Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (3/23/20)
The Beast, the Viper and much, much more!
What does Raw have in store for us this week?
With just a DOZEN DAYS before a two-night WrestleMania, Raw has Randy Orton’s response to Edge’s challenge as well as BRRROCK! LESNARRR!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- From WWE Royal Rumble 2015 – WWE World Championship Triple Threat: Brock Lesnar VS John Cena VS Seth Rollins.
- Andrade Almas & Angel Garza w/ Zelina Vega VS Ricochet & Cedric Alexander; Almas & Garza win.
- The Street Profits VS Shane Thorne & Brendan Vink; The Street Profits win.
- Aleister Black VS Leon Ruff; Aleister wins.
- From WWE WrestleMania 34 – SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair VS Asuka.
PLAY BY PLAY
Paul Heyman addresses the WWE Universe.
The Advocate to the reigning, defending, undisputed WWE Heavyweight Champion of the World opens Raw and says that for 18 years, “beyond the shadow of a doubt,” his client has been the most dominant force in the WWE. The list of victims is endless. Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, Hulk Hogan, The Rock, Ric Flair, Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena and even The Undertaker and his undefeated WrestleMania streak. “No one has ever been so dominant for so long.”
But Drew McIntyre begs to differ. Here’s a shocker: Everything Heyman just said is true. There has n ever been anyone in the WWE that dominated and conquered like Lesnar. Until Lesnar ran into McIntyre at the 2020 Royal Rumble. Sweet Sixteen was the Scottish Stud, and he stunned the world when he eliminated Lesnar. If Lesnar thinks that’s a fluke, then what does he call it when McIntyre gave him THREE Claymores in one night? McIntyre doesn’t make promises he can’t back up, so he’ll choose his words very carefully. He will Claymore Lesnar again and pin him to become the NEW reigning, defending, undisputed WWE Heavyweight Champion of the World at WrestleMania!
Raw now goes to Heyman and Lesnar in the ring.
Once again, the Advocate introduces himself and the reigning, defending, undisputed WWE World Champion, Brock Lesnar. “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s all be honest with each other for a change here.” These are truly uncertain times. And at this time, where we all just need some certainty, Heyman gives us that certainty in Brock Lensar. McIntyre can do anything that he wants to, from training his ass off to sparring with mixed martial artists, but McIntyre cannot beat Brock Lesnar. And certainly not this most unique, most extraordinary WrestleMania that is “too big for one night.”
McIntyre could pray to God on hands and knees, but he’ll only get a busy signal. The next time McIntyre prays for Mania, Lesnar will answer with a “quick and painless” answer. Though, after the Royal Rumble and Brooklyn, it won’t be painless at all. What McIntyre accomplished at the Royal Rumble, and then in Brooklyn, he is already a made man! He is already a main event player just for the fight he brought to Lensar. But Heyman assures us all, when it’s all over, McIntyre will be just another “b*tch” that tried to stop the greatest WWE Champion “then, now and forever,” BRRROCK, LESNARRR! Will a legacy continue or will a new era rise when WrestleMania is not one but two nights this year?
From WWE Royal Rumble 2015 – WWE World Championship Triple Threat: Brock Lesnar VS John Cena VS Seth Rollins!
To give context to the dominance of The Beast, Raw relives him going up against both the Face that Runs the Place and The Architect, pre-Monday-Night-Messiah.
The introductions are made, Philly boos Cena and are divided on Mr. Money in the Bank. The belt is raised and the Road to WrestleMania could change right here!
Lesnar rushes Rollins but Rollins bails out, and Cena goes after Lesnar! Lesnar gets Cena in a waistlock for a German Suplex! That’s one! Lesnar looms over Cena while Rollins watches, and Lesnar gives Cena another German Suplex! Rollins rushes in but Lesnar gets him in a fireman’s carry! J&J Security rush in to save Rollins, but Lesnar gives THEM a DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEX! Cena lurks behind Lesnar, and gets a fireman’s carry of his own. Lesnar slips off and shoves Cena into Rollins’ enziguri! Lesnar grabs Rollins for a HUGE toss! Rollins staggers but Lesnar gives him big knees to the stomach. Lesnar stalks Rollins to the ropes, waistlocks and GERMAN SUPLEXES! That makes for four! Or five since J&J was a double.
Cena runs in but gets another GERMAN for himself! Fans cheer The Beast as he stands tall. Rollins staggers up first but Lesnar knees him back down. Lesnar drags Cena up to snap suplex him across the ring! Lesnar stalks up and gives Rollins another German Suplex! Rollins and Cena are sputtering while Lesnar paces about. Lesnar drags Cena up for another snap suplex! Philly cheers Lesnar and Lesnar gives Rollins a BIG snap suplex! Rollins ends up outside the ring! Lesnar drags Cena up to throw body shots. Fans chant “E C DUB!” for Heyman as his client grabs Cena’s arm! Lesnar has a Kimura and body scissors! Cena endures and manages to power up. He manages to lift Lesnar off the ground! Rollins flies in with a flying knee and he takes them both out!
Lesnar staggers but Rollins kicks him in the leg. Rollins keeps throwing kicks and even haymakers. Lesnar knees back but Cena throws hands on Lesnar! Rollins and Cena work together to double suplex Lesnar! Cena fireman’s carries Lesnar for an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT! But Rollins throws Cena out and covers Lesnar, ONE!! Cena returns to rain down right hands on Lesnar but Lesnar knees back. Lesnar knees Rollins then throws him out. Lesnar drags Cena up for a snap suplex! Cena bails out and Raw takes a break.
Raw returns as Cena takes ANOTHER German Suplex! Lesnar drags Cena up again for ANOTHER! Lesnar holds on but Rollins SUPERKICKS him away! Rollins leans on ropes to stay standing, then he runs to KNEE Lesnar in the back! Lesnar is out but Cena gives Rollins a scoop Falcon Arrow! Cover, TWO! Heyman goes around to check on his client while Rollins and Cena slowly rise. Cena runs in but Rollins elbows him away. Rollins hops up to hit a flying BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, but Lesnar breaks it! Lesnar clubs Rollins on the back, and again. Lesnar throws Rollins out but Cena hits back with body shots! Cena runs but Lesnar stays up out of the clothesline. Cena keeps trying, and finally gets Lesnar down! But Rollins drags Cena out!
Rollins climbs up and springboards, but into the fireman’s carry! F5!! Cover, but Cena breaks it! Cena saves the match and Rollins gets away, to flop out of the ring. Lesnar drags Cena up for ANOTHER GERMAN SUPLEX! Lesnar looms over Cena before going outside. He clears off the announce desk, much to Philly’s delight! He even SMASHES a monitor on the steel steps just to vent his frustration. But he returns to Cena to get ANOTHER AA! And ANOTHER! Lesnar is up but Cena gives him a THIRD AA IN A ROW!! Cover, Rollins drags Cena off the cover! Rollins throws Cena into the steps! Rollins gives Lesnar a CURB STOMP!! Cover, but Cena breaks it again! All three men are down and Heyman is thanking God. Philly says “This is Awesome!”
Lesnar crawls out of the ring but Cena follows. Heyman coaches Lesnar up and Lesnar is back on his feet. Lesnar still hobbles but Cena RAMS him through the barriers!! Philly loses its mind over that one! Cena manages to get up from the wreckage and Lesnar still stirs. Cena hobbles back to the ring and manages to drag himself up. But Lesnar rises, and Cena hurries back, to throw him into steel steps! Heyman himself barely gets clear of that wreck! Cena picks up part of the steel steps, and RAMS them into Lesnar! Lesnar ends up on the desk, but Rollins wrecks Cena with a dropkick! Rollins FROG SPLASHES ON LESNAR, THROUGH THE TABLE!! Philly is thunderous as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again as Philly again declares, “This is Awesome!” Cena crawls after Rollins and brings him into the ring. Cena leaves Lesnar for dead and fans boo. But Rollins gets Cena in a cradle, TWO! SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Rollins is frustrated and sore but he and Cena still sit up. Cena gets to a corner, and both he and Rollins slowly stand. Rollins runs in but Cena pops him up to the fireman’s carry! AA but Rollins handsprings out! To run into a POP-UP BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Rollins survives but both men are down. Heyman shouts for doctors because he fears Lesnar is too injured to fight. Cena drags himself over to Rollins at the apron, and brings him to the corner.
Cena drags Rollins up to the top, but Rollins resists the superplex. Rollins rakes Cena’s eyes and gets up and over! Sunset flip and RUNNING BUCKLE BOMB! Cover, TWO! Rollins is at his wit’s end but he has to keep going. He gets to a corner while Cena stirs. Fans rally up as Rollins runs in, but Cena trips him up! Cena gets the STF!! Rollins crawls and reaches, but J&J attack! Mercury and Noble can attack without disqualifying Rollins, and that’s what they do! Medics bring out a stretcher for Lesnar as Rollins has J&J drag Cena up. They mock The Shield with the TRIPLE POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!?! Cena survives again, and Raw takes a break.
Raw returns again and Rollins grabs the MITB briefcase. Not to cash in, but to aim at Cena! But Cena dumps Rollins out! Cena throws Noble into Mercury, and picks them both up! J&J get a DOUBLE AA!! Cena catches Rollins for an AA!! Cover, TWO!?! Philly is thunderous again as both men are down again! Medics still attend to Lesnar as fans rally and duel. Rollins and Cena rise and start throwing haymakers! They go back and forth, and Cena fireman’s carries. Rollins slips out, mule kicks but runs into another carry. Rollins again escapes to enziguri! Then he runs to CURB STOMP!! Cover, TWO!?!? Cena survives yet again and Rollins can’t believe it! Rollins looks down at Cena like he’s seen a ghost. But he goes for broke and goes up top.
Rollins PHOENIX SPLASH!! But Lesnar rises?!!? GERMAN SUPLEX OR ROLLINS!! GERMAN FOR CENA!! But how?!? Lesnar glares as he has Rollins for another, but Rollins lands on his feet! BRIEFCASE SHOT! And another! Rollins puts Lesnar’s head on the case, but Lesnar gets a fireman’s carry, for an F5!!! Cover, Lesnar wins!!
Winner: Brock Lesnar, by pinfall (still WWE World Champion)
The Beast is the Beast because he’s inhuman! And now he heads to WrestleMania 31’s main event!
But that was 2015. Will Lesnar continue his legacy into the New Decade? Or will McIntyre’s time finally come?
The OC are here!
AJ Styles and the Good Brothers are back, even after the beating The Undertaker gave Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson last week. Styles says that “for the first time in WWE history, WrestleMania is just too big for just one night.” And now, it is official: Styles VS Taker 1v1! Styles doesn’t care what night it’ll be, it could be either one. But maybe Taker cares, because who knows when Michelle will let him out of the house. Taker has no control over anything! Like last week, Taker had his big stretchy pregnant mom pants! Maybe with Depends, too. But Gallows knows what Styles is getting at: Maternity pants. Right! And on top of that, Taker was like a goth Dog the Bounty Hunter, or maybe the Tiger King. Sweet burn!
But speaking of tigers, did anyone see Taker’s Twitter? That’s ridiculous in itself, Taker on Twitter. But there was this video where Taker was swimming with a tiger at Myrtle Beach Safari. Don’t take the OC’s word for it, just watch. Footage rolls of Taker, Michelle and a young tiger in a pool, plugging a charity to help both environment and tiger population. Wow, yeesh! This is real. “This guy is talking about tigers.” Who is this man? Has he lost control of his life? Ever since losing The Streak, Taker hasn’t been the same since. Style wants to take Taker’s soul, but maybe wifey Michelle already did that. The mystique is gone but that happened a long time ago. Taker’s on social media giving Likes and posting selfies. “Who is this man?!”
Styles doesn’t want Mark Calaway who writes things on social media. He wants Taker of yesteryear! But that man is nowhere to be found. But… Styles will give the fans what they want! Styles promises the fans will get what they want to see. “I’m going to bring back The Dead Man in a match that he would love to be in.” It will be… A BONEYARD MATCH! “This is your match, Taker! This is for you!” Styles says when it’s over, he has the perfect place to bury Taker. It ironically is the same plot that his wife, Michelle, picked out when she buried Taker’s career. GOTEE! But strong words and a bold choice, will Styles win this ominously named Boneyard Match?
Raw has big news for WrestleMania!
The Street Profits will defend the Raw Tag Team Championships against Zelina Vega’s stable! Will El Idolo y El Latino both become campeones as part of this historic WrestleMania Weekend?
Backstage interview with Zelina Vega and team.
Vega snaps Charly Caruso out of her daze looking at Garza, and she asks how the “clients” are preparing for the match. Aw look, it’s Charly! She looks… maybe not “good,” but… And as far as their team goes, they will show us tonight why they are the most talented and charismatic team in the WWE. Then Almas will be the most decorated champion in all of WWE. After Mania, the Profits can party all they want, but it won’t be with the titles. The Profits want the smoke, but Almas and Garza want the gold. And they are men who know what they want. Will Almas and Garza both be golden?
Andrade Almas & Angel Garza w/ Zelina Vega VS Ricochet & Cedric Alexander!
La Muneca’s team take on another new team as The One and Only joins forces with the Ebony Lion. Will this fast and furious match be a bit more than a tune-up for the lethal Latino alliance?
Alexander and Ricochet are ready for anything as Almas and Garza flank the ring. The teams calm down and go to their corners. Almas and Ricochet start, and Almas rushes Ricochet at the bell! Ricochet blocks the boot and throws forearms and CHOPS back! Ricochet whips Almas but Almas breaks free to throw forearms and CHOPS! Almas BOOTS Ricochet down and Garza cheers his tag partner on. Almas whips Ricochet but Ricochet rolls off his back then ducks under to handspring headscissor, and dropkick! Cover, TWO! Almas backs off and tags to Garza, but the ref sees Garza didn’t have the tag rope. The ref brings Garza to the corner, and Almas sucker punches Ricochet!
Ricochet gets up and goes after Almas with haymakers in the corner! Vega protests, but Almas hurries to the same corner as Almas. There are tag ropes here, can Garza use those? He tags in but the ref says that’s not their corner! Garza goes back to the corner and Almas gets another cheap shot on Ricochet! Almas puts Ricochet in the corner but Ricochet BOOTS him away! Ricochet hops but but Almas shoves him down! Ricochet crashes and burns, and Garza goes after him! Garza throws Ricochet into the LED before Alexander can run him off. But here come the Street Profits! Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins get eyes on their future challengers as they join commentary. Los Latinos complain while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Almas grinds Ricochet down with an armlock. Ricochet fights his way up as the Profits watch closely. Almas wrenches and elbows Ricochet, then tags in Garza. They mug and double whip Ricochet, then pop-up KICK him down! Cover, TWO! Garza kicks Ricochet down, and off comes the pants! Garza hits another Penalty Kick! He drags Ricochet up and headlocks him. He puts Ricochet on the ropes to CHOP! Almas tags in and the mugging continues. Ricochet fights back but Almas kicks and stomps Ricochet down. The Profits give Almas and Garza the proper credit as a team as Garza tags back in. Almas runs but into a SUPERKICK!
Garza headlocks Ricochet fast and throws Ricochet with a takeover, but Ricochet turns it to a cover! TWO, and Garza dropkicks Ricochet down hard! Garza puts Ricochet in the corner and throws strikes. He backs off but Ricochet fights back! Ricochet CHOPS and forearms, but walks into Garza’s kitchen sink knee! Garza drags Ricochet up, tags Almas in, and feeds Ricochet to the sunset flip! Almas feeds Ricochet back tot he basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Vega is frustrated for her team as Almas drags Ricochet up. Almas brings Ricochet to a corner and CHOPS him in the chest from above. Almas drags Ricochet up but Ricochet breaks free. The two scrap and Ricochet kicks then NO HAND STEINERS!
The Profits fire up on commentary and Vega shouts to Almas. Hot tags to Alexander and Almas! Alexander rallies on Garza and the Profits love it! Strike fest and corner forearm! Alexander rolls Garza for a basement dropkick! Alexander runs but Garza puts him on the apron, only to get a boot! “GET OVER HERE!” Swinging Complete Shot! Cover, TWO!! Vega is freaking out as Alexander drags Garza up. Tag to Ricochet, the two double whip but Garza holds ropes. Garza boots Alexander then boots Ricochet. But he runs into an atomic drop and gets an enziguri, tot he gourd buster! Standing shooting star! Cover but Almas breaks it!
Alexander goes after Almas but gets an elbow. Almas CHOPS Ricochet, then CHOPS Alexander, but Ricochet boots. DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Garza mule kicks Alexander out then spins Ricochet for a SUPERKICK! Garza climbs up and leaps, into a dropkick! The Profits are loving it but Vega is panicking as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns once again, and Almas brawls with Alexander. They go from their knees and back to their feet, but on wobbly legs. Almas hits again but Alexander throws another forearm. alexander gets the edge, back kicks then whips. Almas reverses but Alexander handsprings, NEURALIZER! Cover, TWO! Alexander grits his teeth as Almas gets to a corner. Alexander runs corner to corner but into a drop toehold and into buckles! Vega rallies up for Almas as he fires himself up. Almas goes corner to corner, CIEN SHADOWS! Cover, TWO!! Alexander bringing the toughness that made him a WWE/NXT Cruiserweight Champion back in the day!
Garza tags in but Alexander fights back! Garza boots and clubs Alexander into a dragon sleeper. He suplexes and has Alexander off the top rope, for an inverted suplex! Cover, TWO! Garza grabs Alexander’s arm for an armlock and chinbar. The Profits know Garza and Almas are giving their all but it isn’t scaring them. Almas tags in, he and Garza mug Alexander, and Almas CHOPS! Tag to Garza and they double whip. Alexander gets TU LO SABE! Cover, but Ricochet breaks it! Almas goes after Ricochet but gets thrown out instead. Ricochet slingshots but Almas trips him up! Garza drags Ricochet up but Alexander rolls him up, TWO! Alexander’s boot is blocked into a KNEE! Cover, TWO!?!
The Profits are loving what “Ceddy” and Ricochet are doing, but Vega wants to show them what they’re in for. Garza goes up the ropes, MOUNTAIN TOP MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Tag to Almas and they drag Alexander up. They double suplex but Ricochet saves Alexander. Ricochet enziguris Almas then runs to FLY onto Garza! They crash into barriers as Alexander springboards at Almas. Almas dodges but runs into the SCOOP MICHINOKU! Cover, TWO!?! Ford says this is “Tag team action at its finest!” Alexander drags Almas up but Almas grabs ropes. Alexander stomps him down but Vega complains. The ref counts and Alexander lets up to get Almas up. Almas elbows back but Alexander clubs him down. Alexander lifts but Almas sunset flips, ONE! Boot feint to ELBOW!! Cover, Almas & Garza win!
Winners: Andrade Almas & Angel Garza, by pinfall
A little hiccup with the shoulder check but Vega’s team still comes out on top! The Profits applaud that win but are still very confident in their own chances. The Profits gamble by going to ringside, and Vega’s team rushes them! Almas and Garza brawl with Ford and Dawkins! Dawkins tackles Almas down, ROCKS Garza and Ford dropkicks Garza down! Almas comes back for more, and Garza keeps throwing hands, but the Profits run their challengers off! Things just heated up for Mania in Florida! Who will hold the Raw Tag Team Championships at the end of the WrestleMania Weekend?
The Street Profits VS Shane Thorne & Brendan Vink!
The night isn’t done for the Raw Tag Team Champions! That scrap with Almas & Garza was a good warm-up, but will Ford & Dawkins keep rolling against NXT’s Worst and Smug?
The teams sort out and Dawkins starts against Thorne. Dawkins and Thorne tie up, Thorne gets around to a waistlock then shifts to a headlock. Dawkins powers up and throws Thorne off! Thorne gets up but Dawkins headlocks him now. Thorne powers out but Dawkins hurdles to run Thorne over! Ford is still fired up from commentary as Dawkins tags him in. The Profits whip Thorne and Ford dropkicks him down! Ford applauds himself as Thorne gets to a corner. Ford wants everyone to hear this CHOP! “Did you like that?!” He CHOPS Thorne again! Ford mocks the pain as he puts Thorne in the corner. Thorne boots back and dodges Ford to tag in Vink! Vink BOOTS Ford down!
Vink rains down rights on Ford then hauls him up for big hands and stomps! The ref counts and Vink backs off, but Thorne chokes Ford on the ropes! Vink drags Ford up and CHOPS Ford back! Now Ford really is stinging as Vink throws big forearms. Vink scoops Ford and slams him down to cover, TWO! Vink brings Ford up in a facelock but Ford endures. Ford fights up and pries free. Ford throws body shots but Vink picks him up to RAM him into the corner! Tag to Thorne and Vink whips Ford to the open corner. Thorne runs in to CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO! Thorne keeps on Ford with a knee in the back and fingers hooking his face! The ref reprimands but Thorne lets up to stomp Ford down.
Thorne drags Ford up with a chinbar and drags him over, but Ford jawbreakers free! Vink tags in and grabs a foot. Ford uses Vink’s strength to help him get up and enziguri back! Vink staggers and Ford crawls, hot tags to Thorne and Dawkins! Dawkins BODY CHECKS Thorne then throws big hands on Vink. Then he uses an Exploder to throw Vink! Dawkins flapjacks Thorne and hits a cyclone splash on Vink! Then one for Thorne! SPINE BUSTER for Thorne, tag to Ford! FROM THE HEAVENS! Cover, The Profits win!
Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall
Cash Out and frog splash, and it’s another win in the bank for Ford & Dawkins! Will the Profits be higher than ever before after WrestleMania Weekend?
Raw shares footage from WWE’s YouTube.
The WWE 24/7 Champion is jogging around the block. WWE may be forced to cancel live events, but there are no days off for The Riddick Regimen. He finishes up a run when a car pulls up. A WWE referee? Well there’s no way he lives in this neighborhood, it’s too pricey. Riddick demands to know who the ref is here with. The ref says he was just giving his new car a test drive. But out of the trunk, it’s R-Truth! Truth rolls Riddick up on the lawn for the cover! Truth WINS!
Winner: R-Truth, by pinfall (NEW WWE 24/7 Champion)
Truth ends the historic 40 day reign of Riddick and shouts, “You need to go back to football, Mr. Randy Moss!” Then Truth hops in the driver’s seat and drives away with the title! Riddick is disappointed in the ref, but the ref says that car was leased under his name! The 24/7 Championship chase aside, can the ref chase down Truth and get his car back?
Raw makes another WrestleMania announcement!
Two more matches have been added! First, Mania host Rob Gronkowski gets his wish of Elias VS Baron Corbin! Will the Drifter make a fool out of the Wolf King for Gronk?
Second, Aleister Black takes on Bobby Lashley for the first time ever! Will the Rocky Mountain Machine #FadeToBlack on the Grandest Stage of Them All?
Charly Caruso has an in-ring interview with Shayna Baszler.
The Queen of Spades stares intensely at Charly as Charly notes Shayna is the most intimidating woman in the WWE ever. Shayna became #1 contender to the Raw Women’s Championship by ripping through all five opponents in the Elimination Chamber. That is a historic first for the WWE. Shayna is very talented in the ring, and will have her match with Becky Lynch during WrestleMania Weekend. How does Shayna intend to conduct herself as champion? Shayna doesn’t say anything, so Charly does note Shayna lets her actions speak for her. But does Shayna have any words to share?
“You look nervous, Charly. Why’re you nervous? Afraid I might bite? Sorry, couldn’t help myself.” Inappropriate timing aside, that is a good segue. It was a very shocking moment for Shayna to bite Becky’s neck. Is that the level of brutality to expect at Mania? Becky should expect to lose at Mania. Charly points out Shayna agreed to the interview so there’s no need to be hostile. Then maybe Charly should ask Shayna the question we all know she wants to ask! “Why do you love to destroy? And if all you care about is destroying, why do you want to win the Raw Women’s title so bad?” The answer is Shayna wants that title because she loves to destroy! When Shayna takes the title from Becky, it will destroy Becky! “It’s not that complicated.” From the beginning, Shayna has shown everyone exactly who she is.
Charly wants Shayna to focus on the last time she and Becky had a match. That was Survivor Series, the Women’s Champion Triple Threat. Wait, someone SMACKS Shayna with a chair! It’s BECKY! The Man finally gets some payback on Shayna as she SMACKS her again! Becky smiles as she leaves Shayna writhing. There’s no more need for words, because those actions spoke very loudly. But will Shayna’s response be even louder?
Aleister Black VS Leon Ruff!
The Embodiment of the End prepares for a fight with Bobby Lashley in a test of toughness and dominance in the Raw roster. But first, will Evolve’s young star be the one to #FadeToBlack?
The bell rings and Ruff is wary of Aleister. Ruff approaches but Aleister stays in the corner a moment longer. When Aleister does step out, Ruff backs off. Aleister sits down cross-legged to put the ball in Ruff’s court. Ruff wants Aleister to stand up but he won’t. So Ruff runs in, but Aleister gets under the kick! Aleister gets up, blocks Ruff’s next kick, and holds Ruff at a distance. Aleister then spins Ruff for BLACK MASS!! Cover, Aleister wins!
Winner: Aleister Black, by pinfall
That probably could’ve been a win by knockout. Will the Rocky Mountain Machine crumble when hit with that same destructive strike? Or will Aleister even be able to use his best move against such a powerful force?
Raw returns with Kevin Owens already in the ring.
The Prizefighter gave his challenge to the Monday Night Messiah for WrestleMania, and now he wants to hear the response in person. Kevin has a mic to say, “Last week, I was here to answer your challenge, but you were nowhere to be found.” Rollins is here tonight, though, so Kevin is all ears. Come on out, Rollins! Rollins makes his entrance, but his disciples are conspicuous by their absence. “Kevin, just the man I was looking for.” Rollins has some questions for Kevin. The Performance Center looks pretty nice as an arena. But does anyone honestly believe that fighting Rollins here gives Kevin the advantage? Kevin did train here, he did make tons of memories and friends here, and earned his place in the WWE here. But does Kevin understand how he even got that opportunity?
When Seth Rollins came to the WWE, there wasn’t even a Performance Center for him to go to! “This building was built on my blood, sweat and tears, Kevin!” On Rollins’ sacrifices and success! Rollins’ first day in the WWE, he was in a “dilapidated warehouse,” and was told everything he did before the WWE didn’t matter! All of his life’s work, up in smoke. Does Kevin understand that? How could Kevin understand that day after day, Rollins suffered, persevered, and had to succeed. Not for himself, no. It was never about himself. It was for wrestlers like Kevin, so that one day they could come to a place like the WWE PC.
Rollins rebuilt the system from the ground up and wants to do that for Raw, but Kevin is in his way. Rollins isn’t sure if it’s Kevin’s selfishness or ego that gets in the way and refuses to fall in line. But none of this exists without Seth Rollins. NXT doesn’t exist without Seth Rollins. The WWE PC doesn’t exist without Seth Rollins. Every person who came through these doors after him owe their careers to Rollins! There is no Gargano, no Ciampa, no Undisputed Era, no Women’s (R)Evolution without Seth Rollins! But most importantly, without Seth Rollins, there is no Kevin Owens. Kevin is fed up with this delusional speech, but Rollins interrupts. Kevin always goes on about less talk, more fighting, but just let Rollins finish this speech.
Rollins’ next question is even more important. Why did Kevin pick WrestleMania to make an example out of him? Does Kevin know Rollins’ Mania record? WWE Intercontinental Championship, the WWE Universal Championship, beating Triple H, cashing-in his MITB contract on Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns to win the WWE World Championship! Rollins has more Mania moments than even he can count! And Kevin has… none. Kevin’s track record goes more like this: failure after failure after failure. What happened last year? Oh that’s right, Kevin wasn’t even good enough to be on Mania. So there’s no way Kevin beats Rollins even on his worst day. And Mania is never Rollins’ worst day, because under pressure, Rollins becomes “a god.” Kevin stands no chance.
From WWE WrestleMania 34 – SmackDown Women’s Championship: Charlotte Flair VS Asuka!
Back in 2018, it was “To be the Woman, you’ve got to beat the Woman.” The Empress of Tomorrow pits her undefeated streak against the Queen of Flair’s title!
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and one wrestling royal will be made to bow down to the other!
The fans are thunderous, and the two circle. They tie up, Asuka goes for the arm, but Charlotte reverses the hold. Asuka uses the ropes to flip through the reversal but Charlotte rolls to do the same, but Asuka kicks out a leg. Charlotte gets up and cartwheels to break free and shove Asuka. Charlotte styles and profiles, and even lets out a “WOO~,” then they tie up again. Asuka kicks then puts Charlotte in a headlock. Charlotte powers out and things speed up, Charlotte trips Asuka but Asuka rolls her, TWO. Asuka hits Charlotte with a sliding knee, cover, TWO. Charlotte and Asuka back off but the fans applaud.
Asuka taunts Charlotte as she sits in the corner. Charlotte comes out, but Asuka gets her in a takedown and double stomps. Asuka runs, but Charlotte catches her, only for Asuka to victory roll, TWO. Charlotte chops Asuka with the Flair family chops, backing Asuka into a corner. Charlotte whips Asuka corner to corner but Asuka reverses, so Charlotte tumbles to the apron. Asuka runs over, avoids the shoulder and gives kicks back. Asuka runs again, and hip attacks Charlotte to the barriers! The referee checks on Charlotte while Asuka dances in the ring, and Raw takes a break.
Raw returns and Asuka grinds Charlotte’s arm. Charlotte rolls and forearms out of the hold, but Asuka hits back with a knee. Asuka runs in, but into the backbreaker and STO from Charlotte! Charlotte grabs Asuka, Asuka turns things around, but Charlotte resists the Asuka Lock! Asuka hops up onto Charlotte, but Charlotte runs for the backpack stunner! Charlotte runs in, blocks boots, and turns Asuka around to forearm away on the back. Asuka elbows back, but Charlotte yanks Asuka in through the ropes to drop the knee on her head! Charlotte keeps going with another Flair knee drop! Asuka is down, so Charlotte climbs up. Charlotte MOONSAULTS! But Asuka catches her into a triangle hold!!
Asuka has her, but Charlotte hammers away with fists. Charlotte gets free, and puts Asuka in a Boston Crab! Asuka endures the hold, crawls and pops out, cover, TWO, Charlotte covers, TWO! The fans are loving this, even as Charlotte and Asuka glare at each other. Asuka hits first and fast, then yanks Charlotte’s bad arm into the ropes. She keeps going, kicking Charlotte back into the ring. Cover, TWO, and Asuka grows frustrated. She stalks Charlotte, going after that bad arm and kicking Charlotte right in the face. Charlotte ends up in a corner but Asuka keeps kicking. Charlotte blocks one to shove Asuka down, but that bad arm slows her down. Asuka trips Charlotte up, then runs, but her hip attack misses! Charlotte’s boot doesn’t!
Asuka ends up on the apron with Charlotte. Charlotte brings Asuka up, but Asuka resists the suplex. Asuka shoves Charlotte, then kicks her into the post. Asuka grabs Charlotte now, for a suplex to the floor! Both Queen and Empress crash land! The referee checks on them, but they’re somehow okay to continue, and Raw takes a break.
Raw returns again as Asuka sits on the top rope. She wants to bring Charlotte up but Charlotte SLAPS and CHOPS and CHOPS back! Charlotte then climbs up to join Asuka, for a SUPER SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! Asuka survives and Charlotte can’t believe it, but fans know “This is Awesome!” The two slowly rise, and Charlotte hits Natural Select– No! Asuka uses that to put on a grounded Octopus stretch! Asuka bends Charlotte all sorts of ways, Charlotte tries to escape, but Asuka rolls through to keep it! Charlotte suddenly pops and goes for Figure Four but Asuka kicks here away! Charlotte blocks the roundhouse and unloads CHOPS, but Asuka blocks one for a takedown! Asuka Lock attempted but Charlotte stands up.
Asuka jumps for bodyscissors and brings Charlotte down, but Charlotte rolls through to make it a cover, TWO! Buzzsaw kick from Asuka! Asuka won’t let her Streak end, but she runs into a SPEAR! Cover, TWO! Charlotte knows she’s close, but she’s growing frustrated and desperate. The fans fire up as she goes for the Figure Four, and gets it! Charlotte bridges, it’s the Figure EIGHT! Charlotte can’t keep her bad arm extended, she has to use just one arm. Even so, she holds on, and Asuka taps!! Charlotte wins and ends The Streak!!
Winner: Charlotte, by submission (still SmackDown Women’s Champion)
It finally happened! After 914 days, someone defeats The Empress! And it’s none other than The Queen!
Two years later, The Queen is now the challenger, hoping to end another incredible run. Will even the Riptide #BowDown to Charlotte?
Raw returns to the present with a backstage interview with Charlotte Flair.
What was it like for her to relive that Mania Moment? For Charlotte, “Inspiring.” But for Rhea Ripley, she surely wants to be just like Charlotte. WrestleMania 34 was both Charlotte’s successful defense of a title but also her ending Asuka’s incredible undefeated streak. Charlotte assumes Rhea is excited to be the first NXT Women’s Champion to be part of WrestleMania, but Charlotte is the “master class of making history.” WrestleMania 34 wasn’t even the first time Charlotte made history. It was WrestleMania 32 when Charlotte retired the WWE Diva’s Championship to become the new WWE Women’s Champion.
Then WrestleMania 35, Charlotte was part of WrestleMania’s first women’s main event match! So WrestleMania 36 will make Charlotte the first woman to win the NXT Women’s Champion on The Grandest Stage of Them All. So if Rhea wants, she can watch some of Charlotte’s “legacy matches,” and learn a thing or two. Will the Queen reign again after this year’s WrestleMania Weekend?
Randy Orton is here!
The Viper has a mic because we’re all expecting his answer to Edge’s WrestleMania challenge of a Last Man Standing match! “Over the last few months, I have done some things, said some things, that have been misunderstood.” What Orton did and said all came from “a place of love.” But everyone has taken it as “an act of brutality.” Orton wants Edge to listen to this. Before responding to the challenge, Orton needs to apologize. Orton lied to Edge’s wife, Beth Phoenix, in the ring. He lied when he said Edge was a junkie for “the roar of the crowd.” That’s not true. Edge is a junkie for his own ego. “Adam Copeland is a junkie for Edge.”
Last week, Edge did say something that ring true. That is the fact that Orton didn’t have to pay his dues. Orton will be the first to admit that he was handed his opportunities in the WWE because of who he was. He was handed those opportunities because of his last name. But being handed opportunities doesn’t guarantee a Hall of Fame worthy career. Orton asks Edge and all of us this. One year after Orton’s “call up” from OVW, Orton wins the WWE Intercontinental Championship. And then after that, he became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion ever. Were those handed to him? No.
Edge says that Mick Foley deserves the credit, and that he “passed the torch” to both Edge and Orton. Orton says Foley didn’t pass anything to Orton. Foley handed Edge the torch and he threw Orton onto a pile of thumbtacks! Orton spat in Foley’s face, beat him down, then took the torch. Orton takes a moment before he continues. “I went from being a third-generation prospect to the three most deadly leaders in sports entertainment. Was that handed to me? No. That all happened because I have the one thing, the one trait, that last week on Raw you said I didn’t have. And that is grit.”
But who knows? Maybe “grit” means different things to different people! “Grit” to Orton isn’t “sitting at home for nine long years on your couch, looking up to the sky and asking yourself, ‘What if?'” What “grit” means to Orton is “longevity in an industry that seldom has any.” To Orton, “grit” means being the one constant in the WWE locker room. Orton looks all around, and he doesn’t see anyone as nearly as accomplished as him. “Nobody has as much grit as me. Nobody, including you,” Edge. And yet Edge says Orton is entitled? Isn’t Edge the ultimate opportunist? Is Edge trying to say he wouldn’t have done the very same thing, had the opportunity come along? If HHH had asked Edge to join Evolution, would Edge have said no?
Orton says that everything he’s said these last few months, they still come from love. Orton loves Edge, his family, the Copeland daughters, Lyric and Ruby. That is why Orton sent their father back home. But Edge’s challenge of Last Man Standing at WrestleMania… Orton says Edge is writing the story, but Orton writes the ending. “I accept.” The Viper makes it official! He and the Rated R Superstar will fight until only one can get back to his feet! Who proves they have true grit?
My Thoughts:
Honestly, a really good episode! And that’s with two PPV match replays. Of course, they made great selections. I remember watching the Royal Rumble PPV in 2015 and loving that match, but I wasn’t doing wrestling coverage like this back then, so this was the first time I typed it all out like that. Still a great match even the second time around. The same goes for the SmackDown Women’s Championship for WM 34, which I did cover in 2018. I touched that one up a bit given the commercials changing the flow. To be honest, I would’ve used Lesnar VS Taker at WM 30 to also help give some support to Styles’ claim that Taker should’ve retired back then. That way it’s two birds, one stone to build the Lesnar VS McIntyre and Taker VS Styles matches.
Speaking of Styles, I like that he wants to up the ante given Taker beat down the Good Brothers. But what is a Boneyard Match? With Mania apparently being recorded and filmed before April 4th and 5th, it could be just about anything, but I’m thinking the go-home next week should give us that match’s rules. I’m going to guess right now that it will be a Street Fight in a graveyard, maybe with a Buried Alive Match twist. And while I’m glad to see Almas & Garza are an official tag team competing for the Raw Tag Team Championships, I’m a bit unsure why it’s happening now. Why not keep it to the Monday Night Messiah story and make it AOP? But even with that, Almas & Garza VS Ricochet & Alexander was a great match tonight. I hope Alexander and Ricochet stick together to be a team in the next phase.
Aleister VS Lashley is definitely outta nowhere, but maybe A) we would’ve gotten that build if the world wasn’t in crisis and B) this match is to fill time now that Mania is going to be two nights. That match will still be really good, and I’d imagine the winner moves on to a title. I therefore feel Aleister wins to go after the US Championship and Almas. Even if I’ve been advocating for Aleister as WWE 24/7 Champion with a John Wick style montage of matches, Aleister and Almas having a return to their NXT title feud sounds really good. Then we got great promos out of Seth Rollins and Randy Orton that add even more intensity to already intense feuds. I’m actually looking forward to Kevin VS Rollins, and how could I not want to see Orton VS Edge, Last Man Standing?
My Score: 8.3/10
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Opening weekend wraps up with the Funky Weapon!
There’s more mix ‘n’ match as Best of the Super Juniors 32 keeps going! But will Ryusuke Taguchi kick Bone Soldier butt in tonight’s main event?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Dragon Dia & Katsuya Murashima VS Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young; Akira & Jakob win.
- El Desperado & Shoma Kato VS Nick Wayne & Daiki Nagai; Nick & Daiki win.
- Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi VS Kosei Fujita & Hartley Jackson; Hiromu & Takagi win.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Ninja Mack VS Robbie X; Mack wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Kevin Knight VS MAO; Mao wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Clark Connors; Connors wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Robbie Eagles; Eagles wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Taiji Ishimori; Taguchi wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Ninja Mack VS Robbie X!
It’s the return of the Mack! Will the American Ninja start to take the block? Or will he be unable to solve for X?
The bell rings and the fans rally while the two circle. They start a “NINJA! NINJA!” chant, but then Robbie brings out a copy of the Ninja Mack mask! Just to rip it up! The fans boo, but Robbie throws it at Mack, and then SMACKS him down! The fans boo but Robbie stomps Mack at the ropes! The ref reprimands but Robbie ROCKS Mack! Robbie whips, Mack reverses, and Robbie handsprings over to then handspring with the ropes! Mack catches him, shove shim, hurdles over him, then backflips over, only for Robbie to SOBAT! The fans cheer, Robbie whips, but Mack reverses. Robbie goes up and over and shows off with his own handspring!
Mack runs in, Robbie slips out to the apron to ROCK Mack! Robbie springboards but Mack gets under. Robbie handsprings through, comes back and RANAS, but Mack handsprings through! The fans fire up and the two reset. Robbie runs up, Mack TOSSES him up and out! The fans fire up as Mack builds speed, and he handsprings for the NINJA- NO, Robbie moves back! But the Ninja Special continues even on the floor! Robbie runs away but Mack catches up, to HANDSPRING KICK him down at the stage! The fans fire up for that Super Ninja Special, and Mack leaves Robbie behind for the ring count.
Robbie sputters and crawls at 4 of 20, but is still far away at 10! Robbie hurries, the fans rally, and Robbie runs at 15 to slide in at 17! But Mack is on him with a facelock! Robbie fights up, lifts Mack, and then throws him away! Mack comes back, but Robbie uses the ref as a shield! Then he throws Mack down by his mask! Robbie throws down forearms and a stomp! The fans are torn but Robbie storms up on Mack to BOOT him in the corner! Robbie brings Mack around, suplexes then covers, ONE!! Mack is tougher than that and the fans rally up. Robbie CHOKES Mack on the ropes, then soaks up the cheers and jeers.
The ref counts, Robbie steps off at 4, then he WRECKS Mack with a dropkick! Mack is on the ground but the fans rally up. Robbie stands Mack up, CHOPS him, then stalks him to railing. Robbie pushes Mack into the ring, clamps on with a half nelson and covers, TWO! The fans cheer and Robbie gets annoyed. Robbie hauls Mack up to a fireman’s carry, but Mack slips around to sunset flip! TWO, and Robbie SWATS Mack’s haymaker to CHOP! Robbie whips, Mack reverses, but Robbie slides and then dodges! Mack is on the apron, Robbie runs to CANNONBALL KICK! The fans fire up as now Robbie builds speed!
Robbie goes up, up, and he ESCALARAS! Down goes Mack and the fans fire up with Robbie! Robbie drags Mack up and puts him back in the ring. Robbie then slingshots for a stalling SENTON! Cover, TWO! Mack is still in this and the fans rally up. Robbie and Mack slowly rise, and Robbie takes aim. Robbie runs in but blocks a boot! Robbie puts the leg on the ropes, KICKS the ropes, then SPIN KICKS Mack! Robbie snapmares Mack, RUNNING SHOOTING STAR onto knees! Mack cradles Robbie, TWO! Mack waits on Robbie, and DOUBLE CHOPS him! Then he DOUBLE CHOPS against the ropes! Mack won’t let Robbie get away as he unleashes CHOP after CHOP!
The fans fire up and Mack whips. Robbie reverses, then Robbie runs past Mack to fireman’s carry! ROLLING SENTON, STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO!! Robbie is frustrated but the fans fire up! Mack flounders to the corner, the fans rally up, and Robbie runs up to BOOT! Snapmare and now Robbie goes up the corner! From the top rope, X EX- NO, Mack dodges! Robbie rolls through, handsprings, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Mack holds on but Robbie victory rolls! TWO!! Mack and Robbie hurry up, Robbie handsprings, but into a DREAMCAST KICK AND CRADLE!! MACK WINS!!
Winner: Ninja Mack, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Robbie earns 0)
Innovating in the blink of an eye, Ninja Mack ends this just as quickly! Will every match Mack has be as fast ‘n’ furious as this? Or will someone find a way to slow Mack down?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Kevin Knight VS MAO!
The Jet may be All Elite now, but he’s always going to be #2Flyy! However, he’s up against DDT Pro’s Idol Wrestler. Can Knight get through the Michinoku Tornado? Or will his flight to the top be grounded?
The bell rings and the fans rally as Knight and Mao stare down. The fans seem strongly behind Mao as he and Knight circle. They tie up, Knight headlocks, then he hits a takeover. Mao fights around, stands back up, and he powers his way out of the headlock to have the armlock. Mao steps over to wrench the arm, but Knight rolls, handsprings, and wrenches back! Knight hammerlocks, but Mao reaches back to headlock. The fans applaud, but Knight rolls Mao to get free. Mao ducks a kick, Knight dodges a spin kick, and the fans cheer the standoff. Mao runs up, Knight dodges then arm-drags! Knight runs up, springboards and FLYING ARM-DRAGS!
Mao is up but Knight FLYING SHOULDER TACKLES! The fans fire up and Knight runs corner to corner to LARIAT! Knight goes up to rally the fans, then he hops down to stomp and UPPERCUT on repeat! The ref counts as Knight stomps a mudhole in, and Knight snapmares Mao for a SLIDING SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans rally, Knight covers, TWO! The fans applaud while Mao grits his teeth. Knight stands Mao up but Mao fires body shots! Knight ROCKS Mao, runs, but Mao ELBOWS him! Mao runs, Knight follows, but Mao goes up and around! Knight tumbles out to the apron, but he ROCKS Mao first!
Knight springboards but Mao WHEEL KICKS him down! Mao wrenches an arm and SLINGSHOT CUTTERS! The fans fire up and Mao climbs up, to then SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO, but Mao goes right to the corner! Mao aims again, for a KING KONG KNEE DROP! Mao rolls off the impact, but then rolls back and has Knight in the COBRA TWIST! Knight endures, the fans rally, and Knight powers his way to switch the twist! Mao endures now and the fans rally more. Knight says he’s #MecchaTsuyoi, but then Mao throws elbows! Mao switches things back, and he says he is meccha, meccha, TSUKAKUI! Mao puffs up to show how strong and handsome he is!
The fans cheer, but Knight powers out with a HIP TOSS! But Mao drags Knight down into a JUST FACELOCK! Knight endures, reaches out, fights around, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer again while Mao lets go. Mao rises and the fans rally while Knight is on the ropes. Mao runs and CANNONBALLS Knight against the ropes! Knight writhes but Mao brings him up, only for Knight to fire a forearm! Mao fires one back! Knight fires another forearm, so Mao fires back! They go forearm for forearm, then Knight has the edge. Knight winds up but Mao SHOTEIS! Mao whips Knight to a corner, but Knight comes back to LARIAT!
Knight LARIATS again, then whips, but Mao reverses. Knight goes up and over, runs back in, and he LARIATS again! The fans fire up with Knight as he goes to a corner. Knight aims, runs in corner to corner, but Mao dodges! Mao runs, but into a DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Mao survives and Knight is stunned but the fans rally up! Knight fires up and the fans rally again. Knight runs up but Mao stops the satellite DDT! Mao BOOTS Knight against the ropes, then runs, but he goes Matrix to avoid Knight’s superkick! Mao BOOTS Knight’s lariat to SHOTEI, but Knight ROCKS Mao with a forearm! Mao REAR HEADBUTTS!
Mao runs, Knight hurdles over to PELE! But Mao tiger-feints and rewinds to SPIN KICK! The fans fire up even more while both men are down! Knight staggers to his feet, Mao ROCKS him with a hard right! Mao reels him in, but Knight suplexes first! The fans fire up and Knight covers, ONE as Mao goes Matrix again! Knight is stunned, runs up on Mao, but blocks a boot. Mao ENZIGIRIS Knight, goes up, only for Knight to go to the UPPER ROOM! The fans fire up as Knight hurries to the apron and then the corner. Knight climbs, but Mao rises again! Mao goes up the ropes to SUPER STEINER Knight in return!
The fans fire up as Mao hurries up top again, but Knight goes back up! But no Upper Room, this is a SUPER DUPER PLEX!! But Mao’s right up!? And so is Knight! But then both men fall over! The fans fire up as Knight and Mao slowly stir. They both rise up, but Knight goes to the apron. Knight springboards, but into a DREAMCAST KICK! Mao reels Knight in and gut wrenches, but Knight TORNADO DDTS free!! Knight roars, runs, but Mao uses the ref as a shield! Then Mao runs to jump over the ref, only for Knight to jump over Mao! ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO!! Mao survives and the fans are thunderous!
Knight and Mao hurry back up, Knight runs up, but Mao stops the satellite again! MICHINOKU DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!?!? The fans rally as hard as they can and Mao aims, SUPERKICK! Cover, MAO WINS!
Winner: Mao, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Knight earns 0)
The Idol Warrior’s Samurai Kick strikes down the Knight! Knight shows respect with a bow, will we see these two meet again down the line? Will Mao soon take over the BOSJ for DDT Pro?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Clark Connors!
The Way of the Grandmaster is once again IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, but that just means he has a target on his back. Will Wato soon owe a golden ticket to this War Dog? Or will Wato be stronger than 100 Proof?
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two stare down. Connors and Wato circle, the fans rally more, and the two feel things out. Wato stays away from the leg takedown, then they feel out a knuckle lock. They back off, step forward, but Connors KNEES low! Connors ROCKS Wato, CHOPS Wato, then whips Wato. Connors bypasses but Wato hurdles over the backdrop! Connors still ROCKS Wato and has him in a corner. Connors runs in, but Wato BOOTS Connors, then BULLDOGS! The fans fire up with Wato and he KICKS Connors’ leg. And KICKS, and KICKS! Wato snapmares Connors, KICKS him again, then KICKS, KICKS, KICKS!
Connors ducks Wato, shoves him, and then hits the JEEP FLIPPER! Wato tumbles out of the ring but Connors pursues. Connors SMACKS Wato off the apron, then tells fans to move! The Young Lions usher fans out of the way, and Connors BOWLS Wato into the chairs! That was a STRIKE and then some! The fans fire up and even bark with Connors. Connors storms over to Wato, stomps him, then drags him up to his feet. Connors SMACKS Wato of a chair, then brings him back around. Wato fires elbows and CHOPS, but Connors CHOPS back! Wato staggers deeper into the crowd and Connors pursues!
The fans rally as Connors BOWLS Wato into more chairs! Connors has cleared out the whole section! The fans rally as Connors shoves the ref aside. Connors JAMS Wato up with a chair, then tells another section of fans to move! They hurry out of the way as Connors BOWLS Wato into even more chairs! Connors hits a turkey, aka bowling hattrick, and the fans fire up more. The ref reprimands but Connors clears out the chairs so he can stand Wato up. Wato fires body shots and forearms! Wato ROCKS Connors, and then Connors falls onto chairs! This entire area is a mess but Wato drags Connors up.
Connors body shots Wato, then POSTS him! Wato falls in a heap and the fans are torn. Connors intimidates commentary, then he goes looking under the ring. Connors brings out… a TIRE?! Why was one of those under there?! The ref reprimands Connors but Connors shoves him aside! Connors brings the spare tire over and JAMS Wato up! Connors sets the tire down, and he has Wato’s leg! Connors SMASHES Wato’s knee on the hubcap! The fans are torn but maybe so is Wato’s knee! Connors puts Wato in the ring, covers, TWO! Wato stays in this and the fans applaud, but Connors ties the legs up in a knot!
Wato endures, reaches out, and he claws his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Connors doesn’t let go. The ref counts so Connors stops at 4. Connors mocks the fans cheering Wato on, then drags Wato to his feet. Connors CHOPS Wato, whips him, but Wato blocks by holding ropes! Connors KNEES low, whips again, btu Wato reverses to ROCK, KNEE, and SHOTGUN Connors to a corner! The fans fire up and Wato rises. Wato runs in, Connors dodges, and Connors comes back, only for Wato to dodge! Wato then reels Connors in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Connors stays in this but Wato goes to the apron.
Wato slaps his leg into working, then watches Connors rise. Wato springboards but Connors gets under! Wato lands on his feet but his bad leg jams! Connors CHOP BLOCKS the leg! The fans are torn as Wato writhes, but Connors circles like a shark. Connors runs, but Wato catches him to a cradle! TWO!! Wato ROUNDHOUSE, but Connors blocks! And pops Wato up for a SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! Connors rises, drags Wato up, then whips, but Wato avoids the powerslam! Wato runs in, tilt-o-whirls, then hooks Connors up, RECIENTEMENTE!! Cover, TWO!!
Connors survives but Wato doesn’t stop! He body scissors and rolls Connors into VENDEVAL!! Connors endures, fights around with his legs, and he rocks the boat, only for Wato to pour on the pressure! Connors still fights, but Wato puts even more pressure on!! Connors powers through to have the ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer while Wato lets go in frustration. Wato drags Connors up, reels him in, but Connors holds ropes to fight the suplex! Wato KICKS the arms, TSUTEN- NO, Connors mule kicks the legs! Wato SOBATS and runs, but into a POWERSLAM!! Wato rises up, into a SPEAR!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Wato survives, and Connors hurries to bring Wato up. Connors puts one out, but Wato fights No Chaser! ROUNDHOUSE, and Wato fires back up! The fans rally, Wato hooks Connors up, RECIENTE- NO, Connors slips free and reels Wato back in! NO CHASER!!! Cover, CONNORS WINS!!
Winner: Clark Connors, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Wato earns 0)
100 Proof gets his clear shot on Wato, and now he has both two points and a golden ticket for it! Will the DEFY Champion soon run the whole Junior Heavyweight Division?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Robbie Eagles!
The Direct Drive is also once again IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion alongside Wato, but that means the same target is on his back. Will Yoh owe this Ichiban Sweet Boy a title shot? Or can he shoot down the Sniper of the Skies first?
Wait, Yoh’s near jacket and gear is made with… recycled Ziploc bags? Well, guess that’s one way to stay fresh. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Yoh’s height gives him leverage to put Eagles on ropes. The ref counts, Eagles turns things around on Yoh, but he lets off slowly, to kiss Yoh on the cheek. The fans cheer, especially the ladies, and then Eagles asks Yoh for one in return. Yoh steps closer, but Eagles headlocks! Eagles hits the takeover, Yoh headscissors, and Eagles kips free. Roles reverse and Yoh headlocks for a takeover and Eagles headscissors. Yoh kips free, the two stand off, and the fans cheer.
Eagles steps closer and he gives Yoh another kiss on the cheek. Yoh still wants to reciprocate but Eagles says no thanks. Because right now, he wants to “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” And Yoh kisses Eagles on the cheek three times! The fans cheer and Eagles is stunned. Eagles slaps sense into himself, then SLAPS Yoh! Yoh runs up, Eagles trips him, but Yoh boots him away. Yoh drops down, bypasses, then drop toeholds Eagles! He calls Eagles a “hentai (pervert)” before he DROPKICKS Eagles!
Eagles tumbles out, Yoh PLANCHAS and direct hit! The fans fire up for Yoh, and he uses a fan’s towel to wipe his face. Yoh stalks Eagles, puts him in the ring, then hurries to a corner. The fans rally as Yoh climbs, and he CANNONBALLS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Eagles goes to a corner. Yoh stomps Eagles, throws forearms, then wrenches and whips corner to corner. Yoh runs in and ELBOWS Eagles, then turns him, but Eagles SAIDOS free! The fans fire up while both men are down! Eagles covers, TWO! The fans applaud and Eagles sits Yoh up to run and SLIDING KICK! Cover, TWO!
Eagles is annoyed but the fans rally up. Eagles kicks Yoh around, drags him up, and reels him in for a scoop and SLAM! Eagles soaks up the cheers, then covers, TWO! Eagles eggs Yoh on, so Yoh fires a forearm then a kick, and repeat. Eagles kicks low, CHOPS, then whips. Yoh reverses but Eagles stops himself, so Yoh’s dropkick gets nothing. Eagles runs up to roll Yoh into a KNEEBAR! Yoh endures as Eagles grapevines the leg, and the fans rally up. Yoh reaches out, crawls around, and manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Eagles lets go. Eagles drags Yoh from the ropes to drop a KNEE on the knee!
The fans rally while Eagles paces. Yoh rises up, but Eagles KICKS, KICKS and KICKS! Yoh eggs Eagles on, so Eagles runs to LEG LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and Eagles drags Yoh up. Eagles cravats but Yoh fights the rest. Eagles CLUBS away on Yoh, UPPERCUTS, then ASAI- NO, Yoh slips free of the Asai DDT! But Eagles back suplexes! Yoh lands out and waistlocks but Eagles switches and CHOP BLOCKS! Eagles runs, but into a DROPKICK! Both men are down and the fans rally up. Yoh and Eagles go to opposite ends, then they both run up! Yoh rallies with forearm after forearm, then whips, only for Eagles to reverses. But Yoh FLYING FOREARMS!
The fans rally more and Yoh brings Eagles around. Yoh scoops and SLAMS Eagles, then he sets up to soak up cheers. Yoh soaks up quite a lot, and then Yoh ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO! KNEE DROP! Cover, TWO, SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Eagles stays in this and the fans rally up again. Yoh brings Eagles around, reels him in, but Eagles fights the suplex! Yoh CLUBS away on Eagles, then brings him up to suplex, only for Eagles to fight free! Eagles wrenches, but Yoh ROCKS him! And ROLLING ELBOWS! Yoh reels Eagles back in, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Eagles survives and the fans fire up again!
Eagles and Yoh stir and Yoh goes to a corner. Yoh tunes up and the fans rally. Eagles rises, Yoh aims, but Eagles ducks the superkick to trip Yoh and tie up the legs! RON MILLER SPECIAL!! ROPEBREAK, but Eagles brings Yoh up fast, ASAI DDT!! Both men are down again and the fans rally back up. Eagles drags Yoh up, but Yoh breaks free, only for Eagles to KNEE low! And KICK down! Yoh goes to a corner, Eagles runs in, DOUBLE KNEES! Eagles comes back but Yoh BOOTS him! Eagles returns again to BASEMENT 619, but Yoh jumps it! Yoh then JUMP KNEES Eagles! Eagles DOUBLE KNEES Yoh again!
Yoh sits down, Eagles runs in yet again, METEORA! The fans fire up as Eagles drags Yoh to center and covers. TWO, but Eagles stands Yoh up to hook him up! But Yoh fights the backpack to scoop and FALCON GOROSHI! The fans fire up while both men are down, and Yoh clutches his leg. Yoh crawls to the cover, TWO! Yoh clamps on an ANACONDA VICE!! Eagles endures as Yoh uses Tenzan’s signature hold! Eagles fights around, stands up, but Yoh SLAMS Eagles down! Yoh pulls on the hold but Eagles still endures! The fans rally, Eagles reaches out, then manages to sit up! Eagles stands again, fights towards ropes, but Yoh ripcords and reels Eagles in!
DIRECT- NO, Eagles BACKDROPS out of that! Yoh sunset flips but Eagles rolls through! Eagles steps through, but Yoh BOOTS him away! Both men stand and the fans rally. Yoh ROCKS Eagles, Eagles kicks the leg, and both men back up. Yoh slaps his leg into working, and DOUBLE FOREARMS collide! DOUBLE FOREARMS collide again! And then again! Both men stagger all the way back to the ropes, for DOUBLE I’LL BE BACK! Eagles and Yoh SUPERKICK each other down! The fans fire up and both men go to corners. Eagles runs in, Yoh pops him up! Eagles lands on the apron, KICKS the leg out, then springboards to SNIPER DROPKICK!
The fans fire up as Yoh flounders! Eagles aims again, HYPER- NO, Yoh ducks that and rolls Eagles. Eagles rolls through but Yoh blocks the superkick! But Eagles stops the dragon screw, grabs an arm, and YANKS Yoh up to the fireman’s carry! Eagles shifts Yoh around to the TURBO BACKPACK!! Cover, TWO!!! Yoh survives and Eagles is shocked! The fans fire up as Eagles takes aim, BASEMENT SUPERKICK! Eagles hurries up top, takes aim, and WARP 4.5!! Direct hit on Yoh’s legs, and then Eagles steps through. But Yoh cradle counters! TWO!! Eagles escapes but he and Yoh fight for facelock control!
Yoh suplexes, Eagles slips through to waistlock, but Yoh switches! Yoh half nelsons, but Eagles fights the suplex! Yoh powers up and gets the full nelson! Eagles breaks free, but Yoh hops up to POISON-RANA!! Eagles rises, into a SUPERKICK!! The fans fire up and Yoh powers up again! Yoh drags Eagles up and in, DIRECT- NO, Eagles arm-drags and steps through, but Yoh turns Ron Miller Special into an O’Conner! STAR GAZE- NO, Eagles pushes on the bad leg! Yoh falls forward and Eagles ties the legs up! RON MILLER SPECIAL!!! Yoh endures, flails, and claws at the mat while the fans rally! Eagles drags Yoh away from ropes, YOH TAPS! EAGLES WINS!!
Winner: Robbie Eagles, by submission (gains 2 points; Yoh earns 0)
Both IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions have lost! A golden ticket to Clark Connors, a golden ticket to Robbie Eagles, will Wato & Yoh be busy after the Best of the Super Juniors? Will Eagles use this win to go for the trophy?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Taiji Ishimori!
The Funky Weapon and the Bone Soldier have had quite a few battles through this tournament series, and more often than not, #ItsReborn! But will Taiji keep up that streak #ByGrace? Or will Taguchi finally get lucky here in the main event?
The bell rings and the fans rally behind “TA-GU-CHI!” Taguchi and Taiji circle, feel things out, then clinch. They go around, Taiji facelocks, but Taguchi wrenches out. Taiji wrenches in return and hammerlocks but Taguchi moves around. They stand, Taguchi switches the hammerlock, but Taiji drop toeholds. Taiji floats but Taguchi slips out the back to hammerlock again. The fans applaud this technical exchange, and Taguchi hooks an arm for a cover, TWO! Taguchi holds onto Taiji but Taiji fights up. Taiji wrenches out, but Taguchi rolls, trips Taiji and has the toehold. Taiji goes for an armbar but Taguchi goes for the leg!
Taiji scrambles forward and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Taguchi lets go. Taguchi scoots back and keeps his eyes on Taiji. The fans rally as Taiji stands and the two reset. They circle, tie up again, and Taiji headlocks. Taguchi powers up and out and RAMS shoulders with Taiji! The fans cheer as Taiji dares Taguchi to run. Taguchi runs, they RAM shoulders again, and now Taiji runs. Taguchi drops down, hurdles, but Taiji waistlocks. Taguchi elbows free, whips to arm-drag, then he RAMS Taiji! Taguchi springboards to FLYING ARM-DRAG! And DROPKICK! The fans fire up as the Dropkick Master returns!
Taiji bails out but Taguchi builds speed! Taiji runs away but Taguchi rolls back and swivels them hips! Then Taguchi does the dance moves! The fans cheer but Taiji is annoyed. Taiji rushes up but Taguchi HIP ATTACKS him down! Taguchi slingshots, but Taiji YANKS him down! Taguchi hits apron then the floor, and Taiji stomps him. Taiji drags Taguchi around and CATAPULTS him into the POST! Taguchi falls and clutches his arm but the fans rally up. Taiji paces around the outside while Red Shoes checks Taguchi. Taguchi is okay to continue, but Taiji undoes the blue buckle pad! Red Shoes is none the wiser as he starts the ring count.
Taguchi shakes out the bad arm while he’s down on the mat. We go past 5 of 20, then past 10. Taguchi stands at 14 and the fans applaud. Taguchi hears 17 and rolls in at 19! The fans cheer as Taguchi maximizes his rest time, but then Taiji stomps Taguchi down! Taiji pulls on Taguchi’s bad arm, twists the wrist, and even stands on Taguchi’s face! Red Shoes reprimands, and it sounds like a young fan in the crowd shouts at Taiji. Taiji tries to spot the kid but he just pulls on Taguchi’s arm more. Taguchi fights up, but Taiji hammerlocks and POSTS him! The fans boo as Taguchi is stuck in the bare corner. Taiji brings Taguchi out to snapmare and FIST DROP! Cover, TWO!
The fans cheer but Taiji keeps Taguchi down with an armlock! Taguchi endures, and he reaches out to a ROPEBREAK with his foot! The fans cheer but Taiji holds on! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Taiji lets go at 4, and the fans rally more. Taiji has Taguchi on the apron and drags him up. Taiji wrenches to HOTSHOT the arm! Taguchi drops to the apron and rolls in, clutching that shoulder. Taiji grins and looms over Taguchi. Taguchi CHOPS from below, but Taiji CLUBS him! Taguchi CHOPS again, but Taiji CLUBS Taguchi again! Taiji then grabs the bad arm for a STRAIGHT ARM BAR! Taguchi scrambles around again, ROPEBREAK!
Taiji still holds on so Red Shoes counts again. Taiji lets go at 4 and Taguchi crawls to the ropes. Taguchi kicks from below but Taiji eggs him on. Taguchi kicks more, so Taiji stomps him down! Taiji taunts the fans as they rally up for Taguchi. Taiji drags Taguchi up, Taguchi fires body shots, and the fans rally again. Taguchi runs, but jumps into an atomic drop! Taiji runs, btu Taguchi follows! Only to get another atomic drop! Taiji laughs while Taguchi drops to his knees. Taiji waistlocks but Taguchi fires elbows. Taguchi runs but fakes Taiji out, and then HIP ATTACKS! Then Taguchi TRIANGLE JUMP PLANCHAS! Direct hit and the fans cheer!
Taguchi still clutches the bad arm and shakes it out, but both he and Taiji are down as the ring count starts. Taguchi sits up at 6, drags Taiji up at 10, and puts him in at 11. Taguchi steps in and HIP DROPS! And HIP DROPS! And HIP DROPS again! Taguchi then goes back out to the apron, and he fires the fans up for the SLINGSHOT HIP DROP, but onto knees! Taiji turns things around on Taguchi and Taguchi hobbles away to a corner. Taiji runs in, but Taguchi BOOTS him! Taguchi goes up to get Taiji for the DEADLY BUTT SHADE! Taiji staggers back, Taguchi goes up, FLYING HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up and Taguchi covers, TWO!
Taguchi kips up and the fans fire up! Taguchi calls upon the powers of Strange Style, “ORYA~!” KETSU- NO, Taiji rolls Taguchi up! TWO!! Taiji ROCKS Taguchi, whips, but Taguchi reverses. Taiji handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Taiji hobbles over to Taguchi, drags him up, and gut wrenches. Taguchi slips free and waistlocks but Taiji switches. Taguchi drop toeholds but Taiji scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Taguchi still uses OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Red Shoes reprimands, Taguchi stops, but then he drops KNEE after KNEE on Taiji’s ankle! Taguchi drags Taiji up and chicken wings!
DODON TO THE- NO, Taiji blocks the knees and deadlifts Taguchi into the CIPHER UTA- NO!! OH MY GAH- NO, VICTORY ROLL! TWO!! Taiji runs up, Taguchi dodges, ENZIGIRI! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! Taiji and Taguchi stir, and fans rally as Taguchi stands. Taguchi chicken wings but Taiji fights the lift! Taguchi CHOPS Taiji on the back, runs, but Taiji catches and spins him, to POST him again! Red Shoes reprimands but Taiji grabs Taguchi’s arm. Taiji hammerlocks one then half nelsons the other, but Taguchi fights the lift! Taiji powers through to hoist Taguchi up, SHOULDER BUSTER!
The fans rally while Taguchi writhes, and Taiji aims from the corner. Taguchi rises, Taiji runs in, LA MYST- NO, Taguchi powers through to roll Taiji up! TWO, and OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Taiji crawls, reaches out, but Taguchi drags him back! But Taiji drags Taguchi down! FUJIWARA, into the BONE LOCK!! Taguchi endures, fights around, reaches out, but Taiji rolls him away from ropes! Taguchi pops free to OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Taiji flails and reaches out, then grabs Red Shoes! Taiji YANKS Red Shoes into Taguchi, and that undoes the hold! Taguchi hurries back, but Taiji BOOTS Taguchi into Red Shoes!
The fans boo as Red Shoes goes down, but Taguchi rushes up on Taiji! Taiji slips around and hooks the arm, to LOW BLOW MULE KICK!! The fans boo more but Taiji GEDO CLUTCHES, TWO!!! Taguchi survives Taiji’s sneaky tactics and the fans fire up! Taiji, Taguchi and Red Shoes all slowly stand back up, and Taiji hobbles over to Taguchi. Taiji drags Taguchi up, but Taguchi is a ragdoll! Taiji snarls and he drags Taguchi up all the same, BLOODY- NO, Taguchi rolls through, and then has the OH MY GAH ANKLE!!! Taiji endures, Taguchi keeps him from ropes, and Taguchi pushes on that leg! The fans rally as hard as they can as Taguchi puts on the pressure!
Taiji grits his teeth, reaches out, but Taguchi twists the ankle more! Taiji fights forward, Taguchi drags him back, and repeat! Taguchi then yanks Taiji into the DODON BUSTER!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Taiji survives, but Taguchi just goes for OH MY GAH ANKLE!!!! The fans rally for Taguchi but Taiji rolls! Taguchi holds on!! Taguchi ELBOW DROPS the leg, then TWISTS the ankle!!! Taiji endures, but he TAPS!! TAGUCHI WINS!!!
Winner: Ryusuke Taguchi, by submission (gains 2 points; Taiji earns 0)
Taiji tried and tried, but who knew Taguchi would take this one so seriously? Will it only be #ByGrace that Taiji can turn this around and reach the top?
As for Taguchi, he ices his arm while the fans cheer him on. Then he gets the mic to say, “Thank you for the chants.” The fans cheer, and Taguchi continues, “Thank you all for so many of you showing up here in Iwanuma, and thank you for all the support.” The fans cheer again, and Taguchi adds that he’d like to thank Mayo Junichi Sato, as well as the Iwanuma City Board of Education. “The elementary and middle school kids were able to come here for free today, so we got so much support from the kids. For you to understand how pro-wrestling can give you strength is something that brings me so much joy.”
The fans applaud that, too, and Taguchi hopes they’ve all found a new hobby today in pro-wrestling. Please keep watching pro-wrestling, as there are so many great wrestlers for you to discover and enjoy. He hopes watching wrestling makes their lives more fun. He wishes them all the best. The fans applaud, and Taguchi says not just his opponent tonight, Taiji, but also Yoh and Mao are from here in the Miyagi Prefecture. “We produce a lot of great wrestlers, but I guess the Saito brothers are most famous.” The fans have a good laugh at that, and Taguchi says he hopes he can be like them in terms of popularity. Please continue to support him!
The fans applaud, and Taguchi says Hirooki Goto is leading NJPW and his Goto Revolution. The fans do applaud that, and Taguchi says he is willing to follow Goto. The G in IWGP may be for Goto, but the T in “The” that is in “Best of The Super Juniors” will now stand for Taguchi! The fans do like the sound of that. Taguchi says the BOSJ’s T will send his love to Iwanuma today. The fans like that, and Taguchi sees the cheerers are here, as is the mascot! The fans applaud and “Chief Clerk Iwanuma” waves. Taguchi says this is also on NJPW World, so this is good promotion around Japan and the world. You will see how great Iwanuma is today!
So, let’s go! The T in Best of the Super Juniors is for Taguchi! Iwanuma, daisuki desu~!” And since it’s been awhile, let’s do that, huh? The fans cheer and clap along as Taguchi does his dance! Will the Funky Weapon get even funkier as this tournament goes on? Will he lead the Junior Heavyweight Division just as Goto leads all of NJPW?
Here are the updated A Block standings!
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-0, 2 points
Dragon Dia: 1-0, 2 points
Kosei Fujita: 1-0, 2 points
Ninja Mack: 1-0, 2 points
Clark Connors: 1-0, 2 points
Master Wato: 0-1, 0 points
KUSHIDA: 0-1, 0 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 0-1, 0 points
Francesco Akira: 0-1, 0 points
Robbie X: 0-1, 0 points
Here are the updated B Block standings!
El Desperado: 1-0, 2 points
Nick Wayne: 1-0, 2 points
MAO: 1-0, 2 points
Robbie Eagles: 1-0, 2 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 1-0, 2 points
Kevin Knight: 0-1, 0 points
Titan: 0-1, 0 points
SHO: 0-1, 0 points
YOH: 0-1, 0 points
Taiji Ishimori: 0-1, 0 points
My Thoughts:
A great second day for BOSJ’s opening weekend. Mack VS Robbie X was immediately a high bar with that extra special Ninja Special Mack pulled off, and even how the finish came about with that spin kick into a cradle. Knight VS Mao also had some great innovation, and a great first win for Mao in his first-ever BOSJ. Connors and Eagles each getting a win over the tag team champions was a bit surprising, but they could do some big stuff with the tag teams after the tournament. I did like Connors using a tire in this match, and it sounds like that’s part of a new gimmick or something he’s doing. Yoh’s Ziplock outfit is pretty fun, too.
And great stuff out of the main event with getting “Serious Taguchi” here tonight. Taguchi is usually such a jokester so it’s great when he busts out a banger like this, especially when he wins. I appreciate Taguchi giving such a promo where he genuinely wants the kids to know pro-wrestling can be a hobby but also a career. I also like that he brought out the comedy here, copying Goto’s “the G in IWGP is for Goto” but to where it’s something irrelevant. Taguchi rising back up as a serious contender would be something to see, especially with all these crossovers.
My Score: 9/10
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CM Punk is back! Will Seth Rollins’ vision already be in trouble?
Last Monday Night Raw, CM Punk & Sami Zayn helped Jey Uso against Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker. What happens tonight as they’re all in Louisville?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- PENTA VS Chad Gable; Penta wins.
- The War Raiders VS The Creed Brothers w/ Chad Gable; The Creed Brothers win.
- AJ Styles VS Finn Balor w/ Judgment Day; Styles wins.
- Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley VS Giulia & Roxanne Perez; Iyo & Rhea win.
PLAY BY PLAY
WWE mourns the loss of “Sabu,” Terry Brunk.
CM Punk is here!
Louisville fires up for the Best in the World, and they know, “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME~!” Punk goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and asks, “Is it great to be alive on a Monday night in Louisville, Kentucky or what? I’m a pissed off man but I’m fortunate enough to say that this is my home! All the dust has settled from WrestleMania, and I waited a few weeks, and I’ve nursed a few injuries and a lot of hurt feelings, but I can’t shake being pissed off!” The fans cheer that! Punk says he has a lot of enemies. It’s really easy to list off who he’s NOT pissed off at. But number one with a bullet, a big, fat bullet…
The person that Punk is most pissed off at right now… is himself. The fans are surprised to hear that, but Punk says yeah, he’s mad at himself, mostly because we’ve been here before. This isn’t the first time Paul Heyman stabbed Punk in the back. Stab him in the back once, shame on you. Stab him in the back twice, shame on him. But he though the could trust his friend. Almost 12 years ago, Heyman smashed a ladder into Punk’s head, gave him 13 staples right down the middle, and they moved past that. At least, he thought they had. They had grown and matured as humans, or at least Punk knows Punk had.
And apologies to Jey Uso, but when Punk came back to the WWE, Jey had warned him about Paul Heyman, but Heyman is Heyman. Heyman is who he always has been: a fat little snake! So yeah, while Punk is pissed at Heyman, he’s more upset with himself. He might be upset with “Temu Punk,” Seth Rollins, but Punk will get them all. But we know how this ends, we’ve been down this road, Heyman knows how this ends, Punk can’t wait to get his hands around Heyman’s fat neck and squeeze until Heyman’s eyes pop out. But “Ladies and gentlemen…!” Punk says good, where are you, Penguin?!
Heyman storms out to the stage and Punk dares him to explain why he did what he did. And Wise Man, understand that whatever words you choose, they will be your last! But before that, here comes Rollins! The fans sing and Punk says that’s all Rollins is! But Rollins also has Bron Breakker by his side, and the trio stands together on stage. Rollins, in his all rattlesnake skin ensemble, is handed the mic. The fans chant for Punk but Rollins says, “Just when I think you can’t get any more selfish or any more egotistical, you find a way to top yourself. This man, Paul Heyman, was your best friend! Your best friend! And you made his life HELL on the Road to WrestleMania!
“And now you are out here in front of the entire world, gaslighting all of us, trying to make us believe that he betrayed you?” The fans seem to agree. Rollins says Punk makes him sick! Heyman believed in Punk for YEARS! YEARS, when no one else did. But y’know what Rollins believes? He believes Punk is scum, is trash, is excrement, and that he was right about Punk all along. And just when Rollins thinks he can’t hate Punk more than he already does, Punk stands there in that ring as THE reason Rollins is not World Heavyweight Champion right now! Punk says Rollins ain’t ever gonna be champ as long as Punk’s on two feet.
The fans cheer and Rollins groans. The fans chant for Punk but Rollins and Heyman chuckle. What is Punk’s deal? Does he love punishment? Does he love suffering? Does he love being on the wrong side of history? Wait, wait, wait. Rollins gets it now. Punk loves to play the victim. Punk loves to come out here and boo hoo, poor CM Punk~! Punk so desperately so wants to be a victim, he so desperately wants to die a martyr… The fans bark in anticipation, and Rollins says he believes that can be arranged. Rollins hopes Punk has prepared his last words. And with that, Bron is sent to the ring like the attack dog he is!
Punk says is the little doggy gonna bark or bite. And then the brawl is on! Bron RAMS Punk in the corner again and again, rains down fists, and the fans boo as Rollins swaggers into the ring. Bron runs but Punk BOOTS him! And TACKLES Rollins! The fans fire up but now it’s 2v1 as Bron gets back on Punk! But wait! Here comes Sami Zayn! Sami fires hands on Bron, then on Rollins! The fans fire up but Bron picks Sami up! EXPLODER! Punk is up to brawl with Rollins, but Bron joins in again! They mug Punk, and Heyman brings a chair! The fans boo but wait! JEY USO IS HERE! SUPERKICK and the chair is down!
Rollins and Jey brawl, Bron goes after Jey, it’s another 2v1 mugging! But then Sami is back, as is Punk, and they have chairs! They chase off Rollins, Bron & Heyman! The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” but Rollins has Bron stand down. Will Punk, Sami & Jey turn the tide when it’s their three against Rollins’ three?
PENTA VS Chad Gable w/ Ivy Nile!
While he still has #CeroMiedo, he also has zero titles because one way or another, Judgment Day screws him over! Of course, it was “El Grande Americano” who factored into things at Backlash, so Penta knows exactly who to go after this time! At least, maybe? Will Penta prove Gable and Grande are one in the same? Or will Gable #SHOOOOSH all the conspiracy theory noise?
Raw returns as Gable makes his entrance. Penta wants right after him but the ref keeps him back. And just as Michael Cole is wondering if Pat McAfee will make it tonight’s show, Pat arrives! Louisville cheers Pat and he gives high-fives on his way to commentary, still in one piece after his battle with Gunther. He even still has energy to hop up onto the desk to salute the fans.
The bell rings and Gable is a bit off balance from Pat’s entrance. Penta CLOBBERS Gable, stomps away on him, then KICKS Gable’s leg! Penta CHOPS Gable, CHOPS again, then CHOPS again! Penta whips, Gable ducks ‘n’ dodges to FLYING HEADBUTT! Gable rains down fists, then he paces around in a huff. Gable CHOPS Penta down, CHOPS him again, and CHPOS him again! Gable whips, then CLOBBERS Penta! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Penta and Gable is annoyed by that. Gable drags Penta up, but Penta fires body shots! Penta ELBOWS Gable, whips, but Gable reverses. Gable ELBOWS Penta down and he then hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO!
Gable is annoyed but the fans rally for Penta. Gable drags Penta up, whips corner to corner hard, and Penta falls! Gable storms up to put Penta on the top rope. Gable climbs up, pulls on Penta’s mask, but the fans boo. Gable pries at the mask now but the ref reprimands. Penta fires elbows and Gable falls back! Penta leaps to FLYING ARM-DRAG! Gable is up, Penta ducks ‘n’ dodges and RANAS! Gable tumbles out, Penta says “CERO! MIEDO!” and builds speed. Gable moves, Penta adjusts to PLANCHA, but Gable HEADBUTTS him down! Gable shouts, “Lucha Libre SUCKS!” and fans boo, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and the fans rally for Penta as he fights up. Penta fires elbows and is free of the chinlock, only for Gable to throat chop! Gable whips, Penta reveres, but Gable ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for Penta to SUPERKICK! Both men are down, Ivy is worried, and the fans rally up. Penta runs in at the corner to GAMANGIRI! Gable sits down, Penta headstands and SWINGING DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Penta covers, TWO! Penta is annoyed but he shakes out his arm and brings Gable up. Penta half nelsons, pump handles, but Gable slips around to shove. Penta springboards but Gable catches him to a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!
Penta escapes and Gable is upset. Gable drags Penta to the center of the ring, then goes up a corner. Gable DIVING HEADBUTTS into a CODE BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up while both men are down, and Gable flounders away. Penta rises up and the fans rally. Penta storms up, KICKS and CHOPS Gable, then CHOPS again! Gable whips, Penta goes up, stumbles, but still goes up! Gable grabs ropes to fight the backstabber, then BUCKS Penta away! Gable goes up, MOONSAULTS, cover, TWO!! But into an ANKLE LOCK!! Penta rolls to throw Gable away, and then SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up while both men are down again! Penta calls his shot, hammerlocks an arm, and he SLAPS Gable into giving up the other arm! But Gable powers out and has the ANKLE LOCK!! Penta endures, fights forward, and reaches out, only for Gable to drag him back! Penta fights up and rolls to victory roll! TWO, and Gable rolls Penta up! TWO! Gable throat chops Penta again! Gable hauls Penta up to the top rope, then climbs up after him! They are on the very top, but Penta fights with body shots! Gable gives shots back, then talks trash, but Penta tells him CERO MIEDO! Penta SHOVES Gable, Gable lands out, but Penta hits a FLYING DESTROYER!! Cover, Penta wins!!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall
Gable tried to belittle lucha libre, but it backfired! Penta comes through and gets even with at least one enemy, but will he even the score with “El Grande” and Judgment Day soon enough?
Roxanne Perez & Giulia speak.
Roxie says, “Tonight, The Prodigy & The Beautiful Madness take on the Genius of the Sky and Rhea Ripley. And I think we’ve made it very, very clear that this division isn’t safe anymore.” Giulia says in Japanese, “They are strong, but we are hungry. We didn’t come here to wait our turn. We came to take over.” Roxie says that means going after the very top. Iyo, Rhea, they don’t give a damn about your history because they’re here to make their own! You are looking at the future of this industry. And the future starts tonight. Will these former NXT Women’s Champions put the WWE Women’s World Champion & Mami in the past?
Judgment Day meets in the clubhouse.
Carlito knows with Liv Morgan off making her movie, Raquel Rodriguez doesn’t have anyone to hang out with, so he offers to hang out with her. Maybe get something to eat? Raquel rolls her eyes, but Dom finishes a phone call with Liv. Liv says she misses Dom, but the filming is going great. Though, she said “Good morning,” but it’s night here. JD McDonagh says surely this isn’t the first time Dom’s heard about time zones. Dom says he doesn’t really pay attention to that. But he does need to talk with Finn about something real quick. He knows at Backlash, Finn hesitated with the chair and that almost cost Dom. If not for Grande-
Whoa, easy, Dom. Don’t get all paranoid like Damian and Rhea. Remember what they were like as champions? It didn’t go smoothly, sure, but it all worked out, and Dom is still the champ. Finn pats the title, and says he’ll handle Styles for Dom. Dom knows he will. They fist bump and Finn heads out, and JD tells Dom they’ll explain this. The light is the sun, and this skull is Earth. When the Earth turns, the light is somewhere else. Liv is probably over here where there’s sunlight. Rudimentary science aside, will The Prince come through for the champ and cross off a phenomenal contender?
The fans cheer Pat’s match at Backlash.
Pat stands on the desk again and waves to Louisville. For what was shown in the highlight reel, everyone was making sure he was okay before letting him out here. Pat admits everything is sore head to toe. He got a blood vessel popped in his eye, but he is sure he gave something to Gunther. Pat has respect for everyone who gets in that ring, and he hopes Gunther has respect a bit for him and Cole.
BREAKING NEWS for Saturday Night’s Main Event in Tampa!
Saturday, May 24th, Sami Zayn & CM Punk will have a tag team match against Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker!
Sami and Punk regroup backstage.
Sami says the two of them, SNME, taking on Rollins & Bron. Is Punk good? Punk is, but he isn’t. He can’t really trust anybody right now. Fair enough. Sami gets that given he had a hard time trusting Punk back at WarGames. But it all worked out, right? And Sami isn’t stupid, he knows Punk likes to do things his way, has his goals. Sami isn’t that different. Sami has his ambitions, too. But the truth is, neither of them are going to get anything done if Rollins & Bron are in the way. Punk says that’s no lie. Sami says all they gotta do is work together and take Rollins’ team out. Punk agrees, they fist bump, and things are set. But will Punk & Sami be able to stop “the vision?”
The New Day is here!
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods strut out to the ring because the WWE World Tag Team Champions want to “grace us with their presence” on commentary. That, and they want to watch Julius & Brutus Creed fight Erik & Ivar in hopes of stopping the War Raiders from earning their title rematch. Will the Creeds come through for the New Day? Or will the raid have its redemption? We find out, after the break.
The War Raiders VS The Creed Brothers!
Raw returns and both teams have made their entrances. The teams sort out, Erik and Julius tie up, and Erik snapmares to a cover, ONE! Julius snapmares to a cover, ONE! Erik runs, Julius drops down then hurdles over. Erik scoops to SLAM Julius, then he tags Ivar. New Day argue with Michael Cole how they cheated at Mania but Cole tried to help Pat by cheating at Backlash! Brutus tags in, he and Ivar circle, but Ivar scoops Brutus to SLAM! Tag to Erik, Julius runs in, but Ivar scoops and SLAMS him! Erik scoops and SLAMS Brutus, then they say “UP!” Erik scoops and SLAMS Ivar onto Brutus! The fans fire up with the Raiders!
Brutus sputters but Erik brings him up. Erik whips, Brutus ducks ‘n’ dodges and Julius sneaks a tag. Erik CLOBBERS Brutus but Julius LARIATS Erik! Julius ROCKS Erik, tags Brutus, and they mug Erik. The Creeds stomp a mudhole in, but stop as the ref counts. The fans boo but New Day puts the Creed Brothers over. Julius tags back in, the Creeds stomp another mudhole, and then they stop at 4. The fans rally, Erik fires body shots, and Erik backs Julius down, until Julius RAMS Erik into the corner! Brutus tags in and the Creeds continue to mug Erik! The ref counts, Erik gets away, and Brutus hits an AX HANDLE!
Tag back to Julius, he facelocks Erik, then BACKDROPS! Julius sucker punches Ivar, but Erik ELBOWS him away! Erik TOSESS Julius onto Brutus! New Day say Ivar is down because he’s a bad partner! Erik says forget it, and he DIVES, into a haymaker! Julius drags Erik out along the ropes, DRAPING BRAINBUSTER to the floor! The Creeds fire up, the New Day applaud, but the fans boo as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns, Ivar runs and SPLASHES Julius! Julius goes to a corner, Ivar whips him corner to corner, but Julius reverses. Ivar comes back with a SEATED SENTON! Brutus is in, Ivar cartwheels and LEG LARIATS! The fans fire up with Ivar, “WAR! WAR! WAR!” Ivar runs corner to corner and BRONCO BUSTERS Julius! Julius sputters into the drop zone and Ivar climbs. But Julius springs up after Ivar! Brutus tags in, Julius hits a SUPER DUPER PLEX for the Power! MOONSAULT from Brutus for the Glory! Cover, TWO!! Ivar is showing that grit, and then he catches Julius for a SPINNING POWERSLAM!
Both men crawl, Erik tags in! Erik intercepts Brutus to EXPLODER! Erik wrenches Julius to EXPLODER! Tag back to Ivar, then Ivar tags Erik back in. Ivar LARIATS, then feeds Julius to Erik’s KNEE! Erik picks Ivar up, SPINEBUSTER HIP ATTACK!! Cover, but Brutus breaks it! Brutus then CLOBBERS Ivar! Erik DECKS Brutus! Julius JUMP KNEES Erik! All four men are down, even New Day applaud this great match. Kofi takes credit for making this match, and then Julius and Brutus crawl to their corner. Erik crawls over, hot tags to Ivar and Brutus! Brutus ducks the leg lariat, and ANGLE SLAMS Ivar!!
Tag back to Julius and the Creeds double whip. Ivar breaks the double lariats, and then handsprings, but into a DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX!! Cover, ERIK KNEES JULIUS! Erik TOSSES Brutus, but Brutus drags Erik out! Erik DECKS Brutus then shouts for Ivar to rise! Woods gets closer, but Erik glares at him. The fans boo New Day while Ivar climbs. But wait, Kofi sneaks over to ROCK Ivar!! Brutus CLOBBERS Erik from behind! Julius tags Brutus, then Electric Chair Lifts Ivar! BRUTUS BALL DOOMSDAY!! Cover, Creed Brothers win!!
Winners: The Creed Brothers, by pinfall
New Day cheers on as their choices for this match win out! Will this lead to an American Made title opportunity?
Rollins and group regroup backstage.
Rollins looks at Bron seething in frustration, but Rollins says they probably think they got one over on “us.” “They probably think they’ve got us backed against the wall. They might even feel like they’re winning this battle. And maybe they feel like I’ve underestimated them.” Rollins chuckles and says, “They have no idea what I am capable of.” Bron calms down, and Rollins tells him there’s one more thing Bron has to do tonight before he leaves. Rollins whispers his instructions, and tells Bron to have fun with it. Bron smiles, what will Rollins’ attack dog do before the night is over?
Adam Pearce talks with Jey Uso.
The Raw General Manager knows the WWE World Heavyweight Champion was going to hear it at some point, but he wanted Jey to hear it from Pearce first. Jey says, “Yeet,” and they fist bump. Jey is now headed to gorilla, what news will he have to relay to the WWE Universe?
Jey Uso heads to the ring!
Louisville is ready to be #YEETVILLE as Main Event Jey makes his way through the crowd. They bounce along with that Day One Ish, and Jey even joins a young fan in the YEET! Jey reaches ringside, daps it up with Pat & Cole, then the YEET continues as Jey steps into the ring. Louisville is fired up even as Jey gets the mic, and they want that “ONE MORE TIME! ONE MORE TIME!” Jey hears the people, and he figures he’ll give the people what they want. Time for an encore of Day One Ish! Jey then says, “The World Heavyweight Champion, Main Event Jey Uso, is now in your citaaay~!” The fans cheer, and Jey feels that energy.
Jey says there’s a lot going on. “YEET!” Big target on his big back. “YEET!” So let him get something off his big chest. “YEET!” “Logan Paul! You talking out the side of your neck, Uce. You say I’m not championship material. You say I’ve got a glass jaw. He keep on duckin’ me, he keep on sneakin’ me. But look, tho. At Saturday Night Main Event, it’s me and you, Uce. Yeah, yeah! Face to face, aight? Face to face. Two time world shocker, the arena shaker. I promise you this, after that Saturday night, I still will be your world-” GUNTHER IS HERE?! The fans are shocked to see Der Ring General interrupting, but perhaps this should’ve been expected.
Gunther goes to the ring, grabs himself a mic, and the fans taunt him with, “You Tapped Out!” Gunther is a bit annoyed by that, but he focuses on Jey. “The unimaginable came true. Jey Uso: World Heavyweight Champion. It’s the first time since that moment that we meet again.” Jey says, “You mean the moment where I made you tap out?” The fans cheer and keep chanting, “You Tapped Out!” Gunther says he understands what Jey is doing. Gunther knows what it is like to be a champion. 80% of his time here in WWE, he has been a champion. There is a lot of pressure on Jey right now.
But just because Gunther understands doesn’t mean his opinion has changed. He can feel this is not natural to Jey. Because unlike Gunther, Jey is not a natural champion. And since Jey likes to run his mouth, Gunther is surprised Jey hasn’t spread the news. Let this be Gunther’s pleasure. As Pearce told Jey earlier tonight, the winner of Jey VS Logan will have the honor of handing that title over to its rightful owner, DER RING GENERAL, GUNTHER! Jey, in one month from now, June 9th, Phoenix, Arizona, Gunther challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship on Monday Night Raw!
“And Jey… I really do hope it’s you. Because I would love nothing more than to shut you and all these people up for good! I would love nothing more than to get into this ring with you again, and remind you of where your place is! Jey-” Jey stops Gunther there and takes off the sunglasses. Remind him of his place? He is IN his place! THIS is his place! Jey runs this place! With this title on his arm, Jey will handle that YouTuber, and then he will run it back with Der Ring General! Jey will walk into this match the same way he walked out of WrestleMania: The WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! Four letters, one word… Uh, uh, YEET!!
The fans fire up with the very fired up Jey Uso! But from Saturday Night’s Main Event to a hot Raw in Phoenix, will this be the Summer of YEET?
Iyo Sky speaks.
In a mix of Japanese and English, the Women’s World Champion says, “I tried to show Roxanne respect last week. But all she and Giulia proved is that talented as they are in the ring, they don’t deserve any respect! Tonight, you’ll both learn the same lessons that Bianca and Rhea did at WrestleMania. Nobody in this division can stop me. Nobody in this division will ever take this championship from Iyo Sky!” The Genius is ready, but will she and Mami get along in tonight’s main event?
Backstage interview with Ludwig Kaiser.
Jackie Redmond is with the Impeccable German, and says last year was such a breakout year for him. He got wins over Sheamus, Bron Breakker, was a top contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, but now we’re almost halfway into 2025, and it feels like we haven’t seen Kaiser in competition that much. The question is- Wait, something is going down! Bron just attacked Jey! Bron knocked Jey down into a road case, then he leaves as producers and refs hurry over. Was this on Rollins’ orders? Sami rushes in and wants to know what happened, and the others explain it was Bron. Punk also hurries over, Sami calls for medics, is Jey going to be okay?
AJ Styles VS Finn Balor w/ Judgment Day!
The Phenomenal One told everyone in the club that whoever had the WWE Intercontinental Championship after Backlash, Styles would be after them next. Dirty Dom is still the self-proclaimed greatest Intercontinental Champion ever, but will Finn remind everyone why he was the original Universal Champion? Or will Styles make sure things are too sweet tonight?
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Finn hits a headlock takeover but Styles headscissors. Finn kips free, the two reset, and the fans cheer on Styles. Styles and Finn tie up again, Finn goes for an arm to wrench and wristlock, but Styles rolls, only for Finn to wrangle him. Finn kneels on the arm but Styles kips up. Styles wrenches back, but Finn rolls and hooks a leg, Styles fights the takedown to wrangle Finn now. Finn kips up, but into the headlock! Styles has Finn down but Finn rolls to headlock back! The fans rally as Styles rolls to a cover, ONE! Finn holds on, Styles powers up and out, and Styles hurdles, drops down, then DROPKICKS!
Finn flounders out of the ring and the fans fire up! JD & Carlito help Finn focus but a ring count begins. Styles waits on his old friend, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Finn RAMS into Styles at the corner again and again! The ref counts, Finn lets off and soaks up heat with the Too Sweet. Finn then storms up on Styles, but Styles BOOTS him! Styles scoops for a BACKBREAKER and the fans cheer. Styles drags Finn up, snap suplexes, then floats to a cover, ONE!! Finn is tougher than that but the fans still cheer Styles. Styles stays on Finn, brings him up, and he scoops Finn to SLAM him down! The fans rally, Styles runs, KNEE DROP! Finn flounders away to a corner but Styles is right on him. Finn kicks low, puts Styles in the corner and CHOPS! Styles just glares at Finn!
Finn throws hands but Styles CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHPOS in return! Finn FLAPJACK HOTSHOTS Styles! Styles sputters on the mat while Finn paces. Finn runs to KICK Styles in the side! Finn jump stomps away on Styles again and again! The ref reprimands, Finn argues with him, and then Finn mocks Louisville. Finn drags Styles up, throws some body shots from the side, then clamps on for a COBRA TWIST! Styles endures, even as Finn digs an elbow into the ribs! The fans rally and Styles fights with elbows to Finn’s leg! Styles HIP TOSSES free, then he LARIATS! The fans fire up as Styles runs, SLIDING FOREARM!
Styles fires up and the fans are with him! Styles runs in at Finn to LARIAT in a corner! Then fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Carlito & JD grow worried. Styles stalks Finn, brings him up and in, but JD gets on the apron! The fans boo but Styles chases JD off. Styles goes back for Finn, but Finn cradles! TWO! Finn is up, he slips around, and he dragon sleepers, but Styles drops! Styles KICKS Finn away, then he fires off a Phenomenal Blitz! Finn dodges the lariat, comes back, DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! The fans fire up while JD & Carlito coach Finn, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Finn brawls with Styles up top! Styles throws hands, then he brings Finn to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX! A hard landing and both men are down! The fans rally up while JD & Carlito are worried all over again. The fans rally up, “This is Awesome!” as Finn and Styles rise up. Styles fires a forearm, Finn fires a haymaker, and repeat! They stand up now, and Finn fires a body shot! Styles fires a haymaker, but Finn fires back! Finn gets the edge again, then soaks up heat. But Styles ROLLING ELBOWS! But Finn PELES, only for Styles to block! Styles then clamps onto that leg, CALF CRUSHER!!
Finn endures, reaches out, and he fights around! Finn drags Styles along for the ROPEBREAK! The fans are torn while Styles lets go. Finn drags himself up with the ropes, but Styles is back on that leg! Finn slips around, dragon sleeper, EYE OF THE HURRICANE! The fans fire up while both men are down again! JD & Carlito coach Finn as he rises up in the corner. Finn aims, runs in, but Styles LARIATS! The fans fire up and Styles whips Finn to ropes. Finn SLINGBLADES first! Finn keeps moving, and he SHOTGUNS Styles into buckles! Styles falls, Finn goes up, and COUP DE- NO, Styles dodges! Finn falls to his knees!
Styles grabs that bad leg again, CALF CRUSHER!! Finn endures, reaches out, but Styles rolls him from the ropes! Deadlift STYLES CLASH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Finn survives and now JD & Carlito are plotting. The fans rally as hard as they can, “This is Awesome!” Styles drags Finn up, reels him back in, but Carlito gets on the apron! The ref stops Carlito, JD grabs at Styles! Styles DECKS JD, then goes out, but Finn runs up! Styles ROCKS Finn, SLIDING KNEES Carlito, and then aims! Springboard, but Finn slips around! BLOODY SUNDAY!! Cover, TWO?!?! Styles survives and he shocks Finn! And then PENTA is back! he CROSSBODIES Carlito!
Penta scoops JD to BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up as Penta steps off JD to give Carlito a DESTROYER to the floor!! Styles BOOTS Finn, goes up and out, PHENOMENAL FOREARM!! Cover, Styles wins!!
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall
Penta gets even with Judgment Day after all! Styles gets the win thanks to Penta evening things up, but will Styles be able to take that Intercontinental Championship from Dirty Dom?
Becky Lynch is here!
Though, she isn’t very happy given she isn’t Women’s Intercontinental Champion right now. Becky sits up on a corner while she’s handed a mic and given the proper introductions. The fans are torn, but Becky says, “I… I wasn’t beaten on Saturday. No, no. Lyra was beaten on Saturday. Oh, oh, you don’t believe me? Well, one of us was taken to a hospital, her, and one of us went to their nice big bus, took a nice warm shower, drank a shot of tequila, and basked in their brilliance, me.” The fans are still torn, but Becky says, “Because even after everything that Lyra has done to me, after she came out week after week and attacked my character, the person that I am…
“I still made her the best version of herself! I gave her the best match of her career! And in just three weeks of standing on the outskirts of my spotlight, she has never mattered more than she does right now in her entire life, and it is not even close!” The fans boo that, but Becky hops down as she says, “But… when the bell ring after the match, I didn’t hear defeat. No, no, no. What I heard was an alarm ringing in my ear and I realized how much I had been manipulated not just by Lyra, but by all of you!” The fans definitely boo that. Becky asks if they wanna know why she walked away for almost a year.
“Because you asked me to! The last time that I won the world championship, I felt it, I heard the reaction, I saw all your comments online, and so I stepped away. Because if I’m not here to win world championships, then why am I here? But hey, hey, no, no. I’ve always been for the people. I’ve always been for the people. So whatever you want, because hey, man, I have you to thank for my career, right? You guys carried me on your shoulders into the main event of WrestleMania. You saw yourselves in me! I was you, you were me, we were in this together! Right? But then something happened. Something happened: I won!
“And you couldn’t see yourselves in me anymore, because you can’t recognize success. Because all you know is failure.” The fans boo more, but Becky scowls. Yeah, the fans hate what they cannot understand. You wanna know something? When Becky was out, one of her friends asked, “Do you miss it?” And she had a thought. She did miss being in the ring, but she liked herself more out of it. She didn’t understand what she was saying, but now she does. She wasn’t captured by all the fans! She didn’t have to listen to the fans tell her who she is and what she’s about!
She didn’t have to listen to all of the fans’ lies! The lies that are repeated from the one person she had hope for in this business! Becky didn’t have to spin her wheels to prove she isn’t what people said she was! But that all changes! From now on, whatever the fans say she is, then she is! If they say she’s selfish, then yes she is! If they say she’s greedy, then yes she is! If they say she’s cutthroat, then yes she is! And all those girls in the back that were happy Becky was gone, thought it was safe with the fire gone out inside Becky, well they’re gonna realize what it’s like to be held down by The Man! Will Becky look to burn it down from here on out?
Rusev speaks.
“I didn’t wanna do that, Otis. I don’t wanna do any of this. All I want is just… to go home and be rich. But I was once programmed by lesser people, too. And I can’t leave my brothers until you all wake up. Do you think these people care that you’re missing your family? Do you think these people care that each night, your choices are hurt or be hurt? Last week, Tozawa stepped up to me, and the crowd cheered him on. The world sent him straight into the frontline. And yet, you still seek their approval. That is because you let the sheep control the wolves. Get up off your knees, men! Don’t you see that their cheers are like a stone to a blade?
“But I can see right through them. That’s why they keep mocking me with chanting my name. But I will reclaim my own name once my job here is done. But until that day, remember this, my brothers. It will hurt me to hurt you. But I would rather you fall at my hand than fall out into the abyss.” Rusev is looking to redeem Monday Night Raw one brutal moment at a time, will no one be able to stop him?
Alpha Academy meets with Adam Pearce.
Maxxine Dupri & Natalya are with Akira Tozawa to encourage him to speak up. Tozawa says he wants a match with Rusev. Maxxine & Natty feel Tozawa can do this. Pearce respects Tozawa’s bravery, but think about this. Tozawa isn’t even medically cleared right now. Tozawa knows he will be soon. Pearce says he also knows that. And when Tozawa IS cleared, they will revisit this conversation. But then Sheamus steps in and says fair play, Tozawa. Good on him for not baking down. And Sheamus knows that when Tozawa is cleared, he’ll give Rusev hell. They fist bump, and Alpha Academy heads out.
As for Sheamus, Pearce says what a return. Sheamus says he needed that. He needed to shake off that ring rust. Well, not much rust, maybe it was in his head. But he wants to keep this momentum going. How about next week, Sheamus VS “that bouncing wallaby waster,” Grayson Waller. Pearce says consider that official, because that sounds like a banger. The Celtic Warrior shakes hands with the GM, will Sheamus make sure Waller feels what Austin Theory felt last week?
Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley VS Giulia & Roxanne Perez!
Between Monday Night Raw and Tuesday Night NXT, we’ve seen the WWE Women’s World Champion battle The Beautiful Madness & The Prodigy multiple times already. The Genius was victorious alongside “Juggernaut” Jordynne Grace last week, but will she and the Eradicator have similar success? Or will this be the start of an NXT takeover?
Raw returns as Iyo makes her entrance, followed by Rhea’s. The fans hit that triple digit mark on the decibels as Mami makes her way to ringside. The teams sort out and Iyo starts against Roxie. They circle, but then Roxie goes to leave, only for Iyo to grab her feet! Roxie kicks Iyo away, but Iyo comes back with a THESZ PRESS! Iyo rains down fast hands, Roxie turns things around, but then Iyo turns it back around. They end up in the ropes, Iyo backs off, only to grab Roxie’s legs and YANK her from the ropes! Iyo covers, TWO! Iyo clamps onto Roxie with a headlock, but Roxie powers up, only for Iyo to hold on tighter!
Louisville rallies, “We Want Mami!” as Roxie powers up and powers out this time, only for Iyo to pull hair! Iyo brings Roxie around but Roxie SLAPS her! Iyo ROCKS Roxie, chase Giulia off, but Roxie ROCKS Iyo! Roxie bumps Iyo off buckles, stomps away, then tags Giulia. Roxie sends Giulia in and she ELBOWS Iyo! Giulia sends Roxie in for an UPPERCUT! Giulia then brings Iyo to ropes to CHOKE her! The ref counts, Giulia steps away, and that lets Roxie get a cheap shot! Roxie takes a bow while the fans boo, but Rhea runs up on her! Rhea TOSSES Roxie into the ring! The fans fire up as Rhea DROPKICKS Roxie back out!
Giulia and Rhea want after each other but the ref stops this. Giulia gets Iyo for a NECK TWIST! Giulia whips, Iyo ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Giulia avoids the handspring! Only for Iyo to SHOTGUN Giulia down! The fans fire up and Iyo headlocks. Iyo reaches out but Roxie YANKS Rhea down! The fans boo but Giulia JAWBREAKERS free! Roxie SLAPS Rhea and laughs about it. Rhea just gets pissed! Rhea chases Roxie around the outside, but Giulia is there to CROSBODY! But Rhea catches her! Roxie DROPKICKS Rhea into the POST! But Iyo DIVES to take out Roxie! The fans fire up, but then Giulia DROPKICKS Iyo!
The ref reprimands everyone, starts a ring count, and the fans rally for Iyo & Rhea while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Roxie has Iyo with a bridging hammerlock. Iyo endures and the fans rally up. Iyo fights to her feet, fires elbows, then hits a FLYING-MARE! Both women are down, the fans fire up more, but Roxie grabs Iyo’s legs! Iyo BOOTS her away, Giulia runs in but Iyo TOSSES her out! Hot tag to Rhea! Rhea rallies on Roxie, whips, but Roxie reverses! Rhea reverses back to wrench and HOOK KCIK! Then GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up with Rhea and she reels Roxie in! Canadian Rack, and RAZOR’S EDGE! Then a DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!! Roxie shows the toughness of a former NXT Women’s Champion but Rhea just stalks her.
Rhea hauls Roxie up, bumps her off buckles, but Roxie BOOTS her back! Roxie BOOTS Rhea down, then goes up, up, and LION- NO, Rhea gets under her for an Electric Chair Lift! Rhea SMACKS Roxie off buckles, then hoists her up there. Rhea climbs, positions herself just right, and has the Canadian Rack again! The fans fire up but Roxie fights free! Roxie ROCKS Rhea, goes up, and SUPER STEINERS! Cover, TWO!! Rhea shows her own championship grit, but Roxie tags Giulia! Roxie DROPKICKS Iyo off the apron while Giulia HEADBUTTS Rhea! Roxie SUPERKICKS Rhea, then Giulia reels Rhea in! Tag to Roxie and Giulia snap suplexes!
Roxie goes up, up, LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Rhea but Roxie rains down fists! Rhea pushes Roxie away, but Roxie hurries to clamp on with a SLEEPER! Rhea rises as the fans rally, but Roxie THROWS Rhea down! Rhea goes to a corner, Roxie runs up and UPPERCUTS! Roxie rolls and returns, but Rhea picks her up, ATOMIC FACEBUSTER! Both women are down and the fans fire up! Rhea and Roxie crawl, hot tags to Giulia and Iyo! The fans fire up as Iyo dodges to SHOTEI! Iyo whips, Giulia reverses, but Iyo goes up and out! Iyo blocks a boot, ROCKS Giulia then goes up top! MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up as Iyo kips up!
Iyo is ready to run wild and the fans are with her! But Roxie is back in, only for Iyo to dodge! Rhea scoops Roxie but Roxie TORNADO DDTS! Iyo SHOTGUNS Roxie! Giulia reels Iyo in for a cradle, TWO!! Giulia drags Iyo up, hammerlock and scoop, GLORIOUS- NO, Iyo slips free to waistlock! Giulia switches, Iyo victory rolls, STOMP 182! The fans fire up and Iyo hurries to put Giulia in the drop zone! Iyo steps on Giulia and goes up the corner! The fans fire up for OVER THE MOONSAULT!! Cover, Roxie breaks it! The fans boo but Roxie whips, Iyo reverses, Roxie tilt-o-whirls, but Iyo fights the leg sweep! Iyo hooks Roxie up but Roxie powers out!
Rhea is back, and she gives Iyo a boost! Roxie dodges, the SHOTGUN hits Giulia! Roxie SOBATS Rhea, runs up, POP- NO, Rhea pops out the back! MISSILE DROPKICK from Iyo! Roxie tumbles out, Iyo wants a high-ten. Rhea gives Iyo the high-ten, and then Rhea signals she’ll lift Iyo up! The fans fire up, but Giulia TRIPS Rhea first! Roxie runs up, Iyo BOOTS her, but Giulia is right up top! Giulia underhooks the arms, and she gives Iyo a SUPER DUPER BUTTERFLY PLEX!! Giulia roars, brings Iyo around, scoop and NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!! Cover, RHEA BREAKS IT! The fans fire up, but Roxie DROPKICKS Rhea!
Rhea EDDY GORDO KICKS Roxie in return! Giulia KNEES Rhea down! Giulia then focuses on Iyo, but Iyo wrenches her! Iyo underhooks, TIGER BACKBREAKER! Iyo then fires up and the fans are with her! SHINKAN- NO, Giulia puts her on the apron! Iyo ROCKS Giulia, climbs up, and Rhea sneaks a tag. Iyo leaps, Giulia dodges, Rhea reels Giulia in. But then Roxie is up top, so Rhea shoves Giulia forward, the CROSSBODY hits Giulia instead of Iyo! Roxie is stunned, Rhea smirks, and Iyo BUZZSAWS Roxie! Rhea drags Giulia up, HEADBUTTS her, and hits a RIPTIDE!! Cover, Rhea & Iyo win!!
Winners: Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley, by pinfall
The Eradicator had the champion’s back and vice-versa, and the top two women on Raw win out! But at the same time, Rhea still wants to be a champion herself. Will Mami get back on top soon enough? Or will the Genius be ready for that rematch, too?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw here to not just follow Backlash but to turn the corner towards Saturday Night’s Main Event. Great promo segment from CM Punk and Seth Rollins to open, and it naturally brought out Sami Zayn and Jey Uso for a brawl. This gives us a good set-up for Punk & Sami VS Rollins & Bron at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Jey and Gunther had a good promo together, with Jey getting fired up again because he knows Gunther is again underestimating him. And while I expected Logan Paul bringing another sucker punch, Rollins sending Bron after Jey is just as good. Though I feel bad Kaiser’s interview was no longer an interview but just a way to give us Bron’s attack.
Obviously Rollins won’t give up on the world title so easily, so he’s just trying to soften Jey up to make it easier to take that title, but it might backfire if Logan or Gunther gets the title first. Well, hopefully not Logan but I’m not sure Gunther would either. Great promo from Becky to talk down to not just Lyra but the fans. While blaming fans is a cliche Heel trope, seeing how John Cena did it and now Becky is doing it in a similar way, it still works. And her saying Lyra went to the hospital plants seeds of an injury angle as I was expecting on Saturday, so I wouldn’t mind seeing something where Becky and Bayley fight not just for their own grudge but for one more chance at the title.
Great promo from Rusev to once again frame what he’s doing as if it is a noble mission, but it would be something if someone came around to see things the way Rusev does. Tozawa wanting after Rusev and Pearce saying not yet is good stuff, Pearce is being a responsible boss by not letting Tozawa go right into a one-sided fight. Sheamus wanting his match with Waller “as intended” is also good stuff, and it’ll give Theory a chance to return the favor by being mostly unbothered like Waller was last week. The A-Town Down Under break-up has been on far too slow a burn, it needs to happen now as Rollins’ faction is rising up and we get into MITB season.
Penta VS Gable was a great match that also tied well into the Judgment Day story. Great win for Penta, and it might establish that Gable can’t win unless he’s El Grande Americano and therefore able to load the mask with plates. Penta getting his revenge on Judgment Day while also helping Styles win was good stuff, too. I wonder if Styles and Penta team up against Judgment Day for just a moment, before “El Grande” obviously gets involved and gets a 1v1 match with Penta. There’s also going to be Money in the Bank qualifiers soon, so maybe we see Penta and “El Grande” get in on that while also feuding with each other. Also, hilarious bit with JD teaching Dom about time zones.
Great tag team match of War Raiders VS Creed Brothers with New Day on commentary. New Day of course cost the Raiders since they don’t want another rematch with them, but I feel like helping the Creeds will backfire in that the Creeds will be just as hard to beat in a tag match. And then great promos from the women in tonight’s main event. A little surprised we didn’t get a Rhea one, unless I somehow missed it. But that was also a great main event tag, great win for Iyo and Rhea as a duo, and Iyo VS Rhea feels like a clear choice for the next title match. Nothing in the women’s division has been set up for SNME, so maybe that’s where we’ll get Iyo VS Rhea.
My Score: 8.8/10
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