Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW AXS TV Results: G1 Climax 29 FINALE!

Only one can win the 29th G1 Climax!

Published

6 years ago

August 26, 2019

Steven Mitchell

The 29th G1 Climax finally comes to an end!

Switchblade! Golden Star! Only one can win the G1 Climax and that Wrestle Kingdom 14 contract for an IWGP Heavyweight Championship match!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Six Man Tag: Bullet Club VS Kenta, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI; Bullet Club wins.
Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr; Suzuki-Gun wins.
G1 Climax 29 Finals: Kota Ibushi VS Jay White; Ibushi wins and earns the Wrestle Kingdom 14 title match contract.

PLAY BY PLAY

NJPW and AXS set the scene for this epic G1 Climax Finals!

A new chapter will be written! Five weeks brings 20 down to two! The Golden Star returns to the finals, fueled by his commitment to NJPW! Kota Ibushi would drop to Kenta to a shocking 0-2 start, but would rally back with seven straight wins, including defeating Hiroshi Tanahashi in a G1 Climax 28 rematch and the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada, to take the A Block! Meanwhile, Jay White would struggle in his own run, going 0-3. But The Switchblade would still take six straight, becoming Jon Moxley’s first defeat in NJPW and denying Tetsuya Naito his destiny. Ibushi and White meet 1v1 for the first time ever, but White took a cheap shot on Ibushi’s bad ankle. Does Ibushi stand a chance of winning the G1? Can he even stand at all?

Six Man Tag: Guerrillas of Destiny & Bad Luck Fale VS Kenta, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI!

Mr. Takeover joins Chaos’ Stone Pitbull and Headhunter against Bullet Club’s Firing Squad! Will Kenta be a wild card in helping Ishii and Hashi defeat the Rogue General and the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions?

There’s a lot of trash talking as the referee tries to get the teams to sort out. Hashi calms Kenta and Ishii down and volunteers. Bullet Club gives a Low Sweet and Fale steps up. The bell rings and the match begins!

Fale and Hashi circle and tie up. Fale knees low fast, then puts Hashi in an open corner. Fale climbs up but the ref reprimands him. Fale backs off, but tries a sucker punch! Hashi ducks and throws forearms in return! Hashi whips but Fale blocks with pure strength! Fale whips Hashi into the corner but Hashi dodges. Hashi comes back to hit a corner clothesline, then he whips Fale to ropes. Fale reverses but Hashi dropkicks and blockbusters! Fans cheer as Hashi clubs Fale and throws forearms. Hashi runs but Tama Tonga gets cheap shots in. Tama grabs Hashi and Fale runs in, but Hashi dodges to send Fale into Tama! Hashi then runs, only to get run over! Fale sucker punches Ishii before he stomps Hashi.

Fale drags Hashi up and to the Bullet Club corner. Tag to Tonga Loa, and Bullet Club mugs Hashi. The referee reprimands them, he sees Tama holding Hashi down. Loa SLAPS Hashi before he scoop slams him. Tama tags in and slingshot elbows in and is feeling good! Tama taunts Kenta then drags Hashi up. Tama snap suplexes Hashi to a corner, TWO! Tama drags Hashi up to tag Fale back in. Bullet Club mugs Hashi then Fale steps on Hashi. And again! And again, as he runs the ropes for an elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives that super heavyweight elbow, but Loa tags in. Loa and Fale stand on Hashi’s ribs! Bullet Club is having fun hurting Hashi while we go to break.

NJPW on AXS returns to Hashi being let back up. Loa tags Tama before lifting Hashi high in a waistlock. Tama springboards, flying foraerm German Suplex! Cover, TWO! Ishii rushes in and coaches Hashi up but Tama tells him to get back. Tama turns around into Hashi’s forearms! Tama punches low but Hashi breaks free. Hashi kicks, Tama catches it, and then Tama ducks the spinning heel kick! Tama laughs at Hashi before dragging Hashi up. Tama calls for the brain buster, but Hashi counters with his own suplex, into a neckbreaker! Both men are down and fans rally up. Hashi hot tags to Ishii, Tama gets to Loa. Loa and Ishii collide again and again, but Ishii staggers. Loa runs and rams Ishii but Ishii comes back on the rebound. Loa rebounds to get run over!

Ishii runs at Fale with a leaping forearm, but bounces off! Ishii is shocked while Fale is just mad. Fale storms in and throws hands. Ishii ducks, kicks and tries to suplex. But Fale is too big! Fale scoops and slams Ishii down, then bails out. Loa tackles Ishii to a corner! Then runs corner to corner for a big clothesline! Loa keeps moving and hits another clothesline! Loa mocks the Pitbull, but fans rally up. Loa drags Ishii up, scoops, and hits a running slam! Cover, TWO! Ishii survives but Loa just smirks. Tag to Tama and GoD double whip Ishii. Body shot, uppercut, but Gun Stun is denied! Ishii gives Loa a German Suplex! Ishii is down but crawling towards the corner. But Kenta doesn’t want the tag!? Kenta hops off the apron and Ishii is angry. But Tama hits a corner splash! Then feeds Ishii to a double SPEAR from Fale and Loa!

Tama climbs up high and leaps with a splash! Hashi gets in and braeks the cover! Loa attacks Hashi while Kenta just watches. Hashi reverses the whip and lariats Loa down! GUN STUN gets a glancing blow and Tama throws Hashi out. Ishii is up, GUN STUN countered into a slam! Fale runs at Ishii and whips him to a corner. Ishii dodges and kicks, and suplexes Fale! Fale rolls out of the ring and fans are thunderous. Ishii LARIATS Tama! Kenta runs in to attack Ishii!? The Psycho Knee hits the Stone Pitbull square! As does GO TO SLEEP! Kenta betrays Chaos and lets Tama cover. Bullet Club wins!

Winners: Bullet Club, Tama Tonga pinning

Hashi goes after Kenta, but he’s got Fale and the Guerrillas on him right away! Bullet Club even fights off the LA Dojo Young Lions! Kenta grabs a mic to speak, even as fans boo. But wait, Shibata runs in! And DECKS Kenta! Shibata rams and BOOTS Kenta in the corner! Fans are losing their minds as The Wrestler is throwing forearms on Kenta! Shibata forearms Tama away to then hammer away on Kneta. Loa runs in but even he gets a big forearm! BOOT for Fale! Shibata runs corner to corner for the basement dropkick! Then he drags Kenta into the sleeper hold! Fans are at a fever pitch, but Jado SMACKS Shibata! And Kenta gets Shibata with his own sleeper! Jado SMACKS Shibata in the stomach!

Shibata fades out and Kenta runs to Penalty Kick!! Despite everything Shibata was just doing, he’s NOT an active wrestler, nor cleared to compete! But Tama SMACKS away with Jado’s kendo stick and chokes Shibata out! Kenta adds insult to injury as he sits on Shibata with Shibata’s own signature cross-legged pose. Bullet Club has a new member in #FangRevived! Tama’s cryptic Tweet is confirmed! What happens to NJPW now that Bullet Club has added this treacherous snake to the arsenal?

NJPW Media Backstage Interview

Bullet Club is feeling good as they arrive. This is a beautiful day, because it is Bullet Club Day! Actually, every day is Bullet Club Day, but this is an extra special day. They told the world they had recruited a “high caliber athlete.” Who is that? It’s “one of the greatest, if not the best” in this generation, KENTA! When Tama came to Japan, Kenta was dominant. Tama respects Kenta, who was brave enough to “go abroad and try something new.” But now Kenta is back, so thank God he’s back on Bullet Club’s side! They can use his energy, his vengeance, and the determination to prove Kenta wasn’t a fluke. Bullet Club is going to help Kenta reach the very top of his game! They closed out the G1 with a bang, huh? What a feeling. To think the fans were booing that. Shibata must’ve been happy he got cheered like that. He should thank Kenta for that. But today is a new beginning. Keep your eyes on Kenta, he’s just getting started.

As for Shibata, he wants to know what Kenta was saying. The reporters inform him, and Shibata’s response: “Do you know what I went through for that guy?” How much it took to get Kenta into NJPW? Kenta doesn’t understand a thing. But whatever. Shibata will let Kenta find his own path with his new buddies. When and where will Kenta face the consequences of turning on The Wrestler?

Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre Jr!

The all-star duo of the century reunites once more to take on the meanest tag team in the world! Will Rainmaker and Ace make up for their losses in the G1 against the King of Pancrase and the Submission Master? Or will they #JustTapOut?

The teams sort out and Tanahashi starts against ZSJ. Fans are already on Tanahashi’s side with the bell. They circle and feel out the grapple. ZSJ waistlocks but Tanahashi standing switches to a full nelson. ZSJ slips out and spins around but Tanahashi switches with him to get the headlock. ZSJ spins through to a keylock but Tanahashi resists and actually bridges ZSJ. ZSJ spins and reverses to a double wristlock to bring Tanahashi down for headscissors. ZSJ squeezes tight and pushes up to crank the neck. Then he drops back down to keep Tanahashi grounded. Tanahashi works his way up to a headstand, and bridges, only for ZSJ to dig knuckles into ribs. The referee reprimands ZSJ but Tanahashi works around to roll ZSJ over. Tanahashi pops out to get the Bow ‘n’ Arrow! But ZSJ pops out to a cover, ONE!

Tanahashi throws ZSJ with a headlock takeover, but ZSJ works up and around to his feet. ZSJ powers out and runs in, but gets an elbow. Tanahashi hops up for a second rope crossbody! Fans fire up as Tanahashi hits Suzuki for good measure. Okada comes in to help Tanahashi whip ZSJ and elbow him down. Suzuki protests but Okada just punches him off the apron. Tanahashi leaps to drop an elbow, but ZSJ catches it into an armbar! Suzuki has Okada in a hanging armbar, but the ref counts him. Suzuki lets go while Tanahashi gets a ropebreak. ZSJ holds on as Suzuki sends Okada into barriers! ZSJ drags Tanahashi up while Suzuki laces Okada’s arm through the rails! ZSJ drags Tanahashi out to do the same on the other side! Red Shoes has a hard time keeping up with both crafty wrestlers.

ZSJ gives Tanahashi a European Uppercut and gets back in the ring while Okada starts brawling with Suzuki. The ring count begins on Tanahashi, and Suzuki ROCKS Okada. Tanahashi climbs up at 10 of 20 and in at 11. ZSJ is on Tanahashi with a hammerlock stomp! Suzuki returns to the corner to tag in. Suzuki stands on Tanahashi’s head until Tanahashi pushes him away. These familiar foes start throwing forearms, and Suzuki ROCKS Tanahashi. Suzuki kicks Tanahashi over then kicks Okada off the apron! Suzuki sneers before going back to Tanahashi with a snapmare. Suzuki digs his knee into Tanahashi’s back while pulling the arms back. ZSJ tags in and he grabs a leg! Armbar and leglock on Tanahashi, then switch so that they keep the holds! And then switch to opposite sides! Red Shoes counts and Suzuki-Gun finally lets up on Tanahashi. Tanahashi crawls for his corner while we go to break.

NJPW on AXS returns as ZSJ drags Tanahashi up by the arm. ZSJ wrenches deep but Tanahashi forearms free! Tanahashi keeps throwing forearms but ZSJ hits back. ZSJ whips but Tanahashi reverses into a standing abdominal stretch! ZSJ switches and they go around, ZSJ getting the stretch on Tanahashi now. Fans rally as Tanahashi endures. Tanahashi slips around to reverse the hold back on ZSJ! ZSJ pries free and gets a leg, but so does Tanahashi! Tanahashi Dragon Screws ZSJ’s leg! Both men are down and fans rally up. Hot tag to Okada! Okada throws forearms then whips, but ZSJ reverses. Okada dodges the boot to elbow ZSJ down! Budokan fires up with Okada as he elbows Suzuki off the apron. Okada goes to ZSJ in the corner with a whip. He hits a big back elbow, then drops ZSJ with a DDT! Cover, TWO!

Fans rally up as Okada drags ZSJ to his feet. Okada scoops and slams ZSJ to then go up top. Okada leaps, but has to roll through as ZSJ dodges. ZSJ runs in but is caught in the Alabama lift. But ZSJ reverses it into an Octopus! Only for Okada to power through back to Alabama position. But ZSJ fights free to wrench and Pele the arm! Tag to Suzuki, and he runs at Okada in a corner for a helluva boot. Then he snapmares Okada down for a Penalty Kick! Cover, TWO! Suzuki sits Okada up for a basement boot! Suzuki grabs an arm and hammerlocks it to grab the other arm! Suzuki wrenches the arm but Tanahashi runs in to kick at Suzuki. Suzuki just takes the shots as he tortures Okada’s arm. Tanahashi keeps kicking but Suzuki just gets annoyed. Suzuki leans into Tanahashi’s forearms before giving back a knee!

Suzuki returns to Okada while Tanahashi slumps away. Okada fires off forearms and uppercuts, but Suzuki knees him, too. Suzuki has a front guillotine, then spins Okada around into piledriver position. But Okada counters into Alabama position, Air Raid Crash neckbreaker! Fans rally up as both men are down. Both men crawl for their corners, hot tags to Tanahashi and ZSJ! Tanahashi blocks another kick but ZSJ fights off the dragon screw. They start throwing hands but Tanahashi has the edge. ZSJ dodges to EuroUpper, but Tanahashi throws a big palm strike! Tanahashi runs, but into the Iron Octopus! Tanahashi endures as ZSJ pulls on the arms. Tanahashi powers out and has the leg, but ZSJ gets the arm again! Tanahashi still fights, and turns it into Twist ‘n’ Shout! Tanahashi runs and hits a big Slingblade! Cover, but Suzuki breaks it!

Okada goes after Suzuki and tosses him out. Tanahashi heads up top while Okada keeps Suzuki against barriers. Tanahashi is up top, High Fly Flow gets knees! And ZSJ has a Triangle Hold! Tanahashi flails and reaches, and bridges to a cover! TWO as ZSJ lets go! ZSJ hits a stiff Penalty kick! Fans are fired up as both men are down. Okada and Suzuki return to their corners, hot tags to Okada and Suzuki! Okada shotgun dropkicks Suzuki into the corner! Then he brings Suzuki out for a scoop slam! Okada heads up top, keeping to his formula. Macho Elbow hits! Fans fire up with the RAINMAKER POSE~! Okada drags Suzuki up, wristlocks but Suzuki elbows free. Okada just stares Suzuki down and they start brawling with big forearms! Neither backs down. In fact, Okada dares Suzuki to give him another.

Suzuki obliges and then dares Okada to do the same. Okada hits back but Suzuki hits harder! Okada returns the forearm but Suzuki keeps egging him on. Suzuki has a wild grin as Okada’s forearms do nothing to him. Suzuki’s one forearm ROCKS Okada again. Okada falls to his knees but fans rally up for him. Okada stands, Suzuki whips but Okada reverses. Suzuki holds ropes to deny Okada his dropkick! Okada sits up to get the Penalty Kick! Suzuki drags Okada up in a sleeper hold! Then spins him around, Gotch, but Tanahshi hits a Slingblade! Then a Slingblade for ZSJ! Tanahashi slingshots out to take down ZSJ! Okada has Suzuki with a dropkick to the back! Okada drags Suzuki back up, whips but Suzuki reverses. Suzuki follows, slides around, sleeper hold! But Okada spins out to ripcord, but Suzuki dodges to get the sleeper back!

Suzuki has the Gotch hold, but Okada manages a back drop! But Suzuki is right up to boot Okada! Okada rebounds but his boot is countered. Tilt-o-whirl from Suzuki?! Into the sleeper hold! ZSJ intercepts Tanahashi with a flying guillotine! Suzuki has Okada fading out! Then spins him for the Gotch, PILEDRIVER! Cover, Suzuki-Gun wins!!

Winners: Suzuki-Gun, Minoru Suzuki pinning

The Meanest Man in the World pins the IWGP Heavyweight Champion! And ZSJ chokes Tanahashi out just because! Is the G1 snub not going to matter now? Suzuki grabs a mic to tell Okada, “They wouldn’t even let me into the G1, and you lost to me? How embarrassing.” Suzuki stomps Okada until he’s out of the ring, and ZSJ shoves Tanahashi out, too. “I’ll put it simply for all of you.” If you put Suzuki in a match with “that group of playmates,” this is what happens. Okada, listen to this next part before you run home. To Okada and ALL of NJPW! “The IWGP Heavyweight Belt… GIVE IT TO ME!” Don’t try to wriggle out of it this time, either! Suzuki will never run away. He is the KING of pro-wrestling. Suzuki tells Budokan, “Suzuki-Gun, Ichiban!” Will the King of Pancrase be number one in NJPW?

G1 Climax 29 Finals: Kota Ibushi VS Jay White!

Both men struggled, but both men found a way to overcome and become the best in their respective blocks. A Block and B Block finally collide! Ibushi has already beaten Okada in their G1 encounter, but White has already proven he can be IWGP Heavyweight Champion once. Whose determination will carry them through to the very end?

Despite White promising he wouldn’t bring Gedo out, it was all a sham. That, and he now has all of Bullet Club ringside! But Ibushi has the fans solidly on his side. Red Shoes says that even before the match, Bullet Club is EJECTED!! White and Gedo try to reason with him, but Red Shoes has had enough of Bullet Club’s antics as of late. Gedo negotiates, and he is allowed to stay, so long as he stays strictly by the blue corner. But the rest of Bullet Club is gone from ringside. White’s plan is foiled, the bell finally rings, and the G1 Climax Finals truly begins!

White dares Ibushi to do something, knowing full well what he did to Ibushi’s ankle. But then White bails out to talk with Gedo, specifically staying by the blue corner as promised. White dares Ibushi to come out and get him but Ibushi stays inside, daring White to fight. White returns and the two circle. Fans are of course still on Ibushi’s side and it annoys White. White and Ibushi stare down then tie up. Ibushi manages to push White to ropes, but he honors the ropebreak with pats on the shoulder. But then he avoids White’s sucker punch kick! Only for Gedo to swipe at him! White gets Ibushi’s bad leg but Ibushi has the ropes, so Red Shoes backs White right off. Red Shoes confronts Gedo, and finally EJECTS Gedo! White and Gedo try to reason with Red Shoes again but Red Shoes has drawn the line. Ibushi grabs White and puts him back in the ring!

Ibushi dodges, kicks and whips White. White reverses but Ibushi comes back with a flying enziguri! White bails out but Ibushi gets him right back in, for a dropkick! Fans fire up with Ibushi while White bails out again. Ibushi takes aim, runs to the corner, but White stops the Golden Triangle with a chop block! Ibushi is caught in the corner, and White pulls the bad leg against the crossbars! Red Shoes reprimands White and White lets up. White drags Ibushi up to whip him into railing! White stomps Ibushi and puts his leg through railing to pull on the bad ankle! Fans boo and Red Shoes again reprimands White. White lets up, then drags Ibushi to the ring. White puts Ibushi in, only to swing Ibushi’s leg into the post! Fans boo again as White slams Ibushi’s leg on the apron. White gets in the ring and flexes but fans still boo.

White drags Ibushi up and snap suplexes him down. Ibushi clutches the bad leg but White is on it with a grounded dragon screw. Cover, ONE! Fans rally but White is on Ibushi. Ibushi fires forearms first, but White CHOPS him down. White drags Ibushi up for another snap suplex. Ibushi’s bad leg continues to take the worse landing, but then White Half Hatch suplexes Ibushi into buckles! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer as Ibushi guts it out. White toys with Ibushi, wanting him to stand up. Ibushi slowly stands, and throws forearms on White. White knees low then runs, Ibushi leaps up, but White counters the huricanrana into a takedown and grounded dragon screw! White says, “No, no, no,” he’s too smart for Ibushi. White watches as Ibushi rolls and crawls to the corner. White runs in, but blocks the good leg’s boot. He grabs the bad leg, but Ibushi enziguris with the good leg!

Ibushi hobbles after White but White kicks the bad leg. Ibushi still jumps for a Snap-Rana! Fans rally up as White goes to a corner now. Ibushi grits his teeth and runs back in, only to get a boot. White runs, but into a powerslam! Ibushi hops on one leg for a moonsault! Cover, TWO! Fans continue to rally and Ibushi continues to fight through the pain. White slowly gets up but Ibushi drags him up. Ibushi fires off a strike fest, and manages a roundhouse to standing moonsault! Now Ibushi says, “No, no, no,” he’s too tough for White. Ibushi flips again, but White gets clear of the moonsault knee drop! Ibushi’s knees smash ring mat! White catches his breath while Ibushi clutches his legs. White stands and grins before he drags Ibushi up for a fast DDT!

Ibushi goes to a corner and White runs in, big EuroUpper! Knee-jammer! White shoves Ibushi out for a Blade Buster twisting suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for Ibushi but White is on him first. White wants the inverted figure four but Ibushi pushes him away. Ibushi kicks from the mat and gets away from White. Ibushi jumps over the chop block to double stomp White’s back! Fans continue to give Ibushi life as he goes back to White. Ibushi scoops but White resists. White fights back, stomping the bad foot! Ibushi still kicks with the good foot! Only to walk into the Complete Shot and deadlift German! But White can’t bridge, so Ibushi is spared for the moment. White hobbles over to Ibushi and drags him up to the top rope. White goes after the bad leg again then he CHOPS Ibushi back.

White climbs up, but Ibushi fights White off! White hammers away on Ibushi’s leg and even rakes the eyes! White tries again, from the very top rope, for SUPERPLEX! The Switchblade drags Ibushi up and wants the fisherman, but Ibushi manages to counter to a PACKAGE TOMBSTONE! Both men are down but the fans are loving this! Ibushi rises first, and throws a forearm from his knees. White sits up to return the favor. Ibushi forearms again, but White again returns it. They continue to go back and forth, even as they stand up. Ibushi rocks White, but gives him more forearms. White falls to the mat, and fans fire up as Ibushi sits White up. White hits big body shots and a strike fest! BIG lariat! But Ibushi sits up!? Only to run into a massive urenage! White drags Ibushi up, fisherman lift, KIWI KRUSHER! Cover, TWO!!

Ibushi survives but White grabs his arm. White slashes the throat and drags Ibushi up, but Ibushi slips around to a roll-up. White rolls out and blocks the knee! Half nelson but Ibushi standing switches to use the Half ‘n’ Half first! Both men are down but Ibushi is rising. Fans fire up as Ibushi drags White up. Ibushi scoops White again but White fights free, only to get a mule kick. But White throws Ibushi into Red Shoes! And a low blow uppercut! Typical Jay White. And with no referee to keep order, Gedo comes out with a big smile on his face. Gedo throws a chair to white! White chop blocks Ibushi back down before he gets the chair. Gedo holds Ibushi’s leg for White to SMACK it! And SMACK it! Ibushi is clutching his ankle while Gedo gets away with the chair. White grabs the leg for another grounded dragon screw! And then, the inverted figure four, #TTO!

Ibushi endures as Gedo puts Red Shoes in the ring! Red Shoes slowly revives as White has Ibushi trapped! But fans rally up and Ibushi crawls towards ropes! White wrenches and bridges as hard as he can but Ibushi holds onto Red Shoes to avoid tapping out. Ibushi powers his way forward, even with White’s weight on his legs, for the ROPEBREAK! White holds on until Red Shoes counts, and fans boo again. Ibushi clutches his leg while Gedo is hiding from Red Shoes. White drags Ibushi up but Ibushi keeps hold of the rope. Red Shoes checks on Ibushi, but Ibushi refuses to quit over this. Ibushi drags himself up and White is right on him! Ibushi resists the sleeper suplex and hits a PELE on one good leg! Both men are down again, but Ibushi sits up first. Ibushi roars and fans fire up with him. Ibushi scoops White, and heads for a corner, to LONG DART! White crashes down and is dazed while we go to break.

NJPW on AXS returns, and Ibushi drags White up from the apron. Fans know what Ibushi wants here, but so does White. White resists the waistlock but Ibushi still lifts him up! DEADLIFT SUPER GERMAN! Cover, TWO!! White survives but Ibushi won’t give up here. Ibushi stands and drags White back up. White resists the powerbomb lift, even as Ibushi tries again and again. White clubs away at the bad ankle, then throws a SLAPPING palm strike! That just flipped Ibushi’s switch! White starts to laugh but Ibushi SLAPS him back! And SLAPS and SLAPS and SLAPS! Ibushi kicks White to a corner then throws more slapping strikes! White can only cover up as Ibushi kicks him. Red Shoes backs Ibushi off, but Ibushi dares White to man up!

White gets up and hobbles up to Ibushi. They go forehead to forehead, and White slaps, only for Ibushi to immediately SLAP him down! Fans are thunderous for Ibushi as he drags White back up. But White dragon screws outta nowhere! White drags Ibushi back up, but Ibushi point-blank LARIATS! Ibushi has White up in the powerbomb, sit-out LAST RIDE! Cover, TWO!! White still lives but Ibushi has more to give. Ibushi goes to the corner, “YAO~!” But White drops down to avoid Ibushi’s shout out to the King of Strong Style. Ibushi tries but White is dead weight on purpose. Red Shoes reprimands White but White laughs and eggs Ibushi on. White uses Red Shoes as a shield, so that Red Shoes doesn’t see Gedo run in! But Ibushi ducks Gedo’s attack to ROUNDHOUSE Gedo back out! But then White hits the SLEEPER SUPLEX! Only for Ibushi to stand right up! BOMAYE to the back!

White and Ibushi are both down, and Red Shoes realizes Gedo is here. Red Shoes tells Rocky Romero to help get Gedo out. Rocky does as asked and Ibushi sits up! Ibushi aims at White, “YAO~” for another BOMAYE!! Cover, TWO!?! White survives but barely! Ibushi still has one more move up his proverbial sleeve. He stands White up with the wristlocks but White kicks the ankle. Ibushi kicks back but White knocks Ibushi over. Ibushi throws forearms from the floor, then roars. White just kicks the leg more, but he gets a ROUNDHOUSE from the good leg! Ibushi has wild eyes as he ROUNDHOUSES White again! Ibushi drags White up, wristlocks, but White counters to BLADE RUNNER!! But he can’t cover, he’s too exhausted! White crawls over, but he doesn’t cover?! White has Ibushi’s arm, drags him up, reels Ibush in cross-armed, but Ibushi resists! Ibushi headbutts White!

Ibushi still has the wrists, straitjacket German Suplex! But he holds on and turns White over, KAMIG- SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! White has Ibushi again, for another Sleeper Suplex! And then another cross-arm lift, BRAINBUSTER! But White won’t end it there, he drags Ibushi right back up, but Ibushi spins out of Blade Runner for a V-Trigger! Then he tries again, but White slips out! White wants Blade Runner but Ibushi standing switches and hits another V-Trigger! And another! And finally, with both wrists, KAMIGOYE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Just what helped White do that?! But Ibushi shows no mercy, KAMIGOYE AGAIN!! Cover, Ibushi wins!!!

Winner: Kota Ibushi, by pinfall; wins the G1 Climax 29

The Golden Star makes a dream come true! It took so much out of him, but Ibushi has completed a historic Triple Crown. Ibushi has won Best of the Super Juniors, the New Japan Cup, and now the G1 Climax! He is presented with the G1 trophy and banner, and then the microphone to speak to Budokan.

“The G1 tournament has made this the most important month of my life.” Last year, he lost in the finals. But a year later, he would still make it to the finals. And this time, he won, so he is very happy. Ibushi says it is thanks to the efforts of all 20 wrestlers in the G1. He may be repeating himself, but avenging his loss is awesome! Fans cheer and chant his name once again. Ibushi wants to continue building NJPW to be bigger and bigger, together with everyone. It may not be his place, but he earned this closing speech, so he wants to say this now. NJPW and all of pro-wrestling will be huge! This is a new era for NJPW! Please come along with them, and thank you for everything! See you again at the next G1!

With that, Ibushi walks around the ring to reach a hand out to all the fans cheering. He shakes hands with commentary, the timekeepers, then returns to the ring to once again hold up the trophy and banner as streamers fly! Is the Golden Star Era going to truly take over NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom? Will Ibushi still meet The Rainmaker for the title? Or will someone else take Okada’s place in Tokyo?

NJPW Media Backstage Interview

As tired as Ibushi is, he is able to celebrate. “How brutal the G1 would be…” Ibushi was waiting for it for a whole year. “And somehow, I managed to seize it.” Ibushi worked so hard to take the cup. Now he understands. Ibushi thought he knew, but he was just pretending. He is incredibly happy. Can they tell? “It is the absolute best.” Ibushi repeats “the best” as he hands out beers for a toast. He makes sure everyone has one. “Okay, let’s do this!” All together, CHEERS! Ibushi chugs down the Miller and again says he’s incredibly happy. He thanks the fans for their support. Will Ibushi take this win all the way to the top of NJPW?

My Thoughts:

It may be a couple weeks late, but what a great end to the G1 Climax on AXS! We got the major plot points from the finale event, too. Kenta joining Bullet Club was a big surprise, even though it was clear something was up from him not starting and then ditching the tag. While Guerrillas of Destiny and Jay White have had a good run coming out of the lackluster non-end to the feud with The Elite, the rest of the Bullet Club hasn’t done much. With Kenta in there, and Fale looking legit again, they could make another run for having a lot of gold in their ranks. Meanwhile, Okada’s dance card before Wrestle Kingdom grows even longer. Sanada has a shot because he finally beat The Rainmaker, Ibushi would’ve had a claim whether or not he won tonight, and now Minoru Suzuki is after him!

Okada-Tanahashi VS Suzuki-Gun was a great match! Suzuki winning while ZSJ went after Tanahashi sets up some great title feuds with ZSJ perhaps putting his Rev-Pro title on the line out of arrogance. Suzuki’s story comes full circle, having not been in the G1 but earning a shot the old fashioned way, and it works as a replacement since Ibushi is going to have his shot because of the G1 Climax win. Sanada also has history with Suzuki, so the insane chance of Cold Skull taking the title off Okada to then defend it against Suzuki would make for an interesting lead into Wrestle Kingdom. Ibushi VS White was also a great match, and Ibushi winning was just the right call on so many levels. White has such Heel Heat, the fans would not want him to win. Ibushi is so over the fans would not want him to lose. And Ibushi dedicated himself to NJPW and that’s legit, so NJPW is giving him the push for that reason. It all came together for the Golden Star tonight.

At the same time, Ibushi will have to defend his contract like a title in itself, and you can imagine Bullet Club will want that. Kenta beat Ibushi in the very first round, so there is grounds for Kenta to want a shot. That would make for a great match, and another great test for Ibushi’s character to make it through his own string of challengers to parallel Okada. As for White, he beat both Moxley and Naito, who are both champions right now. Sadly we heard Moxley has an elbow infection, but hopefully it isn’t so serious as to keep him out of action in NJPW. Naito can still defend his title against White to keep his story of his dual championship destiny going. And of course, Naito VS Ibushi for the third time in 2019 can still happen somehow, perhaps even contract for title so that somehow someone potentially could become dual Intercontinental and Heavyweight Champion.

My Score: 9.5/10

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

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Classic POD is WAR

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Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (8/26/19)

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Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (4/15/25)

Who will Stand & Deliver?

Published

14 minutes ago

April 15, 2025

Steven Mitchell

Time to defy the odds!

A tag team gauntlet and a Fatal 4 Way determine contenders that will challenge for NXT gold this Saturday at Stand & Deliver: Las Vegas!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Gauntlet: ??? wins and will challenge Fraxiom for the titles at Stand & Deliver.
NXT North American Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Eddy Thorpe VS Lexis King VS Wes Lee VS Ethan Page; wins and will challenge Ricky Saints for the title at Stand & Deliver.

PLAY BY PLAY

[Due to the scheduling choices of KVIA2 CW (El Paso & Las Cruces), coverage of NXT will not begin until 9PM Eastern]

About Chairshot Radio Network

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!

All Shows On Demand

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (4/14/25)

Run-up to Mania starts now!

Published

1 day ago

April 14, 2025

Steven Mitchell

It’s a truly star-studded Raw!

Ahead of their WrestleMania 41 Night 1 Main Event, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, CM Punk & Paul Heyman are all here on Monday Night Raw!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Bayley w/ Lyra Valkyria VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez; Bayley wins.
Rey Mysterio w/ The LWO VS Julius Creed w/ Team American Made; Rey wins.
AJ Styles VS Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux; Styles wins.
PENTA VS Finn Balor; Finn wins, by disqualification.

PLAY BY PLAY

Gunther is here!

Sacramento boos Der Ring General as he storms to the ring. Michael Cole was going to interview the World Heavyweight Champion later tonight, but it seems Gunther wants to get to it. Gunther and Cole meet in the ring, Cole says two weeks ago, he left Jimmy Uso bloodied in this ring. That caused Jey Uso to march out here last week- Gunther cuts Cole off to says that last week, Jey walked out here, looked Gunther in the eyes, and claimed he’s not afraid anymore. The fans boo as Gunther says this week, he is here to look us all in the eyes to tell us that Jey Uso is full of crap! Cole understands the fans are upset, but speaking of that, it seems Gunther is also upset.

We saw last year at WrestleMania, when… The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” and Gunther says screw the questions! Screw Jey Uso! Screw everything Jey stands for! And screw everybody who stands with Jey! The fans boo more, and Gunther says ever since he stepped for in the WWE, he is the greatest gift this company has ever received! For 80% of his time in the WWE, he has been a champion! And now, he is the GREATEST World Heavyweight Champion of all time! The fans boo more, but Gunther says he refuses to let somebody like Jey Uso ruin that for him. The fans “YEET!” more and he says fine, do it as much as you want!

Gunther tells Jey to puff his chest out, walk into WrestleMania with the most confidence he’s ever had, because it won’t matter! In the end, the bell has to ring! And when that happens, Jey still can’t lace Gunther’s boots! Gunther will put Jey down for a FOURTRH time! These last two weeks, Gunther has been accused, told he went too far, that he lost control. Jey, trust one thing: In 37 years of LIFE, Gunther has never lost control! The fans chant “You Suck! You Suck!” Gunther says two weeks ago, when he took a bath in Jimmy’s blood, Gunther was in full control, and he LOVED it!

And Jey, go pray to the Lord, thank Him for how Gunther was in control, or else he would’ve drowned them both in Jimmy’s blood! Gunther looks forward to next week, calling his mother and telling her how much he enjoyed beating the living hell out of Jey, and is STILL World Heavyweight Champion! Gunther storms off, having done his part for tonight. Will nothing and no one stop Der Ring General from destroying Jey?

Bianca Belair speaks.

“I’ll be the first to admit that lately, I’ve been in my head. Everything that’s happened with Jade and Naomi, it really messed me up. And now, this whole situation with Iyo and Rhea has brought out a different version of me. But different isn’t wrong. My Road to WrestleMania has filled with nothing but blood, sweat and tears. Not no complaining, no whining, no excuses. No, just straight facts. I’ve been doing nothing but standing up for myself and speaking the truth, something that anybody would do. Something I would hope people are teaching their kids to do. And you don’t have to like the truth, but you can’t deny it.

“Just like I can’t deny now it’s a Triple Threat. Yeah, I’ve been through a lot. But I’m still the best. So I’ma use the bit of everything that I’ve been through to be the Bianca I know I can be. I’m the Bianca that won Elimination Chamber, I’m the Bianca that’s never been pinned at WrestleMania, and I’m the strongest, the fastest, the roughest, the toughest, the quickest, the greatest, the best Bianca that you have ever seen. So it doesn’t matter if it’s a Triple Threat, because there’s nothing that Rhea or Iyo can do to stop me from getting my flowers and walking out of WrestleMania as champion. Because you cannot spell WrestleMania without E S T.”

Bayley w/ Lyra Valkyria VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez!

The Role Model and the Morrigan ran the table on Friday Night SmackDown’s tag team gauntlet, and now they’re going to WrestleMania! Will they have even more momentum going into that WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match? Or will the leading ladies of Judgment Day refuse to give up the spotlight even now?

Raw returns and Bayley has made her entrance, Lyra by her side. The bell rings, the fans rally up, and Bayley circles with Liv. They approach, and Liv SLAPS Bayley! Liv laughs, but Bayley smirks. Liv apologizes, then runs away! Bayley chases Liv around the outside, but then they slip into the ring. Liv stomps away on Bayley, the fans are torn but the ref counts. Liv stops at 4, and Liv bumps Bayley off buckles. Liv stomps a mudhole, but again stops at 4. Liv then stomps another mudhole in, and shouts, “OKAAAY~!” as she lets off. The fans are torn, Liv stands Bayley up, but Bayley fires forearms! The fans fire up, Liv swings, but into a fireman’s carry!

Liv fights free, ducks ‘n’ dodges Bayley, but Bayley hits a THESZ PRESS! The fans fire up and Bayley hits a NECK SNAPPER, then a SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Bayley stomps Liv around, glares at Raquel, but Liv kicks from below. Bayley rains down fists on Liv, the fans rally behind her, and Bayley whips. Liv reverses, then avoids the up ‘n’ over to DROPKICK Bayley! Liv runs corner to corner, and BACK BODY BLOCKS! Liv rolls, but Bayley follows to LARIAT! The fans fire up again and Bayley looms over Liv. Bayley glares at Raquel, then bumps Liv off buckles. Bayley ELBOWS Liv, then ELBOWS her again.

Bayley brings Liv around, the fans cheer her on as she bumps Liv off buckles. The fans duel, Bayley brings Liv in and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Liv is tougher than that but Bayley stays on her. Bayley brings Liv over but Liv stops the buckle bump to give a buckle bump! Liv runs up, but Bayley ELBOWS her! Bayley goes up to FLYING ARM-DRAG! Then she gest around to SAIDO! Liv bails out, Raquel checks on her, but Bayley smiles. Bayley aims, builds speed, and DIVES, but into a forearm! Liv drags Bayley out to snap suplex to the floor! That’s just Una Amiga as Liv gets Bayley up again! Dos Amigas to the floor!

Liv drags Bayley up again, but Bayley stops that to wrench and KNEE low! Bayley RAMS Liv into steel steps! The fans fire up, Bayley runs up, but Liv dodges! Bayley hits steps, then Liv STMOPS Bayley’s hands! Liv drags Bayley up, THREE AMIGAS to the floor, from OFF the steps! Liv gives some Latina Heat while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Liv has Bayley in the ring. Liv grinds Bayley down with a chinlock but the fans rally up. Bayley fights to her feet, then JAWBREAKERS free! Liv staggers, comes back, but Bayley blocks to fire forearms! Bayley fires forearm after forearm, but Liv KICKS in return! Liv kicks again, but Bayley KNEES her down! Liv flounders, Bayley runs up, but Liv dodges! Bayley is sent into the buckles! The ref checks Bayley and she’s still in this, so Liv basement ENZIGIRIS! Cover, TWO! Bayley is tougher than that but Liv gives her cheap hammer fists. Bayley hits back but Liv stomps her down.

Liv goes up the corner, waits on Bayley to rise, and FLYING- NO, Bayley grabs Liv’s legs! Liv fights the turnover, pops Bayley into the sunset flip, TWO! Bayley runs up, Liv ducks the knee to roll her up, TWO! KNEE!! Liv flounders around again, Bayley runs in, SUNSET FLIP BUCKLE BOMB! The fans fire up as Bayley drags Liv to a cover, TWO! Liv stays in this but Lyra coaches Bayley. Raquel coaches Liv while Liv crawls away. The fans duel and Liv stands. Bayley grabs a leg but Liv kicks at her! Liv BOOTS Bayley away, but Bayley comes back and slides out! But Liv gets her for a CODE BREAKER! Bayley flops down, and Liv snarls as she rises up.

Liv aims and MISSILE DROPKICKS to the floor! A little double-edged given that landing, but Liv hurries to get Bayley up and into the ring. Liv crawls to the cover, TWO! Bayley survives and Lyra is relieved. Liv snarls again and waits on Bayley. Bayley goes to the ropes, Liv runs up, OBLIV- NO, Bayley puts her on the apron! Bayley ROCKS Liv, has her in the ropes, but Liv denies the hotshot! GAMANGIRI! Liv storms in, gets moving, she goes up, up, and FLYING- STUNNER! Bayley turns things around on Liv, and hits a BAYLEY2BELLY!! Bayley crawls to the cover, Raquel gives Liv the ROPEBREAK!

The fans boo, they all saw Raquel do it! Lyra goes after Raquel, Raquel fights her off and BOOTS her down! The fans boo, but Bayley DECKS Raquel, and hits the HOTSHOT in the ropes! The fans fire up but Liv hits Bayley with a BACKSTABBER!! And then OBLIV- NO, Lyra anchors Bayley’s feet! Bayley jackknife bridges, AND WINS!

Winner: Bayley, by pinfall

A huge bit of teamwork leads to a huge win over one-half of the tag champions! Liv is livid, will she and Raquel get their revenge at WrestleMania?

Paul Heyman waits backstage.

And like usual, he’s waiting on The Tribal Chief. Will Roman Reigns even bother with The Wise Man knowing he’ll be in CM Punk’s corner at WrestleMania?

Rhea Ripley speaks.

“Bianca, I can see right through you. You said you were just out there to watch, and then you said you were just out there to call it down the middle. But I can see your true intentions now: You thrive on playing with my emotions, winding me up like I’m some sort of toy to you so you can get what you want and make it seem like I’m the bad guy. The thing that you failed to understand is that when I lose something that I love, I wills top at nothing to get it back. And Iyo, I never had to give you a championship match. But watching you pout and moan, it really pulled on the heartstrings that I had left. So I pulled a page out of your book, and I got what I wanted, too.

“So Iyo, I advise you to cherish every single moment you have with the Women’s World Championship. And Bianca, I can’t wait to make you feel what it’s like when I’m the bad guy. Because at WrestleMania 41, I get back what belongs to me.”

Rey Mysterio w/ The LWO VS Julius Creed w/ Team American Made!

Before going up against the supposed greatest luchador of a generation, El Grande Americano, the King of Lucha will take on one of the Creed Brothers. But is this going to be far more than just a tune-up? Or will Rey speed-dial the 619 here in Sacramento?

Raw returns and American Made has made their entrance. The bell rings, Rey and Julius circle, then Rey waistlocks. Julius backs Rey into a corner, the ref counts, and Rey lets go. Julius elbows Rey down! The fans boo but Julius pushes Rey around. Julius wrenches Rey, wristlocks, but Rey endures. Julius uses a straight arm lever to lift Rey! Then he drops Rey, grinds the arm down, but Rey fires forearms! Rey uses the ropes to flip through, then he KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! Julius wrenches, hammerlocks, but Rey reaches back! Rey jumps up, FLYING-MARE! Julius runs back up to CLOBBER Rey!

Julius talks trash, American Made soaks up the heat, and Julius whips Rey. Rey reverses, then blows past to tilt-o-whirl and RANA! The fans fire up as Julius tumbles to a corner! Rey fires up, but Julius comes back to CLOBBER him again! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Rey but Julius clamps on a chinlock. Rey endures, the fans rally up more, and Rey fights up. Rey throws body shots, runs, but Julius kitchen sink knees him down! Julius stands Rey up, whisp him to ropes, but Rey KICKS back! Rey dropkicks the legs and Julius ends up on ropes! Rey dials it up, but Julius dumps Rey out! Rey RAMS into Julius, ROCKS him, then climbs up!

The fans fire up, but Brutus distracts the ref! This lets Gable trip Rey up! The fans boo but Julius is right up top! So now Wilde distracts, and that lets Dragon Lee trip Julius! Turnabout is fair play, but now both teams are protesting! So the ref EJECTS everybody! Things will truly be 1v1, after the break!

Raw returns again and Julius has a neck wrench on Rey. Julius whips Rey hard to a corner, runs up, but Rey ELBOWS him! And BOOTS him! Rey goes up, up, but Julius Electric Chair Lifts! Rey fires hands, then spins to MYSTERIO RANA! Both men fall out of the ring pretty hard, but Rey gets back inside! Rey WRECKS Julius with a dropkick, the fans fire up, and Rey builds speed to SLIDING- NO, Julius stuffs Rey into a deadlift suplex! Julius marches with Rey, and then goes up the steel steps! Julius has Rey at the ropes, but Rey fights free! Julius BOOTS Rey back! Julius runs up, Rey moves, Julius POSTS himself!

The fans fire up while Julius flops into the ring. Rey hurries back up, climbs the corner, and FLYING RANAS! Julius ends up in a corner, Julius climbs up again, and he rains down fists! The fans count all the way to TEN! Rey fires up, the fans are with him, and Rey whips Julius corner to corner. Julius springs right up, goes over, but then Rey QUEBRADAS! But Julius catches him! Rey swings through to DDT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up while both men are down! “This is Awesome!” as Rey rises, and he brings Julius around. Julius blocks the whip, shakes his head, and he whips Rey. Rey slides under, comes back, but Julius KNEES Rey down!

Julius brings down the straps, runs up, but Rey DUMPS Julius out tot he floor! Wait, El Grande Americano is here! Rey runs up, grabs him by his mask, but then Julius rolls Rey up! TWO!! Julius gets up, swings, but Rey shoves Julius into El Grande! Rey dropkicks Julius onto the ropes! Dial it up, 619!! Slingshot, DROP THE DIME! Cover, Rey wins!

Winner: Rey Mysterio, by pinfall

But then El Grande CLOBBERS Rey! The fans boo, the LWO returns, but Julius holds them off! Grande CLOBBERS Cruz, but Dragon Lee fires off forearms! Dragon Lee whips, but Grande FLYING HEADBUTTS! The fans boo, but now Grande goes up top! DIVING HEADBUTT onto Rey! “UH GRACIAS~!” That mask is definitely loaded like last week, but will Rey be able to overcome that tactic and win for the honor of true lucha libre?

The War Raiders speak.

Ivar says, “Xavier, Kofi, you run your mouths about how the New Day is the greatest tag team of all time.” Erik says, “The fact of the matter is, the War Raiders have blazed a path of world domination for more than a decade. We’ve won gold on multiple continents.” “And last week, we had you beat, dead to rights.” The New Day took the cowardly way out because they knew they couldn’t beat the Raiders. The New Day says this is about the titles, but it has gotten much more personal. Kofi & Woods took this to a whole new level. They didn’t come for these titles, they came for Erik’s neck! They tried to put Erik on the shelf! They tried to end his career!

So at WrestleMania, this won’t be a match! It’ll barely be a fight! This is WAR!

The New Day is backstage.

They’re busy playing the Clash of Clans WWE crossover game, not that they’re in it. But Jackie Redmond walks over to talk with them. The New Day says that is rude, they’re busy playing a game. This lack of respect is audacious. Jackie does apologize, but she brings up the War Raiders saying that this match at Mania is now a war. War? New Day’s been in war from how they’ve been treated this whole time! The whole time! But the warpath stops when they take back what belongs to them, and that’s their WWE World Tag Team Championships! The entire world will see that ya bois, the NEW DAY~, are the best team on the face of Planet Earth!

Last week was just a taste of what they’re willing to do to get those titles back. And after Mania, Erik will wish they took his head off so that he and Ivar wouldn’t have to catch the beating they’re getting this weekend. At WrestleMania, every irrelevant and immature member of the WWE Universe will have no choice but to drop to their knees and THANK GOD for the New Day! Woods & Kofi head out, but will they survive this WrestleMania weekend?

AJ Styles VS Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux!

Before taking on The Maverick, Logan Paul, at WrestleMania, the Phenomenal One is going to prove to Mr. & Mrs. Doomsday that this AJ Styles IS the AJ Styles that can get the job done! Does that mean Raw is going to be Too Sweet? Or will Kross be disappointed?

Raw returns as Kross makes his entrance, his femme fatale by his side. Kross is really taking this mirroring stuff to another level, wearing tights very similar to what Styles would wear. Kross still wants Styles to understand, Styles has to be like the Styles of the past in order to finally humble Logan Paul and save professional wrestling. Styles gets mad, but Kross shoves him! Styles RAMS Kross into the corner, RAMS him again and again, but lets off as the ref counts. Styles storms back up, whips corner to corner, but Kross reverses. Kross runs up, but Styles BOOTS him away. Kross comes back to BOOT Styles down!

The fans boo but Kross stomps Styles around. Kross talks trash, but Styles KICKS Kross! And CHOPS! Kross YANKS Styles into ropes, then CHOKES him! The ref counts, Kross says it doesn’t have to be this way, but he lets off as the ref pulls him back. Scarlett CLAWS at Styles’ face in the distraction! The fans boo but Kross stomps Styles. Kross drags Styles up, but Styles JAWBREAKERS back! Styles runs up, but into a SAIDO! The fans boo, Kross stalks Styles to a corner, then he stomps away. Kross whips corner to corner hard, and Styles clutches his ribs as he falls. Kross laughs at Styles’ pain, then stomps him more.

Kross drags Styles up, but Styles DRPOKICKS Kross down! The fans cheer, Kross bails out, and Styles slides to DROPKICK! Kross hits barriers, then Styles PLANCHAS! Kross moves, Styles lands safe on the apron, but Kross sweeps the legs! Kross then whips Styles hard into barriers! Styles almost falls onto that guy cosplaying the Prime bottle. Kross whips Styles hard into more barriers, and Styles falls into the timekeeper’s area! Scarlett kisses Kross’ hand while he soaks up heat, and Raw goes to break.

Raw returns Kross has a chinlock. Styles fights up, fires body shots, but Kross KNEES low! Kross scoops and hits a BACKBREAKER! Kross scoops again, but Styles slips free! Styles goes for a leg but Kross stifles that and shoves Styles to a cover, TWO! Kross drags Styles up, reels him in, but Styles fights the bomb! Kross stops the rana, fireman’s carries, FINAL PRAYER! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives but Kross asks if Styles is sandbagging. Kross looms over Styles, the fans rally up, and Kross smirks as Styles rises. Kross swings, but Styles counter punches! And counter punches! And CHOPS, CHOPS, KICKS!

Styles KICKS Kross again, then whips. Kross hobbles then falls over, clutching his knee! The fans boo, thinking this is an act. Scarlett checks Kross as he clutches the ankle. Styles asks the ref about this, but then Kross sucker punches Styles! It WAS an act, and the fans boo that Kross got away with it! Kross shimmies and shuffles, then taunts Styles. Styles runs up to CLOBBER Kross! Styles fires off the PHENOMENAL BLITZ! SLIDING FOREARM! The fans fire up, Styles runs in at the corner to LARIAT Kross! Fireman’s carry, but Kross slips free! Kick and DDT! Kross vows to end it, and the fans boo as Kross throws off his elbow pad.

Styles rises as Kross winds the hands of time. KROSS- NO, Styles ducks the hammer and fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Kross hobbles, Styles runs up, but Kross puts him on the apron! Styles HOTSHOTS Kross, then DECKS him! The fans fire up, Kross rises, PHENOMENAL FOREARM! Cover, Styles wins!

Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall

Kross put Styles to the test, and that was definitely Styles acing that test! But then Logan Paul appears! Sacramento boos Logan as he walks out with mic in hand. Logan asks what’s up with the hostility. Chill, he’s here to congratulate Styles. No, seriously, good win! He did it! In front of Sacramento, “a bunch of people who weren’t cool enough to live in Los Angeles, or work smart enough to live in San Francisco.” But Styles showed these “generic California losers” why Styles VS Logan is gonna cook! But hey, why not show them why it’ll make money? Here is what Styles is up against. Please enjoy this piece of cinema.

Logan has his own hype video package, “I accomplish more in one weekend than you all will in your entire lives. I didn’t join the WWE to take part, I joined to take over.” Styles grabs a mic to say that’s a cute video, smartass. But let’s start Mania earlier! Get your ass to the ring right now! The fans fire up for that! Logan says okay, and he steps closer. But Kross runs up on Styles! Styles ROCKS Kross, ROCKS Logan, repeat! Styles DECKS Logan, ROCKS him again, btu Kross scoops! Styles slips free, REVERSE DDT! Styles snarls at Kross, but Logan is up! ONE LUCKY RIGHT!! Then the PAUL-VERIZER!! The Maverick is feeling so “humble,” but will he be humbled at Mania?

Paul Heyman is still waiting…

Will he be waiting all night at this rate?

Jey Uso is here!

The fans fire up as Main Event Jey pops right through the curtain to walk down the bleachers. Sacramento bounces for him and they “YEET!” along with the song, but Jey is once again very serious. Jey goes to the ground level, but then stands on the desk for everyone to see him. Jey grabs the mic while the bouncing continues, and the fans cheer as the song dies down. Jey takes a breath, fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” and chant “One More Time! One More Time!” Jey says okay, and the song starts up again! The bouncing starts up again, and then Jey paces as he waits for the music to die down.

“Aight, check it. I said what I had to say to Gunther last week.” “YEET!” “But I really wanted to come out here and holler at y’all.” “YEET!” Jey says what up, Sac Town! Mama out here somewhere in the crowd. But everyone keeps on asking Jey, “Jey, where your mind at?” Is he crashing out? HELL YEAH he’s crashing out! But he’s locked in! Locked in for him! For his family! And for y’all! Check it out, though. Listen to Gunther out here talking. Y’know what that made Jey feel like? He mad. Nah nah nah… Gunther’s afraid! Yeah, Gunther’s afraid! Afraid that Jey will whoop that ass in front of 60 THOUSAND and the world! See you Saturday, Uce!

Jey says one time for the one time… Hey, Uce, please, PLEASE hit his music! UH UH, YEET!! The fans fire up as the bouncing starts up yet again! Jey has all the confidence, all the fire, all the momentum. But will he have it all when it’s all said and done in Las Vegas?

Backstage interview with Bron Breakker.

Cathy Kelley is with the Badass WWE Intercontinental Champion and brings up this Sunday, the Fatal 4 Way that stacks the odds against him. How is he handling what could be the biggest defense of his career? Bron says obviously, this is the biggest match of his career. And- JUDGMENT DAY ATTACKS! Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio & Carlito mug Bron! They stomp him around, then THROW him onto a road case! They still rain down fists, and Finn says the dog’s bark is worse than his bite! They CHUCK Bron into more road cases! Adam Pearce and producers storm in and stop The Judgment Day, but will Bron be alright in just 6 days?

As for Finn, he has a match to get to! Will The Prince be ready for #CeroMiedo?

PENTA VS Finn Balor!

Raw returns and Finn makes his entrance, only for Penta to DROPKICK him off the apron! Penta then FLIES and takes Finn down! Penta strikes first since Finn did that to Bron, and the fans love it! Penta puts Finn in the ring, then storms in after him. The bell rings, the fans fire up as Penta runs up, but Finn puts him on the apron. Penta GAMANGIRIS, then goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Finn kicks Penta low, then brings Penta around. Penta WRINGS free, then traps that arm! But Finn trips Penta! Penta BOOTS Finn away, then pump handles! Finn pops free, dragon sleepers, but Penta drops to KICK from below!

Penta runs up to ENZIGIRI in the corner, then he headstands and SWINGING DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Finn stays in this, the fans cheer for “CERO! MIEDO!” Penta nods and storms up on Finn to KICK the leg out! Finn flounders, stands back up, but Penta KICKS the leg again! Penta stalks Finn, and KICKS Finn’s leg out again! The fans fire up while Finn flounders around more. Penta has Finn on the ropes, hushes the fans, and he CHOPS! Finn is stinging as he staggers away, and the fans fire up as they want even more of that! Penta whips, Finn reverses, but Penta sunset flips. Finn rolls through to basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!

Finn keeps Penta down with an ELBOW, then a chinlock. Finn grinds Penta down, Penta endures, and the fans rally. Penta fights up, but Finn yanks the mask! Finn has Penta down, and he soaks up the heat. Finn drags Penta, then jumps stomps! Finn soaks up more heat, jump stomps again, then argues with the ref. Finn taunts Sacramento, stomps Penta again and again and again! The ref counts, Finn stops, but he soaks up more heat. Finn goes back to Penta and says “Just Too Sweet!” They go to the apron, and Penta scoops! Finn slips free, and APRON EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Both men are down on the outside while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Finn has Penta up top! And then the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO!! Penta stays in this and the fans fire up! Finn grows frustrated, but he clamps onto an arm for a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! The fans rally up, Penta fights to his feet, and Penta fires hands. Penta arm-drags free, then ducks ‘n ‘dodges, for a RANA! Finn flounders up, Penta LARIATS! And LARIATS! The fans fire up again as Penta then SUPERKICKS Finn! Finn wobbles, Penta whips, but Finn reverses, only for Penta to go up and over! BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Finn survives and Penta is frustrated, but the fans fire back up.

Penta stalks Finn, the fans sing, “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~! CERO~! MIEDO~!” Penta has Finn in the corner, he puts Finn up top, and then he CHOPS! Penta calls his shot and the fans cheer that. Penta climbs up and he goes to the very top! But Finn fires body shots! Penta hops down to the apron and CHOPS again! Then he jumps up to FLYING RANA! Finn staggers back up, Penta BOOTS him! Penta then runs to SLING-DOG! Penta keeps moving, but Finn SLINGBLADES! The fans rally, both men stand, and Finn aims from a corner! SHOT- NO, scoop and BACKBREAKER! Penta has the arm, traps it, and then pulls on the other! “CERO! MIEDO!” SACRIFICE!!

The fans fire up while Finn writhes! Penta stalks Finn, clamps onto him again, “This is Awesome!” as the PENTA- NO, Finn victory rolls the driver! TWO!! DOUBLE LARITS collide! Penta fires body shots, a SOBAT, a KICK, then a SUPERKICK! Finn flops down, but Penta goes to a corner. But then Carlito & Dom rush out here! Penta glares at them, they back off, but Finn rolls Penta up! TWO!! Penta escapes, Finn ducks ‘n’ dodges, SLINGBLADE! Finn aims, SHOTGUN! Penta hits buckles, then ends up in the drop zone, but HERE COMES BRON! You can’t keep a good dog down! Carlito fears for his life after last week…!

Carlito runs away, so Bron runs in and CLOBBERS Finn!! But that lets Finn win!

Winner: Finn Balor, by disqualification

Bron keeps beating up on Finn, so Dom runs in and TACKLES Bron! Carlito joins in now that they have the advantage! They mug Bron 2v1, but Bron fights back! Bron dodges, and he DOUBLE SPEARS!! Sacramento barks for Bron as he aims at Penta! Bron roars, runs up, but Penta KICKS first! And mule kicks! And SUPERKICKS! And then tilt-o-whirl RANA! Bron tumbles out of the ring and the fans fire up! Penta builds speed to go up, up, and SUPER CROSSBODY! Penta wipes out Bron, Dom & Carlito, but where’d Finn go? Finn is already up the ramp! The Prince got handed the win tonight, but will Penta take it all with his #CeroMiedo?

Iyo Sky speaks.

“This message is for Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley. You keep forgetting that I’M the Women’s World Champion. You push me out of the way of your petty squabbles like I mean nothing. But I’m the whole reason you’re fighting in the first place, aren’t I? Because I have the one thing you both want: The Women’s World Championship! So, I’m done being ignored. I’m done being forgotten. Because you have to go through ME to get this title, and I’m not afraid to take you both on to defend it. I’ve beaten both of you before, and I’ll beat you again! At WrestleMania, you will never forget the name Iyo Sky, Women’s World Champion.”

Paul Heyman is still waiting, but CM Punk joins him!

Punk sits down with a coffee and says he’s never seen The Wise Man so stressed. Look in his eyes, what do you see? The Cult of Personality? No, a real friend. A friend who would never do anything to put Heyman in harm’s way. But then a car is pulling up. It’s ROMAN! Roman sees Punk and Heyman being buddy-buddy, and he storms off! Heyman tries to catch up to his Tribal Chief, but Roman won’t even look at him. Will this favor cause the break-up of Roman and Heyman?

Roman goes to the ring!

The fans cheer and put the ones up as The OTC makes his entrance, Wise Man trailing behind. What will happen with Roman, Heyman, Punk, and Seth Rollins, all in the building this close to WrestleMania? We find out, after the break.

Raw returns rather quickly, and Roman is now in the ring. He raises his finger up for the pyro and the fans cheer. Heyman has the mic while the fans chant “O T C! O T C!” Heyman tentatively holds it out for Roman, but Roman doesn’t take it! Roman gets a mic for himself, leaving Heyman a bit dismayed, but the cheering continues. Roman tells, “Sacramento…! ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” The fans cheer and put up the ones as they cheer on “O T C! O T C!” Roman says, “The whole world can feel that. The whole world can hear that you love and acknowledge your Tribal Chief. And now the whole world understands that you would never betray your Tribal Chief.

“But not everybody’s like you. Some people would betray me. Sacramento, you got any guesses on who that might be?” Obviously it’s Heyman that Roman is referring to, but Roman asks The Wise Man, “How could you betray me?” The fans tell Heyman he messed up. Roman says Heyman can’t hear that well, say it louder. The fans get louder with it, and Heyman is a bit surly about that. Heyman goes to talk, but he reconsiders. Roman still asks him why, and Heyman is at a loss for words. The fans boo, but some do chant for “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Roman smirks as Heyman finally says, “My Tribal Chief… It was not a betrayal. I paid back a favor that I owed.”

Roman doesn’t seem to like that answer, but he still smirks. Sacramento, maybe Roman’s a little confused here, but the way favors work is, you usually pay it back yourself, correct? The fans say yes. Roman says it feels the only one getting screwed here is him! And if there’s one thing about Roman Reigns, if there’s one thing about The Tribal Chief, it’s that he’d never ask for a favor. No, Roman takes what he wants! So Roman doesn’t owe a favor, because he never asked for any help, for anyone to join him at WarGames, so how is he supposed to cover the tab for Heyman’s dumbass favor? But now, “BURN IT DOWN!”

Seth Rollins makes his way out, and Roman is no longer in any good mood as the fans sing “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins struts out in a leather vest and black pants that both have a lot of pockets. Rollins steps into the ring, grabs himself a mic, and the fans continue to sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins tells Sacramento, “Let’s give it up for Your Tribal Chief! Because after over a decade, you’re finally getting it, man! You’re finally putting the pieces together all by yourself! You’re almost there, you’re just missing one little piece, and it’s a real shame it’s too little, it’s too late, cuz I still gotta end you at WrestleMania.”

Rollins says it is for the same reason that it always has been: It’s the right thing to do! This Triple Threat at WrestleMania is the BIGGEST, most IMPORTANT one in the history of Mania, of the WWE, of professional wrestling! Because the winner of this match will define the future of this industry. And it can’t be Roman, it can’t be Punk. Because this business is filled with people like Roman, people who show up when it is convenient, expecting everyone else to do all the work. That’s how this business dies! Roman finally sees it can’t be Punk, either.

This business is filled with too many “little Punks” running around who wanna pick up their ball and go home when it gets tough, only to come back and leech off the profits of other people’s success, and that’s how this business dies! The fans chant for Punk but Rollins says okay, they want this business to die? Rollins doesn’t! If there are more people in this business like Rollins, who always sacrifices physical and mental well-being to do what is best for business, then the business not only lives, but it thrives! There can be only one, and it’s gotta be Rollins.

As for that one little piece that Roman hasn’t quite figured out… “Favors don’t happen by chance, Roman. Favors are a choice. I chose not to put Paul Heyman in the hospital last week, and now Paul Heyman can choose whether or not he pays that debt to me. But your Wise Man, he is dishonorable as they come, he is a scumbag, and I expect nothing from him.” The fans boo and Heyman frowns, but Rollins says Heyman is not in CM Punk’s corner by chance. Heyman has made a choice. It isn’t just a betrayal, Roman. What Roman needs to ask himself, what that final piece is, Heyman isn’t just returning a favor, he’s choosing. So why is Heyman choosing Punk over Roman?

Heyman tells Roman he’s not doing that, but Roman seems to be thinking Rollins has a point. Roman tells The Wise Man that Rollins is right, Heyman made his choice. But Roman has made his. LARIAT FOR ROLLINS! The fans fire up as Roman then POSTS Rollins! Rollins flops out of the ring, Heyman is very pleased, and he says he acknowledges his Tribal Chief! Roman nods, but then he PIE FACES Heyman!? Heyman is stunned, but here comes CM Punk! The fans fire up as Punk runs down to the ring, and he dodges Roman to fire hands! The fans fire up as they brawl, and then Punk LARIATS Roman up and out!

The fans are torn as Punk helps Heyman up. Heyman is distraught, but Roman is back! SPEAR for Punk!! Roman HAMMERS away on Punk! Roman shouts at Punk, HEADBUTTS him, but then Rollins returns! And with a chair! SMACK to the back of Roman Reigns, just like the night it all started! Sacramento is all fired up, and Rollins hits a CURB STOMP on Punk! And then CURB STOMP on Roman! Heyman is freaking out as both his guys are down! Rollins stares Heyman down, is Rollins’ favor going to come into play after all?

My Thoughts:

A great Raw, especially for the go-home to WrestleMania. Great promo from Gunther with how he “doesn’t wait” for the proper interview with Michael Cole, and very good response promo from Jey. Gunther definitely sounds a bit on edge, and considering he might lose two WrestleManias in a row as the start of his WrestleMania career, I suppose I would be, too. And very good promos from Bianca, Rhea & Iyo to hype up their match, though I can’t say that changes anything for the go-home math. Iyo stood tall last time, so there’s a chance Rhea or Bianca take the other out to get the win. Rhea and Bianca talking about who’s the bad guy in this, could we see Bianca go Heel?

Good promo from War Raiders and New Day, but unless they add a stipulation, I don’t necessarily see this being “a war” of a match. Well, maybe they can break something like ringside barriers. But I feel like New Day is going to win so that this Heel turn has actual results. Very good match from Bayley VS Liv, but Bayley winning here surely indicates Liv & Raquel retain. Rey VS Julius was really good, but the LWO and American Made all being ejected, that of course meant El Grande Americano would show up. Rey wins here, but then El Grande stands tall, so I would think Rey wins at Mania to expose Grande as Gable.

Very good match from Styles VS Kross, and naturally Styles won. That along with Logan & Kross getting the better of Styles after, this has to mean Styles wins at Mania. I don’t think it’s possible to get anything Bullet Club related, but WWE works with TNA pretty closely now so maybe they can use one of Styles’ themes from TNA to really bring us back to “the Styles that can beat Logan Paul.” Very good stuff with the Men’s Intercontinental Championship build, with Bron being jumped by Judgment Day, then Judgment Day trying to cost Penta, only for Bron to actually cost Penta and give Finn the win. Penta standing tall now sadly might cross him off, but I personally do think Dom pinning Finn or Finn pinning Dom is the better route going forward.

And of course, great stuff with the Punk-Rollins-Reigns story. Heyman finding himself stuck between Roman and Punk, with Roman starting to distance himself from Heyman, that’s also very good stuff going forward. Rollins stands tall again, so not sure if that means he takes the loss or is just not in the decision. No matter who wins, Heyman no longer being Roman’s manager is the best move. Roman needs to do things on his own again, and Heyman can reunite with Punk and perhaps help Punk towards a title. Punk did say that he’d be coming for THE WWE Championship at some point, Heyman by his side for that like 10 years ago would be something.