Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW G1 Climax 30 Results & Report! (9/20/20)
Now Block B begins!
It’s day 2 of the G1 Climax, Block B’s start!
NJPW keeps things moving with Block B’s first round of competition! Will the Double Champion trump The Ace in day 2 of G1 Climax 30?
NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Block B – Juice Robinson VS YOSHI-HASHI; Robinson wins.
- Block B – Toru Yano VS SANADA; Yano wins.
- Block B – Hirooki Goto VS KENTA; Kenta wins.
- Block B – Zack Sabre Jr. VS EVIL; ZSJ wins.
- Block B – Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Tetsuya Naito; Naito wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Block B – Juice Robinson VS YOSHI-HASHI!
The Flamboyant One is back and raring to go! But will he be able to stop the vindicated Head Hunter now that he finally has a title?
The fans are excited to see Juice back, but it does take a moment for him to take off his Blues Brothers costume. The bell rings and fans cheer already as Juice and Hashi circle. Juice gets a stomp-stomp-clap, We Will Rock You rhythm going. Juice and Hashi tie up, Juice gets the arm, wrenches to a wristlock but Hashi spins through to reverse it onto Juice. Juice spins and gets a waistlock to slam Hashi down! Hashi sits up and moves around to throw Juice off. Hashi floats all over to cover, ONE, but Hashi is right back on a waistlock. Juice backs Hashi to ropes, the break is clean, and fans cheer. Hashi goes to kick, Juice blocks it and elbows the leg. Juice throws forearms and a CHOP! Juice jokes that his hand is hurting from that one.
Juice whips Hashi, Hashi huricanranas Juice to ropes, then catches Juice for a headlock takeover! Juice fights up, headscissors but Hashi pushes it off. Juice rolls to a cover, TWO! Hashi holds on, cranks harder, but Juice fights up, only for Hashi to hold tight as he tries to power out. Juice gets up but Hashi grinds. Juice throws body shots from all sides, powers out this time, and collides with Hashi. Fans cheer as neither man backs down. Hashi runs, Juice goes up, under and runs Hashi over with an elbow. Big back senton! Cover, TWO! Juice keeps his cool, stomps Hashi then brings him back up. Juice throws forearms, a CHOP, and lets out a “WOO~!” Fans clap to the beat but Juice asks they be quiet long enough to hear the CHOP!
Juice whips corner to corner, Hashi stumbles out into an atomic drop, and then Russian Leg Sweep! Cover, TWO! Juice grows annoyed but he drags Hashi back up. Fans rally as Juice snapmares and facelocks. Hashi endures the grind, works his way up, and throws body shots. Juice snap suplexes Hashi down, and holds on. Dos amigos with the second suplex! Juice gets Hashi up but Hashi fights out. Hashi suplexes Juice, has him for a neckbreaker, but Juice elbows out! Juice runs but Hashi dodges to hit the BLOCKBUSTER! Fans rally up while both men are down, and Hashi stands first. Hashi throws forearms and CHOPS on Juice, then runs to CHOP Juice in the corner! Hashi whips Juice to reel him in for another CHOP!
Hashi mule kicks, suplexes and hangs Juice out to dry. Hashi runs to dropkick Juice down! And keeps moving to basement dropkick! Fans fire up with Hashi as he drags Juice back up. Hashi suplexes, and gives Juice the neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Juice survives the Headbuster, but Hashi keeps on him. Hashi drags Juice up but Juice wrenches to a fireman’s carry, spins but Hashi slips out. Hashi waistlocks, Juice elbows out hard, and JABS! JAB! JAB! Juice fires up but Hashi CHOPS him first! Hashi powers up and swings, but Juice blocks to a full nelson! Juice thrashes Hashi around then SLAMS him down! Fans cheer as Hashi is down and Juice catches his breath. Juice gets to a corner, runs at Hashi and hits a big clothesline!
Juice fires up again and goes corner to corner, for a CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO! Juice keeps his focus as he gets back up. Juice starts up the stomp-stomp-clap and the fans join in. We Will Rock You as Juice hoists Hashi up top. Juice CHOPS Hashi, fires up and climbs up, but Hashi resists the superplex! Juice keeps trying, Hashi keeps fighting, and Hashi gets up and over to sunset flip! Juice resists but not for long, RUNNING POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Juice survives but fans rally up behind Hashi. Hashi runs, Juice ducks the lariat but Hashi ducks the leg lariat! Hashi comes back and LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Juice survives again but Hashi keeps his focus.
Hashi fires up, drags Juice up, fisherman and suplex, but Juice fights out! Juice powers up, but Juice ducks to SUPERKICK! Hashi reels Juice in, tries again, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Hashi doesn’t stop, he has the Butterfly Lock! Juice endures, reaches with a leg, but Hashi still has one arm caught. Hashi cranks, the fans rally, Juice fights and reaches, to the ropebreak! Hashi drags him from the ropes!! Hashi has changed it to a sleeper, but Juice fights up again. Hashi keeps him from the ropes with a BACKSTABBER! Hashi goes up top! SWANTON BOMB! Cover, TWO!?! Juice survives and the fans are thunderous! Hashi stays fired up, drags Juice back up, spins him to a pump handle, but Juice fights out! Juice clubs Hashi but also falls over.
Fans rally up as both men are down. Hashi drags Juice up, Juice breaks free but Hashi CHOPS! Juice CHOPS back, fires up, and pumps up. The fans rally as Juice aims, but Hashi mule kicks first! Hashi runs, Juice blocks his lariat to LARIAT back! Juice drags Hashi up, fireman’s carries, spins and JUICE BOX GUT BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Hashi survives but Juice still has something! Juice drags Hashi up, chicken wings and spins, PULP- NO! ROLL UP! TWO!! Hashi hurries up to his feet, Juice punches but Hashi deflects! Hashi spins Juice but Juice ROCKS him with a right! Then the LEFT HAND O’ GOD! Juice drags Hashi up, chicken wings to PULP FRICTION!! Cover, Juice wins!
Winner: Juice Robinson, by pinfall; gains 2 points, Hashi earns 0
Hashi could not #GetBackUp after that combination! Juice gets a big win in his return, will he have the juice to conquer the block?
Block B – Toru Yano VS SANADA!
The tentative Mr. KOPW 2020 is already after another prize! But the Cold Skull won’t let The Producer get another one over him! Will Sanada bring YTR to a Skull End?
Sanada has another new look, shedding the pirate theme to become more of a futuristic, space-age… vampire? Yano is still Yano, though. The ref does a very thorough check of Yano and finds spare wrist tape under BOTH knee pads! Yano insists that’s all, and the bell rings. Sanada and Yano tie up, Sanada powers Yano to ropes, and Yano shouts for the break. Sanada lets off clean and they go again. Yano puts Sanada on the ropes this time but is more reluctant to give the break. Sanada and Yano go again, Sanada gets around for a waistlock, but he says he feels something suspicious under that shirt! The ref goes feeling around, and finds under the waistband, a THIRD roll of tape! Yano says that’s the last one, and Sanada rolls him up! TWO!!
Yano freaks out, dodges Sanadan and gets him for a special takedown, half nelson cover, TWO!! Sanada almost got caught there! Yano backs off to go after his favorite corner pad! He gets it off, but Sanada rolls him for a rolling, rolling, rolling, rolling, rolling, rolling cradle! Cover, TWO!! Yano still has the pad but he’s so dizzy he’s swinging at the ref! Sanada trips Yano up, has both legs, but Yano BOPS him with the pad! Yano rolls away and out of the ring to stumble around the outside. Is Yano walking away? Sanada would only get one point if he won this way. Yano goes to the crowd, grabs an empty chair and takes a seat! Fans cheer but Sanada is not amused. The ring count begins and Yano dares Sanada to come get him.
Sanada hears the count pass 10 of 20. It’s reaching 15 of 20! Yano is the one who gets anxious, so he runs back! He’s in at 19.69! Sanada grabs the buckle pad, so Yano unties the other! It’s a buckle pad fight! Sanada smacks the pad out of Yano’s hand, tosses him the other, and then dropkicks Yano down! Sanada goes up top, moonsaults, but Yano dodges! Yano side steps Sanada to send him into bare buckles! Roll up, TWO!! Yano drags Sanada back up, Sanada knees low and runs, but into an atomic drop! Yano trips and catapults Sanada into the other bare buckles! Sanada staggers, Yano trips him up, and Yano fires the fans up by trying to steal Paradise! Sanada boots Yano away into bare buckles, catches him for a cradle, TWO!! Yano escapes and bails out of the ring again.
Sanada aims and slingshots for the PLANCHA! Fans fire up, Sanada drags Yano up for a headlock, and he drags Yano up the ramp. Sanada rakes Yano’s eyes, and ties him up in PARADISE! Sanada stands on Yano and hears the cheers before leaving Yano behind. The ring count begins again and Yano is stuck! Young Lions untie Yano? Sanada doesn’t like that, so he ties the Young Lion up! Yano attacks Sanada, and somehow has MORE tape?! He ties Sanada to the Young Lion!! The count is already 18! Yano is in, Sanada tries to three-legged-race with the Young Lion, but the count hits 20!! Yano wins!!
Winner: Toru Yano, by count-out; gains 1 point, Sanada earns 0
Yano cuts his losses quite literally, and only gets one point since this wasn’t a pin or submission victory. Sanada unties himself from the Young Lion, but will he be able to rebound from this moment of humiliation? Will Yano taking shortcuts cost him in the end?
Block B – Hirooki Goto VS KENTA!
The Fierce Warrior “welcomes” the Bullet Club’s #FangRevived back, and wants to finally pay him back for what he did to Shibata! Will Kenta “kindly” decline and take the crucial first win instead?
The bell rings and Kenta bails out. Kenta paces around the ring as Goto eggs him on, but Kenta takes his time. Kenta slowly returns, circles with Goto again, and they tie up. Goto powers Kenta to the ropes, the ref calls for the break, and Goto pats Kenta on the shoulder as he lets off. Kenta and Goto circle, tie up again, and Kenta pulls hair to put Goto on the ropes! The ref counts, Kenta lets go but then throws a forearm! Goto DECKS Kenta for it! Goto clubs Kenta, whips him but Kenta grabs ropes. Kenta bails out, goes around the way, but Goto slides out to pursue! Goto kicks Kenta and puts him back in the ring, but Kenta bails out the side. Goto grows annoyed, chases Kenta back into the ring, but Kenta stomps Goto as he returns!
Kenta clubs away, throws haymakers and pulls hair, to then whip Goto to ropes. Goto reverses the hip toss to a hip toss, then runs Kenta over! Fans fire up as Goto keeps Kenta from escaping the ring! Goto drags Kenta up on the apron but Kenta hotshots him back! And hotshots the arm! Kenta drags Goto out to POST the shoulder! Goto goes down clutching that arm but Kenta drags him back up. Kenta wrenches and hammerlocks to RAM that arm into railing! The ref starts a ring count, Kenta kicks Goto while he’s down but drags him up. The count passes 10, Kenta puts Goto in at 12. Kenta drags Goto up, wrenches to a shoulder breaker, then KICKS the arm! And again! Goto is at the ropes and Kenta stands on his head, mocking the fans. The ref counts, Kenta lets up but drags Goto back up.
Fans rally up for Goto but Kenta gives the bad arm another wrench to breaker! Kenta drags Goto down to a Fujiwara armbar but Goto gets the ropebreak with a foot. Kenta cranks and holds until 3. Kenta kicks at Goto mockingly, then kicks harder. Kenta eggs Goto on, but Goto eggs Kenta. Kenta kicks and kicks but Goto CHOPS! Kenta kicks back, and again, then gets the arm to drag Goto back down! Goto resists, scrambles and gets the ropebreak again. Kenta holds until 3, but he kicks at the bad arm. Kenta mocks the fans rallying for Goto and he keeps kicking. Goto grits his teeth but Kenta drags him up for haymakers. Kenta toys with Goto and kicks the bad arm again. And again! Kenta taunts Goto as he just keeps kicking!
Kenta boots Goto but Goto gets up. Kenta runs to boot but Goto blocks to shove Kenta down! Goto gets to a corner, Kenta is in the other, and Kenta runs in, only to miss! Goto hits a BIG back suplex! Both men are down and Kenta goes back to a corner. Goto runs in to clothesline, then runs to BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Goto grits his teeth as he shakes out the bad arm. Goto brings Kenta up, fireman’s carry but Kenta rakes eyes to slip out! Kenta shoves Goto and catches him for a POWERSLAM! Goto gets to a corner, Kenta runs in again, but Goto boots him away this time. Goto swings but Kenta catches the arm, but Goto powers off to prevent the takedown! Goto runs at Kenta in a corner, but Kenta boots back. Kenta hops up, reels Goto in, tornado stungun!
Goto is down, Kenta goes up top, but Goto gets up. Kenta takes him down with a flying clothesline! Cover, TWO! Kenta keeps his cool as he toys with Goto again. Kenta kicks and kicks but Goto just gets angry. Goto’s glare alone eggs Kenta on. Kenta kicks and kicks but Goto keeps taking them on! Goto swings but into a takedown! Kenta has the arm, but Goto gets to ropes! Kenta lets go but he stomps Goto to the ropes. Kenta kicks him over and over, then drags him up on the apron. He brings Goto through the ropes but Goto fights back! Goto and Kenta brawl with forearms, Kenta rakes the eyes! Kenta runs side to side, boots and sleeper holds Goto on the ropes! The ref counts, but Goto pries free to go after Kenta’s arm, to give back the shoulder breaker!
Kenta already has tape on the one arm, Goto KICKS out the other! Goto wrenches on the arm for a Disarmer! Kenta crawls and reaches, Goto cranks and twists, but Kenta moves around to get the ropebreak. Goto lets go but comes back to drag Kenta up. Kenta blocks the back suplex, elbows Goto, but Goto pump handles for an OLYMPIC SLAM! Cover, TWO! Kenta survives Jigoku Kuruma (Go To Heaven), but Goto grits his teeth. Goto drags Kenta up, fans rally up as he turns Kenta to the dragon sleeper. Kenta fights back but Goto spins him to uppercut the arm over and over! Goto wrenches the other arm to club it! Goto runs but Kenta catches him to spin him to a DDT! Both men are down and fans rally up again.
Kenta sits up first, fans rally for Goto, but Kenta drags Goto up to put him through ropes. Kenta hits the DRAPING DDT! Kenta watches Goto get to the corner, runs corner to corner, and hits a leaping boot! Kenta keeps moving, LEAPING DROPKICK! Goto is in the drop zone, Kenta goes up top again, DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives the coup de grace but Kenta gets space again. Goto manages to sit up, fires up, but Kenta hits PSYCHO KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives but Kenta is still focused. Kenta slashes the throat, drags Goto up to a fireman’s carry, but Goto blocks the GTS! Kenta fires palm strikes and is free, but he keeps hitting Goto again and again! But he runs into USHIGOROSHI!
Goto drags Kenta into the hammerlock, and pulls on the other arm! Kenta endures this modified armbar, crawls with his legs, but Goto cranks harder! Kenta still gets a foot for the ropebreak! Goto lets go but the fans keep rallying. Goto goes after Kenta, avoids being dragged down, but Kenta elbows out of the German Suplex. Kenta runs, Goto follows, Kenta dodges but runs into fireman’s carry, to dragon sleeper! Kenta drops down to go after a leg, and then hooks an arm! Goto resists but Kenta gets the crossface, for GAME OVER! Goto endures as Kenta cranks back, and Kenta focuses on just the arm a moment to make sure it’s caught! Goto rolls but ends up away from the ropes! Goto TAPS, Kenta wins!!
Winner: Kenta, by submission; gains 2 points, Goto earns 0
The IWGP United States Champion’s current #1 contender just got a big win to start his G1! Will Kenta earn another huge title opportunity even before cashing in the one he has?
Block B – Zack Sabre Jr. VS EVIL w/ Dick Togo!
The Submission Master’s tag team partner, Taichi, won his first match, so ZSJ will surely want to stay on pace. But the King of Darkness is determined to get back to the IWGP Heavyweight Championship! Will ZSJ make Evil #JustTapOut? Or will he find that Everything is STILL Evil?!
Dick gets in ZSJ’s face but ZSJ grabs his finger and twists! Evil kicks ZSJ low and stomps him down while Dick gets away. The bell rings and this is on record as ZSJ and Evil brawl on the outside. Evil toys with ZSJ but ZSJ EuroUppers. Evil CHOPS, ZSJ boots but Evil blocks to elbow the knee! Evil whips ZSJ into railing, ZSJ runs right back at Evil, but into the sidewalk slam! Evil Too Sweets the camera before finding some chairs under the ring! Dick goes after ZSJ while Red Shoes is busy with Evil! Evil leaves the chair behind and goes into the ring. Evil undoes the blue corner buckle, the new Bullet Club signature. Fans rally as the ring count climbs, and Dick taunts ZSJ.
ZSJ gets up at 10, in at 11, but Evil is on him with clubbing forearms. Evil laughs as he wrenches and whips ZSJ into the bare buckles! Red Shoes reprimands but the damage is done. Evil drags ZSJ around by a leg, ZSJ resists but Evil still turns him over for a rough Half Crab! Evil sits deep but ZSJ endures, powers up, and he gets the ropebreak. Evil holds on until 3, ZSJ gets to a corner. Evil taunts ZSJ, messes his hair, and dares him to hit back. ZSJ throws a HARD EuroUpper! Fans cheer as ZSJ throws more EuroUppers, but Evil rakes his eyes! Evil runs, ZSJ ducks and gets around, Cobra Twist! Evil pops out to reverse it onto ZSJ! Evil gets help from Dick but Red Shoes sees that and counts. Evil lets go at 3, then drags ZSJ back up.
Evil scoops and slams ZSJ down hard, covers, TWO! He tries again, TWO! Again, TWO!! Evil is furious with Red Shoes but fans cheer. ZSJ clutches his back and tries to get feeling in it. Evil clubs ZSJ on the back then wrenches him arm for a whip back to the bare corner! ZSJ stops himself, goes up and under, headbutts, snapmares and TWISTS the neck! Fans cheer as things are even between ZSJ and Evil now. ZSJ stands on Evil’s head as fans rally up. ZSJ gets an arm, drags Evil around and CRANKS the arm! Then BOOTS Evil down! ZSJ dares Dick to do something then goes back to Evil. ZSJ drags Evil up, wrenches the arm, clamps onto it with a hammerlock, recliner cover, TWO!
ZSJ still has the arms, twists and stands on one, with the other trapped under Evil’s body! ZSJ STOMPS the arm and fans cheer! ZSJ keeps on Evil, drags him around by the arms again, and twists for a hammerlock STOMP! And then ZSJ wrenches the other arm, but Evil avoids the Pele! ZSJ avoids Evil’s senton and boots, but Evil deflects that at Red Shoes to then mule kick low! Both men are down as fans rally back up. Evil shakes out his arms while ZSJ clutches his back. ZSJ gets to a corner, Evil runs in, but he blocks the boots! Evil turns ZSJ sideways, clubs him and Tree of Woe STOMPS him! Fans cheer and rally up, which annoys Evil just a little.
Evil drags ZSJ up, fisherman but ZSJ fights out to PELE the arm! ZSJ runs, Evil goes to the corner but ZSJ gets around him for the IRON OCTOPUS! Evil pops out but ZSJ reapplies for the Cobra Twist! Evil pulls an ear! Red Shoes reprimands, Evil FISHERMAN BUSTERS! Both men are down but fans build back to a rally. ZSJ scoots to a corner and Evil takes aim. Evil runs in, for the corner clothesline! Evil drags ZSJ back up as fans build to another rally. Evil hoists ZSJ up top, climbs up to join him, and fans continue to rally. Evil goes all the way up, for a SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives and gets to a corner while Evil grits his teeth.
Evil sits ZSJ up, slashes the throat, and brings ZSJ to his feet. ZSJ elbows the STO away, then gets a sleeper hold! Scoop but no Zack Driver as Evil rakes eyes! Red Shoes reprimands, Evil spins, but into an arm-drag! ZSJ rolls Evil around to a chicken wing cover, TWO!! JIM BREAKS ARMBAR! ZSJ has Evil caught as he pulls way back on the arm! But Dick gets on the apron, hiding his choker! ZSJ lets Evil go to BOOT Dick down! ZSJ kicks Evil down, then fires up. The fans fire up with him as ZSJ sits Evil up, but Evil blocks the kick! Evil spins ZSJ, ZSJ sits down to block the German but Evil whips ZSJ into Red Shoes AND the bare corner!! LARIAT!
Red Shoes flops out of the ring, Dick gets back in! The Spoiler grins as he stomps away on ZSJ! Young Lions check on Red Shoes and Evil has Dick bring ZSJ up. Bullet Club double whip and double shoulder ZSJ down, for SENTON after SENTON! Dick stands on ZSJ and Evil vows to finish this! Dick feeds ZSJ to Evil, they work together, but no Magic Killer as ZSJ boots Dick away! Evil kicks low and runs but into ZSJ’s boot! ZSJ throws more EuroUppers, dodges Dick and throws him down for the ARTICLE 50 ARMBAR! Dick taps but it doesn’t matter, and then Evil stomps ZSJ! Fans rally up for ZSJ but Evil shakes his head.
Evil drags ZSJ up, fireman’s carries, but ZSJ slips out of Darkness Falls to full nelson! Evil LOW BLOW MULE KICKS, but ZSJ catches it with his legs!! ZSJ gets the leg in an ANKLE LOCK! ZSJ cranks, Evil rolls and sends ZSJ into the bare buckles! Both men are down, Red Shoes returns and the fans rally up again! Evil drags ZSJ back up, fireman’s carries, DARKNESS FALLS!! Cover, TWO!?! ZSJ survives and the fans are fired up! Evil is furious, though, and he vows to end this! Spin and- NO STO! ZSJ brings Evil’s arms from underneath, into the EURO CLUTCH!! ZSJ WINS!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall; gains 2 points, Evil earns 0
Evil and Dick are FURIOUS with Red Shoes! ZSJ didn’t need to make Evil tap out and he still gets one over on the former Double Champion! Is ZSJ going to make his way to the top of the block?
Block B – Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Tetsuya Naito!
The Ace VS the current IWGP Double Champion is the biggest match possible in Block B, and certainly for the first round! Will Tanahashi accomplish a shortcut by pinning Naito now? Or will Naito start on the road to choosing his own challenger?
Naito takes off his elaborate entrance attire while Tanahashi only has to take off his elaborately decorated jacket. The bell rings and fans are fired up already! Tanahashi and Naito circle slowly, but Naito is his usual half-committed self to the approach. Tanahashi cools off and waits on Naito. The fans clap for “Go Ace!” as he rushes Naito to get the leg. Tanahashi shifts to a waistlock, Naito switches but Tanahashi switches back. Naito switches again, Tanahashi gets a facelock, drags Naito down and floats to a headlock, but Naito slips out the back to a hammerlock. Naito cranks on the arm, Tanahashi reaches back to drag Naito down to a headlock! The fans cheer the technical exchange but Naito grinds forearms in Tanahashi’s face. Naito gets to his feet, pulls hair, then pries out of the headlock.
Tanahashi resists the rest of the reversal, fans rally up, and Tanahashi powers Naito back into the headlock. Naito pops out the back to hammerlock, Tanahashi turns it back onto Naito, then shifts to the headlock for another takeover. Naito rolls Tanahashi over to turn the headlock onto him but Tanahashi headscissors. Naito pops out and the two stand off, Tanahashi strumming the air guitar. Fans cheer as the two reset. Naito and Tanahashi circle, fans rally up, but like yesterday’s Okada-Ibushi, the rhythm could be “NA-I-TO!” or “TA-NAH-SHI!” Naito kicks Tanahashi low, clubs him on the back, then clubs him more. Naito whips Tanahashi but Tanahashi reverses to dropkick the legs out!
Tanahashi stomps Naito down then stomps the bad leg. Fans rally again, Tanahashi twists the leg and turns Naito over for a KNEE BREAKER! That was new from The Ace! Tanahashi stalks Naito, twists the leg again and ties the legs up in a figure four knot. Naito endures, fans rally, Naito grabs at Tanahashi’s hair but Red Shoes reprimands. Tanahashi cranks harder on the legs, and drags Naito. Naito gets the ropebreak before the Cloverleaf could lock in! Naito gets out to walk it off, but the ring count begins. Naito waits until 15, Tanahashi rushes him but Naito gets in. Naito hits Tanahashi off the apron, but fakes Tanahashi out to Tranquilo! Tanahashi gets in to senton but misses! Naito still Tranquilo as he shoos Tanahashi away.
Tanahashi ends up outside the ring now and Naito goes out to fetch him. Naito stomps Tanahashi, drags him up and whips him into railing! Naito grinds Tanahashi against the railing with a cravat! Red Shoes reprimands, Naito stops and brings Tanahashi up to whip. Tanahashi reverses and sends Naito into railing! But Naito comes back with a shotgun dropkick! Naito whips Tanahashi back into railing! Naito leaves Tanahashi behind and the ring count returns. Tanahashi stirs, gets up at 12, hobbles over and gets in at 15. Naito walks over to stomp the legs! Naito drags Tanahashi up, kicks the legs and dragon sleepers for the backbreaker to leg hook full nelson! Tanahashi endures, Naito pulls on his hair, but fans rally up. Tanahashi reaches and gets the ropebreak with a foot!
Naito claims he needs help untying the hold so Red Shoes helps. Tanahashi is free but Naito is on him right away with a whip to ropes. Naito runs Tanahashi over then basement dropkicks from behind! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer and rally up for Tanahashi but Naito gets annoyed. Naito drags Tanahashi up, Tanahashi hits back with forearms and body shots! Naito fakes Tanahashi out to kick the leg! Naito boots Tanahashi, whips him corner to corner, and runs in for the rocket kick! COMBINACION- NO! Tanahashi blocks the swinging dropkick for a swinging SLAM! Both men are down and fans fire up again!
Tanahashi gets to his feet first, drags Naito up and fires off forearms and body shots! He has Naito in a corner, whips him corner to corner but Naito reverses. Tanahashi comes back with a flying forearm! The Ace fires up more and drags Naito up. Tanahashi scoop slams Naito down, hops up and hits the second rope somersault senton! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi keeps his cool and fans keep rallying. Tanahashi aims at Naito in the corner and runs in, but Naito boots! Tanahashi blocks it but Naito resists as best he can. Tanahashi still hits the DRAGON SCREW! Both men are down, fans cheer and rally up. Naito bails out, Tanahashi gets up and goes to the corner! Tanahashi climbs and aims at Naito for the ACES HIGH!! Direct hit and both men crash down!
Red Shoes checks on them both but they’re both okay to continue. Tanahashi gets up first as the ring count climbs. Tanahashi hobbles in at 8, Naito still hasn’t gotten up! The count passes 15! Naito gets up at 17, and in at 19.5! Tanahashi is after his leg again! Tanahashi gives Naito a DRAGON SCREW in the ropes!! And dropkicks Naito’s leg! And then hits another DRAGON SCREW! Fans are fired up with Tanahashi as he goes over to Naito. Naito resists the Cloverleaf again, reaches for ropes, but Tanahashi drags him away! Naito cradle counters, TWO!! Tanahashi goes after the legs again but Naito clubs him away. Naito elbows Tanahashi then hits a SPINE BUSTER!
Both men are down again, but fans rally up again. Naito drags Tanahashi up, rams him into a corner, and then hoists him up top. Naito climbs up and hits the SUPER STEINER! But Tanahashi sunset flips through it!? TWO!! GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And then another! Tanahashi stands while Naito writhes! Tanahashi gets both legs for the Cloverleaf! Naito endures as Tanahashi sits deep on the hold! Fans rally harder and harder as Naito continues to endure! Naito drags himself over, reaches but Tanahashi cranks back! Tanahashi sits so deep on the hold! Red Shoes checks on Naito but he’s still awake! Naito drags himself over, Tanahashi cranks harder still! Naito gets the ROPEBREAK! Tanahashi lets go and is frustrated but the fans are thunderous!
Tanahashi gets up, grabs at Naito but Naito holds tight to the ropes. Tanahashi still gets Naito up, fisherman scoop, but Naito fights out! Tanahashi kicks and whips Naito and catches the leaping forearms for a full nelson! Naito breaks free before the Dragon Suplex, but Tanahashi traps the arms for a STRAITJACKET GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!?! The fans are thunderous that Naito survives! Tanahashi keeps his cool and waits for Naito to stand. Tanahashi runs, Naito ducks the Sling Blade for the rolling kick! Naito reels Tanahashi in, for the TORNADO DDT! Both men are down but the fans rally up! Naito fires up with his wild eyes and tongue, and then hurries over to Tanahashi. Naito drags Tanahashi up, scoops, but Tanahashi turns it into a SLING BLADE!
Tanahashi drags Naito up, but Naito makes the scoop into DESTINO! Both men are down again and fans are again thunderous! Naito and Tanahashi stir and Naito sits up first. Tanahashi follows, the two stand, and Tanahashi throws a forearm! Naito comes back with a forearm of his own! Tanahashi hits Naito, Naito hits Tanahashi, repeat! Naito grins and Tanahashi eggs him on. Naito hits back, Tanahashi hits again, and fans clap with every hit. Things speed up faster and faster, neither man backs down as they throw more forearms! Tanahashi fires off EuroUpper, Naito spits and fires off more forearms! Tanahashi ROCKS Naito with the palm strike!
Tanahashi whips but Naito reverses to throw elbow after elbow! Tanahashi drops to the mat and fans fire up again. Naito drags Tanahashi up, throws more elbows and Tanahashi drops again. The fans are thunderous, Naito drags Tanahashi up by his hair and throws even more elbows! Naito clobbers Tanahashi with that last one, but the fans haven’t stopped clapping. Naito drags Tanahashi back up, hammerlocks and lifts, GLORIA! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi still lives but Naito still keeps cool. Naito looms over Tanahashi, drags him up, and wrenches to tilt, but Tanahashi blocks Destino to hit TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And then another! Tanahashi hits a THIRD Twist ‘n’ Shout!
Fans fire up again as Tanahashi watches Naito rise. Tanahashi runs, no Sling Blade as Naito elbows and enziguris! And tilt, no! Tanahashi reverses Destino to SLING BLADE!! Fans are booming again as Tanahashi staggers about. Tanahashi runs, for another SLING BLADE! Tanahashi hurries up top, Naito slowly rises, ACES HIGH AGAIN! But Tanahashi keeps going and is back up top! HIGH FLY FLOW FLOPS!!! Naito avoids certain defeat! Fans are thunderous once more as Naito stalks up behind Tanahashi. Tanahashi slowly rises, Naito runs in and tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO!! Cover, TWO!?!? Naito won’t let himself be shocked as he drags Tanahashi back up.
Naito wrenches, tries again, but Tanahashi blocks Destino! Tanahashi swings a palm strike but Naito blocks to palm strike back! Naito scoops for VALENTIA! And then he brings Tanahashi up, for DESTINO!!! Cover, Naito wins!!
Winner: Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall; gains 2 points, Tanahashi earns 0
The IWGP Double Champion conquers the Once in a Century Talent! Not even Tanahashi could pull off the shortcut! Did we already see the greatest match in Block B, if not the entire 30th G1 Climax?
Naito impatiently has the Young Lions get Tanahashi out so he can celebrate this victory and speak to the fans. “Buenos tardes, OSAKAAA~!” Osaka’s Edion Arena being the start of G1 Climax 30, with A Block yesterday and B Block today, he wants asks how they liked their first taste of “G1 Fever”? The tour goes to Kobe and comes back to Osaka in a month, but that’s only A Block shows. Sorry to the Kansai folks that don’t get to see the Double Champion. But he promises to be back in Osaka in November, with both titles AND the G1 Trophy, so until then, TRANQUILO! Please be patient and look forward to that date.
That said, let’s wrap it up. While the live fans can’t shout along, please shout in your hearts. The roll call is the only way to close G1 Climax’s opening weekend, of course! “BUSHI! SANADA! HIROMU! TAKAGI! Y NAITO! Nosotros Los Ingoberrrrrrnableeees~! DE! JA! PON!” Naito leaves with his two titles, but will he stay undefeated in the G1 to determine his own fate?
My Thoughts:
What a great first round for B Block, and second day overall for the G1! Some interesting parallels made already between the blocks, but especially arranging the main event match to be an incredible one. Ibushi won big against Okada, and Naito wins big against Tanahashi, though I suppose the champion would be expected to win. I wonder if the finals are already set to give us the rematch of Naito VS Ibushi. It’d be quite the amazing finals if it came down to Ibushi going back to back or Naito getting to choose his opponent. All of the other matches were great, too, and I think it will be a hilarious plot point if Yano winning by count-out will mean he doesn’t win the block and ends up just being a spoiler.
I liked Sanada’s new gear but it seems his change in gear never changes his style. I suppose that’s fine, though, because fans still really like Sanada and the Paradise Lock. I am also surprised Goto and Kenta had their match in the first round, but Kenta wins mostly so there’s no question if Goto could have a shot at his IWGP US Championship contract. ZSJ beating Evil was a great twist, as I thought Dick’s interference was going to turn things. But it seems ZSJ has Evil’s number in the overall series between them. ZSJ can definitely be a top contender in the Block, but obviously a win over Naito accomplishes very much the same as the G1 itself, i.e. a title match in the back pocket.
My Score: 9.3/10
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Time to burn it down!
Ahead of entering the Royal Rumble, Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre go one more round in a rematch from WrestleMania 40!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods VS Rey Mysterio; Rey wins.
- Bayley VS Nia Jax; Nia wins.
- PENTA VS Pete Dunne; Penta wins.
- Damage CTRL VS Pure Fusion Collective; DMG CTRL wins.
- Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre; Rollins wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Nia Jax ambushes Rhea Ripley!
The Irresistible Force is here on Raw to face Bayley, but she’s getting her payback on Mami for last week! She dribbles Rhea into the steel chain link fencing again and again, even as security and Adam Pearce rush in! They get Nia to stop, but Rhea is pissed! Will Nia regret riling up Rhea Bloody Ripley?
Jey Uso is here!
Dallas fires up and bounces along as it’s time to YEET! Michael Cole does his best to keep up with the beat as Main Event Jey makes his way down the bleachers. Wade Barrett is subbing in for Pat McAfee (the NCAA College Football Championship is also tonight), and Wade says Maggle looks like a “drunk grandpa” doing the YEET. Jey makes it to ringside, he high fives Maggle, then goes to the ring. But the YEET doesn’t slow down, it just keeps going! Jey grabs a mic and tells Dallas, “Main Event Jey Uso is now in your citaaaaaa~!” The fans cheer and join in with a “YEET!” Jey says this weekend, “YEET!” Saturday Night’s Main Event, “YEET!” Jey takes home the big one!
But then before Jey can continue, GUNTHER makes his way out here! Der Ring General, World Heavyweight Championship around his waist, makes his way right to the ring. Gunther grabs himself a mic while the fans boo. Jey paces but Gunther tells him, “Lemme guess, the next thing you were about to say is you were going to win the World Heavyweight title.” Jey confirms, he is gonna beat Gunther, then hang the title up in his room. Gunther says Jey really is “a funny little man.” But let’s not act like we both know it won’t happen. Last week, Jey was right here in front of Gunther, and he said every morning, he looks in the mirror and bets on himself.
The thing is, Gunther believes Jey. Gunther was looking forward to Saturday to square off with Main Event Jey Uso. Until today, when he saw Jey walking in here acting like that conversation last week never happened. Not after seeing Jey act like a complete DORK! Like he’s the company mascot for the fans! At this point, Gunther doesn’t even care. He could jsut as well get challenged by Jimmy Uso. Jey tells Gunther to not say something about his brother. Gunther says it doesn’t matter what Jey says, he never follows up with his actions! The fans are the only ones naive enough to believe everything Jey says. Gunther does not.
Bet on yourself? Until when? Until Roman Reigns whistles for him? Until Sami Zayn needs him? Until Jimmy needs him? Even Cody needed Jey and Jey showed up! All that makes Jey is a useful idiot, and Jey doesn’t even see it! Jey, your words and your actions do not align. Gunther’s always do! So on Saturday, when the bell rings, Gunther exposes Jey for the flash in the pan that has NO business being even this close to the World Heavyweight Championship. The fans boo but Gunther tells Jey to go. The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” but Jey says Gunther’s right again. Everything Gunther just said is true again.
Jey is the mascot of the WWE. And the fans here are his team. The fans are his squad. They ride with him! “YEET!” Slide with him! “YEET!” And they will be with him when he beats Gunther for the world championship! “YEET!” Jey reminds us he respects Gunther. But Gunther will respect Jey, too. Because only one of them in this ring main-evented a WrestleMania, and it ain’t Gunther. But then Gunther DECKS Jey! Gunther stomps Jey, the fans boo, but then Gunther DECKS Jey again! Gunther stands Jey up, but Jey TACKLES Gunther! Jey rains down fists and teh fans fire up! Gunther gets up, but Jey fires more hands!
Jey has Gunther’s shirt over his head for a hockey scrum! Gunther gets free, but Jey SUPERKICKS him down! The fans all “YEET!” while Der Ring General retreats! Jey has the belt and he dares Gunther to come get it! Jey drops it at the ropes, Gunther storms up to the apron, but Gunther stays back. Gunther leaves Dallas with the belt tonight, but will Jey leave San Antonio with it this Saturday?
The New Day walks the halls.
And then they spot someone. “Finally, somebody who understands!” JBL is here! They all shake hands, and JBL loves seeing them. Kofi Kingston says JBL is not just a champion and a Hall of Famer, but he’ll be on commentary tonight for The New Day’s match with that “hypocrite of a locker room leader,” Rey Mysterio. JBL should let New Day know they are the victims of a disgusting smear campaign! Kofi even sweetens the deal with a whole $2. Kofi says JBL understands being in a tag team but having to cut the deadweight to get ahead. And when he did, what happened? He had the greatest success of his career!
Not as great as The New Day, but please, be an acolyte for ya bois! JBL says yes, he does “get it.” Big E, all the muscles and charisma and personality, everywhere they go, the fans love Big E. Everyone chants for New Day, for Big E. You get rid of him, the fans have to pay attention to Kofi & Woods! Wow, okay. Backhanded compliments? Be that way. The New Day heads out, JBL asks if he can keep the two bucks. Will Kofi & Woods finally see who’s really in the wrong? Or will they continue to have a bad day here on Raw?
Backstage interview with Bayley.
Cathy Kelley is with the “busiest superstar” in WWE right now, as Bayley was on Raw, NXT and SmackDown all last week. And she has an announcement to make, so for those who ahven’t heard, could she share? Yes, cat is out of the bag, Bayley is back on Raw officially via the Transfer Window! She started here after her NXT call-up, so it just feels right. But also, she is declaring for the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble! And if you remember, she won the 2024 Rumble, so going back to back sounds really good. She could choose Tiffany Stratton, she could choose Rhea Ripley, or- Nia Jax interrupts.
Nia says Bayley can have Rhea, Nia gets Tiffy. Also, Nia is going to win the Women’s Rumble, not Bayley. Oh, yeah, Bayley did see what Nia did to Rhea earlier. If Nia wants to try that, Bayley dares her. Nia says she’ll see Bayley out there. Nia leaves, but will the Irresistible Force rough Bayley up the same way she did Rhea? Or will Bayley continue to be the Role Model, even after changing brands?
Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods VS Rey Mysterio!
Raw returns and JBL is out there with Wade and Maggle already. The New Day makes their entrance, and they hate their song! They have it turn off, they get the tron to stop, and Woods says they already told the idiots in production that they’re no longer using that stuff! It’s ya bois, the NEW~ DAY~, and Dallas is starting to piss Kofi off! They have been doing this for too long and too well to be disrespected like this. They are walking Hall of Famers, unlike this FRAUD, JBL! JBL, give him that money back! Kofi snatches it out of JBL’s lapel pocket. Woods says Rey’s getting the brakes beat off him by the one and only Kofi Kingston~! BECAUSE NEW! DAY- “SUCKS!”
The fans chant “NEW! DAY SUCKS!” and the bell rings. Kofi and Rey circle, feel things out, and Kofi waistlocks to then headlock, waistlock, and he shoves Rey to a corner. The fans boo but Kofi soaks up that heat. JBL says this is the only time he’ll cheer a “deadbeat dad” like Rey. Rey and Kofi tie up, Rey waistlocks but Kofi switches to SLAM Rey down! Kofi slaps Rey around, and the fans boo as Kofi & Woods soak up the heat. Kofi taunts Rey, Rey and Kofi reset, and they tie up. Rey wrenches, hammerlocks, but Kofi wrenches out. Kofi wristlocks, Rey rolls and kips up, then Rey wrenches to headlock.
Kofi powers up and out, drops down then CLOBBERS Rey! The fans boo but Kofi keeps moving. Rey drops down, blows past Kofi, then tilt-o-whirls to RANA! Kofi staggers up, Rey dropkicks the legs out! Kofi is on ropes, Rey dials it up, but Kofi ducks the 619! Rey then PLANCHAS, but Kofi moves! Rey is on the apron, Kofi YANKS him down! The fans tell Kofi off but he drags Rey up and into the ring. Kofi then fires UPPERCUTS on Kofi, CHOKES him in the corner, then stomps a mudhole in! The ref counts, Kofi steps off, and then Kofi whips corner to corner. Rey reverses, runs up, but Kofi SWING KICKS! Rey GAMANGIRIS in return!
Rey RAMS Kofi, slingshots and SUNSET- NO, Kofi holds on, and he CLUBS Rey down! The fans boo but Kofi brings Rey in! Woods says watch this, “Hall of Famer!” Kofi lifts Rey, Rey pops free, but Kofi stomps away on him! Kofi glares at JBL, then he drags Rey up. The fans boo but Kofi SMACKS Rey off the apron. Kofi then reels Rey in, but Rey RANAS Kofi into the steel steps! The fans fire up as Rey rises, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Kofi has Rey down with an armlock. Rey fights to his feet, the fans fire up, and the forearms go back and forth! Kofi ROCKS Rey, Rey ROCKS Kofi, but then Kofi kicks low! Kofi whips, Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges, then Rey leaps to FLYING FOREARM! Both men are down and the fans fire up again. Woods coaches Kofi while Rey goes to the apron. Rey then goes to the corner, but Kofi hurries over that way. Kofi fires body shots, then he climbs up after Rey. Kofi brings Rey up but Rey fires body shots in return! Rey BENDS Kofi’s fingers, then he HEADBUTTS Kofi! Kofi staggers up, Rey hits the SEATED SENTON!
Rey gets moving, but Kofi ducks the springboard crossbody! Kofi sunset flip, but Rey rolls through, basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Kofi goes to a corner, Rey CLUBS him, and the fans rally. The ref gets between them, but Kofi pokes Rey in the eyes! Kofi leaps, CROSSBODY SPLASH to the back! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Rey as he stays in this. The fans chant “NEW! DAY SUCKS!” Woods argues with a fan, Kofi aims, TROUBLE IN- NO, Rey dodges, then comes back to RANA! Kofi is on ropes, Rey dials it up! But Woods trips Rey! The ref saw that clear as day! Woods argues with the ref, but the ref EJECTS Woods!
The fans fire up while Woods throws a fit! Rey DECKS Woods! But Kofi CLOBBERS Rey! The fans boo, but Kofi hauls Rey up! Rey victory rolls Kofi onto ropes! Rey redials, 619!! And then the springboard, but onto knees! Kofi covers, TWO!! Rey survives, the fans fire up, but Kofi seethes. Kofi hauls Rey up, clinches, S O- NO! Rey makes the SOS a cover, REY WINS!
Winner: Rey Mysterio, by pinfall
But Woods CLBOBERS Rey from behind! The New Day mugs Rey, the fans boo more, but here comes the LWO! Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro run The New Day off! The fans boo, Cruz & Wilde check Rey, but then the New Day sneak back in! They drag Wilde out to POST him! Cruz hurries but now New Day retreats for real! Insult to injury here, but will Kofi & Woods continue to be blinded by their own arrogance?
Backstage interview with Team American Made.
Cathy Kelley waits as Chad Gable is arguing with his own people, then says okay, sorry, he was inspiring the team. But yeah, he’s the talk of the whole freakin’ wrestling world the past week, but he is man enough to admit he has a problem. And it all started with losing to Penta last week! It was Dragon Lee before that, and Rey Mysterio before that. Gable asks, “What’re we gonna do her?” But he’s figured it out! He found a man who knows a thing or two about lucha libre, and that man is intelligent with a mustache to match. That man is Dominik Mysterio! While Dom helps Gable with his lucha problem, the team has their marching order.
Ivy Nile says there’s a Women’s Intercontinental Championship with her name all over it. Brutus says those tag titles should’ve already had their names on them, HAHA~! Julius mocks how War Raiders cry about “One more injury~ and we’re done forever~!” Like that’s something to be proud of? No more asking, they’re just taking! They’ll take those tag titles from a team near the end of their career and put them on a team that’s entering their prime. Gable says this team that bleeds red, white ‘n’ blue will have waists wrapped in gold, and it will be glorious. Team American Made heads out, but can Dirty Dom really help Gable clean up his act?
Sami Zayn is here!
Dallas sings his song, and the Underdog from the Underground goes right to the ring. He grabs a mic and thanks Dallas for that, that never gets old. But he wont’ beat around the bush, he’ll just get right to business. Sami spoke with Adam Pearce, and Sami is now officially entered into the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match! The fans like the sound of that! Sami says Rollins told him he’s already helped a lot of others, so time to help himself. Well, Sami thought about that, and thought about what he wants. When he thought about that, it opened a whole bunch of thoughts. Sami pictured what 14-year-old Sami wanted.
Sami thought about what the millions around the world who dream of becoming pro-wrestlers, and the thousands who actually live the dream and get to do it. And then the even smaller group lucky enough to call themselves WWE Superstars. And then the smallest group of all, the hardest to crack into at all, is the upper echelon, the top tier, and that is where Sami is now! The fans cheer, and Sami firmly believes he is as good as everyone else in that group. That group is all in the Royal Rumble, and the only difference between Sami and the others, aka Roman, McIntyre, Rollins, and so on, is that they all have a world title to their name… and Sami doesn’t.
Sami has said it before, he’ll say it again, he’s had a great life, a great career. He doesn’t need the world title to complete him. The fans have supported Sami throughout the years, and believe it or not, that support means more to him than any world title could ever mean! So no, Sami does not need that world title, but DAMMIT, he WANTS it!! The fans love that! Sami says 14-year-old Sami wants that title, and he’s still with Sami! That kid sets foot in this ring every time Sami does. So Sami doesn’t need it, he wants it, so he will TAKE IT! WAIT, Kevin Owens is here!? The fans boo and Sami is certainly stunned seeing SmackDown’s Prizefighter back on Raw.
Kevin, who is still carrying the “Winged Eagle” title, while wearing a Bret Hart merchandise jacket, makes his way to the ring. Kevin grabs the mic, and while fans boo, he looks to Sami. Sami says he knew it was a matter of time before Kevin showed up. How does Kevin wanna do this? Kevin asks what Sami means. Sami knows Kevin. We all saw what Kevin did to Cody over teaming with Roman, so how’s this going down? Aw, is that why Sami thinks Kevin is here? No, Kevin admits, he was upset at first. But he realizes now that Sami teaming with Roman isn’t the same as Cody teaming with Roman.
Sami and Roman had a lot of history, the same as Sami and Kevin. And Roman did terrible things to Sami that Sami overlooked, just as Kevin did to Sami that Sami has overlooked. Or rather, Sami forgave Kevin for those things. Same as him forgiving Roman! Because that is who Sami is: Sami is a good person. And Rollins is right, Sami does a lot for others, especially his friends. And well, Sami is still Kevin’s best friend. A brother even! Kevin is here to tell his brother that he whole heartedly believes Sami can and will win the Royal Rumble. Kevin knows that the Sami he’s known for 20 YEARS will win the Royal Rumble!
And why? Because Sami deserves it! Sami deserves to go to WrestleMania and fight for the WWE Championship, and Kevin knows Sami will do it! Then Kevin and Sami can accomplish one more thing together. Think of everything they’ve done and seen each other do in this business. They main-evented WrestleMania to become tag team champions. But there’s one more thing they haven’t done: main event WrestleMania for THE WWE Championship. And when Sami wins the Rumble, they can do that, so long as Kevin walks away THE WWE Champion. But Kevin knows both of those things are going to happen.
Kevin knows Sami will win the Rumble because Kevin has his back. He does. And Kevin knows he’ll be THE WWE Champion because just like Sami had Roman’s back, he’s got Kevin’s back. Right? Kevin just knows it. Sami is his best friend, his brother, and if Kevin needs him, Sami will be there. Kevin drops his mic and heads out, but Sami is rather confused. Is Kevin suggesting Sami do what it sounds like? What will Sami do on this Road to WrestleMania?
Backstage interview with Sheamus.
Cathy is with The Fella and brings up his Intercontinental Championship match he has this Saturday against Bron Breakker. Why is this title so important to him? Sheamus says many would look at his career, and say he has the perfect backwards WWE career. He was only six months into his career, and he beat one of the biggest names this business has ever seen in John Cena to become WWE Champion. Ironically, the Intercontinental Champioship is what drew Sheamus to the WWE. That title has become an obsession for the past five years, but guess what? The stars are aligned! Saturday Night’s Main Event, Sheamus will bust Bron aside and fulfill destiny!
Sheamus will win the last championship he has yet to win! And for everyone who is watching, Let’s Go, Irish! A quick shoutout to Notre Dame, but then Sheamus spots Bron Breakker. Bron tells Sheamus that this title is Bron’s. This is as close as Sheamus will ever get to winning it. Because on Saturday, Bron beats him and BREAKS him like an old man! So just do us all a favor and retire. Sheamus shoves Bron, but Bron laughs it off and takes his leave. Will the Celtic Warrior finally have his WWE Bingo in another banger? Or will this title still belong to Bron Breakker?
Bayley VS Nia Jax!
The Role Model and the Irresistible Force were just on SmackDown but they’re bringing their beef over to Raw! Will Bayley make her official transfer back a successful one? Or will Nia be rolling towards the Royal Rumble?
Well, well, well, Roxanne Perez seems to be stalking Bayley. She was in the crowd for SmackDown last Friday, and now she’s here in the crowd tonight. The bell rings, Nia runs up, but Bayley dodges! Nia hits buckles, Bayley fires hands, then runs to ELBOW her! Bayley climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count, Bayley ges to 6 before Nia brings her off the corner! Bayley still fights, but Nia stops the rana! Nia brings Bayley up to a fireman’s carry, but Bayley kicks off ropes! TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Nia sits up but Bayley fires hands! Bayley runs, but into a POP-UP HEADBUTT! Bayley sputters, Nia covers, ONE!!
Bayley scrambles away but Nia stalks her. Nia puts Bayley on the ropes, CHOKES her, but the ref counts. Nia lets off at 4, she soaks up some heat, then she HEADBUTTS Bayley again. Bayley goes to a corner, Nia digs her boot in, but the ref counts. Nia stops at 4, the fans boo some more, and Bayley crawls. Nia drags Bayley up, pushes her down, then runs, only for Bayley to avoid the elbow drop! Bayley fires forearms, then whips. Nia takes a swing but Bayley gets around to hit a back suplex! Cover, TWO! Nia is tougher than that but she’s also dazed. Bayley rises, runs in, but Nia URENAGES Bayley down! Now Nia climbs the corner!
The fans fire up as Bayley SHOVES Nia to the apron! Bayley BOOTS Nia to the floor, then builds speed! Bayley DIVES, down goes Nia! The fans fire up and Bayley gets in Roxie’s face! Roxie takes a swing, but Bayley blocks! Bayley DECKS Roxie! The fans go wild, security stops Roxie from getting at Bayley! Bayley mocks the little idiot, then goes back for Nia while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Nia drags Bayley up. Nia drops a LEG on the arm! Cover, TWO!! Bayley survives and Nia grows frustrated. Nia taunts Bayley, the fans boo Nia, and Bayley sits up. Nia drags Bayley by her hair, then runs, but Bayley avoids the leg drop! Bayley hurries to ELBOW Nia in the back! And then SLIDING LARIAT! Bayley keeps moving, and drops an ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Nia survives the onslaught but the fans rally for Bayley. Both women slowly rise up, and Bayley runs up to KNEE Nia out to the apron! Bayley then drags Nia in through the ropes, but Nia HOTSHOTS the bad arm!
Bayley writhes, Nia taunts the fans, then Nia goes back to the apron. Nia stands on Bayley’s bad arm! But Bayley avoids another leg drop! Nia clutches her lower back while she and Bayley both rise up again. Bayley runs in to SUNSET FLIP BUCKLE BOMB! Nia flops to the floor and the fans fire up! Bayley leaves Nia behind for the count to handle this. Nia is still down at 5 of 10, and at 7! Nia springs up and in at 8! But Bayley goes up, up, and she hits a BANZAI DROP! Cover, TWO! Bayley didn’t quite A-Nia-Late Nia, but she goes up to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Nia survives again but if only barely!
The fans rally as Bayley brings Nia up. Nia shoves Bayley away, then scoops her, SHOULDER BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Bayley stays in this and the fans rally up again. Bayley goes to a corner, Nia runs in, and Nia SPLASHES Bayley! Bayley flounders against the ropes, then Nia runs in. Bayley TOSSES Nia to the apron, but Nia ROCKS Bayley! Nia drags Bayley up, and POSTS her! Bayley dangles in the ropes, and Nia snarls. Nia runs to HIP ATTACK Bayley against the post! Bayley flounders back in, the fans boo, and Nia climbs up! But Bayley is up to YANK Nia down! The fans fire up as Bayley runs, and she KNEES Nia down! Cover, TWO!!
Nia survives yet again but the fans continue to rally behind Bayley. Bayley goes up a corner, but now Nia is up! Nia ROCKS Bayley, then climbs up after her. Nia fireman’s carries, but Bayley squirms around! SUPER SUNSET FLIP BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?! Nia survives that wild fall but Bayley goes right back up! MACHO ELBOW!! Cover, TWO!!! Nia survives again and Bayley is beside herself! Nia and Bayley rise, and the fans fire up again. Bayley reels Nia in, but the bad arm won’t let her clinch! Nia fireman’s carries, but Bayley fights free! Bayley runs, CHOP BLOCKS a leg, then hurries to run again. Nia POP-UP SAMOAN DROPS!!
Nia hurries to SENTON! Then she drags Bayley to a drop zone! Nia goes up, to A-NIA-LATE Bayley! Cover, Nia wins!!
Winner: Nia Jax, by pinfall
A powerful battle between two former champions, but the Irresistible Force crushes Bayley on her return to Raw! But wait! RHEA RIPLEY makes her way out here! Mami wants revenge, and Nia says bring it! They brawl in the ring, the fans fire up, and Rhea HEADBUTTS Nia! Rhea RAMS Nia into the corner again and again, but here comes security! The fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!” but the two are separated! But then Nia breaks free to SPLASH Rhea and whoever else was in the way! Nia CLUBS away on Rhea, producers and refs rush out here to stop this, but Rhea is up! She LEAPS at Nia for more!
The fans are thunderous as Rhea shoves everyone out of the way to ROUNDHOUSE Nia! Nia falls out of the ring, but rhea isn’t done! Rhea goes to the apron, but Nia trips her up! Nia DRIBBLES Rhea off the announce desk! Nia now clears the desk, and Adam Pearce is shouting that this is enough! Nia puts Rhea on the desk, but security swarms her! Wait, Rhea is back up! CANNONBALL!! Rhea takes Nia and the security guards out! The fans fire up but producers have to drag Rhea away from Nia! Dallas cheers on “MAMI! MAMI!” and she grabs a mic. Rhea gets on the desk to shout, “YOU! ME! SATURDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT!!”
The fans are all fired up, because now things are going to get wild in San Antonio! But will the Queen of the Ring A-Nia-Late Rhea? Or will Nia get eradicated?
Judgment Day meets with American Made.
The others aren’t so sure about this, but Chad Gable says Dom said he could help with Gable’s luchador problem. Does he have some info? C’mon! Help him out! Okay, okay. Dom has someone who can help Gable. Dom hands him a piece of paper, and Gable asks, “This is the guy?” Dom says it sure is. Gable tells Judgment Day and “JD McDouche” that he’s off to master the dark arts of lucha libre. The others ask Dom what this is all about. Dom says it’s a long story but he and Gable go way back. Okay, fine, but how does this help Judgment Day? Next week is the tag title rematch but Finn is still out of action from last week’s Street Fight!
Liv Morgan says listening to Finn hasn’t really helped them win, has it? C’mon, Liv, this is serious. They’re gonna have to forfeit! Dom says maybe he could sub in. Finn shouldn’t care so long as they get the titles back, right? JD says yeah, that’s a good point. They’ll get this. Liv says yeah, Finn should be fine. And Dom is quite the mastermind now, huh? Liv just hopes this plan goes better than the one he had for her match with Rhea. Hey, didn’t she say she was over that? Yes, she did. Can Dom not take a joke? Okay, okay. Dom does have a plan for Liv, though. And even though she’s not mad, he’ll make it up to her, okay? Oh, he will. Now, let’s go.
Liv & Dom head out, Raquel tells Carlito to stop staring. Will Judgment Day (not) keep it together?
Lyra Valkyria speaks.
“Last week, I walked into Raw ready to become a history maker. And that meant spreading my wings and shedding any dead feathers that made me doubt the heights I knew I was capable of reaching. I took fear, I took doubt, and I used them to become something more. And now that I have this, it’s about what comes next. And what comes next is building a legacy as a valiant, fighting Women’s Intercontinental Champion.” The Morrigan is ready for more, just how high will she soar?
WWE celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.
He had a dream, and that dream lives on in us. May we keep that dream alive so that it may come true every day.
Seth Rollins warms up backstage.
Sami checks with him and knows the match with McIntyre is coming up. But Sami just wants Rollins to know that as a friend, he appreciated the talk they had last week. Rollins knows, and he heard Sami out there. Rollins respects Sami’s choice. It’s about time we got that Sami back. And Sami is almost rooting for that Sami. But push comes to shove int he Rumble, Rollins will throw Sami right over the top rope. Sami says, “Not if I throw you out first.” Sami again wishes Rollins luck, then heads out. Rollins finishes his preparations, but Karrion Kross is watching from afar! Could Mr. Doomsday have his next target in mind?
PENTA VS Pete Dunne!
#CeroMiedo made its debut in the WWE just last week, and it was a massive hit! But now he’s up against a man who feels disrespected left, right, front and back! Will the Bruiserweight take out all his frustrations on the new kid in class? Or will Penta continue to blow the roof off the arenas?
The bell rings and the fans already chant, “CERO! MIEDO!” Penta tells Dunne to listen, but Dunne grabs the hand! Penta KICKS Dunne, but Dunne CHOPS! Penta CHOPS, Dunne CHOPS, then the forearms start flying! Dunne headlocks, Penta fires body shots, and Penta powers out. Penta hurdles then mule kicks Dunne, and Dunne sputters away. Penta swaggers, but Dunne CLOBBERS him! The fans boo but Dunne grabs an arm. Dunne hammerlocks that arm, pulls on the other, and he bends the fingers back! Dunne STOMPS Penta’s arm! The fans tell Dunne off while Penta writhes, but Dunne drags Penta up again.
Dunne wrenches and whips, but Penta reverses. Then Penta runs up to GAMANGIRI! Penta whips again, Dunne reverses and he GAMANGIRIS! Penta sputters, Dunne brings him up, and Dunne whips. Penta reverses. Dunne goes up and flips and SUPERKICK from Penta! Penta hits Dunne outta the sky and Dunne bails out of the ring! The fans fire up and Penta says, “CERO! MIEDO!” Penta runs and DIVES into a forearm! Dunne gives back that anti-air, then he reels Penta in. APRON X-PLEX! Penta writhes again while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns, Dunne runs up to SLIDING FOREARM Penta down! The fans boo while Penta sputters, but Dunne runs up to SLIDINGN FOREARM again! Dunne paces, the fans chant, “Butch Sucks!” but Dunne just runs up on Penta. Penta dodges, mule kicks, and he runs to SLING-DOG! Dunne flounders to a corner, Penta runs and headstands on the corner! SWINGING DROPKICK! Dunne sputters more but Penta fireman’s carries. The fans fire up for the SWINGINGN DEATH VALLEY! Cover, TWO! Penta is frustrated, but the fans rally up again. Penta and Dunne rise up, and Penta goes after Dunne. Dunne ENZIGIRIS first!
Dunne STMOPS the hands, then he BUZZSAWS! Penta goes to a corner, Dunne runs up, but Penta SUPERKICKS! Penta runs up, DESTROYER!! Dunne tumbles out of the ring! The fans fire up with Penta and he builds speed again! Penta FLIES and down goes Dunne! The fans are thunderous while both men are out at the ramp! Penta and Dunne stir, the ring count climbs, and Dunne is in at 5 of 10. Penta rises at 6, and he slaps some sense into himself. Penta is back in at 7, DES- NO, Dunne stops the second shot and tucks Penta in! CRUNCHY DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Penta survives and the fans fire up!
Penta shakes out the bad arm, but he and Dunne sit up. They go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm! Dunne CHOPS, but Penta CHOPS! The fans cheer Penta on and he tells Dunne to listen! “CERO! MIEDO!” But Dunne bends the fingers, SNAPS them, then wraps Penta into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Penta endures, fights up, and he deadlifts Dunne, for a POWER BREAKER!! Dunne writhes, Penta grabs Dunne’s arm and traps it! Penta CLUBS Dunne, then grabs the other arm, SACRIFICE!! Dunne writhes in even more pain, but Penta brings him around. Pump handle, PENTA DRIVER!! Cover, Penta wins!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall
The luchador proved he could do power on top of punishing submissions, and he is 2-0 here on Raw! Will the Penta Era take over the WWE?
Logan Paul speaks.
“Man, it must suck to be a Logan Paul hater. For years, all of you have wanted me to fail. But you know why it’s never happened, and it never will? Because when I do something, I become the best at it. I became the King of the Internet. I was the only man in history to beat Floyd Mayweather. So what makes you think the WWE will be any different? Look around, dummies. This is my life now. And I will eat, sleep and breathe wrestling until I become the greatest superstar to step into that ring. You can quote me on that. You’re looking at the GOAT, ladies and gentlemen.” The Maverick makes his return next week in Atlanta, will he receive a “warm welcome?”
CM Punk is here!
The Voice of the Voiceless, the Second City Saint, the Best in the World, takes a page out of Jey Uso’s playbook by entering through the concourse and then the bleachers! Dallas fires up as he joins Jackie Redmond in the perch for an interview. Jackie says the fans love chanting Punk’s name, and thanks him for coming out here for this in-arena interview. Punk says before any questions, he has a question for us: “Is it great to be alive on a Monday night in Dallas, Texas or what?!” The fans cheer that, and Jackie says of course it is.
But to the question: There are only so many ways to get to the main event of WrestleMania, something Punk wants to do for the first time in his career. The Royal Rumble is certainly one way, but that is a match he’s never won. And it is shaping to become one of the most stacked fields ever. Punk, Roman, John Cena, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, and more. So, the question is, what makes this Rumble different for Punk? Punk says, “History.” And he is a maker of history! Just three weeks ago, he main-evented the first Raw live on Netflix, and he beat Rollins, a man favored to win this year’s Rumble.
This business is a fickle one, constantly asking, “What have you down for me lately?” Punk says he makes history! And he’ll do it in two weeks when he walks in, throws 29 other superstars over the top rope. The stakes are much too high, the lights are much too bright, and the pressure is on! And that is when Punk feels alive and when he thrives. No one can beat Punk when he’s at his best and with the people behind him. Jackie brought up Cena, but Punk can’t see Cena throwing him out. Roman Reigns? Roman needed Punk’s help to settle family business at WarGames. And in the Rumble, there are no friends!
Punk has put McIntyre in the dirt, and don’t ask him about Sami. You put HOGAN in the rumble, Punk will throw his old ass out and kill Hulkamania once and for all! February 1st, 60 THOUSAND strong, on the Peacock, live and in living color, Indianapolis, Indiana, Punk will settle scores and cash in debts. He’ll even call in a favor or two if he needs to. On that night, 29 other men are going night-night, and ONE MAN gets his hand raised. One name, three syllables: C, M, PUNK! “CM” might stand for “Confident Man” right about now, but will Punk be unstoppable on this road not just to WrestleMania, but also the road to his dream?
Damage CTRL VS Pure Fusion Collective!
This rivalry went back and forth all over 2024, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down just because it is a New Year. Will Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky finally kick PFC to the curb for what they did to Kairi Sane? Or will Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark put them on the shelf right beside the Pirate Princess?
The teams sort out, the bell rings, and Kai starts against Shayna. Shayna opens with a KICK to the leg, but Kai walks that off. Shayna KCIKS again, Kai gets mad, and the two go again. Kai blocks one kick but not the second KCIK! Shayna runs up, fakes Kai out, then trips her up! Shayna scuffs Kai, then soaks up the heat. Shayna runs back in, but Kai goes up and over to roll her up! TWO, and Kai slips past Shayna to DROPKICK her down! The fans fire up for Kai, but Shayna stops the arm-drag! Shayna whips, Kai stops herself and BOOTS Shayna away. Kai runs up, Zoey tags in before the flying mare!
Things speed up, Shayna drops down and Zoey springboards to MISSILE DORPKICK Kai down! Sonya wants everyone to take notes! Zoey clamps onto Kai with a chinlock and she grinds Kai down. The fans rally, Kai fights up, and Kai fires body shots. Zoey CLUBS Kai, CLUBS her again and again, then soaks up heat. Zoey puts Kai in the corner, tags Shayna back in, and then Zoey whips Shayna in for a KNEE! Shayna scoops Kai, BACKBREAKER and LARIAT! Shayna covers, TWO! Kai stays in this, but Sonya says her team’s got this. Kai crawls, but Shayna clamps onto the leg for a toehold.
Kai endures, kicks at Shayna with her free leg, but Shayna still bends the trapped leg! The fans rally, Kai kicks and kicks, but Shayna drops an ELBOW on the leg! Shayna tells Dallas to shut it, then she drags Kai around to bend the leg in another direction! Kai endures, reaches out for Iyo, but Shayna pulls the leg. Kai kicks at Shayna again, then BOOTS her away! Kai and Shayna crawl, hot tag to Zoey! Zoey brings Kai up but Kai ENZIGIRIS! Shayna runs back in, but Kai TOSSES her out! Hot tag to Iyo! The Genius of the Sky fires SHOTEI after SHOTEI on Zoey! Iyo ROCKS Shayna, then runs! PFC avoids the handsprings, but Iyo blocks a kick!
Iyo sends the foot at Zoey, but she ducks! Iyo SHOTEIS Zoey again! Then she dodges Shayna to GERMAN SUPLEX her away! The fans fire up as Iyo whips Zoey. Zoey reverses but Iyo uses that to DIVE onto Shayna! Iyo hurries up, blocks a shot, then ROUDNHOUSES Zoey! The fans fire up as Iyo climbs, and Iyo MISSILE DROPKICKS Zoey! Iyo handsprings up and the fans are thunderous! Iyo aims from the corner, runs in and SHINKANSEN! Iyo drags Zoey to a cover, TWO! Zoey survives but Iyo goes up. Sonya storms up, but Kai YANKS Sonya down! The fans fire up as Iyo climbs, but Shayna LARIATS Kai!
Zoey YANKS Iyo down, SUPERKICKS her, and then reels her in! ATAXIA!! Cover, TWO!! Zoey is furious, but she tags in Shayna. PFC gets Iyo up, ROLLING DEATH VALLEY, then a SLIDING KNEE! Cover, Kai breaks it! The fans fire up but Zoey TOSSES Kai! Zoey then PLANCHAS, but Kai dodges! Kai goes up to the apron to PENALTY KICK Zoey! Shayna BOOTS Kai, then dodges Iyo! KIRAFUDA KLUTCH!! Iyo flails, but she runs to the ropes! HOTSHOT and Shayna falls back! Iyo hurries up top, the fans fire up, OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, DMG CTRL wins!
Winners: Damage CTRL, by pinfall
PFC tried to use the numbers, but Iyo & Kai just used their skills! Will DMG CTRL still take control of Raw? Or will Sonya, Shayna & Zoey figure out a winning formula?
Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre!
With the Royal Rumble just down the road, it is this WrestleMania 40 rematch that could determine how WrestleMania 41 looks. The Visionary and the Scottish Terminator look to run it back, but who will be in pole position for Indianapolis?
Raw returns and McIntyre makes his entrance. The bell rings, the fans fire up, and the two stare down. The fans sing Rollins’ song, and Rollins says he’s got two good knees now. No Bloodline, no CM Punk, just them! The two circle, tie up, and McIntyre pushes Rollins to the corner. The ref counts but McIntyre talks smack as he lets off. Rollins shoves McIntyre, McIntyre shoves Rollins! They stare down again, Rollins talks a bit more smack, and McIntyre grins. McIntyre CHOPS, and Rollins likes that! Rollins CHOPS, McIntyre CHOPS, repeat! The fans “WOO~” but then McIntyre headlocks. Rollins powers up and out, but McIntyre runs him over!
McIntyre looms over Rollins, then brings him up. But Rollins CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! McIntyre headlocks, Rollins powers up and out, drops down, hurdles over, then redirects McIntyre to SHOULDER TACKLE! McIntyre rebounds to SHOULDER TACKLE Rollins! The fans fire up again while Rollins goes to ropes. McIntyre stomps Rollins, ROCKS him, then stalks him to ropes. McIntyre CHOPS Rollins against the ropes, then whips. Rollins ducks ‘n’ dodges, to then SLINGBLADE! Rollins keeps moving, and he LARAITS McIntyre up and out! The fans fire up as Rollins builds speed, to WRECK McIntyre with a dropkick!
McIntyre is at the desk. Rollins builds sped, and Rollins DIVES! McIntyre hits desk, but Rollins keeps going! Rollins DIVES again, but McIntyre stops that to TOSS Rollins up and over the desk! Rollins is down between the armchairs and McIntyre snarls, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and both men slowly rise in the ring. McIntyre looms over Rollins, saying Rollins is still too damn selfish. But Rollins fires hands! McIntyre hits back, they go back and forth! McIntyre kicks low, whips Rollins toa corner, but Rollins BOOTS him away! McIntyre returns, and he pushes through the boot to ELBOW Rollins! McIntyre has Rollins in the Inverted Alabama Lift, ALABAMA- VICTORY ROLL! TWO!! Rollins goes back to the corner, and he BOOTS McIntyre again! The fans fire up while both men are down! Rollins feeds off that energy and rises up. Rollins ROCKS McIntyre, then counter punches him!
Rollins CHOPS and ROCKS McIntyre again and again, then CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! The fans fire up, the ref counts as they’re on ropes, but Rollins roars! Rollins whips, McIntyre reveres, Rollins leaps, but into McIntyre’s arms! McIntyre pops Rollins up, but Rollins slips out of the suplex to then POST McIntyre! McIntyre staggers back, so Rollins POSTS him again! McIntyre sputters, Rollins brings him around and POSTS him a third time! McIntyre is stuck in the corner now, but Rollins SLAMS the arm against the post! Rollins aims as McIntyre staggers away. Springboard, FLYING KNEE! McIntyre says up, Rollins hits a RUNNING KNEE! Cover, TWO!
Rollins takes a breath as the fans rally up. McIntyre is down so Rollins goes to the apron. Springboard SWANTON! Cover, TWO! McIntyre survives but Rollins snarls. Rollins stalks McIntyre, grabs the arm, and he goes to wrangle McIntyre. McIntyre rolls free, fireman’s carries, but Rollins fights free! Rollins goes to a corner again, puts McIntyre on the apron, but McIntyre ROCKS Rollins! McIntyre climbs, but Rollins springs up to join him! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Roll through, but MCINTYRE hits the FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as both men are down! “This is Awesome!” as McIntyre kips up!
McIntyre still wobbles a bit, but he makes his way to a corner. McIntyre tells Rollins to get up. Rollins rises, McIntyre runs in, but Rollins ducks the Claymore! Now Rollins aims, and he runs up, but McIntyre hits a SPINEBUSTER! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Rollins survives, but McIntyre brings him in! Deadlift and- RANA! Rollins then SUPERKICKS McIntyre, runs, tilt-o-whirls, and FALCON ARROWS! The fans fire up as Rollins manages a cover, TWO!! The pin wasn’t much but neither was that kick-out, both men are running on fumes. The fans sing Rollins’ song, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!”
Rollins runs, CURB- NO, McIntyre avoids the stomp! Underhooks and FUTURE- NO, Rollins fights the DDT to underhook! PED- NO, McIntyre wrenches out to short arm LARIAT! McIntyre rolls away to go to the apron, then he drags himself up the corner. McIntyre reaches the top, Rollins stands, FLYING- NO, Rollins blocks the lariat to try and wrangle McIntyre. McIntyre scoops Rollins, Rollins slips free, and Rollins still wants the arm! McIntyre fights the takedown again so Rollins CLUBS away on the arm! Rollins brings McIntyre down, into a CROSSFACE!! McIntyre endures, reaches out, but Rollins pulls him back!
McIntyre fights, claws his way over, and he manages the ROPEBREAK! Rollins holds until the ref counts 4, and now Rollins tells McIntyre to get up and fight. “You question me? You question my integrity!?” Rollins gets in McIntyre’s face, the ref backs him off, but now McIntyre CLAWS Rollins’ face! Rollins staggers, McIntyre reels him in, underhook and FUTURE SHOCK!! Cover, TWO?!? Rollins survives and now McIntyre is pissed. McIntyre rises, and he tells Rollins that his words and actions don’t line up. Short arm LARIAT! McIntyre drags Rollins up again, short arm LARIAT! The fans rally and McIntyre shakes his head.
McIntyre tells Rollins to get up, and Rollins sputters as he slowly sits up. McIntyre reels Rollins in for a short arm- NO, Rollins slips up and around, and a jackknife bridge! ROLLINS WINS!!
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall
Rollins snatches this one away, and McIntyre CLOBBERS Rollins for it! The fans boo but McIntyre scares the ref off. But Rollins fires hands in return! McIntyre CLAYMORES outta nowhere!! McIntyre is still seething, and he drags Rollins over to the corner. McIntyre pulls Rollins’ hair to put him up against the post! The fans boo, the ref says don’t, but SAMI ZAYN to the rescue! Sami fires hands, then he POSTS McIntyre! Sami makes sure Rollins is alright, and then Sami goes back for Drew. But he gets a GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT for it! McIntyre stands Sami up to THROW him into barriers!
McIntyre snarls as he looks to Rollins again. McIntyre gets in the ring, and he tells Rollins they should be on the same team, but Rollins is just so selfish! But here comes Sami! McIntyre moves, HELLUVA KICK to Rollins!! The fans can’t believe it and neither can Sami! Sami apologizes to Rollins, but McIntyre grins, this all worked out for the better! Will McIntyre use everyone else against each other to ensure he is the one going to WrestleMania?
My Thoughts:
Another great episode coming in at just two hours and 35 minutes or so. I don’t mind things “ending early” compared to the usual three hour run, but I am curious as to how they’re only using two-and-a-half hours. I suppose they have their plan and just go with it. That way, if things go long, they have breathing room for it. But they really could’ve added like one more thing to this and it would’ve been fine, I think. That said, good go-home stuff for Saturday Night’s Main Event, such as a good promo from Jey and Gunther. Though, they didn’t really add more to what last week had, other than that brawl. Jey stood tall, go-home math would suggest he loses.
Sheamus and Bron had a good promo to put the final touches on their build, but as I said last week, this is a rather interesting one. Sheamus really should win that Intercontinental Championship already, but I don’t know if Saturday Night’s Main Event is a “big enough stage” for such a moment. Great stuff with Bayley, Nia and Rhea tonight, especially that match. It seems the Transfer Window is finally putting some actual transfers in, what with Wyatt Sick6 on SmackDown and now Bayley on Raw. Rhea VS Nia on Saturday Night’s Main Event is going to be an awesome title match, but it feels like Rhea will retain to solidify her as champion past the Royal Rumble.
And speaking of the Rumble, Bayley is certainly a top choice to win. For one, it’d be historic for Bayley to not just win back-to-back, but to also be the first woman to have won two Rumbles at all. Very good promo from Punk to hype himself up for the Rumble, and he did mention a favor… Though, it’d be rather Heel of Punk to use a favor from Heyman to basically rig the Rumble or give him protection during it, but it’d also be great continuity as The Shield was to shield Punk. Sami of course declared for the Rumble, but Kevin showing up was a great surprise. And Kevin clearly implies that if Sami helps Kevin cheat the ladder match, Kevin will help Sami cheat the Rumble. Or rather, if Kevin does help Sami win the Rumble, Sami better help Kevin win the ladder match.
Sami also had a good promo with Rollins backstage, with the real fun part being Kross watching from the background. Kross needs a new feud with the Wyatts going to SmackDown, and moving on to names like Rollins and Sami would be some big stuff for him and The Final Testament. Rollins VS McIntyre was a great main event, and classic move having the quick pin win this so that McIntyre is still strong even in defeat. Sami making the save was also a nice touch, as was the Helluva Kick accidentally hitting Rollins. The Rumble has a lot of feuds crossing over, and Kross can add onto what happened here, we’ll get some really good chaos in that match.
Great promo between New Day and JBL to where even JBL, notorious as one of the meanest, most obnoxious Heels of his time, is on Big E’s side. And we finally got New Day back in the ring, but it’s a little disappointing that it wasn’t a tag match. Dragon Lee hasn’t gotten to do much, and he’s doing even less now. It was still a great match from Kofi VS Rey, with Rey getting his own quick pin win. New Day beating Rey up of course brought out the LWO, and I’m sure we’ll get New Day VS Cruz & Wilde next. We can only hope for Dragon Lee’s sake that he gets to be part of the blowoff for this feud. Actually, better yet would be him in the Intercontinental Championship scene.
Penta might also make a great choice for the Intercontinental Championship scene. Penta had another awesome match, as Pete Dunne is always a great opponent. Maybe Penta gets in on the Rumble so he can check that off his bucket list. He doesn’t need to win, he can just have a great showing, and rivalries can spark from those interactions. Lyra had a very good promo but I was hoping for a little more after her winning the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. DMG CTRL VS PFC was a great tag match, and a great win for DMG CTRL. Dakota and Iyo could each make a case for a match with Lyra, but clearly Ivy will be up first. She would make a solid first defense for Lyra, and then Lyra can have rematches from the tournament with Kai and Iyo.
At the same time, PFC might already be thinking about changing up the team with Zoey taking the loss. Good stuff with Judgment Day. Dom and Liv plotting and scheming while being passive aggressive is a fun phase for them. They’re probably plotting on how Liv can win the Women’s Rumble, but it’ll likely backfire and that’ll push the Liv x Dom break-up. Also, you can bet Finn won’t like Dom taking his spot against the War Raiders, especially if they win. That said, I don’t see them winning, Erik & Ivar should definitely be able to handle Dom & JD. It certainly feels more likely the Creeds can take the tag titles than Judgment Day.
I do wonder who Dom recommended to Gable, though. It’d be cool if WWE brought in some other lucha legends, as WWE seems to be expanding their partnerships. WWE is working more closely with TNA now, and I believe TNA still has a working relationship with AAA, especially after AEW moved over to working with CMLL because of the relationship with NJPW. Also a super crossover like NXTNAAA would be a lot of fun to see for WrestleMania weekend.
My Score: 8.8/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA Genesis Results & Match Ratings: 1.19.25
Does TNA Believe in Joe Hendry more than Mokuba Nemeth believes in his big brother?
Hot off the heels of the TNA and WWE working relationship announcement, the Kickoff show already has the first sprinkle of NXT talent with Ashante “Thee” Adonis coming out after Ariana Grace tries to take all of the credit for the partnership. Jake something runs over Ashante, but it’s a good quick nod on free YouTube. Oh it also looks like the ring announcer is McKenzie Mitchel again. I did like her first run in TNA in what was that… like 2016-2018 or 19? She’s got personality, she’s cute and a solid announcer, so nice to see her back.
I’m not gonna run down any predictions on who I think will win, because honestly, I just feel like Hendry needs to win today or it’s been an entire waste of momentum. So lets get to the main show!
Ratings:
- X Division Championship: Moose (c) vs Ace Austin: Moose retains via Lights Out – *** 1/4
- The System vs Maniac Marines: Marines win via K.I.A. – ***
- Knockouts Tag Titles: Elegance Clique (Heather & Ash) w/Personal Concierge vs Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat) (c): Spitfire retain via Pressure Drop – **
- Jordynne Grace vs Tessa Blanchard: Tessa wins via Magnum – ****
- I Quit Match: Josh Alexander vs Mike Santana: Santana wins! – ***
- TNA Tag Team Championships: The Hardyz (c) vs The Rascalz: Hardyz retain via Swanton Bomb – *** 1/2
- Raven’s Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match: TNA Knockouts World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Rosemary: Masha wins via Avalanche Requiem – ** 3/4
- TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – *** 3/4 – TITLE CHANGE!!!!!!!
Results:
X Division Championship: Moose (c) vs Ace Austin
As soon as the bell rings, Ace jumps on him, forces him into the corner and stomps on him. Moose tries to fight out but Ace stays relentless. Ace has a counter for everything Moose is trying to counter in the early goings. Even when Moose catches him during the apron Handstand Dodge, Ace still has a counter for his counter. It’s not until a rake to the eyes from Moose that finally gives him a moment to start dictating the pace. A huge Irish Whip on the outside through the barricade is what Ace feels…twice. Ace tries to fight back from Moose continuing the momentum, Ace eats a Pump Kick, but blocks Moose’s attempt at a Suplex and counters with his own Vertical Suplex on Moose! JDC gets in the proximity of Ace so Ace kicks him, which delays his springboard, so Moose catches him and bounces him off the apron like a super ball.
Moose lets the count go, Ace barely gets in at 9, Moose throws him corner to corner, is slowing things down and being very deliberate. Ace starts powering through the pain, catches a Pump Kick, dodges a Spear into the corner and puts together a few strikes, Double Stomp, Triangle Kick, wants The Fold but Moose puts the brakes on there. Ace tries to spring off the ropes but Moose grabs him and hits Go To Hell for two! Fighting Spirit spot, Ace starts winning the trade, a Headbutt from Moose stops Ace, Moose flips him over the ropes to the apron, tries a few more things, Ace looks for a Springboard, Moose catches him but Ace slips it for a Frankensteiner. Moose powders to the opposite apron and Ace hits his Inside Out Headscissors sending Moose crashing to the floor. Alisha and JDC try to help up Moose, and while the referee is distracted JDC posts Ace. Moose goes for the Around the World Lights Out, but Ace moves and Moose kills JDC! Ace hits The Fold on the floor!
Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers run down the ramp, Ace sees them so he hits the Fosbury Flop to take them out. Ace is rolling, he goes for the Triangle Kick but Moose counters with Lights Out! 1-2- KICK OUT? Moose sets up for another Lights Out, Ace sidesteps it for the Cradle, kickout, Uranage, Cradle counter, Art of Finesse from Ace but Lights Out to the Spine from Moose! Moose sets up another and lands the Lights Out to retain!
Post Match the System looks to beat down on Ace, but Maniac Marines music hits and they go after Myers and Edwards. Guess the match is now!
The System vs Maniac Marines
Steve and Eric beat the hell out of the System members while the referee tries to set the match, it still hasn’t started but we get stereo 10 count punches in the corner, big fists causing Myers and Edwards to powder. This is essentially a Tornado Tag right now because the match hasn’t even started. Okay it eventually starts and Maclin hits the Backbreaker on Edwards and Busaiku Knee on Myers. He looks for a SCUD but Lish grabs the foot which is just enough! Maclin tries to charge anyway but gets caught in the Blue Thunder Bomb and now the match slows down and Eddie is in control.
Maclin absorbs some Chops from Eddie in the corner, no sells a little and fires, Eddie tags out Myers tries to slow things down with a Russian Leg Sweep but Maclin continues to try and rally. Eddie’s back in, shortarm Gowan Lariat into a cocky cover for two. Eddie tries to keep moving but Maclin hits the Vertical Suplex. Maclin is too slow to tag out so Eddie tags out and Myers cuts off Maclin. After a few more quick tags from System members, Maclin finally lands a Lariat to get the simultaneous tag and EY comes in hot. EY does the Flair corner flip, knocks Eddie off the apron, Myers eats a Macho Elbow but only two. Eddie knocks Maclin off the apron, Tandem Tiger Driver for two, EY fights back to level Eddie, Tree of Woe Myers Caught in Crosshairs but Lish gets in the ring! Eddie grabs Eric and distracts the ref, Lish clocks Maclin with either knuckles or a full hand of rings, Spear from Myers is only a two!
System Overload attempt, it’s thwarted by EY, Myers gets crotched in like a Reverse Tree of Woe, so Maclin hits the Caught in the Crosshairs on the back, EY with a Plancha to the outside to take Edwards out and K.I.A. from Maclin means Maniac Marines win!
Knockouts Tag Titles: Elegance Clique (Heather & Ash) w/Personal Concierge vs Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat) (c)
Elegance duo comes out dressed like Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. They do a Go Eagles chant right before the bell rings to a chorus of Boos.
Even though Elegance Clique throws their pompoms and try a cheap shot, Spitfire just plow through them, literally. Quick tags, some assisted moves, Ash gets away from Spitfire, tags in Heather and shoves her forward trying to take them off guard, but they turn around…grab Heather and a long Tandem Stalling Suplex with a Deep Squat for two. Concierge distracts the referee, looks for a low Dive onto Heather but Ash just kicks Dani in the face, and the referee sees nothing. Heather rolls her back in, Kawada Kicks, Forearm Shiver, trip into a Dropkick to the face! Ash hangs Dani off the apron and Heather hits the Double Stomp from the apron to the floor.
Ash starts choking Dani on the ropes, distracts the referee and Heather paintbrushes Dani with pompoms as Ash goes for a series of pinfall attempts. Quick tags, Dani is in their corner, Cartwheel Back Handspring Elbow from Ash into a Seated Dropkick from Heather. Dani has been getting smacked around for the last 4 or 5 minutes. Ash leans on Dani for a while, but Dani gets a head of steam, comes off the ropes and Shotgun Dropkick gives her space. Jody gets a hot tag, she Sack of Shits them both, Vader Hammers in the corner into a Michinoku Driver, which Ash breaks up with a Meteora. Heather and Ash have a nice tandem move for a two count. Jody tries to fight back, but Elegance stops it, blind tag from Dani, Senton takes out both Elegance Clique members and Dani stalks her prey. Snap Suplex two times on Ash, but Heather stops the third and Jody just tosses Heather out of the ring in a rough way. Jody tries her Double Knees German Suplex spot but Ash moves. Dani with the Shinsuke Nakamura Inside Out German, Pressure Drop and Spitfire retains.
Boo…
Jordynne Grace vs Tessa Blanchard
Grace charges Tessa immediately, and the ref needs to pull her off, but Tessa gets thrown around the ring literally, the crowd is chanting “Fuck You Tessa”, Tessa powders, eats a Dive and then a Jackhammer on the outside! Grace puts Tessa on her shoulders up to the ring, but Tessa finally fights off and flips off the crowd, revels in it for a second, tries the Frankensteiner, but Grace holds on, smashes Tessa into the guardrail twice, looks for the Reverse Bomb on the apron, but Tessa gets out, stomps on Jordynne a few times, hooks Jordynne’s face with the crook of her leg and drives Jordynne’s face into the apron. Unique looking and decent.
Tessa has the correct intensity, pushes into two quick pinfall attempts and starts getting deliberate. Drags Jordynne’s face across the rope, throats Grace, kicks her in the face and Slingshot Elbow is another near fall. Tessa with the Front Facelock, Grace tries to fight out but Tessa holds on and drops her with a Scorpion Death Drop for another near fall. Jordynne fights Tessa off with a few elbows, looks for a Superplex, but Tessa fights off, wants the Avalanche Sunset Bomb, but Jordynne stops it, Tessa kicks Grace’s feet, looks for a Rope Hung Death Drop but Jordynne fights it off and smashes Tessa’s face into the turnbuckles but Tessa hits the Rope Hung Backstabber for two. Tessa looks for Magnum, but Jordynne cuts her off, they fight at the top, Avalanche Sack of Shit! They both sell the exhaustion of the match so far.
They trade blows, two Scoop Slams from Jordynne, Lawn Dart into the Top Turnbuckle! Package Powerbomb for two! Dragon Suplex attempt from Grace, Tessa breaks it, Headlock Takeover, quick counter wrestling, Tiger Destroyer from Tessa! Only for a two count, but still nice. Buzzsaw attempt is shrugged off, Tessa comes off the ropes and eats the Spinebuster from Jordynne for two quick pinfall attempts. Tessa with the Body Scissors and pulls herself up and fights back, Jordynne slaps her around, looks for the Suplex but Tessa slips it and Neckbreaker Counter for a two count! The brawl to the apron, Grace eats a forearm and Tessa hits the Tornillo on Jordynne! They posture on the steps, Tessa wants a move but Jordynne counters her and Spicolli Driver from the stairs to the floor from Jordynne!
More back and forth in the corner, just positioning and counters, it’s like watching chess. Jordynne grabs Tessa for an Avalanche Air Raid Crash, but Tessa fights it and turns it into an Avalanche Crucifix Bomb! After trying a grounded submission Tessa locks in the Octopus, tries to wrench the fingers but Jordynne counters, Rope Assisted German Suplex into a Capture Suplex for 2! Kudome Valentine attempt from Grace but Tessa gets out, Backfist from Jordynne, Tessa bounces off and Cutter gives her a two count! Tessa calls for Magnum, Jordynne dodges it, Tessa rolls through, tries boots but Grace grabs Tessa and hits the around the world Reverse Alabama Slam! Tessa keeps trying to remove Buckle Pads but they’re on good, Tessa reverses out of the Kinikku Buster, hits the Buzzsaw into the partially exposed buckle but Grace grabs the rope. Tessa removes another pad, Bulldog into exposed buckle, Magnum, and Tessa is still sexy.
The turnbuckle pads being on too well made the finish a little flat, but it was a damn good match. There’s also a joke in the match with Tessa coming out wearing Red and Gold (Yellow), so the racism allegations are never going away if she keeps making it easy.
I Quit Match: Josh Alexander vs Mike Santana
There’s intensity but its all just technical tactics to take each other to the ground and grab a limb. But since we just came off of a pretty good match, things can’t start too hot. Every time Santana throws Josh to the outside, Josh scurries back to the ring, he’s playing scared. There’s a “He’s a bitch” chant that pops up. Santana cuts off Josh’s charge with a few well placed boots which sends Josh outside, Tope con Hilo levels the bald man. Santana throws Josh into a guardrail, Yakuza Kicks back to back rock Josh a bit. Fans call for tables and Santana slides one out to a huge pop. Santana sets it up, plays to the crowd, tries a Powerbomb onto the table but Josh slips it and Overhead Belly to Belly sends Santana crashing. A fan can be heard saying “That look like it hurt” to which Santana replies ” It did asshole”. Now Josh is dissecting Santana’s legs to soften him up for the Ankle Lock. Josh goes for the corner spot with the Figure Four around the post after bouncing the knee off the post a few times.
Josh tries to continue but Santana slides out and counters Josh and bounces his face off the post. Josh walks it off a bit as Santana stalks him and then a quick Chop Block has Santana writhing in pain. Josh decides to be a heel and do the Three Amigos instead of the Kurt Angle Germans. Disrespectful bald jerk. Santana gets throated, dropped to the apron on his ass, Low Crossbody but Santana flattens out and Josh goes flying! Santana tries a Dive, but Josh catches him and just drops him spine first on the apron. After a small resilient flurry of slaps from Santana Josh goes for the Germans. Santana brushes off on the third, goes for the Rolling Buck Fifty, gets caught in the Torture Rack, Santana fights off Josh’s shoulders, kicks him into the corner, Senton into the seated Josh. Perches him up top, points at the table, tries something but Josh fights him off, Moonsault from Josh misses and a Death Valley Driver gives both a moment to breathe.
Santana Spin the-BLOCK-ED! Josh sweeps the leg, Ankle Lock and Santana refuses to quit twice but slips the boot ala Eddie Guerrero. Josh pauses a moment, Santana charges and Josh dumps him over the top rope through the table! Santana says he doesn’t quit, Josh looks surprised, so he goes looking for more plywood. He also grabs the bottom set of stairs and throws them into the ring. Scoop Slams Santana into the broken table and continues looking for weapons, like a chair and zip ties. Santana crawls into the ring, Josh steps on the worked on leg and smashes it repeatedly with the chair. Josh goes into Full Mount, rains down strikes, exposes the elbow for Elbow Strikes and tries to soften him up for the zip ties. C4 Spike but Santana raises up like the Undertaker and fires into beating the piss out of Josh. Frankensteiner on Josh into the Frog Splash, Spin the Block! Josh doesn’t quit. Santana grabs the zip ties that Josh introduced, ties the hands behind Josh’s back, Spin the Block 2! Josh doesn’t quit. Santana sets up the steps as a ramp, table in front of Josh in the corner and Cannonballs through the table into Josh! Josh still doesn’t quit off the Jackass stunt. Santana finds a sock filled with quarters and starts beating Josh like it’s a slapjack. Josh still doesn’t quit. Santana tells Josh to bite the curb and is about to Curb Stomp him into the steps and Josh gets scared and quits.
TNA Tag Team Championships: The Hardyz (c) vs The Rascalz
Fraxiom comes out to watch the match, so this nicely sets up a potential early angle between NXT and TNA for the crossover.
Trey and Matt start, but it’s a slow Headlock basic counters and feint spots. Jeff and Wentz want to play, so this is very Japanese in giving each member a free chance to interact before any cutoffs or tandems. The crowd likes both men, so this is interesting but more Stalemate spots. Jeff manages a Polish Hammer to tag in Matt and go for a quick tandem move and keep Wentz in the Hardy Corner bouncing his face off buckles in Delete fashion. Tag from Jeff for another tandem Rocket Launcher into the bottom rope and Leg Drop from Jeff. Wentz counters the Twist with a Jumping Knee so he manages a tag to Trey and then a few quick striking double team spots. Quick tag to Wentz, Matt comes in to break it up, drops Matt and Wishbone. Quick Tag, MCMG ACS Rush homage. Wentz Dives onto Matt on the outside, Matt catches him into the Side Effect on the floor! Jeff gets the best of Trey after he’s a little distracted. Manhattan Drop from Jeff, into a tag to Matt and then some double team strikes for a near fall. Delete Head Smashes again on Trey.
Vertical Suplex from Matt for another 2. Matt tags out and Hardys look for more Tandem attacks, Plot Twist but Wentz recovers and makes the break! Trey flips out of Jeff’s arms, tags in Wentz, and Wentz cleans house on both Hardys. Corner to corner, tags back in Trey they hit the Saki Kashima assisted Dropkick on each Hardy and then they dump the Hardys at the feet of Fraxiom. FIVE HOLE DIVE FROM RASCALZ! Misses the Hardys and hits Fraxiom! This builds heat for The Rascalz and Fraxiom as Hardys attack the Rascalz while distracted. Poetry in Motion off the stairs from Jeff!
Facebuster from Jeff for two! Wentz hits a Busaiku Knee on Jeff to stop him from hitting Trey, Side Effect drops Wentz, Enzuigiri from Trey drops Matt and all four are down to catch their breath a bit. Original Poetry in Motion on Trey! Twist of Fate from Matt but countered and Matt is thrown into Jeff who’s selling a knee. Superkick into Feed Em to the Lions! Wentz Dives on Matt but Trey can’t quite make a clean pinfall. Jeff eats a Cheeky Nandos and Top Rope Tiger Feint, Twist of Fates for everyone and Jeff re-NO Trey kicks out! Another Twist but eats a Superkick from Wentz, tries the UFO Cutter on Matt but Matt just throws him to the outside. A Twist of Fate from each Hardy Boy, Swanton Bomb and the Hardyz retain!
Thursday’s Live Show will have Fraxiom vs The Rascalz for the NXT Titles!
Raven’s Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match: TNA Knockouts World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Rosemary
Do Rosemary’s shorts have Pokemon Gym Badges on em? Masha goes for the Staple Gun, it almost gets countered immediately, but she gets the first few clicks of the Staple gun, it actually doesn’t backfire, but she lets Rosemary powder and starts grabbing a few weapons. Masha finally decides to attack Rosemary with a cane, but Rosemary turns things around with the green mist. Slamovich gets some of the mist out of her eyes, chases her into the ring and eats a Drop Toehold into a Chair. Rosemary sets up the table, panders to the crowd and Masha launches herself over the top with a Crossbody, into Rosemary and then through the table! Masha finds her old chain she used to make Killer Kelly submissive and starts choking and dragging Rosemary around the ring and then Sabus the chair at Rosemary for emphasis.
Masha tries to hit the front flip Senton onto a seated Rosemary, but Rosemary moves and Masha hits the chair weird. Rosemary beats her with a chair a few times, looks under the ring, gets giddy and finds Janice! Rosemary swings Janice, breaks it, and then uses the two pieces to block the cane Masha had and then pressed the nail portion into Masha’s back! Rosemary is talking to Janice and goes to the back to find tacks that she spills out on the stage. Rosemary wants a Chokeslam into tacks, Masha counters, misses a Lariat and then eats the Spear into the tacks! Barbed Wire board is set up in the ring, Spicolli…nope! Russian Death Device into the Barbed Wire! Masha goes to the top, Footstomp into the barbed wire but only for 2 again! Masha goes to the outside and grabs a ladder.
A trash can lid gets thrown at Rosemary for good measure, Masha ascends the ladder and then Rosemary pushes the ladder and Masha goes crashing through one of two tables set up on the outside. Rough spot, rough looking, but Masha manages to move enough to break the pinfall since its falls count anywhere. Rosemary now goes full Kevin Steen and makes some chair art for a spot, drags Masha into the ring, sets he on the chairs and goes to the top. Masha sits up as Rosemary climbs, counters the momentum and Avalanche Requiem through the chairs! Masha retains.
Cora Jade’s music hits and sets up nicely after Masha was on NXT.
The Countdown Panel starts off with their main event picks they hinted towards and it’s necessary because they have to clean up the ring. Mark Henry picks Joe Hendry, and he better be correct. Ryan Nemeth interrupts with the “my brootthhheerrr” stuff, and Santino calls him “Fuck Face Guy”. It’s all good stuff, and I’m still a big fan of the Mokuba gimmick, but now they ban Ryan Nemeth.
TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) vs Joe Hendry
Simple chain wrestling start until Nic has a few words and then snaps off a Dropkick, does his show off Dolph stuff so Hendry runs him over with a Shoulder Block and then a Knee Lift. Hendry tries his Stalling Suplex but Nic slips it into a Rear Naked Choke! Hendry spins Nic around, walks around with the Stalling Suplex before finally dropping Nic. Ryan Nemeth shows up with a ticket, so he’s sitting in the crowd now. Joe gets distracted just enough for Nic to jump up and hit a delayed DDT. After Nic tries to stretch Joe a little, Hendry goes into locomotion Cradles but Nic drops Joe to take a breather. Nic does his single Shot to the Heart Elbow and he’s really embracing the old Dolph Ziggler show off ego. Ziggler looks for a Rude Awakening after more arrogant moments, but Joe tries to fight it off, so Nic just snaps off a Jumping Neckbreaker.
Joe manages to hit a Cutter off the ropes to try and get some energy from the crowd. Strike exchange happens here, Uppercuts from Joe and Fists from Nic. Joe blocks one fist, throws a few of his own together and a Lariat levels Nic. Sack of Shit into the Kip Up! Counters galore from both men before Nic gets caught in the Pop-Up Powerbomb! Attitude Adjustment for just a near fall. You see moments of Nic trying to cheat or find an angle but he hasn’t done anything overtly heelish yet. Joe is rocking him with chops, perches Nic on the top, looks for the Superplex but Nic fights back, Hendry gets pushed off, Crossbody but Hendry rolls through, holds on and gets his Powerbomb countered into a FAMEasser for two! Nic crawls to a corner, looks to climb for something big, Hendry cuts him off, Avalanche Sack of Shit! Kaz walks out with the trophy as both men sell, but JBL comes out of the crowd and Clothesline from Hell on Kaz. JBL punches Ryan in the face as he comes out to say something. Then Tuxedo JBL leaves after doing his job. Standing Ovation from HENDRY! 1-2-NO! Nic kicks out!
The crowd chants “One More Time” and it fires up Hendry, he does the heel turn and goes full Queen Stomp, tries again, but Nic slips it. Superkick into Danger Zone and it’s….HENDRY KICKS OUT! Nic is tuning up the band, Hendry catches Nic, Sack of Shit, Kip Up, big fire, Standing Ovation! JOE HENDRY WINS!
Overall Score: 7/10
Even if the match quality wasn’t bonkers, mostly all the matches did what they needed to do, were fairly good and a good number of NXT talent showed up to make the Live iMPACT! and TNA really feel like something special right now. I’m an unabashed Tessa fan, so I’m giddy she won and Hendry finally getting the title is the latest they could’ve really dragged this out to, but at least it stops him from becoming Tetsuya Nai-Joe.
I’m not gonna be a hypocrite from previous complaints I made with too many champions being babyfaces, because that’s still bad and proves the next few title defenses could prove volatile. However, I of course just enjoy most of the current champions. So while it doesn’t erase the fact it’s bad, it makes it more palatable for me personally. Now if only PCO destroyed the Knockouts Tags instead of a different irrelevant belt.
Also let’s be very clear, anyone that believes the PCO stunt was a legit shoot doesn’t know wrestling. Everything is a work until it isn’t and then it still could be turned into a work. Don’t be gullible and just anticipate something to be worked out of it one way or the other.
Still though, good show with a lot of hype for the Live iMPACT, so Thursday should be fun! See you there!
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!