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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Coverage
Mitchell’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/27/24)
Rural Revitalization continues!
Will Great-O-Khan be setting the table?
It’s Rural Revitalization in Hiroshima for the KOPW Championship! Can Yuya Uemura survive tires, lemons and a table? Or will Great-O-Khan conquer him for the United Empire?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Frontier Zone – Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano VS Rey Paloma & HANZO; Oleg & Yano win.
- Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask & Bishamon VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita VS Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira; Cobb & Akira win.
- Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii VS The House of Torture; Desperado, Shota & Ishii win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Tomoaki Honma & Shoma Kato; Tanahashi & Murashima win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sho & Yoshinobu win.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; TMDK wins and retains the titles.
- KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan VS Yuya Uemura; Yuya wins and becomes the new KOPW Champion.
- 10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK w/ Zack Sabre Jr. VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado!
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls snatched the titles away during the Windy City Riot, but the Guerrillas of Destiny are getting their rematch! Will the Headbanga & Young Guerilla redeem themselves on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku? Or will they see The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if The Mighty stay NJPW Strong!
The teams sort out and Hysterical Haste starts against ELP. The fans rally up with the bell and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but then Shane cording holds into a wrench and wristlock. ELP rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. ELP keeps Shane from ropes so Shane rolls, kips up, snapmares and KICKS ELP! The fans cheer while Shane shakes out his leg. ELP grimaces as he stands and shakes out the arm. The two reset, tie up, and ELP waistlocks. ELP goes for a chinlock but Shane standing switches. ELP switches, Shane switches again, and repeat. ELP headlocks, Shane powers out, then reels ELP in for a headlock.
ELP powers out, Shane runs him over, and then he sits ELP up to run. ELP drops under, hurdles over, but Shane shoves him. ELP rolls off Shane’s back to RANA! The fans fire up as ELP kips up and fixes his hair. The fans rally for “E L P! E L P!” while Shane is in a corner. Shane comes back to fire a forearm! ELP fires a forearm back! Shane fires another forearm so ELP gives it back. They go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! ELP gets the edge, but Shane UPPERCUTS! Shane CHOPS ELP, whips him corner to corner, but ELP goes up and over and keeps moving. ELP fakes Shane out to avoid the dropkick!
ELP goes to ropes to LIONSAULT but Shane moves! ELP sits up but avoids the Penalty Kick! The two stand off and the fans cheer! Shane and ELP reset, and Leo reaches out. ELP tags him in and the fans rally up. Shane tags Mikey, and he circles with Leo. They get face to face, and Mikey pie faces Leo! They tie up, Leo shoves Mikey away, but Mikey comes back. They tie up, Mikey headlocks but Leo lifts. Mikey thrashes the hold, Leo powers out and they RAM shoulders! Leo eggs Mikey on so Mikey runs and they RAM shoulders! Leo runs, Mikey ELBOWS him! Mikey runs, Leo runs him over! The fans fire up as Leo flexes.
Leo drags Mikey up, suplexes, but Mikey fights it! Mikey tries to suplex but Leo’s so tall! Leo suplexes, Mikehy slips free to waistlock, but Leo RAMS him into a corner! Leo runs in, Mikey dodges, only for Leo to LARIAT outta the corner! Tag to ELP and the Guerrillas get Mikey up. ELP BLASTS Shane while Leo whips Mikey to a corner. Leo SPLASHES, ELP clotheslines, then feed to the SIDEWALK SLAM and FALLING AX HANDLE! The Guerrillas high-five, ELP covers, TWO! ELP brings Mikey up but Mikey fights the suplex! Mikey powers out, whips, but ELP BLASTS Shane! ELP dodges Mikey, waistlocks, but Mikey swings. ELP ducks, into a DDT!
The fans fire up while Mikey shoves ELP over and tags in Shane. Mikey brings ELP up to TOSS him out, and then Mikey BLASTS Leo! Shane whips ELP into railing! Shane flexes, fans applaud, and Shane drags ELP up. APRON BACK SUPLEX! Shane shoves ELP in, covers, ROPEBREAK! The fans rally as ELP stays in this but Shane grabs one of ELP’s hands. Shane stretches out the arm to then KICK ELP in the shoulder! Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires forearms! Shane shoves ELP but ELP ELBOWS Mikey! ELP fires off on Shane, whips, but Shane reverses and Mikey trips ELP up! Shane basement dropkicks ELP and he spins around into a HAYMAKER from Mikey!
ELP flops to the floor, Mikey claims the apron is slippery, but the referee reprimands him all the same. The ring count starts but Mikey puts ELP in at 4 of 20. Shane covers, TWO! Shane keeps ELP down with body scissors. ELP endures, reaches out, drags Shane along as he crawls over, and the fans rally up. Shane grabs ELP’s arm and brings him into a cover, TWO! Shane whips ELP away into The Mighty corner! Tag to Mikey, he sends Shane in, but ELP puts Shane on the apron! ELP BOOTS Mikey, ROUNDHOUSES Shane, then runs, but Mikey catches him! Mikey RAMS ELP back into the corner!
Mikey taunts Leo then digs boots into ELP. The fans rally up and ELP throws body shots. Mikey eggs ELP on so ELP CHOPS! ELP tries to get under but Mikey grabs a leg and drags him back! Tag to Shane, and Shane stomps ELP down. Shane kicks ELP around, kicks him more, but ELP fires off hands! Shane back drops ELP up and away! The fans rally while Shane drags ELP back to a cover, but Leo breaks it! Shane drags ELP back, tags Mikey in, and TMDK mug ELP. ELP sputters, Mikey tags Shane back in, and Shane sucker punches Leo! Mikey hoists ELP up but ELP BOOTS Shane! ELP backs Mikey into the corner, then goes up and over Shane!
Shane runs into Mikey but Mikey still pursues ELP. Mikey drags ELP back but ELP ENZIGIRIS free! The fans fire up, but Shane gets ELP’s legs! ELP BOOTS Shane away, hurries up again, but Mikey BLASTS Leo first! Mikey then brings ELP around to back suplex! ELP lands on his feet, but Shane back suplexes! ELP still lands on his feet, then he ducks under TMDK to hot tag Leo! The fans fire up as Leo UPPERCUTS Shane, swings on Mikey, but Mikey dodges, only for Leo to BOOT him! Leo scoops Shane for SNAKE EYES and a BOOT! The fans fire up with Leo while Shane and Mikey go to opposite corners.
Leo runs in to SPLASH Mikey! Leo keeps going but Shane BOOTS him! Shane runs up but Leo ELBOWS him down! Leo runs to drop the JUMPING ELBOW on Shane! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Leo watches Shane stir. Shane rises, Leo choke grips! GODS- NO, Shane slips free and Mikey fires a forearm! Shane UPPERCUTS, Mikey LARIATS, but Leo stays up! Shane runs to LARIAT! Leo roars, but TMDK double kick! TMDK reels Leo in, but Leo DOUBLE SUPLEXES them instead! The fans fire up and Leo watches TMDK bail out. Leo tags ELP and ELP goes up. Leo helps him walk the tightrope, to ARIHARA MOONSAULT TMDK down at the ramp!
The fans fire up again, and Leo goes out to get Shane in. ELP & Leo get Shane up to CHOP, straitjacket torture rack, and then Leo runs. BOOT into the spin, BRAIN SALAD! Cover, Mikey breaks it! Mikey fires forearms on Leo & ELP, runs, but ELP hurdles so Leo can DDT! Mikey bails out, the fans fire up, and ELP tunes up the band. Shane rises, into SUDDEN- NO, Shane dodges! Shane runs up, but into Leo’s hands! ELP aims, but Shane pulls Leo into SUDDEN DEATH! Shane UPPERCUTS ELP and DROPKICKS Leo! Shane KICKS ELP, BOOTS him, then reels him in for an INVERTED EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!!
ELP survives and Shane is surprised! The fans fires up, Shane and ELP rise, and ELP staggers to a corner. Shane puts ELP up top, ROCKS him with a right, then climbs up. Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires body shots! ELP HEADBUTTS Shane down but Mikey tags in! Shane goes up, ELP sends him back down, so Mikey UPPERCUTS! Mikey gives Shane the boost, and they get ELP for the SUPERPLEX BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives but Mikey powers up and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives again and the fans fire up! Mikey grows frustrated, he drags ELP up and reels him in.
ELP slips free of the Blue Thunder to kick and tuck the arms! But Mikey trips ELP to jackknife bridge, TWO! ELP rolling clutches! TWO and Mikey has the cover! TWO and ELP ghost pins, TWO!! Mikey escapes but ELP dodges! ELP DROPKICKS Mikey down and the fans fire up! Both men crawl, hot tag to Leo! Leo runs to BLAST Shane, then he turns to look at Mikey. Mikey eggs Leo on, then fires forearms! Leo ROCKS Mikey with just one! Mikey fires another flurry, but Leo ROCKS Mikey again! Leo eggs Mikey on and the fans rally. Mikey kicks low, ROCKS Leo, then runs, but into a scoop! Tag to ELP before the POWERSLAM!
ELP goes up to SWANTON BOMB! And then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, ELP tags Leo back in, and they tune up the band again! Mikey rises, but Shane trips Leo! Mikey ROCKS ELP, Shane UPPERCUTS ELP! Feed to the scoop but ELP slips free! ELP shoves Mikey into Shane, and Leo grabs them both! But both Shane & Mikey fight free of the choke slams! Shane KNEES, Mikey FOREARMS, but then ELP fires off on TMDK! ELP runs, but into a double trophy lift! THUNDER- DOUBLE DDTS!! ELP turns things around on TMDK, and the fans are thunderous! Mikey stands up into SUDDEN DEATH! ELP PLANCHAS onto Shane!
GODSEND for Mikey! ELP then climbs up the ropes, then climbs onto Leo! SUPER THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, but Shane barrels through ELP to break it!! The fans are thunderous again but ELP is frustrated. ELP fires off on Shane, runs, but Shane LARIATS! Shane dodges Leo but runs into the POWER TRIP! GOD- NO, Mikey rolls Leo up!! TMDK WINS!!
Winners: TMDK, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Leo is furious! He is sure Mikey pulled tights there! He stomps at Mikey, pushes past ELP and goes after Mikey on the outside! Mikey and Leo push each other around, but there’s nothing Leo can do about this one. Will he and ELP just have to fight their way back up to the top? As for TMDK, will they continue to rock ‘n’ roll through the ranks with all this gold?
KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan w/ Callum Newman & Francesco Akira VS Yuya Uemura w/ Taka Michinoku & Taichi!
It’s Rural Revitalization 2: Hiroshima Style! The Dominator just managed to make it past Tanga Loa, will he make it through the Heat Storm? Or will KOPW soon belong to Just5Guys?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who can put in the work!
This first round is Mazda tire carrying. Each man has a big orange cone placed in their corner, so they simply have to go fetch the tires from the stacks outside. Whoever gets four tires first wins the round! The bell rings, Yuya kicks Khan then heads for ropes, but Khan reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Khan goes out now, hurries up the ramp, and grabs two tires at once! The fans cheer and Khan gets those tires in the ring. Then he goes back for more! A risky move but that means four tires are on play. Yuya DROPKICKS Khan and here’s where the risk is involved! Yuya aims to PLANCHA but Khan chucks a tire!
Yuya falls back, Khan gets the tires in then drags Yuya out. Khan CLUBS away on Yuya against the apron, then uses a tire to bind Yuya’s legs! Khan CLUBS Yuya more, and Khan even ties Yuya up in the ropes! Khan sacrifices two tires to trap Yuya! The fans cheer the creativity, and Khan STOMPS Yuya on the apron before heading for more tires. Yuya works to get free as Khan brings two more tires to the ring. Khan sets those tires in, Yuya gets free, but Khan has stacked two tires. Then three, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Yuya takes the tires off Khan’s cones, leaving him with just one. Yuya goes out to get the last tires remaining!
Yuya brings tires to his cone, then clears out some space. Yuya has two tires, steals Khan’s one, but then Khan grabs Yuya for an IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Yuya fights free, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! Khan throws the tires off Yuya’s cone, then throws the cone! We’re back to zero and zero, and Khan whips Yuya into a corner, to then clothesline him! The fans fire up as Khan climbs up and sits on his throne! Khan then hops down to Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian CHOP! Yuya sits down, Khan takes a tire, but then THROWS it at Yuya! Yuya goes up and over and AX HANDLES Khan down!
The fans rally as Khan grabs tires and cone, and he starts stacking! Yuya has two, then three! He just needs to find one more! Yuya grabs one from outside, but Khan reels him in! Khan DECKS Yuya, then undoes some of the stack. Khan confiscates a tire, makes sure it’s nice and bouncy, but also works up quite the sweat. The fans rally as Khan aims and takes a swing, only for Yuya to counter tire with tire! They clash again, and again! Then they set up for TIRE SUMO! And again, TIRE SUMO! They run in again, and Khan RAMS Yuya! Yuya is disarmed, and Khan CLOBBERS him with the TIRE SUMO!
The fans fire up while Yuya is down and Khan grabs tires. Khan says he’s not done with Yuya yet. Khan starts stacking tires at the center of the ring, then drags Yuya up. Khan clinches Yuya into HITSUJIGOROSHI! Yuya endures, even as Khan throws knees! Khan then scoops to SLAM Yuya on the tires! That’ll leave some skid marks! Khan then drags Yuya off the stack, brings him up and around, to then put a tire around his head. And then another! Yuya’s two tired to stand but Khan makes him! Khan throws a BODY BLOW, then he TRIPS Yuya into a TIRE DDT! The fans fire up while Khan grabs the other tires.
Khan stacks tires on his cone, that’s two. Khan hurries to find other tires on the outside, and he has a third. Khan considers his options, and takes one of the tires from Yuya. But Yuya clings to the tires, so Khan stomps him! Yuya refuses to let go of the tires! Khan stomps Yuya more but Yuya defends the tire with his body! Khan claws at Yuya, they tug-o-war over the tire, but Khan pulls on Yuya’s ear! Yuya kicks low, kicks again, then SMACKS Khan with the tire, and DROPKICKS Khan down! The tire goes tumbling out of the ring while Yuya fires up! Yuya takes Khan’s tires, hurries them over to his cone, that’s three right there!
Now Yuya has to hurry and find another! Yuya goes outside, grabs the tire, but Khan intercepts! They tug-o-war again, but then Khan RAMS Yuya into a corner! Khan takes this tire, that’s one. Khan finds tires on the outside and brings them in! Yuya hurries to cover tires again! Khan stomps Yuya, still stacks three, so it’s all down to this seventh tire! Yuya and Khan tug-o-war yet again, the fans rallying behind them! Khan grabs Yuya’s arm, but Yuya slips around to a SLEEPER! Khan fights up but Yuya squeezes tight! Yuya then CLUBS away on Khan, runs, but into a TIRE SWEEP! And a BASEMENT DROPKICK!
Khan grabs the final tire, but Yuya schoolboys him away! Yuya rolls through, snatches the tire, and complete his stack! Yuya wins the first round!
Khan: 0; Yuya: 1
Just like with Tanga Loa, Khan drops the ball in the first round! But then, will history repeat itself here as we prepare for the second round?
The tarps are set down, the table is set, and it’s time to eat up some Hiroshima lemons! Khan makes sure the people watching at home and around the world understand that Hiroshima lemons are the best, which probably means they’re the most sour. Khan puts on his bandana and takes his seat at the table. He and Yuya get some wet wipes to clean their hands, and it all comes down to who finishes their one lemon first. Ready, set, EAT! Yuya starts fast and that face shows how sour these are. Khan says hold on, and he just takes a HUGE bite! Yuya is suffering but Khan is reveling in the sourness! Khan’s already halfway through!
Yuya can barely keep the lemon in, but Khan’s eaten it all up! Can he get it all down before Yuya? Khan is chewing and chewing, Yuya is practically shaking from how sour it all is! Khan keeps going and… Yes, Khan has it all down! Khan wins!
Khan: 1; Yuya: 1
Khan now lets his body feel the stinging sweetness, and he says it was delicious! But then, that leaves us with this third and final round. And this time it’s a TABLES match! Who will be feeling sour and sore after this one?
The bell rings, both men rush in, Yuya dodges to fire haymakers! Yuya whips, Khan reverses but Yuya CLOBBERS him! Khan gets up, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Khan bails out, Yuya aims and PLANCHAS! Direct hit at the ramp, and the Heat Storm fires back up! The table is there, so Yuya drags Khan right up! Yuya goes to suplex but Khan blocks! Khan fights with body shots, turns things around, but Yuya fights the suplex! They fight for control, but Khan RAMS Yuya into the apron! The fans rally, Khan drags Yuya back up, and whips him into railing! Yuya tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land!
Khan storms out after Yuya and he asks fans move aside. Young Lions help the fans clear out while Khan drags Yuya up. Khan brings Yuya around and reminds everyone, No Disqualifications! Khan BOWLS Yuya through chairs, and that’s definitely a strike! The fans cheer Khan as he stands on chairs, but then asks more fans to move aside! Khan stomps Yuya, stomps a chair onto Yuya, then tosses that chair aside. Sorry to whoever had that seat… Khan then drags Yuya up and brings him around, but Yuya throws body shots! Khan Mongolian Chops Yuya down! Khan drags Yuya back up, and BOWLS him into more chairs!
Yuya is stuck on the seats, that wasn’t quite a strike. But Khan stacks chairs on Yuya to pick up the spare. Khan SMACKS chair with chair! Yuya sputters while fans applaud, and Khan goes back to fetch Yuya. Taichi and Taka are there but so are Newman and Akira. The Empire keeps the two out of five guys at bay while Khan drags Yuya to the back of the crowd. Khan whips Yuya into the emergency exit! Khan then SLAMS railing down on Yuya, and then SMACKS railing with railing! Khan talks trash while Taka and Taichi coach Yuya up. The ref checks Yuya, but he’s somehow able to continue, so Khan drags him up.
Khan brings Yuya around to drag him through the chairs! Khan brings Yuya back to ringside, then into the ring. The fans applaud, and then Khan goes looking under the ring. Khan eventually finds another lemon! Khan takes a big bite and uses the citrus to power up! Then he DIGS the lemon into Yuya’s face! The citric acid burns but the fans fire up! Khan goes to fetch the table from outside, puts it inside, and then sets it up in a corner. The fans rally up as Khan stalks Yuya. Khan drags Yuya up, reels him in to scoop, but Yuya slips free! Khan avoids hitting table, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! Yuya whips Khan into the blue corner, then DOUBLE CHOPS again!
The fans fire up and Yuya grits his teeth. Yuya roars, brings Khan up and reels him in for a BIG back suplex! The fans rally again and Yuya brings Khan up. Yuya clinches, but Khan fights the lift! Yuya still tries, but Khan fights it to a head ‘n’ arm clinch. Yuya gets around, headlocks, but Khan pops out to waistlock. Yuya fights being pushed around, then switches to get an arm. Khan clinches but so does Yuya. They fight for control, and Khan’s SAYANAGI takes Yuya down! The fans fire up and both men stir. Yuya flops out of the ring, but Khan crawls in pursuit. Khan drags Yuya up, then RAMS him into railing!
Yuya writhes, Khan goes looking under the ring, and he brings out another TABLE! Khan SMACKS Yuya with the table, then stands the table up at ringside. Khan drags Yuya up, SMACKS him off the apron, then climbs up. Khan drags Yuya up onto the apron, Mongolian Chops, then regular CHOPS! Khan UPPERCUTS, then clamps on the IRON CLAW! Khan scoops but Yuya fights free! Yuya DROPKICKS! Khan holds onto ropes to stay up, but Yuya hurries to run! Yuya LARIATS, but into the IRON CLAW!! Khan drags Yuya up and over, ELIMINATOR- NO, Yuya grabs ropes to fight that off! Khan kicks low, winds up, but Yuya traps the arm!
Yuya traps the other arm, takes aim, but Khan fights the Deadbolt with all his might!! The fans are thunderous as Yuya still tries! Khan BITES Yuya’s ear! And then POSTS him! But Yuya runs up, into a BOOT! Yuya falls back, Khan sits down, and the fans rally again! Khan undoes his hand tape, ends up pushing the table over, and then he folds it all up. Khan puts the table in the ring, pushes Yuya aside, and then he sets this table up again, in the blue corner. Yuya goes up top to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Yuya roars! Yuya has his choice as he hauls Khan up. Yuya traps the arms, but Khan makes it a BELLY2BELLY!
But Yuya rises back up! Yuya runs in, gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Khan’s right up! Khan LARIATS Yuya down! The fans fire up as Yuya is right back up, and URENAGES! Both men are down again and the fans are thunderous! Khan flounders around, he and Yuya crawl to center, and Yuya fires a forearm! Khan gives it back! Both men stand, and Yuya fires a haymaker! Khan comes back to forearm! Yuya wobbles, but he comes back to HAYMAKER! Khan staggers, wobbles, but comes back to FOREARM! Both men stagger, but Yuya fires another haymaker! Khan fires a flurry of forearms, but Yuya haymakers!
Khan ROCKS Yuya, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! But Khan throws an IRON RIGHT! The fans fire up again as Yuya falls! Khan roars with Monster Rage and he hauls Yuya up! IRON CLAW, and then ELIMIN- NO, Yuya slips free! Yuya wrenches, traps the arms, DEADBOLT SUPLEX through the table!! YUYA WINS!!
Winner: Yuya Uemura, 2-1 (NEW KOPW Champion)
Yuya slammed the Deadbolt shut on Khan and now he takes the title from him! The Heat Storm is rising, how hot will he make the KOPW Division through the Summer?
10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
These factions have been battling all over this Road to Wrestling Dontaku, but now they will fight ’til the last man! Will there be a roll call for Bushi, Hiromu, Takagi, Yota y Naito? Or will this alliance with the Good Looking Emperor, Jake Lee, help David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney shoot down LIJ?
Wait, it seems Naito has brought backup of his own? It’s SLYLY! The dragon-like mascot of Hiroshima Toyo Carp, and half-brother to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Phillie Phanatic! Well, Naito does love him some baseball. Tensions are running high, and Finlay throws his shirt at Yota. Yota balls that shirt up, and throws a fastball over the plate! The teams sort out, Finlay pushes Yota around and Gabe talks trash on Takagi. Red Shoes gets them all to settle down, and the War Dogs bark and put up the Too Sweet. Jake joins in at the end there. LIJ mocks the barking before they fist bump, and the fans cheer.
Things finally sort out and Finlay starts against Yota. The fans fire up behind “YO~TA! YO~TA!” at the bell, and Yota makes sure Finlay hears that. Finlay gets on the corner but the fans all boo. The two circle, tie up, and Yota uses his size to put Finlay on ropes. Finlay turns that around to grind forearms in Yota’s face and push him around. Finlay then backs up to SPIT at him! The fans boo but Yota CHOPS Finlay in return! The fans cheer, Yota headlocks, and Yota grinds Finlay down. Finlay powers up and out to headlock back, but Yota powers up and out. They RAM shoulders, Yota rebounds to run Finlay over!
The fans fire up, things speed up, but Finlay bails out. The fans boo but Finlay says he’s got time. Yota barks at Finlay but Finlay just mockingly applauds. Finlay returns, kips up just to show off, but then Hiromu wants in! Yota tags Hiromu, Finlay tags Drilla. Hiromu fires forearms on Drilla, whips, to ROCK, trip, KICK the ropes, then run and SHOTGUN Drilla down! The fans fire up while Hiromu barks. Hiromu runs corner to corner to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! The fans fire up but Connors runs in to knee Hiromu low! Connors barks, runs, but Hiromu kicks low! Bushi dropkicks legs out so Hiromu can basement dropkick!
The fans fire up but Drilla fires hands and CHOPS on LIJ. Hiromu CHOPS back, he and Bushi double whip to TU LO SABE! Cover, TWO! Drilla stays in this but Hiromu fires Hiroshima up. Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Drilla slips free to RAM Hiromu into the corner! The Dogs mug Hiromu while Jake Lee runs up to BLAST Naito! Finlay and Connors help out in mugging Yota and Bushi! Things have pilled out into the crowd in multiple areas while Naito fights back! Jake kicks Naito, then whips him hard into railing! Naito tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land! Gabe and Takagi throw HEADBUTTS back and forth!
Finlay snatches a phone? He’s taking pictures of Jake stomping away on Naito! But then Yota attacks Finlay! Finlay POSTS Yota, a ring count starts, but the Dogs just keep beating LIJ down! Drilla finds his way back to ringside, Hiromu manages to make his way in! Hiromu crawls in at 17 but Drilla is there to stomp him! Drilla bumps Hiromu off Finlay’s boot! Drilla tags Jake in, they mug Hiromu, and Jake digs his boot in while Finlay pulls Hiromu’s hair! Red Shoes is busy getting everyone to stop brawling! Jake lets off but Hiromu fires off CHOPS! Jake just kicks low, whips, and then HIP TOSSES Hiromu down!
Hiromu staggers up but Jake clamps on a SLEEPER! Tag to Finlay and they mug Hiromu in the corner. Red Shoes reprimands and counts, the fans boo, and Finlay lets off at 4. Finlay soaks up heat, then he takes Hiromu’s Kamaitachi mask and THROWS it to the crowd! Finlay then BLASTS Yota off the apron! The Dogs CHOKE Hiromu more, mug him while Finlay argues with Red Shoes, then Finlay brings Hiromu up. Finlay fireman’s carries and goes to dump Hiromu! Hiromu clamps onto ropes, Bushi runs in to make the save! Connors goes after Bushi so Takagi makes the save! But Connors goes after Takagi now!
Finlay puts Hiromu on the apron but Hiromu rolls back in, SAFE! The fans cheer while Finlay is frustrated. Finlay storms up on Hiromu in a corner but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS! Finlay knees low, whips corner to corner hard, and Hiromu flounders all the way back to where he started! Finlay drags Hiromu up and over, the fans still cheering him on, but Connors tags in. Connors BLASTS Naito off the corner, then snap suplexes Hiromu down! Connors runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Connors stays on him with a seated full nelson. The fans continue to rally for “HI-RO-MU!” as he endures!
Hiromu fights around, even as Gedo barks at him to give up. Hiromu still gets the ROPEBREAK! Finlay pushes the foot away and that distracts Red Shoes, allowing Drilla to join in and stomp Hiromu! Drilla & Connors double whip but Hiromu gets around to lift Connors and throw him at Drilla, FORCED RANA! The fans fire up but Connors keeps Hiromu away from his corner! Hiromu blocks a kick, and a punch, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally again while both men are down! Hot tag to Naito! Naito rallies on Connors, BLASTS Drilla, swings on Jake, but Jake gets away. Connors CLUBS Naito, whips, but Naito reverses to arm-drag!
Naito atomic drops, runs, and ELBOWS Connors down, to then basement dropkick! The fans fire up while Naito stares Jake down. Naito covers Connors, TWO! The fans rally, Naito drags Connors up and dragon sleepers, for the NECKBREAKER! And then, LEG HOOK NELSON! Connors endures but Gabe stomps Naito! Gabe BLASTS Takagi, the rest of the Dogs attack, and Gabe stomps away on Naito! Gabe tells off the fans but the fans boo. Red Shoes reprimands so Gabe steps away, and Connors drags Naito up. Connors UPPERCUTS, whips, but Naito reverses to TORNADO- NO, Connors powers out!
Connors dodges Naito, redirects and POUNCES! Naito is down but the fans rally up. Naito and Connors crawl, hot tags to Takagi and Gabe! The fans fire up for the NEVER Openweight Championship appetizer! They RAM shoulders, Takagi ROCKS Gabe then runs to RAM him! Gabe rebounds to RAM Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to RAM Gabe! Gabe fires a forearm, whips Takagi to a corner then runs in to clothesline! Takagi says that’s not enough, so Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe says he’s a madman, then whips, only for Takagi to reverses. Takagi runs in, blocks a boot, and clotheslines through! The fans fire up with Takagi, but Gabe shoves him!
Takagi kicks and CLUBS away on Gabe, but Gabe BITES Takagi’s forehead! Red shoes reprimands, but Takagi spins Gabe around to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Gabe’s still in this but the fans rally behind “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi looks around, “Oi, Hiroshima! TOKI GA-” NO, Gabe CLOBBERS Takagi! It isn’t his time yet, and Gabe stands Takagi up to HEADBUTT again and again! Then Gabe suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi’s tougher than that but Gabe shakes his head. Gabe scuffs Takagi, eggs him on and runs, but Takagi blocks the Rebounder to HEADBUTT! Gabe HEADBUTTS! Both men shake their heads, and then Takagi HEADBUTTS!
Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS again and again, but then Gabe HEADBUTTS again and again! Takagi fires a forearm, Gabe gives it back, repeat! The fans fire up as the shots go back and forth! Gabe gets the edge, but Takagi fires boxing elbows! Gabe CHOP! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! Gabe UPPERCUTS and YUKON LARIATS! But Takagi’s right up to LARIAT!! Gabe rises and shouts! Both men run in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And again! Gabe fires palm strikes, talks trash, but gets a JAB, HEADBUTT, and a PUMPING BOMBER take takes both men up and out! DOUBLE ELIMINATION!!
Fans go wild as Takagi’s sacrifice play makes things 4v4! Bushi and Drilla jump in and Drilla fires off shots! Drilla ENZIGIRIS, ripcords, but Bushi dodges to RANA! And DROPKICK! Drilla bails out but Bushi builds speed, only for Connors to SNAP POWERSLAM! Drilla gets in, he and Connors get moving, SPEAR GORE COMBO!! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives but the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions coordinate. Connors BLASTS Naito off the apron before he climbs a corner, and Drilla gets Bushi up. Drilla suplexes, but Bushi slips free! Bushi shoves Drilla into Connors, then runs back in to CODE-
NO, Drilla blocks and aims for ropes! Bushi slips free, dodges Drilla, but Drilla ducks the enzigiri, only for the REWIND HEEL to hit! Bushi whips Drilla up and out and to the floor, Bushi ELIMINATES Drilla! We’re 4v3 in LIJ’s favor, but then Connors SPEARS Bushi! Connors says this is it, and he reels Bushi in for- NO! Bushi turns No Chaser into a backslide! BUSHI ROLL! Bushi ELIMINATES Connors!! The Black Mask singlehandedly handles the tag champs and the fans fire up! But then Finlay CLOBBERS Bushi and rains down fists! Finlay roars in rage, then he drags Bushi up. Canadian Rack, but Bushi slips free to backslide!
Finlay rolls through to UPPERCUT! Jake BLASTS Naito, BLASTS Yota, and then Finlay gets Bushi up! Finlay POWERBOMBS Bushi to the outside, onto Naito and the rest! Finlay ELIMINATES Bushi! We’re back to 3v2 as Finlay still has Jake but LIJ still has Naito, Hiromu and Yota. And speaking of Yota, he gets in to brawl with Finlay! Yota whips, Finlay reverses but Yota flipping RANAS! Then he BLASTS Jake! Yota runs corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH Finlay! Yota keeps moving, he runs Finlay over to then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he smiles and paces around.
Yota brings Finlay up and fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free. Yota kicks, runs, but Finlay ELBOWS him down, then SENTONS on top! Finlay barks as he aims at Yota. Yota rises, Finlay runs in, and UPPERCUTS at the corner! Then clotheslines! Then FALCON ARROWS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Yota but Finlay grows frustrated. Finlay drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the lift! Finlay CLUBS away on Yota, tries again, and he has Yota up, but Yota fights free of the bomb! Yota fires forearms, but Finlay UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! Finlay runs, but Yota backslides to KNEE Finlay down!
The fans fire up again as we pass 20 minutes, and Yota drags Finlay up. Yota goes up and up but Finlay shoves him over! Yota’s on the apron, he and Finlay brawl! Yota ROCKS Finlay, but Finlay gets in Red Shoes’ face! Jake grabs at Yota, Yota kicks him away, but Finlay BLASTS Yota down and ELIMINATES him! The fans boo but the Dogs have made this 2v2! Finlay and Jake stand together, and they dare Naito & Hiromu to join them. Naito and Hiromu oblige as they step inside. Naito stares Jake down, Hiromu stares Finlay down, and they start swinging! The fans fire up, but then Finlay fireman’s carries Hiromu! Finlay aims for ropes!
Naito gets past Jake to save Hiromu, but then Jake BOOTS Naito down! Jake scrapes Naito out of the ring and goes after him, but Hiromu fireman’s carries Finlay! Hiromu runs at ropes and dumps Finlay out! Finlay stays on the apron but Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Finlay holds onto ropes and wobbles, but Hiromu builds speed! Hiromu DIVES and SUNSET FLIPS, but Finlay still holds on! Finlay throws down hands, gets back inside, he’s SAFE! Hiromu is also safe because he went through the second rope. Hiromu runs back in, but avoids Blue Thunder to wheelbarrow! But Finlay turns that into an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER!
Hiromu writhes, the fans rally as hard as they can behind him, but Finlay drags Hiromu up. DOMINATOR! Cover, Naito breaks it! Jake stomps Naito and TOSSES him out! It was all second rope so Naito’s safe, but Finlay talks trash on Hiromu. Finlay drags Hiromu up, reels him in, suplexes, but Hiromu slips free! Finlay UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS! Flashback to the 23rd! Hiromu just takes UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT from Finlay, but he doesn’t stop! Then he SUPERKICKS! Hiromu runs, but into another UPPERCUT! Finlay gets Hiromu up, but Hiromu RANAS Finlay up and out to ELIMINATE him!!
The fans are thunderous as The Rebel is shocked! Hiromu mocks him, but then Jake runs in! Hiromu gets under the boot to get under Jake! Jake fights Hiromu off, snarls, and then runs up! Hiromu dodges to kick a leg! Hiromu runs, but Jake kitchen sink knees! Jake takes aim, runs up, and FACE BREAK SHOT! Hiromu tumbles up and out and to the floor, Jake ELIMINATES him! And now, at 25 minutes in, we’re down to just Jake and just Naito! Naito slowly rolls into the ring as the fans rally behind him. Jake watches Naito stand, and the two stare down. Jake runs in but Naito dodges to fire off forearms!
Naito whips but Jake reverses to KNEE low! Jake fires up but fans boo as he stands Naito up. Jake reels Naito in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Naito protects the plate but Jake is aiming another heater! Jake waits as Naito stands, then winds up to choke grip! But Naito throws back elbows to get free! Naito then wrenches, TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Naito rises, he drags Jake up, and he throws those heavy back elbows! Jake crawls around, Naito brings him up, and Naito throws more heavy back elbows! Jake wobbles and staggers to the corner but Naito is right on him.
Naito brings Jake around for even more heavy back elbows! Jake falls over, the fans fire up, and Naito aims from the corner. Naito drags Jake up and in, but Jake BOOTS Naito down! Naito dangles off the apron! Red Shoes keeps the War Dogs from interfering, and Naito stands up. Jake aims, runs in, but Naito avoid the FBS! Naito drags Jake ot the apron, Jake elbows him back! Jake runs up, but into an ELBOW! Naito goes up and over, sweeps the legs, then BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICKS! Jake falls, LIJ wins!!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, Naito as the lone survivor
It came down to the bottom of the ninth, technically speaking, and Naito just hit the walk-off homer! Jake is stunned and Finlay is frustrated, but Yota just smiles back at him. Finlay and Yota will have it out as part of Wrestling Dontaku Night One, who will be smiling then?
As for LIJ, they regroup in the ring and have their hands raised. Slyly’s even still hanging around! But uh, he’s a little too chunky to get in the ring, so he just settles for pumping up the crowd like he does at baseball games. Naito gets the mic to say that it was three months ago, the Splash Strong series back in January, since Naito was last in Hiroshima. Naito would like to thank the fans from coming here tonight, “Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer, and Naito continues by saying, “Hiroshima is my second home. I really long to have a match at Mazda Stadium.” The fans love the sound of that!
Naito does preface that him saying that doesn’t mean there’s anything planned. So please, tranquilo, be patient, and look forward to the day that finally happens. So, shall they do it? The fans cheer again! So then, for the first time in Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in a year and eight months, is everyone ready? The fans cheer because they sure are! Well then, the only way to close The Road to Wrestling Dontaku here in Hiroshima… Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Slyly! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRNABLEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!! Slyly gets in on the roll call! Will all of LIJ have success as we reach Wrestling Dontaku next week?
My Thoughts:
A great event to conclude Road to Dontaku before getting to Wrestling Dontaku itself. An unfortunate change in the card, Sanada fell ill and could not compete, so his match alongside Taichi against Tanahashi & Tomoaki was changed into Tanahashi and a Young Lion VS Tomoaki and a Young Lion. Hopefully Cold Skull gets well soon. Great tag title match from TMDK VS GoD, and while I figured TMDK was going to retain, I didn’t think it’d be in a shady way like holding tights. While ZSJ VS Cobb for the NJPW World TV title is still to come, I doner of GoD shift gears and ELP becomes a singles guy so Leo and Loa can team up. Then ELP can challenge ZSJ in a battle of initials while the Brothers Guerrilla get to take on Shane & Mikey.
Great Rural Revitalization again, they managed to pull off great comeback spots each round. I was very surprised Yuya won out, I felt like Khan could’ve done one more Rural Revitalization before losing. But at the same time, Yuya feels like the unofficial fourth Reiwa Musketeer behind Narita, Shota & Tsuji. Yuya getting a title, any title, ahead of the others is good stuff for him, and could even bring about a feud with one of the Musketeers for the Summer. And then a great 10 Man Elimination Tag. I again really like that NJPW allows over the rope eliminations even in a tag match like this to really mix things up. Jake Lee not winning out for the War Dogs is really surprising, but I feel like that means Jake will defeat Naito 1v1.
My Score: 8.9/10
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It’s a violent end to a legendary friendship!
Former Best Friends, Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor, have been through many Parking Lot Brawls, but this is their first time as enemies! Will there be broken bones to go along with the broken hearts?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor; Trent wins.
- Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo; Rosa wins.
- “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell; Bill wins.
- Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions; Shibata & Garcia win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor!
Years of friendship, thrown away, and why? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Freshly Squeezed having more success in AEW than them? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Cassidy as a person? Because #JustTrent turned out to be the selfish one in the relationship? Well, then will #JustTrent get his ass kicked? Or will he take advantage of how Chuckie T. is a Kentucky Gentleman?
Trent stares Chuck down while we hear the crowd of other wrestlers taunting him. Trent takes a swing, but Chuck dodges to fire off hands! The brawl is on, and Chuck gets the edge! Chuck ROCKS Trent, then SMACKS him off a car hood! And then off the car door! Chuck drags Trent up, but Trent RAMS Chuck into the car! And throat chops him just because! Trent gets space, runs back in, but Chuck dodges so Trent hits the passenger door! Chuck gets a trash can lid and he stands Trent up. Trent jumps through the open window but Chuck drags him back out. Trent kicks low, and he gives Chuck a CAR HOOD BACK SUPLEX!
Trent grabs the trash can lid, SMACKS Chuck right in the head and Chuck falls down! The crowd boos but Trent opens a car trunk to bring out a trash can, a dustpan and a baseball bat! Chuck storms up but Trent CHUCKS the trash can into Chuck’s face! Chuck flounders and Trent smirks. Trent SMACKS Chuck with the trash can, CLUBS him around, and Chuck is busted open! The white car has red polka dots on it now, and Trent talks trash, “This is what you wanted?!” Trent runs up, but Chuck POP UP POWERBOMBS Trent onto a car hood! Trent writhes, Chuck staggers around, and Chuck brings Trent around.
Chuck headlocks Trent before he SMACKS him off another car door. Trent goes around the back and then up onto a truck! Chuck follows, and he CLUBS Trent in the chest! But Trent slips under, and he CLAWS Chuck’s bloody face! Trent DECKS Chuck and Chuck falls through drywall sheets! Trent looms over Chuck as he crawls out of the wreckage. Trent stalks Chuck, brings him around and SMACKS him with the trash can lid! Trent hoists Chuck onto a car roof, SMACKS him again, then goes back to the truck. Trent climbs onto the roof of the truck, to FLYING ELBOW from car to car! Cover, TWO!!
Trent is furious, but Chuck is still in this as Rampage goes picture in picture.
Trent fumes, paces around, and goes back to the goodies. He brings out… Is that a screwdriver?! And he JABS Chuck in the head with it!! And then he DIGS it into Chuck’s forehead!! As if he wasn’t already bleeding badly!! Trent leaves Chuck behind, to fetch what looks to be a flat screen TV. Then he brings out a wood door!? Did someone visit Home Depot before coming here? Chuck CHOPS Trent in return then fires haymakers! Trent CLAWS Chuck’s face! Trent grabs that TV and CHUCKS it, only for Chuck to duck it! Rampage returns as TV screen hits windshield! Chuck kicks low to snap suplex Trent through the door!!
The crowd is losing its minds as Trent crawls. Chuck gets Trent’s legs, to CATAPULT him into the truck’s tailgate!! The crowd fires up while Chuck gets a sinister look on his face. Chuck takes a piece of that drywall to SMASH it on Trent! Chuck gets that trash can, he SMACKS Trent with it! Chuck sees the pile of extra goodies nearby, and he uncovers some light tubes! But first, he’ll clean up the mess, he SMACKS Trent with the dust pan! And SMACKS him again and again! And then one more shot with the trash can! Trent writhes, but Chuck drags Trent up. Chuck SMACKS Trent off the tailgate, then clears some space.
Chuck climbs up, but Trent ROCKET LAUNCHES him onto the light tubes!!! The tubes shatter under Chuck’s back! Trent sputters, he’s bloody now, too. Trent puts Chuck against the car hood and stands on him! Trent soaks up the heat, but Chuck TRIPS Trent! Trent writhes, Chuck reels Trent in, Canadian Rack, RAZOR’S EDGE onto a windshield!! Trent writhes while fans chant “HOLY CHUCK!” Chuck covers Trent on the hood, TWO!! Trent survives and hurries around the back of this sedan. Chuck snarls, goes up after Trent, and they meet on the roof. They’re both so bloody as they fire forearms back and forth!
The crowd cheers Chuck and boos Trent, and as the two swing wild, they end up HUGGING! You GOT to give the people what they want, right? They stand, Chuck ROCKS Trent and reels Trent in, but Trent LOW BLOWS!! Trent has Chuck now, PILEDRIVER ON THE CAR ROOF!!! And then, SNAKE BITE!! Trent is choking Chuck out!!! Chuck IS out, Trent wins!!
Winner: Trent Beretta, by submission
The Best Friends tore each other apart, but it is #JustTrent that stands tall in the end. He’s clearly lost the respect of his peers given how the other wrestlers are chanting “You Suck! You Suck!” But wait, Trent isn’t done? He has a monkey wrench!? Cassidy & Kris step forward to say no, this is going too far! Trent says this is all Cassidy’s fault! And SMASH, Trent hits Chuck’s leg with the wrench, and even shatters the glass behind it!! Chuck clutches the already recovering leg, and now Cassidy wants after Trent! Kris stops Cassidy, Trent’s still got the wrench! Trent escapes into the shadows of the arena, what darkness is living in Trent’s heart?
Don Callis is watching this.
And he seems to like the sadistic savagery he just witnessed. Trent may not have Best Friends anymore, but could he end up with a whole new family?
Backstage interview with Kyle O’Reilly.
Arkady Aura is with #CombatKyle and brings up his impressive showing in Dynamite’s Casino Gauntlet this past Wednesday. But we all want to know, what is next for her? Well, on Saturday, May 11th, AEW is coming to his hometown! Collision in Vancouver, British Columbia! The Rogers Arena, the same building an 11-year-old Kyle saw his first wrestling show ever. And at that show, Kyle told his dad that he was gonna do this one day. Papa O’Reilly said, “Oh yeah, sure you will, kid.” But somehow, Kyle pulled it off. 25 years later, he’s coming back home to do the one thing he’s ever been good at and that’s wrestling.
Kyle is going to take on the best wrestlers this world has to offer, right here in AEW, where the best wrestle. Kyle is ready for a fight, who will take him up on that in two weeks?
Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo!
La Mera Mera and The Virtuosa could not coexist in the race for the AEW Women’s World Championship, and now they will Rampage against each other! Who will stand tall, ready for another shot at the title?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Deonna and Rosa step up, talk a little trash, then Deonna pie faces Rosa! Rosa swings but Deonna catches the arm! Rosa avoids the takedown to knee low! They tie up again, go around and around, and Deonna puts Rosa in a corner. The ref counts, Rosa powers her way out but Deonna headlocks. Rosa powers up and out, but Deonna RAMS her! The two stay up, Deonna eggs Rosa on then kicks her low! Deonna whips, Rosa blocks the hip toss, but then Deonna blocks a hip toss! Rosa avoids the lariat to DECK Deonna! Rosa rains down fists but the ref reprimands.
Rosa sits Deonna up, clamps on a COBRA CLUTCH, and she grinds Deonna down. The fans rally but Deonna fights up. Deonna throws hands, then wrenches, but Rosa breaks free. Deonna BOOTS Rosa, then has the arm for the ARMBAR DDT! Deonna dusts herself off as she paces, then she KICKS Rosa’s arm. And KICKS it again! Rosa goes to ropes, Deonna pushes her down and ties her up in Paradise! Rosa is stuck, Deonna soaks up the cheers and jeers, and then runs to DROPKICK Rosa out of Paradise! Deonna stands Rosa up but Rosa ROCKS her first! Deonna stands, Rosa RAMS into her then bumps her off buckles.
Rosa goes up and up to leap, but Deonna blocks the rana and has a BOSTON CRAB! They’re in the ropes, the ref counts, and Deonna lets go. Rosa crawls to the corner, Deonna paces while soaking up the heat. Rosa stands, builds speed, and she WERCKS Deonna with a dropkick! Rosa fires up despite the pain in her back, and she kicks Deonna. Deonna stands, Rosa CHOPS her against the post! And CHOPS her again! Deonna ducks, Rosa chops post! Deonna SUPERKICKS Rosa down, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Deonna steps on Rosa’s face, steps away, and Rosa staggers up to railing. Deonna storms up but Rosa kicks her low. Rosa then runs Deonna side to side to POST her! But then Deonna RAMS Rosa into apron! And SMACKS her off it! Deonna snarls, brings Rosa around, and she puts Rosa in the ring. Cover, TWO! Deonna clamps onto Rosa to pull her arms in, for a straitjacket stretch! Rosa endures, fights up, but Deonna turns that into a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Rosa is still in this, and she is feeding off the energy of the fans! Rosa stands, and she ELBOWS Deonna! And body shots! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again!
Rosa has Deonna in a corner to UPPERCUT! Rosa runs corner to corner and back again, but Deonna dodges! Rosa POSTS herself and falls to the apron! Deonna storms back over, brings Rosa up and wraps the bad arm against ropes! The ref counts, Deonna KICKS the ropes as she lets off, and Rosa clutches the elbow. Deonna returns but Rosa RAMS into her! Deonna CLUBS Rosa, has her in a corner, and HEADBUTTS the lower back as Rampage goes to break.
Rampage returns and Deonna runs in, but into an ELBOW! And then a BOOT! Rosa goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Rosa as she rises up! Deonna runs in, Rosa dodges to fire forearm after forearm! Deonna shoves, Rosa ENZIGIRIS! Rosa runs, to SHOTGUN BOOT! Deonna flounders to ropes, Rosa pounds the mat and the fans rally again. Rosa runs side to side to DROPKICK again! Cover, TWO!! Deonna toughs it out while Rosa shakes out her arm. Rosa drags Deonna up, but Deonna SOBATS! Deonna runs to KNEE LIFT and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Deonna wants the Fujiwara but Rosa rolls free!
Deonna BOTOS Rosa down, covers, TWO! Rosa is still in this and the fans rally up. Deonna is frustrated but she fireman’s carries Rosa. Rosa fires elbows, waistlocks, but Deonna pries the hold open! Deonna waistlocks, Rosa victory rolls and STOMP 182! The fans rally up again and Rosa covers, TWO! Deonna stays in this but Rosa stays on her. Rosa drags Deonna to a drop zone, goes to a corner and climbs. But Deonna rises and catches the leap! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Rosa endures, reaches out, pushes Deonna over to get a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Deonna is in the body scissors but she fights around!
Deonna rises, to BACKPACK SENTON! Deonna is free, the fans fire up, and Deonna brings Rosa back up. Deonna SLAPS Rosa, then reels her in! Gotch Hold, but Rosa jackknife bridges! TWO, Deonna sunset flips, TWO! Prawn hold, TWO! FUJIWARA!! Rosa rolls it to a cradle, ROSA WINS!!
Winner: Thunder Rosa, by pinfall
Deonna thought she had the perfect formula but Rosa says she just beat her at wrestling! But then Deonna CLOBBERS Rosa at the ramp! The fans boo but Deonna drags Rosa up to RAM her into the bleachers! Rosa slumps down, but Deonna digs her boot in! Deonna SLAPS Rosa around, tells the ref to shut up, and she SLAPS Rosa more! So Rosa SLAPS back! They brawl on stage and then out to the ledge of the upper level! The fans fire up as they keep going! Security rushes in, the fans boo, but Deonna flips Rosa off! It seems nothing was settled here, will these two look to go Double or Nothing?
Backstage interview with The Undisputed Kingdom.
Arkady Aura is with Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett as she notes Will Ospreay is the NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship. Taven says hold on, before we get started here, “Not Lexy,” as three guys who care deeply about neck health, and as two guys who nursed someone from the brink of paralysis (aka Roddy), The Kingdom wishes a very speedy recovery to “the world’s greatest boss. TK, stay strong, buddy.” Roddy then shouts that “WILL… Ospreay. Congratulations, you did it! You have signed, sealed and delivered the downfall, demise and destruction of The Aerial Assassin at Double or Nothing.”
Roddy says the world can sing Ospreay’s praises, but none of that matters when you step in the ring with Roddy. Just like all the ones before, Roddy will dismantle Ospreay, he will BREAK Ospreay, and he will make Ospreay fall in front of The Savior of the Backbreaker. Roddy’s confidence is strong, but will Roddy be the one feeling the End of Heartache after taking on the #BillyGOAT?
“Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell!
The human skyscraper says he wants to sit under the Learning Tree, but Chris Jericho’s gonna need a bigger tree if he’s to give guidance to Big Bill. Will Bill prove he is worthy of The Wizard’s sage advice?
The moment Bill is in the ring, he SPLASHES Trevor right in the corner! The bell rings, Bill runs to BOOT Trevor down! Trevor flounders around, Bill runs corner to corner and SPLASHES again! Trevor flops around, Bill wants Jericho to watch this. Bill said he’d show Jericho he is worthy, and we do see Jericho watching backstage, holding the FTW Championship on his shoulder and oddly still wearing a #LionHook shirt… Jericho nods as Bill CLUBS Trevor on the back! Bill then tells Jericho to watch him! Scoop and BIG BOSS SLAM!! Cover, but Bill lets off! Bill wags his finger, he wants Jericho to see more.
Bill brings Trevor up, reels him in, and short arm LARIATS! Cover, but again Bill lets off! Bill is having too much fun at poor Trevor’s expect. Bill says Jericho’s gonna wanna teach him. Bill hoists Trevor up for the SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAM!! One foot cover, a very Jericho move, and Bill wins!
Winner: “Big Bill” Morrissey, by pinfall
Trev might want to change his last name to Well-done, because he got roasted. Bill wants Jericho’s guidance, does he even need it when he can do all this?
BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!
Rampage won’t be following up Collision next week but it also won’t be back on Friday just yet. For AEW’s return to Canada, Rampage is going to be BACK TO BACK with Dynamite! Get ready for a truly All Elite Wednesday!
Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions!
The Wrestler said during Collision earlier tonight that he was going to take on Shane Taylor Promotions by himself if he had to, but then the Dragonslayer offered his help. Now they’re both going to take on #TAIGASTYLE and Big Bad Shaney T. himself! Garcia wears basic trunks and boots to match Shibata, will The Wrestlers win out? Or will STP rumble, bad man, rumble?
The moment all four men are in the ring, Shibata CLOBBERS Lee Moriarty and then he and Garcia both go after Shane! The fans fire up as they stomp and kick Shane right out of the ring! Then they go out to keep after him! Shibata whips and BOOTS Shane into railing! Garcia fires off on Lee, then Shibata adds an UPPERCUT! Shibata whips and BOOTS Lee against railing! Garcia stomps Shane, Shibata snap suplexes Lee to the floor! Shibata leaves them behind to go into the ring and sit cross-legged! Garcia sits with him! The fans fire up and the two go out again. The brawling continues but Shane throws heavy hands!
Lee ROCKS Garcia, Shane puts Shibata in, and Shane storms in after Shibata. Lee sends Garcia into railing, but Shibata fires hands on Shane! Shibata KICKS and KICKS, but Shane blocks the boot! Shane JABS Shibata and Shibata falls back! Shane talks trash, the fans boo, but Shane drags Shibata up. Shane HEADBUTTS Shibata, tags Lee, and they mug Shibata. Lee stomps a mudhole in, lets off as the ref counts, but he sneaks mule kicks on Shibata the whole time! Shibata trips Lee, stomps him, but Lee gets up to RAM into Shibata! Lee brings Shibata around, suplexes, but Shibata slips free to waistlock!
Lee elbows free, kicks, but Shibata blocks! Lee KNEES Shibata but Garcia tags in! Shibata BOOTS Lee, Garcia LARIATS! Garcia DROPKICKS Shane, gets around Lee, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And then another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Garcia brings Lee up again but Lee suplexes! Garcia slips free, spins Lee and kicks low, to then TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The trifecta is complete and the fans fire up! Garcia storms up on Lee, brings him up, and UPPERCUTS! The fans rally for Garcia, he CHOPS Lee to ropes. And CHOPS Lee against ropes! Garcia runs, but Shane trips him! Lee distracts the ref so Shane can DRAPING DDT to the floor!
Shibata protests but Lee mocks him by sitting cross-legged. The ring count climbs, Garcia drags himself up at 3 of 10, slides in at 5, but Lee stomps Garcia at the ropes! Lee drags Garcia up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Shane. Shane pushes Garcia against the buckles, to then CHOP! Garcia seethes and he fires forearm son Shane! The fans fire up, Garcia throws more shots, then leaps, but into Shane’s arms! Shane RAMS Garcia into a corner, then CHOPS! Shane runs up, but Garcia BOOTS! Garcia spins, but Shane ROCKS him first! And URENAGES! And then SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO!
Shane seethes but he keeps Garcia from Shibata, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Shane mocks Garcia’s dance, drags him up, but Garcia CHOPS! Garcia staggers, but Shane fires body shots in the corner! Shane ROCKS Garcia, tags Lee, and STP mugs Garcia. Garcia flounders to ropes, Lee CHOKES him! The ref counts, Lee steps away, and he stomps Garcia around. Lee wraps an arm around the ropes, then fishhooks Garcia! The ref counts, Lee lets off, and Garcia feeds off the energy of the fans. Lee brings Garcia up but Garcia fires forearm sand CHOPS! Lee gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Garcia stays in this but Lee stays on him with a wrench. Tag to Shane, and Lee hooks Garcia up in a COBRA TWIST, just so Shane can KNEE Garcia down!
Shane has Garcia on ropes, ROCKS him with a forearm, then scoops him for SNAKE EYES! Garcia slumps down in the corner, Shane drags him back up, and TOSSES him out! Shane goes out to then put Garcia against railing. Shane ROCKS Garcia, talks trash on fans, then brings Garcia around to scoop and SLAM him to the floor! Shane talks more trash on the fans, Lee has him cool off, and Shane brings Garcia up again. Shane puts Garcia in, tags Lee, and then Lee clamps on with a top wristlock and stretches Garcia out! Garcia endures, turns to fight the pressure, but Lee CLUBS him down. Lee drags Garcia up, tags Shane, and Shane scoop SLAMS!
Shane runs to SPLASH Garcia again! Rampage returns to single picture, Shane drags Garcia to a drop zone, and he goes up a corner. The fans boo but Shane blows them a kiss. FALLING SPLASH FLOPS as Garcia moves! T he fans fire up, but Lee KICKS him down! Lee hurries back and tags in, then he drags Garcia up. Lee wrenches, wristlocks, but Garcia endures. Lee SNAPS the fingers! The fans boo Lee being so villainous, but he drags Garcia up. Lee bumps Garcia off buckles, Shane holds Garcia up, but Garcia fights free with boots and haymakers and elbows! The fans fire up, Garcia sends Lee into Shane!
Lee hurries to waistlock but Garcia switches, SAIDO! The fans are thunderous as Lee and Garcia crawl! Hot tags to Shane and Shibata! Shibata BOOTS Shane! Shane roars, Shibata runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and BOOTS! Shibata whips to BOOT Shane in the corner! Shibata fires forearms, the ref counts, but Lee runs up. Shibata DECKS him! Garcia RAMS Lee into a corner, climbs up, and while Shibata fires forearms on Shane, Garcia rains down fists! Garcia goes all the way to nine, then DOES HIS DANCE! Shibata and Garcia coordinate, DOUBLE HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Garcia stands Shane up. Shibata runs in to BOOT!
Shibata CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS Shane, then CHOPS, CHOPS and JABS! Garcia does his dance while Shibata JABS and CHOPS to the rhythm! The fans are loving this, as now Garcia runs in to KNEE Shane! Shibata & Garcia get Shane up, to DOUBLE SUPLEX!! Cover, ONE?!? Shane has power to spare, but Garcia BOOTS him! Shibata BOOTS him! They go again, but this time Shane DOUBLE SUPLEXES them!! The fans boo but Shane tags in Lee. Lee runs up to clothesline Shibata, and JAB! And CHOP! JAB! CHOP! JAB! CHOP! Shibata just scowls at Lee! Lee says okay, and he fires more JABS and CHOPS!
Shibata steps into the shots, so Lee eggs him on! Shibata ROCKS Lee! Shane runs up, HEADBUTTS, then Lee HALF HATCH SLAMS! Cover, TWO!! Shibata toughs it out and STP grows frustrated. Lee drags Shibata up, kicks then waistlocks, but Shibata fights the lift! Shane storms in, helps Lee put on the full nelson, and Shane promises to knock Shibata out! But Shibata BOOTS Shane first! Garcia jumps on for a SLEEPER! Shibata switches on Lee for a SLEEPER!! The fans fire up as STP start fading out! Shane fires up to RAM Garcia into buckles! But Shibata BOOTS him! And Garcia SAIDOS!! Shibata PENALTY KICKS Lee!! Cover, The Wrestlers win!
Winners: Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia, by pinfall
Shibata helps Garcia stand up, and Garcia is proud to have won alongside one of his heroes! And with the fans cheering him on, Garcia sets up… to DO HIS DANCE! Will this momentum help Shibata avenge Hook and take that FTW Championship off of Chris Jericho? Or will The Learning Tree have some things to teach Shibata?
My Thoughts:
A great Rampage here, though I was oddly more excited when I thought it was just Deonna VS Rosa and the Parking Lot Brawl. But even so, at least Bill squashing a dude was used in story. He was showing off, he’ll surely have Jericho’s blessing if he helps defeat Shibata on Dynamite, but a part of me almost wants this to be all a trap. Bill was teammates with Ricky Starks in a feud against Jericho, and if Jericho is being obliviously arrogant then maybe Bill is using that against Jericho, too. But either way, let’s just hope this story helps Bill get going rather than slow him down like the #JerichoVortex has always done.
The Parking Lot Brawl was moving maybe a bit fast for me, especially with how there were some obvious spots already set up when they arrived, such as the drywall draped across the truck bed. But they surely got bloody, and in the end, Trent won out because he was willing to sink to the lowest low. And then they’ve written Chuck off again with that monkey wrench to the shin, so Cassidy VS Trent is definitely a Double or Nothing match. And something is just telling me that if Kris is gonna turn out to be the villain in the Willow Nightingale story, she’s probably gonna screw Cassidy over to help Trent, too.
Really good match from Deonna VS Rosa, and with Rosa getting a quick pin then that brawl, we’re clearly getting more out of them. Good promo from Kyle O’Reilly to hype AEW’s newest Canada tour, and good promo from The Kingdom to tie in their old Neck Health Awareness gag to the Tony Khan piledriver angle. Roddy calling out Ospreay, I would definitely think Ospreay wins the title at Double or Nothing. And really good tag main event from Shibata & Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions. STP keeps getting great showings even in losing, but Lee took the loss here to keep Shane himself strong. Great win for Shibata but this just adds to the go-home math where Jericho retains the FTW Championship on Dynamite.
My Score: 8.7/10
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