Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW AXS Results: Dominion 2019 Part 2!
Another round for the Ibushi-Naito saga!
NJPW continues in Osaka!
The Golden Star and the Uncontrollable Charisma have one of the fiercest rivalries in NJPW today! But who comes out the IWGP Intercontinental Champion after this G1 Supercard rematch?
Coverage of Dominion in Osaka-Jo Hall will be as broadcast by AXS TV.
Gifs can be found on https://frentique.tumblr.com/
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr VS Jushin Thunder Liger & Yoshi-Hashi; Liger & Yoshi-Hashi win.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Taichi VS Tomohiro Ishii; Ishii wins and becomes the new NEVER Openweight Champion.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Guerrillas of Destiny VS EVIL & SANADA; Guerrillas of Destiny win and retain the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.
- IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Kota Ibushi VS Tetsuya Naito; Naito wins and becomes the new IWGP Intercontinental Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW and AXS TV set the scene for Dominion Part 2!
Los Ingobernables de Japon goes for gold! First, the rivals of the Golden Star and Uncontrollable Charisma meet again in their third match-up this year! Kota Ibushi took the first in the New Japan Cup, then the second in an IWGP Intercontinental Championship match at G1 Supercard in Madison Square Garden! Despite Naito’s love-hate relationship with the belt, he wants it back here in Osaka-Jo. However, this arena hasn’t been kind to him, as he’s lost the last three times he’s been here. Will Ibushi go a full 3-0 in 2019? Or will Naito break through to reclaim his Destino?
Meanwhile, the IWGP Heavyweight Championships are on the line again as the Guerrillas of Destiny and the combo of Evil & Sanada fight again. The GoD are joint IWGP and ROH World Tag Team Champions after G1 Supercard, but will Darkness Fall to make LIJ three-time champions? Or will Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa still rule over two tag team divisions? And before all of this, the NEVER Openweight Championship has been a bit of a hot potato. Taichi has won, lost and won back the title. And in a bold move, he called out Tomohiro Ishii as his new challenger! Will the Sliest Wrestler in the World have something in store for the Stone Pitbull? Or will Ishii become a historic five-time Openweight Champion?
Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr VS Jushin Thunder Liger & Yoshi-Hashi!
The Meanest Man in the World and his Submission Master protege look to ruin the road to retirement for the living legend of Junior Heavyweight wrestling, and just the general well-being of the Head Hunter. Can Liger and Hashi survive the sadistic duo?
Well it might be hard with Suzuki and ZSJ attacking from behind! ZSJ throws Hashi out while Suzuki goes after Liger. The bell rings anyway but Suzuki whips Liger into barriers. Hashi and ZSJ brawl on the other side, and Hashi actually backs ZSJ down. Suzuki has Liger in front of the crowd while Hashi CHOPS ZSJ in front of commentary. Liger CHOPS but Suzuki eggs him on. Suzuki then SLAPS Liger down and rips railing apart to throw it onto him! Meanwhile, Hashi and ZSJ get in the ring. Hashi whips but ZSJ reverses to tweak the arm! ZSJ drags Hashi around for a Boston Crab, and with a knee in Hashi’s head. ZSJ shifts around to a modified STF, then a cover, TWO!
Hashi sits up but ZSJ tags Suzuki. They mug Hashi in their corner, then Suzuki snapmares and kicks Hashi. Suzuki taunts Liger and the ref keeps Liger from getting in. But this allows Suzuki-Gun to put Hashi in double team submissions! Armlocks and leglocks, but the referee finally catches them. ZSJ leaves but Suzuki toys with Hashi. Hashi hits back but Suzuki just eggs him on. Hashi keeps throwing forearms and even chops, but Suzuki’s one forearm ROCKS Hashi to an open corner! Tag to ZSJ and ZSJ taunts Hashi. ZSJ takes Hashi’s KT tape and throws it at him. ZSJ kicks at Hashi, and so does Suzuki. They both toy with Hashi but Hashi starts powering up. Hashi throws big forearms on ZSJ, only to get a Pele to the arm!
Tag to Suzuki, and Suzuki-Gun mugs Hashi more. Suzuki whips Hashi corner to corner for a boot! Then a snapmare to Penalty Kick! Cover, TWO! And Liger gets in to kick Hashi awake?! Fans like that, but Suzuki doesn’t, and Suzuki punches Liger. That only fires Liger up, and fans rally behind Hashi. Hashi throws forearms on Suzuki, but Suzuki whips. Hashi reverses and CHOPS him! Suzuki slows but goes after Hashi, only to get a spin back kick! Hashi hurries and tags Liger in! Liger rallies with SHOTEI for Suzuki, and SHOTEI for ZSJ! Liger runs in but misses in the corner. Suzuki grabs Liger by his mask, but now it’s a CHOP fight! Suzuki headlocks but Liger powers out, only for Suzuki to hold the hair and headbutt Liger down! Now Suzuki rains down rights before wrapping on a cross arm-breaker!
Liger flails and gets up, but Suzuki wrangles him down! Liger reaches and gets the ropebreak! Fans cheer as Suzuki lets go, but Suzuki’s right on Liger again. Suzuki snarls as he kicks Liger. Liger drags himself up but Suzuki throws big forearms. Suzuki wraps on the sleeper hold! Liger flails but fades, and Suzuki spins him around! Gotch hold but Liger resists the lift! Suzuki knees low but Liger headbutts back! Suzuki falls but Liger drags him up, suplex to brainbuster! Both men are down but fans fire up. Suzuki and Liger crawl as fans rally up. Hot tags to SJ and Hashi! Hashi CHOPS then whips but ZSJ reverses. Hashi dodges for a blockbuster! The Head Hunter hits his mark, but he keeps going with a running CHOP!
Hashi suplexes ZSJ onto the ropes, then runs to dropkick him down! Cover, TWO! Hashi keeps on ZSJ but ZSJ slips out to a kimura! Then a cross arm-breaker! Hashi holds on but ZSJ goes after the grip. ZSJ gets the extension! Liger breaks that up then intercepts Suzuki! Suzuki reverses the whip to an abdominal stretch! ZSJ gets on on Hashi! Side-by-side cobra twists! Hashi endures as the legal man but Liger endures just as much. Hashi powers his way to a ropebreak! ZSJ lets go and Suzuki drags Liger to the outside. Suzuki stomps Liger out in front of commentary, then whips, but Liger reverses to send Suzuki into railing! Meanwhile, Hashi elbows ZSJ’s knee, but ZSJ kicks and runs, into Hashi’s lariat!
Hashi fires up and drags ZSJ to his feet. Pump handle but ZSJ slips out to a facelock. ZSJ has the arm, but Hashi suplexes. ZSJ slips out to a sleeper, then a full nelson, but Hashi arm-drags out. Hashi spins into a roundhouse but still CHOPS! ZSJ slaps and uppercuts but Hashi backslides! Hashi rolls ZSJ to a cradle, and Liger anchors Suzuki on the outside! Hashi and Liger win!!
Winners: Yoshi-Hashi & Jushin Thunder Liger, Hashi pinning
What a shock! ZSJ and Suzuki won’t stand for this, they wreak havoc! ZSJ brawls with Hashi while Suzuki throws whatever and whoever he can. But Hashi clobbers ZSJ with a lariat! Suzuki continues to be furious, but that’s because Hashi is no longer a joke! Will the Head Hunter make the Submission Master’s Revolution Pro British Heavyweight Championship his prey?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Taichi VS Tomohiro Ishii!
The Holy Emperor and the Stone Pitbull joined NJPW at the same time, and have been rivals for it ever since. But will Taichi regret challenging his rival to be his first challenger after just getting this belt? Or will Taichi finally prove to Ishii, the world, and himself that he is truly championship material?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised after Taichi tosses it at Ishii, and the match begins!
Fans cheer for Ishii as he stares at Taichi. Taichi smirks as he and Ishii circle. But then Taichi slithers out to walk with Miho Abe around the ring. Ishii waits patiently for Taichi to return. Taichi takes his time, so Ishii lies down on the mat. Ishii says Taichi has an easy target now. Taichi still takes his time returning, and knows better than to cover Ishii. He stomps Ishii, but Ishii doesn’t flinch. Taichi keeps stomping, then kicks Ishii while he sits up. Ishii keeps his cool as Taichi toys with him. Ishii stands up and stares Taichi down. Taichi pushes Ishiia round, but Ishii DECKS him with one forearm! Now Ishii returns those toying kicks, then drags Taichi up for a CHOP! Ishii CHOPS more but Taichi rakes his eyes! So Ishii rakes Taichi’s eyes back!
The referee reprimands both men, but the eye raking continues. Ishii lets Taichi go to then whip corner to corner. Taichi reverses and boots Ishii, then runs only to get run over! Ishii kicks Taichi sharp on the back, and looms over him as he writhes. Ishii grabs Taichi’s mic stand and knapsack. He says all this is junk, and tosses the mic away! Ishii also tosses the bag, then goes back to kick at Taichi. Taichi grows annoyed and the two go forehead to forehead. Taichi kicks Ishii in the leg, so Ishii chops Taichi. Neither backs down as the kicks and CHOPS go back and forth. They pick up speed! Kick, chop, repeat, as they go around in a circle! Ishii staggers and Taichi kicks more. Ishii chops then slaps, so Taichi SLAPS! Fans respect that toughness!
Taichi goes at Ishii in the corner, and kicks him while he’s down. Ishii gets to ropes but Taichi drags him up to put him in the corner. Taichi kicks Ishii more, and still toys with Ishii. Ishii rolls away but Taichi keeps on him with a sharp kick! Ishii reels back but Taichi drags him up. Taichi snapmares and kicks again! Ishii writhes while Taichi scowls. Taichi grabs Ishii in a waistlock but Ishii resists the saido suplex with elbows. Ishii headbutts away on Taichi, but Taichi back kicks. Taichi runs but into a powerslam! Fans cheer while both men are down, and we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns, and Ishii looms over Taichi. Ishii kicks him to a corner, then stands him up for CHOPS and forearms! Chop, forearm, repeat, then Ishii whips Taichi corner to corner. Taichi boots Ishii away, but Ishii keeps coming. Taichi dodges to enziguri Ishii down! Fans cheer but Taichi mocks the Ishii fans. Off come the pants! Taichi powers up but Ishii dodges the kick. Ishii waistlocks but Taichi elbows back. Taichi swings but Ishii spins him and suplexes. Taichi escapes and spins Ishii for a kick, only for Ishii to dump him down! Ishii throws forearms, Taichi enziguris again! Both men are down and fans cheer. Miho rallies the fans up, and Taichi stands first.
Taichi runs but Ishii blocks the clothesline to give one. Ishii runs but into a roundhouse! Taichi runs to clobber Ishii then enziguri a third time! Both men are down again but Miho shouts for Taichi to stand. Taichi does stand, and he drags Ishii up off the mat. Taichi saido suplexes Ishii down hard! Cover, TWO!! Ishii just survives! Fans cheer while Taichi keeps his focus. Taichi drags Ishii up again, but Ishii gives Taichi a saido! Both men are down but fans rally up. They stand and Taichi boots Ishii. But Ishii stays up, and eggs him on! Taichi kicks him over and over but Ishii still eggs him on. Taichi goes up but gets blocked and caught into a German Suplex! Ishii wants Taichi to stand, then runs, but Taichi dodges the lariat. Taichi uses the ref as a shield!
The ref goes down, but Ishii blocks the low blow! And headbutts Taichi back! Taichi blocks a kick but again Ishii blocks the low blow! For another headbutt! Taichi is down but Ishii only fires up. Ishii wants Taichi to get back up, and he waits as Taichi slowly stirs. Ishii runs, but into a boot. He still lariats on the other end! Taichi gets up for another lariat! Cover, TWO!! Taichi lives but Ishii grits his teeth. Ishii sits Taichi up, runs, but Taichi dodges the sliding lariat to enziguri Ishii down! Taichi runs for a sliding lariat of his own! Then the Gedo Clutch! TWO!! Ishii narrowly escapes! Fans fire up again as both men are down. Miho grows concerned for Taichi as he and Ishii slowly sit up.
Taichi is the first to stand, and he runs at Ishii. Ishii dodges, but so does Taichi. They both run for clotheslines! Taichi takes Ishii down! Then he drags Ishii up into a dragon sleeper! He stretches Ishii sideways! Ishii endures the stretch and twist, even as Taichi goes a full 90 degrees! The ref checks on Ishii as he starts to fade. Ishii’s arm goes down once, and Taichi cranks. It goes down again, but Taichi drags Ishii to his feet. Ishii revives to enziguri, but Taichi blocks it! Taichi hits the buzzsaw! Taichi looms over Ishii and says this will end it! Alabama lift, tuck, but Ishii slips out! Ishii powerbomb lifts but Taichi slips out to ROUNDHOUSE! Then, powerbomb lift, Last Ride!! Cover, TWO?! The Stone Pitbull is superhuman!
Fans are thunderous as Taichi crawls to a corner. Ishii slowly stirs as Taichi fires up. Taichi aims, thrusts, but misses! Ishii swings but Taichi deflects. Taichi tries again, but Ishii catches the kick to give an enziguri! Ishii rolls away to a corner and he fires up. Ishii aims at Taichi as he stands, but runs into a back kick! He blocks Taichi’s roundhouse to throw elbows from all sides! But Taichi still enziguris! But Ishii stays up to LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!? Now Taichi shows his heart, but Ishii won’t just give up. Ishii suplexes Taichi, but Taichi slips out to throw elbows of his own! Taichi Alabama lifts, but Ishii counters with a powerbomb lift! Powerbomb and SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!?! Ishii doesn’t care how, he just keeps going, for a BRAINBUSTER! Cover, Ishii wins!!
Winner: Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall; NEW NEVER Openweight Champion
Once again, the Stone Pitbull is champion! He is the first five-time champion of this belt! But with all it took in this match, is this rivalry of NJPW Black Sheep far from over?
NJPW Media backstage interview
Ishii sits down with his newly won belt to say, “It was just like I said. Okayama all over again.” Ishii says that is his style. Taichi wishes he could wrestle like Ishii does. But Taichi’s style is “half-assed.” What’s the point of the mic stand and the iron glove or any of that stuff? If you win that way, the question still remains. But what Taichi does from here is up to him. If Taichi can admit he lost, there may be hope for him yet. As for NJPW, they’re gonna need to patch up this belt. Will Ishii hold onto the title long enough for that renewed belt? Or will this title stay a hot potato through the summer?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Guerrillas of Destiny VS EVIL & SANADA!
After G1 Supercard, Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa reign over both the ROH and NJPW tag team divisions! But a Fatal 4 Way doesn’t really prove much as far as they’re concerned. They took care of Jay & Mark Briscoe in a rematch for the ROH World Tag Team Championships, but can they do the same to their NJPW rivals? Or will The King of Darkness and the Cold Skull win those belts for a third time?
The introductions are made, and Jado hits the poor ring announcer! Then he threatens commentary! Jado’s actions aside, the IWGP belts are raised, and we begin this epic rematch!
Teams sort out, and Tama starts against Sanada. Fans rally behind LIJ, and Sanada takes a moment to climb up and hear the fans. Sanada offers Tama the same courtesy, so Tama climbs up, to hear more of a mixed reaction. Tama just grins as he offers Sanada a second go. Sanada climbs up again and Osaka cheers loud and proud. Tama is upset by that, and rushes at Sanada! Sanada jumps over, then over again, and things speed up. Tama hip tosses but Sanada lands on his feet! Sanada ducks the punch to speed up again. Tama copies Sanada’s hurdles, but Sanada sees the second one coming, and spins Tama to a takedown! Sanada goes for Paradise, but Tama pushes him away! Tama backs off to his corner while fans cheer.
Sanada waits for Tama, but Evil and Tonga Loa tag in. Evil circles with Loa as the powerhouses of their teams. Evil hits low then headlocks. Loa powers out but they collide shoulders. Neither man falls so Loa dares Evil to go again. Evil does, and they collide again. Now Evil eggs Loa on. Loa tells Evil, “I’m a f*cking champion! You gotta bring it, bro!” Loa runs, they collide and Evil staggers back! Tama laughs as Loa eggs Evil on again. Evil runs, dodges and hits Tama! Then he sends Loa into Tama, to then run Loa over! Fans cheer as Evil nods. Evil stomps Loa’s legs then clubs him on the back. He drags Loa up and CHOPS! Evil CHOPS m ore but Loa just fires up. Evil CHOPS Loa again, and off his feet! Cover, ONE!
Evil keeps on Loa to kick and run, but Jado and that damn kendo stick block Evil’s path! Loa runs but into a waistlock. Loa standing switches but so does Evil, and Evil lifts. Tama distracts the ref as Jado SMACKS Evil in the back! Fans boo the Master Heater and Sanada protests. Tama kicks the rope to indirectly low blow Sanada! Loa stomps Evil out then pushes him to the outside. Tama and Loa both go out to keep on LIJ. Tama sends Sanada into railing while Loa holds Evil for Jado. The ref sees that, and so Jado backs off. Loa bumps Evil on the apron, then plays innocent. This distracts the ref so that Jado can jab Evil in the ribs! Tama comes over to club Evil down while Loa apologizes to the ref. Loa gets in the ring while Tama rams Evil into railing!
The ref reprimands Tama and starts a count. Evil sits up at 7/20, while Tama and Jado taunt him. Tama puts Evil in at 11/20, and Loa goes at Evil with headbutts. Evil staggers to a corner but Loa fires off forearms. Loa whips corner to corner then hits Evil with a clothesline. Loa keeps moving, BIG shotgun knee takes Evil down! Cover, TWO! Loa keeps his cool as he drags Evil up. Tag to Tama, and Loa scoop slams Evil down. Tama adds the slingshot senton, then swaggers about. Evil grits his teeth while Tama throws down hands. Tama drives elbows in but Evil keeps sitting up. Tama drags Evil up for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Tama grows annoyed, but he brings Evil over to tag in Loa. Tama and Loa whip and double dropkick Evil down! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally for Evil as Sanada returns to the corner. Loa taunts Evil then blasts Sanada down. Loa drags Evil back to the GoD corner to throw big body shots and forearms. Tag to Tama and he throws hands and a dropkick! Evil flops down but fans keep cheering. Tama tags Loa back in, and the GoD have Evil down for another slingshot senton! Cover, TWO! Loa keeps his cool as he drags Evil up. He puts Evil in an open corner for stomps and forearms. Loa mocks the fans cheering for Evil as he whips Evil corner to corner. Evil reverses but Loa reverses back. Evil hits buckles hard and falls to the mat. Loa drags Evil up for forearms then a scoop. Evil slips out to shove Loa. Evil blocks the kick, hands it to the ref, and mule kicks Loa down low!
Fans rally up as both men crawl for their corners. Hot tag to Sanada! Tama just comes in to intercept and elbow Sanada. Tama whips Sanada to a corner, then Loa runs in. Sanada dodges Loa to dropkick Tama’s legs out! Sanada goes back at Loa to block the boot. And he puts Loa in Paradise! Tama attacks Sanada and whips, but Sanada reverses. Sanada shows Tama how the hurdles are done, then dropkicks him down! Tama bails out but Sanada slingshots to take him out! Then Sanada slingshots onto Jado! Fans fire up behind Cold Skull as he returns to the ring. Sanada still has one target left, and he dropkicks Loa out of Paradise! Cover, TWO! Sanada keeps his cool as he stalks Loa.
Sanada drags Loa up, but Loa blocks the back suplex. Loa runs but into headscissors. But Loa blocks it to a sit-out bomb! Cover, TWO! Tama tags in and takes out Evil. Loa rams Sanada in the open corner, then Tama hits a big splash! GoD mock the fans cheering Sanada on, but the fans do cheer. It bothers Tama, and he goes after Sanada. He whips corner to corner but Sanada tumbles out and springboards back in with a missile dropkick! Tag to Evil and Evil hits Loa! LIJ whip Tama corner to corner, back elbow and clothesline! Evil suplexes Tama up top then climbs up to join him. Evil stands Tama up, and SUPERPLEXES him down! Sanada hits a standing moonsault on top! Evil has Tama in the Sharpshooter!
Tama endures while Evil sits deep. Sanada tries but can’t stop Loa, Loa barrels in and breaks the hold. Loa throws hands on both Evil and Sanada, then throws double dirty birds. Loa runs, but into Evil’s mule kick! Sanada front kicks and Evil LARIATS Loa down! Tama runs in, but into a boot, then mule kick, then saido suplex! Fans fire up behind LIJ as they vow to end this. Evil drags Tama up and Sanada props him up. But Loa intercepts! Tama powers Evil to a corner, Loa German Suplexes Sanada! But Sanada lands on his feet to spin Loa around, Salida into the dragon sleeper! Evil beats Tama down then hits Jado. Tama grabs Evil but Evil spins through to trip Tama up. Sharpshooter side-by-side with the dragon sleeper! Sanada drops back for full Skull End!
GoD endure submissions as Evil sits deep. Tama powers up and reaches, but Evil drags him away from ropes! Loa fades while Tama endures! Jada drags the referee out just before Tama taps!! LIJ think they’ve won, but Jado attacks with his kendo stick! Jado gets in the ring as fans boo, and he SMACKS Evil! Jado doesn’t give a damn that his stick is broken, he aims at Evil again. But wait, LJI has reinforcements! Bushi runs in, grabs the stick, and sprays Jado with the mist!! To then SMACK Jado down! Fans fire up as Bushi ruins and DIVES into Jado! He also gets the ref in the ring for Evil and Sanada as they vow to finish it! They grab Tama, lift, but Tama kicks Sanada away! Tama rolls Evil, and holds tights!! GoD win!!
Winners: Guerrillas of Destiny, by pinfall; still IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions
It took the Master Heater and a tight grip on the tights, but the Bullet Club’s top tag team still reigns over both ROH and NJPW! Not even evening the numbers was enough to defeat them, will Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa continue being double champions through the summer?
NJPW Media backstage interview
Tama Tonga tells LIJ that when they asked for a rematch, GoD granted it. And they still won! “Who else wants a rematch?!” Oh, the Briscoes do, just because they were losers the first two times. Do they think third time’s the charm? They’ll lose again. GoD wants new blood! “When we say this is an open invite, it’s an open challenge. An open invitation to anybody and everybody, including their mother, their mother’s daughter, their daughter’s cousin’s best friend’s dog’s pet. Insects, whatever the hell y’all got! It’s open!” If you want it, come get it! Usos, The Revival, come get some! Don’t let fences block you in. Just come out and play. Who will answer this most open of open challenges to test the Guerrillas?
IWGP Intercontinental Championship: Kota Ibushi VS Tetsuya Naito!
The Golden Star is 2-0 in 2019 alone, beating the Uncontrollable Charisma in both the New Japan Cup and at G1 Supercard in Madison Square Garden. And now, Ibushi calls NJPW his true wrestling home! But a 3-0 sweep is incredibly difficult by any standard, let alone in NJPW. Will Ibushi stay golden with yet another win? Or will Naito defy history and finally get a win in Dominion?
Introductions are made and fans are already thunderous for these two fan favorites. The belt is raised, and Ibushi is patient as Naito takes off his elaborate entrance gear. The bell rings, and we begin the third chapter of this rivalry!
Ibushi and Naito hear the fans fire up again as the two stare down. Naito and Ibushi slowly circle, then tie up fast! Ibushi headlocks but Naito pries out. Ibushi keeps him in but Naito punches back. Naito powers out and things speed up. Ibushi dodges, hurdles, but Naito sunset flips. Ibushi rolls through but Naito dodges the Penalty Kick. Naito arm-drags but Ibushi rolls him to headscissors. Naito pops out but into Ibushi’s kick! Fans cheer this already fast and furious match!
Ibushi watches Naito writhe his way to a corner. Ibushi stomps Naito then drags him up for an arm wrench. He whips corner to corner but Naito elbows back. Naito runs out but into Ibushi’s kick. Ibushi runs but into a hip toss, Naito basement dropkicks him in the back then poses. Naito has a mixed reaction until he poses again. Then he spits at the haters. Naito stomps Ibushi then drags Ibushi up to a dragon sleeper for a neckbreaker. He wraps Ibushi up in a modified leg full nelson. Ibushi endures even as Naito hammers his head with fists. Ibushi powers up to turn around, and kicks his way to a ropebreak. Naito holds on until Red Shoes counts, but Naito says he has a hard time letting go. Fans boo, but Naito lets go at 3.
Ibushi crawls but Naito drags him up for forearms. Ibushi hits back but there’s not much there. He keeps trying, but Naito spits on him! Naito stomps Ibushi as fans boo. Naito grinds Ibushi’s head into the corner, then stands up to pose on the ropes. Fans are still mixed as Naito stomps Ibushi again. Naito drags Ibushi up and whips him corner to corner. He runs in, jump kicks and sweeps for a fake out, to then basement dropkick Ibushi! And then tranquilo! Naito kneels on Ibushi for a cover, ONE. Naito actually covers, TWO! So Naito spits at Red Shoes. Red Shoes wipes it off on Naito as Naito stands. Naito kicks Ibushi but Ibushi eggs him on. Naito keeps kicking and now Ibushi gets up. Ibushi fires back with forearm and he starts getting his strength back. But then Naito fakes him out to rake the eyes.
Fans boo again but Naito doesn’t care. He drags Ibushi up, whips, but Ibushi reverses. Naito reverses back to atomic drop Ibushi, then runs, only to get double stomps! Ibushi and Naito are both down while fans cheer. Ibushi fires himself up as he goes to Naito. He stands Naito up but Naito swings. Ibushi ducks it to fire off a strike fest! Naito staggers away after the back kick, but Ibushi whips him corner to corner. Naito reverses that, then run sin only for Ibushi to go up and over. Ibushi gets Naito with a huricanrana! Fans rally up as Ibushi takes aim. Ibushi slingshots for a corkscrew splash! Ibushi clips the apron and is a little dazed himself. But he shakes it off to get Naito back and in. Cover, TWO!
Ibushi keeps his cool as he drags Naito back up. Naito resists the waistlock lift and elbows free. Naito switches but Ibushi resists now. Ibushi breaks free but gets an enziguri! Naito whips but Ibushi reverses, and catches the flying forearm into a Half ‘n’ Half Suplex! Naito is up and spins around to tornado DDT Ibushi down! Both men are down but Osaka is fired up as we go to break.
NJPW on AXS returns, and both men are down on the ground. Osaka duels and Naito gets himself to a corner. Ibushi stirs and Naito runs in, shotgun dropkick! Cover, TWO! Ibushi survives but Naito keeps his cool. He drags Ibushi back up to throw big forearms and elbows in the corner. Naito hoists Ibushi up top, then climbs up to join him, but Ibushi resists. Naito clubs away until Ibushi lets go, and then still clubs him more. But Ibushi slips under to PELE Naito down! Naito hits ropes then tumbles to the apron. Ibushi climbs up the ropes and drags Naito back up. Ibushi waistlocks but Naito fights out. Naito throws uppercut after uppercut, then drags Ibushi over in a gut wrench! But Ibushi saves himself with flailing!
Ibushi joins Naito on the apron and waistlocks Naito. Naito holds on to deny the German Suplex, and elbows Ibushi off him. Naito clubs Ibushi more, then gets some space. Ibushi runs at Naito but gets a boot! Naito now waistlocks Ibushi with a dangerous idea in mind! Ibushi holds on to deny the German Suplex! Naito clubs away on Ibushi’s back again, and grins as he gets the waistlock back. Naito German Suplexes Ibushi to the apron!! Dear God, Ibushi’s head and neck!! Red Shoes checks on Ibushi but somehow, by a miracle, Ibushi is okay. Naito gets in the ring and a 20 count begins. The count passes 10 but Ibushi does not stir. The count passes 15, then 17, but Ibushi revives at 19 and gets in at 19.9!! It’s hard to even believe Ibushi is conscious.
Naito shows no mercy and he drags Ibushi up to bump him off buckles. Naito hoists Ibushi up backwards, and climbs up behind him. He wants to end this, SUPER REVERSE STEINER!! Cover, TWO!? Ibushi lives!? Naito doesn’t hesitate to drag Ibushi up again. Wring and tilt-o-whirl, but Ibushi blocks it! Ibushi tucks Naito in, Package Tombstone! But he can’t make the cover! Both men are down and a standing count begins. Osaka practically pleads with both men to stand as the count passes 5. Ibushi and Naito sit up at 8, and the match continues. Ibushi throws a forearm at Naito, and eggs Naito on. Naito hits Ibushi back, so Ibushi gives him another. Naito grins as he throws another forearm at Ibushi.
The two slowly stand as they continue to throw forearms. Ibushi hits, Naito hits, and they pick up the pace! Naito gets an edge, but Ibushi comes back with just as many! Naito headbutts! Ibushi falls to his knees, but Naito stands him up for more headbutts. And more headbutts! But Ibushi just comes back with a kick! Naito headbutts again, but Ibushi CHOPS Naito off his feet! Then LARIATS him inside-out! Ibushi slumps over and both men are down again. Osaka gives Ibushi power to get up and shout out the King of Strong Style! Ibushi runs at Naito, but Naito dodges to Dragon Suplex! Ibushi staggers onto his feet, Naito runs in for DESTINO!! Cover, TWO?!? Ibushi survives again?! Naito is too stunned to be frustrated!
Naito drags Ibushi up again, wrings the arm and tries again, but Ibushi denies Destino to a gut buster! Ibushi drags Naito up now, powerbomb lift, and LAST RIDE! Cover, TWO!! Now Naito shocks Ibushi! Both men are down again but Osaka cheers them on. Ibushi drags Naito up in the double wristlock, but Naito leaps up for a satellite DDT! Both men are down again, but crawling to opposite ends. Osaka hits a fever pitch as Naito and Ibushi sit up. Ibushi aims at Naito then runs in, but into a boot and enziguri! Naito hops up, grabs Ibushi with a dragon sleeper, inverted tornado DDT! Cover, TWO! Ibushi still has life but Naito does, too! Naito drags Ibushi up, tilt-o-whirl, but another block! Fireman’s carry, but Naito pops up! REVERSE-RANA!
But Naito’s not done, he scoops Ibushi for Valentia, the Northern Lights Driver! Cover, TWO!!! Ibushi STILL lives!! Naito is at a loss for words, but he still wants it. Wrench and tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO!! Cover, Naito wins!!
Winner: Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall; NEW IWGP Intercontinental Champion
And finally, Naito takes the title back! He and Ibushi still hold hands until the medics help them with ice packs. Somehow both men survived, and Naito has the belt he doesn’t really like back. Naito adds insult to injury as he stands on Ibushi’s head while posing. Will both Naito and Ibushi move on from this rivalry of there? Will Naito continue to chase his dream of being dual Intercontinental and Heavyweight Champion? Can Ibushi recover from the devastation to his body?
NJPW Media backstage interview
Naito tosses the chair aside, he doesn’t want to sit down. “I still don’t really understand the value of this belt. But there’s no doubt that this belt is the one I want most right now.” Naito has the Intercontinental Championship back, but he doesn’t feel any closer to his goal of holding two belts at once. Perhaps he’s back to square one. Naito will hold onto this title while chasing THE IWGP Heavyweight Championship, via the G1 Climax! Because winning that means winning a shot at the Heavyweight Championship. And then nobody can stop him. A nice little shortcut, really. The Intercontinental title came back to Naito at just the right time. It must have missed him. Naito is back where he started, and has a goal in sight.
Oh, and as for Ibushi… “I don’t like him as a person, but I love him as a wrestler.” Things are always interesting with him around. Ibushi doesn’t want to have a match with Naito again, but if he changes his mind, Naito welcomes another rematch. He looks forward to it with his usual answer: “Tranquilo, chilllll out.” Adios!
My Thoughts:
A pretty strong conclusion to AXS’s coverage of Dominion 2019. The tag match of Suzuki-Gun VS Liger & Yoshi-Hashi was good, and Hashi getting the pin was a surprise. I really wonder if we’ll get ZSJ VS Hashi for the Rev-Pro British Heavyweight title at a NJPW event, that’d be a lot of fun. I doubt Hashi would win, though. Suzuki VS Liger sounds like a lot of fun, too, with these two legends and their opposite styles. Liger is retiring one way or another this year, from what he’s said, but if it isn’t his actual last match, I could see Liger finding a way to win. That’d make for good story. Taichi VS Ishii had great story, too, given their history. And it made sense for Ishii to win, he’s just a great talent for NJPW.
The IWGP Heavyweight Tag title match was another classic, but that makes sense with GoD and LIJ. I really thought LIJ was gonna get it after Bushi helped take out Jado, but nope. It was a good move for GoD to win with Heel tactics and just last second like that. This keeps both teams strong for another try down the line, but also for whatever is planned via GoD’s “Open Challenge” promo backstage. While old news by now, mentioning the WWE’s Usos and Revival, two great teams in their own right (and for a time, two teams that looked to be leaving WWE) was bold of GoD. I would love to see any and all of those combinations, but we all know Vince McMahon would never let a crossover happen, and would probably never let those teams out.
Then comes the really rough one to call, in more ways than one. There is always the need to escalate in a rivalry, but there is also a fine line when it comes to how much is too much. I feel like this third time around in 2019 stepped over the line with that apron German suplex spot. Again, this is old news by now, and WhatCulture probably said it best in one of their videos. I’ll simply summarize all of that by saying there had to have been a way to escalate this rivalry without such a move. At the same time, Ibushi was somehow able to continue, so he may have known what he was doing. I just hope and pray this really is the last of Naito VS Ibushi for some time, especially since they’re in different blocks for the G1 this year.
My Score: 8.5/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
The end is so close, we can almost taste it!
Half of A Block at 3-2, half at 2-3, and only two rounds left! Who will break away from the pack to lead this World Tag League?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Shoma Kato VS Daiki Nagai; Kato wins.
- Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS Bullet Club; The United Empire wins.
- Six Man Tag: Taichi, Taka Michinoku & DOUKI VS TMDK; Taichi, Taka & Douki win.
- Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jado & Katsuya Murashima VS Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg & Tiger Mask; Yano, Oleg & Tiger Mask win.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS The House of Torture; LIJ wins.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS KENTA & Chase Owens; Kenta & Chase win.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Gabe Kidd & SANADA; Gabe & Sanada win.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Bishamon VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Neman; Bishamon wins.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa VS Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji; Takagi & Tsuji win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current A Block standings!
Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji: 3-2, 6 points
Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman: 3-2, 6 points
Bishamon: 3-2, 6 points
Gabe Kidd & Sanada: 3-2, 6 points
Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma: 2-3, 4 points
Kenta & Chase Owens: 2-3, 4 points
Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa: 2-3, 4 points
Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi: 2-3, 4 points
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS KENTA & Chase Owens!
The Roughneck almost didn’t make it to this round with how he hurt his foot last round, but he’s good to go! But will he and Honma be able to make it through the sixth? Or will The Fang Revived & The Crown Jewel make them #Go2Sleep?
OH NO, Kenta & Chase attack as Shota & Honma make their entrance! Bullet Club takes advantage of Shota & Honma going out into the crowd, and now they’re beating Shota & Honma down! The ref reprimands but Chase uses Shota’s own glowstick to JAM him in the head! Kenta drags Honma up for haymakers and Chase JAMS Shota again! The ref reprimands more but this isn’t a match so Bullet Club keeps beating up on Shota & Honma! Kenta POSTS Honma, and Chase drags Shota over. But Shota fires forearms in return! The fans fire up and Shota saves Honma from Kenta! Shota fires forearms on Kenta & Chase again and again!
Kenta ducks Shota’s forearm to full nelson, and Chase kicks the bad leg! Shota drops to the floor as he clutches the knee, and Kenta stomps Honma. Chase grabs a chair and he pushes the ref aside. Kenta holds the leg out! Honma covers the leg to shield it! So Chase SMACKS Honma instead! Kenta drags Honma up, Chase brings Shota around, and Chase puts Shota in the corner. Chase pulls the leg against the post, and then he grabs the chair! CON-CHAIR-TO on the leg against the post! The fans are stunned as Shota falls to the floor and shouts in pain! Kenta drags Honma up and puts him in the ring, and Chase wants the bell!
Kenta storms in, the bell rings, and now we’re on record as Kenta stands Honma up. Kenta KICKS, and KICKS, and KICKS, but Honma blocks! Honma CLUBS the leg, but then Kenta CLAWS Honma’s face! Kenta brings Honma over to bump off Chase’s boot. Tag to Chase and Bullet Club mugs Honma. Chase then traps Honma’s head for the NECK TWEAK! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up but Chase tags Kenta. Bullet Club continues to mug Honma, then Kenta covers. TWO, but Kenta drops a knee on Honma’s head! And another! Kenta tags Chase and Chase stomps Honma. Chase grinds his forearm into Honma’s face!
Chase drags Honma up, headlocks and punches! Chase bumps Honma off Kenta’s boot, tags Kenta back in, but Honma fights back! The fans rally as Honma fires CHOPS and SLAPS, but Bullet Club mugs him again! They double whip Honma to a corner, then Kenta runs in. Honma dodges Kenta, then dodges Chase! Honma kicks Chase, catches Kenta, DDT COMPLETE SHOT COMBO! The fans fire up but Shota is still down! Honma is in an unofficial 2v1 handicap match at this point! Shota crawls, but he’s still so far from the corner. Kenta CLUBS Honma, then brings him around. Chase adds on, and they double whip again.
Honma grabs ropes, BOOTS Kenta, then DUMPS Chase! The fans fire up as Honma hurries to his feet. Honma SHOULDER TACKLES Kenta! The fans fire up as Shota is back up! But then Chase CHOP BLOCKS him! Shota falls and tumbles into railing! Honma CHOPS Kenta! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Honma whips Kenta corner to corner, then runs up to ELBOW! And BULLDOG! The fans fire up and Honma fires up! FALLING KOKESHI FLOPS as Kenta moves! Tag to Chase and Bullet Club storms up on Honma. SOBAT! KICK! ROUNDHOUSE! Chase mocks the Kokeshi call to KNEE Honma down! Cover, TWO!
Chase calls to end this, and Kenta goes up a corner. Chase brings Honma in, but Shota gets up to SHOVE Kenta down! Kenta hits apron then floor! Shota shoves Chase into a cradle! TWO!! Chase escapes, runs up but Honma shoves Chase into Shota’s ELBOW! Chase staggers and Honma rolls him up! TWO!! Chase escapes again, but Honma runs up. Chase swats the lariat, fires a strike fest, but Honma roars! Honma HEADBUTTS, runs, KOKESHI- C-TRIGGER!! Chase tucks Honma in, hoists him up, PACKAGE PILEDRIVER!! Cover, Bullet Club wins!!
Winners: Kenta & Chase Owens, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Shota & Honma earn 0)
Bullet Club struck first and they struck last, and they’re still in the running! Can they find an outside shot at the finals and hit the mark? As for Shota & Honma, they’re mathematically ELIMINATED from the finals! Will Shota even have a leg to stand on when it comes time for his world title match?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi VS Gabe Kidd & SANADA!
The Funky Sauce is on the bubble at 2-3 but they seem to be getting hot at just the right time. Can Zayne & Taguchi cook up a great comeback? Or will the heat die down after facing the Mad Man & Cold Blooded?
The teams sort out and then the War Dogs attack! It’s the Bullet Club way! Gabe is after Zayne, Sanada is after Taguchi, and the bell rings to get this on record! Sanada TOSSES Taguchi while Gabe UPPERCUTS Zayne! Sanada helps drag Zayne up, and they War Dogs DOUBLE SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up but Gabe reels Zayne in. Zayne fights the driver, shoves Gabe at Sanada at the corner, but Gabe narrowly avoids running into him. Zayne then SUPERKICKS Gabe, and he dodges Sanada to then IMPLODER KNEE DROP! STANDING MARIPOSA! The fans fire up but Gabe waistlocks! Zayne fights, switches, but Gabe backs him down!
Zayne keeps hold of Gabe and Taguchi tags in. Taguchi CLUBS Gabe, Zayne kicks, and Funky Sauce double whip. They blow past Gabe to then BULLDOG and basement DROPKICK! Taguchi covers, TWO! The fans rally as Funky Sauce HIP ATTACK back and forth! Gabe sputters, and he gets a HIP ATTACK SANDWICH! The fans cheer again and Zayne drags Gabe up. Taguchi goes to a corner, Zayne sends him in, and Taguchi BOOTS! Taguchi goes up for DEADLY HIPS! Taguchi then hops up, Zayne tilt-o-whirl RANAS, but Gabe stops from running into cheeks! Gabe SHOVES Taguchi to the floor, then he dodges Zayne to CHOP!
Zayne falls then flounders away while the fans rally up. Sanada brings Taguchi out into the crowd and SMACKS him off chairs! Gabe does the same with Zayne on the other side! Young Lions make sure fans get to a safe distance while Sanada SMACKS Taguchi off more chairs. Gabe sends Zayne into the back wall! Gabe fires forearms, then THROWS Zayne into the wall again! Sanada drags Taguchi up and moves through the crowd while Gabe SMACKS Zayne with spare railing! Gabe has a wild grin as he storms around. The ring count starts, so Sanada brings Taguchi back to ringside. Taguchi resists but Sanada CLAWS his face!
Gabe has fans clear out, then he BOWLS Zayne into the chairs! Zayne tumbles up and over multiple rows! That was a strike, maybe even a turkey! Gabe then goes back for Taguchi to put him in the ring at 15 of 20. Gabe flexes and mockingly asks where Zayne went. Gabe drags Taguchi up, and he CHOPS! Taguchi goes to a corner while the fans rally up. Gabe bumps Taguchi off buckles, tags Sanada, and Sanada stomps Taguchi down. Sanada stomps away, and Gabe intercepts Zayne at the gate! The ref counts, Sanada lets off, and Gabe grins as Zayne is down in the crowd again. Sanada drags Taguchi back up to bump off buckles.
Sanada whips corner to corner, runs in, and ELBOWS! Taguchi sputters but Sanada tags Gabe. Gabe eggs Taguchi on. Taguchi rises up to CHOP! Gabe eggs Taguchi on more, so Taguchi CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Gabe BITES Taguchi’s forehead! Then he bumps Taguchi off buckles! The ref reprimands but Gabe tags Sanada. Sanada stands Taguchi up and ROCKS him with a right hand! Taguchi drops to his knees, so Sanada stands him up to ROCK him again! Taguchi wobbles, Sanada ROCKS him again, but Taguchi comes back with CHOPS! The fans rally, but Sanada CLAWS Taguchi’s eyes! Sanada whips, Taguchi HIP ATTACKS!
The fans fire up as Taguchi reaches out, and Zayne has returned! Taguchi crawls over but Gabe runs over to YANK Zayne down! And it’s back out to the crowd! Zayne fights the driver to BOWL Gabe into chairs! STRIKE! The fans fire up as Zayne hurries back, but Sanada drags Taguchi away. BIG atomic drop! Taguchi hobbles, reaches out, but Sanada reels him back in! Taguchi fires elbows, runs, but he fakes Sanada out! HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up again as Taguchi crawls! Hot tag to Zayne! Zayne dodges Sanada, fires hands and forearms, then whips. Zayne HIP TOSSES Sanada to then MARIPOSA!
Zayne drags Sanada up, suplexes, but Sanada fights it to suplex! Zayne fights that, and it’s a battle for control! Zayne suplexes up and over! The fans fire up and Zayne rises! Zayne stands Sanada up to fire forearms and ELBOWS! Then a mule kick! Zayne runs but Gabe trips him up! Gabe drags Zayne out and suplexes, but Zayne fights it! Zayne hangs Gabe out to dry on railing! Then ROLLING AX KICK! Gabe flops down, Zayne runs in and he dodges Sanada! BOOT! ENZIGIRI! Sanada ends up in a corner, tag to Taguchi! Funky Sauce whips Sanada corner to corner, then Taguchi HIP ATTACKS! Feed to Zayne, tilt-o-whirl RANA into the HIPS!
The fans fire up as Zayne backslides Sanada, but Sanada rolls through! KETSUYE! Cover, Gabe breaks it! Gabe runs up to kick Zayne and brings him around. Gabe suplexes, but Zayne slips free! Feed to the HIP- NO, Atomic Drop! Wait, Gabe’s knee is what hurts? Taguchi wags his fingers, did he activate his buns of steel?! Zayne ENZIGIRIS, and then HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up again and Taguchi goes for Sanada. Funky Sauce double whip, but Sanada grabs ropes. Sanada TOSSES Zayne, then dodges Taguchi to spin and suplex, MAGIC- NO, Taguchi slips free! Sanada fights the suplex to dragon sleeper! But Zayne BLOCKBUSTERS!!
The fans are thunderous but Gabe UPPERCUTS Zayne! Zayne hits back, and the two fire heavy shots! The fans rally, Zayne blocks a boot to KNEE, but Gabe LARIATS! Gabe kicks Taguchi, suplexes, but Taguchi fights it! Taguchi wrenches to ENZIGIRI! Gabe falls but Sanada rises, so Taguchi runs up, to whiff on the hip attack! Dragon sleeper, but Taguchi drops down! OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Sanada flails and reaches out, Gabe and Zayne intercept each other! Gabe reels Zayne in, but Zayne fights the lift to have OH MY GAH ANKLE 2!! The fans are thunderous as the War Dogs are enduring! Zayne shouts, “ITADAKIMASU~!” And he BITES Gabe’s leg!!
The fans are thunderous but then Gabe rolls and sends Zayne into Taguchi! All four men are down, and Zayne continues tumbling out to the floor. Gabe bails out to the apron, but Taguchi runs at Sanada. Sanada BOOTS Taguchi, SANADA QUEBRADA! Taguchi dodges! Sanada’s leg jams! KETSU- NO! Sanada dodges the hips! Sanada comes back to SHINING WIZARD!! Sanada roars, the fans fire up, and Sanada clinches for DEAD- NO, Taguchi trips Sanada up, steps over, LA MAGISTROL!!! TWO!! Gabe beats up on Zayne while Sanada catches Taguchi! Taguchi switches but Sanada shoves the ref, LOW BLOW MULE KICK!!
The fans boo but Sanada reels Taguchi in! DEADFALL!! Cover, War Dogs win!
Winners: Gabe Kidd & Sanada, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Zayne & Taguchi earn 0)
Another first strike, last strike match for Bullet Club, and the Funky Sauce is ELIMINATED from the finals! Gabe & Sanada now moving up the ranks, will they be the ones taking those trophies?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Bishamon VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Neman!
The four-peat is still alive, but at 3-2, who knows for how much longer. Can the Fierce Warrior & Headhunter defy the United Empire? Or will the Imperial Unit & Prince of Pace make sure Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi won’t #GetBackUp?
The teams sort out and Callum pushes Goto. Goto steps up and the fans cheer with the bell. Goto and Callum stare down while the fans rally up more, then they circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Goto uses size to power Callum backwards to ropes. The ref counts, Goto lets off with pats on the shoulder, and the fans applaud. Callum brushes that off literally and the two go again. They tie up but Callum kicks low! Callum fires a forearm, whips, but Goto reverses. Callum ducks ‘n’ dodges and BOOTS Goto down! The fans fire up and Callum waits on Goto to sit up. Callum stomps Goto, then stands him up to fire forearms.
Goto CHOPS, Callum fires a forearm, repeat! Callum knees low, whips, but Goto grabs ropes! Hashi tags in and Goto BOOTS Callum! Bishamon CLOBBERS Callum! Cobb runs up, but Bishamon drop toeholds him onto Callum! Callum sputters while Goto & Hashi bring Cobb up. “SE~ NO!” DRUM BEAT! The fans fire up as Bishamon CLUBS Cobb back down onto Callum! Goto steps out while Cobb rolls away, and Callum coughs and sputters his way to ropes. Hashi brings Callum around to cover, ONE!! Callum is still toughing it out and the fans rally up. Hashi drags Callum up to CLUB him on the neck!
Callum goes to another end of the ring but Hashi storms up. Hashi CLUBS Callum again, then keeps him from Cobb. Hashi ROCKS Callum with a forearm, then whips him to ropes. Callum reverses and HIP TOSS NECKBREAKERS! Cobb runs up to BLAST Goto! Cobb goes out to stomp Goto down, then he stands on Goto’s chest! The fans cheer, and Cobb pretends he didn’t see Goto there as he steps off. Callum drags Hashi up to ROCK him with a forearm! Callum then CHOPS Hashi off his feet! The fans cheer and Callum brings Hashi over. Callum bumps Hashi off buckles, then he tags in Cobb.
Cobb HEADBUTTS Hashi in the back! And HEADBUTTS him again! Cobb whips and RUNS Hashi over! Cobb then carefully covers, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, TWO! Hashi stays in this and the fans rally up again. Cobb stalks Hashi to ropes, stomps him, then drags Hashi up. Cobb CLUBS Hashi down, pushes him around, and then steps on Hashi’s back! Cobb stands on Hashi to use him as a surfboard! Cobb mocks Goto’s pose, then steps away to tell Goto to go back to his corner. Cobb bumps Hashi off buckles then tags Callum. Callum CHOPS Hashi, kicks him, but Hashi fires forearms!
Callum and Hashi go back and forth, and Hashi has the edge! But Callum CHOPS Hashi off his feet! Callum stands Hashi up, tags Cobb, and the Empire mugs Hashi in the corner. The fans rally but Cobb scoops Hashi and holds him with one arm! Then Cobb SLAMS Hashi down! Cobb again mocks Goto’s pose to power up, GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives and the fans fire up, but Cobb brings Hashi around. Hashi fires body shots and forearms! Cobb JABS! Cobb whips, but Hashi dropkicks the legs out! The fans fire up and Hashi crawls over, hot tag to Goto! Goto runs to RAM Cobb!
Cobb stays up so Goto RAMS him again! Cobb tells Goto nice try! Cobb kicks low, whips, but Goto reverses. Goto then blows past Cobb to LARIAT! Callum runs in but Goto kicks him, and snap suplexes him onto Cobb! The fans fire up and Goto brings Cobb around. Goto fires a flurry of forearms, then whips corner to corner. Goto runs up to MURAMASA, and then BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Cobb stays in this and the fans rally up more. Goto drags Cobb up but Cobb’s too much to fireman’s carry! Cobb CLUBS Goto, but Goto fires forearms! Cobb fires back and the forearms go back and forth!
The fans rally as Goto and Cobb throw shots, but then Cobb gets the edge! Cobb pumps up, swings, but into a dragon sleeper! But Cobb fights free! Goto ROCKS Cobb, runs, but Cobb blows past Goto now to “JOHN CENA!” SHOULDER TACKLE! Goto is down and the fans fire up! Cobb rolls his way to the corner, Goto crawls, hot tags to Callum and Hashi! Hashi dodges to fire a strike fest! Hashi CHOPS and Callum goes to the corner. Hashi storms up to CHOP again! Hashi turns Callum, Callum slips free to shove, trip, and DOUBLE STOMP! The fans fire up, Callum huffs ‘n’ puffs and rises again.
Callum drags Hashi up, but Hashi suplexes! Callum slips free, waistlocks, but Hashi RAMS him into a corner! Goto runs up and LARIATS! Hashi CLUBS Cobb off the apron! Hashi whips Callum but Callum BOOTS Goto! And then Callum jumps Hashi’s basement dropkick to DOUBLE STOMP! Cobb storms in and he deadlift suplexes Hashi! Callum adds a PENALTY KICK! Cover, Goto breaks it! The fans fire up but Cobb TOSSES Goto! Cobb goes out after Goto again while Callum brings Hashi up. Cobb runs up but someone crashes into railing! Hashi avoids Callum’s Oscutter, then blocks a kick to fire a forearm!
Callum fires back and the fans rally as the shots go back and forth! Callum wobbles, Hashi fires a flurry! Hashi spins to COHP! Callum falls, kips up and ENZIGIRIS! Callum runs, but Goto is back, and he LARIATS Callum! Bishamon stands Callum up! Fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! They call their shot and get Callum back up! Dragon sleeper, leg lift, but Callum kicks free! Goto suplexes, Callum knees free! Goto waistlocks, spins Callum around, and Hashi LARIATS at the ropes! Then full nelson, but Callum BOOTS Goto and STUNNRES Hashi! Victory roll, TWO!! Cobb drags Goto out to send him into railing!
Hashi ducks a roundhouse to SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Hashi sees Callum tumble to a corner but Cobb runs up to ROCK Hashi! Goto gets in, Cobb ROCKS him, too! Cobb fires more shots, but gets caught into an URA GTR! Hashi LARIATS Cobb down! The fans fire up and Hashi roars! Callum SUPERKICKS Hashi! And DREAMCAST KICKS Goto! Hashi runs up, into a JUMP KNEE! Callum springboards, OSCU- NO, Goto catches him! Hashi has the legs! SHOTO!! Cover, BISHAMON WINS!
Winners: Bishamon, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Cobb & Callum earn 0)
A fast and furious finish, and it was certainly lights out for Callum! The United Empire’s dream of facing each other in the finals is in jeopardy, but is the dream of the four-peat about to come true for Goto & Hashi?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa VS Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji!
TMDK is on the ropes in both blocks, their hopes of a mighty battle in Kumamoto is no longer possible. But can The Front Man & Mullet stay strong until the end? Or will the Rampaging Dragon & Gene Blast keep World Tag League tranquilo?
The teams sort out, LIJ fist bumps, and the fans rally up as Oiwa steps up to Yota. Yota grins, the bell rings, and the fans rally up. Yota and Oiwa circle, feel things out, then circle. They tie up, Oiwa spins to hammerlock, but Yota reaches back to headlock. Oiwa powers out and wrangles Yota into a headlock. Yota fights up, fires body shots, then hammerlocks in return. Oiwa slips around to switch the hammerlock onto Yota, but Yota switches and full nelsons. Oiwa fights that, so Yota spins him to a snapmare. Yota chinlocks but Oiwa slips right out to hammerlock! Oiwa then hooks the other arm and brings Yota into a cover, TWO!
Oiwa keeps on Yota with a double wristlock but Yota fights up to headlock. Yota hits a takeover, Oiwa headscissors, and Oiwa holds on tight! Yota fights around, pops out and has Oiwa’s legs trapped! Oiwa endures, Yota floats to a headlock but Oiwa again headscissors. Yota kips free this time but Oiwa goes up and hits a headscissor takedown! The fans fire up while Oiwa pushes up to put on the pressure. Yota fights around, ROPEBREAK! Oiwa lets go of Yota to stomp him down, then he brings Yota up to CHOP! Oiwa CHOPS Yota at the ropes, then runs, but Takagi jumps in! LIJ DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Oiwa down!
The fans fire up and Takagi SENTONS! Yota BODY PRESSES! Cover, TWO! Oiwa stays in this but Yota brings him up. Yota CHOPS Oiwa, but Oiwa comes back for more. Yota CHOPS again, but Oiwa shakes his head. Oiwa CHOPS, ROCKS, and fires more forearms! But Yota CHOPS Oiwa down! The fans fire up and Yota runs, but Oiwa dropkicks the legs out! The fans fire up again as Oiwa hurries, tag to ZSJ! ZSJ drags Yota around by a leg, has a standing toehold, and he twists and tweaks that foot! ZSJ turns Yota over and hooks up the legs. Yota resists as ZSJ goes for the arms, so ZSJ STOMPS the legs!
The fans fire up while Yota writhes, and ZSJ tags Oiwa. Oiwa storms up and grabs a leg for his own standing toehold. Yota endures, fights, but Oiwa YANKS the leg! Oiwa drags Yota around to YANK the leg again! Oiwa then tags ZSJ back in and ZSJ goes right after the leg, SPINNING TOEHOLD! ZSJ scissors the leg but Yota kicks with the free leg. But ZSJ grabs that and adds it on, DEATHLOCK! ZSJ pulls way back on it, and even has a headscissors! ZSJ again innovates with this modified Bow ‘n’ Arrow, but Yota endures and reaches out! Yota rolls over to have the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and ZSJ lets go to tag Oiwa.
Oiwa drags Yota up to dropkick the legs! Oiwa brings Yota up again, has a leg, but Yota fights the lift! Yota CLUBS away but Oiwa DRAGON SCREWS the leg instead! Tag back to ZSJ and ZSJ stalks Yota to a corner. ZSJ UPPERCUTS Yota, UPPERCUTS again, and then UPPERCUTS again! Yota falls over, ZSJ drags him around, and he stands on the leg before dropping into another DEATHLOCK! Yota endures as ZSJ stands up to put on the pressure! Takagi storms up to CHOP ZSJ! ZSJ stays standing but Takagi JABS, JABS and CHOPS, but ZSJ catches him! COBRA TWIST! The fans are thunderous as ZSJ has both LIJ behemoths!
Red Shoes counts, ZSJ lets Takagi go, and then he drags Yota back by just walking! Tag to Oiwa, and Oiwa stomps Yota down. The fans rally up while Oiwa drags Yota up, and he RAMS Yota into an open corner. The fans rally and duel while Oiwa pulls the leg around ropes! Oiwa then KNEES the knee! Red Shoes reprimands but Oiwa whips corner to corner. Yota manages to reach the other side, and Oiwa runs up. Oiwa blocks a boot, but Yota reels him in to then DOUBLE STOMP! Both men are down, the fans rally up, and Yota hot tags Takagi! Takagi CLOBBERS Oiwa, BLASTS ZSJ, and shouts, “Mada mada! <Not done yet!>”
Takagi runs in at the corner, blocks a boot, and LARIATS through! The fans fire up with Takagi and he JABS, CHOPS, and repeat! Red Shoes counts, Takagi JABS, JABS, JABS, but ZSJ storms in! ZSJ wrenches the arm, CLUBS it, then he and Oiwa double whip. Takagi grabs ropes, comes back, but into DOUBLE BOOTS! Takagi stays up, clinches Oiwa and kicks ZSJ! DDT COMPLETE SHOT COMBO! The fans fire up again as Takagi suplexes Oiwa high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi tells Kochi, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up and join in on “OI! OI! OI!” Takagi rises, brings Oiwa up, but Oiwa fires a forearm!
Takagi shakes that off and comes back to ROCK Oiwa! Oiwa fires another forearm, but Takagi fires back! The forearms go back and forth and the fans rally up again! Takagi JABS, JABS, and JABS! Oiwa LARIATS! Oiwa roars, runs, but Takagi LARIAT at the ropes! Takagi runs, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Oiwa comes back into an ELBOW! JAB! YUKON feint and DDT! Yota runs in to BLAST ZSJ off the apron! LIJ brings Oiwa up and they double whip. Oiwa breaks the double chops to DECK Yota and DROPKICK Takagi! The fans fire up as everyone is down! Oiwa crawls over, ZSJ is back, and ZSJ tags in!
ZSJ storms up to UPPERCUT Takagi, then UPPERCUT again! And again! Takagi eggs ZSJ on, then blocks a boot! But ZSJ steps through the dragon screw to NECK TWIST! And basement DROPKICK! Takagi flounders to a corner, and ZSJ almost parodies Takagi. ZSJ runs up to UPPERCUT, then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Takagi stays in this but ZSJ stays focused. The fans fire up as ZSJ aims, and KICKS! Takagi blocks! Takagi puts ZSJ’s leg in the ropes, fires JAB after JAB, then DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS! ZSJ flops over and clutches that leg but fans cheer as Takagi rises again.
Takagi grabs a leg, has a standing toehold, then steps through. ZSJ boots Takagi away, Takagi comes back, but ZSJ avoids the sliding lariat to grab that arm! ZSJ hammerlocks, traps, and TWISTS! The fans fire up while ZSJ sits back to clutch his leg and Takagi clutches that elbow. ZSJ clamps back onto the arm, twists the wrist and SNAPS fingers! Red Shoes reprimands but ZSJ digs elbows into Takagi’s back. ZSJ then drags Takagi up to UPPERCUT the arm again and again! Takagi fights the takedown to ELBOW! YUKON- NO, ZSJ blocks to PELE the arm! ZSJ BOOTS Takagi, then catches Takagi on the rebound!
ZSJ isolates the arm and STOMPS! Then he scoops, but Takagi slips free! Takagi suplexes, ZSJ fights it, so Takagi hits a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! ZSJ and Takagi crawl, hot tags to Oiwa and Yota! Oiwa dodges to headlock but Yota powers right out. They RAM shoulders, and both men fire up! They fire forearms back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! Yota gets the edge and ROCKS Oiwa! Yota runs, but into a ROLLING ELBOW! Oiwa runs to SPINNING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up again and Oiwa grabs a leg! SHIN BREAKER!
Oiwa trips Yota, steps through, FIGURE FOUR! Oiwa thrashes the hold as Yota endures! Yota pushes at the main leg, but Oiwa pulls on Yota’s legs! Yota endures, reaches out, but Oiwa pushes up for more pressure! Yota fights, crawls, and manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Oiwa lets go of the hold. Takagi coaches Yota but Oiwa SPLASHES down on the leg! And then drops knee after knee onto it! Red shoes reprimands as Yota again has ropes, so Oiwa stands Yota up. Oiwa whips, Yota reverses, and Yota kitchen sink knees! And then basement DROPKCIKS! Takagi runs up to BLAST ZSJ down!
Takagi checks on Yota, and the fans rally up. Yota stands and Takagi runs in, to ELBOW Oiwa! Takagi feeds Oiwa to Yota’s BOOT, then Takagi BLINDSIDE LARIATS! Oiwa staggers and Yota brings him in. LIJ hits a DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Oiwa stays in this and the fans fire up again. Yota drags Oiwa up, Takagi wheelbarrows, but ZSJ CLOBBERS Yota! Takagi KNEES and TOSSES ZSJ out hard! LIJ double whip Oiwa, then duck Oiwa’s counter lariats! Takagi fireman’s carries Oiwa to TOSS him to Yota’s KICK! That was like the Aussie Open Dental Plan! The fans fire up as Yota hauls Oiwa up to the top rope!
Yota climbs up after Oiwa and fires up! The fans fire up with him, and Yota SUPERPLEXES Oiwa! Oiwa sits up, into a SLIDING PUMPING BOMBER! Yota covers, ZSJ BREAKS IT! Takagi TOSSES ZSJ out again! Takagi goes out to stomp away on ZSJ, and Yota grins as he rises up again. Yota powers up, aims at Oiwa, GENE- NO, Oiwa hurdles over, and ZSJ catches Yota into a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! ZSJ then suplexes, but Yota slips free! ZSJ switches to have the COBRA TWIST! Red Shoes reprimands, but Yota HIP TOSSES free! ZSJ UP KICKS, Oiwa UPPERCUTS! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Oiwa DAIGOSHIKIPLEXES! Cover, Takagi breaks it!
ZSJ BOOTS Takagi back out, then pursues. Oiwa fires up, and he clamps on a SLEEPER! Yota endures and the fans rally up! Someone is sent into railing right as Oiwa spins Yota! Yota ducks The Grip, and PUMPING BOMBER hits! But ZSJ runs in at Takagi to BOOT! Takagi comes back, ZSJ BOOTS the lariat! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feint and DDT- NO, ZSJ slips free! PENALTY KICK! But Takagi’s right back up! PUMPING BOMBER!! Oiwa is up to LARIAT Takagi! GENE- LARIAT?!? Oiwa takes Yota down first, but he also falls over! The fans are thunderous as ALL FOUR MEN are on the mat!
ZSJ and Takagi roll out to the aprons, and the fans rally as hard as they can as Oiwa drags himself up! Yota crawls to the corner, and Oiwa runs in! Oiwa LARIATS, then he suplexes! Yota fights that, wrenches and swings, but Oiwa catches him and spins him! But Yota suplexes first! Oiwa fights that, slips around to waistlock, but Yota fights the lift! Yota switches, Oiwa fights, and then Oiwa switches to have a SLEEPER! Yota snapmares free, and SUPERKICKS! Oiwa staggers, Yota roars and runs, but Oiwa gets around! SNAP GERMAN! The fans fire up as we hit 20 minutes! Yota runs up again, but Oiwa gets back around, SNAP GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous as Yota escapes! Oiwa hurries to his feet, and he storms over to a corner. The fans fire up with Oiwa, ZSJ keeps Takagi from getting to the corner, and Oiwa DIVING BODY PRESSES! Cover, TWO!! Yota survives that simple yet effective splash, but Oiwa roars! Oiwa gut wrenches, DOCTOR- RANA from Yota! SUPERKICK! Oiwa roars, but Yota’s GENE TRIGGER hits! Oiwa falls back and now Yota roars! The fans are thunderous again and Yota goes to the corner. Yota goes up and up, to MAROON CRUSH! Cover, ZSJ drags Yota back with an ANKLE LOCK! Takagi CLUBS ZSJ and has a STANDING CROSSFACE!
ZSJ lets Yota go to slip free of Takagi! ZSJ fires UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT on Takagi, but then Yota catches ZSJ! Spin and wheelbarrow, then BOOSTED WHEELBARROW GERMAN!! ZSJ flounders out and the fans fire up with LIJ! “OI! OI! OI!” Yota sets up in the corner, Takagi stands Oiwa up, PUMP- NO, Oiwa shoves Takagi away and rolls Yota up! TWO!!! Yota escapes with nanoseconds to spare! Takagi CLUBS away on Oiwa, he and Yota double whip, but Oiwa DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans are thunderous again and Oiwa roars! Oiwa rises, brings Yota up, DOCTOR BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?! Yota survives and shocks Oiwa!
The fans are electric as Oiwa rises again. Oiwa sits Yota up into the SLEEPER! Yota endures and the fans rally up! Someone is sent into railing as Yota fights up, but here comes Takagi! Oiwa ducks, ZSJ catches Takagi into a SLEEPER! ZSJ tells Oiwa now’s the time! IRON OCTOPUS on Takagi, and THE- GENE BLASTER POINT BLANK!! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER for ZSJ!! The fans are thunderous again while ZSJ flops out of the ring! Takagi shouts that they’re not done! Takagi runs to PUMPING BOMBER!! Takagi roars, Yota rises, and Oiwa is set up for the PUMPING BLASTER!!! Cover, LIJ WINS!!
Winners: Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (gain 2 points; ZSJ & Oiwa earn 0)
Another fast ‘n’ furious fight that Oiwa just could not win out! And now, Oiwa & ZSJ are ELIMINATED from the finals! The Mighty Don’t Kneel, but will they simply have to fall back on other plans for WrestleKingdom?
As for LIJ, Yota shows Oiwa respect by standing him up and raising his hand. Oiwa shakes free, not wanting Yota’s pity, so Yota BOOTS him down! ZSJ lets it be while he and Takagi raise their titles at each other. The IWGP World Heavyweight Champion helps his young teammate out of there while the NEVER Openweight Champion stays in the ring. Yota then grabs the mic to say, “Oi, Kochi. Finally…” Takagi says, “Our time has come!” The fans cheer that! Takagi repeats to Yota that their time has come. Yota recaps that they are now 4-2, and on top of the block! The fans cheer that!
Yota asks, “Hey, Takagi-san, you’re ready, right?” Takagi says, “Of course I’m ready! I’m totally ready! Now it’s time to make this really interesting. There’s no time like the present and no team like us to win this! We’re rampage to the end of this league.” The fans cheer that, and Yota tells Kochi and everyone watching to “keep your eye on us as we win this thing!” The fans cheer again, and Yota says, “Oi, Kochi, are you ready?!” The fans cheer because yes they are! Yota simply ends with, “We are winning this World Tag League.” Mic drop and LIJ heads out, but will they be headed to Kumamoto?
Here are the NEW A Block standings!
Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji: 4-2, 8 points
Bishamon: 4-2, 8 points
Gabe Kidd & Sanada: 4-2, 8 points
Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman: 3-3, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Kenta & Chase Owens: 3-3, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma: 2-4, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa: 2-4, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi: 2-4, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
My Thoughts:
Another great round for World Tag League, and A Block is dropping like flies compared to B Block. With three teams at 4-2, so many teams get wiped out here, despite the great matches everyone had. Kenta & Chase finish off Shota & Honma, but then Kenta & Chase are still out because Gabe & Sanada won. Bishamon of course stays in the running, their four-peat is a big story for them, and they take Cobb & Callum out of the running to cross off any chances of a United Empire finals. And as I said when this all started, WTL was not the real goal of ZSJ and Shota, they were just setting up their world title match at Tokyo Dome.
Though, ZSJ & Oiwa VS Takagi & Tsuji was an awesome main event with a lot riding on it because had ZSJ & Oiwa won, they might’ve eliminated LIJ from the running. Hard to tell say, given LIJ lost to Bishamon and to Kenta & Chase but beat everyone else. But I guess if Takagi VS Konosuke is a WrestleDynasty thing, then maybe he and Yota can battle for the tag titles at WrestleKingdom. Though, that might telegraph Khan & Henare winning since Takagi would be bringing the tag titles along to a match with Konosuke Takeshita. Maybe? NJPW’s plans could be up in the air even now for all I know.
My Score: 8.9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
OHHH Monday Night Raw! Don’t you DARE be sour!
At least, we hope things won’t be sour given last week’s tense moment between Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. Can the Power of Positivity prevail on this night, the TENTH ANNIVERSARY of ya bois, the New Day?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez VS Damage CTRL; Liv & Raquel win.
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Dakota Kai VS Katana Chance VS Shayna Baszler; Dakota wins and advances to the next round.
- Gunther VS Dominik Mysterio; Gunther wins.
- R-Truth VS Pete Dunne; Truth wins.
- Seth Rollins VS Sami Zayn; Rollins wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
CM Punk arrives backstage!
And as he heads to gorilla, he says hey to Jey Uso & Sami Zayn. They feel great after their win at WarGames, and even Sami shakes Punk’s hand. Punk continues on as his music begins, and while Everett, Washington may not be Seattle, they go supersonic for The Best in the World! And yes, “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME!” Punk signs autographs before he goes to the ring, and fans cheer more as Punk does a quick lap before grabbing a mic. Punk takes a moment as the fans chant his name, and he says, “Is it good to be alive in Everett, Washington on a Monday night or what?!” The fans cheer that!
Punk says to those at home, it is SOLD OUT here in Everett! And the last time you saw Punk, he stood on that ramp, fresh from a possible career ending Hell in a Cell match, and he said he wasn’t sure what the future held for CM Punk. He had a lot of things to consider. And now some deja vu, here he is, life and in living color, fresh from a possibly career ending WarGames, and now Punk knows exactly where he’s going. He’s less beat up than he was after Hell in a Cell. We can all tell, Punk put the personal issues aside, handled business with Drew McIntyre, then handled some personal business for his friend, Paul Heyman.
The fans cheer that, and Punk gets up on the corner to tell us that he knows what the future holds. Punk points to where a sign would be, and he wants us to imagine it with him. He can see it. For his entire career, everyone said it wasn’t there. They couldn’t see the vision. The sign isn’t hanging in Everett, but oh, ladies and gentlemen, Punk sees it. Punk knows what the future holds. There are many roads you can take to get there, different ways you can finish your story, and the Royal Rumble’s around the corner. That could be the road he takes, or maybe it’s Elimination Chamber. All roads Punk’s taken have been dead-ends, but he has a favor to call upon to get where he needs to go!
Punk invites all of us to come on the journey with him! And- “BURN IT DOWN!” Here comes Seth Rollins! Punk sighs as the Visionary struts out in a very shiny pewter colored suit, or maybe more clay, and then he heads to the ring. Rollins takes off his amber colored sunglasses before he goes into the ring, and the fans sing for him, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins has a mic of his own now, and now the suit appears a bit more the color of hot cocoa. The fans fire up seeing both Rollins and Punk in the ring, and the dueling chants are on! Punk and Rollins stare down from opposite corners, and Rollins speaks first.
“You know, I’ve been thinking a lot. I really shoulda knocked your ass out the same day you came back to the WWE.” The fans are torn on that, but Rollins says he has regretted that every single day of the past year. And over this past year, a lot has gotten in the way. Punk got hurt, Rollins had titles to defend, Rollins had a Bloodline to take down… And the last time Rollins saw Punk, Rollins was this close to taking his shot. But Rollins had pity on Punk, because Punk had just come out of Hell in a Cell and was hanging on by a thread. Rollins showed pity, and that was Rollins’ mistake.
After Saturday, seeing Punk there triumphant next to Roman Reigns, it all became clear that it was time to rectify Rollins’ mistakes. The fans are again torn, but Rollins says that as we stand here right now… Rollins takes off his jacket and says there is nothing in the way. There is only air and hatred, and Rollins has a feeling in his gut that TONIGHT is the night he knocks CM Punk on his ass!! The fans are again torn but Punk just smirks. Punk finally says, “You talk too much, and you don’t listen enough. I just came out here and I said I put all the personal stuff aside. I’m long past running races with people I didn’t even know I was running.
Six months ago, Rollins was a champion, he had something Punk wanted. But now, Rollins has nothing! The fans are torn on that one, but Punk says he knows where he’s going, and what’s in his future. Rollins, kid, you ain’t it. Rollins has been thinking about Punk for six months? Punk doesn’t think about Rollins at all! Punk has things to do in this business, so just stay out of his business. The fans fire up and they wanna see this fight! Rollins tells Punk, “You talk too much, and you don’t listen enough! This is MY business!” Rollins DECKS Punk! The fans fire up, Punk gets up, and the brawl is on! But Sami & Jey hurry out here!
Sami & Jey separate Rollins and Punk, the fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” but both Punk and Rollins want more! The fans want more, too! Rollins dares Punk to bring it, but Punk listens to level heads and hops out of the ring. Adam Pearce is there, as are producers, but Rollins grabs his mic again. “C’mon! Am I your business now? C’mon now!” Punk rushes in! Rollins stomps at Punk, the producers pull Punk back and Rollins says fine, get him outta here. Yeah, yeah, go on, Punk! Go on, Jey! Run along to Roman! Sami grabs a mic to tell Rollins hey, no! Sami gets Rollins is angry, but he doesn’t get to talk to Jey that way.
The fans cheer and Rollins tells Sami yeah, fine, Sami’s right. That was family, that’s fine, Rollins is just pissed, he shouldn’t have gone there. But Jey is Roman’s family, what’s Sami’s excuse? Sami ain’t family. Sami stares at Rollins, and fans chant “Sami Uso!” Rollin says oh, ha-ha, yeah, Rollins loves Sami Uso. But if Sami’s family with Roman, then he should really be family with Rollins! Rollins and Sami have known each other way longer than they’ve known Jey or Roman. They came up int he business together, up and down the roads for over 20 YEARS together! They’re family, and yet Sami stabbed Rollins in the back when Sami teamed with Punk!
Sami stops Rollins there to bring up how Sami didn’t ask for Punk. Did Rollins think Sami wanted Punk as a partner in WarGames? No, he didn’t. But Punk was willing to help when the OGs were down a man! Sami didn’t want to take his help, he wanted Rollins! Sami asked Rollins, TWICE, and he’ll remind Rollins that Rollins said no TWICE. The OG Bloodline wouldn’t have needed Punk if Rollins had teamed with them, but Rollins is just too damn stubborn! The fans really fire up hearing that one. Rollins gets a headache, and he asks if he’s losing his mind. Can Sami remind Rollins what Sami even wanted him to team with them to do?
What did Sami want Rollins to team with them for? Oh yeah, to help Roman Reigns! To help that monster to regain their power! Sami says “that monster” was created by Rollins! Rollins created that monster when he put the chair in Roman’s back TEN YEARS AGO! So don’t act like Rollins’ hands are clean in this. Rollins says he is in no way acting innocent. He understands completely what he has done. He understands the sins he committed. Rollins understands that the chair shot to Roman’s back was the motivation for “The Tribal Chief.” Rollins has apologized and atoned for that.
But if we’re pointing fingers for stabbing people in the back, then Sami needs to look in the mirror and see he did the same damn thing! And Rollins doesn’t fault Sami for it, because Sami did it for the right reasons! Roman is the scum of the earth! He treated Sami like crap, he treated Jey like crap, every single person was supposed to bow down to Roman. Rollins understands why Sami did what he did, why they ALL did what they did at WrestleMania 40, what they sacrificed in order to take down The Bloodline! Does Sami not remember this? Get it through your head: Roman Reigns has NOT changed!
Has Roman apologized to Sami? To Jey? To ANYONE? Even a shred of remorse? No. Roman hasn’t changed, and “that snake” CM Punk sure hasn’t! Stubbornness is NOT the issue here. Sami’s naivety is! He’s gullible! That’s the issue. And really, Sami’s just being stupid. The fans aren’t so sure about that, and Sami says that Rollins is really angry, with a lot of frustration. If Rollins wants to blow off some steam, then Sami has no problem meeting him in this ring tonight! The fans fire up for that! Rollins says fine by him. Rollins drops the mic and pushes past Sami, but who pays for Rollins simply lashing out?
The Judgment Day is in their clubhouse.
Finn Balor tells everyone that he warned Damian Priest months ago: Finn would be lying in wait for the moment Priest thinks he’s finally done with Finn, and then- Liv Morgan interrupts. Didn’t they agree that Finn was going to leave Priest alone? Finn says oh, well, yeah, but that’s when Dominik was going to handle it. But seeing as lil’ Dom Dom couldn’t get the job done, Finn handled it himself. And now instead of Priest walking around here with the World Heavyweight Championship on his arm, he’s walking around with an arm in a sling.
And Liv, maybe if they’d all listened to Finn, her team might not have lost at WarGames. And now, Liv has to worry about Iyo Sky facing her for the title at Saturday Night’s Main Event! Sis, she’s got a lot to worry about. Liv says yes, that is right. She and Raquel have Damage CTRL to focus on, so that’s what they’ll do. She just hopes Finn knows what he’s doing. Oh, Finn knows. See? He and JD are still WWE World Tag Team Champions. And when everyone listens to Finn, Judgment Day wins. Carlito likes that rhyme. Finn heads out, but Raquel asks what Finn means by that. Liv isn’t sure. But Liv wants Dom to keep an eye on Finn while Liv & Raquel have their match.
Dirty Dom says no problem, and he heads out after The Prince. Liv & Raquel head to gorilla, and JD goes back to WWE 2K. Is everything (not) fine with Judgment Day?
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez VS Damage CTRL!
Well, as Finn just said, the Women’s World Championship is now set to be on the line on December 14th, Saturday Night’s Main Event! Will Lil’ Liv & Big Mami Cool be rolling towards Long Island? Or will The Evil Genius & Pirate Princess start to take control?
The teams sort out, and Raquel BOOTS Kairi down at the bell! Then she BLASTS Iyo! The fans boo but Raquel drags Kairi up. Raquel TOSSES Kairi to the Judgment Day corner, then tags Liv. The fans boo as Raquel scoops and SLAMS Kairi, then Liv becomes her weapon! POWERBOMB SENTON! Cover, Iyo breaks it! The afns fire up but Raquel TOSSES Iyo out! Raquel tells Iyo to stay out, but Liv runs at Kairi. Kairi BOOTS Liv, then runs up to BLOCKBUSTER! Kairi crawls, Liv drags her back, but Kairi ENZIGIRIS! Th efans fire up while both women are down, and Kairi crawls again! Hot tag to Iyo!
The fans fire up as Iyo SHOTEIS Liv! And SHOTEIS again! DROPKICK! Liv tumbles and Iyo kips up! Iyo runs up to ELBOW Liv, then brings her around, only for Liv to throw Iyo at ropes! Iyo BOOTS in return, then goes out to the aprno. Raquel sings, Iyo blocks to SHOTEI! And JAWBREAKER! Iyo KICKS Raquel into ropes, then slingshots to DROPKICK Raquel down! Not the cleanest hit, but Liv waistlocks! Iyo switches and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Liv tumbles to a corner and Iyo fires up! The fans fire up as Iyo runs in, SHINKANSEN! Iyo has Liv in the drop zone and climbs up! Th efans fire up again, but Liv trips Iyo up!
Iyo is in a Tree of Woe and Liv hurries away. Tag to Raquel and Raquel hoists Iyo right up! TEXANA- RAAN!! Raquel avoids hitting buckles, and grins, but Kairi tags in! Raquel runs up, Iyo POSTS her! Kairi AX KICKS and shoves Raquel down! Iyo goes up again, to MISSILE DROPKICK! Raquel is down, and Kairi is up top! The fans fire up for the IN-SANE ELBOW! Cover, LIV BREAKS IT! Liv saves it with nanoseconds to spare, but Iyo TOSSES Liv back out! The fans fire up as Iyo DIVES! Direct hit at the ramp! Kairi brings Raquel up, but has to dodge a lairat! Kairi fires fast hands, an URAKEN, and another URAKEN!
The fans fire up as Kairi roars, but Raquel BOOTS her down! Raquel deadlifts Kairi for the TEXANA BOMB!! Cover, Raquel & Liv win!
Winners: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez, by pinfall
But they’re not done as Raquel stomps away on Iyo! Liv joins in, but HERE COMES RHEA! The fans fire up as Mami runs in, but Liv runs away! Rhea and Raquel throw hands! Rhea HEADBUTTS Raquel, then pump handles! RIP- NO, Raquel fights free, and she CLUBS Rhea in the bad eyebrow! But Rhea UP KICKS! And she LARIATS Raquel up and out! The fans fire up and Rhea goes out to DRIBBLE Raquel off the desk! Liv attacks Rhea! Rhea has Liv as a backpack, and she POSTS her! Liv crumbles, but Raquel BOOTS Rhea! And THROWS her into the desk! Rhea hits the edge!! The fans boo and security rushes out while Rhea clutches her face!
Rhea rises up but Liv laughs as she and Raquel fall back. Rhea wants more, but security keeps her back for her own safety. When and where will Mami Rhea have her revenge?
Backstage interview with Gunther.
Cathy Kelley is with Der Ring General, only to be interrupted by Finn & Dom. Finn tells Gunther, “Hey, Champ. I think you owe me a title match. It was the second time that you faced Damian for the title, and it was the second time that you walked out as champion. And it was the second time because of me! So instead of kicking me in the face, you should’ve been shaking my hand! So, for the second time, I think you owe me a title match.” Gunther says he doesn’t owe Finn anything. He didn’t want Finn’s help, he never needed Finn’s help, and while Finn was plotting this all along, Gunther had a terrible time leading up to Survivor Series.
Gunther needed to win this by himself, and for himself. And that is what Finn took away from him. Oh, well, does he want to face him then? Dom keeps putting up the two fingers and Gunther slaps them down. Why’s Dom so cocky, huh? Oh, right, Gunther knows why. Because unlike Finn, Dom scored a win over Priest. And y’know what? Gunther thinks Dom deserves something for that. Gunther’s feeling rather generous right now. As World Heavyweight Champion, Gunther has leverage around here. Gunther will talk with Adam Pearce. Dom smiles, but then he stops as Finn looks at him. Will Dirty Dom of all people get a title match with Gunther?
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Dakota Kai VS Katana Chance VS Shayna Baszler!
Speaking of title matches, everyone in this tournament is deserving, but only those who win will get what they want! To parallel SmackDown’s Women’s United States Championship Tournament, we hold a round of Triple Threats that boil down to singles matches. Tonight, it is #CobraKai, one half of KC Squared, and the Queen of Spades, who defies the odds to head for gold?
The bell rings and Shayna goes right at Dakota! Katana jumps on Shayna, but Shayna throws her off! Dakota DROPKICKS Shayna, BOOTS Katana, then runs up to GAMANGIRI Shayan to the floor! The fans fire up and Dakota builds speed, to DIVE into a HAYMAKER! Shayna drags Dakota up to THROW her into the desk! But Katana PLANCHAS Shayna! The fans fire up with the American Ninja as she says it’s finally her time! Katana stands over Shayna while Raw goes picture in picture.
The ref checks Dakota, she’s okay, and Katana gets Shayna in the ring. Katana then rolls her to a sunset flip, TWO! Katan whips, Shayna reverses, but Katan goes up and up and LEAPS, but Shayan catches her! Shayan pops Katana up to a suplex! Cover, TWO! Katana sputters but Shayna drags her into a wristlock. Shayna twists the wrist and pulls on the arm. Dakota crawls in, Shayna twists Katana’s arm more, but Katana fights up! Shayna CLUBS Katan, then gut wrench SLAMS her! Cover, Dakota breaks it! Dakota then drags Shayna up, but Shayna fights the suplex! Shayan wrenches, Dakota fires forearms and an ENZIGIRI!
Shayna staggers to a corner, Dakota runs in for a BOOT WASH! Katana rolls Dakota up! TWO, and Dakota kicks Katana. Dakota TOSSES Katana out, then goes Around the World! Shayna dodges the boot to hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, Katana breaks it! Katana SPIN KICKS, LEG SWEEPS, and then runs, but Shayna blows past her! Katana runs back in but into a FLAPJACK HOTSHOT! Katana sputters and flounders, but Shayna brings her up. Shayna wrenches the arm and has a top wristlock! Katana endures being bent around, and she fights up, but Shayna wrangles her down. Shayna isolates the arm, but Dakota runs up!
Shayna catches Dakota, wrangles her arm, and then STOMPS Katana! Dakota flails, but Shayna- NO, Dakota avoids that stomp, which she knows too well! Raw returns to single picture as Dakota fires shots! Shayan shoves Dakota but Dakota comes back to FLYING MARE! Shayna ends up in a corner, Dakota runs in, to BOOT! Shayna flops to the apron, Dakota puts her in ropes! JUMP STOMP! Cover, TWO!! Shayna survives and Dakota grows frustrated. Dakota drags Shayna into a drop zone and goes up the corner. The fans fire up but Shayna GAMANGIRIS Dakota! Shayna climbs up after Dakota now, but Katana joins in!
The fans fire up as Katana pulls Shayna from the corner! Dakota HEADBUTTS Shayna, but Shayan ROCKS Dakota! Shayna ROCKS Katana, then has Dakota back up! Dakota fires body shots and Shayna falls back! Dakota adjusts, and she STOMPS Shayna down! But then Katana ROCKS Dakota! Katana goes up to SUPER STEINER Dakota onto Shayna! Cover, TWO!! Shayna survives so Katana covers Dakota! TWO!! The fans fire up while Katana is beside herself! Katana drags Dakota up, whips, but Dakota reverses. Shayna waistlocks Dakota, Dakota elbows free! But Katana BOOTS Dakota! Katana then uses Dakota as a step to FLYING RAN- NO, Shayna blocks!
Shayna swings Katana up, fireman’s carries, but Katana slips free! O’Conner Roll, Dakota DDTS Katana! Shayna KNEES Dakota! Cover, TWO!! Dakota survives and the fans fire up! Shayna is seething but she goes to a corner. Shayna aims at Dakota, runs back up, but she has to KNEE Katana away first! Dakota victory rolls Shayna! TWO!! Shayna escapes, but Dakota dodges to SCORPION KICK! And then fireman’s carry, for the DETONATION- NO, Shayna has the leg! Shayna yanks Dakota up, KIRAFUDA KLUTCH!! Body scissors, but Katana is up top! Dakota rolls free, 450 SPLASH on Shayna!!
Dakota fireman’s carries Katana! DETONATION KICK!! Cover, Dakota wins!!
Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
Fast and furious to say the least, but Dakota is now moving on! The brackets show that either Zoey Stark, Kayden Carter or Raquel Rodriguez is next, will someone come back to avenge their teammate? Or will former teammates in Dakota and Raquel have it out in the semifinals?
Adam Pearce is in the ring.
The Raw General Manager says, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are here tonight in commemoration and celebration of the incredible ten-year anniversary of the most decorated tag team in WWE History! Without any further ado, please join me in welcoming Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston, The NEW~ DAY~!” The fans fire up as Woods & Kofi make their way out. The ring and stage are decorated with balloons, as well as props representing the best moments of the team’s career. Kofi shakes hands with Pearce, then starts passing out pancakes. Woods also shakes hands with Pearce, and the fans cheer as Woods throws more pancakes.
Pearce says, “Gentlemen, congratulations. This ring and this moment, this night is yours. But if I may be so bold, to speak on behalf of the WWE Universe, I think we all would love to let you know how much we think New Day Rocks.” The fans join in, “NEW! DAY ROCKS! NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Woods & Kofi grab mics, the cheering gets louder, and they’re a bit emotional. Woods says, “IT’S YA BOIS, THE NEW~ DAY~!” Woods wanted to come out here and say that being a part of the WWE, and being successful in the WWE for ten years… Getting to this point is so much than they could ever dreamed when they started.
So Woods wants to thank each and every one out here. Kofi says yes, it’s been one hell of a ride. Never in Kofi’s wildest dreams would he have thought they’d achieve so many accolades and accomplishments. And have so much fun while doing it! They could not have done it without each other, and you know who else? Who? Who, who? Yes, that’s right, each and every one of the fans! The fans cheer for “EEE~! E! E! E!” Woods says yes, they miss him, too. But with all this said, Woods & Kofi wanted to be face-to-face with the fans to say “what we’re about to tell you… Is not your fault.” What?
Woods says the New Day has nothing but love for each and every one of the fans. Kofi says that he and Woods, they’ve talked. And especially in light of last week… They both feel that when it comes to “The New Day” going forward… WAIT! BIG E IS HERE?!? The fans are all fired up, and both Woods & Kofi are excited to see the man himself! Big E walks his way out to the ring, finally on Raw again after almost four years! Big E joins his boys in the ring, the fans cheer on “E! E! E!” and Big E takes it all in. Big E says he can’t thank us all enough. But he wishes he was here under different circumstances.
Because to see Woods & Kofi argue and bicker and say some of the most hurtful things they could to each other… That troubled Big E’s soul something deep. When they started The New Day ten years ago, they were all they had! Kofi, ten years ago, you were mulling over retirement because your passion was beaten out of you! Woods, ten years ago, you and Big E were each this close to getting fired! And on one of the worst days of Big E’s life, the scariest moment of his career, Woods and Kofi were at his hospital bedside making sure he was good! The fans cheer that!
Big E wants Kofi to remember, that Big E was in a neck brace just a few months after Kofi’s daughter was born, and yet Kofi, his wife, and baby Lotus were in Big E’s home so Big E could hold Lotus. When Woods got back after winning King of the Ring, Big E was one of the first to greet him, tears spilling out of Woods’ eyes! The fans cheer those moments, too. Big E says what they built here means something to a lot of people. The fans also cheer that, and Big E says for damn sure, it means a lot to him. “So, until I am medically cleared to return to this ring… I am going to remind the two of you exactly who you are.”
The fans fire up as Big E says he will be here to cheer for them, root for them, uplift then, EVERY SINGLE WEEK! Big E will serve as the team’s manager! The fans cheer Big E on while Woods and Kofi both look a little guilty. The fans cheer on, “NEW! DAY ROCKS! NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Woods lifts his mic and says, “Now? Now you wanna come back? After you watched us fight for months? After you watched us argue to the edge of the cliff, and the last thing left to do was jump!? NOW you wanna come back? E, you left us.” The fans boo as Woods is being so negative! Big E says he broke his NECK! What is he saying, “left them?!”
But now KOFI says it, too! “YOU LEFT US!!” Yeah, Big E broke his neck. SO WHAT!? WHAT?!? Stone Cold Steve Austin broke his neck and came back! Kurt Angle broke his neck and came back! Edge broke his neck and came back! They didn’t even have people here waiting for them! Big E had family who kept the lights on, so he’d have something familiar to walk back into. And what’d Big E do with that? NOTHING! Woods & Kofi didn’t change, they didn’t evolve, at their own deficit, for Big E.
Kofi stops Big E from saying anything, and he says that as BIG as E is, as STRONG as E is, and the fact he never even needed surgery for it, he’s trying to say he couldn’t have been back here sooner if he wanted to? Big E says he was meeting with doctors, getting scans, MRIs and- Yeah, they heard it all before. Woods tore his Achilles off the bone, had surgery, and was back in nine months, for Big E. If Big E really, truly cared about The New Day, he would’ve been back a long time ago! He would’ve been by their side, encouraging and cheering them on this entire time, galvanizing them! But NO, he chose his new life over them!
Big E chose his projects and his GIRLFRIEND over them! Big E chose his DESK JOB over The New Day! In fact, listen up: Does Big E even realize the burden he’s become? No matter where New Day goes, the fans always say, “We Miss E!” As if Kofi & Woods didn’t! But obviously Big E didn’t miss them. The fans boo but Kofi says their philosophy since day one has been about brotherhood over anything else! We Before Me! But E… Broken neck or not, Big E chose Big E over The New Day! The fans boo but Woods keeps going: Let’s stop teasing all these fans. Let’s tell them the truth: BIG E WILL NEVER BE MEDICALLY CLEARED!
And since that’s the case… Why doesn’t Big E just get the hell out of this ring and get back to his desk where he belongs? And then they’ll call him, if they need him. The fans boo even more and Big E is as stunned as anyone that The New Day would say these things. Big E says he is not letting them throw this away like that! Not after a decade! They can fix this! Big E wants to hug it out, but Kofi keeps him at a distance. Woods doesn’t even look at Big E. Big E can’t believe it. Just like that, the group is over? Big E asks if they mean this. The fans chant “BIG! E ROCKS!” but he has no choice but to exit the ring.
With Big E gone, Kofi & Woods look at each other now. They say it’s just them now? They united over treating their other friend like nothing, and the fans boo as hard as they can! New Day is now just Two Day, did they just kill the Power of Positivity?
Karrion Kross speaks.
“Throughout my life, I have done some really terrible things to people. Which I’m actually quite proud of. So I have a tolerance for when people wanna do something back to me. But last week… He sent that creature after MY WIFE. And words are not gonna get me what I want, which is exactly each and every one of them in the arena next week. He used Scarlett to get to me. CONGRATULATIONS, because it worked! But just remember: You started this fire, and now I am going to make sure you burn in it. Tick-tock.” The Wyatts have escalated things with the Final Testament, who survives when these forces of nature clash?
Gunther VS Dominik Mysterio!
Der Ring General didn’t appreciate The Prince interfering with his match at Survivor Series, nor did he for SummerSlam, but perhaps as passive aggressive payback, he’s letting Dirty Dom face him 1v1. And furthermore, Dom is telling Carlito & JD McDonagh to stay in the back? Does Dom really think he can handle Gunther all on his own? Or will Gunther use Dom to send a warning to everyone about pissing him off?
The bell rings, and Dom SHOVES Gunther! Gunther scowls but Dom eggs him on. The fans fire up as the two circle, and they tie up. Dom facelocks, but Gunther lifts Dom right up and puts him on the apron. The ref counts, Dom lets go, and Gunther pats Dom on the head. Dom SLAPS Gunther! Gunther BOOTS Dom! The fans fire up more as Gunther goes out, brings Dom up, but Dom RANAS Gunther into POST! Dom hurries into the ring, builds speed, and he WRECKS Gunther with a dropkick! Then Dom DIVES! Down goes Gunther and Dom flexes! The fans boo but Dom is standing tall while Raw goes picture in picture.
Dom waits on Gunther, and Gunther settles down before storming back into the ring. They circle, feel things out, and Gunther powers Dom into a corner. The ref counts, Gunther lets off slowly, but Dom avoids a chop! Dom CHOPS, but Gunther just glares. Dom backs up as Gunther steps forward, and Gunther grabs Dom again! Gunther TOSES Dom, but Dom avoids the chop to CHOP! Gunther is just getting angrier, but Dom keeps his distance. Dom then slides under, only for Gunther to turn on a dime! Gunther kicks low, whips, but Dom ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for Gunther to scoop! Gunther pops Dom up to SLAM!
Dom writhes while Gunther looms over him. Dom wants mercy but Gunther just clamps on a facelock! Gunther then stands Dom up to CHOP! Dom sputters but Gunther is on him again. CHOP! Dom falls right over and Gunther paces. Dom sputters, Gunther eggs him on, and Dom CHOPS! And CHOPS! Gunther CHOPS Dom off his feet! Dom writhes while clutching his chest, but Gunther is back on him. Gunther snapmares Dom, to then NECK TWIST! Dom writhes even more, but Gunther stays close. Gunther stalks Dom to a corner while Raw returns to single picture. Gunther eggs Dom on so Dom fires body shots!
Dom kicks, Gunther blocks and DECKS Dom! Gunther then has the legs and flips Dom over, BOSTON CRAB! Dom endures, crawls, but Gunther drags him back to center! Dom fights the other way, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Gunther lets go at 4, and fans boo as Dom survives. Gunther storms up, not even upset about the blood trickling from his own chest, and he pie faces Dom around. Gunther mocks Latino Heat and brings Dom up again. Gunther CHOPS Dom, pie faces him, and eggs Dom on. Dom CHOPS again! Gunther CHOPS again! Dom drops to his knees, but stands back up.
Gunther pulls Dom’s hair and eggs him on. Dom CHOPS, and CHOPS, and fires a flurry of forearms! Dom CHOPS, but Gunther grabs him by the face! CHOP, and SLEEPER! Dom grabs the ref, the ref cowers in the corner, Dom LOW BLOW MULE KICKS!! The fans boo but Dom 619s Gunther in the gut! Dom keeps moving, and he dropkicks Gunther onto ropes! Dom redials, 619!! Dom goes up and FROG SPLASHES!! Cover, TWO!! Gunther survives and Dom is shocked! Dom thinks on what he has to do, and somehow Everett has come around on him!? Dom brings Gunther up, but Gunther fights the suplex!
Gunther CHOPS, BOOTS, and he hauls Dom back up! GENERAL BOMB!! Cover, Gunther wins!
Winner: Gunther, by pinfall
Dom put up a bigger fight than anyone expected, but it still wasn’t big enough to stop Gunther! But here comes Finn! Finn dodges Gunther to SLINGBLADE! Finn aims, and he SHOTGUNS Gunther down! Finn hurries up a corner while fans are again torn, but Finn still hits a COUP DE GRACE!! Finn smiles and says, “Watch and learn, kid.” Dom does watch as Finn goes back up, COUP DE GRACE!! The Prince isn’t done, he goes back up! CUOP DE GRACE!!!! Finn gets Gunther in the back, and then he holds up the world title! Finn puts it down on Gunther, and he grins. Finn says that’s how it’s done.
The Prince leaves, but he may have just put a target on his own back here. Will Der Ring General give Finn what he wants so he can also give Finn what he deserves?
Backstage interview with Pete Dunne.
Cathy is with The Bruiserweight, and says that while Dunne knows he has a match with R-Truth, does Truth know that? Or does Truth think he still has a match with- Dunne stops Cathy there. Please do not say that name. And as for that idiot, R-Truth, he doesn’t seem to know so Dunne will make this very clear. Tonight, it is Pete Dunne VS R-Truth. Truth needs to get that in his head. Wait, something is going on behind all this. Producers rush in and the camera follows. Someone just attacked Jey Uso?! But the culprit is long gone! Adam Pearce wants medics to check Main Event Jey, but just whodunnit?
R-Truth VS Pete Dunne!
Raw returns as The Bruiserweight makes his way to the ring, still seething over the misunderstanding Truth has had about names and identities. Will Dunne help Truth #FigureItOut the hard way?
The bell rings, the fans chant “BUTCH! BUTCH! BUTCH!” and that just angers Dunne. Dunne runs up, Truth does the splits then runs! Dunne ENZIGIIRS Truth down! Dunne HAMMERS away on Truth but the fans boo. Dunne stomps Truth, tells the fans off, then he grinds Truth’s arm! STOMP! The fans boo but Dunne waits on Truth to get up. Dunne then just shoves Truth down to stand on Truth’s head! Dunne STOMPS Truth, but the fans still chant “YOU’RE A BUTCH! YOU’RE A BUTCH!” Dunne clamps onto Truths’ face but the ref counts. Dunne stops to stomp Truth down, and he dares fans to keep calling him Butch.
Dutch BOOTS Truth down, then he rains down fists! The ref has Dunne stop so he can check Truth. Truth is still in this but Dunne is still pissed at the fans! The ref keeps Dunne from going after the fans, and Truth rolls Dunne up! TRUTH WINS!!
Winner: R-Truth, by pinfall
Dunne’s anger got the better of him, and now he’s lost the match! Will Dunne absolutely lose his mind at this rate?
Backstage interview with Bron Breakker.
Cathy is now with the Intercontinental Champion, and says that in the Triple Threat, in a match where Sheamus ended up with a broken rib, Bron is still the champion. Was that match his biggest challenge to date? Yes, it was obviously a great challenge. But Bron told both men- Oh, speaking of, Ludwig Kaiser steps in. And Kaiser says Bron sure seems happy with himself. That is a surprise, because of Bron had come in a few seconds later, that title would be Kaiser’s now. But hey, it doesn’t matter. Because Kaiser accomplished what he needed to.
When Sheamus broke one of Kaiser’s ribs, Kaiser vowed to come back and put an end to the Celtic Warrior for good, and that’s what he did. A rib for a rib. And now, there is nothing stopping Kaiser from taking the title and bringing it back to where it belongs in Imperium. Bron asks if that’s a challenge. Because Bron knew Kaiser would come here today with the whole “Bron didn’t pin Kaiser” thing. So yeah, Bron will talk with Pearce, see what can be done. But Bron would love nothing more than to face Kaiser for this title and beat him, so that Kaiser can have that stupid look on his face, knowing he will never, ever hold this title.
BUT… Bron will give Kaiser his props. That was a hell of a match. Kaiser proved to everyone that he is on his way out from under Gunther’s shadow. But if Bron was Kaiser, Bron would try to get out of the shadow a lot faster, because Gunther’s stock is plummeting. Bron leaves, will the Impeccable German make good on a title rematch that is 1v1?
Sami Zayn finds Pearce backstage.
Sami wants to know what happened to Jey and Pearce has him calm down. Medical is still evaluating Jey, they have to wait to know the damage. Sami asks who did it, and Pearce says he doesn’t know, but who does Sami think did it? Sami says he knows exactly who, and he’s about to whip his ass in that ring! Is Sami accusing The Visionary of lashing out against Jey? Will Sami beat a confession out of him? Or is Sami aiming at the wrong man?
Raw returns and Adam Pearce is on a phone call.
He tells whoever that he appreciates them being on the same page, he just needs them to make it official. He thanks them, then promises to call back, because Finn stepped in. Finn knows Pearce saw what happened out there. He did. Then the only thing Finn needs to know is when is he getting a world title match. Oh, that’s rich. It takes an act of Congress to make Finn defend his tag title and yet Finn wants more. Finn’s lucky the War Raiders aren’t here tonight, or- Oh, the War Raiders?! Finn doesn’t care about them! Finn only cares about when Pearce stops letting Gunther duck Finn!
Duck Finn? Funny enough, Pearce talked with Gunther and Gunther wants this match just as badly. Finn gets his wish. Finn VS Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship… SATURDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT! Finn says about time. Finn turns to go but Pearce tells him, “One more thing. Next week, let’s talk about your other title match.” Pearce leaves and Finn doesn’t like how that sounds. Is Finn going to learn that it’s all about give and take?
Seth Rollins VS Sami Zayn!
The Visionary wants to beat the crap out of CM Punk, but he ended up picking a fight with the Honorary Uce. Will Rollins not just #BurnItDown, but burn down the few bridges he has left? Or will he just be red hot in his pursuit of the Best in the World?
The bell rings and the two tie right up. They go around, Rollins puts Sami in a corner, but the ref counts. Sami and Rollins push each other as they let off, then they tie up again. Rollins headlocks, Sami powers up and out, but Rollins runs Sami over! The fans cheer Sami on as things speed up. Sami ducks, hurdles, then TOSSES Rollins out! The fans fire up and Sami builds speed, but Rollins moves! Sami hits the Arabian Press to land back inside, and the fans fire up as Sami waits on Rollins. Rollins paces around the outside while Raw goes picture in picture.
Sami waits, the fans rally up, and Rollins goes to the steps. Rollins takes his time going up to the apron, then steps inside the ropes. Rollins and Sami tie up again, go around in another deadlock, but Sami waistlocks, Rollins wrenches out to hammerlock and he wrangles Sami to the mat. Sami fights up, Rollins pulls on the arm, but Sami ELBOWS free. Sami bumps Rollins off buckles, then fires forearms! Rollins fires back! The forearms go back and forth, harder and faster, but Rollins ROCKS Sami! Rollins bumps Sami off buckles and Sami falls right over! Rollins stands Sami up to CHOP! Sami CHOPS back!
The CHOPS go back and forth, then Rollins whips Sami to ropes. Rollins scoops Sami to a BACKBREAKER! Sami writhes but Rollins walks around him. Rollins drags Sami up and wrenches an arm. Rollins whips Sami hard into a corner, and Sami falls to the mat! Rollins scowls, not happy he has to fight his friend and rival, but he drags Sami up by his hair. Rollins waistlocks and has a rear bearhug squeeze! Sami endures, fights around, and he throws elbows! Sami is free, he ROCKS Rollins, but Rollins CHOPS back! Sami falls and Rollins seethes as he stands over him. Rollins taunts Sami, eggs him on, and Sami rises.
Sami CHOPS, but Rollins nods,. Rollins CHOPS Sami, Sami CHOPS back, and the CHOPS continue! Raw returns to single picture as now the forearms fly! Rollins gets the edge, whips, but Sami goes up and over! Sami LARIATS Rollins down! The fans fire up and Sami goes to a corner. Rollins stands but Sami kicks him! Sami bumps Rollins off buckles, then climbs up to rain down fists! Fans count to TEN but Sami fires a flurry to go all the way to TWENTY! Rollins flounders away but Sami leaps, AX HANDLE! The fans fire up as Sami goes up again! Rollins stands, Sami leaps, but Rollins kicks low!
Rollins underhooks, Sami wrenches out! Sami avoids the lariat to BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Rollins survives but Sami is not deterred. The fans rally up and Sami storms over to Rollins. Sami stands Rollins up but Rollins fires elbows! And an ENZIGIRI! Sami goes to a corner, Rollins runs corner to corner, but Sami catches him! BUCKLE EXPLODER! The fans are thunderous as Sami goes corner to corner, and he takes aim again! Rollins stands, Sami runs up, SUPERKICK from Rollins!! Rollins then runs up, but Sami avoids the curb stomp! Sami bails out while Rollins hobbles a bit. Rollins seethes while Sami catches his breath.
Sami rises but Rollins goes out the side. Rollins storms his way over, and he tells Sami that he didn’t want this fight. This fight is with Punk. Sami SLAPS Rollins! Sami says he knows it was Rollins! Sami SLAPS Rollins, but Rollins POSTS Sami! And then POSTS him again! Sami falls and Rollins rolls into the ring. The ring count climbs, but then Rollins goes out to fetch Sami. Rollins stands Sami up, and TOSSES him into the timekeeper’s area! Sami flounders up, the ref reprimands, but Rollins is still seething. Rollins drags Sami up, says it wasn’t him, but Sami BOOTS Rollins away! The fans fire up as Sami storms up on Rollins!
Now Sami POSTS Rollins! Rollins falls back, but Sami gets him in the ring. The fans rally for “SAMI USO!” but then Sami grabs a chair! The fans fire up as Sami wants revenge for Jey! Sami says stop, what’s Sami doing!? Sami says he knows it was Rollins! Rollins doesn’t understand, Sami says it was Rollins who jumped Jey! Rollins says he wouldn’t do that! How about Punk? Maybe it wasn’t Punk, but it sure wasn’t Rollins! Use your head, Sami! The fans are thunderous, but Sami cools off. Sami puts the chair outside, but then Rollins snatches Sami to a cradle! ROLLINS WINS!!
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall
Rollins defended his innocence, but then he takes advantage of Sami’s emotions! Rollins still wants Sami to understand, Rollins loves that Sami has a big heart, but he wants Sami to start using his brain. Either way, there is still the mystery of whodunnit. Wait, who is this getting int he ring!? CLAYMORE!! DREW MCINTYRE IS BACK?!? Wait, did HE attack Jey!? And now he’s hit Sami! Is the Scottish Terminator going to make sure no one survives his wrath?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw, maybe even an awesome one, with another great pivot from one event to the next. Saturday Night’s Main Event is stacking up. We already know of Cody Rhodes VS Kevin Owens for the WWE Championship, and then they snuck in the announcement of Iyo Sky VS Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship. Great stuff from Judgment Day up and down the show again, with a great tag match out of Liv & Raquel VS DMG CTRL. Logical move to have Raquel beat Kairi, that keeps the math on Iyo and Liv untouched. Rhea coming out to go after Liv but getting Raquel, it’s a logical move to give us Rhea VS Raquel as a way for Rhea to bide her time. Liv VS Iyo can happen for SNME, Rhea gets the winner at the Royal Rumble.
Finn wanting after Gunther over the unwanted assist was good stuff, as was Gunther giving a match to Dom tonight instead of Finn. Dom got a strong showing, perhaps doing two birds at once: Dom is building his power level to counter his reputation as Judgment Day’s scrub, but also showing Gunther might still have an arrogance problem. Gunther of course won, but Finn attacking afterward was of course happening, as well. Gunther VS Finn for the title at SNME, I wonder if Priest returns the favor and screws Finn over. At the same time, Pearce definitely planted the seeds of Finn having to pull double duty on that night, opening the show with the tag titles but then having to turn right around and go for the world title. That’s probably how Finn & JD even lose the tag titles.
Great Triple Threat from Dakota, Shayna and Katana to start the Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament, and for just a moment, I thought they were giving this to Shayna. But in the end, Dakota wins out, which I feel is the right choice because Dakota’s been one of the many deserving superstars for a lot longer than a few others. There are a lot of great choices in this tournament, too, but we’ll have to see how this shakes out before I can say Dakota’s getting the title. And speaking of titles, great promo from Bron and Kaiser to set up their own title match, but at this point, if Bron didn’t lose a Triple Threat, he won’t lose 1v1. But I did like Bron getting in Kaiser’s head about leaving Gunther behind, as perhaps Imperium has run its course.
Well, speaking of a team running its course… That New Day anniversary segment was powerful stuff. It was nice seeing some of those old items, and they had a good video package before this segment, but I did NOT see it going this direction. Woods and Kofi talking like it was going to be a faction divorce was already something, but then Big E makes a surprise return and logically tries to patch things up with the group. The shock was Kofi and Woods doubling down by using Big E as some sort of common enemy! They were so callous about Big E’s broken neck that, as the medical diagnosis was years ago, was nearly fatal. It was no less than a miracle Big E wasn’t paralyzed, either, and yet New Day is expelling Big E from the group as Woods & Kofi go Heel together, and that’s nuts!
Very good promo from Kross to put the Wyatts on notice, and that will definitely bring about the 8 Man Tag I’ve been expecting. That will be a great match, can’t wait to see how it goes. Great stuff with Dunne and Truth tonight, especially with how it overlapped a bit with this bigger story of Punk, Rollins, and maybe even McIntyre again. Punk had a good promo to tease his part in the Royal Rumble and maybe even Elimination Chamber if need be, and then Rollins reigniting their issues was good stuff. Sami and Jey made natural mediators, with Rollins lashing out at them. I would think McIntyre attacked Jey as McIntyre still hasn’t gotten over that grudge.
Rollins VS Sami was a great main event, with a very clever win for Rollins. And then McIntyre hits Sami as further revisiting of grudges, and I feel like McIntyre will want to go after Punk, but he’ll be detoured by Sami and/or Jey for some great matches there. The Road to WrestleMania starts a little later this year with the Rumble being a February event, not a January one, but there can be twists and turns that somehow still give us Rollins VS Punk in Vegas, title optional. It’d be bigger if the title was on the line so that Punk can finally have a WrestleMania title match main event, but that would depend on the plan for Gunther’s WrestleMania as well.
My Score: 8.9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Hockey Talk- A Bruins Loss, A Blues Gain [120324]
Hockey Talk celebrates Jeremy Roenick finally getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, 16 years after his last game and...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Saquon’s Sensational Sunday
Is The Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley the odds-on favorite for NFL MVP this season?
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Another Harbaugh Bowl Incoming
Josh Allen and the Bills deal KC their first loss of the season but, is this Buffalo team now favorites...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Who’s Your Fav Ninja Turtle?
Every team has now played more than half of their schedule and Tunney and Balaz got you covered as we...
Hockey Talk- The Hall Finally Calls [111224]
Hockey Talk celebrates Jeremy Roenick finally getting inducted into the Hall of Fame 16 years after his last game and...
Bandwagon Nerds #265: A New Man At Arms… We Love It!
Join the Bandwagon for a full trailer park, news around the Nerd-O-Sphere and find out what the gents are watching...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (11/28/24)
Championship Charcuterie!
The 5×5 w/ Patrick O’Dowd: Lord of the Rings Characters
On this episode Patrick is joined by DJ from the Mindless Wrestling Pod to give you their five best and...
Bandwagon Nerds #264: Dave’s Not Here, Man
With Dave out on assignment this week, Patrick is joined by Tunney, DP and Rey Cash to round out a...
The 5×5 w/ Patrick O’Dowd: Thanksgiving Foods
On this episode Patrick is joined by Chairshot cohort, PC Tunney. The gents sit down to discuss their top and...
Mitchell’s NJPW World Tag League Results & Report! (12/2/24)
A Block, Round 6!
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (12/2/24)
NEW! DAY RAW! NEW! DAY RAW!
Mitchell’s NJPW World Tag League Results & Report! (12/1/24)
B Block, Round 5!
#TheOddity 020: Goblin Pizza & A Wicked Review
Join Dave Wortz and PC Tunney for your weekly newsletter on the ridiculous and dumb of actual headlines from around...
Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (11/30/24)
Luchadores are on a Rampage!
Mitchell’s WWE Survivor Series Results & Report! (11/30/24)
BLOODLINE: CIVIL WAR!
Mitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (11/30/24)
It's a Continental Classic Collision!
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: Let The Holiday War Games Begin!
With Jason on Assignment, DJ and Rob talk about their holiday plans and give their Survivor Series Wargames predictions. Then...
Mitchell’s NJPW World Tag League Results & Report! (11/29/24)
A Block, Round 5!
Andrew’s TNA Turning Point Results & Match Ratings: 11.29.2024
BROOO - Turning Point...is definitely a thing. Live from WrestleCade, with their crew...it's gonna look low budget, but can the...
