Coverage
Mitchell’s NXT TakeOver 31 Results & Report! (10/4/20)
Will we see everything change in NXT?
Will the Johnny Gargano Way take over?
Mr. & Mrs. Wrestling could end up Mr. & Mrs. CHAMPION! Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae both go for titles in NXT’s 31st TakeOver!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT North American Championship: Damian Priest VS Johnny Gargano; Priest wins and retains the NXT North American Championship.
- Kushida VS The Velveteen Dream; Kushida wins.
- NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Santos Escobar VS Isaiah “Swerve” Scott; Escobar wins and retains the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
- NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai VS Candice LeRae; Shirai wins and retains the NXT Women’s Championship.
- NXT Championship: Finn Balor VS Kyle O’Reilly; Balor wins and retains the NXT Championship.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the TakeOver Preshow!
Join Scott Stanford and Sam Roberts in discussing, analyzing and predicting all the action on this surprisingly historic TakeOver!
TakeOver 31 will be in the Capitol Wrestling Center!
Yes, a brand new arena to usher in what will be a brand new era of NXT! Steel ramp, steel fencing and just a sampling of the ThunderDome screens for fans to watch and be seen! Every match, all the blood, sweat, tears and titles will christen this new venue’s maiden voyage!
McKenzie Mitchell has BREAKING NEWS!
From what she saw, Damian Priest was NOT happy with how NXT ended last Wednesday, and he went to William Regal with a special request. The request was granted, and now the North American Championship match will kick off the night! On the flipside, the Garganos are very happy with themselves, and feel #TheJohnnyGarganoWay will get its way in both the North American and Women’s Championship matches. Will they still be in a good mood after tonight?
NXT takes a look at the NXT Women’s Championship match.
Candice LeRae has us rewind back to April. A #1 contender’s ladder match. What did Io Shirai do as Candice almost had it won? Shirai clawed Candice’s eyes and shoved her down. But Shirai did her a favor. That moment opened Candice’s eyes to all the mistakes. For so long, she was the big sister to every woman in NXT. And she never got a thank you. Just attacked again and again and again. She could only count on Johnny Gargano. They only need each other. And now it’s time to do things their way. The Gargano Way. Candice has confidence in herself. She realized she doesn’t need friends. She has everything she needs, and will have everything to gain.
But Shirai is no stranger to Candice. Now, this is a new Candice. But this is a Candice that takes shortcuts. Candice says Shirai did the same thing to her. So thanks, Shirai, for showing Candice how to do things. Candice will thank Shirai by taking the NXT Women’s Championship. Shirai says she’s already beaten the best, and while Candice is good, the Gargano Way is not enough. Will the Evil Genius be ready for the Poison Pixie’s plans to take over?
NXT shares Rhea Ripley joining Triple H on Facebook Live.
The Aussie Nightmare points out that she still owes Shirai for In Your House. Shirai got the best of her and is the champion, but Rhea wants it back. If Shirai wins, Rhea will be waiting for her. HHH says that Candice might win, and she’ll know the same. HHH looks across the board and asks, “Three years from now, five years from now, what is the layout at the top?” Rhea is his #1 pick. Rhea appreciates that, and hopes to prove herself worthy of that. So if it’s Shirai, Rhea wants Shirai. If it’s Candice, then Candice will have the shortest reign in NXT history. Rhea wants the champion. Who will she get after the TakeOver?
It all started with The Capitol Wrestling Corporation.
Vincent J. McMahon and Phil Zacko founded it in none other than Washington, D.C. in 1977. It brought wrestling to the world from the capital of America. “You’re looking at some of the most remarkable athletes in the world today. Professional wrestlers are a rare breed of athlete, possessing gargantuan proportions, enormous strengths, unique coordinate and agility, a high threshold of physical tolerance, pulverizing power, and the ability to withstand the rigors of one of the most taxing sports known to man, professional wrestling.” – Vincent K. McMahon, 1977. CWC lives again, in NXT!
NXT North American Championship: Damian Priest VS Johnny Gargano!
The Archer of Infamy didn’t appreciate Mrs. Wrestling help her husband by trying to break his “arrow” last Wednesday! He’ll make sure Johnny TakeOver pays for it by being denied his second reign as North American Champion! But will Priest be able to #LiveForever now that the Wednesday Knight is doing things his way?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and this incredible opener begins!
Gargano rushes Priest but Priest sees him coming, so Gargano backs down. Gargano dodges priest to fire off hands, and he avoids every kick! Gargano bails out but gets back in as Priest chases after. Priest still chases but Gargano stomps and clubs and punches him to a corner! The ref counts, Gargano lets up to whip, but Priest reverses. Gargano goes up and over and dodges again. Gargano ducks one kick, but not the SPINNING HEEL KICK! The live crowd is fired up as Priest ROCKS Gargano with that right! Gargano flounders, Priest KICKS him in the side then drags him back up. Priest puts Gargano in to throw more haymakers. The ref counts, Priest lets up and whips Gargano corner to corner hard! Gargano staggers into a scoop and tilt-o-whirl, but Gargano lands on his feet!
Gargano wants the arm, Priest powers out, but Gargano escapes the dragon sleeper to CHOP! Priest shrugs it off to BOOT Gargano down! Priest whips Gargano to ropes and leaping back elbows! Cover, TWO! Priest keeps on Gargano with a knuckle lock and keylock. Priest drags Gargano up, twists the wrist and goes up the ropes. Gargano trips Priest up before he could go Old School but Priest lands on his feet. Priest ROCKS Gargano, steps up but Gargano kicks his legs! Gargano swings and slips under but Priest holds on to block the bomb! Priest reaches down for Gargano, but Gargano YANKS him for a twisting fall! Gargano grins as he sits on the apron looking down on Priest. Priest growls as he gets up but Gargano builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Priest goes into the fencing!
Gargano also RAMS Priest into the steel steps! Priest is down in a heap and Gargano moves the steps around. Perhaps Gargano wants Priest to relive In Your House in some way, because he brings Priest over. Priest ROCKS Gargano back but both men wobble into the ring. Gargano kicks Priest through the ropes, clubs away and hooks him up to throw forearms! Gargano runs, and dropkicks Priest right in the chest! Priest is stuck, Gargano goes up and CANNONBALLS onto Priest! Cover, TWO! Gargano grows frustrated but he omoplatas an arm to get a leg, modified Half Boston Crab! Priest endures, Gargano pulls on the leg, but Priest powers up and out of the hold! Gargano bails out, comes back but Priest throws body shots! Gargano kicks the leg, Priest throws Gargano into a corner!
Priest runs but into a boot, Gargano hops up but his tornado is denied. Gargano goes after a leg but Priest uses that to STOMP Gargano down! Priest backs off to get his bad leg moving, and he fires himself up. Priest glares at Gargano as he swats away the forearms and elbows! Priest kicks and kicks then BELL CLAPS, to the LIFTING COMPLETE SHOT! The crowd is fired up and the fans on screen clap and give thumbs up. Gargano is in a corner, Priest runs to hit a BIG leaping elbow! And then another! Priest has the crowd fire up as he runs to hit a third! BROKEN ARROW! Cover, TWO! Gargano survives but he’s a Triple Crown for a reason! Priest gets up, the crowd rallies up and Priest vows to end it. Priest lifts but Gargano slips under.
Gargano elbows back then dodges Priest to roll him up, SCHOOL BO- NO! No kick! Priest DECKS Gargano! Priest hauls Gargano, Full Nelson SLAM! A unique forward slam as opposed to a side, and that helps Priest haul Gargano back up into the crucifix! RAZOR- NO! SUNSET BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?! Priest survives and Gargano can’t believe it, but the crowd is loving this! Gargano goes after a leg with a splash! A little double-edged but Gargano is willing to do anything to win. Gargano sits Priest up to throw haymakers, then runs, into a RIGHT! Gargano rebounds, DISCUS LARIAT! Priest throws more forearms, Gargano returns them. Gargano enziguris, runs, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Priest runs, springboards, fakes Gargano out to DECK him with a flying forearm!
Priest fires up, takes aim and spins, but Gargano ducks the kick to POST Priest! Gargano clotheslines Priest out of the ring, builds speed again, and DIVES, into Priest’s hands! Priest lifts but Gargano hops onto the apron! SUPERKICK! But Priest spins and SWEEPS Gargano’s legs! Gargano crashes down, Priest catches his breath and the ring count begins. The live crowd is fired up again as Priest drags Gargano up. Priest lifts, Gargano is in the crucifix for an APRON RAZOR’S EDGE! Gargano rolls into the ring, Priest covers, TWO!?!? The superhuman heart is still there, even if there’s no soul! Gargano drags himself to the far corner and Priest is in the other. Priest runs corner to corner but Gargano chop blocks him! Gargano runs, into a LARIAT!
Priest grits his teeth again and roars! But Gargano kicks away at him from below! Gargano gets up, has the arm but Priest resists the takedown. Priest rolls, Gargano BUZZSAWS! Gargano runs, tilt-o-whirls, but Priest spins Gargano through to the dragon sleeper! Gargano escapes the Reckoning to STANDING SLICED BREAD! BLINDSIDE FOREARM! Cover, TWO!! Priest survives, because how else can he #LiveForever? The crowd rallies for “NXT! NXT!” as Gargano goes to a corner. Gargano is frustrated but he powers up and mocks Priest’s bow ‘n’ arrow. Gargano runs in, Priest blocks the superkick! Priest lifts, Gargano wheelbarrows to a victory roll, TWO!! Priest escapes but Gargano doesn’t slow down! Gargano goes to the apron, aims as Priest hurries over, shoulders in and slingshots up, into a choke grip!
Gargano enziguris free, slingshots again, but Priest blocks One Finial Beat into an Alabama, and SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, TWO?!?! Gargano still lives?! The crowd hopes they “Fight Forever!” at this rate! Priest goes to a corner, climbs up top, but Gargano rolls as far away as he can. Priest hops down as Gargano bails out, but Priest still runs! Priest FLIES over the corner, but onto security staff! Gargano used them as shields! The ref calls for medics, Gargano LOW BLOWS Priest!! Gargano puts Priest in, SUPERKICKS, covers, TWO!?!? Priest survives and Gargano is in shock! Gargano just gets angry now and he runs again, into a tilt-o-whirl takedown! Gargano gets the arm up and over, GargaNO Escape! Priest reaches for ropes, Gargano drags him away, STF GargaNo Escape modification!!
Priest endures, reaches, powers up and gest his leg free! Priest uses all his strength to get the ropebreak! Gargano lets go at 4 and Priest looks out as it is! Gargano drops knees on the bad arm over and over! Gargano smirks as Priest writhes towards the ropes. Because Priest is on the side of the ring where the steps are! Gargano definitely wants Priest to revisit In Your House as he throws haymakers. Priest teeters on the edge, Gargano gets space and runs back in, but Priest ROCKS him back! Priest brings Gargano up, suplexes but Gargano fights free! Gargano hits and runs and hits a big forearm! Priest wobbles, Gargano tries again but runs into a ROUNDHOUSE!
Priest climbs up and leaps, into a SUPERKICK! Gargano SUPERKICKS again! Gargano is on the apron as Priest flounders up, ONE FINAL- NO! Priest puts Gargano in the ropes, for a DRAPING RECKONING!! Cover, Priest wins!!
Winner: Damian Priest, by pinfall (still NXT North American Champion)
Now THAT is how you live in infamy! Will Priest continue to reign forever as North American Champion?
Kushida VS The Velveteen Dream!
The Timesplitter and the Experience. Two shining stars with bright futures in NXT, but only one can shine in the spotlight tonight! Dream has tried to overshadow Kushida but he has only unleashed Kushida’s aggression! Who takes over the spotlight to shine brightest?
Dream tries to be Doc to Kushida’s Marty, but that’s not gonna fly with the Super Junior! Kushida attacks before the bell! And CLOBBERS Dream with his jacket! The crowd is fired up for Kushida as he whips Dream but Dream reverses. Kushida KICKS Dream down, throws his jacket at him again, and Dream bails out to throw a fit. And a chair, too! Dream puts the chair in the ring, Kushida gets it first and swings on Dream! Dream bails out, is furious all over again and shakes out his left arm. The bell rings to get this all on record and Dream gets in the ring. Kushida gets around him, gets a leg but Dream drags Kushida down. Kushida facelocks, hooks an arm and rains down elbows! Kushida floats all over Dream to get another opening for hammering fists.
Dream resists the armbar and gets a waistlock but Kushida cranks the arm! Dream gets the ropebreak, Kushida lets go at 3, but he avoids the back elbow to ROCK Dream with that right! Dream rushes Kushida, Kushida ducks under and then mocks Dream back with the slither! Dream is furious and he gives chase as Kushida slides out of the ring. The chase goes around the ring, Kushida stops and mule kicks Dream hard! Kushida gets in the ring, builds speed and handspring kicks Dream off the apron! Dream flounders, Kushida drags him in and wrenches the arm as the fans fire up. Kushida hits a bulldog on the bad arm! Dream clutches that arm but Kushida threatens to break it! Dream backs off to a corner and begs for mercy, but he dodges Kushida to get a leg.
Kushida enziguris back, then atomic drops Dream for a whip and drop toehold! Dream resists the takedown but Kushida just gets the bad arm! Kushida rolls to get the hammerlock, traps that arm with a leg, and then uses his body to capture Dream’s other arm! Double omoplata SNAP! Dream writhes, flails but BOOTS Kushida right down! Dream drags Kushida up, throws him out of the ring, then climbs up top. Dream leaps to ax handle Kushida down! Dream poses for just a moment before wincing with pain. Dream drags Kushida back up to throw into boards! Dream returns to the ring just to refresh the count, and he drags Kushida up again. “Get up, Marty!”
Dream puts Kushida in the ring, clubs him on the back with double ax handles, then brings him back up for a European Uppercut! Cover, ONE! Dream is annoyed with Kushida but he stalks Kushida to a corner. Kushida gets up to throws forearms, Dream EuroUppers! Dream sits Kushida up, runs in and hits a BRONCO BUSTER! “Boo me now!” The crowd is fired up while Dream soaks up all the heat. Dream drags Kushida up, puts him back in a corner, but Kushida boots back! Dream blocks it but Kushida throws haymakers! They brawl, Kushida whips, Dream reverses, and Dream catches the handspring into a sleeper hold! Dream leans on Kushida and Kushida fades! The ref checks but Kushida stays awake, only for Dream to squeeze tighter.
Fans rally up for Kushida as he fights up to his feet. Kushida backs Dream to a corner, Dream stays in the ropes but lets go at 4. Kushida ROCKS Dream with that elbow! Dream throws haymakers, Kushida gives back forearms! Kushida rocks Dream, Drema shoves him but Kushida TACKLES Dream! Kushida rains down fists, then hip tosses and handsprings to basement dropkick! Dream flounders, Kushida gives him DANIELSON- NO! Dream rolls Kushida, Kushida rolls through, FAST BALL SPECIAL! Kushida gets both arms as Dream is on his stomach, for INVERTED DANIELSON STOMPS! Kushida flips Dream over to stomp him properly! The ref counts, Kushida lets up fast and Dream flounders to a corner. Kushida fires up, runs in but Dream puts him on the apron.
Kushida gets Dream’s arm, Dream flails but Kushida POSTS him! Fans are thunderous as Kushida gets on the apron. Dream apologizes but the fans want “One More Time!” So Kushida POSTS Dream again! And then BOOTS the steel steps into the arm!! Dream screams in agony as he flounders about. Kushida gets in but Dream SUPERKICKS him down! Dream manages to make it to his corner, climbs up top, and leaps, into an ARMBAR!! Kushida holds on tight as Dream flails and rolls, and Dream gets a ropebreak with a leg! Kushida holds on, Dream throws haymakers, but the ref separates them. Dream thumbs Kushida in the eyes! Then throws haymakers and POWERBOMBS! High stack, TWO, into the ARMBAR! Dream clubs away on Kushida until he’s free!
Dream throws off the gloves, slaps the bad arm to get it working, and he fireman’s carries, DREAM VALLEY DRIVER! Dream heads up top again, his bad arm slows him down a bit, but he leaps for the PURPLE RAIN MAKER! But his left arm bothers him so bad that he can’t cover right away! TWO!! Kushida survives and Dream is shocked! Dream argues with the ref but Kushida grabs the bad arm. Dream glares at Kushida, drags him up and reels him in for a LARIAT! “Dream Over. Call your mama and tell her about it!” Dream climbs up back up again, takes time to pose, but Kushida is up and after him! Kushida throws forearms, gets the arm, FLYING HOVERBOARD ARMBAR!!
Dream endures, reaches, flails, and gets the ropebreak, but Kushida rolls him away! Kushida cranks on the arm, Dream stands up and fireman’s carries, but Kushida fights to keep the arm! DREAM VALLEY, but the HOVERBOARD is still on! Dream TAPS, Kushida wins!!
Winner: Kushida, by submission
Dream feels the true agony of defeat! Kushida’s new edge shines in the spotlight, but is his future going to be golden? Wait, Kushida keeps going after Dream! Winning wasn’t enough, he wants Dream to feel regret! Kushida puts the bad arm in an armbar, Dream taps but it won’t stop the pain! Kushida bends fingers until more referees rush out to pry him off Dream! Kushida paces, but goes right after him again! OMOPLATA! Dream taps and taps but Kushida holds on until the ref’s pry him off again! Will Dream wish he could travel back in time to stop himself from ever angering Kushida?
NXT Universe beware, you’re in for a scare!
The wild child, Shotzi Blackheart will host a very special NXT on October 28th as NXT brings back HALLOWEEN HAVOC!! Trick or treat, get ready to be on the edge of your seat!
NXT Cruiserweight Championship: Santos Escobar VS Isaiah “Swerve” Scott!
El Hijo del Fantasma won the title at the end of the Cruiserweight Championship Round Robin finals, but there was one man who did defeat him along the way! Swerve got his shot but was screwed over by El Legado and a loaded lucha mask! But the house still stands and Swerve has a chance at redemption on top of the title! Will he be ready for anything and everything? Or does Escobar have a trick up his proverbial sleeve that no one could expect?
The introductions are made, the title is raised, and the Cruiserweight Division finally gets to TakeOver!
Escobar and Swerve circle as the crowd rallies up already. They approach, tie up, and Escobar gets the arm. Swerve hooks a leg to trip Escobar, cartwheels over but Escobar arm-drags Swerve away. Escobar runs but Swerve dodges, Escobar huricanranas but Swerve handsprings through! Swerve says HE is Cruiserweight wrestling, and that upsets Escobar. Escobar rushes Swerve, Swerve dodges and Eddy Gordo headscissors Escobar away! Escobar gets up and Swerve smirks. Swerve then trips Escobar, turns him over with leg hooks and goes to dead lift, but Escobar victory rolls through, TWO! Escobar sweeps the legs to cover, ONE! Swerve sweeps the legs to cover, ONE! The two stand off in fighting stances and the crowd loves it!
Swerve blocks Escobar’s punch, fakes him out to mule kick, and then runs, into a forearm! Escobar runs into a monkey flip! Escobar just barely gets his feet under him but Swerve handsprings and MOONSAULTS him down! The crowd is fired up as Swerve watches Escobar flounder. Escobar leans against the post, and pulls down the crossbar cover. Swerve gets in the ring to refresh the ring count, and he goes to the corner to CORKSCREW SENTON! Down goes Escobar and the crowd fires up again! Swerve puts Escobar in the ring but Escobar bails out the side. Swerve runs and FOSBURY FLOPS Escobar down! The fans are thunderous as Swerve is showing he can do it all! Swerve puts Escobar in, covers, TWO! Escobar bails out again but Swerve pursues.
Swerve drags Escobar up to go after the arm. Swerve wraps the arm around the very crossbar Escobar exposed! He’s showing Escobar what bending the rules gets you as he bends the arm! The ring count is at 7 but Swerve puts Escobar in at 8. Cover, TWO! Swerve grows annoyed with Escobar and he pulls Escobar around to go after the bad arm! Escobar endures as Swerve pulls it way back to drop down on it! Escobar puts a leg on the rope, Swerve stomps him anyway! Swerve brings Escobar up to Northern Light takeodnw into an ARMBAR! Short Arm Scissor, even, as Escobar resists. Escobar gets legs under the ropes, Swerve lets off but goes to the apron. Swerve drags Escobar up to hotshot the arm!
Fans rally as Swerve brings Escobar up again, but now Escobar hotshots Swerve! And KICKS him off the apron! Escobar runs and builds speed to DIVE! ARROW FROM HELL!! Swerve gets sent into the fencing, Escobar puts Swerve back in, covers, ONE?! Escobar is furious that Swerve kicks out so he KICKS Swerve in the face! Escobar waits for Swerve to stand and he LARIATS Swerve back down! Swerve gets to a corner, Escobar runs and DOUBLE KNEES! Escobar puts Swerve up top and SLAPS him! Escobar climbs up and SUPER STEINERS! Then somersault and elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Swerve still lives and the fans stay fired up! Escobar stomps away on Swerve at the ropes but the ref counts. Escobar stops at 4 because he still doesn’t want to be disqualified.
Escobar stands Swerve up and tells him, “Yo soy Lucha Libre!” Escobar SLAPS Swerve, kicks him, and says maybe if he spits in Swerve’s face will make him understand. Escobar reels back but Swerve puts a hand on Escobar’s mouth! No spit flies, but the fists do! Escobar clubs Swerve, reels him in, but Swerve frees himself to ROCK Escobar! And again! Swerve fires off heavy haymakers in the corner! The ref counts, Swerve stops at 4 to throw Escobar down, for a DISCUS! The crowd is thunderous as Escobar flounders up. Swerve runs in to uppercut! Swerve snapmares Escobar for the falling EuroUpper! Escobar bails out but Swerve BOOTS him from the apron! And then again! Escobar goes down in a heap, Swerve puts him in, slingshot to somersault, ROLLING THUNDER SHOT! Cover, TWO!!
Escobar survives but Swerve doesn’t lose focus. Swerve aims from the corner, hops up again and waits for Escobar to stand. Escobar is up but he climbs up to join Swerve! So Swerve slips under, only for Escobar to kick him away. Escobar turns around, Swerve dropkicks the legs out! DRAPING DDT! Cover, TWO!! Escobar survives again but Swerve grits his teeth. Swerve drags Escobar up with a half nelson but Escobar gets the ropes! The ref counts, El Legado returns! The ref stops Wilde from getting in, Escobar shoves Swerve and Mendoza trips him up! Gut wrench, SHOULDER BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Swerve survives the screw job attempt! Escobar goes to the apron to follow Swerve, runs side to side, but into a pop-up that puts Escobar on the ropes!
Escobar is stuck on his fantasma, Swerve throws haymakers! Swerve then hops up, and STEINERS Escobar onto Legado!! They catch him, help him up, but here comes ASHANTE “THEE” ADONIS!! From what’s been happening on 205 Live, Adonis isn’t a fan of Legado del Fantasma, either, and he goes up to TORNILLO! Adonis wipes out Mendoza and Wilde! The crowd is thunderous as Escobar is in shock! Adonis and Swerve run off the henchmen before Swerve hurries into the ring. Escobar runs over, gets a back elbow, and Swerve goes up and in to somersault, into a CALF KICK! Fireman’s carry, PHANTOM DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!??! How?!!? Escobar doesn’t know how, but the crowd is electric!
Escobar is fuming as he stomps away on Swerve over and over! Escobar drags Swerve back up, suplexes, uno amigo! Then a roll over, dos amigos! Fans boo, they don’t think Escobar isn’t worthy of Eddie Guerrero but he still hits all three amigos! Escobar goes up top, FROG SPLASH FLOPS!! Swerve evades and denies Escobar his Latino Heat! Swerve gets the arm, POP CULTURE!! Escobar clutches his arm but Swerve gives him a HOUSE CALL!! But that’s not it, Swerve goes up for the 450 SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Escobar survives all of that and Swerve is losing his mind! The crowd hopes they “Fight Forever!” because “This is Awesome!” But this will end somehow, and Swerve drags Escobar up.
Escobar flounders, throws Swerve out and hurries back up. Swerve hurries after him, half nelsons him, but Escobar holds ropes for dear life! Escobar pushes Swerve back, Swerve falls and hits the bare crossbar!! It comes into play after all!! Escobar drags Swerve in, brings him up, underhooks and lifts, BUTTERFLY FACEBUSTER ACROSS THE KNEE! Cover, Escobar wins!!
Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall (still NXT Cruiserweight Champion)
So much fight from Swerve, and he even had a new ally fight against the minions, but Escobar always has a back-up plan! Was this Swerve’s last chance at the championship? Will Escobar truly remake the Cruiserweight Division to reflect HIS image?
NXT Women’s Championship: Io Shirai VS Candice LeRae!
As said time and again, there was a time when these two were on friendly terms. But somewhere along the way, both of them found themselves on darker paths. The Wednesday Knight failed to grab some gold, will the Evil Genius make sure the Poison Pixie’s story also has a bad ending?
The introductions are made with extra special spotlight and a mic lowered from the ceiling! The title is raised and the fans are fired up already as this twisted tale of treachery and woe writes a new chapter!
Fans already cheer for “Women’s Wrestling” at the bell but Candice talks trash. She shoves, Shirai shoves back and Candice gets a headlock. Shirai powers out, follows through and redirects Candice. Candice drops down, Shirai handsprings, hip tosses and basement dropkicks! Candice bails out as Shirai kips up and dares her to come back. Candice takes her time to cool off, and then gets in. Candice waistlocks, Shirai switches but Candice bucks her off. Shirai comes back to crucifix swing but Candice blocks. Candice swings Shirai, Shirai arm-drags her to a corner. Shirai runs, Candice dodges and runs back in to monkey flip, but Shirai lands on her feet! Fans fire up as Shirai runs back in but Candice moves!
Shirai is denied her trip on the Shinkansen, and Candice tells the ref to give her a second to catch her breath. Candice gets on the apron, Shirai rams a shoulder then sunset flips! Candice holds on for dear life, knocks Shirai away and springboard crossbodies Shirai down! Candice brags like she just won the match, and she throws Shirai at the apron. Shirai tiger feints and kicks! Shirai springboards, ASAI MOONSAULT! Down goes Candice and Shirai is fired up! Shirai drags Candice up and in, Candice crawls but Shirai is after her with a cover, ONE! Shirai kicks Candice to a corner, stomps a mudhole into her but lets up at 3. Shirai digs both boots in, swings and double knees! Shirai drags Candice to a cover, TWO! Candice crawls away but Shirai is after her again.
Shirai brings Candice up to whip to a corner, Candice reverses and runs in, but Shirai slips out to the apron. Shirai swings but Candice blocks the kick! Candice pushes Shirai right-side-up to DRAPING BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO!! Shirai survives and Candice is frustrated. Candice drags Shirai around, puts on a chinlock and digs a knee into her back. Shirai endures the modified camel clutch as the fans rally up. Shirai gets to her feet, throws elbows and is free, but Candice clubs her back. Candice runs, tilt-o-whirl headscissors but Shirai lands on her feet again! Only for Candice to CLOBBER her! Cover, TWO! Shirai survives again and Candice is getting angrier. Candice kicks Shirai around, scrapes her face on the ropes, but lets up at the ref’s count. Fans boo but Candice just soaks it all up.
Candice snapmares and neck snaps to a jackknife cover, TWO! Candice keeps her cool this time and she clamps onto Shirai with a high keylock. Shirai endures, fans rally up, but Candice traps the other arm. Shirai reaches with a leg but fights up to her feet, only for Candice to throw her down by her hair! Cover, TWO! Candice gets frustrated again as she stomps Shirai to ropes. Candice scoops Shirai for a backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Candice drags Shirai back up, rams her into buckles and again, but lets off at the ref’s reprimand. Candice soaks up the heat, then runs in to uppercut at the corner! Shirai flounders against ropes and Candice talks smack, so Shirai SLAPS her! Candice clubs Shirai back, bumps her off buckles and brings her out of that corner to bump her off buckles in another corner.
Candice stomps a mudhole then backs off to soak up more heat. Candice mockingly asks Shirai if she’s okay, then brings her up to throw her by her hair! Shirai flounders to a corner, Candice brings her up to throw her back the other way! Candice clubs Shirai, suplexes to a BRAIN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO!! Candice scowls as she sits Shirai up and knees her in the back! And again! Candice clamps on with a neck wrench but Shirai endures. The crowd rallies up, Shirai stands but Candice knees low. Candice shoves Shirai to a corner, runs in but only gets buckles! Shirai is still down, Candice uses her as a step, but Shirai moves and the senton flops! Shirai victory roll STOMPS Candice down! The fans fire up as Shirai and Candice stir.
The ref starts a standing count but Candice and Shirai are up at 4. Shirai runs Candice over with shoulders, and then again! FLAPJACK! Candice flounders to ropes, Shirai runs in to 619! Candice flounders more, Shirai springboards, missile dropkick! Cover, TWO! Shirai keeps her cool as Candice survives. Shirai drags Candice up to underhook, but no Tiger Driver as Candice pops out. Candice blocks the wheelbarrow to make it a facebuster! Step-up senton! LIONSAULT, into a BOOT! Shirai underhooks again, TIGER BACKBREAKER! Candice is down in the drop zone and Shirai walks all over her. Shirai is up top but Candice gets up to stop her! Candice brings Shirai off for a POWERBOMB, but Shirai is right back up to hit SHINKANSEN! Shirai Alabama lifts, Candice sunset flips, TWO!
SHOTEI! GERMAN SUPLEX! Candice flounder but dodges a 619 to SNAP GERMAN! Shirai flounders up, into a BACKSTABBER! LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Shirai barely survives and Candice is beside herself! The crowd is thunderous and Candice goes back to Shirai. Candice slaps and pushes Shirai around, but Shirai catches her for a CROSSFACE! Candice flails, reaches, endures but Shirai cranks back! Candice manages to roll Shirai, TWO! Candice gets the GargaNO ESCAPE! Shirai endures now, crawls around, reaches, but Candice cranks as far back as she can! Shirai powers her way forward but Candice digs her heels in to slow her down! Shirai still gest the ropebreak! Candice lets go and CLOBBERS the ref by accident!
Candice tries to take advantage, but she runs into an AIR RAID CRASH! Shirai heads to the corner and up top, for the MOONSAULT onto BOOTS! And Shirai crashes into the ref! The ref is sent out of the ring, Candice BOOTS Shirai! Candice gets the leg, Queen Angelito STOMP!! The Wicked Step Sister hits but the ref is OUT! Candice would’ve won twice over, but here comes… Johnny Referee?! Fast count, TWO!?!? Shirai won’t be screwed out of her title like this! Gargano throws a fit on Candice’s behalf but he gets an idea. Gargano hurries out to get the belt from the timekeeper. As far as Gargano is concerned, it’s Candice’s belt! But the actual ref gets back in and questions what Gargano’s even doing!
Gargano manages to slip the belt to Candice as he argues with the ref! Candice aims at Shirai, BELT SHOT!! Cover, TWO!?!? Gargano is losing his mind but so is Candice! The fans are thunderous as Candice climbs up top. Shirai SHOTEIS her first! Shirai climbs up to get Candice for a SUPER SPANISH FLY!! And then up, up and away for the OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Shirai wins!!
Winner: Io Shirai, by pinfall (still NXT Women’s Champion)
The Johnny Gargano Way did NOT have its way tonight! Try as they might, Mr. & Mrs. Wrestling could not take over at TakeOver! But with Rhea Ripley waiting on the other side, will the Evil Genius reign for much longer?
But wait! Someone speaks to “Io-chan” via the screen wall! It’s TONI STORM! Good to see you, Shirai. Don’t mind her, she’s just congratulating Shirai on the victory. Oh and also, she wants us all to keep their head on a swivel. Because Toni is BACK in NXT! And it goes without saying she’ll turn the place upside-down and inside out. This always has and always will be #ToniTime. But when will the Lightning Down Under strike the Capitol Wrestling Center? And what does this mean for Rhea’s opportunity at the title?
NXT spots the mystery invader!
They ride in on their motorcycle, night vision helmet still active as they drive around to a side door. They go inside the Capitol Wrestling Center, but who are they? Who are they after? They’re ON STAGE! And it’s… EMBER MOON! The Shenom has returned to NXT and everyone is fired up! Shirai is excited, too, because this just adds on to the fun she and the Women’s Division are going to have! But again, what does this mean for Rhea’s opportunity? Will the Nightmare have to deal with champions of the past and present to be the champion of the future?
Backstage interview with Ashante “Thee” Adonis!
He got involved with Swerve and Legado, but why? He has a lot of respect for Swerve, and just trying to help a brother out. But he is sick and tired of Legado jumping guys, so he jumped them faster than Amazon delivers! But enough about them, this is all about him! You see Adonis’ swagger is 1000, and he is drippin’, drippin’, drippin’! Because this is his #RICHual! When the money speaks, no one checks the grammar! He’s gonna hit you with the hammer! 205 from the 215, you know what time it is! Showtime! Will Adonis show El Legado what happens when you try and hold people down?
NXT Championship: Finn Balor VS Kyle O’Reilly!
As the Prince said himself, “Life comes full circle in this business.” At one time, the longest reigning NXT Champion in history was also the inaugural WWE Universal Champion and a bright star on Raw and SmackDown. But he felt the need to go back to his roots in more ways than one. Now he is back on his throne as a TWO-TIME NXT Champion. But his challenger is the only THREE-TIME NXT Tag Team Champion, and that is Undisputed! Will Kyle usher in “the second wave” of the Golden Prophecy? Or is Balor too rrrreeeal for him?
The crowd chants “This is Awesome!” and we’re just at the special spotlight introductions! Then the belt is raised, and the moment of truth for both these long-standing veterans begins!
Kyle and Balor circle, feel things out and Kyle gets a testing kick in. Balor stays up as the fans are thunderous already. They tie up, Balor gets around to a waistlock but Kyle pries free to wrench to a hammerlock. Balor slips out quickly, waistlocks and slams Kyle down, but Kyle scrambles to turn Balor over. Kyle is after Balor with the mount, covers, but Balor headscissors before a count! Kyle pops out and the two stand off as fans cheer again. Balor and Kyle circle, tie up, and Balor headlocks. Kyle endures the grind, powers up but can’t power out as Balor holds tight. Kyle fights up to his feet as Balor grinds the headlock harder. Kyle stomps a foot and power out but Balor runs him over! Cover, ONE, Balor headlocks to a takedown!
Kyle tries to headscissor but Balor shrugs that off as he grinds the headlock. Kyle rolls to a cover, ONE, and then Kyle hits a back suplex! But Balor holds on! Balor grinds Kyle down but Kyle fights his way up. Fans rally as Kyle pries at the hold. Kyle still can’t power out but he stays on his feet. Kyle gets a leg and lifts but Balor anticipates the shin breaker to sunset flip! Kyle drops down on Balor for an ARMBAR! Balor gets up and around to get the ropebreak! Kyle lets go but kicks Balor and clubs the arm. Kyle yanks the arm, reels Balor in for a shoulder to shoulder collision, then he wrenches Balor down to his knees. Balor endures as Kyle grinds the shoulder. Fans rally as Balor gets up but Kyle wrenches. Balor rolls, tries to hook Kyle’s chin but Kyle wrangles Balor down.
Kyle cranks on the arm but Balor kips up! Kyle still gets a hammerlock, spins Balor around and sweeps the legs! Balor lands on the arm, Kyle is after it with another hammerlock and drops knees. Kyle drives elbows into the side, then throws a knee in. Kyle runs to knee Balor hard in the side! Kyle sits Balor up and is after the arm again but Balor clasps hands. Kyle still cranks on the hammerlock but Balor reaches back. Balor spins, trips Kyle and drops on him but Kyle slips right out to get the arm again. Fans continue to rally as Kyle leans on Balor. Balor moves around, gets another ropebreak, and Kyle lets go. Kyle brings Balor up, hammerlock takedown, but Balor knees him over and over to avoid a cover. Kyle cranks on the arm again, but Balor back drops!
Kyle sunset flips through but Balor rolls through that to basement dropkick! The legs still work! Balor shakes out the bad arm before he KICKS Kyle in the back! Cover, TWO! Balor has Kyle’s arm now and he stomps it! Balor has a standing armbar and pulls but Kyle endures. Fans rally again as Kyle endures. Balor mocks Kyle’s air guitar by using Kyle’s arm. Kyle tries to power up but Balor stomps him again! Balor hammerlocks and wrangles Kyle down, and even gives it some snap. Kyle moves around, Balor stands on him and drops knees on the hammerlock. Fans rally, Balor gives another snap, but Kyle endures. Kyle reaches back but Balor cranks the arm to avoid the headlock. Kyle keeps trying so Balor wrenches his arm more. Fans rally, Kyle stands and backs Balor but Balor sends him into buckles!
Balor elbows the arm and CHOPS Kyle in the chest! Balor wraps the arm on the rope to pull it! The ref counts, Balor lets go at 4 to CHOP Kyle again! Kyle leans on the ropes as he goes to another corner, but Balor CHOPS him there, too! Balor stomps Kyle, whips him corner to corner then runs in to CHOP again! Balor whips Kyle the other way for another CHOP! Kyle leans against ropes again but Balor won’t let him rest. Balor whips Kyle again, Kyle comes back with a BIG kitchen sink knee! Kyle and Balor both hobble, but Balor CHOPS again. Balo rruns, into a pop-up KICK! Kyle throws muay thai knees then a strike fest! Leg sweep and down goes Balor! Fans fire up as Kyle catches his breath. Balor gets to a corner, Kyle runs in for a forearm smash!
Kyle has the arm, ELBOW BREAKER! Balor throws forearms, Kyle throws knees, BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Kyle holds on, another BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! And a third! Cover, TWO! Balor survives that underhook hat trick and the fans fire up. Kyle stalks Balor, brings him up and goes for a lift but Balor elbows free. Kyle KICKS the leg and Balor drops to a knee! Balor is on the ropes, Kyle fires off more stirkes! Kyle throws knees, elbows but Balor pushes him away. Balor throws a BIG forearm! Kyle throws another! Balor back kicks HARD and Kyle falls! The ref checks on Kyle but Balor won’t let up! Balor stomps away at the ropes but the ref backs him off. The ref checks Kyle but Balor KICKS Kyle while he’s down!
Balor shows no mercy but the ref counts! Balor stops at 4 and Kyle is still down. Fans rally up for Kyle but Balor drags him up to bump off buckles. Balor rams his shoulder in over and over, then whips corner to corner HARD! Kyle bounces off buckles chest first and he might only be in worse shape! Balor drags Kyle back up and CHOPS him against the ropes! Balor puts Kyle throw the ropes and CLUBS him on the back. Balor goes side to side to kick Kyle in the kidneys! Kyle is down in a heap but he refuses to let this end the match. Balor stomps Kyle as he crawls around then drops down for a chinlock. Not quite a camel clutch but it still stretches the abs! Kyle endures, Balor leaps to drop an elbow! Cover, TWO! Kyle grits his teeth as he gets to a corner and the fans rally up even harder.
Balor heads after Kyle, CHOPS him again, then whips him corner to corner. Kyle stops himself, tries to get under but Balor KICKS him in the side! Balor brings Kyle up for the cobra twist! Kyle pops right out to hip toss Balor down! Kyle gets up, Balor runs and CHOPS him again! Balor runs but into a KNEE from Kyle! Kyle fishermans, REGAL PLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Balor survives but the fans are still rallying for Kyle! Kyle grits his teeth, drags Balor up and wrenches, but Balor CLUBS him and dragon sleepers! ELBOW DROP DDT! Cover, TWO!! Kyle is still in this but Balor grits his teeth now. Balor watches Kyle rise, runs in, SLING BLADE! Kyle flounders as Balor aims from the corner again. Balor wants Kyle to rise, and Kyle does, but Kyle dropkicks Balor’s legs out first!
Balor hobbles up, Kyle kicks his leg from the mat! Balor hobbles up again, Kyle has the leg, but Balor uses that to get the COBRA TWIST! Kyle endures, blood in his mouth! Balor CLUBS Kyle, dragon sleepers, but Kyle slips around, SHIN BREAKER! HEEL HOOK! Balor manages to stay up on one foot but Kyle cranks harder. Balor turns things around, into a SHARPSHOOTER! Kyle endures as his body is stretched again! Balor sits DEEP, drags Kyle from ropes, but Kyle refuses to quit! Kyle grits his teeth and gets the ropebreak! Balor lets go but how much does Kyle even have left?! Balor hobbles up as the fans are thunderous! Kyle gets to a corner, Balor heads over and tells him, “I am Finn Balor!” Balor stomps Kyle as he says, “I do this every night!”
Kyle crawls, Balor follows to stomp him more. Balor KICKS Kyle in the side but Kyle still manages to move. Balor stomps him into the corner and keeps going but the ref backs him off. Fans rally up for Kyle as Kyle grits his teeth. Balor stomps but Kyle grabs the foot! Kyle stands up, and ROCKS Balor! Kyle throws more forearms, Balor kicks the gut! Kyle kicks back! AX ‘N’ SMASH! PELE! YOYO LARIAT!! Both men are down and the fans fire up! “This is Awesome!” but far from over! The fans build to a rally as Balor and Kyle slowly rise. Kyle KICKS Balor in the chest! Kyle wants Balor to get up, he does, and Balor blocks the kick! Balor SLAPS Kyle, half hatch, but Kyle suplexes! Balor fights out of that but Kyle has the GUILLOTINE FACELOCK!
Kyle squeezes tight, Balor fades fast! Kyle lets go to KNEE Balor in the stomach! Then BRAIN BUSTER!! Cover, TWO! Short Arm Scissor! Balor clasps hands as Kyle wants the armbar, and is even using Balor’s own leg as leverage against him! Balor’s grip pries apart and Kyle has the ARMBAR! Balor hurries up to stomp away on Kyle’s face! Balor is free, both men are down and the fans are still thunderous! Balor gets up, CLUBS Kyle on the back then CLUBS him again! Balor smothers Kyle into the dragon sleeper, drags him up, BLOODY SUNDAY! Cover, TWO!?! Kyle survives and the crowd is fired up all over again! Balor hobbles up with Kyle in the drop zone, and he climbs up top. Balor grits his teeth as he looks down at Kyle, but Kyle is up top and sweeps the legs!
Balor is stuck, Kyle has the legs for a DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Balor tumbles down but Kyle drags him up again, for another DRAGON SCREW in the ropes! Kyle hurries to a corner as Balor is stuck again! FLYING KNEE DROP! Balor is down now but Kyle heads up top!? ANOTHER FLYING KNEE! And the KNEEBAR!! Balor endures as Kyle has the Achilles Lock!! Balor hurries to pry the hold apart but Kyle just shifts to another angle! Balor endures, kicks at Kyle, but that leg gets caught! DOUBLE HEEL HOOK!! Fans are electric as Balor punches Kyle! Kyle just wrenches both ankles again! Balor turns over, crawls and reaches, ROPEBREAK! Kyle has no choice but to let go! The crowd chants for “NXT! NXT!” for another incredible main event!
Kyle throws off the wrist tape in frustration as he grits his teeth. Kyle KICKS Balor in the leg and Balor falls over! Kyle hobbles and Balor flounders up, but Balor drops down to avoid another kick! Balor suckers Kyle into a trip up and DOUBLE STOMP! Kyle clutches his stomach, but he still runs in to KNEE Balor in the corner! GERMAN SUPLEX! But Balor’s right up to DOUBLE STOMP again!! Both men are down and the crowd is still fired up! Balor hobbles over to a corner and he drags himself up the ropes. Balor leaps, COUP DE GRACE!!! Cover, Balor wins!!
Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall (still NXT Champion)
You wouldn’t think he won from the blood in his mouth, but the Prince still sits on the throne atop NXT! If Balor survived even this much, what will it take for anyone to take the title from him? As for Kyle, he seems to have won something from Balor: his respect! Balor offers a hand, Kyle takes it, and the champion helps his challenger up. Will Kyle be back for another shot at the title?
Wait, what the hell?! Ridge Holland is at ringside, carrying an unconscious Adam Cole!! And he dumps Cole over the barriers! Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish hurry out to check on Cole and shout for medics to hurry! How did this happen?! Only Cole and Holland know, but Cole’s in no shape to tell his side of the story. Will the Undisputed Era make Holland answer for what he’s done?
My Thoughts:
For this being only a TakeOver with a number, not a subtitle, this TakeOver blew me out of the water! No titles changed but that’s never a reason to complain because all the matches were amazing! Priest VS Gargano opening the show was a great surprise in itself, and it was an incredible match to open with! A lot of new takes on moves, like Priest using his height advantage for more of a full nelson dunk than slam on Gargano, and it really did feel like it could go either way. Priest retains, so it was put on Candice to try and get something. Shirai VS Candice was itself incredible, and with all the screw job attempts, I almost thought that was going to do Shirai in. Shirai finds a way, but wow, the Women’s Division is top loaded again.
Everyone was fairly certain Ember Moon was the mystery return, but it seems almost anticlimactic after they also gave us Toni Storm’s little titantron message. Will Rhea have to compete for the shot she wants? Obviously that’s how things tend to go, but I feel like since she, Shotzi, Dakota and Raquel are all entangled, that story will again quite literally interfere with whatever contenders match Rhea is in. Ember VS Storm is great just saying it, and whether it’s Ember VS Shirai or Storm VS Shirai, those are both great. The latter being a rematch from the second May Young Classic makes it seem like it could wait for a real big stage, like WrestleMania 37 (wherever it ends up), for the second NXT Women’s Championship match to be part of that PPV.
Kushida VS Dream was good but it seemed rather one sided in the end. Given the outside issues that already shot down Dream’s chances of being NXT Champion in that Parking Lot Brawl with Cole, don’t expect Dream to win anything big any time soon. For that matter, Kushida going after him so brutally, he might be off TV entirely to let the heat die down. Kushida should go after a belt after this now, and while we’d hope it’s the North American Championship, it might be the Cruiserweight Championship since he is in the 205 Live intro video. Escobar VS Swerve was a great match, better than their round robin one, and what strong heat with copying Latino Heat. Tehuti/Adonis joining this is interesting, but I did say a month or so ago that he and Swerve would make a great duo, so maybe we see that starts now.
NXT bringing Halloween Havoc back this year is great (and probably just a way to stick it to AEW) and I love that Shotzi Blackheart will be the host. She used to host horror movie drive-in type events, she’ll certainly have a lot of fun with this and make it that much more fun, I can’t wait to see what happens. Balor VS O’Reilly, what an incredible match! They were both going really hard, but maybe too hard, because I’m fairly certain someone was spitting real blood, not just movie effect blood. Hopefully it isn’t so bad that we again have to see the title vacated. But what a twist for Holland to be there with a brutalized Cole. Was that story about him beating the hell out of four bullies foreshadowing for this? Is he going to take on the UE alone? Is this a red herring so we don’t suspect someone within the UE? I’ve said before that mystery and unpredictability is best for wrestling, and that’s where we are right now!
My Score: 9.6/10
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IF YA SMELLALALALALALA~…!
As Cody Rhodes teams with Damian Priest & Braun Strowman against Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline, FINALLY, The Rock has come back to SmackDown!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Drew McIntyre VS Jimmy Uso; Jimmy wins.
- The Miz & Carmelo Hayes VS R-Truth & LA Knight; Miz & Melo win.
- Tiffany Stratton VS Candice LeRae w/ Nia Jax; Tiff wins.
- Naomi w/ Bianca Belair VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez; No Contest.
- WWE Tag Team Championships: #DIY VS Pretty Deadly; Pretty Deadly wins, by disqualification, and DIY retain the titles.
- Six Man Tag: Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga; changed to…
- Damian Priest & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu w/ Tama Tonga; Priest & Braun win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Cody Rhodes talks with Nick Aldis backstage.
They shake hands, but the SmackDown General Manager tells the WWE Champion there’s been a change: Cody’s out of the Six Man Tag match. What? Why would Aldis do that? It is out of Aldis’s hands. Wait, Solo Sikoa shows up to do what he did, but they can’t do the Six Man Tag that they advertised? How is this out of Aldis’s hands? Who do they need to talk to so they can do the match? Aldis says there’s no one either of them can call, if you smell what’s cooking. This is coming from The Final Boss, and The Final Boss wants to see Cody in the ring tonight. What business could The Great One have with The American Nightmare?
Drew McIntyre VS Jimmy Uso!
The Scottish Terminator rubbed it in Big Jim’s face that only one of them is going to Elimination Chamber in Toronto, which Big Jim was able to brush off. But McIntyre harping on how only one Uso is going to WrestleMania was a step too far. These two look to have it out, but is Jimmy just playing into McIntyre’s hands? Or will McIntyre get embarrassed by “the other Uso” this close to that big time match?
Speaking of, Jimmy has a message for Drew as he heads to gorilla. “Everybody know you’re going to Elimination Chamber, right? But Big Jimmy got a question for the Big Easy: Will Drew go onto the Elimination Chamber and win that? Will Drew go onto WrestleMania and win that? Ey, Drew, I think we got an answer for you, Uce. The answer is…” “NO YEET!” Jimmy makes his entrance, the bell rings, and the fans rally behind Jimmy. Jimmy and Drew jaw, and then Drew raises his hands, to say UP YOURS! But Jimmy ROCKS and CHOPS away! Drew puts Jimmy in a corner, Jimmy dodges to CHOP!
Jimmy climbs and he rains down fists! The fans count, Drew dumps Jimmy tot eh apron at 5, but Jimmy GAMANGIRIS! Jimmy goes up, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Jimmy hurries to CHOP, then he whips. Drew reverses to send Jimmy to the corner. Jimmy BOOTS back, goes up, and leaps, but into a clinch! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Jimmy flounders to a corner, Drew runs up to SPLASH and OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Jimmy flounders again, the ref has Drew hold on, and Jimmy bails out. Drew storms out to get Jimmy and he whips Jimmy HARD into barrier! The fans boo but Drew looms over Jimmy.
The ring count starts, Drew mockingly calls him “Jey,” then puts Jimmy in the ring. Drew says NO MANIA for Jimmy. Drew stands Jimmy up, ROCKS him, then runs up, only for Jimmy to put him on the apron! Drew blocks a superkick, but not the DRAGON WHIP! Drew drops, Jimmy DIVES! Down goes Drew and the fans fire up! Jimmy grins, goes back to the apron, and then aims. But Drew stops the Penalty Kick to THROW Jimmy down! Drew then has Jimmy in the Reverse Alabama Lift! REVERSE ALABAMA SLAM onto the steel steps! Drew stands on the desk to say “NO YEET!” while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Drew revels in the heat from New Orleans, then he leaves Jimmy behind. The ref checks Jimmy, he’s able to continue, so a ring count starts. Drew paces while Jimmy stirs. Jimmy drags himself up using the desk, then lunges in at 9! Drew is annoyed but he rains down fists! Drew stomps Jimmy, then eggs him on. Jimmy rises as the fans rally, but Drew is right on him in the corner. Drew winds up, but Jimmy counter punches! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And whips, only for Drew to reverses. Jimmy goes up, but Drew KICKS him out of the air! Drew then hauls Jimmy up, snap suplex! Cover, TWO!
Drew says okay, Big Jim. He clamps onto Jimmy with a top wristlock and grinds the arm. Jimmy fights up, fireman’s carries, but Drew elbows free. Drew bumps Jimmy off buckles, then hauls him up to the top rope! Drew CLUBS Jimmy on the back, climbs up, then CLUBS Jimmy more. Jimmy fires elbows and Drew drops back. But Drew runs up to CLUB Jimmy again! SmackDown returns to single picture as Drew CLUBS away on Jimmy again! Jimmy keeps taunting “Jey,” then drags him up. Jimmy fights the back suplex! The fans rally, Jimmy fires hands and a HEADBUTT! Jimmy SMACKS Drew off the post!
Jimmy rises to USO IN THE WIND! Down goes Drew and the fans fire up! A standing count starts while both men stir on the mat. They both stand at 5, and Drew swings! Jimmy counter punches, then fires more shots! Mule kick, UPPERCUT, but then Jimmy dodges Drew! SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Drew is tougher than that, but Jimmy hurries to a corner. Jimmy aims as Drew goes to the other corner, “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jimmy runs, but Drew FLYING HEADBUTTS! The Glasgow Kiss stuns Jimmy, and Drew hits a SPINEBUSTER! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Jimmy shows his own toughness, and the fans rally behind him.
Drew paces, then he stalks Jimmy. Drew stands Jimmy up, reels him in, but Jimmy fights the underhooks! Jimmy wrenches, UPPERCUTS, but Drew ROCKS Jimmy back! Jimmy UPPERCUTS, Drew HAYMAKERS! Drew whips, Jimmy reverses and Drew ends up on the apron! Drew ROCKS Jimmy first, then climbs the corner! FLYING- SUPERKICK! Jimmy runs to SPEAR! Cover, TWO!! Drew survives, Jimmy’s spear doesn’t hit quite like The Tribal Chief’s. Jimmy goes to the corner, climbs up, and the fans rally up. USO- NO, Jimmy rolls through as Drew moves! Drew dodges a lariat to NECKBREAKER!
Both men are down, the fans rally, and Drew kips up! Drew scowls as he aims at Jimmy. “THREE! TWO! ONE!” CLAY- SUPERKICK!! Jimmy hits first! GLASGOW KISS returns! Drew reels Jimmy in, “This is your WrestleMania! This is as close as you get!” Drew shouts Jimmy is nothing, then ROCKS him with forearm after forearm! GLASGOW KISS! Another Reverse Alabama, but Jimmy victory rolls it! JIMMY WINS!!!
Winner: Jimmy Uso, by pinfall
Drew is furious, but his own ego caught him there! But then Drew CLOBBERS Jimmy! The fans boo Drew being a sore loser, but he puts Jimmy back in the ring! Drew rains down fists, then he DRIBBLES Jimmy off the mat! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Drew says that was Jimmy’s Mania Moment! Drew will win the Chamber, he will go to Mania, and he will win there! Jimmy means NOTHING to Drew! Drew puts Jimmy up against the post, then takes aim! The fans boo, but refs and producers rush out here! They swarm Drew to keep him from going after Jimmy again. Drew says fine, fine, then takes his leave.
Producers help Jimmy to his feet, but then Drew BLASTS through the refs! CLAYMORE for Jimmy!! The Scottish Terminator hits his target, then laughs as he actually leaves. Will McIntyre make this his Road to WrestleMania?
A car pulls into the parking lot.
And out steps Solo Sikoa. Solo heads inside, and he finds Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga waiting. Solo tells them that last week with Tama, that was an accident. Jacob says yeah, it’s all good, Uce. But keep it 100: If it wasn’t an accident, Solo wouldn’t be standing here right now. Well, good! Glad to see we’re all on the same page. Solo says he will be in the corner during the match for Jacob & Tama. Uh, no, Solo, no disrespect, but Jacob & Tama have been running things on SmackDown these past couple weeks. So tonight, it’s Jacob & Solo running the play? Yadada mean? Yeah, of course. And that right there, Jacob, is exactly why Solo loves him.
Solo says he’ll be back, he has to talk with Nick Aldis. Solo heads out, but will he really just step right back into place from before he lost the ula fala?
Carmelo Hayes is backstage.
R-Truth calls out to Melo, and says for the first time ever, Truth VS Melo! What’s Truth talking about? Duh, they have a match. No, Truth, Melo knows. But they had a match last week. Truth says he has never met Melo in his life, but they have a tag match tonight. What? No, they don’t. Who even made this match? Him. Truth, they are not going through this H1M who’s on first thing again. Melo is H1M. No, him made the match. The Miz!? Miz says he’s H1M. So now there’s two of you? No no no! Melo is H1M, this is The Miz! Yeah, #MeloDon’tMiz! NO! That’s not a thing! Tonight, they are. Who’s Truth’s partner?
Truth says he’s got a guy. A Louisiana legend! In fact, he just got here, so Truth’s gotta go. Laters. Miz says he has been workshopping this, and the fans love it. Think about it: Melo Don’t Miz! Melo Don’t Miz! And we are…! Melo shakes his head. Truth steps in and says Miz just wants Melo to say, “Awesome.” Miz offers a fist bump, Melo says no. Will Melo wish he had missed tonight’s show? Or will Miz actually help H1M get another win?
Zelina Vega speaks.
“My whole life, people have taken one look at me, and they try to define me. My size has never stopped me before. It never stopped me from becoming tag team champion. Or my personal favorite, the history-making first-time-ever Queen of the Ring. That’s me. Make no mistake about it, I’ve never had it easy. I had to scratch and claw to get anything around here. But this is a fresh start. Because I have something to prove. And my dreams are a lot bigger than your measuring stick. It ain’t over until Zelina Vega says it’s over.”
The Miz & Carmelo Hayes VS R-Truth & ???
Miz makes his entrance but Melo kinda steps all over it. So he already missed his cue… But who did Truth find to team with him in the Big Easy? We’ll see, after the break.
SmackDown returns and Truth makes his entrance. “What’s up?” Well, more like who is his partner? He’ll tell us! His tag team partner is a local legend, born and bred right here in New Orleans! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Louisiana Knight! Wait, he means L A Knight! Yes, Louisiana abbreviated is LA, but that’s not… Oh, Truth… Truth gives Knight a Po’ Boy and some Mardi Gras beads, so Knight embraces it. The teams sort out, and Truth calls out him! Does he mean Miz or Melo? Well, Melo says he is H1M, so that’s who starts. The fans cheer on Knight while Truth and Melo tie up. Melo KNEES low, whips, but Truth reverses.
Melo springboards, FADEAWAY JUMPER! Melo makes his free throw, but Truth drop toeholds! Truth headlocks, Melo powers up and out but Truth whips! Melo turns hip toss into lateral press, TWO! Truth has a ghost pin, TWO! Melo trips to cover, ONE! Truth trips to cover, ONE! Melo runs up, Truth does the splits, and then hits a BIG hip toss! The fans fire up, Truth counts, Melo gets up at TWO, but Truth was just goofing. The ref explains to Truth that he is the ref, not Truth! Melo is annoyed, he runs up on Truth, but Truth wrenches him around! Melo pulls hair but Knight tags in. The fans fire up as Knight fires hands!
Knight ROCKS Melo, whips Melo, but Melo reverses! SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Knight drags Melo up to tag Truth back in, and Truth ROCKS Melo! Melo staggers, but he refuses to tag! Truth arm-drags Melo, then grinds the arm. Melo insists he’s got this, then arm-drags free. Truth staggers up, he and Melo bump heads! Truth staggers around more, and he tags Miz?! Truth forgot The Awesome Truth isn’t a thing anymore! Again! Melo BLASTS Truth off the apron, the fans boo, but Miz tags himself in! Melo is annoyed, but Miz goes to fetch Truth while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again, and Melo has Truth. Truth ROCKS Melo, but Melo holds onto the wristlock! Truth reaches for Knight, Knight reaches for Truth, but Melo holds on. Truth takes a swing, but into an O’Conner Roll! TWO and Melo BLASTS Knight! Truth rolls Melo up, TWO! Melo kicks low, calls his shot, but Truth suplexes for a STUNNER! The fans fire up while both men are down! Truth and Melo crawl, hot tags to Miz and Knight! The fans fire up as Knight rallies on Miz! “YEAH! YEAH!” Knight whips, Miz reverses, but Knight lEAPING LARIATS! Knight TOSSES Melo in for good measure!
Knight stomps a mudhole into Melo, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” LARIAT for Miz! KNEE for Melo! Knight scoops and POWERSLAMS Miz! Knight keeps running, JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Knight stays on Miz as he brings Miz up. Knight ROCKS Miz, then ROCKS him again! Knight whips, Miz grabs the ropes. Miz KICKS, then takes a swing, but into a back suplex! Miz lands out, tag to Melo! Miz ELBOWS Knight, but Knight scoops! Miz tilt-o-whirls through, Melo SUPERKICKS Knight down! cover, TWO! Knight stays in this but Melo says he’s got this! Melo waits on Knight, then leaps, but NO 48!
Knight kicks low, but NO B F T! Tag to Truth! Knight ELBOWS Melo, Truth runs in! CENA SHOULDER TACKLES! Then the SPIN OUT BOMB! Truth says it’s time! “YOU CANT SEE ME~!” truth runs for the FIVE KNCUKLE SHUFFLE! Truth then fireman’s carries, but Melo slips free! Melo shoves, Truth dodges, and Truth hits the LIE DETECTOR! Truth then gets Melo in the S T R-TRUTH! But Miz CLOBBERS Truth! Knight ROCKS Miz, then LARIATS him up and out! Knight then goes out to THROW Miz into barriers! The fans fire up again, but NAKAMURA ATTACKS KNIGHT!
The fans boo, but the sinister samurai then POSTS Knight!! Nakamura slithers away while Melo keeps the ref’s attention! Truth sees Knight is down, Melo runs up, but Truth dodges! Miz tags in, full nelson, and a FIRST 48 FINALE COMBO?!? Cover, Miz & Melo win!!
Winners: The Miz & Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall
Well, what do you know? Nakamura aside, Miz and Melo made it work! Okay, they’re both trying to hog the spotlight, but is there a future for Melo Don’t Miz? Will Knight only have more of a reason to take that title off Nakamura now?
Charlotte Flair speaks.
“The GOAT… doesn’t have to call themselves The GOAT. Now, I have crafted a legacy that no one, I mean no one, can touch. And I’m back.” The Women’s Royal Rumble Winner chose Tiffany Stratton, but will The Queen take back her throne? Or will WWE always be on #TiffyTime? Speaking of…
Tiffany Stratton VS Candice LeRae!
The WWE Women’s Champion may have gotten past Nia Jax, but now she knows Charlotte Flair is waiting for her at WrestleMania, and is going to be teaming with Trish Stratus in Toronto! Will she be in Tiffy Top Shape for that Tiffy Trishy dream match? Or will the Poison Pixie be quite the problem all on her own?
Before the match, Tiff grabs a mic while the fans cheer. Tiffy says, “I know, I know. You know it, you know it, and you know it. Ever since I won this title, everybody’s just been so obsessed with me. And last week, I had Nia Jax beat, until Candice LeRae decided to interfere and help her little meal ticket. And at Elimination Chamber, Trish Stratus and I make sure the Unstoppable Force comes to a definitive end!” The fans cheer that, but Tiff says enough about them. Let’s talk Charlotte Flair. The fans boo that name, but Tiff says Charlotte took her sweet old time, grabbed a chair, grabbed a mic, and she looked down on Tiff.
Charlotte chose Tiff as her WrestleMania opponent. In that moment, Tiff’s dream came true! And as she lied down there and looked up at Charlotte, she realized the rumors are true: No one loves to kick a girl when she’s down quite like Charlotte Flair. So at WrestleMania, Tiff isn’t coming for Charlotte’s legacy; that’s all Charlotte’s. Tiff is coming for the spot Charlotte desires the most: The number one spot as the top girl in the WWE! But here comes Nia & Candice to interrupt. Nia has a mic to tell Tiffy, “I Have to say, this is really cute. Like, it’s really cute that you actually think you were gonna beat me last week.”
Doesn’t Candice think that is cute? Candice says yes, it is so~ cute. And Tiff wouldn’t even be standing there if not for little Trish Stratus~. Exactly! And it’s even cuter that Tiff is out here talking about Charlotte when she wont’ even see WrestleMania! Because after Nia & Candide destroy Tiff at Elimination Chamber, Nia is coming back for her WWE Women’s Championship. Nia & Candice step up to the ring, and Nia says Tiff won’t even see the Grandest Stage of Them All. Tiff tells Nia to just give it up. This title isn’t even hers anymore. And once Tiff beats Candice tonight, Nia won’t have anyone to do her dirty work anymore!
Candice tells Tiffy that while they’re meant have a match right now, she and Nia are feeling impatient. Nia says they should just get rid of Tiff right now! But the ref steps in and says not gonna happen! Tiff VS Candice will, after the break.
SmackDown returns and Candice has Tiffy down with an armlock. Tiff fights up as the fans rally, but Candice wrenches to wristlock. Tiff spins through, goes to ropes, then up the corner to flip and arm-drag! The fans fire up as Tiff rallies on Candice! DROPKICK, and Tiff snarls! Tiff goes to the corner, and Charlotte makes her entrance? The Queen chooses to be fashionably late all so everyone looks at her, including Tiffy. Tiffy handsprings, but Candice dodges! Candice runs up to UPPERCUT, then she snapmares and NECK SNAPPERS! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Candice clamps onto Tiffy with a top wristlock.
The fans “WOO~” as Charlotte now chooses to join commentary. Tiff fights up, has the ROPEBREAK, but Candice CLUBS away on her! Candice backs off, runs up, but Tiff drop toeholds her to ropes! Tiff runs, HIP ATTACKS, and Candice flops back! Cover, TWO! Tiff stays on Candice with a whip, but Candice reverses. Candice CLOBBERS Tiff, covers, TWO! Charlotte corrects Tiffy’s words earlier: Charlotte isn’t the “top girl,” she is THE woman in WWE. Candice HIP DROPS Tiff but the fans rally up. Candice scuffs Tiff, then grinds an arm to drop a knee on the elbow! And another knee drop! Tiff endures and the fans rally up.
Candice keeps on that arm, thrashes it around, but Tiff fights up. Tiff fires body shots, then shoves Candice to Alabama Lift her! Candice sunset flips, Tiff rolls through, TIFFY STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Tiff is frustrated and Candice bails out. Tiff goes to the apron, goes up the corner, and ARIHARA MOONSAULTS! Direct hit on Candice and Nia, and Tiff almost stuck the landing! The fans fire up with Tiff and she goes into the ring. Tiff points to the WrestleMania sign, and then at Charlotte, but SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Tiff waits on Candice, Candice slides in, and Tiff stomps her down! Candice bails out, Nia is there to coach her, but Tiff lets the ring count start. Candice gets on the apron, Tiff kicks her, but Candice RAMS Tiff! Candice CLUBS Tiff, has her in the ropes, and hits a NECKBREAKER HOTSHOT! Candice climbs, aims, and leaps to MISSILE DROPKICK Tiff down! Cover, TWO! Candice is frustrated but this is why Tiff’s a champ. The fans rally, but Candice stomps Tiff! Candice scowls at the fans, stalks Tiff, then brings her up. Tiff fires body shots, then she rolls Candice up! TWO, and Candice CLOBBERS Tiff! Cover, TWO, into a ghost pin! TWO!
Candice escapes to hit a CODE BREAKER! Both women are down, but Candice scowls again as she crawls over to Tiff. Candice rains down fists, Nia tells fans to shut up, and Candice steps on Tiff’s face. Candice huffs ‘n’ puffs, pushes Tiff around, then scuffs her. Tiff rolls Candice up again, TWO! Candice DECKS Tiff! Cover, TWO! Charlotte is stoic on commentary as Candice drags Tiff up and puts her in a corner. Candice fires hands, then backs off. Candice runs up to ROCK Tiff again! Candice then runs, but Tiff dodges! SmackDown returns to single picture, and Tiff rallies with LARIAT after LARIAT! The fans fire up, Tiff handsprings, BACK ELBOW!
Tiff then reels Candice in for a SKY HIGH! High stack, TWO! The fans rally for Tiff, Nia coaches Candice, but Charlotte still seems nonplussed. Tiff and Candice rise, and Candice runs up. Candice puts Tiff on the apron, but Tiff ROCKS her! Tiff bumps Candice off buckles, then goes up, but Candice ROCKS her back! Candice climbs up, and she fires hands on Tiff! Tiff fights the suplex! Tiff DECKS Candice, then adjusts position, to SANTON- FLOP! Candice ghost pins, TWO!! Tiff escapes, but Candice hits the step-up SENTON! And then a LIONSAUL FLOP! Tiff hurries to fireman’s carry, ROLLING SENTON! And then PRETTIEST MOON- NO, Nia drags Candice out of the ring!
The fans boo, Nia tells them to shut up, but Tiff is on the apron! Nia swings, Tiff cartwheels over, and then she DROPKICKS Nia! Tiff Alabama Lifts Candice, to ALABAMA SLAM her into barriers! Tiff stares down Charlotte, tells her just wait for Mania, then she puts Candice in the ring. Tiff goes to the corner, PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Cover, Tiff wins!
Winner: Tiffany Stratton, by pinfall
Charlotte gives moderate applause, but Nia CLOBBERS Tiff from behind! The fans boo, but Nia just drags Tiff to a corner. Nia goes up, but wait! Trish is here!! The fans fire up for the legend as she rushes into the ring! Trish avoids a haymaker to CHICK KICK! Then THESZ PRESS for Candice! And then a SPINEBUSTER! Trish helps Tiff to her feet, but Nia grabs them both! Trish fires fast hands on Nia! Candice CHOP BLOCKS Trish! Tiff is still dazed, Nia HEADBUTTS her back down! Nia & Candice mug Trish, and then Nia HEADBUTTS Trish! Trish & Tiff are side by side, and Nia drags them into the drop zone! A-NIA-LATOR!!
The fans boo but there’s nothing can be done! Nia grins as she helps Candice away, will these two trash Trish & Tiff in Toronto? Charlotte steps into the ring, stands over Tiff, and points to the WrestleMania sign. Will The Irresistible Force & Poison Pixie unwittingly do the dirty work of The Queen of Flair?
Cody talks with Damian Priest backstage.
Priest asks why Cody’s boy, The Rock, is here tonight. Cody says given the time of year, his guess is as good as anyone’s. But tonight will surely be eventful. Cody congratulates Priest on entering the Elimination Chamber. Priest says what’s wild is, last year, they both walked out as champions. What sucks is that this year, only one of them can. Now, Priest is man enough and he respects Cody to say that after Chamber, he’s coming for that title. Cody says he wouldn’t have it any other way. Cody heads out, but what business does The Rock have tonight?
Braun Strowman steps in, and he tells Priest that congrats on winning, and good luck in the Chamber. But let’s be honest, Braun had Jacob dead to rights last week. If not for Solo Sikoa, things would look a lot different next week. Priest chuckles and says take it easy, he’s sounding like Drew with the excuses. But it is what it is, Priest just beat Braun to the punch. But that was last week. Tonight, Solo and Jacob, two of the baddest men in the business. Priest & Braun handling business? Oh, they’re handling business. The only business Braun cares about is getting his hands on those two. Priest says Braun definitely will.
Braun heads out, will the Monster of All Monsters and the Archer of Infamy make sure Solo & Jacob #GetTheseHands? Or will the rogues run roughshod all over SmackDown once again?
Backstage interview with Naomi & Bianca Belair.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and brings up last week’s SmackDown, the security footage led us to believe Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez were the ones behind Jade Cargill’s attack. Now, hold on, Saxton. They don’t think, Naomi knows they were. Fair enough. But this Monday, they can get their revenge when they defend the tag titles against Liv & Raquel. How ready are they for this match? Bianca says so ready! They have been waiting for months for an update. Jade has been recovering, she hasn’t been able to call or text, so the GlowEST took matters into their own hands to get revenge.
Bianca & Naomi will handle Liv & Raquel, then move on to Elimination Chamber, where one of them is gonna win to face Rhea at WrestleMania. Not only will you #FeelTheGlowEST on Monday, but Liv feels it tonight! #Let’sGLOW! The champs head out, but will they clear their Road to WrestleMania of any other distractions?
Alexa Bliss speaks.
“When I was away, there was a lot of… change that happened in me. But when I look around, I see this place is still the same. The names and faces may be different, but the desperation and insecurity remains the same. You’ll see Toronto when I turn the Elimination Chamber into something of a playground of my own. I know the Chamber. I love the Chamber. I’ve won the Chamber. And for the other five women, it’s gonna be a Hell like they’ve never experienced before. Need I remind you, this is my division, and I am in charge.” Bliss smiles and says, “See you soon.” The film comes off the reel, but will things get twisted in Toronto?
Naomi w/ Bianca Belair VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez!
The Big Easy is all about having fun, and they’re fired up for Naomi’s entrance. But wait! Liv & Raquel don’t wait, they attack Bianca & Naomi while the lights are still down! They mug Naomi, but Bianca drags Liv out of the ring! Then Bianca storms in to fire off on Raquel! The fans fire up, but Liv returns to CHOP BLOCK Bianca! Raquel hauls Bianca up for a TEJANA BOMB!! Naomi runs up, fires more hands, but Liv brings Naomi around. Naomi fires hands on her, but Raquel throws her down! Liv runs up, OBLIVION!
Liv & Raquel stand tall, the refs rush out here, but clearly the singles match isn’t happening. Will we be getting something even meaner and nastier between these four on Monday?
The Rock arrives!
His truck pulls into the parking lot, but we’ll see him in the ring, after the break!
SmackDown returns and…
Aldis is chewing out Liv & Raquel for the attack. He doesn’t know what they get away with on Raw, but they can’t pull that crap here. Now get the hell out of his building. Liv & Raquel just laugh that off, but then Chelsea Green & Piper Niven walk in. Chelsea says have no fear, Chelsea & Piper are here to sub in for Bianca and Naomi at Elimination Chamber. Aldis sighs, and says they’re not missing the Chamber. What? But Chelsea had an outfit picked out! This is a travesty to not have the greatest Canadian export since maple syrup on a Canadian PLE! Does he know who she is? The first-ever, longest reigning, tallest, shortest, prettiest, richest, tannest, sparkliest, oldest, youngest Women’s US Champion! Piper asks what this is aboot, eh?
Aldis says this is them testing his patience. They need to pack their gear and whatever else they want, because they’ll be in action next week on SmackDown in Toronto. And oh, it’ll be a good one. Wait, they need more details! At least an e-calendar notification? Aldis is leaving Chelsea in the dark on what’s coming, will she absolutely hate it?
The Rock heads to the ring!
Wait, what is this New Orleans related remix? The Final Boss steps out on stage, he shows those goosebumps, then continues down the ramp, shaking hands with fans. The Rock hits his signature pose on the corner, but then takes the long way around to pick up a fan’s phone for them before going back into the ring. The fans all cheer for “ROCKY! ROCKY!” and he grabs himself a mic. He waits as the fans continue to chant his name, and then he says, “Ahh, you feel it, don’t you? You feel it. The Rock has got chills up and down his body because you know, on a Friday night, for the Final Boss to get inside his bird and fly all the way here, you know that I’m dropping some ish on you tonight!”
The fans fire up and The Rock smiles. Rock says, “Let’s get this show on the road.” The fans anticipate what’s coming but he says hold on, he’ll do it. “FINALLY! The Rock has come back…” “TO NEW ORLEANS~!” Rock smiles, and he adds, FINALLY, WrestleMania is coming back to New Orleans!! The fans are thunderous to hear that! WrestleMania 30, WrestleMania 34, and now WrestleMania 42!? Yes, next year, 2026, LIVE from the Superdome! One of the greatest cities on Earth in New Orleans, Louisiana! The pyro goes off to commemorate the occasion, and the logo is already on the tron! Rock smiles at that, then he smiles at the WrestleMania 41 Vegas logo.
The fans are losing their minds, as we now know April 11th and 12th, 2026, the Big Easy has the Grandest Stage of Them All. Rock says you damn right holy ish! Oh when the saints go marching in…! Oh how I’d love… Wait, no, this ain’t singalong with The Final Boss! Sit there, shut up, and let The Final Boss sing the song! The fans are torn, but Rock says he sings! Oh how I’d love, to be in that number~! Oh when the saints go marching in~! Okay, that’s good enough. You got him, that was a great duet. The Rock is singing with the largest collection of STD’d trailer trash he has ever seen! The fans can’t believe Rock would do that to them!
Rock says now, dropping this news wasn’t the only gift he was going to drop on us. The Final Boss came here to call somebody out. The Rock will call out a man who he respects, who he admires, and who we all admire. That man is our WWE Champion, the one and only, Cody Rhodes. The fans cheer as The American Nightmare makes his entrance! They sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” and we get Cody’s pyro before he goes to the ring. Cody gets his second “WHOA~ OH~!” and round of pyro, then he steps inside to join The Rock. The fans cheer Cody on, so he holds up the title and the fans cheer even more.
Cody grabs a mic, but Rock says, “That feels good, doesn’t it? I mean, that’s gotta feel amazing, right? They love you, man.” Cody tells NOLA, “I love you, too.” Rock says this is crazy. Pretty much no one knows this, but since after WrestleMania last year, they’ve actually become good friends. No, it’s true, they have. Last time they were together was the Raw Netflix debut. Rock gave Cody his flowers, told Cody he has carried the company like the incredible champion that he is, so thank you, Cody. Rock meant it, and that night, they went to the back, drank tequila for two hours and had a great ol’ time.
They chopped it up, had a blast, but Rock wants to call Cody out here for something important. Here’s the thing… The fans get a bit rowdy as they wait, and Rock says Cody is a great champion. A great WWE Champion. Cody knows that. Again, they’ve become good friends, so over the months, they’ve texted. Even their moms became good friends! Look! Mama Johnson & Mama Rhodes together after WrestleMania 40! It is a pleasure becoming Cody’s friend. But Rock wanted this face to face to tell him a few things. One: Cody has been a great champion, but he needs to understand. Yes, The Rock, The Final Boss, is on the Board of TKO. And TKO owns WWE.
The Rock is the Director of the Board of TKO. Don’t boo that! The Rock’s good friend, Ari Emanuel, who owns everything Endeavor, The Rock joked with Ari, “Can you believe that you own The WWE?” Ari says he doesn’t own the WWE, The Rock does. Rock said no, no, he doesn’t know if he owns the WWE. But The Rock knows he is the most powerful… Cody, you are a great champion. But Rock wants Cody to be something more. Rock wants Cody to be something more than just our champion. Rock wants Cody to be his champion. The fans don’t like where that’s going.
Cody says he did not expect them to become friends, nor their moms to become friends, nor the tequila. Cody didn’t have that on his bingo card. But becoming The Rock’s champion? The Rock of all people should know, Cody is the people’s champion. The fans cheer Cody more, and Rock says yes! Cody is their champion! Of course! The Rock is also The People’s Champion, he loves that about Cody. This is their universe, they were both born into this business. But Rock means something even bigger than just this. Rock knows Cody’s goal is to bring as much joy and happiness to everyone around the world, as many as possible.
The fans cheer, and Rock says that’s Cody. Cody is that guy, and everyone knows it. Cody is on social media, Instagram, millions of followers. Millions, and millions! The Rock has half a BILLION. That’s not a flex. But The Rock is the most followed American man in the world, that’s what he wants for Cody. Rock wants Cody to be even higher. If Cody becomes The Rock’s Champion, he will open doors to possibilities Cody never even imagined. If Cody becomes The Rock’s Champion, every dream he has ever had can come true. Every dream of Brandi’s, of their daughter’s. Think about how Rock brought them to the premiere of Moana 2, in Hawaii.
Thank you, by the way, for making that cross a BILLION dollars, fans, Rock loves you. Rock has met the Rhodes family, they’re amazing. But imagine it: Cody’s daughter’s children, their dreams, long after Rock and Cody are gone, all those dreams can come true. Rock just needs Cody to be his champion. The fans say don’t do it! Rock tells Cody to just think about it, though. Rock is a very lucky man, he has it all. Cody also has it all. They’re very fortunate. They’re Mama’s Boys, they’re Girl Dads, they’re lucky men. Fans say don’t do it, Rock tells them to shut up or he’ll slap the syphilis off their face! Rock is trying to have a moment here, shut your mouths!
The one thing that Rock has never had, that he wants more than anything, is a brother. And that is what Cody can be. Last year, WrestleMania, Rock’s goal was to face his cousin, Roman Reigns, for the title. Cody knows, the fans know. Rock talked with his friend, HHH. He talked with Nick Khan, who is his friend. They are also Cody’s friends. Rock knew it wasn’t in the plans, but they talked about moving Cody aside to make what was best for business: Rock VS Roman, WrestleMania 40! What’d Cody do? Cody pitched a b*tch fit! Cody told The Rock he ain’t doing it, and he stood up to The Rock. And y’know what else? Cody SLAPPED Rock!
No one does that and gets away with it. But that is why Cody is special. That is why Cody should be Rock’s Champion. And that is why Rock will take Cody from where he is to a level so far above. Rock will make sure every dream, every desire, for generations to come, it all comes true. Rock’s dad, Cody’s dad, Soul Man & American Dream, they are looking down right now. They were friends, Cody and Rock are friends, Cody should be Rock’s Champion. He doesn’t need to answer Rock tonight. He can think about it, talk with his wife and daughter, as will The Rock. Then Cody can think about it. Meet Rock in Toronto on March 1st to give him the answer.
Fans still say don’t do it, but Rock says it is okay. Before he leaves, this has been an amazing night, this is a hot crowd, thank you all very much. But before he leaves, Rock wants us to know this: The one thing Rock wants more than anything in this world… is that. Wait, the title? Cody’s title? The fans’ title? This is all this is about? No no no no! Brother… Rock doesn’t want the title. He wants Cody’s soul. The fans duel, “NO! NO! NO!” “SELL YOUR SOUL!” Rock pats Cody on the cheek and says see you in Toronto. The Rock leaves, giving Cody a lot to think about. Rock does give one last glance back at Cody, then smirks.
What will The American Nightmare choose: His integrity? Or his aspirations?
WWE Tag Team Championships: #DIY VS Pretty Deadly!
Did Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano got these titles thanks to Kit Wilson & Elton Prince? #YESBOY! Did they survive a couple title defenses thanks to Kit & Elton? #YESBOY! But when Pretty Deadly needed DIY, was DIY there for them? #NOBOY! So now, Kit & Elton are looking to give Ciampa & Gargano their comeuppance! Will we finally get another #SidePlateCheck? Or will Ciampa & Gargano remember for themselves, that if you wanna be champions, you gotta do it yourself?
But as DIY make their entrance, they have mics, and Johnny Wrestling tells NOLA, “Give it up one time for your TWO-TIME WWE Tag Team Champions…! The BTTITW (Best Tag Team In The World), D I Y~!” The fans boo instead. Ciampa says there is no denying that tonight has been electrifying. Gargano says this is a hot crowd. But please, if we could be somber for a second. Guys, this is serious. Two weeks ago, Pretty Deadly embarrassed DIY, and now reluctantly, DIY will return that favor by crushing their hopes and dreams of ever becoming WWE Tag Team Champions. So please, let us all rise to our feet… Yes, you in the LSU jersey, stand up.
Ciampa thanks Wade Barrett, and asks for everyone to remove their hands and bow their heads for a moment of silence for Pretty Deadly, beginning… now. The fans boo instead! And then Pretty Deadly make their entrance! The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who really needed who in this broken relationship!
But then DIY jumps Pretty Deadly! The ref reprimands, DIY whip but Pretty Deadly reverses! DOUBLE DORPKICKS! Then DOUBLE LARIATS send DIY up and out! The disco ball hasn’t even stopped spinning! The fans cheer while DIY throw a fit! They regroup, cool down, and go back to the ring. Gargano distracts Elton, Ciampa CLOBBERS him, and the bell rings. But Elton fires hands on Ciampa! Elton whips, Ciampa reverses and he pulls hair! The ref reprimands, Ciampa throws Elton to the apron and KNEES him down! Tag to Gargano and he aims, SUPERKICK! Elton goes down in a heap, DIY cheers themselves on, and SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown returns, Gargano tags in, and DIY hits the BACK SUPLEX BOMBO COMBO! Cover, TWO! Elton stays in this but Gargano tags Ciampa back in. Gargano sends Ciampa in, but Elton ELBOWS him away! Gargano runs in, but Elton puts him on the apron! Gargano goes after Kit, but Kit blocks the kick! Kit BOOTS Gargano down, but then Ciampa BOOTS Kit! Elton dodges Ciampa to come back, DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Elton and Ciampa are down, sputtering and writhing, and the fans rally up. Elton crawls, Kit rises, hot tags to Kit and Gargano! Kit rallies on DIY with big forearms! Kit whips, Gargano reverses, Kit UPPERCUTS!
Kit UPPERCUTS Ciampa in a corner, then LARIATS! Kit runs to LARIAT Gargano! Kit pushes Gargano down, kicks him and hits a TWIST- NO, Gargano slips through to ROCK Kit! Kit yoyos, DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up, Kit tags Elton! They get Gargano up, but Gargano BOOTS Elton! Gargano ELBOWS Kit away, then runs up on Elton! Elton dodges, then gives Kit the boost, DRY MARTI-KNEES! Cover, TWO!! Gargano survives but Ciampa is in! Elton fireman’s carries Ciampa, but Ciampa slips free! Ciampa whips, Elton reverses, Kit UPPERCUTS Ciampa! Elton shows off his strength with the GOTCH LIFT PLEX!
Tag to Kit, but IN COME THE PROFITS! Ford SHOVES Kit down, Dawkins mugs him!!
Winners: Pretty Deadly, by disqualification; DIY retain the titles
Not again! Just like they did Motor City Machine Guns, The Profits make sure no one else takes these titles off DIY! URENAGE from Ford to Elton! Dawkins keeps hammering away on Kit, and then Ford POSTS Elton! Dawkins fireman’s carries Kit, to POST him, too! Looking like the All Mighty with that one! Gargano fires forearms in return, but ends up int he POUNCE GERMAN SUPLEX! Then Ciampa runs up into a FLAPJACK! Ford goes up top, then flies in FROM THE HEAVENS!! Direct hit on Ciampa! But wait! MCMG rushes out here, wanting their payback! The Profits brawl with MCMG, but Ford TOSSES Shelley to the apron!
Ford runs up, Shelley goes to kick, but Ford blocks it! Ford LARIATS Shelley down, Dawkins hits Sabin with THE BIG ENDING! The fans are torn as Dawkins whips Sabin, Profits get him for the REVELATION!! And if there’s been any revelation, it is that Ford & Dawkins don’t just want the smoke, they want to burn down the tag division to get it! Will nothing stop them once they’re back in action?
Kevin Owens speaks.
“You got what you wanted, huh? You got your match. You couldn’t, uh… You couldn’t just take the punishment that you deserved, that I’d already given you, and let it go. No, you… You wanted me and you to go again. You wanted to fight me, you want to hurt me, you want to end my career, which would hurt my family, by the way. Which is truly despicable. But what about your family, Sami? Huh? Have you thought of them? What about your family, huh?” Kevin reveals he is right outside the Zayn home! Kevin peers inside to watch Sami, his wife, and his son!
Kevin asks Sami via the video if Sami knows what he’s about to put them through, when they have to watch Kevin end Sami’s career. And what happens then, eh? When Sami can’t provide for them, and everything they have, like this nice house, the shelter, the security, the peace they have, when it’s all gone? And why? What for? Because Sami’s too proud? Because Sami’s selfish? Sami IS selfish. Because Sami is making Kevin do this to Sami’s family. Kevin will never forgive Sami for that. He’ll see Sami in Toronto. “But remember… You asked for this. It’s all your fault.” As if Kevin’s delusions aren’t already grand, will he continue to blame everyone else but himself?
Damian Priest & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu w/ Tama Tonga!
Elimination Chamber is on the horizon, and the Road to WrestleMania makes for strange bedfellows. Priest, Braun and Jacob were fighting each other just last week, but Solo’s return really threw things for a loop. Can Priest & Braun give Solo and the Samoan Werewolf their punishment? Or will everything (not) be fine in Solo’s Bloodline?
SmackDown returns as #OneBigSOB makes his entrance. As Solo, Jacob & Tama head to gorilla, we hear from Solo. “Tonight, we handle business. And it starts with Braun Strowman & Damian-” Jacob interrupts with, “Man, c’mon, DP! C’mon, Braun! I thought we did this! So tonight, we about to even up the score. If you ain’t know, I’m all gas, no brakes with it! See, since we touched the scene, we been dropping bodies like bread crumbs! Yadada mean!? FA-TUUU~! Hit my music!” The rogues enter to Jacob’s theme, is this alone proof he’s the new alpha? Or will the match be the last nail in that coffin?
The teams sort out, but Jacob stares down both Priest and Braun. NOLA seems to acknowledge Jacob, but Solo convinces him to stand down. Solo starts against Priest, the bell rings, and the two tie up. They go around, Priest powers Solo back, but Solo powers Priest back. They break, stare down, and Solo talks some trash. Solo shoves Priest, Priest shoves back. They circle again, tie up, and Priest puts Solo in a corner. The ref counts, Priest lets off at 4, but Solo stomps Priest’s foot! Solo throws hands, then a HEADBUTT! Priest staggers, but then he ROCKS Solo! And ROCKS him! And HEADBUTTS! That was a mistake!
Solo shakes his head to HEADBUTT Priest! Priest goes to a corner, Solo throws haymakers and body shots on repeat! The ref counts, Solo lets off and says see? Solo and Jacob as one! But Priest THROWS Solo to the corner to fire off haymakers of his own! Priest ROCKS Solo, the fans fire up, and Priest whips., Solo reverses to UPPERCUT! Solo talks smack but Priest ROCKS him again! Tag to Braun and the fans fire up! Braun stares Jacob down, tells him to shove it, then runs up to SPLASH Solo! Braun stares Jacob down again, goes back for Solo, and hits another LARIAT! Braun scoops, Solo slips free, but Braun runs up!
Solo ELBOWS Braun away, tags to Jacob, and Jacob runs in, but Braun dodges! Braun CROSSBODIES! Jacob is right up, but Braun BOOTS him right back down! Solo runs in but Braun TOSSES him! Priest hurries after Solo, Braun CLOBBERS Jacob! LEAPING LARIAT for Solo! Braun then gets on the track, STROWMAN EXPRESS SMACKS a chair out of Tama’s hand! The Good Bad Guy thought he was being sneaky! But then Jacob CROSSBODIES Braun into the timekeeper’s aera! The fans go wild as Jacob rises up, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Jacob hauls Braun up, drags him around the way, HEADBUTTS him, then brings him over to SMACK off the desk! Braun staggers, but he ROCKS Jacob in return! And THROWS Jacob into steel steps! Braun drags Jacob up, puts him in the ring, but Jacob SUPERKICKS Braun! Braun falls into the corner, Jacob HIP ATTACKS! Jacob’s all geeked up, then he tags in Solo. Solo soaks up some heat while Jacob HIP ATTACKS Braun again! Solo puts Braun on ropes to CHOKE him! The ref counts, Solo stops at 4, but Jacob gets a HEADBUTT in! Braun flounders, Solo taunts him and eggs him on, but Braun CHOPS him!
Solo HEADBUTTS Braun right down! Solo rains down fists, then lets off so he can put Braun on the ropes. Solo CHOKES Braun again, stops as the ref counts 4, and Jacob gets another cheap shot in! Solo tags Jacob in, then he HEADBUTTS Braun again and again! Jacob runs to BODY CHECK Braun! Jacob fires up, Braun flounders to ropes, but Jacob rains down fists! Tag to Solo, he soaks up heat from NOLA, then he stomps away on Braun! The ref counts, Solo lets off, then he keeps Braun from Priest by anchoring a leg. Tag to Jacob and Jacob climbs up, FROG SPLASH! Jacob roars while Braun writhes!
Jacob looms over Braun but he glares at Priest. Priest gets heated, but Jacob fires hands on Braun as SmackDown returns to single picture. Braun stands, but Jacob HEADBUTTS him again! Jacob runs for another BODY CHECK! And then a SENTON! Cover, TWO! Braun stays in this and he goes to a corner. Jacob snarls, tags Solo in, and the fans boo. Solo runs corner to corner to HIP ATTACK Braun! Solo grins as he copies Jacob’s geeking out. Tag back to Jacob and fans cheer! Jacob aims, runs, and HIP ATTACKS! Jacob keeps going, but Braun BOOTS from below!! The fans fire up while both men stagger to their feet.
Braun SPINEBUSTERS Jacob! Both monsters are down, the fans rally up, and they crawl, hot tags to Solo and Priest! Priest fires hands on Solo, then whips. Solo reverses but Priest SHOUDLER TACKLES Solo! Priest runs to BACK ELBOW! Jacob is back, but Priest dodges to WHEEL KICK! Priest then waits on Solo, but Solo catches Priest! Priest elbows free, but Solo SUPERKICKS! But Priest JUMPING ROUNDHOUSES! Solo comes back, Priest ROCKS him first! Solo swings, but into the FLATLINER! Cover, TWO! Solo survives but Priest puts him in a corner. Priest whips corner to corner, then runs, only for Solo to put him on th eapron!
Solo takes as swing, Priest dodges and ROUNDHOUSES! Priest then knuckle locks with Solo, goes up top, and he tightrope walks for some OLD SCHOOL! The fans fire up and Priest powers up the arm! Priest runs, but Solo ducks the Comebacker! Priest fights the fireman’s carry to BELL CLAP, ROUNDHOUSE, and then he reels Solo in! But Tama is on the apron! Priest DECKS Tama, but Jacob HOTSHOTS Priest! Solo hits the URENAGE! Cover, TWO!! Priest survives and Solo is stunned! Solo snarls, looks to his taped-up thumb, then he drags Priest up. The fans boo but Solo taunts the fans now. SAMOAN- NO! Priest grabs Solo!
But Jacob runs in! Priest ROCKS Jacob, ELBOWS Solo, then he dodges, so Jacob’s SUPERKICK hits Solo! An accident just like last week’s shot to Tama, but Jacob doesn’t seem as upset by it. Priest TOSSES Jacob, then CLOBBERS Solo! STROWMAN EXPRESS CLOBBERS Jacob & Tama!! Priest brings down the straps, the fans are thunderous, and Priest grabs Solo by the neck! SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, Priest & Braun win!
Winners: Damian Priest & Braun Strowman, by pinfall
Just as Solo thought it’d be like before, he and Jacob were not on the same page! Priest is rolling towards Elimination Chamber, will this be just what he needs to go back to WrestleMania?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown here, but with some interesting moves after the sudden change in plans with The Rock showing up. Naomi and Bianca had a good promo to hype up what was meant to be a full match of Naomi VS Liv, but word had already come out before the show that things were being cut for time. But at the very least, they did the right thing of making it a brawl that adds heat to the tag title match on Monday. Also, hilarious how Chelsea & Piper thought the beatdown on Bianca & Naomi was so bad that they would need to be pulled from the Chamber. I also can’t wait to see what happens on Toronto SmackDown.
As for The Rock, I do appreciate he used his authority to kayfabe change more things, all so he could have his promo with Cody. I also appreciate Rock blending his different roles and even different sides, both Heel and Face, to A) bring the news of WM42 being in NOLA, and B) recreate the Corporate Champion/People’s Champion story from the Attitude Era. That was some wild stuff he was saying to Cody. I’m sure quite a few people will try and talk with Cody next week in the go-home. Heels will say do it because they’d love to have what Rock can give, Faces will say not because Cody’s better than that. But naturally, Cody is not going to become The Rock’s Champion, causing Rock to turn on him and really up things going into WrestleMania 41 and perhaps even beyond.
Good stuff in the Elimination Chamber related stories. Jimmy VS McIntyre was great stuff to open, and how fitting that McIntyre loses to Jimmy after talking all that trash about Jimmy and Jey being the same. Jey got McIntyre with something quick, Jimmy got McIntyre with something quick, McIntyre’s ego is obviously his weakness. And at the same time, McIntyre of course destroys Jimmy after because that’s his other personality trait. Priest had good promos with Cody and Braun, and we got great stuff from Solo’s Bloodline. Naturally, we got a miscommunication spot to help finish, we’re really close to Solo VS Jacob, I can feel it. Priest & Braun get the win, mostly because Priest isn’t winning in the Chamber when you’ve got Punk and Cena in there.
Very good stuff with Tiffy Time, from the promos leading into the match to Charlotte being ringside just to watch. Nia & Candice of course get the better of Tiff & Trish, because Tiff & Trish are definitely winning the tag match in Toronto. Charlotte just seems to enjoy trolling Tiff with her presence, so Charlotte probably shows up in Toronto to then confront Tiff after the match. I expect the seven weeks after Elimination Chamber to really heat up, as will Charlotte’s involvement, where she’ll get more active verbally and physically. Also, hell, Rock should go full Corporation and have Charlotte be his Corporate Women’s Champion because of how established she is.
Hilarious stuff from Truth tonight, as always. Truth and Melo having their “who’s on first” again was good stuff, and of course Miz gets in on this story, too. Truth & Knight VS “Melo Don’t Miz” was really fun, but yeah, should’ve figured Nakamura would get involved, too. Melo & Miz making it work could also be really fun, and while Knight VS Nakamura is a rehash, I really hope they find a way to up things. It feels like we’re getting the same with the tag titles as Profits “ruined” that great tag match from DIY and Pretty Deadly, then brawled with MCMG to still come out on top. Last year had a ladder tag title match, so why not do one for these titles this year?
Speaking of escalating, Kevin filming a promo outside Sami’s house was some really well done stuff, as expected of someone as good as Kevin and in such a story as him and Sami. Their match should main event, it needs time to breathe, as it could be just as, if not more violent, than the Chamber matches. What a powerful closing moment we could have if it’s a bloody Kevin and Sami, and one of them is standing over the other, triumphant yet mournful because it was their best friend in the world that they just brutalized.
My Score: 8.9/10
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)
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THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
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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
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA LIVE! iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 2.20.2025
So the first live episode got fairly positive praise from everyone; will this continue the trend?
Filming at Full Sail seems to have set the stage nicely this week! Going into a Live episode we got Moose and The Hardy Boyz on NXT, as well as Jordynne Grace’s involvement with Steph and Giulia giving a little shine to TNA happenings since she’s newly WWE.
This episode should be interesting, we finally see Lei Ying Lee (fka Xia Li) back in action, Rascalz take on Tyson and Tyriek, Tessa should be seeing some action as well…so generally interesting happenings for the second Live iMPACT! of 2025. Let’s see how this one goes down!
No matter where @ManceWarner and @stephdelander go, @TheSamiCallihan WILL FIND THEM!
Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/NY8HgI02kY pic.twitter.com/mXz9U7m9PL
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 21, 2025
Ratings:
- Tyson & Tyriek w/Wes Lee vs The Rascalz w/Ace Austin: Rascalz win via Meteora/Swanton Combo – ***
- Lei Ying Lee vs Rosemary: Lei wins via Thunderstruck – **
- NoDQ Match: Leon Slater vs JDC: Dango wins via The System help – ** 3/4
- Masha Slamovich vs Mila Moore: Masha wins via Requiem – N/A
- Elijah & Joe Hendry vs The Colons: Elijah wins via Tombstone Piledriver – *** 1/4
Results:
Oh yeah, and another Hendry concert is…cut off by a commercial, LOLTNA. First Hendry is cut off by AXSTV’s new Anime Hour bumper, and now Primo and Epico are showing up in TNA. I definitely didn’t have this on my BINGO card. The crowd starts chanting “Where’s Carlito”, which they do acknowledge and play off of well. Oh they’re using their shoot names of Orlando and Eddie now…but before they attack the lights go out and we get another guitar strum! ELIAH/ELIAS/EZEKIEL/EBENERZER/EMERY/EL VAGABUNDO – shows up to back up Hendry. Okay I can apologize away the redundant concert since it played into an Elijah debut. The crowd is immediately popping and chanting “This is Awesome” 10 minutes into the show.
Tyson & Tyriek w/Wes Lee vs The Rascalz w/Ace Austin
Treehouse bros take it to the bigger men quickly, a few fast dives, a little MCMG style tandem strikes, Tyson fires and tries to take them out but they Low Bridge him. Tyriek comes in and they try similar things but Tyriek manhandles them both and throws them out of the ring, Trey is the first one back up and Tyriek and Tyson take his damn head off with his Corkscrew Running Euro Upper. Trey finally manages to flip out of the manhandle, tags in Wentz and Wentz goes for the hot and spicy cleaning house spot. Corner to Corner Knee Lifts for both big men, a Rolling Snapmare, into a Superkick for Tyson and Standing Shoot Star on Tyriek but only for two because Wes feints like he’s going to interfere.
Tyson and Tyriek pull off a tandem Assisted Backdrop Driver, but Wentz breaks it up, Tyson gets knocked out, Wentz hits the Tornillo, Wes tries to interfere again after Trey gets perched on the corner buckle but Ace runs around and trips Wes at the last second causing him to faceplant on the apron, Trey hits the Meteora, Wentz hits a Swanton from the other side of the ring and Trey gets the pinfall victory.
It was fast paced, all gas no brakes, but it didn’t overstay its welcome, so it was pretty fun all things considered.
After the match Wes grabs a mic, complains a little but challenges them to a 6 man match as Sacrifice. So we’re THAT’S where we’re getting the expected 3v3.
Fir$t Cla$$ comes out with an entourage of hot chicks and probably influencers or something. The “First Class Penthouse” , Gabby AF, Mafiosa Valentina, and Carolina are apparently known in their own way. Gabby I know was the awful one who did something for Impact a last year and sucked, but she’s part of the Busted Open Network I believe so that’s why she’s around. Two of them look like Noelle Foley and Frank the Clown…oh they actually are. Look at that. I do love KC Navarro as the Hype Man, they have this whole set up of AJ being mad that they haven’t gotten more Tag Title shots, so TNA placated him with his own Piper’s Pit and he’s *pregnant pause* totally happy with that. He says he loved Piper and hated Hogan before it was cool.
This is actually quality content and AJ is cutting a nice promo in this segment. They introduce their first guest, the greatest performer in TNA history, many whole say he’s Phenomenal with a whole lot of style….it’s A-J-Francis.
.@AJFrancis410 is GOING OFF!
Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/NY8HgI02kY pic.twitter.com/kGehtp9iTE
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 21, 2025
Lei Ying Lee vs Rosemary
Things were slow until Rosemary took her into a corner quickly, hit the Upside Down, and we get a lot of Lei trying to avoid Rosemary’s offense. Rosemary goes for a Spear in the corner and Lei forward rolls, starts connecting with a bunch of right hands, backs Rosemary into the corner, goes for 10 Count Punches, pulls her out, Airplane Spin TKO for only a two count. Rosemary tries As Above So Below, Lei shrugs it off, Rosemary tries to go after Lei anyway and eats Thunderstruck! Lei Ying Lee wins!
After the match Rosemary catches Lei on the ramp and hits the Green mist in the eyes. Match was far too short and so many of Lei’s set up moves look better than her finish. We’ve seen Kofi Kingston do it for years so it’s not bad, just the current Knockouts Division are awful and don’t take the move well.
Eric Young and the jabronis come out, EY cuts a very basic power crazed psycho kind of promo, gets the “What” chants from the crowds. EY is trying to recruit Maclin even though Maclin made his line in the sand last week. EY tries to spin it as maybe he took out Josh FOR Maclin instead of in spite of his trust. This really doesn’t seem interesting at all, but that’s probably because I hate the two Jabronis EY is with.
NoDQ Match: Leon Slater vs JDC
I really don’t have any interest in Slater. He’s got no personality beyond “flippy guy with a British accent”.
Dango immediately powders, grabs a chair and goes to swing on him but misses. So Leon is making JDC look dumb by dodging the post chop, using the chair to shield himself from a punch by JDC, and then clapping Dango’s fingers between the chair. So typical System match, look inept for the first few minutes, then take advantage of something to take over. Oh look, Leon takes too long setting up the table, Dango gets in a few pot shots, tries to whip him into the table but Leon leaps over it, and then leaps back over to clobber Dango. Dango is still trying to recover so Leon hits his over the corner post con hilo, and the crowd appreciates it but I’m not interested. Leon panders to the crowd after the big spot and then eats an X-Plex into the chair from Dango.
JDC throws Leon back in, goes for a pinfall that’s only a two and we cut to a commercial. Coming out of the commercial JDC is in control with a Kendo Stick until he isn’t, Leon counters and takes the keno stick, brutalizes Dango a few times then comes off the ropes with the kendo shot for 2. Leon goes for another table, and again, at least the crowd is receptive to this match. Leon sets it up, looks for something off the apron but Dango stops him first until he eats a dropkick to fall onto the table, Leon hits the Swanton 450 through the table on the outside. Does it look cool? Sure. Do I care about dumbass moves? Nope.
Oh thankfully the rest of The System comes out to stop the pinfall, Shield Bomb Leon through the first table, and roll him back in for Dango to win.
The Hardy Boyz come out to try and make the save, but the numbers are against them, so Oba Femi’s music hits! Oba cleans house but doesn’t get his hands on Moose, so they’re at least building the eventual clash between Moose and Oba.
The crowd starts a “Tessa, we comin for you” chant before she even starts talking. Tessa is actually playing off the crowd well, Santino’s music hits and Tessa thinks he’ll help her out with the crowd and Santino calls bullshit basically. Santino says if Tessa doesn’t wrestle next week, she’s fired and Masha’s music hits. Masha decides to step in for Tessa’s enhancement talent match.
Masha Slamovich vs Mila Moore
Jobber tries to attack Masha early but Masha stops her, rocks her and Requiem ends the match.
Masha stares down Tessa, and then Cora Jade attacks from behind and hits Jaded.
Ryan Nemeth comes out to his Abyss music remix. What will Mokuba say today? “MYYYY BIIIGG BBRROOOOTTHHHEEEEER” he repeats at least 4 times and it’s hilariously cringe. He announces that Nic will return at Sacrifice, he literally just came out to give a PSA.
Elijah & Joe Hendry vs The Colons
Hendry starts with Eddie, after a brief tie up it seems like Hendry reads the room and points at Elijah and the crowd wants him in. So Joe tags in Elijah, a little back and forth, Shoulder Tackle from Elijah, Rope Walk with Elijah lays out Eddie and a tag to Joe allows for a quick tandem knockdown, but Eddie powders as the Walking and Talking Duo hold the ring going into the final commercial break.
We come back and Hendry is bouncing Orlando off the ropes as he return a strike, but Orlando is obviously losing, eats a Euro Upper, and then gets walked around in the Stalling Suplex for posterity. Eddie tries a sneak attack but gets caught and Sack of Shit, into Kip Up, turn and then Orlando with the ambush! A few quick short cuts and an Irish Whip/Dropkick combo gives the Colons a near fall. Hendry does get locomotion variation cradles, but eats a Dropkick to stop the attempt at momentum. Orlando stays on Joe, but Joe finally starts to fire up as the crowd starts to get behind him. Euro Uppers make some space, but a Snapmare says no.
Eddie gets tagged in and a quick Leg Sweep into a Front Chancery keeps Eddie in control. As Joe tries to get back up, Eddie turns it into a Guillotine, but finally the Suplex counter connects for Hendry! Simultaneous tags! Elijah bulls over Orlando, catches a Leap Frogging Orlando with the Manhattan Drop as Orlando retreats to a corner, Stinger Splash into Spinebuster for two. Elijah tries to keep up the attacks but Orlando finds a few ways to make space, launches himself from the middle rope and eats the Jumping Knee! Eddie breaks up the pinfall, Hendry takes Eddie out and Elijah hits the Tombstone Piledriver for the win!
Overall Score: 6/10
Well there were more live hiccups than the first episode, and this felt both more epic and less epic at the same time. Elijah and the Colons debuting was a nice way to kick things off, Oba Femi showing up for the save was fantastic. There were a few decent matches, but also a lot of really short and rushed matches. Tessa played off the crowd well, but Masha really is useless on the mic. Lei Ying Lee needs to framed stronger, her matches have done nothing to show off her ability. It just proves that the Knockouts don’t know how to sell a kick to the head because they all take it in the shoulder and fall in corny ways.
Viva La Sam could be something fun if the next 3 weeks are just hand cam footage of him being like “I’m Sami Callihan and I’m gonna kick Mance Warner’s ass”, Elegance Clique getting the rematch with a stipulation is nice to see and while I like Fir$t Cla$$, that segment went a little long for a cornball swerve payoff. It’s one thing to placate the Influencer squad especially when we’ve seen Logan Paul and Ishowspeed do so well in WWE…but these are like Z Tier Influencers that no one cares about. These kind of dorks stream on Kick because they aren’t relevant enough for Twitch, not because they chose Kick over it.
So yeah, the low lights were pretty low, and the highs were a little fleeting, but at least they were pretty fun. Not a bad show, just clunky with noticeable issues and Masha shouldn’t be allowed to speak English anymore. She’s such a charisma vacuum when she’s not rambling in Russian.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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The Nerds continue their review of Season 3 of Invincible, review Captain America: Brave New World, and check out trailers...
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The Nerds begin their review of Season 3 of Invincible and look at the latest trailers for Final Destination, Jurassic...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (2/5/25)
There’s a lot going on this time around!
Bandwagon Nerds #274: Rey Cash Caught Sleeping On The Job
Tune in for another episode of BANDWAGON NERDS for your weekly fix in the world of Comics & Pop Culture!
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (1/31/25)
The Bracket of Courage!
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: Weekend Wrasslin’ Wrap-up!
DJ, Rob and Jason break down NXT Vengeance Day and AEW GrandSlam Australia. Plus, Rob's SmackDown adventure and some beer...
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The Final Boss is back!
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So the first live episode got fairly positive praise from everyone; will this continue the trend?
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (2/20/25)
Anillo de Honor!
DWI Podcast #464: NXT Vengeance Day & SNL 50
NBA All-Star weekend, SNL 50th anniversary and plenty of Rasslin' talk this week on the DWI podcast.
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (2/19/25)
Phoenix is Dynamite!
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (2/18/25)
NXT is Absolute!
Mitchell’s ROH Global Wars Australia Results & Report! (2/17/25)
G'day, mates!
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (2/17/25)
Visionary VS Prince!
#TheOddity 028: One Monkey = Total Chaos
Join Dave Wortz and PC Tunney for your weekly newsletter on the ridiculous and dumb of actual headlines from around...
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