Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (12/28/20)
The LAST Raw of 2020!
Raw could be starting something as 2020 is ending!
2020 has been no less than awful, but it’s almost over! Will Raw bring the fireworks a few days early as Keith Lee will want answers out of Sheamus?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE World Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Keith Lee VS Sheamus; wins and will challenge Drew McIntyre for the title next week on Raw.
- The Miz w/ John Morrison VS Gran Metalik w/ Lince Dorado; Metalik wins.
- Dana Brooke w/ Mandy Rose VS Shayna Baszler; Baszler wins.
- AJ Styles w/ Omos VS Elias w/ Jaxson Ryker; Styles wins.
- Ricochet VS Mustafa Ali w/ Retribution; Ali wins.
- Charlotte Flair w/ Asuka VS Nia Jax w/ Shayna Baszler; Charlotte wins, by disqualification.
- 8 Man Tag: The Hurt Business VS The New Day, Jeff Hardy & Matt Riddle; The Hurt Business wins.
- Randy Orton VS Alexa Bliss?
PLAY BY PLAY
WWE and Raw mourn the loss of Jun Huber, aka Luke Harper.
Drew McIntyre heads to the ring!
The Scottish Warrior is feeling good, even though he knows his two friends, Keith Lee and Sheamus, are going to be battling tonight! McIntyre opens by saying, “It’s Monday, you know what that means. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s time for Monday Night Raw! The last Raw of 2020!” A crazy year for McIntyre. He started by winning the Royal Rumble, then beat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania, only to lose the title and regain it from Randy Orton. And McIntyre just wants to say thanks to all the fans for rallying behind him and motivating him. “There was a time in my career where I was the Chosen One of the powers at be.” But the fans were the ones who chose him and so he means it when he says thank you.
But now to the future! And it turns out, McIntyre will defend the World Championship on “Legend’s Raw” to start 2021. Legends like Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels are going to be here to watch McIntyre face either Sheamus or Keith Lee. And wouldn’t you know, here comes the Celtic Warrior! Sheamus joins McIntyre and apologizes for interrupting. McIntyre says it’s fine, people always interrupt. But he knows where Sheamus is going with this. Last week, McIntyre told Sheamus not to pull BS during the match. And he didn’t! He kept his word and didn’t do anything to Keith. 1-2-3, they won, and then it was fair game. McIntyre should’ve known better. Yes, he should have!
These two came up together, and are living the dreams together! Sheamus is a former world champion, McIntyre is the current. But we’re one week away from making a dream a reality! They’ve got goosebumps at the possible dream match between them. The highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and they’ll make the rest of the roster uncomfortable watching the physicality. After Sheamus mows through Keith with another Brogue kick, they’ll be kicking off the new year the right way! But speaking of, here comes Keith Lee! Keith says “this is real cute. Two best friends, one a former WWE Champion, one current,” and McIntyre looks proud of his old friend.
Yes, Sheamus is a clever boy. He waited until after the match, and kicked Keith in the face. McIntyre vouched for Sheamus, “You can trust him!” But there is ZERO trust now. McIntyre’s word is no better than Sheamus’. McIntyre tries to reason with Keith but Keith tells Sheamus that “every fiber” in his being wants to beat Sheamus’ face in right now. But they have to wait until the bell rings, and then Keith will FORCE an apology out of the Fella. And McIntyre, as a friend, you should consider your friends better, because Sheamus might do the same to him. Oh is Keith wondering why Sheamus kicked his head off? It’s because of Keith’s mouth! Keith keeps thinking Sheamus is going to betray McIntyre!
McIntyre shouts over the shouting, and says Raw should start right. McIntyre understands both men, so why wait and just have the match now? But a message to them both: it doesn’t matter who it is, next week will be the same as always, with McIntyre STILL WWE Champion! Keith gets riled up but Sheamus gets another BROGUE in! McIntyre can’t believe The Fella would do that, but it’s too late to reprimand him! This heated contender’s match begins after the break!
WWE World Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Keith Lee VS Sheamus!
Raw returns and McIntyre has joined commentary for this match. Saying that was all tense is an understatement. The bell rings and Sheamus fires off but Keith pushes him away! Sheamus comes back with more but Keith shoves him down again. Keith clinches and throws big knees and a BIG clubbing forearm! Keith throws big body shots and forearms in the corner, then brings Sheamus up. Keith reels Sheamus in, Sheamus fights back with knees and forearms of his own! Sheamus clamps onto an arm, CLUBS Keith on the back, then goes after the arm. Sheamus also fish hooks Keith’s face, but stops as the ref reprimands.
Keith fights up and throws Sheamus off! Keith kicks Sheamus to a corner, throws more body shots, and Sheamus staggers away to another corner. Sheamus kicks back, CLUBS away more, then straddles the arm to pull on it. Keith endures as Sheamus goes after the fingers, and he throws Sheamus off again! Sheamus kicks from the mat and gets Keith in the face! Sheamus stomps Keith, stands on the arm he’s been after, and even digs his heel into Keith’s face! The ref reprimands, Sheamus steps off to get the arm for a keylock. Keith endures as Sheamus grinds the arm and leans on the shoulder. McIntyre says Sheamus hits hard, but not harder than McIntyre.
Keith fights up, powers off the keylock and throws body shots as fans clap on their screens. Keith reels Sheamus in but Sheamus fights back with forearms! Keith staggers but he catches Sheamus to TOSS him up and out of the ring! Sheamus tumbles, gets up, but Keith pursues. Keith throws Sheamus into the LED apron! And then POSTS him! Keith stalks Sheamus near the announce desk, puts Sheamus in the ring at the count of 6, and gets in at 8. Sheamus kicks Keith between the ropes! Then bicycle KNEES Keith down! The ref reprimands as Keith tumbles down but Sheamus goes up! Sheamus LEAPS for a SUPER FLYING CLOTHESLINE! Keith is sent into the desk as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Sheamus cranks on Keith’s arm with a keylock! Sheamus throws knees to keep Keith down but Keith still fights up! Keith throws body shots, then knees of his own, and he lifts Sheamus with a gorilla press! But Sheamus slips off and ROCKS Keith back! Keith DECKS Sheamus! Sheamus goes to the apron, Keith stalks up behind him, and Keith drags Sheamus up by his head! Sheamus hotshots free, and gets Keith for the Bodhrain! Sheamus gives Keith about five beats then hotshots him again! Keith flounders, Sheamus climbs up and leaps again, into a POUNCE!! Keith clobbers Sheamus out of the air and McIntyre is enjoying this! “This is what Monday Night Raw is all about!”
Keith seethes as he runs Sheamus over! And again! Sheamus staggers, Keith splashes him in the corner! And then TOSSES him across the way! Sheamus staggers up into a ONE HAND SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Keith glares down at Sheamus as he drags him up by his beard. Keith reels Sheamus in, Sheamus fights out and shoves Keith. Sheamus throws big forearms and puts Keith in a corner. Sheamus whips, Keith reverses, and then Keith hits another corner splash! Keith runs and takes Sheamus down with an STO! Cover, TWO! Keith keeps his cool as he keeps on Sheamus. Keith reels Sheamus in, but Sheamus drops! Sheamus dropkicks the leg!
Sheamus runs to dropkick the legs out from behind! Keith falls, but he kicks Sheamus off the Cloverleaf! Sheamus comes back but Keith avoids the Brogue! CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!! Sheamus survives the “Cross Buick” but Keith is just seething again. Keith drags Sheamus back up, puts him in a corner and runs in, but Sheamus sends the splash into buckles! Sheamus manages to lift and hit WHITE NOISE! Cover, TWO!! Keith survives and Sheamus is losing his cool! Sheamus slaps Keith around, “Who do you think you are?!” Sheamus clamps Keith’s face but Keith powers out!
Keith brings Sheamus up but Sheamus throws headbutts! Keith just glares, headbutts and GRIZZLY MAGNUMS! POP-UP SPIRIT BOMB!! Cover, Keith wins!!
Winner: Keith Lee, by pinfall (NEW #1 contender to the WWE World Championship)
McIntyre has it right, that was one hell of a fight! Keith goes out to look his “friend” in the eye as he says he’s coming for the belt. McIntyre welcomes the challenge, but will he #BaskInHisGlory in the new year?
Elias warms up backstage.
Jaxson Ryker is there with him as there’s noise by the door. Elias says Ryker can just ignore that. Elias keeps playing, and Ryker chills out. Will the Drifter and his bodyguard be uninterrupted tonight?
The Miz w/ John Morrison VS Gran Metalik w/ Lince Dorado!
The Hollywood A-Lister still wants his Money in the Bank contract back, but perhaps he can earn a new opportunity in the meantime! Will Miz be ready for a Lucha House Party against the King of the Ropes?
Raw returns and LHP make their entrance. The bell rings and Metalik dodges Miz to roll him up! TWO, and Metalik tries an Oklahoma Roll! TWO, Victory Roll, TWO! Miz scrambles to the corner and Metalik says it was that close! Miz cools off, gives Metalik some applause, but then kicks low and throws haymakers! Miz brings Metalik up, whips him to ropes, but Metalik ranas in return! Miz flounders out of the ring, Metalik dropkicks him off the apron! Lince taunts Miz as Metalik goes up, and Metalik ASAI MOONSAULTS! Direct hit and down goes Miz! Metalik puts Miz in but Morrison lurks. Metalik is distracted, he springboards into a BOOT!
Miz seethes as he goes after Metalik with a rain of forearms! Miz drags Metalik up, puts him on the ropes and chokes him! The ref reprimands, Miz lets off at 3 to run and straddle attack! Miz still seethes as he argues with the ref. He shouts that he wants the MITB contract because he’s still Mr. MITB! Miz runs, and BOOTS Metalik down again! Miz keeps shouting “I AM Money in the Bank!” Miz goes after the mask, then wraps on a chinlock! Metalik endures, but Miz drags him into a deeper sleeper. Metalik fights out but Miz knees low! Miz back suplexes, Metalik lands on his feet and then boots back! SLING-DOG!
Lince fires up as Metalik runs up the corner and hits a missile dropkick! Metalik keeps moving, roll into the sunset flip! Cover, Metalik wins!!
Winner: Gran Metalik, by pinfall
The King of the Ropes pins Miz, a Grand Slam Champion! Does this mean Metalik is destined for something awesome in the new year?
Elias keeps jamming out.
Someone is pounding on the door! Ryker answer sit, and it’s Jordan Omogbehin! AJ Styles says they’re trying to listen to Mozart while Styles rights the wrong from TLC! They can’t hear nothing because Elias is playing whatever. Elias isn’t Johnny Cash, he’s Johnny TRASH! Omos laughs but Ryker gets riled up. And what’s Ryker gonna do about it? Elias keeps things from turning into a fight, and says they need to bring it down a bit. Ryker, thanks for standing up for Elias. But Styles is upset for good reason. He couldn’t get the job done at TLC. And at this point in Styles’ career, he doesn’t have many chances left.
Oh really? How about Elias fight Styles and Styles can end Elias’ career prematurely by breaking his fingers? Then no one will hear Elias’ stupid music ever again! BOOM! Styles and Omos head out, but will The Drifter accept that phenomenal challenge?
Dana Brooke w/ Mandy Rose VS Shayna Baszler!
The #SexyMuscleFriends are getting back on track, but they could end up derailed all over again! Will Dana keep the Queen of Spades from making her #TapNapOrSnap?
Raw returns as Shayna makes her entrance. The bell rings and Dana circles with Shayna. Shayna gives testing kicks but Dana doesn’t shy away. Dana blocks the kick to SLAP Shayna on the face! Then Dana dodges, and runs Shayna over! Mandy taunts Shayna while Dana rams her into the corner! Dana rams in more, the ref counts, but Dana lets off at 4. Dana snapmares Shayna, runs and handspring splashes onto knees! Shayna storms over to Dana and has the arm! Mandy protests, Shayna stomps but misses! Dana tries to roll Shayna up but Shayna holds ropes to block! Shayna brings the arm to the apron and twists it from wrist to elbow, to then SLAM on the edge!
The ref reprimands, starts a ring count, but Shayna gets in. Shayna grabs Dana’s arm, hooks it with a leg to drop down, then covers, TWO! Dana shakes out the arm, but Shayna is after it again! Shayna has it in a torturous keylock, then shifts around to bend the wrist way back! Dana endures as Shayna shifts back to a keylock and leans on the hold. Shayna stares Mandy down to get in her head, but Mandy rallies for Dana. Dana endures, fights up, and jawbreakers free! Shayna runs into an elbow, then a boot! Dana runs and rallies on Shayna with the good arm! Then a scoop slam!
Shayna flounders out of the ring, Dana runs and slides, but the kick is caught! Shayna spins Dana for a Kirafuda Klutch! The ref counts as they’re in the ropes, Shayna drags Dana out and drops her at the ring count of 6! Dana sputters, Shayna refreshes the count to then throw Mandy aside! The count starts again, Shayna has Mandy’s arm! Shayna has it on the steps but Mandy gets away! Dana Electric Chair SLAMS Shayna on the apron! They get in at 8 of 10, fireman’s carry, but Shayna slips out! Dana turns the Kirafuda into a roll-up, TWO! RUNNING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Shayna shocks Dana!
Dana hurries up to the top rope, aims and leaps, but Shayna avoids the splash! Step-up KNEE! KIRAFUDA! Dana taps, Shayna wins!
Winner: Shayna Baszler, by submission
The Queen of Spades could not be stopped! The Flex Appeal suffered, but now it’s Mandy’s turn! Shayna puts Mandy in the Kirafuda, Mandy taps but it doesn’t matter! Shayna lets go when she is satisfied! Is this a sign that it’s only a matter of time before Shayna and Nia Jax take the Women’s Tag Team Championships back?
Raw returns with Alexa’s Playground.
“Do you like my playground?” Alexa says “he” built this for her, and she can’t wait to show it to him when he gets back. But we haven’t seen him since the Inferno match, where things got a little heated. Maybe he’s waiting for Legend’s Night! He’d love to meet his hero, Hulk Hogan! Alexa says he’s been taking his vitamins and saying his prayers. But not even Alexa wants to know who or what he prays to. Or maybe he’s waiting for Orton to return to the playground! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s it! So Orton, come on down~! And the Viper makes his way to the ring.
Wait, why did the music cut out? Did Alexa do that wrong? Maybe Randy doesn’t want us to find “him.” That can’t be it! Alexa tries again! Randy Orton, come on down~! The music plays again, but still no Viper. Maybe Orton doesn’t want to play anymore. “I swear, you light someone on fire one time, and it goes straight to their head.” How rude of Randy. Wait, is that the Firefly Fun House? The door opens, and Randy’s there?! Orton “appreciates” the invite but he wanted to take advantage of how the Fun House would be empty, since Alexa’s in the ring and the Fiend was burnt to a crisp. So Orton wanted to see what was going on.
Oh hey, Huskis! BOOT! He’s a little heavier than he thought. Huskis needs to work on that diet. So on his way here, Orton thought about what Alexa said. She thinks The Fiend is coming back. Does she really think that? After what happened, does she really think? Orton doesn’t, but let’s say he does. Also Orton throws Mercy into Abby and they both fall down. Orton says IF The Fiend comes back, there will be nothing left but Alexa! So Orton will show us all how sick and demented he truly is, by making sure The Fiend has NOTHING to come back to.
Alexa is afraid as Orton takes Ramblin’ Rabbit and says before dealing with him, he did notice the fine piece of artwork on the wall. Orton makes sure the picture is nice and straight, before he rips Ramblin’s head off! Alexa begs Orton to stop! Orton laughs but Alexa challenges Orton to a match! Oh? Well okay. Is this where he is supposed to return, is that it? Challenge accepted! Does the Twisted Bliss know what she’s getting herself into?
Backstage interview with Charlotte Flair!
The Queen knows well how dangerous Nia Jax is, so is she ready for this 1v1? Six months ago, Nia injured Charlotte. But Charlotte returned, beat Nia and Shayna alongside Asuka. Is she ready? Absolutely. Is Nia to be feared? Absolutely. Is Nia a great competitor? Absolutely! But there is one person Charlotte always bets on, and it’s herself. Charlotte is ending 2020 as a champion, how is she going to start 2021? Any resolutions? The same one as every year: climb to the top, and stay there. Asuka joins in and says Nia is NOT ready for Charlotte! Happy new year! At least, will it be for the #QueensofTomorrow?
AJ Styles w/ Omos VS Elias w/ Jaxson Ryker!
The Phenomenal One and his enormous associate don’t want to #WalkWithElias, nor do they want to hear from Elias! Styles is still angry after The Miz cashed in and screwed him out of the world title, will he take it all out on Elias’ ten friends on his hands?
Raw returns and Elias makes his entrance. The bell rings and Styles circles with Elias. They tie up, Elias powers Styles to ropes then headlocks. Elias hits a takeover, Styles headscissors back but Elias pops out. Styles victory rolls fast, TWO! Elias keeps his cool as he and Styles go again. They tie up, Styles headlocks and hits the takeover but Elias headscissors. Styles pops out but Elias knees low! Elias throws haymakers and body shots in the corner, the ref counts but Elias lets off at 4. Elias stomps Styles, drags him up and CHOPS him off his feet! Elias brings Styles up, whips and back drops Styles high and hard! Cover, ONE! Elias looms over Styles and kicks him in the back.
Elias drags Styles around, then hooks the arm to drop knees! Elias brings Styles up, wrenches, and rams shoulder to shoulder! Elias lifts Styles by that arm, then drops him down to dig a knee into the shoulder. Styles endures, fights up, but Elias pulls hair. The ref counts, Elias lifts Styles again but Styles sunset flips! TWO, and Styles drop toeholds Elias onto ropes! Elias goes to a corner, Styles fires off fast hands! The ref counts, Styles backs off but he bumps Elias off buckles. Styles whips, Elias reverses but Styles slips up and over to dropkick Elias away!
Elias bails out, Styles slingshots but Elias moves! Styles lands on the apron, Elias drags him into a fireman’s carry, and he gives Styles SNAKE EYES the apron! Elias POSTS Styles shoulder first! Styles writhes as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Styles fires off on Elias in a corner. Styles whips, Elias reverses but Styles goes up and over and rolls, but Elias KNEES him down! Cover, TWO! Styles survives being blindsided but Elias drags him back up. Elias bumps Styles off buckles, wrenches the arm and goes up the corner. Elias starts his cover of Old School, then hits the METEORA! Cover, TWO! Styles survives his Walk With Elias, but Elias just talks trash to him and Omos. Elias clamps on a chinlock and then shifts to a cobra clutch. Styles endures, fights his way up, throws elbows low and puts Elias on ropes. Elias ROCKS Styles with a right then throws Styles out!
Elias catches his breath, those elbows were very low. Ryker creeps over but Omos scares him off! The ref reprimands both bodyguards and they both stand down. Elias goes out to fetch Styles, but he is wary of Omos. Elias puts Styles in, keeps his eyes on Omos, then goes after Styles in the ring. Elias wrenches an arm, Styles throws big haymakers! Elias cranks on the wrist more but Styles throws more haymakers! Styles is free, he ducks a haymaker from Elias to give off the Phenomenal Blitz! SLIDING FOREARM! Omos rallies and Styles fires up! Styles has Elias in a corner and he hits a leaping clothesline! Styles fireman’s carries for USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO!
Styles keeps his cool as Elias survives. Styles drags Elias up, reels him in, but Elias slips out of the Clash. Styles rocks Elias, runs but misses in the corner, only to boot back! Styles is on the outside, springboards, but Elias fireman’s carries! Styles slips off, Elias standing switches to hit DRIFT AWAY!! Cover, TWO!?! Omos rallies for Styles but Ryker says Elias has this! Elias goes up top, but Styles trips him up first! Styles gets space, runs back but into a boot! Styles hits back with a PELE! Elias tumbles down, Omos coaches Styles and Ryker grows worried for Elias. Elias and Styles slowly rise and Elias fireman’s carries for a TKO! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives again!
Elias tries to figure out what to do, and he grits his teeth as he drags Styles back up. “You are no longer Phenomenal!” Elias brings Styles up, but Styles slips out of the fisherman to kick, kick and enziguri! Elias staggers around to a corner, Styles runs in but is put on the apron! Styles forearms Elias away, adjusts and springboards, PHENOMENAL FOREARM! Cover, Styles wins!
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall
Omos says, “That’s what I’m talking about!” Ryker helps Elias get out of the ring, will Elias learn to be more considerate?
Ricochet VS Mustafa Ali w/ Retribution!
The One and Only finds himself between a rock and a hard place. He will not give in and join Retribution, but he doesn’t want to be beaten down and stepped over anymore. Something has to give! Will Ricochet finally break through or break down?
Raw returns as Retribution makes their entrance, and their leader steps into the ring. The bell rings and Mustafa holds his arms open. But Ricochet throws haymakers, then tackles Ali for ground ‘n’ pound! Ali gets away but Ricochet runs at him to CHOP, throw punches then CHOP again! Ricochet throws EuroUppers, whips Ali corner to corner, then runs in to CHOP again! Ricochet scoops and slams Ali, then runs to drop an elbow! Cover, ONE! Ali crawls but Ricochet drags him up. Ali elbows free, runs but Ricochet dodges and handsprings to headscissor! And a dropkick! Cover, ONE!
Ricochet keeps on Ali by pulling some hair. The ref reprimands but Ali pulls Ricochet’s ears! Ali whips, Ricochet reverses and back drops Ali! Ricochet stalks Ali to a corner and Ali wants mercy. But Ali just tricks Ricochet into getting closer and he yanks Ricochet into buckles! Ali fires off haymakers and CHOPS as Retribution taunts Ricochet. Ali whips Ricochet corner to corner, Ricochet bounces off buckles into Ali’s neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Ali keeps his cool as he watches Ricochet get to another corner. Ali runs in but is put on the apron! Ricochet elbows Ali back then slips out to grab at him. Ali ROCKS Ricochet back and climbs up the corner!
Ali drags Ricochet up, Ricochet ROCKS Ali back! Ricochet goes up top but Slapjack distracts! As does Reckoning! T-Bar and Mace TOSS Ricochet off the top and onto barriers! Ricochet crashes down, Ali adjusts, SUPER SPLASH!! Ricochet sputters and gasps as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Ali is after Ricochet in a corner. Ricochet throws punches back and backs Ali down! Ricochet whips, Ali reverses and blocks boots to spin him around, for a DRAPING BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Ali glares at Ricochet as he stomps him down. Ali wraps on a chinlock but Ricochet endures. Retribution tells Ricochet to give up but fans clap on their screens to rally behind him. Ricochet fights up, throws body shots but Ali knees low. Ali drags Ricochet up to scoop slam and elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Ali wraps on the chinlock again and leans on Ricochet. Ricochet still endures, even as Ali says he stands no chance!
Ricochet fights up again, throws more body shots but Ali CLUBS him down! Ali brings Ricochet up and around to suplex, but Ricochet slips out to shove Ali into buckles! Ricochet catches his breath before running in but Ali goes up and over. Ali turns around into an elbow and mule kick, then Ricochet flips up and over to GERMAN SUPLEX! Both men are down and Retribution is freaking out! Ali and Ricochet stir, slowly rise, and they start throwing hands. Ricochet gets the edge and DISCUS LARIATS Ali down! Ricochet fires himself up, drags Ali up and fireman’s carries. The back gives out and Ali gets away.
Ali comes back but Ricochet fireman’s carries again, for the KICK BACK! The falling kick hits, Ricochet covers, but Mace drags Ali out of the ring! The ref reprimands, but now Retribution flanks the ring! Ricochet doesn’t care that he’s surrounded, he goes to the corner, and triangle jumps to get T-Bar with an APRON DDT!! Slapjack comes around into a dropkick! Mace runs in, Ricochet dodges and sees Ali! Ricochet goes out to the apron to SHOTGUN DROPKICK Ali into a post! Ricochet avoids Mace again to roll back and TORNADO DDT Mace to the floor! Ricochet is the One and Only One Man Wrecking Crew!
The ring count is 8, Ricochet puts Ali in and is back up top! SHOOTING STAR onto knees!! KOJI KLUTCH!! #LightsOut! Ricochet IS out, Ali wins!!
Winner: Mustafa Ali, by submission
The King of Flight has been grounded! Retribution wins again with another stacked deck, but Ali gets the mic to tell Ricochet, “When are you gonna learn that you have no chance?!” Ali gives Ricochet one last chance to erase all his regrets and have a new outlook! It will be a new beginning. “Join Retribution. What is your decision?” Ali holds the mic out to Ricochet, who takes it from him. “Ali, I’ve made a decision. I will… NOT join Retribution!” RECOIL!! Ricochet bails out and leaves Retribution alone with their rage! The One and Only will be defiant until the end! But how will this end for Ricochet and Ali?
Backstage interview with Nia Jax!
With Shayna Baszler by her side, Nia says she heard what Charlotte said. Charlotte is smart to be afraid, and that fear warms Nia’s heart. Nia does have a few New Year’s Resolutions, though. One: end Charlotte’s rise to the top before even making to the first rung. Two: get the tag team titles back. And three: enter the Women’s Royal Rumble, throw everyone else out, and when Nia wins, face the Raw Women’s Champion, whoever that might be. Shayna likes that idea. Will the Irresistible Force and Queen of Spades look to win big in 2021?
Backstage interview with Drew McIntyre!
The Scottish Warrior knows he is facing Keith Lee for the title, does he have anything to say about that? McIntyre is just excited all the way. It will be Legend’s Night, and McIntyre wants to give them a match that’s legendary. Keith may not like what has happened the last few weeks, but McIntyre sees the spark Keith needs to be on top. They’re going to beat the hell out of each other, and McIntyre is happy for Keith. Keith can prove to the world he can do it. Keith can beat just about anyone in the WWE, except for McIntyre. Will that legendary battle end the way McIntyre thinks it will?
Charlotte Flair w/ Asuka VS Nia Jax w/ Shayna Baszler!
This 1v1 match has been a long time coming! The Queen owes Nia a receipt for that arm injury half a year ago! Will Charlotte ruin Nia’s new year before it’s even begun?
Raw returns and Nia makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two stare down. They slowly approach, then quickly tie up! They’re in a deadlock but Nia powers Charlotte back, only for Charlotte to put her on the ropes. The ref counts, the break is honored, and Nia taunts Charlotte, “How’s the arm?” They tie up again, Nia gets around but Charlotte is after Nia’s arm. Charlotte pulls but Nia clubs Charlotte away. Charlotte and Nia reset, go again, and Charlotte gets around to headlock. Nia tries to power out but Charlotte holds tight! Asuka cheers as Charlotte grinds the headlock, but Nia powers her to a corner. Nia rams into Charlotte but the ref counts and Nia stops at 4.
Nia reels Charlotte in to ram shoulders again and again, and Charlotte drops to a knee. Nia taunts the Queen, wrenches and wrings the arm out! Charlotte holds the shoulder but Nia drags her up again. Nia whips Charlotte to a corner, but Charlotte tumbles out to the apron to shoulder and boot back in! Charlotte BOOTS again and Nia falls to her knees! Charlotte dropkicks Nia out of the ring! Nia is on her feet again but Charlotte eggs her on. Nia takes a moment to cool off, gets back on the apron, and Charlotte lets her get in. Then Charlotte spins past the ref to fire off forearms!
Nia is on the ropes but Charlotte pushes her against them! The ref counts, Nia shoves Charlotte away. Charlotte comes back and dropkicks Nia again! And then Charlotte hits a wrecking ball dropkick to send Nia into the announce desk! The ring count starts, Shayna creeps over but Asuka is there to BACK HAND Shayna down! Nia runs at Charlotte but is sent into steel steps! Charlotte puts Nia back in, drags Nia by a leg, and spins through, but Nia throws Charlotte into buckles! Charlotte clutches her head and Nia glares as she runs in, CORNER SPLASH! Charlotte flops down, Nia covers, TWO! The Queen is still in this as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Nia has Charlotte down in a cobra clutch! Charlotte endures, fights her way up and elbows free! Charlotte kicks low, gets around and hits a neckbreaker! Nia staggers into CHOPS! Charlotte CHOPS Nia to a corner, CHOPS more, and blocks a boot to SLAP Nia! Charlotte puts the leg on ropes but Nia avoids the knee drop! Nia scoops, Charlotte slips out and throws Nia down! Charlotte drags Nia to a drop zone, climbs up the corner, but Nia gets up to trip Charlotte up! Fireman’s carry but Charlotte sunset flips to high stack, TWO! Charlotte runs, into a pop-up POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!!
Asuka rallies behind Charlotte but Nia drags Charlotte around. Nia runs but misses the leg drop! Charlotte gets up and staggers, but she gets the legs to trip Nia, steps through, but Nia boots her away! Shayna distracts, Asuka runs in but is sent OVER the desk! Charlotte BOOTS Shayna, avoids Nia and rolls Nia up! TWO, but Charlotte gets the legs! Figure Four! Nia fights and Shayna gets in to KIRAFUDA!
Winner: Charlotte Flair, by disqualification
The Queen is caught by the Queen of Spades, and Nia stomps Charlotte’s leg! Asuka runs back in to run off Nia and Shayna, and the winner is STILL Charlotte! Nothing was settled between Nia and Charlotte, will it take the tag team championships to do that?
The Hurt Business arrives.
MVP says it was a championship Christmas for them, and they’ve got big plans for 2021. But they ask someone on his phone to move out of the way. When he looks up, he’s startled by who he’s surrounded by, and falls right over! MVP, Lashley, Alexander and Benjamin are ready to rule the new year, but will their battle with old foes ruin those plans?
Angel Garza walks around backstage.
He finds a poster with the newspaper headline, “GREAT GARZA.” This is of course in reference to Matt Garza, the MLB baseball player. But then Charly Caruso comes by to interview Garza and asks how he feels his first year on Raw was. “Just like everyone else, my year had ups, downs. I’ve loved, swiped left, right, and met you.” But this new year is almost here, and with it comes new beginnings. Who knows? Maybe Garza will introduce himself into one of the legendary female superstars next week. Yes, he surely will. But Charly is curious who this rose is for. A gentleman never tells, but R-Truth runs into Garza! The 24/7 Championship chase runs through and Garza has no idea what that was about. But sadly, the rose has been trampled. He gives it to Charly and says, “It’s the thought that counts.”
The New Day and Hardy Bros talk backstage.
Riddle and Hardy tell Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods to congratulate Big E on their behalf for becoming the NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion! It’s about damn time! And please believe that once the New Day get their titles back, they will take a triple champion picture together, and gently touch their tips together for the IG. Riddle says that is dope indeed. But they have a huge task ahead. They need a sweet new name of the quadro! And Riddle is thinking that they’re all bros and stallions, so what about The Little Bronies? No, that’s technically taken, copyright issues and all.
Okay, what about… The Positively Hard Bros? Umm… Well the match is next so we’ll talk about it later. Wait, what about the pancakes? Wait! RAIN-BROS! Yes!! But nicknames aside, will this quartet be a hit in the huge 4v4 after the break?
8 Man Tag: The Hurt Business VS The New Day, Jeff Hardy & Matt Riddle!
Raw returns as Riddle makes his entrance and joins his RainBros in the ring. Then the Hurt Business makes their entrance, and MVP has a mic. “Before we destroy what’s left of the New Day, Jeff Hardy and Riddle, the Chief Hurt Officer, the United States Champion, the All Mighty, would like to make an exclusive business forecast for our 2021 operations.” Pay close attention. Lashley declares for the Men’s Royal Rumble match, meaning he will main event this year’s WrestleMania! It’s official. Done deal. With that news, will the Rocky Mountain Machine roll into the Rumble with massive momentum?
The teams sort out, and Riddle starts with “Prime” Alexander. Alexander knees low and clubs away on Riddle but Riddle forearms back! Riddle spins Alexander but Alexander bocks the Pele to roll Riddle for a dropkick! Alexander is fired up, but Riddle gets him for a gut wrench suplex! Alexander scrambles away to Lashley! Lashley and Riddle circle, tie up, and Riddle headlocks. Lashley powers out then runs him over! Lashley runs, catches Riddle’s leap, but Riddle goes for a guillotine! Only for Lashley power out and suplex SLAM Riddle down! Lashley puts Riddle in the corner, stomps him, then tags in MVP. MVP fires off forearms and stomps of his own!
The ref backs MVP off, the Hurt Business get some shots in, and MVP stomps Riddle more. Tag to Shelton Benjamin and they mug Riddle, to then snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Benjamin keeps Riddle from the corner and rams him into an open corner. Benjamin rams his shoulder in more, lets off at the ref’s count of 4, then brings Riddle back up. Riddle hits back with body shots but Benjamin throws forearms. Benjamin ROCKS Riddle, scoops but Riddle slips out. Riddle shoves Benjamin at the corner and KICKS him down! Tag to Hardy, BROETRY in Motion! Tag to Woods and Woods stomps away on Benjamin! Tag to Kofi and the stomping stampede begins!
Tag to Riddle, he gets to be a stallion in the stampede! Tag to Hardy and he adds on! Hardy hits the HARDYAC dropkick! Riddle intercepts MVP, Kofi intercepts Alexander, and Woods mule kicks Lashley! Kofi kicks, Riddle dropkicks and Hardy clotheslines Lashley out! Lashley is furious, because he went up and over the top rope a la the Rumble! MVP cools Lashley off but that’s hard to do in itself, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Riddle is fighting MVP off, but MVP throws Riddle’s foot down on the mat! Then MVP STOMPS the foot! Alexander taunts Riddle that this is why they wear boots! MVP covers, ONE, but he throws forearms to put Riddle in the corner. MVP rams his shoulder in, Lashley tags in and Lashley runs to RAM into Riddle! Lashley drags Riddle up, clinches, and hits a COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO! Riddle survives but Lashley glares at Hardy and the New Day. Tag to Benjamin, he and Lashley mug Riddle, and stomp his bare feet again! Riddle throws body shots, Benjamin throws haymakers, then Benjamin drags Riddle away.
Benjamin kicks the leg, then drags Riddle around into a Half Crab! Riddle endures but Benjamin sits deep! Riddle crawls, gets the ropebreak, and Benjamin lets go fast. Benjamin drags Riddle up, Riddle throws hands but Benjamin throws Riddle out! MVP goes out to mockingly ask how Riddle feels. The ref counts, MVP backs off and the count is to 6. Benjamin is on Riddle, Alexander tags in before Lashley can, which confuses MVP a bit. Alexander hits a back suplex, covers, TWO! Alexander keeps Riddle down with a knee in the back and a chinlock on tight. Riddle endures, fights up and the fans clap on their screens.
Riddle fights back, Alexander elbows him down and tags in Benjamin. They mug Riddle, Benjamin puts Riddle on ropes then tags in Lashley. Lashley throws crossface forearms while he has Riddle on the ropes! Tag to Alexander and Alexander brings Riddle up. Riddle throws body shots, then a ROUNDHOUSE! Alexander is dazed, hot tag to Kofi! Kofi springboards and ax handles Alexander! Kofi hits the Hurt Business, chops Alexander down then dropkicks! Kofi keeps moving, leaping lariat! Kofi runs for the NEW~ DAY~ Boom Drop! Kofi claps it up but Benjamin grabs at him! Kofi DECKS Benjamin but MVP distracts, Alexander attacks!
Alexander back suplex, Kofi slips out and Woods tags in! Kofi DIVES onto Benjamin and Lashley! Alexander runs but Woods trips him up! Woods slingshots to elbow drop! MVP runs in to throw Woods but Woods throws MVP! Alexander runs into a drop toehold onto ropes! Woods runs to slide Alexander and wreck MVP! Woods gives Alexander a rope GUILLOTINE! Hardy is up top and he LEAPS out onto MVP! Woods powers up for a DISCUS! YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH~! Tag to Hardy, he goes back up, SWANTON BOMB!! Cover, but Lashley breaks it! Lashley throws Woods into a corner, but runs in to POST himself!
Woods sees MVP and MVP CLOBBERS him! Kofi leaps but MVP dodges to BOOT Kofi down! Riddle ROUNDHOUSES MVP down, Benjamin throws Riddle. Riddle is on the apron, Benjamin KNEES him down! Hardy gives Benjamin a TWIST OF FATE! Lashley tags in, but he runs into a kick! And the spinning mule kick! Lashley still charges, but into a clinch. But the jawbreaker is turned into a HURT LOCK!! Hardy flails, but he taps! The Hurt Business wins!
Winners: The Hurt Business, by submission
Despite the hard fight Hardy and friends put up, the US Champion is too mighty! And then the rest of the Hurt Business goes after New Day! But Woods shoves Alexander into the apron, Kofi slips off Benjamin’s scoop to mule kick him down! Riddle sneaks up on Lashley to spin him around, FINAL FLASH!! The Hurt Business is left behind, and are no longer in a good mood after that win! Will Lashley look to make Riddle a ragdoll in the new year?
Miz and Morrison sulk backstage.
Morrison tells Miz that they can get past this. John Cena lost that one match to Kevin Federline, right? Kevin Feder…?! MIZ IS MR. MITB!! Well, was. Adam Pearce finds them and says they look as miserable as the Cleveland Browns did. Pearce has the briefcase? Going to throw that in his face now? As much as Pearce would love to throw it in his face literally, and very hard, no. Pearce is here to return it to Miz. What? Well, the loophole was correct, and Miz is the only one who can officially cash this in. Morrison did it at TLC but he’s not Mr. MITB. So once again, this briefcase is back in Miz’s “grubby little hands.” Happy holidays.
Miz and Morrison are PUMPED! And they dance all up and down the stairs rather awkwardly… Will they use this second chance to properly cash-in and take the world title?
Alexa Bliss heads back to the ring!
But she’s not dressed to compete. She made a challenge to Randy Orton, but apparently she didn’t mean a match. Plus, WWE doesn’t usually do co-ed competition. Even so, Alexa still dares Orton to come out, and Orton walks out to join her. Orton has a mic and says, “Where is he?” Alexa says this is not about him. This is about her! Alexa walks out of the ring, goes over to the timekeeper’s area, and grabs… a present? She brings the gift box back to the ring and tears away the wrapping paper. There is a very normal cardboard box inside, and she opens that up… to bring out a gas can and matches?!
Alexa carries the gas can and matches over to Orton, and sets them down at his feet. She then takes a few steps back, kicks the box out of the ring, and challenges Orton to do to her what she did to The Fiend!?! She wants to be set on fire?!? Alexa lies down and waits, but Orton doesn’t take her seriously. Alexa gets up, walks back over to him, takes the gas can back, then pours some gas out from the center and back to Orton. Then she stands on the puddle of gas and dares him. “I just did the job for you. So go ahead. Light the match and do to me what you did to him!” Alexa lies down on the puddle, and shouts for Orton to do it!
Orton still isn’t so sure, and she gets even more upset. Alexa storms back over, takes the gas can back a second time, and brings it back over to make an even bigger puddle of gas! A ring of it, actually. Is he not going to do it? Maybe he doesn’t have the guts! Just look at him. Orton says he’s sick, twisted, demented. But he’s not. Because if he was, he’d light the match! But he’s nothing! “Nothing but a little bitch!!” Alexa DRENCHES herself with the gasoline!! She glares at Orton through her soaked hair, and Orton looks down at the matches.
Orton says, “You think that I won’t do it?” Orton bends down to pick up the matches, keeping his eyes on her just in case. “You think that I’m not capable? I want to do it. But I know that it’s what you want me to do, so right now I’m trying to process the whole thing.” Orton knows he enjoys watches pain and suffering, and that is what he wants to do here, but this is what she wants, too! Do you think Fiend went to hell and you want to join him? FINE! Maybe Orton will set her on fire! Or, maybe he won’t. But then the lights start going down. Orton may have been right all along.
But wait. Instead of the Fiend’s lights, the MATCH is lit! Orton drops the match, but then the rest of the lights go out!! What happens?! Does he set Alexa on fire or not?!? We won’t know until the new year!!!
My Thoughts:
Well that was a wild Raw to end the year on. That cliffhanger just now did not work the way they’d hoped, as far as I’m concerned. Obviously no one was really getting set on fire, but couldn’t they have hinted at it by showing the match touch gasoline and just some fire erupting before cutting away? But up until that moment, Orton and Alexa were going an amazing job tonight. Alexa recycled a bit of her lines from the previous playground promo, but Orton returning the mind games by finding and vandalizing the Fun House was a good touch. This all still has to lead to a Firefly Fun House match, but Orton should’ve either left to leave Alexa frustrated, or the Fiend should’ve returned to debut whatever new form he’ll be taking. Anything more than a cliffhanger that falls flat.
Opening with the world championship story was a good move, to give Keith VS Sheamus time to breathe. It was a great set-up to the match, a great match, and a great result. McIntyre VS Keith for “Legend’s Night” is fine, but I would think McIntyre retains. His story with Sheamus still has a lot to it, and I think this means Sheamus is the one to challenge at the Royal Rumble. Of course, and perhaps rather disappointingly, Miz gets the MITB contract back without any real struggle, and though the victory dance he and Morrison was hilarious, this just seems too soon and too dumb. And yet the detail is so specific, it is clear they were going to do this right from the moment on TLC. Metalik got a big win off Miz, but it means very little now because Miz gets what he wants anyway.
Poor #SexyMuscleFriends. They looked to have a triumphant moment where they’d finally get even with Shayna, but nope, Shayna solos them. Charlotte and Nia have a great match, even with Shayna “ruining” the end, but at least Asuka was there to save Charlotte. Clearly on the Raw end of things, Nia and Shayna are going to be in line for a rematch before the Rumble. And it has to be before because Nia, and clearly Shayna, will be in the Women’s Rumble match. Asuka VS Charlotte is going to be built simply by Charlotte again bringing up how she said she returned as a favor, and so Asuka will return the favor by giving Charlotte a match. Win or lose, the Queens of Tomorrow will surely stick together for their tag title run, but it could be used to create dysfunction.
I actually liked how Styles VS Elias was set up through Styles and Omos being upset about the noise, aka Elias’ music. Styles VS Elias was a really good match, but naturally Styles wins. It wasn’t quite full Heel VS Heel, and I’m thinking Styles and Omos turn Face through this. To be fair, it works because Styles is great no matter what, and Omos is definitely showing enough personality now to be a Face. Ricochet VS Ali was a really good match, too, especially with Ricochet fighting off the henchmen by himself. Ricochet loses to mostly set up that swerve on his decision, but I still feel like he needs to find allies of his own to finally fight back.
Garza continues to have cringey segments, but I like that his attempts at being suave were ruined by the 24/7 Championship chase. And I almost feel like Garza should get involved with that so it can be used to comically ruin more of his attempts. The 8 Man Tag was a great main-event match, and Riddle’s promo beforehand felt a bit more like himself rather than what WWE was writing him to be like last week. The Hurt Business still wins because they deserve to be a very strong unit, and Lashley VS Riddle is still being built. That title match should certainly happen on the way to the Rumble, or even on the Rumble PPV, and it should be on the same level as what we got out of Keith VS Sheamus tonight.
One thing I also need to add is that with this being the first wrestling program since Jon Huber, aka Luke Harper, aka Brodie Lee, sadly passed away, I loved every little thing the superstars did to pay tribute to him. McIntyre opened the show with the phrase Huber loved to use on social media, “It’s [day of the week], you know what that means.” And a few times, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,” was said, which Huber as Harper did very often during his matches. Plus, the use of the discus lariat, especially when Woods did it with the little hand gesture Harper would do before, was such a great way of showing how much Huber meant to everyone he worked with here in WWE. Needless to say, Huber will be missed by so many.
My Score: 8.3/10
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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!
4 Corners Podcast: Blown Off Course
Dave and Tunney break down the Conference Finals in the NHL and NBA, discuss the NFL going to the Olympics,...
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Dave, Patrick, and Tunney break down the NHL and NBA Playoffs and a pretty stunning decision from the MLB Commissioner's...
4 Corners Podcast: Never Over Until Its Over
Dave and Patrick break down the latest developments, scores, and stories from the NBA and NHL Playoffs.
4 Corners Podcast: Playoffpalooza
Dave and Tunney discuss all the awesome action that has been going on in the NHL and NBA Playoffs!
4 Corners Podcast: Is It Drafty In Here?
Patrick and Dave discuss the NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders, and the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs!
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The Nerds recap trailers for Jurassic Park: Rebirth and Welcome to Derry, discuss delays to Avengers movies, and pay their...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (5/23/25)
What's with all the glowing?
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The Nerds discuss trailers for Ironheart and Superman, talk about the greatness that was Andor Season 2, break down casting...
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Disney makes a controversial decision about where it is building its 7th theme park. Plus, loads of trailers, Thunderbolts* news,...
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June will be electric!
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Join DJ, Rob and Jason every week as they give their "Mindless" takes on Pro Wrestling and much, much more!
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (5/30/25)
The greatEST SmackDown!
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.29.25
Stuff happens, maybe it doesn't, Dreamer and Delirious can't book.
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/29/25)
B Block, FINAL ROUND!
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (5/29/25)
Is ROH ready for the GORE?
Mitchell’s WWE Evolve Results & Report! (5/28/25)
THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE!
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (5/28/25)
Dynamite in the desert!
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/27/25)
A Block, FINAL ROUND!
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (5/27/25)
Will NXT still be Absolute?
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/25/25)
Round 8, all together!
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Coverage6 days agoMitchell’s WWE Battleground Results & Report! (5/25/25)
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