Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (8/19/20)
Who cashes in their second chance?
One last stop before NXT TakeOver: XXX!
Johnny Gargano or Ridge Holland. Finn Balor or Velveteen Dream. Which two qualify for the NXT North American Championship Ladder match? Plus, Pat McAfee and Adam Cole have a face to face before they face off in their grudge match!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT North American Championship Second Chance Qualifier: Johnny Gargano w/ Candice LeRae VS Ridge Holland; Gargano wins and advances to TakeOver: XXX.
- Dakota Kai VS Jessi Kamea; Kai wins.
- Six Man Tag: El Legado del Fantasma VS Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Breezango; El Legado del Fantasma wins.
- Rhea Ripley & Shotzi Blackheart VS Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah w/ Robert Stone; Ripley & Blackheart win.
- NXT North American Championship Second Chance Qualifier: Finn Balor VS Velveteen Dream; Dream wins and advances to TakeOver: XXX.
PLAY BY PLAY
NXT North American Championship Second Chance Qualifier: Johnny Gargano w/ Candice LeRae VS Ridge Holland!
The #WednesdayKnight and his Pint-Sized Poison Pixie princess are here to “save the magic kingdom” that is NXT. But if Johnny Takeover wants to get back to TakeOver, he’ll have to get through the Yorkshire Grit! Will Holland keep #TheJohnnyGarganoWay from getting their way?
The bell rings and Gargano circles with Holland, but avoids the grapple. Gargano welcomes Holland to “the big leagues,” and says Holland doesn’t even belong in the same ring. Holland just shrugs off the trash talk as they tie up and he throws Gargano down! Then puts Gargano in the corner for European Uppercuts! Holland grabs Gargano’s arm, wrenches to a knuckle lock, and uses just that one hand to bring Gargano to his knees. Holland brings Gargano up to wring him out! Holland whips, hip tosses and then runs Gargano over! Gargano bails out and flounders about but Holland goes out the side.
Holland sees Gargano and follows him around the way. Candice wants Holland to take it easy, Gargano gets in and slingshots out! Holland catches Gargano and pops him up, but Gargano slips out to get to the apron. Gargano Penalty Kicks Holland, then STOMPS Holland’s hands on the apron! Holland gets in the ring and Gargano hurries after. Holland still throws EuroUppers! Gargano stands and baits Holland into giving the ropes a EuroUpper! Holland staggers from this unique hotshot, Gargano wrenches the arm , but Holland powers through to wrench and CLOBBER Gargano!
The crowd fires up as Holland drags Gargano to his feet to club him down. Holland stalks Gargano to a corner and throws more EuroUppers! Holland shakes out the arms before he knees Gargano in the corner. Candice protests but Holland whips Gargano corner to corner HARD! Gargano tumbles up, out and to the apron! Holland drags Gargano back in, wraps on an arm triangle but Gargano elbows free. Gargano kicks the bad arm, wrenches it, then elbows the shoulder. Holland gets to a corner and pushes back but Gargano throws forearms. Gargano hits more but Holland ROCKS him with another EuroUpper!
The crowd is fired up while Candice panics. Holland CLUBS Gargano on the back again! Gargano keeps his legs up for a guard, gets a leg of Holland’s and brings him down! Gargano grapevines and heel hooks, but Holland powers around and STOMPS Gargano off! Gargano gets the arm again and wrenches, but Holland pushes him away. Holland runs in but hits buckles! Holland tumbles out, Gargano builds speed, and DIVES! Direct hit sends Holland between the ladders on display! Gargano catches his breath and is relieved a little as NXT goes picture in picture.
Gargano follows Holland around the ladders and back to the ring. Gargano keeps Holland on the apron to SLAM the arm! Holland clutches that arm while Gargano gets a good luck kiss from Candice. Gargano goes back to the ring, hurries after Holland in a corner and stomps away! The ref counts but Gargano lets up on the mudhole at 4. Holland flounders up but Gargano chokes him on the ropes! Gargano lets up at 4 again and Holland gasps to the corner. Gargano wraps the bad arm around ropes and CHOPS, but Holland pushes him away! Gargano throws forearms now, then runs from center, only to leap into Holland’s arms! Holland carries Gargano but Gargano fights free with elbows! Gargano gives Holland an armbar DDT!
Holland kicks and writhes while clutching the bad arm. Gargano stalks him to a corner and brings Holland up. Gargano climbs up to rain down left hands on Holland. Holland stops him before 10 and carries him. Gargano sunset flips but Holland brings Gargano back up. But Gargano gets the arm and drags Holland down! Gargano has the hammerlock but Holland endures. Gargano reaches for the other arm but Holland resists so Gargano elbows away into his ribs! Gargano shoots the half nelson and turns Holland over for a cover, TWO!! Holland is free but Gargano is after his arm again.
Gargano wrenches the arm, twists the wrist and hits a shoulder breaker! Gargano hooks a leg and brings Holland into another hammerlock. This modified stretch twists Holland, but he powers out of the leg hook to elbow free! Holland runs, Gargano leaps, but Holland catches him for a ROUGH landing! Holland and Gargano got stuck somewhere between powerslam and driver, the ref has to check on Gargano as NXT returns to single picture.
Holland wants to cover but the ref has him wait. Candice is concerned and even the crowd has considerably quieted down. Holland gives Gargano space as Gargano gets to a corner. Gargano is somehow moving, but how is he in fighting shape? Holland wants to know the situation but the ref asks Gargano if he’s okay. Candice says to give Gargano a second and Gargano SUPERKICKS Holland!! Cover, TWO!! Gargano flounders around, still not 100% there. He gets Holland near the ropes and goes to the apron. Gargano slingshots but Holland BLASTS him with a forearm first!
Gargano stays on the apron, slingshots in, but Holland blocks the spear for a SWING!! Holland tosses Gargano, then brings him up for a proper POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!?! Gargano continues to be superhuman even as a super villain! Holland keeps his focus, drags Gargano back up and reels him in. Gargano resists the bomb lift so Holland clubs away on Gargano’s back. Gargano slips out to ROCK Holland with forearms from all sides. Holland DECKS Gargano with one! Holland gut wrenches and Canadian racks but Gargano wrenches the arm! Gargano digs his elbow in, Holland powers up and KNEES low!
Holland brings Gargano up but Gargano SUPERKICKS! Gargano point blank LARIATS, but Holland doesn’t fall! Gargano tries again and again, but Holland stays up. Gargano runs, Holland goes sideways to POUNCE Gargano out of the ring!! Candice checks on Johnny as the ring count begins. Holland hurries out after Gargano, Candice has to back away, and Holland warns her. Gargano tilt-o-whirls but Holland makes it an apron snake eyes! Holland drags Gargano into the ring, Gargano distracts the ref and Candice anchors Holland’s feet! Gargano kicks the ropes to hit Holland below the belt! The ref reprimands the Garganos but nothing he can do now! Gargano slingshots, ONE FINAL BEAT!! Cover, Gargano wins!!
Winner: Johnny Gargano, by pinfall (advances to TakeOver: XXX)
The Johnny Gargano Way wins out, despite almost being crushed! Will the Wednesday Knight in not so shiny armor make his 18th TakeOver his best?
Dakota Kai VS Jessi Kamea!
#CobraKai is going to take on the Evil Genius for the NXT Women’s Championship, but first she’s going to tune up and stay sharp. Will the #1 contender keep from getting ahead of herself to go into TakeOver strong?
The bell rings and Dakota goes right at Jessi to tackle her down and rain down rights! Jessi kicks her away but Dakota clubs her back. Jessi throws body shots but Dakota pushes her to a corner. Dakota taunts Jessi and goes to buckle bump but Jessi blocks and hits back. So Dakota throws Jessi down by her hair! Dakota covers, TWO! Dakota grows annoyed but she toys with Jessi. Dakota cravats and chokes Jessi on the ropes, then lets up at the ref’s count of 4. The crowd boos but Jessi forearms back! Dakota ROCKS her with a right, then goes corner to corner and around the World with that Kai-O Kick! And then ANOTHER! Dakota snapmares to the cover, TWO! Jessi toughs it out and Dakota wraps her up with a straitjacket stretch!
Dakota pulls back and has Jessi in body scissors! Jessi kicks, fights up, the crowd rallies and she bumps Dakota into buckles! Jessi arm-drags free, dodges Dakota’s boot and then dodges again to waistlock and O’Conner Roll! TWO but Jessi comes back with a basement windmill kick! Jessi fires up and the crowd fires up with her! Jessi runs in for a BIG leaping forearm! Dakota sits down, Jessi goes side to side to sliding KICK! Jessi brings Dakota up, and SPINE BUSTERS! Cover, TWO!! Dakota survives but the #1 contender isn’t looking so sharp! Jessi runs at her but Dakota sends her into ropes! Dakota then brings Jessi around, fireman’s carry, GO TO KICK!! Cover, Dakota wins!
Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall
GTK FTW and Dakota is rolling into TakeOver! Will she kick Io Shirai off her throne and take the title for the very first time? Dakota gets a mic and says “Hey, Io! You must be out of your mind!” Everything Shirai said about Dakota just proves Dakota right. Dakota is afraid of Shirai? Don’t make her laugh. Shirai is so focused on Dakota’s past while Dakota is focused on the future! TakeOver will see her take the title from Shirai. And it’ll feel so good when Dakota kicks Shirai in the face over and over and over- And here comes Shirai! Dakota wants the fight, Shirai brings it, and tackles Dakota down to rain down rights! Dakota bails out but Shirai pursues!
Shirai clubs and kicks Dakota up the way, but Dakota shoves her back. Shirai CLOBBERS Dakota down! Shirai wants to see where that courage is now, but here comes Raquel Gonzalez! She BOOTS Shirai right down!! Big Mama Cool is back, and despite Dakota talking about not needing insurance policies, Raquel is back to her old job of doing Dakota’s dirty work. Raquel drags Shirai up and to the ring and tosses her in! Dakota grins as she taunts Shirai. Dakota laughs but Shirai SHOTEIS! Raquel CLOBBERS Shirai from behind, then brings her up for the CHOKE SLAM!! Raquel raises Dakota’s hand in victory, but will this be what we see this Saturday?
Backstage interview with Tegan Nox.
Obviously, Tegan saw as we all did, the poorly veiled threat Candice issued Tegan last week during her little “storytime” with Doggo Gargano. Tegan’s response? “Did it take me by surprise and hurt me a little? Yeah.” Tegan and Candice had been friends for years, it meant the world to Tegan. But Tegan could also easily call Candice on what she’s done these last few months. But that’s the thing about friendships. There are ups, downs and differences, and those can be fixed. Since Tegan’s the one being accused of “causing rifts,” Tegan will fix this. And it’ll be like old times: over a glass of wine. Tegan didn’t realize she was so annoying to Candice, but she’s ready to talk it out. Will words heal the apparent wounds in this friendship? Or will they have no effect on #TheJohnnyGarganoWay of thinking?
Finn Balor speaks.
“Velveteen Dream. Our first Experience was interrupted.” The attack by a still unknown assailant kept The Prince out of action when these two were meant to battle for #1 contender status. “I’ve earned my place in this business. But you? You keep getting chance after chance after chance. And in my book, you’ve failed.” Balor can’t deny Dream’s talent, but there’s no way Dream gets in his way of becoming the next NXT North American Champion. Tonight, the Experience everyone’s been waiting for finally happens. But the outcome will be the same as always: #FinnOver.
Six Man Tag: El Legado del Fantasma VS Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Breezango!
The NXT Cruiserweight Champion and his cohorts have tried to humble and even break Tyler Breeze and Fandango as part of their mission of remaking Lucha Libre in their image. But Santos Escobar has also been ducking challengers for his championship, and now he’s in Swerve’s House. Will there be no avoiding what’s coming for the Leader of Leaders?
The teams don’t sort out, they just brawl with the bell! Swerve has Escobar while Breezango takes care of Mendoza and Wilde! The ref tries to restore order but Swerve and Escobar tumble out while Breeze stomps Wilde and Mendoza turns things around on Fandango. Escobar throws Swerve into railing while Wilde turns things around on Breeze. Breeze and Wilde spill out of the ring now, so Mendoza and Fandango are legal by default. Breeze rocks Wilde, Mendoza whips Fandango corner to corner, but Fandango comes back to clobber Mendoza! Fandango stalks Mendoza around the ring as Mendoza flounders. Mendoza gets to a corner and Fandango CHOPS him!
Fandango throws hands, whips Mendoza corner to corner, but Mendoza slips out and hotshots Fandango back! Mendoza hammerlocks the bad arm to ram it into buckles! Tag to Wilde, Wilde climbs up and leaps but into Fandango’s body shot! Fandango throws Wilde down by his hair then brings him around for a suplex. Fandango hangs Wilde out to dry and tags in Breeze. Prince Pretty and the Lord of the Dance DOUBLE BOOT Wilde down! Cover, ONE, but Breeze drags Wilde back up. Tag to Fandango, they mug Wilde and Fandango brings Wilde around. Wilde powers out of the back suplex to throw Fandango out!
Mendoza creeps around the corner but Swerve sees that! Swerve gets in to baseball slide Mendoza down! But Wilde comes around, only for Swerve to send him into barriers! Escobar runs but into a kick! DOUBLE SUPERKICKS for Wilde and Mendoza! Swerve and Breezango stand tall and NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Fandango fires off hands on Wilde in a corner! Fandango CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS, then whips corner to corner. Wilde reverses, Fandango BOOTS him down! Fandango hurries up top as the crowd rallies. Escobar distracts, Wilde pushes Fandango down, and Fandango hotshots before hitting the apron and then floor! The bad arm is in bad shape again but Wilde goes out to put him back in the ring. Wilde stomps the bad arm from hand to shoulder then tags in Escobar. El Hijo del Fantasma tags in Mendoza, and the trio works together, double hip toss rebound splash! Mendoza basement LIONSAULTS! Cover, TWO!!
Fandango reaches for his corner but Mendoza fish hooks the face and kicks him back! Mendoza kicks the bad arm and has Fandango in the open corner. Mendoza hooks the arm with a leg to drop a knee on that elbow! Mendoza digs it in and taunts Breeze and Swerve at the same time. He also mocks the hip swivel before he stomps Fandango more. Mendoza wrenches the arm, digs a forearm in the shoulder and neck, but Fandango endures. The crowd rallies up as Fandango fights up. Fandango stands, but Mendoza wrenches and PELES the arm! Mendoza has Fandango in the corner again, wraps the arm on the ropes and pulls! The ref counts, Mendoza lets go and Fandango CHOPS! But Mendoza kicks the arm again!
Mendoza keeps between Fandango and his corner while Wilde taunts Fandango. Mendoza wrenches and YANKS on the arm, then whips Fandango into the corner! Tag to Wilde, Wilde and Mendoza sucker punch Swerve and Breeze! Mendoza whips Wilde in but Fandango tosses him out! Mendoza runs in but Fandango POSTS him! Fandango hot tags Swerve! Swerve rallies on El Legado, and makes sure to give Escobar big haymakers! Swerve clubs away and throws body shots on Escobar in a corner, stomps away but lets off at the ref’s count. Swerve brings Escobar out, throws him and somersault COMPLETE SHOTS! Mendoza runs in but is sent back out. Swerve sweeps the legs and mule kicks him down!
Wilde grabs Swerve’s feet but Swerve stomps his hands. Swerve slingshots out to the apron and BOOTS Wilde down! Swerve hurries to a corner and the top rope. He aims at Escobar and leaps, into a KNEE!! Both men are down but Breeze returns to his corner. Mendoza runs in but gets an enziguri for it! Escobar waistlocks Swerve, Swerve pries at the hold, but Wilde springboards in! Swerve swings Escobar into the missile dropkick! But that dropkick also sends Swerve stumbling into Breeze and knocks him down! Swerve staggers back up, Escobar fireman’s carries, but Swerve slips out and shoves. Escobar goes up but not over, JML DRIVER!! But wait, Swerve isn’t legal?! That collision counts as a tag?!
DOUBLE DROPKICK SANDWICH! Mendoza and Wilde take Swerve out with the GAMANGIRI LEG SWEEP COMBO!! But Breeze slips in to rally on them both! Haymaker after haymaker, and then Breeze clotheslines Wilde out! And Mendoza, too! Escobar hotshots Breeze down, then drags the sputtering Prince Pretty into the fireman’s carry, PHANTOM DRIVER!! El Legado wins!!
Winners: El Legado del Fantasma, by pinfall
A technicality helps Escobar survive, because Swerve had him dead to rights! Can Escobar continue to dodge Swerve’s shot? Or is Swerve only closing in on the target that is the NXT Cruiserweight Championship?
Pat McAfee arrives at Full Sail!
“Well, well, well. Look who’s here!” McAfee has back-up in former NFL Super Bowl winner, A.J. Hawk, and former Indianapolis Colts teammate, Darius Butler. Will Hawk and Butler be enough to keep the kicker safe?
NXT has a huge announcement for TakeOver: XXX!
A match so big it has to be on the preshow! It will be an NXT Tag Team Championship #1 Contenders TRIPLE THREAT! El Legado del Fantasma puts up Wilde and Mendoza to face the One Two of Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch, and Breezango! Will Prince Pretty & the Lord of the Dance get payback while also punching their ticket to a title match? Or will the BritAm Bruisers bust things up and take that right for their own?
The Undisputed Era heads to the ring!
We saw McAfee has his boys, so Adam Cole brings his! Cole, Bobby Fish, Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong dare Pat to show up already. Pat and his guys do, coming in through the back door. The crowd is torn between applauding and booing as Pat gets a mic. “Well hello, Undisputed Era. Last week, Adam, you said, ‘Please! Please come see me face to face!'” Come back to the arena Pat got kicked out of! And here he is, along with “28 years of NFL experience” by his side, because Pat knows Cole better than Cole knows Cole. Pat knows Cole doesn’t go anywhere without “the Three Stooges,” that Cole would be nothing without them, and that he could not handle a 1v1 with someone like Pat.
Cole talks to the UE and has them back off. Is Pat ready to start now? Pat has his guys back down, too, but is still wary of Cole. Cole backs off and says, “The floor is all yours.” Pat gets in and asks if Cole remembers what happened two weeks ago. Probably not, given what happened, but Pat will remind him. HBK was checking for vitals on Cole’s “soulless body, right over yonder, next to stupid Tom Phillips.” Last week, Cole goes on this rant about how Cole was being held back and that Pat took advantage. “Blah blah blah, I outsmarted you in your own house.” Pat outsmarted Cole in Cole’s own industry.
Then Cole went on another rant about how Pat isn’t special compared to the longest reigning NXT Champion, who has wrestled all over the globe. From five people at a time in armories, bingo halls and high school gyms, to arenas in Japan and everywhere else, and made it to NXT as the biggest star in the brand. What did Cole call himself? The King of NXT? He had all the people fooled. “400 and something days, you were undefeated.” Took Pat a minute and change to knock his ass out. One swing from this foot, and it was done. Cole says Pat’s not special? How was that not special? Pat’s never been in the ring before and made Cole look amateur!
Pat has made a million dollars in seven different professions. “And you,” Cole, along with Strong, “stupid you” O’Reilly and “mustache stooge” Fish, and the wrestling community watching at home, better hope he doesn’t stick with pro-wrestling, because this would be number 8! And Saturday, it’ll end the same way it did two weeks ago. Cole will be left unconscious after throwing a temper tantrum, after losing his mind and losing his cool, because he and Pat are different levels. Pat only has two weeks to twin for a match. HHH talks trash on ESPN, saying if Pat wants to act tough, HHH can make him famous. Two weeks is all Pat will need to beat Cole! And then Cole will have to explain to the entire wrestling fandom how he lost to an outside!
Pat explains how: Cole is great in this world, but Pat is next level. Pat is above Cole as a human, as an athlete, and it will end with one swing of Pat’s foot, meeting Cole’s face and sending it to the moon! The only sound “any of these idiots in here” will hear, is “BOOM!” Pat throws the mic down and Cole nods. Cole’s turn to talk. But security gets in to keep him back! Pat talks smack from the other side of that line and Cole backs off. Cole then shoves one guard into another, DECKS the third and throws the fourth into the first! BOOT for the second, SUPERKICK for the third! And Pat realizes he’s in trouble. Cole steps closer but Pat’s boys step up. So Cole’s boys step up.
Cole says if Pat wants to go, he and his boys can get in and get mangled! We won’t have to wait until Saturday! No? That’s what the UE thought. Cole steps closer and tells him that this Saturday, “I’m gonna make you my b*tch.” Cole backs away, and the UE takes their leave. Pat talked a big game, but game day is coming. Will Cole rough the kicker so bad Pat decides to stick with podcasting?
Rhea Ripley & Shotzi Blackheart VS Mercedes Martinez & Aliyah w/ Robert Stone!
The Aussie Nightmare and the Wild Child look to TCB, Take Care o’ Business. And by business, they really mean the Robert Stone Brand! Will they make sure the brutal and the bougie finally back off and mind their own business?
The teams sort out, Mercedes starts with Rhea, and Rhea TACKLES Mercedes right away! Rhea rains down rights, Mercedes gets up and the two brawl to the corner. Aliyah tags in, she goes after Rhea but Rhea throws Aliyah to the corner! Tag to Shotzi but Rhea still brings Aliyah up for an atomic TOSS! Shotzi howls and backs Mercedes off as she runs, to then CANNONBALL into Aliyah at the ropes! Shotzi brings down the suspender straps to unleash the leather, but Aliyah dodges in the corner! Aliyah runs in but Shotzi goes up and over to come back with a splash! Shotzi rolls Aliyah and hits a SLING DOG! Stone asks if Aliyah’s okay but Shotzi has her legs.
Shotzi shouts, “Welcome to the Ball Pit!” as she drops the Jeff Hardy style leg splitting leg drop! Jackknife cover, TWO! Shotzi bridges up to her feet but Mercedes swipes at her! Aliyah pulls green hair to throw Shotzi down! Tag to Mercedes and she covers, TWO! Mercedes drags Shotzi into a chinlock with the knee in Shotzi’s back, but NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Aliyah runs at Shotzi in a corner, but Shotzi boots back! Shotzi hops up, sunset flips, TWO! Aliyah spins Shotzi around for a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Aliyah is angry with the ref but she drags Shotzi over. Tag to Mercedes, Russian Leg Sweep to a KNEE! Mercedes pie faces Rhea just because, then she drags Shotzi away. Mercedes stomps Shotzi to ropes, stalks her and drags her up to choke her on the ropes, with a sleeper hold adding on! The ref counts, Mercedes lets up, and Aliyah pushes Shotzi down! Mercedes goes after Shotzi in a corner and throws forearm after forearm, then she CHOPS Shotzi down.
Mercedes underhooks Shotzi and brings her over to tag Aliyah. The Brand mugs Shotzi, Aliyah double chicken wings Shotzi now, and Mercedes tags in to continue the mugging! Mercedes DECKS Shotzi, covers, TWO! The crowd rallies but Mercedes keeps on Shotzi with a grounded cobra twist. Shotzi endures the stretch, Mercedes rolls back for a cobra cover, ONE and Shotzi has a cover of her own! TWO and Mercedes clubs Shotzi on the back. Mercedes underhooks to butterfly suplex! Cover, TWO! Mercedes grows annoyed, kicks Shotzi around and taunts her. Mercedes chokes Shotzi on the ropes but the ref reprimands.
Mercedes drags Shotzi up, fisherman but Shotzi fights the suplex to cradle counter! TWO, and Shotzi dodges a boot to SATELLITE DDT! Both women are down, the crowd rallies up and Stone coaches Mercedes up. Shotzi and Mercedes crawl, hot tags to Aliyah and Rhea! The Mosh Pit Kid rallies on Aliyah with lariat after lariat! She spins Aliyah for the cravat and knee smashes! Snapmare to basement dropkick! Rhea fires up with the crowd and she keeps Aliyah from getting away by reeling her in for an Electric Chair! Aliyah shrieks before she takes the FACEBUSTER! Cover, Mercedes breaks it!
Shotzi ENZIGURIS Mercedes down! Rhea shouts at Stone to shut up, and then tags in Shotzi. Pump handle and RIPTIDE, before Shotzi climbs up top. Mercedes trips Shotzi up! Rhea ROCKS Mercedes with that right then hip tosses her inside! Mercedes staggers up but dodges Rhea to POST her! Rhea ends up on the apron, Mercedes runs at her but the boot misses! Rhea has Mercedes off the apron, for a POWERBOMB to the outside!! Where were the Plexiglas boards!? Stone freaks out and goes to check on Mercedes while Shotzi adjusts. SUPER SENTON!! Cover, Shotzi and Rhea win!!
Winners: Shotzi Blackheart & Rhea Ripley, by pinfall
The heavy metal rebels just rocked the Robert Stone Brand to the core! Will this finally end the obsession and allow Rhea and Shotzi to move on?
NXT previews the coming NXT Championship match, Keith Lee VS Karrion Kross.
The return of the Great American Bash was the culmination of all the Limitless One’s hard work and perseverance in his career. It was Winner Take All as the then North American Champion challenged Adam Cole BAYBAY! Needless to say, it was one for the ages and made history by crowning Keith Lee as the first-ever dual NXT and North American Champion, ending Adam Cole’s incredible reign. But a champion with that big of a target on his back obviously had the attention of the doomsday duo.
Kross says that “Each day, a man attempts to climb the mountain. But only when he reaches the top can he see, he’s been climbing a volcano.” The volcano is waiting to erupt. Mr. Lee, this is your volcano. Kross came to NXT, warning us all of the end. Tommaso Ciampa tried to cancel that end at TakeOver: In Your House, but he got much more than he bargained for. The sand in the hourglass began to pour, but Keith smashed that hourglass. That only added to Kross’ aggression. As did Dominik Dijakovic saying Kross is not on Keith’s level. Kross took out Keith’s rival with viciousness rarely seen in NXT, and then made Keith watch as Dijakovic’s face turned purple in the Krossjacket.
Kross gave Keith a choice: the easy way or the hard way. William Regal refused to let it be that way, so Kross brutalized even more NXT superstars. This forced Regal’s hand, and he allowed Keith to hand Kross a contract. The contract was signed, but Scarlett Bordeaux added her own special touch in a flash paper fireball trap!! Keith’s eyes were nearly burned away but he’s still cleared to compete! “I will whoop that ass.” The collision course is coming. The clock keeps ticking. TakeOver: XXX is the time and place, but who survives to reign supreme?
NXT North American Championship Second Chance Qualifier: Finn Balor VS Velveteen Dream!
Who will be the fifth and final man in the TakeOver: XXX ladder match? Who is truly the Prince of NXT? Both these questions will be answered with one match as we finally have our #fOreVERExperience!
Dream taunts Balor with some Too Sweets and finger guns as he makes his entrance. Balor keeps his cool as the bell rings and the two circle. They feel out the grapple but Dream backs away. They circle more, approach and tie up. Balor headlocks to the takeover and denies the headscissor counter. Balor throws Dream’s sunglasses away and hits a second takeover, but Dream gets the headscissors this time. Balor fights that off and then throws the do-rag away! Dream fights back up, Balor holds the headlock but Dream rolls him to a cover! ONE, Balor stays on but Dream powers up and out. Things speed up, Dream hurdles and sunset flips but Balor rolls through to aim his finger guns. The crowd are fired up but Dream bails out to take a breather.
Balor waits for Dream in the ring while NXT goes picture in picture. Dream takes his time trash talking the crowd, Balor gets impatient and heads for the ropes, but Dream ROCKS him with a sucker punch uppercut! Dream drags Balor out to throw into the boards! Balor flounders around, Dream mockingly applauds and hits a body shot! Dream gets his do-rag back before he leaps and clubs Balor on the back! Balor rests against the barriers while Dream refreshes the count. Dream puts Balor back in, takes his time going up the steel steps, and he takes his shirt off on his own before throwing more body shots in the corner. Dream rocks Balor with BIG haymakers but the ref backs him away.
Dream comes back to taunt Balor, but Balor gets up, only for Dream to ROCK him! Dream drags Balor into the suplex but Balor knees back! Balor knees more, cravats, snapmares and KICKS! Cover, TWO! Balor keeps on Dream with a thrashing chinlock but Dream flails and fights up. They go around, Balor wrangles Dream down and grinds on the hold. Dream endures, fights up and throws body shots. Dream ROCKS Balor, runs, but Balor elbows Dream down! Cover, TWO! Balor drags Dream into the chinlock, grinds him down again, and NXT returns to single picture.
Dream fights up to jawbreaker free! Balor staggers back, brings Dream around and CHOPS him! And CHOPS him! And whips, but Dream reverses. Balor ducks the heel kick, comes back but into Dream’s Thesz Press! Dream rains down fast hands then shouts, “Wolfpac in the house!” Dream howls as his gear makes sense now. Dream stalks Balor and clamps onto the shoulders! He bumps Balor right into buckles then CHOPS him to the other corner. Dream bumps Balor off more buckles, Too Sweets and SLAPS him! Balor sputters but Dream CLUBS him on the back. Dream goes for another buckle bump but Balor blocks to throw body shots back!
Balor sweeps the leg with a kick! Then another kick! Dream flips upside down but Balor keeps kicking! Balor drags Dream to the center to drop an elbow on the knee! Balor cranks the leg in a toehold and keeps Dream from using a leg to counter. Dream’s shoulders are down, TWO as Dream clubs Balor. Dream throws more shots then uses his leg again. Balor just uses that leg against the first for a modified deathlock! Dream powers up, avoids Balor adding a crossface to this, and drags himself towards ropes for the ROPEBREAK! Balor lets go quick but he comes back to go after the legs again! Balor puts the leg on the ropes to dig his knee in and then drop down on it! Balor stomps, the ref reprimands and Balor backs off.
Dream crawls, Balor gets the leg again and pulls Dream from the ropes. Balor trips Dream up again to drop back down on the leg for another toehold. Dream pulls at Balor’s arm to turn this but Balor clasps hands. Dream uses his longer legs to break that grip and then stomp away on Balor! Dream lets go of the arm as he works out his legs. The crowd rallies up as Balor and Dream stand. Balor goes for the leg but gets a knee and LEG LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Dream grows frustrated but Balor gasps. Dream slaps Balor on the back of the head, but Balor gets up. Dream DECKS Balor but Balor gets up. The crowd rallies, Dream CLUBS Balor but Balor throws forearms. Dream DECKS Balor again!
Dream looms over Balor at the ropes but Balor gets to a corner. Dream climbs up to rain down rights, then swivels his hips right at Balor’s head. Dream keeps punching, “Where’s my count?” Dream makes sure he gets 10 before he lets off. Dream leaps but the leg lariat gets buckles! Balor CHOPS and CHOPS and sweeps the other leg! Balor stomps away on Dream but the ref backs him off. Dream flounders up, Balor comes back but Dream elbows him hard! Dream leaps and ax handles! Balor staggers back up, Dream brings him for a hotshot bulldog! Does Tony Nese know Dream knows his move? Balor snaps back and Dream tumbles to the ladders.
Dream sees the title hanging just overhead, but Cameron Grimes comes out, boasting already that the belt belongs to him. The ref tells Grimes to stay back, this match is still going. Grimes continues to talk as Dream gets back in the ring. Will the Technical Savage shut up while NXT goes to break?
NXT returns once more and Dream apologizes to the ref about something, while Grimes sits on top of a ladder and holds the North American Championship! Seems Grimes didn’t shut up at all, and Dream whips Balor corner to corner HARD! Dream hurries over, tells Grimes to watch as he KICKS Balor in the ribs! Grimes isn’t impressed, he’s too busy looking at the belt. Dream brings Balor up and scoops him and hits a backbreaker! Grimes is still not impressed, even as Dreams swivels at him. Dream throws a BIG uppercut on Balor then flexes. Dream brings Balor up, whips him to ropes but Balor reverses. Dream sunset flips, Balor rolls through to basement dropkick! Grimes laughs again as both men go to opposite corners.
Balor runs in but into a haymaker! Dream hops up but Balor trips him up! Balor drags Dream backwards into the Tree of Woe, stomps away on the legs and hips until Dream falls out! Grimes laughs more but Balor is on Dream with CHOPS! Balor whips corner to corner, runs and CHOPS! And then back the other way, Dream tumbles over and out! Grimes decides to start climbing down as Dream crawls over to his ladder. Balor goes out and stomps away on Dream right at the ladder. Balor then climbs up to get at Grimes, but Dream yanks Balor down! Dream gives Balor an apron snake eyes! Grimes feels relieved as he gets to sit on the ladder alone again.
Dream puts Balor in the ring, Too Sweets and brings Balor in, but Balor turns the DreamDT into the dragon sleeper. Dream slips around to trip and jackknife roll to the fireman’s carry! But no Dream Valley Driver, either, as Balor hits that elbow drop DDT! Balor grits his teeth as he takes aim from the corner. Dream stands up, and gets the SHOTGUN DROPKICK! Dream bounces off buckles, Balor glares at Grimes as he climbs up the corner. Grimes decides to climb down again, but Dream hops up to join Balor! SUPERPLEX!! Both men are down and Grimes sits on the ladder again. But wait, here comes Gargano! Gargano pushes the ladder over and Grimes FLIES into the ring, crashing into the ref!!
Grimes flounders back to his feet while Balor and Dream get up. They both glare at Grimes, Balor trips up and STOMPS Grimes down! Grimes flounders back up into Dream’s FAMOUSER! Balor SLING BLADES Dream! Balor takes aim again, but runs into a SUPERKICK! Grimes is out of the ring, Balor and Dream are down in the ring, and now Gargano picks up the belt as if it’s already his. But wait! Here comes Bronson Reed! Auszilla won’t let Gargano think he can just grin his way into TakeOver! Reed chases Gargano into the ring, Gargano wants Reed to take it easy, but he backs into Damian Priest! Gargano reaches up to check, and yes, it’s the Archer of Infamy.
Gargano tries to reason with both big men, but before he can use the belt as a weapon, Priest ROCKS him and Reed tosses him! Reed turns around to see Priest holding the belt. Priest tosses it to Reed so Priest can ROUNDHOUSE him! Reed stays up, Priest runs, Dream SUPERKICKS Priest first! Reed clotheslines Priest and himself out of the ring!! Dream holds the belt but Balor clotheslines him out! And then Balor FLIES out onto Reed and Priest! Balor tempts fate by walking under the ladder, and gets CLOBBERED by Timothy Thatcher!! The Professor of Pain already sent Balor a message, but here’s another one! Thatcher drags Balor up and throws him into the ring for Dream’s DREAM VALLEY DRIVER!!
Dream flounders to a corner, the ref finally revives and Dream drops the PURPLE RAIN MAKER!! Cover, Dream wins!!
Winner: The Velveteen Dream, by pinfall (advances to TakeOver: XXX)
We have our fifth man, brother! But before Dream can properly celebrate, Gargano SUPERKICKS him down! Gargano walks over to the North American Championship and picks it up. Gargano gives it a kiss, holds it up, but Grimes SUPERKICKS him down! But Priest gets Grimes for the SOUTH OF HEAVEN CHOKE SLAM! Reed CLOBBERS Priest! Reed blocks Dream’s boot for the DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Reed holds up the title last tonight, but will he be the one to hold it in the end?
My Thoughts:
This was a pretty wild go-home, especially for NXT. We got right to the action with the first “second chance” qualifier, Gargano VS Holland was a great match but that was a scary powerslam botch! I thought Gargano was going to be done because of that, but I suppose he was able to take it like any driver move. Holland looked great even though Gargano goes over, but it makes for great stuff in the #TJGW story. Gargano getting involved in that wildly “overbooked” ending segment of the main event match also proves he was okay, and it is great to know he’ll be in the ladder match. Balor VS Dream was a great match, even with the other participants getting involved.
I should’ve figured Thatcher would attack Balor tonight to keep him out of the ladder match as opposed to getting involved in the ladder match and screw him out then. I don’t know if this sets up a TakeOver match this last minute, but that story can definitely be a major part of the build to the next one. However, I do feel like the #1 contender Triple Threat to the NXT Tag Team Championships is last minute just to counter Saturday Night Dynamite trying to counter program TakeOver. The overlap definitely complicates things for me, expect AEW Dynamite coverage to come after TakeOver coverage. That Triple Threat is partially set up by tonight’s Six Man, which was a really great match. I do have to credit the creativity of that technicality that cost Swerve and helped El Legado. I hope that, with help from 205 Live, Escobar VS Swerve is set up for either a big time NXT or the next TakeOver.
The NXT Championship preview was another great video package, the NXT team always does great with those. I loved the face-to-face of Cole and Pat. Pat talked a lot of great trash in his promo, Cole used actions to speak for him instead, and I actually am interested in seeing that match now. Dakota Kai gets a good enough win, but the big surprise is Raquel Gonzalez returning. It seems Dakota was just tricking everyone into thinking she ditched the Daughter of the Desperado and now she has her insurance policy back in her corner for TakeOver. I still feel like Io Shirai finds a way to overcome the odds because she’s that great. Candice and Tegan are slowly getting their rivalry on track and that can definitely help build towards the next TakeOver.
Rhea and Shotzi had a great match with The Robert Stone Brand, and WOW Rhea bombing Mercedes to the floor! Did not see that coming, it really added a lot to that finish and to this feud. I really hope Payback’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship challengers are also decided by a Triple Brand something or other, I feel like Rhea and Shotzi already have this chemistry and matching theme that works for a team. For one, Rhea has already faced Sasha Banks via Survivor Series’ Women’s 5v5v5, and then she can check off Bayley as another of the NXT Four Horsewomen. Plus, if Rhea and Shotzi were to somehow win, Rhea becomes a unique Women’s Triple Crown winner by having been NXT UK, NXT USA and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. But that probably won’t happen as Vince McMahon only barely allows NXT to be the third brand.
My Score: 9.1/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/27/24)
Rural Revitalization continues!
Will Great-O-Khan be setting the table?
It’s Rural Revitalization in Hiroshima for the KOPW Championship! Can Yuya Uemura survive tires, lemons and a table? Or will Great-O-Khan conquer him for the United Empire?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Frontier Zone – Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano VS Rey Paloma & HANZO; Oleg & Yano win.
- Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask & Bishamon VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita VS Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira; Cobb & Akira win.
- Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii VS The House of Torture; Desperado, Shota & Ishii win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Tomoaki Honma & Shoma Kato; Tanahashi & Murashima win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sho & Yoshinobu win.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; TMDK wins and retains the titles.
- KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan VS Yuya Uemura; Yuya wins and becomes the new KOPW Champion.
- 10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK w/ Zack Sabre Jr. VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado!
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls snatched the titles away during the Windy City Riot, but the Guerrillas of Destiny are getting their rematch! Will the Headbanga & Young Guerilla redeem themselves on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku? Or will they see The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if The Mighty stay NJPW Strong!
The teams sort out and Hysterical Haste starts against ELP. The fans rally up with the bell and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but then Shane cording holds into a wrench and wristlock. ELP rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. ELP keeps Shane from ropes so Shane rolls, kips up, snapmares and KICKS ELP! The fans cheer while Shane shakes out his leg. ELP grimaces as he stands and shakes out the arm. The two reset, tie up, and ELP waistlocks. ELP goes for a chinlock but Shane standing switches. ELP switches, Shane switches again, and repeat. ELP headlocks, Shane powers out, then reels ELP in for a headlock.
ELP powers out, Shane runs him over, and then he sits ELP up to run. ELP drops under, hurdles over, but Shane shoves him. ELP rolls off Shane’s back to RANA! The fans fire up as ELP kips up and fixes his hair. The fans rally for “E L P! E L P!” while Shane is in a corner. Shane comes back to fire a forearm! ELP fires a forearm back! Shane fires another forearm so ELP gives it back. They go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! ELP gets the edge, but Shane UPPERCUTS! Shane CHOPS ELP, whips him corner to corner, but ELP goes up and over and keeps moving. ELP fakes Shane out to avoid the dropkick!
ELP goes to ropes to LIONSAULT but Shane moves! ELP sits up but avoids the Penalty Kick! The two stand off and the fans cheer! Shane and ELP reset, and Leo reaches out. ELP tags him in and the fans rally up. Shane tags Mikey, and he circles with Leo. They get face to face, and Mikey pie faces Leo! They tie up, Leo shoves Mikey away, but Mikey comes back. They tie up, Mikey headlocks but Leo lifts. Mikey thrashes the hold, Leo powers out and they RAM shoulders! Leo eggs Mikey on so Mikey runs and they RAM shoulders! Leo runs, Mikey ELBOWS him! Mikey runs, Leo runs him over! The fans fire up as Leo flexes.
Leo drags Mikey up, suplexes, but Mikey fights it! Mikey tries to suplex but Leo’s so tall! Leo suplexes, Mikehy slips free to waistlock, but Leo RAMS him into a corner! Leo runs in, Mikey dodges, only for Leo to LARIAT outta the corner! Tag to ELP and the Guerrillas get Mikey up. ELP BLASTS Shane while Leo whips Mikey to a corner. Leo SPLASHES, ELP clotheslines, then feed to the SIDEWALK SLAM and FALLING AX HANDLE! The Guerrillas high-five, ELP covers, TWO! ELP brings Mikey up but Mikey fights the suplex! Mikey powers out, whips, but ELP BLASTS Shane! ELP dodges Mikey, waistlocks, but Mikey swings. ELP ducks, into a DDT!
The fans fire up while Mikey shoves ELP over and tags in Shane. Mikey brings ELP up to TOSS him out, and then Mikey BLASTS Leo! Shane whips ELP into railing! Shane flexes, fans applaud, and Shane drags ELP up. APRON BACK SUPLEX! Shane shoves ELP in, covers, ROPEBREAK! The fans rally as ELP stays in this but Shane grabs one of ELP’s hands. Shane stretches out the arm to then KICK ELP in the shoulder! Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires forearms! Shane shoves ELP but ELP ELBOWS Mikey! ELP fires off on Shane, whips, but Shane reverses and Mikey trips ELP up! Shane basement dropkicks ELP and he spins around into a HAYMAKER from Mikey!
ELP flops to the floor, Mikey claims the apron is slippery, but the referee reprimands him all the same. The ring count starts but Mikey puts ELP in at 4 of 20. Shane covers, TWO! Shane keeps ELP down with body scissors. ELP endures, reaches out, drags Shane along as he crawls over, and the fans rally up. Shane grabs ELP’s arm and brings him into a cover, TWO! Shane whips ELP away into The Mighty corner! Tag to Mikey, he sends Shane in, but ELP puts Shane on the apron! ELP BOOTS Mikey, ROUNDHOUSES Shane, then runs, but Mikey catches him! Mikey RAMS ELP back into the corner!
Mikey taunts Leo then digs boots into ELP. The fans rally up and ELP throws body shots. Mikey eggs ELP on so ELP CHOPS! ELP tries to get under but Mikey grabs a leg and drags him back! Tag to Shane, and Shane stomps ELP down. Shane kicks ELP around, kicks him more, but ELP fires off hands! Shane back drops ELP up and away! The fans rally while Shane drags ELP back to a cover, but Leo breaks it! Shane drags ELP back, tags Mikey in, and TMDK mug ELP. ELP sputters, Mikey tags Shane back in, and Shane sucker punches Leo! Mikey hoists ELP up but ELP BOOTS Shane! ELP backs Mikey into the corner, then goes up and over Shane!
Shane runs into Mikey but Mikey still pursues ELP. Mikey drags ELP back but ELP ENZIGIRIS free! The fans fire up, but Shane gets ELP’s legs! ELP BOOTS Shane away, hurries up again, but Mikey BLASTS Leo first! Mikey then brings ELP around to back suplex! ELP lands on his feet, but Shane back suplexes! ELP still lands on his feet, then he ducks under TMDK to hot tag Leo! The fans fire up as Leo UPPERCUTS Shane, swings on Mikey, but Mikey dodges, only for Leo to BOOT him! Leo scoops Shane for SNAKE EYES and a BOOT! The fans fire up with Leo while Shane and Mikey go to opposite corners.
Leo runs in to SPLASH Mikey! Leo keeps going but Shane BOOTS him! Shane runs up but Leo ELBOWS him down! Leo runs to drop the JUMPING ELBOW on Shane! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Leo watches Shane stir. Shane rises, Leo choke grips! GODS- NO, Shane slips free and Mikey fires a forearm! Shane UPPERCUTS, Mikey LARIATS, but Leo stays up! Shane runs to LARIAT! Leo roars, but TMDK double kick! TMDK reels Leo in, but Leo DOUBLE SUPLEXES them instead! The fans fire up and Leo watches TMDK bail out. Leo tags ELP and ELP goes up. Leo helps him walk the tightrope, to ARIHARA MOONSAULT TMDK down at the ramp!
The fans fire up again, and Leo goes out to get Shane in. ELP & Leo get Shane up to CHOP, straitjacket torture rack, and then Leo runs. BOOT into the spin, BRAIN SALAD! Cover, Mikey breaks it! Mikey fires forearms on Leo & ELP, runs, but ELP hurdles so Leo can DDT! Mikey bails out, the fans fire up, and ELP tunes up the band. Shane rises, into SUDDEN- NO, Shane dodges! Shane runs up, but into Leo’s hands! ELP aims, but Shane pulls Leo into SUDDEN DEATH! Shane UPPERCUTS ELP and DROPKICKS Leo! Shane KICKS ELP, BOOTS him, then reels him in for an INVERTED EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!!
ELP survives and Shane is surprised! The fans fires up, Shane and ELP rise, and ELP staggers to a corner. Shane puts ELP up top, ROCKS him with a right, then climbs up. Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires body shots! ELP HEADBUTTS Shane down but Mikey tags in! Shane goes up, ELP sends him back down, so Mikey UPPERCUTS! Mikey gives Shane the boost, and they get ELP for the SUPERPLEX BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives but Mikey powers up and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives again and the fans fire up! Mikey grows frustrated, he drags ELP up and reels him in.
ELP slips free of the Blue Thunder to kick and tuck the arms! But Mikey trips ELP to jackknife bridge, TWO! ELP rolling clutches! TWO and Mikey has the cover! TWO and ELP ghost pins, TWO!! Mikey escapes but ELP dodges! ELP DROPKICKS Mikey down and the fans fire up! Both men crawl, hot tag to Leo! Leo runs to BLAST Shane, then he turns to look at Mikey. Mikey eggs Leo on, then fires forearms! Leo ROCKS Mikey with just one! Mikey fires another flurry, but Leo ROCKS Mikey again! Leo eggs Mikey on and the fans rally. Mikey kicks low, ROCKS Leo, then runs, but into a scoop! Tag to ELP before the POWERSLAM!
ELP goes up to SWANTON BOMB! And then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, ELP tags Leo back in, and they tune up the band again! Mikey rises, but Shane trips Leo! Mikey ROCKS ELP, Shane UPPERCUTS ELP! Feed to the scoop but ELP slips free! ELP shoves Mikey into Shane, and Leo grabs them both! But both Shane & Mikey fight free of the choke slams! Shane KNEES, Mikey FOREARMS, but then ELP fires off on TMDK! ELP runs, but into a double trophy lift! THUNDER- DOUBLE DDTS!! ELP turns things around on TMDK, and the fans are thunderous! Mikey stands up into SUDDEN DEATH! ELP PLANCHAS onto Shane!
GODSEND for Mikey! ELP then climbs up the ropes, then climbs onto Leo! SUPER THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, but Shane barrels through ELP to break it!! The fans are thunderous again but ELP is frustrated. ELP fires off on Shane, runs, but Shane LARIATS! Shane dodges Leo but runs into the POWER TRIP! GOD- NO, Mikey rolls Leo up!! TMDK WINS!!
Winners: TMDK, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Leo is furious! He is sure Mikey pulled tights there! He stomps at Mikey, pushes past ELP and goes after Mikey on the outside! Mikey and Leo push each other around, but there’s nothing Leo can do about this one. Will he and ELP just have to fight their way back up to the top? As for TMDK, will they continue to rock ‘n’ roll through the ranks with all this gold?
KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan w/ Callum Newman & Francesco Akira VS Yuya Uemura w/ Taka Michinoku & Taichi!
It’s Rural Revitalization 2: Hiroshima Style! The Dominator just managed to make it past Tanga Loa, will he make it through the Heat Storm? Or will KOPW soon belong to Just5Guys?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who can put in the work!
This first round is Mazda tire carrying. Each man has a big orange cone placed in their corner, so they simply have to go fetch the tires from the stacks outside. Whoever gets four tires first wins the round! The bell rings, Yuya kicks Khan then heads for ropes, but Khan reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Khan goes out now, hurries up the ramp, and grabs two tires at once! The fans cheer and Khan gets those tires in the ring. Then he goes back for more! A risky move but that means four tires are on play. Yuya DROPKICKS Khan and here’s where the risk is involved! Yuya aims to PLANCHA but Khan chucks a tire!
Yuya falls back, Khan gets the tires in then drags Yuya out. Khan CLUBS away on Yuya against the apron, then uses a tire to bind Yuya’s legs! Khan CLUBS Yuya more, and Khan even ties Yuya up in the ropes! Khan sacrifices two tires to trap Yuya! The fans cheer the creativity, and Khan STOMPS Yuya on the apron before heading for more tires. Yuya works to get free as Khan brings two more tires to the ring. Khan sets those tires in, Yuya gets free, but Khan has stacked two tires. Then three, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Yuya takes the tires off Khan’s cones, leaving him with just one. Yuya goes out to get the last tires remaining!
Yuya brings tires to his cone, then clears out some space. Yuya has two tires, steals Khan’s one, but then Khan grabs Yuya for an IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Yuya fights free, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! Khan throws the tires off Yuya’s cone, then throws the cone! We’re back to zero and zero, and Khan whips Yuya into a corner, to then clothesline him! The fans fire up as Khan climbs up and sits on his throne! Khan then hops down to Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian CHOP! Yuya sits down, Khan takes a tire, but then THROWS it at Yuya! Yuya goes up and over and AX HANDLES Khan down!
The fans rally as Khan grabs tires and cone, and he starts stacking! Yuya has two, then three! He just needs to find one more! Yuya grabs one from outside, but Khan reels him in! Khan DECKS Yuya, then undoes some of the stack. Khan confiscates a tire, makes sure it’s nice and bouncy, but also works up quite the sweat. The fans rally as Khan aims and takes a swing, only for Yuya to counter tire with tire! They clash again, and again! Then they set up for TIRE SUMO! And again, TIRE SUMO! They run in again, and Khan RAMS Yuya! Yuya is disarmed, and Khan CLOBBERS him with the TIRE SUMO!
The fans fire up while Yuya is down and Khan grabs tires. Khan says he’s not done with Yuya yet. Khan starts stacking tires at the center of the ring, then drags Yuya up. Khan clinches Yuya into HITSUJIGOROSHI! Yuya endures, even as Khan throws knees! Khan then scoops to SLAM Yuya on the tires! That’ll leave some skid marks! Khan then drags Yuya off the stack, brings him up and around, to then put a tire around his head. And then another! Yuya’s two tired to stand but Khan makes him! Khan throws a BODY BLOW, then he TRIPS Yuya into a TIRE DDT! The fans fire up while Khan grabs the other tires.
Khan stacks tires on his cone, that’s two. Khan hurries to find other tires on the outside, and he has a third. Khan considers his options, and takes one of the tires from Yuya. But Yuya clings to the tires, so Khan stomps him! Yuya refuses to let go of the tires! Khan stomps Yuya more but Yuya defends the tire with his body! Khan claws at Yuya, they tug-o-war over the tire, but Khan pulls on Yuya’s ear! Yuya kicks low, kicks again, then SMACKS Khan with the tire, and DROPKICKS Khan down! The tire goes tumbling out of the ring while Yuya fires up! Yuya takes Khan’s tires, hurries them over to his cone, that’s three right there!
Now Yuya has to hurry and find another! Yuya goes outside, grabs the tire, but Khan intercepts! They tug-o-war again, but then Khan RAMS Yuya into a corner! Khan takes this tire, that’s one. Khan finds tires on the outside and brings them in! Yuya hurries to cover tires again! Khan stomps Yuya, still stacks three, so it’s all down to this seventh tire! Yuya and Khan tug-o-war yet again, the fans rallying behind them! Khan grabs Yuya’s arm, but Yuya slips around to a SLEEPER! Khan fights up but Yuya squeezes tight! Yuya then CLUBS away on Khan, runs, but into a TIRE SWEEP! And a BASEMENT DROPKICK!
Khan grabs the final tire, but Yuya schoolboys him away! Yuya rolls through, snatches the tire, and complete his stack! Yuya wins the first round!
Khan: 0; Yuya: 1
Just like with Tanga Loa, Khan drops the ball in the first round! But then, will history repeat itself here as we prepare for the second round?
The tarps are set down, the table is set, and it’s time to eat up some Hiroshima lemons! Khan makes sure the people watching at home and around the world understand that Hiroshima lemons are the best, which probably means they’re the most sour. Khan puts on his bandana and takes his seat at the table. He and Yuya get some wet wipes to clean their hands, and it all comes down to who finishes their one lemon first. Ready, set, EAT! Yuya starts fast and that face shows how sour these are. Khan says hold on, and he just takes a HUGE bite! Yuya is suffering but Khan is reveling in the sourness! Khan’s already halfway through!
Yuya can barely keep the lemon in, but Khan’s eaten it all up! Can he get it all down before Yuya? Khan is chewing and chewing, Yuya is practically shaking from how sour it all is! Khan keeps going and… Yes, Khan has it all down! Khan wins!
Khan: 1; Yuya: 1
Khan now lets his body feel the stinging sweetness, and he says it was delicious! But then, that leaves us with this third and final round. And this time it’s a TABLES match! Who will be feeling sour and sore after this one?
The bell rings, both men rush in, Yuya dodges to fire haymakers! Yuya whips, Khan reverses but Yuya CLOBBERS him! Khan gets up, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Khan bails out, Yuya aims and PLANCHAS! Direct hit at the ramp, and the Heat Storm fires back up! The table is there, so Yuya drags Khan right up! Yuya goes to suplex but Khan blocks! Khan fights with body shots, turns things around, but Yuya fights the suplex! They fight for control, but Khan RAMS Yuya into the apron! The fans rally, Khan drags Yuya back up, and whips him into railing! Yuya tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land!
Khan storms out after Yuya and he asks fans move aside. Young Lions help the fans clear out while Khan drags Yuya up. Khan brings Yuya around and reminds everyone, No Disqualifications! Khan BOWLS Yuya through chairs, and that’s definitely a strike! The fans cheer Khan as he stands on chairs, but then asks more fans to move aside! Khan stomps Yuya, stomps a chair onto Yuya, then tosses that chair aside. Sorry to whoever had that seat… Khan then drags Yuya up and brings him around, but Yuya throws body shots! Khan Mongolian Chops Yuya down! Khan drags Yuya back up, and BOWLS him into more chairs!
Yuya is stuck on the seats, that wasn’t quite a strike. But Khan stacks chairs on Yuya to pick up the spare. Khan SMACKS chair with chair! Yuya sputters while fans applaud, and Khan goes back to fetch Yuya. Taichi and Taka are there but so are Newman and Akira. The Empire keeps the two out of five guys at bay while Khan drags Yuya to the back of the crowd. Khan whips Yuya into the emergency exit! Khan then SLAMS railing down on Yuya, and then SMACKS railing with railing! Khan talks trash while Taka and Taichi coach Yuya up. The ref checks Yuya, but he’s somehow able to continue, so Khan drags him up.
Khan brings Yuya around to drag him through the chairs! Khan brings Yuya back to ringside, then into the ring. The fans applaud, and then Khan goes looking under the ring. Khan eventually finds another lemon! Khan takes a big bite and uses the citrus to power up! Then he DIGS the lemon into Yuya’s face! The citric acid burns but the fans fire up! Khan goes to fetch the table from outside, puts it inside, and then sets it up in a corner. The fans rally up as Khan stalks Yuya. Khan drags Yuya up, reels him in to scoop, but Yuya slips free! Khan avoids hitting table, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! Yuya whips Khan into the blue corner, then DOUBLE CHOPS again!
The fans fire up and Yuya grits his teeth. Yuya roars, brings Khan up and reels him in for a BIG back suplex! The fans rally again and Yuya brings Khan up. Yuya clinches, but Khan fights the lift! Yuya still tries, but Khan fights it to a head ‘n’ arm clinch. Yuya gets around, headlocks, but Khan pops out to waistlock. Yuya fights being pushed around, then switches to get an arm. Khan clinches but so does Yuya. They fight for control, and Khan’s SAYANAGI takes Yuya down! The fans fire up and both men stir. Yuya flops out of the ring, but Khan crawls in pursuit. Khan drags Yuya up, then RAMS him into railing!
Yuya writhes, Khan goes looking under the ring, and he brings out another TABLE! Khan SMACKS Yuya with the table, then stands the table up at ringside. Khan drags Yuya up, SMACKS him off the apron, then climbs up. Khan drags Yuya up onto the apron, Mongolian Chops, then regular CHOPS! Khan UPPERCUTS, then clamps on the IRON CLAW! Khan scoops but Yuya fights free! Yuya DROPKICKS! Khan holds onto ropes to stay up, but Yuya hurries to run! Yuya LARIATS, but into the IRON CLAW!! Khan drags Yuya up and over, ELIMINATOR- NO, Yuya grabs ropes to fight that off! Khan kicks low, winds up, but Yuya traps the arm!
Yuya traps the other arm, takes aim, but Khan fights the Deadbolt with all his might!! The fans are thunderous as Yuya still tries! Khan BITES Yuya’s ear! And then POSTS him! But Yuya runs up, into a BOOT! Yuya falls back, Khan sits down, and the fans rally again! Khan undoes his hand tape, ends up pushing the table over, and then he folds it all up. Khan puts the table in the ring, pushes Yuya aside, and then he sets this table up again, in the blue corner. Yuya goes up top to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Yuya roars! Yuya has his choice as he hauls Khan up. Yuya traps the arms, but Khan makes it a BELLY2BELLY!
But Yuya rises back up! Yuya runs in, gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Khan’s right up! Khan LARIATS Yuya down! The fans fire up as Yuya is right back up, and URENAGES! Both men are down again and the fans are thunderous! Khan flounders around, he and Yuya crawl to center, and Yuya fires a forearm! Khan gives it back! Both men stand, and Yuya fires a haymaker! Khan comes back to forearm! Yuya wobbles, but he comes back to HAYMAKER! Khan staggers, wobbles, but comes back to FOREARM! Both men stagger, but Yuya fires another haymaker! Khan fires a flurry of forearms, but Yuya haymakers!
Khan ROCKS Yuya, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! But Khan throws an IRON RIGHT! The fans fire up again as Yuya falls! Khan roars with Monster Rage and he hauls Yuya up! IRON CLAW, and then ELIMIN- NO, Yuya slips free! Yuya wrenches, traps the arms, DEADBOLT SUPLEX through the table!! YUYA WINS!!
Winner: Yuya Uemura, 2-1 (NEW KOPW Champion)
Yuya slammed the Deadbolt shut on Khan and now he takes the title from him! The Heat Storm is rising, how hot will he make the KOPW Division through the Summer?
10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
These factions have been battling all over this Road to Wrestling Dontaku, but now they will fight ’til the last man! Will there be a roll call for Bushi, Hiromu, Takagi, Yota y Naito? Or will this alliance with the Good Looking Emperor, Jake Lee, help David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney shoot down LIJ?
Wait, it seems Naito has brought backup of his own? It’s SLYLY! The dragon-like mascot of Hiroshima Toyo Carp, and half-brother to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Phillie Phanatic! Well, Naito does love him some baseball. Tensions are running high, and Finlay throws his shirt at Yota. Yota balls that shirt up, and throws a fastball over the plate! The teams sort out, Finlay pushes Yota around and Gabe talks trash on Takagi. Red Shoes gets them all to settle down, and the War Dogs bark and put up the Too Sweet. Jake joins in at the end there. LIJ mocks the barking before they fist bump, and the fans cheer.
Things finally sort out and Finlay starts against Yota. The fans fire up behind “YO~TA! YO~TA!” at the bell, and Yota makes sure Finlay hears that. Finlay gets on the corner but the fans all boo. The two circle, tie up, and Yota uses his size to put Finlay on ropes. Finlay turns that around to grind forearms in Yota’s face and push him around. Finlay then backs up to SPIT at him! The fans boo but Yota CHOPS Finlay in return! The fans cheer, Yota headlocks, and Yota grinds Finlay down. Finlay powers up and out to headlock back, but Yota powers up and out. They RAM shoulders, Yota rebounds to run Finlay over!
The fans fire up, things speed up, but Finlay bails out. The fans boo but Finlay says he’s got time. Yota barks at Finlay but Finlay just mockingly applauds. Finlay returns, kips up just to show off, but then Hiromu wants in! Yota tags Hiromu, Finlay tags Drilla. Hiromu fires forearms on Drilla, whips, to ROCK, trip, KICK the ropes, then run and SHOTGUN Drilla down! The fans fire up while Hiromu barks. Hiromu runs corner to corner to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! The fans fire up but Connors runs in to knee Hiromu low! Connors barks, runs, but Hiromu kicks low! Bushi dropkicks legs out so Hiromu can basement dropkick!
The fans fire up but Drilla fires hands and CHOPS on LIJ. Hiromu CHOPS back, he and Bushi double whip to TU LO SABE! Cover, TWO! Drilla stays in this but Hiromu fires Hiroshima up. Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Drilla slips free to RAM Hiromu into the corner! The Dogs mug Hiromu while Jake Lee runs up to BLAST Naito! Finlay and Connors help out in mugging Yota and Bushi! Things have pilled out into the crowd in multiple areas while Naito fights back! Jake kicks Naito, then whips him hard into railing! Naito tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land! Gabe and Takagi throw HEADBUTTS back and forth!
Finlay snatches a phone? He’s taking pictures of Jake stomping away on Naito! But then Yota attacks Finlay! Finlay POSTS Yota, a ring count starts, but the Dogs just keep beating LIJ down! Drilla finds his way back to ringside, Hiromu manages to make his way in! Hiromu crawls in at 17 but Drilla is there to stomp him! Drilla bumps Hiromu off Finlay’s boot! Drilla tags Jake in, they mug Hiromu, and Jake digs his boot in while Finlay pulls Hiromu’s hair! Red Shoes is busy getting everyone to stop brawling! Jake lets off but Hiromu fires off CHOPS! Jake just kicks low, whips, and then HIP TOSSES Hiromu down!
Hiromu staggers up but Jake clamps on a SLEEPER! Tag to Finlay and they mug Hiromu in the corner. Red Shoes reprimands and counts, the fans boo, and Finlay lets off at 4. Finlay soaks up heat, then he takes Hiromu’s Kamaitachi mask and THROWS it to the crowd! Finlay then BLASTS Yota off the apron! The Dogs CHOKE Hiromu more, mug him while Finlay argues with Red Shoes, then Finlay brings Hiromu up. Finlay fireman’s carries and goes to dump Hiromu! Hiromu clamps onto ropes, Bushi runs in to make the save! Connors goes after Bushi so Takagi makes the save! But Connors goes after Takagi now!
Finlay puts Hiromu on the apron but Hiromu rolls back in, SAFE! The fans cheer while Finlay is frustrated. Finlay storms up on Hiromu in a corner but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS! Finlay knees low, whips corner to corner hard, and Hiromu flounders all the way back to where he started! Finlay drags Hiromu up and over, the fans still cheering him on, but Connors tags in. Connors BLASTS Naito off the corner, then snap suplexes Hiromu down! Connors runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Connors stays on him with a seated full nelson. The fans continue to rally for “HI-RO-MU!” as he endures!
Hiromu fights around, even as Gedo barks at him to give up. Hiromu still gets the ROPEBREAK! Finlay pushes the foot away and that distracts Red Shoes, allowing Drilla to join in and stomp Hiromu! Drilla & Connors double whip but Hiromu gets around to lift Connors and throw him at Drilla, FORCED RANA! The fans fire up but Connors keeps Hiromu away from his corner! Hiromu blocks a kick, and a punch, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally again while both men are down! Hot tag to Naito! Naito rallies on Connors, BLASTS Drilla, swings on Jake, but Jake gets away. Connors CLUBS Naito, whips, but Naito reverses to arm-drag!
Naito atomic drops, runs, and ELBOWS Connors down, to then basement dropkick! The fans fire up while Naito stares Jake down. Naito covers Connors, TWO! The fans rally, Naito drags Connors up and dragon sleepers, for the NECKBREAKER! And then, LEG HOOK NELSON! Connors endures but Gabe stomps Naito! Gabe BLASTS Takagi, the rest of the Dogs attack, and Gabe stomps away on Naito! Gabe tells off the fans but the fans boo. Red Shoes reprimands so Gabe steps away, and Connors drags Naito up. Connors UPPERCUTS, whips, but Naito reverses to TORNADO- NO, Connors powers out!
Connors dodges Naito, redirects and POUNCES! Naito is down but the fans rally up. Naito and Connors crawl, hot tags to Takagi and Gabe! The fans fire up for the NEVER Openweight Championship appetizer! They RAM shoulders, Takagi ROCKS Gabe then runs to RAM him! Gabe rebounds to RAM Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to RAM Gabe! Gabe fires a forearm, whips Takagi to a corner then runs in to clothesline! Takagi says that’s not enough, so Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe says he’s a madman, then whips, only for Takagi to reverses. Takagi runs in, blocks a boot, and clotheslines through! The fans fire up with Takagi, but Gabe shoves him!
Takagi kicks and CLUBS away on Gabe, but Gabe BITES Takagi’s forehead! Red shoes reprimands, but Takagi spins Gabe around to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Gabe’s still in this but the fans rally behind “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi looks around, “Oi, Hiroshima! TOKI GA-” NO, Gabe CLOBBERS Takagi! It isn’t his time yet, and Gabe stands Takagi up to HEADBUTT again and again! Then Gabe suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi’s tougher than that but Gabe shakes his head. Gabe scuffs Takagi, eggs him on and runs, but Takagi blocks the Rebounder to HEADBUTT! Gabe HEADBUTTS! Both men shake their heads, and then Takagi HEADBUTTS!
Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS again and again, but then Gabe HEADBUTTS again and again! Takagi fires a forearm, Gabe gives it back, repeat! The fans fire up as the shots go back and forth! Gabe gets the edge, but Takagi fires boxing elbows! Gabe CHOP! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! Gabe UPPERCUTS and YUKON LARIATS! But Takagi’s right up to LARIAT!! Gabe rises and shouts! Both men run in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And again! Gabe fires palm strikes, talks trash, but gets a JAB, HEADBUTT, and a PUMPING BOMBER take takes both men up and out! DOUBLE ELIMINATION!!
Fans go wild as Takagi’s sacrifice play makes things 4v4! Bushi and Drilla jump in and Drilla fires off shots! Drilla ENZIGIRIS, ripcords, but Bushi dodges to RANA! And DROPKICK! Drilla bails out but Bushi builds speed, only for Connors to SNAP POWERSLAM! Drilla gets in, he and Connors get moving, SPEAR GORE COMBO!! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives but the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions coordinate. Connors BLASTS Naito off the apron before he climbs a corner, and Drilla gets Bushi up. Drilla suplexes, but Bushi slips free! Bushi shoves Drilla into Connors, then runs back in to CODE-
NO, Drilla blocks and aims for ropes! Bushi slips free, dodges Drilla, but Drilla ducks the enzigiri, only for the REWIND HEEL to hit! Bushi whips Drilla up and out and to the floor, Bushi ELIMINATES Drilla! We’re 4v3 in LIJ’s favor, but then Connors SPEARS Bushi! Connors says this is it, and he reels Bushi in for- NO! Bushi turns No Chaser into a backslide! BUSHI ROLL! Bushi ELIMINATES Connors!! The Black Mask singlehandedly handles the tag champs and the fans fire up! But then Finlay CLOBBERS Bushi and rains down fists! Finlay roars in rage, then he drags Bushi up. Canadian Rack, but Bushi slips free to backslide!
Finlay rolls through to UPPERCUT! Jake BLASTS Naito, BLASTS Yota, and then Finlay gets Bushi up! Finlay POWERBOMBS Bushi to the outside, onto Naito and the rest! Finlay ELIMINATES Bushi! We’re back to 3v2 as Finlay still has Jake but LIJ still has Naito, Hiromu and Yota. And speaking of Yota, he gets in to brawl with Finlay! Yota whips, Finlay reverses but Yota flipping RANAS! Then he BLASTS Jake! Yota runs corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH Finlay! Yota keeps moving, he runs Finlay over to then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he smiles and paces around.
Yota brings Finlay up and fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free. Yota kicks, runs, but Finlay ELBOWS him down, then SENTONS on top! Finlay barks as he aims at Yota. Yota rises, Finlay runs in, and UPPERCUTS at the corner! Then clotheslines! Then FALCON ARROWS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Yota but Finlay grows frustrated. Finlay drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the lift! Finlay CLUBS away on Yota, tries again, and he has Yota up, but Yota fights free of the bomb! Yota fires forearms, but Finlay UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! Finlay runs, but Yota backslides to KNEE Finlay down!
The fans fire up again as we pass 20 minutes, and Yota drags Finlay up. Yota goes up and up but Finlay shoves him over! Yota’s on the apron, he and Finlay brawl! Yota ROCKS Finlay, but Finlay gets in Red Shoes’ face! Jake grabs at Yota, Yota kicks him away, but Finlay BLASTS Yota down and ELIMINATES him! The fans boo but the Dogs have made this 2v2! Finlay and Jake stand together, and they dare Naito & Hiromu to join them. Naito and Hiromu oblige as they step inside. Naito stares Jake down, Hiromu stares Finlay down, and they start swinging! The fans fire up, but then Finlay fireman’s carries Hiromu! Finlay aims for ropes!
Naito gets past Jake to save Hiromu, but then Jake BOOTS Naito down! Jake scrapes Naito out of the ring and goes after him, but Hiromu fireman’s carries Finlay! Hiromu runs at ropes and dumps Finlay out! Finlay stays on the apron but Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Finlay holds onto ropes and wobbles, but Hiromu builds speed! Hiromu DIVES and SUNSET FLIPS, but Finlay still holds on! Finlay throws down hands, gets back inside, he’s SAFE! Hiromu is also safe because he went through the second rope. Hiromu runs back in, but avoids Blue Thunder to wheelbarrow! But Finlay turns that into an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER!
Hiromu writhes, the fans rally as hard as they can behind him, but Finlay drags Hiromu up. DOMINATOR! Cover, Naito breaks it! Jake stomps Naito and TOSSES him out! It was all second rope so Naito’s safe, but Finlay talks trash on Hiromu. Finlay drags Hiromu up, reels him in, suplexes, but Hiromu slips free! Finlay UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS! Flashback to the 23rd! Hiromu just takes UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT from Finlay, but he doesn’t stop! Then he SUPERKICKS! Hiromu runs, but into another UPPERCUT! Finlay gets Hiromu up, but Hiromu RANAS Finlay up and out to ELIMINATE him!!
The fans are thunderous as The Rebel is shocked! Hiromu mocks him, but then Jake runs in! Hiromu gets under the boot to get under Jake! Jake fights Hiromu off, snarls, and then runs up! Hiromu dodges to kick a leg! Hiromu runs, but Jake kitchen sink knees! Jake takes aim, runs up, and FACE BREAK SHOT! Hiromu tumbles up and out and to the floor, Jake ELIMINATES him! And now, at 25 minutes in, we’re down to just Jake and just Naito! Naito slowly rolls into the ring as the fans rally behind him. Jake watches Naito stand, and the two stare down. Jake runs in but Naito dodges to fire off forearms!
Naito whips but Jake reverses to KNEE low! Jake fires up but fans boo as he stands Naito up. Jake reels Naito in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Naito protects the plate but Jake is aiming another heater! Jake waits as Naito stands, then winds up to choke grip! But Naito throws back elbows to get free! Naito then wrenches, TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Naito rises, he drags Jake up, and he throws those heavy back elbows! Jake crawls around, Naito brings him up, and Naito throws more heavy back elbows! Jake wobbles and staggers to the corner but Naito is right on him.
Naito brings Jake around for even more heavy back elbows! Jake falls over, the fans fire up, and Naito aims from the corner. Naito drags Jake up and in, but Jake BOOTS Naito down! Naito dangles off the apron! Red Shoes keeps the War Dogs from interfering, and Naito stands up. Jake aims, runs in, but Naito avoid the FBS! Naito drags Jake ot the apron, Jake elbows him back! Jake runs up, but into an ELBOW! Naito goes up and over, sweeps the legs, then BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICKS! Jake falls, LIJ wins!!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, Naito as the lone survivor
It came down to the bottom of the ninth, technically speaking, and Naito just hit the walk-off homer! Jake is stunned and Finlay is frustrated, but Yota just smiles back at him. Finlay and Yota will have it out as part of Wrestling Dontaku Night One, who will be smiling then?
As for LIJ, they regroup in the ring and have their hands raised. Slyly’s even still hanging around! But uh, he’s a little too chunky to get in the ring, so he just settles for pumping up the crowd like he does at baseball games. Naito gets the mic to say that it was three months ago, the Splash Strong series back in January, since Naito was last in Hiroshima. Naito would like to thank the fans from coming here tonight, “Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer, and Naito continues by saying, “Hiroshima is my second home. I really long to have a match at Mazda Stadium.” The fans love the sound of that!
Naito does preface that him saying that doesn’t mean there’s anything planned. So please, tranquilo, be patient, and look forward to the day that finally happens. So, shall they do it? The fans cheer again! So then, for the first time in Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in a year and eight months, is everyone ready? The fans cheer because they sure are! Well then, the only way to close The Road to Wrestling Dontaku here in Hiroshima… Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Slyly! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRNABLEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!! Slyly gets in on the roll call! Will all of LIJ have success as we reach Wrestling Dontaku next week?
My Thoughts:
A great event to conclude Road to Dontaku before getting to Wrestling Dontaku itself. An unfortunate change in the card, Sanada fell ill and could not compete, so his match alongside Taichi against Tanahashi & Tomoaki was changed into Tanahashi and a Young Lion VS Tomoaki and a Young Lion. Hopefully Cold Skull gets well soon. Great tag title match from TMDK VS GoD, and while I figured TMDK was going to retain, I didn’t think it’d be in a shady way like holding tights. While ZSJ VS Cobb for the NJPW World TV title is still to come, I doner of GoD shift gears and ELP becomes a singles guy so Leo and Loa can team up. Then ELP can challenge ZSJ in a battle of initials while the Brothers Guerrilla get to take on Shane & Mikey.
Great Rural Revitalization again, they managed to pull off great comeback spots each round. I was very surprised Yuya won out, I felt like Khan could’ve done one more Rural Revitalization before losing. But at the same time, Yuya feels like the unofficial fourth Reiwa Musketeer behind Narita, Shota & Tsuji. Yuya getting a title, any title, ahead of the others is good stuff for him, and could even bring about a feud with one of the Musketeers for the Summer. And then a great 10 Man Elimination Tag. I again really like that NJPW allows over the rope eliminations even in a tag match like this to really mix things up. Jake Lee not winning out for the War Dogs is really surprising, but I feel like that means Jake will defeat Naito 1v1.
My Score: 8.9/10
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It’s a violent end to a legendary friendship!
Former Best Friends, Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor, have been through many Parking Lot Brawls, but this is their first time as enemies! Will there be broken bones to go along with the broken hearts?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor; Trent wins.
- Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo; Rosa wins.
- “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell; Bill wins.
- Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions; Shibata & Garcia win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor!
Years of friendship, thrown away, and why? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Freshly Squeezed having more success in AEW than them? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Cassidy as a person? Because #JustTrent turned out to be the selfish one in the relationship? Well, then will #JustTrent get his ass kicked? Or will he take advantage of how Chuckie T. is a Kentucky Gentleman?
Trent stares Chuck down while we hear the crowd of other wrestlers taunting him. Trent takes a swing, but Chuck dodges to fire off hands! The brawl is on, and Chuck gets the edge! Chuck ROCKS Trent, then SMACKS him off a car hood! And then off the car door! Chuck drags Trent up, but Trent RAMS Chuck into the car! And throat chops him just because! Trent gets space, runs back in, but Chuck dodges so Trent hits the passenger door! Chuck gets a trash can lid and he stands Trent up. Trent jumps through the open window but Chuck drags him back out. Trent kicks low, and he gives Chuck a CAR HOOD BACK SUPLEX!
Trent grabs the trash can lid, SMACKS Chuck right in the head and Chuck falls down! The crowd boos but Trent opens a car trunk to bring out a trash can, a dustpan and a baseball bat! Chuck storms up but Trent CHUCKS the trash can into Chuck’s face! Chuck flounders and Trent smirks. Trent SMACKS Chuck with the trash can, CLUBS him around, and Chuck is busted open! The white car has red polka dots on it now, and Trent talks trash, “This is what you wanted?!” Trent runs up, but Chuck POP UP POWERBOMBS Trent onto a car hood! Trent writhes, Chuck staggers around, and Chuck brings Trent around.
Chuck headlocks Trent before he SMACKS him off another car door. Trent goes around the back and then up onto a truck! Chuck follows, and he CLUBS Trent in the chest! But Trent slips under, and he CLAWS Chuck’s bloody face! Trent DECKS Chuck and Chuck falls through drywall sheets! Trent looms over Chuck as he crawls out of the wreckage. Trent stalks Chuck, brings him around and SMACKS him with the trash can lid! Trent hoists Chuck onto a car roof, SMACKS him again, then goes back to the truck. Trent climbs onto the roof of the truck, to FLYING ELBOW from car to car! Cover, TWO!!
Trent is furious, but Chuck is still in this as Rampage goes picture in picture.
Trent fumes, paces around, and goes back to the goodies. He brings out… Is that a screwdriver?! And he JABS Chuck in the head with it!! And then he DIGS it into Chuck’s forehead!! As if he wasn’t already bleeding badly!! Trent leaves Chuck behind, to fetch what looks to be a flat screen TV. Then he brings out a wood door!? Did someone visit Home Depot before coming here? Chuck CHOPS Trent in return then fires haymakers! Trent CLAWS Chuck’s face! Trent grabs that TV and CHUCKS it, only for Chuck to duck it! Rampage returns as TV screen hits windshield! Chuck kicks low to snap suplex Trent through the door!!
The crowd is losing its minds as Trent crawls. Chuck gets Trent’s legs, to CATAPULT him into the truck’s tailgate!! The crowd fires up while Chuck gets a sinister look on his face. Chuck takes a piece of that drywall to SMASH it on Trent! Chuck gets that trash can, he SMACKS Trent with it! Chuck sees the pile of extra goodies nearby, and he uncovers some light tubes! But first, he’ll clean up the mess, he SMACKS Trent with the dust pan! And SMACKS him again and again! And then one more shot with the trash can! Trent writhes, but Chuck drags Trent up. Chuck SMACKS Trent off the tailgate, then clears some space.
Chuck climbs up, but Trent ROCKET LAUNCHES him onto the light tubes!!! The tubes shatter under Chuck’s back! Trent sputters, he’s bloody now, too. Trent puts Chuck against the car hood and stands on him! Trent soaks up the heat, but Chuck TRIPS Trent! Trent writhes, Chuck reels Trent in, Canadian Rack, RAZOR’S EDGE onto a windshield!! Trent writhes while fans chant “HOLY CHUCK!” Chuck covers Trent on the hood, TWO!! Trent survives and hurries around the back of this sedan. Chuck snarls, goes up after Trent, and they meet on the roof. They’re both so bloody as they fire forearms back and forth!
The crowd cheers Chuck and boos Trent, and as the two swing wild, they end up HUGGING! You GOT to give the people what they want, right? They stand, Chuck ROCKS Trent and reels Trent in, but Trent LOW BLOWS!! Trent has Chuck now, PILEDRIVER ON THE CAR ROOF!!! And then, SNAKE BITE!! Trent is choking Chuck out!!! Chuck IS out, Trent wins!!
Winner: Trent Beretta, by submission
The Best Friends tore each other apart, but it is #JustTrent that stands tall in the end. He’s clearly lost the respect of his peers given how the other wrestlers are chanting “You Suck! You Suck!” But wait, Trent isn’t done? He has a monkey wrench!? Cassidy & Kris step forward to say no, this is going too far! Trent says this is all Cassidy’s fault! And SMASH, Trent hits Chuck’s leg with the wrench, and even shatters the glass behind it!! Chuck clutches the already recovering leg, and now Cassidy wants after Trent! Kris stops Cassidy, Trent’s still got the wrench! Trent escapes into the shadows of the arena, what darkness is living in Trent’s heart?
Don Callis is watching this.
And he seems to like the sadistic savagery he just witnessed. Trent may not have Best Friends anymore, but could he end up with a whole new family?
Backstage interview with Kyle O’Reilly.
Arkady Aura is with #CombatKyle and brings up his impressive showing in Dynamite’s Casino Gauntlet this past Wednesday. But we all want to know, what is next for her? Well, on Saturday, May 11th, AEW is coming to his hometown! Collision in Vancouver, British Columbia! The Rogers Arena, the same building an 11-year-old Kyle saw his first wrestling show ever. And at that show, Kyle told his dad that he was gonna do this one day. Papa O’Reilly said, “Oh yeah, sure you will, kid.” But somehow, Kyle pulled it off. 25 years later, he’s coming back home to do the one thing he’s ever been good at and that’s wrestling.
Kyle is going to take on the best wrestlers this world has to offer, right here in AEW, where the best wrestle. Kyle is ready for a fight, who will take him up on that in two weeks?
Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo!
La Mera Mera and The Virtuosa could not coexist in the race for the AEW Women’s World Championship, and now they will Rampage against each other! Who will stand tall, ready for another shot at the title?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Deonna and Rosa step up, talk a little trash, then Deonna pie faces Rosa! Rosa swings but Deonna catches the arm! Rosa avoids the takedown to knee low! They tie up again, go around and around, and Deonna puts Rosa in a corner. The ref counts, Rosa powers her way out but Deonna headlocks. Rosa powers up and out, but Deonna RAMS her! The two stay up, Deonna eggs Rosa on then kicks her low! Deonna whips, Rosa blocks the hip toss, but then Deonna blocks a hip toss! Rosa avoids the lariat to DECK Deonna! Rosa rains down fists but the ref reprimands.
Rosa sits Deonna up, clamps on a COBRA CLUTCH, and she grinds Deonna down. The fans rally but Deonna fights up. Deonna throws hands, then wrenches, but Rosa breaks free. Deonna BOOTS Rosa, then has the arm for the ARMBAR DDT! Deonna dusts herself off as she paces, then she KICKS Rosa’s arm. And KICKS it again! Rosa goes to ropes, Deonna pushes her down and ties her up in Paradise! Rosa is stuck, Deonna soaks up the cheers and jeers, and then runs to DROPKICK Rosa out of Paradise! Deonna stands Rosa up but Rosa ROCKS her first! Deonna stands, Rosa RAMS into her then bumps her off buckles.
Rosa goes up and up to leap, but Deonna blocks the rana and has a BOSTON CRAB! They’re in the ropes, the ref counts, and Deonna lets go. Rosa crawls to the corner, Deonna paces while soaking up the heat. Rosa stands, builds speed, and she WERCKS Deonna with a dropkick! Rosa fires up despite the pain in her back, and she kicks Deonna. Deonna stands, Rosa CHOPS her against the post! And CHOPS her again! Deonna ducks, Rosa chops post! Deonna SUPERKICKS Rosa down, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Deonna steps on Rosa’s face, steps away, and Rosa staggers up to railing. Deonna storms up but Rosa kicks her low. Rosa then runs Deonna side to side to POST her! But then Deonna RAMS Rosa into apron! And SMACKS her off it! Deonna snarls, brings Rosa around, and she puts Rosa in the ring. Cover, TWO! Deonna clamps onto Rosa to pull her arms in, for a straitjacket stretch! Rosa endures, fights up, but Deonna turns that into a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Rosa is still in this, and she is feeding off the energy of the fans! Rosa stands, and she ELBOWS Deonna! And body shots! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again!
Rosa has Deonna in a corner to UPPERCUT! Rosa runs corner to corner and back again, but Deonna dodges! Rosa POSTS herself and falls to the apron! Deonna storms back over, brings Rosa up and wraps the bad arm against ropes! The ref counts, Deonna KICKS the ropes as she lets off, and Rosa clutches the elbow. Deonna returns but Rosa RAMS into her! Deonna CLUBS Rosa, has her in a corner, and HEADBUTTS the lower back as Rampage goes to break.
Rampage returns and Deonna runs in, but into an ELBOW! And then a BOOT! Rosa goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Rosa as she rises up! Deonna runs in, Rosa dodges to fire forearm after forearm! Deonna shoves, Rosa ENZIGIRIS! Rosa runs, to SHOTGUN BOOT! Deonna flounders to ropes, Rosa pounds the mat and the fans rally again. Rosa runs side to side to DROPKICK again! Cover, TWO!! Deonna toughs it out while Rosa shakes out her arm. Rosa drags Deonna up, but Deonna SOBATS! Deonna runs to KNEE LIFT and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Deonna wants the Fujiwara but Rosa rolls free!
Deonna BOTOS Rosa down, covers, TWO! Rosa is still in this and the fans rally up. Deonna is frustrated but she fireman’s carries Rosa. Rosa fires elbows, waistlocks, but Deonna pries the hold open! Deonna waistlocks, Rosa victory rolls and STOMP 182! The fans rally up again and Rosa covers, TWO! Deonna stays in this but Rosa stays on her. Rosa drags Deonna to a drop zone, goes to a corner and climbs. But Deonna rises and catches the leap! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Rosa endures, reaches out, pushes Deonna over to get a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Deonna is in the body scissors but she fights around!
Deonna rises, to BACKPACK SENTON! Deonna is free, the fans fire up, and Deonna brings Rosa back up. Deonna SLAPS Rosa, then reels her in! Gotch Hold, but Rosa jackknife bridges! TWO, Deonna sunset flips, TWO! Prawn hold, TWO! FUJIWARA!! Rosa rolls it to a cradle, ROSA WINS!!
Winner: Thunder Rosa, by pinfall
Deonna thought she had the perfect formula but Rosa says she just beat her at wrestling! But then Deonna CLOBBERS Rosa at the ramp! The fans boo but Deonna drags Rosa up to RAM her into the bleachers! Rosa slumps down, but Deonna digs her boot in! Deonna SLAPS Rosa around, tells the ref to shut up, and she SLAPS Rosa more! So Rosa SLAPS back! They brawl on stage and then out to the ledge of the upper level! The fans fire up as they keep going! Security rushes in, the fans boo, but Deonna flips Rosa off! It seems nothing was settled here, will these two look to go Double or Nothing?
Backstage interview with The Undisputed Kingdom.
Arkady Aura is with Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett as she notes Will Ospreay is the NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship. Taven says hold on, before we get started here, “Not Lexy,” as three guys who care deeply about neck health, and as two guys who nursed someone from the brink of paralysis (aka Roddy), The Kingdom wishes a very speedy recovery to “the world’s greatest boss. TK, stay strong, buddy.” Roddy then shouts that “WILL… Ospreay. Congratulations, you did it! You have signed, sealed and delivered the downfall, demise and destruction of The Aerial Assassin at Double or Nothing.”
Roddy says the world can sing Ospreay’s praises, but none of that matters when you step in the ring with Roddy. Just like all the ones before, Roddy will dismantle Ospreay, he will BREAK Ospreay, and he will make Ospreay fall in front of The Savior of the Backbreaker. Roddy’s confidence is strong, but will Roddy be the one feeling the End of Heartache after taking on the #BillyGOAT?
“Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell!
The human skyscraper says he wants to sit under the Learning Tree, but Chris Jericho’s gonna need a bigger tree if he’s to give guidance to Big Bill. Will Bill prove he is worthy of The Wizard’s sage advice?
The moment Bill is in the ring, he SPLASHES Trevor right in the corner! The bell rings, Bill runs to BOOT Trevor down! Trevor flounders around, Bill runs corner to corner and SPLASHES again! Trevor flops around, Bill wants Jericho to watch this. Bill said he’d show Jericho he is worthy, and we do see Jericho watching backstage, holding the FTW Championship on his shoulder and oddly still wearing a #LionHook shirt… Jericho nods as Bill CLUBS Trevor on the back! Bill then tells Jericho to watch him! Scoop and BIG BOSS SLAM!! Cover, but Bill lets off! Bill wags his finger, he wants Jericho to see more.
Bill brings Trevor up, reels him in, and short arm LARIATS! Cover, but again Bill lets off! Bill is having too much fun at poor Trevor’s expect. Bill says Jericho’s gonna wanna teach him. Bill hoists Trevor up for the SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAM!! One foot cover, a very Jericho move, and Bill wins!
Winner: “Big Bill” Morrissey, by pinfall
Trev might want to change his last name to Well-done, because he got roasted. Bill wants Jericho’s guidance, does he even need it when he can do all this?
BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!
Rampage won’t be following up Collision next week but it also won’t be back on Friday just yet. For AEW’s return to Canada, Rampage is going to be BACK TO BACK with Dynamite! Get ready for a truly All Elite Wednesday!
Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions!
The Wrestler said during Collision earlier tonight that he was going to take on Shane Taylor Promotions by himself if he had to, but then the Dragonslayer offered his help. Now they’re both going to take on #TAIGASTYLE and Big Bad Shaney T. himself! Garcia wears basic trunks and boots to match Shibata, will The Wrestlers win out? Or will STP rumble, bad man, rumble?
The moment all four men are in the ring, Shibata CLOBBERS Lee Moriarty and then he and Garcia both go after Shane! The fans fire up as they stomp and kick Shane right out of the ring! Then they go out to keep after him! Shibata whips and BOOTS Shane into railing! Garcia fires off on Lee, then Shibata adds an UPPERCUT! Shibata whips and BOOTS Lee against railing! Garcia stomps Shane, Shibata snap suplexes Lee to the floor! Shibata leaves them behind to go into the ring and sit cross-legged! Garcia sits with him! The fans fire up and the two go out again. The brawling continues but Shane throws heavy hands!
Lee ROCKS Garcia, Shane puts Shibata in, and Shane storms in after Shibata. Lee sends Garcia into railing, but Shibata fires hands on Shane! Shibata KICKS and KICKS, but Shane blocks the boot! Shane JABS Shibata and Shibata falls back! Shane talks trash, the fans boo, but Shane drags Shibata up. Shane HEADBUTTS Shibata, tags Lee, and they mug Shibata. Lee stomps a mudhole in, lets off as the ref counts, but he sneaks mule kicks on Shibata the whole time! Shibata trips Lee, stomps him, but Lee gets up to RAM into Shibata! Lee brings Shibata around, suplexes, but Shibata slips free to waistlock!
Lee elbows free, kicks, but Shibata blocks! Lee KNEES Shibata but Garcia tags in! Shibata BOOTS Lee, Garcia LARIATS! Garcia DROPKICKS Shane, gets around Lee, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And then another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Garcia brings Lee up again but Lee suplexes! Garcia slips free, spins Lee and kicks low, to then TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The trifecta is complete and the fans fire up! Garcia storms up on Lee, brings him up, and UPPERCUTS! The fans rally for Garcia, he CHOPS Lee to ropes. And CHOPS Lee against ropes! Garcia runs, but Shane trips him! Lee distracts the ref so Shane can DRAPING DDT to the floor!
Shibata protests but Lee mocks him by sitting cross-legged. The ring count climbs, Garcia drags himself up at 3 of 10, slides in at 5, but Lee stomps Garcia at the ropes! Lee drags Garcia up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Shane. Shane pushes Garcia against the buckles, to then CHOP! Garcia seethes and he fires forearm son Shane! The fans fire up, Garcia throws more shots, then leaps, but into Shane’s arms! Shane RAMS Garcia into a corner, then CHOPS! Shane runs up, but Garcia BOOTS! Garcia spins, but Shane ROCKS him first! And URENAGES! And then SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO!
Shane seethes but he keeps Garcia from Shibata, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Shane mocks Garcia’s dance, drags him up, but Garcia CHOPS! Garcia staggers, but Shane fires body shots in the corner! Shane ROCKS Garcia, tags Lee, and STP mugs Garcia. Garcia flounders to ropes, Lee CHOKES him! The ref counts, Lee steps away, and he stomps Garcia around. Lee wraps an arm around the ropes, then fishhooks Garcia! The ref counts, Lee lets off, and Garcia feeds off the energy of the fans. Lee brings Garcia up but Garcia fires forearm sand CHOPS! Lee gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Garcia stays in this but Lee stays on him with a wrench. Tag to Shane, and Lee hooks Garcia up in a COBRA TWIST, just so Shane can KNEE Garcia down!
Shane has Garcia on ropes, ROCKS him with a forearm, then scoops him for SNAKE EYES! Garcia slumps down in the corner, Shane drags him back up, and TOSSES him out! Shane goes out to then put Garcia against railing. Shane ROCKS Garcia, talks trash on fans, then brings Garcia around to scoop and SLAM him to the floor! Shane talks more trash on the fans, Lee has him cool off, and Shane brings Garcia up again. Shane puts Garcia in, tags Lee, and then Lee clamps on with a top wristlock and stretches Garcia out! Garcia endures, turns to fight the pressure, but Lee CLUBS him down. Lee drags Garcia up, tags Shane, and Shane scoop SLAMS!
Shane runs to SPLASH Garcia again! Rampage returns to single picture, Shane drags Garcia to a drop zone, and he goes up a corner. The fans boo but Shane blows them a kiss. FALLING SPLASH FLOPS as Garcia moves! T he fans fire up, but Lee KICKS him down! Lee hurries back and tags in, then he drags Garcia up. Lee wrenches, wristlocks, but Garcia endures. Lee SNAPS the fingers! The fans boo Lee being so villainous, but he drags Garcia up. Lee bumps Garcia off buckles, Shane holds Garcia up, but Garcia fights free with boots and haymakers and elbows! The fans fire up, Garcia sends Lee into Shane!
Lee hurries to waistlock but Garcia switches, SAIDO! The fans are thunderous as Lee and Garcia crawl! Hot tags to Shane and Shibata! Shibata BOOTS Shane! Shane roars, Shibata runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and BOOTS! Shibata whips to BOOT Shane in the corner! Shibata fires forearms, the ref counts, but Lee runs up. Shibata DECKS him! Garcia RAMS Lee into a corner, climbs up, and while Shibata fires forearms on Shane, Garcia rains down fists! Garcia goes all the way to nine, then DOES HIS DANCE! Shibata and Garcia coordinate, DOUBLE HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Garcia stands Shane up. Shibata runs in to BOOT!
Shibata CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS Shane, then CHOPS, CHOPS and JABS! Garcia does his dance while Shibata JABS and CHOPS to the rhythm! The fans are loving this, as now Garcia runs in to KNEE Shane! Shibata & Garcia get Shane up, to DOUBLE SUPLEX!! Cover, ONE?!? Shane has power to spare, but Garcia BOOTS him! Shibata BOOTS him! They go again, but this time Shane DOUBLE SUPLEXES them!! The fans boo but Shane tags in Lee. Lee runs up to clothesline Shibata, and JAB! And CHOP! JAB! CHOP! JAB! CHOP! Shibata just scowls at Lee! Lee says okay, and he fires more JABS and CHOPS!
Shibata steps into the shots, so Lee eggs him on! Shibata ROCKS Lee! Shane runs up, HEADBUTTS, then Lee HALF HATCH SLAMS! Cover, TWO!! Shibata toughs it out and STP grows frustrated. Lee drags Shibata up, kicks then waistlocks, but Shibata fights the lift! Shane storms in, helps Lee put on the full nelson, and Shane promises to knock Shibata out! But Shibata BOOTS Shane first! Garcia jumps on for a SLEEPER! Shibata switches on Lee for a SLEEPER!! The fans fire up as STP start fading out! Shane fires up to RAM Garcia into buckles! But Shibata BOOTS him! And Garcia SAIDOS!! Shibata PENALTY KICKS Lee!! Cover, The Wrestlers win!
Winners: Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia, by pinfall
Shibata helps Garcia stand up, and Garcia is proud to have won alongside one of his heroes! And with the fans cheering him on, Garcia sets up… to DO HIS DANCE! Will this momentum help Shibata avenge Hook and take that FTW Championship off of Chris Jericho? Or will The Learning Tree have some things to teach Shibata?
My Thoughts:
A great Rampage here, though I was oddly more excited when I thought it was just Deonna VS Rosa and the Parking Lot Brawl. But even so, at least Bill squashing a dude was used in story. He was showing off, he’ll surely have Jericho’s blessing if he helps defeat Shibata on Dynamite, but a part of me almost wants this to be all a trap. Bill was teammates with Ricky Starks in a feud against Jericho, and if Jericho is being obliviously arrogant then maybe Bill is using that against Jericho, too. But either way, let’s just hope this story helps Bill get going rather than slow him down like the #JerichoVortex has always done.
The Parking Lot Brawl was moving maybe a bit fast for me, especially with how there were some obvious spots already set up when they arrived, such as the drywall draped across the truck bed. But they surely got bloody, and in the end, Trent won out because he was willing to sink to the lowest low. And then they’ve written Chuck off again with that monkey wrench to the shin, so Cassidy VS Trent is definitely a Double or Nothing match. And something is just telling me that if Kris is gonna turn out to be the villain in the Willow Nightingale story, she’s probably gonna screw Cassidy over to help Trent, too.
Really good match from Deonna VS Rosa, and with Rosa getting a quick pin then that brawl, we’re clearly getting more out of them. Good promo from Kyle O’Reilly to hype AEW’s newest Canada tour, and good promo from The Kingdom to tie in their old Neck Health Awareness gag to the Tony Khan piledriver angle. Roddy calling out Ospreay, I would definitely think Ospreay wins the title at Double or Nothing. And really good tag main event from Shibata & Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions. STP keeps getting great showings even in losing, but Lee took the loss here to keep Shane himself strong. Great win for Shibata but this just adds to the go-home math where Jericho retains the FTW Championship on Dynamite.
My Score: 8.7/10
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