayley does not let up. Bayley puts Alexa back in but gets a kick for it. Bayley comes back, but gets a DDT! Cover, Alexa wins!
Winner: Alexa Bliss, by pinfall
The Goddess returns and the Goddess succeeds! Alexa has a win after being out of action for weeks, but will this lead her back to a championship?
The Man is on Raw!
Becky Lynch won the historic Women’s Triple Threat Winner Takes All match, and now she’s here wearing one belt while holding up the other! The first ever simultaneous Raw & SmackDown Women’s Champion goes to the ring as Raw relives the events of that historic match. Ronda tried to submit both opponents at once, but Becky and Charlotte bombed her together. Becky took things to the extreme and Charlotte was the one who went through a table. And just as it seemed like Ronda would win, Becky pulled off the shocking surprise pin to make a dream come true. She put the Man in WrestleMania, and now she stands atop the mountain!
Brooklyn gives Becky a standing ovation and Becky reflects on how she used to work at a bar not too far from here. Fans let her know “You Deserve It!” She thanks them and says “We Did It!” Becky can’t help but smile as fans chant her name. She likes the sound of “Becky Two Belts”, too. But for months now, Ronnie and Ric’s daughter were talking about their resumes being too strong for Becky. Olympics this, title reigns that, UFC this, blah blah blah. But when it was all said and done, the woman with nothing to lose walked out with everything they had! Becky knows she’s not the strongest, fastest, most athletic, but she does have a great theme song like what the fans are singing.
And leaving home at just 15 years old, fighting around the world, Becky became a master of survival. She will always persist and overcome to win in the end. And Becky tells Ronnie that whenever she’s done sulking, The Man will be here to slap her around again. As for Charlotte, The McMahons will probably just hand her tag titles so she can get over losing to Becky again. But Becky knows all the women in the WWE have seen what she’s capable of and what’s possible for them. But she’s the Redhead in Leather ready to slap the heads off ya all! Becky holds up both belts with her head held high, ready to redefine what’s going on in the WWE. But before she leaves, the Sassy Southern Belle appears.
Lacey Evans struts down the ramp, and ends up face to face with Becky. She eyes those belts on Becky’s arms, and uses the Woman’s Right to rock the champ! But Becky stays standing, and even grins. Because she goes right after Lacey! The two fight on the ramp and Lacey’s dress starts tearing. But she doesn’t care as she takes it to Becky! But Becky gives it back, too! They brawl up tot he stage and Becky blocks being thrown into the LED’s! Becky goes for the Disarm-Her! But Lacey slips out behind and goes into a tactical retreat. The Model Soldier has Becky’s attention, but will she regret it?
Backstage interview with Seth Rollins.
People are surprised this Men’s Winner Takes All match is happening. Why is Rollins even doing this? Because Rollins loves a challenge. Rollins lives for the next challenge. Kofi got in the ring and made the challenge like a man, but this is also an attack. SmackDown is their show, Raw is Rollins’. Both men had the biggest wins of their careers but Rollins knows what Kofi is capable of. If Kofi wants to step on Rollins’ show and wants to take his title, then he better be bringing an A+ Game, because that’s what it’ll take. Will Rollins make Kofi regret issuing this challenge? Or will he end up regretting accepting?
Ricochet & Aleister Black VS ???
The Unexpected Duo returns to Raw after coming short of the NXT and SmackDown Tag Team Championships over Wrestlemania Weekend. However, the chase for titles is never over until you’ve won. Will the Dutch Destroyer & King of Flight keep up the hunt in the aftermath?
Raw returns as their opponents, The GLORIOUS Duo, make their entrance. Bobby Roode & Chad Gable said that they tried doing things the right way, but they failed. Now they’ll do things by any means necessary, and it will be Absolutely… GLORIOUS! What will they resort to in order to finally win over Aleister & Ricochet? Or will they simply #FadeToBlack instead?
Aleister and Gable start with the bell. They circle and tie up and Gable waistlocks. Gable wrenches but Aleister reverses. Gable spins through and trips Aleister to a cover, ONE! Aleister drags Gable into an armbar but Gable makes it a cover, TWO, into a cross-leg cover, TWO! Aleister sings a kick but Gable gets under, only for Aleister to roll off his back. Gable stares Aleister down as Aleister sits down. The two stand and Gable throat chops! Gable waistlock throws Aleister to the mat then rear mounts. The two roll around and Gable throws crossface forearms. Roode tags in and Roode stomps Aleister while Gable holds him down. Gable lets go at 4 but Roode keeps stomping. Roode puts Aleister in a corner for a CHOP!
Roode stomps a mudhole into Aleister but backs off, to swing on Ricochet! Ricochet gets clear and Aleister hits back. Aleister whips while Ricochet tags in. Things speed up, kitchen sink to basement dropkick. Gable runs into a kick, and then Aleister leaps for Meteora while Ricochet moonsaults onto Roode! Fans fire up as Ricochet puts Roode in. Ricochet covers, TWO! Ricochet keeps on Roode with an armlock, but Roode endures. Roode knees free of the hold then tags Gable. Ricochet fights out and boots Gable right down! Gable bails out and Ricohet builds speed but Roode dumps him out! The Glorious Duo really are showing they’ll do whatever it takes as we go to break.
Raw returns as Ricochet covers Gable, TWO! Gable keeps Ricochet from Aleister but Ricochet throws forearms. Gable suplexes but Ricochet slips out to forearm again. Ricochet runs but into a belly2belly! Gable blasts Aleister for good measure before he whips Ricochet to the corner. Tag to Roode and Gable whips Ricochet for a body shot. Roode adds the knee lift and clothesline! Cover, TWO! Ricochet lives but Roode grows frustrated. Roode drives his knee into Ricochet’s back then keeps between him and Aleister. Fans rally for Ricochet but Roode tags Gable. The Glorious Duo mug Ricochet, then Gable whips Ricochet back in. Ricochet fights back again then boots Gable away. Somersault shotgun dropkick takes Gable down!
Fans rally up as Gable and Ricochet hot tag to Roode and Aleister! Aleister rallies on Roode, then fires off a strike fest! Sweep to sliding knee! Aleister nips up and fires up, to DOUBLE Quebrada! Cover, TWO! Aleister keeps going but Roode puts him in a corner. Roode runs into a back elbow and Aleister hops up. Roode gets under and rolls Aleister, TWO!! Aleister gets up to fire back with knees and elbows! Buzzsaw! Cover, TWO!! Roode still lives and Aleister can’t believe it. Fans do the wave as Aleister drags Roode up in a waistlock. Roode fights out but Ricochet tags in. Ricochet catches Roode, roundhouse to twisting suplex! Cover, but Gable breaks it! Aleister throws Gable out but Gable drags him out for fast hands.
Ricochet hurries up top but Roode jumps up to meet him! They fight up top but Roode tumbles. Gable shoves Ricochet down! GLORIOUS Spinebuster! Cover, TWO!! Roode is furious but he tags Gable back in. They coordinate and hit the GLORIOUS Combination! Cover, but Aleister breaks it! Roode grabs Aleister but Aleister takes him out of the ring with him! Gable stalks Ricochet and runs in, but Ricochet escapes Chaos Theory for a Code Breaker! Cover, Ricochet & Aleister win!
Winners: Ricochet & Aleister Black, Ricochet pinning
But Roode ruins any celebration with a blindside attack! Fans boo Roode as he and Gable get away. Aleister defends Ricochet, but will they be able to get revenge on the way to tag titles?
Elias chills backstage.
But he can’t chill. Not after what John Cena did to him last night. It was his greatest performance, but it was ruined by Cena’s rap. If that’s even what it is! Elias could do that in his sleep. But it’ll be okay because The McMahons will give Elias plenty of time for his one-man opera. Elias will show no mercy to anyone who decides to interrupt. It could be Mr. McMahon himself, there will be hell to pay.
What’s that box?
And what’s that creature poking its head out?! It laughs, but it doesn’t say a word…
Dean Ambrose’s Farewell Match: Dean Ambrose VS Bobby Lashley w/ Lio Rush!
The Lunatic did not sign a new WWE contract, so this could very well be good-bye forever. Will Ambrose make it a happy good-bye against an angry Rocky Mountain Machine?
Raw returns as Lashley & Lio make their way out on stage. Lio has a mic, but he is at a loss for words. He takes a moment, and even Ambrose is waiting for him to say something, but he stays silent. Lashley and Lio reach the ring and Lashley signals for the mic. “Don’t worry, Dean. When you’re gone, I’ll make sure to take care of your wife for you.” Them’s fighting words! Ambrose rushes Lashley with furious fists! Ambrose throws Lashley around the corner and fires off more hands, then pushes Lashley into the timekeeper’s area! He throws Lashley into chairs, then throws chairs into Lashley! Ambrose keeps on Lashley and throws him into a post! Lio runs in but gets sent into the barriers! Lashley retreats up the ramp but Ambrose clobbers him from behind!
Ambrose continues to throw hands but this is not a match anymore. Lashley clubs Ambrose but Ambrose throws him into the LED walls. Ambrose gives Lashley a DDT on the stage! Ambrose gets up and storms over to commentary. He clears off the desk and commentary moves away. Lio returns but his attack does nothing! Lio runs away, but Lashley SPEARS Ambrose! Lashley hauls Ambrose up for haymakers while fans jeer, but Lashley CHOKE SLAMS Ambrose through the desk!! Referees hurry to check on Ambrose while Lashley & Lio leave. Renee Young is there by her husband’s side, but is this really how Ambrose is going to leave the WWE? If so, fans chant “Thank You, Ambrose!” for all he’s done.
No Contest
Sami Zayn is in the building!
He’s back from recovering those two damaged shoulders, but what will he do his first night back?
Mojo Rawley talks to himself again.
Where was he on Wrestlemania night?! Mojo has become even more shattered now that he sports new face paint. He’s found himself, but what will he do to redeem himself?
Sami Zayn heads to the ring!
The Underdog from the Underdog still has fans singing along with his song, even after being gone for so long. He picks up a mic as fans sing “Ole~ ole ole ole~” for him. “Well hello.” Sami knows he was gone for some time so he reintroduces himself. And if you’re gonna miss Wrestlemania, you might as well come back the night after. Sami knows this is hard to believe, but his schedule is wide open. And he could really go for a match right about now. Any takers? Sami waits for someone to accept this open challenge, but it doesn’t seem like- Wait, there’s one! It’s Finn Balor!
The NEW Intercontinental Champion heads to the ring with belt around his waist. Finn joins Sami in the ring and a referee is here, so we have our match! Wait, Finn raises the stakes on Sami!
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Finn Balor VS Sami Zayn!
Sami wanted to come back but he probably didn’t expect a name this big. Will his return be golden? Or will Finn still be just Too Sweet?
Raw returns with the bell and Sami circles with Finn. They tie up and go around, Finn gets Sami on ropes. Finn lets up at 3 and circles with Sami again. Fans sing for Sami as he ties up with Finn again. Finn puts Sami in a corner but Sami turns it around. Sami lets up at 4 and gives Finn teasing pats on the chest. Finn and Sami circle again and Finn wrenches Sami to the mat. Sami gets back up and spins through to a wrench of his own. He gets Finn on the mat but Finn gets up and works against the hold. Fans rally both ways as Finn rolls and works on a reversal. Sami denies with a twist of the wrist, and grinds a knee into Finn’s chin.
Finn nips up and wrenches to an arm-drag but Sami headscissors. Finn pops out, the two stand off and fans applaud. Sami and Finn circle as fans duel. The two tie up again but then separate. They come back and tie up, and Sami waistlocks. Finn pries out to a standing switch but Sami rolls to the mat. Sami switches but Finn switches but Sami arm-drags. Finn arm-drags then tosses Sami out. Sami gets back in and throws Finn out. Sami builds speed but fakes Finn out! And even pop-locks! Fans applaud but Finn keeps his cool as he returns. Finn and Sami circle again and tie up. Sami waistlocks to a headlock but holds on as Finn tries to power out. Finn gets it on the second try and things speed up, Finn dropkicks Sami hard! Cover, TWO! Finn keeps on Sami with an armlock, but Sami endures.
Fans rally up and Sami powers his way up, only for Finn to arm-drag him again. Finn goes after the arm from wrist to shoulder to target the joints. Sami powers his way back up and powers Finn to ropes. They break at 4 but Sami CHOPS Finn then fires off clubbing forearms! Sami CHOPS Finn back and again! He throws hands then whips. Finn reverses but Sami sunset flips, only for Finn to roll through and dropkick! Finn trips Sami for double stomps! Sami staggers to a corner but Finn CHOPS him again! Finn CHOPS Sami in another corner, then whips him corner to corner. Sami boots Finn away to chop him and go acrobatic. Finn denies that and now they brawl with forearms and chops. Sami forearms Finn but Finn PELES back! Both men are down and we go to break!
Raw returns and Finn dumps Sami out of the ring! Finn puts Sami back in quick but Sami denies the slingblade. Finn also denies the Blue Thunder, but he gets reeled into it anyway! Cover, TWO!! Sami was so close yet so far from a golden return! Finn and Sami slowly stand and get to corners. Sami aims at Finn and runs in, but into a slingblade! Finn shotgun dropkicks Sami down! Finn climbs up and aims, Coup de Grace misses! Roll up, TWO!! Finn runs into an exploder into buckles! Sami goes back to the other side, and runs back in, but the Helluva Kick misses! Finn’s up fast, COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, Finn wins!
Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall; still WWE Intercontinental Champion
Sami’s return was great, but it wasn’t extraordinary. Finn wins as the Extraordinary Man, but will he be able to keep the belt without the Demon? As for Sami, he grabs the mic again. Fans cheer, but Sami says, “Y’know, I really thought coming out here tonight would cure what ails me. All it did was reinforce what I’ve realized over the past nine months. It genuinely seems like you missed me.” Fans cheer because they did! Sami stands up as he continues. He can honestly say, from the bottom of his heart, Sami didn’t miss any of them.
The WWE is just a toxic environment. Not because of the McMahons or the other superstars, but because of the audience’s ugliness! Sami will be honest, he lives a happy life. But the fans seem so empty and devoid of meaning that the only joy they get is not from the shows, but out of being critics! Why is that, you morons? Because it’s all the fans have to give themselves self-importance. They judge everyone and everything else but themselves! And why is that? Because they don’t have the balls to! They’re all so delusional, it makes Sami laugh. The fans are the voice of reason? The voices that should be heard? No! Overnight, the WWE Universe has become the evil overlords of the business!
Sami is about one thing: doing what is right. And the right thing isn’t to come back and “save” the WWE, or to “take over” (HHH voice). The right thing to do is to come out here and hold the fans accountable because no one else will. “See you in Hell.” Sami feels he’s doing the right thing telling the WWE Universe off, but is that any way to get ahead?
Backstage interview with Dana Brooke.
Not to interrupt anyone, but she wants to make a declarative statement. Congrats to Becky, the new Raw and SmackDown Women’s Champion. And given what Lacey Evans did tonight, there is a line forming. Dana can’t say she’s at the front, but she won’t let herself be the back of it. If there’s an opportunity, Dana is going to seize it! That said, congrats again to Becky. Will Dana defy expectations and finally challenge for at least one of those titles?
Ladies and Gentlemen: Elias.
Raw returns to The Drifter protesting his interrupting at Wrestlemania. But he promises things will be different. Instead of Elias’ performance of a lifetime, we got the return of Thuganomics. As a man of many instruments, Elias can tell Cena is no artist. Cena is just selfish and only riding Elias’ coattails! We all saw it last night. Fans sing for Elias like they did last night, too. So in the spirit of Brooklyn, Elias will show us just how easy it is to rap like Cena. Elias won’t need the guitar for this, actually. But where to begin?
Elias is sick of John Cena. WWE, Elias is the real biggest star. But if we want the Doctor of Thuganomics, then Elias will drop a few bars. John brought out that golden shovel even tho Elias can’t be buried, but that’s just what you do. Elias has three fingers up, but Cena, the middle one’s for you. Every superstar wants to make a name off Elias, he gets it, they’re fans. But mark his words, the next one who does is a dead man. Wait… OH NO! The bell tolls and the lights go down. Lightning strikes, and the moon is out! Elias doesn’t want to accept, but there’s no doubt! The Undertaker is here!! And he’s headed for the ring! Elias is about to wet himself, realizing he should NOT have decided to rap instead of sing.
Taker stands before Elias, and Elias tries to sneak out. Fans chant for Taker as Elias reconsiders. Taker watches Elias closely as he puts the guitar down and takes off his jacket. Elias turns around as Brooklyn starts losing its mind. Elias steps to Taker, and Taker steps to Elias. Taker and Elias stare down as fans sing “Taker’s gonna kill~ you!” Elias turns but swings, into Taker’s boot! Elias stands, but gets a CHOKE SLAM! Taker picks up his hat to move it aside before taking off his duster. Taker slashes the throat, and scoops Elias into the TOMBSTONE! Elias now Rests In Peace! Will Elias ever learn?
WWE World Championship & Universal Championship, Winner Takes All: Kofi Kingston VS Seth Rollins!
Just as both men win these titles, they want to put them on the line! The dream of Kofimania came true while the Architect finally slayed the Beast, but now only one man will reign supreme so soon after the Showcase of the Immortals! Who will further their legacy here tonight?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we make even more history!
Rollins circles with Kofi and they tie up. Kofi wrenches Rollins to a wristlock but Rollins endures. Fans chant for “Both These Guys!” as Rollins rolls and handsprings through to a headlock takeover. Kofi gets up as fans start dueling. Kofi powers out but Rollins runs him over. Things speed up and Kofi elbows Rollins down. Kofi catches Rollins but Rollins escapes the SOS. Rollins spins Kofi out but Kofi dodges the Kingslayer knee. Kofi spins but Rollins ducks the Trouble in Paradise. Rollins runs but Kofi avoids the Curb Stomp! Fans love this stalemate while we go to one last break.
Raw returns once again as Kofi has Rollins in an armlock. Rollins fights out with haymakers and chops. Kofi chops back! Rollins chops, Kofi chops, repeat! Rollins whips Kofi to a corner but Kofi boots him away. Kofi hops up but into a dropkick! Both men are down but fans are fired up. Kofi and Rollins roll to opposite ends before slowly standing up. Fans rally as Kofi runs in but into a boot. Rollins hops up but has to hop over Kofi. Kofi misses and Rollins PELES! Cover, TWO! Rollins keeps his cool as he stomps to “Burn It Down!” Kofi slowly sits up and Rollins runs in, but he misses the stomp again! Roll up, TWO! Rollins kicks but Kofi ducks to DDT! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally up again as Kofi gets to a corner. Rollins also gets up and runs in, but Kofi slips out to roundhouse Rollins away. Kofi climbs but Rollins jumps up to join him! Kofi shoves Rollins to the floor! But then Kofi adjusts, only for The Bar to attack!?
No Contest
Cesaro and Sheamus ruin this match as they stomp out Kofi! Fans boo but Rollins gets in to help Kofi! Rollins fights the Swiss Cyborg and the Celtic Gladiator but he gets beat down, too. Kofi returns to return the favor! Kofi and Rollins fight The Bar off, and Rollins grabs a mic. He doesn’t get what they’re up to, but The Bar won’t get away with it. Winner Takes All can happen again later. But right now, they’ll team up to take The Bar on here and now! The Bar accept and hit the ring!
Seth Rollins & Kofi Kingston VS The Bar!
The bell rings and Rollins starts against Cesaro! They tie up and Rollins throws body shots. Cesaro pushes Rollins to the ropes but Rollins fights The Bar off. Slingblade for Cesaro! Rollins clotheslines Cesaro out then slingshots out, but Cesaro catches him to slam him on the apron! Kofi comes around, but leaps into Sheamus’ Irish Curse to barriers! The Bar has control while we take one last break.
Raw returns once again, and Rollins powers against Cesaro towards his corner. Cesaro pushes back but Rollins pushes again. Rollins back drops Cesaro down but Sheamus tags in to hit Kofi! Sheamus swings but misses, but stags Cesaro. Cesaro uppercuts Rollins and The Bar gives him double back breakers! Cover, TWO! Cesaro choke Rollins on the rope then backs off so Sheamus can get a cheap shot in! Cover, TWO! Tag to Sheamus and he drags Rollins up. Sheamus throws hands but Rollins counter punches and chops! Rollins CHOPS more, then runs but into a scoop. He slips out and baits Sheamus into a post! Fans rally as Kofi reaches for Rollins. hot tag brings Kofi in! Kofi springboards and rallies on Sheamus with chops and dropkicks! Kofi hits the leaping ax handle, and then the New Day Boom Drop!
Fans are fired up as Kofi aims from a corner. They clap along with Kofi as he aims. Kofi spins but Sheamus ducks. Sheamus turns around, and gets SOS! Cover but Cearo breaks it! Rollins throws hands but Cesaro throws him out. Kofi dumps Cesaro out and then climbs up high! Kofi leaps for the Trust Fall! But is caught! Rollins DIVES and bowls everyone over! Kofi puts Sheamus in fast and climbs up again. Kofi leaps for a big crossbody! Cover, TWO!! Sheamus survives but Kofi keeps his cool. Kofi drags Sheamus up but Sheamus shoves him at the ref! Cesaro hotshots Kofi and Sheamus knees Kofi down! Cover, TWO! Kofi lives but Cesaro tags in. The Bar coordinates for the A-Swiss-ted White Noise! Cover, but Rollins barrels in to break it up!
All four men are down but Rollins gets out. Sheamus pursues and scoops, but Rollins slips out to SUPERKICK! And sends Sheamus into the post! Cesaro has Kofi for the Neutralizer but Kofi back drops out. Cesaro rolls through to get the swing, but Kofi crawls up to cradle! TWO! Cesaro runs in but Rollins tags. Kofi boots Cesaro, Trouble in Paradise! CURB STOMP! Cover, Rollins & Kofi win!
Winners: Seth Rollins & Kofi Kingston, Rollins pinning
The Champion VS Champion match may have been ruined, but Kofi and Rollins get revenge and stand tall together. Kofi offers a fist bump, and Rollins accepts it. The champions still have their belts, but will they both still reign when they come back to Winner Takes All?
My Thoughts:
Well this was going to be a great Raw, but it tumbled and fell at the end to only be a good Raw. We were given an amazing tease at the very beginning as The New Day appeared and Kofi issued his own Winner Takes All challenge! It was hyped all night and for a moment there, it felt like it was going to happen. But between commercials for SmackDown essentially spoiling things, as well as this logically being a little too soon, and just because Vince had the bait ‘n’ switch ready all along, it did not happen. Now, I’m not sure the logic of using The Bar other than they seem to be Vince’s muscle now, but that “impromptu” tag match in a vacuum was alright for being a rushed 10-minutes-or-less match. Perhaps SummerSlam or Survivor Series will see this Winner Takes All actually happen.
Alexa Bliss’ first match back was pretty good, but also kinda fast against Bayley. Lacey Evans finally does something resembling action, and has a pretty good brawl with Becky. Honestly, this would’ve been better served if this was the first or at least second time fans had seen her. But all of her sassy strutting was clearly just Vince trying to keep her on everyone’s minds. Dana Brooke speaking up might get her close to the Raw Women’s Championship, but there’s a good chance she loses to Lacey in Lacey’s first match. We finally see Lars Sullivan on Raw, and he’s used to “ruin” Angle’s final good-byes. I’m not sure the reason other than Lars needs to look legit on his own end, but I actually would’ve used Lars for that Winner Takes All No Contest. Lars going after both top guys would’ve meant more than going after someone retiring.
Speaking of #TopGuys, The Revival is truly out of the way since they lost a rematch tonight. I’m not sure what’s supposed to happen for Dash & Dawson now, but perhaps they win a second rematch down the way. The GLORIOUS Duo turns Heel instead of breaking up, which is fine by me. Aleister & Ricochet still win, but with the Superstar Shake-Up coming back, this rivalry might be broken up already. Or even a tag team, as Aleister & Ricochet have not won any titles since joining together. Aleister going to SmackDown is definitely logical given his marriage with Zelina Vega. He’d make a great opponent for Samoa Joe and the WWE United States Championship. Ricochet could be on either brand and challenge for the US or IC titles and make for a great match.
Sami Zayn’s return and IC title match was great, even in losing, but I’m not sure about this new take on his Heel persona. It’s one thing for Heels to be against fans but Sami feels like a weird offshoot of Daniel Bryan’s “FICKLE!” rhetoric. Sami will still make for great matches, but I was hoping he and Kevin Owens would reunite to face the Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. I don’t see Ambrose leaving for real, not with the beating Lashley gave him. Ambrose will probably “reconsider” and get a new contract after all, just so he can get revenge. And perhaps most surprising, we didn’t get a peep or even an appearance by Roman or Strowman. I suppose WWE realized not to overload things, but I’m curious as to where either goes from here. Maybe Money in the Bank since it’s now the post-Mania PPV?
My Score: 8/10
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Is it CLOBBERIN’ TIME?
Money in the Bank is this Saturday, and the last spots will be filled! But will it be CM Punk, AJ Styles, or Chad- Er, uh, El Grande Americano heading to LA?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier: Liv Morgan VS Ivy Nile VS Stephanie Vaquer; Vaquer wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- The War Raiders VS Finn Balor & JD McDonagh; Finn & JD win.
- Jey Uso & Sami Zayn VS Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed; Jey & Sami win, by disqualification.
- Raquel Rodriguez w/ Liv Morgan VS Kairi Sane; Kairi wins.
- Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier: CM Punk VS AJ Styles VS El Grande Americano; Grande wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
PLAY BY PLAY
Michael Cole lost his bet with Pat McAfee.
With the Indiana Pacers going to the NBA Finals, Michael Cole takes off his suit jacket and shirt to reveal he is wearing a Pacers tank top! Pat puts the Pacers over, saying they will do to Oklahoma City’s Thunder like they did the New York Knicks! A daring thing to say here in Tulsa.
CM Punk is here!
Well, we all knew he would with his MITB qualifier later tonight, but the Second City Saint comes out here to say, “It’s CLOBBERIN’ TIME!” Punk goes to the ring, high-fiving fans along the way, then he gets himself a mic. The fans chant for Punk, and he says, “Is it great to be alive on a Monday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma or what?” The fans cheer, and Punks says it is the summertime, it is MITB time, and he hears some thunder in the distance. Punk thinks we might be on pace to get a thunderstorm here! The fans cheer and then chant “O K C! O K C!” Punk smiles and says we can cheer whatever basketball team we want, just be sure to watch Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown, too.
Punk says it is summer, the Summer of Punk! MITB is around the corner, stop him if you’ve heard this, but you’re looking at a TWO-TIME MITB winner. TWO TIMES, Punk has cashed in and won the title. And he is looking forward to doing it a third time! The fans cheer that, and Punk says this IS the Summer of Punk! It is time Punk got some gold back around his waist! There are a lot of great champions, but a longer list of challengers. Two men stand atop the mountain. One is a good friend, he’s Jey Uso. The fans “YEET!” and Punk says that with all due respect, Jey, when Punk wins the briefcase and it comes down to them, it isn’t personal, it is just business.
The other name on top of the mountain might be a bit more personal. That man is “JOHN~! CENA!” Punk cut his teeth in this business coming to a place like this, hearing people go absolutely bananas (as he points to fans wearing banana hats) over Cena. But now the tables have turned. Cena is public enemy number one after selling his soul “to a bald fraud goof.” When Punk wins MITB and should he choose Cena, well, Punk’s always had Cena’s number. He is going to pick the bones, “you little b*tch.” Because they are live on a Monday night, and Punk isn’t just happy to be here. It is about the money, and it is time Punk became champion one more time! See you at MITB!
But wait, here comes Sami Zayn! Punk sings along with the song and he welcomes Sami to the ring. Sami gets a mic, the fans sing, and we do get some “We Want Truth!” chants. Punk says he is not mad about being interrupted this time. Sami says yes, he appreciates that. The fans cheer Sami on, and Sami says he appreciates the fans, too. Sami has to be honest, though. He’s out here because this is the first time since Punk’s return that Punk actually talked in no uncertain terms on what his plan is, and that is to become a WWE World Champion. Punk says, “This time?” Sami says it is no secret that Sami wants to become world champion.
Unfortunately for Sami, MITB is not the path. Thanks to Heyman, Rollins, Bronson, Breakker, that is not in the cards. But it is still for Punk. Sami is out here to look Punk in the eyes, to underscore and highlight the importance of this. Tonight, Punk MUST win. The fans cheer that, and Sami says tonight is the most must-win. Punk talked about Jey and Cena, Gunther, and so on, but Sami knows in the back of Punk’s head, he is worried about Rollins, Bronson, Breakker, and what they did to Punk and Sami. But Sami wants Punk to NOT think about any of that. Bronson, Breakker, Jey, Sami, that gets handled tonight.
Punk says okay, but he’ll have Sami’s back, too. Sami says no, no, he doesn’t need that. Punk needs to focus on the task at hand. Punk is thinking on Rollins, and trust Sami when he says Rollins is always thinking about Punk. Punk knows that, because Rollins has never beat Punk. Yes, and that is why Punk needs to be in the MITB. With Punk there, it changes the math. Listen, Sami is saying this: If Rollins wins MITB, this place is over. It runs into something very different, unrecognizable, something Sami and Punk will not like. So Sami is saying it now, Sami NEEDS Punk to win tonight. The WORLD needs Punk to win tonight!
The fans fire up with that! Sami says for what it is worth, he wants Punk to win, too. But he also wants Punk to know, that should Punk win the MITB, should he win a title… Sami and Punk will be face to face in this ring again. And they will have a very different conversation than the one they’re having right now. The fans are intrigued, and Punk says, “I look forward to it, Sami.” They shake hands on it and the fans cheer. Will Punk come through and qualify tonight? Or is that a tall task just on overcoming AJ Styles and El Grande Americano?
Raquel Rodriguez & Liv Morgan are backstage.
Big Mami Cool gives Liv a last minute pep talk, but then Roxanne Perez walks up. The Prodigy says sorry to interrupt, but she just wants to let them know that if Liv needs help again- Liv says Roxie is interrupting. And if Roxie sabotages another match like she did before, think again. Help by staying out of the way. Liv clinks belts with Raquel, heads to gorilla, but then encounters Iyo Sky. Liv tells Iyo that she’ll be two-time Miss Money in the Bank, and then cash-in to be two-time Women’s World Champion. Iyo says, in Japanese, that’s some incredible confidence Liv has. But it is not gonna happen. Liv says #WatchMe.
Liv continues on, but will MITB enter ObLIVion? Will the ladder match soon be American Made? Or will the newest recruit to Monday Night Raw prove she is still La Primera?
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier: Liv Morgan VS Ivy Nile VS Stephanie Vaquer!
Raw returns as Vaquer makes her entrance, and Tulsa fires up for the “Dark Angel!” The bell rings and the fans rally as the three circle. Vaquer is already popular, but Liv & Ivy both kick her out! Liv ROCKS Ivy, Ivy CLOBBERS Liv! Things speed up, Ivy rolls over the dropdown then bypasses Liv to waistlock. Liv gets loose, ELBOWS Ivy, but Vaquer HEADBUTTS Liv! Then Vaquer springboards to DOUBLE CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Vaquer dodges Liv, sunset flips Ivy, but rewinds to send her into Liv’s KICK! Liv swings, but into Vaquer’s BIG back suplex! Vaquer then smiles as she wraps Liv up in the headscissors! DEVIL’S KISSES!
The fans “AH! AH! AH!” as Vaquer hits TEN of those, then she gets Ivy for a SAIDO! The fans fire up and Vaquer smiles again. Vaquer wraps Ivy up for DEVIL’S KISSES! Liv DROPKICKS it apart before ten and the fans boo! Liv drags Vaquer up, suplexes, and stands up for Una Amiga! Then she hits Dos Amigas! And then THREE AMIGAS, slamming Vaquer onto Ivy! The fans rally, Liv gives some Latina Heat, and she KICKS Ivy! Liv back ELBOWS Vaquer, back body blocks Ivy, and repeat! Liv just keeps going, but Vaquer dodges and Ivy DROPKICKS Liv! Vaquer dodges Ivy to METEORA Liv!
Ivy waistlocks, Vaquer switches, Ivy switches back. Vaquer ELBOWS free, Liv wheelbarrows but Vaquer waistlocks. Liv switches, Vaquer switches, Liv waistlocks to DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEX! Ivy stands tall, the fans are fired up, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Vaquer RAMS Liv into a corner to fire off hands! the fans fire up, Vaquer wrenches Liv and serves up SOLE FOOD! Vaquer LARITS Ivy in the corner, METEORAS Liv in the other, then riuns up on Ivy. Ivy BOOTS Vaquer, but Vaquer brushes that off. Vaquer blocks the next boot, DRAGON SCREWS, and covers, but Liv breaks it! The fans rally while all three women go to ropes. Vaquer rises, Liv fires a forearm, but Vaquer fires back! The shots go back and forth, Liv gets the edge, but the fans boo. Liv kicks low, KICKS again, but Vaquer ducks the enzigiri to ENZIGIRI back! Liv flounders away to a corner!
Vaquer runs in, blocks a kick, and gives her a- NO, Liv kicks free! Liv goes up, but Vaquer SHOTEIS! Vaquer climbs up after Liv, but Ivy joins in! TOWER OF DOOM! High stack off the powerbomb, TWO!! Vaquer survives, Liv flounders out of the ring, and Ivy seethes! “This is Awesome!” as Ivy scoops Vaquer and swings, but Vaquer slips through to roll her up! TWO, Ivy cradles, TWO! Vaquer has a cradle, TWO! Ivy and Vaquer move around, O’Conner Roll and BRIDGE! TWO!! Ivy escapes but her nose bothers her. Vaquer wrenches her, but Liv hits them with a DOUBLE CODE BREAKER!! Cover on them both, TWO!!!
Liv is beside herself but both Ivy and Vaquer are tougher than that! All three women are down but Liv crawls to Ivy. Liv slips Ivy, Ivy slaps back, and then Liv fires off kicks! OBLIV- SUPERKICK to the back! Vaquer has Liv in a backslide, TWO! Vaquer reels Liv in, tucks those arms, S V- NO, Liv slips free! And dodges to then CODE BREAKER! Vaquer wobbles, into OBLIVION!! Cover, but Ivy YANKS Liv out of the ring! Ivy snipes the cover, Liv breaks it in time!! Liv SHOVES Ivy out, goes after her, and SMACKS her off the apron again and again! Liv whips, Ivy reverses, Liv hits steel steps! Ivy hurries back into the ring and runs upon Vaquer!
Vaquer wrenches Ivy, underhooks, S V B!!! Cover, VAQUER WINS!
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (advances to MITB)
And just like that, Vaquer goes from former NXT Women’s Champion to a MITB contender! But she’s going ot have a very busy Saturday. Will Vaquer win alongside Lola Vice against AAA’s Dalys y Chik Tormenta AND THEN become La Senorita en El Bank?
AJ Styles warms up backstage.
But then he notices Paul Heyman. The Wise Man smiles and offers a handshake, but Styles asks what can he do for Heyman. Heyman says well, Styles can accept his most profound wishes for a very happy birthday! And in fact, he has a gift! It has intrinsic value. It is not a watch, Styles could afford whatever he wants. But in this day and age, information is currency, and Heyman has the valuable wisdom to bestow upon Styles. We all see Dominik Mysterio is the Intercontinental Champion, running around with his Dirty Sanchez looking mustache, making a disgrace of that title. That title needs a phenomenal champion like Styles.
But MITB, you have to climb up, grab the briefcase, use the contract on a champion who is in trouble. You have to be prepared 24/7, get a ref, it is all too much. But tonight, Styles VS Punk VS El Grande, and despite how great that match is… Styles should just go for Dom and his title! Leave MITB to Seth Freakin’ Rollins. Styles asks if Heyman is tired. Tired? Yes, tired of chasing the meal ticket. He looks exhausted! Heyman probably thought this conversation was going with Styles buying what Heyman is selling. But don’t worry about Dirty Dom, Styles will get back to him soon enough.
But Heyman has known Styles long enough to know that Styles does not respond well to threats. And Styles knows Heyman well enough to know this is exactly what that was. So it doesn’t matter if it is Heyman, the Judgment Day, Bloodline, John Cena, you try and push Styles out and he will push back. Now, he has some advice for Heyman. Why not go back to tell Seth Rollins that Styles knows all about his plan. But we know that old saying, right? Everybody’s got a plan until they get punched in the mouth. Styles gives Heyman a hard smack on the shoulder before heading out. Will Styles make sure MITB is truly phenomenal?
Rusev speaks.
“Sheamus… My old friend… You looked disappointed in me last week. But how dare you. I am doing the good work. I am trying to fix the weak and prevent them from slipping into the abyss. Something you watched me do and did nothing! Last week, you ran out to help a stranger, but when I needed you back then, you let me vanish. So how dare you look at me disappointed. Do not mistake the man that I was for the force that I am, Sheamus. I am the Son of Thunder and you are the weak one now. But I was just like you. You have a body of granite and a neck of sand. And you’re challenging the one man who has the one move that could make it all go away, just like that!
“You are a true legend. And after everything we’ve been through, it would be my honor to take you off the field and send you home the hero that you are. But remember this, brother. I went down because you stabbed my back. Now stay out of the way or you will gonna go out because I stab yours.”
Sheamus talks with Alpha Academy.
The Fella is proud of Tozawa for standing up to a bully last week. Keep that spirit up, and your time will come. Now, there is something special, pure, and real about Alpha Academy. Natalya, Maxxine, the sooner you two realize that and become a tag team in your own right, the better. They have something not many have here, and that is heart. Natty appreciates that from Sheamus. And Maxxine has impressed her lately. Sheamus shakes hands with Tozawa and the team heads out. Cathy Kelley walks in and asks Sheamus if he could respond to Rusev’s comments. What made Sheamus get involved last week?
Sheamus says he and Rusev go way back. Rusev was a groomsman at Sheamus’ wedding. But there is only so long you can stand back and watch a so-called friend do something like that and do nothing. Rusev’s career imploded because of his own bad decisions. And his career outside of WWE, well… That lasted about as long as Rusev Day: 24 hours. As for Sheamus, he’s been putting on banger after banger, and now that Rusev is back, he’s just picking on guys half his size, making his name back the cowardly way? No, someone needs to put manners on Rusev, and that someone is Sheamus.
So here is a message from Celtic Warrior to his old friend. “I bully bullies.” Will Rusev reconsider his course of action before it’s too late? Or is it already too late for Sheamus to leave the past in the past?
The War Raiders VS Finn Balor & JD McDonagh!
While there are a lot of difference between these two teams, they both have something in common: They want those WWE World Tag Team Championships back! But will Erik & Ivar rampage right through The Prince & Irish Ace? Or will this be Judgment Day’s night to rise back up?
Raw returns as the Raiders make their entrance. The New Day are hanging out on commentary to watch this one, and Finn starts against Erik. They circle, feel things out, but Finn backs off to the ropes. The fans chant “We Want Truth!” while Finn and Erik reset. They tie up, Finn headlocks, but Erik blocks the takeover! Erik powers up, fights off another takeover, and he powers up and out! Erik RUNS Finn over, the fans chant “What’s Up?” “What’s Up!” but Finn RAMS Erik into the corner. JD tags in, he stomps Erik, and New Day says Finn can’t just come back to the tag division all because he isn’t in MITB.
JD digs his boots in on Erik, the ref counts, and JD soaks up heat. The fans chant “NEW! DAY SUCKS!” Kofi says this is how dumb Oklahoma is! They can’t suck, they’re the champs! JD RAMS Erik again and again, then brings Erik around. JD KNEES Erik, RAMS him into the corner, then he CHOPS! The ref has JD back off, but that lets Finn CHOKE Erik! JD stomps Erik again, but Erik fires hands! He DECKS Finn, dodges JD, and hobbles his way over, hot tag to Ivar! The fans fire up as Ivar BACKDROPS JD! Ivar scoops and SIDEWALK SLAMS JD! Ivar runs but Finn KNEES him at the ropes! Ivar HANDSPRING KICKS Finn down!
JD is up, runs up, but Ivar TOSSES him out! JD tumbles to the desk! Woods jokes that JD might take himself out of the match again! Ivar scoops Finn to SLAM him onto JD! Erik says UP, the fans fire up with that, and Erik scoops Ivar to SLAM him onto JD! The New Day don’t like how close they are, but then Ivar teases throwing JD at them! The fans laugh at New Day for freaking out, and the Raiders put JD in the ring. New Day storm up but the ref sees them first! The ref says they’re not playing that game! Jessica Karr EJECTS The New Day! Tulsa chant “NEW DAY SUCKS! NEW DAY SUCKS!” Back-up comes and they eject the New Day. Erik & Ivar wave bye while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Ivar endures a chinlock. The fans rally, Ivar fights up and fires body shots. JD KNEES low, snapmares, and he tags Finn. Finn slingshot STOMPS Ivar, tags JD and he ARABIAN PRESSES! Cover, TWO! Ivar survives but JD seethes. JD stomps Ivar, stays between him and Ivar, and stomps him more. Ivar huffs ‘n’ puffs and shakes his head. JD fires more shots but the fans rally with Ivar! JD CHOPS, Ivar roars! JD BOOTS Ivar, but Ivar still roars! JD runs, but into a SPINNING POWERSLAM! Both men are down, Ivar crawls, and the fans rally! Hot tags to Finn and Erik! Erik CLOBBERS Finn! And CLOBBERS him again!
JD is back but Erik dodges to CLOBBER him, too! Erik clinches Finn for an EXPLODER! Erik wrenches JD, and gives him an EXPLODER! Erik LARIATS JD up and out! Finn runs up but Erik ELBOWS him! Erik runs, but Finn gets around! Dragon sleeper, but Erik powers out! Erik pops Finn up to HEADBUTT! And then Ace Ten Mao KNEE! Cover, TWO! Finn survives but he is dazed! Erik tags Ivar, they drag Finn up and pop0up for the- NO, JD drags Erik out! Finn turns Thor’s Hammer into the EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Cover, TWO! Ivar survives but JD is on the apron. Erik sweeps, JD dodges, PENALTY KICK! ASAI MOONSAULT!
Finn SHOTGUNS Ivar down! Finn goes up, up, and COUP DE- NO, Ivar moves! SEATED SENTON! Ivar cartwheels to dodge JD, and then HEEL KICKS him! The fans join in with a chant of “WAR! WAR! WAR!” BRONCO BUSTER! Ivar drags Finn to a drop zone, then goes up top! The fans are fired up but WAIT! Roxie is here?! She distracts Ivar and the ref, JD HOTSHOTS Ivar! Finn hurries up top again! COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, Judgment Day wins!
Winner: Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, by pinfall
Roxie smiles as she at least helps someone out tonight. Finn also smiles, and now the Prodigy stands with Prince and Ace. Will Roxie prove herself to all of the Judgment Day soon enough?
Becky Lynch speaks.
“I have only been back for six weeks, and already Lyra has cost me the tag team championship, and she has cost me my chance at the Money in the Bank ladder match. And yet she talks about how I’m the one that takes all the opportunities. She has become an echo chamber for the ignorant and morally confused who do not understand what greatness is and what it takes, and therefore will never achieve it. She has forgotten everything that I have done for her. That every moment in her career with glimpses of greatness have been because of me. NXT, when she won the title, I raised her hand. When she became a double champ at WrestleMania, because of me.
“She had the greatest match of her career at Backlash because of me. But at MITB, Lyra is in a lose-lose situation. Because say in the off chance she does win and I can never challenge for the Intercontinental Championship again, well, that would be the worst thing that ever happened to her because I am the best thing that ever happened to her. But when I win, oh, when I win, she will have to hold up my hand. The same hand that is going to hold her down.” The Man has spoken, but will she break the Morrigan? Or is she only adding fuel to the fire?
Backstage interview with Stephanie Vaquer.
Cathy Kelley says massive congratulations are in order for La Primera. Not only is Vaquer on the Raw roster, but she’s on her way to MITB. How is she feeling? Vaquer says she feels great, thank you. Nevertheless, Vaquer is- interrupted by Rhea Ripley. Mami tells Vaquer welcome to Raw. And see you Saturday. They shake hands, will these two alone tear down the house in Los Angeles?
Lyra Valkyria is here!
The Man said her part, now the Morrigan looks to do the same as she heads to the ring. Lyra just says, “Wow, wow, wow. Such big, brave words from Becky Lynch all the way in her safe little hiding spot in the back. Becky, how ’bout you stop being such a coward and get out here so I can say what I have to say straight to your face!” The fans fire up for that! Becky makes her entrance, mic in hand, and she goes to the ring. Becky says she was going to be the bigger person here, but Lyra tells her to shut up! Becky has said her piece, and showed she is delusional to the point that it is just sad. Honestly, Becky’s downfall needs to be studied.
Becky made it all the way to the top by being a good person that never gave up, and then she only stayed on top because she gave up being a good person. But Becky was right about one thing, and Lyra will give her that. Ever since Becky has tried to ruin Lyra’s life, Lyra has changed. But y’know what that change is? It’s anger! Lyra needed to get angry! And no one in her entire life has hurt her the way Becky hurt her! It is so funny to Lyra that by trying to hold Lyra down, all Becky has done is unlock this side of Lyra that is capable of destroying Becky!
Lyra has beat Becky twice, beat her blind, and at MITB, she will beat the crap outta Becky and ensure Becky never gets to poison what it means to be Women’s Intercontinental Champion! The fans cheer, and Becky says the only thing poisoned here is Lyra’s perspective. Lyra says she has hurt Becky more than anyone else? That is emotional, despite the physical pain. But emotionally? No, Becky doesn’t believe that is true. What happened is, Lyra wanted an excuse to hate Becky! Any excuse, because Lyra wants to replace Becky! But she can’t do that! No one can! Becky didn’t want to hurt Lyra, she wanted to make Lyra better.
But that has all changed now. Now Becky knows the thing that’ll hurt Lyra the most is when she’ll have to raise Becky’s hand! Becky storms out and Lyra says wow. More big words. Why not put your money where your mouth is and give Tulsa a preview, and do this right now?! Becky says she doesn’t fight in Tulsa! See you at M ITB! But then Lyra rushes up the ramp to CLOBBER Becky! The fans fire up as Lyra fires hands and knees! Refs rush out here, the fans boo and chant, “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” Becky runs away, Lyra says this all comes to an end at MITB! Will nothing stop The Morrigan from unleashing all of her anger on The Man?
Penta speaks.
“The biggest, most important ladder match in the world is MITB. The most dominant, the most dangerous ladder match wrestler in the world is Penta and Cero Miedo. I have been scratching and clawing for this moment. Nobody is as hungry as Penta!” He is the greatest ladder match luchador ever! The ladder match is his expertise, LA is his home, and at MITB, that is his destiny! Victory is inevitable! Because he is Penta, and he has CERO MIEDO! Will the man with no fear soon have it all within his grasp?
Jey and Sami meet up in the concourse.
The fans are there and they YEET it up already! Jey gives Sami his very own custom sunglasses, and Jey asks that they please hit his music! UH UH, YEET!! The fans fire up as the music plays, and now Jey & Sami head down to ringside! Tulsa is bouncing, but will they YEET the roof off this place? Or will Seth Rollins’ heavy hitting henchmen run right through the WWE World Heavyweight Champion and the Honorary Uce?
Jey Uso & Sami Zayn VS Bron Breakker & Bronson Reed w/ Paul Heyman!
Raw returns as the YEET continues. But “ladies and gentlemen,” Paul Heyman makes his way out and the fans boo. Bronson Reed makes his entrance, followed by Bron Breakker. The Wise Man walks with these behemoths, and the fans bark as Bron starts against Jey. They circle, tie up, and Bron waistlocks to SLAM Jey down! Bron lets Jey go to bring him up for haymakers. Bron RAMS Jey into a corner again and again, but stops as the ref counts 4. Bron brings Jey over but Jey fires body shots and haymakers! Jey puts Bron in a corner, back body blocks and PELES! Jey shoves Bron to a cover, TWO! Bron is tougher than that but Jey wrenches an arm.
Jey whips, Bron ducks ‘n’ dodges, and he builds speed to LARIAT Jey! The fans fire up with Bron and Heyman grins while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Bronson is now in. Reed looms over Sami, drags him up, and Reed HEADBUTTS Sami! Reed CHOPS Sami in the corner, but Sami CHOPS back! Sami elbows Bron, CHOPS Reed, but Reed RAMS Sami into the corner! The ref counts, Reed steps back at 4, but that lets Bron pull Sami’s hair! The fans boo, Bron gets away with it, and Bron still gets some fans to bark. Bron tags in, he and Reed double whip Sami to a corner. Bron LARIATS, Reed SPLASHES, and then feed to Bron’s JUMP KNEE! Cover, TWO! Bron drags Sami up, tags Reed in, and they mug Sami. Reed taunts Jey, puts Sami in a corner and then puts him up top.
Reed ROCKS Sami, climbs up, and Sami fires hands! Sami knocks Reed down, BOOTS him away, then TORNADO DDTS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Reed and Sami crawl, the fans rally up, hot tags to Bron and Jey! The fans fire up as Jey LARIATS Bron! And LARIATS again! And then he fires haymakers! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey pops, locks ‘n’ puts some stank on the YEET! The fans fire up and Jey goes corner to corner, only to be put on the apron! Jey GAMANGIRIS Bron away, goes up the corner, and he CROSS- NO, Bron dodges! Bron fireman’s carries Jey, GUT BUSTER DROP! Cover, TWO!
Jey survives and Bron grows frustrated. The fans rally up but Bron brings down the straps. Bron builds speed again, but Jey SUPERKICKS! Bron goes down in a heap! Jey covers, TWO!! Bron survives and shocks Jey! The fans rally up more and Jey has a SLEEPER! Jey is sending a message to Gunther at the same time as he brings Bron down! But Reed SENTONS! Jey sputters, but Sami fires hands on Reed! Reed shoves Sami away, SPLASHES him in the corner, and then Reed puts Sami on the apron! APRON SPLASH FLOPS as Sami moves! The fans fire up as Sami aims, but Bron runs up! Sami TOSSES Bron out, and then gives them both a PLANCHA!
But both men catch Sami! So Jey adds his DIVE! Down go all four men! Tulsa is thunderous , but CURB STMOP from Rollins!!
Winners: Jey Uso & Sami Zayn, by disqualification
Rollins is dressed like an evil Neo from the Matrix as he stands over Jey. But Sami fires hands! Rollins gets loose, Reed HEADBUTTS Sami! Bron TOSSES Sami onto the desk! Rollins wants Sami to be taken out, so Bronson climbs a corner! Bron has Sami stuck, but PUNK SMACKS BRON WITH A CHAIR! And CHUCKS it at Bronson! The big men are down, and Punk has eyes locked on Rollins now! Rollins snarls, but he runs for it! Punk comes through for Sami as far as saving his life, but can Punk save the future of the WWE? Rollins has his guys stand down, because we all know where Punk will be later tonight. Rollins promises Punk he’s a dead man!
Will the Visionary and his juggernauts destroy Punk one way or another? Or can the Best in the World survive tonight to head for MITB this Saturday?
The Judgment Day regroups backstage.
Finn says this is what he was talking about! Roxie came through for them, they got their hands raised. But then Liv asks Finn if they can talk. Finn says sure, what’s up? Liv says it was Finn who brought Roxie in while she was gone. And Roxie’s been giving Dominik chicken nuggets, shoulder rubs, and helping out in matches. Liv knows Finn is up to something. Finn asks where all of this is coming from. Roxie is just being good help. Oh, so is Liv imagining things? Well, the imagination can play tricks on anyone. Finn just thinks Liv is frustrated. Things didn’t go Liv’s way last week, they didn’t go her way tonight…
But hey, Roxie got Finn & JD on track for the tag titles, and imagine this: Roxie wins MITB, then goes on to win THE Women’s World Championship! Everyone has gold in the clubhouse. Yeah, seems like Finn has it all figured out, huh? Hey, there is no plan! But he gets it. Roxie came on a little strong, what with the nuggies and shoulder rubs, but c’mon. You can trust Dom. It’s not Dom she doesn’t trust. Well, trust comes with time. Give Roxie a chance, okay? Don’t worry! Hey, maybe Liv and Finn make a plan! Let Roxie be out there for Raquel- No, no, no, how about this? If Finn wants Roxie around, he can babysit her while Liv is in Raquel’s corner, okay? Okay. Great!
Liv calls to Raquel, they head out, and Dom asks if everything is okay. Finn says yeah, just making plans with Liv. Right, okay. Dom also wants to apologize for last week with the chair mishap. Finn says no, no, water under the bridge. Finn pats Dom’s title, and they fist bump. But is everything (not) alright in Judgment Day?
Raquel Rodriguez w/ Liv Morgan VS Kairi Sane!
As they alluded to, things didn’t go so well when Liv tried to battle the Pirate Princess, but in part because Raquel and Roxie argued over who was trying to help. But now, will Ricky Desperado sink Kairi’s ship as revenge? Or will Kairi keelhaul Raquel and leave with another golden ticket to the tag titles?
The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Raquel THROWS Kairi down, then deadlifts her to a Canadian Rack! Kairi slips free, waistlocks, but Raquel swings her around! Kairi holds on, rolls, but Raquel drags her up! Kairi ducks the lariat, waistlocks, but Raquel breaks free to whip! Kairi goes up and RANAS Raquel! Kairi then runs, wheelbarrows, and manages the STUNNER! The fans fire up with Kairi and she runs back in, SLIDING D! Raquel tumbles out, Kairi goes to the apron, FLYING- NO, Raquel stops the armbar takedown, to then SWING Kairi into the apron! Kairi flops down, Raquel leaves her behind, but Liv gets cheap shot in!
The fans boo but Liv scampers away. Raquel grins as she goes out to fetch Kairi. Raquel puts Kairi in the ring, covers, TWO! Kairi toughs it out but Raquel stands her up. Raquel talks trash, winds up, and LARIATS! Kairi grits her teeth but Raquel is on her again, for another LARIAT! Raquel mockingly asks if Kairi is okay, then swings. Kairi ducks, but the SOUTHPAW hits again! Cover, TWO! Kairi is still in this but Raquel drags her up. The fans rally, Raquel whips Kairi, and Kairi goes up and out and then slides under! Raquel blocks the sunset flip to YANK Kairi up! Raquel THROWS Kairi to the corner and SPLASHES!
Raquel fires elbow after elbow, then argues with the ref. Kairi sputters, Raquel drags her up, but Kairi fires body shots! Raquel reels Kairi in, Canadian Racks, and then RAMS her into the corner! Kairi sputters but Liv smiles as Raquel talks trash. Kairi SLAPS Raquel from the top rope! Raquel grabs Kairi, but Kairi HEADBUTTS! Kairi aims to FLYING KABUKI- NO, Raquel catches her, pops her up, but Kairi DDTS! Both women are down, Liv is upset, but the fans rally up. Liv coaches Raquel but Kairi rises first. The fans chant “What’s Up!” as Kairi throws hands! Raquel snarls and fires back! Kairi fires a flurry, but Raquel whips her away!
Kairi ducks ‘n’ dodges and redirects, to then roll and pick the leg! Raquel sputters, Kairi AX KICKS her down! Kairi CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Kairi has Raquel in a corner for MACHINE GUN CHOPS! The fans fire up, Kairi whips, but Raquel reverses. Kairi stops herself to dropkick the legs! BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up with Kairi again and she walks the plan. Kairi runs in, SLIDING D again! Kairi puts Raquel int he drop zone, but Liv distracts her! So here comes IYO! The fans fire up as the Genius and Liv brawl on the ramp! Iyo fires a flurry, SMACKS Liv off the apron, but Raquel grabs Iyo! Kairi BOOTS Raquel into the POST!
Kairi goes up, up, and fans fire up for the IN-SANE ELBOW!! Cover, Kairi wins!
Winner: Kairi Sane, by pinfall
Two weeks in a row, Kairi gets a pin off the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions! Could Liv & Raquel lose it all to the reunited Sky Pirates?
Sami is checked by medical.
They ice his shoulder, and in steps Karrion Kross. Kross wants a moment to talk with Sami. Is Sami alright? That looked rough out there. Sami asks Kross what his problem is. Seriously, what is his problem with Sami? Why is he hovering around like this? What is his obsession with Sami?! Kross says it’s because he thinks Sami is a LIAR! That is his problem! Sami lies to the fans, to his family, and worst of all, he lies to himself! Sami could’ve been a world champion ten times over, if he just did what he really had to do. We all know Sami is capable of doing very terrible things to get ahead.
Kross says, “Sami, you’re not a good guy. You’re a bad guy, just like the rest of us.” Sami says Kross is wrong. Kross chuckles and says he might be. But he might be right, too. Kross leaves Sami to think on that. Is Sami going to face a hard truth that there’s something dark deep down inside him? Will that darkness come to light?
BREAKING NEWS for Worlds Collide!
As if this event wasn’t already caliente, we’re getting another Six Man Tag! The LWO’s Dragon Lee, Cruz Del Toro y Joaquin Wilde will face AAA’s Aerostar, Octagon Jr. y Mr. Iguana! And then after defeating Alberto Del Rio, El Hijo de Vikingo is now the AAA Mega Champion! And now, he turns around and puts that title up against Chad Gable! Will that title stay with AAA? Or will it soon be American Made?
Gunther finds Jey backstage.
Der Ring General assures Jey that he just wants to talk. Gunther sits with Jey, and Gunther tells Jey, “The World Heavyweight Championship is personal to me. So I appreciate all the effort you put into being the champion. And I can see you’re really trying to be a great champion. But because you refuse to think with your head instead of your heart, that’s why I’m gonna take it. You’re a great guy, Jey. You’re selfless in a very selfish business. Sami needed you tonight, huh? What’s the result? One week out, not at 100%. I’m very sure if Punk gets in trouble tonight, you’ll be there for me.
“And two days before you defend the World Heavyweight Championship against me, you compete in a tag team match main event because it’s important to Cody. And everybody knows they can bet on their good friend, Jey. All of that is no business of the World Heavyweight Champion. So I wanna thank you. Because ever since that day I lost to you at WrestleMania, I knew I would avenge it. And right now, you’re making it very, very easy for me. Jey, in one week, the party is over.” Gunther stands up but Jey stops him from leaving. Jey tells Gunther, “Four letters, one word, TAP’D!” Gunther leaves, but will it all play according to his plan?
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier: CM Punk VS AJ Styles VS El Grande Americano!
The Best in the World said it himself earlier tonight that he wants to be a champion again, and this is his chance. And as Sami Zayn told him, he just has to focus on winning so that he can stop Seth Rollins from taking over the WWE. But can Punk once again become Mr. Money in the Bank? Will the Phenomenal One be the sixth man? Or will we all be saying “AH GRACIAS~!” to the so-called greatest luchador in history?
Raw returns and El Grande Americano makes his entrance. The fans already chant for Punk, and then fire up as Punk makes his entrance! It is still “CLOBBERIN’ TIME~!” as the fans sing along with Cult of Personality. Punk has the ref check El Grande, we all know he loads his mask. The mask is clean, as is the singlet, and the bell rings. But then Punk and Styles look to each other, and they mug Grande! The fans fire up as they punch away, and then they double whip “Chad” up and out of the ring! Punk and Styles circle, the fans rally up, and they tie up. Punk headlocks, Styles powers up and out, but then hurdles.
Punk jumps the dropdown but Styles DROPKICKS him down! Grande is back but Styles waistlocks, O’Conner Rolls, but Grande bucks that. Grande ducks ‘n’ dodges to FLYING HEADBUTT! The fans boo but Grande runs in, jumps up, and MONKEY FLIPS! Styles flounders away, Punk is back, but Grande wheelbarrows. Styles ioins in, but Grande RANAS Styles! Punk SHINING WIZARDS Grande out of the ring! Punk ROCKS Styles, whips him hard into a corner, and Styles hits post before he falls back! Punk whips the other way, runs in, but Styles OBOTS him! Styles goes up and out to then ROCK Punk, but Grande is there!
Grande trips Styles up during his springboard! The fans boo but Punk grabs that mask! Punk wants to rip it away and the fans fire up! Gable- Er, Grande HOTSHOTS Punk away! Then he aims to CANNONBALL! Down goes Punk, and Grande runs up on Styles! Grande CLOBBERS Styles against the desk! The fans boo but Grande soaks up that heat while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Grande has Punk up top! Styles joins in and he climbs up behind Grande! The fans rally as Styles hits a SUPER BACK SUPLEX on Grande! Punk is still up top, and he aims at Styles! MACHO ELBOW! All three men are down now and the fans fire up! Punk rises, “This is Awesome!” as Punk rallies on Grande! Wrench and NECKBREAKER! Punk hobbles a bit, but he still runs up to SHINING WIZARD in the corner! Then he runs to SHINING WIZARD Styles! Punk headlocks but Styles powers out of the bulldog, sending Punk into Grande’s FLYING HEADBUTT! Grande then waistlocks Styles to GERMAN SUPLEX!
The fans rally as Grande hurries to cover Styles, but Punk breaks that. Grande goes to a corner, the fans duel, “He’s Chad Gable!” “NO, He’s Not!” Gable/Grande climbs, leaps, but Punk catches the crossbody and rolls through with it! Punk deadlifts Grande into a fireman’s carry! But Styles drags Grande down to dragon sleeper! He kicks Punk and add shim toa DOUBLE DDT! Cover on Punk, TWO! Cover on Grande, TWO! Styles huffs ‘n’ puffs and fans chant “We Want Truth!” Styles reels Grande in, lifts, but Grande fights the Clash to have to ANKLE LOCK! Styles endures, rolls, but that sends Grande to Punk! GO TO- ANKLE LOCK!!
Grande has Punk’s bad leg, but Punk fights up and rolls! Grande ends up in Styles’ grip, STYLES CLASH!! Cover, PUNK BREAKS IT! The fans fire up as Punk and Styles throw hands back and forth! Punk gets the edge, but Styles blocks to fire the Phenomenal Blitz, only for Punk to turn that into a NECKBREAKER! Cover, Grande breaks it! The fans rally and duel, Punk rises and he has Grande. Punk hoists Grande up top, climbs up to get him, but Styles joins in again! Styles reels Punk into the position but Punk fights free! Punk fireman’s carries but Styles fights free! Punk trips Styles, jackknife bridge, a MOONSAULT from Grande breaks it!! Cover on STyles, TWO!!
The fans fire up but Grande hurries to another corner! MOONSAULT FLOPS as Punk moves! Fireman’s carry, and GO TO SLEEP!!! But Punk collapses! He crawls to the cover, BUT BRON BREAKKER DRAGS HIM OUT! The fans boo as Bron & Reed mug Punk, just as Rollins promised! But here come Sami & Jey! Gunther was also right! These four all brawl, but that causes them to CHOP BLOCK Styles! Styles falls, but then he gets up! Styles is pissed and he SUPER CROSSBODIES everyone down!! Everyone except El Grande Americano! The fans lose their minds as Styles roars, and wait, is Grande shoving something in his mask!?
The fans rally as Styles aims, PHENOMENAL FOREARM into the LOADED HEADBUTT!!! Cover, GRANDE WINS!!!
Winner: El Grande Americano, by pinfall (advances to MITB)
Grande says “AH GRACIAS!” and he should definitely be thanking Rollins’ team for helping out. Punk is pissed and he goes right after Bron! Rollins CLOBBERS Punk, and he puts Punk in the ring! The fans boo but Punk gets up to ROCK Rollins! They brawl, Heyman saunters out here as Punk fireman’s carries! But Bron is in! Bron SPEARS Punk down! But Sami CLOBBERS Bron! Reed CLOBBERS Sami! Bron & Reed mug Sami, then Rollins adds a CURB STOMP!! Sami is down, but then Rollins STOMPS Punk! Jey SUPERKICKS Reed, SUPERKICKS Bron, but Rollins has a SLEEPER on Jey! Bron SPEARS Jey down!!
The fans boo, CURB STOMP for Jey!! The Visionary is raging as he throws off his jacket! Rollins & Bron drag Jey into place, and Reed goes up! TSUNAMI! But Rollins wants Reed to do even more damage! Reed goes back up, TSUNAMI!! The fans boo as Rollins, Reed, Breakker & Heyman stand tall again. Will Jey not survive through the summer as World Heavyweight Champion?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw here as the go-home to the big Saturday that’s coming, with Worlds Collide and MITB all on the same day. We got great story integration along with that, such as Judgment Day’s continued dysfunction. Great tag match from Finn & JD VS War Raiders, and with Roxie helping Finn & JD win when Liv didn’t want the help. Which makes for great irony when Liv tries to help Raquel but that backfires because Iyo was here to help Kairi. A Women’s Tag Team Championship match of Liv & Raquel VS Iyo & Kairi would be great stuff, and could be set for the big Atlanta weekend in July.
Vaquer winning her MITB qualifier is great, and certainly justifies the fast track away from NXT to right here on Raw. Her interaction with Rhea was fun, too, that can and should be a 1v1 feud after MITB. More great integration with the Rollins faction takeover story, such as Heyman trying to make Styles an offer and all the fighting with Jey and Sami. Gunther makes a “good point” from the perspective of a Heel, but we know Jey isn’t selfish enough as to abandon his friends for his own well-being. But with that, that’s how Rollins got the drop on Jey & Sami during their tag match, and then it happened again during the Triple Threat.
Sami and Kross also have a great interaction where Kross makes a very similar argument to Gunther’s. If Sami wanted to, he could be selfish, but also be very violent and merciless, so that no one could stop him from becoming a champion. Kross has always been a force for these Heel turns, just look at New Day. If he gets Sami to turn for the next phase of this story, I would hope it is more Sami and Kross work together rather than Sami giving in and joining Rollins. Sami could easily be a Heel that still doesn’t go along with Rollins’ vision, though I suppose defying Rollins might actually keep him a Face in the eyes of the fans.
El Grande Americano benefiting from all this is really fun. Chad Gable has his AAA Mega Championship match with El Hijo Del Vikingo that afternoon for Worlds Collide, who knows how they play this. I don’t think Gable will win the title, and I don’t think Grande wins MITB, unless they want Gable to claim Grande gave him the briefcase, or there are hilarious mishaps of Gable hurrying to dress as Grande in time to go after a champion. It would certainly add some creativity to the MITB briefcase if they went with that latter idea. Plus, we need to get to the bottom of the Gable-Grande “mystery” and finally vindicate Michael Cole for telling the truth this whole time.
Very good promo from Penta to hype up his part of MITB, but maybe his role is to mostly stop Grande from winning. Very good promo from Rusev, and a good response from Sheamus. That feud will indeed be banger after banger, I can’t wait. And great promos from Becky and Lyra, and we of course got a brawl from them. Hard to say how the math felt on that, but I would think Becky wins. I thought she was winning at Backlash, and she’s certainly not losing a match that blocks her off from a title. Becky will win, make Lyra raise her hand, but maybe Lyra then decks her after that to set up a rematch for Evolution in July.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (6/1/25)
The finals are finally here!

This is a guaranteed sweet ‘n’ fresh Best of the Super Juniors!
Whether it is Kosei Fujita or Yoh, there will be a guaranteed NEW winner of Best of the Super Juniors tournament! Who hoists the trophy high and heads for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Robbie X VS Shoma Kato; Robbie X wins.
- 10 Man Tag: Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg, Master Wato, KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Six Man Tag: Taichi, YOSHI-HASHI & Tomoaki Honma VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Shota Umino, El Phantasmo, MAO & Nick Wayne VS TMDK; Shota, ELP, Mao & Nick win.
- Titan & Yota Tsuji VS Taiji Ishimori & Clark Connors; Titan & Tsuji win.
- Gedo VS EVIL; Evil wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ninja Mack & Dragon Dia VS El Desperado, Taka Michinoku & Yuya Uemura; Tanahashi, Mack & Dia win.
- Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi; Takagi & Hiromu win.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 Finals: Kosei Fujita VS YOH; Fujita wins and will challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
Gedo VS EVIL!
While the War Dogs won the rights to the name, “Bullet Club,” it seems the war with the House of Torture is far from over! Will The Blacksmith show he’s still got it? Or will he fail to bring down the King of Darkness?
Wait, Evil is out here, but where is Dick Togo? Wait, someone is handcuffing someone else to the entryway’s frame! Gedo has cuffed Dick to the girder! The House of Torture’s trickery has backfired! The fans applaud and Evil hurries to save Dick! Gedo lures him backstage, and attacks him with a cookie sheet! Gedo SMACKS Evil, SMACKS him again, and even has a kendo stick on his hip! Gedo SMACKS Evil again and Evil almost topples the railing over! Evil scrambles away through the crowd but Gedo pursues for more SMACKS! The Young Lions help fans get out of the way as Gedo keeps after Evil. Gedo SMACKS Evil again and they end up at the exit ramp!
Gedo throws the cookie sheet away and starts using the kendo stick! Gedo SMACKS Evil, JAMS him up, and the fans cheer Gedo on. Evil stands, only for Gedo to SMACK him again! Evil takes a Young Lion hostage but Gedo shows no mercy! Gedo JAMS the Young Lion, then SMACKS Evil down! The fans rally as Gedo pursues Evil further along, and SMACKS him again! They go around behind commentary, and Evil takes English commentary’s Walker Stewart hostage! Gedo just SMACKS Evil in the shoulder! But now Evil takes Milano Collection AT hostage! Gedo just laughs, dares Evil to do something, so Evil shoves Milano! Gedo brushes Milano aside to SMACK Evil again!
Evil staggers away to ringside, and Gedo SMACKS him again! Gedo puts Evil in the ring, the bell finally sounds, and this is finally a match! Gedo JABS, JABS, and JABS! Then he eggs Evil on, and catches him into a FLATLINER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind Gedo has he looms over Evil. Gedo drags Evil up to DDT! Evil sputters, and he’s in the drop zone! Gedo goes up, but Evil shoves the ref into him! Gedo falls to the mat while Evil undoes one of the neutral corner pads. The Bullet Club Special is still in effect, even though Evil is no longer Bullet Club, and he whips Gedo hard into the steel! Gedo falls and the fans boo!
Evil laughs and he drags Gedo up, to then whip Gedo into the buckles again! The fans still rally for Gedo but Evil taunts them and Gedo. Evil drags Gedo up for a FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, but Evil lets up! Evil grins as he wants to make Gedo pay for all he did today. Evil puts one out, and CLAWS Gedo’s face! Evil runs, and he LARIATS Gedo inside-out! Cover, but again Evil lets up! The fans boo but Evil says shove it! Evil steps through to turn Gedo over for the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Gedo TAPS, Evil wins!
Winner: Evil, by submission
The King of Evil withstands Gedo’s game plan, but now he calls out the rest of the House! Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi, Sho, and even Sanada make their way out here, and Ren Narita helps Dick get free. They all stomp away on Gedo, and they have the steel chain dog collar! They put the collar on Gedo, stomp him, but the War Dogs are here! Robbie X & Taiji Ishimori fight, but that’s 7v2! The House beats Taiji & Robbie down, the fans boo, but none of the other dogs are coming! TORTURE TOOL for Taiji, PIMP CANE for Robbie! Evil tosses Gedo up and over and CHOKES him! Evil tries to HANG Gedo!!
The fans boo as Gedo sputters, but Evil lets go to let Gedo slump down to the floor. The House put one out together, will Evil put down the top dog when he and David Finlay battle in a Dog Collar Match at Dominion?
Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ninja Mack & Dragon Dia VS El Desperado, Taka Michinoku & Yuya Uemura!
The Ace Final Road continues, and he teams up with the American Ninja and Infinite Carat Diamond for the first time, for the last time. But will the President of NJPW, the shinobi of Pro-Wrestling NOAH and the skater boy of Dragon Gate be able to bring down the Rogue Luchador, Blue Playmaker and Heat Storm?
Tanahashi shows off the abs and the fans cheer. The teams sort out and Yuya steps up to face The Ace! The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Yuya wrenches and wristlocks, but Tanahashi wrenches and wristlocks back. Tanahashi headlocks, Yuya wrenches out, and the two fight for control. Yuya powers through to headlock Tanahashi, then he wrenches again to hammerlock. Tanahashi drop toeholds, headlocks, but Yuya pops out the back to hammerlock. The fans applaud this opening exchange while Tanahashi fights up. Yuya headlocks for the takeover, but Tanahashi headscissors.
Yuya kips free, and roles reverse as Tanahashi headlocks for the takeover but Yuya headscissors. Tanahashi kips free, roles reverse again so that Yuya headlock takeovers and Tanahashi headscissors. Yuya again kips free, then Tanahashi hits another takeover, and Yuya headscissors again! Tanahashi kips free once more, and the two stand off while the fans applaud. Yuya and Tanahashi nod and grin, and the fans rally up again. They even duel as the “YUYA! YUYA!” comes out to rival the “TANA-HASHI! TANA-HASHI!” Ninja Mack tags in, so now it is “NINJA! NINJA!” Yuya tags Desperado, and the fans cheer as THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion steps up.
Mack offers the handshake, but Despy wags his finger to say no. Mack asks, “Honto? <Really?>” Despy says, “Honto. <Really.>” Mack still offers, but Despy pie faces him! The fans boo Despy being a sore sport, but Mack offers a third time. Despy says okay, and he shakes Mack’s hand. And uses it to reel Mack into a headlock! Mack powers up and out, Despy RUNS Mack over, then Despy runs. Mack stays low, goes to hip toss but Despy turns that into a HIP TOSS, only for Mack to roll through! Mack then trips Despy, and goes for STRETCH MUFFLER!? Despy scrambles away, ROPEBREAK! Mack aims and PLANCHAS, but Despy moves!
Mack lands safe on the apron, but Despy grabs a leg! Despy THROWS Mack, but Mack handsprings through! The fans fire up and Despy is stunned! Then Mack SUPERKICKS Despy! The fans fire up as Mack goes up the aisle, and runs in, only for Despy to pop him up! Mack lands on the apron, Despy blocks the kick this time, and he trips Mack! STRETCH MUFFLER on the apron! Taka & Yuya BLAST Tanahashi & Dia while Despy thrashes Mack’s leg! The ref reprimands and counts, but Despy lets go at 4. The fans rally, Despy drags Mack up, and Despy POSTS him! Mack flounders away while the fans rally up.
Mack asks fans for help but Despy SMACKS Mack in the head! Despy drags Mack up and into the ring, then stalks him. Despy brings Mack around, whips him to the corner, and Mack hits buckles hard! Tag to Taka and he stomps Mack. Taka stomps Mack some more, then brings him up. Mack CHOPS Taka! And CHOPS again! Taka staggers but he powers up! Mack CLUSB Taka, but Taka fires up! And pokes Mack in the eyes! Taka whips Mack to a corner and SHINING WIZARDS! Taka snapmares, runs, and SHINING WIZARDS! Cover, TWO! Taka is annoyed but the fans cheer as Mack stays in this. Taka stands Mack up to UPPERCUT!
The fans rally for “NINJA! NINJA!” but Taka UPPERCUTS him again. Tag to Yuya and he CHOPS Mack! Mack CHOPS back! Yuya CHOPS, Mack CHOPS, repeat! Yuya CHOPS Mack down, has him in the corner, and the fans rally again. Yuya CHOPS Mack back down, and Mack crawls on his knees! Yuya drags Mack around to scoop, SLAM and ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Mack toughs it out but Yuya drags him up. Tag to Despy and they mug Mack. Despy brings Mack around, reels him in, and suplexes. Mack slips free, rolls Despy up, TWO! Despy KNEES low, whips Mack to a corner, but Mack goes up and over and handsprings away! Despy runs up, but into an UPPERCUT!
The fans fire up while both men crawl! Hot tag to Dia! The fans fire up as Dia runs and RANAS Despy! Despy tumbles, Taka is in but Dia dodges! Dia BLASTS Yuya, dodges Taka again and trips him up! Then SLINGSHOT TORNILLO! #DragonFlip! The fans fire up and Taka bails out. Dia runs corner to corner and ELBOWS Despy, to then SOBAT, SWEEP, and STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Despy stays in this and the fans rally for Dia. Dia climbs up, waits on Despy, but Despy scrambles away. Dia storms up to kick and whip, but Despy reverses to hit a BIG back suplex! The fans rally again as Despy drags Dia back up.
Despy suplexes high and hard, then covers, TWO! The fans cheer as Dia stays in this, but Despy brings him up. Dia BODY SHOTS, then CHOPS! Despy eggs Dia on so Dia CHOPS, CHPOS, and CHOPS! Despy DECKS Dia with a forearm! Despy then gut wrenches for GUITARRA- NO, Dia slips free, shoves, and then 619s! Despy takes that shot to the gut, and Dia springboards in, but Despy makes it a SPINEBUSTER! Despy underhooks for PINCHE LO- NO, Dia lands out! HEEL KICK! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Dia crawls, Despy crawls, hot tags to Yuya and Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Yuya dodges to CHOP, CHOP, CHOP!
Yuya has Tanahashi in a corner and CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Yuya whips, Tanahashi reverses, but Yuya goes up and over. Tanahashi runs up but Yuya arm-drags! Then DROPKICKS! The fans fire up with Yuya and he brings Tanahashi back up. Yuya clinches but Tanahashi fights the lift with elbows. Tanahashi fires up but Yuya reels him back in! BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! The fans rally as Tanahashi is still in this, but Yuya hurries up top! The fans rally more as Yuya aims, Tanahashi stands, but Tanahashi avoids the crossbody! Yuya rolls through and comes back, but Tanahashi blocks his kick! So Yuya fires forearms!
Yuya free his leg, but Tanahashi ducks the chop to DRAGON PALM! Tanahashi fires up and runs, but Yuya DROPKICKS him again! Both men are down and the fans fire up. The fans rally as Yuya crawls, tag to Taka. Taka runs to BOOT Dia! Then he pokes Mack in the eyes! Taka runs up on Tanahashi, Tanahashi blocks, but Taka pokes him in the eyes! Taka SHOTEIS, then runs, redirects, redirects, and redirects again to BOOT! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi is tougher than that but Taka fires up! The fans are with Taka, but then Tanahashi DRAGON PALMS! Taka kicks, Tanahashi blocks, and DRAGON SCREWS!
Taka writhes but Tanahashi grabs the legs! Tanahashi ties Taka up in the TEXAS CLOVER HOLD! But Despy DRAGON PALMS Tanahashi! Dia runs in and tilt-o-whirl ARM-DRAGS! Despy bails out, Dia builds speed, but Yuya TOSSES Dia out! Dia lands on the apron, GAMANGIRIS Yuya, then he ASAI MOONSAULTS Despy! Mack is up top, and he leaps at Yuya! Yuya catches his arm, then CHOPS! Yuya whips, Mack reverses to ROCK and SUPERKICK! Yuya tumbles out, Mack builds speed, NINJA SPECIAL! Down goes Yuya from that hot one! Tanahashi SLINGBLADES Taka! Tanahashi fires up and the fans are with him now!
Tanahashi climbs right up top, takes aim, and HIGH FLY FLOW!! Cover, Team Tanahashi wins!
Winner: Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall
The Ace, the Ninja and the Diamond win the day! But Tanahashi knows he and Yuya are set to face off at Dominion, and the two get face to face again. Will Tanahashi’s Final Road really heat up going 1v1 with the Heat Storm?
As for Despy, he shows respect to the Junior Heavyweights by raising their hands in victory, but wait! Someone else is here! It’s JUN KASAI!! Despy’s hardcore rival is here, but is very business casual as he wears the tie and has a letter. Kasai has the mic to tell Despy, “In life, some things go well, and some do not. And perhaps our lives have not always gone according to plan. But I made it a point of mine today to come here and light a fire under yer ass! June 24th, it is set! I said before that I don’t want to face the Best of the Super Juniors winner, and I don’t want to face the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. I want to face the man that IS El Desperado!”
The fans cheer, and Kasai tells Despy that all those Triple Threats, tag team matches or whatever else, none of those wins mean a single thing to warriors like them! Kasai won’t let Despy use frustration and think he can win. Kasai received a certain invitation before, and now he has a special invite for Despy. He calls it the “Death Pain Invitational.” That is to say, he is issuing his challenge. He offers the letter, Despy accepts, and the fans applaud. These two wild ones are going to run it back one more time! Who wins out in the Death Pain Invitational at the Name Undecided event in Korakuen Hall?
Hirooki Goto & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi!
The Fierce Warrior held onto the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship through Resurgence, but that means the Rampaging Dragon is next! Will the Funky Weapon help Goto make it through to Dominion? Or will the formerly Los Ingobernables de Japon still keep things tranquilo?
The teams sort out and Goto starts against Takagi for a preview of the world title match! The fans rally as Takagi and Goto stare down. They slowly circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Goto powers Takagi to the ropes, the ref calls break, and Goto pats Takagi on the shoulders as he backs off. Takagi storms right back up and the two tie up again. Takagi powers Goto to ropes now, the ref calls for the break, and Takagi pretends he doesn’t understand at first. Takagi says okay, clean break, and he backs off. But then he takes a swing! Goto ducks and headlocks Takagi, but Takagi powers up and out. Goto comes back to RAM Takagi!
Takagi rebounds and he RAMS Goto! Goto rebounds and RAMS Takagi, but neither man moves this time! The fans fire up while Takagi and Goto shake that off. Goto eggs Takagi on, so the forearms start flying! They go back and forth, but not Takagi eggs Goto on! Goto fires forearm after forearm, Takagi fires back, but Goto ROCKS and whips Takagi. Takagi counters hip toss with HIP TOSS, then he RUNS Goto over! The fans fire up while Takagi shakes that off, then Takagi tags Hiromu. Hiromu & Takagi double whip Goto to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans fire up while Takagi and Hiromu flex! Hiromu even gives the side chest!
Hiromu drags Goto up, CHOPS, and CHOPS, and then whips corner to corner. Hiromu LARIATS Goto in the corner, runs, but into an URA GTR! Goto RUNS Hiromu over, BLASTS Takagi, and the fans fire up again. Goto stomps Hiromu, then tags in Taguchi. The fans rally as Goto & Taguchi double whip and DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans cheer while Taguchi sits Hiromu up for POINT-BLANK HIP! And POINT-BLANK HIP! Taguchi has Hiromu on the ropes for more POINT-BLANK HIPS! The fans rally, the ref reprimands, but Taguchi runs to HIP ATTACK! Hiromu flounders while the fans cheer, and Taguchi calls upon Strange Style!
Taguchi aims from the corner, “ORYA~!” KETSU- NO, Hiromu rolls Taguchi up, TWO!! Taguchi escapes, goes to a corner, and Hiromu runs up. Taguchi BOOTS Hiromu, then he goes up for DEADLY BUTT SHADE! Taguchi kicks Hiromu away, runs, but he fakes Hiromu out! HIP- ATOMIC DROP! Hiromu says he’s too smart for that! Hiromu runs, but into a HIP ATTACK! Taguchi runs, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Taguchi and Hiromu crawl, hot tags to Goto and Takagi! Takagi dodges Goto to knee low and whip him to a corner. Takagi blocks a boot to LARIAT through!
The fans fire up with Takagi, but Goto turns things around to throw forearms! Goto fires up and the fans are with him, but then Takagi turns things around to fire forearms back! Takagi has the fans with him again, and he whips corner to corner. Goto reverses, runs up, MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Goto drags Takagi up, but Takagi fights the fireman’s carry. Takagi CLUBS away on Goto but Goto shoves him. Takagi ELBOWS, JABS, feints, but then he stands Goto back up to JAB again! Takagi suplexes high and hard, then covers, TWO! Goto stays in this but Takagi fires up! “TOKI GA KITA!”
The fans fire up as Takagi’s time has come! They join in on “OI! OI! OI!” and Takagi runs, PUMPING- NO, Goto LARIATS at the same time! And they DOUBLE LARIAT again! Goto swats a lariat, Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON- NO, Goto fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Both men are down and the fans fire again! Goto and Takagi crawl, hot tag to Taguchi! Taguchi BLASTS Hiromu, and now Taguchi says it is HIS TITITITITITIME! Taguchi runs in and HIP ATTACKS! And then HIP ATTACKS! And HIP ATTACKS! That’s three-ever, but Takagi CLOBBERS Taguchi before he can four-ever! Takagi winds up, runs, and- HIP ATTACK!
The fans rally while both men are down! Taguchi hurries to dropkick a leg out, then has OH MY GAH ANKLE! Goto BLASTS Hiromu off the apron, and Taguchi drops an ELBOW on Takagi’s leg! Hiromu fights past Goto to DROPKICK Taguchi! Goto LARIATS Hiromu! Takagi fires boxing elbows on Goto! Goto ROCKS Takagi back! Goto runs, but Takagi LARITS at the ropes! Takagi runs, Goto follows, but then Takagi redirects! PUMPING BOMBER! The fans fire up but Taguchi HIP ATTACKS Takagi! Taguchi runs in at the corner, Takagi dodges, and Hiromu LARIATS! Takagi LARIATS! Feed to the SUPERKICK, then PUMPING BOMBER!
The fans fire up with Takagi and he drags Taguchi up. Pump handle, torture rack, but Taguchi fights free! Taguchi shoves, HIP- NO, Takagi catches Taguchi and puts him in the ropes! Hiromu keeps Goto outside, so he can only watch as Takagi hits the DRAPING G T R!! Takagi then hauls Taguchi up, pump handle and torture rack, BURNING DRAGON!! Cover, Takagi & Hiromu win!
Winners: Shingo Takagi & Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall
The former LIJ is still as strong as when they were LIJ, and now Takagi has all the momentum. Takagi grabs the mic to say, “OI, GOTO! I haven’t had enough! Not nearly enough! There’s no holding back at in Osaka-Jo Hall on June 15th.” The fans applaud, but then Takagi says, “I forgot to mention something back in Fukuoka. Let me say it now.” Oh? Takagi tells Goto, “Compared to you… Yeah, I don’t have a belt. I don’t have a wife or children, either. And now, I don’t even have a faction. I’m unaffiliated. But that’s okay with me. I don’t need a family or a faction. What I want most in life is that IWGP World Heavyweight Championship!”
The fans cheer, and Takagi says he doesn’t need anything else. “At Osaka-Jo Hall, I’ll take your neck and end your Goto Revolution thing! That’s where the Takagi Revolution will begin! That’s all I have to say about that!” Takagi drops the mic, but then Goto picks it up! Goto tells Takagi, “You seem to be in a rush. You ought to try being tranquilo!” The fans cheer Goto throwing that line at Takagi. Goto continues by saying, “At Osaka-Jo Hall, just try and stop my Goto Revolution! That’s all I have to say about that.” In just two weeks, The Fierce Warrior and the Rampaging Dragon will battle, but whose revolution wins this Dominion?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 Finals: Kosei Fujita w/ TMDK VS YOH!
After nine rounds of wrestling, this is the moment of truth! The Japanese Young Punk made it through A Block while Direct Drive was able to seal the deal in B Block. They both want everything there is in the Junior Heavyweight Division, but only one can have it all! Who proves that they are the Best of the Super Juniors?
The bell rings and the fans rally up already. The “YO-OH! YO-OH!” and “FU-JI-TA! FU-JI-TA!” seem even as the two circle. They feel things out, clinch, then Fujita waistlocks. Yoh pries at the grip, wrenches free to wristlock, but Fujita rolls, handsprings, and wrenches to wristlock in return. Yoh rolls to trip Fujita and have the toehold. Fujita fights around to get an arm, but Yoh stacks Fujita! ONE, and Fujita keeps the arm. Yoh slips through to a lateral press but Fujita keeps his shoulders up. Yoh shifts to have the arm, then he wrenches to headlock and takeover. Fujita headscissors, Yoh kips free, and the fans cheer this opening exchange.
The two reset, circle, and the fans rally again. The two tie up, are in a deadlock at center, and Fujita digs his heels in to power Yoh to ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, Fujita lets off, but Yoh turns things around. Yoh lets off slowly, but then whips. Yoh drops down, bypasses, and drop toeholds! Fujita avoids the basement dropkick, Yoh avoids the Penalty Kick, then he ducks a heel kick! Fujita avoids the lariat, Yoh avoids the backhand, and Yoh ripcords, but Fujita dodges the Rainmaker! The fans cheer that Yoh would even attempt that! Yoh grins and he goes forehead to forehead with Fujita. Fujita eggs Yoh on, so the forearms start flying!
The fans rally and Fujita CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS again, then CHOPS again! Yoh goes to ropes, Fujita whips, but Yoh backs up to avoid the chop! Yoh calls for the break but Fujita isn’t even touching him! The fans rally for Yoh all the same, and Fujita storms up. Fujita blocks a kick to CHOP, but then Yoh throws Fujita down by his hair! “Y! O! H!” Shrug! The fans cheer as Yoh continues to reference his Chaos senpai. Yoh drags Fujita up, CLUBS him on the neck, then stalks him to a corner. Yoh wrenches and whips, runs up, and ELBOWS! Yoh then reels Fujita in but Fujita wrenches, drop toeholds, and wants the legs!
Yoh scrambles out of the ring and the fans cheer. Fujita storms up to the ropes, Yoh avoids the Plancha but Fujita is on the apron! Fujita then PENALTY KICKS Yoh, and ASAI MOONSAULTS! He didn’t even need to springboard for that! The fans fire up with Fujita and he drags Yoh back up. Fujita puts Yoh in the ring, slides in and storms up on Yoh in the corner. Fujita CHOPS, snapmares, and PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally again while Fujita paces. Fujita grabs a leg, and he turns Yoh over for the HALF CRAB! Yoh endures as Fujita pulls the leg back! The fans rally again and Yoh fights his way around.
Yoh crawls, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! Fujita lets go and the fans applaud. Fujita eggs Yoh on, but Yoh kicks from below. Fujita still eggs Yoh on so Yoh fires a forearm. Fujita KNEES low, snapmares, and KICKS! Cover, TWO! Yoh is tougher than that but Fujita stays cool. Fujita drags Yoh up, reels him in, but Yoh fires forearms! Fujita CHOPS, runs, but Yoh dodges! Yoh BLOCKBUSTERS! Or rather, he used Yoshi-Hashi’s Headhunter! The shoutouts continue and the fans rally up. Yoh brings Fujita up, and wrenches for an ELBOW BREAKER! Yoh hammerlocks Fujita, and RAMS him into a corner! Fujita slumps against ropes but Yoh is on him again.
Yoh hammerlocks the arm and RAMS Fujita into another corner! Yoh then hammerlocks, and he RAMS Fujita backwards into a corner! Fujita writhes but Yoh doesn’t stop as he drags Fujita back up. Yoh wrenches for the ELBOW BREAKER again! Fujita clutches the arm but Yoh shakes his head. Yoh wrenches for his odd rhythm! “Y O H! Y O H! Y O O O, O O H!” Then he WRINGS Fujita out! Cover, TWO! Fujita is tougher than that but Yoh stays focused. The fans rally while Yoh scuffs Fujita and kicks him towards ropes. Fujita slumps to the floor and Yoh watches him stir. The fans rally up for Fujita while the ring count starts.
Yoh waits on Fujita, then PLANCHAS! Down goes Fujita, Yoh puts him back in, and Yoh turns Fujita for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! BUTTERFLY LOCK, another favorite of Hashi’s! Fujita endures, the fans rally, and Fujita fights toward ropes. Fujita makes it to the ROPEBREAK, and Yoh lets go. The fans rally more as Yoh brings Fujita up. Yoh fires a forearm, then whips Fujita. Fujita blocks by holding ropes! Yoh tries again, but Fujita still holds on! Yoh tries a third time but Fujita still holds on! Yoh ROCKS Fujita, whips, but Fujita reverses to GAMANGIRI! Both men are down and the fans fire back up!
Yoh bails out and Fujita goes up the corner! DOUBLE JUMP CANNONBALL! Direct hit and the fans fire up! Fujita shakes out his bad arm and fetches Yoh. Fujita drags Yoh into the ring, the fans rally again, and Fujita springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Fujita deadlifts Yoh but Yoh fights with elbows! Fujita jumps onto Yoh with a HOVERBOARD! The fans fire up as Fujita shouts out both his TMDK training and his rival, Kushida! Yoh suplexes free but Fujita lands out to spin Yoh! HOVER- NO, Yoh slips through to have the ANACONDA VICE! Fujita fires body shots, wrenches out, and RANAS into a cover, TWO!!
Fujita has the HOVERBOARD again! Yoh endures the double wristlock but is free of the body scissors! Yoh reaches out, fights around, and powers up, but Fujita rolls him away! But Yoh suplexes first! FALCON ARROW! Both men are down and the fans fire up! TMDK coaches Fujita but the fans give Yoh strength. Both men stir and Yoh rolls away to the ropes. Yoh rises, fires up, and he tunes up! The fans rally, Yoh aims, but Fujita dodges the superkick! Yoh blocks a shot, Fujita blocks a shot, but Yoh ducks the chop! O’Conner Roll into the FIVE STAR GAZE- NO, Fujita blocks and shoves Yoh down into the deathlock!
Fujita SLAPS the arms and has them for the SURFBOARD, and then the NEMOS SPECIAL!! Yoh endures and the fans rally even harder! Yoh pries the grip open but he falls forward! Fujita shifts to have one arm trapped, and he pulls on the other other arm into the cording hold! Yoh endures, ZSJ coaches Fujita to grab that leg! CLARKY CAT, G1 TEKKERS EDITION!! The fans rally as hard as they can while Yoh endures! Yoh kicks with his free leg, his only chance, but Fujita puts on even more pressure!! Yoh kicks, kicks, and finds the ROPEBREAK!! The fans are thunderous while Fujita lets go in frustration!
TMDK coaches Fujita to stay focused. Fujita rises, he drags Yoh up by his pants, and the fans continue to rally. Fujita waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX! Fujita holds on to bring Yoh up again, GERMAN SUPLEX! And then he brings Yoh up again, even as Yoh reaches out! GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as Fujita makes Ota into #SuplexCity! Fujita drags Yoh up but Yoh shoves him away. Fujita comes back, Yoh WRINGS the arm! Yoh goes to a corner, then comes back, but Fujita ROCKS him! Yoh fights off the torture rack with elbows! Fujita CHOPS! Yoh staggers, but he comes back. Fujita CHOPS again!
Yoh eggs Fujita on so Fujita CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again! Yoh just takes those shots, CHOP after CHOP, and he might even feed off them! Yoh runs, Fujita CHOPS, repeat! Repeat! And repeat! Yoh IS feeding off the chops, as he puts his arms back! Fujita CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS again! Yoh says I’LL BE BACK, to take a CHOP! Fujita runs, into a LARIAT!! The fans are thunderous again while both men are down! The dueling between “YO-OH! YO-OH!” and “FU-JI-TA!” continues as both men stir. Yoh sits up while Fujita crawls away to a corner. Yoh finally feels the stinging from the chops, but he brushes it off.
Yoh makes the pecs dance to show he’s stronger than those chops! Yoh steps to Fujita, stands him up, and then CHOPS, JABS, and repeat! A shoutout to Ishii!! Yoh makes Fujita stay up so he can JAB and CHOP again! Then a Too Sweet to CHOP?! That’s a Jay White thing! Yoh is referencing even those who betrayed Chaos! Red Shoes counts, Yoh stops at 4, and he brings Fujita up. Yoh hoists Fujita up top, and then he climbs up after him. Yoh calls his shot, perhaps another shoutout to Tenzan, but Fujita fires body shots! Fujita ROCKS Yoh and Yoh drops back. Yoh shakes out the stars, goes up top again, but again Fujita fights back.
Yoh still brings Fujita to the very top for a SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up and Yoh crawls to the cover, TWO! Yoh has the ANACONDA VICE! The fans rally and duel again as Fujita endures! Fujita fights around, stands back up, but Yoh holds him back, ANACONDA BUSTER! Fujita flails and kicks around as he again endures the hold! The fans rally as hard as they have all night, and Fujita rises again! TMDK coaches him on, but he’s fading! Yoh drags Fujita around for another ANACONDA BUSTER! But Fujita cradles it! TWO!! Yoh lets Fujita go in time, and he hurries to ripcord- CUTTER!! Fujita counters Yoh’s counterfeit Rainmaker!
The fans rally and duel even louder now while both men are down! Red Shoes checks and both men are able to continue. Fujita and Yoh crawl to each other, go forehead to forehead, then go forearm for forearm! The fans rally as the shots go back and forth, and the two stand up. The shots go back and forth even more, and then DOUBLE FOREARMS knock both men down! The fans rally, both men roar, and they rise up again! The forearms are fast ‘n’ furious, then Yoh ROLLING ELBOWS! Fujita CHOPS and SNAP GERMANS! But Yoh is right up!? And he SNAP DRAGONS Fujita! Fujita roars, but Yoh SUPERKICKS!
Yoh reels Fujita in but Fujita is a ragdoll! The fans are electric, and Yoh brings Fujita back up! Point-blank LAR- NO, Fujita ducks to then waistlock and O’Conner Roll BRIDGE!! TWO!!! Yoh escapes at the last possible moment, but Fujita SHOTEIS! HEEL KICKS! And then he roars! The fans are electric again as Fujita drags Yoh back up! But Yoh fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! There’s the Goto shoutout! The fans are volcanic as both men go to corners. Fujita roars and runs corner to corner, but Yoh puts him in the ropes! DRAPING SHOTO!! Cover, TWO!?!? Fujita survives, is is NOT lights out just yet!
Yoh roars and he vows to end this! Yoh reels Fujita in, underhooks, DIRECT- NO, Fujita fights that, backdrops, but Yoh sunset flips! Fujita steps over to deadlift fisherman! THRILL- NO, Yoh sips out, ripcord and JUMP KNEE!! The fans are volcanic as Yoh roars again! Yoh ripcords, but Fujita scoops! ZACK DRIVER!! The fans fire up as Fujita gives tribute to the Front Man! And then he suplexes, ABANDON HOPE!!! Fujita has to crawl to the cover! TWO?!?!?! The nanoseconds of delay save Yoh, but Fujita vows to finish this once and for all! Fujita drags Yoh up, reels him back in, and fisherman to the THRILL RIDE!!! Cover, FUJITA WINS!!!
Winner: Kosei Fujita, by pinfall (Best of the Super Juniors 32 winner)
Yoh showed Fujita true Chaos, but not even that was able to make the mighty kneel! If fighting this hard only gets Yoh second place, how much harder must he fight to be the best?
As for Fujita, the banner is brought in as the official announcement is made. The trophy is presented by Tadahiro Sekiguchi, president of the BOSJ 32 sponsor, Sekichu. Fujita poses for the photo ops, then is presented with the banner by Sekichu director, Ken Dojima. They shake hands and pose for another photo op. Trophy and banner are put aside a moment while Fujita grabs the mic. The fans chant for Fujita while he catches his breath. Fujita then says, “Who’s talking about the future of NJPW?! Without a doubt, I’m at the center of the Juniors!” The fans cheer that!
Fujita continues by saying, “There’s always criticism when you try to do something new. However, don’t hesitate. Give me your true feelings. I’ll even take the negative feedback. But most of all, I’m asking you all to come pack the buildings.” The fans cheer that, too. Fujita says he might be repeating himself, but he’ll take both hope and hate. How about it? Isn’t the NJPW Junior Division awesome? The fans do cheer that, too. Fujita says he’ll take us all to even higher peaks. Please, leave it to him! He just become the youngest ever Super Juniors winner! He was able to endure because he could feel everyone behind him, so he thanks the fans for that.
The fans applaud, and Fujita says, “Don’t you dare take your eyes off me.” Mic drop and the streamers fly as Fujita stands with his trophy and banner. TMDK celebrates with their Japanese Young Punk, getting their own photo op with it. Next stop: The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship! If The Mighty Don’t Kneel, will the only thing left be for them to reign?
My Thoughts:
A great finale to BOSJ 32, but also some great builds towards Dominion in a couple weeks. While I skimmed, I did like the fun everyone had in the 8 Man Tag, including ELP and Nick Wayne doing a photo op where they traded belts. Gedo VS Evil was great stuff for everything Gedo did beforehand, but I had a feeling Evil would find a way to win. The main thing was that the House of Torture beat down Gedo and the other War Dogs, and clearly sent a message with the dog collar to Finlay. Finlay VS Evil in a Dog Collar Match will be great stuff, but I sadly anticipate the House just getting involved again. Kinda defeats the purpose of the dog cage match, but I guess that was just about the literal title of Bullet Club, not a real blowoff…
Great Six Man Tag, great win for Tanahashi’s team, and great surprise appearance by Jun Kasai. Their “Death Pin Invitational” will be a wild match, we all know it. And as it stands, I like how the name for that event is “Name Undecided.” A part of me hopes they keep it that way for the fun of it. Great tag of Takagi & Hiromu VS Goto & Taguchi, but I figured Taguchi would take the loss. Takagi has momentum going into the title match, but that makes me think Goto finds a way to retain. I just don’t know what Takagi could do when he’s been world champion before and, as he put it, has no faction. Lone wolves are rare in NJPW so I don’t see such a wrestler being their top champ.
And awesome main event, Yoh bringing out the Chaos moves was a nice touch. But a great move making it Fujita. Fujita has been going strong for a long time, and also Yoh has the tag title so he and Wato can focus on that while Fujita focuses on Despy. There was tease of ZSJ wanting the NJPW World TV Championship back, maybe TMDK start getting the midcard titles, and then the G1 helps figure out a contender for the world title.
My Score: 9/10
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