Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (2/17/20)
Will the Viper face vengeance?
Raw is ready for revenge!
What will Raw Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch, have to say about Shayna Baszler’s new bloodthirst? Will Rusev and Humberto Carrillo CRUSH Bobby Lashley and Angel Garza? Will Randy Orton be BROKEN by Matt Hardy?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Erick Rowan VS Aleister Black; Aleister wins.
- WWE 24/7 Championship Triple Threat: Riddick Moss VS Mojo Rawley VS R-Truth; Moss wins and retains the WWE 24/7 Championship.
- Drew McIntyre VS MVP; McIntyre wins.
- Rusev & Humberto Carrillo VS Bobby Lashley VS Angel Garza w/ Zelina Vega; Lashley & Garza win.
- Kairi Sane w/ Asuka VS Natalya; Kairi wins.
- Ricochet VS Karl Anderson w/ The OC; Ricochet wins.
- Six Man Tag: Buddy Murphy & The Authors of Pain VS Kevin Owens & The Viking Raiders; Kevin & The Viking Raiders win, by disqualification.
PLAY BY PLAY
Raw opens with Randy Orton!
The Viper heads down to the ring slowly as fans all boo and jeer. He gets in the rings as fans chant, “You Suck! You Suck!” Without saying a word, Orton cues footage from last week, when he tried to come out here and explain himself, only to get more boos and jeers. And to then be interrupted by Matt Hardy. Hardy recounted his rivalry and friendship with Edge, and how it sickened us all to see Orton do what he did. In the end, Orton would do the same to Hardy as he did to Edge!
Back in the present, fans only boo and jeer harder after that reminder. Orton takes up a mic to say, “Tonight, I’m supposed to face Matt Hardy in a No Holds Barred match. But after what happened last week, I’m sorry, that’s not going to happen.” Even still, Hardy is trying to get cleared, but given what Orton did to him, “that is not going to happen.” The Hardy Boys are known for jumping off the highest of highs and crashing to the lowest of lows. If Matt were to face Orton tonight- But Matt Hardy walks out! “Stop, stop, stop.” Matt tells Orton that he shouldn’t talk about him. Orton should just confess to why he took away Edge’s second chance. Why did Orton SMASH the surgically repaired neck between two chairs? “What in the Hell is wrong with you, Randy Orton!?”
Hardy can tell Orton doesn’t like it when he’s asked that. That is why Orton made Hardy feel what Edge felt. Orton wants to take all of “this” away from Hardy, but he can’t! No one can! Hardy isn’t ready to call it quits. That is why Hardy is here to fight Orton! To no one’s surprise, the WWE doctors refuse to clear Matt Hardy to compete. But Hardy is a man of his word and he is here. Much like Edge, Hardy has grit. Hardy has no quit, “Matt Hardy will not die.” Knock them down all you want, men like Edge and Hardy always get back up. So while Hardy doesn’t know what his future holds, he knows it won’t be determined on Orton’s terms! Orton says Hardy should’ve just said good-bye while he could still walk!
Hardy gets in the ring and fans chant “DELETE! DELETE!” Orton asks what Hardy’s going to do. Look at him, he’s a sitting duck! What would Hardy do if Orton gave him an RKO right here and now?! Hardy refuses to leave and Orton gives him credit, but no one will ever understand why Orton did what he did! “From the bottom of my heart, I respect you and everything you have done!” But when it comes to Edge, Orton respects Edge, and even loves him as a brother. Fans don’t believe that, and they don’t believe Orton when he apologizes. Orton says he’s sorry, he drops the mic, and he exits the ring. Hardy leaves it at that, but will we ever get a clear explanation for #WhyRKOWhy?
Wait. Orton stops at the ramp and takes off his vest. Hardy grabs a chair in preparation for a fight that’s coming! Fans are freaking out as Orton walks menacingly back to the ring. Hardy dares Orton to finish him, and has the chair at the ready. Fans are divided as Orton slithers up to the apron. Hardy swings, Orton ducks and then Orton hotshots Hardy! The bad neck is hurt! Orton slithers in and watches Hardy as he writhes. Orton is still conflicted about what to do, but he stands as Hardy stands. RKO!! Orton fans want “One More Time!” while Orton looks at the chair. Orton gives Hardy a chair shot! And again! And again! Hardy writhes but now Orton JAMS the chair into his ribs! And again! And again!
Orton shows no mercy even as he backs off. Orton SMACKS Hardy on his back! Hardy gasps and sputters, and Orton drops the chair. Because Orton wants another chair! Now fans boo and jeer as Orton looks to recreate last week. Referees hurry out to stop Orton but he refuses! Orton puts Hardy’s head on one chair, and takes the neck brace off! Referees beg him not to, but Orton raises the chair! But Orton stops himself? Orton is conflicted again, as are the fans. Orton drops the chair and throws the neck brace away. But then Orton gets in to drag Hardy to the apron! Orton throws Hardy to the floor then tosses the top of the steel steps! He brings Hardy to the base, whispers something in Hardy’s ear, and then picks up the top half! Orton stands on top of those, for a CON-STAIR-TO!!
Orton takes a seat in the chair he just used on Hardy. Many fans boo, many others jeer, but many more are just stunned. Referees hurry to check on Hardy while Orton walks away. But then Orton returns!? Orton drags Hardy up, sets him back on the base steps, and pats Hardy on the back. ANOTHER CON-STAIR-TO!! Orton shouts “I’m sorry!” but does he even mean it?!
Erick Rowan VS Aleister Black!
Raw moves from one monster to another as the Redwood Behemoth and his mystery pet head to the ring. But will Big Red soon #FadeToBlack?
The bell rings and Aleister KNEES Rowan! Rowan stays up and throws Aleister to the apron, but Aleister dumps Rowan out. Aleister jumps the sweep and Penalty Kicks! Aleister MOONSAULTS but Rowan gets clear! Rowan comes back to BODY CHECK Aleister! Big Red roars as Raw goes picture in picture.
Rowan puts Aleister in then runs to splash! Cover, TWO! Rowan grins as he stomps Aleister down. Rowan throws big forearms and puts Aleister in a corner. He whips Aleister corner to corner, then corner splashes! Aleister staggers up into a dropkick! Cover, TWO! Rowan drags Aleister back up to ram his knee into Aleister’s back, and use his big hands to wrench Aleister’s neck. Then Rowan shifts to the fist vice! Aleister fights his way up, throws body shots and gets free, only to run into a big elbow! Rowan roars again before circling Aleister. Aleister moves to a corner but Rowan rains down rights! Rowan drags Aleister up again, ump handles and gives Aleister a backbreaker!
Rowan bends Aleister, brings him up into a bearhug, then thrashes Aleister around! Aleister endures, even as Rowan clubs his back. Rowan squeezes tight but fans rally up. Aleister elbows against Rowan but Rowan lifts him up higher. Aleister sunset flips, Rowan stays standing and drops an elbow, but flops when Aleister evades! Rowan gets up to get a ROUNDHOUSE! Aleister grits his teeth as he catches his breath and stands again. Rowan stands to get more kicks as Raw returns to single picture.
Rowan blocks a kick but Aleister uses body shots now. Aleister fires off a strike fest, misses his roundhouse and Rowan shoves, for a pop-up into a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Aleister lives and Rowan is shocked! Rowan drags Aleister around to drop elbow after elbow, then stands Aleister up to put in the corner. Rowan hammers away with haymakers and stomps but the ref backs him off. He drags Aleister to the apron to then swing into barriers! Aleister is down in a heap but Rowan drags him up, to atomic SLAM Aleister into the barrier! Rowan refreshes the count to come back for more.
Fans rally for Aleister as Rowan stands him up. Rowan brings Aleister around, powerbomb lift, but Aleister fights and huricanranas Rowan into the post! Both men are down but fans rally up. The ref’s count reaches 7 but Aleister is in at 8. Aleister goes back out to aim from the apron, MOONSAULT! Direct hit takes out Rowan and almost takes out the cameraman! Aleister puts Rowan back in, boots Rowan away, then fires off more kicks! Rowan catches the clothesline but Aleister elbows out, to KNEE TRIGGER! Cover, TWO!! Rowan survives but Aleister looks to make him pay! Aleister aims, Rowan stands, and Rowan blocks the Black Mass?! Rowan clamps on the claw, Aleister elbows out!
Aleister and Rowan throw clubbing shots, Aleister whips but Rowan reverses. Rowan BOOTS Aleister down, then hauls him up for a POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Rowan dares Aleister to stand again. Aleister does, and the claw clamps on again! But Aleister slips out, BLACK MASS! Rowan flops against ropes in a daze and flounders over to Aleister. BLACK MASS AGAIN!! Cover, Aleister wins!
Winner: Aleister Black, by pinfall
The “caged animal” within Aleister overcomes the twisted zookeeper! Will Aleister be able to free himself from the prison within his soul?
Raw welcomes back The Queen!
Charlotte Flair is here tonight after making quite the impact in Portland! Charlotte goes to the ring, gets some help getting in, and gets a mic. She lets everyone know she was at TakeOver: Portland, and cues up the footage to show everyone who missed it, the very moment she attacked Rhea Ripley from behind. Rhea Ripley is still NXT Women’s Champion, so Charlotte officially decided: “I’ll see you at WrestleMania.” She emphasized the decision with Natural Selection.
Back in the present, Charlotte asks why everyone loves to chant for NXT. No one has an answer. But Charlotte wanted to see why Rhea would even dare show up to Raw and challenge The Queen. Charlotte watched TakeOver and was impressed. And reminisced. The challenges, the growing pains, and the NXT graduating class that built what is officially WWE’s third brand. “So this is what’s bothering me.” The entitlement! The women who didn’t scratch, claw, fall down as many times as Charlotte did to gain the respect NXT has now, they have the audacity to step in Charlotte’s ring and hold up the title Charlotte put on the map?
Charlotte says Rhea is very good, but the saying goes, “Pride comes before the fall.” Charlotte will make sure to humble Rhea at WrestleMania. “Everyone’s the next big thing, until they’re not. WOO~!” The NXT Women’s Champion is on the Mania card for the first time ever! Who makes history by being the first woman to win that title at Mania?
WWE 24/7 Championship Triple Threat: Riddick Moss VS Mojo Rawley VS R-Truth!
Riddick was Mojo’s “lineman” and kept him safe from contenders like R-Truth from getting the title. But the “One True Champion” didn’t expect to be betrayed! Now all three men will settle the score, but who scores a 24/7 touchdown?
WWE 24/7 Championship Triple Threat: Riddick Moss VS Mojo Rawley VS R-Truth!
Riddick was Mojo’s “lineman” and kept him safe from contenders like R-Truth from getting the title. But the “One True Champion” didn’t expect to be betrayed! Now all three men will settle the score, but who scores a 24/7 touchdown?
Raw returns with the bell and Mojo rushes Riddick for a big corner splash! Truth rolls Mojo, TWO! Mojo kicks Truth then runs but Truth splits and calf kicks! Riddick clobbers Truth and bumps him off buckles. Riddick fires off fast hands and fires up! Fans boo Riddick as he drags Truth up for a dead lift clubbing SLAM! Cover, but Mojo drags Riddick off! Mojo throws Riddick HARD into barriers! He goes back to Truth, but Truth ROCKS him with right hands! Mojo shoves, Truth ducks and hits a shoulder tackle! And another! Truth is going John Cena with the spin-out BOMB! And the Five Knuckle Shuffle! Fans cheer as Truth fireman’s carries, but Mojo slips out. Mojo fireman’s carries, for the military press SLAM! But Riddick rolls up Mojo, and wins!!
Winner: Riddick Moss, by pinfall (still WWE 24/7 Champion)
Mojo took his eye off the ball and Riddick scores the win! Riddick runs off, and Mojo takes his frustration out on Truth. Truth kicks back to hit the SCISSOR KICK! Fans echo “What’s Up?!” as Truth heads out. Will Truth get reign 35 before WrestleMania 36?
Raw shares The Wrap’s breaking news!
At the Elimination Chamber PPV in March, there will be a Raw Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Chamber match! Asuka, Natalya, Liv Morgan, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan and Shayna Baszler will all compete for a chance at Becky Lynch! Who survives the other five to head to WrestleMania?
Drew McIntyre VS MVP!
The Sexy Scot doesn’t want someone trying to ride his coattails or lead him on a leash. Montel Vontavius Porter tried to do both, and got a Claymore for it! Will McIntyre give MVP another one to drive the point home?
Before the match, McIntyre has the mic to say, “I see everyone’s fired up tonight. That can only mean one thing. There’s only 48 days ’til WrestleMania.” Charlotte already pointed at the sign tonight, so McIntyre wants to go bigger. Let’s all point at the sign together! Use the Claymore Countdown. Three, two, one, POINT! There it is! And now a quick geography lesson. Suplex City is currently in #ClaymoreCountry. And come WrestleMania, “we’re invading Suplex City, demolishing that bitch to the ground, and I am leaving WWE Champion!” Fans like the sound of that!
But ladies and gentlemen, Paul Heyman is here! McIntyre looks around in case Brock Lesnar is lurking. Fans boo Heyman and Heyman waits it out. Heyman gives his introduction, and says if you want the evening to get bigger, then here it is! The reigning, defending, undisputed WWE Heavyweight Champion of the World, BRRROCK! LESNARRR! McIntyre is ready but fans are still booing. Oh, sorry, did McIntyre really think Lesnar would be here tonight? No, no, Heyman just wants everyone in the WWE Universe to know what it’ll sound like after the words, “And still…!” Those words will be said after Lesnar beats Ricochet at Super Showdown, and after Lesnar beats McIntyre at WrestleMania. Heyman points to the sign, too.
McIntyre says that Heyman can say Lesnar’s name over and over. Heyman can say it before the match, during lunch, while he’s getting manicures, and when Lesnar is CRYING after McIntyre kicks his head off at Mania to take the WWE Championship! Heyman says he has respect for McIntyre. The Advocate is not here to debate McIntyre. Heyman admires McIntyre’s talents. But there is a man who is not such a fan. That is McIntyre’s opponent tonight, who has a “legitimate grievance” with McIntyre to settle. So ladies and gentlemen, Heyman presents M! V! P!! MVP finally appears and he has a mic of his own.
“Drew.” Yes? Mr. Heyman has no issue with McIntyre, but MVP has a big issue. As old friends, MVP invited McIntyre to the VIP Lounge and treated him with the respect of an elite level star. They were friends, or so MVP thought. How did McIntyre repay him? Oh McIntyre knows this one: he kicked MVP’s head off! Ha, very funny. But it was a cheap shot. MVP promises to whoop McIntyre and McIntyre will see it coming. Ring the bell. And then MVP sucker punches McIntyre! The bell hasn’t rung, and MVP BOOTS McIntyre in the corner! The ref backs MVP off but McIntyre is furious. Fans cheer for McIntyre as the bell rings and McIntyre BOOTS MVP back!
McIntyre drags MVP up, pulls off the nose tape and puts MVP in a corner for fast hands! The ref counts, but he has to pull McIntyre off MVP! McIntyre whips MVP corner to corner but MVP elbows back. MVP runs but into the FUTURE SHOCK DDT! McIntyre kips right up! McIntyre gets to a corner and fans fire up. The countdown begins again! Three, two, one! CLAYMORE! Cover, McIntyre wins!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
BOOM! The Beast better fortify Suplex City, because the king of Claymore Country is coming to conquer it!
Raw Women’s Champion, Becky Lynch, is here!
The Man isn’t going to stay away, even if she has Shayna Baszler’s teeth marks in her neck. What’s in the bag? We’ll find out when Raw returns from break.
Raw returns and Becky has a mic. “Washington, I’ve been feeling a lot of things over the last week.” Becky came to America to seek her fame and fortune, and she’s come to realize she has no need for fame. But she does have a use for fortune. That brown bag is full of $100 bills! Becky explains to WWE Management that this is her paying now for a fine she’s about to bring on herself when she crosses paths with Baszler! “Consider this a down payment on violence!” Take more if they want, or every penny that she has. Because Becky is warning us all that bad things are going to happen.
Only animals go for the neck. And when they do, it is to weaken their prey before ending them. Becky tells Baszler to look at the face of the longest-reigning Raw Women’s Champion in HISTORY! “Do I look like prey to you?” Becky’s faced a murderer’s row of contenders, from Natalya to Asuka to Charlotte to Sasha Banks to Ronda Rousey, and a few more. She took them down because she had to. But she’s going after Baszler because she wants to. But then Shayna is on the titantron! Just look at Becky, throwing her money around for something she’ll never do.
Shayna explains how this is going to happen: The Queen of Spades is in the Women’s Chamber match. The winner of that match faces Becky at WrestleMania. And the Chamber match is in a cage. Baszler is a cage fighter first. Everything about this is set up perfectly for Shayna to take the title at Mania. Therefore, Baszler will chew through everyone else in that match. But if it makes Becky feel any better, Baszler didn’t plan on biting a piece out of Becky. But she did it anyway. So now, imagine what Baszler does have planned. “I’m going to tear the living sh*t out of you.” Becky will be rooting for her at Elimination Chamber. The Man welcomes the beastly Baszler, but will she regret taking on a ferocious animal head on?
Lana and Lashley meet with Garza and Vega.
And then Charly Caruso comes by to interview both duos. How was it this tag team match came about? Lana had a brilliant idea on Valentine’s Day: What could be better than the two hottest couples on Raw today teaming up against their respective enemies? It is a Raw Double Date! Brilliant, huh? Vega congratulates the newlyweds on their nuptials, but while they’re teaming up, Garza and Vega are a couple of hot people, they are NOT a couple. Same for when Vega had Almas by her side. This is business, money.
Garza wants Vega to stay calm, we all know how beautiful La Muneca is. Garza also assures everyone he is just here for Vega’s business acumen. And there is no woman that can tie down the ladies man. And as cousin Carrillo knows, no man can measure up to Garza. Lashley and Lana still smile, and this “double date” is up next!
Rusev & Humberto Carrillo VS Bobby Lashley VS Angel Garza w/ Zelina Vega!
#HandsomeRusev and the equally debonair Ultimo Ninja are a dynamic duo of their own. Will they be able to ruin this scintillating super team’s first time together?
Raw returns from picture in picture as the teams sort out. Carrillo starts against Lashley and the fans are fired up for “Rusev Day!” Lashley puts Carrillo in a corner and keeps him there. Carrillo slips under and dropkicks back! Carrillo fires off fast hands but Lashley pushes him away. Lashley blocks the whip to reverse, but Carrillo handsprings, into Lashley’s waistlock. Carrillo elbows free and runs, but Lashley hurdles and runs him over with a shoulder! Lashley hushes the fans but Rusev wants after him. The ref keeps Rusev back and Lashley tags Garza. Cousin wrenches cousin’s wrist, but Carrillo handsprings and cartwheels to arm-drag free!
Carrillo runs but Garza swings on him. Carrillo ducks but Garza CHOPS! Vega and Lana are both happy as Garza whips Carrillo corner to corner. Carrillo goes up and leaps, to flying headbutt Garza down! Fans fire up with Carrillo as he runs in, but Garza puts him on the apron. Carrillo CHOPS back, then slingshot arm-drags Garza away! Rusev sees Lashley on the move and intercepts while Carrillo springboard arm-drags Garza! Carrillo kicks and whips Garza but Garza reverses. Carrillo goes up and over but Garza SHOTGUN dropkicks! OFF COME THE PANTS! And he throws them at Rusev! The ref keeps Rusev back but Garza bails out. Garza gets a kiss from a female fan! But Carrillo DIVES! The handsome Humberto grounds the gorgeous Garza as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns as Garza snapmares and KICKS Carrillo! Tag to Lashley and they mug Carrillo. Lana and Vega are still happy as Lashley looms over Carrillo. Lashley drags Carrillo up just to knock him down. Fans rally up but Lashley drags Carrillo around for a gut wrench! Lashley has Carrillo in the Canadian rack, but Carrillo slips out to duck and springboard, only to get caught! But then Carrillo slips out of the lift, ducks and dodges again, only to get caught again! Carrillo sunset flips, Lashley drags him up and whips, but Carrillo somersaults to hot tag Rusev! Garza tags in only to get run over by the Bulgarian Brute! Rusev rallies with clotheslines and a Samoan Drop!
Rusev hits Lashley then corner splashes Garza, to OVERHEAD SUPLEX! Corner splash and another overhead suplex! Cover, but Lashley runs in! Rusev evades, the elbow drop hits Garza! Rusev throws Lashley into a corner to fire off! Garza staggers over to roll Rusev up! TWO!! Rusev kicks, Garza ducks, SUPERKICK! Cover, but Carrillo breaks it! Now Lana and Vega are mad as Carrillo whips Garza. Garza holds ropes, puts Carrillo on the apron, but Carrillo goes up and over as Garza baseball slides. Carrillo runs to FLY! Direct hit takes out Garza! But Lashley SPEARS Carrillo! Rusev RAMS Lashley! Fans are fired up as Rusev glares at Garza.
Rusev puts Garza in and climbs up top. But Lashley anchors a foot and Garza enziguris! Garza hops up top, but Rusev throws body shots to throw Garza down. MACHKA FLYING HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO!! Garza survives but Rusev is firing up more! Rusev shouts, “RUSEV!! CRUSH!!” Stomp and ACCOLADE, but Garza slips out! Rusev mule kicks, scoops but Lashley distracts. MACHKA KICK! Garza rolls Rusev up again, with tights!! Garza and Lashley win!!
Winners: Bobby Lashley & Angel Garza, by pinfall
El Latino steals one from the Bulgarian Brute! So Rusev goes after Garza! Rusev clubs and throws Garza out while Lashley and Lana run away. Will Rusev get revenge on Lashley as part of the Super Showdown Tuwaiq Gauntlet match?
Kairi Sane w/ Asuka VS Natalya!
As we learned, the Empress of Tomorrow and the Queen of Harts will be part of the Raw Women’s Championship Contender’s Elimination Chamber match! But to revisit a Raw from a couple weeks ago, Natty will take on Asuka’s cohort in the Pirate Princess first! Will Natty get payback by proxy?
Before the match, Asuka and Kairi use mics to cutely introduce themselves. “Asuka deeesu~!” “Kairi deeesu~!” Together they are, the Kabuki Warriors! That part was a bit more menacing… But Natty, are you okay after that black eye Asuka gave you? Kairi says they don’t care. “We don’t care!” It become a song. Asuka promises to beat Natty inside the Elimination Chamber and go on to WrestleMania, “E-Z P-Z!” But will it be so easy for Kairi tonight?
The bell rings and Kairi circles with Natty. They tie up, Natty waistlocks and slams Kairi down. Kairi gets up and elbows out. Kairi whips Natty to a corner and CHOPS! Fans cheer and Kairi laughs, but Natty puts her on the apron. Kairi shoulders in, climbs up and leaps over Natty to roll. Kairi does a cat paw dance and tells Natty to “kiss this.” Natty spins but Kairi dodges the discus to pie-face Natty. So Natty SLAPS Kairi! Natty suplexes Kairi up and holds her for 5 before dropping her! Cover, TWO! Natty is after the legs but Kairi resists and crawls to the ropebreak! The ref backs Natty off, and Kairi BACK HANDS Natty down! Kairi covers Natty with one foot while making cat ears, TWO!
Kairi ax kicks Natty while she’s down, and then claws at her face. Fans rally for Natty as Kairi clubs away. Kairi wraps on a chinlock but Natty endures. Natty fights her way up and elbows back, but Kairi throws her down by her hair! Cover, ONE! Coach Asuka keeps giving Kairi tips and Kairi wraps Natty up in a straitjacket stretch. Natty endures again as Kairi pulls back. Natty gets up, Kairi becomes a backpack, but Natty sits down for a backpack stunner! Kairi gets up, clutching the tailbone. She runs into Natty’s elbow, and then her boot. Natty whips, Kairi reverses and sends Natty hard into the buckles! Kairi shows her cat claws and marches the plank, to run back in, to the DISCUS! Cover, TWO!!
Natty drags Kairi up, Alabama lift, but Kairi sunset flips. Cover, TWO, and Kairi leaps, into the arms! Natty has the legs, but Asuka distracts! Natty lets up on the sharpshooter, and Kairi knocks her off the apron! Asuka ROUNDHOUSES Natty while the ref is looking at Kairi! The ring count begins but Natty is still down at 5! Kairi does her cat paw dance as the count rises, it hits 10! Kairi wins!
Winner: Kairi Sane, by count-out
The Kabuki Warriors celebrate their teamwork! But will Natty use the Elimination Chamber match as a way to seek revenge?
Raw returns with Buddy Murphy and The AOP already in the ring.
The disciples have a podium and posters up to praise their Monday Night Messiah. Murphy introduces “the man that single-handedly saved Monday Night Raw,” Seth Rollins! Rollins makes his entrance, and only the disciples applaud as he heads to the ring. Rollins shakes hands with a few fans along the way. He gives his followers greeting hugs and pats on the back before standing at the podium.
“Thank you, Murphy, for the kind introduction, and thank all of you for making me the man I am today!” Rollins says that before we begin, he wants to talk about the word “sermon.” That is not something Rollins came up with, but this is how the powers that be chose to advertise this moment. Rollins just wants to talk to us honestly, but “sermon” does seem appropriate, for what he wants to share is “divine.” He turns to his note cards while fans boo and jeer. “Brothers and sisters, we are gathered here tonight to celebrate progress!” We celebrate the future! We celebrate moving forward in Rollins’ vision! It is all of our vision! Phase 1 encountered resistance, but last week saw the conclusion of it. Fans chant “You Suck!” but Rollins wishes Washington to have some respect.
Rollins says that Phase 1 was complete with the vanquishing of Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe and the Viking Raiders. The four men in the ring proved that through sacrifice, devotion and belief, you can achieve whatever you set your mind to! “But now, the work begins.” Rollins does not take the responsibility as our Monday Night Messiah lightly. Phase 2 will not be easy. Fans still chant “You Suck!” Rollins understands their confusion and pain. Phase 2 will not be easy but it is necessary for “the greater good!” Now it is time for us to seek out the weak, the lesser, and the non-compliant. “We must find the flaws in the system and rehabilitate them, if we can. And eradicate them, if we must.”
Rollins tells his “people” that this is not a promise, or a threat. This comes from his heart. “This is the Gospel.” If there are any WWE Superstars who remain non-compliant, then they will suffer the same fate as the weak Kevin, Joe and Viking Raiders! If you stand int he way of progress, in the way of- Here come the Viking Raiders! Erik & Ivar rush the ring, but the AOP are in their way! Those four behemoths brawl as Rollins and Murphy get away! Murphy runs back in but gets knees from Ivar and Erik! Then the Raiders throw Rezar into a post! And double knee Akam down! Rollins is furious, but he’s not without a piece of the action as Kevin gives Rollins a STUNNER! Phase 2 has begun, but how will it end?
Raw finds Rollins regrouping with his followers backstage.
And Charly Caruso asks him about the sermon going all wrong. Oh~, breaking news~! The only ones that respect Rollins are the men around him. Kevin and the Raiders want to fight? They’ll get a fight against the disciples, TONIGHT!
The OC are here at 100%!
AJ Styles is back in action after that shoulder injury during the Royal Rumble, and he leads his Good Brothers to the ring. The Phenomenal One grabs a mic and says, “That’s right! Feast your eyes! The Phenomenal A! J! Styles is back on Monday Night Raw!” What would WrestleMania season be without him? Luke Gallows says “Uncle Allen” is at his absolute best when the WrestleMania sign is up. They point at the sign! And Karl Anderson says that as far as the OC goes, Styles is the NEW Mr. WrestleMania. Styles says that is the sweetest thing Anderson’s ever said. And being the humble man Styles is, he is the greatest superstar on all the WWE rosters. And of any era.
But there are those who criticize Styles. But Styles says that when he wins the gauntlet match, no one can say anything, except for Styles. And Styles will say, “Who’s next?” It won’t matter who it is, but maybe it’ll be the WWE Champion. It could be Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre, Roman Reigns, Ricochet, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Razor Ramon, Diesel, Sting, Hulk Hogan, or even the entire nWo, Too Sweet. When Styles shows his dominance at Super Showdown- Speaking of Super Showdown, here’s Ricochet! The One and Only gets in the ring but Styles won’t let “Little Ricky” respond yet. Styles was just joking about Ricochet being champion. Styles was just being nice. No one believes he’ll ever be world champion. What has Ricochet done to deserve the title match, anyway?
Ricochet says it’s okay, that’s just Styles opinion. But Ricochet says that whether they like it or not, Ricochet earned his title match. At Super Showdown, Ricochet will do the impossible and beat Brock Lesnar! The OC laugh. Oh it’s good to see them in a good mood. Then how about Ricochet proves it in a match with Styles, right now? Fans want to see that but the OC says “Whoa whoa whoa!” Anderson won’t let Styles’ return to Raw be against the non-Good Brother. So if Ricochet wants a fight, and Anderson is the toughest man in the building, he accepts. Will Ricochet prove he’s Super Showdown ready against the Machine Gun?
Ricochet VS Karl Anderson w/ The OC!
The bell rings and Anderson circles with Ricochet. Anderson kicks low then clubs Ricochet. He whips but Ricochet rolls off Anderson’s back. Ricochet somersaults under to handspring back and headscissor Anderson! Then dropkick him down! Anderson bails out, Ricochet builds speed, and FLIES! Direct hit at the ramp! Fans fire up with Ricochet as Styles says that’s not fair because Anderson wasn’t ready! Raw goes picture in picture as Ricochet puts Anderson back in the ring.
Ricochet aims but Gallows distracts. Anderson knocks Ricochet off the apron and distracts the ref, and Styles CLOBBERS Ricochet! The OC uses numbers to their advantage again but the ref realizes what happened. The ref EJECTS Styles and Gallows! Styles and Gallows protest, as does Anderson, but the referee lays down the law. Anderson is alone now as the ring count starts on Ricochet. Anderson fetches Ricochet into the ring and whips him corner to corner hard! Ricochet hits buckles then the mat, and then Anderson rains down rights. Anderson fires up and stalks Ricochet to a corner.
Anderson back suplexes to drop Ricochet high and hard! Cover, TWO! Anderson wraps a chinlock on and grinds Ricochet down. Ricochet endures as Anderson grinds him down. Ricochet fights his way up, but Anderson knees low! Anderson scoops Ricochet for a backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Anderson keeps on Ricochet in the corner with palms to the face! The ref backs Anderson off but he goes after Ricochet with stomps. Anderson drags Ricochet up to snapmare and dig an elbow into Ricochet’s face! The ref counts and Anderson lets up, to then kick Ricochet while he’s down.
Raw returns to single picture as Anderson drags Ricochet up, but Ricochet cradle counters! TWO, and Ricochet tries a school boy, TWO! Anderson ducks a punch to hit a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Anderson grinds Ricochet down with another chinlock, but fans rally up. Ricochet fights to his feet and throws body shots. Anderson European Uppercuts and whips Ricochet to ropes. Ricochet holds ropes to elbow Anderson away. Ricochet boots Anderson away to somersault shotgun dropkick! Both men are down and fans rally up again. Ricochet and Anderson slowly stand. Ricochet counter punches, bobs ‘n’ weaves with Anderson, then whips, Anderson reverses but Ricochet rallies with clotheslines! Fireman’s carry but Anderson sips out to shove.
Ricochet goes up, out, counter punches and buckle bumps Anderson. Ricochet KICKS Anderson off the buckle! then springboards for the crossbody! But he doesn’t cover there, he hits a standing shooting star! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet drags Anderson to a drop zone to go up top! Ricochet 630, but he has to bail out! Anderson runs in but gets a boot! Ricochet runs, into a SPINE BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Anderson drags Ricochet up, hangs him up on the ropes, but Ricochet slips off. Anderson standard suplexes but Ricochet lands on his feet! Ricochet SUPERKICKS! And fireman’s carries, to a falling PELE! Cover, Ricochet wins!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall
The One and Only conquers the Machine Gun, but can he conquer the Conqueror to shock the world?
Backstage interview with Liv Morgan.
Liv, Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan are all in the Elimination Chamber. Ruby takes credit for everything in Liv’s career. What does Liv say in response? “I was excited as anyone to see one of my closest friends return after battling back an injury. I was just as surprised as everyone else when Ruby Riott appeared.” In that moment, the rush of emotion she felt was one of the best moments of her career. But then it quickly turned into one of the worst as Ruby threw the Riott Squad days away.
Being betrayed by someone who meant that much to you could break anyone. It would’ve broken Liv. But she is not the “puppy on a leash.” Liv found a home in her own skin by looking to the future. And in the future, Liv steps into the Chamber to eliminate Ruby and move on to WrestleMania! Will karma come to make Ruby regret her return?
Six Man Tag: Buddy Murphy & The Authors of Pain VS Kevin Owens & The Viking Raiders!
Phase 2 begins with a huge rematch from the Elimination Tag match a couple weeks ago. Rollins helped his followers win that one, but will it go that way again tonight?
Raw returns again as Murphy starts with Kevin. The bell rings and Kevin dropkicks Murphy right away! Kevin throws hands on Murphy in the corner but the ref backs him off. Fans fire up as Kevin tells the AOP to “SUCK IT!” Kevin fires off more hands on Murphy then bumps him off buckles. Tag to Ivar and Ivar throws big hands. Ivar throws body shots and double chops before he scoops. Murphy slips out and waistlocks but Ivar bucks him off to run him over! Ivar drags Murphy up and puts him in the corner to tag Erik The Viking Raiders ram shoulders into Murphy, then Erik throws knees.
Erik whips Murphy and runs him over! He keeps Murphy from the AOP and brings Murphy back to the corner. Tag to Kevin and Kevin CHOPS Murphy! Kevin throws in knees then CHOPS Murphy again. Kevin whips and runs Murphy over with an elbow! He asks the disciples, “Where’s your little b*tch now?!” The AOP are angry but Kevin drags Murphy away. Kevin throws body shots and tags Erik back in. Erik throws big forearms then tags in Ivar. Ivar rams his shoulders into Murphy then snapmares him down for a fist drop! Ivar grinds his forearm into Murphy’s face before throwing crossface forearms.
Fans rally as Ivar scoops Murphy and tags Erik. Ivar slams Murphy down, then Erik scoop slams Ivar onto Murphy! Cover, TWO! Erik glares at the AOP as he drags Murphy up. Murphy jawbreakers and tags out to Akam! Akam and Erik stare down and start shoving. Erik throws a forearm but Akam returns it, and it’s a barwl! Fans fire up as this gets fast and furious! Erik knees and rocks Akam, then tags in Ivar. The Raiders knee Akam back and forth! The fans fire up as Ivar tags Erik back in. Erik rams his shoulders into Akam then wrenches to a whip. Akam reverses and hits a powerslam! Akam hammers away on Erik but the ref backs him off. Fans duel over AOP as Rezar tags in. They give Erik an atomic KNEE SMASH! Cover, TWO!
Rezar grinds his forearm into Erik’s face but Erik fights back with a body scissors. Rezar smashes Erik then drags him over. Tag to Akam and the AOP mug Erik with big knees to the ribs! The ref backs Rezar off and Akam ROCKS Erik! Akam talks trash as fans chant for Kevin. Akam grinds his boot into Erik but lets up at 4. Tag to Murphy and Murphy mugs Erik. Murphy snapmares Erik to KICK him down! Cover, TWO! Murphy clamps on tight with a chinlock and grinds Erik down. Erik fights his way up and out but Murphy elbows him down. Murphy bumps Erik off buckles then tags in Rezar. Rezar throws big hands then tags in Akam.
Rezar sucker punches Ivar! Kevin avoids the shot, and Erik fights the AOP. The AOP whip but Erik sends Rezar out! Erik rocks Akam, Ace Ten Mao! Fans fire up as Erik and Akam crawl for their corners. Hot tags to Kevin and Murphy! Murphy runs into Kevin’s lariat! And double ax handles! Kevin whips but Murphy kicks him back, only for Kevin to LARIAT! Fans fire up as Kevin drops the senton! Kevin aims but runs into a boot! Raw goes picture in picture as Kevin catches Murphy for a tilt-o-whirl backbreaker! Kevin aims and runs corner to corner, CANNONBALL! Direct hit and fans are fired up! Kevin goes up and up and VADER BOMBS! Cover, TWO!!
Kevin keeps his focus as Murphy survives. Kevin hears the fans chanting, and he whips Murphy for the POP-UP- No! Murphy slips out, elbows back and fires off a strike fest! Kevin avoids the knee to enziguri Murphy! And hit a DDT! Cover, TWO!! Murphy still lives! Kevin heads up top but has to fight Rezar off. And Akam, too! Kevin finishes climbing, but Murphy trips him up! Kevin tumbles down off the top and Murphy tags Rezar. Rezar drags Kevin out to throw him into barriers! And again! Rezar puts Kevin back in the ring and rains down right hands! Rezar sits Kevin up for a neck wrench! Kevin endures and reaches for his partners as Rezar cranks harder.
Kevin fights his way up to his feet, throws body shots, but Rezar hits an STO! Raw returns to single picture as Rezar rains down more hammering fists! The fans boo and the ref backs Rezar off, but Akam tags in. The AOP bring Kevin up to mug with stomps! Akam covers, TWO, and Akam hammers on Kevin more. Akam puts Kevin in the corner to tag in Murphy. Murphy stomps a mudhole into Kevin then backs off to soak up the heat. Kevin SLAPS Murphy. And SUPERKICKS! And SUPERKICKS! Both men are down but fans rally as they crawl for their corners. Murphy drags Kevin to his corner and Rezar tags in. Rezar rains down more furious fists but the ref backs him off.
Rezar drags Kevin up with a guillotine facelock but fans rally. Kevin works towards his corner, but Rezar powers him all the way back! Rezar throws knee after knee then tags Murphy back in. Murphy mugs Kevin more then covers. ONE, but Murphy drags Kevin back up. Kevin ROCKS Murphy with a right! Murphy hits back and we have another brawl! Murphy knees low, elbows then runs, but into a BIG right! Both men are down again and fans fire up. Murphy crawls, tag to Rezar! hot tag to Ivar! The War Bear BOOTS Rezar, scoops and sidewalk slams Akam! BASEMENT SPLASH! Ivar sees Murphy coming, dodges and heel kicks!
Fans fire up as Ivar whips Rezar corner to corner. Rezar reverses but runs into a seated senton! Ivar cartwheel clotheslines Akam! Washington is thunderous as Erik tags in. Ivar corner clotheslines Rezar, Erik adds shotgun knees! Erik picks up Ivar for the human weapon hip attack! Tag to Kevin and Kevin hurries up top, SWANTON BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Rezar survives but fans keep rallying. Kevin watches Rezar rise, kicks, but no stunner! Rezar LARIATS Kevin down! Tag to Murphy and Murphy climbs up top. Murphy leaps, but Kevin gets under. Murphy turns around, into the POP-UP BOMB! Cover but Akam breaks it!
Erik throws Akam out and the Raiders see the AOP together. The Raiders run and DOUBLE DIVE! The four big men wipe out at ringside! Murphy runs in, but gets a STUNNER! But here comes Rollins!! Rollins attacks Kevin!!
Winners: Kevin Owens & The Viking Raiders, by disqualification
The Monday Night Messiah will not let Raw end with Kevin standing tall! Rollins stomps and punches Kevin while he’s down, then takes off the jacket. The AOP throw the Viking Raiders into barriers, then help Rollins beat down Kevin! Murphy joins in for a 4v1, but Rollins grabs himself a mic. “I told you this is what would happen if you stood in the way of progress!” Rollins told Kevin this is what would happen if you resisted Rollins’ “vision.” Kevin has tried to crucify Rollins since day one. So now, they will crucify Kevin! But here come the STREET PROFITS! Kevin’s other allies run down the ramp, and Angelo Dawkins BODY CHECKS Murphy!
Montez Ford climbs up top quick and springboards to crossbody Akam! Dawkins SPEARS Rezar! Rollins goes after the Profits but the Raiders add on. Now Rollins is in a 4v1! Rollins retreats so the AOP and Murphy take the beating in his place! Rollins is again on the stage in anger as Dawkins gives Murphy a SPINE BUSTER! Ivar and Ford are on opposite corners as Murphy and Akam are in the drop zones! Erik gives Rezar to Kevin’s STUNNER, then we get DOUBLE SPLASHES!! The Raw Resistance is stronger than ever! Will this be the alliance needed to deny Rollins his vision?
My Thoughts:
A pretty good Raw episode, though with a lot I don’t really get. Do we really need a Women’s Elimination Chamber match to determine a Raw Women’s Championship challenger? We all know it’ll be Shayna Baszler in the end. I suppose it does help get a lot in one match, such as the growing feuds of Liv VS Ruby and Asuka VS Natty, but it’s all going to be fodder for Shayna. Are there fans watching now that weren’t watching during Survivor Series? Are there really fans that didn’t see Shayna take the Women’s Champions Triple Threat? This Chamber match seems to be about summarizing Shayna running through the same handful of opponents to establish herself instead of making way for other Chamber matches.
Kairi VS Natty was still a good match, and this could still result in a Women’s Tag Team Championship story along the Road to WrestleMania. I feel like Natty and Beth Phoenix might reunite, and I’m still waiting on Paige giving the Kabuki Warriors payback for the mist. And speaking of payback, after Orton decimates Matt Hardy again, I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a way to give Jeff Hardy his return to Raw. Jeff has had his history with Orton in recent years, and it would be a big story for Raw to have Jeff fight Orton while Edge “recovers” and prepares for WrestleMania.
I’m very disappointed in the handling of the WWE 24/7 Championship tonight. I know WWE, through Mojo Rawley, said they’d take the 24/7 Championship more seriously, but I don’t think they’re taking it seriously. A Triple Threat that gets triple “jobber entrances,” and then it happens so quick with no real segments planned after? Really? Aleister VS Rowan was a great match, but I’m still waiting on the day Aleister and the 24/7 title cross paths. Ricochet had a good filler match with Anderson, and it was a subtle way of reintroducing Styles while also covering for that he might not be 100% yet. Styles will surely be ready in time for Super Showdown, or else they wouldn’t even put him in the gauntlet. Also I just realized the only superstars in that match are from Raw. I guess Fox doesn’t want direct affiliation with Saudi Arabia.
Speaking of those other gauntlet competitors, I actually really liked the crossing of stories in Rusev-Carrillo VS Lashley-Garza. I also expected a moment after where Vega and Lana would argue about why they lost, but maybe that’ll be next week. Still hoping that with Almas back with Super Showdown, there is a stable formed so that Almas and Garza can both be Vega guys. Not sure how that’ll shake out for the WWE Untied States Championship, but it hopefully still becomes part of Elimination Chamber in a Men’s Chamber match.
And while I cringed hard at hearing Rollins was going to “give a sermon,” it was a good set-up for Kevin and his forces to strike. The Six Man main event we got was pretty great, even with Rollins interfering. I was surprised the Profits didn’t join this story sooner, or even before the Viking Raiders, but the Raw Tag Team titles needed to be part of this first, it seems. I wonder if this results in an Elimination Chamber match for the Raw Tag titles, where it is Rollins-Murphy, The AOP, the Viking Raiders, the Profits, Kevin-Joe and The OC in, with the OC being the only team that doesn’t care about Rollins’ vision for Raw and only about being the best team on Raw again. It might not be going that way but something about it makes sense.
My Score: 8/10
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
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Time to fill out the Fyter Fest Fatal 4!
Claudio Castagnoli or Komander, Mascara Dorada or Hechicero, who will advance to the AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way Qualifier: Claudio Castagnoli VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes; wins and advances to Fyter Fest.
- Six Man Tag: Roppongi Vice & Konosuke Takeshita VS Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii; win.
- Mina Shirakawa VS Skye Blue; wins.
- Gates of Agony VS ???
- Six Man Tag: La Faccion Ingobernable VS AR Fox & Top Flight; win(s).
- AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way Qualifier: Mascara Dorada VS Hechicero; wins and advances to Fyter Fest.
PLAY BY PLAY
AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way Qualifier: Claudio Castagnoli VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes!
The Swiss Cyborg and the “Space Commander” had a bit of a confrontation on Wednesday Night Dynamite during the Mixed Six Tag, but this dates back to the Continental Classic and the Miracle on 34th Street! Komander cost Claudio his title opportunity then, will he do it again now? Or will nothing stop this Death Rider from going after Kenny Omega’s gold?
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!
Could this be the biggEST and strongEST SmackDown of the year?
SmackDown in Knoxville sees the returns of Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes and John Cena, along with some final Money in the Bank qualifiers!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax; Naomi wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa; Mateo wins.
- Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar; Los Garza win.
- Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration; Zelina wins.
- Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu; Andrade wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bianca Belair is here!
Knoxville fires up for their strongEST, fastEST, quickEST, toughEST, roughEST, and greatEST hometown hero as she struts out to the ring. Bianca high-fives and hugs fans along the ramp, as well as mom and dad at ringside. Bianca then grabs a mic to say, “Man, it feels good to be in Knoxville!” The fans cheer and chant for “EST! EST!” Bianca says she loves them so much. And she couldn’t come out here without singing Rocky Top! Y’all ready? The fans cheer, and the music plays! Bianca conducts the fans as they sing for the University of Tennessee. In fact, the Lady Vols softball team is playing in the Super Regionals right now!
Bianca smiles and says this city is so special to her. Not just because it is her hometown, but because it is her safe space. She has her love and support from mom ‘n’ dad, and has all the fans who show up and show out for her. With everything Bianca’s been going through, losing at Mania, getting injured, losing tag titles and friends along the way, she just wanted to come back home to her safe space. The fans cheer, and Bianca says she came home to heal. While she’s not 100%, she is doing everything she can to get back to the ring and continue to show us why she is the EST of Tennessee and of WWE! The fans cheer that!
Bianca says with all that said, Knoxville, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown! But wait, she’s interrupted by Naomi! The fans boo but Naomi says, “Oh my gosh~! Finally! B, I am so glad you finally here on SmackDown!” Bianca says now is not the time, Naomi. Naomi asks Bianca to please hear her out. It has been way too long. Not a day has gone by when Naomi doesn’t think about what happened to them. What is there to talk about? What could Naomi say? What could she want from Bianca? The fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at Naomi, and Naomi says she just wants forgiveness. She is begging for it!
Naomi knows things go toff the rails, but she is here because she wants to fix it, she is trying to fix it, but she alone can’t fix it. Months have gone by, and Naomi has tried to communicate, to say the past can be the past and that they can move forward. Bianca has not responded back to Naomi once. Naomi even visited Bianca’s parent’s house! But no one would answer! WHAT?! Mom ‘n’ Dad don’t know about that, but Naomi says no one was home, so she let herself in! Naomi looked through the photo albums, the one right on the front coffee table. And in those photos, Bianca looked so happy. It reminded Naomi of how they were as tag team champions.
Bianca stops Naomi there. Naomi, Bianca will make this perfectly clear. They were best friends, but Naomi betrayed Bianca’s trust. Naomi took their friend, Jade, and threw her onto a car, then lied about it for months! Bianca said she was done with Naomi, she meant that, and if Naomi ever comes near her family again, what Naomi did to Jade will be nothing compared to what Bianca does to Naomi. The fans fire up for that! Naomi gets emotional, but then she gets mad. “Y’know, Bianca, it wouldn’t be good for you and your mama to be in a wheelchair.” The fans boo as Naomi laughs maniacally. Naomi says she’d hate if something happened to Bianca here and now!
Naomi storms up on Bianca, but then JADE makes her way out here! Naomi is even angrier now, but this Storm starts throwing hands! The fans fire up as Jade BOOTS Naomi down! Bianca and Jade look to each other, neither really saying or doing anything. Naomi runs up but Jade TOSSES her out! Jade and Bianca look to each other again, but then here comes NIA! The Irresistible Force won’t be left out of this, especially when this is the Women’s Triple Threat Qualifier for the night! This match now opens the night, who earns SmackDown’s final golden ticket to the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match?
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax!
SmackDown returns, this match is already going, and Naomi POSTS Nia! Naomi stalks Jade, rains down forearms, and the fans boo. Naomi stomps to BITE Jade’s hand! Jade still fights back, so Naomi has the arms to STOMP Jade down! Naomi flexes, the fans boo, and Naomi puts Jade in a corer. Naomi runs to DROPKICK Jade in the corner! Naomi SLAPS Jade, drags her into the drop zone, then goes up, up, and twerks! HIP DROP! Naomi covers, ROPEBREAK! Naomi is annoyed but she sits Jade up to stomp a mudhole in. But Nia runs up! Naomi dodges, the HIP ATTACK hits Jade! Naomi goes to the apron to ROUNDHOUES Nia!
Naomi reels Nia in for a HEATSEEKER! Nia flops to the floor, the fans rally for Jade, but Naomi kicks her around. Naomi goes up the corner, leaps, but Jade catches her! Jade FALL AWAY SLAMS Naomi, then kips up! Knoxville fires up with Jade and she runs up to LARIAT! And ELBOW! And SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, Nia breaks it! The fans boo but Nai huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Naomi up. Nia whips Naomi, pops her up and HEADBUTTS her down! Then she SAMOAN DROPS Naomi! Nia soaks up heat, then lines the two up. Naomi grabs at Nia’s leg but Nia CLUBS her down! Nia stomps Jade for good measure, then drops a leg, brother!
Nia TOSSES Jade out, then goes up the corner. Nia SUPER LEG DROPS on Naomi!! Cover, TWO!!! Naomi survives and Nia is shocked! The fans rally while Nia stalks Naomi. Naomi clings to ropes as Nia pulls at her arm. Nia CLUBS Naomi, whips her to ropes, then SAMOAN DROP- NO, Naomi makes it a CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Ghost pin, TWO!! Nia survives the sudden turnaround, Naomi sees Jade crawling in, and Naomi goes after her as SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Naomi KICKS Nia while she’s down, then kicks her more. Naomi puts Nia in a corner, CHOKES her on the ropes, then clamps on with a SLEEPER! Nia THROWS Naomi away, then TOSSES her out. Nia soaks up heat, but Jade runs in and rolls Nia up! TWO! Nia stands, and she HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia looms over Jade, drags her up, but Jade fires forearms! Jade backs Nia down, then runs, and she CLOBBERS Nia outta the ring! Jade fires up and has the fans with her. Jade drags Naomi up from the apron but Naomi fires hands. Nia is back to HIP ATTACK Jade against the POST! Nia soaks up more heat, then taunts Naomi.
Naomi stands on the apron, argues with Nia, but they apparently agree to mug Jade for both their benefit. They put Jade in the corner, Naomi digs her boot in, and then Nia sends Naomi in for a SPALSH! Nia adds a SPLASH of her own! Naomi snapmares Jade, runs, and SLIDING LARIATS! Jade sputters and Nia taunts her. Nia and Naomi soak up the heat together, but Jade fights back! Nia HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia drags Jade up, and Naomi KICKS Jade low! They soak up more heat, talk trash on Jade, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Nia scoops and SIDEWALK SLAMS! Naomi runs to SPLIT LEG DROP! Cover, but Nia drags Naomi away!
Nia and Naomi argue again, and then Naomi rolls Nia up! ONE, and Nia grabs Naomi to shove her to a corner! Nia SPLASHES, then pushes Naomi down. Nia runs to SENTON! Nia grins while Naomi sputters and the fans rally up. Jade rises to fire forearms on Nia! Then she ELBOWS Naomi in a corner! She ELBOWS Nia, but then Nia follows Jade! Jade dodges so Nia SPLASHES Naomi! Jade then SUPERKICKS! Nia wobbles, Jade SUPERKICKS again! And SPINEBUSTERS! But Naomi METEORAS! Cover, TWO! Jade survives and the fans rally up. Naomi goes up, SPLIT- LEG MOONSAULT on Nia! But Jade has Naomi in the chicken wings!
Jade brings Naomi around, JADED!! Cover, Nia CLOBBERS them both! The fans rally while all three women are down! Nia climbs a corner, Jade is after her with forearms! Naomi joins in, drags Jade back, but now they trade shots! Nia DOUBLE CROSSBODIES! Cover on Jade, TWO! Cover on Naomi, TWO! Nia grows frustrated but the fans rally up again. Nia drag Naomi up, fireman’s carries, and she climbs the corner! The fans already anticipate what’s coming, SUPER SAMOAN DROP!! Cover, JADE FROG SPLASHES IN!! Cover, TWO!!! The fans fire up while all three women are down again! “This is Awesome!”
Jade rises, she clamps onto Nia, but Nia HEADBUTTs her! And HEADBUTTS Naomi! Jade BOOTS Nia down! Cover, TWO! Jade runs up on Naomi but Naomi BOOTS her! Naoim goes up top but Jade is right on her! They fight for control, but then Nia joins in! TOWER OF DOOM!! Nia double stacks her opponents, for a A-NIA-LATOR!! Naomi avoids it, Jade takes it all! Naomi ghost pins Nia, AND WINS!!
Winner: Naomi, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Nia did a lot of the damage, but it is Naomi who wins out! Will everyone in the Women’s MITB Ladder Match now have to #ProceedWithCaution?
Solo Sikoa’s crew arrives.
Solo says they will win Money in the Bank together! Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, whichever one wins MITB wins it fof the family! But then they hear R-Truth talking to… Lil’ Jimmy? Solo says Truth’s childhood hero beats him, and now he’s talking to ghosts. Truth taps Solo on the shoulder and asks if there’s something Solo wants to say. Solo says Truth is crazy touching him. JC Mateo steps up but Solo has him stand down. Truth says he wants to be honest. He’s never seen JC a day before in his life. Is this Solo’s son? He’s husky! Truth asks if he can teach Solo’s husky son a lesson in the ring. Solo says that sounds good to him.
Truth says he’ll go talk to Nick Aldis. “Boy, y’all big boneded!” Truth heads off, and Solo says don’t worry, they’ll take care of him. Let’s have fun. Fatu says keep it 100. They can have their fun, he’s got his own business to take care of. Yadada mean? The Imperial Unit against Truth, Samoan Werewolf in a qualifier, will everything go the family’s way?
Chelsea Green confronts Nick Aldis.
The Hot Mess hides behind a cardboard cutout of herself as she tells the SmackDown General Manager, “What happened on Saturday night was a deliberate-” Piper Niven has to direct Chelsea to point at Aldis, and Aldis says he can’t quite understand her from behind the cardboard mask. Piper holds the mask between Chelsea and camera, though we do get a glimpse of her fancy headgear. Chelsea repeats herself, but Aldis says she needs to be looking at him when they talk. Chelsea hides her face in shame, but she says it is still a deliberate hitjob put on by vicious Zelina Vega! Even her Secret Her-vice could not stop it!
Chelsea demands that Zelina be suspended, stripped of her title, and that Chelsea be reinstated as the champion! Chelsea, no need to be so ugly about this. Gasp! Aldis says what he means is, no suspensions, and we can talk a rematch down the road once Chelsea is medically cleared. Then he is doing nothing for what Zelina did to Chelsea?! Alba says if he won’t, then they will! Yeah, Zelina VS Alba! Tonight! Alba is a bit surprised, but Aldis says, “Chelsea knows best. Alba VS Zelina, I actually like the sound of that. I will make that official right now, if you do one thing for me. Please leave me alone.”
The Green Administration hurries away, but will Alba make sure Chelsea brand justice is served? Or will La Muneca just keep racking up the wins?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Women’s Champion, and says that MITB is around the corner. Tiff successfully cashed in her own contract to become champion, but how is she handling the pressure of knowing the same thing could happen to her? Tiff says she can’t wait to see who wins MITB. Then she can handle the pressure by being prepared. Having this title makes her the top threat to the division, but let’s be fair. She’s always been the girl everyone has been obsessed with. So whoever wins, targeting her will be a big mistake. But then in steps Naomi.
Naomi says if Tiff thought Nia was a problem, then she ain’t seen nothing yet. Naomi vows to win MITB and cash in for Tiff’s title, wherever and whenever she wants. And in case Lil’ Miss Tiffy forgot, when Naomi was fighting for a championship, Tiff stayed in Naomi’s way. Wanna know what happens when people play with Naomi? Just ask Jade. Naomi heads out, and Alexa Bliss steps in. Alexa says she wouldn’t be so worried about Naomi. Be worried about Alexa. Alexa heads out now, Tiff clutches to the title a little bit tighter, who will be trying to run the clock out on Tiffy Time?
R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa!
To Solo’s point, #RonCena could not make John Cena see the light at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Truth might be relapsing if he’s talking to Lil’ Jimmy again. But will Truth relapse so far that we get the R-Truth that was once United States Champion? Or will a Tour of the Islands send Truth off the deep end?
SmackDown returns and JC makes his entrance, Solo backing him up. The bell rings and Truth runs up, only for JC to RAM him into a corner! JC RAMS Truth again and again, then lets off. JC whips corner to corner hard and Truth falls in a heap! JC whips corner to corner again just as hard, and Truth falls in a heap again. Solo talks trash but the fans rally behind Truth. JC runs up but Truth dodges! Truth SHOULDER TACKLES! JC stays up, so Truth runs and SHOULDER TACKLES! “What’s Up?” Truth runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and SHOULDER TACKLES! Then he hits the SPIN OUT- CROSSBODY! JC then gets up to GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT!
JC smirks as he looms over Truth, and Solo says to finish this off now. JC runs to SENTON but Truth moves! Truth calls for it! “YOU CAN’T SEE ME!” FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Truth fireman’s carries JC, but JC is too much! Truth falls over again! Solo laughs, JC whips, TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, JC wins!
Winner: JC Mateo, by pinfall
Truth tried to be like John Cena of old, but it just wasn’t meant to be. JC beats up on Truth more, then stands him up for Solo! But here comes BIG Jim! Jimmy has a chair, he runs JC off, but Solo stands his ground. Solo says his brother wouldn’t hit him with that chair, would he? Jimmy steps to Solo so Solo steps out, but that lets JC CLOBBER Jimmy! But then Solo has JC stand down! They’re family! Solo and JC leave, leaving Jimmy wondering what this is about. Will Jimmy make it clear to Solo that Jimmy’s not the one who has to come to his senses?
The Street Profits are here!
The WWE Tag Team Champions walk through the smoke to be on stage and the fans cheer. Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford hold up the titles, walk to the ring, then step inside. The fans cheer as they hold up the belts again, then the Profits grab the mics. Ford says, “Knoxville, Tennessee, oh I love everything about you, and what I have, too. But lemme rap to y’all real fast. This tag team division that we’re a part of, the greatest tag team division on any brand, any promotion… It’s on fire right now.” Dawkins says, “Talk to ’em.” Ford says, “But just like how the gorilla fears us, make no mistake about it, let’s not forget who’s leading the charge right now: The Street Profits.”
The fans cheer, and Dawkins says hey, they got all the teams coming at ’em! DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, and now… The Wyatts?! The fans cheer that, and Ford says that’s sick. But what big bro is saying, it don’t matter who it is, the Profits will defend against anybody. Well hold on, here comes Fraxiom! Nathan Frazer & Axiom go to the ring to stand with the Profits, and they have mics. Frazer says alright, since the Profits are talking about defending the titles, well, Frazer & Axiom didn’t exactly get a fair shake. Ford says, “Fraxiom, is it?” He congratulates them for being on a roll, but up until the Wyatt Sick6 got in the Profits’ business…
Yeah, the Profits had them beat. Wow, oh, okay. Sure, maybe… But maybe not. Thanks to the Wyatts, we’ll never know. And now that those shenanigans are behind us, it is fair to say that Fraxiom and the Profits need to run it back! The fans like the sound of that! But wait, here come the Machine Guns! Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin have mics, and Shelley says okay, hold on, sorry to interrupt. Fraxiom’s entire basis for a rematch is that the Profits never beat them. Well, last time Shelley checked, the Profits never beat MCMG! So if they’re handing out title matches, MCMG will take one. But naturally, here comes DIY!
Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Candice LeRae have their own mics, and the Poison Pixie says no no no no. She is pretty sure “you losers” have had a million chances, and “the nerds” just got here. Whoa, hold on? Just got here? Sounds like Candice just got back, so she should do us a favor and shut up. Gargano says you shut up, idiot! The reason DIY brought in Gargano’s beautiful wife is to even the odds against all of what this is! Everyone can see there is a conspiracy in the tag team division to hold down the BTTITW! And now with the Wyatts showing up- Ciampa has Gargano ixnay on the amily-fay.
Do not talk about you know who, scratch that, let’s get to business. All these teams have all KILLED the tag division that DIY built! Matter of fact, let us hold a moment of silence for the death of the SmackDown Tag Division. Everyone, stand up, bow your heads, and give a moment of silence… now. OH NO! The lights go out! All the teams panic, because when the lights turn on, UNCLE HOWDY is on the corner! Howdy laughs, because the rest of the Wyatts flank the ring! Erick Rowan drags MCMG out to DOUBLE LARIAT! Dexter Lumis is up top to CANNONBALL onto the Profits and Gargano! Joe Gacy is in, and he handsprings to bring Fraxiom to the UPSIDE-DOWN!!
Lumis then runs, POWERBOMB SENTON COMBO on Axiom! Ciampa freaks out, turns around, and Nikki Cross is there! CROSSBODY onto Candice! The fans fire up, and Howdy has Frazer for SISTER ABIGAIL! “We’re here!!” It is just as the Profits said, and now it is clear. Will some killer combination of the Wyatts go right after the gold?
Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar!
Worlds Collide is just over a week away, and all four of these men will be involved. The Immortal Firebird and the Young OG are going after the NXT North American Championship in a Fatal 4 Way while Legado Del Fantasma will be taking on AAA’s Pagano, Psycho Clown y El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. Who will be heading for Los Angeles with all the momentum behind them?
Speaking of that North American Championship, the champion is here! Ethan Page joins commentary and says what a year for him, to be honest. Wade says that title has never looked better than on Ethan’s shoulder. Fenix makes his entrance now, followed by Je’Von’s. The teams sort out and Fenix starts against Angel. Angel and Fenix circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Angel fires a forearm, Fenix fires back, repeat! Fenix gets the edge but Angel shoves then drops down. Fenix cartwheels over the dropdown, then comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and RANAS! Angel tumbles, the fans fire up, and Fenix somersaults, but into a fireman’s carry!
Fenix slips free, ripcords to ROUNDHOUSE, but Angel HEADBUTTS! Both men stagger back, tags to Berto and Je’Von! Je’Von dodges and springboards to BOUNCY~ roll-up! TWO, and Berto mule kicks! Berto CLUBS Je’Von, whips, but Je’Von reverses and slips around. Berto bucks the O’Conner, springboards and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Berto drags Je’Von up, but Je’Von kicks! Berto blocks, but the ENZIGIRI hits! Je’Von runs up, and BOUNCY~ RANAS! The fans fire up and Je’Von DROPKICKS! Berto bails out, Angel runs in, but Je’Von goes Matrix to dodge! Je’Von kips up, and STUNNERS! Angel flops back and the fans fire up!
Los Garza regroups, Je’Von tags Fenix, and they build speed, but have to dodge Angel first. Fenix SOBATS, Je’Von KICKS, and both men ENZIGIRI! Berto is up top, he leaps, but into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Fenix runs to basement CALF KICK! Cover, TWO! Berto stays in this for Los Garza while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Fenix drags Berto up to RAM him into the corner. Tag to Je’Von and they mug Berto. Berto fires hands back on Je’Von, but Je’Von headlocks. Berto powers up and out and Angel tags in. Berto drop toeholds Je’Von into Angel’s KNEE at the ropes! Angel TEARS OFF HIS PANTS! Angel drapes those over Je’Von before he KICKS Je’Von in the side! Angel stalks Je’Von to the corner, tags Berto, and they shove Je’Von for a double hip toss, TU LO SABE! Then DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Berto covers, TWO! Berto argues the count but the ref defends it. Berto shoves Je’Von to ELBOW him down! Berto then DUMPS Je’Von down to be under the ropes.
Tag to Angel and Berto sits Je’Von up on the apron. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von down! Santos joins in with Los Garza as they soak up the heat, and Angel drags Je’Von back in. Angel stands Je’Von up, hoists him to the top rope, then climbs up behind him. Angel CLUBS away on Je’Von, mocks the clapping, and he THROWS Je’Von down. Angel KICKS Je’Von in the arm and Je’Von clutches his hand. Angel drags Je’Von to the ropes, CHOKES him, and the ref reprimands. The ref counts, Angel steps off at 4, and Berto BOOTS Je’Von down. ANgel clamps onto Je’Von with an armlock and chinbar but Je’Von reaches for Fenix.
Angel keeps hold of Je’Von but Je’Von fires hands! SmackDown returns to single picture as Je’Von dodges the lariat, leaps, but Angel catches him! Angel puts Je’Von in a corner and through ropes. Angel pulls an arm and leg against the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von in the ribs! Je’Von slumps to the apron, and Angel sucker punches Fenix! Angel goes back for Je’Von but Je’Von fires body shots! Angel blocks a kick, slips around and Gory Especials! Angel walks over, tags Berto, and Berto slingshots, GARZA ESPECIAL! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up for Je’Von but Berto clamps onto him with a chinlock.
Je’Von endures, even as Berto traps an arm. Je’Von fights up, pries the hold open, and he arm-drags Berto! Je’Von leaps but Berto grabs a leg! Ethan laughs from commentary, but Je’Von kicks free to SUPERKICK! Both men are down, Je’Von and Berto crawl, hot tags to Angel and Fenix! The fans fire up as Fenix rallies on Angel with forearms! Fenix then dodges a shot to springboard and FLYING ARM-DRAG, to a DOUBLE STOMP! Fenix fires off KICKS on Berto, then fires up with Knoxville! Fenix uses Berto to jump up and RANA Angel! Fenix then goes corner to corner to JUMP SOBAT! Fenix fires hands, shoves Angel aside, then goes up.
Fenix springboards to QUEBRADA! Cover, Berto breaks it! Berto whips Fenix, Fenix goes Spider-Man, and Je’Von tags in! Fenix says HASTA LA VISTA, BABY! Angel is up, he pops Fenix up to KICK him! But Je’Von springboards to FLYING LARIAT! The fans fire up, Berto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! All four men are down and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as Angel and Je’Von crawl. Angel CHOPS Je’Von, Je’Von CHOPS back, and the fans “WOO~!” Angel CHOPS again, so Je’Von CHOPS again! Angel fires a forearm, Je’Von fires back, and they go around with forearm after forearm! The fans fire up, Angel CHOPS, a
nd Je’Von SUPER PUNCHES!
Je’Von runs, BOUNCY- NO, Angel makes it a SIT OUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ethan is surprised and the fans rally up. Angel hoists Je’Von up top, tags Berto in, and they hoist Je’Von up even higher! But Fenix SHORYUKENS Angel down! Je’Von fires hands on Berto and SHOVES him down! Fenix climbs up to join Je’Von now, and ADIOS AMIGO DOUBLE STOMPS for Angel! Je’Von adjusts, to SUPER DUPER SWANTON onto Los Garza! Ethan says don’t get closer, keep this in the ring! He taunts both his challengers, Fenix and Je’Von stand down to put Los Garza in the ring. The fans rally up, but then Ethan CLOBBERS Fenix & Je’Von!
Ethan TOSSES Fenix over the desk! But Je’Von SUPERKICKS Ethan down! The fans fire up, Je’Von hurries in, and he dodges Angel! But Berto rolls Je’Von up, TWO!! Je’Von dodges Berto, rebound and RED DOT!! Berto is down, Angel gets up, but Je’Von DECKS him! Je’Von goes up, up, but Santos distracts the ref! Ethan SHOVES Je’Von down! The fans boo but Berto tags Angel! Los Garza hoists Je’Von up for M T Y!! Cover, Los Garza win!
Winners: Los Garza, by pinfall
All Ego grins as he screws over two of his three challengers, and now Legado is rolling towards Worlds Collide. But will these rudos get everything they deserve in LA?
The Wyatts speak.
“We won’t stop. Not until we get what’s owed.” A simple yet ominous threat, are the tag titles only the beginning?
Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration!
La Muneca held onto the WWE Women’s US Championship by smacking The Hot Mess in the face with a foot, and obviously Chelsea is not happy with it. But will Alba get payback on behalf of her fearless leader? Or will things only get uglier for the Green Regime?
The bell rings and Piper distracts Zelina so Alba can CLOBBER her! Alba fires off hands, then bumps Zelina off buckles. Alba bumps Zelina off more buckles, then more buckles! And then the fourth corner! Chelsea says Zelina should’ve never messed with her! Alba fireman’s carries but Zelina fights free. Zelina KICKS Alba, KICKS again, then KICKS, but Alba CLUBS Zelina. Alba whips, scoops, and- NO, Zelina swings through to RANA! Cover, ONE! Zelina headlocks but Alba fights up and lifts Zelina. Zelina holds on but Alba powers up and out to RUN Zelina over! The fans boo but Chelsea cheers as Alba stalks Zelina.
Alba ROCKS Zelina, whips her to ropes, but Zelina wheelbarrows and arm-drags! Zelina then runs up on Alba in the corner and rains down fists! Alba shoves Zelina away at three, but Zelina comes right back to rain down more shots! Alba stops Zelina at four now, but Zelina wants another go! Alba stops Zelina at four again, and RAMS her into the corner! The fans boo but Alba grins. Zelina BOOTS Alba, goes up, and FLYING RANAS! Alba tumbles out, Piper helps her up, and Zelina goes to the apron. Alba trips Zelina up, spins and ROCKS Zelina, then gets her up. Gory Especial, but Zelina flips through to arm-drag Alba onto ropes!
The fans fire up as Zelina dials up, but Chelsea is on the apron! The ref argues with Chelsea while Zelina redials, but Piper trips her up! The fans boo but Alba SUPERKICKS Zelina! Alba salutes to Chelsea, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Alba stands on Zelina’s hair while pulling Zelina’s arms! The ref reprimands, Alba steps off, and she drags Zelina up to suplex for the GOURD BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Zelina stays in this and Chelsea argues with the ref. The ref says the count is fair, so Alba clamps onto Zelina with a COBRA CLUTCH! Zelina endures, the fans rally, and Zelina fights up. Zelina fires body shots, Alba ripcords and wrenches to SUPERKICK! Zelina rebounds to SHINING WIZARD! Both women fall and the fans fire up! Piper coaches Zelina, the fans rally up, and both women rise up. Alba is on Zelina and brings her to a corner, but Zelina buckle bumps Alba first!
The fans rally as Alba stalks Zelina, but Zelina bumps her off buckles again! Alba tries again, but Zelina ELBOWS Alba away. Then BOOTS her away! Zelina fires forearms on Alba, backs her down, then whips. Alba reverses but Zelina dodges to LARIAT! The fans fire up as Zelina LARIATS again! Zelina blocks a kick, ELBOWS Alba, but Alba blocks the saido. But Zelina keeps Alba from running, SNAP SAIDO! The fans rally for Zelina as she runs corner to corner, METEORA! Zelina pushes Alba out and goes up top! The fans cheer for some Latina Heat, and METEORA! Cover, TWO! Alba survives and Chelsea is relieved.
Zelina grows frustrated, but she goes back for Alba. Zelina reels Alba in, suplexes, but Alba blocks! Alba knees low, suplexes, but Zelina hits STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Alba is down, Zelina goes up, MOONSAULT FLOPS! Alba goes up now, and she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, TWO!?! Zelina survives and shocks Alba! Chelsea is upset again but Alba hurries to bring Zelina up. Alba KICKS Zelina out, and now Chelsea takes off her face mask?! She tells Piper to stand Zelina up! Piper does as told, and Chelsea takes a swing, but Zelina ducks! The face mask SMACKS Piper!! Chelsea is shocked, then furious, and then she chases after Zelina!
Zelina slips into the ring, Chelsea gets on the apron, but Zelina sends Alba at her! They almost collide, and then Zelina rolls Alba up! Zelina hops on, CODE RED!! Cover, Zelina wins!!
Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall
Chelsea tried so hard to screw Zelina over that she just screwed up her own team! Zelina survives again, will no one take down the Vega Administration?
The Miz pep talks Carmelo Hayes.
Melo looks good, and he just has to follow the plan. If Melo follows that plan, with no mistakes, they will win. Melo says he knows what he’s doing. Miz asks if he really does. Because Miz has taken Black Mass after Black Mass, sacrificing himself for Melo. Does Melo understand? Miz gave up this chance at MITB for Melo! Miz has already done it twice! If Melo wins this match tonight, Miz will guide Melo to make sure “we are Mr. MITB.” Wait, we? Miz says, “Who do you think got you in this position?” Melo says Melo did. Melo appreciates everything Miz has done for him, from sacrificing to taking hits for him, and helping him win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
But nobody told Miz to do that. Melo will run the play exactly as Miz designed it, but what brought Melo to the dance is Melo’s talent. Melo goes out there and does it better than anybody else. Melo puts up 40 points on a bad day, because he is H1M. And Miz just needs to let Melo be H1M. They good? Miz nods, and Melo says okay, let’s do the thing. They are Melo Don’t Miz and they are Awes-H1M. Miz still nods, but he doesn’t seem genuinely happy. Will Miz let Melo be Melo? Even if that means letting H1M fail?
Giulia speaks.
“Throughout my entire career, even back when I started in Japan, I had one goal… It’s not to be ‘the best.’ Everyone says that. It’s hollow and empty. My goal is to be indisputable. You can love me or hate me, admiration or disgust, it means nothing. But I’m impossible to deny. My opponent doesn’t matter, because I only view them as an opportunity to build my legacy. Evidence you cannot refute. SmackDown, you will see. I will hit harder, move faster, think sharper, and conquer everything, just like I’ve always done. The question isn’t, ‘Who’s going to let me?” It’s, ‘Who’s going to stop me?'” She adds in Japanese, “If you can stop it, stop it.”
Will SmackDown and all of the WWE soon succumb to The Beautiful Madness?
Zelina returns backstage.
She refreshes for a second, but Giulia is there! And Giulia says she sees Zelina, but she also sees that title more. Zelina scoffs and leaves. Could Giulia be aiming for everything once she becomes Ms. Money in the Bank?
Damian Priest is here!
Knoxville cheers as The Archer of Infamy heads to the ring, victorious from Saturday Night’s Main Event and that brutal Steel Cage match. Priest grabs a mic to tell Tennessee, “Ever since I beat Drew on Saturday, it’s like I’m breathing in fresh air. Y’know, there was a time when I lived on the street, if we were beefing with another street, that war could go for years. But in WWE, you have a beef with somebody, you have a match and it’s over. But with Drew and I, we went well over a year, and that’s not normal. But we took that beef into a cage. Now, I can feel it, you can se it on my face, we went to war.
“At the end of this war, at Saturday Night’s Main Event, I gave him a Con-Chair-To, I walked out the door, and I put his ass in the past.” The fans cheer that. Priest says now he knows Drew is somewhere recovering from his scrambled brains, but he knows Drew is watching, so this is for Drew. “I still can’t stand yo ass. But the Drew McIntyre that stepped in that cage wasn’t the guy that hides behind his phone on social media. That was the old Drew, the warrior, and I appreciate that.” The fans applaud, and Priest says he won’t ask what is next for himself, he’ll just tell us all. And it is the same thing he wanted when he came to SmackDown: Championships!
The fans cheer, and Priest says this war with Drew cost him an opportunity at being in MITB. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his eyes on a certain champion. Somebody who he has unfinished business with, and a champion he considers the most badass. The fans know that means Fatu, and he knows they know! Priest calls out Jacob Fatu! Priest respects Fatu. Priest knows where Fatu came from, what Fatu had to live through, how it feels to stand in this ring as a champion. Real talk, Priest is proud of Fatu, he congratulates Fatu, that’s real. But what Priest doesn’t respect is the crew that follows him around.
Wait, check that. What Priest doesn’t respect is the crew Fatu follows around. Priest knows at some point, they will get in this ring, handle business, but that’s for them. As for Fatu’s so-called family, if they wanna get involved, they can catch a fresh one, too. Priest won’t make it just a nickname or moniker, he wants this to be fact! Priest is and forever will be EL CAMPEON! The fans cheer that! But will the Archer soon take aim at the Samoan Werewolf? Well, speaking of, Fatu makes his way out here for tonight’s other Triple Threat Qualifier! Fatu nods to Priest, but if Fatu wins his way into the ladder match, will this showdown have to wait a little longer?
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu!
SmackDown returns and El Idolo makes his entrance, followed by H1M. The bell rings and Miz distracts Fatu and Melo attacks! Fatu ELBOWS Melo away, Andrade is on Melo with forearms, and then Fatu adds a LARIAT! Fatu looms mover Melo but then turns to stare down Andrade. The fans rally as these two step up. Andrade fires forearms but Fatu SHOVES him to a corner. Fatu runs up, Andrade dodges then whips. Fatu reverses, Andrade goes up and out to then ROCK Fatu! Andrade goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, ONE! Melo CLUBS Andrade, TOSSES him out, and then CLUBS away on Fatu!
Miz says that’s the way! Melo HAMMERS and CHOPS, then whips, but Fatu blocks! Fatu whips Melo, Melo springboards, but into an UPPERCUT! The fans fire up and Fatu sees Melo go outside. Fatu builds speed, but Miz trips him up! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Fatu drags Miz into the ring! Melo goes to roll Fatu up but Fatu stays up! Fatu YANKS Melo up, scoops, but Melo slips free! Melo SUPERKICKS and Miz DUMPS Fatu out! The fans boo but Melo builds speed, only for Andrade to LARIAT! The fans cheer, and now Miz sees he is in trouble. Fatu snarls, but Andrade DIVES, into a HAYMAKER!
Fatu then SUPERKICKS Miz! Fatu THROWS Miz into barriers! The fans fire up and Fatu grins. Fatu runs in, HIP ATTACK against the barriers! The Samoan Werewolf has dominated three men at once and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Miz sputters and Fatu leaves him behind to go around the way. Melo is there to kick Fatu, RAM Fatu, but Fatu blocks another whip! Fatu ROCKS Melo and Melo staggers away. Fatu stalks Melo, Melo checks on Miz, but Fatu ROCKS Melo! Andrade goes after Fatu now, but Fatu THROWS Andrade into barriers! The fans cheer as Fatu lets Andrade go to the ring. Fatu brings Melo up, SMACKS him off the desk, then pushes him down. Fatu clears the desk off, but Melo CLUBS Fatu against the desk! Melo storms into the ring, brings Andrade up, but Andrade RAMS Melo into the corner! Andrade RAMS Melo, CHOPS Melo, then stalks Melo.
Andrade whips Melo, Melo reverses and Andrade hits buckles hard! Melo CHOPS Andrade down! Melo brings Andrade up, soaks up some heat, then makes it Latino Heat. But Andrade blocks the suplex to suplex Melo! Andrade hangs Melo out to dry, and Melo flops to the apron. Fatu is back but Andrade fires forearms first! Andrade whips, Fatu reverses, and Fatu BODY CHECKS Andrade! Fatu geeks out and the fans are with him while he stalks Andrade. Fatu drags Andrade up to HEADBUTT him into the corner. Fatu shoves Melo off the apron, then he HEADBUTTS Andrade again. Andrade sputters but Fatu is all fired up.
Fatu CHOPS Andrade, UPPERCUTS, and HEADBUTTS him again! Andrade CHOPS in return! SmackDown returns to single picture and Andrade CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Fatu UPPERCUTS and Andrade falls back! Melo stomps Andrade in the corner, then tells Fatu to come on in. Fatu runs up, but Andrade gets away! Hip attack hits buckles! Melo ENZIGIRIS Fatu, Andrade runs to dodge Melo and FLYING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Andrade kips up! Andrade has targets in the corners, and he rallies the fans with “SI! SI! SI!” CIEN KNEES for Fatu! CIEN- NO, Melo tilt-o-whirls and LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally, Melo runs to stomp away on Fatu, then he brings Andrade up. Fatu stands to CLOBBER Melo! Andrade SUPERKICKS Fatu! The fans rally, Melo brings Andrade up and springboards, but Andrade stops him at the ropes! SECOND ROPE SPANISH FLY! But Fatu SENTONS Andrade! The fans fire up as Fatu SENTONS Melo! Fatu drags Melo to a drop zone, then goes to the corner! The fans rally for Fatu as he goes up, up, but Andrade YANKS him down! Andrade goes up top, MOONSAULT DOUBLE!! Cover, Melo breaks it! The fans rally while all three are down! “This is Awesome!” as the three stir.
Melo brings Fatu and Andrade around, and he fires forearms on each of them. Andrade fires back on Melo, then Fatu UPPERCUTS! Andrade ROCKS Fatu, but Fatu UPPERCUTS Andrade! The fans rally as the three rise, and Melo springboards! DOUBLE FADE AWAY DDT!! Cover on Andrade, Fatu breaks it! Melo and Fatu stare down, and they run up! Melo dodges to hit the FIRST 48! Andrade adds a POISON-RANA! Melo slips around Andrade to KNEE and suplex, CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Andrade survives and Melo grows frustrated. The fans rally for Fatu while Melo shakes his hands out. Andrade is on the apron but Melo rises.
Melo brings Andrade up but Andrade trips Melo! They go out to brawl, and Melo SUPERKICKS Andrade down! But Fatu SUPERKICKS Melo! The fans fire up for Fatu as he lines up a shot. Fatu gets the fans even more fired up, then he geeks out! Fatu runs in the full length, but Andrade & Melo move! HIP ATTACK through barriers!! The fans go nuts as Fatu crashes into the timekeeper’s area! Fatu sputters as SmackDown goes back to picture in picture.
Fatu stirs while Andrade and Melo go to the ring. They roll in, Melo grabs at Andrade and vice-versa. Melo fires a forearm, then goes back outside. Andrade goes to the opposite end while Melo looks under the ring. Melo makes Knoxville happy by bringing out a table! But then Melo makes them mad by dropping it! Melo goes after Andrade but Andrade ROCKS him first! Andrade brings out a chair! Andrade aims, but Melo dropkicks the legs out! Andrade crawls, Melo shakes his head, and he grabs the chair now. Melo aims, but Andrade kicks Melo low! Andrade and Melo go into the ring, and Andrade puts Melo in a drop zone.
Andrade goes up the corner, but Melo trips him up! Andrade is stuck up top and Melo hits the SLINGSHOT PLEX! Melo flexes, then decides to step through on the legs! Andrade cradles that, TWO! Melo and Andrade stand, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men fall and the fans look for Fatu. SmackDown returns to single picture as the fans rally, Melo and Andrade sit up, and Melo CHOPS! Andrade ROCKS Melo, then rolls away. Melo hurries to clamp onto Andrade with a facelock, but Andrade RAMS him into a corner! Andrade puts Melo up top but Melo fires forearms. Andrade drops back, Melo aims, but Andrade GAMANGIRIS!
The fans still want tables but Andrade climbs up to get Melo. They’re on the very top, but Fatu is back! Fatu makes the SUPER SPANISH FLY part ROCKER LAUNCHER!! The fans are thunderous as Fatu goes up now! SWANTON BOMB onto Melo! Cover, Andrade breaks it!! The fans rally up again and still want tables. Fatu runs at Andrade to SPLASH! Then Fatu runs at Melo, but Melo BOOTS him! Melo runs up, but into a pop-up! Melo fights the Samoan Drop, and Andrade adds the SHADOW ELBOW! But Melo makes it a ghost pin! Andrade adds a stack, TWO!!! Fatu survives the double cover, but here come Solo & JC!
The fans boo as Solo is here to coach Fatu up. Melo and Andrade trade forearms, then Melo dodges to springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, Fatu breaks it! Fatu snarls, drags Melo up, and he HEADBUTTS Melo! Fatu finally notices Solo & JC, but Fatu puts Melo up top. Fatu CHOPS Melo, then he fireman’s carries Andrade. Fatu adds Melo to this, but Melo slips free. SAMOAN DROP for Andrade, and then Fatu goes to the corner. Solo says Fatu’s got this now! BEST MOONSAULT EVER FLOPS and Melo hits NOTHING BUT NET!! Cover, ANDRADE BREAKS IT! Andrade underhooks Melo, THE MESS- NO, Melo RANAS through! Cover, TWO!!
Andrade has a cover, TWO! Melo has a cover, TWO! Andrade has it, TWO! Both men stand, SHADOW ELBOW! FIRST 48!! SHADOW ELBOW AGAIN!! All three men are down and the fans are thunderous! Fatu crawls, Melo rolls to a corner, and Andrade stirs. Fatu rises, he brings Andrade up, IMPALER DDT! Then Fatu has Melo to RAM him into a corner. Fatu runs and HIP ATTACKS Melo! Andrade is up, Fatu hits him with another IMPALER DDT! Fatu puts Andrade in the drop zone, and he hits the BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Solo says yeah, do that again! The fans boo but Fatu glares at Solo. JC says do what Solo is saying, Fatu!
But wait! Jimmy YANKS JC down, and SUPERKICKS him! The fans fire up, and then Melo RAMS Fatu into Solo! Then FIRST 48! But Andrade rolls Melo into THE MESSAGE!! Cover, ANDRADE WINS!!
Winner: Andrade, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Solo just screwed things up for Fatu! Solo does his best to keep the peace between Fatu and JC, but the point is: Andrade is headed to Los Angeles! Will he make this El Idolo in the Bank?
Backstage interview with LA Knight.
Byron Saxton segues from congratulating Andrade for qualifying to welcoming in someone who already has qualified, but The Mega Star says, “My gawd. What is it with punching tickets around here? Everybody talks about punching tickets. WWE Instagram, punched tickets. Commentary, punched tickets. You’re talking about punched tickets. I guess I punched my ticket to MITB, it’s only eight days away. A few other guys who punched tickets, who are they? You got Andrade, you got Penta, you got what’s his name, Seth Rollins. You got Solo Sikoa! They’re all in it! They all punched their tickets!
“And everybody’s gonna be climbing that ladder, trying to get up, put everything on the line that they can. Now, if this was a one-on-one match, I’d go ahead and call my shot, and I’d say I’m gonna run up there, grab the case, and cash it in. But you gotta understand, this is my third year in a row, so I understand what this is. You can call me the vet in this match. Some people say maybe that Seth is the vet in this, but they would be wrong. For three years in a row now, you’re talking about the most robust and the most recent experience, YEAH. And what that means is now it’s anybody’s game. Anybody can come out with it, and I understand that.
“But with or without the case, what you need to understand is that the WWE title, the world title, they’re all in my future. With the way I’ve been running, at this point, they should be in my past, maybe even my present. Why don’tcha go ahead and punch that ticket? While we’re talking about-” Knight stops himself when he spots someone walking in. It’s Aleister Black! And Aleister says that win was supposed to be his. But he tells Knight, “You’re welcome, though.” The Dark Father lets the Mega Star shine, if only for now. Will LA win big in LA when we finally reach MITB?
Fatu and Solo regroup backstage.
Solo wants Fatu to listen. He was just trying to help. Fatu tells Solo to listen. For the last time, Fatu does not need his help! Fatu storms off, JC steps in, but Solo has nothing else to say. Is the Samoan Werewolf going to break away from this dysfunctional “family?”
Cody Rhodes is here!
Knoxville fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, high-fives fans along the ramp and the front row, and even signs autographs. Cody goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and he hears the fans chant his name. Cody fires the fans up more, then hears them sing, “Cody! Cody Rhooodes~! Cody! Cody Rhooodes~!” Cody says, “So, Knoxville! Whaddya wanna talk about?” The fans cheer, and Cody says, “I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that we could talk about the record crowd here this evening!” The fans cheer that, too! Cody says he loves them, too, thank you very much.
Cody says they could also talk about WrestleMania 41. The fans boo, but Cody says after WrestleMania 41, he went home, he drowned his sorrows, might’ve touched the “Tennessee Cough Syrup” a little bit, and he had a moment of doubt. He reached out to a friend. A friend who helps him prepare to wonderful audiences like this one here, or speaking to everyone at home. Cody asked him, “Was I a good champion?” The fans cheer for that, but Cody says the friend told him wasn’t quite as simple as yes or no.
The friend told him, “With everything that you faced here in the ring in front of all the fans, and with everything that you faced behind the scenes, being pulled in different directions, the waters that you had to navigate that no champion has ever had to navigate, yes, I feel that you were a good champion.” Cody says he felt good hearing that, it turned into a hopeful moment, the silver lining on a dark cloud. Cody looked back on his whole year. He thought about AJ Styles faking retirement to get the drop on him. Cody thought about his friend, Kevin Owens, sucker punching him against his bus while Cody’s family slept inside.
Cody thought about his boss, Triple H, who pushed Cody to the limit, and sees something in Cody that Cody doesn’t even see in himself. Cody even thought about The Final Boss, how he asked Cody for his soul, and the entire world wondering what that meant. As preposterous as that sounded, The Rock was 100% serious. No matter how many times Cody said no, the offer still stands. And Cody also thought about John Cena. The fans initially boo, but the “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” starts up. Cody takes a moment, and then he says, “I thought about John Cena doing exactly what he said he was going to do. He forced me to make a choice, and I hesitated.
“I don’t know if John Cena is going to ‘ruin’ professional wrestling. But if he does, then I’m partially to blame. Now, I know, I’d love to say this to John Cena’s face. Not sure if he’s going to come out here right now, but if you are listening, if you are listening, Champ, I need you to know that I will never hesitate with you again!” The fans cheer that, and Cody says no matter how much Cena will tout the amount of days he has left, how much Cena will talk about what remains before he absconds with the WWE Championship and leaves all of us forever, that is NOT Cena’s expiration date! That is on the other side of Cody’s corneas, and it will burn Cena’s ass up!
The fans fire up for that, and Cody calms it down. Cody apologizes for that. This is his first night back on SmackDown, he is getting worked up. He thought so much about what he could do, what he could do for the fans. Hell, how about a surprise? The fans already “YEET! YEET! YEET!” so Cody says they’re hungry for it. Let’s yeet. Well, hold on, that’d be a very big surprise. That’d be the biggest surprise. That’d be Cody’s partner riding into battle for MITB, and hell YES he is here! Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the World Heavyweight Champion, MAIN EVENT JEY USO! The fans go wild as Jey makes his way in from the pavilion!
The fans sing along with Day One Ish and bounce for that YEET! Jey makes his way down through the crowd to ringside, one verse at a time, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Jey joins Cody in the ring now, mic in hand. Cody and Jey hear the fans want an encore, so we get even more YEET! But then John Cena makes his entrance to ruin the fun! The fans sing “JOHN CENA SUUUCKS~!” even though he wears that University of Tennessee orange and white. Cena goes to the ring, towel draped over his head, then grabs a mic before he joins Cody and Jey in the ring. Cena hears the fans boo, and he says, “I’m upset, too. If it isn’t professional wrestling’s biggest wannabes!” Cena tells Cody he is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe, and that Jey is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe.
The fans boo but Cena says they both wanna be Cena so bad, it makes him sick! Cody wants Cena’s fame, Jey wants Cena’s money, but they will get neither because Cody is too desperate and Jey is too lazy! There is only ONE other human being in the WWE who embodies hustle, loyalty and respect, and he’s got the fortune, fame and followers to back that up! Surprise, losers! Cena’s partner is here, too! The fans boo already, because “EY YO~!” Logan Paul IS here! The Maverick swaggers his way out, and Cena gives him a proper introduction. “Oh, you mad? You’re mad because Logan Paul does WWE better than any professional wrestler?”
Cena says Logan doesn’t need to pay his dues, because he is paying Jey’s mortgage! Everybody in this building did NOT come to see Jey! They came to see John Cena and Logan Paul! Logan asks, “What the hell you crying about, Knoxville? Look! I could walk on water, and y’all would still find a way to tell me it’s because I can’t swim! John Cena speaks the language of Logan Paul, and that is the truth! The truth! It is right in front of you! You deny it all you want, but look around, you stupid, stupid, simple Tennessee people! This is a moment in history! All of you get to witness the moment that John Cena stood side-by-side in the ring with Logan Paul.
“And look, all of you will live long, pathetic, miserable lives. But at least you will get to say that you saw that.” The fans tell Logan to STFU, and Cena tells Logan to ignore it. Logan says yeah, yeah, they’re so ungrateful. They don’t know what’s good for them. There is one problem, though. This does seem too perfect. The problem is… Logan should be standing next to THE WWE Champion as THE World Heavyweight Champion! Logan should’ve been the one to leave Saturday Night’s Main Event with that title around his waist. But look at him, Jey. Jey got lucky. Jey got lucky! He knows it, Logan knows, it, the fans know it, CODY knows it!
Jey needed Cody to save him! When Cody interfered with the match cuz these two cheaters can’t do a single thing in this business without it being handed to them! “These two nepo babies were born on third, thinking they hit a triple.” Logan points to himself and says, “Self-made man!” He points to Cena and says, “Self-made man!” Five years ago, nobody every would’ve believed Logan Paul would be a WWE superstar. And they certainly never ever would’ve believed that he’d be teaming with the Greatest Of All Time! But look at Logan now. He’s not just a superstar, he is THE superstar! His time is now! Cena told us that his time is almost up!
Cena is the Last Real Champion, Logan is the inevitable face of the WWE! So Jey, Cody, at MITB, if you want some, come get some. Jey tells Logan they don’t gotta wait! They can handle this right now! UH UH, YEET!! The mics drop, Cena and Logan talk this out, and Logan wants to throw hands while Cena wants to leave. Cody asks what they’re arguing about. They gonna go to the back so Logan can polish Cena’s Peacemaker? Now it’s a fight! The fans fire up as the hands are flying! Logan TOSSES Jey, Cena picks Cody up! Cody slips free, Jey is back to SUPERKICK! Cody hits the DISASTER KICK! Cena bails out, Jey PLANCHAS out onto him!
Logan goes to the apron, slingshot and- NO, Cody dodges the “Snapshot” Lariat and Jey SUPERKICKS Logan! Then Jey sets Logan up for the CODE D!! The fans fire up as Cody picks up the WWE Championship! Will Cody and Jey make it through Logan and Cena to then clear a path for the American Nightmare’s redemption? Or will Cena & Logan ruin wrestling together?
My Thoughts:
A very good SmackDown, but maybe with some wheel-spinning. As fun as Chelsea Green continues to be, can’t we move on from her and Zelina? Or are we about to do that with tonight’s win over Alba and then Giulia confronting her? Ironically, that seems to give away Giulia isn’t winning MITB. Giulia had a good promo video right before but they undercut it by giving us that confrontation. That said, Giulia deserves to be all the champions, but I suppose starting with the Women’s US Championship would be a good route. Very good promo from Bianca and Naomi to not just have Bianca’s homecoming, but to keep the feud between them alive.
The Women’s Triple Threat had a slow start but it turned out to be a very good match. Great win for Naomi, and good promo from her, Tiffany and Alexa to tease potential MITB winners. Great stuff in the tag match to build Worlds Collide just a touch. We only got one moment of Berto being passive aggressive towards Santos, and then Ethan Page screwing the Faces over, but that was still enough for the North American Championship. Of course, it depends on how many fans watch not just Raw and SmackDown but also NXT so that the fans already understand the story. But as someone who does, I do appreciate they’re bringing NXT story onto SmackDown.
Good promo from Priest to give some shoot respect to Drew and Fatu, but Priest wanting after the US title kinda gave away what was happening with the Men’s Triple Threat. It was a great Triple Threat, but of course Solo & JC cost Fatu. That team is just one moment away from breaking up, and it might be at MITB when Solo just expects Fatu to help him win the briefcase and Fatu refuses. And Fatu VS Priest will still be awesome whenever it happens. Good promo from Knight, and a good bit from Aleister with him, which I suppose means that’s the next feud for them. Was kinda hoping for Aleister VS Nakamura but that really depends if Nakamura is sticking with WWE or going home to Japan via Pro-Wrestling NOAH as rumored.
R-Truth relapsing to talking to Lil’ Jimmy is certainly a choice. I kinda wish he’d keep up the “Ron Cena” stuff, or they’d let Jeff Cobb do his own John Cena bit from NJPW, but I guess some things in WWE still won’t change. And closing with a big promo segment was also certainly a choice. Cody still did a good job, and nice surprise to have Jey show up. Not sure they needed to take a commercial break for Jey’s entrance, especially when they were obviously going to let Jey do his YEET encore. And Cena really must be brainwashed to put Logan over as if Logan’s on par with peak Cena. But naturally a brawl happened and the Faces stood tall.
Don’t count this as go-home math yet, they could easily revisit this on Raw and even next week on SmackDown. Even then, I still feel like Jey and Cody should win at MITB to properly set up Cody VS Cena 2 at SummerSlam. Raw on June 9th is still the move for the World Heavyweight Championship, but there’s also Saturday Night’s Main Event in July, who knows if Jey makes it to SummerSlam as champion.
My Score: 8.7/10
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