Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (8/12/20)
Who is the third man, brother?

Who else heads for NXT TakeOver: XXX?
KUSHIDA returns to action and gets a chance at the NXT North American Championship! But so does Cameron Grimes, and a mysterious third man!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux VS Danny Burch; Kross wins.
- Drake Maverick VS Killian Dain; No Contest.
- Tyler Breeze VS Santos Escobar w/ El Legado del Fantasma; Escobar wins.
- Mia Yim VS Indi Hartwell; Yim wins.
- Bronson Reed VS Damian Priest; Reed wins.
- Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah w/ Robert Stone VS Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter; Martinez & Aliyah win.
- NXT North American Championship Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: KUSHIDA VS Cameron Grimes VS ???; Grimes wins and advances to TakeOver: XXX.
PLAY BY PLAY
Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux VS Danny Burch!
Mr. Doomsday didn’t want to do things “the hard way,” but William Regal wouldn’t budge. Kross attacked various NXT prospects as well as The Govenah, and now he faces the consequences! But will Burch be the one wishing it weren’t so?
Burch demands the bell ring right away so that’s what happens! And he dropkicks Kross! Burch fires off in the corner but Kross pushes him back and tosses him into the corner! Kross swings, Burch dodges and stomps away! Burch throws fast hands and a headbutt! He clotheslines Kross out of the ring! Kross flounders about but drags Burch out to join him! Kross two hand choke SLAMS Burch down! The ref starts the ring count but Kross looms over Burch until 5. Kross drags Burch up at 6 and puts him in at 8. Kross takes his time following, kicking Burch around. “The whole world’s watching!” Burch throws body shots but Kross uses an EXPLODER to toss Burch away!
Kross stalks Burch as he talks trash. Burch gets up in the corner as the crowd rallies up, and he boots Kross away! Burch dodges to enziguri Kross in the corner! Burch hops up and leaps to missile dropkick Kross down! Kross gets up and swings, but into Burch’s GERMAN SUPLEX! Kross snarls as he gets back up again, and he ROCKS Burch with a forearm! Kross drags Burch out, but Burch switches and GERMAN SUPLEXES again! Kross pops back up, but Burch LARIATS him down! Cover, TWO! Into a CROSSFACE! Burch cranks, Kross rolls but Burch holds on! They roll again, Burch is still on Kross with the crossface! But Kross glares as he powers up and lifts Burch with one ram! Burch lets go, but into the DOOMSDAY SAIDO!
Kross adjusts his neck because he’s not done with Burch. Kross drags Burch up, wrenches to another DOOMSDAY SAIDO! Burch flops and flounders but Kross stalks behind him. The crowd rallies up but Kross CLOBBERS Burch down! Kross drags Burch up and asks if he remembers the KROSSJACKET! Burch fades out, Kross wins!
Winner: Karrion Kross, by submission
Kross crushed Burch, but here comes Keith Lee! The Limitless NXT Champion marches out to the ring without the belt, but with a contract! Kross and Scarlett give Keith the ring, but Keith gets a mic. “I’m not surprised at all. Because you say this is on me, but no, Kross. This is on you!” Keith offered Kross to join him in the ring and earn his shot, but Kross is just running away, “just like the little BI*CH” you’ve proven to be! But Keith begged and pleaded with Regal, “Please, I promise I won’t put my hands on him until TakeOver if you give me the match.” Keith signed, Regal signed, so now all this contract needs is Kross’ “punkass name.”
Keith tosses the contract down, Scarlett fetches it, and Kross signs it. Scarlett seals it with a kiss before returning it to Keith. Keith checks it, but it FLASHES WITH FIRE!? Referees and medics try to help Keith as he was almost burned and blinded by that dirty magic trick! The pain is one thing, but Keith’s rage is boiling over. He storms through the back as the medics tend to his eyes. Will Keith make Kross pay when they finally clash in the ring?
Drake Maverick VS Killian Dain!
NXT is picture in picture to keep an eye (pardon the unintended pun) on Keith while Rockstar Spud hits the ring! Will Maverick survive his first ever encounter with the Beast of Belfast?
The bell rings and Maverick starts to realize the trouble he’s in for. Maverick avoids Dain’s grasp once, but gets cornered the next! Maverick manages to slip around and he clubs Dain in the chest, but it doesn’t bother Dain at all! NXT goes picture in picture with commercials as Dain scoops Maverick. Maverick slips out, kicks Dain’s leg and backs him down to a corner. Dain pushes Maverick away but Maverick forearms back! Maverick kicks away on the leg then tries to hook it on ropes. We also check in with Keith and he’s being taken to an ambulance now. Keith is still angry but the referees convince him he needs to leave and get better medical attention.
In the ring, Dain has clobbered Maverick and now looms over him. Maverick tries to breathe as Dain stands on his leg. Dain kicks the leg in return for Maverick kicking his leg, and then Dain returns the favor with wrapping Maverick’s leg on the ropes! The ref counts, Dain lets up, Mia Yim appears by Keith’s side to check on him as well as cool him off. In the background of the back lot, Kross and Scarlett drive away in their dark as night Dodge. In the match, Dain whips Maverick but Maverick kicks the back drop away, only for Dain to CLOBBER him! Dain circles around Maverick like a shark, and then drags him up to elbow him down! Dain toys with Maverick as he brings him up for a scoop and slam!
Dain watches Maverick writhe while Keith has a wrap around his eyes. Mia rides with him in the ambulance as they head out. Dain drops a back senton but Maverick dodges! Maverick gets to a corner, he boots Dain away, then baits Dain into buckles! Maverick hurries to build speed, and he dropkicks the legs out! Dain carwls,. Maverick fires off kicks and haymakers from all sides! Maverick fires off jabs, haymakers, but Dain shoves him down! Maverick runs to forearm but Dain stays up. Maverick tries again but still Dain stays on his feet. Maverick tries a third time, but Dain catches him with body hands! Maverick pulls on the beard, breaks free and enziguris! Dain staggers while we get one last glimpse of the ambulance leaving.
NXT returns to single picture as the Undisputed Era pulls into the parking lot. They’re in a bad mood of their own after what Pat McAfee did last week. But back to the action, Maverick is on the top rope and leaps to the outside, HUGE CANNONBALL takes Dain down! But Dain still gets back to the ring first as the ring count climbs. Maverick pursues, making sure Dain is inside. Maverick heads back up top and MACHO ELBOWS! But the Era attacks them both?!
No Contest
Adam Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong don’t care about any of this as they stomp and punch and kick both Maverick and Dain into the mat! Maverick gets tossed out while Dain gets beat down 4v1! They let Dain get up so Strong can KNEE him back down! Maverick scrambles up but Cole SUPERKICKS him back out! Dain takes TOTAL ANNIHILATION from reDRagon! And then the LAST SHOT from Cole! The Era kicks Dain out of the ring and Cole grabs a mic.
“Hey, Pat McAfee~!” Cole knows for a fact Pat is watching, so Pat better shut up and listen! Pat wants to come to Cole’s world and “play wrestler.” Pat runs his mouth on social media, but he cut Cole with his arms behind his back! That’s not special. What’s special is that Cole is the longest reigning NXT Champion of all time! At TakeOver: XXX, Pat steps into the ring with THAT guy! So Pat should do Cole a favor. Cole DARES Pat to show up next week. If Pat has the guts to walk down the ramp, step through the ropes and into the ring, he and Cole can stare each other in the eye, face to face and man to man, and Cole will let Pat know he’s gonna whoop that ass. Then when Pat finally realizes that he is in WAY over his head, it is going to SUCKÂ for Pat to know that there is absolutely NOTHING he can do about it. THAT is Undisputed.
NXT hears from Kushida!
“Finally, I have a chance!” Keith Lee was the previous North American Champion, and the Super Junior vows to be the next. “Isn’t it fun?” Kushida knows he has Cameron Grimes, but doesn’t know who the third man is, not that it matters to him. At the dream stage of TakeOver: XXX, Kushida will win the Ladder Match and seize glory! “It’s time for Kushida to taste gold!”
Tyler Breeze VS Santos Escobar w/ El Legado del Fantasma!
There are no fun entrances this week, because Prince Pretty is going to be all business in avenging the Lord of the Dance. Will he make the NXT Cruiserweight Champion pay for what he and his cohorts did to Fandango?
Actually, the Leader of Leaders is so confident that he can handle Breeze, he lets Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde go back to the back. The bell rings and Breeze rushes Escobar with fast hands! Escobar powers Breeze to a corner but Breeze keeps hitting. Escobar forearms and stomps back, then kicks Breeze around and throws in big knees! He kicks Breeze while he’s down, drags him up to haymaker again, then puts him on the ropes. The ref counts but Escobar CHOPS Breeze down! Escobar stomps and kicks Breeze, drags him back up and whips to ropes. Things speed up and Escobar dropkicks Breeze down! Escobar talks trash to Breeze and stomps him more.
Breeze sits up but Escobar kicks him all around. Escobar taunts Breeze with every shot, and then stomps him again! Escobar keeps talking trash as he kicks Breeze to a corner. He throws haymakers then pushes Breeze down. Escobar looms over Breeze, calling himself “The Emperor of Lucha.” Escobar drags Breeze up as the crowd rallies. Breeze enziguris back! Escobar bails out, Breeze hurries after him, and puts him back in the ring. Escobar bails out the side so Breeze pursues again. Escobar comes back to chop block the legs! Then Escobar fireman’s carries to snake eyes Breeze off the apron and CLOBBER him on the outside! Escobar says “Estos lucha!” as NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Escobar grinds Breeze down with a chinlock, even digging his own chin into Breeze’s head. Breeze fights up but Escobar body shots and shoves. Atomic drop and a running KNEE! Breeze flounders and Escobar brings him up to the fireman’s carry. Breeze fights out and shoves Escobar out of the ring. Escobar steadies himself and gets back in, but he runs into forearms from Breeze! Breeze rocks Escobar over and over, then mule kicks in the corner! Breeze whips corner to corner, hits a BIG forearm, then whips back the other way for another! Breeze whips to ropes, Escobar reverses but Breeze kicks and SUPER MODEL KICKS! Breeze would cover but he sees Wilde and Mendoza returning!
El Legado flanks the ring but Breeze is ready! Breeze hits Wilde, then dropkicks Mendoza out! Escobar gets him for the PHANTOM DRIVER!! Cover, Escobar wins!
Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall
Big assists to Wilde and Mendoza as they were part of the plan all along. But wait! Fandango comes out with a mop, probably part of a sexy janitor idea, but he breaks off the head! Fandango has one good arm to SWING the stick around! He hits Wilde down but Mendoza comes back to take another shot! Escobar enziguris the bad arm! And uses the mop stick to SMACK it! And then El Legado grinds Fandango down with stomps! They pull the sling off, but here comes SWERVE! Isaiah Scott rocks Wilde, Mendoza, and Escobar! Escobar gets away with his title, but the one man who has beaten him in WWE wants after him in the worst way! Will Escobar have no choice but to visit Swerve’s House?
NXT hears from Dakota Kai.
“I’m going to let you in on a little secret.” Everyone has put Io Shirai on a pedestal, because she’s “so great.” The best! But Dakota doesn’t see it that way. She’s found a way to beat Shirai! The best path to success is getting inside your opponent’s head. Dakota is in Shirai’s head because Shirai has wandered into “Dakota Territory” now. Dakota has outsmarted the Evil Genius, and has done everything on her own to get to this point. Dakota doesn’t need friends, enemies, associates or insurance policies! At TakeOver, Dakota vows to beat Shirai, “and your captain becomes the new NXT Woman’s Champion.” Will Dakota kick Shirai off that pedestal and down to the bottom of the mountain?
NXT hears from Ridge Holland.
“Last week, the world was introduced to Ridge Holland.” The hype was real for Yorkshire Grit, and his second chance at going to TakeOver: XXX is in a match against Johnny Gargano. Guys Gargano’s side wouldn’t last a minute on Holland’s rugby field. Pain is coming for #AllHeartNoSoul, will there be no stopping Holland’s redemption?
Mia Yim VS Indi Hartwell!
Before her entrance, Mia is asked about Keith Lee’s medical status, but she couldn’t stay long enough to hear it all herself. She had to rush back and get ready for this match. But from what she does know is that Keith will be okay, there was no serious damage, and that championship match will happen. Will the Head Baddie In Charge be able to focus on her own match when she’s up against the #Impressive Indi?
The bell rings and Mia circles with Indi. They tie up, Mia headlocks and wrenches to a wristlock to then hammerlock. Indi stomps a food and headlocks back. Mia powers out but Indi runs her over! Indi shouts, “IMPRESSIVE!” and runs. Mia follows, redirects Indi and chop blocks the legs, to then basement dropkick Indi down! Mia runs and BOOTS Indi in the corner, then sweeps the legs. Mia runs corner to corner to CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO! Indi gets away to another corner but Mia keeps her cool. Mia runs corner to corner but Indi sends her into buckles! Indi stomps a mudhole then CHOPS her a la the Grizzly Magnum! Indi mocks Keith’s moves and his pose, and that just fires Mia up! Mia CHOPS then throws big forearms!
Mia whips, Indi reverses and scoops for a sidewalk slam! Cover, TWO! Indi keeps on Mia with a chinlock but Mia endures. MIa grabs Indi’s hair and fights her way up as the crowd rallies. Indi hops on like a backpack but gets rammed into buckles. Indi climbs back on and Mia starts to fade! The crowd rallies, Mia gets her second wind and powers up to turn this into a backpack STUNNER! Indi lets go, but then rises back up to wrap the sleeper back on! Mia fights to her feet, pries at the hold but again has a backpack. Mia throws Indi off but Indi elbows back! Indi stomps Mia at the ropes then dumps her down for a cover, TWO! Indi pushes Mia around, but Mia CHOPS back!
Indi keeps pushing buttons but Mia pushes back. Indi knees low, mocks Keith again by shouting, “Bask in MY Glory!” Mia has had it with Indi and tackles her down! Mia rains down hands, dodges the boot and dropkicks back! And again! And then hits a running neckbreaker! Mia brings Indi up, GERMAN SUPLEX! Indi flounders up, Mia grabs her arm but Indi pushes her away. Mia hits a body scissors takedown to a cover, ONE! Mia has Indi’s head trapped under her leg and just PULLS on the arm! Indi taps, Mia wins!
Winner: Mia Yim, by submission
That’s some impressive innovation from Mia! Will Mia and her modified clutch bring her back to the NXT Women’s Championship scene? Can she clear her mind knowing Keith will be okay?
Finn Balor speaks.
“First, it was opportunities. Now, it’s second chances. I’m not one to politic, I don’t need to. The office wants me on TV.” It doesn’t matter if you’re 18, 49 or living in a retirement home. Everyone watches The Prince. “Cameron Grimes, Kushida, or whoever is yet to reveal themselves… Enjoy yourselves tonight, because whoever’s left over will be easy pickings for Finn Balor, future North American Champion.” But just who IS the third man?
Triple H made it official on ESPN’s Get Up.
He wants Pat McAfee to put his money where his mouth is and take Adam Cole on 1v1, “if Pat’s got the guts to say yes.” Pat responded by saying, “I accept the challenge for sure!” Pat wants to beat Cole’s ass, and “dance on the grave of NXT.” And as for Cole’s challenge earlier tonight, Pat tweeted out that if Cole wants him back, he’d love to. “The last time I was there, you ended up lifeless on the ground with Shawn Michaels worried about your soulless, dumb, stupid body.” Pat looks forward to dominating Cole “and the whole wrestling community… AGAIN.” But will Cole be returning the kick, as it were?
Bronson Reed VS Damian Priest!
Auszilla and the Archer of Infamy are in the TakeOver: XXX ladder match, but if Dexter Lumis’ misfortune is any indication, there’s no point in going too hard if you get injured. Will Reed and Priest hold anything back knowing the title match is the real deal?
The bell rings and Reed dares Priest to do something. Priest circles with Reed slowly, they tie up, and Reed powers Priest back. Priest shifts to go after the arm but Reed pushes him to a corner. Priest grins as he comes back to circle again. They tie up, Priest gets the arm again, wrenches around to a wristlock, but Reed spins and wrenches back. Reed cranks the wrist as Priest tries to push him away. Priest rolls, handsprings up and wrenches back to go after the shoulder. Priest brings Reed to a knee and clamps on a chinlock. Reed endures the grind while Priest grins again. The crowd rallies up as Reed powers Priest to ropes. Reed lets up, but Priest wrenches and headlocks.
Reed powers out, the two collide but neither falls. Priest grins but Reed shakes his head. Reed dares Priest to run, so Priest does, but Reed follows to knock Priest into ropes! Priest likes the moxie as Reed dusts himself off. Priest and Reed dare each other to run, and Priest volunteers, only to kick Reed’s leg! And the other leg! Now Priest runs, but Reed follows and runs Priest over! Priest gets up fast but Reed pushes him. Now they start throwing heavy forearms back and forth! Priest fores off a strike fest, Reed shoves but Priest dodges and hurdles to back elbow! Reed goes down and the crowd fires up!
Priest whips Reed but Reed blocks with size and strength! Reed whips Priest, Priest goes up and forearms back! Priest eggs Reed on but then fires off kicks and forearms, and a discus! Priest powers up but Reed blocks that punch! Priest ROUNDHOUSES back and Reed goes to a corner. Priest runs corner to corner to leap, into Reed’s arms! Priest fights free and wrenches to then try a suplex. Reed is too big and strong, he gets around to waistlock. Priest fights free but turns around into a DDT! Reed tries but can’t get Priest before he rolls out of the ring! Priest saves himself while NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Priest hammers away on Reed before clamping on another chinlock. Reed endures as Priest thrashes him about. Reed fights up, Priest hits low but Reed counter punches. Reed throws haymakers, a big elbow, but Priest ducks only to run into SPINE BUSTER! Priest flounders up in surprise but Reed corner splashes him! Reed fireman’s carries, Priest fights out and ear claps! Ripcord ROUNDHOUSE! Spin back kick is CAUGHT! Reed hits a FALL AWAY SLAM then a THICC SENTON! Cover, TWO! Priest survives but Reed won’t let up. Reed drags Priest up, but Priest slips out to hit a COMPLETE SHOT! The crowd fires up as both men slowly rise.
Priest bobs ‘n’ weaves, fires off strikes and BIG haymakers, to a ROLLING ELBOW! Reed wobbles but stays up, so Priest SPRINGBOARD CANNONBALLS into him! Reed gets to a corner, Priest aims and runs corner to corner, BIG elbow! Priest brings Reed out to try the suplex again but Reed is just that big. Priest keeps trying, gets Reed up but not high enough! Priest rams knees into Reed over and over, clubs him and reels him in, and roars as he BROKEN ARROWS!! Cover, TWO!?! Reed survives but Priest won’t let up! He tries again but Reed suplexes Priest back! The crowd is thunderous as the ref checks on both men. Reed and Priest stir, slowly rise, and start brawling with big forearms! Reed rocks Priest, but Priest spins to ROUNDHOUSE!
Priest aims again, springboards but into a POWERSLAM! Reed climbs up top for the TSUNAMI, only to FLOP as Priest narrowly avoids it! Priest aims from the corner, reels Reed in, but no Reckoning! Reed jackknifes, Reed wins!!
Winner: Bronson Reed, by pinfall
The shock is all over Priest’s face! Reed gets the better of the Archer of Infamy, will he use this momentum to take over at TakeOver?
NXT hears from Io Shirai.
“When Dakota kicked me in the face, message received.” But Dakota’s acting as if she’s a big star. It wasn’t until she betrayed Tegan Nox that anyone learned who she was. Dakota is a user, a manipulator. She uses people until she doesn’t need them, and then throws them away. Just ask Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, or Raquel Gonzalez. Shirai only sees “the cute girl who was terrified of Shayna Baszler.” And just like Shayna, Dakota will be afraid of Shirai at TakeOver. Dakota is no match for her. Dakota isn’t in Shirai’s head, she’s just pissed Shirai off! Will the Evil Genius show Dakota the dark truth about her reality?
NXT hears from Cameron Grimes!
“Always at the right place at the right time!” Speaking of time, Grimes ain’t got no time for Kushida! “And as for that man of mystery, it doesn’t matter to me, because I’m gonna leave with that victory!” Grimes climbs the ladder, grabs that North American Championship, and takes it to the moon!
Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah w/ Robert Stone VS Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter!
The Robert Stone Brand has meddled in the business of Shotzi Blackheart and Rhea Ripley, but is finally going into business for itself. Will the brutal and the bougie be a combination that climbs up the WWE Women’s Tag Division? Or will KC and KC use the power of friendship to win instead?
Stone grabs the mic and says that “unless you’ve been living under a rock,” you’d know that his brand has been el fuego. If you don’t know what that means on fire! That’s the great thing about his brand! He is always looking to the future, and that future is very, very, very bright. It could include Kacy Catanzaro, because lets be real. American Ninja Warrior, fans love her, but she’s hanging out with all the wrong people when she could choose the right people. What Stone is saying is that KC needs to lose the loser. Kacy keeps Kayden back, and Kacy shows slap! Stone covers up, but Kacy STOMPS his bad foot! Stone gets to the apron, Aliyah checks on him, but Mercedes rushes KC! KC dodges and huricarnanas her down! The crowd fires up and the bell rings as Mercedes and Stone get out, Aliyah starts against Kayden!
Aliyah rushes Kayden but she ducks and mule kicks. Kayden tags in Kacy and they whip to trip and mule kick Aliyah! Slingshot senton and cover, ONE! Kacy has Aliyah in the corner and elbows in. Kayden tags in, gets some help from Kacy to kick Aliyah, and then returns the favor to give Kacy the boost for the kick! KC Squared double SUPERKICK Aliyah down! Cover by Kayden, TWO! Kayden keeps on Aliyah, Aliyah fights out but Kayden waistlocks. Aliyah runs to ropes, bucks Kayden off and Mercedes tags in! Kayden dodges Aliyah and wheelbarrows Mercedes, but ends up in a wheelbarrow cutter! Cover, Kacy breaks it! Mercedes chases Kacy off as NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Aliyah has Kayden in a facelock. Kayden hits back but Aliyah throws her down! Cover, TWO! Aliyah tells Kacy to kiss this before bringing Kayden away. Tag to Mercedes, they mug Kayden in the corner. Mercedes CHOPS but Kayden hits back. Mercedes clubs and stomps Kayden in a corner but lets up at the ref’s count. Mercedes keeps Kayden from Kacy and bumps her off buckles. She rams into Kayden hard then tags Aliyah in. Mercedes snap suplexes Kayden for Aliyah to drop a leg! Cover, TWO! Aliyah tries another cover, TWO! Aliyah keeps Kayden from Kacy and tags Mercedes back in. Mercedes mugs Kayden more then chokes her on the ropes! The ref counts, Mercedes lets up but Aliyah calls Kayden a loser.
Mercedes stomps Kayden in another corner, then CHOPS her down! Mercedes drags Kayden away, tags Aliyah back in, and Aliyah dares Kayden to get up. Kayden runs into a lift and a push, but she slides under! Aliyah gets a leg but Kayden kicks and Eddy Gordo kicks Aliyah down! Both women crawl for their corners, hot tags to Kacy and Mercedes! Kacy sweeps the legs and Mercedes hits buckles! Kacy stomps a mudhole and fires off forearms but Mercedes shoves her away. Kacy comes back with an A-List Lariat! She dumps Mercedes down to somersault ax kick! Cover, Aliyah breaks it!
Kayden SUPERKICKS Aliyah down! Mercedes BOOTS Kayden! Kacy huricanranas but Mercedes blocks to fireman’s carry, AIR RAID CRASH! Cover, The Robert Stone Brand wins!
Winner: Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah, by pinfall
KC and KC were not enough to slow down the brand, but here comes RHEA RIPLEY! The Aussie Nightmare wants payback for the blindside, but Stone and Aliyah want to cut and run. Mercedes refuses to retreat, so Rhea rushes the ring, gets around her and BOOTS Mercedes down! Rhea drags Mercedes up to club away, fire body shots, but Aliyah comes back to chop block Rhea! Mercedes pushes Aliyah away because she wants after Rhea! Mercedes stomps away so Aliyah joins in! But here comes SHOTZI! Shotzi gets around Aliyah for a SAIDO! And then she baits Mercedes into an ENZIGURI!
The Robert Stone Brand falls back as the wild child helps Rhea up. Will Shotzi help Rhea #TCB, Take Care of Bidness?
NXT checks in with The Garganos.
After dinner, Johnny takes care of chores while Candice sits with their dog. Everyone, even the dog, is wearing “Power Couple” track suits. Gargano uses a ladder to check a light while Candice reads a fairy tale to Doggo Gargano. “The dragon betrayed the fairy and the evil witch ran away with the enchanted gem.” A sad story! You know why? Because “the dragon” didn’t need to be there in the first place. “The dragon” had to but into “the fairy’s” business, and then goes and plays dumb like she’s the hero. News flash: the fairy isn’t the evil one! Candice isn’t evil! Tegan the dragon just needs to mind her own damn business!
What book is Candice reading? It’s nothing. But now, the evil forces have all the magic gems! All hope looks lost! They’re doomed! Johnny says the “kingdom” isn’t doomed. The kingdom is fine, because the Wednesday Knight is going to ride in and save the day just like always. There has been a lot of change in NXT, but that is the one constant. All these fresh faces, like Damian Priest, “that thicc boi guy,” all very talented and very hungry. One more than the other. But as talented as those two are, “they are not on the level of Johnny Gargano! I know it, they know it, even Mr. Regal knows it! You can’t have a TakeOver without Johnny Takeover.” So Regal did the right thing and put Johnny in a fair qualifier against Ridge Holland.
Holland is big and strong, but he is NOT Johnny Gargano. Gargano vows to win, be in the ladder match he should’ve been in the entire time, and make TakeOver: XXX into the night Johnny Gargano made history becoming the first and only TWO-TIME NXT North American Champion! And next time Gargano climbs a ladder, it won’t just be to fix the house. It’ll be to fix NXT. Okay, time for bed. Is Gargano going to bring some gold home with him at the end of TakeOver? Is he not going to put that ladder away before turning in for the night?
NXT checks in on Thatch As Thatch Can Wrestling.
Timothy Thatcher welcomes his students back and says today’s lesson is adaptation. He makes one student where a Finn Balor shirt while he has demonstrates the move that “had the match one” for him. Single Leg Crab. Go after the ankle, pick the leg up and turn. But he modified it into an ankle lock style and drops down to the grapevine. This man taps when Finn didn’t. The lesson is of course, that you need to learn to adapt. Thatcher may not have his second chance in the North American Championship match, but he’s calling out The Prince. Whether Balor wins his way back into TakeOver or not, will he make sure to teach The Professor of Pain a thing or two first?
NXT makes it official!
Next week, we will have the face to face between Adam Cole and Pat McAfee! Will Cole beat down Pat before ever getting to TakeOver? Or will Pat upstage and humiliate him all over again?
Plus, after the confrontation earlier tonight, Swerve joins forces with Breezango to take on El Legado del Fantasma! Will Breeze and Dango get revenge while also helping Swerve prove his point? Or will Escobar, Wilde and Mendoza deny them all their shot at the Cruiserweight Championship?
And while we know Gargano takes on Holland, Finn Balor will be watching the main event very closely. Tonight’s winner moves on to TakeOver while the loser is on the outside looking in. But with the third man still a mystery, who will be the odd one out to face The Prince?
A quick update on Keith Lee!
The Limitless One has left the hospital, and vows to make Kross a dead man! The full update is on WWE’s official website, but does Kross understand the gist of the situation he’s put himself in?
NXT North American Championship Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: KUSHIDA VS Cameron Grimes VS ???
The Time Splitter feels it’s his time, but so does the Carolina Caveman. And after a week of speculation, we finally learn that their mystery opponent is… THE VELVETEEN DREAM!! The Experience has returned at the most opportune moment! Will he seize the moment and take over this close to TakeOver?
The bell rings and Grimes grabs Dream’s leg! Dream counters with a headlock, Grimes powers out and Dreams heads for Kushida. Kushida gets the arm, Dream stays up and whips Kushida at Grimes. Grimes waistlocks Kushida but Dream grabs Grimes’ hair. Grimes elbows out hard then kicks Kushida. Grimes suplexes Kushida but Dream catches Kushida to set him aside before he ROCKS Grimes with an uppercut! Dream then hotshot bulldogs Grimes, Grimes staggers towards Kushida, and Kushida wrings Grimes’ arm out so hard, Grimes might as well have gotten powerbomb’d! Grimes flops over and out while Kushida spots Dream slithering in. Kushida says Dream was that close to catching him as the two circle.
Grimes drags Dream out but Dream ROCKS him with another uppercut! Kushida hurries over but Dream uppercuts him, too! Dream climbs up, leaps and ax handles! Cover, TWO! Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Kushida drops while Dream lunges and Dream falls out of the ring hard! Grimes clobbers Kushida and CHOPS him! Grimes whips, Kushida dodges and Kushida handspring kicks Dream down! Kushida boots Grimes, goes to the apron and tornado DDT’s Dream to the ground! Kushida shoulders back into Grimes, climbs up, but Grimes trips him up! Kushida tumbles down while NXT goes picture in picture.
Grimes soaks up the heat before digging a knee into Kushida’s head at the ropes. The ref reprimands but there are no disqualifications in a Triple Threat, so Grimes lets up on his own time. Grimes drags Kushida up to bump off buckles, then stomps away. Kushida staggers to another corner but Grimes is on him with digging knuckles. Grimes whips corner to corner hard and Kushida bounces off buckles! Grimes gloats but Dream rolls him up, TWO! Dream ROCKS Grimes with big haymakers and then whips. Grimes reverses to CLOBBER Dream with a clothesline! Grimes is the only one up as he glares at Kushida and Dream. Dream flops out so Grimes goes after Kushida, only for Kushida to wrench the arm. Grimes claws Kushida’s face to avoid the shoulder breaker!
Grimes drags Kushida down and chinbars on top of trapping the arm. Kushida endures as the crowd rallies up. Kushida fights but Grimes whips and kitchen sink KNEES Kushida down! Cover, TWO! Dream returns but Grimes clobbers him on the apron! And then DECKS him back down! Grimes drops down on Kushida to get another chinbar and armlock! Kushida endures, fights back up, and fights back with haymakers. Kushida throws more as NXT returns to single picture, but Grimes knees low. Grimes DECKS Dream off the apron again, but then turns around into an arm-drag! Kushida handsprings and dropkicks Grimes down! Then Kushida KICKS Dream to a corner!
Kushida runs to SHOTEI Grimes down from a corner! The crowd rallies up, Kushida aims at both opponents, SOMERSAULT- NO! No DDT, Dream and Grimes push Kushida away. Dream blocks Kushida’s kick but ducks the enziguri, and Grimes takes the hit! Dream drags Kushida up but Kushida kicks away first! ROUNDHOUSE! Kushida whips Grimes, Grimes reverses but Kushida handsprings! Grimes catches Kushida in a waistlock, Kushida elbows out but walks into Dream’s fireman’s carry. Kushida fights out to FAST BALL! Grimes ROUNDHOUSES Kushida, Dream SUPERKICKS Grimes, and all three men are down!! The crowd is thunderous, “This is Awesome!”
All three men stir, Grimes goes to one side while Dream and Kushida end up on the same side. Dream and Grimes stand, Dream clotheslines Grimes out, then climbs up to SUPER AX HANDLE! Dream fires up, puts Grimes back in and aims from a corner. Kushida runs in but Dream elbows him away. Dream hops up and leaps again, but Kushida gets clear so only Grimes gets ax handles! Kushida runs into a BOOT from Dream, and Dream brings Grimes up. Grimes holds onto the rope to block the whip, so Kushida dropkicks the bad arm! Dream gets Kushida for the DREAM VALLEY! Grimes dumps Dream out but Dream drags Grimes out with him!
Grimes bumps Dream off the apron, they brawl and Grimes DECKS Dream! The crowd rallies up as Grimes drags Dream back up, but Dream throws haymakers and jabs! Grimes rakes eyes! Kushida FLIES in to SENTON Dream down! Grimes puts Kushida back in, hurries up top, but Kushida handspring kicks him first! Kushida climbs up to join Grimes, brings him up, SUPER FLYING ARMBAR!! Grimes flails, kicks, endures, Dream PURPLE RAIN MAKERS into an ARMBAR! Kushida now has Dream flailing and kicking, gets the HOVERBOARD KIMURA! Dream powers up and back drops Kushida, then jackknifes to a fireman’s carry! But Kushida fights back, grabs the arm, HOVERBOARD!
Dream endures, fights to stay on his feet, but Grimes CAVE INS Kushida!! Grimes pushes Dream out, covers Kushida, Grimes wins!!
Winner: Cameron Grimes, by pinfall (advances to TakeOver: XXX)
Cameron Grimes took advantage and takes his place at TakeOver! Kushida is completely eliminated, but Dream will get his second chance. But it’ll be against FINN BALOR! Dream gets back in and looks at Kushida. Dream SLAPS Kushida while he’s down, then rains down brutal fists! Dream has lost his cool and even threatens referees! He gets back in and SUPERKICKS Kushida down! Dream poses on the top rope, but Balor appears! These two meet in the second chance match, but who punches their ticket to TakeOver?
My Thoughts:
A really great episode of NXT tonight, with some really good surprises. Kross was obviously going to beat Burch but Burch looked amazing getting even that much offense in. The different take on the contract signing was good, but couldn’t they have trimmed down on Scarlett glaring at Keith? It made it almost obvious that something was up after Kross signed it. I do like the use of the flash paper, though, it’s been awhile since we’ve seen fireballs used in WWE. Obviously Keith was going to be okay, but we sure lingered on him being taken to the ambulance. Though, I should’ve seen it as foreshadowing that Dain and Maverick were in a meaningless match. Undisputed Era are still playing the line of Tweener while Cole’s story with Pat McAfee continues. Cole and Pat are going to turn up the heat next week, and that’s going to be great in itself.
We got really great tie in for Mia Yim there, and Indi Hartwell really upped being a Heel bringing up all of Keith’s mannerisms. Mia gets a solid win out of it, and I almost expect her and Scarlett to throw down over this. The Robert Stone Brand had a really good match with KC and KC, and of course were going to win. I love that I called it on Shotzi and Rhea working together. Those two teams are going to have a really good match, I just wish WWE would let NXT be more involved in the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Maybe that happens after SummerSlam weekend when we see how the Bayley and Sasha story shakes out. We get a pretty good match from Breeze and Escobar, but it will always annoy me when a Heel needs henchmen to beat someone they claim they can handle. Though that could be what they’re going for every time. The Six Man next week will be a lot of fun, too, to propel Swerve towards the Cruiserweight title.
We got really good promos out of Dakota Kai, Io Shirai and everyone involved in the North American Championship scene. I think Shirai’s was better than Dakota’s, and I’m already figuring Shirai wins. The Garganos had a great segment, too, and Gargano VS Holland is going to be great. I honestly don’t know which result is better, because both guys are going to bring a lot to the ladder match. Reed and Priest have a great match, and it works for Reed to win quick like that. They’re both going into the ladder match very strong, even with other guys in the mix. The Triple Threat was incredible, practically TakeOver worthy already, and what a way to bring Dream back! I was a bit surprised by Grimes winning, but even his ego needs to be vindicated now and then. Plus, this sets up Dream VS Balor, an incredible match just thinking about it. And there’s a Prince pun in there somewhere…
My Score: 9/10
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Can the Last Real Champion handle The Truth?
While the King & Queen of the Ring tournaments reach their semifinals, John Cena has his first match on SmackDown in years, against Ron Killings!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Queen of the Ring Semifinals: Asuka VS Alexa Bliss; Asuka wins and advances to Night of Champions.
- Aleister Black VS Kit Wilson; No Contest.
- King of the Ring Semifinals: Randy Orton VS Sami Zayn; Orton wins and advances to Night of Champions.
- Charlotte Flair VS Chelsea Green w/ The Secret Her-vice; Charlotte wins.
- Bronson Reed w/ Paul Heyman & Bron Breakker VS LA Knight; Knight wins, by disqualification.
- John Cena VS Ron Killings; Killings wins, by disqualification.
PLAY BY PLAY
LA Knight is here!
Grand Rapids fires up as the Mega Star marches right to the ring. Knight grabs a mic while the fans chant his name, and he says, “LEMME TALK TO YA!” The fans cheer, and Knight says, “Let’s just go ahead and rewind our mind a little bit. We go to back to Money in the Bank, Seth and his boys, they just happen to come down and screw this guy.” The fans boo that. Knight says usually, he lets things slide. But he just figured he couldn’t let it slide, so he made sure to screw on of Rollins’ boys in their title opportunity, King of the Ring. But then they came back, paid it back and screwed Knight outta KOTR, so he had to go and screw the other one over!
And it just has Knight thinking. Fans “YEAH!” and Knight says there is only one way this can go. He has gone back and forth between Raw and SmackDown, where it ends, nobody knows! Except Knight! He knows! He knows where this ends! The fans cheer that! And Knight says it ends with him and Rollins! And what better place than here? And what better time than now! Knight tells Rollins to come on out and talk to him! But “Ladies and gentlemen…” The fans boo as Paul Heyman walks out and gives his introductions. He serves as the Wise Man to Mr. Money in the Bank, Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins!
Heyman says you do not boo that name. And you screwed up your cue, so they’ll do this again. He serves as the Wise Man for Seth Freakin’ Rollins! The fans keep booing, Heyman wants to try again, but Knight says shut up and get to the point! Why is Heyman here?! Heyman walks to the ring and asks permission to step inside. The fans chant “O T C! O T C!” but Knight steps back. Heyman steps into the ring, and he says yes, there has been a lot of bad blood between Knight and Mr. MITB, Seth Freakin’ Rollins. However, Heyman happens to be, with all due respect to everyone here in Grand Rapids, Michigan…
The fans chant “C M PUNK!” at Heyman now and he frowns. Knight says Heyman has a lot of enemies. Heyman says he is the biggest LA Knight fan in all of WWE! Heyman’s been waiting a long time to say this: YEAH! Now, because of that, Seth Freakin’ Rollins (the fans boo again) has allowed Heyman to say to Knight, as a favor to Heyman… It is time for Knight to get the hell outta Grand Rapids, Michigan. Because if he does not, something really bad is going to happen to him before the end of the night. Have a nice evening. Heyman turns to go but the fans cheer Knight on. Knight says he couldn’t help but notice, but did you~ (poking fun at Heyman’s voice cracking) threaten Knight?
Because Knight wants to wrap his head around this. He’s heard Heyman say stuff like this before, because Heyman is a liar, a swindler, a grifter, a scammer and a schemer! Heyman leeches on to any talent that has a bit of hype, sucks ’em dry, then moves on to the next! Rollins just happens to be the latest in this. But where next? Who cares! But the bottom line is, Knight asked for Rollins but he got Heyman. And while he got Heyman, he got a Heyman out here talking all tough. So it has Knight thinking, he has a great idea.
Talking about wise man, wisdom, there was a point in time if Heyman had said something like that, a man like Knight would look at a “thing” like Heyman and punched his wisdom teeth down his throat! Knight won’t do that, yet. But here’s the deal: Heyman’s talking all tough, but if he can’t bring Rollins out here, then the only thing to do out here in Grand Rapids is Knight fighting Heyman here and now! The fans fire up for that! Knight asks if the fans want that, and they cheer! “HUH?” “YEAH!” “HUH?” “YEAH!” “YEAH!!” Knight promises he’ll turn around, take his vest off, and Heyman gets the first shot. He better make it good, or Knight will molly whop his ass right outta Grand Rapids!
The fans fire up as Knight does as promised. He turns around, his vest is off, but Heyman bails? The fans boo as the Wise Man doesn’t play along. Heyman says, “Remember when I told you to get the hell out of Grand Rapids or else something really bad is gonna happen to you before the end of the night? That wasn’t a prediction. That… was a spoiler!” Heyman throws down his mic, and here comes Bronson Reed & Bron Breakker! Rollins’ behemoths head to the ring, but Knight fires off on them first! The fans rally as Knight throws hands and feet, but then Bron TACKLES Knight! Bronson joins in and they mug Knight right out of the ring!
Bronson drags Knight up to TOSS him over barriers! Bron clears the desk, he wants Bronson to put Knight through it! But Knight has a chair! He JAMS Bron, JAMS Bronson, then SMACKS Bron and SMACKS Bronson! Knight gets in the ring, ready to hit whoever gets in! The fans cheer Knight but Heyman has Bron & Bronson stand down. Will Heyman have the henchmen try again before the end of tonight?
SmackDown returns and…
Heyman has Bron & Bronson calm down, they have this under control. It is all in their favor, and it always will be in their favor. That is the whole point behind this. Byron Saxton steps in and wants to talk to them, but Heyman has to hold Bron back like the dog he is! Heyman says no need to bite Byron. Byron apologizes, he has word from SmackDown GM, Nick Aldis, that Bronson Reed VS LA Knight is set for tonight. Heyman says okay, thank you, and goodbye. Byron leaves and Heyman smiles. He told them! Patience is not a virtue, it is strategy. Bronson smiles and nods. Will Auzsilla destroy LA here in Grand Rapids?
Queen of the Ring Semifinals: Asuka VS Alexa Bliss!
Two great returns to action through this tournament, and now they cross paths with each other. The Empress of Tomorrow overcame Ivy Nile, Raquel Rodriguez and Stephanie Vaquer while Lil’ Miss Bliss outsmarted Alba Fyre, Candice LeRae and Charlotte Flair. But whose comeback story overtakes the other’s here just one match away from Night of Champions?
The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Alexa headlocks, but Asuka powers up and out. Alexa RAMS Asuka, Asuka roars, and the fans fire up as Asuka fires hands! Alexa blocks a kick to THROW Asuka down, then basement DROPKICK! The fans cheer as Asuka and Alexa reset. Alexa kicks, Asuka blocks and slips through to waistlock. Alexa elbows free, runs, but Asuka runs past her to then RUN her over! The fans fire up and Asuka runs in again, HIP ATTACK! Alexa falls to the floor and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Asuka lets Alexa stay down while she soaks up the cheers. The ring count starts, Alexa rises, but Asuka goes out after her. Alexa slips inside and DROPKICKS Asuka’s leg! Asuka falls from the apron but she has to nod respect for that savvy move. Asuka steps back in at 6 of 10, and she resets with Alexa. They circle, feel things out, and tie up. Asuka wrenches and wristlocks, but Alexa rolls and wrenches to hammerlock. Alexa waistlocks, rolls Asuka, TWO! The two stand off again and they both nod respect. They reset, the fans rally up, and the two feel things out. Asuka trips Alexa, clamps on with a headlock, and she grinds Alexa down.
Alexa endures, Asuka turns her over to go after the arm, then she stands on Alexa’s arm. Alexa endures, Asuka shifts arms, but Alexa wrenches out to wrangle Asuka. Alexa shifts to a cording hold, but Asuka fights up and fires body shots. Alexa whips Asuka to a corner, but Asuka elbows her away! And BOOTS! Asuka goes up, leaps, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Alexa stays in this but Asuka stays focused. Asuka drags Alexa around and gives her Kawada Kicks! SmackDown returns to single picture, and Asuka wrenches for a chicken wing! Alexa fights the Asuka Lock and JAWBREAKERS free! Alexa runs up to RUN Asuka over!
The fans rally as Alexa rallies, then hits a BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up as Alexa SLAPS, ROCKS, and KNEES Asuka down! Then SOMERSAULT SENTON! Cover, TWO! Asuka stays in this and Alexa grows frustrated. The fans rally while Alexa brings Asuka up. Asuka breaks free to URAKEN, SOBAT, FRONT KICK, and GERMAN SUPLEX! Alexa tumbles away, Asuka runs up, SLIDING KICK! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up as Asuka stands and takes aim. But Alexa ducks the buzzsaw! Cover, TWO! Alexa clinches, TWISTED- NO, Asuka rolls Alexa up! TWO! Alexa sits up, BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO!! Alexa survives but Asuka just fires up!
The fans rally as Asuka goes to the corner. Asuka climbs from the outside, and MISSILE- NO, Alexa dodges this time! Alexa kicks and DDTS! Cover, TWO! Asuka stays in this and the fans fire up! “This is Awesome!” as Alexa drags Asuka into the drop zone. Alexa goes up, up, and the fans fire up! TWISTED- NO, Asuka moves, so Alexa stops. Alexa won’t let Asuka sneak away, but then she gets caught in an ARMBAR!! Alexa flails, rolls, but ends up in an omoplata! RINGS OF SATURN!! Alexa fights around, pops her arm free for a cover, TWO!! Asuka reels Alexa in, NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Alexa stays in this! Asuka fires up, the fans are with her, and she runs up, only for Alexa to ROCK her with a right! Alexa puts Asuka in the Tree of Woe, and she DROPKICKS Asuka out of it! Alexa climbs back up, and TWISTED BLISSÂ onto knees!! Asuka still counters the moonsault, and hits the EMPRESS IMPACT!! Cover, Asuka wins!
Winner: Asuka, by pinfall (advances to Night of Champions)
The Empress says no one is ready for Asuka, and that has certainly been the case! But on Raw, we find out, will it be Jade Cargill or Roxanne Perez that meets Asuka in Saudi Arabia?
Jade Cargill, Mia Yim & B-Fab watch backstage.
And Fab says damn, Asuka just came back and she’s already making statements. Almost like she never left. Michin says maybe they need to make their own statements. They need to talk to Aldis about the tag titles. Fab agrees. Fab & Mia wish Jade luck before heading out. Byron walks in and asks if he can have a word. Jade says shoot. Byron says Asuka just advanced, but Jade has her match on Monday with Roxanne Perez. How does Jade feel about facing a talented competitor like Roxie? And how does she feel about the possibility of facing Asuka in the finals? Jade says “Rox” has potential. Roxie is quick and scrappy.
But she’s still trying to prove herself. And this isn’t a proving ground, this is a throne room, and Jade was built for royalty. As for Asuka, there’s a storm on the horizon. But news flash, Jade is that storm. This entire tournament wasn’t built for the future, but for a woman who can walk through fire, shatter glass ceilings, and take her crown on the way to the top. This Queen of the Ring, Jade isn’t just walking in to win. She’s here to reign. Will the Prodigy be washed away by the storm this Monday?
Alexa Bliss returns backstage.
And Chelsea Green finds her. Flanked by her Secret Her-vice, The Hot Mess asks, “Hey, little fu-fu, how’s your boo-boo?” Alexa asks back, “How’s yours?” Piper tells Chelsea not to get upset, Alexa is just jealous. Chelsea says this serves Alexa right. Chelsea should be Queen of the Ring, and she’d be building her parliament if not for Alexa! Oh, if she has that big of an issue, then try facing her in the ring. Chelsea says she will! But then Charlotte Flair walks in and says if anyone should’ve still been in this tournament, it’s her. But had Chelsea’s “replacement” tapped out sooner, maybe she would.
So here’s the deal: Charlotte will have a match made and tap Chelsea out instead. N-Not if Chelsea makes it a bank holiday! ROYAL DUTIES! NICHOLAS! Chelsea hurries away with the Secret Her-vice following, and Alexa tells Charlotte that she doesn’t need Charlotte’s help. Oh, that’s cute. Because Charlotte wasn’t helping Alexa. Charlotte leaves now, leaving Alexa to chew on that. Will The Queen chew up the Hot Mess and spit her out now that she has nothing better to do?
Aleister Black VS Kit Wilson!
The Dark Father is also directionless now that he is out of the King of the Ring tournament, but he never lets that bother him. Will he make himself the direction all roads lead when things #FadeToBlack? Or will Kit prove he can be Pretty Deadly all on his own?
Wait, who is attacking Kit? It’s R-TRUTH! But why’s Ron Killings going after Kit?! He POSTS Kit, drags him back out, and puts him in an STF!! The fans fire up and Kit taps, but it won’t matter when this isn’t a match! Killings lets Kit out of the hold and demands a mic. A mic is given, and Killings says, “Get John Cena out here now. I’m driving! On my terms! Cena, get out here!” The fans fire up and then Killings puts Kit back in the STF! Aleister is rather confused, but producers hurry out here to stop Truth. Truth lets Kit go, Jamie Noble asks Truth wait for the main event. Truth seethes, but he accepts the terms.
Killings leaves, walking right past Aleister. Will there be no denying The Truth when he finally gets his hands on the Last Real Champion?
Jamie Noble talks with Truth backstage.
Jamie says Truth has to calm down. Truth says he wants John Cena NOW! He’s driving! Yes, okay, but just wait. Truth promises that when he sees Cena, he is killing him tonight! Aleister steps in and asks Truth why he is getting involved in Aleister’s match. Truth says it wasn’t personal, it had nothing to do with Aleister. These two stare down, and then Damian Priest steps in. The Archer of Infamy has Aleister stand down. Truth is going through a lot, let Priest talk to him. Oh, of course. Aleister says, “Ron.” “Black.” Aleister leaves, Priest tells Truth that there’s no need for any of that. Priest gets Truth is frustrated, but he can’t just go beat up people for no reason.
Priest used to do that, and Truth was the guy there to make him smile. Truth made the world smile! All that anger and negativity, focus that on the match tonight. Focus that on John Cena. Go out there and handle business with Cena, then Priest and Truth can go downtown to celebrate. How’s that sound? Truth says sounds good, DP. They shake hands, and Priest heads out. Truth is still seething, but will he make sure it all explodes on Cena?
Cody Rhodes is here!
Grand Rapids sings along as The American Nightmare makes his way out, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, he high-fives fans in the front row, then looks closely at the King of the Ring’s crown. Cody goes to the ring and grabs the mic. He hears the fans cheer him on, but then Jey Uso is here! The fans fire up as Main Event Jey makes his way down through the crowd! A young fan joins in bouncing along, but so does all of Grand Rapids! Jey continues down the stands, finds another young fan, and they bounce along again. Jey then reaches ringside, high-fives the front row, and he joins Cody in the ring as we get the next wave of YEET!
Grand Rapids might want to YEET all night, but Jey hugs it out with Cody before he gets his own mic. The music dies down, the fans chant, “One More Time! One More Time!” and Cody says sure, one more is fine. Jey says okay, and yes, the fans get to YEET again! Jey says hey, Cody doesn’t even have to say nothing. They been in the trenches! “YEET!” Still in the trenches! “YEET!” From fighting The Bloodline… “YEET!” To winning tag titles… “YEET!” To finishing their stories at WrestleMania! “YEET!” They’ve both been to the mountaintop. “YEET!” But Cody, on Monday, there is only room for one of them.
The fans are intrigued, and Cody nods. Jey says there’s only one that can go. Cody VS Jey, Jey VS Cody, and Jey knows Cody will bring it. Jey has to get his, Uce. He has to, just like Cody has to get his. But that said, Uce, it ain’t personal. This all business. But that all said, too, Uce, on Monday, after they go to war, please believe that it will be four letters, one word, uh uh… YEET! Cody smiles and the fans cheer. They shake hands again, and wait! Here comes Sami Zayn! The fans cheer as the Great Liberator makes his way to the ring. Sami grabs a mic to say, “This is nice, isn’t it? I get to share the ring with two great friends.”
The fans applaud, and Sami says he is in the ring with two of the very best that this business has to offer! The fans cheer that, too! Sami says he’d be lying if he denied there was a part of him that sees the three of them in this ring, and notices how only one of them has never been world champion. Jey, Sami wants him to know, man to man, this year, Sami missed Mania. Sami had no reason to be in Las Vegas, but he got his ass on a plane to Vegas for one reason: To congratulate Jey the moment he won the World Heavyweight Championship! Sami loves Jey, and he is proud of him. And Cody, for years, everyone watched as Cody finished his story.
And when Cody did, he did the unthinkable and pinned Roman Reigns in the middle of this ring, Sami was the first one out here to congratulate Cody. Sami is so proud that Cody finished his story. So he hopes both men understand that now, it is time for Sami to finish HIS story! The fans cheer, but then here comes Randy Orton! The Viper looks at the crown, then goes to the ring. The fans sing along with Voices and Orton grabs himself a mic. “So Cody, same deal as last week but I’m gonna say it again. There is no line I will not cross, even if it means going through you, so that I can get to John Cena at SummerSlam, beat him, and get my FIFTEENTH world championship!”
The fans cheer, and Orton tells Jey, “Man, I respect the… Hell outta you, dude. Our families go way, way, way back. Nothing but love, dude. But if you’re standing across the ring from me at SummerSlam, it’s not gonna be four letters, one word. It’s gonna be three letters, one move.” The fans say it, “R K O!” And Orton says he not only speaks for himself but for everyone here in this arena when he says, and from the bottom of his heart, one day and one day soon, Sami Zayn will be world champion. But not at SummerSlam. Because tonight, Sami is on the receiving end of the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment: R K O.
Orton drops the mic, and it is time to put those words into action. Will it be the Legend Killer or the Underdog from the Underground that heads for Saudi Arabia?
King of the Ring Semifinals: Randy Orton VS Sami Zayn!
SmackDown returns, the bell rings, and these two circle. They tie up, Sami wrenches, ELBOW BREAKERS, then wristlocks. Orton endures, fights up, and the fans duel. Orton wrenches Sami in return to then headlock. Sami endures, powers up to wrench again, and he grinds the arm. Sami wrenches and CHOPS, and Orton goes to the corner. Sami CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! The fans “WOO~” but the ref counts. Orton pushes past Sami, bails out of the ring, and he is pretty red already. Sami builds speed but he fakes Orton out with the Arabian Press! The fans fire up and Orton has to admit that was good.
Orton goes up the steps and steps back into the ring. The fans rally, Orton and Sami tie up, and Orton puts Sami in the corner. Orton lets off slowly, but he pokes Sami in the eyes! The fans boo but Orton UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! But Sami pokes Orton in the eyes! The ref caught that one and reprimands Sami. Sami TOSSES Orton out, goes to the apron, but Orton YANKS Sami down! Sami hits off the apron, and Orton reels him in, DESK BACK SUPLEX! Sami writhes and Orton rolls into the ring, just to refresh the count. Fans want that “One More Time!” and Orton agrees! DESK BACK SUPLEXÂ again!
Sami writhes more and whatever monitor wasn’t busted, they’re busted now! Orton leaves Sami behind for a moment while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Orton goes out to fetch Sami, but Sami fights off a third back suplex! Orton kicks low, brings Sami over, but Sami blocks the smack off the steel steps! Orton sputters, Sami stalks him, and Sami decides to give him some payback! But Orton ROCKS Sami first! Orton SMACKS Sami off the desk, puts him in the ring, and covers, TWO! Sami stays in this but Orton looms over him. Sami rises, Orton puts him in a corner, and Orton fires body shots. Orton climbs up and rains down fists! Orton gets to eight before Sami fires back! Sami has Orton in another corner, climbs up, and Sami rains down a fast TEN!
Sami huffs ‘n’ puffs and CHOPS! Orton is stinging but Sami CHOPS him again! Sami wrenches, ELBOW BREAKERS, and whips! Orton reverses, Sami hits buckles hard, and Sami falls in a heap. Orton dusts himself off and looms over Sami again. Orton stomps Sami’s hand! Sami writhes and clutches his finger. Orton stomps Sami’s foot, ten the other foot! And then the other hand! Sami sits up, SmackDown returns to single picture, and Orton CLUBS away on Sami’s chest! Orton DECKS Sami, the fans cheer, and Orton brings Sami up. Orton whips, Sami goes up and over, and Sami LARIATS Orton down! The fans fire up again as Sami rises!
Sami goes to the corner, Orton runs up, but Sami ELBOWS him! Sami goes up, AX HANDLES, and the fans fire up more! Orton takes a swing, but Sami slips around! Orton fights the Blue Thunder, then LARIATS! And LARIATS! Orton dodges Sami to SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up while Sami goes to the apron. Orton drags Sami in through the ropes, and DRAPING DDTS! The fans fire up as Orton hears those voices! Orton watches Sami rise, but then Sami bails out! The fans are torn but Sami is smart to avoid what was coming. Orton goes out to fetch Sami, SMACKS him off the desk, and then back suplexes, only for Sami to lands out!
Sami CLUBS Orton, and hits a DESK BACK SUPLEX on Orton! Sami puts Orton in the ring, goes to a corner, and the fans fire up as Orton rises. Orton runs in, Sami dodges, and Orton POSTS himself! Sami runs corner to corner, HELLUVA- SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Sami survives and Orton seethes. “This is Awesome!” as Sami goes back to a corner. Orton runs back in and he LARIATS! Orton runs but Sami follows! But Orton dodges the Helluva Kick! Sami gets stuck on the to rope, frees himself, and hobbles into an RK- NO! BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Orton survives and the fans fire up again!
“This is Awesome!” as Sami drags Orton to the drop zone. Sami goes up the corner, Orton stands and he gets under the leap! R K- NO, Sami SLAMS Orton down! And then HELLUVA- RKO!!! Orton crawls to the cover, Orton wins!!
Winner: Randy Orton, by pinfall (advances to Night of Champions)
Sami fought his heart out, but the Viper still strikes! Orton is going back to back in KOTR finals, but will he win the crown this time?
Nia Jax is here!
Grand Rapids boos as The Irresistible Force goes to the ring. She grabs the mic dot say, “You know what’s crazy? Tiffany Stratton approached me to be under my wing, because she knew exactly what I could do for her. And look, she’s thriving! And what kind of thanks did I get for it? She betrayed me. She has MY title!” But wait, here comes Tiffy! Grand Rapids cheers as the WWE Women’s Champion has the mic to tell Nia, “You’re like that toxic ex I just can’t get away from. News flash: get over it! You make excuse after excuse, but when are you just gonna admit that maybe I’m just better than you?”
The fans cheer and Tiff heads to the ring. Nia says yeah, okay, if Tiff is so much better, then give Nia a rematch without kicking a chair into her face. Tiff says if Nia’s so desperate for a match, it is her lucky day! She made it official for next week: Tiff VS Nia! And Tiff will have more fun adding more scars to that “five head” of Nia’s. Because it won’t just be a regular match. It will be Last Woman Standing! Nia takes a swing but Tiff dodge! Tiff fires off, kicks low, and runs up, but into a POP-UP HEADBUTT! And then Nia drops a leg, brother! Nia holds up the belt and soaks up the heat. Nia thinks about leaving, but decides to add on! ANOTHER leg drop, brother!
The fans boo but Nia says that’s not enough! Nia tells Wade & Joe that she’s taking the title! But wait! NAOMI is here, with a ref! Is she doing it!? Is she doing it?! But Nia YANKS Naomi out! Naomi tells her back off! Nia doesn’t, Naomi shoves her, but Nia still grabs at her! Tiff DROPKICKS Naomi onto Nia! Tiff avoids a cash-in because Nia was in the way, but is she setting herself up for failure with that extreme title match?
Charlotte Flair VS Chelsea Green w/ The Secret Her-vice!
The Queen was denied her crown, but she’s not even angry at Alexa Bliss, the one who took that opportunity from her. She instead looks to humble the Hot Mess that claims she would be queen if her demands were met. Who vents their frustrations and comes away with the win?
SmackDown returns and Charlotte makes her entrance. The bell rings and the fans actually cheer on Chelsea. Alba distracts Charlotte and Chelsea sucker punches her! The ref reprimands but Chelsea SMACKS Charlotte off the mat again and again! Chelsea salutes, but Charlotte CHOPS! Chelsea KNEES low, whips, but Charlotte goes up and out at the corner. Charlotte BOOTS Chelsea away, avoids Alba and KICKS her! Chelsea runs up, Charlotte RAMS her, and then Charlotte climbs up. CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Chelsea scrambles away and Charlotte runs up, but into an ELBOW! Charlotte GAMANGIRIS!
Charlotte snapmares, Chelsea distracts the ref, and Alba grabs Charlotte by the hair! Alba HOTSHOTS Charlotte and Chelsea hits a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Chelsea is furious but Charlotte stays in this, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Chelsea hops onto Charlotte for a SLEEPER! The fans rally, but Charlotte hits a BACKPACK SENTON! Charlotte is free, Chelsea runs back up, but Charlotte gives her a BACKBREAKER and BUCKLE SHOT! Chelsea falls back, Charlotte huffs ‘n’ puffs and runs up to fire hands! The fans fire up as Charlotte CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Charlotte CHOPS again, then clinches for an EXPLODER! And a kip up! The fans fire up and Charlotte salutes to poke fun at Chelsea. Charlotte runs, dodges, and handsprings to LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Chelsea survives but Charlotte stays on her by going for a leg.
Alba gets on the apron, so Charlotte BOOTS her down! The fans cheer, but Charlotte turns around into a ROUGH RYDER! Cover, TWO!! Charlotte survives and Chelsea is furious! Chelsea takes off her face protector and drags Charlotte up. Chelsea has the arms, turns Charlotte, but Charlotte shoves her away! Charlotte dodges and SPEARS! Cover, TWO!! Chelsea survives but Charlotte has the leg! FIGURE- CRADLE!! TWO!! Charlotte has the leg again, FIGURE FOUR! And the bridge for the FIGURE EIGHT!! Chelsea TAPS, Charlotte wins!
Winner: Charlotte Flair, by submission
But then Piper Niven SENTONS onto Charlotte!! Alba storms in, she and Piper mug Charlotte, but here comes Alexa! She RAMS into Piper, she ROCKS Alba, then she catches Chelsea! Charlotte LARIATS Alba out while Alexa hits a TWISTED SISTER ABIGAIL! And then Charlotte BOOTS Piper down! Charlotte and Alexa look at each other, and despite what either one thinks, maybe they both need the other after all. Alexa offers the handshake, but Charlotte walks right past Alexa. Alexa lets that slide, but will Charlotte come around soon enough?
Solo Sikoa talks with JC Mateo.
Why is JC taping up? Uh, duh, he’ll take out Jacob. No, Solo is going out there alone to talk with Jacob. Solo was the only one that Jacob would listen to. Jacob needs Solo. Solo will smooth things over. JC accepts that, but Solo does say that JC should stay ready. Solo is covering his bases, but will he need the Imperial Unit to put down the Samoan Werewolf? Or will it all be alright between them all?
Solo Sikoa heads to the ring.
SmackDown returns as the former Tribal Chief makes his way out, and Grand Rapids boos. Solo grabs the mic, takes a moment, and says, “Alright, Jacob. I’m out here in the middle of the ring, all alone, with open arms, willing to talk to you face to face. I feel terrible about what happened. So if you’re back there, come on out so we can clear the air.” Jacob Fatu makes his entrance and Grand Rapids cheers! Fatu holds up the United States Championship before he steps into the ring, and he has a mic of his own. The fans cheer on “FATU! FATU!” and Solo says he didn’t come out here to fight him, okay? He’s not here for that.
Solo wants to make it clear to Fatu that he loves him, always has loved him, no matter what. One thing Solo learned from being Tribal Chief is how to love family and how to take care of them. That’s all he’s trying to do. Families fight all the time. They fight, they argue, they forgive, and then they move forward. So they should move forward together, Jacob. Move forward as one. The fans boo that, but Solo says nobody saw the potential in Jacob except Solo. Nobody wanted Jacob here in the WWE, except Solo. That is why Solo brought Fatu here and gave him the chance to change his life and put food on his family’s table.
And why did Solo do that? Because Solo loves Jacob. He does. And to be honest, Solo doesn’t have anybody else. Fatu isn’t sure about that, but Solo says all he has is Fatu. And he’s all Solo needs. So come back to the family, and even if Jacob doesn’t say those four words, Solo will. Solo will say it for him, to him, loud enough so everybody can hear it! Solo tells Jacob, “I love you, Jacob.” The fans boo, they don’t trust this. Fatu paces as he thinks on that. “So you love me, huh?” Solo nods yes. So this is what it comes down to, huh? Solo loves Fatu? The way Fatu sees things, Solo has been using Fatu! Solo has been using Fatu to gain power, to fight his battles, and to stay Tribal Chief.
Hell, Solo brought Fatu in so Fatu could bring Solo fame! Solo brought Fatu in because he thought Fatu would bring him gold! Is that all this is about? Fame? Gold? Power? SOLO, LOOK AT HIM! Solo looks up from the floor while the fans cheer Fatu on. Fatu tells Solo that ever since he won the US Championship, Solo is the one that’s been acting different. And maybe Fatu isn’t the problem. Fatu just figured it out! The problem… is this. The problem is the US Championship. Fatu sets it down between him and Solo, and he says if this is what he thinks it is, then just fight him for it! Fight Fatu for the title! The fans fire up for that!
And Solo, Fatu will only warn you one time: If you ever think about coming this way, you know what Fatu is about! You know what’s poppin’ with Fatu, blood! And you know Jacob Fatu is all gas, no brakes with it! YADADADA- SOLO TAKES A SWING! Fatu blocks the spike and he HEADBUTTS! JC Mateo rushes out here! Fatu HEADBUTTS him, too! But Solo CHOP BLOCKS the legs! The fans boo but JC & Solo mug Fatu! But then here comes JIMMY USO! The fans fire up as #BigJim slides in, dodges Solo, and SUPERKICKS JC! And then he SUPERKICKS Solo! But JC LARIATS Jimmy down! JC HAMMERS Jimmy and Solo has him put Jimmy in the corner.
The fans boo but Solo tells Jimmy that he should’ve chosen Solo’s side, not Jacob’s! But speaking of, Fatu is up! The fans fire up as Fatu BODY CHECKS JC! Then he SUPERKICKS Solo! Solo is in a corner, Fatu fires off on him, HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! SUPERKICK for JC! HIP ATTACK for Solo! The fans are fired up for the Samoan Werewolf, and he locks eyes with Jimmy. Jimmy came to Fatu’s rescue, Fatu just saved him, so Fatu goes up, up, only for Solo to bail out! No Best Moonsaults here in Grand Rapids, but will Fatu cut Solo down soon enough?
Bronson Reed w/ Paul Heyman & Bron Breakker VS LA Knight!
The Wise Man warned, or rather threatened, the Mega Star that he should just cut and run, but that’s not how he does things. Knight is ready to fight, but will he survive a battle with Auszilla? Or is a Tsunami about wipe out LA?
Wait, Knight doesn’t enter from the stage! He enters from the crowd! And he POSTS Bron! The fans fire up as Knight evens things out! He TOSSES Bronson out, throws his vest at him, and Bronson snarls. Bronson has Bron stand down, and says, “Tonight, I kill him.” Bronson steps into the ring, the bell sounds, and Knight fires off! The fans fire up as Knight fires hands, but Bronson puts him in the corner. Knight ELBOWS back, Knight fires more hands, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight whips but Bronson blocks! Bronson whips Knight to a corner, runs up, but Knight dodges! Bronson POSTS himself, and Knight stomps a mudhole in!
The fans rally, the ref counts, and Knight goes corner to corner, but into a fireman’s carry! Knight slips down to sunset flip, but Bronson stays up! Bronson jumps but Knight avoids the hip drop! Then Knight basement BOOTS! The fans fire up and Knight storms up on Bronson. Bronson TOSSES Knight to the apron, but Knight slingshots back in! Bronson catches Knight to a fireman’s carry! Knight flails free and he RAMS Bronson into a corner! But Bronson holds ropes to deny the Jump Neckbreaker! Bronson runs but Knight avoids the senton! The fans fire up as Knight goes up, up, and FLYING BULLDOGS! That’s a Steiner move!
The fans fire up and spell it out, “L! A! KNIGHT!” but Bronson bails out! Knight runs to WRECK Bronson with a dropkick! Knight goes back up, springboards, CROSSBODY to the ramp! The fans fire up with Knight and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Bronson has Knight up top. The fans rally as Knight fights back with body shots! Knight ROCKS Bronson, ROCKS him again, and ROCKS him again! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Bronson finally falls and Knight adjusts position. “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” BOX JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Bronson survives and Knight is rather stunned while Heyman is relieved. Knight aims, kicks, but Bronson denies the BFT! HEADBUTT, then a fireman’s carry! DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO! Knight survives the “Jagged Edge” DVD but Bronson brings him right up. Bronson reels Knight in and says thumbs down.
Bronson lifts Knight up, but Knight flips the bomb into a DDT! The fans fire up but Bron barks at the apron! Knight DECKS the dog, tells Heyman to get the same, but Bronson runs up! Knight DUMPS Bronson out, builds speed, but BRON SPEARS!!
Winner: LA Knight, by disqualification
The fans boo but Bron handed Knight the win with that one. Bronson stands Knight up so Bron can build speed and SUPER SPEAR!! Grand Rapids is torn but plenty of fans bark. And now Bronson goes up!? TSUNAMI!! Bronson goes up again, the refs hurry out here, but TSUNAMI AGAIN!! The fans want another, so Bron scares the refs off to let Bronson go back up! THIRD TSUNAMI!!! Have Rollins’ rooks just broken Knight into pieces? Is this a message to everyone that no one can stop the vision?
Jacob Fatu speaks.
“Yeah, c’mon on widdit! I just spoke to the man, and you know the man makes everything possible here on SmackDown! So next week, next week on Saturday, me ‘n’ you, Solo! Night of Champions, mano a mano, I’m about to dog walk yo’ ass for the US Championship! Solo, you better get in where you fit in. Cuz if you don’t, then baby, it’s ’bout to be all gas, no breaks with it. Yadadadada mean?” The Samoan Werewolf will get to sink his teeth into Solo, but will he stay golden through it all?
John Cena VS Ron Killings!
The Undisputed WWE Champion was the exact opposite of grateful for R-Truth saving him from Randy Orton at Backlash, and he doubled down when Ron tried to show him the truth at Saturday Night’s Main Event. So, if Cena doesn’t want the Truth, he’ll get someone who knows about ruthless aggression! Will Ron Killings bring an early end to the retirement tour? Or will Cena continue to ruin wrestling for everyone else?
SmackDown returns as Cena makes his entrance. The fans sing “JOHN CENA SUCKS~!” despite him wearing the Detroit Pistons colors. Cena makes Mark Nash give the “proper” introduction: “He is the Greatest of All Time, the Never Seen Seventeen, gracing Grand Rapids with his presence one final time… He is the Last Real Champion, JOHN CENA~!” The fans boo, the bell rings, and Truth stares at Cena while Cena smirks hearing the “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” Truth TACKLES Cena! He fires off hands but Cena bails out! So Truth goes out to DECK Cena! “What’s up!?” “WHAT’S UP!” Truth has Cena at the desk and SMACKS him off it!
Truth ROCKS Cena again, and shakes his hand out from hitting so hard. Truth SMACKS Cena off the apron, storms in after him, and whips him to a corner. Cena hits buckles hard and falls to the mat! The fans continue to duel while Truth keeps his eyes on Cena. Truth storms up on Cena while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Truth stands Cena up, whips corner to corner again, and Cena hits buckles hard! Cena sputters, Truth looms over him, and Truth ROCKS Cena! Cena ROCKS Truth! They go back and forth with haymakers, and then Truth dodges to SHOULDER TACKLE! Truth still uses Cena’s own moves against him, and that includes the SPIN-OUT BOMB! Truth raises his hand and Grand Rapids joins in! “You Can’t See Me!” But then Cena bails out so Truth can’t hit him! Truth is annoyed, the fans give thumbs down, but here comes Truth. Cena ELBOWS him down! Cena drags Truth up, POSTS him, and he brings Truth back into the ring.
Cena HEADBUTTS Truth, CHOKES him on the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Cena stomps away on Truth, then runs to KICK Truth in the back! Cena talks trash, then he runs to SHOULDER TACKLE! Cena takes his time, knowing it is what the fans want. Truth rises up, Cena runs to SHOULDER TACKLE again! Cena watches Truth rise again, gets around him, SPIN-OUT BOMB! And Cena raises his hand, reveling in the cheers and jeers. “You Can’t See Me!” SmackDown returns to single picture for the FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Then Cena fireman’s carries, but Truth slips free! THESZ PRESS! And fast hands!
The fans fire up and Truth has Cena in a corner. Truth runs to STINGER SPLASH! Truth hitting all sorts of other iconic moves! Cena tumbles out and grabs the belt! Cena doesn’t care about this match anymore, he doesn’t need to take this! Truth says hold up! Truth runs Cena down and fires hands on the ramp! The fans fire up but Cena CLOBBERS Truth with the belt!!
Winner: Ron Killings, by disqualification
Cena wants to get another shot, but wait! PUNK IS HERE! Cena runs away into the ring, and he catches Punk as Punk slides in! The fans boo Cena but he huffs ‘n’ puffs. Cena drags Punk up, but Punk fires hands in return! Punk DECKS Cena, grabs the belt, and he holds it up! The fans cheer, and Punk aims, but Cena LOW BLOWS! Cena has a sinister smile as he grabs the belt. BELT SHOT for Punk!! The fans boo even more, but Cena decides to up the ante! Cena brings out a table! The fans cheer, everyone loves tables! Cena puts the table in the ring, then watches Punk sputter around. Cena sets the table up while the fans rally behind Punk.
Punk stands but Cena has the belt again! BELT SHOT!! Cena drags Punk up, fireman’s carries, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTÂ through the table!! Cena made Punk snap into a Slim Jim, and then he grabs a mic. Cena laughs at Punk, and then sits up on the corner. “Punk… As you lay there in your most uncomfortable…” Cena pretends the mic cut out, taps it, and then says, “Somebody’s afraid of what I’m gonna say.” Cena grins and the fans boo as Cena flips the iconic “Pipebomb” moment on it’s head. “As you lay there in your most uncomfortable, I hope you can listen. I hope you can digest.
“Because before I leave here in six months with that WWE Championship, I gotta get a whole lotta stuff off my chest. First thing’s first, I don’t hate you. I don’t even dislike you. I like you. I like you more than anyone you ever shared a locker room with, that’s for sure. I hate this idea of you. This idea that you’re the Best int he World. You’re not. I’M the Greatest of All Time.” Grand Rapids is a bit torn on that statement, but Cena says Punk is better than Cena at one thing: You’re the best BS artist in the world. Oh no, kiddos~! John Cena just dropped a curse word! That means the show is off the rails! Hey, Stu, shoot this. Hi~! “I’m breaking the forth wall! HAHA!”
Cena then says the truth is, Punk… Cena is jealous of you. Cena is jealous that Punk has conned the fans into believing the myth that Punk is the Best in the World. Oh how they chant for Punk! Which they literally do right now. Hell, the fans even sing for Punk now. But they don’t believe a damn word you say. Because Punk changes his values as much as Cena changes his shirts! Punk is just a loud mouthed opportunist who steps on the necks of those who actually work hard if it gets him ahead. Oh, hey, look, another cameraman! “Hi, Claudio Castagnoli! Hey, Nic Nemeth! Hey, Matt Cardona! How’re you guys doing?”
The fans can’t believe Cena is going this far but Cena is loving it! “He’s heating up! He’s on fire! And there’s nobody back there that’s gonna cut my mic to save your ass, cuz I’m your only friend! Remember who gave you the stage for your pipebomb, pal! And what’ve you done with it since then, huh? You just regurgitated the same five microphone moves of doom. You’re promo potato salad, pal. Hey, you’re no longer the Voice of the Voiceless, you’re a friggin’ millionaire despite yourself. You’re not a punk, you’re a capitalist! And you’re not against TKO, dude, you are Mr. TKO. Cuz they knocked your balls technically off your body.
“Your tweets are strong, but your actions are weak. And in Saudi Arabia, you’re gonna face some loud, loud music when I finally prove to the world that each and every day, day in, day out, no days off for 25 YEARS, I have been the Greatest of All Time!” The fans cheer that a bit more now, to Cena’s surprise. “See, they know. And they know that you were the Best in the World… for seven minutes, 14 years ago. And if after Night of Champions, you’re still delusional enough to believe that you’re the Best in the World, well… I guess it’s a small world after all. You’re welcome, Grand Rapids.” The fans cheer, and Cena lets the world hear it.
Cena tells Punk to bring his A Game to Night of Champions. If Grand Rapids is any indication, the mood is starting to change. Refs finally appear to check on Punk, Cena says no, that’s fine. Punk needs to rest up for his big title match. Get a good shot of this: Best in the World VS Greatest of All Time, for THE most coveted prize in sports entertainment, THE WWE Undisputed Championship! And Cena knows the fans will sing and chant, but he also knows even the idiots are smart enough to see the truth: The Champ is Here. And USA Network, keep the extra two and half minutes. He doesn’t need a bomb to blow the “mother fudging” building.
Oh, and thanks, Punk, for letting Cena rip off your best promo just to make you look even more foolish. Cena finally drops the mic and he raises the belt up again. If the proverbial tables have turned this drastically, is there no saving WWE from losing its north star championship?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown with an awesome ending. All those years ago, when CM Punk dropped THE OG “Pipebomb” promo, no one could’ve ever in a million years guessed that here tonight, we would’ve gotten the John Cena remix. Not only was that promo of the year, but Cena blew up go-home math. I can’t see Cena losing the title to Punk now. He can lose the match since Cena loves getting disqualified, and there’s the possibility of Rollins trying a cash-in, but Cena is leaving Saudi Arabia as champion to then go to SummerSlam. It also works because Cody Rhodes still feels like the favorite for King of the Ring.
A lot of that has to do with how Sami lost to Orton tonight. Great promo from the four semifinalists, especially since it was Jey, Sami and Orton kinda keeping Cody from talking since there isn’t more Cody needs to say. Win or lose, no explanations needed at this point. Sami VS Orton was an awesome match, but I could just feel an RKO countering the Helluva Kick as the way to go and that’s what they did. Now, as awesome as it would be for Jey to beat Cody, and then for Jey to beat Orton to go for the World Heavyweight Championship again, there are a lot of moving parts right now that it would just be the easiest for Cody to win the crown and have his rematch with Cena.
And while talking the WHC, Gunther VS Goldberg IS confirmed for the title, but has also been confirmed as Goldberg’s last match. This is a huge indicator that despite Rollins teasing a cash-in on the Undisputed title, he will likely be thwarted and then falls back to the title he feels is rightfully his. That is to say, Rollins cashes in on the winner of Gunther VS Goldberg, which I half expected even before all this talk of Goldberg’s last match. Rollins can take this title from Gunther and Goldberg, and then we can throw Jey and even LA Knight into the mix as things are getting heated between Knight and the henchmen.
Great promo from Knight with Heyman, great match with Knight VS Bronson, and a really powerful beating Knight takes from Bron & Bronson. If nothing else, Knight costs Rollins his cash-in. Truth going after Kit Wilson was an interesting move. Also a shame Elton Prince is hurt, Pretty Deadly gets going and then something happens to slow them down. But Kit was going to lose to Aleister so this really messes Aleister up more than anything. Priest keeping the peace between Aleister and Truth was good stuff. Priest and Truth being allies on SmackDown can be some real fun stuff, and I feel like they’re already set up for a feud with Aleister.
Very good stuff with Fatu, Solo and this US Championship story. Fatu VS Solo was the natural move, and I like that Jimmy Uso ends up an ally for Fatu. The title match is set, I wonder if we get a tag match first. In fact, next week is title night in Riyadh with Tiffany Stratton giving Nia the Last Woman Standing match, and basically setting the stage for Naomi to cash in. She almost did tonight but Nia was again able to stop her, so I would think Naomi waits until the very end of the Last Woman Standing match to take full advantage. Then, if Jade wins Queen of the Ring, we get Jade VS Naomi at SummerSlam.
Good promo from Jade, B-Fab & Michin watching Asuka VS Alexa. Asuka winning made the most sense, Alexa clearly has story with Charlotte and Asuka is just that good. Jade VS Roxie will be a good match but Roxie’s story in Judgment Day might keep her from winning. But then the fallback there is Roxie might actually sub in for the tag titles like I was thinking. Charlotte VS Chelsea was very good, and of course the Secret Her-vice does what they can to help. The beatdown they put on Charlotte and then Alexa making the save, that’s going to be one of those “can they coexist?” tag matches for sure.
Honestly, a little surprised we didn’t get any tag team promos tonight, unless I completely missed something. I believe title night is going to have Profits VS Gacy & Lumis for the tag titles, too, so that’s going to be something wild. And while DIY is scared of the Wyatts, I feel like they’re going to interfere because they don’t want the Wyatts to take the titles. But at the same time, the Wyatts need something substantial this time around, so maybe they win the titles at SummerSlam.
My Score: 9/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 6.19.25
Are we going to start trending upwards with Slammiversary to build toward?

Last week’s episode was lacking in ring work but had decent story moments and segments. Starting the build to Slammiversary we can either launch nicely or things can always get worse. Jason Hotch and KC Navarro are the real shining stars of the last few months, so lets hope once they get over this Leon Slater idiot ship, they can push X Division wrestlers with actual talent for pro wrestling and not just flippy charisma vacuums.
Oh and let’s not forget, it is the episode they celebrate the 23rd anniversary of TNA! TWENTY – THREE!! Somewhere PCO hates this.
.@Kelly_WP is back in TNA Wrestling and has a message for TNA Knockouts World Champion @mashaslamovich!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/cF0F1ZKKuL pic.twitter.com/tnm4TIuPUz
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) June 20, 2025
Ratings:
- Sami Callihan vs Eric Young w/Losers: EY wins via Piledriver – ** 3/4
- Lei Ying Lee & Masha Slamovich vs The Elegance Clique w/M & Personal Concierge: Elegantos win via Rarefied Air – ***
- Eddie Edwards & JDC w/Alisha & Brian Myers vs Matt Cardona & Home Town Man: HTM wins via Cradle – *
- Champion’s Challenge: The Rascalz, Joe Hendry, Leon Slater & Elijah vs The Kaiba Boys, Moose, Steve Maclin & Trick Williams: Elijah wins via Highwayman’s Farewell – ***
Results:
Sami Callihan vs Eric Young w/Losers
Sami knocks them all off the apron before the bell rings, he levels the loser children, finds a chair, attacks EY but EY counters and this is the excuse to use weapons since the bell didn’t ring yet. EY tries to break Sami’s hand on the steps with the chair, but Sami moves, throws EY back in the ring, bell rings and EY hits a Belly to Belly suplex for two. They slug it out, Sami goes for Headbutts, then Sami wants to run the ropes but a loser trips him, distracts long enough for EY to knock him out of the ring and loser children swarm as loser children do. EY does the classic, throw back out for losers to attack while EY grabs and distracts the ref. Sami is selling a few lame attacks from the losers like he got shot. It’s an excessive sell, so it’s honestly a dumb transitional moment.
EY levels Sami, Lariat into Scoop Slam, looks for the Macho Elbow but Sami hits the ropes to crotch EY. Sami Superplex time, but EY bites the face to make Sami drop, EY jumps at him but eats a straight right hand. Cactus Driver, but no, EY tries his Piledriver…they both gouge eyes at the same time, Sami catches an EY charge into a Flatliner as they’re both down…for…reasons? The selling in this match seems…poorly timed and kinda stupid. Hard Irish Whip, EY Flair Flips the corner, levels Sami, Macho Elbow for 2.9! EY threatens to hit the ref, but then goes to mad dog commentary. EY then wants to attack fans…he’s more unhinged than World Elite EY. Sami gives him the old Dick Twist into a Stunner but only for two! Losers try to distract, first one gets taken out, second one uses a chair, EY hits the Piledriver on Sami, EY wins.
I feel like this is gonna continue for a few weeks since it wasn’t a clean win.Â
Mustafa Ali’s group comes out, and I refuse to say the name because it’s dumb and they’re already fraying at the seams. Ali wants an apology session, Tasha and Hotch apologize to him but Skyler bites back and refuses, even shoved Ali. So Ali challenges him to a “Call to Arms” match. What in the hell is a Call to Arms match?Â
Lei Ying Lee & Masha Slamovich vs The Elegance Clique w/M & Personal Concierge
ASH does her borderline racist fake karate before Lei stares her down and tags in Heather. Heather avoids Lei, Lei throws a few Tornado Kicks to make a point and Heather tags out. Heather being 4’8″ helps her here. Concierge says “There’s no Karate in wrestling”. ASH, Lei and Masha are in the ring, ASH is trying to decide who she wants to face, but the Concierge google translated it and hands it to ASH, before the face team rocks ASH. Masha lifts up Lei and Lei does the Liu Kang Bicycle Kick, steering more into her Mortal Kombat aesthetic. Senton off the apron from Lei and Masha dives into the pile, the comedy heels are getting leveled. We go to commercial and come back with Lei getting Double Teamed but she spins it into a weird Neckbreaker..but can’t tag out just yet. Lei blocks Heather, Enzuigiri, simultaneous tag, Masha is Yakuza kicks for all and the 2 for 1 Lariat/DDT special. Near fall, but Masha goes for murder, but Heather breaks it, Rocket Launcher/Code Breaker from Elegance but Lei breaks up the pin. ASH tries to intimidate Lei with her fake Karate before throwing her out of the ring. Heather hits Lei with a handful of Glitter and then bounces her face off the post. Masha tries to stop ASH, Kelly’s music distracts Masha, Rarefied Air gives ASH the win.
Santino comes out and GOD DAMMIT no one wants to see Tommy Dreamer fight Mance Warner…that’s a useless thing. Pivot away…no one wants this. Oh no, now we have to listen to Steph talk too. Okay it seems to be a pivot, thankfully. Steph and Mance talk shit, Dreamer says something about Something is gonna happen…and Jake Something comes out. So…I guess we’re gonna build him up for 2 months and then job him out for 6 before he fucks off to his home galaxy or whatever?Â
.@indi_hartwell has a run in with Tessa Blanchard!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/cF0F1ZLikj pic.twitter.com/I6UCCk2fAG
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) June 20, 2025
Really wish Indi just opened with the Billy Butcher classic of, “Oi Cunt!” – but this wasn’t bad.Â
Eddie Edwards & JDC w/Alisha & Brian Myers vs Matt Cardona & Home Town Man
I hate… Cardona so much more now. Heel reasons for Cardona…go away heat for Deaner.
JDC wants the Home Town Man to start…and Deaner does his stupid Flip Flop and Fly, Cardona tags in, JDC is eating some offense, Cardona wants the Reboot, JDC powders, Cardona Dives but then Lish and the general numbers catch up to Cardona. Eddie is legal, and now they isolate Cardona with some decent tandem work and isolation. This turns into kind of a schmoz, lots of silly spots, near falls and then Home Town doofus gets the cradle pinfall on Eddie.
Whenever Deaner is involved I can’t be asked to care. The System beats Cardona and Deaner down, but Eddie did eat a pin. Which is embarrassing not even for work reasons, like it’s just sad.
Champion’s Challenge: The Rascalz, Joe Hendry, Leon Slater & Elijah vs The Kaiba Boys, Moose, Steve Maclin & Trick Williams
Elijah and Nic start things off, slow push off, arm wring, top wristlock, simple chain wrestling start. Nic breaks the chain and hits a Dropkick, Elijah runs the ropes and hits a Diving Lariat and starts the Rope Walk. Nic seems far to awake and alert for that move then, I hate how people pull that off too early. Wentz gets tagged in, Nic tags in Maclin who wasn’t looking for a tag, but him and Wentz have a nice clash, Trey tags in, they try to double him, but they pause and look at each other. Maclin asks for a tag, no one tags him so he Chops Ryan to tag him in and throws him in.
The little nod to Maclin and Rascalz history and the fact the faces realize Maclin isn’t a piece of shit. A little MCMG homage tandem attacks on Ryan, Wentz punctuates with the Handspring Knee Lift, Ryan tags out to Trick. Trick and Wentz go back and forth, Rascalz have Trick eating offense, Moose tries to slow things down, both Trick and Moose powder, Rascalz Double Golden Triangle Moonsaults. Trey gets tripped by Nic, Moose hits Lights Out, but there’s no referee so it’s a little chaotic.
Out of the commercial things are controlled kinda and we see a simultaneous tag to Moose and Leon. Leon comes out hot, level Moose with a Leg Lariat, attacks Nic Nemeth, attacks Ryan, and then Moose hits Leon with the Stun Gun. Moose looks to tag in Maclin but Maclin jumps off the apron. Trick takes the tag, keeps control, Trick forcibly tags in Maclin but Ryan tags himself in and pulls Leon to the Champions’ corner, Nic tags in and isolates Leon, with the Kaibas quick tagging and keeping Leon down.
Moose tags in, tries to Suplex Leon about four times but Leon stops it then counters the Suplex. Moose tries to cut him off, but the Champions distract the ref so the ref can’t see Leon tag out. Nic and Moose doubling up and Leon is the bump guy of this last portion of the match. Big Uranage from Moose…Moose looks for Lights Out but Small Package almost ruined things, Body Scissors Cradle, GAME CHANGER! Moose looks to hit a Jacknife Powerbomb but Leon turns it into a DDT. Maclin and Ryan start fighting, Nic Superkicks Maclin, Hendry and Nic tag in, Hendry is a house of fire. Sack of Shits for everyone! Nic, Ryan, there’s a pause when Hendry is face to face with Trick and Trick gets Uppercuts first then Sack of Shit! Standing Ovation on Nic, but Ryan blocks, Kaibas try a tandem attack but Hendry Lariats them both. Elijah tags in and is the maestro of the crowd and chopping Ryan to some fun. Ryan goes for a Polish Hammer but eats the Knee Lift. Signature spam time…
Ryan tries to use the International title but Maclin grabs the title away from Ryan, clocks Nic, Standing Ovation into the Highwayman’s Farewell. Champions lose!
Overall Score: 4/10
Well this was a rough one boys and girls. Sami and EY was just an overbooked shitshow, Lei Ying Lee is unfortunately in a spot where it’s obvious TNA has no clue how to use her, the Elegantos are the New Beautiful People, and I’m not mad at that. But you need to space out your goofball crap. You can’t have Elegance Clique, Home Town Moron and Santino in 3 consecutive segments. And if anyone goes “it was 3 out of 4” that’s doesn’t lessen my point, the beauty of Pro Wrestling being a variety show is…FOR VARIETY! When the lead match feels stupid because of bad pacing, poor selling and overbooking with two losers, it feels like a useless match with idiots, then comedy, followed by more comedy…you see how that’s literally NOT VARIETY.
Figure it out seriously. This was a disappointing episode. If you’re a casual viewer than it’s just chalk for TNA doing cringe and borderline goof crap since they’ve always steered a little more into the carny than other companies. But this show was…where’s Jisoo and Jenny? I feel like I need that gif:
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