Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Summer Struggle Results & Report! (8/9/20)
One way or another, Chaos reigns!
The NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships already belong to Chaos!
On one side, the Rainmaker leads Toru Yano and Sho in conquering another division. On the other, YOSHI-HASHI vows he, Hirooki Goto and Tomohiro Ishii will be champions! Chaos will reign, but through whose power?
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
- Shingo Takagi & SANADA VS Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI; Shingo & Sanada win.
- Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI VS EVIL & Taiji Ishimori; EVIL & Ishimori win, by disqualification.
- NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships Tournament Finals: Chaos’ Kazuchika Okada, Sho & Toru Yano VS Chaos’ YOSHI-HASHI, Tomohiro Ishii & Hirooki Goto; Hashi, Ishii & Goto win and become the new NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions.
PLAY BY PLAY
Shingo Takagi & SANADA VS Minoru Suzuki & DOUKI!
The Dragon is still the NEVER Openweight (singles) Championship, and the Man with the Worst Personality wants to crush the Dragon’s bones and take his gold! Will the Cold Skull by Shingo’s side and Japones de Mal by Suzuki’s, which side gets the edge towards the coming title match?
As introductions are made, Shingo taunts Suzuki with the NEVER Openweight Championship, and Suzuki kicks him! Douki goes right after Sanada and the bell rings to at least get this on the record! Suzuki dumps Shingo out and Douki has Sanada in a corner. Douki grinds his boot in as Suzuki whips Shingo into railing! Douki whips corner to corner, Sanada reverses but Douki boots back. Sanada catches it, trips Douki up but Douki kicks out of Paradise. Douki knees low, runs but Sanada dumps him out! Sanada aims and PLANCHAS! The fans fire up and Sanada encourages them. Suzuki and Shingo talk trash from across the way as Sanada drags Douki back up. Sanada puts Douki in the ring, drags him up to a facelock, and tags in Shingo.
LIJ mug Douki in the corner and Shingo scoop slams Douki down. Shingo drags Douki back up, cravats, snapmares and runs, to hit Suzuki! Fans cheer as Shingo runs and back sentons on Douki! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Shingo has Douki’s leg. Shingo drags Douki over, tags Sanada, and LIJ splits the wishbone! Douki is stinging from that one but Suzuki is sneering as he returns to his corner. Sanada clubs Douki then whips but Douki reverses and Suzuki kicks Sanada! Douki knocks Shingo down as Suzuki catches Sanada into a HANGING ARMBAR! The ref reprimands but Suzuki lets go at 4. Suzuki BOOTS Shingo while Douki dumps Sanada out. Suzuki whips Shingo into railing, then into more railing! Douki whips Sanada into railing on the other side!
Suzuki brings Shingo to the timekeeper’s table and bounces him off it! Suzuki grinds Shingo’s face into the table before leaving him behind. Suzuki starts searching under the ring, and finds a chair! Douki and Sanada brawl while Suzuki JAMS and SMACKS Shingo with the chair! Shingo writhes while Suzuki grins and the ring count begins. Suzuki kicks Shingo as we reach 10 of 20, and then digs his foot in. The ref has the count end since Douki and Sanada are legal. Douki chokes Sanada but the ref reprimands. Douki stops at the count of 3, then tags in Suzuki. Suzuki drags Sanada up, CHOPS him, then CHOPS him again! Sanada CHOPS back, but Suzuki CHOPS. We have a CHOP fight, until Suzuki slaps Sanada, and knees Sanada low!
Suzuki drags Sanada down into a partial camel clutch but Sanada endures. Fans rally up, Shingo gets in and Shingo attacks Suzuki! Suzuki forearms back, sending Shingo out of the ring! Douki chokes Sanada behind the ref’s back but Suzuki brings Sanada up. Tag to Douki, they mug Sanada, then Douki goes to suplex. Sanada blocks, fans rally up, and Sanada suplexes Douki. Douki flails out and rakes the eyes! Douki runs into boots at the corner, Sanada hops up and leaps over to huricanrana Douki down! Fans cheer as Sanada crawls. Suzuki tags in first and stomps Sanada down. Suzuki whips Sanada away but Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Hot tag to Shingo! The Dragon roars as he rallies on Suzuki with big shoulders! The fans fire up with Shingo as he blocks Suzuki’s boot to clothesline! Shingo whips corner to corner to clothesline and suplex! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally up again as Shingo scrapes his foot on Suzuki’s face. Suzuki just laughs as he forearms and knees back. Suzuki runs corner to corner to boot Shingo! Suzuki snapmares and runs to Penalty Kick! Cocky cover, TWO! Suzuki is still focused as he kicks Shingo around. Shingo gets mad and CHOPS Suzuki. Suzuki shrugs it off to CHOP back. Shingo CHOPS, Suzuki CHOPS, repeat! The chop fight turns into a forearm brawl! Shingo eggs Suzuki on and Suzuki hits back. Shingo forearms again, Suzuki returns it, and the two are fast and furious! The fans fire up with every shot, but Shingo gets the edge. Suzuki comes back to ROCK Shingo! But Shingo rises! Shingo swings, Suzuki ducks it to get a sleeper hold, but Shingo fireman’s carries out of it! Suzuki slips down, knees away, then gets the sleeper again!
Shingo flails, Suzuki spins him to the Gotch, but Shingo back drops out! Shingo runs, Suzuki ducks the lariat, boots and runs, into an uppercut! Shingo suplexes, Suzuki fights out to guillotine facelock! Douki tags in and clubs Shingo down! Douki drags Shingo up but Shingo is like dead weight. Douki keeps trying, calls for his shot, but his clothesline doesn’t knock Shingo over! Douki tries again, but Shingo JABS and LARIATS! The fans fire up as Shingo tags Sanada! LIJ double whip Douki while SUzuki talks smack to commentary. Sanada back elbows, Shingo corner clotheslines and clubs Douki into Sanada’s kick. Double kick back drop combo! Standing moonsault! Cover, TWO! Sanada brings Douki up but Suzuki distracts the ref.
Douki slips out of the fireman’s carry, shoves Sanada but Suzuki shoves the ref at Sanada! Douki enziguris Sanada and Suzuki hits Shingo! Suzuki and Douki double whip Sanada, Douki back elbows and Suzuki boots! Suzuki snapmares for Douki’s basement dropkick! Then the Penalty Kick! Springboard double stomps! Cover, Shingo breaks it! Suzuki and Shingo brawl with forearms again and the fans fire up! Shingo eggs Suzuki on, Suzuk hits harder, but Shingo fires off from all sides! Suzuki ROCKS Shingo and runs but Shingo clotheslines him at the rope! Shingo runs but Suzuki follows. Shingo swings on him but Suzuki slips around to get the sleeper! But it won’t matter with Shingo not legal!
Suzuki makes Shingo fade out as Douki gives Sanada a SLINGSHOT DDT! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives and the fans fire up! Shingo is all but out as Douki wheelbarrow lifts. Sanada arm-drags out of the suplex, Shingo gets a second wind! Sanada scoops Douki into the dragon sleeper, but Douki cradles out of Skull End! Cover, TWO!! Sanada narrowly escapes, O’Conner roll to the bridge! LIJ wins!!
Winner: Los Ingobernables de Japon, by pinfall
Suzuki still chokes Shingo out! He sacrifices a tag match to damage the Dragon! Suzuki grabs a mic to tell Shingo that Suzuki wants the NEVER Openweight Champion in Jingu! “And when your real weakness is revealed, hand that title over, without any complaints.” Suzuki laughs and leaves the ring, but Shingo takes the mic to shout at Suzuki. He thinks Shingo will just hand the belt over? Just like, “Here ya go!” No.
Suzuki called this title “a treasure,” and that’s exactly how Shingo feels about it! So if Suzuki wants the treasure, he’ll have to knock Shingo out to get it! “There’s nobody worth fighting more than Minoru Suzuki!” Shingo shouts for the NJPW management to make this match! Shingo figures one of them might get knocked out, or even sent to the hospital! Suzuki and Shingo are going to collide in three weeks! Will either of them survive it?
Tetsuya Naito & BUSHI VS EVIL & Taiji Ishimori w/ Dick Togo!
Speaking of coming title matches, Los Ingobernables de Japon has two others on the horizon! There are still concerns over Hiromu Takahashi, but the Bone Soldier Reborn still wants to keep his teeth sharp. And of course, there is THE rematch of the IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Double Championship match from Dominion! Will Bushi be able to help his charismatic leader finally get the edge on the Bullet Club?
There’s no time for teams to sort out as Bullet Club jumps Naito and Bushi! Taiji throws Bushi out and Evil throws Naito, and the bell rings to get this on record! Naito kicks back but Evil catches it to elbow the leg! Evil stomps Naito against the railing while Taiji keeps Bushi down on the other side. Evil drags Naito up to whip, but Naito reverses and sends Evil HARD into railing! Naito glares at Dick but he sees Evil’s sneak attack coming! Naito kicks and whips Evil back into railing! Naito again glares at Dick but Dick backs off. Taiji keeps Bushi down but Naito brings Evil up. Naito whips Evil into railing a third time! Fans cheer as Naito puts Evil in the ring and stomps him down. Naito stomps Evil at the ropes, the ref reprimands, but Taiji comes in.
Naito glares at Taiji and whips Evil. Naito elbows Evil down and runs but Dick trips him up! Evil keeps Bushi out and stomps Naito now. Evil puts Naito’s leg on the ropes to wrench it! The ref reprimands and counts but also has to worry about Taiji. Evil gets to wrench the leg longer that way, but lets go as the ref finally counts. Evil stomps Naito, tags Taiji, and Dick gets a cheap shot in. Taiji stomps Naito now, then drags him by his leg for a snap toehold! Taiji cranks the leg, Naito fights back but Taiji adds the other leg for a deathlock! Naito endures, Taiji lets go of the leglock to cover, TWO! Tag to Evil, and Evil stomps away on Naito’s leg! Evil drops an elbow on the knee then cranks back! Naito fights back again but Evil cranks harder.
Naito gets a ropebreak, Taiji kicks at the hand but Evil lets go of the leg. The fans rally up as Evil toys with Naito. Evil eggs Naito on and Naito stands up to throw forearms. Naito chops and chops and CHOPS, but Evil kicks the bad leg! Evil fisherman suplexes but Naito fights it off! Naito spins but into Evil’s forearm. Evil runs but into the dropkick! Both men are down, the fans rally up, hot tags to Taiji and Bushi! Bushi dodges and huricanranas Taiji to a corner, but Taiji dodges as Bushi runs in. Bushi slips out to swing kick Taiji away. Bushi climbs up to missile dropkick Taiji down! Bushirooni! Bushi stomps Taiji, drags him up and fisherman, but Taiji escapes the swinging neckbreaker to throw forearms! Bushi gives them back and we have a forearm brawl!
Bushi hits, Taiji hits, and they go faster and faster. Bushi gets an edge but he runs into a boot! Taiji whips, Bushi reverses, but Taiji handsprings to the NEURALIZER! Both men are down but fans rally up. Taiji crawls to tag Evil back in. Evil runs corner to corner at Bushi to clothesline! Evil fireman’s carries but Bushi slips out to spin Evil to a DDT! Both men are down again as the fans rally. Bushi crawls and tags in Naito! Naito throws forearms, kicks and more on Evil. Naito whips, boots, sweeps, COMBINACIAN CABRON! Naito stomps a mudhole into Evil, the ref reprimands but Naito pushes him away! Naito stomps more, the ref comes back and pulls Naito away. Naito pushes the ref away again to basement dropkick Evil!
Fans cheer as Naito brings Evil up for the neckbreaker only for Evil to spin through and suplex. Naito slips out, backbreaker! KOJI KLUTCH! Bushi keeps Taiji out as Evil is caught! Evil kicks and flails, starts to fade, but Dick distracts! Naito lets Evil go to swing on Dick! Naito drags Evil up, hammerlocks but Evil pulls hair! Naito kicks, Evil blocks and hands it to the ref, and then kicks Naito low. Fireman’s carry, DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, TWO!! Naito lives and the fans rally up. Evil keeps his cool as he drags Naito. Evil slashes the throat, drags Naito up to spin him around, but no STO as Bushi enziguris! Bushi catches Taiji to a BACKSTABBER! Bushi grabs Evil but Evil rakes his eyes! Evil runs, into Naito’s atomic drop! Enziguri and code breaker, jackknife cover, TWO!!
Bushi goes out and whips Taiji, but Taiji whips Bushi into railing! Naito calls for the end, wrenches Evil but Evil shoves Naito into the ref! The ref is down but Naito sees Dick and his choke rope coming! But he doesn’t see Evil LOW BLOW! And then Dick still chokes Naito! Naito fades out fast as Bullet Club regroups. Evil and Taiji stomps Naito down, Dick helping out. But here comes HIROMU!! The Ticking Timebomb BOOTS Dick, SUPERKICKS Evil, but Taiji kicks him! Taiji whips but Hiromu shotgun dropkicks in return! Hiromu rains down furious fists on Taiji! The ref returns, sees Hiromu beating Taiji up, and throws the match out!
Winners: Bullet Club, by disqualification
Hiromu gets his revenge at the expense of the match! But Hiromu grabs a mic to say, “OI OI OI OI!” What the heck? A DQ? Bullet Club cheats all the time and never get disqualified! But the ref’s gotta come down hard on Hiromu? “Should I apologize for coming out here? Then, sorry.” He also apologizes for making Taiji wait. And he heard everything Taiji was saying. But Taiji, you don’t need to worry, Hiromu is perfectly fine! “Come hit me as much as you want!” Will Hiromu make Summer Struggle in Jingu even more fun than before?
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships Tournament Finals: Chaos VS Chaos!
The faction has these titles no matter who wins, so consider this the most intense friendly competition ever! Will The Rainmaker and The Producer help Sho become a two belt Junior Heavyweight? Or will the Fierce Warrior, Head Hunter and Stone Pitbull show that even the great Kazuchika Okada doesn’t win everything?
The introductions are made and the titles are raised. Chaos sorts out, and we begin with the Hashi, who wants to face Okada! Fans cheer for it, too, and Okada accepts the challenge! The fans rally with the bell as Head Hunter and Rainmaker circle. They test the grapple but back away. Then they tie up with collar and elbow in a deadlock! Okada digs in his heels but Hashi manages to push him back. Okada pushes Hashi back, puts Hashi on the ropes, and gives the fake chop, only for Hashi to throw an actual forearm! Hashi knows Okada’s tricks and he throws elbows! Hashi CHOPS Okada, then CHOPS again! Okada staggers around but Hashi is on him with a third CHOP! Hashi runs, Okada boots and snapmares! Okada runs to basement dropkick Hashi down!
Hashi checks his face while Sho tags in. Yano also comes in, and this part of Chaos clubs away on Hashi, just like Hashi’s team would do! Sho brings Hashi up to ROCK with a forearm, then whip to ropes. Hashi holds ropes, boots Sho back then bumps Sho off the corner. Tag to Goto but Sho gets away. Goto and Sho circle as fans rally up. Sho and Goto tie up, Sho headlocks, but Goto pries at the hold. Sho cranks harder, Goto powers out to get his own headlock and grinds Sho in return. Sho powers out of the hold but Goto rams him with a shoulder. Sho rebounds, shoulders back, but Goto rebounds. Goto counters Sho’s hip toss with a hip toss but Sho blocks it! Sho knees low, runs and runs Goto over! Sho waistlocks and dead lifts Goto, but Goto elbows the suplex down.
Things speed up, Sho ducks then dropkicks, but Goto stays up. Goto chases Sho down and runs him over! Hashi and Ishii hit Okada and Yano, then they go after Sho. Sho fights them all but that’s 3v1. And then they give Sho the triple clubbing! Goto whips Sho to a corner, hits a clothesline, then feeds Sho to the double shoulders! Penalty Kick sandwich and a SUPERKICK! Fans cheer while Goto stomps Sho. Goto brings Sho up to elbow him back down then stomp him again. Goto bumps Sho off buckles and tags Ishii in. Sho fires forearms on Ishii first but Goto clubs Sho down. Ishii CHOPS away on Sho over and over! Sho starts to sit down but then he powers up, only for Ishii to CHOP more. Sho hits back and Ishii eggs him on. Sho throws more forearms but Ishii just CHOPS and forearms back!
Ishii fires off CHOPS and forearms over and over, drags Sho back up to keep it going! Red Shoes reprimands Ishii but Ishii is just a machine! Ishii finally stops and eggs Sho on. Sho flounders as Ishii looms over him. The fans rally up and Okada shouts to Sho, and Sho fights back. Ishii doesn’t flinch from the chop, but Sho throws forearms again. Ishii still isn’t bothered, and he tags in Hashi. Ishii toys with Sho but Red Shoes reprimands him. Okada gets in but Red Shoes keeps him back. Sho pushes Hashi and forearms Ishii, but Ishii DECKS Sho for it! Hashi drags Sho up, suplexes him onto the ropes, and Ishii holds Sho for Hashi’s running dropkick! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer Sho’s toughness as Hashi tags Goto.
Goto and Hashi drag Sho up, double whip and double shoulder Sho down. Goto covers, TWO! Sho clutches his shoulder but Goto is on him with a chinlock. The fans rally as Sho endures, fights up, and fights out. Goto knees Sho in return, then KICKS him right down! Goto stomps Sho, puts him in a corner and stomps him more. Goto throws in elbows and more stomps, then digs his boot in. Red Shoes counts, Goto stops to whip Sho corner to corner. Sho dodges, waistlocks, but Goto elbows the German Suplex away. Sho ducks, tries a standard suplex, but Goto resists. The fans rally as both men fight for suplex control. Goto lifts, Sho flails, and then Sho powers through to suplex Goto! Both men are down but Hashi and Ishii blast Okada and Yano again. They double whip Sho but Sho DOUBLE SPEARS!
Hot tag to Yano! Yano fires up, and goes to his favorite corner! Yano unties the buckle pad, dodges Goto and then tosses him the pad! Red Shoes reprimands Goto, so Goto hands the pad over, and Yano rolls Goto up! TWO!! Yano has the pad back and swears he’ll use it! Goto doesn’t care, so Yano swings, Goto dodges and kicks Yano back. Goto whips Yano but Yano stops himself before hitting bare buckles. Goto kicks and whips Yano to ropes but Yano holds ropes. Yano taunts Goto, Hashi spooks Yano, and Goto attacks! Goto whips again, Yano hits the safe corner but gets the windmill kick! SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Goto grows frustrated but the fans rally up. Goto has Yano in the fireman’s carry but Yano fights free. Yano kicks, runs, but Goto follows to LARIAT!
Both men are down and the fans rally up again. Hot tag to Hashi! Yano gets to the bare corner, Hashi hits a back elbow! Hashi keeps moving, Yano gets around to waistlock but Hashi elbows free. Hashi goes to run but Yano pulls his hair! Hashi breaks free, throws forearms and whips. Yano reverse sto then hit a hair pulling neckbreaker! Tag to Okada! Okada brings Hashi up but Hashi forearms. Okada forearms back and we have a brawl! The fans rally up as they hit faster and faster! Hashi fires off body shots and a CHOP! Hashi whips, Okada ducks and elbows back! Okada fires up as he clobbers Ishii off the corner! Okada whips Hashi to a corner, hits a back elbow, then kicks to DDT! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally again as Okada brings Hashi up to the gut wrench. Hashi fights out of the piledriver to waistlock. Okada elbows out, uppercuts and whips, but Hashi hits a BLOCKBUSTER! Goto and Ishii blast Sho and Yano! Hashi’s team double whips Okada to a corner. Goto whips Hashi in for the elbow and Ishii in for the clothesline! Goto clotheslines, feeds Okada to the mule kick! Blindside lariat, code breaker and GERMAN SUPLEX! Fans fire up as Hashi climbs up top! Okada stands, FLYING HEAD HUNTER! Cover, TWO!! Hashi keeps his focus, drags Okada back up, and full nelsons to pump handle. Sho dropkicks Hashi down first! Ishii runs Sho over! Yano sends Ishii into bare buckles! Goto LARIATS Yano! Okada FLAPJACKS Goto! Hashi SUPERKICKS Okada!!
All six Chaos are down but the fans are thunderous! Hashi and Okada sit up first, and Hashi powers up his arm. Hashi runs into Okada’s dropkick! Okada drags Hashi up fast, gut wrenches, TOMBSTONE! DEEP IN DEBT!! Okada has Hashi in his new cobra clutch, Hashi kicks and flails but his team is being kept out! Red Shoes checks but Hashi is still moving! Hashi inches his way over with his feet, but Okada drags him away! Okada sinks it in deeper!! Yano keeps Goto down, Sho has Ishii, Hashi is turning purple! Hashi tries, but Ishii gets loose and hits Okada! Sho hits Ishii but Hashi is saved! The fans rally up again as Okada drags Hashi up. Okada reels Hashi in to LARIAT! Okada drags Hashi back up, for HASHI to LARIAT!! Hashi has his second wind as the fans keep rallying!
Hashi fires up, runs but into a boot! Okada runs, Hashi dodges, Hashi LARIATS again! Cover, TWO!! Hashi won’t slow down, he puts on the Butterfly Lock! Okada endures now as Ishii and Goto keep Sho and Yano down! Okada moves around, Hashi cranks harder, but Okada still endures. Okada starts to fade but he fights towards ropes! Sho and Yano keep trying to get in but Okada grabs at Red Shoes. Sho RAMS Ishii into railing, Okada gets to the ropebreak! Hashi lets go but brings Okada back up. Hashi full nelsons, pump handles, but Okada fights Karma. Okada spins, but Hashi CHOPS! Hashi runs, into the dropkick! Both men are down and the fans are loving this! Hot tags to Sho and Ishii! Sho and Ishii collide, and again! Ishii stays up as Sho clotheslines, but now they brawl with forearms.
Sho fires off many but Ishii ROCKS him with one! Sho fires off even more, then dodges the lariat, but his Spear is tanked! To the BRAIN BUSTER! But Sho rises to Spear!! Sho fires up with the fans as he drags Ishii up again. Sho wrenches, kicks away from all sides and then SUPERKICKS! Ishii is down but Sho waistlocks and dead lifts! Goto runs in so Sho fires off forearms with him first! Yano returns to grab Goto’s hair, but Goto fires off on him! Goto whips but Yano reverses, Goto gets the bare buckles! Yano atomic drops Ishii, and catapults Ishii into the bare buckles! Sho waistlocks and GERMANS! Bridging cover, TWO!! Ishii survives but Sho is just fired up more!
Sho drags Ishii up, reels him in, and tries to lift. Ishii resists, slips out but Sho hits an armbar takedown! Ishii clasps hands, but Sho breaks the grip! Sho cranks back on the armbreaker but Ishii rolls over. Ishii stomps Sho’s face and is free, to KICK Sho in the back! Sho KICKS back! And again! Ishii eggs him on so Sho KICKS. Ishii CHOPS Sho, Okada BOOTS Ishii, Hashi elbows Okada and Sho runs at Hashi. Hashi gets around to BACKSTABBER! Ishii lifts and POWERBOMBS Sho! Matchbook cover, TWO!?! Sho survives and the fans are fired up all over again! Ishii focuses as he aims from a corner. Sho slowly rises, Ishii runs the ropes, but Sho swats the lariat away to super forearm! Ishii headbutts, Sho KNEES! Sho runs, into a LARIAT! Cover, Yano breaks it!
Goto kicks Yano back out and tells Ishii to finish this! Ishii fires up and drags Sho into the suplex, but Sho breaks free! Ishii swats Sho’s punch and HEADBUTTS! Sho is in a daze as Ishii suplexes again. Sho slips out and pops Ishii up for the ARMBAR!! Hashi and Okada fight on one side while Goto and Yano are on the other! Sho has the armbreaker in deep but Ishii kicks around. Goto gets back in to stomp Sho but Yano throws Goto out. Sho grits his teeth as he drags Ishii up with a wristlock. Sho wrenches to a shoulder breaker! And another! And another! Sho ripcords Ishii, ducks Ishii’s clothesline, and hits a STRAITJACKET GERMAN!! Briding cover, TWO!?! Ishii escapes but Sho just powers up more! Sho runs, LARIAT!!
Fans are thunderous again while Okada keeps Hashi down. Sho aims his bow and drags Ishii up. Sho underhooks for the double pump handle, but Ishii resists and back drops free. Sho is up, runs at Ishii to clothesline him at the ropes. Sho keeps going, but Goto returns! SUPERKICK USHIGOROSHI!! METEORA! SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, but Okada breaks it in time!! Goto and Hashi kick Okada and Yano back out and Ishii takes aim again. Ishii runs, to LARIAT Sho down! Cover, TWO?!? Sho survives but Ishii just suplexes, for the BRAIN BUSTER!! Cover, Hashi anchors Okada, Hashi’s team wins!!
Winners: Chaos’ Yoshi-Hashi, Hirooki Goto & Tomohiro Ishii (NEW NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)
An incredible battle within the faction! And in the end, Hashi keeps his word! He, Goto and Ishii were able to #GetBackUp and get those titles! And because it’s all Chaos, Okada and Yano applaud their friends. Hashi checks on Sho, and High Voltage is alright. Chaos stands victorious together! Okada wants a hand in handing the belts over to the winners, namely to Hashi. Okada even helps Hashi put the belt on! A great sign of respect between the faction members. It brings a tear to Milano’s eye. Chaos poses together for pictures, the champions up front. And after Sho, Yano and Okada give them the ring, Hashi takes the mic.
“Finally! Finally… Finally, I’ve won a belt!” Many guys have some idea of what they’ll say after a win, all their thoughts collected beforehand. But for Hashi, he had NO PLAN! But as he said, things can change in an instant. Things haven’t really worked out for him, but it also wouldn’t be any fun if it was easy. “Life is full of ups and downs. That’s what makes it so damn interesting.” He feels relieved that he was able to come through on his promise. He finally made a dream come true. It’s overwhelming, really.
This is for anyone going through a hard time. He hopes things change in an instant for them, too! Even if you fall, you just gotta #GetBackUp! Hashi hopes tomorrow brings great things for everyone. No matter what gets you down, it can all change in an instant! Mic drop! Where will Hashi, Ishii and Goto take these NEVER Openweight Six Man titles next?
My Thoughts:
An incredible event! I feel a bit bad for the 8 Man Tag I skipped, but given the previous match up of Golden Aces & Wato VS Suzuki-Gun, it made sense they’d raise it to 4v4 again. I believe Golden Aces, Wato and Tenzan won, which also makes sense to finally stick it to the Dangerous Tekkers. That IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match is coming, probably at Jingu, and I feel like it’d make a lot of sense for Golden Aces to win them back. I did want to cover the LIJ related matches given the story beats for Jingu. It was good math for Shingo and Suzuki to stay out of the decision, as it gives Sanada the finish and keeps Shingo and Suzuki even in the math. That NEVER Openweight Championship match is going to be incredible and could go either way.
The newest LIJ VS Bullet Club tag match was pretty good, but the best part is of course Hiromu’s return! He gets even with Taiji ahead of their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match and it is going to be a lot of fun when they have it out at Jingu. The disqualification finish also keeps things even between Naito and Evil so we can’t be sure who has the edge going into the Double Championship rematch. If you add Shingo VS Suzuki into the calculations, I feel like LIJ has to lose one of the three so they’re not too powerful. I feel like Naito loses his, and Evil holds onto the Double Championships and interim Bullet Club leadership role until Jay White can come back and we get a new Bullet Club Civil War.
The Chaos VS Chaos Six Man was great stuff. All of them knew the others’ moves so well that it totally worked for the numerous counters and blocks as well as false finishes. And while Hashi’s trio seemed like the underdogs, it makes a lot of sense for them to win the belts. Okada has Yujiro and the KOPW 2020 to worry about, while Sho still has his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. It’s just a matter of Yoh returning to Roppongi 3K can ride again. And as Hashi said himself, this was a long time coming after pretty much his entire 12 year career. There are also plenty of fresh match-ups for Hashi, Ishii and Goto to give us once more NJPW stars can return as things get better for Japan in regards to COVID.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Time to fill out the Fyter Fest Fatal 4!
Claudio Castagnoli or Komander, Mascara Dorada or Hechicero, who will advance to the AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Six Man Tag: Roppongi Vice & Konosuke Takeshita VS Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly & Tomohiro Ishii; win.
- Mina Shirakawa VS Skye Blue; wins.
- Gates of Agony VS ???
- Six Man Tag: La Faccion Ingobernable VS AR Fox & Top Flight; win(s).
- AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way Qualifier: Claudio Castagnoli VS Komander w/ Alex Abrahantes; wins and advances to Fyter Fest.
- AEW International Championship Fatal 4 Way Qualifier: Mascara Dorada VS Hechicero; wins and advances to Fyter Fest.
PLAY BY PLAY
[Collision will begin after the NBA Playoff coverage]
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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
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