Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (11/4/20)
Halloween is over but the havoc continues!
NXT restarts the race towards title contention!
Io Shirai still reigns but The Johnny Gargano Way did grab the North American title! Who will be next to challenge the champions of NXT?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Ember Moon VS Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez; Kai wins.
- Kushida VS Cameron Grimes; Kushida wins.
- Drake Maverick & Killian Dain VS Ever-Rise; No Contest.
- Shotzi Blackheart VS Toni Storm; Storm wins.
- Tommaso Ciampa VS Velveteen Dream; Ciampa wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Ember Moon VS Dakota Kai w/ Raquel Gonzalez!
The Moon is out and ready to rise again! But #CobraKai isn’t going to let the Shenom do it at her expense! The Evil Genius is still atop the NXT Women’s Division, but will the winner here move up to challenge her next?
The bell rings, Ember and Dakota circle and the fans rally already. Ember and Dakota tie up, go around, and Ember puts Dakota in a corner. Ember rams Dakota in then arm-drags her, but Dakota holds on to arm-drag back! Dakota dribbles Ember off the mat but Ember turns things around to clamp onto the arm. Dakota endures, fights up, trips Ember up and drops down for a headlock. Ember fights up, pries free and has the double wristlock. Dakota resists but Ember throws forearms. Ember brings Dakota up, Dakota turns around to get the arm and wrench back. Ember moves around but Dakota keeps her down. Ember fights up, Dakota arm-drags her back down but Ember headscissors!
Fans rally as Dakota moves around. Dakota hops up, headstands then jackknifes, ONE as Ember gets out. Ember wants the underhook and has the butterfly stretch! Raquel coaches Dakota up as Dakota fights to her feet. Dakota pries free, wrenches to a wristlock, and then a hammerlock. Dakota and Ember fight for control, Dakota gets Ember down to a knee but Ember keeps fighting. Ember gets up, around and wrenches to a wristlock. Dakota throws Ember down by her hair! Ember is right up to throw Dakota down by her hair! Fans fire up as the two start shoving. Dakota runs into a leg sweep! Ember runs to BOOT Dakota down, then drops a back senton!
Dakota scrambles away but Ember runs in. Dakota slips out, ducks the punch but Ember avoids the shoulder! Ember grabs Dakota and brings her through the corner! The ref counts but Ember keeps trying. Dakota resists and then YANKS Ember into the crossbars! Ember is stuck, Dakota grabs an arm and pulls! The ref counts, Ember lets go at 4 and Ember flops into the ring. Dakota stomps Ember, clubs her, then goes after the arm again. Ember endures and fans rally up. Dakota clubs the arm, Ember kicks her away, but Dakota is right back after Ember with a hammerlock. Dakota throws Ember into buckles, then STOMPS the arm! Dakota drags Ember up to snapmare and go after the arm again! Ember endures as Dakota pulls her into a short arm scissor!
Fans rally, Ember fights her way back up and works for a cover, only for Dakota to shift! Dakota has an inverted armbar, but Ember endures and powers up! Ember has a cover, TWO, DEAD LIFT BOMB! Raquel can’t believe Ember had that kind of power! Dakota hurries to her feet but Ember boots back! Ember ducks a kick to give a kick then more kicks, enziguri! Dakota wobbles, Ember fires up, but Ember runs into a forearm! Dakota runs but dodges Ember, only for Ember to springboard back kick! Dakota THRUST KICKS back, but runs into another sweep! Ember drags Dakota to the apron, spins her and ROCKS her with a forearm! Ember tells Dakota that was the receipt, here’s the interest! Ember BOOTS Dakota down! Fans fire up as Ember goes into the ring and Dakota crawls.
Ember shakes out the bad arm before she builds speed, and she DIVES! Direct hit and Dakota hits boards! Ember keeps moving, and she DIVES again, only to CRASH ‘N’ BURN! Both women are down as NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Ember arm-drags free of an armlock to then reach up and headscissor Dakota to ropes! Fans fire up as Dakota flounders and runs, into a SPINE BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ember grits her teeth as she drags Dakota by a leg. Dakota kicks back and hard, then stalks up behind Ember. Dakota runs, Ember dodges but Dakota wheelbarrows and victory roll facebusters! Cover, TWO! Dakota is shocked and frustrated as Ember survives! Fans rally up as both women slowly rise. Dakota fireman’s carries but Ember slips off, into a ROUNDHOUSE! Dakota brings Ember back up and whips her to a corner, but Ember comes back with a FLYING CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans are still rallying but Raquel is very worried.
Dakota crawls but Ember follows, even with a bad arm. Dakota throws a forearm from the mat but Ember returns it! Ember even eggs Dakota on, daring her to take a free shot. Dakota tries but it’s a trap! CROSSFACE! Dakota endures, pries at the hold, but Ember cranks back and grinds her forearms in harder. Dakota rolls to a cover, TWO and to a ghost pin! TWO and Dakota has the ghost pin, TWO! They keep trading ghost pins, TWO! FUJIWARA on the bad arm! Dakota has Ember now, cranks back hard, but Ember endures and reaches for ropes! Ember uses a leg for the ropebreak but Dakota just cranks back harder and harder! Dakota lets go at 4 but she’s still frustrated.
Dakota clubs Ember, then talks trash about Ember returning to NXT. Dakota stomps the arm, and then SLAPS Ember! Ember just gets mad! Ember glares at Dakota, shrieks with fury, and SLAPS away on Dakota! And throws forearms and knees, and a windmill of fists! Dakota gets to a corner, Ember is after her with a whip! Ember runs in to hit the back body block! And then TOSSES Dakota across the way! And then corner clothesline! Ember snapmares Dakota then climbs a corner. But Raquel distracts on the apron! Dakota BOOTS Ember down! Ember is stuck up top, Dakota drags Ember out, DRAPING G T K!! Cover, Dakota wins!!
Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall
Give another huge assist to #RickyDesperado! Big Mama Cool helped #CapKota keep pace in the title hunt. Dakota tells Ember that she’s not the same person she was when Ember was last in NXT. Will this Dakota earn herself another shot at Io Shirai?
Backstage interview with Cameron Grimes.
He’s very jumpy, though, and Mackenzie spooks him. She just wants to know how he’s doing since last week’s Haunted House of Terror match. Grimes says he’s doing fine. Whatever loss happened doesn’t really matter. IT wasn’t a pinfall or submission. There were zombies or something. Grimes keeps looking around, but he claims he’s over it. Last week was last week. Tonight is tonight. Grimes will Cave-In Kushida tonight. The ref comes up to tell Grimes it’s time, but Grimes freaks out because it was the same ref that was a zombie last week! Will Grimes work up the nerve to have a normal match this time?
Backstage interview with Shotzi Blackheart.
Firstly, Mackenzie gives her congratulations on hosting such a great Halloween Havoc last week. Tonight, she handpicked the returning Toni Storm as her opponent, and why is that? Shotzi says Halloween Havoc was a blast, and after volunteering as host, William Regal allowed her this special treat. Shotzi has always been a big fan of Toni’s as one of the best, as well as a Mae Young Classic winner and former NXT UK Women’s Champion. Tonight’s match is a huge test of Shotzi’s skills, so that’s exactly why she wants this match. Toni, “Welcome to the ball pit!” Will Shotzi #TCB, Take Care o’ Bidness against such an accomplished opponent?
Kushida VS Cameron Grimes!
The Time Splitter has moved past The Velveteen Dream and Tommaso Ciampa, who are still stuck in the past against each other. Grimes is also stuck on his horrifying past, but will it keep him from focusing on the Super Junior?
The bell rings and the two circle. Grimes stays back at the ropes, and seems to be on the lookout for anything creeping and crawling. He comes back, but Kushida dropping down to use his leg guard only freaks Grimes out, it’s like the zombies and their spider walking! Grimes stays at the ropes but Kushida backs off. They circle and tie up, Kushida gets a leg then the waistlock. Grimes counters with a judo throw then wristlock, but Kushida moves around to get around and roll him up. ONE, but Kushida is right on Grimes’ arm. Kushida throws elbows in while wanting the Hoverboard but Grimes again powers him over with a fireman’s carry takedown. Cover, ONE, but Grimes has a facelock.
Kushida pops out, facelocks back, and holds on as Grimes rolls. Kushida then floats all over Grimes and goes back to a facelock. He shoots the half to cover, ONE, but Kushida keeps Grimes down with the armlock. Kushida chinbars while he armlocks, but Grimes fights up. Grimes drop toeholds and floats to a fish hooking chinlock! He also goes after the ears and stomps Kushida down! Grimes throws European Uppercuts then whips corner to corner. Kushida reverses but Grimes goes up and over, then runs to speed things up. Kushida hip tosses to the ARMBAR! Grimes flails, resists, moves and gets a cover, ONE! Kushida has the arm again, Grimes clasps hands and rolls, but Kushida changes that to a Jim Breaks Special! Kushida makes Grimes’ arms bend back for a double omoplata and SNAP!
Kushida stalks Grimes, gets the arm and goes after it. Grimes grabs ropes but Kushida hits a BULLDOG on the arm! Kushida dropkicks Grimes down then covers, TWO! Kushida is right after the arm but Grimes gets a ropebreak. The ref counts, Kushida lets off but Grimes kicks him in the head! Kushida wobbles and Grimes kicks low. Kushida CHOPS back, but Grimes throws a forearm! Grimes wrenches and wrangles Kushida down to the mat. Kushida fights up, rolls, and wrangles Grimes with a chinbar. Grimes endures as Kushida keylocks the arm, stands on it then STOMPS it! Then arm-drags to get the arm for a high wristlock! Grimes endures, fans rally and Grimes moves around. Kushida just steps over for a mounted armlock.
Grimes fights up, Kushida wrenches but Grimes forearms him in the back! And then again! Grimes keeps after Kushida with big forearms, then waistlocks. Kushida counters the suplex to a victory roll, TWO! Kushida dodges, tilt-o-whirls, but into a LAWN DART HOT SHOT! Grimes hurries to cover, TWO! Grimes grows frustrated as NXT goes picture in picture.
Grimes stomps Kushida in a corner, brings him around and clubs him with elbows. Grimes stands on Kushida’s hand and grinds the fingers! Then he drops a knee on Kushida’s head and digs that in, too! The ref reprimands, Grimes stops but he still glances around just in case. Grimes brings Kushida up, Kushida fights back with elbows and clubs Grimes. Kushida fires off forearms but Grimes yanks him into buckles! Kushida gasps and sputters and Grimes cheers himself on. Grimes gets up, runs in but Kushida catches him for a BUCKLE SHOT! Kushida fires himself up as Grimes flounders around. Kushida throws haymakers, Grimes knees low and whips, but Kushida kicks back! Grimes LARIATS! Cover, TWO!
Grimes argues with the ref but the count is the count. Grimes looms over Kushida and wrenches the neck. Kushida endures, so Grimes fish hooks his face! The ref counts, Grimes lets off and then paces about. Grimes stomps Kushida, stomps him more, then puts him in a corner. Grimes throws EuroUppers, Kushida staggers to the other corner, so Grimes is on him with KICKS! Kushida staggers to another corner, Grimes RAMS into him with his shoulder! And again! And then another KICK! Kushida staggers and Grimes kicks the legs out! Grimes stands on Kushida’s head and gloats but lets off at the ref’s count.
Grimes whips Kushida corner to corner hard and Kushida bounces off buckles! Grimes double guns to show off his power, then he stalks Kushida to the corner. Grimes stomps as NXT returns to single picture but the fans rally for Kushida. The ref counts, Grimes lets off but Kushida boots back! Both men throw forearms back and forth but Kushida KICKS and KICKS and whips. Grimes reverses but Kushida handsprings to back elbow! Kushida fires up, runs in but misses in the corner. Grimes walks into an enziguri! Atomic drop and whip, hip toss and cartwheel basement dropkick! Kushida baits Grimes in then gets Grimes with a PELE! Grimes wobbles, but dodges the Penalty Kick to whip. Kushida reverses to put Grimes on the apron and he handspring kicks Grimes down!
Fans are fired up as Kushida goes up top! Kushida sees Grimes get in so he just adjusts and leaps, crossbody! Cover, TWO! Kushida has the wrists, he stomps but Grimes avoids it to roll him up! Grimes holds the pants, TWO!! Kushida walks into the SUPERFOREARM! Kushida FAST BALL, but Grimes uses that to backslide! Kushida slips off into a DEAD LIFT SIT-OUT BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Kushida survives and Grimes is exhausted! Fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” Both men slowly rise and Kushida gets to a corner. Grimes hoists Kushida up top, CHOPS him, then climbs up to join him. Grimes goes to the very top, but Kushida hits back with body shots! Kushida crotches Grimes and FAST BALLS!
Kushida sits Grimes back up, has the arm for a HOVERBOARD DRIVER!?! Grimes clutches that arm while Kushida fires up! PENALTY KICK to the arm! Then a waistlock, but Grimes standing switches! Grimes RAMS Kushida into a corner and the ref! O’Conner roll, but no one to count! Kushida kicks out all the same, and he sends Grimes into the ref! The ref tumbles out of the ring, Kushida gets up and Grimes sees what happened! Kushida gets the arm, tornado takedown to the HOVERBOARD! Grimes is tapping but the ref can’t call it down on the outside! Kushida lets go when he realizes what happened, and he shouts to the ref.
Grimes crawls to the opposite side, then runs at Kushida. Kushida dodges him, but then Grimes dodges Kushida, COLLISION COURSE! Grimes covers but again, no ref to count! Another ref comes out, but it’s the “zombie” ref! Grimes is too scared to stay put, and he gets CAUGHT to the HOVERBOARD! Grimes taps, Kushida wins!!
Winner: Kushida, by submission
The Haunted House of Terror still haunts Grimes, and that helps Kushida stay alive! Will the Time Splitter be the one heading for championship gold next?
Toni Storm speaks.
“I respect Shotzi Blackheart. Unlimited passion, unlimited energy. Heck, who doesn’t love Shotzi Blackheart?” Toni is flattered to be chosen, but Halloween is over and Shotzi chose the wrong woman. This is a new Toni Storm. More aggressive, more tenacious, and even more Toni. Toni will use Shotzi as a springboard to the top of the NXT Women’s Division. Will the Lightning From Down Under strike tonight?
Io Shirai speaks.
“Everyone wants to know what’s next for Io Shirai. To show this is MY NXT, there is still one challenge I must face: Rhea Ripley.” After all, it was a Triple Threat at In Your House, so they need to settle this 1v1. “Rhea, I’m not afraid of nightmares.” But will even the Evil Genius wipeout against the Riptide?
Drake Maverick & Killian Dain VS Ever-Rise!
The last time these two teams, which Rockstar Spud and Big Damo are finally becoming, it ended in a disqualification. But that actually made Dain like Maverick, so they’re going to take on Matt Marthel and Chase Parker again to see if they can’t win clean. Will Maverick finally win over Dain while also finally winning a match?
Marthel talks a lot of trash as the two teams stare down, but already Maverick and Dain agree on hitting first! The bell rings to get this brawl on record! Dain throws Marthel out and moves Maverick aside to get after Parker. Dain ROCKS Parker with EuroUppers then whips him to the corner. Dain tags Maverick in rather strongly, then whips Parker to ropes. Maverick is used as a weapon to trip Parker up! Dain then drops a back senton, then scoops Maverick for human weapon, senton slam! Cover, TWO! Marthel talks trash again but Maverick swings haymakers! Marthel backs off but Parker rams Maverick in! Marthel tags in and Ever-Rise mugs Maverick!
Marthel bumps Maverick off buckles, throws forearms then looms over him. Tag to Parker as fans rally, and Ever-Rise combine for the running KNEE backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Parker throws haymakers on Maverick then clamps a claw onto the shoulder. Maverick endures, fights up but Parker wrangles him back down. Maverick continues to endure, Marthel cheers as Parker throws in elbows. Parker clamps down even harder, but Maverick fights up. Parker elbows him again, bumps him off buckles, then throws big body shots! Maverick gasps for air but Parker throws haymakers. Maverick counter punches! Parker wobbles but runs into a boot! Maverick reaches, Marthel shouts but Parker is dumped out! Maverick goes outside and leaps to club Parker down!
Cameras look outside and Pat McAfee’s crew rolls up! “Well, well, well. The show has arrived!” Maverick puts Parker in but Parker clobbers him! McAfee takes the camera to frame his team the right way, and Danny Burch says McAfee’s a natural. Marthel tags in, Maverick fights Ever-Rise off! He throws Parker out but Marthel rams his shoulder in over and over! Marthel throws haymakers, brings Maverick around and hits a backbreaker! Cover, TWO! Pete Dunne leads the way as he, the NXT Tag Team Champions, and McAfee head inside. Parker tags in, Ever-Rise mugs Maverick, but here come McAfee’s boys! They’re attacking Parker and Maverick!
No Contest
Dain gets in but he gets mugged 3v1! McAfee is still rolling as Maverick and Dain try to fight 3v2! Fans boo as Maverick and Dain get beat down! Dain tries to fight back against the champs but Oney and Burch club away on him. Dunne gives Maverick some Danielson Stomps! Oney drags Dain up for him and Burch to keep hitting and Dunne adds on! McAfee is getting it all from his camera, too. Dunne BOOTS Maverick down! The three then coordinate and get Dain up, LONDON TOWER! McAfee tells his boys to smile for the camera! “Smile if you’re the greatest four man group in wrestling! Say cheese~!” Dunne doesn’t smile but that’s just how he is. Will these four continue to do what they want, when they want and to who they want in NXT?
NXT returns and McAfee’s crew is still in the ring!
Fans boo as McAfee has the mic. “You are looking at the greatest four men to ever come together in the history of the wrestling business! We run NXT now, and there’s no question about it!” The thing about them that makes them different is that they’re “not a bunch of scumbags.” Not Danny, not Oney, not Pete, and definitely not McAfee! “We are men of class! We are professional.” So as the new kings of NXT, it is only right they pay tribute to the previous group that used to run NXT, the Undisputed Era. “Tonight, we will hang their banner in the rafters to commemorate an incredible run in NXT that we ended.” And let’s take a trip down memory lane as they do so.
In 2017, this group of Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly and “mustached stooge” Bobby Fish came along, and they took over NXT like no one had done before! They and their “stupid hand signal” won a bunch of stuff, they were “over” with all the “stupid, stupid, stupid fans,” everyone loved them. So much success there, they needed a new member. What did they do, Pete Dunne? What did the UE do to him specifically? “Roderick Strong taught me a very valuable lesson: You’ve got to trust the right people in this business.” McAfee is “the right people,” btw. Dunne decided to return the favor and he taught Kyle the exact same favor Roddy did. See those biceps, dude? Dunne is back, ripped and shredded, and with a vendetta to settle!
So again, Roderick betrayed Dunne and joined the UE, and then those four “raised the level of everything in NXT.” They won all the titles, had success after success. “Pigs get fed, hogs get slaughtered.” They got greedy, wanting more and more and more, “and NXT changed their entire business philosophy to make the Undisputed Era look like they’re the greatest thing ever, leaving everybody else by the wayside.” All the incredible talent backstage did not matter anymore because the UE got a push like the world has never seen before. Right, Oney? Yeah! “What about us?” What about Oney and Danny? A combined 30 years in this business! People looked down on them! Told them they weren’t good enough! People told them they’d never be on the same level as the Undisputed Era! But now look at them.
McAfee says the UE will never reach the level of Danny and Oney ever again! The UE was allowed to do whatever they wanted, like bullying people and taking advantage of them, as well as manipulating the “simpletons” think they were unstoppable. All it took was one run-in with McAfee. NXT TakeOver: XXX, Cole beat McAfee, but in scumbag fashion, he showed McAfee no respect. None! So obviously, TakeOver: 31, Ridge Holland literally dumped Adam Cole’s lifeless body, but sadly breaks his leg, so McAfee signs Oney and Danny, knowing that they hated the UE, too. Then Dunne was the ace in the hole, who has hated the UE for years because Strong was a scumbag to him! This group coming together was the easiest thing McAfee has done in his entire life.
“Now it’s time for our reign to begin. Now it’s time to honor the past while recognizing that the future is much, much better.” They will now raise the UE banner into the rafters, “and never ever hear from those four little dirt bags ever again.” The “thingy” lowers, and then McAfee realizes, their group is a “democracy.” They should all have a say in whether or not they go through with this. McAfee did, but talking about the UE and all the “despicable things they have done,” he’s not sure. But they’re a team, so they should vote. If you’re in favor of raising the banner, say “Aye.” No one says anything. So then, if they’d rather throw the banner into the trash, say “Aye.” AYE! Trash can it is! The UE’s name will never be something that is glorified! This banner, like Vic Joseph’s FACE, will end up where it belongs: the trash!
McAfee puts the banner in the can, “as a sign of something that should’ve never existed. Something that’s more dumb than anything else in the history of wrestling, and something that we will never, ever, ever hear from again, after we laid waste to all of them.” Congrats to the UE on being official DEAD! “Pete Dunne, light their asses on fire, sir!” Dunne squirts a LOT of lighter fluid on the banner, then throws a lighter in! BOOM! Danny and McAfee warms their hands from that fire. McAfee tells the fans, “You’re welcome,” and says the fans on the screens of the “tron thingy” are the worst. These four are the greatest, everyone else sucks! Cheers. McAfee’s crew heads out, will “the kings of NXT” continue to do what they want week after week?
But wait! Dain is back for revenge! He goes after McAfee but Dunne, Oney and Danny go after him! They mug him 3v1 against the SUV, then put him between the door. Dunne BOOTS it closed on Dain!! McAfee is stunned. He likes it, though, they can talk about this later. McAfee tells the “big hairy bastard” that he shouldn’t have even tried. McAfee has a quick reminder: “We’re the greatest. You suck.” Bye! They drive off into the night, and Dain’s bleeding from the mouth! Will even the Belfast Beast suffer under this new era?
NXT hears from Johnny Gargano.
“There’s a lot of nasty rumors being spread about me.” Some people were saying Gargano hates wheels? No! Everyone knows Gargano loves wheels! He spins a wheel in the Game of Life! All the spins are coming up Johnny. “As a matter of fact, the only thing I love more than wheels, is making history.” First Triple Crown Champion in NXT history! First TWO-TIME North American Champion! Lover of wheels, maker of history, that’s Johnny Gargano, ladies and gentlemen. Gargano gets a call, and it’s… GHOST FACE?! “I’m in your house.” Oh! Well, wait, duh, you’re right next to him! Your turn, dude. You’re just delaying the inevitable. Easy for Gargano to say, “everything’s coming up Johnny.” Yeah, finally!
But it hasn’t always been that way. The minute Gargano won the title, everyone thought, “Oh, it’s gonna be another short Johnny Gargano title reign. He’s probably gonna lose it his first defense, just like he always does!” NO! That is the one blemish on his legacy, but next week, he kills that curse! Gargano defends his title against a worthy opponent. No c’mon, spin the wheel. Ghost Face takes their turn, and wow, not good. Gargano laughs and says they suck. Gargano spins and gets a big result! The winner is: Johnny! “Just like it always is, Johnny wins! Wheels love Johnny and Johnny wins!” What kind of victory dance is that? Good game, Ghost Face! But who is that behind the mask? And who does Gargano feel is worthy of a match?
Shotzi Blackheart VS Toni Storm!
NXT’s Tank Girl chose the MYC winner and former NXT UK Women’s Champion for this match to test herself as much as to test “the new Toni Storm.” Will Shotzi pass that test with flying colors? Or will she fail to last against #ToniTime?
Shotzi doesn’t ride in on her tank? And she blames Toni for it?! Shotzi shoves Toni but the ref keeps the peace. Toni and Shotzi are fired up and the ref rings the bell! Toni dodges, ducks a kick and waistlocks but Shotzi swings an elbow! Toni ducks that, atomic drops and CHOPS! Toni runs and BOOTS Shotzi down! Shotzi gets to a corner but she slips to the outside as Toni turns in! Shotzi ROUNDHOUSES Toni back, then springboards, but FALLS! Toni gets her right up to throw a EuroUpper! Toni drags Shotzi up, whips her but Shotzi slides under and enziguris back! Toni staggers, Shotzi trips her up and gets the legs! “Welcome to the ball pit!” Leg splitter leg drop! Shotzi drags Toni up, whips but Toni reverses. Shotzi boots back, climbs up and headscissors Toni into buckles!
Shotzi runs in for the CANNONBALL but only gets buckles! Toni comes back to hip attack! Toni drags Shotzi to a cover, TWO! Toni keeps her cool as she drags Shotzi up to CHOP her to a corner! Toni throws EuroUppers then brings her up for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Toni looms over Shotzi, brings her up and throws big forearms but Shotzi throws them back! Shotzi runs and tilt-o-whirls into a small package! TWO, Toni BOOTS Shotzi down again! Shotzi gets to ropes but Toni brings her up. Toni throws more EuroUppers, Shotzi staggers about but Toni stomps her in the corner. Toni snapmares, covers, TWO! Toni keeps on Shotzi with a neck wrench, fans rally as Shotzi endures, but Toni shifts side to side.
Toni shifts to a chinlock, Shotzi fights up but Toni wrangles her down. Cover, TWO, and Shotzi gets to a corner. Toni cravats and cranks to a snapmare. Toni keeps on the head and neck with more wrenching, then she brings Shotzi around to a facelock. Shotzi fights up, Toni throws her down to a cover, TWO! Toni keeps on Shotzi with that facelock and fans rally. Shotzi fights up, fans are thunderous as she fights back. Toni clubs her down, and half hatch suplexes! Cover, TWO! Shotzi is still in this as NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Shotzi fights up. Toni hits back and whips Shotzi to a corner, but Shotzi goes up and over. Shotzi rolls and comes to shotgun dropkick Toni into the corner! Shotzi runs in to corner splash then shoves Toni for the SLING DOG! Shotzi KNEES Toni, then QUESTION MARK KICKS! Toni wobbles and flounders, Shotzi runs to BALL PIT CANNONBALL on the ropes! Cover, TWO! Shotzi drags Toni back up, but Toni resists the suplex. Toni elbows away and Shotzi backs off. Shotzi comes back but the enziguri misses, Toni reels Shotzi in for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Toni holds on but Shotzi elbows back! Shotzi cravats and goes up, but no Sliced Bread, just another GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!! Shotzi narrowly escapes and fans fire up!
Toni drags Shotzi up, reels her in and underhooks, but Shotzi resists! Shotzi wrenches the arm, reels Toni in, SAIDO! Cover, TWO!! Toni survives and Shotzi is seeing why Toni is as accomplished as she is! Shotzi gets up, runs, but Toni HEADBUTTS! Cover, TWO!! Shotzi survives again and Toni can’t believe it! Fans are thunderous as Toni goes up to the top rope! Shotzi hits her first and Toni is on the apron. Toni shoulders in and forearms, but Shotzi hits back! They brawl with the ropes between them, and Shotzi CHOPS! And SLAPS! And throws big forearms! And a ROUNDHOUSE! Toni wobbles, Shotzi goes up and brings Toni around, APRON TORNADO DDT!! Both women crash down and fans are losing their minds! The ref starts a ring count but neither woman stirs until 5!
Shotzi gets up first at 6, drags herself up with the apron skirt, and in at 8! Toni is given a reprieve, and Candice LeRae talks on the titantron!? She says she knows what happened to Shotzi’s tank! They left it in the middle of the road! Who would do such a thing? But Candice will “watch” the tank for her. You can trust Candice. Toni sneaks up on Shotzi with a body scissors take down! EURO CLUTCH! TONI WINS!
Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall
Candice’s “help” just helped Toni! Candice says that’s too bad. But the tank is still here. Though, how much longer can Candice keep watch? She keeps hearing cars and someone might come this way. Oh no! There’s one coming! Candice asks they stop, and it’s a huge Hummer, too. Candice goes to the driver, and then hops in? Who was driving it before, then? “These are the things that happen when you put your nose in other people’s business.” Candice is running Shotzi’s tank over with the Hummer!! Shotzi is freaking out as the tank is scraped along underneath!! And it was GHOST FACE who brought the Hummer here!
This is what Shotzi gets for keeping the NXT Women’s Championship from Candice! “We’re even!” Toni tries to comfort Shotzi, but that’s not going to fix her tank. Will Shotzi avenge her tank and crush the Poison Pixie in return?
NXT Media catches up with El Legado del Fantasma.
Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde and Raul Mendoza arrive, and the reporter tells them that a lot of people feel it’s rather telling that they had to cheat to defeat Jake Atlas. “A lot of people? What are you talking about?” Escobar pinned Atlas fair and square. Who cares about other people? But then Atlas pulls up fast, and he has a tire iron! He swings and hits Mendoza, keeps Wilde back, but gets back into his car before things get out of hand. Escobar smirks, because he knows he has gotten under Atlas’ skin. But will Atlas still find a way to get even with the Leader of Leaders?
NXT presents another Thatch As Thatch Can.
The Professor of Pain, Timothy Thatcher, has a new student this week as he welcomes to another live session. This is Akeem. And today’s lesson is reversals. Last time, Thatcher and Anthony Greene showed us that “anyone can get lucky and catch a hold.” But you have to be prepared at all times when you step inside the four ropes. So to start, the front guillotine. The cutting bone of the forearm on the windpipe. He puts Akeem in, cranks tight and Akeem already taps. In pro-wrestling, a windpipe crush is illegal. At least, that was always the impression Thatcher had. You go after the carotid artery. But apparently if someone, Greene, wants to play tough guy, you just grab whatever you can.
So now, the reversal of that hold. Thatcher allows Akeem to put him in the facelock. The key is to block the cutting bone with a hand, move to the side and spin around. The opponent will surely try to wrangle you down to the ground, but as you do you keep moving to the side, turning your head. Now, he can crank how hard he wants and there’s no pressure on you. But Thatcher shows that you can apply pressure with your forearm into the opponent’s face and crossface him. Then you pop out, get the arm, to a top wristlock! Akeem taps already, but Thatcher of course holds on. “Now, we have to know the difference between him tapping because because you’ve crushed his soul, or because he’s just trying to lull me into a false sense of security.” Thatcher goes DEEPER and Akeem definitely tapes because of the pain!
Akeem gets upset as Thatcher finally lets go. Top wristlocks go after both shoulder and elbow. Thatcher asks if Akeem is fine. He is. They can get someone else. No, he’s okay. Does he want water? Get him some water! Well alright, he’ll be fine. This time, Akeem will try to escape. Thatcher puts on the guillotine, Akeem uses his hand as instructed, and they move around. Thatcher will go down, Akeem rolls to his side. Very good. They keep moving around. Use the forearm for the crossface. There. But you see, what Akeem doesn’t know is that you can push him forward, get a leg, and have the ankle lock! Specifically, an Achilles lock! Akeem taps, and Thatcher says you always have to be prepared for anything! Akeem keeps tapping and Thatcher finally lets go.
Anthony Greene is back! Or, Austin Gray now! Either way, he’s throwing clubbing forearms on Thatcher! Thatcher hits back, but Gray DECKS him! He dares Thatcher to come back, and then he SUPERKICKS him out to the barriers! Thatcher tumbles up and over and glares back at Gray! Gray’s no longer green, but will he and Thatcher be black ‘n’ blue after it’s said and done?
Backstage interview with Xia Li.
She has been receiving letters delivered by Boa, but what are those about? Xia explains they are letters from her family, so it is very personal. But what matters is that Xia needs to turn things around. Is there anything she can share about what’s in the letters? No, it’s not anyone’s business. But then why- William Regal comes by, and he has another letter! Xia reads this one, and she looks even more worried than she did before. She needs a match next week, against Raquel Gonzalez. Is she sure about that? Yes. She dishonored her, so she has to. Well if that’s what she wishes, then Regal will arrange it. What is it that has Xia so anxious to fight the big fight?
Rhea Ripley speaks.
“Io Shirai wants to challenge me? Perfect.” That is what she’s wanted since June! “2020 has been complete trash. Everybody has been getting in my way, and I’ve had to prove to them exactly who I am.” Shirai says she isn’t afraid of nightmares, but everyone’s scared of something. And it’s a fact Shirai is terrified of losing her title. That’s exactly what will happen. Rhea will end 2020 the same way she did 2019: the NEW NXT Women’s Champion. Will history repeat itself for the better in NXT?
NXT has BIG matches for next week!
Not only will Gargano and his mysterious “worthy opponent” have a match over the NXT North American Championship, but Breezango is looking for payback! Will Tyler Breeze and Fandango avenge both the Undisputed Era and themselves as they have a rematch with Oney and Danny for the NXT Tag Team Championships?
Tommaso Ciampa VS Velveteen Dream!
The Psycho Killer has pointed out The Experience inevitably gets in his own way and only makes things worse for himself. Will this 1v1 grudge match be exactly what Ciampa means now that he has Dream all to himself?
Dream tries to ambush Ciampa but he’s ready for it and ducks the arm cast attack! The bell rings, Ciampa and Dream circle and feel out the grapple. Ciampa gets a headlock and holds on as Dream tries to power out. Ciampa grinds Dream down, fans rally as Ciampa is after the bad arm. Dream gets up, Ciampa throws him down and has the bad arm! Ciampa claws at the cast as he twists the arm but Dream gets a ropebreak. The ref counts, Dream gets away before Ciampa can stomp the arm! Dream throws a tantrum but he slams his bad arm on the desk! Ciampa goes after Dream while he winces, and wrenches, only for Dream to throw body shots. Dream shoves Ciampa into boards then gets back into the ring.
Dream argues with the ref about the cast being a target but Dream goes back out. Ciampa kicks Dream and puts him on the barriers! Dream is stuck but Ciampa KNEES him down! Fans fire up while Dream flounders about. Ciampa, bloody eye and all, puts Dream in the ring. Dream bails back out but Ciampa smirks as he follows. Dream is on the desk, Ciampa pats him on the back and CHOPS him! Ciampa hoists Dream up to GOURD BUSTER him onto the desk! Fans are thunderous, Ciampa lines up another shot, but Dream covers up! Ciampa stops short, grabs the bad arm, and slams it on the desk! And again! And again! Dream writhes and flops off the desk but Ciampa puts him in. Ciampa pats himself on the back and smiles as fans are thunderous.
Ciampa stalks Dream but Dream throws his hat at him! Dream then attacks with kicks and chops and forearms! Dream rams his shoulder in over and over, lets off at the ref’s count, but stalks Ciampa on the ropes. Dream whips corner to corner but Ciampa reverses and sends Dream flying out! Dream ends up hitting boards and he tumbles around. Dream doesn’t want any more and he goes up the ramp! “I’m coming home, mama!” But Ciampa grabs him at the ramp! Ciampa puts Dream back in, Dream flounders up but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Ciampa keeps moving and he BASEMENT KNEES Dream down! Ciampa reels Dream in, underhooks, but Dream slips out and punches, only for Ciampa to grab the bad arm! Ciampa wrangles Dream down and STOMPS the arm!!
Ciampa stalks Dream as Dream begs the ref to stop this. Ciampa drags Dream up, Dream shoves him away and climbs up. Ciampa clubs Dream, gets the bad arm and pulls to YANK Dream into the buckles! Dream flops down, Ciampa SLAMS the bad arm on the mat! Then stomps away on Dream in the corner! The ref counts, Ciampa lets off and Dream flounders out. Ciampa goes out to stomp away on Dream against steel steps as NXT goes picture in picture!
Ciampa stomps and stomps but lets off. The fans are fired up as Ciampa THROWS Dream into boards! Ciampa grins as Dream clutches his arm. Ciampa drags Dream up, puts him in the ring and goes after the arm. Dream flounders and flails to get away but he runs into a haymaker! Dream is in a daze, Ciampa has the arm again and he drops a knee on it! Ciampa drags Dream by his arm and drops knees on it again! Ciampa drags Dream around, ROCKS him to a corner, then CHOPS him! Ciampa climbs up and rains down rights in the corner! He lets off to mock Dream’s swiveling, then tops it off with the tenth!
Ciampa watches Dream flop down and waves to him. Dream begs for mercy but Ciampa toys with him. Ciampa kicks and kicks and that upsets Dream. Ciampa CHOPS Dream, whips him corner to corner but Dream slides, only to turn around and see Ciampa ready to punch him! Dream scrambles around and begs for mercy, but he instead tries to throw Ciampa into buckles! Ciampa stops himself short, elbows Dream back, but Dream BOOTS him! Both men stagger as NXT returns to single picture. Fans are fired up as Dream climbs. Ciampa CHOPS him, CHOPS him, and climbs up to join him. Dream resists and fights back and Ciampa hops down. But Ciampa gets the bad arm! Ciampa wrenches but the ref counts. Dream rakes Ciampa’s eyes!
Ciampa staggers away while the ref reprimands. Dream ROCKS Ciampa with haymakers and jabs, then whips Ciampa to ropes. Ciampa reverses but Dream gets around to SPINE BUSTER! Fans boo but Dream poses. Dream gets mad when he realizes they’re booing, so he rains down furious fists on Ciampa! Dream lets up to smooth his hair back and encourages the fans to make noise. Dream drags Ciampa up, his cast in the crossface and then camel clutch! Dream focuses on the bad eye! Ciampa fights up, throws body shots and then haymakers. Dream kicks back then whips! Ciampa comes back but swings into an atomic drop! But he still rebounds to LARIAT! Fans fire up as Ciampa rallies with more clotheslines! And more clotheslines! And a LARIAT!
Fans are thunderous as Dream gets to a corner. Ciampa runs in for a big corner clothesline! Ciampa hoists Dream back up top, climbs up to join him again, and brings him all the way up for a SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Dream survives and Ciampa can’t believe it! But fans are still thunderous as Ciampa gets up and WRINGS the bad arm out! Dream flounders up and Ciampa reels him in, but Dream back drops and sits down! TWO, and Ciampa staggers into a fireman’s carry! But Ciampa gets ropes so Dream throws him away. Dream BOOTS then throws Ciampa out of the ring! Dream builds speed but runs into a forearm! Dream forearms back then PLANCHAS! Direct hit and Ciampa is down!
Dream drags Ciampa up, puts him in, and reels Ciampa in. Ciampa fights back, but Dream still suplexes Ciampa and himself out! A rough landing but fans are fired up! A ring count starts and climbs as both men stir. Dream and Ciampa sit up at 5, get in at 7, but Ciampa drags Dream back out. Dream SUPERKICKS then puts Ciampa back in! Dream gets a chair?! He throws that in to distract the ref, because he wants to use the cast! Dream leaps, but into Ciampa’s JUMPING KNEE! Ciampa gets Dream with a roll into the ropes, WILLOW’S BELL!! Then the underhooks, to FAIRY TALE ENDING!! Cover, Ciampa wins!!
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa, by pinfall
It’s Dream Over, but not in the way Dream wanted! Will Ciampa use this to make his way back to “Goldie,” aka THE NXT Championship?
My Thoughts:
Wow, this was a great NXT, and it wasn’t even with one central focus point. All four matches (that went to actual finishes) were simply highlighting the depth of the roster and the stories behind them. Getting right to Ember VS Dakota was great, it was a great match, and it was a great surprise for Ember to lose. Ember may be back but she isn’t going to steamroll opponents, and certainly not one who has been in NXT as long as Dakota has. Ember will benefit from taking her time and giving us those little dream matches she listed the other week, on a similar path to Finn Balor. Speaking of which, a little surprised we didn’t get anything on Finn, but perhaps they’re trying to let things run their course. Hopefully Finn will be 100% very soon so that he can still be NXT Champion.
Shirai and Rhea had great promo vignettes and it’s great to see we’re finally getting that match for the NXT Women’s title. That is a match that could go either way, though I’m leaning ever so slightly in Shirai’s favor. Rhea has had her accolades for NXT already, and as much as I think she and Shotzi can tear it up as a team, or as great as a Rhea VS Toni rematch could be, I feel like Rhea might end up being moved to Raw or SmackDown. Leaning towards Raw in that case, because Rhea VS Asuka could be great, and Charlotte VS Rhea in a rematch of their own would be fantastic. Of course, the same can be said for Shirai, I just feel there’s more for Shirai to still do. Maybe be part of Worlds Collide: NXT VS NXT UK II, so that we can get either Shotzi VS Kay Lee Ray or Shotzi VS Jinny, something like that.
Toni VS Shotzi was a great match, even with Candice distracting via titantron. The major thing was, RIP Shotzi’s tank! Of course, I would think that’s a stunt tank, but still. Shotzi is definitely going to go after Candice, and there’s a chance “Ghost Face” Indi Hartwell gets involved, perhaps prompting Toni Storm to step in where Tegan Nox probably would be if not for injury. Speaking of Ghost Face, I wonder if the one playing Life with Gargano was just Candice playing the part. After all, the voice was changed and that Ghost Face seemed a little on the small side. I’m still betting the big, bad Ghost Face that helped Gargano was Austin Theory. Gargano was hilarious during that segment, especially that victory dance. I wonder if he’ll do that dance when he beats the “worthy” opponent who will probably be a jobber.
Atlas trying to jump El Legado was a decent segment. That rematch is coming, too, but it’s getting pretty old pretty quickly for El Legado to help Escobar win. Thatch As Thatch Can was another good segment, and I’m glad that Anthony Greene, now Austin Gray (Grey?) is taking the fight to him. One thing NXT is borrowing from 205 Live is that the seemingly jobber guy is getting to actually do stuff, i.e. Curt Stallion taking on Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari week after week. Grimes VS Kushida was a great match, lots of great character from Grimes in regards to the Haunted House match. I have a feeling Grimes will be suffering from the trauma until he has a rematch with Lumis, assuming he finds a way to win that. Speaking of which, Lumis and Kushida are shoe-ins for actual worthy NAC contenders, but maybe that comes after Gargano “breaks the curse.”
The tag match of Maverick, Dain and Ever-Rise was a good segue into McAfee and the “kings of NXT” (apparently that IS going to be their group name) razzing on UE for a long, long time. McAfee can definitely talk and he can definitely be obnoxious, and he did all of that excellently tonight. I knew last week Dunne’s motivations were purely from the moment when Strong betrayed him in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Despite winning WarGames against UE after, Dunne still holds a grudge, and with McAfee revisiting that history just so everyone understands, that can only mean WarGames is where this ends. Dain getting “crushed” in the car door was a nice touch to add to Dunne’s new edge as a Heel. Ciampa VS Dream was borderline TakeOver levels, and that made for a great main event. I really do think that, should Finn be cleared, he and Ciampa can start a program to end 2020 and to start 2021.
My Score: 9.1/10
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Could this be the biggEST and strongEST SmackDown of the year?
SmackDown in Knoxville sees the returns of Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes and John Cena, along with some final Money in the Bank qualifiers!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax; Naomi wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa; Mateo wins.
- Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar; Los Garza win.
- Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration; Zelina wins.
- Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu; Andrade wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bianca Belair is here!
Knoxville fires up for their strongEST, fastEST, quickEST, toughEST, roughEST, and greatEST hometown hero as she struts out to the ring. Bianca high-fives and hugs fans along the ramp, as well as mom and dad at ringside. Bianca then grabs a mic to say, “Man, it feels good to be in Knoxville!” The fans cheer and chant for “EST! EST!” Bianca says she loves them so much. And she couldn’t come out here without singing Rocky Top! Y’all ready? The fans cheer, and the music plays! Bianca conducts the fans as they sing for the University of Tennessee. In fact, the Lady Vols softball team is playing in the Super Regionals right now!
Bianca smiles and says this city is so special to her. Not just because it is her hometown, but because it is her safe space. She has her love and support from mom ‘n’ dad, and has all the fans who show up and show out for her. With everything Bianca’s been going through, losing at Mania, getting injured, losing tag titles and friends along the way, she just wanted to come back home to her safe space. The fans cheer, and Bianca says she came home to heal. While she’s not 100%, she is doing everything she can to get back to the ring and continue to show us why she is the EST of Tennessee and of WWE! The fans cheer that!
Bianca says with all that said, Knoxville, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown! But wait, she’s interrupted by Naomi! The fans boo but Naomi says, “Oh my gosh~! Finally! B, I am so glad you finally here on SmackDown!” Bianca says now is not the time, Naomi. Naomi asks Bianca to please hear her out. It has been way too long. Not a day has gone by when Naomi doesn’t think about what happened to them. What is there to talk about? What could Naomi say? What could she want from Bianca? The fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at Naomi, and Naomi says she just wants forgiveness. She is begging for it!
Naomi knows things go toff the rails, but she is here because she wants to fix it, she is trying to fix it, but she alone can’t fix it. Months have gone by, and Naomi has tried to communicate, to say the past can be the past and that they can move forward. Bianca has not responded back to Naomi once. Naomi even visited Bianca’s parent’s house! But no one would answer! WHAT?! Mom ‘n’ Dad don’t know about that, but Naomi says no one was home, so she let herself in! Naomi looked through the photo albums, the one right on the front coffee table. And in those photos, Bianca looked so happy. It reminded Naomi of how they were as tag team champions.
Bianca stops Naomi there. Naomi, Bianca will make this perfectly clear. They were best friends, but Naomi betrayed Bianca’s trust. Naomi took their friend, Jade, and threw her onto a car, then lied about it for months! Bianca said she was done with Naomi, she meant that, and if Naomi ever comes near her family again, what Naomi did to Jade will be nothing compared to what Bianca does to Naomi. The fans fire up for that! Naomi gets emotional, but then she gets mad. “Y’know, Bianca, it wouldn’t be good for you and your mama to be in a wheelchair.” The fans boo as Naomi laughs maniacally. Naomi says she’d hate if something happened to Bianca here and now!
Naomi storms up on Bianca, but then JADE makes her way out here! Naomi is even angrier now, but this Storm starts throwing hands! The fans fire up as Jade BOOTS Naomi down! Bianca and Jade look to each other, neither really saying or doing anything. Naomi runs up but Jade TOSSES her out! Jade and Bianca look to each other again, but then here comes NIA! The Irresistible Force won’t be left out of this, especially when this is the Women’s Triple Threat Qualifier for the night! This match now opens the night, who earns SmackDown’s final golden ticket to the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match?
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax!
SmackDown returns, this match is already going, and Naomi POSTS Nia! Naomi stalks Jade, rains down forearms, and the fans boo. Naomi stomps to BITE Jade’s hand! Jade still fights back, so Naomi has the arms to STOMP Jade down! Naomi flexes, the fans boo, and Naomi puts Jade in a corer. Naomi runs to DROPKICK Jade in the corner! Naomi SLAPS Jade, drags her into the drop zone, then goes up, up, and twerks! HIP DROP! Naomi covers, ROPEBREAK! Naomi is annoyed but she sits Jade up to stomp a mudhole in. But Nia runs up! Naomi dodges, the HIP ATTACK hits Jade! Naomi goes to the apron to ROUNDHOUES Nia!
Naomi reels Nia in for a HEATSEEKER! Nia flops to the floor, the fans rally for Jade, but Naomi kicks her around. Naomi goes up the corner, leaps, but Jade catches her! Jade FALL AWAY SLAMS Naomi, then kips up! Knoxville fires up with Jade and she runs up to LARIAT! And ELBOW! And SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, Nia breaks it! The fans boo but Nai huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Naomi up. Nia whips Naomi, pops her up and HEADBUTTS her down! Then she SAMOAN DROPS Naomi! Nia soaks up heat, then lines the two up. Naomi grabs at Nia’s leg but Nia CLUBS her down! Nia stomps Jade for good measure, then drops a leg, brother!
Nia TOSSES Jade out, then goes up the corner. Nia SUPER LEG DROPS on Naomi!! Cover, TWO!!! Naomi survives and Nia is shocked! The fans rally while Nia stalks Naomi. Naomi clings to ropes as Nia pulls at her arm. Nia CLUBS Naomi, whips her to ropes, then SAMOAN DROP- NO, Naomi makes it a CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Ghost pin, TWO!! Nia survives the sudden turnaround, Naomi sees Jade crawling in, and Naomi goes after her as SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Naomi KICKS Nia while she’s down, then kicks her more. Naomi puts Nia in a corner, CHOKES her on the ropes, then clamps on with a SLEEPER! Nia THROWS Naomi away, then TOSSES her out. Nia soaks up heat, but Jade runs in and rolls Nia up! TWO! Nia stands, and she HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia looms over Jade, drags her up, but Jade fires forearms! Jade backs Nia down, then runs, and she CLOBBERS Nia outta the ring! Jade fires up and has the fans with her. Jade drags Naomi up from the apron but Naomi fires hands. Nia is back to HIP ATTACK Jade against the POST! Nia soaks up more heat, then taunts Naomi.
Naomi stands on the apron, argues with Nia, but they apparently agree to mug Jade for both their benefit. They put Jade in the corner, Naomi digs her boot in, and then Nia sends Naomi in for a SPALSH! Nia adds a SPLASH of her own! Naomi snapmares Jade, runs, and SLIDING LARIATS! Jade sputters and Nia taunts her. Nia and Naomi soak up the heat together, but Jade fights back! Nia HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia drags Jade up, and Naomi KICKS Jade low! They soak up more heat, talk trash on Jade, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Nia scoops and SIDEWALK SLAMS! Naomi runs to SPLIT LEG DROP! Cover, but Nia drags Naomi away!
Nia and Naomi argue again, and then Naomi rolls Nia up! ONE, and Nia grabs Naomi to shove her to a corner! Nia SPLASHES, then pushes Naomi down. Nia runs to SENTON! Nia grins while Naomi sputters and the fans rally up. Jade rises to fire forearms on Nia! Then she ELBOWS Naomi in a corner! She ELBOWS Nia, but then Nia follows Jade! Jade dodges so Nia SPLASHES Naomi! Jade then SUPERKICKS! Nia wobbles, Jade SUPERKICKS again! And SPINEBUSTERS! But Naomi METEORAS! Cover, TWO! Jade survives and the fans rally up. Naomi goes up, SPLIT- LEG MOONSAULT on Nia! But Jade has Naomi in the chicken wings!
Jade brings Naomi around, JADED!! Cover, Nia CLOBBERS them both! The fans rally while all three women are down! Nia climbs a corner, Jade is after her with forearms! Naomi joins in, drags Jade back, but now they trade shots! Nia DOUBLE CROSSBODIES! Cover on Jade, TWO! Cover on Naomi, TWO! Nia grows frustrated but the fans rally up again. Nia drag Naomi up, fireman’s carries, and she climbs the corner! The fans already anticipate what’s coming, SUPER SAMOAN DROP!! Cover, JADE FROG SPLASHES IN!! Cover, TWO!!! The fans fire up while all three women are down again! “This is Awesome!”
Jade rises, she clamps onto Nia, but Nia HEADBUTTs her! And HEADBUTTS Naomi! Jade BOOTS Nia down! Cover, TWO! Jade runs up on Naomi but Naomi BOOTS her! Naoim goes up top but Jade is right on her! They fight for control, but then Nia joins in! TOWER OF DOOM!! Nia double stacks her opponents, for a A-NIA-LATOR!! Naomi avoids it, Jade takes it all! Naomi ghost pins Nia, AND WINS!!
Winner: Naomi, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Nia did a lot of the damage, but it is Naomi who wins out! Will everyone in the Women’s MITB Ladder Match now have to #ProceedWithCaution?
Solo Sikoa’s crew arrives.
Solo says they will win Money in the Bank together! Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, whichever one wins MITB wins it fof the family! But then they hear R-Truth talking to… Lil’ Jimmy? Solo says Truth’s childhood hero beats him, and now he’s talking to ghosts. Truth taps Solo on the shoulder and asks if there’s something Solo wants to say. Solo says Truth is crazy touching him. JC Mateo steps up but Solo has him stand down. Truth says he wants to be honest. He’s never seen JC a day before in his life. Is this Solo’s son? He’s husky! Truth asks if he can teach Solo’s husky son a lesson in the ring. Solo says that sounds good to him.
Truth says he’ll go talk to Nick Aldis. “Boy, y’all big boneded!” Truth heads off, and Solo says don’t worry, they’ll take care of him. Let’s have fun. Fatu says keep it 100. They can have their fun, he’s got his own business to take care of. Yadada mean? The Imperial Unit against Truth, Samoan Werewolf in a qualifier, will everything go the family’s way?
Chelsea Green confronts Nick Aldis.
The Hot Mess hides behind a cardboard cutout of herself as she tells the SmackDown General Manager, “What happened on Saturday night was a deliberate-” Piper Niven has to direct Chelsea to point at Aldis, and Aldis says he can’t quite understand her from behind the cardboard mask. Piper holds the mask between Chelsea and camera, though we do get a glimpse of her fancy headgear. Chelsea repeats herself, but Aldis says she needs to be looking at him when they talk. Chelsea hides her face in shame, but she says it is still a deliberate hitjob put on by vicious Zelina Vega! Even her Secret Her-vice could not stop it!
Chelsea demands that Zelina be suspended, stripped of her title, and that Chelsea be reinstated as the champion! Chelsea, no need to be so ugly about this. Gasp! Aldis says what he means is, no suspensions, and we can talk a rematch down the road once Chelsea is medically cleared. Then he is doing nothing for what Zelina did to Chelsea?! Alba says if he won’t, then they will! Yeah, Zelina VS Alba! Tonight! Alba is a bit surprised, but Aldis says, “Chelsea knows best. Alba VS Zelina, I actually like the sound of that. I will make that official right now, if you do one thing for me. Please leave me alone.”
The Green Administration hurries away, but will Alba make sure Chelsea brand justice is served? Or will La Muneca just keep racking up the wins?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Women’s Champion, and says that MITB is around the corner. Tiff successfully cashed in her own contract to become champion, but how is she handling the pressure of knowing the same thing could happen to her? Tiff says she can’t wait to see who wins MITB. Then she can handle the pressure by being prepared. Having this title makes her the top threat to the division, but let’s be fair. She’s always been the girl everyone has been obsessed with. So whoever wins, targeting her will be a big mistake. But then in steps Naomi.
Naomi says if Tiff thought Nia was a problem, then she ain’t seen nothing yet. Naomi vows to win MITB and cash in for Tiff’s title, wherever and whenever she wants. And in case Lil’ Miss Tiffy forgot, when Naomi was fighting for a championship, Tiff stayed in Naomi’s way. Wanna know what happens when people play with Naomi? Just ask Jade. Naomi heads out, and Alexa Bliss steps in. Alexa says she wouldn’t be so worried about Naomi. Be worried about Alexa. Alexa heads out now, Tiff clutches to the title a little bit tighter, who will be trying to run the clock out on Tiffy Time?
R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa!
To Solo’s point, #RonCena could not make John Cena see the light at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Truth might be relapsing if he’s talking to Lil’ Jimmy again. But will Truth relapse so far that we get the R-Truth that was once United States Champion? Or will a Tour of the Islands send Truth off the deep end?
SmackDown returns and JC makes his entrance, Solo backing him up. The bell rings and Truth runs up, only for JC to RAM him into a corner! JC RAMS Truth again and again, then lets off. JC whips corner to corner hard and Truth falls in a heap! JC whips corner to corner again just as hard, and Truth falls in a heap again. Solo talks trash but the fans rally behind Truth. JC runs up but Truth dodges! Truth SHOULDER TACKLES! JC stays up, so Truth runs and SHOULDER TACKLES! “What’s Up?” Truth runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and SHOULDER TACKLES! Then he hits the SPIN OUT- CROSSBODY! JC then gets up to GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT!
JC smirks as he looms over Truth, and Solo says to finish this off now. JC runs to SENTON but Truth moves! Truth calls for it! “YOU CAN’T SEE ME!” FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Truth fireman’s carries JC, but JC is too much! Truth falls over again! Solo laughs, JC whips, TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, JC wins!
Winner: JC Mateo, by pinfall
Truth tried to be like John Cena of old, but it just wasn’t meant to be. JC beats up on Truth more, then stands him up for Solo! But here comes BIG Jim! Jimmy has a chair, he runs JC off, but Solo stands his ground. Solo says his brother wouldn’t hit him with that chair, would he? Jimmy steps to Solo so Solo steps out, but that lets JC CLOBBER Jimmy! But then Solo has JC stand down! They’re family! Solo and JC leave, leaving Jimmy wondering what this is about. Will Jimmy make it clear to Solo that Jimmy’s not the one who has to come to his senses?
The Street Profits are here!
The WWE Tag Team Champions walk through the smoke to be on stage and the fans cheer. Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford hold up the titles, walk to the ring, then step inside. The fans cheer as they hold up the belts again, then the Profits grab the mics. Ford says, “Knoxville, Tennessee, oh I love everything about you, and what I have, too. But lemme rap to y’all real fast. This tag team division that we’re a part of, the greatest tag team division on any brand, any promotion… It’s on fire right now.” Dawkins says, “Talk to ’em.” Ford says, “But just like how the gorilla fears us, make no mistake about it, let’s not forget who’s leading the charge right now: The Street Profits.”
The fans cheer, and Dawkins says hey, they got all the teams coming at ’em! DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, and now… The Wyatts?! The fans cheer that, and Ford says that’s sick. But what big bro is saying, it don’t matter who it is, the Profits will defend against anybody. Well hold on, here comes Fraxiom! Nathan Frazer & Axiom go to the ring to stand with the Profits, and they have mics. Frazer says alright, since the Profits are talking about defending the titles, well, Frazer & Axiom didn’t exactly get a fair shake. Ford says, “Fraxiom, is it?” He congratulates them for being on a roll, but up until the Wyatt Sick6 got in the Profits’ business…
Yeah, the Profits had them beat. Wow, oh, okay. Sure, maybe… But maybe not. Thanks to the Wyatts, we’ll never know. And now that those shenanigans are behind us, it is fair to say that Fraxiom and the Profits need to run it back! The fans like the sound of that! But wait, here come the Machine Guns! Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin have mics, and Shelley says okay, hold on, sorry to interrupt. Fraxiom’s entire basis for a rematch is that the Profits never beat them. Well, last time Shelley checked, the Profits never beat MCMG! So if they’re handing out title matches, MCMG will take one. But naturally, here comes DIY!
Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Candice LeRae have their own mics, and the Poison Pixie says no no no no. She is pretty sure “you losers” have had a million chances, and “the nerds” just got here. Whoa, hold on? Just got here? Sounds like Candice just got back, so she should do us a favor and shut up. Gargano says you shut up, idiot! The reason DIY brought in Gargano’s beautiful wife is to even the odds against all of what this is! Everyone can see there is a conspiracy in the tag team division to hold down the BTTITW! And now with the Wyatts showing up- Ciampa has Gargano ixnay on the amily-fay.
Do not talk about you know who, scratch that, let’s get to business. All these teams have all KILLED the tag division that DIY built! Matter of fact, let us hold a moment of silence for the death of the SmackDown Tag Division. Everyone, stand up, bow your heads, and give a moment of silence… now. OH NO! The lights go out! All the teams panic, because when the lights turn on, UNCLE HOWDY is on the corner! Howdy laughs, because the rest of the Wyatts flank the ring! Erick Rowan drags MCMG out to DOUBLE LARIAT! Dexter Lumis is up top to CANNONBALL onto the Profits and Gargano! Joe Gacy is in, and he handsprings to bring Fraxiom to the UPSIDE-DOWN!!
Lumis then runs, POWERBOMB SENTON COMBO on Axiom! Ciampa freaks out, turns around, and Nikki Cross is there! CROSSBODY onto Candice! The fans fire up, and Howdy has Frazer for SISTER ABIGAIL! “We’re here!!” It is just as the Profits said, and now it is clear. Will some killer combination of the Wyatts go right after the gold?
Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar!
Worlds Collide is just over a week away, and all four of these men will be involved. The Immortal Firebird and the Young OG are going after the NXT North American Championship in a Fatal 4 Way while Legado Del Fantasma will be taking on AAA’s Pagano, Psycho Clown y El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. Who will be heading for Los Angeles with all the momentum behind them?
Speaking of that North American Championship, the champion is here! Ethan Page joins commentary and says what a year for him, to be honest. Wade says that title has never looked better than on Ethan’s shoulder. Fenix makes his entrance now, followed by Je’Von’s. The teams sort out and Fenix starts against Angel. Angel and Fenix circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Angel fires a forearm, Fenix fires back, repeat! Fenix gets the edge but Angel shoves then drops down. Fenix cartwheels over the dropdown, then comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and RANAS! Angel tumbles, the fans fire up, and Fenix somersaults, but into a fireman’s carry!
Fenix slips free, ripcords to ROUNDHOUSE, but Angel HEADBUTTS! Both men stagger back, tags to Berto and Je’Von! Je’Von dodges and springboards to BOUNCY~ roll-up! TWO, and Berto mule kicks! Berto CLUBS Je’Von, whips, but Je’Von reverses and slips around. Berto bucks the O’Conner, springboards and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Berto drags Je’Von up, but Je’Von kicks! Berto blocks, but the ENZIGIRI hits! Je’Von runs up, and BOUNCY~ RANAS! The fans fire up and Je’Von DROPKICKS! Berto bails out, Angel runs in, but Je’Von goes Matrix to dodge! Je’Von kips up, and STUNNERS! Angel flops back and the fans fire up!
Los Garza regroups, Je’Von tags Fenix, and they build speed, but have to dodge Angel first. Fenix SOBATS, Je’Von KICKS, and both men ENZIGIRI! Berto is up top, he leaps, but into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Fenix runs to basement CALF KICK! Cover, TWO! Berto stays in this for Los Garza while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Fenix drags Berto up to RAM him into the corner. Tag to Je’Von and they mug Berto. Berto fires hands back on Je’Von, but Je’Von headlocks. Berto powers up and out and Angel tags in. Berto drop toeholds Je’Von into Angel’s KNEE at the ropes! Angel TEARS OFF HIS PANTS! Angel drapes those over Je’Von before he KICKS Je’Von in the side! Angel stalks Je’Von to the corner, tags Berto, and they shove Je’Von for a double hip toss, TU LO SABE! Then DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Berto covers, TWO! Berto argues the count but the ref defends it. Berto shoves Je’Von to ELBOW him down! Berto then DUMPS Je’Von down to be under the ropes.
Tag to Angel and Berto sits Je’Von up on the apron. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von down! Santos joins in with Los Garza as they soak up the heat, and Angel drags Je’Von back in. Angel stands Je’Von up, hoists him to the top rope, then climbs up behind him. Angel CLUBS away on Je’Von, mocks the clapping, and he THROWS Je’Von down. Angel KICKS Je’Von in the arm and Je’Von clutches his hand. Angel drags Je’Von to the ropes, CHOKES him, and the ref reprimands. The ref counts, Angel steps off at 4, and Berto BOOTS Je’Von down. ANgel clamps onto Je’Von with an armlock and chinbar but Je’Von reaches for Fenix.
Angel keeps hold of Je’Von but Je’Von fires hands! SmackDown returns to single picture as Je’Von dodges the lariat, leaps, but Angel catches him! Angel puts Je’Von in a corner and through ropes. Angel pulls an arm and leg against the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von in the ribs! Je’Von slumps to the apron, and Angel sucker punches Fenix! Angel goes back for Je’Von but Je’Von fires body shots! Angel blocks a kick, slips around and Gory Especials! Angel walks over, tags Berto, and Berto slingshots, GARZA ESPECIAL! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up for Je’Von but Berto clamps onto him with a chinlock.
Je’Von endures, even as Berto traps an arm. Je’Von fights up, pries the hold open, and he arm-drags Berto! Je’Von leaps but Berto grabs a leg! Ethan laughs from commentary, but Je’Von kicks free to SUPERKICK! Both men are down, Je’Von and Berto crawl, hot tags to Angel and Fenix! The fans fire up as Fenix rallies on Angel with forearms! Fenix then dodges a shot to springboard and FLYING ARM-DRAG, to a DOUBLE STOMP! Fenix fires off KICKS on Berto, then fires up with Knoxville! Fenix uses Berto to jump up and RANA Angel! Fenix then goes corner to corner to JUMP SOBAT! Fenix fires hands, shoves Angel aside, then goes up.
Fenix springboards to QUEBRADA! Cover, Berto breaks it! Berto whips Fenix, Fenix goes Spider-Man, and Je’Von tags in! Fenix says HASTA LA VISTA, BABY! Angel is up, he pops Fenix up to KICK him! But Je’Von springboards to FLYING LARIAT! The fans fire up, Berto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! All four men are down and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as Angel and Je’Von crawl. Angel CHOPS Je’Von, Je’Von CHOPS back, and the fans “WOO~!” Angel CHOPS again, so Je’Von CHOPS again! Angel fires a forearm, Je’Von fires back, and they go around with forearm after forearm! The fans fire up, Angel CHOPS, a
nd Je’Von SUPER PUNCHES!
Je’Von runs, BOUNCY- NO, Angel makes it a SIT OUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ethan is surprised and the fans rally up. Angel hoists Je’Von up top, tags Berto in, and they hoist Je’Von up even higher! But Fenix SHORYUKENS Angel down! Je’Von fires hands on Berto and SHOVES him down! Fenix climbs up to join Je’Von now, and ADIOS AMIGO DOUBLE STOMPS for Angel! Je’Von adjusts, to SUPER DUPER SWANTON onto Los Garza! Ethan says don’t get closer, keep this in the ring! He taunts both his challengers, Fenix and Je’Von stand down to put Los Garza in the ring. The fans rally up, but then Ethan CLOBBERS Fenix & Je’Von!
Ethan TOSSES Fenix over the desk! But Je’Von SUPERKICKS Ethan down! The fans fire up, Je’Von hurries in, and he dodges Angel! But Berto rolls Je’Von up, TWO!! Je’Von dodges Berto, rebound and RED DOT!! Berto is down, Angel gets up, but Je’Von DECKS him! Je’Von goes up, up, but Santos distracts the ref! Ethan SHOVES Je’Von down! The fans boo but Berto tags Angel! Los Garza hoists Je’Von up for M T Y!! Cover, Los Garza win!
Winners: Los Garza, by pinfall
All Ego grins as he screws over two of his three challengers, and now Legado is rolling towards Worlds Collide. But will these rudos get everything they deserve in LA?
The Wyatts speak.
“We won’t stop. Not until we get what’s owed.” A simple yet ominous threat, are the tag titles only the beginning?
Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration!
La Muneca held onto the WWE Women’s US Championship by smacking The Hot Mess in the face with a foot, and obviously Chelsea is not happy with it. But will Alba get payback on behalf of her fearless leader? Or will things only get uglier for the Green Regime?
The bell rings and Piper distracts Zelina so Alba can CLOBBER her! Alba fires off hands, then bumps Zelina off buckles. Alba bumps Zelina off more buckles, then more buckles! And then the fourth corner! Chelsea says Zelina should’ve never messed with her! Alba fireman’s carries but Zelina fights free. Zelina KICKS Alba, KICKS again, then KICKS, but Alba CLUBS Zelina. Alba whips, scoops, and- NO, Zelina swings through to RANA! Cover, ONE! Zelina headlocks but Alba fights up and lifts Zelina. Zelina holds on but Alba powers up and out to RUN Zelina over! The fans boo but Chelsea cheers as Alba stalks Zelina.
Alba ROCKS Zelina, whips her to ropes, but Zelina wheelbarrows and arm-drags! Zelina then runs up on Alba in the corner and rains down fists! Alba shoves Zelina away at three, but Zelina comes right back to rain down more shots! Alba stops Zelina at four now, but Zelina wants another go! Alba stops Zelina at four again, and RAMS her into the corner! The fans boo but Alba grins. Zelina BOOTS Alba, goes up, and FLYING RANAS! Alba tumbles out, Piper helps her up, and Zelina goes to the apron. Alba trips Zelina up, spins and ROCKS Zelina, then gets her up. Gory Especial, but Zelina flips through to arm-drag Alba onto ropes!
The fans fire up as Zelina dials up, but Chelsea is on the apron! The ref argues with Chelsea while Zelina redials, but Piper trips her up! The fans boo but Alba SUPERKICKS Zelina! Alba salutes to Chelsea, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Alba stands on Zelina’s hair while pulling Zelina’s arms! The ref reprimands, Alba steps off, and she drags Zelina up to suplex for the GOURD BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Zelina stays in this and Chelsea argues with the ref. The ref says the count is fair, so Alba clamps onto Zelina with a COBRA CLUTCH! Zelina endures, the fans rally, and Zelina fights up. Zelina fires body shots, Alba ripcords and wrenches to SUPERKICK! Zelina rebounds to SHINING WIZARD! Both women fall and the fans fire up! Piper coaches Zelina, the fans rally up, and both women rise up. Alba is on Zelina and brings her to a corner, but Zelina buckle bumps Alba first!
The fans rally as Alba stalks Zelina, but Zelina bumps her off buckles again! Alba tries again, but Zelina ELBOWS Alba away. Then BOOTS her away! Zelina fires forearms on Alba, backs her down, then whips. Alba reverses but Zelina dodges to LARIAT! The fans fire up as Zelina LARIATS again! Zelina blocks a kick, ELBOWS Alba, but Alba blocks the saido. But Zelina keeps Alba from running, SNAP SAIDO! The fans rally for Zelina as she runs corner to corner, METEORA! Zelina pushes Alba out and goes up top! The fans cheer for some Latina Heat, and METEORA! Cover, TWO! Alba survives and Chelsea is relieved.
Zelina grows frustrated, but she goes back for Alba. Zelina reels Alba in, suplexes, but Alba blocks! Alba knees low, suplexes, but Zelina hits STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Alba is down, Zelina goes up, MOONSAULT FLOPS! Alba goes up now, and she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, TWO!?! Zelina survives and shocks Alba! Chelsea is upset again but Alba hurries to bring Zelina up. Alba KICKS Zelina out, and now Chelsea takes off her face mask?! She tells Piper to stand Zelina up! Piper does as told, and Chelsea takes a swing, but Zelina ducks! The face mask SMACKS Piper!! Chelsea is shocked, then furious, and then she chases after Zelina!
Zelina slips into the ring, Chelsea gets on the apron, but Zelina sends Alba at her! They almost collide, and then Zelina rolls Alba up! Zelina hops on, CODE RED!! Cover, Zelina wins!!
Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall
Chelsea tried so hard to screw Zelina over that she just screwed up her own team! Zelina survives again, will no one take down the Vega Administration?
The Miz pep talks Carmelo Hayes.
Melo looks good, and he just has to follow the plan. If Melo follows that plan, with no mistakes, they will win. Melo says he knows what he’s doing. Miz asks if he really does. Because Miz has taken Black Mass after Black Mass, sacrificing himself for Melo. Does Melo understand? Miz gave up this chance at MITB for Melo! Miz has already done it twice! If Melo wins this match tonight, Miz will guide Melo to make sure “we are Mr. MITB.” Wait, we? Miz says, “Who do you think got you in this position?” Melo says Melo did. Melo appreciates everything Miz has done for him, from sacrificing to taking hits for him, and helping him win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
But nobody told Miz to do that. Melo will run the play exactly as Miz designed it, but what brought Melo to the dance is Melo’s talent. Melo goes out there and does it better than anybody else. Melo puts up 40 points on a bad day, because he is H1M. And Miz just needs to let Melo be H1M. They good? Miz nods, and Melo says okay, let’s do the thing. They are Melo Don’t Miz and they are Awes-H1M. Miz still nods, but he doesn’t seem genuinely happy. Will Miz let Melo be Melo? Even if that means letting H1M fail?
Giulia speaks.
“Throughout my entire career, even back when I started in Japan, I had one goal… It’s not to be ‘the best.’ Everyone says that. It’s hollow and empty. My goal is to be indisputable. You can love me or hate me, admiration or disgust, it means nothing. But I’m impossible to deny. My opponent doesn’t matter, because I only view them as an opportunity to build my legacy. Evidence you cannot refute. SmackDown, you will see. I will hit harder, move faster, think sharper, and conquer everything, just like I’ve always done. The question isn’t, ‘Who’s going to let me?” It’s, ‘Who’s going to stop me?'” She adds in Japanese, “If you can stop it, stop it.”
Will SmackDown and all of the WWE soon succumb to The Beautiful Madness?
Zelina returns backstage.
She refreshes for a second, but Giulia is there! And Giulia says she sees Zelina, but she also sees that title more. Zelina scoffs and leaves. Could Giulia be aiming for everything once she becomes Ms. Money in the Bank?
Damian Priest is here!
Knoxville cheers as The Archer of Infamy heads to the ring, victorious from Saturday Night’s Main Event and that brutal Steel Cage match. Priest grabs a mic to tell Tennessee, “Ever since I beat Drew on Saturday, it’s like I’m breathing in fresh air. Y’know, there was a time when I lived on the street, if we were beefing with another street, that war could go for years. But in WWE, you have a beef with somebody, you have a match and it’s over. But with Drew and I, we went well over a year, and that’s not normal. But we took that beef into a cage. Now, I can feel it, you can se it on my face, we went to war.
“At the end of this war, at Saturday Night’s Main Event, I gave him a Con-Chair-To, I walked out the door, and I put his ass in the past.” The fans cheer that. Priest says now he knows Drew is somewhere recovering from his scrambled brains, but he knows Drew is watching, so this is for Drew. “I still can’t stand yo ass. But the Drew McIntyre that stepped in that cage wasn’t the guy that hides behind his phone on social media. That was the old Drew, the warrior, and I appreciate that.” The fans applaud, and Priest says he won’t ask what is next for himself, he’ll just tell us all. And it is the same thing he wanted when he came to SmackDown: Championships!
The fans cheer, and Priest says this war with Drew cost him an opportunity at being in MITB. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his eyes on a certain champion. Somebody who he has unfinished business with, and a champion he considers the most badass. The fans know that means Fatu, and he knows they know! Priest calls out Jacob Fatu! Priest respects Fatu. Priest knows where Fatu came from, what Fatu had to live through, how it feels to stand in this ring as a champion. Real talk, Priest is proud of Fatu, he congratulates Fatu, that’s real. But what Priest doesn’t respect is the crew that follows him around.
Wait, check that. What Priest doesn’t respect is the crew Fatu follows around. Priest knows at some point, they will get in this ring, handle business, but that’s for them. As for Fatu’s so-called family, if they wanna get involved, they can catch a fresh one, too. Priest won’t make it just a nickname or moniker, he wants this to be fact! Priest is and forever will be EL CAMPEON! The fans cheer that! But will the Archer soon take aim at the Samoan Werewolf? Well, speaking of, Fatu makes his way out here for tonight’s other Triple Threat Qualifier! Fatu nods to Priest, but if Fatu wins his way into the ladder match, will this showdown have to wait a little longer?
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu!
SmackDown returns and El Idolo makes his entrance, followed by H1M. The bell rings and Miz distracts Fatu and Melo attacks! Fatu ELBOWS Melo away, Andrade is on Melo with forearms, and then Fatu adds a LARIAT! Fatu looms mover Melo but then turns to stare down Andrade. The fans rally as these two step up. Andrade fires forearms but Fatu SHOVES him to a corner. Fatu runs up, Andrade dodges then whips. Fatu reverses, Andrade goes up and out to then ROCK Fatu! Andrade goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, ONE! Melo CLUBS Andrade, TOSSES him out, and then CLUBS away on Fatu!
Miz says that’s the way! Melo HAMMERS and CHOPS, then whips, but Fatu blocks! Fatu whips Melo, Melo springboards, but into an UPPERCUT! The fans fire up and Fatu sees Melo go outside. Fatu builds speed, but Miz trips him up! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Fatu drags Miz into the ring! Melo goes to roll Fatu up but Fatu stays up! Fatu YANKS Melo up, scoops, but Melo slips free! Melo SUPERKICKS and Miz DUMPS Fatu out! The fans boo but Melo builds speed, only for Andrade to LARIAT! The fans cheer, and now Miz sees he is in trouble. Fatu snarls, but Andrade DIVES, into a HAYMAKER!
Fatu then SUPERKICKS Miz! Fatu THROWS Miz into barriers! The fans fire up and Fatu grins. Fatu runs in, HIP ATTACK against the barriers! The Samoan Werewolf has dominated three men at once and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Miz sputters and Fatu leaves him behind to go around the way. Melo is there to kick Fatu, RAM Fatu, but Fatu blocks another whip! Fatu ROCKS Melo and Melo staggers away. Fatu stalks Melo, Melo checks on Miz, but Fatu ROCKS Melo! Andrade goes after Fatu now, but Fatu THROWS Andrade into barriers! The fans cheer as Fatu lets Andrade go to the ring. Fatu brings Melo up, SMACKS him off the desk, then pushes him down. Fatu clears the desk off, but Melo CLUBS Fatu against the desk! Melo storms into the ring, brings Andrade up, but Andrade RAMS Melo into the corner! Andrade RAMS Melo, CHOPS Melo, then stalks Melo.
Andrade whips Melo, Melo reverses and Andrade hits buckles hard! Melo CHOPS Andrade down! Melo brings Andrade up, soaks up some heat, then makes it Latino Heat. But Andrade blocks the suplex to suplex Melo! Andrade hangs Melo out to dry, and Melo flops to the apron. Fatu is back but Andrade fires forearms first! Andrade whips, Fatu reverses, and Fatu BODY CHECKS Andrade! Fatu geeks out and the fans are with him while he stalks Andrade. Fatu drags Andrade up to HEADBUTT him into the corner. Fatu shoves Melo off the apron, then he HEADBUTTS Andrade again. Andrade sputters but Fatu is all fired up.
Fatu CHOPS Andrade, UPPERCUTS, and HEADBUTTS him again! Andrade CHOPS in return! SmackDown returns to single picture and Andrade CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Fatu UPPERCUTS and Andrade falls back! Melo stomps Andrade in the corner, then tells Fatu to come on in. Fatu runs up, but Andrade gets away! Hip attack hits buckles! Melo ENZIGIRIS Fatu, Andrade runs to dodge Melo and FLYING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Andrade kips up! Andrade has targets in the corners, and he rallies the fans with “SI! SI! SI!” CIEN KNEES for Fatu! CIEN- NO, Melo tilt-o-whirls and LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally, Melo runs to stomp away on Fatu, then he brings Andrade up. Fatu stands to CLOBBER Melo! Andrade SUPERKICKS Fatu! The fans rally, Melo brings Andrade up and springboards, but Andrade stops him at the ropes! SECOND ROPE SPANISH FLY! But Fatu SENTONS Andrade! The fans fire up as Fatu SENTONS Melo! Fatu drags Melo to a drop zone, then goes to the corner! The fans rally for Fatu as he goes up, up, but Andrade YANKS him down! Andrade goes up top, MOONSAULT DOUBLE!! Cover, Melo breaks it! The fans rally while all three are down! “This is Awesome!” as the three stir.
Melo brings Fatu and Andrade around, and he fires forearms on each of them. Andrade fires back on Melo, then Fatu UPPERCUTS! Andrade ROCKS Fatu, but Fatu UPPERCUTS Andrade! The fans rally as the three rise, and Melo springboards! DOUBLE FADE AWAY DDT!! Cover on Andrade, Fatu breaks it! Melo and Fatu stare down, and they run up! Melo dodges to hit the FIRST 48! Andrade adds a POISON-RANA! Melo slips around Andrade to KNEE and suplex, CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Andrade survives and Melo grows frustrated. The fans rally for Fatu while Melo shakes his hands out. Andrade is on the apron but Melo rises.
Melo brings Andrade up but Andrade trips Melo! They go out to brawl, and Melo SUPERKICKS Andrade down! But Fatu SUPERKICKS Melo! The fans fire up for Fatu as he lines up a shot. Fatu gets the fans even more fired up, then he geeks out! Fatu runs in the full length, but Andrade & Melo move! HIP ATTACK through barriers!! The fans go nuts as Fatu crashes into the timekeeper’s area! Fatu sputters as SmackDown goes back to picture in picture.
Fatu stirs while Andrade and Melo go to the ring. They roll in, Melo grabs at Andrade and vice-versa. Melo fires a forearm, then goes back outside. Andrade goes to the opposite end while Melo looks under the ring. Melo makes Knoxville happy by bringing out a table! But then Melo makes them mad by dropping it! Melo goes after Andrade but Andrade ROCKS him first! Andrade brings out a chair! Andrade aims, but Melo dropkicks the legs out! Andrade crawls, Melo shakes his head, and he grabs the chair now. Melo aims, but Andrade kicks Melo low! Andrade and Melo go into the ring, and Andrade puts Melo in a drop zone.
Andrade goes up the corner, but Melo trips him up! Andrade is stuck up top and Melo hits the SLINGSHOT PLEX! Melo flexes, then decides to step through on the legs! Andrade cradles that, TWO! Melo and Andrade stand, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men fall and the fans look for Fatu. SmackDown returns to single picture as the fans rally, Melo and Andrade sit up, and Melo CHOPS! Andrade ROCKS Melo, then rolls away. Melo hurries to clamp onto Andrade with a facelock, but Andrade RAMS him into a corner! Andrade puts Melo up top but Melo fires forearms. Andrade drops back, Melo aims, but Andrade GAMANGIRIS!
The fans still want tables but Andrade climbs up to get Melo. They’re on the very top, but Fatu is back! Fatu makes the SUPER SPANISH FLY part ROCKER LAUNCHER!! The fans are thunderous as Fatu goes up now! SWANTON BOMB onto Melo! Cover, Andrade breaks it!! The fans rally up again and still want tables. Fatu runs at Andrade to SPLASH! Then Fatu runs at Melo, but Melo BOOTS him! Melo runs up, but into a pop-up! Melo fights the Samoan Drop, and Andrade adds the SHADOW ELBOW! But Melo makes it a ghost pin! Andrade adds a stack, TWO!!! Fatu survives the double cover, but here come Solo & JC!
The fans boo as Solo is here to coach Fatu up. Melo and Andrade trade forearms, then Melo dodges to springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, Fatu breaks it! Fatu snarls, drags Melo up, and he HEADBUTTS Melo! Fatu finally notices Solo & JC, but Fatu puts Melo up top. Fatu CHOPS Melo, then he fireman’s carries Andrade. Fatu adds Melo to this, but Melo slips free. SAMOAN DROP for Andrade, and then Fatu goes to the corner. Solo says Fatu’s got this now! BEST MOONSAULT EVER FLOPS and Melo hits NOTHING BUT NET!! Cover, ANDRADE BREAKS IT! Andrade underhooks Melo, THE MESS- NO, Melo RANAS through! Cover, TWO!!
Andrade has a cover, TWO! Melo has a cover, TWO! Andrade has it, TWO! Both men stand, SHADOW ELBOW! FIRST 48!! SHADOW ELBOW AGAIN!! All three men are down and the fans are thunderous! Fatu crawls, Melo rolls to a corner, and Andrade stirs. Fatu rises, he brings Andrade up, IMPALER DDT! Then Fatu has Melo to RAM him into a corner. Fatu runs and HIP ATTACKS Melo! Andrade is up, Fatu hits him with another IMPALER DDT! Fatu puts Andrade in the drop zone, and he hits the BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Solo says yeah, do that again! The fans boo but Fatu glares at Solo. JC says do what Solo is saying, Fatu!
But wait! Jimmy YANKS JC down, and SUPERKICKS him! The fans fire up, and then Melo RAMS Fatu into Solo! Then FIRST 48! But Andrade rolls Melo into THE MESSAGE!! Cover, ANDRADE WINS!!
Winner: Andrade, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Solo just screwed things up for Fatu! Solo does his best to keep the peace between Fatu and JC, but the point is: Andrade is headed to Los Angeles! Will he make this El Idolo in the Bank?
Backstage interview with LA Knight.
Byron Saxton segues from congratulating Andrade for qualifying to welcoming in someone who already has qualified, but The Mega Star says, “My gawd. What is it with punching tickets around here? Everybody talks about punching tickets. WWE Instagram, punched tickets. Commentary, punched tickets. You’re talking about punched tickets. I guess I punched my ticket to MITB, it’s only eight days away. A few other guys who punched tickets, who are they? You got Andrade, you got Penta, you got what’s his name, Seth Rollins. You got Solo Sikoa! They’re all in it! They all punched their tickets!
“And everybody’s gonna be climbing that ladder, trying to get up, put everything on the line that they can. Now, if this was a one-on-one match, I’d go ahead and call my shot, and I’d say I’m gonna run up there, grab the case, and cash it in. But you gotta understand, this is my third year in a row, so I understand what this is. You can call me the vet in this match. Some people say maybe that Seth is the vet in this, but they would be wrong. For three years in a row now, you’re talking about the most robust and the most recent experience, YEAH. And what that means is now it’s anybody’s game. Anybody can come out with it, and I understand that.
“But with or without the case, what you need to understand is that the WWE title, the world title, they’re all in my future. With the way I’ve been running, at this point, they should be in my past, maybe even my present. Why don’tcha go ahead and punch that ticket? While we’re talking about-” Knight stops himself when he spots someone walking in. It’s Aleister Black! And Aleister says that win was supposed to be his. But he tells Knight, “You’re welcome, though.” The Dark Father lets the Mega Star shine, if only for now. Will LA win big in LA when we finally reach MITB?
Fatu and Solo regroup backstage.
Solo wants Fatu to listen. He was just trying to help. Fatu tells Solo to listen. For the last time, Fatu does not need his help! Fatu storms off, JC steps in, but Solo has nothing else to say. Is the Samoan Werewolf going to break away from this dysfunctional “family?”
Cody Rhodes is here!
Knoxville fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, high-fives fans along the ramp and the front row, and even signs autographs. Cody goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and he hears the fans chant his name. Cody fires the fans up more, then hears them sing, “Cody! Cody Rhooodes~! Cody! Cody Rhooodes~!” Cody says, “So, Knoxville! Whaddya wanna talk about?” The fans cheer, and Cody says, “I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that we could talk about the record crowd here this evening!” The fans cheer that, too! Cody says he loves them, too, thank you very much.
Cody says they could also talk about WrestleMania 41. The fans boo, but Cody says after WrestleMania 41, he went home, he drowned his sorrows, might’ve touched the “Tennessee Cough Syrup” a little bit, and he had a moment of doubt. He reached out to a friend. A friend who helps him prepare to wonderful audiences like this one here, or speaking to everyone at home. Cody asked him, “Was I a good champion?” The fans cheer for that, but Cody says the friend told him wasn’t quite as simple as yes or no.
The friend told him, “With everything that you faced here in the ring in front of all the fans, and with everything that you faced behind the scenes, being pulled in different directions, the waters that you had to navigate that no champion has ever had to navigate, yes, I feel that you were a good champion.” Cody says he felt good hearing that, it turned into a hopeful moment, the silver lining on a dark cloud. Cody looked back on his whole year. He thought about AJ Styles faking retirement to get the drop on him. Cody thought about his friend, Kevin Owens, sucker punching him against his bus while Cody’s family slept inside.
Cody thought about his boss, Triple H, who pushed Cody to the limit, and sees something in Cody that Cody doesn’t even see in himself. Cody even thought about The Final Boss, how he asked Cody for his soul, and the entire world wondering what that meant. As preposterous as that sounded, The Rock was 100% serious. No matter how many times Cody said no, the offer still stands. And Cody also thought about John Cena. The fans initially boo, but the “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” starts up. Cody takes a moment, and then he says, “I thought about John Cena doing exactly what he said he was going to do. He forced me to make a choice, and I hesitated.
“I don’t know if John Cena is going to ‘ruin’ professional wrestling. But if he does, then I’m partially to blame. Now, I know, I’d love to say this to John Cena’s face. Not sure if he’s going to come out here right now, but if you are listening, if you are listening, Champ, I need you to know that I will never hesitate with you again!” The fans cheer that, and Cody says no matter how much Cena will tout the amount of days he has left, how much Cena will talk about what remains before he absconds with the WWE Championship and leaves all of us forever, that is NOT Cena’s expiration date! That is on the other side of Cody’s corneas, and it will burn Cena’s ass up!
The fans fire up for that, and Cody calms it down. Cody apologizes for that. This is his first night back on SmackDown, he is getting worked up. He thought so much about what he could do, what he could do for the fans. Hell, how about a surprise? The fans already “YEET! YEET! YEET!” so Cody says they’re hungry for it. Let’s yeet. Well, hold on, that’d be a very big surprise. That’d be the biggest surprise. That’d be Cody’s partner riding into battle for MITB, and hell YES he is here! Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the World Heavyweight Champion, MAIN EVENT JEY USO! The fans go wild as Jey makes his way in from the pavilion!
The fans sing along with Day One Ish and bounce for that YEET! Jey makes his way down through the crowd to ringside, one verse at a time, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Jey joins Cody in the ring now, mic in hand. Cody and Jey hear the fans want an encore, so we get even more YEET! But then John Cena makes his entrance to ruin the fun! The fans sing “JOHN CENA SUUUCKS~!” even though he wears that University of Tennessee orange and white. Cena goes to the ring, towel draped over his head, then grabs a mic before he joins Cody and Jey in the ring. Cena hears the fans boo, and he says, “I’m upset, too. If it isn’t professional wrestling’s biggest wannabes!” Cena tells Cody he is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe, and that Jey is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe.
The fans boo but Cena says they both wanna be Cena so bad, it makes him sick! Cody wants Cena’s fame, Jey wants Cena’s money, but they will get neither because Cody is too desperate and Jey is too lazy! There is only ONE other human being in the WWE who embodies hustle, loyalty and respect, and he’s got the fortune, fame and followers to back that up! Surprise, losers! Cena’s partner is here, too! The fans boo already, because “EY YO~!” Logan Paul IS here! The Maverick swaggers his way out, and Cena gives him a proper introduction. “Oh, you mad? You’re mad because Logan Paul does WWE better than any professional wrestler?”
Cena says Logan doesn’t need to pay his dues, because he is paying Jey’s mortgage! Everybody in this building did NOT come to see Jey! They came to see John Cena and Logan Paul! Logan asks, “What the hell you crying about, Knoxville? Look! I could walk on water, and y’all would still find a way to tell me it’s because I can’t swim! John Cena speaks the language of Logan Paul, and that is the truth! The truth! It is right in front of you! You deny it all you want, but look around, you stupid, stupid, simple Tennessee people! This is a moment in history! All of you get to witness the moment that John Cena stood side-by-side in the ring with Logan Paul.
“And look, all of you will live long, pathetic, miserable lives. But at least you will get to say that you saw that.” The fans tell Logan to STFU, and Cena tells Logan to ignore it. Logan says yeah, yeah, they’re so ungrateful. They don’t know what’s good for them. There is one problem, though. This does seem too perfect. The problem is… Logan should be standing next to THE WWE Champion as THE World Heavyweight Champion! Logan should’ve been the one to leave Saturday Night’s Main Event with that title around his waist. But look at him, Jey. Jey got lucky. Jey got lucky! He knows it, Logan knows, it, the fans know it, CODY knows it!
Jey needed Cody to save him! When Cody interfered with the match cuz these two cheaters can’t do a single thing in this business without it being handed to them! “These two nepo babies were born on third, thinking they hit a triple.” Logan points to himself and says, “Self-made man!” He points to Cena and says, “Self-made man!” Five years ago, nobody every would’ve believed Logan Paul would be a WWE superstar. And they certainly never ever would’ve believed that he’d be teaming with the Greatest Of All Time! But look at Logan now. He’s not just a superstar, he is THE superstar! His time is now! Cena told us that his time is almost up!
Cena is the Last Real Champion, Logan is the inevitable face of the WWE! So Jey, Cody, at MITB, if you want some, come get some. Jey tells Logan they don’t gotta wait! They can handle this right now! UH UH, YEET!! The mics drop, Cena and Logan talk this out, and Logan wants to throw hands while Cena wants to leave. Cody asks what they’re arguing about. They gonna go to the back so Logan can polish Cena’s Peacemaker? Now it’s a fight! The fans fire up as the hands are flying! Logan TOSSES Jey, Cena picks Cody up! Cody slips free, Jey is back to SUPERKICK! Cody hits the DISASTER KICK! Cena bails out, Jey PLANCHAS out onto him!
Logan goes to the apron, slingshot and- NO, Cody dodges the “Snapshot” Lariat and Jey SUPERKICKS Logan! Then Jey sets Logan up for the CODE D!! The fans fire up as Cody picks up the WWE Championship! Will Cody and Jey make it through Logan and Cena to then clear a path for the American Nightmare’s redemption? Or will Cena & Logan ruin wrestling together?
My Thoughts:
A very good SmackDown, but maybe with some wheel-spinning. As fun as Chelsea Green continues to be, can’t we move on from her and Zelina? Or are we about to do that with tonight’s win over Alba and then Giulia confronting her? Ironically, that seems to give away Giulia isn’t winning MITB. Giulia had a good promo video right before but they undercut it by giving us that confrontation. That said, Giulia deserves to be all the champions, but I suppose starting with the Women’s US Championship would be a good route. Very good promo from Bianca and Naomi to not just have Bianca’s homecoming, but to keep the feud between them alive.
The Women’s Triple Threat had a slow start but it turned out to be a very good match. Great win for Naomi, and good promo from her, Tiffany and Alexa to tease potential MITB winners. Great stuff in the tag match to build Worlds Collide just a touch. We only got one moment of Berto being passive aggressive towards Santos, and then Ethan Page screwing the Faces over, but that was still enough for the North American Championship. Of course, it depends on how many fans watch not just Raw and SmackDown but also NXT so that the fans already understand the story. But as someone who does, I do appreciate they’re bringing NXT story onto SmackDown.
Good promo from Priest to give some shoot respect to Drew and Fatu, but Priest wanting after the US title kinda gave away what was happening with the Men’s Triple Threat. It was a great Triple Threat, but of course Solo & JC cost Fatu. That team is just one moment away from breaking up, and it might be at MITB when Solo just expects Fatu to help him win the briefcase and Fatu refuses. And Fatu VS Priest will still be awesome whenever it happens. Good promo from Knight, and a good bit from Aleister with him, which I suppose means that’s the next feud for them. Was kinda hoping for Aleister VS Nakamura but that really depends if Nakamura is sticking with WWE or going home to Japan via Pro-Wrestling NOAH as rumored.
R-Truth relapsing to talking to Lil’ Jimmy is certainly a choice. I kinda wish he’d keep up the “Ron Cena” stuff, or they’d let Jeff Cobb do his own John Cena bit from NJPW, but I guess some things in WWE still won’t change. And closing with a big promo segment was also certainly a choice. Cody still did a good job, and nice surprise to have Jey show up. Not sure they needed to take a commercial break for Jey’s entrance, especially when they were obviously going to let Jey do his YEET encore. And Cena really must be brainwashed to put Logan over as if Logan’s on par with peak Cena. But naturally a brawl happened and the Faces stood tall.
Don’t count this as go-home math yet, they could easily revisit this on Raw and even next week on SmackDown. Even then, I still feel like Jey and Cody should win at MITB to properly set up Cody VS Cena 2 at SummerSlam. Raw on June 9th is still the move for the World Heavyweight Championship, but there’s also Saturday Night’s Main Event in July, who knows if Jey makes it to SummerSlam as champion.
My Score: 8.7/10
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!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.29.25
Stuff happens, maybe it doesn’t, Dreamer and Delirious can’t book.
Well Trick Willie is the new TNA champ and this is the first iMPACT since his win…so let’s just hear him talk about it.
"TNA turned into TRICK-NA. Lets talk about it"@_trickwilliams #WWENXT
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/StU4pmi3oy
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Ratings:
- The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System: Rascalz win via Meteora – ***
- Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali: Ali wins via…No Shit – Squash Garbage
- ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee: Lei wins via Spinning TKO – ** 3/4
- Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber: Mance wins via Hit the Pay Winda – Squash
- Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa: Team Robbie wins via shenanigans – **
- International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona: Maclin retains via KIA – ***
Results:
The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System
Octagon got jumped by The System earlier so Laredo is fighting alone. Another backstage jumping is getting a little dumb.
Laredo and Trey start. Typical Indie start with Simultaneous awful Dropkick spot and bad counters, AJ blind tag runs the smaller guys over, tags out to KC and the Rascalz instantly get the moment. KC is rocked, tags in Laredo and Laredo takes out the System before Lish gets on the apron and grabs Laredo. The referee kicks out Lish and Rehwoldt on commentary points out it’s a No DQ match so that’s dumb.
KC gets tossed at AJ, he catches him, Rascalz Dive and do their taunt as we go to commercial. We come back, Tennessee Whiskey into a KC tag in for the near fall on Laredo. Corner combo, Snapmare into Flip Forward Neck Breaker, KC is on a roll. AJ tags Laredo and starts talking crap to KC, they swerve and go Finger Poke of Doom, but it’s not a legal pin. Suddenly tornado attacks, System and Rascalz go for broke, AJ hits the Senton to break the eventual pin, Laredo counters AJ’s Chokeslam attempt. Trey clears out The System, Wentz sends himself and KC over and out, Laredo with a Corkscrew Moonsault, which looked cool but it’s the pile of morons waiting to get hit spot.
AJ hits the Down Payment on Laredo, but Trey blind tagged AJ. Meteora on AJ, Trey pins Laredo and Rascalz win.
Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali
Raj looks like shit in the gear he came down in…and he wrestles equivalently. I would rather anyone else comeback…give me Anarquia.
Ali murders Raj, Instant Dropkick, Rolling Neckbreaker, Corkscrew Standing Moonsault, it’s not close. Raj tries to counter things but Ali Bellclap, a little Duck the left, connect the right. Raj even does a terrible looking Punch Combo, he’s in bad shape, a bad looking Ushigoroshi, Raj with a sloppy looking something, 450 ends it.
Fire Raj as quickly as you brought him back. You don’t need a comedically pathetic job guy when the roster is like 4 guys getting pushed and everyone else sucks. Stop being stupid. Ali still hates women too.
This Injury Report is the dumbest segment in the history of wrestling. Stop treating fake shit as “serious business”.
ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee
ASH mocks karate stuff, Lei throws a few Rising Crane kicks as ASH bails and then things slow down a little. But a Pump Kick, Sliding Kick and Low Dropkick cause ASH to cower and claim her tooth broke. It’s a bait to pull Lei into the turnbuckles and them get in a few stomps. Ash keeps Lei in the corner, Suplexes her ankles into the buckles and then Ash throws a few Booty Shots/Hit Attacks then starts a grounded stretch, Lei Headscissors her down, still sells the hips and ankles, but dodges and fires, combination strikes into the 10 Count Down Strikes. T-bone Suplex, into the pinfall, for only two.
Cheapshot into Running Meteora from ASH for two. Ash goes for the Miz Yes Kicks and Lei No Sells and asks for more. Gorgeous Capture Suplex into Thunder Struck and TKO with flair. My baby has a better finish now! Yay!
Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber
Hannifan cursing and being pissed at Trick for not even showing but is more entertaining than a squash match. Not that Mance’s offense is bad, but 2 out of 3 job matches is stupid.
.@milanmiracle and @AriannaGraceWWE make history as the first father/daughter tag team in TNA!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/3s8OhtYFPv
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa
Marella tries to tie up with Robbie, but he bails and tags out to Victoria so Arianna comes in and aside from Alicia Fox’s silliness, the tie up was decent with Arianna and Victoria. Tessa interferes and the Referee throws her out. Victoria comes back in and aside from a slight miscommunication with how Arianna does her punches, Alicia Fox is making her look…pretty good. Transition moves, okay brawling and Arianna looks amazing in her outfit.
Rob and Santino distract the referee and Victoria hits a Figure Four into her Northern Lights Suplex, only for 2. Arianna finally Back Body Drop to find the tag, Santino and Rob, Santino does his split dodge into the Standing Headbutt, Arianna Cross Body onto Victoria. Rob pulls out the ref, then shoves the ref into Santino, Santino into the steps and Arianna attack but Alicia and Lish, the fix is in, Arianna eats the pin.
International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona
A few quick brawl moves, Shoulder Tackles, Strikes, Back Breakers, Cardona does get dumped out and eats a SCUD. Maclin bounces Cardona’s face off the apron and hits an Elbow off the apron to keep Cardona reeling, but a dodged tackle sends Maclin into the steps. Cardona tries to Piledriver Maclin on the ramp, but Back Drop counter, into commercial.
Formulaic commercial etiquette of Cardona still in control, throws Maclin into the ropes, Diving Shoulder Tackle lays both dudes out and they get up by 8. Fighting Spirit spot, Cardona hits ropes and gets hit by Maclin twice, Thesz Press, Ground and Pound, Back Elbow and Olympic Slam has Maclin rolling. Splash into Lariat for two. Maclin has been all gas no brakes. Cardona tries to take a few shortcuts that turns into a Straight Jacket Takedown. Cardona to the top, Maclin cuts him off, Superplex spot. 1-2-kick out!
Maclin goes topside for a Jar Headbutt, Cardona hits the ropes so Maclin crashes into the corner, 2 Reboots connect, the third gets caught, counter into Busaiku Knee, Jar Headbutt. In and out, Cardona uses the middle rope for the Low Blow, Killswitch from Cardona but Maclin kicks out. Cardona dodges and shoves Maclin towards the ref, he puts the brakes on, Radio Silence! 1-2-Kick out! Maclin catches a top rope move, Power Bomb, Corner Splash, Tree of Woe, Caught in the Crosshairs, KIA and Maclin retains!
Overall Score: 4.5/10
Boring paint by numbers show, no Trick, System has one move, Robert Stone is a scumbag, too long to introduce new girls, lots of throw away segments and Rosemary sets up YET ANOTHER Monster’s Ball match. These aren’t interesting when there’s one every 3 months. So we can have terrible Monster’s Ball matches quarterly, Barbed Wire Massacre and Clockwork Orange House of Fun…BUT NO LOCKDOWN!?
Go home TNA, you’re drunk.
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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B Block, FINAL ROUND!
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