Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Dominion Results & Report! (7/12/20)
Is Everything Evil’s?

The fate of NJPW is on the line!
The New Japan Cup’s finale was above and beyond expectations, but it’s not over yet! Will Evil reign supreme over NJPW? Or can Naito hold on?
NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS SHO; Takagi wins and retains the NEVER Openweight Championship.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: The Golden Aces VS Dangerous Tekkers; The Dangerous Tekkers win and become the new IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.
- IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Double Championship Match: Tetsuya Naito VS EVIL; Evil wins and becomes the new IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Double Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
NEVER Openweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS SHO!
The Last Dragon suffered a sho-cking defeat to one half of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, and things have been building towards this rematch! The title is on the line, can Takagi stay Mr. NEVER Openweight? Or will Sho truly become a shock master!
The introductions are made, the NEVER singles title is raised, and this high stakes, “high voltage” rematch begins!
Sho and Shingo tie up right away! The fans rally, Shingo pulls hair and headlocks but Sho powers out. They collide shoulders and neither falls. Sho runs, Shingo stays up and the two start shoving. Shingo kicks low then whips Sho to a corner. Sho comes back, they ram shoulders over and over, but Sho throws a forearm. Sho runs, bumps Shingo, but Shingo comes back to shoulder and elbow. Shingo runs but Sho runs him over! The fans cheer as Sho dodges Shingo, but Shingo spins Sho around, only for Sho to hit the suplex! Cover, TWO! Sho keeps on Shingo with an attempt at the armbar. Shingo resists but Sho gets his hands apart, so Shingo gets a ropebreak with his foot. Sho lets go as the ref counts, and Shingo bails out. Sho gets to the apron and Penalty Kicks Shingo down!
The fans cheer as Sho hops down to kick Shingo more. Sho puts Shingo on the apron then climbs up to join him. Sho wants space but Shingo holds ropes was Sho waistlocks. Shingo elbows and breaks free to fireman’s carry Sho. Sho gets in and sweeps the legs. Shingo is down. Sho runs and basement dropkicks Shingo to railing! Sho builds speed again, but Shingo gets in to run him over! Shingo drags Sho up, throws him out now, then goes after him. But Sho hits back with forearms! Sho whips, Shingo reverses, Sho hits railing hard! Shingo brings Sho up to whip even harder the other way! Sho floundres and writhes while the ref has Shingo stand down. Shingo fires up the crowd as he drags Sho back up. Shingo puts Sho in, drags him back up and reels him in, for a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO!
Shingo keeps his cool as he sits Sho up. Shingo goes after Sho’s arm with elbows, then elbows away on Sho’s shoulder and chest! Sho flops down and Shingo gives him toying kicks. The fans rally up as Shingo eggs Sho on. Sho slowly sits up but Shingo kicks him on the back. Sho gets right up, kicks back, then snapmares to KICK! Shingo gets up, gritting his teeth. Sho throws forearms but Shingo gives them back. They start brawling faster and faster and the fans rally with them. Sho gets the edge but Shingo double CHOPS him down! Fans cheer while Shingo catches his breath. Shingo goes to Sho, whips him to ropes and knees him low. Shingo runs, and blocks Sho’s spear to a DDT! Sho sits up, Shingo runs, but the sliding lariat misses! Sho SPEARS outta nowhere!
Both men are down but the fans rally up again. Sho gets to ropes and uses them to get up. Sho aims from the corner, runs out, bumps Shingo to the other corner, then hits a corner clothesline! Sho whips Shingo corner to corner but Shingo reverses, only for Sho to come back with a LARIAT! Fans cheer as Sho grits his teeth and brings Shingo up. Shingo swings a chop but Sho gets under ot GERMAN SUPLEX! Sho holds on to GERMAN SUPLEX again! Shingo resists the third and elbows back. Sho ducks, kicks and runs, but Shingo follows! Sho sees him coming, side steps and SNAP GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!! Sho grits his teeth again as he knuckle locks Shingo to a Cording hold. Shingo reaches for ropes but Sho cranks on the arm. Shingo throws body shots but the hip toss doesn’t work.
Sho wrenches to a shoulder breaker, then wrenches more, only for Shingo to power out. Sho swats Shingo’s punch away, then runs, but into a back elbow! JAB! LARIAT! Sho is down and Shingo catches his breath again as fans cheer. Shingo drags Sho up, for a SNAP SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Sho survives but Shingo keeps his cool. The fans rally up for Sho as Shingo drags him back up. Shingo tries the Gory Especial but Sho resists. Shingo whips Sho to a corner but blocks the boot. Shingo corner clotheslines then runs, but Sho corner clotheslines back! Sho runs, Shingo ducks, SNAP SAIDO! But Sho is up!? Sho staggers to dead lift GERMAN Shingo!! Both men are down and the fans are loving this! Sho flounders to his feet while Shingo struggles to sit up. Sho runs but into another back elbow! And JAB!
But Sho LARIATS! Only for Shingo to stand right up and LARIAT back! But Sho gets up to SUPERKICK! Both men are down again and the fans cheer. The rallying returns as both men stir. Shingo sits up first and he goes forehead to forehead with Sho. They start throwing forearms on their knees, then as they get to their feet. Shingo fires up and the fans cheer. Shingo eggs Sho on, Sho clotheslines! Shingo doesn’t fall so Sho dares him to give it back. Shingo clotheslines back! Sho does, too! Shingo hits again, and again, then runs, into a KNEE! AX BOMBER outta nowhere! Shingo drags Sho back up for the SLIDING LARIAT! Then Gory Especial, NOSHIGAMI! Cover, TWO!! Sho survives and Shingo can’t believe it!
The fans rally up again as Shingo stands. Shingo brings Sho back up, fireman’s carry but Sho resists. Sho elbows and grabs the arm for a double wristlock. But Shingo powers through, only for Sho to hit a BACKSTABBER! Sho pushes Shingo up, and pops him up for a POWERBOMB! Sho’s strength is incredible! Sho brings Shingo back up, for the POWER BREAKER! Always a bit double edged for those knees, but Sho powers through. The fans rally behind him as he runs, LARIAT! Cover, ONE!? Shingo isn’t down so easily, but Sho dead lifts him again! SNAP GERMAN!? Bridging cover, TWO!! Shingo survives that shocker, but Sho hasn’t given up yet. Sho aims his bow and brings Shingo up. Double underhook pump handle, but Shingo back drops free!
Shingo and Sho slowly stand again and Sho blindside clotheslines! Sho brings Shingo up but Shingo throws forearms. Sho eggs him on so Shingo slaps him! Shingo throws elbows from all sides, but Sho ROCKS Shingo back! Sho throws elbows from all side just like Shingo, but Shingo is on the ropes. The ref stops Sho and Sho knocks the ref over! Sho clotheslines Shingo on the ropes, and again! And again! Sho runs, but Shingo follows to clothesline on the ropes! Shingo runs, double clotheslines! But neither falls! Sho staggers around, brings Shingo around but Shingo blocks the punch! Sho resists Shingo’s pump handle so Shingo knees, and GUT BUSTERS! Shingo drags Sho back up, gets the pump handle, MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!?! Sho survives but Shingo is too tired to be upset.
Shingo fires up with the fans, waits for Sho to stand, and then runs to PUMPING BOMBER! Cover, ONE?!?! Sho is in a daze but he still lives! Shingo drags Sho back up, pump handle torture rack, but Sho slips out to a sleeper! Sho is a backpack, so Shingo drops him with a backpack stunner! But Sho gets the armbar! Shingo turns and powers through but Sho tries a Triangle Hold. Shingo dead lifts but Sho lets go to underhook straitjacket! SHOCK DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Shingo survives but Sho just fires up! He aims his bow! Sho drags Shingo back up, pump handles, but Shingo pushes him away. So Sho Penalty Kicks the arm out! Shingo clutches the elbow but refuses to let this stop him. Shingo sees Sho coming, fireman’s carries, but Sho arm-drags out to get the armbar again! Shingo makes it a cover, TWO, and Sho still has the arm!
Shingo endures as Sho cranks on the arm, but he turns over again. Sho gets the Triangle Hold again, squeezes tight, and the fans rally up. Shingo starts to fade! The ref checks, and the arm drops once. The arm drops twice! But Shingo revives and dead lifts again, and gets the fireman’s carry, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! But Sho rises?! Only to fall again! Shingo drags Sho up but Sho fires off slapping palm strikes from all sides! Sho slaps and slaps, Shingo JABS! HEADBUTTS! Both men wobble but Sho is back up first! Shingo block shis kick, puts it in the ropes, then DRAPING GTR!! Shingo learned much from his battles for this title with Hirooki Goto! The fans rally up, Shingo drags Sho up again, pump handle torture rack, LAST OF THE DRAGON!! Cover, Shingo wins!!
Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall (still NEVER Openweight Champion)
There is still a NEVER Openweight Double Champion! Shingo stops Sho’s run at the title and stays Mr. NEVER Openweight! What will it take to stop the Last Dragon?
But wait! Desperado attacks Shingo at the stage! Suzuki-Gun’s masked wrestler picks up the NEVER Openweight title, and then SMASHES Shingo with it! Young Lions try to get Desperado to stop but Desperado slaps Shingo around. “Oi, Champion, what’s wrong?” Desperado is clearly issuing a challenge and dares Shingo to fight him already. Desperado gets away with the belt and Shingo has help getting to the back. Will Shingo catch up to Desperado and make him regret making such a move?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: The Golden Aces VS Dangerous Tekkers!
Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kota Ibushi each lost to Taichi during the New Japan Cup, but mostly because the Sliest Wrestler in the World had help from his friends in Suzuki-Gun. Assuming things stay at 2v2, can Tanahashi and Ibushi trump whatever The Holy Emperor and Zack Sabre Jr. throw at them?
The introductions are made, tensions run high already, and brawls break out! Tanahashi fires off on Taichi while ZSJ throws European Uppercuts and Ibushi KICKS back. Red Shoes rings the bell so this is grudge match is on record.
Tanahashi stomps a mudhole into Taichi and Red Shoes tries to restore order. Ibushi stomps Taichi, then the Golden Aces double whip and double elbow Taichi. ZSJ returns but gets double kicks, whips and elbows! The Tekkers bail out, the Aces DOUBLE PLANCHA! Fans are fired up as Ibushi and Tanahashi control the ring. Tanahashi puts ZSJ in and coordinates with ZSJ. Tanahashi scoops and slams ZSJ for an elbow drop! Ibushi corkscrew splashes, Tanahashi somersault sentons! Tanahashi air guitars and fans cheer. Tanahashi tags Ibushi in and they mug ZSJ. Ibushi swings on Taichi but Taichi catches him. ZSJ dumps Tanahashi out and boots Ibushi. Taichi comes in as ZSJ throws EuroUppers. The Tekkers double whip Ibushi, but Ibushi dodges, elbows and snap-ranas!
The fans cheer as Ibushi is alone with ZSJ. Ibushi throws forearms on ZSJ in the corner. Ibushi keeps standing ZSJ up for more and then kicks, but ZSJ turns it into a heel hook! ZSJ drags Ibushi’s head into it while Taichi throws Tanahashi into barriers! Ibushi gets his head free and gets the ropebreak! ZSJ lets go, then drags Ibushi from the ropes for a standing toehold! ZSJ turns Ibushi around, drags him back and tags Taichi in. Taichi takes his time getting in, and stands on Ibushi’s head. Taichi digs his heel into Ibushi but Red Shoes counts. Taichi stops, but he cranks and claws at Ibushi’s face! Fans rally up for Ibushi as Taichi lets go. Ibushi eggs Taichi on but Taichi stands on his neck. ZSJ adds his boot but Red Shoes reprimands. The Tekkers let up, for Taichi to snapmare and kick Ibushi.
Ibushi stands up, but Taichi claws his face again! Taichi runs but into a dropkick! Ibushi crawls and hot tags Tanahashi! Fans fire up with Tanahashi as he drags Taichi up. Tanahashi fires off fast hands and has Taichi in a corner. Tanahashi whips corner to corner, runs in, but blocks Taichi’s boot! DRAGON SCREW! ZSJ runs in, boots, but he gets a DRAGON SCREW, too! Fans fire up with Tanahashi again as he looms over Taichi. Tanahashi drags Taichi up, scoops and slams him, then goes to the corner. Second rope somersault senton! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi keeps his cool as he watches Taichi stand. Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ kicks him! Red Shoes reprimands but Tanahashi DECKS ZSJ! But Taichi has a tag rope, and uses it to choke Tanahashi!
Red Shoes reprimands, he knows something’s up. Taichi stops, drags Tanahashi out, and chokes him more! ZSJ goes after Ibushi as Taichi brings Tanahashi to railing. Taichi chokes Tanahashi harder this way, but Red Shoes reprimands. ZSJ stands on Tanahashi before going back to the ring. Taichi just chokes Tanahashi with camera cables! Red Shoes reprimands, Taichi stops, the Tekkers put Tanahahsi in. Ibushi hurries over but ZSJ ROCKS him with a EuroUpper! Taichi keeps choking Tanahashi but Red Shoes counts. Taichi stops again while ZSJ throws Ibushi into railing. ZSJ tags in and the Tekkers mug Tanahashi in the corner. ZSJ straitjacket stretches Tanahashi down but Red Shoes says Tanahahsi is in the ropes.
Taichi digs his foot into Tanahashi again! Red Shoes keeps reprimanding them, and Taichi exits. ZSJ cravats and cranks Tanahashi’s neck. Tanahashi endures, ZSJ snapmares to NECK WRENCH with his feet! Tag to Taichi, and Taichi keeps twisting Tanahashi’s head around. Fans rally as Tanahashi endures, and Taichi lets up. Taichi stomps Tanahashi down, tags to ZSJ, and ZSJ drags Tanahashi up for another cravat. Tanahashi fights free but swings into a takedown! ANOTHER neck wrench! Cover, TWO! ZSJ wraps Tanahashi up in a headscissor hold immediately! Taichi BOOTS Ibushi off the apron for good measure! Fans rally as Tanahashi endures this modified Triangle Hold ZSJ has, and Tanahashi rolls to a ropebreak. ZSJ lets go at 4, fans rally up as ZSJ toys with Tanahashi now.
ZSJ brings Tanahashi up, Tanahashi fights out and throws forearms. ZSJ EuroUppers, but Tanahashi swings. Into a standing Cobra Twist! ZSJ puts his own twist on it but Tanahahsi powers up to fight free! They go around and around, Tanahashi gets the leg but ZSJ slips out. ZSJ Peles but into a DRAGON SCREW! Both men are down and the fans rally up again. Hot tag to Ibushi! Springboard missile dropkick! Taichi runs in to get forearms and a whip. Taichi reverses but Ibushi hits a leaping leg lariat! ZSJ runs into the spinning powerslam! MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ibushi fires up with the fans and watches ZSJ stand. Ibushi fires off palm strikes and kicks but ZSJ dodges to EuroUPper! Ibushi PELE, but ZSJ catches it to an ankle lock!
ZSJ reels Ibushi into a waistlock but Ibushi standing switches. ZSJ resists the Half ‘n’ Half to Pele the arm and sweep the legs! Tag to Taichi and Taichi looms over Ibushi. Taichi toys with Ibushi, but the fans rally up. Ibushi eggs Taichi on so Taichi kicks. That doesn’t bother Ibushi. Taichi keeps kicking, and pushing Ibushi around. Ibushi KICKS back and Taichi doubles over! Ibushi dares Taichi to get up, so Taichi does. Taichi KICKS and Ibushi has to take a moment. Ibushi shakes his head and then KICKS back. Ibushi eggs Taichi on again, so Taichi KICKS again! Ibushi still KICKS back! Taichi has to take a moment, but he KICKS. And then sobats! Taichi smirks but is still stinging as he drags Ibushi up. Ibushi sobats back! Ibushi runs to the corner, but Taichi dodges to enziguri!
Taichi brings Ibushi out, runs, but Ibushi ducks. Taichi boots, Ibushi stays up, but he runs into a dragon sleeper cobra! Tanahashi runs in but ZSJ intercepts with a flying guillotine! The Tekkers have dual submissions! Tanahashi fights, ZSJ keeps him down in a Triangle, and both Golden Aces start to fade! But Tanahashi gets a second wind, as does Ibushi. They both power out, Cloverleaf for ZSJ and Ibushi fireman’s carries! But Taichi slips out ot get the dragon cobra again! Tanahashi dumps ZSJ out to dragon sleeper Taichi! The fans cheer as Tanahashi squeezes tight. Ibushi and Tanahashi scoop Taichi for the GOLDEN BLADE! ZSJ runs in, he also gets a GOLDEN BLADE! Tanahashi throws ZSJ out and Ibushi drags Taichi back up. Ibushi lifts, POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!!
Taichi survives but Ibushi drags Taichi up. Taichi tires to low blow the Kami-Goye away, but Ibushi blocks! Ibushi still KNEES Taichi down! Ibushi vows to finish this, and he brings Taichi around. But ZSJ jumps in to get Ibushi with a sleeper hold! ZSJ brings Ibushi down with body scissors and Ibushi starts to fade! Taichi gets up as ZSJ stands Ibushi up. ZSJ feeds Ibushi to Taichi’s ROUNDHOUSE! Taichi STEALS the Last Ride! High stack cover and ZSJ intercepts Tanahashi, TWO!?! Ibushi keeps the Aces golden but the match is still going! Taichi crawls and gets up. Off come the pants! Taichi aims at Ibushi as he rises, SUPER- NO! Ibushi blocks the kick, reels Taichi in, pops him around, but Taichi slips out. Ibushi ROUNDHOUSES!
Both men are down and the fans rally up! Tanahashi is back at the corner, hot tag to the Once in a Century Talent! Tanahashi fires up as Taichi sits up. Tanahashi runs, Taichi stops the Slingblade but Tanahashi fights off the suplex. Taichi reels Tanahashi in, back suplex but Tanahashi SLING BLADES! Tanahashi DECKS ZSJ then fires up again. The fans are with him as he waits for Taichi to stand. Tanahashi runs, but Taichi ducks to ROCK him with that right! Tanahashi wobbles but gets back up, to get the GAMANGIRI!! Both men are down but the fans rally up again. ZSJ tags in, drags Tanahashi up and runs, to Penalty- NO! Tanahashi blocked! ZSJ slaps and slaps Tanahashi, but Tanahashi SLAPS him back!
Tanahashi runs, ZSJ ducks the Sling Blade to Gory Especial, but Tanahashi slips out, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! SLING BLADE! Cover, but Taichi breaks it! Ibushi goes after Taichi and gets him out. Tanahashi goes to the corner and the top rope. HIGH FLY FLOW-BODY! Taichi SUPERKICKS! Ibushi V-TRIGGERS! ZSJ counters Kami-Goye to ZACK DRIVER! All four men are down and the fans are thunderous! The teams regroup, ZSJ and Tanahashi stay in the ring. Both men stand as the fans rally, ZSJ runs into a SLING BLADE! Tanahashi goes up top fast, HIGH FLY FLOW ONTO KNEES!! Cover, Ibushi breaks it in time! But Red Shoes is down as Taichi gets in! Taichi has the metal hand and he JABS Ibushi!! Taichi aims at Tanahashi while ZSJ keeps Red Shoes distracted!
Tanahashi ducks the Iron Fingers to SHOTEI! Tanahashi runs, but no Sling Blade, SAIDO!! Taichi shouts for ZSJ to help, and the Tekkers coordinate to finish Tanahashi. Taichi double chicken wings to hold Tanahashi up while ZSJ gives dragon screw after dragon screw after dragon screw! Tanahashi is down, but the Tekkers drag him up to keep going! SIX dragon screws in all! But the Tekkers show no mercy as they drag Tanahashi back up! MORE dragon screws!! EIGHT dragon screws, four for each leg! Can Tanahashi even stand at this point? The fans still rally as Taichi talks trash to Tanahashi. The Tekkers have Tanahashi stand again, EuroUPper to GAMANGIRI! ZSJ scoops, Taichi SUPERKICKS into the ZACK DRIVER! Cover, the Dangerous Tekkers win!!
Winners: The Dangerous Tekkers, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
Taichi and ZSJ won all by themselves, and celebrate by mugging the Young Lions that want to help Tanahashi! Ibushi is still down on the outside so no one can help Tanahashi as Taichi and ZSJ stand over him with the belts. Taichi goes out to fetch Ibushi so that he can be part of this. Taichi drags Ibushi up, Alabama lift, ASSISTED Black Mephisto! The Golden Aces are placed on top of each other and the Dangerous Tekkers stand on them. Will Tanahashi and Ibushi be able to stand for a rematch? Will another team step up to the Tekkers?
IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Double Championship Match: Tetsuya Naito VS EVIL!
The leader of Los Ingobernables de Japon is truly a man with everything to lose! The King of Darkness is willing to win by any cost, and that even includes betraying LIJ to join Bullet Club! Will this change in allegiance bring about a change in the NJPW power balance?
With being on a new team comes having a brand new entrance and look to Evil! Even so, his biggest fan, Milano, holds out hope as he holds the old toy scythe. Naito makes his entrance with the usual attitude, not letting what happened yesterday affect him. The Bullet Club gives a Low Sweet for luck but Naito just takes off his entrance suit. Red Shoes wants Bullet Club to leave, and fans cheer him on. Bullet Club protests and Gedo tries to get special permission but Red Shoes won’t have it. They either leave or this match is off. Bullet Club concedes, and take their leave. The introductions are made, both title belts are raised, and this moment no one saw coming finally begins!
Fans cheer already as Naito and Evil stare down. Evil and Naito slowly circle, but then Evil pulls a page from Naito’s book and bails out of the ring. Naito doesn’t mind, and waits for Evil to come back. Evil slides in but then right back out. Again, Naito isn’t bothered. Evil walks around ringside just to take his time with his former leader. Evil gets back in only to exit again, but then Naito wrecks him with a dropkick! Naito whips Evil into barriers! And then into m ore barriers! Evil falls down and Naito brings him up to whip into yet even more barriers! And then shotgun dropkick him down! Naito brings Evil out to bump off tables! And again! Fans cheer as Naito bumps Evil off the table a third time. Naito pulls Evil along by his hair to put back in the ring.
Naito stomps Evil at the ropes, then drives elbows in. Fans rally as Naito stands Evil up to throw forearms. Naito puts Evil through the ropes to bend backwards! Red Shoes counts, Naito lets up, but Naito bends Evil back again! Naito stops but uses Evil’s hair to keep him up against the ropes. Red Shoes counts so Naito lets go, then he stomps Evil down. Naito drags Evil up to a cravat and cranks on the neck. Evil endures, gets to ropes, but Naito elbows him on the back. Naito whips, Evil reverses but Naito holds ropes. Naito boots back but Evil clotheslines him out! Evil takes a moment to catch his breath before pursuing Naito outside. Evil whips Naito into barriers now! Evil drags Naito up and wraps his leg around the railing! Evil pulls on the foot, Red Shoes counts, but Evil BOOTS the leg!
Naito falls down and Evil keeps stomping him! Evil confiscates the timekeeper’s table and brings it over! Evil brings Naito up and around for a fireman’s carry, but Naito fights out. Evil kicks Naito’s legs out then walks around to commentary. Evil snatches the toy scythe from Milano! And he BREAKS it! Then he throws the pieces back at Milano!! Milano jumps the rails! But Evil kicksd and WHIPS him into them!! Evil is truly living up to his name tonight! Red Shoes reprimands but Evil just soaks up all the heat. Evil goes back to Naito, drags him up and wraps the leg around railing again! Evil pulls, Red Shoes counts, but Evil stops at 4 to BOOT the leg again.
Naito and Milano are both hurting from what Evil did, but now Evil copies Toru Yano and undoes a corner buckle pad. There’s an exposed corner now as Evil waits for Naito. Fans rally for Naito as he gets up and into the ring. Evil stomps Naito’s legs then drags him up. Evil whips Naito into the exposed buckles! Naito writhes but fans rally for him. Evil drags Naito back up, and whips him back into the bare buckles! Naito writhes more and Evil stomps the legs again. Evil stomps and stomps and stomps, then drops an elbow on the knee! Evil traps the foot in a toehold and Naito endures. Naito fights back but Evil keeps cranking on the leg. Evil digs an elbow into the knee but Naito gets the ropebreak! Evil lets go at 4 and keeps his cool. Evil paces about and taunts Naito.
Evil watches Naito stand and the fans rally again. Evil mocks Naito with the Too Sweet but Naito CHOPS him! But the chops don’t bother Evil, even as Naito keeps going. Evil eggs Naito on and Naito switches to forearms. Evil kicks the bad leg! He brings Naito up but Naito resists the suplex! Evil keeps trying but Naito keeps blocking. Naito tries now but the bad leg doesn’t help. Evil suplexes, Naito slips out but the bad leg jams! Evil kicks Naito then slaps him around before stomping the bad leg. Evil runs, but Naito manages to one-leg shotgun dropkick! Both men are down but fans fire up again. Naito rises and hobbles over to Evil. Naito brings Evil up, fires off forearms and kicks then whips Evil, to run him over with an elbow and basement dropkick!
Naito whips again, runs in to rocket kick! Leg sweep and swinging dropkick, Combinacion Cabron! Naito drags Evil up, turns him and hits a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Naito keeps his cool as he grabs Evil’s hair. Naito drags Evil up, fans rally but Evil breaks free. Evil swings into the inverted DDT and leg nelson! Naito claws Evil’s face, Red Shoes reprimands, and Evil crawls around uses his legs. Naito cranks harder on his hold but Evil squirms and reaches to get the ropebreak. Red Shoes counts but Naito says he needs him. Naito just uses that as an excuse to crank harder. Red Shoes “helps” Naito let go, and Naito stomps Evil’s head! Evil sits up but Naito stomps him more. Naito brings Evil up and reels him in, but Evil fights off the waistlock with elbows. Evil throws Naito down by his hair!
Fans rally up as Naito stirs. Evil SLAPS Naito around! Evil drags Naito up, slaps him more and eggs Naito on. Evil has the leg but Naito elbows him away. Naito hits the atomic drop, throws more and more and more elbows into Evil, then stands him back up for even more! Evil falls and the fans cheer as Naito keeps cool. Naito drags Evil up by his hair again, but Evil ducks the elbow to kick back. Evil whips, Naito reverses but the enziguri misses! Evil knows that trick too well, and he SMASHES Naito’s knee into the mat! Evil looms over Naito, turns him around and SMASHES the knee again! Naito gets to ropes but Evil stalks over. Evil drags Naito up on the apron, goes after the leg, but Naito fights him off.
Naito elbows Evil again, turns him, APRON NECKBREAKER! Fans cheer as Naito evens things with Evil. Naito grabs the table from before, brings it closer, and fans rally up as they anticipate Naito’s plan. Naito brings Evil around, but Evil holds ropes for dear life! Evil rakes Naito’s eyes! Red Shoes reprimands but Evil lets up to lift, SUPER SHINBREAKER THROUGH THE TABLE!!! It was double edged for Evil, too, as he hits the floor! But is Naito’s knee even still there!? Evil doesn’t care, he fetches his friends, the chairs! Evil puts a chair around the leg, but Red Shoes shields Naito using a piece of the table! Fans cheer Red Shoes’ courage and Evil stands down. Red Shoes frees Naito’s leg from the chair while Evil goes into the ring. Fans rally as Naito stirs, but a ring count starts.
The count passes 5 of 20, then 10. Naito sits up with help from the table debris but we’re already at 15! Naito crawls at 18, stands and is in at 19.5! Evil argues with Red Shoes but then he stomps Naito’s legs. Evil steps through for the SHARPSHOOTER! Naito endures despite all the pain in his legs and back! The fans rally as Naito grits his teeth and reaches for ropes. Evil sits deep, Naito starts to fade! Naito feebly flails but he keeps reaching! Naito shouts as he gives it one last try, but Evil just sits deeper! Naito fades again! Is he out!? No, Naito revives to ROPEBREAK! Evil holds on until Red Shoes counts 4. Evil stomps Naito’s legs and then grins as he stands over him. Naito glares up at Evil but Evil brings him up. Naito resists the fireman’s carry and elbows away, but Evil kicks the leg.
Evil whips, Naito reverses but Evil reverses back to send him into bare buckles! Evil LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives and fans cheer! Evil grows annoyed, and he drags Naito back up. Fireman’s carry, DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!!! Naito almost didn’t kick out! Evil sits Naito up and slashes the throat. Some things never change as Evil stands and spins Naito, but Naito elbows him away. Evil kicks the leg, tries again, but Naito slips out to SLAP Evil! Naito leaps up and over, ESPERANZA! Cover, TWO! Naito dug deep into his arsenal for that one but Evil still lives! The fans rally up, Naito and Evil stir, and Naito crawls towards Evil. Naito grabs Evil’s hair and brings him over for a forearm! Evil forearms back and we have a brawl!
Naito forearms, Evil wobbles but forearms back. Naito hits again, but so does Evil. Evil hits more and more, but so does Naito! Evil falls over and fans cheer for Naito as he stands. Naito brings Evil up, throws more forearms, and grins. But Evil kicks the bad leg! Naito fires off more forearms, but Evil rakes the eyes! Red Shoes reprimands, Naito pushes Evil away but Evil whips. Naito reverses, reels Evil in, and hits a tornado DDT! Naito drags Evil up and hammerlocks, but Evil fights Naito off. Naito hits a rolling kick! Hammerlock and lift, GLORIA! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives but Naito just strikes a pose. Naito drags Evil up, wrenches, but Evil grabs his hair! The two head for the bare buckles, but it’s Evil who gets sent in!
Naito brings Evil up to the top rope, climbs up to join him, and SUPER STEINERS Evil down hard! Evil writhes whlie Naito steadies himself. Fans rally as Naito aims. Naito runs, tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO!! Cover, TWO!?! Evil lives but Naito isn’t bothered. Naito drags Evil back up, wrenches and tries again, but Evil blocks Destino with a dragon sleeper! Evil and Naito fight for control as fans rally up. Naito clubs, Evil knees low. Evil whips Naito into Red Shoes, into bare buckles! LARIAT! And here comes Jado for Bullet Club! Jado takes his time heading for the ring with his kendo stick, and it’s Taiji Ishimori who gets there first. Ishimori aims at Natio, springboard seated senton! Bone Soldier wants the Master Heater to hurry up.
Taiji keeps Naito down, Jado has the stick, but here comes LIJ! Hiromu Takahashi SUPERKICKS Jado! And baits Taiji into a belly2belly into buckles! Hiromu bails out and throws Taiji into Jado! This brawl continues at the railing and down the aisle as Naito revives. Naito grins, he still has allies he can trust. Naito stalks over to Evil, but Evil has a chair! Evil was playing possum and he JAMS Naito! Then a chairshot to the head!! Evil kicks the evidence away but fans rally up again. Red Shoes revives and returns as Evil paces. Evil drags Naito up, spins him around, but Naito slips out! Evil elbows Naito but Naito enziguris back! Naito baits Evil into a flapjack into corners! Naito hops up, reels Evil in, INVERTED TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO!! Evil survives but Naito fires up!
Naito drags Evil up, scoops, VALENTIA! But he’s not done there! Naito wrenches the arm, but Evil grabs Red Shoes! Evil LOW BLOW MULE KICKS! Wait, who is this now? Bushi is here and coaching Evil up. Naito stands, but Bushi DECKS Naito! And uses a rope to CHOKE Naito! Has Evil turned Bushi!? Naito fades out and Bushi hides the evidence. The ref spots Bushi and asks what he’s doing here. Bushi distracts Red Shoes, Evil drags Naito away, for the EVIL STOMP!! Evil drags Naito up and spins him for EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! Cover, EVIL WINS!??!
Winner: EVIL, by pinfall (NEW IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Double Champion)
The King of Darkness dethrones Naito! Naito has lost both belts, and two allies within his faction! Evil and Bushi Too Sweet as the World of Darkness Era begins! Evil grabs both belts and stands over Naito with them. Evil then grabs a mic to speak even as fans boo. “Oi, you bastards!” Evil isn’t just a double but a TRIPLE Champion because of the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles! And he introduces his “pareja” (partner). This isn’t Bushi, after all! This is DICK TOGO!! He did look a little too beefy… Togo and Evil stomp Naito, but Hiromu rushes back! The Ticking Time Bomb shields Naito while Young Lions tend to the former double champion. Evil and Togo stick together while the Young Lions get Naito out.
Hiromu talks to Evil now. “Oi, Evil. How does it feel?” What does it feel like to betray his friends? Hiromu wants to hear Evil’s response but Evil doesn’t speak. Hiromu doesn’t care about anything else, just what Evil is thinking! “Now. Now. Now!” Still Evil stays silent. In that case, Hiromu has one favor to ask. “Let me challenge you for those belts you just took!” But if Evil’s too afraid to do that, just put one or the other up. Evil gets back in the ring, grabs the mic, but then just drops it. The King of Darkness no longer has time for those from his past. He and the Bullet Club are paving a new future in NJPW! Hiromu is raging, screaming, and running around, but he and everyone else must come to terms that #ThisIsEvil!
My Thoughts:
Incredible stuff. Andrew Balaz has the full event with his own ratings covered, but for the three matches I chose, they were all incredible. The NEVER Openweight was above my expectations and I was already expecting something great. But as I said in yesterday’s article, Shingo was going to retain because his reign still needs to be built to be strong. This was a great start to that, and it definitely built up Sho as a singles competitor. Desperado surprising us all as Shingo’s next challenger was a great move, too. Desperado always felt like the cooler half of his team with Yoshinobu Kanemaru, he and Shingo will have a great match. The IWGP Heavyweight Tag match was incredible, hard to call as I figured, and had a pretty brutal ending. ZSJ and Taichi have the titles, which felt like the plan from before the lockdown, but I’m still surprised they went through with it.
Evil coming out of nowhere to not only join Bullet Club but to be the NEW Double Champion is wild, and probably because of the changes from COVID. And as I addressed last time, what happens to the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles? Evil said it himself that he is a THREE BELT champion because he still has a part in that. Hiromu made a bold challenge, but clearly Evil didn’t care. We might only get the Heavyweight VS Junior Heavyweight Champion exhibition match at like New Japan Road or some other event, even though it’s Evil and not Naito. At the same time, there are any number of ways Bullet Club and LIJ could tie in the Six Man championships, subbing one of the other LIJ members in where Evil was on the trio. The obvious answer is Hiromu, but I wish it’d be Sanada so that he has a belt at all. Either way, can’t wait to see what happens.
My Score: 9.5/10
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Could this be the biggEST and strongEST SmackDown of the year?
SmackDown in Knoxville sees the returns of Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes and John Cena, along with some final Money in the Bank qualifiers!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax; Naomi wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa; Mateo wins.
- Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar; Los Garza win.
- Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration; Zelina wins.
- Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu; Andrade wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bianca Belair is here!
Knoxville fires up for their strongEST, fastEST, quickEST, toughEST, roughEST, and greatEST hometown hero as she struts out to the ring. Bianca high-fives and hugs fans along the ramp, as well as mom and dad at ringside. Bianca then grabs a mic to say, “Man, it feels good to be in Knoxville!” The fans cheer and chant for “EST! EST!” Bianca says she loves them so much. And she couldn’t come out here without singing Rocky Top! Y’all ready? The fans cheer, and the music plays! Bianca conducts the fans as they sing for the University of Tennessee. In fact, the Lady Vols softball team is playing in the Super Regionals right now!
Bianca smiles and says this city is so special to her. Not just because it is her hometown, but because it is her safe space. She has her love and support from mom ‘n’ dad, and has all the fans who show up and show out for her. With everything Bianca’s been going through, losing at Mania, getting injured, losing tag titles and friends along the way, she just wanted to come back home to her safe space. The fans cheer, and Bianca says she came home to heal. While she’s not 100%, she is doing everything she can to get back to the ring and continue to show us why she is the EST of Tennessee and of WWE! The fans cheer that!
Bianca says with all that said, Knoxville, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown! But wait, she’s interrupted by Naomi! The fans boo but Naomi says, “Oh my gosh~! Finally! B, I am so glad you finally here on SmackDown!” Bianca says now is not the time, Naomi. Naomi asks Bianca to please hear her out. It has been way too long. Not a day has gone by when Naomi doesn’t think about what happened to them. What is there to talk about? What could Naomi say? What could she want from Bianca? The fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at Naomi, and Naomi says she just wants forgiveness. She is begging for it!
Naomi knows things go toff the rails, but she is here because she wants to fix it, she is trying to fix it, but she alone can’t fix it. Months have gone by, and Naomi has tried to communicate, to say the past can be the past and that they can move forward. Bianca has not responded back to Naomi once. Naomi even visited Bianca’s parent’s house! But no one would answer! WHAT?! Mom ‘n’ Dad don’t know about that, but Naomi says no one was home, so she let herself in! Naomi looked through the photo albums, the one right on the front coffee table. And in those photos, Bianca looked so happy. It reminded Naomi of how they were as tag team champions.
Bianca stops Naomi there. Naomi, Bianca will make this perfectly clear. They were best friends, but Naomi betrayed Bianca’s trust. Naomi took their friend, Jade, and threw her onto a car, then lied about it for months! Bianca said she was done with Naomi, she meant that, and if Naomi ever comes near her family again, what Naomi did to Jade will be nothing compared to what Bianca does to Naomi. The fans fire up for that! Naomi gets emotional, but then she gets mad. “Y’know, Bianca, it wouldn’t be good for you and your mama to be in a wheelchair.” The fans boo as Naomi laughs maniacally. Naomi says she’d hate if something happened to Bianca here and now!
Naomi storms up on Bianca, but then JADE makes her way out here! Naomi is even angrier now, but this Storm starts throwing hands! The fans fire up as Jade BOOTS Naomi down! Bianca and Jade look to each other, neither really saying or doing anything. Naomi runs up but Jade TOSSES her out! Jade and Bianca look to each other again, but then here comes NIA! The Irresistible Force won’t be left out of this, especially when this is the Women’s Triple Threat Qualifier for the night! This match now opens the night, who earns SmackDown’s final golden ticket to the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match?
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax!
SmackDown returns, this match is already going, and Naomi POSTS Nia! Naomi stalks Jade, rains down forearms, and the fans boo. Naomi stomps to BITE Jade’s hand! Jade still fights back, so Naomi has the arms to STOMP Jade down! Naomi flexes, the fans boo, and Naomi puts Jade in a corer. Naomi runs to DROPKICK Jade in the corner! Naomi SLAPS Jade, drags her into the drop zone, then goes up, up, and twerks! HIP DROP! Naomi covers, ROPEBREAK! Naomi is annoyed but she sits Jade up to stomp a mudhole in. But Nia runs up! Naomi dodges, the HIP ATTACK hits Jade! Naomi goes to the apron to ROUNDHOUES Nia!
Naomi reels Nia in for a HEATSEEKER! Nia flops to the floor, the fans rally for Jade, but Naomi kicks her around. Naomi goes up the corner, leaps, but Jade catches her! Jade FALL AWAY SLAMS Naomi, then kips up! Knoxville fires up with Jade and she runs up to LARIAT! And ELBOW! And SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, Nia breaks it! The fans boo but Nai huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Naomi up. Nia whips Naomi, pops her up and HEADBUTTS her down! Then she SAMOAN DROPS Naomi! Nia soaks up heat, then lines the two up. Naomi grabs at Nia’s leg but Nia CLUBS her down! Nia stomps Jade for good measure, then drops a leg, brother!
Nia TOSSES Jade out, then goes up the corner. Nia SUPER LEG DROPS on Naomi!! Cover, TWO!!! Naomi survives and Nia is shocked! The fans rally while Nia stalks Naomi. Naomi clings to ropes as Nia pulls at her arm. Nia CLUBS Naomi, whips her to ropes, then SAMOAN DROP- NO, Naomi makes it a CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Ghost pin, TWO!! Nia survives the sudden turnaround, Naomi sees Jade crawling in, and Naomi goes after her as SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Naomi KICKS Nia while she’s down, then kicks her more. Naomi puts Nia in a corner, CHOKES her on the ropes, then clamps on with a SLEEPER! Nia THROWS Naomi away, then TOSSES her out. Nia soaks up heat, but Jade runs in and rolls Nia up! TWO! Nia stands, and she HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia looms over Jade, drags her up, but Jade fires forearms! Jade backs Nia down, then runs, and she CLOBBERS Nia outta the ring! Jade fires up and has the fans with her. Jade drags Naomi up from the apron but Naomi fires hands. Nia is back to HIP ATTACK Jade against the POST! Nia soaks up more heat, then taunts Naomi.
Naomi stands on the apron, argues with Nia, but they apparently agree to mug Jade for both their benefit. They put Jade in the corner, Naomi digs her boot in, and then Nia sends Naomi in for a SPALSH! Nia adds a SPLASH of her own! Naomi snapmares Jade, runs, and SLIDING LARIATS! Jade sputters and Nia taunts her. Nia and Naomi soak up the heat together, but Jade fights back! Nia HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia drags Jade up, and Naomi KICKS Jade low! They soak up more heat, talk trash on Jade, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Nia scoops and SIDEWALK SLAMS! Naomi runs to SPLIT LEG DROP! Cover, but Nia drags Naomi away!
Nia and Naomi argue again, and then Naomi rolls Nia up! ONE, and Nia grabs Naomi to shove her to a corner! Nia SPLASHES, then pushes Naomi down. Nia runs to SENTON! Nia grins while Naomi sputters and the fans rally up. Jade rises to fire forearms on Nia! Then she ELBOWS Naomi in a corner! She ELBOWS Nia, but then Nia follows Jade! Jade dodges so Nia SPLASHES Naomi! Jade then SUPERKICKS! Nia wobbles, Jade SUPERKICKS again! And SPINEBUSTERS! But Naomi METEORAS! Cover, TWO! Jade survives and the fans rally up. Naomi goes up, SPLIT- LEG MOONSAULT on Nia! But Jade has Naomi in the chicken wings!
Jade brings Naomi around, JADED!! Cover, Nia CLOBBERS them both! The fans rally while all three women are down! Nia climbs a corner, Jade is after her with forearms! Naomi joins in, drags Jade back, but now they trade shots! Nia DOUBLE CROSSBODIES! Cover on Jade, TWO! Cover on Naomi, TWO! Nia grows frustrated but the fans rally up again. Nia drag Naomi up, fireman’s carries, and she climbs the corner! The fans already anticipate what’s coming, SUPER SAMOAN DROP!! Cover, JADE FROG SPLASHES IN!! Cover, TWO!!! The fans fire up while all three women are down again! “This is Awesome!”
Jade rises, she clamps onto Nia, but Nia HEADBUTTs her! And HEADBUTTS Naomi! Jade BOOTS Nia down! Cover, TWO! Jade runs up on Naomi but Naomi BOOTS her! Naoim goes up top but Jade is right on her! They fight for control, but then Nia joins in! TOWER OF DOOM!! Nia double stacks her opponents, for a A-NIA-LATOR!! Naomi avoids it, Jade takes it all! Naomi ghost pins Nia, AND WINS!!
Winner: Naomi, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Nia did a lot of the damage, but it is Naomi who wins out! Will everyone in the Women’s MITB Ladder Match now have to #ProceedWithCaution?
Solo Sikoa’s crew arrives.
Solo says they will win Money in the Bank together! Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, whichever one wins MITB wins it fof the family! But then they hear R-Truth talking to… Lil’ Jimmy? Solo says Truth’s childhood hero beats him, and now he’s talking to ghosts. Truth taps Solo on the shoulder and asks if there’s something Solo wants to say. Solo says Truth is crazy touching him. JC Mateo steps up but Solo has him stand down. Truth says he wants to be honest. He’s never seen JC a day before in his life. Is this Solo’s son? He’s husky! Truth asks if he can teach Solo’s husky son a lesson in the ring. Solo says that sounds good to him.
Truth says he’ll go talk to Nick Aldis. “Boy, y’all big boneded!” Truth heads off, and Solo says don’t worry, they’ll take care of him. Let’s have fun. Fatu says keep it 100. They can have their fun, he’s got his own business to take care of. Yadada mean? The Imperial Unit against Truth, Samoan Werewolf in a qualifier, will everything go the family’s way?
Chelsea Green confronts Nick Aldis.
The Hot Mess hides behind a cardboard cutout of herself as she tells the SmackDown General Manager, “What happened on Saturday night was a deliberate-” Piper Niven has to direct Chelsea to point at Aldis, and Aldis says he can’t quite understand her from behind the cardboard mask. Piper holds the mask between Chelsea and camera, though we do get a glimpse of her fancy headgear. Chelsea repeats herself, but Aldis says she needs to be looking at him when they talk. Chelsea hides her face in shame, but she says it is still a deliberate hitjob put on by vicious Zelina Vega! Even her Secret Her-vice could not stop it!
Chelsea demands that Zelina be suspended, stripped of her title, and that Chelsea be reinstated as the champion! Chelsea, no need to be so ugly about this. Gasp! Aldis says what he means is, no suspensions, and we can talk a rematch down the road once Chelsea is medically cleared. Then he is doing nothing for what Zelina did to Chelsea?! Alba says if he won’t, then they will! Yeah, Zelina VS Alba! Tonight! Alba is a bit surprised, but Aldis says, “Chelsea knows best. Alba VS Zelina, I actually like the sound of that. I will make that official right now, if you do one thing for me. Please leave me alone.”
The Green Administration hurries away, but will Alba make sure Chelsea brand justice is served? Or will La Muneca just keep racking up the wins?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Women’s Champion, and says that MITB is around the corner. Tiff successfully cashed in her own contract to become champion, but how is she handling the pressure of knowing the same thing could happen to her? Tiff says she can’t wait to see who wins MITB. Then she can handle the pressure by being prepared. Having this title makes her the top threat to the division, but let’s be fair. She’s always been the girl everyone has been obsessed with. So whoever wins, targeting her will be a big mistake. But then in steps Naomi.
Naomi says if Tiff thought Nia was a problem, then she ain’t seen nothing yet. Naomi vows to win MITB and cash in for Tiff’s title, wherever and whenever she wants. And in case Lil’ Miss Tiffy forgot, when Naomi was fighting for a championship, Tiff stayed in Naomi’s way. Wanna know what happens when people play with Naomi? Just ask Jade. Naomi heads out, and Alexa Bliss steps in. Alexa says she wouldn’t be so worried about Naomi. Be worried about Alexa. Alexa heads out now, Tiff clutches to the title a little bit tighter, who will be trying to run the clock out on Tiffy Time?
R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa!
To Solo’s point, #RonCena could not make John Cena see the light at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Truth might be relapsing if he’s talking to Lil’ Jimmy again. But will Truth relapse so far that we get the R-Truth that was once United States Champion? Or will a Tour of the Islands send Truth off the deep end?
SmackDown returns and JC makes his entrance, Solo backing him up. The bell rings and Truth runs up, only for JC to RAM him into a corner! JC RAMS Truth again and again, then lets off. JC whips corner to corner hard and Truth falls in a heap! JC whips corner to corner again just as hard, and Truth falls in a heap again. Solo talks trash but the fans rally behind Truth. JC runs up but Truth dodges! Truth SHOULDER TACKLES! JC stays up, so Truth runs and SHOULDER TACKLES! “What’s Up?” Truth runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and SHOULDER TACKLES! Then he hits the SPIN OUT- CROSSBODY! JC then gets up to GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT!
JC smirks as he looms over Truth, and Solo says to finish this off now. JC runs to SENTON but Truth moves! Truth calls for it! “YOU CAN’T SEE ME!” FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Truth fireman’s carries JC, but JC is too much! Truth falls over again! Solo laughs, JC whips, TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, JC wins!
Winner: JC Mateo, by pinfall
Truth tried to be like John Cena of old, but it just wasn’t meant to be. JC beats up on Truth more, then stands him up for Solo! But here comes BIG Jim! Jimmy has a chair, he runs JC off, but Solo stands his ground. Solo says his brother wouldn’t hit him with that chair, would he? Jimmy steps to Solo so Solo steps out, but that lets JC CLOBBER Jimmy! But then Solo has JC stand down! They’re family! Solo and JC leave, leaving Jimmy wondering what this is about. Will Jimmy make it clear to Solo that Jimmy’s not the one who has to come to his senses?
The Street Profits are here!
The WWE Tag Team Champions walk through the smoke to be on stage and the fans cheer. Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford hold up the titles, walk to the ring, then step inside. The fans cheer as they hold up the belts again, then the Profits grab the mics. Ford says, “Knoxville, Tennessee, oh I love everything about you, and what I have, too. But lemme rap to y’all real fast. This tag team division that we’re a part of, the greatest tag team division on any brand, any promotion… It’s on fire right now.” Dawkins says, “Talk to ’em.” Ford says, “But just like how the gorilla fears us, make no mistake about it, let’s not forget who’s leading the charge right now: The Street Profits.”
The fans cheer, and Dawkins says hey, they got all the teams coming at ’em! DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, and now… The Wyatts?! The fans cheer that, and Ford says that’s sick. But what big bro is saying, it don’t matter who it is, the Profits will defend against anybody. Well hold on, here comes Fraxiom! Nathan Frazer & Axiom go to the ring to stand with the Profits, and they have mics. Frazer says alright, since the Profits are talking about defending the titles, well, Frazer & Axiom didn’t exactly get a fair shake. Ford says, “Fraxiom, is it?” He congratulates them for being on a roll, but up until the Wyatt Sick6 got in the Profits’ business…
Yeah, the Profits had them beat. Wow, oh, okay. Sure, maybe… But maybe not. Thanks to the Wyatts, we’ll never know. And now that those shenanigans are behind us, it is fair to say that Fraxiom and the Profits need to run it back! The fans like the sound of that! But wait, here come the Machine Guns! Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin have mics, and Shelley says okay, hold on, sorry to interrupt. Fraxiom’s entire basis for a rematch is that the Profits never beat them. Well, last time Shelley checked, the Profits never beat MCMG! So if they’re handing out title matches, MCMG will take one. But naturally, here comes DIY!
Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Candice LeRae have their own mics, and the Poison Pixie says no no no no. She is pretty sure “you losers” have had a million chances, and “the nerds” just got here. Whoa, hold on? Just got here? Sounds like Candice just got back, so she should do us a favor and shut up. Gargano says you shut up, idiot! The reason DIY brought in Gargano’s beautiful wife is to even the odds against all of what this is! Everyone can see there is a conspiracy in the tag team division to hold down the BTTITW! And now with the Wyatts showing up- Ciampa has Gargano ixnay on the amily-fay.
Do not talk about you know who, scratch that, let’s get to business. All these teams have all KILLED the tag division that DIY built! Matter of fact, let us hold a moment of silence for the death of the SmackDown Tag Division. Everyone, stand up, bow your heads, and give a moment of silence… now. OH NO! The lights go out! All the teams panic, because when the lights turn on, UNCLE HOWDY is on the corner! Howdy laughs, because the rest of the Wyatts flank the ring! Erick Rowan drags MCMG out to DOUBLE LARIAT! Dexter Lumis is up top to CANNONBALL onto the Profits and Gargano! Joe Gacy is in, and he handsprings to bring Fraxiom to the UPSIDE-DOWN!!
Lumis then runs, POWERBOMB SENTON COMBO on Axiom! Ciampa freaks out, turns around, and Nikki Cross is there! CROSSBODY onto Candice! The fans fire up, and Howdy has Frazer for SISTER ABIGAIL! “We’re here!!” It is just as the Profits said, and now it is clear. Will some killer combination of the Wyatts go right after the gold?
Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar!
Worlds Collide is just over a week away, and all four of these men will be involved. The Immortal Firebird and the Young OG are going after the NXT North American Championship in a Fatal 4 Way while Legado Del Fantasma will be taking on AAA’s Pagano, Psycho Clown y El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. Who will be heading for Los Angeles with all the momentum behind them?
Speaking of that North American Championship, the champion is here! Ethan Page joins commentary and says what a year for him, to be honest. Wade says that title has never looked better than on Ethan’s shoulder. Fenix makes his entrance now, followed by Je’Von’s. The teams sort out and Fenix starts against Angel. Angel and Fenix circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Angel fires a forearm, Fenix fires back, repeat! Fenix gets the edge but Angel shoves then drops down. Fenix cartwheels over the dropdown, then comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and RANAS! Angel tumbles, the fans fire up, and Fenix somersaults, but into a fireman’s carry!
Fenix slips free, ripcords to ROUNDHOUSE, but Angel HEADBUTTS! Both men stagger back, tags to Berto and Je’Von! Je’Von dodges and springboards to BOUNCY~ roll-up! TWO, and Berto mule kicks! Berto CLUBS Je’Von, whips, but Je’Von reverses and slips around. Berto bucks the O’Conner, springboards and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Berto drags Je’Von up, but Je’Von kicks! Berto blocks, but the ENZIGIRI hits! Je’Von runs up, and BOUNCY~ RANAS! The fans fire up and Je’Von DROPKICKS! Berto bails out, Angel runs in, but Je’Von goes Matrix to dodge! Je’Von kips up, and STUNNERS! Angel flops back and the fans fire up!
Los Garza regroups, Je’Von tags Fenix, and they build speed, but have to dodge Angel first. Fenix SOBATS, Je’Von KICKS, and both men ENZIGIRI! Berto is up top, he leaps, but into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Fenix runs to basement CALF KICK! Cover, TWO! Berto stays in this for Los Garza while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Fenix drags Berto up to RAM him into the corner. Tag to Je’Von and they mug Berto. Berto fires hands back on Je’Von, but Je’Von headlocks. Berto powers up and out and Angel tags in. Berto drop toeholds Je’Von into Angel’s KNEE at the ropes! Angel TEARS OFF HIS PANTS! Angel drapes those over Je’Von before he KICKS Je’Von in the side! Angel stalks Je’Von to the corner, tags Berto, and they shove Je’Von for a double hip toss, TU LO SABE! Then DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Berto covers, TWO! Berto argues the count but the ref defends it. Berto shoves Je’Von to ELBOW him down! Berto then DUMPS Je’Von down to be under the ropes.
Tag to Angel and Berto sits Je’Von up on the apron. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von down! Santos joins in with Los Garza as they soak up the heat, and Angel drags Je’Von back in. Angel stands Je’Von up, hoists him to the top rope, then climbs up behind him. Angel CLUBS away on Je’Von, mocks the clapping, and he THROWS Je’Von down. Angel KICKS Je’Von in the arm and Je’Von clutches his hand. Angel drags Je’Von to the ropes, CHOKES him, and the ref reprimands. The ref counts, Angel steps off at 4, and Berto BOOTS Je’Von down. ANgel clamps onto Je’Von with an armlock and chinbar but Je’Von reaches for Fenix.
Angel keeps hold of Je’Von but Je’Von fires hands! SmackDown returns to single picture as Je’Von dodges the lariat, leaps, but Angel catches him! Angel puts Je’Von in a corner and through ropes. Angel pulls an arm and leg against the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von in the ribs! Je’Von slumps to the apron, and Angel sucker punches Fenix! Angel goes back for Je’Von but Je’Von fires body shots! Angel blocks a kick, slips around and Gory Especials! Angel walks over, tags Berto, and Berto slingshots, GARZA ESPECIAL! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up for Je’Von but Berto clamps onto him with a chinlock.
Je’Von endures, even as Berto traps an arm. Je’Von fights up, pries the hold open, and he arm-drags Berto! Je’Von leaps but Berto grabs a leg! Ethan laughs from commentary, but Je’Von kicks free to SUPERKICK! Both men are down, Je’Von and Berto crawl, hot tags to Angel and Fenix! The fans fire up as Fenix rallies on Angel with forearms! Fenix then dodges a shot to springboard and FLYING ARM-DRAG, to a DOUBLE STOMP! Fenix fires off KICKS on Berto, then fires up with Knoxville! Fenix uses Berto to jump up and RANA Angel! Fenix then goes corner to corner to JUMP SOBAT! Fenix fires hands, shoves Angel aside, then goes up.
Fenix springboards to QUEBRADA! Cover, Berto breaks it! Berto whips Fenix, Fenix goes Spider-Man, and Je’Von tags in! Fenix says HASTA LA VISTA, BABY! Angel is up, he pops Fenix up to KICK him! But Je’Von springboards to FLYING LARIAT! The fans fire up, Berto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! All four men are down and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as Angel and Je’Von crawl. Angel CHOPS Je’Von, Je’Von CHOPS back, and the fans “WOO~!” Angel CHOPS again, so Je’Von CHOPS again! Angel fires a forearm, Je’Von fires back, and they go around with forearm after forearm! The fans fire up, Angel CHOPS, a
nd Je’Von SUPER PUNCHES!
Je’Von runs, BOUNCY- NO, Angel makes it a SIT OUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ethan is surprised and the fans rally up. Angel hoists Je’Von up top, tags Berto in, and they hoist Je’Von up even higher! But Fenix SHORYUKENS Angel down! Je’Von fires hands on Berto and SHOVES him down! Fenix climbs up to join Je’Von now, and ADIOS AMIGO DOUBLE STOMPS for Angel! Je’Von adjusts, to SUPER DUPER SWANTON onto Los Garza! Ethan says don’t get closer, keep this in the ring! He taunts both his challengers, Fenix and Je’Von stand down to put Los Garza in the ring. The fans rally up, but then Ethan CLOBBERS Fenix & Je’Von!
Ethan TOSSES Fenix over the desk! But Je’Von SUPERKICKS Ethan down! The fans fire up, Je’Von hurries in, and he dodges Angel! But Berto rolls Je’Von up, TWO!! Je’Von dodges Berto, rebound and RED DOT!! Berto is down, Angel gets up, but Je’Von DECKS him! Je’Von goes up, up, but Santos distracts the ref! Ethan SHOVES Je’Von down! The fans boo but Berto tags Angel! Los Garza hoists Je’Von up for M T Y!! Cover, Los Garza win!
Winners: Los Garza, by pinfall
All Ego grins as he screws over two of his three challengers, and now Legado is rolling towards Worlds Collide. But will these rudos get everything they deserve in LA?
The Wyatts speak.
“We won’t stop. Not until we get what’s owed.” A simple yet ominous threat, are the tag titles only the beginning?
Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration!
La Muneca held onto the WWE Women’s US Championship by smacking The Hot Mess in the face with a foot, and obviously Chelsea is not happy with it. But will Alba get payback on behalf of her fearless leader? Or will things only get uglier for the Green Regime?
The bell rings and Piper distracts Zelina so Alba can CLOBBER her! Alba fires off hands, then bumps Zelina off buckles. Alba bumps Zelina off more buckles, then more buckles! And then the fourth corner! Chelsea says Zelina should’ve never messed with her! Alba fireman’s carries but Zelina fights free. Zelina KICKS Alba, KICKS again, then KICKS, but Alba CLUBS Zelina. Alba whips, scoops, and- NO, Zelina swings through to RANA! Cover, ONE! Zelina headlocks but Alba fights up and lifts Zelina. Zelina holds on but Alba powers up and out to RUN Zelina over! The fans boo but Chelsea cheers as Alba stalks Zelina.
Alba ROCKS Zelina, whips her to ropes, but Zelina wheelbarrows and arm-drags! Zelina then runs up on Alba in the corner and rains down fists! Alba shoves Zelina away at three, but Zelina comes right back to rain down more shots! Alba stops Zelina at four now, but Zelina wants another go! Alba stops Zelina at four again, and RAMS her into the corner! The fans boo but Alba grins. Zelina BOOTS Alba, goes up, and FLYING RANAS! Alba tumbles out, Piper helps her up, and Zelina goes to the apron. Alba trips Zelina up, spins and ROCKS Zelina, then gets her up. Gory Especial, but Zelina flips through to arm-drag Alba onto ropes!
The fans fire up as Zelina dials up, but Chelsea is on the apron! The ref argues with Chelsea while Zelina redials, but Piper trips her up! The fans boo but Alba SUPERKICKS Zelina! Alba salutes to Chelsea, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Alba stands on Zelina’s hair while pulling Zelina’s arms! The ref reprimands, Alba steps off, and she drags Zelina up to suplex for the GOURD BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Zelina stays in this and Chelsea argues with the ref. The ref says the count is fair, so Alba clamps onto Zelina with a COBRA CLUTCH! Zelina endures, the fans rally, and Zelina fights up. Zelina fires body shots, Alba ripcords and wrenches to SUPERKICK! Zelina rebounds to SHINING WIZARD! Both women fall and the fans fire up! Piper coaches Zelina, the fans rally up, and both women rise up. Alba is on Zelina and brings her to a corner, but Zelina buckle bumps Alba first!
The fans rally as Alba stalks Zelina, but Zelina bumps her off buckles again! Alba tries again, but Zelina ELBOWS Alba away. Then BOOTS her away! Zelina fires forearms on Alba, backs her down, then whips. Alba reverses but Zelina dodges to LARIAT! The fans fire up as Zelina LARIATS again! Zelina blocks a kick, ELBOWS Alba, but Alba blocks the saido. But Zelina keeps Alba from running, SNAP SAIDO! The fans rally for Zelina as she runs corner to corner, METEORA! Zelina pushes Alba out and goes up top! The fans cheer for some Latina Heat, and METEORA! Cover, TWO! Alba survives and Chelsea is relieved.
Zelina grows frustrated, but she goes back for Alba. Zelina reels Alba in, suplexes, but Alba blocks! Alba knees low, suplexes, but Zelina hits STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Alba is down, Zelina goes up, MOONSAULT FLOPS! Alba goes up now, and she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, TWO!?! Zelina survives and shocks Alba! Chelsea is upset again but Alba hurries to bring Zelina up. Alba KICKS Zelina out, and now Chelsea takes off her face mask?! She tells Piper to stand Zelina up! Piper does as told, and Chelsea takes a swing, but Zelina ducks! The face mask SMACKS Piper!! Chelsea is shocked, then furious, and then she chases after Zelina!
Zelina slips into the ring, Chelsea gets on the apron, but Zelina sends Alba at her! They almost collide, and then Zelina rolls Alba up! Zelina hops on, CODE RED!! Cover, Zelina wins!!
Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall
Chelsea tried so hard to screw Zelina over that she just screwed up her own team! Zelina survives again, will no one take down the Vega Administration?
The Miz pep talks Carmelo Hayes.
Melo looks good, and he just has to follow the plan. If Melo follows that plan, with no mistakes, they will win. Melo says he knows what he’s doing. Miz asks if he really does. Because Miz has taken Black Mass after Black Mass, sacrificing himself for Melo. Does Melo understand? Miz gave up this chance at MITB for Melo! Miz has already done it twice! If Melo wins this match tonight, Miz will guide Melo to make sure “we are Mr. MITB.” Wait, we? Miz says, “Who do you think got you in this position?” Melo says Melo did. Melo appreciates everything Miz has done for him, from sacrificing to taking hits for him, and helping him win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
But nobody told Miz to do that. Melo will run the play exactly as Miz designed it, but what brought Melo to the dance is Melo’s talent. Melo goes out there and does it better than anybody else. Melo puts up 40 points on a bad day, because he is H1M. And Miz just needs to let Melo be H1M. They good? Miz nods, and Melo says okay, let’s do the thing. They are Melo Don’t Miz and they are Awes-H1M. Miz still nods, but he doesn’t seem genuinely happy. Will Miz let Melo be Melo? Even if that means letting H1M fail?
Giulia speaks.
“Throughout my entire career, even back when I started in Japan, I had one goal… It’s not to be ‘the best.’ Everyone says that. It’s hollow and empty. My goal is to be indisputable. You can love me or hate me, admiration or disgust, it means nothing. But I’m impossible to deny. My opponent doesn’t matter, because I only view them as an opportunity to build my legacy. Evidence you cannot refute. SmackDown, you will see. I will hit harder, move faster, think sharper, and conquer everything, just like I’ve always done. The question isn’t, ‘Who’s going to let me?” It’s, ‘Who’s going to stop me?'” She adds in Japanese, “If you can stop it, stop it.”
Will SmackDown and all of the WWE soon succumb to The Beautiful Madness?
Zelina returns backstage.
She refreshes for a second, but Giulia is there! And Giulia says she sees Zelina, but she also sees that title more. Zelina scoffs and leaves. Could Giulia be aiming for everything once she becomes Ms. Money in the Bank?
Damian Priest is here!
Knoxville cheers as The Archer of Infamy heads to the ring, victorious from Saturday Night’s Main Event and that brutal Steel Cage match. Priest grabs a mic to tell Tennessee, “Ever since I beat Drew on Saturday, it’s like I’m breathing in fresh air. Y’know, there was a time when I lived on the street, if we were beefing with another street, that war could go for years. But in WWE, you have a beef with somebody, you have a match and it’s over. But with Drew and I, we went well over a year, and that’s not normal. But we took that beef into a cage. Now, I can feel it, you can se it on my face, we went to war.
“At the end of this war, at Saturday Night’s Main Event, I gave him a Con-Chair-To, I walked out the door, and I put his ass in the past.” The fans cheer that. Priest says now he knows Drew is somewhere recovering from his scrambled brains, but he knows Drew is watching, so this is for Drew. “I still can’t stand yo ass. But the Drew McIntyre that stepped in that cage wasn’t the guy that hides behind his phone on social media. That was the old Drew, the warrior, and I appreciate that.” The fans applaud, and Priest says he won’t ask what is next for himself, he’ll just tell us all. And it is the same thing he wanted when he came to SmackDown: Championships!
The fans cheer, and Priest says this war with Drew cost him an opportunity at being in MITB. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his eyes on a certain champion. Somebody who he has unfinished business with, and a champion he considers the most badass. The fans know that means Fatu, and he knows they know! Priest calls out Jacob Fatu! Priest respects Fatu. Priest knows where Fatu came from, what Fatu had to live through, how it feels to stand in this ring as a champion. Real talk, Priest is proud of Fatu, he congratulates Fatu, that’s real. But what Priest doesn’t respect is the crew that follows him around.
Wait, check that. What Priest doesn’t respect is the crew Fatu follows around. Priest knows at some point, they will get in this ring, handle business, but that’s for them. As for Fatu’s so-called family, if they wanna get involved, they can catch a fresh one, too. Priest won’t make it just a nickname or moniker, he wants this to be fact! Priest is and forever will be EL CAMPEON! The fans cheer that! But will the Archer soon take aim at the Samoan Werewolf? Well, speaking of, Fatu makes his way out here for tonight’s other Triple Threat Qualifier! Fatu nods to Priest, but if Fatu wins his way into the ladder match, will this showdown have to wait a little longer?
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu!
SmackDown returns and El Idolo makes his entrance, followed by H1M. The bell rings and Miz distracts Fatu and Melo attacks! Fatu ELBOWS Melo away, Andrade is on Melo with forearms, and then Fatu adds a LARIAT! Fatu looms mover Melo but then turns to stare down Andrade. The fans rally as these two step up. Andrade fires forearms but Fatu SHOVES him to a corner. Fatu runs up, Andrade dodges then whips. Fatu reverses, Andrade goes up and out to then ROCK Fatu! Andrade goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, ONE! Melo CLUBS Andrade, TOSSES him out, and then CLUBS away on Fatu!
Miz says that’s the way! Melo HAMMERS and CHOPS, then whips, but Fatu blocks! Fatu whips Melo, Melo springboards, but into an UPPERCUT! The fans fire up and Fatu sees Melo go outside. Fatu builds speed, but Miz trips him up! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Fatu drags Miz into the ring! Melo goes to roll Fatu up but Fatu stays up! Fatu YANKS Melo up, scoops, but Melo slips free! Melo SUPERKICKS and Miz DUMPS Fatu out! The fans boo but Melo builds speed, only for Andrade to LARIAT! The fans cheer, and now Miz sees he is in trouble. Fatu snarls, but Andrade DIVES, into a HAYMAKER!
Fatu then SUPERKICKS Miz! Fatu THROWS Miz into barriers! The fans fire up and Fatu grins. Fatu runs in, HIP ATTACK against the barriers! The Samoan Werewolf has dominated three men at once and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Miz sputters and Fatu leaves him behind to go around the way. Melo is there to kick Fatu, RAM Fatu, but Fatu blocks another whip! Fatu ROCKS Melo and Melo staggers away. Fatu stalks Melo, Melo checks on Miz, but Fatu ROCKS Melo! Andrade goes after Fatu now, but Fatu THROWS Andrade into barriers! The fans cheer as Fatu lets Andrade go to the ring. Fatu brings Melo up, SMACKS him off the desk, then pushes him down. Fatu clears the desk off, but Melo CLUBS Fatu against the desk! Melo storms into the ring, brings Andrade up, but Andrade RAMS Melo into the corner! Andrade RAMS Melo, CHOPS Melo, then stalks Melo.
Andrade whips Melo, Melo reverses and Andrade hits buckles hard! Melo CHOPS Andrade down! Melo brings Andrade up, soaks up some heat, then makes it Latino Heat. But Andrade blocks the suplex to suplex Melo! Andrade hangs Melo out to dry, and Melo flops to the apron. Fatu is back but Andrade fires forearms first! Andrade whips, Fatu reverses, and Fatu BODY CHECKS Andrade! Fatu geeks out and the fans are with him while he stalks Andrade. Fatu drags Andrade up to HEADBUTT him into the corner. Fatu shoves Melo off the apron, then he HEADBUTTS Andrade again. Andrade sputters but Fatu is all fired up.
Fatu CHOPS Andrade, UPPERCUTS, and HEADBUTTS him again! Andrade CHOPS in return! SmackDown returns to single picture and Andrade CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Fatu UPPERCUTS and Andrade falls back! Melo stomps Andrade in the corner, then tells Fatu to come on in. Fatu runs up, but Andrade gets away! Hip attack hits buckles! Melo ENZIGIRIS Fatu, Andrade runs to dodge Melo and FLYING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Andrade kips up! Andrade has targets in the corners, and he rallies the fans with “SI! SI! SI!” CIEN KNEES for Fatu! CIEN- NO, Melo tilt-o-whirls and LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally, Melo runs to stomp away on Fatu, then he brings Andrade up. Fatu stands to CLOBBER Melo! Andrade SUPERKICKS Fatu! The fans rally, Melo brings Andrade up and springboards, but Andrade stops him at the ropes! SECOND ROPE SPANISH FLY! But Fatu SENTONS Andrade! The fans fire up as Fatu SENTONS Melo! Fatu drags Melo to a drop zone, then goes to the corner! The fans rally for Fatu as he goes up, up, but Andrade YANKS him down! Andrade goes up top, MOONSAULT DOUBLE!! Cover, Melo breaks it! The fans rally while all three are down! “This is Awesome!” as the three stir.
Melo brings Fatu and Andrade around, and he fires forearms on each of them. Andrade fires back on Melo, then Fatu UPPERCUTS! Andrade ROCKS Fatu, but Fatu UPPERCUTS Andrade! The fans rally as the three rise, and Melo springboards! DOUBLE FADE AWAY DDT!! Cover on Andrade, Fatu breaks it! Melo and Fatu stare down, and they run up! Melo dodges to hit the FIRST 48! Andrade adds a POISON-RANA! Melo slips around Andrade to KNEE and suplex, CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Andrade survives and Melo grows frustrated. The fans rally for Fatu while Melo shakes his hands out. Andrade is on the apron but Melo rises.
Melo brings Andrade up but Andrade trips Melo! They go out to brawl, and Melo SUPERKICKS Andrade down! But Fatu SUPERKICKS Melo! The fans fire up for Fatu as he lines up a shot. Fatu gets the fans even more fired up, then he geeks out! Fatu runs in the full length, but Andrade & Melo move! HIP ATTACK through barriers!! The fans go nuts as Fatu crashes into the timekeeper’s area! Fatu sputters as SmackDown goes back to picture in picture.
Fatu stirs while Andrade and Melo go to the ring. They roll in, Melo grabs at Andrade and vice-versa. Melo fires a forearm, then goes back outside. Andrade goes to the opposite end while Melo looks under the ring. Melo makes Knoxville happy by bringing out a table! But then Melo makes them mad by dropping it! Melo goes after Andrade but Andrade ROCKS him first! Andrade brings out a chair! Andrade aims, but Melo dropkicks the legs out! Andrade crawls, Melo shakes his head, and he grabs the chair now. Melo aims, but Andrade kicks Melo low! Andrade and Melo go into the ring, and Andrade puts Melo in a drop zone.
Andrade goes up the corner, but Melo trips him up! Andrade is stuck up top and Melo hits the SLINGSHOT PLEX! Melo flexes, then decides to step through on the legs! Andrade cradles that, TWO! Melo and Andrade stand, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men fall and the fans look for Fatu. SmackDown returns to single picture as the fans rally, Melo and Andrade sit up, and Melo CHOPS! Andrade ROCKS Melo, then rolls away. Melo hurries to clamp onto Andrade with a facelock, but Andrade RAMS him into a corner! Andrade puts Melo up top but Melo fires forearms. Andrade drops back, Melo aims, but Andrade GAMANGIRIS!
The fans still want tables but Andrade climbs up to get Melo. They’re on the very top, but Fatu is back! Fatu makes the SUPER SPANISH FLY part ROCKER LAUNCHER!! The fans are thunderous as Fatu goes up now! SWANTON BOMB onto Melo! Cover, Andrade breaks it!! The fans rally up again and still want tables. Fatu runs at Andrade to SPLASH! Then Fatu runs at Melo, but Melo BOOTS him! Melo runs up, but into a pop-up! Melo fights the Samoan Drop, and Andrade adds the SHADOW ELBOW! But Melo makes it a ghost pin! Andrade adds a stack, TWO!!! Fatu survives the double cover, but here come Solo & JC!
The fans boo as Solo is here to coach Fatu up. Melo and Andrade trade forearms, then Melo dodges to springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, Fatu breaks it! Fatu snarls, drags Melo up, and he HEADBUTTS Melo! Fatu finally notices Solo & JC, but Fatu puts Melo up top. Fatu CHOPS Melo, then he fireman’s carries Andrade. Fatu adds Melo to this, but Melo slips free. SAMOAN DROP for Andrade, and then Fatu goes to the corner. Solo says Fatu’s got this now! BEST MOONSAULT EVER FLOPS and Melo hits NOTHING BUT NET!! Cover, ANDRADE BREAKS IT! Andrade underhooks Melo, THE MESS- NO, Melo RANAS through! Cover, TWO!!
Andrade has a cover, TWO! Melo has a cover, TWO! Andrade has it, TWO! Both men stand, SHADOW ELBOW! FIRST 48!! SHADOW ELBOW AGAIN!! All three men are down and the fans are thunderous! Fatu crawls, Melo rolls to a corner, and Andrade stirs. Fatu rises, he brings Andrade up, IMPALER DDT! Then Fatu has Melo to RAM him into a corner. Fatu runs and HIP ATTACKS Melo! Andrade is up, Fatu hits him with another IMPALER DDT! Fatu puts Andrade in the drop zone, and he hits the BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Solo says yeah, do that again! The fans boo but Fatu glares at Solo. JC says do what Solo is saying, Fatu!
But wait! Jimmy YANKS JC down, and SUPERKICKS him! The fans fire up, and then Melo RAMS Fatu into Solo! Then FIRST 48! But Andrade rolls Melo into THE MESSAGE!! Cover, ANDRADE WINS!!
Winner: Andrade, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Solo just screwed things up for Fatu! Solo does his best to keep the peace between Fatu and JC, but the point is: Andrade is headed to Los Angeles! Will he make this El Idolo in the Bank?
Backstage interview with LA Knight.
Byron Saxton segues from congratulating Andrade for qualifying to welcoming in someone who already has qualified, but The Mega Star says, “My gawd. What is it with punching tickets around here? Everybody talks about punching tickets. WWE Instagram, punched tickets. Commentary, punched tickets. You’re talking about punched tickets. I guess I punched my ticket to MITB, it’s only eight days away. A few other guys who punched tickets, who are they? You got Andrade, you got Penta, you got what’s his name, Seth Rollins. You got Solo Sikoa! They’re all in it! They all punched their tickets!
“And everybody’s gonna be climbing that ladder, trying to get up, put everything on the line that they can. Now, if this was a one-on-one match, I’d go ahead and call my shot, and I’d say I’m gonna run up there, grab the case, and cash it in. But you gotta understand, this is my third year in a row, so I understand what this is. You can call me the vet in this match. Some people say maybe that Seth is the vet in this, but they would be wrong. For three years in a row now, you’re talking about the most robust and the most recent experience, YEAH. And what that means is now it’s anybody’s game. Anybody can come out with it, and I understand that.
“But with or without the case, what you need to understand is that the WWE title, the world title, they’re all in my future. With the way I’ve been running, at this point, they should be in my past, maybe even my present. Why don’tcha go ahead and punch that ticket? While we’re talking about-” Knight stops himself when he spots someone walking in. It’s Aleister Black! And Aleister says that win was supposed to be his. But he tells Knight, “You’re welcome, though.” The Dark Father lets the Mega Star shine, if only for now. Will LA win big in LA when we finally reach MITB?
Fatu and Solo regroup backstage.
Solo wants Fatu to listen. He was just trying to help. Fatu tells Solo to listen. For the last time, Fatu does not need his help! Fatu storms off, JC steps in, but Solo has nothing else to say. Is the Samoan Werewolf going to break away from this dysfunctional “family?”
Cody Rhodes is here!
Knoxville fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, high-fives fans along the ramp and the front row, and even signs autographs. Cody goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and he hears the fans chant his name. Cody fires the fans up more, then hears them sing, “Cody! Cody Rhooodes~! Cody! Cody Rhooodes~!” Cody says, “So, Knoxville! Whaddya wanna talk about?” The fans cheer, and Cody says, “I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that we could talk about the record crowd here this evening!” The fans cheer that, too! Cody says he loves them, too, thank you very much.
Cody says they could also talk about WrestleMania 41. The fans boo, but Cody says after WrestleMania 41, he went home, he drowned his sorrows, might’ve touched the “Tennessee Cough Syrup” a little bit, and he had a moment of doubt. He reached out to a friend. A friend who helps him prepare to wonderful audiences like this one here, or speaking to everyone at home. Cody asked him, “Was I a good champion?” The fans cheer for that, but Cody says the friend told him wasn’t quite as simple as yes or no.
The friend told him, “With everything that you faced here in the ring in front of all the fans, and with everything that you faced behind the scenes, being pulled in different directions, the waters that you had to navigate that no champion has ever had to navigate, yes, I feel that you were a good champion.” Cody says he felt good hearing that, it turned into a hopeful moment, the silver lining on a dark cloud. Cody looked back on his whole year. He thought about AJ Styles faking retirement to get the drop on him. Cody thought about his friend, Kevin Owens, sucker punching him against his bus while Cody’s family slept inside.
Cody thought about his boss, Triple H, who pushed Cody to the limit, and sees something in Cody that Cody doesn’t even see in himself. Cody even thought about The Final Boss, how he asked Cody for his soul, and the entire world wondering what that meant. As preposterous as that sounded, The Rock was 100% serious. No matter how many times Cody said no, the offer still stands. And Cody also thought about John Cena. The fans initially boo, but the “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” starts up. Cody takes a moment, and then he says, “I thought about John Cena doing exactly what he said he was going to do. He forced me to make a choice, and I hesitated.
“I don’t know if John Cena is going to ‘ruin’ professional wrestling. But if he does, then I’m partially to blame. Now, I know, I’d love to say this to John Cena’s face. Not sure if he’s going to come out here right now, but if you are listening, if you are listening, Champ, I need you to know that I will never hesitate with you again!” The fans cheer that, and Cody says no matter how much Cena will tout the amount of days he has left, how much Cena will talk about what remains before he absconds with the WWE Championship and leaves all of us forever, that is NOT Cena’s expiration date! That is on the other side of Cody’s corneas, and it will burn Cena’s ass up!
The fans fire up for that, and Cody calms it down. Cody apologizes for that. This is his first night back on SmackDown, he is getting worked up. He thought so much about what he could do, what he could do for the fans. Hell, how about a surprise? The fans already “YEET! YEET! YEET!” so Cody says they’re hungry for it. Let’s yeet. Well, hold on, that’d be a very big surprise. That’d be the biggest surprise. That’d be Cody’s partner riding into battle for MITB, and hell YES he is here! Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the World Heavyweight Champion, MAIN EVENT JEY USO! The fans go wild as Jey makes his way in from the pavilion!
The fans sing along with Day One Ish and bounce for that YEET! Jey makes his way down through the crowd to ringside, one verse at a time, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Jey joins Cody in the ring now, mic in hand. Cody and Jey hear the fans want an encore, so we get even more YEET! But then John Cena makes his entrance to ruin the fun! The fans sing “JOHN CENA SUUUCKS~!” even though he wears that University of Tennessee orange and white. Cena goes to the ring, towel draped over his head, then grabs a mic before he joins Cody and Jey in the ring. Cena hears the fans boo, and he says, “I’m upset, too. If it isn’t professional wrestling’s biggest wannabes!” Cena tells Cody he is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe, and that Jey is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe.
The fans boo but Cena says they both wanna be Cena so bad, it makes him sick! Cody wants Cena’s fame, Jey wants Cena’s money, but they will get neither because Cody is too desperate and Jey is too lazy! There is only ONE other human being in the WWE who embodies hustle, loyalty and respect, and he’s got the fortune, fame and followers to back that up! Surprise, losers! Cena’s partner is here, too! The fans boo already, because “EY YO~!” Logan Paul IS here! The Maverick swaggers his way out, and Cena gives him a proper introduction. “Oh, you mad? You’re mad because Logan Paul does WWE better than any professional wrestler?”
Cena says Logan doesn’t need to pay his dues, because he is paying Jey’s mortgage! Everybody in this building did NOT come to see Jey! They came to see John Cena and Logan Paul! Logan asks, “What the hell you crying about, Knoxville? Look! I could walk on water, and y’all would still find a way to tell me it’s because I can’t swim! John Cena speaks the language of Logan Paul, and that is the truth! The truth! It is right in front of you! You deny it all you want, but look around, you stupid, stupid, simple Tennessee people! This is a moment in history! All of you get to witness the moment that John Cena stood side-by-side in the ring with Logan Paul.
“And look, all of you will live long, pathetic, miserable lives. But at least you will get to say that you saw that.” The fans tell Logan to STFU, and Cena tells Logan to ignore it. Logan says yeah, yeah, they’re so ungrateful. They don’t know what’s good for them. There is one problem, though. This does seem too perfect. The problem is… Logan should be standing next to THE WWE Champion as THE World Heavyweight Champion! Logan should’ve been the one to leave Saturday Night’s Main Event with that title around his waist. But look at him, Jey. Jey got lucky. Jey got lucky! He knows it, Logan knows, it, the fans know it, CODY knows it!
Jey needed Cody to save him! When Cody interfered with the match cuz these two cheaters can’t do a single thing in this business without it being handed to them! “These two nepo babies were born on third, thinking they hit a triple.” Logan points to himself and says, “Self-made man!” He points to Cena and says, “Self-made man!” Five years ago, nobody every would’ve believed Logan Paul would be a WWE superstar. And they certainly never ever would’ve believed that he’d be teaming with the Greatest Of All Time! But look at Logan now. He’s not just a superstar, he is THE superstar! His time is now! Cena told us that his time is almost up!
Cena is the Last Real Champion, Logan is the inevitable face of the WWE! So Jey, Cody, at MITB, if you want some, come get some. Jey tells Logan they don’t gotta wait! They can handle this right now! UH UH, YEET!! The mics drop, Cena and Logan talk this out, and Logan wants to throw hands while Cena wants to leave. Cody asks what they’re arguing about. They gonna go to the back so Logan can polish Cena’s Peacemaker? Now it’s a fight! The fans fire up as the hands are flying! Logan TOSSES Jey, Cena picks Cody up! Cody slips free, Jey is back to SUPERKICK! Cody hits the DISASTER KICK! Cena bails out, Jey PLANCHAS out onto him!
Logan goes to the apron, slingshot and- NO, Cody dodges the “Snapshot” Lariat and Jey SUPERKICKS Logan! Then Jey sets Logan up for the CODE D!! The fans fire up as Cody picks up the WWE Championship! Will Cody and Jey make it through Logan and Cena to then clear a path for the American Nightmare’s redemption? Or will Cena & Logan ruin wrestling together?
My Thoughts:
A very good SmackDown, but maybe with some wheel-spinning. As fun as Chelsea Green continues to be, can’t we move on from her and Zelina? Or are we about to do that with tonight’s win over Alba and then Giulia confronting her? Ironically, that seems to give away Giulia isn’t winning MITB. Giulia had a good promo video right before but they undercut it by giving us that confrontation. That said, Giulia deserves to be all the champions, but I suppose starting with the Women’s US Championship would be a good route. Very good promo from Bianca and Naomi to not just have Bianca’s homecoming, but to keep the feud between them alive.
The Women’s Triple Threat had a slow start but it turned out to be a very good match. Great win for Naomi, and good promo from her, Tiffany and Alexa to tease potential MITB winners. Great stuff in the tag match to build Worlds Collide just a touch. We only got one moment of Berto being passive aggressive towards Santos, and then Ethan Page screwing the Faces over, but that was still enough for the North American Championship. Of course, it depends on how many fans watch not just Raw and SmackDown but also NXT so that the fans already understand the story. But as someone who does, I do appreciate they’re bringing NXT story onto SmackDown.
Good promo from Priest to give some shoot respect to Drew and Fatu, but Priest wanting after the US title kinda gave away what was happening with the Men’s Triple Threat. It was a great Triple Threat, but of course Solo & JC cost Fatu. That team is just one moment away from breaking up, and it might be at MITB when Solo just expects Fatu to help him win the briefcase and Fatu refuses. And Fatu VS Priest will still be awesome whenever it happens. Good promo from Knight, and a good bit from Aleister with him, which I suppose means that’s the next feud for them. Was kinda hoping for Aleister VS Nakamura but that really depends if Nakamura is sticking with WWE or going home to Japan via Pro-Wrestling NOAH as rumored.
R-Truth relapsing to talking to Lil’ Jimmy is certainly a choice. I kinda wish he’d keep up the “Ron Cena” stuff, or they’d let Jeff Cobb do his own John Cena bit from NJPW, but I guess some things in WWE still won’t change. And closing with a big promo segment was also certainly a choice. Cody still did a good job, and nice surprise to have Jey show up. Not sure they needed to take a commercial break for Jey’s entrance, especially when they were obviously going to let Jey do his YEET encore. And Cena really must be brainwashed to put Logan over as if Logan’s on par with peak Cena. But naturally a brawl happened and the Faces stood tall.
Don’t count this as go-home math yet, they could easily revisit this on Raw and even next week on SmackDown. Even then, I still feel like Jey and Cody should win at MITB to properly set up Cody VS Cena 2 at SummerSlam. Raw on June 9th is still the move for the World Heavyweight Championship, but there’s also Saturday Night’s Main Event in July, who knows if Jey makes it to SummerSlam as champion.
My Score: 8.7/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.29.25
Stuff happens, maybe it doesn’t, Dreamer and Delirious can’t book.

Well Trick Willie is the new TNA champ and this is the first iMPACT since his win…so let’s just hear him talk about it.
"TNA turned into TRICK-NA. Lets talk about it"@_trickwilliams #WWENXT
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/StU4pmi3oy
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Ratings:
- The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System: Rascalz win via Meteora – ***
- Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali: Ali wins via…No Shit – Squash Garbage
- ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee: Lei wins via Spinning TKO – ** 3/4
- Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber: Mance wins via Hit the Pay Winda – Squash
- Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa: Team Robbie wins via shenanigans – **
- International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona: Maclin retains via KIA – ***
Results:
The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System
Octagon got jumped by The System earlier so Laredo is fighting alone. Another backstage jumping is getting a little dumb.
Laredo and Trey start. Typical Indie start with Simultaneous awful Dropkick spot and bad counters, AJ blind tag runs the smaller guys over, tags out to KC and the Rascalz instantly get the moment. KC is rocked, tags in Laredo and Laredo takes out the System before Lish gets on the apron and grabs Laredo. The referee kicks out Lish and Rehwoldt on commentary points out it’s a No DQ match so that’s dumb.
KC gets tossed at AJ, he catches him, Rascalz Dive and do their taunt as we go to commercial. We come back, Tennessee Whiskey into a KC tag in for the near fall on Laredo. Corner combo, Snapmare into Flip Forward Neck Breaker, KC is on a roll. AJ tags Laredo and starts talking crap to KC, they swerve and go Finger Poke of Doom, but it’s not a legal pin. Suddenly tornado attacks, System and Rascalz go for broke, AJ hits the Senton to break the eventual pin, Laredo counters AJ’s Chokeslam attempt. Trey clears out The System, Wentz sends himself and KC over and out, Laredo with a Corkscrew Moonsault, which looked cool but it’s the pile of morons waiting to get hit spot.
AJ hits the Down Payment on Laredo, but Trey blind tagged AJ. Meteora on AJ, Trey pins Laredo and Rascalz win.
Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali
Raj looks like shit in the gear he came down in…and he wrestles equivalently. I would rather anyone else comeback…give me Anarquia.
Ali murders Raj, Instant Dropkick, Rolling Neckbreaker, Corkscrew Standing Moonsault, it’s not close. Raj tries to counter things but Ali Bellclap, a little Duck the left, connect the right. Raj even does a terrible looking Punch Combo, he’s in bad shape, a bad looking Ushigoroshi, Raj with a sloppy looking something, 450 ends it.
Fire Raj as quickly as you brought him back. You don’t need a comedically pathetic job guy when the roster is like 4 guys getting pushed and everyone else sucks. Stop being stupid. Ali still hates women too.
This Injury Report is the dumbest segment in the history of wrestling. Stop treating fake shit as “serious business”.
ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee
ASH mocks karate stuff, Lei throws a few Rising Crane kicks as ASH bails and then things slow down a little. But a Pump Kick, Sliding Kick and Low Dropkick cause ASH to cower and claim her tooth broke. It’s a bait to pull Lei into the turnbuckles and them get in a few stomps. Ash keeps Lei in the corner, Suplexes her ankles into the buckles and then Ash throws a few Booty Shots/Hit Attacks then starts a grounded stretch, Lei Headscissors her down, still sells the hips and ankles, but dodges and fires, combination strikes into the 10 Count Down Strikes. T-bone Suplex, into the pinfall, for only two.
Cheapshot into Running Meteora from ASH for two. Ash goes for the Miz Yes Kicks and Lei No Sells and asks for more. Gorgeous Capture Suplex into Thunder Struck and TKO with flair. My baby has a better finish now! Yay!
Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber
Hannifan cursing and being pissed at Trick for not even showing but is more entertaining than a squash match. Not that Mance’s offense is bad, but 2 out of 3 job matches is stupid.
.@milanmiracle and @AriannaGraceWWE make history as the first father/daughter tag team in TNA!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/3s8OhtYFPv
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa
Marella tries to tie up with Robbie, but he bails and tags out to Victoria so Arianna comes in and aside from Alicia Fox’s silliness, the tie up was decent with Arianna and Victoria. Tessa interferes and the Referee throws her out. Victoria comes back in and aside from a slight miscommunication with how Arianna does her punches, Alicia Fox is making her look…pretty good. Transition moves, okay brawling and Arianna looks amazing in her outfit.
Rob and Santino distract the referee and Victoria hits a Figure Four into her Northern Lights Suplex, only for 2. Arianna finally Back Body Drop to find the tag, Santino and Rob, Santino does his split dodge into the Standing Headbutt, Arianna Cross Body onto Victoria. Rob pulls out the ref, then shoves the ref into Santino, Santino into the steps and Arianna attack but Alicia and Lish, the fix is in, Arianna eats the pin.
International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona
A few quick brawl moves, Shoulder Tackles, Strikes, Back Breakers, Cardona does get dumped out and eats a SCUD. Maclin bounces Cardona’s face off the apron and hits an Elbow off the apron to keep Cardona reeling, but a dodged tackle sends Maclin into the steps. Cardona tries to Piledriver Maclin on the ramp, but Back Drop counter, into commercial.
Formulaic commercial etiquette of Cardona still in control, throws Maclin into the ropes, Diving Shoulder Tackle lays both dudes out and they get up by 8. Fighting Spirit spot, Cardona hits ropes and gets hit by Maclin twice, Thesz Press, Ground and Pound, Back Elbow and Olympic Slam has Maclin rolling. Splash into Lariat for two. Maclin has been all gas no brakes. Cardona tries to take a few shortcuts that turns into a Straight Jacket Takedown. Cardona to the top, Maclin cuts him off, Superplex spot. 1-2-kick out!
Maclin goes topside for a Jar Headbutt, Cardona hits the ropes so Maclin crashes into the corner, 2 Reboots connect, the third gets caught, counter into Busaiku Knee, Jar Headbutt. In and out, Cardona uses the middle rope for the Low Blow, Killswitch from Cardona but Maclin kicks out. Cardona dodges and shoves Maclin towards the ref, he puts the brakes on, Radio Silence! 1-2-Kick out! Maclin catches a top rope move, Power Bomb, Corner Splash, Tree of Woe, Caught in the Crosshairs, KIA and Maclin retains!
Overall Score: 4.5/10
Boring paint by numbers show, no Trick, System has one move, Robert Stone is a scumbag, too long to introduce new girls, lots of throw away segments and Rosemary sets up YET ANOTHER Monster’s Ball match. These aren’t interesting when there’s one every 3 months. So we can have terrible Monster’s Ball matches quarterly, Barbed Wire Massacre and Clockwork Orange House of Fun…BUT NO LOCKDOWN!?
Go home TNA, you’re drunk.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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