Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (1/8/21)
It’s a GOLDEN SmackDown!
Will SmackDown see new champions so soon in the new year?
The Street Profits take on Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler while Big E takes on Apollo Crews! Who walks away winners on this golden edition of SmackDown?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Big E VS Apollo Crews; Big E wins and retains the title.
- SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler; Roode & Ziggler win and become the new SmackDown Tag Team Champions.
- WWE Universal Championship #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Match: Adam Pearce wins and will challenge Roman Reigns for the title at the Royal Rumble.
PLAY BY PLAY
Roman Reigns heads to the ring!
The Head of the Table leads his Special Counsel, Paul Heyman, and cousin, Jey Uso, into the ThunderDome. He is stoically confident while Jey chirps up a storm about what they did to Kevin Owens last week to start 2021. Fans give thumbs down on their screens while Heyman again fetches the mic for Roman. “A lot of talk about last week. A lot of discussion about what we did to KO. Let me just start by saying, I like Kevin Owens. He’s a pain in my ass, yes he is, but I respect someone as ambitious as Kevin Owens. Someone who won’t lay down, who won’t give up.”
But Roman never wanted any thing bad to happen to Kevin. Kevin just put Roman in a “tough spot,” backed Roman against the wall and Roman did what he had to do. But Roman wants the same thing for everyone in that locker room. Roman loves the SmackDown roster. In order to lead someone, you have to care about them. Roman cares about everyone here, and their families. Why do you think he does what he does? Roman is putting food on everyone’s tables, but Kevin doesn’t have a chance to come to work anymore. Not because of Roman, so don’t blame Roman and say Roman’s the bad guy. There’s someone to blame, and it’s WWE official, Adam Pearce.
Roman cuts to the chase and tells Adam Pearce to get his ass out there. Heyman tells someone to call Pearce because Roman Reigns is calling. This makes for lousy television waiting on Pearce! Can commentary do something? Corey Graves asks on behalf of Roman to get Adam Pearce to the stage. Pearce walks out and goes to the ring. Pearce asks Roman what he can do for him. “What can you do for me? As a matter of fact, why don’t you watch this clip right here?”
It’s a recap package of two weeks ago, the Steel Cage Match, that Jey Uso cheated Kevin out of. And then it’s Pearce giving Kevin his grudge match with Jey for New Year’s SmackDown. And of Roman being upset that it was made. And Heyman telling Roman it was Pearce. And then it’s of Kevin calling Roman out while beating up Jey. And of course, of Roman retaliating and ganging up on Kevin with Jey, which ends with Roman throwing Kevin off the top of the ThunderDome set, and down through tables.
Back in the present, Roman shakes his head while Jey glares at Pearce. “What do you have to say for yourself?” Pearce doesn’t know what he’s supposed to say. What does anyone want him to say? Roman wants Pearce to be a man and take responsibilities. We have witnesses! What did Roman say about Kevin? “It was done! We were moving on.” Roman won’t let Pearce talk because he’s already done enough. Roman said he was done with Kevin but what happened? Kevin asked a favor of his old friend. And you would think someone who has known someone else that long, they’d care about their wellbeing and make the right choices for them.
What does Pearce even do around here anyway? Roman says Pearce doesn’t need to answer that, he already knows because he knows everything because of who he is. That is why Roman has Heyman. They do their jobs, just look at the stats and analytics. But what does Pearce do? He manages the talent and makes the right decisions for them. But he threw Kevin into the deep end! And then what happened? Well Kevin’s not here now and now he can’t provide for his family. And Pearce is to blame. But because Roman is a good guy, Roman will give Pearce his chance to redeem himself.
But what does Pearce do? Book a gauntlet match! WWE official Pearce is making choices for the Head of the Table, the Tribal Chief, THE Universal Champion! Like Roman can’t just pick his own opponent! Like Roman hasn’t done enough work around here! Like he hasn’t carried the WWE for YEARS! And yet he can’t choose for himself? Like he’s not good enough! Does Pearce think Roman isn’t good enough? No one is saying that! Pearce just wants to line up the best challengers for Roman. That’s what Pearce is doing, that is Pearce’s job. Oh give him a round of applause~! What’s next? Pearce gonna get in on the match? That is a conflict of interest and ridiculous.
Roman says the conflict of interest here is… It’s starting to sound like people think Roman is stupid. No one said that. No it sounds like you think he’s a fool. Is he a fool? Is he stupid? Pearce would never say that. Then what is he saying? Is Pearce stupid? Pearce asks what’s this all about. Well if neither of them are stupid, then who? Vince McMahon? Is he stupid? Pearce is saying Vince is stupid, is that it? Pearce asks Heyman what’s going on but Roman continues. If Pearce isn’t stupid and if Vince isn’t stupid, then he must be saying Roman is stupid!
“And that is where the problem lies, because if you think I’m stupid, then you’re insulting me. And if you’re insulting me, that means you don’t respect me. And if you don’t respect me, then you don’t respect my family. And when people around here don’t respect me, my family, our bloodline, there’s consequences!” Roman grabs Pearce, Pearce asks him to stop and even Heyman tries to reason with Roman. Pearce has total respect for Roman. Heyman gives a suggestion to handle this calmly. Roman cools off and smooths out Pearce’s suit jacket for him.
Roman takes the title belt and puts it on his shoulder. “My mistake.” Maybe no one here is stupid. And maybe right not, Pearce is safe. With that, Roman leads Heyman and Jey back out of the arena. Was that a veiled threat to Pearce’s job security?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Big E VS Apollo Crews!
The Powerhouse of Positivity is ready to make SmackDown #ThinkBig, but his first challenger is no small threat! Will Apollo be too much for Big E to handle? Or will three not be enough, will he need five?
The bell rings and Apollo dropkicks Big E down! Then BOOTS him! Cover, TWO! Apollo is starting fast and furious and he drags Big E to a drop zone. Apollo goes up, leaps, but has to roll through as Big E moves! Big E CLOBBERS Apollo with an elbow! Big E smirks and nods as he drags Apollo to the apron. He stands on Apollo then lines up a shot. Big E runs over to APRON SPLASH! The ref counts, Big E gets in at 3, and he watches Apollo get up. Big E waistlocks, lifts but Apollo lands on his feet! Apollo boots back from the ropes, then rallies with clotheslines! Apollo rams Big E into a corner, rams in more, then runs corner to corner at Big E, to SPLASH back!
Apollo waistlocks and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But he holds on to GERMAN SUPLEX again! And AGAIN! Cover off the hat trick, TWO! Big E survives but Apollo watches him roll out. Apollo slingshots but Big E moves. Apollo lands, mule kicks and MOONSAULTS! Direct hit and down goes Big E! The ring count starts, Apollo puts Big E in at 6, covers, TWO! Apollo keeps cool and puts Big E in the corner. Apollo hoists Big E up top, climbs up to join him, but Big E fights back with body shots! Apollo still brings Big E up to SUPERPLEX! But it’s a cradle cover! But for who!? The ref counts three, but who won!?! Apollo thinks he did, but so does Big E! SmackDown goes to break as this sorts out!
SmackDown returns and the officials are still reviewing the confusing cradle cover. Both men had shoulders down as legs hooked up, so the ref says it was a double pinfall draw. Draws go to the champion, but Apollo isn’t satisfied. Big E says rules are rules, but Apollo gets mad and SLAPS Big E! Apollo wants his second try right now, and Big E agrees to it! The match restarts with the bell, and Big E gets Apollo for an OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! And another! And then the side Belly2Belly! Big E is fired up, runs and hits the BIG SPLASH! Big E claps it up, scoops Apollo, but Apollo slips out and bails out!
Big E runs but into Apollo’s knee! Apollo hurries up top, leaps, FROG SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Big E survives and Apollo is furious! Apollo drags Big E up, military press but Big E slips off. Big E runs but Apollo gets around. Big E fights the backslide, Apollo runs and rolls him up, TWO! SUPERKICK! Apollo runs to BOOT, and then SPINEBUSTER! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Apollo continues to grow frustrated and even mutters, “What do I have to do?!” Apollo drags Big E up, reels him in, but Big E rolls Apollo, TWO, to the STRETCH MUFFLER!
Apollo fights free with the free leg and Big E staggers. Apollo runs, Big E scoops but Apollo slips out to ENZIGURI! Waistlock and lift, but Big E flying mares out of the bomb! Apollo runs, into the Urenag-E! Big E hurries to scoop Apollo, for the BIG ENDING! Cover, Big E wins!
Winner: Big E, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
Apollo wanted the fight, he brought the fight, but he lost the fight! Big E says he respects Apollo, but you don’t slap Big E and you don’t play around, either! Will Big E make 2021 the biggest year of his career?
Adam Pearce talks with someone.
He tells them we all heard what Roman said. Right now, Pearce is “damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” But he needs to call them back because in walks Sonya Deville! It seems they are going to be working together. But to think she’d want an officiating job. Well, considering her own 2020, as crazy as it was, she isn’t proud of what she’s done. But she will put the past behind her. She isn’t bitter about her former best friend beating her in a Loser Leaves WWE match and then goes off the Raw to join someone else in a team, leaving Sonya in shambles. She is grateful to learn and help Pearce here. And he needs it with Raw and SmackDown and getting in a match tonight.
What? No, Pearce is not in any match. Oh, why not? Well he hasn’t had a match in over six months, so he isn’t confident enough to beat a referee, let alone Roman. No more matches for Pearce. But he welcomes Sonya to the team, will she be able to lighten the burden of running the brand?
Backstage interview with Bianca Belair!
The EST has just declared for the Women’s Rumble, but DING DONG, HELLO~! It’s Bayley. Bianca eliminated 8 women last year but not Bayley. Well, Bayley wasn’t in that match. Right, duh. Bayley was too busy adding to her historic reign as SmackDown Women’s Champion! But Bayley will be in the match this year, and vows to win it. So Bianca can eliminate as many as she wants, but she won’t win. But even if she does, she’ll just squander the opportunity!
Bianca says they’ll wait and see. If she had won last year, she would’ve been “honored” to have challenged a champion like Bayley. But she can’t do that this year because Bayley isn’t champion now! Maybe it was Bayley who squandered her reign. Bianca walks off, but will the Rumble settle all scores?
Carmella speaks.
She has some champagne and says it is very sweet. “Just like the feeling of pinning Sasha Banks last week. I did do that. After all, Sasha has worked so hard, making sacrifice after sacrifice to bring her WWE dream to fruition.” But Mella will commend her on that, and on becoming Sports Illustrated’s 2020 Superstar of the Year. That was the year Mella took a vacation, though. But Sasha can keep doing what she does. Things just come to others more naturally. All the hard work in the world doesn’t matter when the raw talent is just that much better. And when it comes to talent, Mella is untouchable. Will Mella be toasting herself as she continues to go after the SmackDown Women’s Championship?
SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler!
Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins like making jokes and having fun, but there’s no more of that this week! The “Dirty Dawgs” did the champions dirty on New Year’s SmackDown, but will the Profits still be up after settling the score?
SmackDown returns as the challengers make their entrance. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and Dawkins starts with Ziggler. They circle, Ziggler goes after a leg, but Dawkins waistlocks. They go to a corner and Ziggler walks up the ropes to elbow Dawkins away. Ziggler comes back with a headlock, Dawkins wrenches out and gets a headlock of his own. Ziggler powers out but Dawkins runs him over! Things speed up, Dawkins hurdles then whips Ziggler to dropkick him down! Cover, TWO! Dawkins brings Ziggler up, wrenches, and tags in Ford. The Profits whip and double shoulder Ziggler down! Roode protests but the Profits hit the back suplex splash! Cover, TWO!
Ford makes sure his leg is alright, after what the Dirty Dawgs did last week. Ziggler ROCKS Ford with a haymaker, tags in Roode, and they mug Ford in the corner! The ref counts, Roode lets off to taunt Dawkins. Roode goes over to Ford, elbows him, then chokes him on the ropes! And rakes the eyes! The ref counts, Roode stops at 4, then brings Ford up to bump him off buckles. Roode throws hands but Ford counter punches! Ford rocks Roode, throws hammering fists and even stomps! Roode hits back and kicks the bad leg! Ford falls and scrambles but Roode runs in, only to be put on the apron. Roode forearms but Ford DECKS him!
Ziggler runs in but is sent out, and elbowed down! Ford builds speed to FLY! Direct hit on the Dirty Dawgs at the ramp! But the leg gives out as he gets up! Dawkins checks on Ford but this is looking bad as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Dawkins is stomping away on Roode in a corner! Ford works to walk off the pain in his leg but Roode elbows Dawkins. Dawkins blocks a suplex but so does Roode. Dawkins still gets Roode up and over! Roode writhes but Dawkins gets him for an EXPLODER! Dawkins watches Roode rise, runs in the corner, CYCLONE SPLASH! And a BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Dawkins drags Roode up, Ford forces himself to climb to the apron, but Roode throws body shots! Dawkins rocks Roode back, headlocks, but Ziggler tags in as Roode powers out, and Ziggler dropkicks Dawkins down! Cover, TWO! Ziggler taunts the Profits and claws at Dawkins’ eyes!
Ziggler stalks Dawkins to ropes, drags him up and say she follows the rules, as he rakes Dawkins’ eyes again! The ref backs Ziggler off but Roode gets a cheap shot in! Ziggler stalks Dawkins, clamps onto his neck then wraps on a facelock. Dawkins endures, Ziggler pushes up to add leverage, but Ford reaches out for Dawkins. Ziggler gator rolls Dawkins away from Ford, but Dawkins crawls his way back! Ziggler claws Dawkins’ face again! Roode tags in as the ref reprimands, and Roode stomps Dawkins! Roode clubs Dawkins, turns him, and hits a neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Roode taunts Ford and asks about the leg, then he stomps Dawkins more.
Roode stalks Dawkins, Ziggler talks some trash, and Roode throws hands. Dawkins gets up, Roode whips him hard into the corner! Tag to Ziggler, and Ziggler whips Roode for Roode to whip Ziggler, Dawkins dodges! Ziggler only gets buckles, and Dawkins throws Roode out! Dawkins sees Ford wants in, and he crawls over, but Roode trips Ford off the apron! Ford ROCKS Roode with a haymaker then RAMS Roode into the barrier! Ford drinks what’s left in his cup and is fired up! Ziggler anchors Dawkins but Dawkins kicks him away! Hot tag to Ford! Ford fires up and rallies with big clotheslines! Mule kick, front kick, then a feint to CLUB Ziggler, and BACK HAND him!
Roode runs in, Ford back drops him! Ford hobbles, dodges Ziggler and back suplexes. Ziggler lands on his feet but runs into a DISCUS LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Ford fires up as he crawls to a corner. Ford drags himself up top, takes aim but his leg bugs him. And Roode grabs on, only for Ford to kick him away. Ziggler springs up, SUPER FACEBUSTER!! Cover, TWO!! Ford is built Ford tough as he survives that! Ziggler takes aim and does his best HBK, but Ford SUPERKICKS first!! Cover, Roode breaks it! Dawkins gets in, Roode kicks him first but Dawkins throws Roode out! Dawkins coaches Ford as Ford crawls over!
Ziggler crawls after Ford, Roode is back up but Dawkins throws hands! Roode falls, but Ziggler BLASTS Dawkins off the apron! Ziggler back suplex, Ford sunset flips! TWO!! CHOP BLOCK to the bad leg! Tag to Roode, fisherman hook, GLORIOUS PERFECT PLEX! Cover, TWO!?! Roode cannot believe it! But Roode drags Ford up, reels him in, but no DDT! Ford ENZIGURIS! Ziggler tags back in, storms over, shove and GLORIOUS ZIGZAG!! Cover, the Dirty Dawgs win!!
Winners: Robert Roode & Dolph Ziggler (NEW SmackDown Tag Team Champions)
The Profits put up a fight but the bad leg was a disadvantage they couldn’t overcome! And then to add insult to injury, Ziggler and Roode CLOBBER the Profits out of the ring! Will these “aces” ride high in 2021?
Pearce and Sonya are excited to see that match.
Anything can happen, but now what? A new challenger? A rematch? Maybe bring some legends back? But first, Heyman walks in. Heyman says hello to Sonya and she lets Heyman talk with Pearce. Pearce says if this is about the gauntlet match, just save it. Heyman just shrugs. Heyman says he likes Pearce and doesn’t want hostilities. Heyman says he was being the reasonable one tonight. And not for concern of Roman’s actions leading him to what happened to Braun Strowman, i.e. suspension, but what Roman’s actions were leading to for Pearce.
Heyman knows Pearce won’t believe him, but their paths moving forward will demonstrate Heyman is saying the truth. Heyman greatly admires Pearce. You’re right, Pearce doesn’t believe that. Then Heyman will prove it to Pearce. How many people know both of their histories? How they got here? How many people understand the legend of “Scrap Daddy,” Adam Pearce? Where would Pearce have been if he’d been managed by “Paul E. Dangerously?” Heyman knows Pearce’s accomplishments and why he was chosen for this job. But let’s be honest, we all know he didn’t dream of this job. This wasn’t what he envisioned. Pearce wanted to be “THE champion” in WWE.
That is why when Heyman’s boss, and your Tribal Chief, instructed Heyman to pull the right strings, well let’s just cut to the chase. The gauntlet match tonight? Heyman pulled strings. Pearce IS in the gauntlet match, and could pursue the dream he’s had since he was a little baby. And that is all thanks to the Universal Champion, Roman Reigns. Personally and professionally, Heyman is so happy for and so proud of Pearce. “A pleasure doing business with you.” So now instead of five, it’s SIX men in the match! But when the other five are King Corbin, Rey Mysterio, Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura and Daniel Bryan, will Scrap Daddy just be scrap iron?
Billie Kay finds The Riott Squad backstage.
Hello there! Billie has been reveling in their win from last week, and wants to take the Riott duo and make it a full squad again! Official squad, yeah? No, sorry, Billie, thanks but no thanks. Oh. Okay… Billie starts crying because of how no one wants her around. 2021 is supposed to be better than 2020 but it’s not! Liv says it’s not that they don’t want her- Billie cheers right up and says she knew they’d come around. She can be “punk rock” and “edgy!” She’s been listening to Blink 1-8-2 recently, and she has studied up on mosh pitting. “This is going to be great!” Billie goes off before Ruby can say anything, and now Ruby just looks to Liv. What was Liv supposed to say!? Wow, she actually put “mosh pitting” on her resume… Is Billie going to (not) fit in just fine with the Squad?
WWE Universal Championship #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Match!
The Tribal Chief took offense to this match being made, but perhaps passive aggressively, he is using it to his advantage. Will Scrap Daddy Pearce stand a chance of even just getting through one round? Well, fortunately for him, Rey Mysterio starts this match first, accompanied by Dominik! And who he faces is… Sami Zayn! Sami has a film crew with him to document what’s going on. “When I first got wind of this gauntlet match, wherein the winner gets an opportunity for the Universal Championship against Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble Pay-Per-View, I demanded that WWE Management put me in the match.” To Sami’s surprise, he was granted that request!
But wouldn’t you know, he’s one of the first entrants in the match! The starting position, the position with the least statistical probability of winning! What a “coincidence.” And there seem to have been a string of “coincidences” that have cost Sami these last few months. But then you realize these aren’t coincidences, but part of a MASSIVE CONSPIRACY targeting Sami Zayn! Yes, it is! Sami has been saying this for months but no one believes him. And therefore, Sami has his film crew. And not the WWE corporate drones but “unbiased documentarians.” They are here to make a documentary about the anti-Sami conspiracy! The very thing that cost Sami his Intercontinental Championship!
When this all comes to light, the world will see Sami is the rightful champion! Sami is and remains THE CHAMPION OF THE PEOPLE!! But he isn’t one to complain or feel sorry about himself, he is here to fight injustice. That starts with Rey Mysterio! Sami will beat Rey, and the rest of the field, because “Sami Zayn is undeniable!” He finally puts the mic away, and the bell rings to start the match!
Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik VS Sami Zayn!
Sami talks to his crew to make sure they get a good shot of this, and Mysterio dropkicks him onto the ropes! Rey dials it up, 6 1 9!! And then a FROG SPLASH! Cover, Rey ELIMINATES Sami!! And yes, Sami’s camera crew DID get a good shot of that! The Great Liberator is done already, but here comes the King of Strong Style! Will he defeat the King of Lucha Libre to then take on the rest of the gauntlet?
Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik VS Shinsuke Nakamura!
SmackDown returns as the bell rings on round two, and these two kings of wrestling circle. They tie up, Nakamura headlocks but Mysterio fights and powers out. Things speed up, Nakamura runs Rey over! Nakamura dusts himself off, brings Mysterio up and scoops but Mysterio slips out and shoves. Nakamura sunset flips but Mysterio rolls through to BUZZSAW! Cover, ONE!! Mysterio keeps cool as Dominik cheers him on. Nakamura throws hands on Mysterio, knees low then whips but Mysterio reverses and runs to RANA! Nakamura bails out, Mysterio builds speed but slides into a spin and KNEE! Nakamura goes up to jump, but Mysterio avoids the guillotine knee!
Mysterio runs from the corner, slides and SUNSET FLIPS, but Nakamura rolls through to KINSHASA! Nakamura puts Mysterio in, covers, TWO!! Mysterio survives but Nakamura keeps his cool as he looms over Mysterio. Nakamura drags Mysterio up and into a corner for Bad Vibrations! The ref counts, Nakamura swaggers corner to corner, then runs in to DYNAMIC DROPKICK Mysterio down! Cover, TWO! Mysterio is still in this and Nakamura grows a bit annoyed. Nakamura drags Mysterio up, snapmares and drops a knee! Cover, TWO! Nakamura kicks Mysterio around and grins as he brings him up.
Nakamura puts Mysterio on the top rope, throws forearms then climbs, and brings Mysterio up, only for Mysterio to resist! Mysterio throws body shots then headbutts Nakamura down! Mysterio adjusts, leaps, SEATED SENTON! And BASEMENT SEATED SENTON! Nakamura flounders, Mysterio wheelbarrows and victory rolls, TWO!! Nakamura gets to ropes but Mysterio runs in, only to be put on the apron. Nakamura KICKS Mysterio down, but Mysterio blocks the buckle bump to headbutt and forearm back! Mysterio slingshots but Nakamura catches him to reel him in, but Mysterio RANAS free! Mysterio runs to hit the 619!!
Mysterio hurries up top, leaps, FROG SPLASH onto knees!! Nakamura wants the ARMBAR! Mysterio can’t hold on, Mysterio taps and Nakamura ELIMINATES him! And King Corbin attacks Dominik! The Wolf King shows no mercy for his enemies, and he POSTS Nakamura before he CHOKE SLAMS Mysterio into buckles! And then CHOKE SLAMS Mysterio to the mat! Clearly he is next, but will the Wolf King get through the King of Strong Style?
Shinsuke Nakamura VS King Corbin!
SmackDown returns and Corbin CLOBBERS and covers Nakamura, TWO! Corbin seethes as Nakamura survives but he drags Nakamura up to put him in a corner. Corbin puts Nakamura’s arms behind his back and throws body shots over and over! The ref counts, Corbin lets off at 4, then he bumps Nakamura off buckles. Corbin again traps the arms and unleashes body shots, then runs corner to corner. Nakamura dodges and Corbin POSTS himself! Nakamura swings one kick, Corbin ducks it, but he hits the WINDMILL! Corbin bails out, Nakamura leaps but Corbin catches him, and POSTS him in return! Corbin puts Nakamura in, covers, TWO!
Corbin argues with the ref but the count is the count. He looms over Nakamura and taunts him, to then throw haymakers! Corbin brings Nakamura up for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Corbin is furious and argues again, but the ref tells him the count is fair. Corbin looms over Nakamura, drags him up and reels him in to suplex, but Nakamura slips out! Nakamura dodges and DYNAMIC DROPKICKS! Corbin gets up first but Nakamura fires up as he fires off kicks! Corbin blocks one but Nakamura ENZIGURIS! Nakamura has Corbin in a corner, whips him corner to corner but Corbin reverses. Corbin runs in but only gets buckles, then a ROUNDHOUES!
Nakamura hops up as Corbin flounders, FLYING KNEE! Cover, TWO! Nakamura powers up in a corner, runs in but into a DEEP SIX! Cover, TWO!! Nakamura survives, this is why he is the King of Strong Style! Corbin grabs Nakamura but Nakamura drags him into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Corbin stays up, dead lifts, and POWERBOMBS Nakamura down! Corbin flounders up and runs back in, but Nakamura dodges. Corbin slides put, slides in, into a KINSHASA!! Cover, Nakamura ELIMINATES Corbin!! Nakamura has trumped the King of Lucha and the Wolf King, is he the strongest king in WWE?
But here comes The GOAT, Daniel Bryan! These two have wanted to face each other 1v1 for so long, and here it is! Who wins this dream match come to life?!
Shinsuke Nakamura VS Daniel Bryan!
SmackDown returns, the bell rings and the two rush each other! Bryan dropkicks Nakamura down, brings him up for EuroUppers and KICKS! Bryan whips, Nakamura kicks back but Bryan throws Nakamura out! Bryan builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit sends Nakamura into the announce desk! Bryan puts Nakamura in, heads to a corner and climbs up, to hit a missile- NO! Nakamura dropkicks Bryan out of the air! Nakamura drags Bryan up, INVERTED EXPLODER! Bryan sits up slowly, Nakamura takes aim, KINSHASA into a Half Crab!! Bryan has the leg, sits deep on the hold, but Nakamura endures! Nakamura crawls, Bryan drags him away and shifts to an ANKLE LOCK!
Nakamura gets up, Bryan reels him in with the leg, and GERMAN SUPLEXES Bridging cover, TWO!! Nakamura survives but Bryan keeps his focus. Bryan watches Nakamura rise, and gives him a YES KICK! And then more kicks, hitting Nakamura from all sides! Nakamura flounders as Bryan kicks him around, and even kicks as he’s curled up! BUZZSAW, but it misses! Nakamura boots, then catches the clothesline into an ARMBAR! Bryan clasps hands, Nakamura gets them apart but Bryan rolls to is own ARMBAR! Nakamura clasps hands, rolls, but into the YES LOCK!! Bryan pulls Nakamura back, Nakamura moves around as he endures, refuses to give up, and reaches with a leg!
But Bryan makes it a RINGS OF SATURN!! But Nakamura gets the ropebreak with a leg! Bryan lets go in frustration, but he drags Nakamura back up. Bryan wrenches, elbow breaker to the arm! More YES Kicks, then another wrench to the arm. Nakamura is in the corner, Bryan just gives him more elbow breakers! And another KICK! Bryan hoists Nakamura up top, climbs up, but the Super Steiner is pushed away! Nakamura FLYING KNEES Bryan down! Cover, TWO!! Nakamura throws knees into Bryan over and over! Bryan rolls as Nakamura powers up and takes aim. BUZZSAW, but Bryan ducks it!
Bryan kicks a leg but Nakamura ducks the roundhouse! Roll-up, to the ARMBAR! Bryan makes it a cover, TWO!! Nakamura and Bryan both slowly rise, having exhausted themselves in this round. Bryan KICKS, Nakamura KICKS, then they throw forearms and haymakers! Bryan fires off fast hands, backs Nakamura to a corner, then KICKS away again! Bryan aims, to ROUNDHOUSE Nakamura down! Bryan fires up, runs corner to corner, and hits a dropkick! He keeps moving, another dropkick! A third trip, but a KINSHASA!! Cover, Nakamura ELIMINATES Daniel Bryan!!
Even after taking on Mysterio and Corbin, Nakamura gets through Bryan to make it to the final round! And Bryan shows respect by shaking Nakamura’s hand! Will we see these two battle 1v1 again later on down the road? But Roman Reigns heads back out? He, Heyman and Jey return to ringside to watch this final round closely. And we obviously know Nakamura’s last opponent is SCRAP DADDY! Will everyone get what they want after the break?
Shinsuke Nakamura VS Adam Pearce!
SmackDown returns and Roman is still on stage. Heyman calls for the entrance, and Pearce reluctantly walks out. Pearce nervously passes by Roman but Roman and the others follow behind to make sure he goes to the ring. Pearce still isn’t sure why he has to do this, but Jey goes into the ring instead? Jey gets in Nakamura’s face and says he’s about to get this work. Roman also steps inside the ring, and Jey DECKS Nakamura! Jey goes after Nakamura and so does Roman! The Bloodline is softening up Nakamura for Pearce?! Roman headbutts, Jey CLUBS and they both stomp Nakamura down! The ref reprimands but Roman looks to Pearce.
Jey SUPERKICKS Nakamura, Roman SUPERMAN PUNCHES him! Jey goes up to USO SPLASH Nakamura!! Roman smirks as he goes out and Pearce asks what’s going on. “This is what you need to understand. I do what I wanna do. This is my show. I employ you. Now do your job!” Roman shoves Pearce in, and Jey SUPERKICKS Pearce down!! Roman tells the timekeeper to ring the bell, and the bell does ring. This round is officially happening, but what is Pearce supposed to do now? Jey just drags him on top of Nakamura, and that counts as a cover! The ref is made to count, and Pearce wins!!
Winner: Adam Pearce, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the WWE Universal Championship)
Roman said he’s able to pick his own challenger, and he just did! He has made ADAM PEARCE his opponent for the Royal Rumble!! Will everyone learn to fall in line behind the Tribal Chief?
My Thoughts:
This was a great episode! No filler, all progress in stories, and a lot of great action. The Intercontinental Championship match having that spot of controversy in the middle was actually very clever, as it also worked out as a commercial break. Naturally, Big E wins to keep his reign going, and I hope he gives a lot of people opportunities for matches. Big E should be the workhorse champion as neither Raw or SmackDown has that right now. To be fair, neither does NXT right now, but all the more reason. Big E should be a fighting champion, he should rack up wins and make this reign feel big.
Bayley and Bianca had a good promo section, and that will be a strong thread of the Women’s Rumble to parallel Charlotte Flair and Shayna Baszler on the Raw side of things. Mella had a good promo, and it’s just a matter of saying she and Sasha Banks are having a title match for the Rumble PPV. The SmackDown Tag title match was great. The story of Ford selling his leg really upped the match, really added to Ford’s toughness, and was actually a very good way of having the Profits lose. Sonya’s return being as management, not as a wrestler, is an interesting take on this, but I do think her mic skills will lend well to this. She can handle the Women’s Division here on SmackDown, maybe even start showing up on Raw, and something starts up with that.
And obviously, what can compare to the story with Roman Reigns. I like that he confronts Adam Pearce, pins the blame on Adam Pearce, then uses his and Heyman’s influence to force Adam Pearce into a situation Pearce can’t actually win. The gauntlet match was incredible, as most WWE gauntlet matches are, and I am actually surprised Nakamura was the one that made it to the end. I thought with things being three Heels and two Faces, and then Bryan wanting to win the Rumble so badly, that left it to Mysterio. But between Corbin attacking everyone, the incredible 1v1 of Nakamura VS Bryan, and Nakamura being the one Roman and Jey beat up, it seems Nakamura might be returning to Face? I like that, especially if Cesaro joins him because who wouldn’t love to cheer Cesaro as a Face?
But Pearce is made the pawn in Roman’s game, and now Pearce has a title shot at the Royal Rumble! Roman was surely going to win at the Rumble before, but now it’s guaranteed. Pearce can still put up a good fight, and maybe Jey won’t help Roman win this time, but Roman is still going to win so that it’s about facing the Rumble winner. I’m thinking Bryan wins the Rumble to check that off his career wish list, but maybe the PPV before Mania is about Roman VS Nakamura after what we got tonight. I would love Roman VS Nakamura for a tiny chance we get Nakamura VS Bryan at Mania for the title. But even Roman VS Bryan is a great story and match, so either way, SmackDown is winning!
My Score: 8.9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
One step away from the Cup!
David Finlay awaits in the New Japan Cup finals, and will either face Shota Umino or Shingo Takagi! Can the Roughneck slay the Rampaging Dragon?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata; Kojima & Nagata win.
- 10 Man Tag: The United Empire VS El Phantasmo, Jado, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg & Daiki Nagai; The United Empire wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hontai VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
- Six Man Tag: Just4Guys VS Bullet Club War Dogs; War Dogs win.
- Six Man Tag: Bullet Club War Dogs VS House of Torture; Double Count-Out Draw.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
- 2025 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Shota Umino VS Shingo Takagi; Shota wins and advances to the finals.
PLAY BY PLAY
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS House of Torture!
Yota Tsuji was cheated out of the New Japan Cup by the King of Darkness, but that’s no surprise. However, that means Evil has a golden ticket to the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Will Dick Togo & Yujiro Takahashi help Darkness Fall? Or can Testuya Naito & Bushi help Yota keep everything tranquilo?
Even now, Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire. Eventually, the pants are put aside, and Naito is wearing the new Tendedero merch shirt. LIJ fist bumps, but The House attacks! The fans boo but the bell rings so this is on record. Evil has Yota on the outside and he CLAWS Yota’s eyes! Yujiro CHOKES Naito, Dick bumps Bushi off buckles, and then Yujiro TOSSES Naito! Dick CHOKES Bushi now, then he and Yujiro double whip. Dick runs corner to corner but Bushi dodges! Bushi BOOTS Yujiro, then headlocks Dick! BULLDOG DROPKICK COMBO! The fans fire up and Bushi hurries to tag Naito.
Naito stomps Yujiro, Bushi joins in, and Evil protests. Evil runs in, but into an atomic drop! Evil staggers away to a corner, Naito & Bushi whip Yujiro into him! Evil falls, Naito kicks Yujiro, and holds him in place, for the NECKBREAKER! Naito poses and the fans cheer. Naito then covers, TWO! Tokyo Pimp is tougher than that, but Naito drags Yujiro up to cravat. Yujiro endures the neck wrench, Naito CLUBS him then whips. Yujiro reverses and Dick gets a cheap shot in! Yujiro runs, but Bushi gets as cheap shot in! Naito runs but Evil trips him up! Dick BLASTS Bushi, Yujiro BLASTS Yota, and Evil drags Naito out.
Evil RAMS Naito into the timekeeper! Abe-san again suffers at the hands of Evil! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Evil drags Naito up. Evil pushes Naito into the ring, then he and Dick loosen the blue buckle pad. Yujiro covers Naito, TWO! Yujiro drags Naito up while the fans rally, but Yujiro snapmares to drop a leg! And he drops another leg! And another leg! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer, but Yujiro taunts LIJ. Yujiro drags Naito up, bumps him off Evil’s boot, and then he tags Evil in. Evil CLAWS Naito’s eyes then stomps away on the legs! The ref reprimands, Evil drags Naito out, and then Evil stomps the leg more!
Evil drops an ELBOW on the knee! Evil pulls on the leg in a toehold, then traps the leg in a leg scissors! Yota runs in and stomps Evil, but Dick TOSSES Yota back out! Evil pulls on the leg, almost has an ankle lock, but Naito has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Evil lets go, and he tags in Dick. They split the wishbone on Naito! The fans rally for Naito but Dick throws down fists. Cover, TWO! Naito is tougher than that and the fans continue to rally. Dick is annoyed, but Naito fires body shots on him! Dick CLAWS Naito’s eyes! The ref reprimands but Dick whips. Naito reverses and ELBOWS Dick, to then arm-drag him!
Naito dropkicks Dick’s legs out! The fans rally, Dick and Naito crawl, hot tag to Yota! The fans fire up as Yota CLOBBERS Dick, then BLASTS the House! But Dick CLAWS Yota’s eyes! Yota runs, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Yota runs corner to corner, to SPLASH! Yota scoops and SLAMS to then run and BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he paces around. Yota drags Dick up, suplexes, but Dick fights that! Dick wrenches, hammerlocks, headlocks, then punches Yota! Tag to Evil and they mug Yota! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Dick & Evil stand Yota up.
Dick & Evil double whip to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Yota down! Cover, TWO! Yota is tougher than that and the fans rally up, but Evil tells them to shut up. Evil drags Yota to his feet, talks more trash on the fans, but the fans give that back. Evil “puts one out” on Yota, then fireman’s carries! Yota slips free to ROCK Evil! The fans fire up with Yota, he runs, but Evil goes the other way! But Yota catches the pounce into a clinch! BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER, and STOMP! The Gene Combination hits and the fans fire up! Evil sputters, Yota rolls and tags in Bushi. Bushi runs up to dropkick Evil’s legs out! Then Bushi BLASTS Dick!
Yujiro kicks Bushi, whips him to ropes, but Bushi reverses to dropkick the legs out! Evil is back but Bushi DECKS him! Bushi then builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and Evil is sent into railing! The fans fire up, Bushi puts Evil back in, and Bushi aims from a corner. Bushi runs corner to corner to ELBOW Evil, then he puts a leg in the ropes to DROPKICK it! Bushi brings Evil out and has the leg, but Evil pulls on the mask! Bushi breaks free, kicks, but Evil blocks, hands it to the ref, and mule kicks Bushi down! Dick & Yujiro BLAST Naito & Yota off the apron! They then double whip Bushi to a corner! Dick ELBOWS Bushi! Yujiro BOOTS! Evil LARIATS!
Dick goes up, Evil & Yujiro hold Bushi open, and the ref reprimands! No one to distract him this time! But then Evil just grabs the ref and turns him around! The ref can’t get free, Bushi suffers the DICK CHOP! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives and the fans fire up! Evil is stunned but he brushes that off. Evil paces around Bushi, slashes his throat, and vows to end this! Evil drags Bushi up, spins him, EVERY- NO, Naito gets in to kick Evil down! Yujiro is in, Evil distracts the ref, and Yujiro blocks a kick to LOW BLOW Naito!! The fans boo, but Yota runs up! Yujiro blocks his kick, and trips him up, to FALLING HEADBUTT LOW BLOW!!
The fans boo but Evil still holds onto the ref. Bushi stands, Evil shoves the ref at him! Bushi pushes the ref aside, and he blocks the low blow! But Dick LOW BLOWS from the other side! Evil & Dick get Bushi up, for MAGIC KILLER!! Cover, the House of Torture wins!!
Winners: House of Torture, by pinfall
But they’re not done, as they beat up on Yota now! They snatch the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship from him, and Evil holds it up. The fans boo, but Evil takes aim at Yota! But Yota LOW BLOWS Dick! And he dodges Evil’s attack to then pop-up LOW BLOW! Yujiro has his pimp cane! Yota blocks that, takes the cane, and LOW BLOWS Yujiro with it! The fans fire up behind Yota as he takes his belt back. Yota holds it up to show that not everything is Evil! Will the Gene Blast stop the House of Torture from having more gold?
2025 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Shota Umino VS Shingo Takagi!
The Paradigm Shift has certainly taken a turn after The Roughneck gave up his fiery red locks. Shota has changed up his style in the ring to match his new look, but will this Second Chapter lead to the Cup? Or will this young hero fail to slay the Rampaging Dragon?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. They’re strongly behind “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” but Shota doesn’t let that bother him. Shota and Takagi slowly step forward, feel things out, then clinch. Takagi waistlocks but Shota turns around to facelock. Takagi wrenches out and has a wristlock, but Shota rolls, wrenches back, and then hammerlocks. Takagi reaches back to headlock and he hits the takeover, but Shota headscissors. Takagi kips free and the fans cheer the standoff. The two reset and feel things out again. They knuckle lock, then go shoulder to shoulder in a Test of Strength! Shota has the leverage but Takagi powers up.
Takagi breaks a grip, wrenches, headlocks, and he grinds the hold. The fans rally up while Shota endures. Shota pries at the headlock but Takagi keeps it on tight. Shota powers up and out the back, then headlocks in return. Takagi endures the grind now, and he powers up and out! They RAM shoulders, Shota keeps going to RAM Takagi! Takagi rebounds to RAM Shota, but Shota stands his ground! Shota fires a forearm, Takagi fires a DOUBLE CHOP! Takagi whips, but Shota reverses to scoop, HOTSHOT, and then he RUNS Takagi over! The fans fire up while Takagi bails out. Shota waits on Takagi, and the fans rally up again.
Takagi takes his time stepping back inside, and he resets with Shota. They knuckle lock, but then Shota shoots in and trips Takagi up. Shota stomps that leg, then he SMASHES the knee off the mat! Shota stalks Takagi to a corner, then puts the leg around ropes. The fans rally, Red Shoes reprimands, but Shota pulls on the leg. Shota then brings Takagi out to trip him, and Shota stomps away on the leg. Shota drops an ELBOW on the knee, and pulls on the toehold! Takagi endures, works his way back, and has the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go, but then he drops a knee on the knee! Red Shoes reprimands but Shota stomps Takagi’s leg again.
Shota drags Takagi up, facelocks and turns him, but Takagi elbows free! Takagi runs in at the corner but Shota BOOTS him! Shota runs, but Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feint and DDT! Shota staggers around while the fans fire up, and Takagi LARIATS Shota up and out! Shota staggers into railing then slumps down. The fans rally behind Takagi while he shakes out the bad leg. Takagi goes out to fetch Shota, and he drags Shota back up. Takagi RAMS Shota into the apron, then RAMS him in again! Takagi whips Shota hard into railing and Shota slumps down! Red Shoes wants Takagi to get this back in the ring, so Takagi rolls in.
The fans applaud and the ring count begins. Shota is still down at 5 of 20, sits up at 8, and he rises up at 10. Shota stands at 13 and hobbles his way over. Shota rolls in at 15, but Takagi stands on him! Red Shoes reprimands but Takagi marches in place before he steps off. Takagi KICKS Shota in the back, then drags him up to whip. Takagi KNEES Shota at the ropes, then runs to CLOBBER Shota! The fans fire up and Takagi flexes. Takagi drags Shota up, reels him in and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Shota is tougher than that, but Takagi looks to the camera. Then he wags his finger, it’s not time yet.
Takagi clamps onto Shota with a chinlock and squeezes tight. Shota endures, so Takagi sits him up and shifts around to also trap an arm. Shota endures being twisted and turned, and he kicks his way forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud, and Takagi lets go, only to BELL CLAP! Red Shoes reprimands but Takagi brings Shota around to SENTON! The fans cheer more and Takagi stands back up. Takagi looms over Shota, kicks him around, but Shota just gets mad. Shota glares at Takagi so Takagi eggs him on. Shota stands to fire a forearm! Takagi shakes his head, so Shota fires another forearm! And another!
Takagi wobbles a bit and Shota fires a flurry! But then Takagi blocks one to wrench and knuckle lock! Takagi goes up the ropes!? The fans fire up, but Shota breaks free! Takagi gives thumbs down, and the fans boo, but Takagi HIP ATTACKS Shota down! Takagi rallies the fans behind him, then reels Shota in. But Shota BACKDROPS free! Takagi gets up fast, but Shota dropkicks the legs! Shota turns Takagi for a NECKBREAKER! Shota snarls, goes to a corner, and the fans rally again. Takagi stands, Shota runs corner to corner and UPPERCUTS! Then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect, but Shota stays clam.
Shota drags Takagi up and reels him in, but Takagi fights the lift! Shota CLUBS Takagi, whips him to a corner, then runs up, but he blocks a boot! KNEE JAMMER, and then a SHIN BREAKER! Shota turns Takagi over for the STF! The fans rally as Takagi endures and Shota pulls on the hold! Takagi reaches out, crawls his way over, and fights his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Shota lets go in frustration. Shota stands Takagi back up to reel him back in, but again Takagi fights the lift! Shota KNEES Takagi again and again, then tries again. Takagi still fights that lift! Takagi CLUBS at the legs, but Shota CLUBS away on Takagi’s back!
Shota UPPERCUTS into a spin! Takagi suplexes, Shota fights it, so Takagi hits a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Both men are down and the fans rally back up. Shota crawls away to a corner while Takagi slaps his leg into working. Takagi watches Shota stand, then he runs in. Takagi blocks a boot, CLUBS the leg, and he LARIATS Shota down! The fans fire up and Takagi gets them even more fired up. Takagi stands Shota up, but Shota fires forearms! Takagi SHOVES Shota down, but Shota is right up to fire more forearms! Takagi THROWS Shota down, but Shota’s right up to fire forearms! Takagi YUKON LARIATS outta nowhere!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi rises and grabs at Shota but Shota shakes him off. Takagi still tries to stand Shota up but Shota kicks him now! So Takagi short arm LARIATS Shota down! And he short arm LARIATS again! Then a scoop for a SLAM, and Takagi goes up! YUKON ELBOW DROP! Takagi hauls Shota up, and hits a POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! Into an STF! Takagi gives Shota a taste of his own medicine! Shota endures, the fans rally, and then Takagi shifts to Just Facelock! Shota still endures, then fights around and reaches out. Takagi shifts to a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Shota still endures!
Shota reaches out but Takagi pulls on that arm! The fans rally, Takagi puts as much as he can into the Fujiwara, but Shota fights and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud while Takagi lets off, and he throws some elbows down for good measure. Takagi then brings Shota up, puts him on the top rope, and he fires ridge hand chops! Takagi climbs up, goes to the very top, and hits a SUPER DUPER PLEX! The fans fire up and Shota writhes! Takagi covers, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up again. Takagi finally says, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as the time has finally come! They then join in with “OI! OI! OI!”
Takagi stalks Shota, brings him up, and pump handles, only for Shota to fight the lift! Shota slips free, half nelsons, but Takagi elbows free! Shota UPPERCUTS, then UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Shota winds up and runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT at the ropes! Takagi keeps moving, Shota gets around to SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! But Takagi’s right up to SNAP GERMAN! Shota’s right up, ducks a lariat, and he SNAP GERMANS! Shota roars, runs up, but into a PUMPING BOMBER!! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Takagi and Shota go to opposite ends, and the fans rally up.
Takagi goes to a corner, drags himself up, and Shota is in the other corner. The fans rally harder, and they both run in! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, but neither man falls! So they DOUBLE LARIAT again! Both stay up, Takagi SWATS a lariat to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Then he whips Shota, but Shota reverses to TORNADO DDT! Takagi’s right up!? But Shota LARIATS him back down!! Shota also falls and the fans rally back up! Takagi and Shota stir, and Shota crawls his way over to Takagi. The “SHOTA! SHOTA!” fans are showing up now, and he reels Takagi in, for a POWERBOMB!! High stack cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up again and Shota fires himself up. Takagi slowly rises up, Shota runs, but Takagi swats the lariat! ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- SHOTGUN! But Takagi’s up to PUMPING BOMBER again!! Both men are down again as we hit 20 minutes! Takagi pounds the mat, the fans rally up, and Takagi crawls over to Shota. The dueling is starting to sound even, and Takagi brings Shota up. Shota fires boxing elbows, then a ROLLING- NO, Takagi catches him! Pump handle, MADE IN JAPAN! Cover, TWO!! Takagi shouts out Milano Collection AT with how he tucks Shota’s arms! TAKAGI DRIVER 98!! Cover, TWO!!
Shota survives but Takagi keeps moving, SLIDING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Takagi gets going again, and he PUMPING BOMBERS!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Shota survives and shocks everyone! Takagi thinks on what he must do now, and he brings Shota back up. The fans rally, Takagi pump handles and torture racks! But Shota kicks and flails to get free! Shota LARIATS, but Takagi stays up while Shota drops to his knees! Takagi shakes his head, brings Shota up again, but Shota ENZIGIRIS! Takagi goes to a corner, Shota fires forearms and an elbow, then a ROLLING ELBOW! Takagi stays up to ELBOW! JAB! And whip!
Shota reverses, and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up, Shota brings Takagi to his feet for the fisherman and SECOND- NO, Takagi fights that to scoop Shota! LANDSLIDE DRIVER!! The fans rally up again and Takagi watches Shota rise. Takagi runs, Shota dodges, but then Takagi dodges! DOUBLE LARIATS!! Shota falls on the cover, ONE?!?! Shota gest going again, SHOTA BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!!! Takagi will not be beat at his own game and the fans fire up! Shota goes to a corner as the fans are dueling, and Shota BUSAIKU KNEES! Then he hooks the leg, SECOND CHAPTER!!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!!
Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
The Rampaging Dragon has been slain! Perhaps if this was the Shota from before New Beginning, the story would be different, but the Second Chapter writes Takagi out of the tournament. Will Takagi battle his way to the top from a different path?
As for Shota, he decides not to say anything, and exits the ring. But wait! David Finlay & Gedo make their way out here! Gedo grabs the mic to ask, “Oi, kid, where’d you go? Get back out yere, you punk! Get back here, kid!” Shota responds to that taunting and makes his way back out. Gedo tells Shota, “I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but do you realize who you’re facing in the finals? The Savage King, David Finlay! He’s crazy strong, kid! Tougher than you can imagine! Whatever it took for you tog et here, in an instant, it’ll be destroyed! Get over here, ya punk! Get over here! I wanna know how much you want this!”
“You want to come in here, say your piece? Just try!” Gedo drops the mic for Shota, and then Shota stares Finlay down. Shota picks the mic up, and he tells Finlay, “I promise I will beat you.” Finlay likes the sound of that. These two stare down, and we are just days away from them battling for it all! Who will be the 2025 New Japan Cup Champion, and the man aimed squarely at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?
My Thoughts:
Another great night for New Japan Cup, but with as much filler as yesterday’s event. The War Dogs sure have their hands in many things, as does the House of Torture with how Evil is building to a title match with Yota Tsuji. The War Dogs and House of Torture going to Double Count-Out Draw again was a good move, it keeps both sides equal as we wait for them to do whatever huge faction warfare match they’re planning. As for Yota VS Evil, hard to say at this point as House of Torture won the match but then Yota stood tall after that scrap. It’d be really weird if Evil gets that title off Yota just to be a transitional champion to Finlay so that Finlay can get “his” title back.
Shota VS Shingo was a great match, but the crowd really took a second to get into it. There still seems to be a number of fans who are uncertain on Shota so they didn’t feel like cheering right away, but Shota got them on his side as things heated up. Shota winning makes sense, he’s got this new attitude and so that’s part of the push. I hope he changes his aesthetic enough once we get to the finals on March 20th. Take those all white paints, airbrush something on them that helps represent what “Second Chapter” Shota is about, or even just go with a solid color like red or blue to indicate the change visually. As for who wins, that is anyone’s guess, as Finlay will have to circle back to the Bullet Club Civil War at some point.
My Score: 8.8/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Adrenaline in Brussels, every thought out of control!
Cody Rhodes has called him out and now it’s the moment of truth: Will John Cena return to Monday Night Raw live from Brussels, Belgium?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- No Holds Barred: PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser; Penta wins.
- Dakota Kai VS Ivy Nile; Dakota wins.
- Jey Uso VS Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller; Jey wins.
- The Creed Brothers VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee; Rey & Lee win.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS Finn Balor; Bron wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
JOHN CENA IS HERE!
Brussels erupts with booing as the traitorous GOAT makes his way out. He’s wearing the custom Belgium merchandise, but not even that is enough to appease the fans, and they still sing, “John Cena SUCKS~!” Cena grabs the mic and paces around while the fans boo and give thumbs down. The dueling does begin, “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” and Cena just stands there to let it play out. Then he drops the mic and turns to leave, but that makes everyone boo! Cena picks up the mic, fans chant, “You Sold Out!” so Cena drops the mic again. The fans boo, so Cena picks the mic back up.
Cena finally speaks, “When someone is properly grounded in life… They shouldn’t have to look outside themselves for approval.” Fans chant and sing at Cena some more, but Cena says they are making this so easy for him. “For 25 years, I’ve been the victim, okay? I have been the victim of an abusive relationship. No, no, no, you have lost your time to talk!” The fans say, “You Sold Out!” Cena says fine, take the floor. But what do they do with it? They just abuse and bully him into being their damn puppet, and expect him to do it with a smile on his face! NO MORE! The fans tell Cena off, and he lets them say it. “So very classy. Thank you.”
“Look, I am not a ‘baby face,’ I am not a ‘heel.’ I’m a human being. And each and every one of you has been AWFUL to me! Go ahead, go ahead! You’ve been awful!” The fans boo more, but Cena says it has been the same damn noise for 25 YEARS! When he first got here, the fans let him know really loud that they hated him. Moments of embarrassment and shame, they let him know he wasn’t worthy of them. So he changed himself, and it worked for a second, but then it wasn’t enough! So what’d he do? He worked hard like always, he started to win and win and win and win, and win and win and win and win!
But oh, he won a lot, and fans hated it! It wasn’t enough! So what’d Cena do? He spent 10 YEARS giving away everything he possibly could, and it still wasn’t enough! The fans tell Cena to STFU, but he just smirks and shakes his head. In his final moments, what’s the only thing he can do? He can walk away. Wow, and now you cheer. But he announced his retirement in a move no one has done before. He really is walking away at the end of this year. He tried one last time to get along with the fans. He tried one last time to do something nice, but they ruined it! Just like they ruin everything!
Because just like right here tonight, it was great for two seconds, and then it wasn’t enough! The fans sing “Hey Hey Hey~, Goodbye~!” Cena says, “Each one of these idiots is proving my point with every breath. My point is, no matter what I do, it is never enough, and you should all be ashamed of yourselves. All you ever do is take. You take, you take, and you take! And you only care about yourselves! I put my values on the line to make a very important choice in my life, and all you could think is, ‘What do we get?’ My story changed! ‘What do we get? John Cena’s coming to my town! What do we get? This is trending! What do we get?’
“Not one of you SOBs asked me how I feel. No one! It’s just ‘What do we get? What do we get?’ YOU GET NOTHING! You get what you have earned, and what you have earned is NOTHING! You don’t get a new look, because you dress like me, I don’t dress like you idiots! You don’t get new music! That is MY voice on that song, and your time is finally up! And my time is finally now! The only thing you get is to take a long look in the mirror to see how awful each and every one of you has been for 25 years to me!” The fans still boo, and even shift to, “We Want Cody!” Oh, they want Cody? OH~, of course! The brand new, shiny toy! Because they’re about to put this one out to pasture.
Like he said, they’re just proving his point that they’re awful people. And that’s every single person here! No one is safe, no one can hide, especially those he can pick out in the crowd. This guy, that guy in the front row, and that other guy. Yes, he sees them. The “Let’s Go Cena” people. They’re the ones who support Cena. The dueling begins again, and Cena says, “You hear that, world? The Cena Sucks Jagoffs, they have already proved themselves awful people. I’m about ot tell you why the Let’s Go Cena people are just as awful. You claim to support me? What have you ever done? What have you, you, you, what have you ever done to support me, huh?!
“What have you ever done for me? All you ever do is steal from me! You steal! You steal my personal moments! You steal my time! You have made me your freakin’ toy! I am an object to you! You have made me the butt to a stupid ‘invisible’ joke for 15 years, and you still think it’s funny! It is NOT funny! It is pathetic! You are pathetic.” Fans tell Cena off again, but Cena says they don’t wanna hear this, huh? Not ready to hear this? Not ready to lean into the uncomfortable conversation. The truth is, the fans don’t wear his merch to support him. They wear it to feel good. They wear words like Hustle, Loyalty, Respect, but Cena LIVES them.
The fans think they can buy the words “Never Give Up?” Cena is the definition of perseverance, and everyone here knows it! “You do not support me. What you do is you use me as an excuse for your pathetic failure of a life. Because all you’ve ever done there for 25 years is sit on your ass and watch me be great! NO MORE! This, everybody, including that one kid right there, is a toxic, dysfunctional relationship! Oh, you don’t wanna hear it, huh? It’s too tough for ya? Well listen to this. I’m breaking up with you. I’m done. I’m breaking up with every single person. Whether you like me or you don’t, you’re dumped.
“I don’t need you anymore. I don’t care about you. And you don’t matter to me. And here’s the thing. There’s no noise you can make, there is nothing you can do, because you know I’m right and you know you are wrong!” WAIT! Here comes Cody! Brussels erupts with cheers this time, and they sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, continues down the ramp and high-fives fans, and Cena just waits on Cody. We get the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and more pyro as Cody throws off his jacket and steps into the ring with Cena. Cody raises the Undisputed WWE Championship, the fans cheer, and then Cody gets himself a mic.
The fans cheer as the song dies down and Cena scowls. The fans sing, “CODY! CODY RHOOODES~! CODY, CODY RHOOODES~!” Cody lifts the belt again and the fans cheer more. Cody then finally says, “I think everybody was willing to hear you out, even myself. If I understood correctly from what you just said, they’ve given you their worst. Sure, they might’ve given you their worst. But they’ve also given you their best for 25 years, and they did that because you were special. They did that because you were special. They did that because you could take it. They did that because you could carry it!” The fans cheer that.
Cena says, “Look, kid,” but Cody tells him, “ENOUGH! And it’s certainly not ‘kid.’ It’s champion!” The fans cheer that, too! And Cody wants to ask Cena something. “Who the hell are you? Where’s the guy on this shirt? Right here! Even after what you did, I was excited at the prospect of going week to week, face to face, with John Cena. And instead, I got this. Well this better not show up at WrestleMania. Because if it does, I run it over, I run it out, because I already took its best shot and it wasn’t good enough, I retire it early! So go find John Cena, because I wanna wrestle him at WrestleMania 41, not this whiny b*tch!”
Cody drops his mic and leaves the ring, the fans all fired up! Cody gives Cena one last look before he makes his way back up the ramp. The fans sing for “CODY! CODY RHOOODES~!” again, and he again lifts the belt. Cena is still in the ring, so the fans boo. Cena drops his mic, exits the ring, and the fans again sing “Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye~!” Cena gives them one last look before he goes backstage. Will this Cena be all we get from now until the end of 2025?
No Holds Barred: PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser!
After going back and forth, and even adding Pete Dunne to the mix, the Man with No Fear and the Impeccable German have it out with nothing holding them back! Will Penta show Kaiser what #CeroMiedo looks like when it is fully unleashed? Or will Kaiser say NEIN to another loss?
Raw returns and Penta makes his entrance. The fans fire up with the pyro, and “CERO! MIEDO!” The fans even sing, “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~! CEROOO~, MIEDOOO~!” The bell rings and Penta eggs Kaiser on. Kaiser is annoyed with the fans, but then he and Penta start throwing hands! Kaiser gets the edge, but Penta avoids the lariat to CHOP Kaiser down! Kaiser staggers, Penta runs up, and Penta LARIATS Kaiser up and out! Then Penta slides out, runs up, but Kaiser THROWS him into the timekeeper’s area! The fans boo, but Penta gets up on the barriers! Penta tightrope walks his way to FLYING RANA Kaiser into the apron!
The fans fire up with Penta and he pursues, but Kaiser bails out. Kaiser grabs chairs, puts them in the ring, but Penta runs up to DROPKICK Kaiser down! Penta then builds speed and he FLIES! Direct hit, the fans fire up, but then the fans cheer as Penta clears the commentary desk! Penta puts Kaiser up there, CHOPS him, but Kaiser CHOPS back! They CHOPS go back and forth, the fans cheer and boo. Penta fires off a flurry, but Kaiser CLAWS Penta’s face! Then KAISER ROLL on the desk! The fans lose their minds while Kaiser stands tall, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns, Kaiser has Penta up top, and he CLAWS at the mask! But Penta fights Kaiser off! The fans fire up as Kaiser staggers, and Penta CROSSBODIES! Kaiser staggers up, Penta dodges and KICKS Kaiser in the leg! Then SLING-DOG! Kaiser flounders to a corner, Penta whips, but Kaiser reverses. Penta goes up and over to BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Penta rises. Penta aims from a corner, calls his shot, and runs up, but into a GAMANGIRI! Kaiser fireman’s carries, KAISER ROLL again, then cover! TWO! Penta survives, but Kaiser kicks him out of the ring. Kaiser UPPERCUTS Penta, then RAMS him into steel steps!
The fans boo, Kaiser leaves Penta behind, but only to go out the side. Kaiser gets running, wanting his favorite shot! But Penta BACKDROPS Kaiser onto the desk! The fans are thunderous as Kaiser writhes! Penta has the fans singing again, and he brings Kaiser off the desk to put in the ring. Penta stalks Kaiser, but Kaiser SMACKS Penta! The fans chant, “We Want Tables!” but Penta CHOPS! Kaiser fires a haymaker, Penta fires back, and the two stand. Kaiser ROCKS Penta, but Penta ROCKS Kaiser! The haymakers keep going, then Penta trades CHOPS with Kaiser’s haymakers! Penta fires a flurry of forearms, then says “CERO! MIEDO!”
Penta runs, tilt-o-whirls, but Kaiser SLAMS him down! BLINDSIDE SLIDING FOREARM! Cover, TWO! Penta survives but Kaiser stalks him to ropes. Kaiser tells Penta to listen to him! Penta will fear KAISER! Kaiser will teach Penta what it means to fear! Kaiser CLUBS Penta down, the fans sing for Penta, but Kaiser grabs a chair. Kaiser dares Penta to get up, and then he SMACKS Penta on the back! Penta scrambles to a corner but Kaiser grins as he storms up. Kaiser CHOKES Penta with the chair and shouts, “Are you scared? Say it!” Kaiser wants Penta to admit he’s afraid, but Penta just powers up! The fans fire up as Penta pushes Kaiser back! “CERO! MIEDO!”
Kaiser drags Penta up, clinches, but Penta WRINGS that arm, then has the other! THE SACRIFICE!! Kaiser writhes, clutches that elbow, but now Penta has the chair! Penta winds up but Kaiser wants mercy! Penta shakes his head but Kaiser says he gives up?! Kaiser says Penta wins? Penta isn’t sure about that, but then Kaiser CLAWS Penta’s eyes! Kaiser has th echair, but Penta SUPERKICKS the chair into Kaiser! Then he SMACKS Kaiser! Then he gives the chair back to SUPERKICK it into Kaiser again! Penta goes up, Kaiser staggers around, and Penta reels him in, FLYING MEXICAN DESTROYER on the chair!!
The fans are losing their minds, but Penta then hits a PENTA DRIVER!! Cover, Penta wins!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall
Brussels gives this brutal opener a standing ovation! Will Penta now leave Kaiser in the past to go for bigger and better prizes? Cathy Kelley interviews Penta on the ramp and congratulates him on the win. That was a definitive end to that match, and we’re on the Road to WrestleMania. What is next for Penta? Penta says first off all, THANK YOU, BRUSSELS! They are amazing, he loves ’em! But the Penta New Era is here! It is alive in Europe, but also in every continent in the world! What is next for Penta? Listen: THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
Penta wants to tell everyone that he doesn’t care what he has to do, he WILL be champion! Because he is Penta, and he has CERO MIEDO! That very title is on the line later tonight, will Penta be aimed at Bron Breakker or Finn Balor for WrestleMania?
Dakota Kai heads to gorilla.
Iyo Sky gives her a pep talk before her match, but uh, is that Dominik Mysterio talking with Karrion Kross? Is Dom still trying to recruit new members? Or is Mr. Doomsday giving Dom some special advice of his own?
The Judgment Day is in the clubhouse.
Carlito is adding to the great graffiti backstage, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez talk about how Dominik should’ve taken the match with Bron Breakker instead of- Finn walks in! Liv & Raquel say hey, and they wish him luck tonight. Finn thanks them for that, and he wishes them the best of luck in their matches. Jade Cargill is gonna be another stop on the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour! And Raquel, by this time next week, they’ll both be Intercontinental- Oh, Dom walks in! Hey, bud! The man of the moment! Finn knows Dom knows, but Finn wants to say from the bottom of his heart, thanks for getting him the title match.
Dom says of course! Whatever it takes to get Judgment Day back on top. But here’s the thing… Dom was talking with some people, and he has an idea. Oh, an idea? Is Dom sure he should say this? Dom says it’ll be okay. Ever since JD McDonagh went down, they kinda lost some muscle around here. So Dom found the perfect person to add to the Judgment Day! Finn is annoyed and asks who. Penta! Finn wants to get something straight. After all this time, and after all they’ve been through, Dom goes behind Finn’s back, has all these conversations with all these people, and the one he lands on… is offering a spot to Penta, the guy who just declared HE wants Finn’s Intercontinental title?!
Finn seethes, and tells Dom he’s just a snake! Finn storms out, the mood ruined. Dom didn’t know Penta was gonna go for the title. Carlito says Dom doesn’t watch the product, huh? Well, Dom stepped in it this time. Is there some way he can he make it up to Finn? Or should he just give up on adding members?
Dakota Kai VS Ivy Nile w/ Team American Made!
Speaking of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, both #CobraKai and the Diamond Pitbull have fought for and failed to take that title from Lyra Valkyria. With Raquel Rodriguez facing Lyra next, who will prove they’re worthy of the shot after that?
What a surprise to see Chad Gable showing up. He apologizes for being late, and then he joins The Creed Brothers in Ivy’s corner. The bell rings, and Dakota fires off fast hands on Ivy! The ref reprimands as they’re in the corner, but Dakota backs off. Dakota runs up, but Ivy stops the flying-mare! Ivy throws Dakota away, Dakota keeps moving, but Ivy LARIATS! Ivy is already frustrated and she rains down fists! The fans boo, Ivy tells them to shut up, and Maggle taunts Gable about his lucha mask that he may or may not have. Ivy stands Dakota up, whips her to a corner, and Dakota bounces off buckles into Ivy’s GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!
Ivy is annoyed but Gable coaches her on. Ivy drags Dakota up, reels her in, and she suplexes. Dakota cradle counters! TWO, and Dakota goes to a corner. Ivy runs up, Dakota ELBOWS her away, then Dakota BOOTS her! Dakota runs to DISCUS LARIAT! And then LARIAT again! And DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Dakota while Ivy ends up in a corner. Dakota runs in to BOOT WASH! Dakota then puts Ivy through ropes, and JUMP- NO, Ivy avoids the stomp! But Dakota GAMANGIRIS! The fans fire up again and Dakota builds speed, but Gable is on the apron! The fans boo, Ivy storms in, and Ivy scoops Dakota for a SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Cover, TWO!
Dakota survives, and here comes the LWO! They go after The Creeds for what Gable or not Gable did! Gable runs but gets flanked, so he goes into the crowd! The fans fire up as Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee chase after Gable! Ivy is shocked, but that lets Dakota run Around the World! BOOT! And then a fireman’s carry, GO TO KICK!! Cover, Dakota wins!
Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall
American Made falls apart in Brussels, and now #CapKota is in pole position for the title chase! Will she get one more shot on goal with Lyra? Or will she and her old rival, Raquel, meet again?
Iyo Sky heads to the ring!
The fans fire up as the Evil Genius, the NEW Women’s World Champion, is ready to sign on the dotted line! She and Bianca Belair are going to put pen to paper, but will that be all that happens? We find out after the break.
Raw returns as Bianca is in the ring, and Adam Pearce has joined them. Pearce welcomes everyone in French, and says it is now time to make this world title match official between challenger Bianca Belair, and champion Iyo Sky! The fans cheer that! Pearce says they know how this works. Two signatures makes this official, so the floor is theirs. Iyo and Bianca both take their seats, and Iyo picks up her mic first. “Bianca, you will not disrespect me again. Rhea will not disrespect me again. No one will disrespect me again. Because I am the Women’s World Champion!” The fans cheer that! “And after WrestleMania, I will still be the Women’s World Champion!” The fans cheer even more for that!
Iyo signs her part, the fans cheer again, and even chant, “You Deserve It!” Iyo bows in thanks for that. Now Bianca has her turn to speak. “Iyo, I have all the respect in the world for you. I really do. But last week, I gave you a pass because it was lowkey my fault, so I’ma tell you exactly what I told Rhea. If you put your hands on me and think you can get away with it, you don’t know me at all. So WrestleMania, you gonna find out exactly who I am. I am Bianca Belair, The EST of WWE, and I will be your NEW Women’s World Champion.” Fans are a bit more torn here, but Bianca signs her part. Pearce says it is now official!
The fans cheer and Pearce thanks them for being so professional. But then RHEA RIPLEY shows up! The fans fire up but Pearce, Bianca and Iyo are all shocked and upset about this. Mami has a mic as she storms down the ramp, but Pearce already calls in refs! Pearce asks what Rhea is doing out here, but Rhea asks them what they’re all doing out here. Because last she checked, Iyo slapped her in the face and she won’t do nothing about it, like Bianca over here. How the hell is Bianca acting like nothing happened? Well, for one, Bianca had to sign the contract for WrestleMania. That’s what she’s doing out here.
Rhea says real funny, coming from Bianca. Because Bianca had no business being out here for Rhea’s title match, but there she was. So time to take a page out of Bianca’s book, and she’s just out here to watch. Oh, then Rhea will be just watching WrestleMania! Bianca and Rhea argue, Iyo gets riled up, and she storms up like last time. But Bianca pie faces her first! Bianca says she ain’t getting smacked today! Well she gets a HEADBUTT from Rhea! Bianca ends up on the table, and then Rhea kicks Iyo! Rhea reels Iyo in, and hauls her up, to POEWRBOMB onto Bianca! The table doesn’t break, but Pearce has had enough of Rhea!
Rhea sees the contract on the floor, then picks it up. And she SIGNS IT, TOO!? Can she do that?! We have the two signatures, but is she making this into a Triple Threat?! Pearce argues with Rhea all the way to the back as she plays keep-away, but is Mami about to be on top one way or another?
Jey Uso walks ‘n’ talks.
“Yeah! Yeah! Main Event Jey Uso is now in your citaaay~! YEAH! I ain’t been myself lately. Been doubtin’ myself. Mind playin’ tricks on me. So I flew halfway around the world to whoop somebody’s ass! And that person tonight is Austin Theory. But at WrestleMania, it’s me and you, Gunther, when I shock the world and become World Heavyweight Champ! So Uce! Hey, Uce! Please hit my music-” GUNTHER IS AT GORILLA! Jey and Gunther get to shouting but Pearce and security barge in! Pearce says not tonight! Not after everything Rhea just did! Gunther says he talked to Jimmy on Friday, and he’s just as dumb as Jey!
Jey shoves Gunther, security ushers Gunther out, and Jey says he’ll see “G” out there! UH UH, YEET!! Jey makes his entrance, will he be even more fired up to fight #AllDay Austin Theory?
Jey Uso VS Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller!
Raw returns and A-Town Down Under makes their entrance. The bell rings, Waller distracts Jey already, and Theory fires off haymakers! They end up in the corner, the ref reprimands and counts, but Theory talks trash on the Yeet! Theory drags Jey up, whips him corner to corner, but Jey goes up and over. Jey keeps moving, he ducks ‘n’ dodges then SPEARS!! Cover, Jey wins!!
Winner: Jey Uso, by pinfall
That was fast! Jey really IS fired up to fight Gunther for Mania! Waller storms in, but Jey SUPERKICKS him down! Jey then watches ATDU regroup, and Jey FLIES! Jey clips the ropes just a bit but he still takes ATDU down! Jey gets back up, but GUNTHER GETS HIM IN A SLEEPER!! Gunther squeezes tight, but Jey RAMS Gunther into a corner! Jey is free to fire haymakers! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey pops, locks, but Gunther blocks the shot! Jey ROCKS Gunther with his off hand, and then he YANKS the title from Gunther!! The fans fire up, Gunther runs up in a rage, but Jey DUMPS him out! The fans fire up as Jey holds up the belt!
Gunther is furious, the fans cheer, but then Jey tosses the belt back. Der Ring General tried to punk out Jey, but Jey turned the tables! Will nothing stop Jey from proving he IS a main event player?
Pearce argues with Rhea.
Pearce will not allow Rhea to get away with what she’s doing! You can’t just write your name on a contract! Rhea says yes she can, she literally just did it! This is like talking to a child. Give him the contract! No! Yes! No! YES! NO! Rhea Ripley, give her the contract! Rhea says then he should put her in the match, her name’s on the contract! She shoves the contract into Pearce’s chest, he thanks her and takes his leave. But here comes Bianca! She and Rhea brawl! Bianca HAMMERS away, but now Iyo gets in, to go after Rhea! Bianca shoves Iyo aside and says Rhea is hers! Iyo DECKS Bianca, tells Bianca not to screw with her, but then Rhea SHOVES Iyo into a door!
Rhea goes after Bianca, and throws her into road cases! Pearce returns to have refs usher Rhea out of here! Rhea demands to be in that title match! Will Mami get what she wants? Or will she throw things out of whack until she does?
The Creed Brothers VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee!
After that wild encounter earlier tonight, this was a natural choice for all parties involved! Will Julius & Brutus get payback for Master Gable being run out of the building? Or will American Made learn not to mess with the L W O?
The teams sort out and Julius starts against Dragon. The bell rings, and Julius JUMP KNEES Lee down! The fans boo but Julius drags Lee up for a fireman’s carry. But Lee pops up to RANA Julius away! Brutus runs up but Lee dodges to SUPERKICK! Brutus tumbles out, Lee DIVES onto Brutus! Lee goes up a corner, then CROSSBODIES Julius! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Lee clamps onto Julius. Lee reaches out but Brutus YANKS Rey down! Julius turns things around and hits Lee with a ROLLING SPINEBUSTER! Then a SLIDING LARIAT! Julius scowls, the fans boo, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and the fans rally as Lee wipes out the Creeds! Lee crawls for his corner, hot tags to Julius and Rey! The fans fire up as Rey BLASTS Brutus, BOOTS Julius, then ELBOWS Brutus to dodge Julius! Tilt-o-whirl DEJA VU RANA! Julius flounders around, the fans fire up, and Rey climbs up on Julius. Rey rains down fists, and the fans count all the way to “Sept” (seven in French) before Julius carries him off the corner! Brutus is there and Julius hands Rey off! But Rey fights back, elbowing Julius away and raining fists down on Brutus! But Brutus THROWS Rey at Julius, and Julius catches Rey!
Julius powers up and brings Rey around, but Rey swings to DDT! Lee is back, FLYING RANA for Brutus to the floor!! The fans are thunderous and Rey goes up top! But Julius springs up after him! Only for Rey to HEADBUTT him away! Rey leaps, FLYING RANA and Julius is on the ropes! Rey dials it up and the fans cheer the 619! DROP THE DIME! Cover, LWO WINS!
Winners: Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee, by pinfall
The King of Lucha and his Boy Wonder took down the Creeds, but WAIT! That American Made luchador is back! He CLOBBERS Rey, dodges Lee, and then FLYING HEADBUTTS! El Americano rains down fists on Lee, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Rey storms up to fire forearms! The fans fire up, but Gable- er, uh, Americano waistlocks again! GERMAN SUPLEX and Rey lands on Lee! The fans boo “whoever this is,” but now he goes up top! The fans chant “You Suck! You Suck!” a la Angle, but Americano says SHOOOOSH! DIVING HEADBUTT on Lee!! “UH GRACIAS~!” Americano runs away as security rushes out here!
Gable was ran off from the building, yet this luchador returns. What is going on with this masked man mystery?
Seth Rollins is here!
Brussels sings his song, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as The Visionary is in a comparatively normal outfit. Rollins high-fives fans and makes his way to the ring in his dark green suit and boots highlighted with gold chain and wristwatch. What will Rollins have to say about the shocking way Roman Reigns returned? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns as the fans continue to sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins revels in it while he has the mic in hand. The fans applaud as the singing just keeps going. Another round of applause, and then Rollins tells Brussels, “Welcome to Monday Night Rollins!” The fans cheer again, and Rollins says that by the sound of this, they already know it. In case you don’t, this is a Visionary, this is a Revolutionary, this is SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! The fans cheer more, the singing returns, and Rollins again smiles. The fans applaud, and Rollins says alright. He was coming out here mad as Hell, but it is hard to be mad with those beautiful voices serenading him.
Rollins takes a moment as fans start to chant “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Well, we’ll get to him, but Rollins wants to talk Roman Reigns first. “O T C! O T C!” Yes, you saw the footage last week. Is Rollins mad as Hell that Roman came for revenge? Absolutely not, cuz he’d have done the same damn thing! HAHAHA! “The problem is, even after all these years, and a Wise Man in his ear, Roman Reigns still can’t come up with a plan. He needs his Architect to do it for him.” Roman had the time, the place, the moment, but he left one detail out: That detail is the man the fans were all chanting for just a few moments ago.
The “C M PUNK!” chant returns and Rollins says yes, “The luckiest loser on the face of the planet.” Because of Rollins had just a few more seconds in that cage, he would’ve ended what he promised the world. He would’ve stomped Punk through the mat, ended the Mania dream, and put Punk’s career on ice! Rollins would’ve taken care of the Punk Problem for everyone, including Roman. But like the good ol’ days, Rollins is left to clean up Roman’s mess. The “O T C!” chants return, and Rollins says don’t worry, he’ll put OTC in his place along the way. And it just so happens that Rollins’ two favorite people are going to be in the same place at the same time this Friday Night SmackDown.
Oh, trust him, Brussels, Rollins wishes those two were here, too. But… Rollins was just thinking… Why let them boys have all the fun? Maybe Rollins makes a trip down to Italy, makes a trip to SmackDown, and he puts himself right in between Roman and Punk? What do the fans think about that? The fans cheer, and Rollins says yeah, that sounds like a nice way to solve a problem and clean up a mess. But that is Friday, this is Monday, this ain’t about SmackDown, this is about the fans! This has been one hell of a crowd all night long! They’ve been singing with their beautiful voices, there’s just one match left and that is the main event for the Intercontinental Championship!
So Brussels, sing Rollins’ beautiful song as he makes his way to SmackDown and we make our way to the main event! Give it to ’em, Brussels! “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins revels in it again, and he says, “It’s on. See you boys on Friday, HAHAHA!”
Backstage interview with AJ Styles.
Cathy is with the Phenomenal One and says he had a lot to say on the Raw Recap show about Logan Paul. Could he give us a bit of that here? Styles says he stands behind everything he said. Styles hears the fans sing for him, then says Logan Paul just doesn’t belong. But then Karrion Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux walk over. Kross asks if that’s really how Styles feels. Styles says he doesn’t need this. Kross says he is just offering a different perspective, but if Styles doesn’t want it… Kross turns to go but Styles says fine, let’s hear it. Maybe Styles isn’t mad about Logan Paul. Maybe Styles is mad at himself. That’s enough of that.
No, hey, hold on! Kross just wants Styles to think: How long did it take for Styles to get to the WWE and find validation? 16? Styles says it was 17. Okay, okay. But it didn’t take Logan that long, did it? Is Styles not able to respect a guy who just waltzed into the business and did everything Styles has ever wanted to in record time? Styles sees where Kross is going with this, and it’s not gonna work. Styles leaves, but Kross says it’s working. He and Scarlett do the Scott Hall fingers, will their mind games make Styles and Logan bitter enemies?
Bron Breakker heads to gorilla.
And Penta is there! Penta looks at the title, and Bron smirks. Will this be the match-up for the title? Or will this Road to WrestleMania take a detour thanks to The Judgment Day?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS Finn Balor!
The Big Bad Booty Nephew has been chewing up this roster ever since he got here, but The Prince claims he chews up “rookies” like Bron his whole career. But until these two fight it out, it’s all just talk. Whose bark is worse than their bite when the bell rings?
Raw returns and Bron makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s time to see who’s the real badass around here!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. In fact, they’re even dueling, “Let’s Go, Balor!” and then barking for Bron. Finn and Bron feel things out, knuckle lock, but then Finn backs away to ropes. The ref has Bron stay back, Finn leaves the ropes, and the two reset. They tie up, Finn headlocks, but Bron powers up and out. Bron RUNS Finn over, the fans bark, and Bron snarls as he storms up on Finn. Finn kicks low, CLUBS Bron on the neck, then headlocks. Bron blocks the takeover with pure brawn, then he hoists Finn up! The fans fire up, but Finn uses that to flying headlock takeover! The fans cheer while Finn grinds Bron down.
Bron endures as Finn thrashes him around. Bron rolls Finn to a cover, TWO, and Finn holds onto the headlock. The fans rally, Bron powers out and headlocks. Finn powers out, drops down, then bypasses Bron to TOSS him out! Bron lands on his feet! The fans fire up, Bron storms in, and he RAMS Finn into a corner! Bron RAMS Finn again and again, then snarls again. Finn staggers to another corner, but Bron runs up to LARIAT! Bron whips Finn to TOSS him out, and Finn tumbles! Bron goes out the side, and he builds up speed! The fans fire up, but Finn SLINGBLADES Bron down! Finn has control while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Finn has Bron in a corner. Finn CHOPS and the fans “WOO~!” Finn paces, then he goes back to Bron for a haymaker. Bron counter punches! And counter punches! Bron fires hands, whips, then scoops, but Finn tilt-o-whirls through to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Finn ELBOWS Bron in the neck, the fans rally up, and Finn stalks Bron. Finn scuffs Bron, SLAPS him, and talks trash. “You know who I am? I’m Finn Balor!” Finn keeps scuffing and slapping, and the fans tell Finn he done messed up! Finn fires hands, but Bron just snarls! Bron ROCKS Finn again and again, then whips. Finn reverses, but Bron LEAPING ELBOWS!
Bron storms up again, clinches, and EXPLODERS! Finn flounders, Bron whips again, but Finn KICKS the backdrop away. Finn runs, Bron dodges and then catches Finn for a POWERSLAM! The fans fire up and bark, and then Bron drags Finn up. But wait, here come Dom & Carlito! It was only a matter of time before Judgment Day pulled this move! They distract Bron and Finn rolls Bron up! TWO, and Finn runs up, but Bron catches him by the neck! Military press, but Finn slips free, EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Cover, TWO! Bron survives and Finn is frustrated, but Dom & Carlito cheer Finn on.
Bron crawls to ropes, Finn spins him around, and Finn JUMP STOMPS! The fans tell Dom he sucks, Carlito tells Dom to tune that out, and Finn gives more stomps! Finn asks Dom what he’s doing out here, so apparently this was another of Dom’s ideas. Finn CHOPS Bron, then whips, but Bron ducks ‘n’ dodges and builds up speed to CLOBBER Finn! The fans fire up and bark again while Finn bails out. Bron storms out after Finn and the ref tells Dom & Carlito to back off. Bron LEAPS from the apron and onto the desk! Both men go tumbling over and the fans lose their minds! Bron sputters, Corey Graves lost a shoe, and “This is Awesome!”
Bron and Finn slowly stir, and Bron is on his feet! Finn crawls, wants mercy, but Bron stomps him! Bron puts Finn in the ring, and he dares Dom & Carlito to pull something. Bron slides in and builds speed again! SLINGBLADE! Finn hits first, and then he hurries to go again! SHOTGUN and Bron hits buckles! Bron slumps down into the drop zone so Finn climbs up! The fans fire up as Finn reaches the top! COUP DE- NO, Bron dodges, runs up, but Finn hurdles over the Spear! Roll up, TWO!! Bron grabs Finn again, military press, BREAKKER SLAM! Cover, TWO! Finn survives, both men are down, and the fans are fired up!
Dom & Carlito coach Finn but Bron is up first. Bron has blood in his mouth, perhaps from a busted lip, but he doesn’t care. Bron runs in, but Finn KICKS him first! And ENZIGIRIS! Bron is down again so Finn goes back up! But Bron hurries to trip Finn! Finn CLAWS at Bron’s head, then throws hands! The fans rally, Finn stands, but Bron ROCKS him first! Bron climbs up and brings Finn to the top! But Carlito distracts the ref! Dom YANKS Bron into a HOTSHOT, but that trips Finn up, too! Finn lands on his prince and he’s pissed at Dom! Dom apologizes, but Bron is just as mad! Bron BLASTS Dom, BLASTS Carlito, then springs up after Finn! SUPER STEINER!!
The fans are thunderously barking, Bron hits the SPEAR!!! Cover, Bron wins!
Winner: Bron Breakker, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
Bron is so badass, not even Judgment Day could cost him! But now Judgment Day attacks him! The fans boo but Dom goes to grab the belt. Carlito bumps Bron off buckles, but here comes Penta! The fans fire up as Penta slides in, and he dodges Dom to then SUPERKICK Dom down! Carlito runs up, into a SUPERKICK! Bron gives Carlito a SPEAR! But now Penta holds onto the title as he stares down Bron. The fans sing “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~! CERO~ MIEDO~!” Penta hands the belt to Bron, and Bron holds it up. Will these two put it all on the line in Las Vegas?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for Raw in Brussels, and the Brussels crowd was just as fun as the Barcelona crowd on Friday. Cena and Cody opening with their big promo segment was the right move to give it time to breathe. Cena did a perfect job of using the fans as part of his promo because he took the trope of “I blame the fans!” to the ultimate level. He didn’t just use recent stuff, he used his entire 25 years and all the phases he went through as part of it, and he really dug into some personal feelings for both him and the fans. Cody therefore had the perfect counter to show Cena was only focusing on the negative, and how that’s not who Cena has presented to us. I think we’re getting another appearance of Cena next week, can’t wait to see how Glasgow treats him.
Iyo and Bianca had a good contract signing but I expected a touch more from both promos. Rhea joining in was the main element, and this is clearly heading for a Triple Threat. That quick brawl backstage was good, and I feel like we’re going to get Rhea VS Bianca to see if Rhea earns her spot in the match. Good stuff from Jey and Gunther again, but I kinda wish we’d just gotten only brawl. Jey squashing Theory was pretty wild, and he still gets the better of Gunther here, but it should’ve just been all Jey and Gunther. Gunther promised a living Hell for Jey, but I’m not sure we’re quite there yet. All the more reason Gunther should’ve beat up Jimmy on Friday as a way to stick it to Jey.
Good promo from Styles and Kross to add to this Styles VS Logan Paul build. Kross continues to be a great instigator, but when is he going to get back in the ring for his own desires? Or is he just waiting for the right opening to mess with the right champion? Honestly, as it feels like Jey is going to win the world title, Jey is the perfect target for Kross. Jey admitted to himself that there is insecurity right now, and the belt can help give him confidence again, but Kross can certainly find ways to tear that back down on the way to Backlash and beyond.
Very good stuff from American Made. Gable being run off by the LWO of course set up “El Americano” for that tag match segment, but it was also a good part of Dakota being Ivy. I feel like it’d be a bit much of Dakota gets a third match with Lyra, but I don’t know if that means Judgment Day screws Lyra out of the title. Cheating Lyra could be a way to keep her strong in the loss, and we could get some good stuff as Dakota takes on Raquel. Plus, DMG CTRL currently having the world title makes them an eventual target of Judgment Day, and the tag titles could also be in the mix for some serious Two Woman Power Trip teasing.
Judgment Day also had great stuff tonight. Dom thinking Penta would want to join Judgment Day is interesting, I wonder if that was Kross’s idea. Penta VS Kaiser was a great opener, but I feel they could’ve done more for a No Holds Barred match. Still good stuff to give Penta the win and move on from Kaiser to call out the Intercontinental Championship. Bron VS Finn was a great match, even with Dom & Carlito showing up. Dom accidentally messing Finn up was pretty clever, and that just adds to the Judgment Day tension. While Bron VS Penta will be awesome stuff, I was kinda hoping we’d get Finn VS Penta to add even more intrigue to the Judgment Day story, but I guess that’s something that doesn’t need a title.
My Score: 8.9/10
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