Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (1/13/21)
The Dusty Cup is back!

NXT’s Tag Team Division will shine in the Dusty Rhodes Classic!
NXT brings the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic back once again! Which tag teams get a dream, hold onto it, and shoot for the sky?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Shotzi Blackheart VS Candice LeRae w/ Indi Hartwell; LeRae wins.
- Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: Grizzled Young Veterans VS Ever-Rise; Grizzled Young Veterans win and advances.
- Dexter Lumis VS Johnny Gargano w/ Austin Theory; Gargano wins.
- Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: Jake Atlas & Isaiah “Swerve” Scott VS MSK; MSK wins and advances.
- Xia Li w/ Boa & Tian Sha VS ???; Li wins.
- Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: The Undisputed Era VS Breezango; The Undisputed Era wins and advances.
PLAY BY PLAY
Shotzi Blackheart VS Candice LeRae w/ Indi Hartwell!
WarGames was the start, but this war is far from over! Will the wild child #TCB and take care of the Poison Pixie once and for all?
The bell rings and Candice gets in Shotzi’s face to pie face her. Shotzi trips Candice to rain down rights! Candice gets away, kicks but Shotzi blocks, then ducks the enziguri! Candice lands on her face, scrambles away to ropes, but Shotzi welcomes her to the ball pit, only to miss! Candice has Shotzi on the ropes but Shotzi bucks off the neckbreaker! Shotzi slips out and ROUNDHOUSES Candice away, to then go up the corner and leap, crossbody! Cover, TWO! Shotzi keeps on Candice with an armlock but Candice moves around. Shotzi headscissors and rolls Candice around and around the ring, to an armbar! Shotzi twists the wrist and bends the elbow!
Candice fights around, gets a high stack cover, TWO! Shotzi wants the short arm scissor but Candice moves around, ropebreak with the leg! Shotzi lets go, fans rally up but Candice BOOTS Shotzi away! Candice goes up the corner but Shotzi YANKS her down! Candice bounces off buckles, Shotzi shoves her to a cover, TWO! Shotzi keeps on Candice’s arm with a keylock, then rolls for a bridge! Candice endures this modification and bridges back. Candice gets around to get a lateral press, TWO! Shotzi still has the arm, wrenches through, and hammerlocks. Candice fights up, powers Shotzi to a corner, and is free of the armlock.
Candice snapmares Shotzi, Shotzi runs back in but is put on the apron. Shotzi ROCKS Candice and Candice ends up on the apron. Shotzi drags Candice to the corner but Candice hits back. Candice grabs at Shotzi but Shotzi YANKS Candice into the buckles! Candice flops to the steel steps, tries to kick back from below, but Shotzi blocks to then fling Candice forward. Candice turns around, into a FLYING KNEE from Shotzi! Shotzi goes to the ring to refresh the count, but Indi is there to check on Candice. Indi stands in Shotzi’s way, Candice goes back to the ring and Indi goes after Shotzi! Shotzi pushes her away, but Candice WRECKS Shotzi with a dropkick! Then springboard crossbodies Shotzi down!
NXT goes picture in picture as Candice gloats and goes back to the ring. Shotzi stirs and a ring count starts. The count is past 5 before Shotzi sits up. Shotzi gets up and in at 7 but Candice stomps her down! Candice stands on Shotzi, lets off as the ref counts, then drags Shotzi back up. Shotzi throws body shots, forearms, then runs, but into elbows from Candice! Cover, TWO! Candice keeps on Shotzi with a neck wrench. Shotzi endures as Candice stands over her and leans on the hold. Shotzi fights up, Candice CLUBS her down, has her on the ropes and bumps her off buckles. Candice runs corner to corner to back body block! She snapmares and NECK SNAPS Shotzi down! Cover, TWO!
Candice grows frustrated as she goes to Shotzi at the ropes. Candice digs Shotzi’s face into the ropes! The ref counts, Candice stops, and then she soaks up the heat from the fans before going back. Candice rams her shoulder in on Shotzi, and again, then brings Shotzi to another corner for another buckle bump. Candice brings Shotzi around to another corner but Shotzi bumps her off buckles! And CHOPS her! Shotzi brings Candice around but Candice cradle counters, TWO! Candice dropkicks Shotzi down! Cover, TWO! Candice grows further frustrated as Shotzi crawls to a corner. Candice brings Shotzi up to shove her into buckles then club her in the chest.
Candice goes corner to corner again, but Shotzi dodges and Candice only gets buckles! Shotzi runs back in but Candice kicks the bad leg out! Candice pushes Shotzi to then drop an elbow, but she misses! NXT returns to single picture as Shotzi dropkicks Candice down! Fans rally as Shotzi hurries to cover, TWO! Shotzi is frustrated but Indi is worried for Candice. Candice swings but Shotzi counter punches! And again! QUESTION MARK KICK! Candice staggers, Shotzi runs, CANNONBALL on the ropes! Cover, TWO! Shotzi grows frustrated again as Candice goes to the apron. Shotzi hurries out after her, brings her up, cravat but Candice pushes her away!
Candice runs into a back elbow, Shotzi brings Candice around, APRON DDT! Shotzi goes back in as the ring count climbs, but Indi checks on Candice again. Shotzi builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit takes out The Way! Shotzi howls to the moon, puts Candice in, covers, TWO! Shotzi runs in but is sent into buckles! Candice dropkicks Shotzi in deeper! Then a roll and SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!! Shotzi survives and Candice is furious! Candice goes to the ropes, LION- No! Shotzi trips the moonsault up, but she runs into a takedown! GargaNO Escape!! Shotzi endures, rolls to a cover, TWO! Candice holds on, but Shotzi powers up and swings Candice for a KNEE SMASH!
Candice staggers to a corner, Shotzi runs in, SHINING WIZARD! To a DDT! Shotzi keeps moving, climbs up top, but Indi runs over! Shotzi DECKS Indi, but Candice hurries up top fast! MS. LERAE’S WILD RIDE!! Cover, Candice wins!!
Winner: Candice LeRae, by pinfall
Indi literally made a difference right at the end there! But is this how she lives up to being given the Wrestling Family nickname? With Johnny in action later on, will tonight go The Way’s way?
The Kings of NXT drive up!
Pete Dunne and the NXT Tag Team Champions, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, ride in style as they arrive at the Capitol Wrestling Center! Burch talks some smack on all the Dusty Rhodes Classic competitors going after their gold. Will these three be watching very closely as the tag team tournament begins tonight?
Finn Balor is here!
NXT returns as The Prince is already in the ring, still NXT Champion after having won another epic battle with Kyle O’Reilly. “January 13th, 2021, Finn Balor still NXT Champion!” Balor wants to talk about Kyle for a second. He gives Kyle credit. Kyle’s not just good, he’s great. “But he’s not on my level.” New Year’s Evil, Kyle stepped up, and just like TakeOver 31, he got put down! The only difference this time is now Kyle is the one who has to eat his meals through a straw! “I put this red X on my chest because I know I am THE target. So a little piece of advice to whoever wants to come at Finn next. Remember one thing: they stopped manufacturing the cloth that I’m cut from!”
So to whoever wants to step up- Wait, here comes the BRUISERWEIGHT! Dunne, with Lorcan and Burch behind him, walks out and has a mic of his own. “Are you really gonna stand there and question what’s next? You know full well what’s next!” Dunne was here last week and saw what Balor did to Kyle, the same way he’s been watching his entire career, knowing that one day, it was going to come down to just Balor and Dunne. Everyone else has Balor as the poster boy for European wrestling, but the only reason he has that crown, and the only reason he has the NXT title, is because Dunne hasn’t taken it yet!
Dunne, Lorcan and Burch flank the ring as Dunne says, “Two weeks ago, you told me, ‘get in line.’ Well I’m not waiting anymore!” Neither is Finn, as he DECKS Dunne first! Balor fights off Lorcan and Burch, DOUBLE STOMPS for Burch! Then regular stomps for Dunne as he tries to get in! Balor gives Lorcan a trip and DOUBLE STOMPS now! Dunne gets Balor’s arm and hotshots it! Balor staggers but manages to boot Lorcan and ROCK Burch! Lorcan waistlocks Balor, Balor elbows back but Dunne is after the arm again! Double wristlock DDT! The Kings of NXT stomp away on Balor 3v1, but here comes KYLE! Kyle fights the three but that’s still not good because of his bad jaw!
But here comes Roderick Strong and Adam Cole! The UE chase off the tag champions and the fans are fired up! Cole and Strong dare Dunne, Lorcan and Burch to do something now that numbers aren’t in their favor! Dunne and the tag team champions back off, and Balor gets up to stare at the UE. Fans chant “Too Sweet!” because of a certain club, and Balor gives the UE boys a nod. Balor wanted a challenger, and one has made itself known! When will the Prince and the Bruiserweight battle to not only prove who is the best to come from the UK, but who is the best in the world today?
Backstage interview with Johnny Gargano!
Candice won earlier, how is he feeling going into a match tonight? Johnny says Candice did something B-E-A-utiful! Shotzi got what she deserved, and when Gargano beats “that mute freak,” Dexter Lumis, it will be smooth sailing for The Way as they win both the Men’s and Women’s Dusty Rhodes Classics! They’ll have a couple o’ cups! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, as Gargano lost in Mixed Tag and was pinned by Kushida. Kushida is also in the Men’s Dusty Cup as he teams with Leon Ruff, and they’re the first-round opponents for The Way’s Gargano & Theory. How rude! The Mixed Tag should never have happened, Gargano was not prepared, he was still in his skinny jeans! SKINNY JEANS! There’s no breathability or range of motion in those!
Austin Theory walks up and taps Gargano on the shoulder. Theory got something for him? A gift from some guy. What guy? Dexter Lumis!? Yeah! Gargano takes out a caricature of himself, crying like a baby. Theory says it looks just like Gargano. No it doesn’t! Gargano throws that one away, but there’s another one! And it’s of “Idiot” Theory getting shot in the nuts but “Crazy” Shotzi! No, that’s not… Theory wants Gargano to kick Lumis’ ass tonight! Gargano says Lumis’ art sucks! But will the Tortured Artist make a new masterpiece against the North American Champion tonight?
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: Grizzled Young Veterans VS Ever-Rise!
Zack Gibson and James Drake are the inaugural and former NXT UK Tag Team Champions, but vow to SSSOON be recognized as the world’s number one team! But Chase Parker and Matt Marthel say #EverRiseRULES! Who wins big to start off the 2021 Dusty Cup?
Gibson has a mic and speaks as he and Drake make their entrance. “Last year, we made our debut in the Dusty Classic! Well, this year, we are looking for more than just another invite to the finals! So I’m sorry to the dweebs who entered themselves in this tournament, dreaming of success, and I’m sorry to the absolute creatures in attendance praying for an upset tonight! Because 2021 is our year!” They are the Grizzled Young Veterans, SSSSSSOON to be recognized as the 2021 Dusty Cup winners, and SSSSSSSSOON to be recognized as the next NXT Tag Team Champions!
William Regal addresses the teams via titantron to say, “Welcome to the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. You are amongst the 16 teams who will compete for the prestigious Dusty Cup, and an NXT Tag Team Championship match. Now, let the tournament commence!” Teams sort out, and Liverpool’s Number One starts with Marthel. They circle, tie up, and go around. Gibson puts Marthel in a corner, Marthel gets around to waistlock, and the ref counts. Marthel puts some stank on the CHOP to Gibson’s back! Gibson shoves Marthel away, Marthel gets back to the Ever-Rise corner and uses ropes for defense. Ever-Rise eggs Gibson on but Gibson waits on them.
Parker tags in, talks trash on “baldy,” but Gibson kicks and fires off elbows! Gibson wrenches, tags to Drake, and Drake headlocks to throw Parker down. Drake thrashes and grinds Parker, Gibson shouts to “teach him a lesson,” but Parker fights up. Parker powers out, drops then drops, to hip toss, only for Drake to counter into a hip toss, that even had a bit of a knee attack in it! Parker gets up and comes back to tie up again. Parker wrenches, wristlocks, but Drake rolls and spins to handspring, only for Parker to throw him down by his hair! Parker stomps away on Drake but Gibson gets Drake out of there. Parker shouts, “EVER-RISE RULES!”
Gibson keeps Drake back so he can cool off and not let Parker get in his head. Gibson and Drake go to their corner, talk some strategy, and Drake tags Gibson in. Parker and Gibson circle, tie up, and Gibson throws Parker down tot hen DECK Marthel! Gibson headlocks, Drake tags in, they push Parker to drop toehold, basement dropkick, then MAYHEM IN MOTION on Marthel! GYV is in control but fans chant, “You Still Suck!” Drake grinds Parker into the ropes and tells him to grit his teeth before he throws big haymakers! Parker wobbles, Drake headlocks and punches, then hits a BIG BULLDOG! Drake drags Parker up to ROCK him with a haymaker and Parker flops out of the ring!
Gibson tags in, fetches Parker, Drake slingshots to PLANCHA BACKBREAKER! Drake talks trash on Parker now while Marthel protests. Gibson puts Parker in, stays between him and Marthel, and clamps on with a facelock. Gibson wrenches and back suplexes, to a Half Crab! Parker endures, Gibson puts pressure on the knee but Parker kicks with his free leg! Gibson lets go to stomp Parker down! Gibson traps Parker in the GYV corner, Drake tags in and hits a big back elbow! Gibson hits a corner clothesline then feeds Parker to Drake’s WINDMILL KICK! Cover, TWO! Drake keeps between Parker and Marthel and brings Parker away to bump off buckles.
Gibson tags in, GYV mugs Parker then Gibson throws EuroUppers. Drake tags in but Parker fights both of them off! Gibson blocks a boot but gets an ax kick for it! Parker crawls but Drake anchors his foot! Drake drags Parker back, gets the arm, but Parker keeps fighting! Parker ROCKS Drake with forearms, but Drake holds onto the wrist! Parker drags Drake with him and tags in Marthel! Marthel fires off and fires off haymakers! Drake puts Marthel in the corner but Marthel fights out with forearms and CHOPS! Marthel DECKS Gibson, ROCKS and CHOPS Drake, then whips him corner to corner! Drake tumbles hard, comes back, into an OVERHEAD SUPLEX!
Marthel CLOBBERS Gibson, fires up and brings Drake up! Drake hits back, but Marthel LARIATS! Tag to Parker, Ever-Rise coordinates but Gibson saves Drake from the Sweet Taste! But then Ever-Rise whips Drake into Gibson and knocks him off the apron! Drake staggers into Parker’s pop-up and Marthel’s SPEAR! Cover, but Gibson breaks it! Marthel is after Gibson, Ever-Rise double wrench and double whip but Gibson reverses to send Marthel into buckles! Marthel goes under Gibson, Parker hits a forearm smash! Feed to the drop toehold, BOOYAH ELBOW! Parker tags Marthel in as fans fire up, and Ever-Rise go after Drake. But Gibson drags Parker out!
Gibson THROAT CHOPS Parker! Marthel is alone and goes after Gibson’s beard, but Drake runs corner to corner! GRIT YOUR TEETH DROPKICK!! Gibson tags in, GYV has Marthel for a TICKET TO MAYHEM!! Cover, GYV wins!!
Winners: Grizzled Young Veterans, by pinfall (advance to the second round)
The former NXT UK Tag Team Champions are back on track and are the first team to advance! Will they make it all the way back to the finals and win the cup this time?
NXT hears from Raquel Gonzalez.
“What a difference a year can make.” Rhea Ripley was dominating the NXT Women’s Division, “a bright shiny future hit a brick wall.” Rhea is just like 2020: a bad memory we’re all trying to forget. Raquel and Rhea ripped each other apart all over the arena in their Last Woman Standing match. Raquel is looking ahead to the NXT Women’s Championship and Io Shirai. “After last week, they all know there’s a new baddest bitch in town, and her name… is Raquel Gonzalez.” Will Big Mami Cool conquer every woman in her path to the top?
Backstage interview with Shotzi Blackheart!
A tough loss to Candice, but she won’t whine about it. Shotzi has her eyes on history. The first-ever WOMEN’S Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and we all know Candice & Indi are in. So Shotzi just needs a partner, “a ride-or-die, someone who has my back, someone I know I can win the whole damn thing with! Somebody that I went to war with.” And that must be Ember Moon! This isn’t just a tournament, this is their opportunity to make history and be THE FIRST EVER Women’s Dusty Cup winners! So they’ll go balls to the wall and #TCB!
To all of the other competitors, Ember wants you to know that they will be enforcing Ember’s Law to its full extent. And, “we gon’ put our names on that trophy.” Shotzi howls to the moon as she now has Ember Moon on her side! Will no one stop these two from claiming the cup and immortalizing themselves in NXT history?
Dexter Lumis VS Johnny Gargano w/ Austin Theory!
While The Way’s other half wants to parallel Candice & Indi Wrestling, Johnny Wrestling still has to worry about the gold around his waist. Will Gargano be able to deny Lumis the shortcut to a title shot this close to his return to the Dusty Cup?
The bell rings and Lumis stares down Gargano. Gargano has the caricature and says it isn’t funny. He tears the picture in front of Lumis, so Lumis DECKS him with an uppercut, then BOOTS him to ropes! Gargano kicks back, runs, but into a Thesz Press and fast hands! Lumis stalks Gargano to a corner, runs in but Gargano goes up and over and rolls Lumis, but Lumis ducks the low kick and stares Gargano right in the face! Gargano slides out of the ring but Lumis slithers out after him! Gargano runs at Lumis but Lumis ducks the boot to kip up! Lumis stares Gargano down, Gargano runs into an uppercut! Gargano elbows back, climbs up to the apron and mule kicks!
Gargano leaps but Lumis UPPERCUTS him into the ring! Fans fire up for Lumis as he climbs up the corner. Gargano throws haymakers to stop Lumis up top, then climbs up to bring him up. Lumis resists the superplex, throws body shots, but so does Gargano. Lumis hits back, hits hard, and then brings Gargano up to headbutt! Gargano holds on but Lumis uppercuts him down! Lumis adjusts, fans rally up, Lumis lines it up and SWANTONS, but Gargano moves! Lumis flops, flounders and NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Gargano has Lumis down with a half camel clutch. Fans rally as Lumis endures, but Gargano pulls back harder. Gargano lets Lumis go to mockingly frame the picture and then drop an elbow on Lumis’ back! Gargano digs knees in over and over then drops another elbow. Lumis writhes but Gargano grins as he stalks him to ropes. Gargano drags Lumis up, shoves and CLUBS him on the back! Gargano brings Lumis up again, another shove and another forearm to the back! Fans rally for Lumis, Gargano shoves him again but Lumis elbows Gargano! Gargano staggers, comes back to kick low and whips Lumis to ropes, only for Lumis to reverse and SPINEBUSTER!
Fans fire up as both men are down, but Lumis is getting up already. Gargano goes to ropes, Lumis watches him stagger over, and he DECKS him with a haymaker! Then another! Then an uppercut! Lumis corner clotheslines, then BULLDOGS! Gargano flounders up into Lumis’ slingshot suplex! Lumis stalks Gargano, brings him up, BIG back suplex! And a kip up, to a LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Lumis keeps his cool and fans fire up more! Gargano hobbles, Lumis reels him in but Gargaao fights out of the arm triangle! Gargano boots from a corner, goes up and leaps, but Lumis catches him! Lumis swings Gargano but Gargano turns that into a crucifix takedown! Cover, TWO!!
Gargano hurries to BUZZSAW Lumis down! Fans fire up, Lumis pops right up!? Gargano SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO!! Lumis still lives and Theory can’t believe it! Gargano seethes and drags Lumis up for forearms. Lumis throws another forearm, and another, and another! Lumis ROCKS Gargano with haymakers, then runs, but Theory swipes at him! Lumis stomps Theory’s fingers! Gargano enziguris! Gargano goes to the apron, slingshots but into an uppercut! Lumis throws a punch, Gargano enziguris again! Gargano tries again, but Lumis blocks One Final Beat, to THE SILENCE!
Theory gets on the apron but Lumis lets Gargano go to ROCK Theory! Lumis drags Theory in but Gargano rolls Lumis up! Theory is sent flying but Gargano gets the cover, Gargano wins!!
Winner: Johnny Gargano, by pinfall
Indi helped Candice and Theory helped Gargano! The Way’s investment in the future of NXT has helped them out! But Lumis slithers up to grab Theory for THE SILENCE! Gargano stomps Lumis down and clubs him at the ramp! Gargano and Theory mug Lumis, then Gargano goes to fetch a chair! Gargano brings the chair over, but KUSHIDA attacks Gargano! Theory goes after Kushida but gets a FAST BALL! Kushida slides in, ducks the Superkick and puts on the HOVERBOARD! Gargano is tapping!! Lumis drags Theory into THE SILENCE!
Lumis smothers Theory, Kushida lets Gargano go, and Kushida picks up the North American Championship! Is it only a matter of time before Kushida makes it his time?
Backstage interview with The Kings of NXT!
Do they care to comment on what went down earlier with Balor and the Undisputed Era? Burch says the UE still thinks they run this place, but guess what? Everyone right now is fighting for a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championships! “So no, WE run this place.” The UE just needs to learn one thing: keep your noses out of their business. And as far as Dunne is concerned, Kyle just put himself in the way of him and the NXT Championship. “So let’s take him outta the way.” Will the UE have to watch their backs with these three on the loose?
NXT shares the sit-down meeting between Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher.
It was earlier today that Wade Barrett presided over this face-to-face of two men who are still set to face off inside The Fight Pit. Barrett thanks them for joining him and starts with Thatcher. Thatcher is now medically cleared, what can he tell us about the nature of his injury? “I’m good to go. Last week, medical didn’t clear me. Now I am, done deal.” Ciampa doesn’t want to “poke the bear,” but what was the injury? Just curious. Thatcher says it’s nothing that will change the outcome of the match.
Barrett says it was Ciampa who asked their have their rematch in the Fight Pit. Knowing Thatcher won the first ever Fight Pit, was that a request a mistake? It’s Thatcher’s match, so maybe. But Ciampa’s talked about changing the culture in NXT. “Sometimes, you need to go into enemy territory. The Fight Pit is exactly that.” Ciampa knows how brutal this will be. Oh does he? Ciampa hasn’t been in it, Thatcher has! It’s a cage with no ropes, no pinfalls, only win by submission or knockout! Oh is this the part where Thatcher tells Ciampa the rules? Is this where Thatcher looks for fear in Ciampa’s eyes? Keep looking.
Barrett senses the animosity here. They’re both tough as they come and are very similar. So why this animosity? Thatcher says he still has no problem with Ciampa. And he agrees with a lot of what Ciampa says, but Ciampa went after Thatcher first. Thatcher was just out “educating the youth,” but Ciampa says that was “taking liberties.” Thatcher the grappler? Tough as nails. Thatcher the coach? A piece of garbage! In the Fight Pit, Ciampa will take every single liberty that he wants. Please do! Thatcher welcomes it! Be careful what you wish for, Thatcher.
Thatcher says this won’t be like TakeOver. Thatcher’s a different animal inside the Fight Pit. “A lion doesn’t have to explain what it’s going to do to a zebra.” “Do I look like a freakin’ zebra to you!?” “No, no you don’t. You look like a man who’s questioning if he’s still got it.” Ciampa says Thatcher has no idea what kind of man Ciampa is. This isn’t about questions, this is about answers. Next week, Fight Pit 2, Thatcher gets his answer. Barrett thanks them for their time and wishes them both the best of luck. Will Ciampa and Thatcher even survive this brutal rematch in the most brutal singles match NXT has devised?
Backstage interview with the Undisputed Era!
After what happened earlier tonight, are they worried that the Kings of NXT will get involved in their Dusty Cup match? Adam Cole isn’t sure about “worried,” they’ve had people coming after them their entire careers. Not only have they dealt with that, they’ve taught those people lessons. Strong says that’s right, and says if “Peter, Bonehead 1 and Bonehead 2” want to come on down, so be it! Kyle says the Era boys get the job done and have each other’s backs. Kyle will be out there to “keep the peace,” if you will.
As for Breezango, the UE has a lot of respect for what Fandango and Tyler Breeze have done. But tonight, the Era advances and that is Undisputed. Will Cole and Strong prove they’re just as strong of a combination as the other UE duos have been?
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: Jake Atlas & Isaiah “Swerve” Scott VS MSK!
After going back and forth with each other on both NXT and 205 Live, these young Cruiserweight superstars have come to an understanding and are going for glory together! But there’s a lot of mystery behind this newest team to join NXT, who are making their debuts in this tournament! Just who are #MSK? Wild and fired up, Wes Lee and Nash Carter are ready to make an impact!
Carter and Atlas start and fans fire up already. Atlas and Carter tie up. Carter wrenches but Atlas spins through to step through and headlock to a takeover. Carter headscissors but Atlas pops out. The two stand off, circle, tie up and Atlas arm-drags to have Carter in an armlock. Carter gets up, whips Atlas to ropes and hurdles to drop. Atlas rolls, goes Matrix and then back elbows! Cover, TWO! Atlas has Carter’s arm again, wrenches him and tags in Swerve. Atlas takes the handoff, wrenches and wristlocks, but Carter rolls, handsprings and flips to arm-drag free! Carter grins but Swerve runs in, only for things to speed up.
Carter hurdles, dodges and springboards for a TORNILLO BODY BLOCK! Cover, TWO! Carter keeps on Swerve with a chinlock, Swerve fights up but Carter powers him to the MSK corner. Wes tags in, wrenches to a wristlock, and grinds Swerve down to the mat. Swerve keeps his shoulders up, turns and reels Wes into a knee! Swerve drags Wes up by his face and throws him hard into the corner! Swerve stomps away, Atlas tells Swerve to calm down and tags in. Atlas drags Wes up to ROCK him and CHOP him, then CHOP him again! Wes hits back, Atlas wrenches and waistlocks but Wes elbows out hard!
Wes runs but Swerve throws Wes out! The ref reprimands but Swerve runs at Wes, Wes ROCKS him! Atlas DIVES and sends Wes into the announce desk! Atlas puts Wes in, Carter comes around and leaps off steps, Swerve pushes Atlas out of the way to take the hit! Atlas runs at Carter but is sent into steel steps! Carter turns around into Swerve’s BOOT! Swerve laughs at Carter but Wes BLASTS him off the apron! Atlas and Swerve regroup but Wes FLIES! Direct hit takes both of them out and fans are fired up as NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Swerve has Carter down with an armlock. Carter fights up, leaps to drag Swerve down, but Swerve fights off the triangle! Swerve throws body shots to Carter’s ribs, then picks him up to SLAM him down! Swerve hooks the leg, turns Carter over, waistlocks and lifts, but Carter elbows out! Carter reaches, Swerve drags him away and ducks the enziguri, but Carter slides under! Swerve turns around, Carter ducks his leap to tag in Wes! Atlas tags in but Wes rallies with big forearms! Atlas goes to a corner, Wes runs in and UPPERCUTS! Wes whips, Atlas reverses but Wes stops, breaks free, CHOPS, elbows and snapmares to a basement dropkick!
Tag to Carter, MSK coordinate for the MOONSAULT PUSH! Cover, but Swerve breaks it in time! Swerve drags Carter up and whips but Carter reverses to push him out! Tag to Wes and MSK drag Atlas up. They double back suplex but Atlas lands on his feet to shove Wes away. Carter turns around as Swerve tags in, and Swerve throws Carter way out of the ring! Wes comes back and Atlas ROCKS him, GERMANS, and Swerve is there to gator roll to a dead lift BRAINBUSTER! Wes staggers, Swerve grins as he tags Atlas back in.
Swerve drags Wes up, full nelson for Atlas to HEEL KICK Wes, then a spin to a fireman’s carry, toss and SPINNING POWERSLAM! Swerve is up top, 450 SPLASH! Atlas covers, but Carter breaks it just in time! Fans fire up as Swerve grows frustrated! Swerve throws Carter back out, Atlas drags Wes back over and tags Swerve in. Atlas drags Wes to a corner, rams his shoulder in, and Swerve helps hoist Wes to the top rope. Swerve and Atlas both climb up to bring Wes up but Carter drags Atlas down in a heap! Wes shoves Swerve away and both men fall to the mat! Fans fire up as everyone is down, and Wes gets to ropes. Wes kicks Swerve away to go to his corner but no one is home.
Swerve runs in, blocks a boot, but Carter tags in! Carter ROCKS Swerve, Wes pops Swerve up to the ropes, Carter ROCKS Swerve into Wes’ NO HANDS POISON-RANA!! Carter drags Swerve up, Wes runs in, BLOCKBUSTER HART ATTACK! Cover, MSK WINS!!
Winners: MSK, by pinfall (advance to the second round)
What a way to debut! They defeat two top Cruiserweights and move on to the next round of this prestigious tag team tournament! Will these rascals be the ones to take the Dusty Cup?
NXT has the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic line-up!
As stated earlier tonight, The Way’s Indi Hartwell & Candice LeRae are in, along with Shotzi Blackheart and Ember Moon, but there is also Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter and Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez! Surely more teams to come, but the inaugural Women’s Dusty Cup begins next week! KC Squared takes on the Lightning from Down Under and Mean Ms. Martinez, all in the name of making history!
NXT hears from Scarlett Bordeaux.
She’s reading tarot cards. “We’ve cleared the land of the holy man.” That is to say, Karrion Kross punished Damian Priest for his arrogance on New Year’s Evil. “We will dance with the devil. And when we dance, we dance to the tune of The Prince.” Scarlett blows out the candle, and Kross says tick-tock. When will the clock strike midnight on Finn Balor’s reign?
Xia Li w/ Boa & Tian Sha VS ???
Forged by the training “she” subjected her to, the once spicy warrior is now a sharpened blade ready to cut down opponent after opponent in the ring. Xia now shows her prowess with a different martial arts weapon, but it is just as fearsome and impressive as before. Will it be the same story in the ring?
The bell rings, Xia circles with ???, and as ??? rushes in, Xia easily DECKS her to the mat. Xia spins, strikes her pose, watches her opponent rise, and then SPINNING ROUNDHOUSES! Cover, Xia wins!!
Winner: Xia Li, by pinfall
Two strikes that were so fast, if you blinked, you missed them! But “she” is not satisfied, and Xia puts the opponent into the ropes and fires off furious strikes! The rope is the only thing that keeps this young woman up, and then the signal is given to finish it! Xia hits a JUMPING KNEE and her opponent falls! Will the mysterious “Tian Sha” and her living weapon in Xia Li soon take over the NXT Women’s Division?
Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter speak.
“Next week, we have the opportunity to make history and become the first team to advance in the first-ever Women’s Dusty Cup.” That’s huge! Monumental! Now it will be a challenge because their first opponents are two of the toughest women in NXT, Toni Storm & Mercedes Martinez. But KC Squared is used to being overlooked. Toni and Mercedes, PLEASE overlook them! All the teams can overlook them and then watch them leave a legacy. KC Square promises to shock Storm & Martinez, then shock the world, by going down in history as the first-ever Women’s Dusty Cup winners! The whole thing! They’re fired up, but will that fire be extinguished by the Storm and her vicious new tag partner?
NXT returns to Atlas and Swerve brawling backstage!
The tag team’s bond was tenuous at best, and the loss tonight has made them both snap! Security rushes in, then Colossal Bronson Reed barges in. Swerve can’t believe Reed’s taking Atlas’ side. Reed’s always against him. Reed tells Swerve to cool off, and Swerve just smirks and leaves. Will Swerve’s House still be standing if Auszilla is in his way?
Next week’s Dusty Rhodes Classic matches are set!
We already know Kushida and Leon Ruff will look to settle things with The Way’s Gargano & Theory, but Imperium returns and takes on Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado! Will Johnny Wrestling make sure things go his way? And will Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner keep the mat sacred when they’re against Lucha House Party?
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: The Undisputed Era VS Breezango!
Roderick Strong and Adam Cole definitely made history in the Dusty Cup when Strong betrayed Dunne to help Cole and Kyle win both cup and tag titles. Meanwhile, the Lord of Dance and Prince Pretty are entering this prestigious tournament for the first time! Who wins when former tag team champions collide already in the first round?
The teams sort out and Cole starts with Breeze. They circle, fans rally up already, and the two tie up. They go around, Breeze headlocks but Cole powers out, only for Breeze to run him over. Things speed up as Cole hurdles but Breeze drops to hurdle back. Both men show superkicks so both men back off. Fans cheer as the two reset and give a respectful low five. They circle, approach, Cole waistlocks but Breeze switches. Cole switches, Breeze switches again, but so does Coe. Cole headlocks, hits the takeover, but Breeze headscissors. Cole pops out, Breeze reverses roles as he headlocks and takes over, only for Cole to headscissor. Breeze pops out, the two show haymaker and back off again.
Fans rally Breeze and Cole tag to Fandango and Strong. The Savior of the Backbreaker knuckle locks with Fandango, go shoulder to shoulder with a test of strength, and both men break the other’s knuckle lock to tie up collar ‘n’ elbow. Strong pushes Fandango down then gets the arm. Fandango fights up, Strong digs into the arm and wrenches to then yank on the arm. Fandango endures, fights up, wrangles Strong down, but Strong gets up. Fandango puts Strong on the ropes then throws him over to drop knees on the arm! Fandango digs knees into the shoulder, Strong fights up and handsprings, only for Fandango to wrangle him back down!
Fans rally, Strong works on an escape, and Strong kips up, only for Fandango to wrangle him down again! Strong trips Fandango up, gets the legs but Fandango throws him off. Fandango dodges and hits a windmill kick! Cover, TWO! Fandango keeps on Strong as NXT goes picture in picture.
Strong fights up but Fandango EuroUppers him to the corner! Breeze tags in, brings Strong out and snap suplexes him! Cover, ONE, but Breeze keeps close. Breeze wrenches, facelocks, but Strong gets around to a waistlock and back suplex backbreaker! Tag to Cole and Cole brings Breeze up to bump off buckles! Cole stomps and punches Breeze down, stomps more, but lets off as the ref counts. Cole brings Breeze up, turns him, and hits a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Cole drags Breeze up, whips him but Breeze reverses to mule kick! Breeze runs and dropkicks Cole down! Cover, TWO! Tag to Fandango, Breezango mugs Cole, then Fandango whips Cole corner to corner hard!
Fandango drags Cole back up and whips him back the other way just as hard! Cole hits the mat but Fandango brings him up for haymakers and jabs in the corner! The ref counts, Fandango snapmares and wraps on a chinlock. Cole endures, fights up, and NXT returns to single picture as Cole throws body shots. Fandango throws knees back, then hangs Cole out to dry. Tag to Fandango, they make it rain and DOUBLE BOOT Cole down! Cover, TWO! Breeze brings Cole up, Cole elbows him away! Breeze grabs a leg, reels Cole in but Cole breaks free to PELE! Cole reaches for Strong but Breeze throws him out! Breeze runs, into an ENZIGURI!
Fans rally up as Breeze stirs and Cole gets in the ring. Cole crawl but so does Breeze, hot tags to Strong and Fandango! Strong and Fandango throw hands fast and furious, but Strong runs to LARIAT and dropkick, then half nelson BACKBREAKER! Strong runs to give Breeze endless forearms! Then a SLAM onto Fandango! Cover, TWO! Strong fires up, tags Cole in and the UE drags Fandango up. Strong ROCKS Fandango, fireman’s carries, GUTBUSTER DROP to a SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO! It wasn’t the Last Shot for more than one reason, but Cole decides to make it that! Knee pad down, Cole runs, but Fandango ducks and then BOOTS back! Tag to Breeze!
Breeze runs but into Cole’s BOOT! Cole drags Breeze up, suplexes, but Breeze fights free! Breeze knees low, hops on, SIDE BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO!! Cole survives, Kyle and the fans rally up, but Breeze ENZIGURIS Strong down! Breeze drags Cole over, Fandango tags in, catapult to forearm shot! FASHION FAUX PAS! Cover, but Strong breaks it! Breeze shoves Strong out, gets Cole with chicken wings, but Strong gets back in! Breeze JUMPING KNEES Strong away, Fandango goes up top but Cole SUPERKICKS Breeze! Cole dodges Fandango’s leap to BOOT him, only for Fandango to LARIAT Cole anyway! Fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” as all four men are down!
But Kyle sees the Kings of NXT coming and goes after them at the ramp! But that’s still 3v1! Kyle gets mugged, and Dunne brings Kyle to the girder! Lorcan and Burch pull on Kyle’s arm, but BALOR leaps in and DECKS Dunne! Then he clobbers Burch and fires off on Lorcan! Dunne and the Kings fight Balor and Kyle 3v2, and Dunne sends Balor into girder! Then he DECKS Kyle! And KNEES Kyle’s jaw into barriers!! Cole sees all this and is stunned! Breeze SUPER MODEL KICKS Cole!! Breezango gets Cole on the top rope but Strong KNEES Breeze so hard, he falls out of the ring!
Cole shoves Fandango away, and hits PANAMA- NO! Fandango back drops it away! Fandango goes up top, leaps, into a SUPERKICK!! Cover, the UE wins!!
Winners: The Undisputed Era, by pinfall (advance to the second round)
Cole and Strong still get through the first round, but did the Kings of NXT still accomplish their mission? Have they removed Kyle from NXT by completely devastating his jaw? Will the Undisputed Era avenge Kyle by winning the Dusty Cup and taking those tag titles from Lorcan & Burch? Will Balor get his own payback when he battles the Bruiserweight?
My Thoughts:
While it is hard to follow up New Year’s Evil being a TakeOver on TV, this episode was still great! Especially as a start for the Dusty Cup with three matches tonight, all of them great. GYV going over Ever-Rise made sense, they’re the former NXT UK Tag Team Champions and one of last year’s finalists. Given how things are building, they probably aren’t winning, but this is a good sign that they’ll be the first team to have held both the NXT UK and NXT prime tag team championships in their careers. MSK VS Atlas & Swerve was a very good match for a first-time-ever, and given the story building between Swerve and Atlas, it makes a lot of sense for MSK to go over. The now “Wes Lee” and “Nash Carter” are going to do very well, might be semifinalists at best, but not finalists or winners.
The Undisputed Era, Finn Balor and the Kings of NXT all had very good showings tonight. Clearly Dunne wants after Balor, but whether that happens before or at TakeOver: Valentine’s Day has yet to be seen after Scarlett’s spooky tarot promo. The promos were good, the brawling was better, and I’m surprised it didn’t cost the UE against Breezango. At the same time, it makes a lot of sense to let the tournament be the build, with UE winning here, against next round’s opponents, and I would assume Grizzled Young Veterans in the semifinals. UE is the favorites to win the Dusty Cup so that the combination of Cole and Strong have a shot at holding the titles together officially, but that in itself could be why they don’t win and have to take a different route to the champions.
I’m assuming we only got to know half of the Women’s Dusty Cup bracket. Four teams is good but I would think they could find a way to make eight teams total. Ember being Shotzi’s partner makes sense, because as Shotzi’s promo said, they’ve teamed together before, and they both still have some beef with Candice and even other entries into the tournament. KC Squared joining in was natural, but despite their promo, they’re still fodder for Storm & Mercedes. Candice VS Shotzi was a good match but Indi so blatantly helped Candice win it. I’m not sure that bodes well for The Way in the tournament, but who knows. Xia Li was so swift and brutal, we never got her opponent’s name! But that’s actually perfect because that’s what she needs to be. No idea if “Tian Sha” (Karen Q’s new character) ever actually wrestles, so maybe they won’t be in the Women’s Dusty Cup.
The Way’s other half, Gargano and Theory, had a rougher night, but it works in story. Gargano beats Lumis so Lumis doesn’t have a shortcut to the title, but Kushida makes sure Gargano isn’t standing tall going into the Dusty Cup. Lumis going after Theory makes me think something might happen to Leon Ruff, only for Lumis to step in as his replacement. Even if not, I expect Lumis to still be looming as Kushida & Leon likely lose to Gargano & Theory. The Way’s two teams should parallel each other to a degree, in that they get out of the first round, but I think because Gargano has the North American Championship, he and Theory lose first and then focus on the title defense.
Perhaps the only real low point was Ciampa and Thatcher having the sit-down. It was needed since the Fight Pit was cancelled for New Year’s Evil, and I do like that Thatcher kept the nature of his injury a secret so as not to give Ciampa an advantage. The one thing I didn’t like was that they made it sound like Thatcher was in way more Fight Pit matches than he has, which is only one against Matt Riddle. He hasn’t been secretly having dozens of Fight Pit matches somewhere, has he? Undefeated at 1-0 isn’t that big of a deal but they’re saying the Fight Pit is Thatcher’s match. I feel like them saying that is already a giveaway that Ciampa is winning again, even though that squashes the feud rather easily since Ciampa won at the previous TakeOver.
My Score: 9.4/10
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So much gold is on the line!
Stephanie Vaquer is the first ever NXT Women’s Double Champion, and she’s willing to defend both belts separately! Will Vaquer still be golden after tonight?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Jaida Parker; Vaquer wins and retains the title.
- Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont w/ Wes Lee; Igwe & Dupont win.
- NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Lexis King VS Je’Von Evans; Lexis wins and retains the title.
- Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley VS Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson; Gigi & Tatum win.
- Ethan Page VS Andre Chase w/ Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors; Ethan wins.
- NXT Women’s North American Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Fallon Henley; Vaquer wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
NXT Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Jaida Parker!
The Dark Angel starts her Double Header to start the show, and Miss Parker is ready to take her shot on goal! Will Jaida get out the mud with this one? Or will she learn that La Primera don’t play, either?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and both title and history are on the line!
The bell rings and the fans duel already. The two tie up, go around, and Jaida knees low! Jaida wrenches, wristlocks, and YANKS the arm. Jaida wrenches, YANKS, and wrenches again, but Vaquer rolls, handsprings, and wrenches to a wristlock in return. Jaida powers through to scoop and SLAM! She eggs Vaquer on, scoops her again, and SLAMS her! Jaida talks trash, the fans rally, and Vaquer goes for a leg. Jaida stops Vaquer with a facelock, shifts to hook the arms, but Vaquer slips through to trip Jaida up! Vaquer has the toehold, then ties Jaida’s legs up into a DEATH LOCK! The fans fire up while se see Ava Raine and the Women’s Division watching backstage.
Jaida endures, crawls back, and reaches out to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Vaquer lets go, but Jaida runs up. Vaquer dodges, comes back, and tilt-o-whirls to a roll-up! TWO, Vaquer dodges Jaida and sits her down for body scissors! Gedo Clutch, TWO! Jaida escapes that one and the fans fire up. The two reset, circle again, and tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Jaida powers her way to a facelock. Jaida CLUBS Vaquer, headlocks, then THROWS Vaquer down! Jaida wraps on the body scissors, but Vaquer pushes back to a cover, TWO! Jaida CLUBS away on Vaquer, rolls her over to a cover, TWO!
Jaida facelocks, drags Vaquer up, but Vaquer wrenches free. Vaquer whips, Jaida reverses, but Vaquer RANAS! Jaida tumbles to a corner and the fans fire up. Vaquer runs up and LARIATS, but Jaida fires a forearm! Vaquer CHOPS, SOBATS, and whips corner to corner. Jaida goes up, over, and HIP DROPS! Jaida caught Vaquer with that one and the fans fire up! Jaida talks more smack before she rains down fists, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Jaida lets off of Vaquer to clap back at the Vaquer fans. Jaida whips Vaquer to a corner hard, then scoops for a BACKBRAEKER! Vaquer writhes, Jaida drags her back up, and Jaida whips Vaquer to then ROCK her! Jaida whips Vaquer and CLUBS her, then she brings Vaquer around for a snap suplex! Cover, TWO! Jaida stays on Vaquer with a facelock, and snap suplexes again! Cover, TWO! Jaida is annoyed, but she whips Vaquer, only for Vaquer to fire off forearms! Vaquer dodges a lariat, ROCKS Jaida again and again, but Jaida knees low! Jaida stands Vaquer up, runs and BLOCKBUSTERS! Cover, TWO!
Jaida grows frustrated but she pushes Vaquer over. Jaida digs a knee into Vaquer’s back and pulls her back! Vaquer endures, fights to her feet, but Jaida wrangles her back down. Jaida digs her knee in more but Vaquer still endures. Vaquer fights back up, only for Jaida to CLUB her back down! Jaida whips Vaquer to a corner, then whips her back in! Jaida talks some smack while NXT returns to single picture. Jaida whips Vaquer back into the corner, then corner to corner. Vaquer staggers, Jaida scoops, but Vaquer slips free and drops down, VICTORY- NO, Jaida stuffs it! TWO, and both women stand! Jaida blocks a shot, wrenches and slips around, BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally up as Vaquer goes to a corner. Jaida runs in, but into a BOOT! Jaida comes back, but into a HANGING TRIANGLE! The fans fire up, the ref counts, and Vaquer lets go at 4. Jaida staggers away, Vaquer springboards in and CROSSBODIES! Direct hit, and the watch party loses a few guests, such as Jordynne Grace. The fans fire up as Vaquer runs and dials it up, 619! Jaida flounders, Vaquer storms up, and the fans fire up for the headscissors! Vaquer turns Jaida over for the PRIMERA DRILLER! Vaquer goes all the way to TEN, then brings Jaida up. Vaquer underhooks but Jaida wrenches free!
Jaida knees low, reels Vaquer in and suplexes, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Vaquer survives and Jaida grows further frustrated. Jaida drags Vaquer up, dragon sleepers, “This is Awesome!” as Vaquer slips free. Vaquer waistlocks. Jaida switches and shoves, then SPINEBUSTER! Jaida drags Vaquer back up, POSTS her, then has her in the ropes! Jaida CHOPS Vaquer, then runs to TEARDROP! Jaida high steps, but GRACE is ringside! The Juggernaut is not happy with how Jaida interrupted her last week! Jaida frowns, but she still blocks Vaquer’s kick! Jaida ROCKS Vaquer, runs and builds speed, into a victory roll! VAQUER WINS!!
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (still NXT Women’s Champion)
Jaida is beside herself, but she let someone else get in her head before the end. Refs rush out here to keep Jaida from going after Jordynne. The bottom line is that Vaquer still has the top title in the NXT Women’s Division. But FATAL INFLUENCE ATTACKS! The fans boo as Fallon, Jacy & Jazmyn mug Vaquer, wanting to soften her up for the main event! Jacy drops a SENTON, then another SENTON! Then a third SENTON! The fans boo as hard as they can, but will NXT once again be under the Influence?
Trick Williams paces backstage.
But he spots someone walking in and says he doesn’t wanna hear any of that, he doesn’t have time for it today. But Je’Von Evans says, “Deadass, I didn’t like how you pushed me to the side last week. I was focused on Dark State, and I was trying to tell you and Oba that-” Trick says Je’Von still doesn’t get it! Just because they’re from the Carolinas, they’re supposed to be brothers? Trick told him once and he’ll tell Je’Von again, the focus is on Stand & Deliver and the NXT Championship. Je’Von knows Trick’s obsessed with Oba, he’s been that way for the last four months! How is Trick focused so hard on Oba that he couldn’t do what Je’Von did and just drop him?
Trick says be real. Je’Von only dropped Oba because Oba was focused on Trick. Oh, really? Well, if Trick keeps on doubting Je’Von, then Je’Von will just keep on shocking him. Trick said Je’Von would never be champion, but tonight, Je’Von proves Trick wrong again. Trick says yeah, Je’Von has potential, good for him. Randy Orton said Je’Von’s got potential, there’s all these “cosigns,” but there’s a difference between having potential and having the title. Everybody can’t hold that title in the air. Je’Von says he thought Trick was mad before. But that title has really changed Trick into someone else.
Trick says it’s a champion thing, dawg. That’s something Je’Von doesn’t understand. Well, after tonight, Je’Von will. The Young OG heads out, but will he take the Drama King’s throne as Heritage Cup Champion?
The NXT Women’s Division Watch Party continues.
As the others murmur about how the opening match ended, Ava says she needs to go check on Vaquer. But Lash Legend says, “SKRRT! Excuse me, Miss Mayor.” Ava says, “Yes, Lashes?” Lash needs to check into why Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley have a title match with the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions when it should be the Meta Girls. Ava tries to start, but Gigi says maybe it’s because Ava is tired of giving Lash & Jakara opportunities and they lose. Ever think about that? Tatum says first, Gigi & Tatum will beat Ash & Heather By Elegance, and then they’ll bring those TNA titles to NXT!
Jakara says whatever, she and the Bougie Bully have been a real tag team a lot longer than anyone else in this room. Zaria steps up but Sol Ruca has her calm down. Lash tells them both to sit back down. Jakara says you don’t send girls to do a woman’s job. They ran up on Ash & Heather but Gigi & Tatum went and took their shot. Oh, “took their shot,” huh? Please, Miss Jackson. If you’re about the action, Gigi & Tatum will show them something. Lash says don’t even go there. The Meta Girls head out, telling Ava to fix this. Ava has a lot on her plate, but will Gigi & Tatum show they can make an impact?
Sit-down interview with Ricky Saints.
Vic Joseph sits down with The Absolute and says he has been waiting for this moment ever since Ricky arrived over a month ago. Ricky has already had some big moments, but there are those in the locker room that say Ricky doesn’t belong. It’s Stand & Deliver Season, tensions are high, is that all white noise or motivation? A bit of both. Ricky thinks it is funny, as there are superstars back there that have had a head start on him. And it wasn’t until he actually showed up that the decided to up their game. Vic and the fans are finding out just how confident Ricky is as a performer. And confidence can scare people.
That is what Ricky has been dealing with all his life. So coming here and getting that is nothing new to Ricky. Then where does Ricky find that inner confidence? Ricky says when he was breaking into the business, he was living out of his car. There were times he didn’t know how he was going to eat for that weekend. He didn’t know if he’d have money for food or clothes. But at the end of those days, the only thing he actually had was his confidence. The confidence in the fact that he was going to get out of that situation. That is why he’s sitting with Vic right now, in NXT and the WWE. It is because of that confidence.
Ricky wears the scars and battle wounds as pride. But wait, Shawn Spears interrupts? Vic tries to explain this is an exclusive interview, but The Chair Man says he is going to take it from here. Vic steps aside and Spears tells Saints to relax, he’s just sitting down. Spears says they’ve known each other a long time. Ricky says too long. Then why does Ricky think Spears didn’t ask Ricky to join The Culling. Because Spears knew Ricky would say no. Spears knew Ricky would say that, and tells Ricky that he’s wrong. Remember that conversation in Philly? How many times has Spears had to talk Ricky off the metaphorical ledge?
How many times did Ricky not believe in himself? All the advice he’s given over the years. The reason Spears didn’t offer is because, sadly, Ricky is still the same man he left over a year ago. Nothing’s changed. This arrogance is a plague everywhere Ricky goes. All he does is create a long line of enemies, and it is all his fault. Wow, what’s really weird to Ricky is that Spears doesn’t get how if he wants to be number one here in not just NXT but in WWE, it’s that he’s going to make enemies. Spears has heard that same thing, “You wanna make friends? Or do you wanna make money?” That is Spears’ point with Ricky!
Look at Spears! He is a champion in the WWE, with three of his best friends, family even, right by his side. Ricky says they’re the only reason he has that title. And Ricky is going to be the one to take it from Spears. Oh, so Ricky wants the North American Championship? Is he sure? Even though they both know what the outcome’s going to be? Do not add Spears to your long list of enemies, Ricky. You know what they are capable of. Jensen, Niko & Izzi step in, but Spears has them stay back. Spears tells Ricky that in case it doesn’t work out, he can always go back to… Oh, no, never mind. They both know Ricky burnt every bridge.
The Culling leaves, and Ricky says he’ll just have to win then. Will Spears still be so high and mighty when Saints comes marching in?
Other superstars finish watching the interview.
Wes Lee’s guys, Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont, cannot believe this. What is Ricky doing? He can’t be for real. Wes says no, he is. It’s “Ricky ‘Everything is About Me Once I Walk Through the Door’ Saints.” But in time, he’ll realize he ain’t the guy around here. But don’t sweat it, it’s almost time for their match. Let’s get it. The Wes Side heads out, Ethan Page puts his coat up, and Kale Dixon tells Uriah Connors that Ricky is pulling an Ethan Page. That’s what All Ego did, didn’t he? That’s gotta suck. Ethan says two more words, and Kale will get knocked out again. Uriah steps up for Kale, but then Andre Chase steps in.
Chase tells Ethan, “What the hell is your problem? You know that’s not how we handle things here.” Oh, and this isn’t a classroom, professor, this is the real world. Yeah, and Ethan knows better. Kale & Uriah are young and inexperienced. Oh, then Chase better teach them that their words have consequences. Actually, Ethan forgot that their dead-end university is closed. Oh, is that how Ethan feels? Yeah! Then maybe Chase should teach them about sensitive tough guys like Ethan who can’t handle the truth. Ethan says, “We’ll see.” Ethan heads out, Chase tells Kale & Uriah that he’ll handle this. And seeing how eager they are, Chase lets Kale & Uriah follow.
Kale & Uriah are excited to see Mr. Chase handle business, but will All Ego stomp all over the name of Chase U?
Hank ‘n’ Tank walk ‘n’ talk.
They’re riled up from last week, being talked down to by Wes, but forget about last week. Right here, right now, these two will prove they’re not just two individuals. They are two minds intertwined! Nobody is more connected than the Bodacious Belly Boys! What does Motor City Machine Guns say to that? Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin are waiting and they like the energy. Hank ‘n’ Tank have got this! One time for the boys! HONK HONK! MCMG wants to see Hank ‘n’ Tank bring out that it factor, will this be the night they level up? Or will Ty & Ty show them what it takes to evolve?
Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont w/ Wes Lee!
NXT is picture in picture for entrances, and while the teams sort out. Igwe starts against Tank and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock as Igwe is taller but Tank is wider. The two reset, tie up again, and Igwe waistlocks. Igwe SLAMS Tank down, holds him down, but Tank fights back up. Tank wiggles and swivels and switches, but Igwe fires elbows! Igwe goes to ropes, bucks Tank, then runs him over! Igwe drags Tank up, tags Dupont, and they double wrench to double YANK the arms! Tank goes to ropes, Dupont brings him around, and Dupont CLUBS the arm! Dupont wrenches to RAM shoulders, then taunts Tank.
Dupont stands Tank up but Tank rolls Dupont up! TWO, and Tank wrenches to YANK the arm! Tank wrenches the arm again, Dupont fights the elbow breaker, but Tank powers him into the corner! Hank tags in, sets up, and Tank HONK HONKS the ELBOW BREAKER! Hank runs up and LARIATS Dupont! Hank bumps Dupont off buckles, then goes corner to corner with Dupont to bump him off more buckles! Hank whips, Dupont reverses, and Dupont SPLASHES! Dupont talks trash, then whips corner to corner. Hank goes up and over, and he BODY BLOWS! NXT returns to single picture as Hank climbs up!
Igwe storms in but Tank intercepts! The fans fire up as Tank bumps Igwe off buckles and climbs up! Hank ‘n’ Tank coordinate, and they rain down fists! The fans count along, and we go to nine, wind up, and TEN! Hank ‘n’ Tank send Ty & Ty into each other, and then HONK HONK, BIG BELLY SANDWICH! Igwe falls out, Wes is annoyed, and Hank wrenches Dupont to YANK the arm. Tag to Tank, drop toehold and ELBOW DROP! Tank then sits Dupont up for Hank to run, run, and run, to DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Tank hurries to get Dupont for a cover, TWO! MCMG watches this backstage, Tank whips but Dupont blocks!
Dupont reels Tank in to LARIAT! Tag to Igwe, Ty & Ty double whip to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Igwe snarls, but Tank avoids the stomp! Igwe hobbles, Dupont tags in and he CLOBBERS Tank! Dupont talks trash, whips Tank, but Tank KICKS Dupont! Tag to Hank, and Hank TOSSES Dupont onto Igwe! The fans fire up as Tank holds the way open! Shoutout to MCMG, Hank DIVES! Direct hit and Hank even hits the desk! The fans are losing their minds over the world’s biggest “five hole goal” as Hank puts Dupont in the ring. Dupont goes to a corner, Hank runs in, BACK BODY BLOCK and BULLDOG! The fans fire up with Hank, but Wes distracts him!
Hank takes a swipe, Wes gets away, and Dupont UPPERCUTS Hank down! Tag to Igwe, he stomps away, and Igwe clamps onto Hank’s arms, to then pull and STOMP! Igwe then drags Hank up to fire hands, then he lines up a shot. Hank wobbles, Igwe BOOTS him down! Igwe drags Hank up, whips him to the corner, then he runs up to RAM into Hank! Dupont tags in, but Hank fights back! Dupont full nelsons, Igwe BODY BLOWS, and Dupont FULL NELSON SLAMS! Cover, TWO! Hank survives that mugging but Dupont drags him back up. Dupont has the full nelson and he thrashes Hank around! Hank fights up and hits a JAWBREAKER!
Dupont staggers, Igwe tags in! Igwe drags Hank from Tank, but Hank fights and flails! Hank powers up, the fans rally, and Hank steps forward. Igwe CLUBS Hank on the back! Igwe keeps the facelock, but then takes a swing on Tank! Tank dodges. then Hank dodges, hot tag to Tank! Tank rallies on Ty & Ty with big forearms and LARIATS! Tank dodges Igwe to then OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Dupont storms up but Tank ROCKS him, and BLASTS him! Wes is freaking out as Tank cartwheels past Igwe to LARIAT! The fans fire up as Tank suplexes Igwe, FISHERMAN SPINEBUSTER! Cover, DUPONT BREAKS IT!
The fans rally, Igwe goes to a corner, and Tank runs in. Igwe runs up, Tank dodges to go up, up and FLYING SHOULDER TACKLE! Tag back to Hank, and Tank goes up? Hank turns Igwe, but Wes slides in! The ref stops Wes, but that lets Dupont trip Tank up! No Skull ‘n’ Bones, Igwe shoves Hank away! BOOT and Hank is on spaghetti legs! Dupont tags in, SLAM DUNK SAIDO!! Cover, Ty & Ty win!
Winners: Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont, by pinfall
The Wes Side used numbers against Hank ‘n’ Tank trying to use another legendary team’s style. Will Hank ‘n’ Tank ever find that thing that makes them a legendary tag team?
Ava Raine checks on Vaquer.
Vaquer is being iced and taped up from that attack earlier, and the NXT GM says she should’ve known better. Is Vaquer sure she can defend the North American Championship tonight? After what Fatal Influence did, Ava- Vaquer stops Ava there. Vaquer is the double champion, and she will keep her word to Ava, to the NXT Women’s Division, and to her home country of Chile. Vaquer IS La Primer. Fallon will still get her title match. Okay, but is Vaquer sure? They can always reschedule. Vaquer says she’s sure, thank you. Vaquer heads out with both belts in hand but ice wrapped around her waist. Will Vaquer still make history by successfully pulling off the double header?
Backstage interview with Fraxiom.
Sarah Schreiber is with the NXT Tag Team Champions and brings up that the last time we saw them, they were battling it out with The Hardy Boyz at Roadblock. What was it like for Axiom to go home to Spain and push Der Ring General, Gunther, to his limits? Axiom says that was a dream come true. Axiom pushed the WWE World Heavyweight Champion to his limits in front of Axiom’s home crowd. His friends, his family! That’s a moment he’ll never forget. Nathan Frazer says him, too, amigo. Because Frazer didn’t get invited to that. But hey, it’s Stand & Deliver Season, and-
Axiom stops Frazer there. They talked about this. It was all meant to be a big surprise for everyone, and… Frazer has a big mouth. So- Oh, what is that supposed to mean? Does Axiom think Frazer was going to tweet it out or something? Well, he’s kinda done something like that before… Hey, maybe if Frazer was there, Axiom would’ve beat Gunther! Okay, what is that supposed to mean? Wait, as Fraxiom argue, someone pulls up. It’s OBA FEMI! And The Ruler does not look happy. Axiom gets out of there, and Frazer is unsure where he’s going. Frazer follows, will the dysfunction start up all over again?
NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Lexis King VS Je’Von Evans!
The Drama King continues to talk a big game, but perhaps changing the rules from British Rounds to First Fall might come back to bite him. Will this Cup still be Lexis’ prized possession? Or will the Young OG shock the world by adding his name to the Heritage Cup legacy?
NXT returns as Lexis makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the trophy is raised, and we see if this is still Lexis’ way and Lexis’ life.
The bell rings and the two approach. Lexis takes a swing, Je’Von dodges, and Je’Von asks if Lexis is still mad about last week. Lexis runs up, Je’Von headlocks, and Je’Von thrashes the hold. Lexis powers up but can’t power out. Je’Von thrashes the headlock more, but Lexis pries at the grip. Lexis pulls hair, puts Je’Von in a corner, but lets off as the ref counts. Je’Von dodges the sucker punch to hit a headlock takeover! The fans cheer as Je’Von shows he has that technical side, but Lexis headscissors. Je’Von kips free, headlocks again, but Lexis fires body shots. Je’Von CLUBS Lexis and CHOPS him, then it’s back tot he headlock.
But Lexis hits a BIG back suplex! The fans boo but Lexis stomps away on Je’Von. Lexis soaks up the heat, drags Je’Von up and scoops for a SLAM! Cover, TWO! Je’Von is tougher than that and Lexis stays focused. Lexis taunts Je’Von, clamps on the chinlock, but Je’Von endures. Je’Von fights up, but Lexis crossface forearms Je’Von down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for “YOUNG O G!” Lexis tells them to shut up, then he winds up. Je’Von dodges to springboard and FLYING SCHOOLBOY! TWO, and Lexis swings, into a wrench! Je’Von goes up the ropes, BOUNCY~” RANA! Lexis gets up, Je’Von dodges him, for a springboard CROSSSBODY! Cover, TWO!
Je’Von DROPKICKS Lexis right down and the fans fire up! Lexis bails out, Je’Von grins and builds speed. Je’Von DIVES, direct hit on Lexis and he ends up on the desk! The fans fire up as Je’Von cheers himself on, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Je’Von perches on the desk as he waits for Lexis to get up. The ref reprimands and wants this in the ring, so Je’Von hops down to fetch Lexis. Je’Von CHOPS Lexis, brings Lexis around, but Lexis SHOVES Je’Von into steel steps! Je’Von writhes, Lexis talks trash, and he drags Je’Von up to put him in the ring. Lexis drags Je’Von up to scrape laces off the face, then he KICKS Je’Von in the back! Je’Von grits his teeth but Lexis stands him up. Lexis bumps Je’Von off buckles, then headlocks to throw in some sneaky punches! The ref sees those and reprimands, but Lexis drags Je’Von up. Je’Von stops the buckle bump to give a buckle bump!
Je’Von CHOPS and Lexis sputters! Je’Von CHOPS again, but Lexis dodges to throat chop! The ref reprimands, but Lexis stomps Je’Von around. Lexis hoists Je’Von up for a BIG back suplex, covers, TWO! Lexis looms over Je’Von, stomps him, then drags him up to bump off buckles. Lexis uses the ropes so he can dig both boots in! The ref counts, Lexis backs off, and he drags Je’Von out from the corner. Je’Von fires body shots, then whips, only for Lexis to reverse. Lexis DROPKICKS Je’Von down, covers, TWO! Je’Von stays in this but Lexis stays on him with a chinlock. Lexis leans on Je’Von but Je’Von still endures.
NXT returns to single picture as Je’Von rises up. Je’Von arm-drags free, then BODY BLOWS! And BODY BLOWS! Lexis ROCKS Je’Von right back! Lexis runs up to LARIAT in the corner, and CHOP! Lexis wrenches, then has an inside fisherman, for a FISHERMAN DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Je’Von survives and Lexis is furious! The ref defends his count was fair, so Lexis drags Je’Von back up. Lexis talks trash, Je’Von CHOPS! The fans fire up while Lexis sputters and drops to his knees! Je’Von then goes to a corner, and Lexis snarls. Lexis runs up, blocks a boot, but Je’Von stands on Lexis’ foot! Je’Von ROCKS Lexis, UPPERCUTS, then runs and hits a SUPER OG PUNCH!
The fans fire up and Je’Von keeps moving, springboard and DREAMCAST KICK! The fans fire up as Je’Von hurries to the apron! Je’Von then climbs, FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!? Lexis survives and the fans are thunderous! Je’Von just brushes that off and brings Lexis up. Je’Von underhooks, “This is Awesome!” but Lexis BACKDROPS free! Je’Von lands on his feet! Lexis runs up to SUPERKICK! Lexis snarls, drags Je’Von back up and reels him in! “LONG! LIVE! THE KING!” CORO- NO! Je’Von wrenches out, whips, but Lexis reverses! Je’Von hits a NEURALIZER! Lexis tumbles out while the fans fire up!
Je’Von shakes the ropes, he is all fired up! Je’Von runs and FLIES! Direct hit at the ramp and the fans fire up again! Je’Von hurries to get Lexis in, then he goes up the apron. Lexis distracts the ref, OBA GRABS JE’VON! APRON POWERBOMB!!! The Young OG writhes, the fans boo, but the ring count is climbing! The Ruler counts along as we pass 5 of 10, and then 8! 9! TEN! Lexis wins!!
Winner: Lexis King, by count-out (still NXT Heritage Cup Champion)
The King keeps his crown thanks to The Ruler getting revenge on Je’Von! And while Oba stalks Je’Von back into the ring, the lights go out! Because THEY are here! Dark State is in the crowd! Je’Von fights Oba while Dion, Saquon, Cutler & Osiris creep closer! Oba ROCKS Je’Von, reels him in, but Je’Von gets out of the bomb! Trick Williams runs in, Oba dodges, TRICK SHOT hits Je’Von!! Trick is a bit stunned, but refs and security rush out here! Dark State waits at the barriers to see how this plays out. Fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” but the refs won’t let Trick and Oba get started! Dark State is loving this! Will NXT truly fall into chaos?
Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley VS Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson!
It was last week that these teams “crossed the line” into TNA to call out Ash & Heather By Elegance, but it was the “weird girls” who were given the title opportunity. Will Gigi & Tatum make Lash & Jakara understand why? Or will the Meta Girls make them pump the brakes?
The teams sort out and Gigi starts against Lash. They circle, tie up, and go around. Gigi arm- NO, Lash blocks the arm-drag to then press Gigi down. But then Sol & Zaria walk out on stage to watch this in person. Lash whips and THROWS Gigi away! Lash talks smack on Sol & Zaria, then tags in Jakara. The Meta Girls double whip Gigi to the corner, then Lash sends Jakara in for a back body block! Lash runs up to SPLASH, then she feeds Gigi to Jakara’s SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO! Gigi stays in this but Jakara stays on her. Gigi reaches up to RANA Jakara to the corner! Gigi back body blocks, tag to Tatum!
Gigi sends Tatum and she CROSSBODIES Jakara in the corner! Tatum sets up, Gigi runs up, POETRY IN BRONCO BUSTER! Gigi gives Jakara a wild ride, then Tatum high stacks, TWO! Jakara toughs it out and then ROCKS Tatum with a right! But Tatum drop toeholds! Tatum drags Jakara back, then top mounts to hook the legs, and she turns Jakara over for the SPIDER-WEB SURFBOARD! Jakara endures, Lash storms in and pushes things over! Lash drags Tatum up, tells her off, and then Jakara HOTSHOT BULLDOGS! Tatum flounders, Jakara tags Lash, and Lash BOOTS Tatum down! Lash puts Tatum on the ropes and dares Zaria to do something.
Tag to Jakara, and she drops a knee on Tatum’s face! And another knee! Jakara runs to cartwheel ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Jakara drags Tatum up, tags Lash, and then Jakara feeds Tatum to Lash’s scoop! Lash SLAMS Tatum, talks trash to Zaria & Sol, then covers Tatum. TWO, and Lash is annoyed. Tag to Jakara, the Meta Girls mug Tatum, but Jakara swaggers too soon! Tatum BOOTS her away! Tatum breaks free of Lash, leaps, but Lash catches her! Tatum still reaches out, tag to Gigi! Lash throws Tatum back, Tatum dodges Jakara, Jakara ROCKS Lash! Gigi goes up to DOUBLE FLYING LARIAT the Meta Girls!
The fans fire up as Gigi hurries to DECK Jakara! SUPERKICK for Lash! Gigi wrenches and ROCKS Jakara, to then ripcord and LARIAT! Tag back to Tatum, Gigi gives her a boost to ENZIGIRI Lash! Tatum & Gigi then set Jakara up, DOUBLE HEADBUTT SANDWICH!! But that’s not all! They hook Jakara up, CEMETERY DRIVE!! Cover, Tatum & Gigi win!
Winners: Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley, by pinfall
The combination of STO and Lightning Spiral is certainly deadly! Will it help them knock out the Knockouts Tag Team Champions?
Tony D’Angelo is at the restaurant.
The cousins tell The Don, “the streets are talking.” “And they’re talking a lot.” Tony knows that. He hears everything. He’ll handle it. The rest of the Family arrives, and they sit with Tony. Luca asks how he’s doing, and Tony says he’ll be alright. Those four guys put a pretty good beating on him. Tony doesn’t even know who they are. Tony wants intel. He wants to know who they are, what’s their motive, what’s their purpose, and where they eat before they even do. Understood? Rizzo says got it. They’ll take care of it. Luca says Tony can count on them. Tony says he knows he can. Stacks stays silent, but then Tony tells him to hold on.
Stacks sits back down while the others leave, and Tony asks if Stacks is good. Yeah, everything’s alright. Besides this “Dark State.” But why? Tony says Stacks is Underboss for a reason. They grew up together. Remember back in high school, when Stacks and Ralphie Ziparetto hit that high roller card game? Yeah, he does. There were some big sharks there. That there were. And remember when they tried to pull his card and Tony had to step up and convince them to give Stacks a pass? Yeah, he remembers. He’ll never forget what Tony’s done for him. Tony knows Stacks won’t. Because Tony believes in Stacks, trusts him, and can always trust him. Right?
Stacks stands up and pats Tony on the shoulder. “You can always trust me, T. Always.” Stacks leaves, but is that enough for Tony to believe him? Or is something brewing in the background of all this?
Hank ‘n’ Tank regroup with MCMG.
Tank doesn’t get it! They did everything Sabin & Shelley said: Stay connected, step in unison! Shelley says okay, enough. Let’s talk them off the ledge. MCMG thinks Hank ‘n’ Tank did great. But hey, they’ve also been in this game a long time, wrestled all sorts of teams from all over the world. They definitely feel Hank ‘n’ Tank are future champions, but… They have to remember that everyone’s process is different. Everyone takes a different path to the top. It’s short term pain for long term gain. There are levels to this, but a couple words of advice: trust your partner, and don’t compare yourselves to other teams. MCMG’s been together well over a decade.
But y’know what? This isn’t linear, it is undulating. It took MCMG a long time to get to the top, to get to the WWE. And within weeks, they were WWE Tag Team Champions! The most important thing: Don’t give up. Don’t give up! Tank says yeah, they’ll get there, and they’ll see MCMG down the line. They all fist bump, but what path will it be? Will Hank ‘n’ Tank just need more time? Or will they find a major breakthrough as soon as next week?
Ethan Page VS Andre Chase w/ Kale Dixon & Uriah Connors!
While All Ego and The Professor have different philosophies, they do have something in common: They both want to rebound from some disappointing losses. Wait, Ricky Saints pushes right past Ethan to join commentary. The Absolute wants to watch this in person, will he see Ethan rebuild his ego? Or will we finally see some school spirit again?
NXT returns and Chase makes his entrance, still a bit worse for wear, but Kale & Uriah are pumped up enough for all three of them. Chase has them remember, it’s not Chase U, though. Even so, Uriah & Kale put up that U and cheer Mr. Chase on. On commentary, Vic apologizes for Shawn Spears interrupting their interview. Ricky says hey, just one more Canadian wrestler who doesn’t like him. The bell rings and the two tie up. Chase headlocks, Ethan pries at the hold, and Ethan powers up and out. Chase goes up the corner and around to roll Ethan up! TWO, Chase trips Ethan, steps through, but Ethan boots him away.
Chase comes back, Ethan drops down, but Chase counters hip toss with a hip toss! Ethan hits a headlock takeover, and he holds Ethan down as Ethan kicks around. Ethan fights up, the fans chant, “We Want Thea!” Ethan stomps Chase’s foot, headlocks back, but Chase powers up and out. Ethan runs Chase over! Things speed up, Ethan counters hip toss with hip- NO, Chase MONKEY FLIPS that hip toss away! The fans fire up and Chase headlocks. Ethan powers up to hit a BIG back suplex! The fans rally but Ethan KNEES Chase in the side, stomps away, then drops an ELBOW! Ethan brings Chase up, but Chase stops the buckle bump!
Chase fires forearms, then whips, but Ethan reverses to DECK Chase! Ethan DECKS Chase again, then looms over Chase at the ropes. The fans boo but Ethan drags Chase up again. Ethan whips Chase to ropes, but Chase grabs ropes! Chase DUMPS Ethan out, then takes aim, only for Ethan to step aside. Ethan glares at Kale & Uriah, but Chase is on the apron! SUPERKICK! The fans fire up for Chase as he FLYING LARIATS! Down goes Ethan and the fans fire up! Chase wants Kale & Uriah to calm down, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Chase drags Ethan up, puts him in the ring, then storms up to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Ethan is tougher than that but Chase brings him back up. Chase whips Ethan to a corner, but Ethan reverses. Ethan runs in, Chase ELBOWS him away, then Chase goes up. Ethan ROCKS Chase first, then brings him off the corner for an OKLAHOMA STAMPEDE! Ethan stomps Chase, then drops an ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Ethan clamps onto Chase with a chinlock and he grinds Chase down. Chase endures, Uriah & Kale rally the fans, and Chase fights up! Chase fires body shots, then runs, but into a DROPKICK! Ethan covers, TWO!
Ethan grows frustrated, but he clamps back on with a chinlock. Chase endures, even as Ethan grinds him into the mat. Kale & Uriah keep cheering Chase on with the U, and Chase fights up again. Chase JAWBREAKERS free! Ethan staggers, but he still scoops and SLAMS Chase! And back to the chinlock! Chase endures all over again as Ethan squeezes tight. Chase fights up, pries at the hold, and NXT returns to single picture as Chase fires body shots. Ethan knees low, then whips, but Chase KICKS Ethan back! Chase then wrenches and SWINGING NECKBREAKERS! The fans fire up while Ethan and Chase are both down.
Chase and Ethan go to corners, and Ethan runs up, only for Chase to dodge! Chase rallies with ELBOW after ELBOW! Chase whips, Ethan reverses, but Chase reverses back, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! The fans fire up and Chase starts to spell it out, but he feels so conflicted! Uriah & Kale tell him it’s okay! Spell it out! Chase says alright! “C! H! A! S!” But Ethan blocks the E! Only for Chase to dodge the roundhouse and SIDE EFFECT! Cover, TWO! Ethan stays in this but Kale & Uriah coach Mr. Chase to keep going. The fans fire up, Chase storms up on Ethan and brings him around. Chase goes up the corner, reels Ethan in, but Ethan wrenches out! ICONOCLASM!
Ethan then RIPCORD CODE BREAKERS! Cover, TWO!! Chase survives and the fans fire up! Ethan is frustrated but Uriah is relieved and Kale is pumped up! Ethan and Chase rise up, and Ethan pie faces Chase. “Stay down! Stay down!” Chase eggs Ethan on! Ethan SLAPS! Chase SLAPS! Chase CHOPS, CHOPS, runs, but Ethan BOOTS him! Ethan goes to the apron to get Chase, and brings him up, only for Chase to APRON NECKBREAKER! Chase hurries in, goes up, and TORNADO DDTS! Cover, TWO!! Ethan survives and the fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” Chase hurries back up top, but Ethan hits the ropes! Chase gets tripped up!
Ethan goes up the corner, hoists Chase onto his shoulder, and fans boo as Ethan hits a SUPER POWERSLAM!! Cover, TWO?!?! Chase survives and the fans are thunderous! But TWISTED GRIN!! Cover, Ethan wins!
Winner: Ethan Page, by pinfall
Chase gave Ethan much more of a fight than expected, but Ethan still won out. All Ego talks trash on Ricky, Ricky says if Ethan wants some, he’s right here. But then SHAWEN SPEARS CLOBBERS RICKY! The Culling mocks Ricky’s pain and Ethan smirks. Will they all make sure Ricky has nothing to show for showing up in NXT?
Dark State speaks.
They post to X as Dion shouts, “Y’all like that, huh? Y’all like that?! We ain’t even gotta do nothing and y’all go crazy!” Cutler says, “Just ask Tony D what happens when we decide to get involved!” Osiris says, “When the lights go out, anxiety goes through the roof!” Saquon asks, “Are y’all slow? When are y’all gonna realize that when Dark State strikes, ain’t nobody safe! NOBODY!” They head out into the night, when will they strike again?
NXT Media catches up with Trick Williams.
The reporter asks if Trick meant to hit Je’Von earlier tonight. Trick says everyone wants to talk about Je’Von. Everyone who can see knows Trick was aiming for Oba. Je’Von was just collateral damage. Nah, forget that! Je’Von’s a distraction! Just like how Eddy Thorpe was a distraction! A distraction from what Trick wants. Everyone’s a distraction from the fact that Trick is the man around here! Trick is supposed to be NXT Champion. Oba knows it. And if Oba is still The Ruler, then he knows where to find Trick right here next week. Trick turns to go but the reporter asks his opinion on Dark State.
Tricky says that ain’t his business. Trick leaves, not interested in distractions. But is he overlooking a major problem gnawing away at the foundation of NXT?
NXT Women’s North American Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Fallon Henley w/ The Fatal Influence!
La Primera made it through Jaida Parker, perhaps in part thanks to Grace. But Fatal Influence still had to stack the deck against Vaquer with an ambush. Will the Toxic Cowgirl just be picking the bones like a vulture? Or will the Dark Angel still have gold on each shoulder?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if Vaquer can defy the odds to make history again!
The bell rings and the fans rally behind “LA PRIMERA!” But Jacy distracts Vaquer and Fallon RAMS her into the corner! Fallon RAMS in again and again, then drags Vaquer out to snap suplex! Vaquer writhes, Fallon covers, TWO! Fallon top mounts but Vaquer pushes her up and away. Vaquer then fires a flurry of forearms! Fallon kicks low then whips Vaquer. Fallon KNEES low, the fans boo, but Fallon covers, TWO! Fallon snarls, storms around, and she drags Vaquer up. Fallon bumps Vaquer off buckles, then stomps a mudhole in. Fallon whips corner to corner, runs up, but Vaquer BOOTS her away! Vaquer then DROPKICKS Fallon down! Cover, TWO!
Vaquer and Fallon rise up, and Fallon BOOTS Vaquer down! Fallon drags Vaquer to then stomp her in the stomach and ribs! The fans rally but Fallon covers, TWO! Fallon frowns, but she clamps on with a REAR BEARHUG! Vaquer endures, the fans rally for her, and Vaquer pries at the grip. Vaquer turns around to JAWBRAEKER, and SUPERKICK! Fallon falls onto ropes, Vaquer dials it up, but Jacy & Jazmyn warn Fallon! Fallon ducks the 619, then RAMS into Vaquer! Fallon POSTS Vaquer, then runs to swing and TIGER FEINT Vaquer down! The fans boo but Fatal Influence soaks up that heat while NXT goes picture in picture.
Fallon storms back into the ring, stalks Vaquer, and drags her up. Vaquer fires body shots, but Fallon KNEES low! Vaquer falls over, clutches the ribs, but Fallon drags her back up. Fallon bumps Vaquer off buckles, stomps her down, then talks trash. Fallon stomps away on Vaquer, digs her boot in, but steps off as the ref counts. Fallon drags Vaquer up, TOSSES her out, then paces. The ring count starts while Vaquer writhes. Fallon storms out to stand Vaquer up, and she RAMS Vaquer into the apron! Fallon drags Vaquer up again, SMACKS her off the desk, then puts her in the ring. Fallon stomps away on Vaquer, covers, TWO!
Vaquer toughs it out and Fallon grows frustrated. Fallon drags Vaquer by her hair, talks smack on the fans, but Vaquer ROCKS Fallon again and again! Vaquer SOBATS, runs, but Fallon BOOTS her down! Fallon huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Vaquer around again. Fallon clamps on a top wristlock and grinds the arm. Vaquer endures, fights up, and NXT returns to single picture. Vaquer fires shots, but Fallon kicks low! The fans boo but Fallon whips and ROCKS Vaquer! Fallon cravats, Vaquer powers out, but Fallon comes back to get around. Fallon waistlocks and sits Vaquer down! Fallon then runs to SLIDING FOREARM!
Fallon keeps moving and she KICKS Vaquer in the side! Vaquer writhes, but Fallon drags her up to bump her off buckles. Fallon goes out to the apron, and she redials, but Vaquer dodges the feint kick to bump Fallon off the buckles! Then they go side to side, but Fallon blocks the buckle bump! Fallon SMACKS Vaquer, goes up the corner, but Vaquer SMACKS Fallon back! Vaquer goes up, but Fallon fights back. Vaquer HEADBUTTS again and again and again! Then she brings Fallon up for a SUPERPLEX! The fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” while both women are down! Fallon and Vaquer crawl to each other, and Fallon SLAPS Vaquer!
Vaquer HEADBUTTS Fallon! Fallon ROCKS Vaquer! Vaquer HEADBUTTS again! Fallon kicks low, Vaquer sits down, but Fallon is right on her. Fallon whips, Vaquer reverses, EAT DA FEET! Vaquer bumps Fallon off buckles again and again and again, all three levels! Vaquer scrubs Fallon’s face with her boot, then goes corner to corner! METEORA! The fans fire up as Vaquer snapmares Fallon, and wraps on the headscissors! But Fallon victory rolls, and she STOMPS Vaquer’s ribs! Fallon then drags Vaquer up, clinches, pump handle, FALL AWAY SLAM! Fallon stomps Vaquer again whiel fans boo.
Fallon stands Vaquer up, runs, but Vaquer victory rolls! TWO!! Fallon SOBATS, then she TOSSES Vaquer out! The ref argues with Fallon, but that lets the Influence rush in! Vaquer dodges Jacy to SUPERKICK! But Jazmyn’s NYX KICK hits!! The fans boo as Jazmyn puts Vaquer in, and Fallon goes up, up, and BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Vaquer survives and Fallon is shocked! Fallon argues with the ref, then she snarls at Vaquer. Fallon runs in, Vaquer dodges! SUPERKICK! Vaquer tucks the arms, but Jazmyn gets on the apron! Vaquer runs up but Jazmyn scurries away. Fallon hooks Vaquer up again, but Vaquer slips underneath!
Vaquer shoves Fallon into Jazmyn! Then roll-up, roll through, and tuck! S V B!! Cover, Vaquer wins!!
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (still NXT Women’s North American Champion)
The Influence is shocked, but their numbers game backfired! La Primera keeps both titles, but then Jacy & Jazmyn attack! The fans boo as they and Fallon stomp Vaquer again! They set her up, but HERE COMES JORDYNNE! The Juggernaut is back, and she picks Fallon up, BOOTS Jacy, and then SMACKS Jazmyn using Fallon! Grace ELBOWS Fallon down, then LARIATS Jacy! A BACKHAND for Fallon, and the fans fire up! Grace picks up both belts, and she hands them back to Vaquer. But she kinda holds on, too… Grace lets them go, Vaquer gets fired up, but then Jaida SHOVES Grace into Vaquer!
Jaida fires hands on Grace, but Grace DECKS her in return! And then she runs up to HIP ATTACK Jaida down! Grace shows Miss Parker isn’t the only one that’s hip-notic. But then Vaquer turns Grace around so they can stare down. Grace bailed Vaquer out two times tonight, will Vaquer have to face Grace two times in one night?
We cut back to the watch party, and Ava tells Stevie Turner that this is historic. No one has pulled off two defenses in one night, but Vaquer did. Lola Vice steps up and says she wants next. Kelani Jordan says nope, not before her! She deserves her own shot at the title. Cora Jade says she wants in, but so does Izzi Dame, Karmen Petrovic, and pretty much everyone else in the room. Ava says okay, okay! She will figure this out! Just what will Mayor Ava choose for Stand & Deliver Season?
My Thoughts:
An awesome NXT, really packed for just the two hours, and with some great story intertwining. Saints VS Spears next week for the North American Championship is a touch surprising, but they laid the groundwork really well tonight. Good interview promo where Spears “interrupts” and gives Ricky that not so subtle threat. Then with that promo, they cleverly used it to make Ethan VS Chase and put Ricky on commentary. I wonder, though… Ricky’s line about Canadians hating him, was that a shot at Adam Copeland taking those cheap shots at him last year?
That aside, great match from Ethan VS Chase, but I figured Ethan would win, this keeps building anticipation for the moment Chase U returns. But also, Ricky jawing with Ethan was a good distraction for Spears to attack. It feels like Ricky is going to win, but The Culling could easily cheat him out of the title and we extend things towards Stand & Deliver. Igwe & Dupont VS Hank ‘n’ Tank was a great match, but between Wes interfering and Hank ‘n’ Tank clearly trying to do things like MCMG and not their own way, Hank ‘n’ Tank were of course losing. I believe I said this when “going extreme” like the Hardys didn’t work out that Hank ‘n’ Tank just need to find a team more their style, aka The Dudleys.
Very good promo from Tony D with The Family, with Tony’s strength as The Don being questioned by “the streets,” but also perhaps Tony questioning if Stacks is going to stay loyal this time. They teased Stacks turning on Tony way back when The D’Angelos were feuding with Gallus, but they might actually pull the trigger now. The Culling is working to replace The D’Angelos as the top faction, Tony has done almost everything in NXT, and something would be very fitting if Tony was betrayed before he can win THE NXT Championship and become the Grand Slam Champion.
Very good stuff in this Dark State story, though it’s really more the others in it, like Je’Von, Trick and Oba. Je’Von VS Lexis was a great match, but I should’ve figured Oba would cost Je’Von. Also, good promo from Fraxiom to revive their dysfunction while also segueing into Oba showing up. Trick hitting Je’Von by accident was also a good touch, and he had a good promo after. Him claiming he doesn’t care about Dark State is intriguing, too. Could Trick be working with them behind the scenes? It’d be very “CM Punk helped The Shield” of them to do in this story. Perhaps Dark State affects the NXT Championship match for that purpose.
And of course, the highlight of the night, the throughline story, is NXT’s incredible women’s division. Opening with Vaquer VS Jaida for THE NXT Women’s Championship was rather telling that Jaida would lose, but it’s a bit disappointing it had to be because of Jordynne. I get wanting to keep Jaida strong and they’re clearly planting sees of Jaida VS Jordynne there, but it doesn’t really help Vaquer. Though they also have Fatal Influence attack to put Vaquer in the underdog position with the beat up ribs. Vaquer does get to show her grit by overcoming the unofficial 3v1, but all that could’ve still happened without Jordynne costing Jaida on some level.
I also did appreciate that the watch party had a part to play. Gigi & Tatum VS Meta Girls was really good stuff, and I really like that team finisher from Gigi & Tatum. They probably won’t beat Ash & Heather By Elegance, but they can have a great showing. And all the other women wanting their shot at Vaquer’s belts, Ava can definitely give us something big in the last three weeks before Stand & Deliver. Maybe a small tournament, maybe a battle royal, it really depends on if Vaquer will defend the belts in another double header or in a Winner Takes All match.
My Score: 9/10
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The American Nightmare is in Scotland!
After confronting a “whiny” John Cena in Brussels, Belgium, Cody Rhodes is now in Glasgow, Scotland! Will there be another Raw encounter between champion and challenger?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso VS A-Town Down Under; The Usos win.
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria VS Raquel Rodriguez w/ Liv Morgan; Lyra wins and retains the title.
- Dragon Lee VS Chad Gable; changed to…
- Dragon Lee VS El Grande Americano; Grande wins.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS PENTA; Bron wins, by disqualification, and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
JOHN CENA IS HERE!
Glasgow erupts with boos just like Brussels did last week, and then “JOHN CENA SUCKS~!” Cena wears the custom Scotland “The Last Time is Now” merchandise, and fans show their Cody Rhodes signs. Cena goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and the fans boo again. Cena hears those boos, and then says, “Is something on your mind? Seems like you have something you want to say to me.” The fans keep booing, and there’s still dueling even now. Cena says yeah, they’re ready to do their worst tonight, aren’t they? It’s because they finally understand what is going on. Cena has turned the spotlight onto the fans, and now they know that he can pick apart any one of these random ticket holders to shreds!
Cena knows they know that no one is safe! Cena put a clueless kid on blast! His poor, pathetic face was everywhere! WWE posted it! And you all loved it. The fans tell Cena off, and Cena just smiles. Cena says who is better: him, the one guy who actually tells the truth; or all the fans, whose collectively best idea is to use profanity! The fans are the ones who loved to watch and rewatch and meme up a poor, defenseless kid getting destroyed! Cena doesn’t need to single out anyone here, because they are ALL horrible people! No, tonight, the fans get to find out how Cena makes them pay for the abuse they have put him through.
For 25 YEARS, Cena has listened to their lies and their noise! But he didn’t waste that time being mean, he paid attention. Fans tell Cena to STFU, and Cena says, “You make this so easy. While you were chanting profanity at the top of your lungs, I’ve been paying attention. I’ve been learning from you, quizzing you, studying you, testing you, prodding you, rewarding you for playing along with your stupid, curse ridden nursery rhymes. And in doing so, you have told me every single thing about your. You know nothing about me, I know more about you than you.” The fans boo, but Cena says the truth is, “Your life is sad!
“Because this is the best it’s gonna get. This is all you have! But to me, you have been nothing more than an experiment. You have been rats in a cage. Oh, you don’t believe me? Pick out any moment in my career, and I’ll tell you what I learned from you. When I bled, you thought I was tough. When I spoke, you were inspired. When I was edgy, you were excited. When I was vanilla, you were bored. When I was loyal, you were loved. When I was selfish, you were disrespected. When I speak in rhythmic tones, you say, ‘What.’ You make this so, so simple. You will always tell me everything about yourselves, because you so desperately want to matter.
“And the most important thing you ever told me was in April 2005. It was the day I gave you my greatest idea. I gave you the WWE Spinner Championship! And just like right now, you ate me alive. All you have to do is google, ‘Negative comments about the spinner belt.’ You all told me loud and clear how stupid I was, because I changed your championship into a toy, and the championship is not a toy. The championship is a symbol of the center of all this, and the toy belt I made for you disrespected tradition and disrespected your legacy. Listen closely, because that was the biggest mistake you ever made.
“In that one single moment, you were vulnerable enough to tell me what means the most to you in this life. And now that I know that… I am going to ruin wrestling. I am going to ruin wrestling for every fan, for every wrestler, for everyone. At WrestleMania, I make history by winning a 17th (world) championship. And I finally force you to forget the name of the fun machine, jet-flying WOO~, Ric Flair. You will forever say the name ‘John Cena.’ But even worse… I’m going to win that championship, the center of every superstar of this entire business, of every fan in this building, I will win that championship and retire with it. I am taking it home with me!
“And leaving all of you to create a brand new toy belt, because the real one comes home with me! I will be the LAST REAL CHAMPION in WWE! Revenge is best served cold, and I pay you back by ripping your heart out and forcing you to watch as I just walk away with your memories, and your traditions, and your dreams, and there is nothing you can do to stop me!” But wait! Here comes Cody Rhodes! Glasgow fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH!” Cody gets his pyro, high-fives the fans, and joins Cena in the ring. Cody grabs his own mic, the fans cheer, and Cena just glares the entire time. Cody raises the belt and the fans cheer again.
The fans sing “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” Cody then lifts the mic to say, “I’m sorry, what’d you say? You said you were going to take this away from them? Don’t you think you need to take it away from me first? Admittedly, I made a mistake last week. I looked at you, I talked about Old John, I talked about New John, I didn’t look hard enough. Hearing it, seeing it now, you are clearly sincere, you are clearly angry, and you are clearly willing. Perhaps you’re the most dangerous John Cena has ever been. But you have made a massive mistake. And the mistake was not hitting me upside the head with this at Elimination Chamber.
“Oh, no, no. The mistake was saying what you just said in front of these lovely people while I was in the building!” The fans cheer and sing for “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” Cody asks Cena if all that bothers him. Because it doesn’t bother Cody. What bothers Cody is that he didn’t unpack their history. But Cena should know well enough just how hard Cody fought just to hold this title ONE time, just to validate ONE name! And if Cody understands Cena right, Cena is saying that the timeline of all pro-wrestling hangs in the balance because of Cena’s vanity? Cena wants the title, right? He wants to take it?
Cody sets the belt down on the mat, and says he’ll give Cena that chance right now. The fans fire up as Cody takes off the tie, and dares Cena to take it! The mics drop, Cena prepares to draw as the two square up, but then Cena steps back. The fans boo as Cena leaves, not giving Cody the satisfaction of doing things his way. Cody picks up his mic again and shouts, “JOHN!” Cena turns around, comes back down the ramp, and the fans cheer as Cody dares him to bring it! Cody’s jacket comes off now, the fans fire up more, but Cena shakes his head and leaves again. Cody tells Cena, “one thing, John. I cannot let you do it. I cannot have that on my conscience.
“Right now, I need you to see me, I need you to see all of them, and I need you to understand that your psychotic need to take this does not outweigh OUR right to keep it!” The fans cheer that! Cody says the champ is no longer standing there, the champ is standing in the center of this ring! And Cena walking away empty handed, that is how he walks away from WrestleMania, and that is how he walks away from the WWE! The fans cheer as Cody says the champ is here! But will Cena use whatever means he has to in order to carve his name into eternity?
Jey Uso & ??? VS A-Town Down Under!
Main Event Jey put Austin Theory away so fast, you’d blink and miss it. Theory & Waller want revenge, but who’s joining Jey tonight? Why none other than JIMMY Uso! It’s an Uso Reunion in Glasgow, will they put Theory & Waller in the Uso Penitentiary? Or will they suffer the Grayson Waller Effect #AllDay?
While we get an accidental non-ad break for the YEETing, we also get ATDU making their entrance. And after a quick self-plug for the WWE original series, Stephanie’s Places, the teams sort out. Theory starts against Jey for revenge from last week. They tie up, Jey headlocks, but Theory powers up and out. Jey runs Theory over, the fans fire up, and Jey says “YEET!” Jey runs, Theory stays low to then hurdle, but Jey stops the hip toss! Jey then LARIATS Theory! Theory scrambles away, and he tags Waller in while Waller is busy taunting Glasgow. Waller says he ain’t impressed, but Jey says YEET! Jey blocks a kick, then plays keep away before he SMACKS Waller!
Jey BODY BLOCKS and PELES Waller in the corner, then tags in #BigJim! The fans fire up as Jey whips Waller, and the Usos DOUBLE ELBOW, then handshake DOUBLE ELBOW DROP! They DOUBLE LARIAT Waller up and out, but here comes Theory! The Usos TOSS Theory out, and then Jimmy FLIES! Down goes ATDU and the fans fire up! YEET! Jimmy high-fives some fans before fetching Waller into the ring. Jimmy storms up but Waller mule kicks! Waller CLUBS Jimmy, CLUBS him again, then whips corner to corner. Jimmy goes up and over, then UPPERCUTS! Cover, TWO! Waller stays in this but Jimmy stays calm.
Jimmy CHOPS Waller to a corner, but Waller kicks low! Waller swings but Jimmy dodges, and Jimmy CHOPS! Waller flops down, the fans chant, “UCE! OH!” Jimmy CHOPS Waller, whips, but Waller grabs ropes. Theory tags in, Waller KICKS Jimmy, then Waller TOSSES Jimmy! Waller builds speed, slides, but Jimmy dodges! Jimmy UPPERCUTS Waller, but then Theory DECKS Jimmy! The fans boo, Jey checks on his brother, but Theory mocks the Yeet. Theory puts Jimmy in, dares him to reach for Jey, then stomps Jimmy’s hands. The Usos are in trouble while Raw goes… Well no, another not ad break?
Theory taunts the fans, the fans boo, but Theory taunts Jey. Theory drags Jimmy onto ropes to CHOKE, but he stops at 4. Waller gets a cheap shot in as Theory argues with the ref! Jey protests but now Theory rains down fists on Jimmy. Theory mocks the Yeet, says “SUCK IT!” then drags Jimmy up. Tag to Waller, ATDU mugs Jimmy, and Waller CLUBS Jimmy down! Waller lines up a shot, and he KNEES Jimmy in the side! Waller drags Jimmy up, fires hands, but Jimmy SMACKS back! And he CHOPS Theory! Jimmy ROCKS Waller, then ELBOWS Theory! Waller blocks boots, puts Jimmy in ropes, and CLUBS him!
Waller runs to ROLLING ELBOW Jimmy in the back! Tag to Theory, DRAPING JUMP STOMP! Cover, TWO! Theory clamps onto Jimmy with a chinlock and grinds him down. The fans rally up, Jimmy fights to his feet, and Jimmy reaches out. Jimmy fires body shots, then hits a BIG back suplex! The fans fire up while both men are down! Jimmy and theory crawl, hot tag to Waller, and he BLASTS Jey off the apron! Waller rains down fists, then talks trash. The fans boo, Waller paces, and Waller steps on Jimmy’s face! The ref reprimands, but Waller clamps on a cravat. Jimmy endures the neck wrench, and the fans tell Waller he’s a wanker.
Waller puts on more pressure, and we fade to block for just a second. Jimmy fights up, the fans rally up, and Jimmy fires body shots. Waller knees low, then sucker punches Jey! But Jimmy UPPERCUTS Waller! Waller goes to the apron, Jimmy storms over, but Waller HOTSHOTS! Waller then somersaults in, but into a SAMOAN DROP! The fans fire up as Jimmy and Waller crawl again, hot tags to Theory and Jey! Jey LARIATS Theory, DECKS Waller, then fires haymakers on Theory! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Pop, lock ‘n’ put some stank on the YEET! Then an UPPERCUT! Theory blocks a kick, but not the DRAGON WHIP!
The fans fire up with Jey and they “YEET!” with him. Jey dodges Waller to HIP ATTACK Theory! SUPERKICK for Waller! SUPERKICK for Theory! Cover, TWO! Jey stays cool and the fans rally up again. Theory rises, Jey waits on him, and fireman’s carry for a- NO, Theory fights free, tag to Waller! Jey dodges Theory to UPPERCUT! Waller grabs Jey, and DOUBLE ROLLING ELBOWS connect! Then they double whip to POP-UP DOUBLE HAYMAKER! Cover, TWO!! Jey survives but Waller hurries to a corner. Waller goes up, and he hits a BALLER- NO! Jey dodges, that was an airball! Hot tag to Jimmy! Jey POPS Waller up for Jimmy’s SAMOAN DROP!
The fans fire up as Jimmy goes from Alley-Uce to the top rope. Theory runs up, Jimmy kicks him down, but Waller hits the ropes! That trips Jimmy up and Waller drags Jimmy into a fireman’s carry, Jimmy slips free, tag to Jey! SUPERKICK for Waller! Theory sneaks a tag! Theory hides, Waller BOOTS Jimmy away! Waller runs up, Jimmy ALLEY-UCE into the SPEAR!! The fans fire up but Waller’s not the legal man! Theory is back, but he runs into a ONE D!! Cover, Usos win!
Winners: The Usos, by pinfall
One and done for the Day One Ish! BUT GUNTHER YANKS JIMMY OFF THE CORNER!! The fans boo, but Gunther and Jey start brawling! Then a SUPERKICK for Gunther! Jey SUPERKICKS again! Gunther ends up in a corner, Jey runs in, but he trips?! Gunther pounces to attack with elbows and fists! Jimmy runs in with a chair! Gunther gets away while he can, but he mocks what happened to Jey tripping. Jimmy has his brother’s back, but will Der Ring General keep up the blindside attacks?
The Judgment Day is backstage.
Raquel Rodriguez stretches, and she says she’s missing something. Liv Morgan says, “Imagine how you’d feel with one of these on each shoulder by the end of the night.” Liv has Raquel hold up the title belt and Raquel likes that idea. Dominik Mysterio & Carlito walk in, and Dom says Finn hasn’t talked with any of them since last week. Liv says typical Finn. She loves the guy, but he is always more concerned about his own problems. Dom gets that, he just wishes things went different last week. Liv says it’s fine, things are turning around for the better. Liv beat Jade Cargill just last Friday, and Raquel will become the NEW Women’s Intercontinental Champion! #DoubleChamp!
And just because Finn didn’t win last week doesn’t mean they have to give up on the Men’s IC title. Liv wants Dom to talk with Adam Pearce, and Carlito interrupts by saying Liv’s right. Now it’s time for Carlito to go for the gold. Um, yeah… But also, Dom should go talk with Penta again. Dom says Finn is already against that idea, but Liv says Finn was against Liv joining, and look how that turned out? Dom has the brains, he should just trust himself. Liv says she and Raquel are going to go, Dom wishes them luck. Carlito says yeah, they brought him in, too, and look how that turned out. Okay but can he share his apples? Nope.
The Judgment Day is doing what they want, but not really consulting all members on that. Will things really work out for the better? Or are they just one move away from everything falling apart?
Lyra Valkyria prepares for her match.
Bayley is there to give her a fist bump of encouragement before she heads to gorilla. Lyra also passes by Adam Pearce talking with the LWO. Is the Raw General Manager going to help Dragon Lee get a fair fight with Chad Gable? Or could “El Grande Americano” still make an appearance?
The rich and illustrious history of lucha libre…
… is filled with legends like Blue Demon, The Guerrero Family, and Mil Mascaras. But one star shines brighter than all the rest: El Grande Americano! Hailing from the Gulf of America, El Grande Americano was raised to be the ultimate luchador. He quickly rose to the top of the industry, and for decades was the face of Lucha Libre. But after being blackballed by his jealous enemies, he disappeared without a trace. Now, the legend has returned to bring honor and glory back to this beautiful sport! He is an icon! He is a trailblazer! He is… El Grande Americano!”
Adam Pearce talks with The LWO.
Rey Mysterio asks just what the Hell is that video. That is the introduction to the newest member of the Raw roster… That’s ludicrous! It’s all just Chad Gable! Gable steps in and says they’re wrong. He also coughs and wheezes a bit. Gabel says he knows there are physical similarities, but he is not Grande Americano. He also doesn’t have the energy to argue right now, he got sick on the way over. Sadly, he cannot compete tonight. He has a doctor’s note. Pearce reads it, and it is legit. Rey cannot believe this. But whatever, it’s okay. They’ll just see Gable in the parking lot! Pearce has Rey stand down, and Gable says whoa now. Let him finish.
Gable suggests that Lee should take on the new guy, Grande Americano, and see what he’s got. Rey & Lee are still incredulous, but Pearce says his hands are tied. Rey says he gets it. Lucha libre tradition is about not backing down. Lee says whether Americano is Gable or not, Lee will take the match. Then it’s official! Lee glares at Gable, and Rey says Gable’s a jackass. The LWO walks out, Gable says he can’t believe Pearce is going to let them talk to him like that, but Pearce can’t believe Gable needed a doctor’s note. Gable coughs as if on cue, but will the Boy Wonder still get a big win here in Glasgow?
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria VS Raquel Rodriguez w/ Liv Morgan!
The Morrigan has been undefeated in title matches ever since winning the tournament, but she is quite literally up against her biggest challenge yet. Will Lyra still fly high this close to home? Or will Big Mami Cool become Double Champ Rodriguez?
The introductions are made, Lyra’s belt is raised, and we see who holds the #ShinyShiny!
The bell rings, the two circle, and they feel things out. Lyra dodges Raquel, then gets around to waistlock. Raquel THROWS Lyra off with ease but the fans boo. Lyra brushes herself off while Raquel tells the fans to shut up. The two tie up, Lyra goes for a leg, but Raquel gut wrenches to SWING Lyra around, and then THROW her away! The fans boo but Liv applauds. Raquel drags Lyra up with both ands, then THROWS her into a corner! Raquel runs up, Lyra dodges and headlocks! Raquel powers up and out, Lyra goes up, but Raquel catches her! Lyra holds on, Raquel yanks her from the corner, but Lyra slips free.
Lyra dropkicks legs out, then she gets under Raquel. Raquel fights the Northern Lights to gut wrench and Gory Especial! Lyra sunset flips, but avoids a stomp! Lyra headlocks again, but Raquel powers up and out again. Lyra ducks ‘n’ dodges, wheelbarrows, and victory rolls Raquel out of the ring! The fans fire up with Lyra and Lyra builds speed, but Raquel stops the dropkick! Raquel drags Lyra out but Lyra RANAS her into the desk! Liv panics, Lyra waistlocks, and Lyra puts Raquel in the ring. Lyra hurries up the steps, Liv coaches Raquel, and Raquel stands. Lyra leaps, into a BOOT! The fans boo but Liv cheers, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Raquel has Lyra on the ropes to CHOKE her! Raquel steps off as the ref counts, and Raquel drags Lyra up. The fans rally for Lyra, but Raquel reels her in to suplex. Raquel SLINGSHOT JACKHAMMERS! Cover, TWO! Lyra survives and Raquel is frustrated, but Liv coaches her to keep going. Raquel pie faces Lyra, drags her to a drop zone, and then goes up the ropes. Raquel soaks up the heat before the VADER- FLOP! Lyra dodges, goes up a corner, and the fans fire up again! TURN OF FORTUNE!! Cover, TWO?!? Raquel survives that flying leg drop and Lyra is shocked! The fans rally as Lyra fireman’s carries!
Raquel kicks and flails, slips free, then shoves Lyra to a corner. BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Raquel goes up, VADER SENTON! Cover, TWO! Lyra survives and Raquel grows frustrated. Liv coaches Raquel and she drags Lyra up again. The fans rally, Raquel bumps Lyra off buckles, and then Raquel puts Lyra up top. Lyra BOOTS the haymaker away, then she fires forearms! Raquel wobbles, Lyra adjusts, and Lyra CROSSBODIES, but into Raquel’s arms! Raquel pops Lyra up to a suplex, but Lyra DDTS! Cover, Liv gives Raquel the ROPEBREAK! The fans boo and Lyra knows something is up! Lyra glares at Liv but Liv just taunts Lyra.
Lyra hurries to bring Raquel up again, fireman’s carry, but Raquel powers out. Raquel shoves, Lyra dodges the boot and WRECKS Liv with a dropkick! But Raquel drags Lyra into a scoop, but Lyra slips around to victory roll! LYRA WINS!!
Winner: Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion)
Lyra couldn’t outpower Raquel, but she did outthink her! But now Liv attacks from behind! The fans boo as Liv & Raquel mug Lyra, but here comes Bayley! The Role Model ROCKS Liv, then gives her a HOTSHOT in the ropes! Bayley fires haymakers on Raquel but Raquel knees low! Raquel hoists Bayley up, but now Lyra saves Bayley! And together, they grab legs and DUMP Raquel up and out! The fans fire up as Bayley & Lyra send Judgment Day into retreat! But will Lyra thank Bayley by giving her a title match?
Jimmy & Jey regroup backstage.
Jimmy asks Jey what’s up, and that for the last couple of weeks, Jimmy sees Jey is all up in his own head. Jimmy doesn’t get it. Last week, Jey was hitting that dive for 15 years, and then he becomes a joke! A meme even! What’s with him? Tonight, that killshot was right there, but Jey’s out here slipping. Jey keeps this up, he will not win at WrestleMania. Jey knows that! Jey knows. But everyone reminds him every week. He ain’t beat Gunther, he’s 0-3! But you know what else? He doesn’t know if he can beat Gunther. Jimmy says he can’t?! Jey gets up, Jimmy keeps him from going off somewhere.
Jimmy says Jey can’t beat him. Not this Jey Uso. The Jey that Jimmy knows, the Right Hand Man, that’s the Jey that can! The one that become Main Event Jey, that’s the Uce we need! The one that won the Royal Rumble, THAT’S the Jey we need! Understand him? Jimmy then spots someone off to the side. Jimmy says he’s got Jey on this. Jimmy confronts Gunther! Gunther grins as he walks over, and Jimmy says Gunther VS Jimmy next week! Wow, really? Sure. So long as Jimmy doesn’t trip and fall like his brother. Jimmy SLAPS Gunther for that one! The Usos head out, Gunther leaves it at that. But then Gunther grins. Is Gunther going to make Jimmy an example to Jey?
Adam Pearce is in the ring.
The Raw GM says, “We are officially on the Road to WrestleMania!” The fans cheer that, and Pearce shows the contract for the WWE Women’s World Championship match between Bianca Belair and Iyo Sky. Last week, Rhea Ripley came out here, thought it was appropriate to start a fight, to pick a pen up off the ground, and to scribble her signature onto the contract, as if that makes anything official. Pearce assures us, and he wants this to be crystal clear, Rhea Ripley is NOT in the title match. Glasgow boos, Pearce says they can do that all they want, but the match is Iyo Sky VS Bianca Belair!
Furthermore, the signature Rhea put down means nothing, because Miss Ripley already knows that she has a rematch. A rematch Pearce has tried to get Rhea to settle down on for weeks now, that in the meantime, Bianca won the Elimination Chamber and the right to call herself THE #1 Contender. So that is the issue here. Bianca earned hers, Rhea is owed one, but Rhea seems to want it on her time. Pearce ain’t doing it that way, so therefore- Iyo interrupts! The fans cheer the Evil Genius as she has both belt and mic in hand while heading to the ring. Iyo tells Pearce, “I don’t care about contracts. Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, it doesn’t matter who it is.
“I’ll take on BOTH of them! Because… I am the Women’s World Champion~!” The fans like that, and Pearce says he appreciates her being a fighting champion. But if you’d just let him- Nope, Bianca interrupts! The fans cheer the EST as she has her own mic to say, “Oh, girl, uh-uh, hold up, hold up! No, Pearce, you are right, I earned that #1 Contender’s spot. And I… went through Elimination Chamber to get to WrestleMania. So I am not about to let Rhea headbutt her way into this match! If she did not earn it, then she does not deserve it.” Pearce agrees, so if everyone- NOPE, Rhea interrupts!
The fans fire up as Mami makes her way out, and Pearce is beside himself. Rhea has a mic to say, “Honestly, I don’t give a damn about WrestleMania. And I don’t care who I have to go through to get MY title back. All I want is my rematch.” Oh, now she wants that? Pearce has been talking about it for weeks! Bianca says if Rhea wants her rematch, well, she already waited three weeks, so she can wait three more. Then she can get her rematch after WrestleMania, with Bianca. Yeah, she said what she said. Iyo says hold on, but Rhea pushes her aside. The fans boo, but that’s the last straw for Iyo!
Iyo runs up but Pearce gets in there! Pearce shouts “ENOUGH! ENOUGH!” He’s glad they’re all out here, because he was going to give his solution, if they’d just give him a second! NEXT WEEK, Rhea gets her rematch! Then the winner faces Bianca at WrestleMania! Ladies, thank you, have a very nice Monday. Pearce storms off, Bianca and Rhea still argue, but Iyo says bet! She leaps over Bianca to DDT Rhea! Bianca ROCKS Iyo, torture racks, but Iyo fights free with an arm-drag! Rhea BOOTS Bianca, gets around Iyo, but Iyo lands out of the back suplex! SHOTEI! Bianca chicken wings Iyo! Iyo victory rolls Bianca at Rhea, and Bianca LARIATS rhea!
Iyo dodges Bianca again, HOTSHOTS from the apron, then goes up the corner! She FLYING RANAS Rhea on the ramp! Bianca is up, Iyo takes aim, and the fans cheer Iyo on as she springboards! Bianca dodges, torture racks again, KISS OF DEATH to the outside, onto Rhea! Bianca holds up the belt, but will this be how WrestleMania ends? Who will it even be against after next week’s rematch?
Dominik finds Penta backstage.
Dirty Dom asks if Penta has a second to talk. Penta nods, and Dom says he knows Penta is good, but he could be great. Dom is willing to offer Penta a spot in the Judgment Day, and then maybe things will go Penta’s way. Penta wants to speak but Dom says hold on. Penta could be Intercontinental Champion tonight. Just think about it. Dom heads out, Penta looks like he’s already decided. Will the Man with Cero Miedo really need allies like The Judgment Day?
The New Day barge into Adam Pearce’s office.
He’s already exasperated as Kofi Kingston tells him that The New Day is the greatest tag team on Planet Earth! Xavier Woods says that means they deserve a shot at the WWE World Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania. Oh, are they really asking for a title match at WrestleMania? No, they are DEMANDING one! Wow, really? Do they watch the show? Guess not, or else they wouldn’t be coming in here and demanding a title match just because they’re the New Day, greatest team of all time! Instead, they’d want a chance to prove it, and ask for a match. When they’re ready to do that, come back and see him. For now, get out, and don’t let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you!
New Day tells Pearce to check his blood pressure. They leave, but Bianca barges in. There is way too much going on! Who is she facing at WrestleMania? Pearce says it’ll be clear next week after Iyo VS Rhea. And now, Bianca won’t just be sitting ringside to watch, she’ll be the one in that ring calling it right down the middle! That’s right, Bianca is now the special guest referee!! The EST doesn’t know how to referee! Well, she has a week to figure it out! Now bye, drive save. Bianca storms off, Pearce is losing his cool, but what will this mean for the Road to WrestleMania?
Dragon Lee VS El Grande Americano!
The LWO doesn’t care one way or another if “The Big American” luchador is Chad Gable or someone else entirely, because they just want payback for the interference that’s been happening week after week. Will the Boy Wonder shine brighter than this supposed lucha legend? Or will we all be saying “UH GRACIAS~!” after tonight?
The bell rings and the fans rally. The two tie up, “Grande” waistlocks but Lee switches. Grande switches back, trips Lee, and then rolls to facelock, float, and armlock. The fans sing “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~!” while Lee fights up. Gable- Er, Grande steps over, arm-drags, and then soaks up the cheers and jeers. Grande runs up to CHOP, then whip. Lee reverses, runs in, but Grande puts him on the apron. Lee jumps up but Grande DECKS him! “GRACIAS~!” Grande then builds speed, but Lee is back to RANA! Grande tumbles out, Lee builds speed, and Lee DIVES! Direct hit and down goes Grande!
The fans fire up, Lee puts Grande in the ring, and then clamps on a GROUND COBRA TWIST! Lee grabs at the mask, the ref reprimands, and Lee stops. Grande throat chops! Grande whips, Lee reverses to kick low and reel Grande in. But Grande RANAS free! Grande FLYING HEADBUTTS, then covers, TWO! The fans again sing, “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~!” Grande goes to the apron with Lee, then he fires a forearm. Lee V-TRIGGERS, then runs up, but into an EXPLODER to the floor! Both men have a hard landing but the fans fire up while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Grande has Lee in an inverted Gory Especial! The fans rally as Lee sits up, and he rains down fists! Lee victory rolls Grande, TWO! Grande stands, ducks ‘n’ dodges, FLYING HEADBUTT into the V-TRIGGER! Grande ends up on the apron, Lee goes out the side. Lee drags Grande up to the top rope, the fans rally, but Grande fires body shots. Lee drops back, but he ROCKS Grande! Grande is in the Tree of Woe! Lee goes up, aims, APRON WOE STOMPS!! Grande flops to the floor but even Lee clutches a knee from that landing. The ring count starts and the fans rally. Both men are down at 5 of 10, but slowly rising.
Lee and Grande hear 8, and they spring in at 9! The fans cheer, and Grande fires a CHOP! Lee fires a CHOP! The CHOPS keep going, harder and harder, then Grande CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Grande runs, Lee dodges and CHOPS! And BOOTS! Grande ROCKS Lee! But Lee dodges to snap GERMAN SUPLEX! Grande flounders, Lee fires up, SUPERKICK! Grande falls again but Lee takes aim! Lee runs in, but Grande OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY SUPLEXES him into the corner! Lee is in a heap, Grande covers, TWO!! Lee survives and the fans fire up! The fans again sing “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~!” as Grande climbs!
Grande aims to MOONSAULT, but he has to roll through as Lee dodges! Lee runs in, swings through the lariat, and he gets Grande up for a LIGER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Grande survives but Lee vows to end it! Lee brings Grande up, puts him up top and CLUBS him! The fans declare “This is Awesome!” as Lee climbs. Grande is back in the Tree of Woe, but he sits up to pull at Lee’s mask! Grande UNMASKS Lee!! Lee falls, covers his face, and Grande sits up! The fans boo, but Grande gets after a leg! ANKLE LOCK!! The fans boo, Lee can’t fight while also covering his face, so Lee TAPS! Grande wins!
Winner: El Grande Americano, by submission
A controversial way for a luchador to win a match, but it seems El Grande Americano is willing to do anything! Will we ever get to the bottom of this not so mysterious mystery?
CM Punk is here!
Glasgow fires up and sings along with Cult of Personality as the Second City Saint makes his way out here. Punk says, “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME~!” and continues down to the ring. What will he say in the fallout of Friday Night SmackDown’s brawl in Bologna? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and Punk has the mic while fans chant “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Punk says, “Is it great to be alive on a Monday night in Glasgow or what?” The fans cheer that! Punk says that unfortunately while he’s happy to be here, always great to spend quality time with Glasgow, he is not in a good mood. He’s pissed off, but it’s hard to stay mad hearing an ovation like that. Punk says he’s also a little tired, very jetlagged, hasn’t slept well, mostly because of the uncertainty of his Road to WrestleMania. By the way, he apparently has a match now. Did you see the nice graphic? It’s beautiful.
But what Punk wants, he’s not getting. Or is he? Punk says what he wanted was win the Royal Rumble. he didn’t. Then it became what he needed to do, and that was win Elimination Chamber. But because the more things change, the more they stay the same, he work with children. The undisputed heavyweight champion of being a diaper piss baby is Seth Rollins, and he screwed Punk at Elimination Chamber. That doesn’t get Punk to what he wants. For two people, it is clearly personal, but for Punk, it’s just business. It has become simple math: the two men that want to stand in Punk’s way of getting what he wants have go tot go.
Seth Rollins takes it personal because he’s been crying ever since Punk came back to the WWE, because the magnitude of Punk and the shadow he casts belittles everything Rollins is about. Roman Reigns takes it personal, which Punk acknowledges, because Roman sees in real-time that his Wise Man isn’t just his Wise Man. So while it’s personal for the, it is business for Punk, and it’ll be business on Friday in London. It’ll be a good ol’ fashioned contract signing. The fans boo but Punk asks why. Because they wanted it here, right? The fans cheer that! Well, so did Punk, which is why Punk’s here!
Punk can’t wait to get his hands on the contract, read the fine print, and see if the contract gets Punk any bit closer to what he wants… or if it’s just another rug pull from the Powers That Be. So Seth, Roman, fuel up the jet. Since you couldn’t grace them with your presences here in Glasgow, see you in London! But before you put pen to paper, listen to two things and understand them very well. One: neither of you have defeated Punk without the other one’s help, because you can’t! And two: Punk brought them into the WWE, so he cannot wait to be the man to take them both out of it! Punk drops the mic, will he be the one that ends The Shield’s story?
Logan Paul speaks.
Via his Instagram, The Maverick tells AJ Styles, “Congrats, you’ve been added to the list of people whose downfall I’ve been preying on. What you did to me in Madison Square Garden is unforgivable. I’m in London on March 31st, Monday Night Raw, I wanna see you face to face. Bring your A Game, bring your soccer mom haircut, I’ll see your b*tch ass there.” Logan ImPAULsively called out The Phenomenal One, will he be the one to regret it?
Backstage interview with Bron Breakker.
Cathy Kelley is with the badass Intercontinental Champion and notes that he puts that title on the line in the main event, against one of the fastest rising stars in Penta. Earlier tonight, Dom approached Penta to join Judgment Day, is Bron at all concerned that Penta could be bringing backup in an onslaught of new friends? Bron says that’s Penta’s business, it is none of his concern. But as far as tonight, Bron will beat Penta in the center of that ring, then retain this title for one reason: The dogs are barking in Glasgow! Bron barks it up, then heads for gorilla. Will the Big Bad Booty Nephew not worry about the numbers and just go for the win? Or will he learn that #CeroMeido is math he can’t ignore?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS PENTA!
Raw returns as Penta makes his entrance, followed by Bron’s. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is really the biggest badass!
The bell rings and the fans bark as Bron stares Penta down. They slowly circle, tie up, and Penta waistlocks. Bron pries at the grip, wrenches out to wristlock, and the fans duel. Penta wrenches, wristlocks, and headlocks in return, but Bron powers up! Bron shoves Penta away, but then Penta dodges to KICK a leg! And KICK it again! Penta whips, Bron ducks ‘n’ dodges, then builds speed to LARIAT! The fans bark for Bron while Penta flounders to a corner. Bron runs up to RAM into Penta! And RAM again! And again! The ref counts, Penta sputters, and Bron brings Penta up. Bron whips, Penta ducks ‘n’ dodges and RANAS!
Brun tumbles into the ropes then out of the ring! The fans fire up and Penta goes up, up, and- JUMP KNEE from Bron! Penta falls to the floor and Bron grins. The fans bark while Penta sputters to the desk. Bron aims for that FLYING LARIAT! Bron and Penta crash onto and over the desk! The fans bark more while both men are down! The ref checks on both men, but Dom & Carlito come out here? The fans boo, is Dom just assuming Penta’s decision? We’ll have to see, after the break.
Raw returns again and the fans rally as Penta fires body shots. Penta CHOPS, but Bron just frowns. Bron ROCKS Penta, eggs him on, but Penta CHOPS! Bron frowns again, then he ROCKS Penta! Penta comes back with a flurry of forearms! The fans fire up, Penta runs, but Bron ROCKS him again! Bron runs, but Penta SUPERKICKS! Bron wobbles, Penta runs up, but into another KNEE! Bron runs, runs, and- SUPERKICK from Penta! Both men fall and the fans fire up! The fans rally while Bron and Penta slowly rise. Penta has Bron first, reels him in, but Bron shoves Penta away. Penta comes back and KICKS Bron!
Penta then gets around Bron to mule kick a leg! Penta runs to SLING-DOG Bron down! Bron flops out, the fans fire up, and Penta builds speed to DIVE into an UPPERCUT! Bron hurries back in, fireman’s carries Penta, but Penta pops up to BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Carlito says that alone proves Penta is Judgment Day material, but Penta calls his next shot. Bron rises, Penta runs in, DEST- NO, Bron stops that to make it a fireman’s carry, then a military press! GUT BUSTER DROP! Cover, TWO!! Penta survives, Bron is a bit surprised, but the fans still bark. Bron vows to end this and he goes to a corner.
Bron aims, Penta rises, and Bron runs in, into another SUPERKICK! Penta then GAMANGIRIS in the corner! Penta puts Bron up top, climbs up after him, but Bron shoves him down. Bron fires hands, then he hoists Penta up! Bron fireman’s carries Penta, but Penta fights free! Penta hops down to the apron so he can jump up and RANA Bron off the corner! Bron tumbles out, Penta builds speed, and Penta FLIES! Dom & Carlito love the tope conjilo, and Glasgow says, “This is Awesome!” Penta drags Bron up and into the ring, then takes aim again. MEXICAN DESTROYER!! Cover, TWO!! Born survives and Carlito is shocked!
The fans rally as hard as they can, and Dom coaches Penta up. Penta tells Dom to watch himself, then he drags Bron up. Penta pump handles Bron, but Bron fights free! Penta goes to a corner, BOOTS in return, and then goes up. Bron anchors Penta, Penta CLUBS away on Bron, then ROCKS him! Bron staggers away, but he springs right up top to SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO! Penta survives the “Breakkensteiner” and Bron is frustrated. The fans rally up as Bron brings down the straps! The fans bark as Bron takes aim from the corner. But Dom gets on the apron! Carlito grabs Bron, but Bron TOSSES Carlito!
Bron runs and he SPEARS Carlito! The fans fire up, the ref reprimands Judgment Day, but Dom CHOP BLOCKS from behind! The ref catches it, the match is over!
Winner: Bron Breakker, by disqualification (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
The fans boo but Dom rains down fists on Bron! If Dom is trying to get Penta to join up, he sure messed up that! The fans tell Dom off, but Bron ROCKS Dom with haymakers! FINN BALOR SMACKS BRON WITH A CHAIR! The Prince is here after all, and he SMACKS Bron again! Penta doesn’t even realize what happened, and then Finn glares at Dom?! Finn decides to give Dom the chair, and Dom JAMS it into Bron again and again! Penta understands now that Judgment Day screwed this up for him, but Dom offers him the chair? The fans say “NO! NO! NO!” but Penta still takes the chair. Dom says take Bron out, Cero Miedo!
Penta aims, but while Dom is encouraging Penta to do it, Finn is upset with Dom about it! Penta throws the chair at Dom to SUPERKICK into his face! Finn is even more upset because he knew this would happen. Finn CLOBBERS Penta, stomps away on him, and the fans boo more. Finn grabs the chair again, and he SMACKS Bron back down! Bron tumbles out, and Finn tells Dom he’s too stupid to be making decisions. Finn goes up, and he gives Penta a COUP DE GRACE! Judgment Day has no new members and no new gold, but will Finn get Dom to understand that they can still run Monday Night Raw?
My Thoughts:
Another great Raw, especially with this Glasgow crowd. Cena continues to be the perfect “Justified Heel” with another great promo, and it is amazing that he uses the Spinner Championship as the cornerstone of all of this. I almost thought he was going to say he would remake the spinner belt using the current title’s design. But at the same time, it’s good enough that he vows to retire that belt with his retirement so that whatever comes next will only ever be second place. Or third, given how there’s the WWE World Heavyweight Championship again. And Cody had a good retort again, but Cena is the one bringing the better promos.
While there was speculation that Glasgow would get to believe in Joe Hendry tonight, I knew it just makes sense in story that Jimmy would be the mystery partner for Jey. Very good match from Usos VS ATDU, very good win for the Usos, and a great promo where Jimmy lights that fire in Jey before slapping Gunther. Gunther VS Jimmy is going to be really good, and this fits a bit more of what I was hoping we’d get in the build. Gunther and Jimmy can tear it up while Gunther still wins out, a real example set for Gunther VS Jey at Mania, but also incredible motivation for Jey given he’ll be watching his brother get beat up.
Very good promo from Punk, a touch better than Rollins’ last week, but both boil down to hyping up what’s happening on SmackDown this week. Great stuff with this Chad Gable/El Grande Americano stuff. That video package was like 90% AI generated images, 10% Photoshop, but I guess that adds to how Grande Americano’s legacy is fake and it’s just Gable. Lee VS Grande Gable was great stuff, and what a wild way for Grande Gable to win with Lee’s mask coming off. Rey will surely want his own match with Grande Gable, and I feel like this has to come down to a Mask VS Mask match so that when Grande loses, he is exposed as Gable all along.
Great promo stuff for the Women’s World Championship, as Pearce puts his foot down and has them do things his way. No Triple Threat, at least not yet, as we instead get Rhea VS Iyo one more time, but Bianca being the Special GuEST Referee is of course going to create shenanigans that then compel a Triple Threat. New Day complaining and demanding a title match is good stuff, too, and I would think Pearce is going to put New Day into a big contenders match. Honestly, all tag teams on Raw should be put in that: New Day, A-Town Down Under, Alpha Academy, Creed Brothers, LWO’s Wilde & Del Toro, winners face War Raiders.
And the Judgment Day were once again a great throughline for Raw. Good promo from the group to set up things for tonight while also keeping the dysfunction in mind. Lyra VS Raquel was a great title match, great win for Lyra, and good stuff with Bayley making the save. I feel like we might get a tag match of Lyra & Bayley VS Liv & Raquel before we get Lyra VS Bayley for the title. I still feel like they could escalate and make it more than just 1v1 for WrestleMania, as Liv can even get herself in on the Intercontinental Championship, but we should also really get others like Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark and even Natalya going again or else they’re signed for no reason.
And of course, awesome stuff with the Men’s Intercontinental Championship. It plays up the Judgment Day drama of Finn and Dom each trying to be the mastermind, but everyone wanting titles. Bron is still great in the ring but his character isn’t getting much other than “bark bark.” Even if he went back to talking a lot like Uncle Scott Steiner, that would be a bit more fun. But right now, he’s just this obstacle that the others are trying to get past while also dealing with their own stuff. Judgment Day standing tall because of Finn’s surprise appearance certainly cues up at least a Triple Threat of Bron VS Penta VS Finn, but maybe Dom gets himself in that match to “improve Judgment Day’s odds,” which just pisses Finn off and creates the real fallout in the group.
My Score: 8.9/10
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