Coverage
Mitchell’s NXT TakeOver: Toronto Results & Report! (8/10/19)
WWE begins its weekend with a takeover!
NXT takes over Toronto!
To settle the score between Johnny Wrestling and Adam Cole BAYBAY, they will put each other through Three Stages of Hell! Will things be settled in the standard wrestling match and Street Fight? Or will William Regal’s mystery third fall be revealed?!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS The Undisputed Era; The Street Profits win and retain the NXT Tag Team Championships.
- Io Shirai VS Candice LeRae; Shirai wins.
- NXT North American Championship Triple Threat: Velveteen Dream VS Roderick Strong VS Pete Dunne; Dream wins and retains the NXT North American Championship.
- NXT Women’s Championship: Shayna Baszler VS Mia Yim; Baszler wins and retains the NXT Women’s Championship.
- NXT Championship Three Stages of Hell, standard match: Adam Cole VS Johnny Gargano; Cole wins the first fall, by disqualification.
- NXT Championship Three Stages of Hell, Street Fight: Adam Cole VS Johnny Gargano; Gargano wins the second fall.
- NXT Championship Three Stages of Hell, Asylum Steel Cage: Adam Cole VS Johnny Gargano; Cole wins the final fall, and retains the NXT Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the TakeOver Kickoff Show!
Join Charly Caruso, Sam Roberts and Pat McAfee as they recap and predict all the action tonight in Toronto!
NXT Media talks with The Undisputed Era.
Cole VS Gargano III is just another chance for Cole to put his stamp on the title, and prove Gargano is just a lesser Adam Cole. At the end of tonight, the Undisputed WILL stand atop the mountain as THE champions, #DrapedInGold 2019! Cole is Undisputed, Unrelenting, and Unstoppable. But will Gargano find a way to shock Cole’s system by the end of their 2 out of 3 Falls rematch?
NXT Media catches up with Johnny Gargano.
“2016, DIY VS The Revival, 2 out of 3 Falls, 2016 Match of the Year!” Gargano won in Toronto, in such a match, and he’ll use tonight’s match to beat the hell out of Cole! William Regal may have a surprise third fall, but it won’t be needed. Tonight, Gargano cements his legacy, goes to war and goes through hell to once again become THE NXT Champion!Will it happen? Or is Cole’s prophecy truly Undisputed?
NXT GM William Regal speaks.
“Adam Cole and Johnny Gargano are hell bent on annihilating each other”. And if they need to go to the third fall, he could explain his plans, but Regal wants us to see it. It will be… a steel cage with barbed wire and an arsenal of weapons?! What kind of carnage will be unleashed should this third and final fall be needed!?
Toronto, the takeover begins… NOW!
Evil Genius settles a grudge with a former friend. Champions fight to fend off a prophecy. And only ONE man will survive Three Stages of Hell to come out with the gold. Toronto, tonight will either be Undisputed, or Unsainted!!
NXT Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS The Undisputed Era!
Toronto knows something about tag team classics, and we might be in store for another! Can Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins deny the prophecy right off the bat? Or will Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish bring it one step closer to reality?
The Profits rep the Raptors as the introductions are made. The belts are raised and the teams sort out, and we begin with Dawkins and O’Reilly. They circle and fans duel already. Dawkins and O’Reilly tie up, break, tie up again, and Kyle kicks. Dawkins powers Kyle to a corner and shouts, “You think I’m a joke?!” Dawkins then calms down to pat Kyle on the head. Kyle SLAPS Dawkins and that angers him! The ref pulls Dawkins off Kyle and the two go again. Dawkins catches a kick then dumps Kyle down with a slam! Dawkins floats all over O’Reilly, then slams him again. Kyle scrambles and reaches, but slips down to trip Dawkins up. Dawkins shoves him away to run him over. Kyle kicks back then brings Dawkins over to tag in Fish.
Fish throws hands then whips, but Dawkins hurdles him to run him over! Dawkins tags Ford and whips Fish for Ford to dropkick him! Ford mocks the Undisputed hand signs, then snapmares Fish to a cover. ONE, but Ford just barks at Fish. Tag to Dawkins and the Profits work on Fish’s arm with a wrench and ax handles. Dawkins wrenches Fish then trades forearms. Ford tags in and gives another ax handle to the arm. Ford wrenches but Fish throws more forearms. Ford ROCKS Fish with a right but Fish comes back with knees and body shots. Fish kicks a leg out then throws Ford out. Tag to Kyle and Ford gets in to throw hands. Kyle gets Ford from behind then throws more knees. Fans duel as Ford takes shots in the corner.
Kyle whips Ford but Ford reverses. Ford stays away from Kyle as he goes up and over, and then the two trade kicks only to evade them. Kyle avoids the standing moonsault but not the arm-drag! Fish runs into an arm-drag, then Kyle gets a dropkick! Fans fire up with Ford as he tags Dawkins in. The Profits make Kyle a bridge, for a leap frog attack! Fish runs in again but he gets a double flapjack! Kyle hotshots Dawkins but Ford goes over to the apron. Kyle dodges and Fish sweeps the legs! Ford goes down hard and now Kyle goes after Dawkins. Dawkins throws big foraerms then whips. Kyle holds ropes and leads Dawkins on a chase. Tag to Fish but Dawkins uppercuts Kyle! Dawkins scoops Fish for a hotshot, then cyclone clotheslines Kyle in the corner. Fish elbows Dawkins down! Fish mugs Dawkins in the Undisputed corner, then runs in for a big knee.
Kyle tags in and Fish holds Dawkins for Kyle’s forearm smash. Kyle kicks and strikes and sweeps Dawkins down! Toronto cheers the Canadian as he covers, TWO! Kyle keeps on Dawkins with big elbows and knees from all sides. Kyle runs to slide a knee in, and Dawkins is gasping for air. Fans return to dueling as Fish tags in. Kyle keeps Dawkins down for Fish’s senton atomico! Cover, TWO! Fish brings Dawkins up and around for a snap suplex and cover, TWO! Fish drags Dawkins back over but Dawkins fights back. But Fish gives him a Samoan Drop for it! Tag to Kyle and Fish has a leg. Kyle stomps Dawkins then grounds ‘n’ pounds from all sides! Fans fire up with Kyle’s aggression while he taunts Ford. Kyle facelocks and grinds Dawkins down but fans rally up. Dawkins fights to his feet and towards his corner. Kyle throws big forearms but Dawkins gives them back! Dawkins gets the edge but Kyle kicks him down!
Tag to Fish and Fish swings on Ford. Ford gets clear, Dawkins back drops Fish! Tag to Ford! Ford rallies with fire on Fish! Fish reverses a whip, but Ford hurdles him to come back with a leaping lariat! Kyle runs in but gets a SUPERKICK! Fish has Ford in a suplex but Ford slips out to give it back! Ford handsprings to a standing moonsault! Cover, TWO! Fish staggers up but Ford dodges for a SPINEBUSTER! Fans fire up again as Ford decides to reference the People’s Champion! Ford runs side to side, but Kyle disrupts that! Ford dumps Fish out onto Kyle! Then Ford gets that Penalty Kick on Kyle! Ford goes back to Fish, ROCK BOTTOM! Cover, TWO!! Borrowing the Great One’s move is not enough, Ford drags Fish over. Kyle gets in and boots Dawkins! Ford rocks Kyle but Fish chop blocks Ford!
Fish tags Kyle, and now reDRagon has Ford, draping butterfly DDT to boosted wheelbarrow suplex! Cover, TWO! Kyle is furious as Ford survives! “This is Awesome!” and it’s just the beginning of the night! Kyle puts Ford up top and wrenches the foot! Ford fights but Fish tags in. Fish throws body shots and then gets in to adjust Ford’s position. Fish climbs but Ford resists the superplex. Ford throws hands, but Fish gives them back. Ford SLAPS Fish down off the top! But Kyle anchors Ford long enough for Fish to sweep the legs! Fish climbs up and Kyle tags back in. Fish has Ford way up, SUPER EXPLODER! Kyle leaps with SUPER KNEE DROP! Achilles Heel Hook!! Ford flails and endures, crawls and reaches, but Kyle just wriggles and wrenches that leg! Fish drops a headbutt outta nowhere! And Kyle just puts the pressure on more! But Dawkins returns and barrels through Fish to slam him onto Kyle!! Fans are giving a standing ovation!
All four men stir and regroup. Ford crawls but Kyle gets a leg. Fans rally up as Ford glares. Ford kicks free, hot tag to Dawkins! Dawkins shoves Kyle into Fish, then hits Fish with the cyclone! Bulldog! Kyle knees low and Ax, but Dawkins gives him the Smash! Kyle rebounds, but into a T-Bone Suplex! Fans fire up as Dawkins does! Dawkins runs, but into a knee! Ford tags in as Kyle gets Dawkins in a guillotine. Ford gives Kyle a BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, but Fish breaks it! All four men are down again and Toronto is still at that fever pitch! The teams regroup again and slowly stand on wobbly legs. The Undisputed Era punch, but the Profits return it. Undisputed, Profits, repeat! The brawls get fast and furious! Ford rocks Fish, Kyle rocks Ford, Dawkins gets caught, but Ford hits Fish! Kyle knees Dawkins, and now it’s just him and Ford again!
Ford throws hands but Kyle gives a discus elbow. Kyle whips but Ford reverses and sends him into Fish! SUPERKICK sends Kyle out, and Ford FLIES! He wipes them both out! Ford puts Kyle in as Dawkins gets Fish. Dawkins SPEARS Kyle! Then SPEARS Fish! Ford climbs, WORLD STAR FROG SPLASH! Cover, The Profits win!!
Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall; still NXT Tag Team Champions
The Prophecy is already denied for the night! Will the Undisputed Era be able to come back around before the year is over?
Io Shirai VS Candice LeRae!
The Evil Genius had such bright dreams coming into NXT. But after dealing with the Queen of Spades, that light faded. Now she is dark and ruthless, and wants to start her way back by getting rid of someone who she sees as only in her way. Will Shirai’s new outlook be what she needs to get where she wants to be? Or will Mrs. Wrestling shed some light on Genius of the Sky?
Candie goes right at Shirai before the bell! The referee tries to keep the peace, then the bell finally rings. Shirai bails out but Candice slides and wrecks her with a dropkick! She puts Shirao back in but Shirai hits her with a forearm. Shirai leaps out but Candice denies the sunset flip bomb! So Shirai just trips her up! Shirai brings Candice over to suplex onto the announce desk!! Toronto is shocked at Shirai’s viciousness! Candice flops off the table as Shirai goes to the ring. The ring count begins but Candice crawls over very slowly. The count hits 5, but Candice keeps trying. Candice stands at 8 and hurries in at 9.5! But Shirai dropkicks Candice right down, then rains rights. Fans boo Shirai’s lack of mercy, but Shirai doesn’t care what fans think.
Shirai whips Candice and hits a flapjack! Then she goes sideways for another dropkick! She sits on Candice for a cover, TWO! Fans duel as Shirai pulls Candice back in a chinlock. Shirai digs a knee into Candice’s back but Candice fights her way up. Candice powers Shirai into buckles then again. She snampares Shirai out, then tilt-o-whirls for headscissors. But Shirai handsprings through! Shirai dropkicks Candice again! Shirai stomps Candice into a modified camel clutch. The chinbar twists Candice’s head around, but Candice fights her way up. Candice pops free but Shirai kicks and Alabama lifts. Shirai has Candice’s head, for a running Air Raid Crash! Cover, TWO! Candice survives but Shirai keeps her cool. Shirai stomps Candice then drags her up into underhooks. Candice drops down to block the lift, then back drops Shirai up and over!
Shirai runs in at the corner but Candice puts her on the apron. Shirai hits back and hotshots Candice down. Shirai climbs and aims, missile dropkick misses as Candice dodges! Candice gets up as fans rally. Candice throws forearms and CHOPS on Shirai! She backs Shirai down to a corner and fires off! The ref counts and Candice lets up at 4. Candice runs in for a back elbow, then she suplexes Shirai to a brain buster! Cover, TWO! Candice keeps her cool and brings Shirai back up. Shirai shoves then scoops Candice, but Candice tilt-o-whirls into the Iron Octopus! Candice twists Shirai around, and uses her free leg to knee Shirai in the head! But Shirai powers through to a ropebreak! Candice lets go of Shirai and gets space. Candice runs in but is put on the ropes! Shirai dials it up, Tiger Feint CAUGHT! Into a hanging neckbreaker! Candice covers, TWO!
Shirai gets to a corner but Candice is on her. Candice puts Shirai up top and CHOPS her. Candice climbs up to join Shirai but Shirai dropkicks Candice out! Shirai runs to 619 Candice in the back of the head! Candice is dazed but Shirai isn’t done with her. Shirai drags Candice up, suplexes her, but Candice slips into the ring to shove Shirai down. Candice DIVES for a Tornado DDT!! Candice puts Shirai in then climbs up again, dumdum stomps! Cover, TWO!! Shirai survives and Candice can’t believe it! Candice drags Shirai up but Shirai pulls hair! Candice swings but into a CROSSFACE! Shirai pulls back on that bad neck, but Candice rolls it to a cover, TWO! BOOT from Shirai to Candice! Shirai runs, but into a forearm! Candice runs, but into a forearm smash! Shirai baits Candice into a German Suplex! But Candice sits up, and side steps Shirai to give her a German back!
Fans fire up as Candice springboards, but into a waistlock! And another German! Bridge, TWO!! Shirai is too tired to be shocked, but Toronto rallies up. Fans duel as Shirai hits a METEORA in the corner! Then she steps on Candice as she climbs up. But Candice is up to climb, SUPER GERMAN but Shirai lands on her feet!! But then Candice baits her into buckles! Candice climbs but Shirai yanks her down! Shirai fireman’s carries, pops up, REVERSE RANA from Candice! Cover, TWO!? Shirai flounders but Candice puts her on the top rope. Candice climbs up as fans cheer for “NXT! NXT!” LeRae’s Wild Ride!! Cover, TWO?! Shirai survives again and fans know “This is Awesome!” The referee checks on both women but they’re okay to continue.
Candice sits up first and heads back up. Shirai SHORYUKENS her first! Shirai climbs up and has Candice, SUPER SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!?! Candice is as superhuman as her husband, Johnny Wrestling! And Shirai can’t believe it! “Mamma Mia!” Shirai slaps Candice, but Candice slaps back! Cradle, TWO! Backslide, but Shirai slips through, underhooks, to TIGER BACKBREAKER! Shirai puts Candice in the drop zone, jumps up, and ASAI MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO!?!? Shirai is losing her mind, but so are the fans! Shirai fires off furious hands on Candice, then rolls her into a butterfly Koji Klutch! She traps Candice’s arms and now she starts fading! Candice is OUT, Shirai wins!!
Winner: Io Shirai, by submission
And the Evil Genius has won! She shows what she is capable of when she burns all the bridges, but will Shirai blaze a path to the NXT Women’s Championship?
“Bro, bro, bro, bro, bro!”
Matt Riddle is here?! And he’s not having any of this! “This is TakeOver: Toronto!” He knows Killian Dain is here somewhere, so he wants Dain’s “hairy ass” to get out here and fight like a bro! Off come the sandals! Riddle looks all over, and spots Big Damo coming in from the crowd! The fight begins again! Riddle backs Dain down but Dain knees back. Riddle just keeps firing off, but Dain backs him down. Dain has Riddle against the apron for a BOOT! He still clubs Riddle down, and out come referees. Riddle fights back and gets Dain down. Toronto wants to “Let Them Fight!” but Dain stomps Riddle’s bare feet before making a retreat. But Riddle runs him down on the stage! Riddle throws more hands, but Dain grabs his ears and eyes! Dain has Riddle reeling, but Riddle still gets him with a Bro Trigger! And another! Riddle’s Final Flash has Dain down, and Riddle goes to ground ‘n’ pound!
Fans boo as security rushes out to stop this. Riddle fights them off! Roundhouses and knee triggers and Bro To Sleeps for all! But the DIVIDE steamrolls Riddle! Dain wants to rip Riddle apart but the security drags him away. Dain kicks and punches them all away, but Riddle hops on for a sleeper! So Dain just takes him into the LED walls! Riddle holds on but not after the second. He just hops on again, but Dain heads for the edge of the stage! Dain brings Riddle and a security guard with him off onto a bunch of tables!! Toronto loses their minds over the pure insanity! And Dain just laughs as he gets up from the wreckage. What will it take for this battle between Bro and Beast to come to an end?
NXT North American Championship Triple Threat: Velveteen Dream VS Roderick Strong VS Pete Dunne!
The Undisputed Era’s prophecy already hit a speed bump against the Street Profits, but the Savior of the Backbreaker could get them back on track. However, now that the Bruiserweight has invaded from NXT UK to NXT USA, will history be the longest reigning United Kingdom Champion? Or can Dream survive sharing the spotlight with two opponents?
A dance team celebrates the Toronto Raptors being the 2019 NBA Champions with a quick tribute to the Mountie. And then of course, here comes the North American Champion himself! After Dream comes Strong, which of course leaves Dunne for last. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we begin this test for the champion!
Dream poses and the fans cheer. He mocks Dunne’s pose, but Strong wants them paying attention to him. Dream hushes Strong, but Strong decks him! Strong fights off Dunne then clotheslines Dream out. Dunne and Strong brawl, and Strong CHOPS Dunne down! Dunne throws hands back then powers out of a headlock. Things speed up, and Dunne lariats Strong down! Dunne has Strong’s arm and twists it around while Dream flounders in. Strong gets clear of the stomp but Dream clotheslines Strong out. Dream poses but Dunne shoulder bumps him. The straps come OFF, but Strong drags Dunne out! Strong rams Dunne into the apron but gets hands from Dream. Dream runs into the corner to rain down rights. Strong shoves him away at 5, but runs into an elbow. Dream hops up for flying ax handles! Dream trips Strong and wants the legs, but Strong scrambles away to ropes.
Strong shoves Dream away but Dunne is back. Strong sees he’s surrounded, and gets a SLAP from Dunne! And a forearm from Dunne! Strong flounders up, Dunne feeds him to Dream’s dropkick! Dream and Dunne seem to agree Strong is the problem. Dream wrenches Strong’s arm into the hammerlock, and Dunne stomps it for him! Dream bumps Strong off buckles,t hen feed shim to Dunne’s back drop! Strong is out, but Dream swivels those hips at Dunne. Dream waves hi, but then he and Dunne tie up. Dream arm-drags but Dunne headscissors. Dream pops out then wrenches into the sidewinder, but Dunne powers out and gets him an armbar takedown! Dream makes it a cover, TWO! Fireman’s carry but Dunne escapes. Dunne pump-handles, but Dream escapes a Bitter End! Only for Strong to split his wishbone!
Dunne chases Strong but gets wrecked with a dropkick! Strong back suplexes Dream onto the apron! And then back suplexes Dunne onto the barriers! And then he throws him on Dream! Fans fire up as Strong stands tall! Strong drags Dunne up and CHOPS him against apron! Strong puts Dunne in the ring for a cover, TWO! He stomps Dunne then brings Dunne up for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Strong has Dunne in a modified Bow ‘n’ Arrow, but Dunne endures. Strong hooks Dunne’s mouth, but Dunne pushes him away. Strong dropkicks Dunne right down! Then clotheslines Dream back out! Cover, TWO! Strong drags Dunne up again, rams his shoulder in then CHOPS! Dunne hits a forearm, and now it’s a scrappy brawl! Strong knees low, then scoops for a backbreaker! Cover, TWO!
Dream flies in with an ax handle on Strong! Dream rallies with haymakers, but Strong reverses the whip. Dream kicks and clotheslines Strong, then Russian Leg Sweeps! Cover, TWO! Dream drags Strong up to give Strong a backbreaker! Dream goes to a corner, climbs up, and leaps for a short elbow drop. Then he goes for the legs, and gets a Sharpshooter! The Hitman would be proud! Strong endures but Dunne climbs up! Dunne missile dropkicks Dream down! Dream falls out of the ring, but Dunne slingshots out. Dream dodges and rocks Dunne, but then Strong wrecks Dream with a dropkick! Dunne climbs to moonsault them both down! All three men are down, but the fans are fired up!
Dunne puts Strong in and Strong flounders to a corner. Dunne whips but Strong reverses. Dunne goes up and over to enziguri! Dream runs in but only gets Strong! Dunne German Suplexes Dream, then throws Strong on Dream! Cover on Dream, TWO! Fans rally up again as Dunne grabs an arm from each man. He stomps them both down back and forth! But they both kick him back! Now Dream and Strong work together on Dunne, but then start throwing hands with each other! Dunne shrugs and goes after them both! It’s a furious triangle of punches! Strong rocks Dunne, Dream boots Strong, Strong booots and enziguris Dream, but Dunne enziguris Strong! Dunne stands up, then stomps both men’s hands! Buzzsaw into Strong! Dream SUPERKICKS Dunne, then fireman’s carry, Dream Valley! But Olympic Slam from Strong to Dream, X-Plex from Dunne to Strong! All three men are down again, but the fans are still fired up, because “This is Awesome!” all over again.
Dream climbs to the top rope, but Dunne hurries over. Dunne forearms Dream down then drags him back up top. Dream resists, throws a big haymaker, then adjusts. But Dunne gets his fingers! Strong goes after Dunne with clubbing forearms. Dunne still goes after Dream but Strong climbs up to SUPER OLYMPIC SLAM Dunne! Dunne ends up SUPER ARM-DRAGGING Dream! All three men are down for the third time but fans still cheer. Strong is up first, followed by Dream and Dunne. Fans rally and Dream flounders to the far side. Strong goes over and throws big hands. Dream flops out but Dunne gets Strong in a Triangle Hold! Strong deadlifts to a backbreaker! Strong drags Dunne up again, underhook, but Dunne makes it a Triangle again!
Strong drags Dunne to a corner but there are no ropebreaks in a Triple Threat! Dream is up across the way, COAST2COAST PURPLE RAIN MAKER!! Dunne is down and Strong is free, but Dream didn’t have the best landing, either. Fans hope these three “Fight Forever!” but this does need to end. Strong KNEES Dream! Then KNEES Dunne! Strong goes side to side to forearm smash both men in a row! then the other way! Then back! Strong gives Dream the face slam, then underhooks Dune to powerbomb him ON Dream! But he won’t cover, he goes for a DOUBLE STRONG HOLD! Strong is his strongest tonight as both men endure the hold! Dream and Dunne work their way out and Strong can’t hold them both. Strong grabs Dream again but Dream kicks him away. Strong goes for Dunne but Dunne gets those fingers! SUPERKICK sends Strong into Dunne!
Dream gets both men in the fireman’s carry, but can’t hold them. Dunne has Dream’s fingers, and then whips Dream into Strong’s knee! Dunne takes a hand each, double SNAP! Pump-handle, BITTER END! But Dream distracts the ref! Now the ref counts, but Dream intercepts the hand! Dunne is seething as he stomps the arm! Dunne has Dream’s legs, and he puts on a Figure Four deathlock, into a surfboard STOMP! Dream is out and Dunne glares at his old foe, Strong. Strong dodges the kick to forearm away on Dunne! Strong fireman’s carries but Dunne slips out, pump-handle, but Strong slips out. Strong Germans but Dunne lands to buzzsaw! Dunne runs but into a roll, and Boston Crab! Into the Strong Hold! But Dream tosses Strong out! Dream has Dunne, fireman’s carry, Dream Valley! Strong throws Dream out! END OF HEARTACHE! Cover, but Dream Purple Rain Makers outta nowhere!! Cover, Dream wins!!
Winner: Velveteen Dream, by pinfall; still NXT North American Champion
Dream snatches victory away from Strong, and this Undisputed Prophecy is anything but! Is it going to be more of an Undisputed Jinx?!
NXT Women’s Championship: Shayna Baszler VS Mia Yim!
The Head Baddie ain’t nothing to mess with! She systematically took out the Horsewomen so that #ShaynaTwoTime will have to relearn how to stand on her own two feet. Will the Queen of Spades finally be dethroned? Or is the dream come true coming to an end in Toronto?
Mia has a squad of her own for her entrance, but she’s fighting this fight on her own. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we begin this battle of badasses!
Mia grins then glares as she circles with Shayna. They tie up and Shayna gets the wristlock. Mia pulls hair and even an ear. Shayna pie faces Mia away, but Mia “apologizes.” Mia and Shayna go again, and Shayna again wants the arm. She hammerlocks but Mia grabs the nose. Shayna trips Mia up but Mia just gets back up. Shayna is thrown off by Mia bending the rules, and now Mia trips her! Mia toys with Shayna, but gets caught into an armbar! Mia resists with the monkey grip, then fish hooks Shayna! Mia rolls but Shayna stays on, so Mia pulls hair! She uses that to roll around again, then get to a ropebreak. Shayna is annoyed as she has to let go. Mia grins again as she arm-drags Shayna around. Mia has Shayna now, and grinds her knee into Shayna’s head.
Shayna gets up and powers out with a whip, but Mia huricanranas Shayna to a corner! Mia runs in to give Shayna a helluva kick! Then a cannonball! Mia watches Shayna roll out of the ring, and DIVES, into a haymaker! Mia crashes and burns while Shayna catches her breath. Shayna drags Mia up and throws her, but Mia throws Shayna into steel steps first! Then wrings her shoulder into them, too! Mia pulls Shayna across the steps, and tucks the arm in! Mia grins again, as she refreshes the cont, to dropkick the steps! Shayna writhes as her arm is jammed, and Mia puts her in the ring. Fans cheer as Mia stalks Shayna in the ring. The ref keeps her back to check on Shayna, but Mia doesn’t care. Mia rushes in but gets tripped up! Shayna buzzsaws back, but still has to back off from her bad arm.
Mia gets to a corner now, but Shayna gives her a big knee! Shayna kicks away on Mia’s arms to even the score. Shayna drags Mia up for a snapmare and another swift kick! Cover, TWO! Shayna goes after Mia’s arm again, stepping on Mia to pull at the wrist. Fans rally as Mia fights Shayna back. Shayna grounds ‘n’ pounds with her one good arm, then keylocks Mia’s arm again. The hair tie comes off, Dream Crusher stomp! Mia now has her own bad arm, but she uses the corner for defense. Shayna still throws hammering shots and snap arm-drags Mia into another keylock. Mia endures and fans rally up. Mia pulls hair again, but Shayna whips Mia at ropes. Shayna gives Mia a kidney shot but that’s her bad arm! Shayna still kicks Mia down, covers, TWO!
Both women shake out the bad arms, but Shayna kicks Mia to the ropes. Shayna wraps Mia’s bad arm around the ropes! She backs off at 4 and works on getting her own bad arm working again. Shayna goes back at Mia in the corner with kicks to the legs. Shayna hammerlocks the bad arm as they stand, and twists the wrist in all directions! Mia screams in pain, but she refuses to quit. Mia claws at Shayna’s back! Mia pulls more hair and throws Shayna down! Then she runs, only for Shayna to clothesline her down! But again, that was Shayna’s own bad arm! Shayna grits her teeth as she covers, TWO! Shayna grows frustrated and wants to go after the bad arm again. Mia still pulls hair, so Shayna shoves her away. Mia rolls Shayna up, TWO!
Mia boots the bad arm then runs, but into a dropkick! Shayna covers, TWO! Between Mia’s toughness and the bad arm, Shayna is growing further upset. Shayna still wants the arm, but Mia gets the ropebreak. The ref counts but Shayna only lets go for a moment. Mia gouges Shayna’s eye! Mia then baits Shayna into a corner, and avoids a kick, to back suplex Shayna down! Both women are down and fans rally up. Shayna and Mia get up but it’s Mia rallying! Mia throws jabs with her good arm, then dodges to redirect Shayna. Shayna follows and runs Mia over! But Mia is up fast to throw more kicks! Mia whips and side steps to overhead suplex! Shayna bails out but Mia fires up! Toronto cheers as she builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit takes out Shayna! Mia gets Shayna in, step-in springboard DDT! Cover, TWO!
Shayna gets to a corner but Mia runs in, only to miss her kick. Shayna hits a knee in the corner! Then runs to Penalty Kick! Cover, TWO! Shayna keeps her cool, and once again goes after the bad arm. Shayna suplexes but Mia slips out. Mia flapjacks Shayna on buckles! Mia goes up and over Shayna to get her in a Tarantula! The ref counts but Mia lets up at 4. Shayna is down but Mia climbs up. Shayna hurries to kick Mia back! Shayna climbs up and clubs away on Mia, and prepares a gut wrench. But the bad arm won’t let her lift! Mia fights Shayna back, climbs up top, and hits a SUPER CODE BLUE!! Cover, TWO!? Shayna survives and Mia cannot believe it! Mia kicks off on Shayna’s bad arm, then runs, but into the KIRAFUDA! But Mia goes after the bad arm! And then headbutts free!
Mia grabs Shayna’s arm, twists it around, and returns the Dream Crusher stomp! Shayna writhes from the karma as she gets a Penalty Kick! Mia wants the armbar, but Shayna resists as hard as she can! Mia scrapes her feet on Shayna’s face! Mia has the arm more, but Shayna pops up and around, KIRAFUDA! Mia flails and endures, going after the bad arm again! Shayna again lets go, but switches to a headscissor hold! Mia flails, taps, Shayna wins!!
Winner: Shayna Baszler, by submission; still NXT Women’s Champion
The Queen of Spades stays on her throne, all on her own! Mia tried so hard to beat Shayna at her own game, but it didn’t work. Will Mia be able to get a second chance? Or is Shayna’s reign of terror going to last until she says it’s done?
NXT Championship Three Stages of Hell, standard match: Adam Cole VS Johnny Gargano!
The epic and heated trilogy of the Panama City Playboy and Johnny Wrestling gets yet another 2 out of 3 Falls style match! But the twist is that things will seemingly escalate to parallel the feud! We start with a simple singles match. Cole has always beaten Gargano in the first fall, can he repeat history to make history? Or is the Undisputed Jinx only going to cost Cole like it has Fish, O’Reilly and Strong?
Gargano represents Wolverine, a Canadian superhero with a healing factor second to Gargano himself! The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we begin just the beginning of this feud’s finale!
Cole and Gargano stare down as fans are already thunderous with dueling. The two finally circle and tie up, and Gargano gets the arm. Gargano wrenches but Cole rolls and rolls to reverse. Gargano rolls back to drop toehold and float to a facelock. Cover, ONE, and the two men back off. The two circle again and tie up. Cole headlocks and brings Gargano to a knee. Gargano powers out but Cole runs him over! Cole brushes off his shoulder but things speed up. Cole waistlocks but Gargano standing switches. Cole bucks Gargano off but Gargano rolls back to trip Cole up! Gargano wants his submission but has to dodge the Last Shot! Cole goes around to try and steal the submission, but has to dodge Gargano stealing his move!
Gargano ducks the mule kick to roll Cole. Cole pops out and both men show superkick to hold each other off. Fans love the stand-off and keep the duel going. Gargano and Cole tie up again and Gargano pushes Cole to a corner. Cole turns it around but then Gargano turns it back. Gargano lets off and Cole kicks a leg out. But Gargano gets clear, knowing what’s coming. Cole still tries his Panama City Sunrise, but Gargano gets under. Gargano kicks back, hops up, but Cole won’t let him steal that. Gargano and Cole fake each other out but Gargano still gets a huricanrana and clothesline! He wrecks Cole with a dropkick, too! Gargano drags Cole into the ring but the fans are dueling strong as ever. Cole goes out the other side, and fakes Gargano out again. Gargano still shoves him away and goes to the apron to kick and leap. Cole gets clear but falls for the bait, and kicks the steel steps! Gargano gives Cole a shinbreaker on the apron!
Gargano drags Cole up and into the ring, then drags his leg out to slam it on the edge! And again! Gargano goes in to grab the leg, and drop knees on the knee. Gargano pulls on the ankle and steps through for a drop toehold. Gargano rolls into a Trailer Hitch! Cole gets a ropebreak, but Gargano lets go. Gargano stalks Cole to the apron and stands on the bad leg. Gargano lets up at 4, to stomp the leg! Gargano wraps the leg on the rope to push on it, but lets up at 4. Cole is on the apron again and fights Gargano back. Gargano enziguris Cole, then slingshots, but into a forearm! Cole shoulders in, but Gargano blocks! Gargano wants to shout-out Ciampa but Cole slips out to drag Gargano out. Cole wheelbarrow suplexes Gargano into the apron! Cole has now evened things with Gargano as he hobbles away. Cole puts Gargano back in and brings him up for a neckbreaker! Gargano writhes and rolls but Cole gets him with knees in the back!
Cole walks off his bad leg but Gargano throws hands from the mat. Fans still duel as Cole brings Gargano up again, for another neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Cole is right on Gargano with a headscissor hold! Gargano endures, then bridges back for a cover, TWO! Cole keeps on the hold and squeezes tight. Gargano refuses to fade out, and fans rally up. Gargano pries the hold off by going after the bad leg! Gargano gets an Ankle Lock! Cole rolls and throws Gargano into buckles! Cole hobbles to a corner and hops up, but Gargano gets clear again. Cole jams his own leg, and turns into Gargano’s overhead suplex! Cole hits buckles again, but both men are down. Fans rally up again and Cole heads for Gargano. Cole throws a forearm but Gargano gives it back. They go back and forth, but Cole ducks one, only to get clotheslines from Gargano.
Gargano kicks out the bad leg! Then running CHOPS in the corner! Gargano whips Cole into buckles then rolls him, Listo Kick! Cole crawls to a corner, and puts Gargano on the apron. Gargano slingshots, but the spear is caught! Suplex but Gargano fights out. Gargano hooks Cole, Aoi Shoudou! Cover, TWO! Gargano keeps his cool while Cole goes to a corner. Gargano throws haymakers and CHOPS, then climbs up to rain down lefts! He gets 5 but Cole slips out. Gargano avoids the mule kick to double stomp Cole’s leg! Cole writhes in pain, but Gargano gets the leg for a Figure Four! “WOO~” echoes out as Cole endures the leg lock! Gargano puts as much pressure as he can on Cole, but Cole avoids the cover. Cole drags himself and Gargano over, for the ropebreak! Gargano lets go at 4, but the damage is done. Cole crawls but Gargano is on him. Cole fights Gargano off, and elbows hard out of the ankle lock.
Cole fireman’s carries Gargano but Gargano fights him off. Gargano’s enziguri misses, Cole wheelbarrow Germans Gargano! Bridging cover, TWO! Cole keeps his cool as he gets his leg working. Fans rally up again and Cole goes after Gargano. Cole clubs away on Gargano’s back, then suplexes, but Gargano silps out to waistlock. Cole misses his enziguri but Gargano misses the kick. Cole BOOTS, dodges then enziguris! Gargano kicks, but walks into a mule kick! Cole hops up, leaps, but the Panama City Sunrise is blocked to a SUNSET BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Cole survives and Gargano is too tired to be shocked. Fans cheer “NXT! NXT!” as Cole crawls and Gargano follows. Gargano has Cole in the corner for a chop followed by a clothesline!
Gargano puts Cole up top and climbs to join him. Cole bumps Gargano off the buckles, but Gargano resists the Super Sunrise. Cole still sunset flips, but his leg jams! Gargano turns and leaps, but into a Code Breaker! Cole fireman’s, Michinoku Driver! Cover, TWO! Fans rally again as both men slowly sit up. “This is Awesome!” but has barely just begun! Cole and Gargano brawl on the mat, and slowly stand. They clothesline then forearm. Cole blocks a kick but Gargano blocks Cole’s. Cole swings, Gargano dodges, double clotheslines take both men down! Gargano gets up first but Cole follows as fans rally. Cole runs in but is sent out. Gargano builds speed and DIVES into a PELE! Cole drags Gargano out in another wheelbarrow, but Gargano victory rolls Cole into barriers! Gargano puts Cole in, SLINGSHOT DDT! Cover, TWO!
Cole bails out, Gargano goes to the apron, SUPERKICK! Gargano puts Cole in again, slingshots, into a SUPERKICK! SUPERKICK again, then suplex to LAST SHOT 1.0! Cover, TWO!! This first fall is already an epic in itself! Cole is fuming as he drags Gargano up. Cole bumps Gargano off buckles then throws big haymakers and stomps. The ref counts but drags Cole off. Cole sees Gargano is dazed, so Cole gets something from the outside. He takes a chair! Cole ditches his own idea of wanting a normal match as he puts the chair in the ring. The ref takes the chair first, but that’s all a distraction so Cole can LOW BLOW kick! Cover, TWO!?! Gargano must have adamantium nuts! Cole is seething, so he goes back to the chair.
Cole sits the chair up and takes a seat to gloat. He trash talks Gargano as he writhes, then folds up the chair to take aim. But then he ditches the chair when the ref argues with him. Cole turns around into a SUPEKICK! Gargano sees that chair, and takes it for his own? Gargano SMACKS Cole!!
Winner: Adam Cole, by disqualification; leads 1-0
Gargano doesn’t care about this first fall, because he knows there’s the next two! And the next one is his personal choice, at that!
NXT Championship Three Stages of Hell, Street Fight: Adam Cole VS Johnny Gargano!
Gargano still has the chair, of course, and just shrugs. Because now he SMACKS away on Cole! Chair shot after chair shot after chair shot, and now Gargano returns some of that gloating. The second fall officially begins, so Gargano gets to continue where he left off!
Cole runs but Gargano throws the chair at him! Then DIVES to send Cole into barriers! Cole wants to run into the crowd, but Gargano follows after. Gargano punches Cole around as cameras do their best to keep up. Gargano has a collector’s cup, and SMASHES it on Cole’s head! Gargano drags Cole around by a headlock, to then throw into barriers! Gargano bounces Cole’s head off the barrier again and again and again! Fans are fired up as Gargano hops up to leap with ax handles! Cole goes down again and Gargano takes selfies with fans. Gargano drags Cole around more, and more of the fans get front row seats of the brawl! Cole fights back and throws forearms. Gargano staggers away, but comes back with a SUPERKICK! Gargano drags Cole back to his feet, then sits him down in a spare arm chair. Gargano wheels Cole into the production table!
Cole gets up and fights back, and now they’re back to ringside. Gargano leaps and breaks the timekeeper’s area with Cole! Toronto loses its mind all over again! Gargano isn’t done there, “Mamma Mia!”, we go to the announce desks! Gargano clears one off and brings Cole over. He puts Cole on the table and climbs up to join him. Gargano underhooks, but Cole resists and fights out. Cole rakes Gargano’s eyes! Cole has Gargano now, also wanting underhooks. But Gargano back drops Cole onto the Spanish announce desk! It explodes apart as Cole crashes down! Fans lose their minds all over again! Gargano goes to Cole and brings him out of the wreckage. Fans echo “Mamma Mia!” as Gargano drags Cole into the ring.
Gargano considers his options, and thinks of something better. He goes under the ring to bring out a TABLE! Fans love where this is going as Gargano puts the table in. But wait, if one is good, then two must be better! Because here’s a second table! “Johnny Tables” has Toronto’s approval, but Gargano does bring in extra chairs just in case. But Cole get a shining wizard outta nowhere! He sets up a chair, USHIGOROSHI ON THE CHAIR! Cover, TWO!! Gargano survives but his dark ego almost got him. Cole grabs a chair and wedges it in a corner. Cole brings Gargano over but Gargano denies the chair shot. Gargano fights Cole back and scoops, but Cole denies the long dart to mule kick the leg out! Cole hops up but Gargano enziguris! Gargano has Cole on his shoulder, LONG DART INTO CHAIR! And then, GargaNO Escape!! Cole taps, Gargano ties it up!!
Winner: Johnny Gargano, by submission; ties the set 1-1
Aw hell. Actually, that’s what’s up next, isn’t it? Descending out of the shadows, having been born of the darkest places in Mr. Regal’s mind, is a new member of the steel cage family! And fans can’t help but think, “E C Dub! E C Dub!” But what do we call the brutal baby born of brutality?
NXT Championship Three Stages of Hell, Asylum Steel Cage!
And as if the items attached to the walls and barbed wire on the top of this cage aren’t scary enough, there is NO escape victory in this match! Gargano and Cole MUST settle things inside the structure! Who survives the sadism of this truly final fall?!
The bell rings, and Cole wants a weapon! Gargano stops him from getting the kendo stick, and they start brawling again! Gargano gets the edge but Cole comes back again! Cole BOOTS then SUPERKICKS Gargano but Gargano comes back with a DISCUS! Gargano grabs himself that kendo stick, but turns into a SUPERKICK! Cole gets the other kendo stick, but he gets a SUPERKICK! Then they trade SMACKS! AND SUPERKICKS!! Fans are thunderous again for “NXT! NXT!” Gargano grabs himself a chair and then another, and “This is Awesome!” as Gargano sets the chairs side-by-side. Gargano staggers over to Cole and stomps him around before eyeing the ladder.
Gargano climbs but Cole stops him with clubbing forearms. Gargano kicks Cole away then uses the ladder for help in a flying huricanrana! REVERSE-RANA! Cole sits in those chairs, and Gargano calls upon DIY for the SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Cole survives but Gargano keeps his cool. Gargano looks around to see what else this special cage has. Fans hope they “Fight Forever!” but this has to end one way or another. Gargano uses one of those tables he put in and sets it up in a corner. Gargano goes around to make sure it’s in the right spot. Cole JABS him then SMACKS him with a chair! Cole eyes something up top and climbs. He brings down a third chair, but Gargano yanks him down. The chair is still hanging on the wall, so Cole throws Gargano into it! Gargano writhes and Cole has the kendo stick. Cole uses the kendo stick to bring Gargano in for a backstabber! Cover, TWO!! Gargano continues to show that superhuman toughness, but Cole continues with his super villain scheming.
Cole puts a table off to the side before going for more chairs. Cole sets the chairs up nearby as Gargano goes to the corner. Cole has Gargano with haymakers, and then hoists him up top. Cole climbs to join Gargano, but Gargano resists the superplex. Gargano headbutts Cole back, then grabs the fire extinguisher! He sprays Cole! Then brings Cole in, to tornado DDT into the chairs!! Cover, TWO!?! Cole survives, but the referee checks on his head. Fans rally up as Gargano uses a stick to help him stand. Gargano SMACKS Cole again and again, until the stick breaks! Gargano looks and sees something up high. He goes for the sledgehammer! Triple H would be proud, but Cole wants the hammer, too! They fight as they climb, but Gargano jumps to SUNSET BOMB Cole down! Cover, TWO!!
Cole still lives, but Gargano won’t let up. Gargano goes back up, determined to have HHH’s favorite weapon. Gargano gets it free, and fans are loving the possibilities! But Cole SUPERKICKS him down! And SUPERKICKS him from behind! Cole climbs and goes back to the ladder from before! Cole frees the ladder from its spot, but Gargano avoids certain death! But not the PANAMA SUNRISE! Cover, TWO!!! Gargano survives again, and fans again cheer for “NXT! NXT!” Cole gets up and hobbles over to where the ladder fell. Cole sets it up near a corner, then climbs it. Gargano crawls after as Cole turns around. Cole leaps, ANOTHER PANAMA SUNRISE! Cover, TWO!!!! Cole has seen a ghost after Gargano survives once again! Johnny Wolverine crawls but Cole keeps the kendo sticks away from him. Cole uses one to SMACK Gargano, then drags him up.
Cole brings the knee pad down, but Gargano flops over. Cole grabs a chair and sits it up so he can sit Gargano up. Cole vows to end this, and runs, but Gargano moves! The Last Shot hits the chair! Gargano gets Cole in an STF! With the kendo stick!! But Cole bites Gargano’s hand! Gargano lets Cole go and both men are down again. Fans rally back up as Gargano gets the hammer back. Cole grabs the hammer, too, and they tug o’ war. Cole throws hands but Gargano has the hammer to SMASH Cole in the gut! Cole gasps and coughs but Gargano has his table. He brings it around to line up with the ladder, and then brings the second table over. Gargano then brings Cole over to the tables and sets him down. But then Gargano sees something in the corner of the cage, and goes to inspect it. Cole gets away from the tables, so Gargano has to go after him again.
Gargano uses a kendo stick to SMACK Cole again! Gargano climbs up that corner and brings Cole up for headbutts. He tucks Cole in, stands up, and steals the PANAMA SUNRISE! Cover, TWO!?! Cole survives his own move!? Both men are down and the fans still hope they “Fight Forever!” Gargano brings down the back, and it’s all of Regal’s favorites! A pipe, brass knuckles, and… pliers?! Yes, and Gargano climbs to use them, to snip apart the barbed wire! Gargano brings a thread of it down! Cole sees Gargano clutching that wire, and he starts to climb. He doesn’t care that there’s no escape win, he just wants to get away! Cole goes to that strange platform, but Gargano follows! Fans beg, “Please Don’t Die!” but the two brawl on the platform. Gargano headbutts Cole, and then has his wire, to go after Cole’s face! Cole fights him, and the two FALL through the tables below!!! COLE COVERS, COLE WINS!!
Winner: Adam Cole, by pinfall; still NXT Champion
Cole is victorious, but at what cost?! What has really been won going through such hell?!
My Thoughts:
NXT again sets a high, high bar just for the WWE this weekend. Another amazing set of matches, though with really only one flaw to point out. The Women’s Championship had a great story with the bad arms, which was very much like many of Shayna’s title matches. But I also liked that Mia was the Face willing to play dirty to give Shayna back all the karma she gathered up from her time in NXT. However, the pacing in the match started to grind by the end, and honestly, Mia should’ve won. As great as Shayna is, her reign started to fall short with the Horsewomen backing her up. The one time she didn’t have them should’ve meant she lost the match, especially after taking an elevated, aka Avalanche/Super version of Mia’s FINISHER! Have Shayna lose so she can either finally feel the chase again, or be called up to main. A Big 4 Weekend should’ve been the time to change the status quo.
The other women’s match was great, Shirai and Candice really roughed each other up. Obviously Shirai would win, her Heel turn wouldn’t be much if she lost out the gate. But this can lead to a great series/feud between Shirai and Candice as they both now chase the title. It may not take until the next TakeOver, but if Candice can come out of this the winner and even as contender to Shayna, that would be some great full-circle storytelling given Candice and Shayna have history in WWE dating back to the original Mae Young Classic. I also really liked the great surprise brawl of Riddle and Dain, I did not expect that to happen, but it’s good to see TakeOver trying stuff like that. This probably means we won’t get Riddle VS Dain for the “post” TakeOver episode since those are actually done before, but this will definitely heat things up for their feud going into the Fall.
Of course, the story of the night was still the Undisputed Era being in all the men’s title matches. I am really surprised the Undisputed Era’s prophecy for tonight was already killed with the tag team title match. Though, that’s what made it so exciting was that the Street Profits won against reDRagon! This should definitely legitimize Ford and Dawkins in the ring, since they’re already so great on the mic. And then that Triple Threat for the North American title was probably my new favorite Triple Threat. The story, the charisma, the action, this is what makes NXT so great. I really thought Strong had it, but it was so great for Dream to just take it all away with that elbow drop. I really thought Dream wasn’t retaining to then move up to the main title, but maybe he tries that again this time. And maybe Dunne also tries to move up, simply shrugging this loss off to still make history as the first man to have been WWE UK and top NXT Champion in his career.
And then the Three Stages of Hell, my goodness, any single one of these could’ve been the match on its own, but having all three falls for over an hour of action, wow. The standard match, so good, it referenced everything from the previous Cole VS Gargano matches and built upon them. It was genius for Gargano to give Cole that first fall via DQ just to get to the Street Fight. That Street Fight was so brutal, and we all knew Gargano was going to win it regardless of the first. And then, I was really surprised Regal would choose something cage related, because wouldn’t that be visible up in the rafters? Somehow, they hid it, and it was like dark magic watching that thing just come out from the void in the ceiling. I didn’t officially hear it be called an “Asylum” match, but how is that not the Ambrose Asylum like what Ambrose/Moxley and Chris Jericho had? I started to think the Undisputed Era were all losing, but that is what made Cole winning even crazier! Which is quite the feat given the crash through the tables to end it.
My Score: 9.2/10
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DING DONG, Hello, Tiffany!
Tiffanny Stratton just won the WWE Women’s Championship but she’s already defending it against Bayley! Will the Role Model be back on top?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Bianca Belair & Naomi VS Nia Jax & Candice LeRae; Bianca & Naomi win.
- Jimmy Uso VS Carmelo Hayes; Jimmy wins, by disqualification.
- Motor City Machine Guns VS Los Garza w/ Legado Del Fantasma; MCMG wins.
- Piper Niven w/ Chelsea Green VS B-Fab w/ Mia Yim; Piper wins.
- Rey Mysterio VS Kevin Owens; Kevin wins.
- WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton VS Bayley; Tiff wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Rey Mysterio is here!
San Diego fires up for the hometown hero as he makes his entrance! The King of Lucha high-fives fans along the ramp, and hugs his wife and daughter, before stepping in the ring. Rey grabs himself a mic, the fans chant “619! 619!” and he smiles. Rey tells San Diego, “Bien venidos, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown! This is the home of the 6! 1! 9!” The fans cheer, and Rey says no cap, it feels great to be back home in front of his people, his Raza, his city, and his familia. Rey requested to be here tonight because he couldn’t think of a better place to reminisce as he gets ready to do the impossible once again.
Rey officially declares for the 2025 Royal Rumble! The arena is shaking hearing that! Rey wants to look back: 2006, he entered the Rumble at #2, outlasted 28 other superstars, and became the Royal Rumble winner! And it didn’t end there. he went on to main event WrestleMania, and he became the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! Now, Rey won’t lie, he will be realistic. The competition is heavy this year: Drew McIntyre, who fans boo. CM Punk, who fans cheer; Seth Rollins, who fans are torn on; Roman Reigns, who fans cheer; John Cena, who fans also cheer. It will be tough, but let’s remember back to when he won.
It was 2006, and Rey did it for a friend we all know very well. The fans chant for “EDDIE! EDDIE!” But wait! Kevin Owens makes his way out here! The Prizefighter, still holding onto the winged eagle title belt, showing off his new shirt: The Canadian Dream, Son of a Security System Technician. Kevin has a mic, too, and while fans boo, he tells Rey, “Lemme start off by saying I’m very sorry for coming out here and interrupting you. I mean it, okay? But I had to come out here. Because I heard you just now talking about how you were gonna win the Royal Rumble.
“And Rey, I mean this from the bottom of my heart. It’s never been a secret. There’s a lot of people in this industry that I respect quite a bit, but very few I respect as much as I respect you. In fact, I’ll even go so far as saying there’s nobody in this industry that I respect as much as I respect you.” The fans do cheer that, and Kevin says he has had an incredible career, he’s accomplished things he’s dreamed of since he was a kid. He has main evented WrestleMania with Steve Austin. He won the tag team titles with his then best friend, Sami Zayn. He won countless other tiles, and now he gets to stand here with THIS title!
The fans boo but Kevin says this is the title that as a kid, he saw all his idols win. This is the title he dreamed of winning, and now he stands here as the TRUE, RIGHTFUL WWE Champion! The fans boo again but Kevin says there is one thing left for him to accomplish so that he can truly feel his career is complete. And that is to step into the ring and have a 1v1 match with the legendary Rey Mysterio. The fans like that idea, and Kevin says face to face, man to man, he hopes Rey wins the Rumble! Kevin will root for Rey with everything he has! Rey can and will beat “all those other idiots.”
But just promise Kevin one thing. After Rey wins the Rumble, promise that Kevin is the champion he picks for WrestleMania so that Kevin can have his dream match. Rey takes a moment, and he tells Kevin that we all know Rey loves competition. But… Kevin’s not the champion. The fans cheer that! Rey means that with all due respect, but Cody Rhodes is the champion. But, but, here’s this. If Rey wins the Rumble, and if Kevin wins the title, then yes, Rey will gladly face him for the title. Kevin takes a moment, and repeats, “I’m not the champion? I AM THE CHAMPION! This is my title! I earned it! I deserve it!”
The fans boo but Kevin says Cody has Rey brainwashed, too! Does Rey have bleached blonde hair under that mask? Is it seeping into his brain? Rey wants Kevin to calm down. What’s going on? Drew McIntyre, now Kevin, he’s acting so delusional! It’s reminding him of Dominik. Oh…! Kevin swings on Rey! Rey dodges to fire hands in return! They brawl, Kevin shoves Rey but Rey dropkicks the legs! Kevin is on the ropes, but he bails out before the 619! The fans boo but Kevin is the one offended. Will Kevin be able to let this go so he can focus on Cody?
Bianca Belair meets up with Naomi backstage.
Bianca asks if Naomi finished with Nick Aldis. She did. Any updates? No! No lead on Jade’s attacker. Nothing? Wow. But that’s okay, they’ll keep pushing forward. They will handle Nia & Candice, but Bianca just wants to make sure they’re good after the mishap last week. It wasn’t on Bianca, that was Candice. Naomi knows that. Plus, they have to focus. It may not be Tiffany, but they can at least get some lick back on Candice & Nia. And they still have their gold! Bianca says that’s true. Ready to go? Naomi says maybe Bianca should wrap her up. That way, last week won’t happen again. Bianca agrees, and she hurries to wrap the braid into a bun.
Now they’re good. The StrongEST Glow heads out, will they be able to get past the Irresistible Force & Poison Pixie? Or will they soon be owing some golden tickets to the Queen of the Ring and her new sidekick?
Nick Aldis talks with Rey Mysterio.
After what we saw with Kevin, and since they are in San Diego, we have to have Rey on the card. Rey VS KO happens 1v1! Rey thanks Aldis and promises to handle business. And then Cody Rhodes walks in! The American Nightmare tells Rey he saw what happened while he was going through his physical. Cody says he would’ve been out there to help, but Rey says it’s nota big deal. It is handled, Rey VS Kevin is happening. Cody just needs to heal up. Rey can handle his problems, and will leave something for Cody at the Royal Rumble. Rey fist bumps and heads out. Aldis tells Cody that Rey has a point, Cody needs to be careful.
That said, what’d the doctors have to say? Cody says he has a clean bill of health, fully cleared, and Aldis can read the report himself. Aldis says he trusts Cody, he just doesn’t know if that’s good news. There is a lot of time between now and the Rumble, and even more so to WrestleMania. But with that in mind, Aldis has an addendum to the ladder match. Cody needs to sign it, as does Kevin, because they cannot have what happened at Saturday Night’s Main Event happen ever again. Cody asks if Kevin’s signed it yet. Kevin was Aldis’ next stop. Then Cody will sign it once Kevin has. Cody heads out, will Aldis be able to get what he wants out of this?
Bianca Belair & Naomi VS Nia Jax & Candice LeRae!
SmackDown returns as Bianca & Naomi make their entrances. The teams sort out and Nia steps to Bianca, only to CLOBBER Naomi! Candice joins in to mug Bianca, but the fans boo. The ref reprimands, Candice backs off, and Nia soaks up the heat. Naomi throws Bianca down, talks more trash, then HEADBUTTS Bianca down. Nia drags Bianca up, tags Candice, but Bianca fights back. Nia CLUBS Bianca, Candice wrenches, but Bianca runs Candice over! And runs her over again! Bianca suplexes, holds Candice up, then SLAMS her down! The fans fire up as Bianca kips up, and she runs up to RAM Candice!
Bianca then climbs to rain down fists! The fans count along, Bianca goes all the way to TEN! Nia storms in, but Bianca flips up and over! Nia runs into Candice, then turns around into Bianca’s DROPKICK! Bianca runs up but Candice BOOTS her! Candice goes up, but Bianca ROCKS her! Bianca military presses Candice, and she THRWOS her out onto Nia! Nia & Candice fall, the fans fire up, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Bianca flexes, then waits on Nia & Candice. Bianca’s braid has unrolled so Bianca swings it to rally the fans. Bianca then goes out to fetch Candice, shoves her into the ring, but Nia anchors Bianca’s feet! Candice DROPKICKS Candice down! Cover, TWO! Candice CLUBS away on Bianca, then scuffs her. Candice stalks Bianca to a corner, KNEES her down, then steps on her to DOUBLE STOMP! Tag to Nia, and Nia stalks Bianca. Nia makes Bianca smile with fishhooks, then HIP DROPS her down! Nia swings the braid around to mock Bianca, and even intimidate the ref. Bianca gets her braid free to SMACK away on Nia!
Bianca LASHES Nia more, backing her down, then she runs. Bianca SHOTGUNS Nia, Nia rebounds, but Bianca avoids the elbow drop! Cover, ONE!! Nia CLOBBERS Bianca at the ropes! Nia argues with the ref, taunts Naomi, then soaks up the heat. Tag to Candice and Candice kicks Bianca around. Candice SMACKS Bianca off the apron, pushes her in, then CLOBBERS her! Cover, TWO! Candice CLOBBERS Bianca again, then digs her knee in for a half Bow ‘n’ Arrow stretch! Bianca endures, fights around, reaches back, and she pulls Candice’s hair! Bianca and Candice fire forearms, but Candice DECKS Bianca! Cover, TWO!
Candice is frustrated but she KNEES Bianca in the side. Candice stomps Bianca more, KNEES her down, then has her on the ropes. The ref counts but Candice bends Bianca back! Candice lets go at 4, SmackDown returns to single picture,. and Candice brings Bianca up. Bianca rolls Candice up, TWO! Candice ENZIGIRIS Bianca down! Candice hurries to a corner and goes up, to then CROSSBODY! But Bianca rolls through! The fans fire up as Bianca lifts, but Candice slips free! Candice pulls the braid! Bianca uses that to reel Candice in for an ELBOW! But Candice grabs the braid to throw Bianca down! Both women are down and the fans fire up!
Bianca and Candice crawl, Candice goes to Bianca! STEP-UP- NO! Bianca avoids the senton! But Nia YANKS Naomi down from the outside! The fans boo but Nia sends Naomi into barriers! Candice stands Bianca up, but Bianca rolls her again! TWO, and Candice SUPERKICKS Bianca down! Candice hurries to the corner, tag to Nia. Nia storms up on Bianca, mockingly reaching out to Naomi, and then CLUBS Bianca! Nia whips, LARIATS, and SAMOAN DROPS! Bianca sputters and goes to the corner, but Nia runs up! Bianca BOOTS Nia first! Bianca ELBOWS Candice, dodges Nia, then RAMS into her! Candice grabs the braid!
Bianca whips Candice into the POST! Bianca climbs, but Nia ROCKS her! Nia climbs up after Bianca, fireman’s carries, but Bianca CLUBS away! Bianca is safe, she shoves Nia away, then CROSSBODIES! Both women are down and the fans fire up! Naomi returns! Bianca crawls, hot tag to Naomi! The fans fire up as Naomi ROUNDHOUSES Nia away, then slingshots for the FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Nia still has a lot left in the tank but Naomi HAMMERS away on her! Nia shoves Naomi away, runs up, but Naomi dodges! Nia POSTS herself, falls back, and Naomi goes up! SPLIT-LEG MOONSAULT! Cover, Candice breaks it!
Naomi ENZIGIRIS Candice for it! Tag to Bianca and the tag champs go after Nia. Nia fights back, SAMOAN DROP for Naomi! The fans boo but Nia looms over Bianca. Nia runs, Candice sneaks a tag, and Bianca dodges! Bianca SPEARS Nia! Bianca runs, handsprings, but Candice DROPKICKS her down! STEP-UP SENTON! Nia rises, she adds a SENTON of her own! Candice covers, TWO!! Bianca survives and the fans fire up! Candice can’t believe it, but San Diego declares, “This is Awesome!” Candice storms around, snarls, then runs up at Bianca. Bianca ALLEY-OOPS her onto buckles! Then SPINEBUSTERS her down!
Bianca runs, handsprings, and MOONSAULTS! But Nia runs up! Bianca dodges, LEG DROP hits Candice!! Nia panics, runs up on Bianca, but Bianca tosses her out! LARIAT and down goes Bianca! Naomi tags for the BUBBA BOMB! Gedo clutch, Naomi & Bianca win!
Winners: Bianca Belair & Naomi, by pinfall
The tag champs find a way to survive, but now they’ll have to meet NXT’s Meta Four on January 28th! NXT goes on the road to Atlanta, Georgia, will Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson be bringing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships home as souvenirs? Or will they only feel the StrongEST Glow?
Pregame interview with Bayley.
Byron Saxton walked through an empty Pechanga Arena with The Role Model before the show, and noted how last week, Bayley won the Fatal 4 Way #1 Contender’s match. Now, we’re in San Diego, with a sold out crowd as Bayley challenges Tiffany Stratton for the title. What does this match mean to her? Well, sold out here in her home state, that is what dreams are made of. We all dream about being in the main event and fighting for a championship. This is a huge night for her. Thinking on her career, this time last year, she won the 2024 Royal Rumble and earned a guaranteed championship opportunity.
Bayley would challenge former friend, Iyo Sky, someone she respects so much in this business. That felt like the peak of Bayley’s career, where she was going to do something different and change the world. To be honest, she isn’t sure she fulfilled her potential during that reign. Yes, she defended the title, took it all over the world, but she always felt she was just winning by the skin of her teeth. She’s a perfectionist, she loves wrestling so much. And so, that reign was certainly cut short when Tiffany helped Nia take that title from Bayley. Tonight is a big night for her.
Then how does tonight feel different from past opportunities in regaining the title? Well, we’ve seen what Tiffany has done this past year, and she just showed she’s willing to turn on her friends to get to the “Tiffy Top,” as she puts it. Part of Bayley respects her, but the other part wants to beat Tiffy that much more. Tonight, it’s personal. Byron wishes Bayley luck and they shake hands. Will this be a big first defense for Tiffy? Or will it be a big comeback for the former Grand Slam Champion?
Mia Yim talks with B-Fab backstage.
Michin just knows she would’ve had Chelsea Green if not for Piper Niven. They always gotta use numbers! B-Fab knows how they do. That US Championship should’ve been Mia’s! B-Fab tells Mia to keep her head up, because she’ll get another shot to take down sleazy- Piper Niven walks in being all Secret Service. Piper says the room is clear, no threats to the champion. Chelsea walks in, thanks “Spicy Service,” and says B-Fab and “Mimi” should stand up and properly congratulate her as the only woman to successfully defend this title. B-Fab says Chelsea please. We all know that if it wasn’t for Piper the Mall Cop, Chelsea would not be champion.
Piper steps up and tells B-Fab that if she takes another step closer, it’ll be her last. If that’s how Piper wants to play it, then how about this? B-Fab will talk with Aldis, then she and Piper can handle their problem tonight. Then after Piper, Chelsea better watch her back. Mia says that is a threat. Mia follows B-Fab, Chelsea tells Piper to neutralize B-Fab. Piper agrees. But just how will this shake out when Piper’s the one in action?
Jimmy Uso heads to gorilla.
“San Diego! The goal tonight is to make sure Carmelo stays missing. Hey, ya boi got something to prove! Hey, I’m proud of The Yeet Man. My brother got his own title match coming up, and it’s time to go get mine. But it starts tonight with Carmelo. Hey yo, Uce, between me and you, Big Jim is Him!” Jimmy heads out to the ring, will he prove he’s just as worthy of golden opportunities?
Jimmy Uso VS Carmelo Hayes!
SmackDown returns as Melo makes his entrance. Melo has a mic to tell Big Jim that he wants to get this straight. Roman’s in the Rumble, Jey’s got a world title match, and what’s Jimmy got? It just seems like Jimmy is living in the shadow of his brother who is living in the shadow of Roman Reigns. But for some reason, Jimmy’s taking shots at H1M? Then here’s a serious question: How can Jimmy take shots when he’s sitting on the bench? Do Melo a favor: Lace up those shoes real tight, Unc, because you’re about to see that Melo Don’t Miss. But then Jimmy TOSSES Melo into the ring! Jimmy borrows those sunglasses, then he fires haymakers!
The fans fire up as Jimmy pops, locks ‘n’ ROCKS Melo! Jimmy whips, but Melo avoids the superkick! Melo bails out, the fans boo, and Jimmy grins. Jimmy hurries after Melo but Melo HOTSHOTS Jimmy down! Melo storms in to CLOBBER Jimmy, and he stomps away at the ropes! The ref counts, teh fans boo, but Melo lets off at 4. Melo soaks up the heat, then he CHOPS Jimmy against ropes. Melo stalks Jimmy, CHOPS Jimmy in a corner, then brings him around for haymakers. Melo whips, Jimmy reverses, QUICK DRAW! Melo is in a corner, and the fans join Jimmy in chanting, “UCE! OH!” Jimmy runs, but Melo dodges the hip attack!
Melo comes back, but Jimmy puts him on the apron. Jimmy UPPERCUTS Melo, Melo sputters, and Jimmy goes out to join him. Jimmy suplexes Melo onto the apron! Melo writhes, Jimmy refreshes the count, and then Jimmy builds speed! Jimmy DIVES, and Melo is sent into the desk! The fans fire up for Jimmy while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Melo KICKS and CLUBS and stomps away on Jimmy in a corner! The ref counts, Melo lets off, and the fans boo. Melo drags Jimmy up, CLUBS him on the back, then hoists him to the top rope. The fans rally for Jimmy but Melo climbs up. Melo soaks up the heat, brings Jimmy up, but Jimmy fights the suplex! The fans fire up as Jimmy fires elbows! Melo hits back with shoulders! Jimmy and Melo go back and forth, then Jimmy fires elbow after elbow! Melo falls back, Jimmy WHISPERS IN THE WIND, but Melo dodges! Then FADE AWAY DDT! Cover, TWO! Jimmy survives and Melo grows frustrated.
The fans rally up while Melo gets his confidence back. Melo adjusts the kneepads, but he hears the fans rally for Jimmy. Melo brings Jimmy up, but Jimmy suplexes! Melo fights that to suplex, but Jimmy fights! Melo wrenches, dodges, and DOUBLE LARIATS hit hard! A double cover, TWO!! Both men are still in this, but they rise slowly. The fans rally behind Jimmy, he UPPERCUTS Melo! Melo blocks a kick but not the DRAGON WHIP! Jimmy then fireman’s carries, but Melo slips free! Jimmy UPPERCUTS Melo, Melo tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO! Jimmy survives and the fans rally up again!
Melo thinks on what he has to do, but the fans rally up more as Jimmy rises. Melo storms up, CHOPS Jimmy, then whips. Jimmy reverses to POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives and Jimmy is beside himself! The fans rally up for Jimmy as he climbs up, USO- FIRST 48! Cover, TWO!! Jimmy survives and Melo can’t believe it! “This is Awesome!” as Melo hurries to a corner and climbs. Melo wants Jimmy to stand, and he takes aim, for- NO, Jimmy avoids the three pointer! SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO?!? Melo survives again and shocks Jimmy! Melo flounders away, checking his jaw.
Jimmy goes corner to corner, HIP ATTACK! Then SAMOAN- NO, Melo manages the crucifix takedown! TWO! SUPERKICK from Melo! Melo runs, Jimmy SPEARS!! Jimmy hurries to a corner, but JACOB FATU has appeared! Jimmy tells Jacob not to even try, but it’s TAMA TONGA who shoves Jimmy off the corner! The fans boo as Tama & Jacob attack!
Winner: Jimmy Uso, by disqualification
The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Jacob hits a HIP ATTACK on Jimmy! Jacob then drags Jimmy up, and feeds him to Tama’s VENOM DDT! Jacob adds more stomps, and Melo says thanks for the assist. But then Jacob CLOBBERS Melo! Tama puts Jimmy back in a corner, Jaco hits another HIP ATTACK! And here comes Solo Sikoa! He may not be THE Tribal Chief, but clearly Solo still has authority over the rogues. We hear from the would-be Head of the Table, after the break.
SmackDown returns and…
San Diego is booing hard as Solo has the mic. Solo decides not to speak, which the fans cheer. Solo then goes out of the ring, takes off his fancy red jacket, and slings it over his shoulder. Solo leaves, and even his followers seem confused. Is Solo giving up after losing everything? Or is this just more arrogance? Jacob grabs the mic and says, “So this is what it comes to, huh? This is it? I’m tired of the disrespect! I’m tired of the hate! Oh no! You know that I’m tired of the envy! But check this out: envy me all you want, because even on a bad day, y’all still can’t touch me! I don’t give a damn if you cheer us, I don’t give a damn if you boo us.
“But one thing I will not let you do is try to act like I ain’t ever got mine! What, y’all thought I was crazy? Y’all thought I was off the hinges? HUH? Y’all thought I was losing it? The crazy thing about this situation… is that I’m just getting started!” The Samoan Werewolf is all fire dup, but here comes LA KNIGHT! The fans fire up, Jacob & Tama wait, but Knight comes in from the crowd! Knight CLOBBERS Jacob, CLOBBERS Tama, then he stomps away on Jacob! Tama runs up, but Knight tackles him! Knight throws down hands, Jacob is up, but Knight fires hands on him! Tama traps Knight’s legs, and Jacob CLOBBERS Knight!
The fans boo as Tama & Jacob beat Knight down, but BRAUN is here! The fans fire up as the Monster of All Monsters returns! Tama PLANCHAS, but Braun catches him, and TOSSES him! Then Braun stares down Jacob. The fans are going nuts seeing this, and Braun rips his shirt off! But then Tama has Jacob retreat! The Mega Star stands alongside #OneBigSOB, will they get their payback on Tama & Jacob soon enough?
Los Garza gets ready backstage.
Santos Escobar tells Angel y Berto that last week, they exposed Pretty Deadly for the pretty little liars they are. And everything they said, Angel & Berto made them choke on every word. That is what Santos expects. Lopez reminds them that just one win doesn’t make them champions yet. Agreed. Tonight, Motor City Machine Guns, men with reputations and who were former champions, Los Garza will take their momentum away. Why? Because remember: There was no red carpet rolled out for them, and no one is just handing them respect. So if they want respect, they have to take it! Take it from their hands, from their throats, from their pride!
Legado puts all hands in, and say “Familia!” La Madrina accompanies Los Garza, will they take that title opportunity for their own? Or will MCMG be on fire as they go back after DIY?
Motor City Machine Guns VS Los Garza w/ Legado Del Fantasma!
SmackDown returns and Los Garza makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Shelley starts against Angel. They tie up, Shelley headlocks, and holds on as Angel powers up. Shelley grinds the headlock, Angel powers up and out, then he reels Shelley in. Shelley ducks the elbow, Angel drops down then hurdles over, then Angel rolls off Shelley’s back. Shelley trips, covers, ONE! Angelo knocks Shelley down, covers, ONE! Angel kneels and offers a handshake! Shelley is wary, but he accepts. Only for Angel to SLAP him! Angel CHOPS Shelley against ropes, then headlocks. Tag to Berto, Angelo holds Shelley out on the ropes, LEAP FROG ATTACK!
Angel KNEES Shelley down, Berto SOMERSAULT MOONSAULTS! Cover, ONE! Angel shouts for respect, the fans are torn, but Berto CLUBS Shelley. Shelley CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! Shelley tags Sabin, whips Berto, and MCMG DOUBLE BACKDROP! Angel runs up, but into double kicks! Atomic drop, dropkick, DREAM SEQUENCE! MCMG snapmare Berto, Sabin covers, ONE! Sabin clamps on a chinlock and he grinds Berto down. Berto endures, fights up, and he powers up. Angel tags in but Sabin ducks ‘n’ dodges. Sabin tilt-o-whirls, but Berto keeps it going so Angel can KNEE Sabin down!
Berto drags Sabin to the apron, and Angel TAKES OFF THE PANTS! He SMACKS Shelley, then runs to KNEE ENZIGIRI COMBO on Sabin! Los Garza is in control while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Sabin fights out of a cobra twist! But Angel blocks his kick, spins him around, Gory Especial! Tag to Berto, SLINGSHOT NECKBREAKER GORY BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! Sabin survives but Berto seethes. Berto goes to the far corner, runs up, but Sabin dodges! Sabin elbows Berto, Berto traps Sabin, and Angel runs in. Sabin slips away, Angel RAMS into Berto! The fans rally up, Angel grabs legs, but Sabin ENZIGIRIS free! Sabin crawls, the fans rally up, and Sabin hot tags Shelley! Shelley fires hands on Berto, then whips, but Berto reverses. Shelley CLOBBERS Berto!
Shelley BLASTS Angel for good measure! BOOT to Berto, then a tilt-o-whirl RANA! Berto ends up in a corner, Shelley runs in, but he blocks a boot! Sabin tags in, Shelley hands the foot off, DRAGON SCREW! Berto is stuck in ropes, Shelley DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS the other leg! Sabin hops up, MCMG coordinate, DROPKICK to one leg, KNEE DROP on the other! Berto falls, Sabin covers, TWO! Berto survives but Sabin brings him up. Sabin has one of the legs, tag to Shelley, and they hand off the leg to ENZIGIRI and trip! Shelley steps through for a FIGURE FOUR! The fans “WOO~!” while Berto endures!
Sabin intercepts Angel, trips him up, and he has a FIGURE FOUR! The fans fire up as Los Garza endure the same hold! Lopez panics, but Berto crawls, ROPEBREAK! MCMG lets go at 4, and Angel crawls away. Shelley stomps away on Berto’s legs, then steps through again. Lopez distracts, Berto BOOTS free! Roll up, deadlift and SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO! Shelley survives but Berto tags Angel in. Los Garza brings Shelley up, Sabin runs in, but Berto LARIATS Sabin down! Angel fires knees into Shelley, Berto hoists Sabin up to add him on! Berto runs, FLYING CHUCK into the POWERBOMB POWERSLAM COMBO! Cover, TWO?!?
Los Garza can’t believe it, but this is why MCMG are a highly decorated tag team! “This is Awesome!” as Angel stalks Shelley to ropes. Angel KICKS Shelley in the chest! Tag to Berto, they double military press! But Sabin saves Shelley, then runs up. Angel catches Sabin to a full nelson but he BOOTS Berto away. Sabin then arm-drags free, kicks Angel, and he kicks off Berto to TORNADO DDT Angel! Los Garza bail out, Shelley opens the way! Sabin DIVES and he takes Los Garza down! Sabin sends Berto in, Shelley runs up, LARIAT in the corner! Tag to Sabin, but wait! Pretty Deadly is here, and they’re distracting the ref!
Sabin has Berto while Shelley climbs! Elton keeps the ref’s attention so that Kit can DECK Shelley! Berto rolls Sabin up and Kit shouts to the ref! Elton is arguing with the ref too much now! Berto gives up on the pin, tells the ref to pay attention to the match, and Sabin BLASTS Kit! Shelley tags in, Berto runs up, but into the BOOT ENZIGIRI COMBO! And reset, SKULL ‘N’ BONES!! Cover, MCMG wins!
Winners: Motor City Machine Guns, by pinfall
Pretty Deadly tried to screw Shelley & Sabin out of this one, but they were too dramatic about it! Will nothing stop MCMG from taking those tag titles off of Gargano & Ciampa?
Aldis finds Kevin backstage.
Kevin says, “Can’t you see I’m taping my wrists, Nick?” Aldis does, but this shouldn’t take long. He needs to show Kevin the addendum to the title match contract. Kevin doesn’t like the sound of that. And wait, Cody didn’t sign it. Well, Cody isn’t going to sign it until Kevin signs it. Then guess what? Kevin’s not signing it until Cody signs it. And Kevin doesn’t even trust Aldis anyway, he needs to read this addendum first. And he isn’t doing that until after his match so stop trying to distract him! Kevin storms off, and Aldis says that went well. Will Aldis be able to find a way around this stalemate between champion and challenger?
Piper Niven w/ Chelsea Green VS B-Fab w/ Mia Yim!
The Hot Mess is having her “Spicy Secret Service” fight her battles for her again, and that means a fight with one Briana Brandy. Will B-Fab be fab when she drops Piper like she drops the beat? Or will B be mad when P takes the W?
SmackDown returns as “B-Fabulous” makes her way to the ring. The bell rings and the two circle. Chelsea talks smack, B-Fab gives it back, but then B-Fab dodges Piper! HEEL KICK in the corner! B-Fab talks smack on Piper, whips, but Piper blocks! B-Fab still tries, but Piper wrenches. B-Fab wrenches and DANGEROUS HOOK KICKS! B-Fab turns Piper, then spins her for a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Piper goes to a corner, B-Fab runs up, but Piper picks her up! URENAGE! Chelsea wants to make sure everyone saw that, then Piper runs. B-Fab avoids the senton! Chelsea panics, B-Fab runs up, and she floats around to a DDT! Cover, TWO!
B-Fab waits on Piper as Piper flounders to ropes. B-Fab then runs up, and she BOOTS Piper out of the ring! Chelsea is freaking out again, but Piper gets back up. B-Fab BOOTS Piper off the apron! B-Fab goes out after Piper, puts her in the ring, but then she steps to Chelsea. Chelsea backs away, talks more smack anyway, so B-Fab LARIATS Chelsea! The fans fire up, B-Fab slides in, but Piper SENTONS! Piper shoves B-Fab to ropes, pops her up, and then pops her into the PIPER DRIVER! Cover, Piper wins!
Winner: Piper Niven, by pinfall
Even after talking it out with Mia, the number game still gets the better of B-Fab. But then Chelsea beats down B-Fab just because she can! SO here comes Mia! The fans fire up as Chelsea runs! Mia dodges Piper to SMACK her with the kendo stick! Mia swings again, Piper blocks, and she SLAPS Mia! Piper takes aim, but Mia YAKUZA KICKS her first! Mia grabs the kendo stick, and she warns both Piper & Chelsea that payback is still coming. Mia helps B-Fab to her feet, will they be united against the #RedWhite&Green?
WWE mourns the loss of Bob Uecker.
Mr. Baseball also had his love of the WWE, being part of memorable moments in those early days, such as calling Hogan VS Andre at WrestleMania 3.
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Byron says we saw Tiff make history two weeks ago, but she stops him there. She didn’t make history, she made “Tiffstory.” Uh, sure… She made Tiffstory when she cashed in on Nia Jax and became the WWE Women’s Champion. But now it gets real as she defends that title against Bayley, who is extremely driven to win. What’re Tiff’s comments? Tiff heard that, and Bayley is right, she had a ton of big moments. Bayley’s had a career of big moments, really. But guess what? So has Tiff. Tiff’s been on SmackDown for less than a year, became the youngest Miss Money in the Bank, and now is the WWE Women’s Champion.
And unlike Bayley, Tiff doesn’t need to recreate moments, because Tiff IS the Moment. Sorry, Bayley, but you’ll just have to sit back and watch your little dream die, because right now… It’s Tiffy Time. Tootles. Tiff heads out, confident as ever, but will that confidence all fall apart going up against a woman that paved the way?
Rey Mysterio VS Kevin Owens!
The King of Lucha just wanted to enjoy his homecoming, and The Prizefighter had to interrupt it. Rey tried to explain that officially, Kevin isn’t the champion, and Kevin blew up on him! So now, in an ironic twist, Kevin is getting his dream match with Rey here in Rey’s hometown! Will Kevin make his dream of defeating Rey Mysterio come true? Or will the 619 make it all a nightmare?
The bell rings and obviously the fans rally behind Rey. Kevin is annoyed by that but Rey says he asked for this. They tie up, Kevin powers Rey to a corner, but the ref counts. Kevin lets off slowly, and then says, “This is MY show!” The fans boo more but Kevin and Rey reset. They tie up, Kevin waistlocks and SLAMS Rey down. Kevin flips Rey over, but Rey arm-drags Kevin! Kevin gets upset and the fans boo him more. Kevin and Rey go again, and the chants of “619! 619!” are loud as ever. The two tie up, Kevin kicks low! Kevin CLUBS Rey, wrenches an arm to the wristlock, but Rey uses ropes to flip through! Rey KCIKS a leg, then fires forearms!
Kevin headlocks, Rey powers up and out, then he drops down. Kevin CLOBBERS Rey! Rey tumbles out to the floor and the fans boo more, but Kevin just waits on Rey. The ref starts the ring count, and Rey stands at 3 of 10. Rey takes his time to return, and he’s back in at 6. The fans tell Kevin off in Espanol, and Kevin wants to know what that means. Rey says Kevin knows what it means. The two reset, feel things out, and knuckle lock. Rey avoids the leg hook to then lift Kevin, jump up, and sunset flip! ONE, but Rey dodges a lariat to waistlock. Kevin switches, Rey fires elbows, and then Rey runs. Rey ducks ‘n’ doges, tilt-o-whirls and RANAS!
The fans fire up as Kevin tumbles! Rey ROCKS Kevin at the ropes, whips him, but Kevin reverses. Rey tilt-o-whirls again, but Kevin blocks to SLAM Rey down! And then SENTON! The fans boo but Kevin huffs ‘n’ puffs. Kevin drags Rey up, whips Rey to a corner hard, and Rey staggers back. Rey falls over, the fans tell Kevin off more, but Kevin stays cool. Kevin whips Rey hard to another corner, runs up, but into a BOT! Rey ELBOWS Kevin, goes up, jumps back, and is on Kevin’s shoulders Electric Chair style. Rey throws down hands, then he RAN- NO, Kevin stops Rey from throwing him over! Kevin KNEES Rey down!
The fans boo but Kevin storms out after Rey. Kevin stands Rey up, and he ROCKS Rey in front of the fans! Kevin fires more forearms, the fans rally for Rey, but Kevin puts Rey on the apron. Rey fires forearms and a KICK in return! The fans rally for Rey as he gets up to FLYING RANA! Kevin hits barriers and the fans fire up! Rey gets in the ring, throws off his shirt, and the fans fire up as Rey builds speed! Rey SLIDES and SPLASHES! Both men are down from that hard impact, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Kevin has Rey down with a chinlock. Rey fights up and the fans rally, but Kevin throws Rey down by his mask! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Kevin mocks the 619 chant, and says “SUCK IT!” Kevin stalks Rey to the corner, brings him around, and whips him corner to corner. Rey hits buckles and staggers back, into a back suplex! Rey lands out, dodges Kevin, and Kevin POSTS himself! The fans fire up as Rey goes to the apron. Kevin staggers around, Rey goes up the corner, and Rey FLYING SEATED SENTONS! The fans fire up as Rey keeps moving, and he wheelbarrows to BULLDOG! Cover, TWO!
Kevin stays in this but Rey stays cool. Rey runs, tilt-o-whirls and RANAS Kevin onto ropes! The fans fire up as Rey dials it up! But Kevin SUPERKICKS! Kevin whips Rey to POP-UP, but Rey slips free! Tilt-o-whirl DDT! Cover, TWO!! Kevin survives and both men are down, catching their breath. Kevin goes to a corner, Rey fires shots, then Rey hoists Kevin up! Rey climbs, but Kevin fires body shots! Kevin HEADBUTTS Rey down! Kevin adjusts, and he gives some Latino Heat before he FROG SPLASHES!! Cover, TWO!! Rey knows that move too well, even if Kevin’s a bit bulkier than Eddie ever was.
The fans cheer for “EDDIE! EDDIE!” while Kevin stalks Rey. Kevin stands Rey up against ropes, then he fires forearm after forearm! The ref counts, the fans boo, but Kevin brings Rey to the corner. Kevin puts Rey up top, climbs up to join him, but Rey fights the suplex! Rey fires body shots, then climbs up and over, SUPER SUNSET BOMB! Kevin stagger sup, into a CODE RED!! Cover, TWO!! Rey can’t believe his shoutout to Amazing Red didn’t get it done, but the fans know “This is Awesome!” Rey stalks Kevin, whips him, but Kevin reverses. Rey springboards but Kevin gets under the crossbody! STUNNER!! Cover, TWO?!?
The fans fire up as Rey survives and Kevin is the one stunned! Kevin drags Rey to the drop zone, and he goes up the corner. Kevin aims to SWANTON but onto knees! Rey also knows that move! Rey hurries to dial it up, 619!! Kevin flounders away, and Rey climbs a corner! Kevin stagger sup, bumps the ref, and the ref hits the ropes! That trips Rey, and Kevin whips Rey for the POP-UP POWERBOMB!! Cover, Kevin wins!!
Winner: Kevin Owens, by pinfall
To think Kevin steals one away from the living legend! “The Canadian Dream” then decides to show some respect, and he helps Rey to his feet. Kevin shakes Rey’s hand, but then kicks him low! And tucks Rey in! But here comes Cody!! The fans fire up as Cody and Kevin brawl! Cody gets the better of Kevin, stomps away on him, but refs and producers rush out here! San Diego wants to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” but Kevin bails out of the ring, winged eagle title in hand. Cody slips free to go around thew ay, and Cody TACKLES Kevin against the desk! The fans fire up as they brawl behind the desk and almost knock Wade & Joe over!
Kevin slips away again as producers pull Cody back! Security rushes out here to also stop this! Cody stands in the ring, Kevin stands on top of a road case. February 1st is still on the horizon, will Cody and Kevin be able to wait these next two weeks?
SmackDown returns and…
Cody and Aldis are in Aldis’ office. Aldis says he tried very, very hard to be patient with Cody and Kevin, but enough is enough. They are out of control! And they won’t even follow simple instructions, like signing a contract! So Aldis has no choice. Next week, Saturday Night’s Main Event, Cody and Kevin must relinquish their respective championship belts so that they can be suspended above the ring at the Royal Rumble. Then they will sign the amended contract in the middle of that ring. And since Kevin doesn’t trust Aldis, and Aldis doesn’t know what Cody’s thinking anymore, Aldis made a call.
Someone else is going to moderate the contract signing. And how perfect for San Antonio than to get their favorite son. Yes, Cody, it’ll be the Showstopper, the Headliner, the Main Event, the Heartbreak Kid, SHAWN MICHAELS! HBK is going to be on Saturday Night’s Main Event, but will he be able to maintain order between American Nightmare and Canadian Dream?
BREAKING NEWS for Saturday Night’s Main Event!
As if San Diego didn’t explode seeing it earlier, San Antonio might erupt as we see Braun Strowman VS Jacob Fatu! Will the Monster of All Monsters be able to slay the Samoan Werewolf? Or will Jacob tear down #OneBigSOB?
Pretty Deadly regroups backstage.
Kit & Elton are confronted by DIY, and Tommaso Ciampa asks what the Hell was that out there! They practically handed the win to MCMG! Elton says admittedly, that didn’t go as planned. But Kit wants Ciampa to see the bright side. Who’s beaten MCMG? DIY! Ciampa says, “Do they think we’re scared of them? We’re not scared of anyone! This isn’t even about them!” Ciampa tells Pretty Deadly to look in the mirror. Just a couple long-haired Englishmen happy to be here, right? Ciampa hates people like that. They are a joke, and everyone is laughing at them! If Pretty Deadly wants a shot at the tag titles, “become nightmares.”
Gargano says that’s tough love. Ciampa is just saying that stuff because DIY believes in Pretty Deadly. But they do need to get their acts together. Pretty Deadly has to make life easier for DIY so DIY can make live better for Pretty Deadly. Chin up, see you next week. Gargano heads out, but Apollo Crews walks in. He pats Pretty Deadly on the shoulders, they shrug him off, but he says he was trying to tell them before. They keep letting DIY string them along, and look where it’s gotten them: Nowhere! Pretty Deadly don’t wanna hear it, Apollo wishes best of luck to them, but then Gargano comes back to attack Apollo!
Johnny Wrestling HAMMERS away on Crews, and says to keep DIY’s name out of his mouth! Gargano throws Apollo down again, then storms off. Will Apollo have to watch what he says?
A Queen is on her way back.
The FOURTEEN-TIME Women’s Champion is almost ready. Will the WWE be ready for a renewed Charlotte Flair?
WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton VS Bayley!
We heard from both sides of this match, and oh look! Roxanne Perez is in the crowd. Bayley’s made a full lap through the WWE this week, from Raw to NXT to SmackDown. Will Bayley make this a homerun? Or will the clock keep ticking on #TiffyTime?
SmackDown returns and Tiffany makes her entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s time to have some gold in the Golden State!
The bell rings, Tiff and Bayley circle, then they tie up. They go around, Bayley puts Tiff in a corner, and she lets off cleanly. The fans rally and duel, the two tie up again, and Tiff puts Bayley in the corner. The ref counts, Tiff lets off at 4, and she ties up with Bayley. Tiff hits a headlock and takeover, but Bayley headscissors. Tiff kips free, headlocks, but Bayley powers out. Bayley waistlocks, Tiff switches, but Bayley bucks the O’Conner. Tiff trips Bayley, covers, ONE! Bayley trips Tiff and covers, ONE! The two back off and the fans cheer. Bayley and Tiff tie up, Bayley snapmares, and runs to ELBOW Tiff in the back!
Bayley keeps moving, but Tiff CLOBBERS her! Tiff says it’s her time, but Bayley avoids the handspring! Tiff sticks the landing, then swaggers. Tiff even goes Matrix to dodge! But then Bayley clinches! Tiff fights the suplex, throws Bayley to a corner, then runs up, Bayley ELBOWS Tiff, goes up, leaps, and arm-drags! Bayley keeps moving, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, ONE!! Tiff gets free, and she SLAPS Bayley! Bayley gets mad, and she LARIATS up and out! Bayley dares Tiff to slap her now! The fans rally behind Bayley while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Tiff has Bayley in a chinlock. Bayley fights up, the fans duel again, and Bayley JAWBREAKERS free! Tiff runs up but Bayley TOSSES her through ropes! HOTSHOT! Tiff flops back, Bayley goes to the apron, and Bayley runs to DAREDEVIL DROPKICK! Tiff staggers away, Bayley pursues, and she DAREDEVIL- NO, Tiff ducks the dropkick! Tiff kicks Bayley, pushes her through the corner, then YANKS her into the post! The fans are torn but Tiff whips Bayley hard into barriers! Tiff mocks the Bayley fans, puts Bayley in the ring, then covers, TWO! Bayley toughs it out, just as a Grand Slam Champion would.
Tiff stalks Bayley, then runs up to DOUBLE STOMP the bad arm! Cover, TWO! Tiff is annoyed, she stomps Bayley and isolates the arm. Tiff YANKS the arm back! Bayley writhes, but Tiff grabs the arm to WRING it out! Tiff covers, TWO! Tiff brings Bayley up, whips, but Bayley reverses. Bayley runs up, but Tiff puts her on the apron! Tiff ROCKS Bayley, then runs up, but Bayley jumps the sweep! But then Tiff blocks the kick! Tiff throws Bayley down! The fans rally up, Tiff grabs the leg to THROW Bayley down again! Cover, TWO! Tiff is annoyed, but she watches Bayley bail out. Tiff taunts Bayley to get back in.
The fans rally, Tiff kicks Bayley to the floor, and then Tiff again dares Bayley to get in. The ref has Tiff back off, so Tiff goes out the side. Tiff runs in around the way, but Bayley CLOBBERS her first! The ring count is climbing, Bayley eggs Tiff on. Tiff staggers up, into a FLAPJACK onto the apron! Bayley pushes Tiff in to cover, TWO! Bayley stays focused, and she drags Tiff up. Tiff ROCKS Bayley! Bayley ROCKS Tiff! Tiff kicks, Bayley blocks and KNEES back! Tiff rebounds to LARIAT! Bayley’s on the ropes, but she avoids Tiff’s hip attack! Bayley BOOTS Tiff to the outside! Bayley builds speed and DIVES, into a forearm!
Tiff puts the apron skirt over Bayley, and says, “You think you deserve a title?!” Tiff leaves Bayley dangling, and then HIP ATTACKS her against the apron! Bayley flops to the floor, Tiff leaves her behind, and the ring count climbs! The count is 5 of 10, Bayley staggers up to the apron, but Tiff HIP ATTACKS her back down! Tiff then aims to PLANCHA! But Bayley catches Tiff! BAYLEY2BELLY to the floor! The fans fire up and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
The ref checks both women, and they’re both conscious, so the match continues. Bayley drags herself up with the apron skirt, but the count is reaching 5 of 10. Tiff also stands, and both women roll in at 8! Tiff and Bayley slowly catch their breath as a standing count now begins. Bayley drags herself up with the ropes, and she heads for Tiff. Tiff rises, and she swings! Bayley blocks to counter punch! And counter punch again! And again! Tiff runs up, but Bayley LARIATS! And LARIATS! And then slips under to SAIDO!
Bayley fires up and she brings Tiff around to put through ropes! Bayley runs side to side for a KNEE LIFT! Cover, TWO! Tiff survives and Bayley snarls. Bayley drags Tiff up, whips her to a corner, then runs up to ROCK her with a forearm! Bayley puts Tiff sideways in the ropes, then goes up, STOCK DROP! Shoutout to The Boss! Or is it CEO? Cover, TWO! Bayley stays cool, and she brings Tiff back up. Bayley whips Tiff but Tiff reverses. Bayley goes up but Tiff catches her! ROLLING SENTON! Then TIFFY STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Bayley survives, but Tiff puts her in the drop zone! Tiff goes up, but Bayley ROCKS her first!
Bayley climbs up as SmackDown returns to single picture. Bayley reels Tiff in, brings her up, and SUPERPLEXES! Both women are down but the fans fire up again! Bayley crawls to a cover, TWO! Tiff stays in this, the fans rally up more, and Bayley climbs a corner. Tiff hurries to ROCK Bayley! Tiff HOTSHOTS Bayley’s bad arm! Bayley falls from the apron, tumbles into the desk, but Tiff hurries to fetch her. Tiff goes up the corner again, for a TIFFY SWANTON! Then she reels Bayley in, for a TIFFY BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Bayley survives but Tiff clamps on a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! The fans rally and duel as Bayley endures!
Bayley reaches out, rolls Tiff around to a cover, TWO!! Tiff lets go in time, and she wants the arm again! But Bayley THROWS Tiff out! Tiff staggers, but she grabs Bayley’s legs! Tiff drags Bayley out, CLUBS her, and then runs up! Cartwheel into the- NO, Bayley fights the lift! “This is Awesome!” as Bayley GOURD BUSTERS Tiff onto the desk! The fans fire up as Bayley then suplexes Tiff to the floor! It was almost a brainbuster! But now Roxie has to talk smack to Bayley. Bayley says watch and learn, kid! Bayley drags Tiff into the ring, goes up a corner, and MACHO ELBOWS! Cover, TWO!! Tiff survives, but ends up in a CROSSFACE!!
Bayley wants to make a statement, but Tiff SLAMS the bad arm off the mat! But Bayley gets up! BAYLEY- NO, Tiff arm-drags free, then SPINEBUSTERS! High stack, TWO!! Bayley survives and Tiff is growing frustrated. San Diego continues to rally but Tiff drags Bayley to a drop zone. Tiff stomps Bayley, then brings her up for a fireman’s carry. But Bayley fights free! Bayley clinches, BAYLEY2BELLY!! Cover, TWO!!! Tiff survives and Bayley is beside herself! Bayley drags Tiff up, reels her in, btu Tiff wrenches to ARM CODE BREAKER! Tiff hurries to the corner! PRETTIEST MOON- NO, Bayley trips Tiff up! And then she runs, SUNSET FLIP BUCKLE BOMB!
Bayley drags Tiff from the corner to cover, TWO!! Tiff stays in this but Bayley wants more! Fireman’s carry, SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Tiff survives Bayley bringing out some classics, and then Tiff sends her into buckles! Tiff KICKS Bayley in the face, then backslides! TWO, and the arms stay hooked up! Bayley stands up, spins Tiff around, hooks her up, REOSE- NO, Tiff cartwheels through! ALABAMA SLAM! Tiff goes up! PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Cover, TIFF WINS!
Winner: Tiffany Stratton, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Champion)
Bayley gave Tiffy Time an all-time first defense, and Tiff found a way to win! No cheating, no shortcuts, just Tiffy! Will no one stop her from making even more #Tiffstory?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown that made the best of the three hours. For one, it was only natural Rey Mysterio would be here for San Diego SmackDown, and it was good stuff to have him be part of the Cody VS Kevin story this week. Good promos all around, and then an awesome match between Kevin and Rey. Kevin continues to be a genius in the details, from his “Canadian Dream” shirt to then wearing a Rey Mysterio Hall of Fame shirt for the match, and with how he made the rope trip look like a mistake so that the ref can’t reprimand him. Great win for Kevin, great brawl with Cody, and HBK returning to main roster for the contract signing is going to be awesome.
Good promo from Bianca and Naomi before, and Naomi was maybe the smallest bit of passive aggressive towards Bianca over the braid. The tag match with Nia & Candice was great, and that was a great win for Naomi & Bianca. The way this is going, Jade Cargill is going to show herself again for that NXT episode in Atlanta to say it was Naomi, which then costs Bianca & Naomi the titles, making Lash & Jakara the new champs and finally getting those titles back in NXT. Then Bianca and Jade can feud with Naomi in trying to figure out #WhyNaomiWhy, and we can have “The Big 3” even end up in a Triple Threat.
Good promo from Jimmy VS Melo, very good match, mostly on Melo, but of course Tama & Jacob had to “ruin” things. But in a great twist, Solo Sikoa just silently quits on things, so Jacob takes it upon himself to take command. Surely once Tonga Loa is back, and then should they finally bring Hikuleo in, Jacob’s Bloodline can go wild, which compels Solo to make amends with at least his brothers, Jimmy & Jey. LA Knight & Braun Strowman getting in on things is great, too, and we’re going to get an awesome match between Braun and Jacob.
Very good promo from B-Fab & Mia with Chelsea & Piper, and very good match from B-Fab VS Piper, but of course Chelsea helps Piper win that. Mia coming for the save made sense, and that’s definitely a tag match in the making. Great match from MCMG VS Los Garza, but I should’ve figured Pretty Deadly would get involved. The twist was that it didn’t affect anything, MCMG still won. DIY being disappointed in Pretty Deadly, but then Gargano attacking Apollo, that’s some good stuff going forward. DIY VS MCMG is certainly the planned title match, but maybe Apollo finds a new teammate with Baron Corbin not in WWE.
Charlotte being on her way back is great, that vignette was really well done. This is good timing given the Royal Rumble is coming, but also because the title scenes could use some freshening up. Tiff and Bayley each had great promos tonight, and they had an awesome main event match. Roxie being in the crowd was a good detail, but she didn’t really cost Bayley, outside of maybe Bayley starting to split her focus at the end. But naturally, Tiffy won because she’s only just getting her reign going. Tiff could face just about anyone for WrestleMania, but I would think the next challenger is Nia Jax. Tiff needs to prove she can beat Nia straight up, and that’ll be an awesome match.
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!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 1.16.25
The Go Home for Genesis this Sunday! Let’s see what happens!
So Genesis is Sunday, followed by next week’s Live Episode of iMPACT! Let’s see exactly how we get to Genesis and not to bury the lead, the fact the WWE/TNA partnership was extended for a few years is very big news for TNA. More visibility for a nostalgic brand and the younger NXT wrestlers get more opportunities with potential sprinkles of a big name here or there (yes I only really mean AJ Styles, but that’s what we all want to see one more time).
Let’s get to the show and see if it’s a Go Home worth anything.
After her shocking appearance on @WWENXT, @mashaslamovich steps into the confessional with @WeAreRosemary…
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/Dw7ITswj28 pic.twitter.com/YSTXfJZw6X
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 17, 2025
Ratings:
- Trent Seven vs Leon Slater: Slater wins via Swanton 450 – *
- Fir$t Cla$$ vs Maniac Marines (Eric Young & Steve Maclin): EY wins via Macho Elbow – ** 3/4
- Laredo Kid vs Jake Something: Jakes wins via Avalanche Something Bomb – **
- The Hardys vs Ohio Versus Frankenstein (Sami Callihan & PCO): Hardys win via Crouton Bomb – ***
Results:
Trent Seven vs Leon Slater
British on British violence! I just appreciate that Trent’s theme is a down tuned remix of Seven Nation Army.
A little back and forth until Slater hits a Reverse Gamengiri, Trent tries to climb back to the apron after the powder, eats a Shotgun Kick. Trent dodges the dive, and Suplexes Leon down the steps at Center Stage. I feel like Slater over sold the spot, but I suppose using your surroundings is always interesting. Leon slides in at 9.5, Trent gets a little cocky and Leon hits two Flash Cradles for near falls, as Trent is reeling from the quick pinfall attempts he eats another Shotgun Kick for a near fall. Trent sells to the corner, eats a Jumping Bootwash, Leon perches Trent, goes for possibly a Spanish Fly but Trent turns it into an Avalanche Flowsion for two!
Bop and Bang, 7 Star Lariat, Piledriver with flourish and…still a two. Birminghammer attempt but Slater flips out of it, Crucifix pinfall for two, Uppercut by Trent and Birminghammer is hit! But Slater…kicks…out? He sells a Suplex where he slides down steps like death, but eats huge signature and finishing moves and kicks out. The psychology in this match is non-existent. Trent does the Finger Break, Leon sells away, hits another Shotgun Kick and Trent powders. X Plex gets reversed into a DDT from Slater. Trent powders off the Ramp, Leon goes to the entrance way runs and jumps off the ramp, then hits the Swanton 450.
Completely stupid match with spots that make no sense. All sizzle no steak, so dumb my IQ dropped 5 points.
The Elegance Clique have a “Pre-Launch Championship Celebration”. Tom Hannifan hates it, the crowd hates it, and the Personal Concierge uncovers a cardboard cut out with a Knockouts Title around their waists…and they are size accurate. Heather is like a My Size Barbie. Ash gives a very cringey speech where she thanks everyone except Heather, the Concierge passes the mic to Heather, Spitfire interrupts of course, and at least Dani cuts the promo to start so it’s tolerable. Yeah this is painfully bad cringe, as much as I didn’t mind the Ash gimmick to start with, this is lame. The only thing saving the segment is the crowd is hot for the the Elegance Clique getting their stuff ruined. So it was lame, but the crowd was into it and Ash sold the destruction of cardboard cut outs like Spitfire just murdered her puppy.
.@PCOisNotHuman and @TheSamiCallihan take on The Hardys! If they win, they’ll secure their spot in the TNA World Tag Team Title match at #TNAGenesis!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/Dw7ITswQRG pic.twitter.com/fO9P2F5d9d
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 17, 2025
Well the first 40 minutes of this show are making me wish for a stroke instead of watching this. So hopefully it picks up somewhere.
Fir$t Cla$$ vs Maniac Marines (Eric Young & Steve Maclin)
KC flips out of two of EY’s Back Body Drops and does his “First Class” taunt, so EY just slaps him upside the head and tags in Maclin to start beating on Navarro. I do really like KC’s work. He’s like WWE Lio Rush, but likable and talented. Maclin is beating the hell out of KC though, Lariats him out, goes for the SCUD, but AJ low bridges so Maclin crashes to the outside, KC hits the Tope con Hilo with blind tag so AJ is now legal and they start working over Maclin in the corner. Tennessee Whiskey, and there does seem to be a few First Class fans in the crowd.
Navarro is back in for the 305, quick tags though to keep Maclin eating offense. Splash into Big Boot into Assisted Splash while AJ leans on Maclin literally. KC starts picking on kids in the crowd near Judd Normand, he shoves the actor, the actor shoves him back and AJ comes over to mad dog the actor. Maclin takes advantage of the distraction and drops AJ on the way back in with an Olympic Slam, tags in EY and EY comes out hot. KC tags in, EY levels KC and they start messing around in the corner, AJ tries to break it up but eats a Busaiku Knee from Maclin and then a SCUD. EY manages to throw KC off the turnbuckle and then hit the Macho Elbow for the win.
After the match Eddie, Lish and Brian Myers stand at the entrance way to send a message but not cause any real chaos.
Josh Alexander and his two bitch boys come out to cut a promo on Santana or something. I am about as interested in this as I am in Norwegian Dog Sledding. Josh trying to say Santana is too hurt to go at Genesis when we all know this was filmed the same time like a month ago. You really can’t do doofus attempts a story when you’re promoting the first live episode in nearly a decade or something for next week. At least the match should be good because this build is lame, the jabronis are useless, “Bald Ass Head” is the big insult…sheeeesh.
Laredo Kid vs Jake Something
Well…someone has to win this match, so there’s that.
Nothing special start until Jake comes off the ropes and runs over Laredo sending him flying over the ropes onto the ramp. Jake panders to the crowd, Laredo tries to get something going but Jake steps on his foot to stop any Lucha things, and mollywops him. Jake runs him corner to corner until Laredo moves, strings a few moves together, tries to fly and then gets knocked out of the sky with a Forearm. Only a two count for Jake, but Laredo is definitely doing his best impression of a pinata so far in the match. Laredo gets a desperation Satellite DDT, misses his big attempt, but Jake misses the Spear in the corner, La Magistral gets a 2, a few bad spots from Laredo where it looks like he missed a Satellite Facebuster and sloppy Essex or Canadian Destroyer. Laredo goes to the top, Jake bear paw slap, goes up top and Avalanche Something Bomb for the win.
The Hardys vs Ohio Versus Frankenstein (Sami Callihan & PCO)
Before the Hardys intro, the 23 thing flashes a few times again. So at least they didn’t forget that.
Sami starts with Jeff and gets in a few early shots and goads Jeff with Hardys taunts, then all four get in, throw hands and we go to commercial. We come back from commercial to Matt Delete Turnbuckling Sami, and then Poetry In Motion the classic way! A few quick tags, but Sami eventually knocks down Matt, tags in PCO, Matt’s moves aren’t very effective, Jeff throws himself in too and they get their asses beat by PCO. PCO tags in Sami, Sami slaps around Matt, drags his face across the ropes, tags PCO back in and uses PCO as a battering ram into Matt’s chest. PCO keeps Matt in their corner, tags back in Sami, some simple tandem work and a short 2 count for Sami. Sami calls PCO back in and they’re formulating a tag move, they try the Double Back Drop, but Matt turns it into a Double DDT instead.
Jeff tries to fight them both off, Sami grabs Jeff, PCO goes for the Lariat, malfunction at the junction, Whisper in the Wind mostly hits PCO so Jeff Splashes Sami. Twist of Hate, Twist of Fate, Swanton Bomb from Jeff and the Hardy Boys win!
Before the obligatory contract signing on the Go Home before a PPV, Jordynne walks over to the announce table with the contract for her match with Tessa. Says she’ll leave it with them so she can’t miss it, but hey, “if she doesn’t show up at Genesis it wouldn’t be the first time”. That’s funny.
Joe starts the promo saying he has to win, but its on him to take the title from Nic. There’s an intensity, so it’s not all cornball jokes and shenanigans. That’s kinda nice to start with. Nic takes the babyface angle of “you’re not wrong but I don’t think you’re ready yet kid”. Then he plays the JBL clip from Bound for Glory. Nic tries to use the video to clear his name because Ryan got attacked too. Joe is about to poke a hole in the defense but then Hollywood Abyss Mokuba shows up. “MY BROTHER SETO” Ryan interferes, Nic tries to stop the stupidity but Ryan plows through is about to eat a Standing Ovation but Nic Superkicks Joe to save Mokuba. Nic does stand there as the crowd chants “kick your brother”, but Nic doesn’t pull the trigger but you can tell he’s contemplating.
OH! Sexy Tessy shows up, signs the contract but Jordynne was waiting for her and leaves Tessa laying with a Grace Driver and solid intensity. Okay most of the show was kinda mid but the ending was pretty solid.
Overall Score: 6.25/10
As I said at the very end, most of this show was mid…or mediocre for the older crowd. Indie Spotfest Dumbassery to kick off the show, a few segments that made me question if I was tasting pennies, a decent match with First Class, the stalled push never relevant squad match between Jake and Laredo, and at least the main event match was fun.
The video packages always feel lackluster because the only people really watching TNA currently are hardcore fans. I never really see too many people pull the whole “whoa first TNA episode in 11 years and I decided on the random Go Home instead of the first live episode since 2015”. See, this is why logic matters in booking. WWE gets to have the mentality of “it could be someone’s first time watching it” every week because they the biggest show in town. The name alone will garner random views or transient lapsed fans if they get a whiff of something. However when it comes down to TNA, people are only surprised its still alive.
Even with many questionable hours it wasn’t terrible. It did fine…plus like I just said, there’s opportunity for more random eyes thanks to the WWE merger AND a live episode next week. So the Go Home format won’t change, but hopefully the exposure gives us more congruent storylines.
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!
Oblong Ball Foot Show: NFL Divisional Playoffs
Rey, Andrew and Tunney catch you up on the NFL coaching carousel and breakdown the Divisional round matchups.
Hockey (and Sports) Talk- Age Is Just a Number [011425]
The guys discuss Alex Ovechkin making more history plus a recap of the CFP Semi-Finals and much more.
Oblong Ball Foot Show: NFL Wildcard Weekend
Dave Wortz joins the show this week as we breakdown the NFL's Wildcard Weekend!
Hockey (and Sports) Talk- Time 4 A Cool Change [010725]
The guys discuss the CFP Quarterfinals and how Alex Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky's record this season now appears very likely.
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Who Is Your NFL MVP?
Join Rey Cash, Andrew Balaz and PC Tunney as they cover which way exactly the oblong ball bounces from week...
Bandwagon Nerds #271: Jack Quaid aka Jack Paid
The Nerds review 2024 and reveal their choices for the best of the year in categories such as best series,...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (1/11/25)
Setting the Brackets!
Bandwagon Nerds #270: Deathgrass & Rainbows
The Nerds return to the Trailer Park, address some rumors about Half-Life 3 and the MCU, and discuss Jason Mamoa...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (12/31/24)
History comes full circle!
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (12/31/24)
Let's start from the beginning...
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (1/17/25)
Will Tiffy Time be cut short?
DWI Podcast #459: RIP Mr. Baseball Bob Uecker
DP and PC run down a plethora of topics from RAW and SmackDown as we head towards the Royal Rumble.
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 1.16.25
The Go Home for Genesis this Sunday! Let's see what happens!
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (1/16/25)
Stir it up!
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (1/15/25)
Let the carnage begin!
Attitude Of Aggression #301- 10th Annual Swaggy Awards Part 1
The Swaggy Awards return for their 10th annual installment. This year's show is again split into two awesome parts so...
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Never! Slow! Down!
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Join Dave Wortz and PC Tunney for your weekly newsletter on the ridiculous and dumb of actual headlines from around...
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