Coverage
Mitchell’s NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day Results & Report! (2/14/21)
Everyone loves a good TakeOver!
Whose hearts will be broken on this historic TakeOver?
NXT is taking over Valentine’s and replacing the roses and chocolates with gold and grudges! Will Finn Balor still reign after battling the Bruiserweight?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon VS Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez; Kai & Gonzalez win and will challenge for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
- NXT North American Championship: Johnny Gargano VS KUSHIDA; Gargano wins and retains the title.
- Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Grizzled Young Veterans VS MSK; MSK wins and will challenge for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
- NXT Women’s Championship Triple Threat: Io Shirai VS Mercedes Martinez VS Toni Storm; Shirai wins and retains the title.
- NXT Championship: Finn Balor VS Pete Dunne; Balor wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the TakeOver Preshow!
Join Sam Roberts, Wade Barrett and the host of Barstool Sports’ podcast, Rasslin’, Brandon Walker, analyze discuss and predict all the great action on this lovely holiday!
Backstage interview with MSK.
Wes Lee and Nash Carter are here and excited to be in the Dusty Rhodes Classic finals! They haven’t slept since Wednesday, Carter has been pacing in his house all pumped up. Lee is the same, because they’ve been in the WWE for a very, very short time and already they are Dusty Cup finalists. “It doesn’t get any better than that.” And apologies to Grizzled Young Veterans- That’s how you say it? Because every time they walk out they’re like, GRRRIZZLED Young Veterans. Well they’re going to be the GRRRIZZLED Young LOSERS tonight, second year in a row. MSK takes the cup! It’s their time! MSK all night and all day!
Wait, who is this crashing the panel?
“It was about that time that we went ahead and injected a little bit of star power! Let me talk to ya!” Wait, it’s ELI DRAKE! And he’s telling Sam to step back, no one is here to hear his “prepubescent voice.” At least with Wade, there’s some bass in his voice. But this isn’t about sucking up to Wade, because if he looks at Eli the wrong way, he’ll still drag Wade out of retirement just to send him back into it! “Because I’ve got the scoop!” Standing right here, in front of this awkward idiot from Barstool Sports, this is gonna go viral! NXT just got LA! Eli Drake is now LA Knight!
What that means is NXT being THE premier roster, the greatest talent, all right here. So that means it is a stacked deck. While everyone’s playing cards, he’s rolling dice and he changed the game! So then everyone back there, from North American Championship to THE NXT Championship, watch out! Knight’s coming for you! Just like these bewildered, cross-eyed halfwits behind him will be saying, everyone’s gonna go, “Whose game is it?” It’s LA Knight’s game!! Is Knight about to put every other player in check?
NXT, will you be my Valentine?
Wrestle & Flow, himself, Josiah Williams, breaks it down from top to bottom! Women’s Dusty Cup makes history for the Women’s (R)Evolution, the Evil Genius tries to ride the Mercedes and weather the Storm, and while some #MustSeeKids take on some Grizzled Young Veterans, the Prince protects his throne from a Bruiserweight!
Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Shotzi Blackheart & Ember Moon VS Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez!
History is being made once again! The first-ever Women’s Tag Team tournament in NXT has finally reached the goal, and only one duo can challenge the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions! But will the wild child and Shenom Take Care o’ Business? Or will #CapKota and #BigMamiCool crush those dreams while chasing their own?
The teams sort out and Shotzi starts against Raquel as fans fire up already. Shotzi runs but gets run over, and Raquel drags her up to scoop. Shotzi slips around to a sleeper and body scissors! Raquel throws Shotzi off hard, Ember tags in, and Ember gets around to waistlock. Raquel tries to throw Ember off but Ember holds on, so Raquel elbows free! Ember comes back and tilt-o-whirls into an IRON OCTOPUS! Raquel stays up, powers up and hits a SIDEWALK SLAM! Shotzi tags back in and Raquel dares them both to bring it! Raquel runs in but into double kicks! Ember and Shotzi club, wrench, but Raquel kicks Shotzi away and whips Ember to a corner.
Ember leaps but the Code Breaker is blocked! Raquel throws Ember out, but Shotzi comes around to springboard and sunset flip! Raquel drops down to cover, TWO! Raquel brings Shotzi up and around and thrashes her into a corner! Raquel RAMS Shotzi, scoops her, and then spins around before she RAMS Shotzi into another corner! Dakota tags in, Raquel still holds Shotzi up and Dakota BOOTS her into the SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Dakota drags Shotzi up and whips her to a corner. Dakota runs around the world but Shotzi dodges! The boot gets stuck, Shotzi kicks the leg! Dakota shoves Shotzi away but Shotzi gets the legs for a Cloverleaf SPINEBUSTER!
Shotzi steps over and sits deep, but Dakota reaches for ropes! Dakota gets the ropebreak, Shotzi lets go to tag Ember. Shotzi puts Dakota on the ropes, and welcomes her to the BALL PIT! Ember KNEES Dakota back in then slingshot SPLASHES! Cover, TWO! Ember drags Dakota back up, wrenches, tags in Shotzi, and they split the wishbone on Dakota! Shotzi gets the leg, drags Dakota over, throws forearms, then puts a leg on ropes. Dakota fights both Shotzi and Ember off, but Shotzi blocks the Penalty Kick to roll back! HALF CRAB! Shotzi sits on the leg deep, Dakota endures and fights her way up, to enziguri but miss! Tag to Ember, she and Shotzi each take a leg for a rolling TOSS!
Ember has a HEEL HOOK! Dakota endures, punches at Ember’s leg, but Ember cranks harder on the hold! Dakota drags herself and Ember, but Ember drags Dakota back the other way! Dakota endures, throws hands, but Ember hits back. Ember cranks on the heel more, but Dakota keeps kicking and crawling. Dakota reaches, but Ember drags her away from Raquel again! Fans rally while Raquel is chomping at the bit. Dakota uses her free leg to kick and stomp Ember! Dakota drags herself back over but Ember kicks and stomps her back! Ember drags Dakota over, but Raquel distracts the ref from seeing the tag to Shotzi!
Shotzi has to go back out, Ember argues with the ref but Dakota is crawling to her corner! Ember runs over to DECK Raquel and drag Dakota away! Ember gives the leg a DDT! Ember turns the leg for a scorpion crab! Dakota crawls for an open corner, rolls and throws Ember into buckles! Hot tag to Raquel! Raquel rallies on Ember, Ember dodges one clothesline but Raquel pulls hair to give another LARIAT! Raquel shoves Ember to a corner and dribbles her off buckles! The ref reprimands, Raquel TOSSES Ember across the way! Raquel sucker punches Shotzi, then scoops Ember for a FALL AWAY SLAM! Raquel drags Ember up to FALL AWAY SLAM again!
Raquel drags Shotzi in, scoops her, and gives her a FALL AWAY SLAM! Cover on Ember, ONE!! Raquel is seething but Dakota is back. Raquel tags her in, then helps Dakota balance up top, to leap and LARIAT Ember! Cover but Shotzi sentons it apart! Shotzi throws hands on Raquel, Raquel throws her to the apron, but Shotzi drags Raquel out! Shotzi keeps throwing hands, then leaps, only for the rana to be blocked! Raquel BOMBS Shotzi into the boards! Raquel tells Dakota they can finish this now that it’s just Ember. Dakota tags Raquel but Ember runs in and dropkicks Raquel down! Ember boots Dakota away then hits a SPINNING POWERSLAM!
Raquel returns, Ember fires off on her but Raquel clinches Ember for Dakota’s DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!! Ember survives but Raquel drags her up, only for Ember to jawbreaker! Raquel ROCKS Ember with a right and tags in Dakota. Raquel whips Ember to a corner, Dakota runs in side to side to BOOT WASH! Dakota drags Ember to a cover, TWO! Dakota grows annoyed, but she drags Ember back up and over. Tag to Raquel, but Ember moves and Raquel CLOBBERS Dakota by accident! Ember dodges Raquel, then sends Dakota into her! Ember runs to LEG LARIAT Raquel and make her DDT Dakota!
Ember goes up top, leaps, ECLIPSE!! Cover, but Dakota distracts the ref! Dakota saves Raquel but Ember gets the ref’s attention. The count finally starts, TWO!! Raquel survives thanks to Dakota! Ember is furious and she drags Dakota in by her hair! Raquel gets Ember but Shotzi missile dropkicks outta nowhere! Cover, TWO!! Ember SUPERKICKS Raquel down! Cover, TWO!! Raquel is still in this but fans are fired up! “This is Awesome!” as Dakota and Shotzi tag in! Shotzi shotguns Dakota down, then arm-drags her around! Shotzi runs in to corner splash! Shotzi rolls Dakota to SLING-DOG! Fireman’s carry, SWINGING FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!!
Dakota survives, Shotzi fires up, but Dakota throws Shotzi into ropes! Tag to Raquel, Shotzi enziguris her first! Raquel wobbles, Shotzi cravats and goes up the corner, but no Sliced Bread! Raquel shoves Shotzi to the ropes, Shotzi elbows her back, and then cravats again, for a SUPER SLICED BREAD!! Cover, but Dakota breaks it! Ember storms right in to throw Dakota out hard! Ember opens the way, Shotzi DIVES! Direct hit takes Dakota down! Fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” as Shotzi hurries back in. Raquel staggers up, Shotzi tags Ember. Ember climbs, Shotzi sets Raquel up, NECKBRAEKER to CODE BREAKER! Springboard SUNSET BOMB! Ember covers, TWO!
Ember hurries right up but Dakota is there! Ember kicks Dakota away, Shotzi grabs Dakota! SUPER DOOMSDAY!! Shotzi and Ember rise and high-five, but Raquel comes around to CLOBBER Shotzi! Ember avoids Raquel’s clothesline, and DROPKICKS her into the steel steps! Ember gets in the ring, Raquel grabs a foot but Ember kicks her away. Raquel still pursues, Ember kicks the legs out, then gets those legs for a figure four, EMBER’S LAW!! Raquel endures the crossface, but Dakota BOOTS Ember down! Dakota hurries away, tags in, but so does Shotzi! Shotzi fires off on Dakota but Dakota shoves and SCORPION KICKS!
Dakota hops on for KAI-ROPRACTOR! Cover, TWO!?! Shotzi survives but Dakota tags to Raquel! Raquel scoops Shotzi, Dakota runs, ASSISTED GO TO KICK! Cover, Ember breaks it! Raquel shoves Ember, and then POUNCES her out of the ring onto the ramp!! Ember crashes and burns, Raquel storms out and POUNCES her to the boards!! Raquel makes sure Ember is out but Shotzi triangle SPLASHES Raquel down! Cover, TWO!! Shotzi dropkicks Raquel, but Dakota runs over! Shotzi throws Dakota out to Raquel and they crash onto the ramp! Fans are thunderous as Shotzi goes up top, only for Raquel to shove her right down!
Raquel picks Dakota up to TOSS her onto Shotzi for a splash! Then Raquel drags Shotzi up to finish her, with the DESPERADO BOMB!! Double cover, Raquel & Dakota win!!
Winners: Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez, by pinfall (inaugural Women’s Dusty Cup Winners)
And history has found its makers! William Regal congratulates them on stage, and the confetti flies! But this is just the beginning! When will these two have their shot against the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions? And who will they be facing when that time comes?
NXT North American Championship: Johnny Gargano VS KUSHIDA!
The Way has been doing things their way and getting away with it. But the Time Splitter wants to end that! Will Kushida start to get his way with the title?
The Way hypes Johnny TakeOver up backstage, and they head out together. But with Johnny and Candice leading the way, they don’t see Dexter Lumis KIDNAPPING AUSTIN THEORY!! Indi didn’t even notice and now they’re down the #RealSuperstar! And Gargano can’t get his No Look High Five! Candice and Indi realize Theory is gone, so they go look for him. Gargano has to focus, but can he?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and one way or another, Gargano and Kushida finally have this match out!
Gargano and Kushida tie up, Gargano headlocks, Kushida powers out but Gargano runs him over! Things speed up, Gargano rolls but Kushida leaps on with body scissors! HOVERBOARD! Gargano gets to ropes right away and Kushida lets go. Kushida says it was that close, but Gargano just shakes his arm out. Gargano and Kushida go again, Kushida wants a leg but Gargano guards. They clinch, Gargano goes low to get the leg, trips Kushida, but Kushida uses legs to hold him off. Kushida shifts around, Gargano has the leg to toehold, but Kushida moves around to get Gargano’s arm again. Kushida gets a chinlock, digs his elbows in, then shifts around again to get the arm.
Fans rally as the two go back and forth, Kushida facelocks but Gargano blocks with holding Kushida’s leg. Kushida ties up Gargano’s legs for a figure four stretch, then wants an arm. Gargano blocks that but Kushida rolls to go right after it! Kushida digs forearms into Gargano’s face, pries at the arm, but Gargano shifts and gets a double wristlock of his own. Kushida fights up, Gargano facelocks, wrenches, wristlocks, and leans on Kushida. Kushida wrenches and sips around to drop toehold. Kushida shifts right to a facelock and fans rally again. Kushida wants the arms, Gargano blocks, so Kushida KNEES him in the shoulder!
Kushida holds on as Gargano rolls, then he floats all over to get the chinlock. Gargano endures as Kushida pulls back, then they fight up to their feet. Gargano powers out of the hold but Kushida runs him over! Things speed up, Gargano hurdles but Kushida leaps. Gargano ranas but Kushida handsprings through! Kushida runs into the school boy but ducks the kick! Gargano avoids a kick, too, then kicks low to whip. Kushida reverse, hip toss but Gargano rolls through to drag Kushida down to a press, then hooks the legs but Kushida escapes the ghost pin to STEAL the GargaNO Escape! Gargano scrambles to ropes, Kushida lets go, and fans are fired up for this technical exchange!
Kushida wrenches but Gargano ROCKS him and EuroUppers! Kushida fires off forearms in return but Gargano throws Kushida out. Gargano runs, slides but Kushida avoids the dropkick! Kushida is on the apron, Gargano avoids his leaping attack, then Gargano goes to the apron to SUPERKICK! Gargano drags Kushida up and RAMS him into steel steps! “This is MY world!” The ref checks on Kushida but he’s okay to continue, and fans jeer Gargano with “Johnny Sucks!” Gargano drags Kushida up, but Kushida suplexes to FALCON ARROW, to an ARMBAR! The ring count begins, it passes 5 of 10 and Kushida lets go at 7!
Kushida refreshes the count, throws off his shirt, and drags Gargano back up. Kushida hammerlocks Gargano’s arm, drags him around in a facelock, and hits a suplex ONTO the hammerlock’d arm! Gargano writhes from the chicken wing suplex, and the ring count is back up at 7! Kushida puts Gargano back in, then aims from a corner. Kushida runs around the world to dropkick the arm! Kushida stands on Gargano’s head and SLAMS the arm down! Gargano tries to leg guard but Kushida fights through it to go after the bad arm. Kushida throws down elbows, then pulls on Gargano’s arm. Gargano endures, Kushida SLAMS the arm again!
Kushida sits Gargano up, wrenches the arm, then isolates it, but Gargano powers out of the bulldog. Gargano runs into an elbow, then a boot! Kushida ends up on the apron but Gargano catches him in the ropes for a HOTSHOT NECKBREAKER! Kushida flops down to the floor while Gargano works on his bad arm. Gargano goes out to fetch Kushida but Kushida hits back. Gargano boots Kushida down, drags him up and puts him on the apron. Gargano SLAMS Kushida on the apron edge, then clubs him with elbows! The ring count is climbing, but Gargano gets in at 7. Gargano drags Kushida up, snap suplexes then covers, ONE!
Gargano drags Kushida up, turns him, but Kushida takes advantage of the bad arm to hook them! Gargano fights the backslide to spin Kushida for a GOURD BUSTER! Gargano PENALTY KICKS Kushida’s arm! Gargano mocks Kushida checking his watch, then stalks Kushida to a corner. Kushida clutches his arm but Gargano pulls Kushida against ropes with a chinlock! The ref reprimands and counts, Gargano lets off and brings Kushida up. Gargano wrenches, hooks up the arm and twists the neck. Gargano’s bad arm makes it difficult to hold the neck wrench, and Kushida fights free. Kushida hooks Gargano up for the IRON OCTOPUS!
Kushida gets the bad arm isolated and pulls! Gargano powers out, sits on the sunset flip, TWO and Kushida completes the flip! TWO, Gargano high stacks, ONE as Kushida pops him to a sunset! ONE as Gargano pushes to a lateral press, ONE as Kushida drags Gargano to a ghost pin! TWO, Gargano steps over an arm, but Kushida trips him up to do the same, La Magistrol! TWO, and DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! Fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” as Gargano and Kushida stir. Gargano gets his bad arm moving, Kushida grits his teeth. They both rise up, Gargano throws forearms but Kushida returns them!
Kushida kicks, Gargano blocks, Kushida fires off more then atomic drops to hip toss, cartwheel and dropkick! FAST BALL!! Kushida has the arms for INVERTED DANIELSON STOMPS! Kushida drags Gargano back up, underhooks the arms, but Gargano blocks! Gargano slips out to ROCK Kushida! Kushida ROCKS Gargano! Gargano ROCKS Kushida, then intercepts the Fast Ball with an enziguri! Kushida enziguris but Gargano ducks! Kushida ducks the buzzsaw and trips Gargano up, ANKLE LOCK! Gargano endures, fights up, gets the ropes, but Kushida reels him into a GERMAN SUPLEX! BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO!! Gargano survives because of his superhuman heart and Kushida can’t believe it!
The fans rally up, Kushida wrenches but Gargano CLUBS Kushida! Gargano runs but Kushida throws him out, to then handspring kick, but Gargano gets clear! Gargano slingshots, but Kushida catches the spear! Kushida hooks up the arms, rolls, chicken wing suplex with a BRIDGE! Cover, TWO!?! Gargano escapes and fans chant, “That Was Three!” Fans duel, Kushida stalks Gargano to the apron, but Gargano resists being brought back up. Kushida gets him up but Gargano ENZIGURIS back! Gargano slingshots, into the FAST BALL! Kushida drags Gargano up to wrench the arm through ropes, to POST the arm!!
Fans are thunderous as Kushida climbs up and drags Gargano up the corner. Gargano resists but Kushida has the KIMURA! Kushida drags Gargano up but Gargano shoves him away. Gargano adjusts but Kushida HANDSPRING KICKS! Kushida sits Gargano up, positions him just right, then climbs up to get the arm! Gargano endures the Kimura, Kushida shifts, but Gargano borrows and modifies MS. LERAE’S WILD RIDE! Gargano drags Kushida up, TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO?!?! Kushida survives and fans are thunderous again! Gargano seethes, staggers up and drags Kushida into a scoop. Kushida fights out, waistlocks, but Gargano has the arm!
Gargano wrenches, Kushida spins and arm-drags, but Gargano dodges to tilt-o-whirl! Kushida slips free, he tilt-o-whirls and hits a takedown! But Gargano slips out, gets Kushida, but Kushida slips out! They keep switching back and forth, Kushida gets a FUJIWARA! Gargano shifts but Kushida makes it an ARMBAR! Gargano makes that a cover, TWO!! DOUBLE LARIATS! They both fall to knees, and DOUBLE LARIAT again!! The fans are into electric territory as both men are down! A standing count begins, Gargano and Kushida slowly rise, and Kushida throws a forearm! Gargano throws a forearm back, so Kushida throws another.
They go back and forth, fans duel as they go, and Gargano brings Kushida up. Gargano throws a forearm but Kushida KICKS away on the arm! Kushida whips, Gargano reverses, but Kushida handsprings, into Gargano’s TAKEDOWN! GargaNo Escape!! Kushida endures, moves around, and fans rally as he reaches. Kushida gets his one arm free to go after Gargano’s bad arm! They roll around, Kushida has the KIMURA! Gargano endures, flails, Kushida adds leverage but Gargano gets up. Kushida rolls Gargano away, but Gargano makes it a EuroClutch! Kushida makes it a EuroClutch of his own, TWO!!! SUPERKICK! FAST BALL! Tilt-o-whirl, but Gargano blocks the takedown to LAWN DART Kushida into buckles!
Both men are down again and fans hope they “Fight Forever!” at this rate. But someone has to win, and Gargano starts to rise. Gargano drags Kushida up, but swings into Kushida’s clinch. Gargano fights off the buckle shot but Kushida elbows him, then CORNER HALF HATCHES! Kushida fires up, climbs up, and fans are thunderous again! Kushida reaches for Gargano, drags him up the corner, onto the top rope, and brings him around for a SUPER ARMBAR TAKEDOWN!!! Gargano flails, kicks, manages to clasp hands but Kushida punches away! Kushida pulls, breaks the grip, and Gargano is stuck!! Gargano flails, reaches, flaps his hand, but manages to turn over!
Kushida turns him again, but they’re closer to ropes! Gargano can’t reach, Kushida pulls harder, but Gargano gets the ropebreak by a foot! The ref counts, Kushida won’t let go but Gargano drags him out of the ring! Gargano grabs for fencing but Kushida holds on. Gargano RAMS Kushida into the apron, but Kushida still holds on! Gargano RAMS Kushida into the barriers and is free! Gargano scrambles back to the elevated ramp, and decides to retreat, but Kushida runs from the stage to PENALTY KICK the arm!! Maybe NOW it’s broken! Gargano staggers up, Kushida hops on, HOVERBOARD!!! Gargano stays on his feet to put Kushida in the rope and HOTSHOT him!
Kushida flops to the ramp, fans say “Johnny Wrestling” is back as he slingshots to ONE FINAL BEAT to the RAMP!!! Gargano puts Kushida back in, then crawls after with one good arm. The ref checks on Kushida, he is still okay, and he slowly rises. Gargano aims, slingshots, ONE FINAL BEAT AGAIN!! Cover, Gargano wins!!
Winner: Johnny Gargano, by pinfall (still NXT North American Championship)
This dream match is an instant classic! And Gargano won it all on his own! Is he finally going to leave the Time Splitter in the past? What challenges are in store in the future? Oh, and what about Austin?!
Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Finals: Grizzled Young Veterans VS MSK!
Liverpool’s Number One and Mr. Mayhem are back in the finals, where they ended last year, but without the win. And now, they’re against a young team who made it here their first year in NXT! Will these #MustSeeKids, Nash Carter & Wes Lee SSSSOON~ leave GYV reliving history? Or will the hot streak end here as Zack Gibson & James Drake finally put their names on the trophy’s plaque?
Gibson has the mic to tell MSK they’ve had “quite the emotional journey to get here today.” But take this “friendly advice” from the veterans: “Wipe that stupid smile off your face and take this seriously!” This is not here for fun, and they are not going to enjoy a single second of this fight! They can take their sob stories, their flips, spins and “daft green pajamas,” and stick them all up your asses! That trophy belongs only to the Grizzled Young Veterans! The teams sort out and Gibson starts with Carter.
Gibson and Carter hear the fans rallying up, then they tie up. Gibson powers Carter to a corner, Carter goes up the buckles and pushes back. Carter headlocks and hits a takeover. Gibson hooks a leg with a leg to pry Carter off. Gibson goes after the arm and grinds it down. Carter fights up, rolls, hooks a leg and gets the chinbar, but Gibson drags Carter off. Gibson pulls on fingers, twists the wrist, and tells Carter, “This is what you signed up for!” Carter fights up, Gibson wrenches but Carter rolls, handsprings and flips to arm-drag Gibson away. Gibson rams Carter into the GYV corner and Drake tags in.
GYV mugs Carter, Drake ROCKS Carter with a right, and Drake headlocks to hit a takeover. Drake grinds Carter down, Carter fights up but fans rally. Carter powers out, drops then hurdles and runs around. Carter dodges, to springboard tornillo attack! Carter wrenches Drake and whips him to the MSK corner! Carter runs in to uppercut Drake, tag in Lee, and Lee enziguris Drake down! Lee swings in to boot Drake, then Carter runs in to BRONCO BUSTER! Carter adds some bounces, Lee drags Drake up, but Drake denies the lift! Drake wrenches out, headlocks, but Lee powers out. Gibson tags in, they play leap frog, Lee BOOTS Drake and RANAS Gibson!
Tag to Carter, Lee blows past Gibson and Carter KICKS! Lee KICKS, Carter KICKS, Lee enziguris and Carter DOUBLE STOMPS! GYV regroups on the outside but Lee builds speed to handspring, SASUKE SPECIAL! Direct hit and Lee gets back in, to be Carter’s launch pad! Carter FLIES and takes out Drake! But Gibson CLOBBERS Carter! Gibson drags Carter up, puts him in, and stays in his way to throw forearms and elbows. Gibson turns Carter to the neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Carter barely escapes but Gibson shifts to a modified half nelson. Carter gets the ropebreak with a foot but Gibson smothers him!
Gibson ROCKS Carter to the corner, tags Drake, and Drake rolls to run in for a big back elbow! Gibson adds a clothesline and feeds Carter to Drake’s windmill kick! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! A third cover, ONE!! Drake is growing frustrated with Carter and he digs a knee into Carter’s back. Drake pulls Carter back with a chinlock, Carter fights up, and Carter arm-drags free! Drake CLOBBERS Carter with an elbow, covers, TWO! Fans duel as Drake stays between Carter and Lee. Tag to Gibson, GYV double whip Carter to ropes, and double clothesline Carter down! Cover, TWO! Gibson has the arm, gets another cover, TWO! Gibson shifts around, another cover, ONE!
Lee coaches Carter up but Gibson has a facelock. Carter fights up, throws body shots, but Gibson EuroUppers! Tag to Drake, GYV double whip but Carter holds ropes. Carter BOOTS Drake, goes up and over Gibson but Drake CLOBBERS Carter! Cover, TWO! Carter survives and Drake is losing his cool. Drake drags Carter and puts him in the GYV corner. Carter throws elbows and forearms to fight out but Drake kicks low! Drake reels Carter in but Carter hits the suplex first! Both men are down and fans fire up! Drake and Carter crawl but Gibson goes after Lee! Lee ROCKS Gibson but the ref separates the two.
Gibson gets in, drags Carter up, Drake climbs, GYV hit a missile dropkick complete shot combo! Cover, TWO!! Carter survives but Drake drags Carter around to throw elbows into his shoulder over and over and over! Drake looms over Carter, drags him up, snapmares and KNEES him in the back then wraps on a new chinlock. Carter endures but is starting to fade. Fans rally and duel as Lee coaches Carter up. Carter gets to his feet, throws body shots but Drake knees low! Drake wrenches, whips, and tags Gibson. Gibson runs in to clothesline, then he feeds Carter to- No! Carter slides under Drake’s windmill, hot tag to Lee!
Lee leaps over Gibson to CLOBBER Drake, then he hits Gibson after all! Lee clotheslines Drake out, fires off strikes on Gibson, snapmare to basement dropkick! GYV regroups on the outside, but Lee goes corner to corner to FLY!! Lee goes over the corner to take them both out! Lee puts Gibson in, aims from a corner, springboards and handsprings to PELE Gibson down! Cover, TWO!! That was a Must-See Kick, but it didn’t end things! Lee heads back to the corner, climbs up, but Drake anchors a foot! Lee kicks Drake away but Gibson trips him up! Lee hits the mat, Gibson slaps the stars away, and Gibson drags Lee back up. Gibson brings Lee up but Lee counters the bomb to a FACEBUSTER!
Tag to Carter and MSK coordinates, catapult into a SUPERKICK! Then an assisted shotgun dropkick to Drake! Carter fires up and the fans follow. Carter glares at Gibson and Carter asks if Gibson really wants to see the serious side of MSK! Gibson swings but Carter fires off haymakers! Carter drags Gibson down and rains down fists! Gibson gets away, Carter dodges the chop to springboard and CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!?! Gibson survives and Carter is beside himself! Fans are thunderous as both men are down but rising again. Carter stomps Gibson, tags Lee, and MSK bring Gibson up. Gibson elbows free, elbows Lee then boots Carter! Lee hits back with body shots but Gibson throat chops!
Gibson storms over but Lee moves to ENZIGURI! Lee snapmares Gibson, handsprings but into a KNEE! Tag to Drake, Gibson lifts Lee, HELTER SKELTER to the 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!?!? Lee still lives and no one can believe it! “This is Awesome!” and far from over! GYV coordinate as Gibson tags, and Gibson Electric Chair lifts Lee. Lee fights, VICTORY ROLL out of Doomsday! Cover, but Drake breaks it! Gibson rains down furious fists, then gets up to tag Drake back in. GYV coordinate again, feed to the gut wrench, but Carter saves Lee! Lee shoves Drake into Gibson, GYV goes down, and MSK coordinates for the PUSH-SAULT! Lee POISON-RANAS Drake!
Tag to Carter, he goes up top, and Lee tags back in. SWANTON BOMB and TORNILLO SENTON! Cover, TWO?!?! Drake survives and MSK is in shock! Lee tags Carter, Carter brings Drake back up, and Lee runs, only for Gibson to dump him out! Drake clubs Carter, Gibson Electric Chair lifts Lee on the outside, Drake builds speed! TOPE DOOMSDAY SUICIDA!!! The fans are electric for “NXT! NXT!” again! GYV regroup to go after Carter but Carter ROCKS Drake! Carter DECKS Gibson but Drake CLOBBERS Carter! Tag to Gibson, and he drags Carter up. Carter still fires off fists and CHOPS on GYV!
Gibson ROCKS Carter, hoists him up for Drake, POWERBOMB BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO!!?!? How is Carter doing this?! Drake has to exit but he wants to finish this. Gibson sits Carter up and shouts, “You are in over your head!” Gibson SLAPS Carter, tags Drake, and then feeds Carter to the gut wrench. But Lee pushes Gibson away to save Carter! DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Carter tags Lee in, brings Drake up, slingshot for the BLOCKBUSTER HART ATTACK!! Cover, MSK WINS!?!?
Winners: MSK, by pinfall (2021 Men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Winners)
The new kids on the block just shocked the world!! This must be seen to be believed! Regal returns to congratulate the winners, and even more confetti flies! Is this historic 4-0 from round one to the finals just the beginning of big things for Carter & Lee?
WWE and NXT celebrate Black History Month.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
Cameron Grimes has a Wrestle & Flow song and music video!
Grimes is stackin’ up them dollar bills TOOO~ THEEEE~ MOOOOON~! And if you don’t like it, Grimes has three words for ya: KISS MUH GRITS!
NXT Women’s Championship Triple Threat: Io Shirai VS Mercedes Martinez VS Toni Storm!
The Evil Genius has had a golden target on her back, and while she won this belt in a Triple Threat, she might lose it in one! Will the real Mean Mercedes or the new Lightning From Down Under be the one to shoot Shirai out of the sky?
The introductions are made, but Mercedes doesn’t wait for any of that! She DECKS Shirai out of the ring, but Toni is right after Mercedes! The bell rings but the battle’s already begun!
Mercedes brawls with Toni, Toni kicks but Mercedes blocks and spins into a SLAM! Mercedes rains down rights, but Shirai comes in with a METEORA! Cover, ONE! Mercedes hits Shirai back, whips, but Shirai reverses to send Mercedes out hard! Toni kicks and whips but Shirai reverses, only for Toni to run her over. Things speed up, Toni rolls over Shirai’s drop, Shirai runs to handspring and side-step. Shirai goes Matrix to avoid the boot, then rolls Toni. Toni rolls through but runs into a FLAPJACK! Shirai dropkicks Mercedes back out, victory rolls and STOMPS Toni down! Fans are already fired up behind Shirai, and Shirai stomps away on Toni in a corner!
Shirai digs her boots in, then swings, but into Toni’s Alabama lift! Shirai fights off, Toni BOOTS her down! Toni runs and SLIDING LARIATS at the ropes! But Mercedes ROCKS Toni at the apron, drags her out, DRAPING TWISTING NECKBREAKER! Shirai watches from the apron to MOONSAULT, but Mercedes moves! Shirai hits barriers, Mercedes throws her over and out! Mercedes stalks Toni, puts her in the ring and stalks her. Mercedes clubs and covers Toni, TWO! Toni gets up but Mercedes stays on her. Toni throws a forearm, but Mercedes hits a TWO HAND SLAM! Cover, TWO! Mercedes grows annoyed but she stomps Toni down.
Mercedes drags Toni up, brings her around, and snap suplexes! Una amiga, another snap suplex! Dos amigas, but Toni blocks the third! Shirai returns, and missile dropkicks Mercedes down! Shirai runs corner to corner, SHINKANSEN for Mercedes! Shirai runs again but Toni gives her a SCRAPBUSTER! Toni runs in to HIP ATTACK Shirai! Toni runs the other way, but into Mercedes’ SPINEBUSTER! High stack cover, TWO! Mercedes is seething and she stalks Toni. Mercedes gets the legs, ties them up and gets a chicken wing crossface for a Queen Angelito STF! But Shirai dropkicks it apart! Shirai mule kicks Mercedes and drops down to a traditional crossface on Toni!
But Mercedes gets Shirai in a dragon sleeper! It’s a chain of submissions, but who will tap out first?! Toni endures, Shirai endures, Mercedes cranks harder and Shirai lets Toni go. Mercedes hits an INVERTED SUPLEX! Mercedes runs, but Skirai dodges and the boot gets caught up! Shirai runs to 619 Mercedes down! Shirai steps up to springboard missile dropkick! Mercedes flops all the way out but Shirai wants to keep after. Shirai climbs up but Toni stops her! Toni climbs up, but Mercedes trips Toni up! Mercedes shoves Shirai away, climbs up behind Toni and clubs away on the back! Mercedes hauls Toni up, SPIDER GERMAN SUPLEX!
Mercedes sits up to see Shirai and Shirai throws forearms! SHOTEI! Mercedes holds on but Shirai adjusts, WOE STOMPS! All three women are down and the fans are thunderous! Fans rally as the three stir, and Mercedes flops out of the ring to be safe. Shirai goes out after her and clubs away on Mercedes. Mercedes ROCKS Shirai with a haymaker, then fireman’s carries! DEATH VALLEY into the barriers! Toni gets Mercedes now with a SIDE EFFECT! Toni grits her teeth as she gets up and pulls apart the announce desk cover! The desk falls apart, Toni was too rough with it! Toni drags Mercedes up and underhooks her arms, but Mercedes fights out to DDT Toni down!
Mercedes staggers, but Shirai is up on the girders again!! Shirai SUPER CROSSBODIES Toni and Mercedes down! Fans are fired up for “NXT! NXT!” all over again as all three women are down! The ref checks on them all but they’re all somehow okay to continue. Mercedes rises first and she hobbles along the ring apron. Mercedes looms over Shirai, drags her up, and THROWS her into the steel steps! Shirai writhes but Toni grabs Mercedes. Mercedes blocks the apron bump to bump Toni first! Mercedes puts Toni in, runs and KNEES her down! Toni flounders up, Mercedes has the wrists, for KAMIGOYE! And another! And ANOTHER!
But Mercedes isn’t done there, she drags Toni up and into a fisherman BUSTER! Cover, TWO!?! Toni survives all of that and Mercedes can’t believe it! Fans are thunderous again as Mercedes gets up. Mercedes drags Toni into a fireman’s carry, but Toni fights free! Toni rolls Mercedes to HEADBUTT! Toni underhooks, for STORM ZERO!! Cover, TWO?!?! Now Toni is in disbelief! Toni drags Mercedes around, goes to a corner, climbs up top, FLYING HEADBUTT!! Cover, but OVER THE MOONSAULT!! Cover on Mercedes, Shirai wins!!!
Winner: Io Shirai, by pinfall (still NXT Women’s Champion)
The Evil Genius finds a solution to the Triple Threat and retains her title! What will it take to take that title away from her?
William Regal official signs LA Knight to NXT!
We see Regal hand Knight the contract and Knight signs it on the dotted line. Will Knight look to make major moves as soon as this Wednesday?
NXT Championship: Finn Balor VS Pete Dunne!
The Prince knows he is a target, and dared everyone to step up. The Bruiserweight did step up, but he did have some help from Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch. Will the Kings of NXT add another belt to the collection by dethroning Balor? Or will Balor show us what Edge meant when he said Balor’s “operating on an entirely different level?”
The introductions are made, THE belt in NXT is raised, and tensions are high as this battle of UK-Euro wrestling icons begins!
The fans are already fired up for “NXT! NXT!” as the two tie up. Balor puts Dunne on ropes, Dunne turns it around but Balor turns it back. They end up in the corner, the ref counts and Balor lets off. Balor and Dunne circle as fans rally more. They tie up with knuckle locks, Dunne brings Balor in and wants the arm. Balor counters to get Dunne’s arm and grinds Dunne down. Balor shifts to clamp onto the shoulder but Dunne gets a leg. Dunne has a toehold, fights off Balor’s forearms, but Balor avoids fingers being snapped! Balor gets the arm but Dunne gets away before the armbar is on. The two reset and tie up again, and Balor wants Dunne’s arm.
Balor wrenches to a wristlock but Dunne throws Balor down, only for Balor to hold on. Balor has a wristlock, Dunne fights up and grabs at Balor. Dunne hooks a leg, chinbars, but Balor pulls on Dunne’s fingers to bring him down! Balor has the shoulder again, Dunne moves around, and Dunne gets to his feet. Balor wrenches to another wristlock, Dunne powers him back, and then Dunne jumps up to monkey flip! Balor still has the wrist! Fans cheer as Balor stays on Dunne’s shoulder, but Dunne fights up to arm-drag! Balor drags Dunne back and is again on the arm. Dunne endures, fights free, kips up, and wrenches. Balor gets away to avoid the finger snapping!
Dunne and Balor reset again, circle more, and fans fire up as they tie up again. Balor hits a headlock takeover, Dunne grinds forearms in Balor’s face, but Balor cranks on the hold again. Dunne fights his way up, powers out, but Balor powers out! Balor headlocks to hit a takeover and grinds Dunne down again. Balor pushes the shoulders down, ONE as Dunne gets up. Dunne powers out, but Balor runs him over again! Cover, TWO! Balor has the headlock takeover again but Dunne headscissors right away! Dunne holds tight with an almost figure four necklock! Balor endures, fights his way around, but Dunne drags him back down.
Balor tries to pry the legs apart but Dunne pushes up to add leverage! Balor moves again, Dunne tries to keep him down but Balor pops free to get the headlock! Dunne headscissors, Balor kips free but Dunne handsprings up and away! Fans cheer the technical exchange and stare down! Dunne and Balor circle again, tie up, and Dunne pushes Balor to ropes. The ref calls for the reak but Dunen rams into Balor point blank! Balor staggers away, holding his jaw. Balor feels Dunne closing in and puts him in a corner. Dunne is after the fingers, Balor tries to get away but Dunne straddles Balor. Dunne keeps Balor stuck as he tortures the arm and fingers!
Balor endures but back drops, only for Dunne to sunset flip! Balor rolls through but Dunne drags him into a triangle hold! Balor moves around, pops free, hooks Dunne’s arm but Dunne resists being turned over. Balor keeps after the arm, Dunne goes to clasp hands, but Balor sneaks in to cording hold and bring Dunne to a cover! ONE and Dunne has an ARMBAR! Balor clasps hands, Dunne uses his leg against Balor’s jaw to get leverage! Balor fights up, they move around, Dunne has the arm mounted and uses his leg to pry things apart. Dunne hammerlocks an arm, stands on it, and gets the other arm! Balor endures but Dunne YANKS the arm way back!!
Balor’s caught and Dunne bends even the fingers! Balor moves around, rolls away and gets to a corner. Dunne is after him again, drags him up and wrenches to a double wristlock. Dunne drags Balor down, Balor tries to clasp hands from behind, but Dunne mounts Balor’s head. Dunne BENDS those fingers way back! And then the elbow, and Dunne has a double wristlock with headscissors! Balor endures as fans rally, and he moves around. Dunne keeps on the arm, stands on Balor’s head and digs elbows into ribs. The ref reprimands the standing on the head, Dunne stops to dig his elbow into every bit of Balor’s arm!
Dunne uses knuckles then clawing fingers, then he STOMPS the armpit! Balor clutches that side of his body, but Dunne won’t let off! Dunne gets the arm but Balor stomps Dunne’s foot! Dunne hobbles and Balor trips him up! Balor ties up the legs for a figure four stretch! Dunne endures, pushes with his arms but Balor shifts his own position to hold the legs together. Balor rolls for a modified butterfly deathlock! Dunne tries to grab at Balor but Balor adds pressure! Dunne sits up to go after Balor’s hands! Dunne jams the fingers but Balor lets Dunne go to stomp the leg! Balor shakes out his arm while Dunne clutches a leg. Balor trips Dunne and wants the Half Crab!
Dunne resists, Balor drops elbows on the knee! Balor has the toehold, Dunne tries to chinlock back but Balor pulls on the foot. Dunne wants to pull at Balor’s ear but the ref already reprimands, and Balor just adds torque to the toehold! Dunne clubs away on Balor’s back then goes after the face. The ref reprimands, Dunne stops but then sits up to give short headbutts. Balor elbows Dunne down, cranks on the leg, but Dunne sits up again to grind his forearm into Balor’s face. Dunne is free of the toehold and has a facelock! Dunne cranks on Balor in return but Balor fights, only for Dunne to give him a nasty X-PLEX! Cover, TWO! Dunne snarls as he and Balor rise.
Dunne forearms, Balor forearms back, repeat! They brawl, Dunne CHOPS and Balor ends up in a corner. Balor gets the leg to put it on the rope and drops a knee on the knee! Dunne crawls, clutches the leg, and fans fire up again. Balor gets the bad leg, trips Dunne up, but Dunne resists with an armbar. Balor has a cover from this position, ONE, and Dunne drags Balor down! Leg hook cradle, TWO! Balor grabs Dunne’s bad leg but Dunne enziguris hard! Balor comes back to LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Balor seethes while Dunne clutches his leg. Balor grits his teeth as he paces. Dunne crawls to ropes but Balor stomps him down!
Balor stomps Dunne again, then moves to springboard stomps over and over! The ref counts and Balor tops it off with a springboard knee drop! Balor has the leg, clubs away on it, then drops down for a deathlcok! Dunne resists so Balor just clubs away on him! Balor reaches through and gets the STF! Dunne is caught, fading, but he pries at the fingers! Balor tells him don’t, but Dunne uses his forehead to get loose, and then Dunne JAMS the fingers into the mat! Dunne is free of the hold while Balor clutches his fingers, but the fans rally up. Balor CHOPS Dunne in a corner, pulls him against ropes, then lets off to CHOP him again!
Dunne hits back but Balor whips him corner to corner and CHOPS again! Balor stomps and chokes Dunne at the ropes but lets off as the ref counts. Balor CHOPS Dunne, Dunne CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS back! Dunne whips, Balor reverses, Dunne goes up but can’t quite go over because of the bad leg! Balor dropkicks the leg out! Balor drags Dunne right up, dragon sleeper, elbow drop- NO! Dunne arm-drags then ROCKS Balor with that forearm! Balor PELES, but Dunne catches it! Dunne throws Balor down and gets the wrist for DANIELSON STOMPS! Dunne drags Balor around, reels him in to HEADBUTT, then brings him back in for a SIT-OUT BOMB! Cover, TWO!
Balor survives but both men are down. Fans fire up as the two stir and Dunne kicks Balor away from his leg. Dunne goes after Balor’s arm but Balor resists. Dunne twists the arm into the hammerlock, and STOMPS IT! Balor clutches his arm but Dunne drags him up. Dunne shoves Balor to ropes, SNAP GERMAN! Dunne DOUBLE STOMPS Balor’s hands! But Balor ducks the buzzsaw to kick out Dunne’s leg! Balor rises, fires off on Dunne, and hits a BACKSTABBER! Then the elbow drop DDT! Balor fires up, aims from a corner, and Dunne stands up to get the SHOTGUN! Balor hurries as Dunne is in the drop zone! COUP DE- NO! Dunne catches Balor to a TRIANGLE!
Dunne throws elbows into Balor’s head and Balor is already turning red! Dunne slaps and hammers Balor’s head but Balor moves around! Balor reaches, but Dunne rolls him from the ropes! Dunne squeezes even tighter, gives more hard shots to Balor’s head, but Balor scoots back! Balor finds the ropes with a foot! The ref counts, Dunne lets go but Balor might already be out! The ref checks on Balor but Dunne shows no mercy! Dunne drags Balor in, but Balor flops and gets to ropes. The ref keeps Dunne back and asks Balor if he wants to continue. Balor does, so Dunne BOOTS him in the jaw! Pump handle, but no Bitter End! Balor reels Dunne in but no 1916 as Dunne has the fingers!
Balor knees low and reels Dunne into the cobra twist! Dunne falls and Balor makes it part crossface! Dunne sees fingers and grabs at them! Dunne SNAPS the fingers!!! Balor clutches his digits but Dunne drags him up. Balor throws forearms with the good arm and he knocks Dunne down! Balor gives those Danielson Stomps back but Dunne won’t let go! Dunne pump handles but Balor elbows Dunne away! Dunne yanks the arm harder for an unofficial low blow! And he hits BITTER END!! Cover, TWO!??! Balor survives Dunne’s best shot?! Fans are thunderous for this match again as Dunne stalks Balor.
Balor sits up, Dunne DOUBLE STOMPS the hands! And then DOUBLE STOMPS again!! BUZZSAW! Powerbomb- DDT COUNTER!! Balor fires up, runs, but into an ENZIGURI! He PELES through! Dunne PENALTY KICKS from behind! Pump handle, BITTER- NO! BLOODY SUNDAY!! Cover, TWO!! Dunne survives, AND has Balor’s fingers! Balor tries to get away but Dunne rises! Balor stomps the bad foot! Dunne still SNAPS the fingers! Balor DOUBLE STOMPS Dunne on the back! Balor sits Dunne up, and takes his mouth guard away! Balor takes aim, to basement dropkick Dunne in the face! Dunne is down, Balor goes up top, COUP DE GRACE!!!! Balor shows no mercy, he gives Dunne the 1916!!!! Cover, Balor wins!!!
Winners: Finn Balor, by pinfall (still NXT Champion)
The Prince continues to endure and overcome immense pain to stay on his throne! Finn keeps the Bruiserweight from taking over NXT, what will it take for anyone to stop him? But wait, Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch attack! They aren’t happy that their guy lost! They mug Balor, throw him back into the ring, and Dunne joins in on the mugging! Fans boo and gives thumbs down, but referees can’t stop this! Burch and Lorcan throw the officials out, that’s a fine! Balor sits up just to get punched and stomped more! But here comes the UNDISPUTED ERA!
Adam Cole, Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly run the Kings off! Kyle checks on Balor, which Balor is surprised by. Kyle says he respects Balor and offers to help him up. Balor accepts the help, and Kyle says the UE have Balor’s back when he needs it. Balor appreciates that, and fans cheer as Balor stands with them. Is he going to throw up the UE? Cole SUPERKICKS Balor?!? Kyle and Cole argue, Strong tries to keep the peace, and Cole argues with Strong now. Cole SUPERKICKS Kyle?!?!? But Kyle was Cole’s friend! Cole was supportive of Kyle this whole time and yet he does this!? Cole tells Strong to follow him but Strong is speechless. Strong is frozen in place as Cole goes up the ramp. What does this mean for the Undisputed Era as a whole?!
My Thoughts:
Was this perhaps the best TakeOver ever? This feels way, way up there! Historic nature of everything aside, the matches were all top notch, we even got some bonus Wrestle & Flow for both the intro and that Cameron Grimes recap-meets-vignette, and some shocking story progressions. We even got something in the preshow, Eli Drake is here as “LA Knight,” which is any number of references in one name. He comes in pretty much Heel, so I don’t know what champion he’s facing, because there’s any number of reasons to think Balor’s card is full from here to the Summer. Though, Kross VS Escobar could be used to allow Knight a chance to test things with Balor.
The Dusty Cup finals matches were both great stuff, but I personally am just a touch confused by the decisions, probably because I’m looking at the “big picture.” Opening with the historic Women’s Dusty Cup finals was a great choice, and that match really could’ve gone either way, but here’s the thing. Naomi & Lana VS Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler is coming, and I don’t think the Heels lose. There could be Nia & Shayna VS Sasha & Bianca on SmackDown, but again, the Heels aren’t losing, that will be used just to build Sasha VS Bianca for Mania.
I suppose the beat-for-beat of the match is just standard formula for Dakota & Raquel, but it felt very Face formula. Would Dakota & Raquel end up the Faces- Actually, yes, they would be Faces by comparison to Nia & Shayna, and it’d be great if the inaugural Women’s Dusty Cup winners also became champions to mostly bring those titles to NXT for once. Again, this is still a great moment for Dakota & Raquel, they’ve both put in so much work over the years, they deserve something. Just not sure it lasts long if they’re just going to lose to the Raw superstars on virtue of Raw is “the main show.”
Similarly, I am very surprised that MSK won, but not necessarily in a bad way. The Face VS Heel dynamic makes sense, Oney & Burch are Heels and they still have the belts. But at the same time, GYV going back to back but not winning kinda hurts them. Now, Heel VS Heel doesn’t really fit how WWE does things, or how most promotions do things, really, but I felt like a “Faces by comparison” dynamic could’ve actually worked with GYV against Kings of NXT. Kings of NXT having that arrogance and swagger a la McAfee, Gibson giving them what for on the mic like he does everyone would’ve gotten fans on his side. Despite MSK being Faces, the CWC crowd was really into GYV, so it’s not impossible for Gibson to be a trash talking Face.
I love that, while on the way to the ring, Theory gets abducted by Lumis. This really takes the story to another level. Gargano VS Kushida was perhaps the best match of the night, though that is up for debate with Balor VS Dunne doing what they did. Kushida looked like he could’ve won at any point, but it was the math that doomed him with how he stood tall for the go-home. Gargano retains, and clearly Lumis is next. With how Gargano is going, if Kushida didn’t win tonight, I have no idea who is taking that from Gargano. But at the very least, Gargano and Kushida going this strong, Gargano can definitely give Lumis some in-ring shine.
Kushida himself still seems to be floating in the middle, would he be the one to take the Cruiserweight title from Escobar? The Cruiserweight title has finally gotten out of isolation on 205 Live, and Kushida, an international name perhaps even greater than Escobar, could elevate that entire division. The Women’s Triple Threat was great stuff, though that poor desk couldn’t hold up apparently. But that’s okay, a table spot of say a back drop out of the Strong Zero wasn’t going to be all that incredible. Everything else was, and it made a lot of sense for Shirai to take advantage of Storm taking out Mercedes. After this, we’ve got to get Shirai VS Mercedes 1v1, then maybe Shirai VS Storm 1v1 at another point.
Then, as I just said, Balor VS Dunne was also up there tonight. There was great story because of Balor’s bad jaw, how Dunne went after Balor’s fingers just last Wednesday, and how Balor managed to use technical skill to match Dunne. Balor retains because there are many Heel contenders moving up, but that twist with the Undisputed Era was amazing. Thinking back, maybe Cole being so supportive of Kyle only for Kyle to fail each time is exactly why this has happened. Cole still thinks HE is leader, he doesn’t like Kyle moving up and this is him asserting dominance. But whatever the motivation, Cole VS Kyle for the first time since they were both in ROH and fighting over the ROH World Championship is going to be some amazing stuff. Strong and Fish need to choose sides, and at the very least, I’m hoping reDRagon sticks together.
My Score: 9.7/10
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The Hollywood A-Lister’s got his own nightmare before Christmas!
Christmas is just a few days away, but things aren’t merry and bright for Raw! The Miz must face his fears as he faces Dexter Lumis 1v1!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Natalya VS Alba Fyre VS Iyo Sky; Iyo wins and advances to the next round.
- Chad Gable w/ Team American Made VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy; Gable wins.
- Dominik Mysterio VS Damian Priest; Damian Priest wins, by disqualification.
- The Miz VS Dexter Lumis; Lumis wins, by disqualification.
- Sami Zayn VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Drew McIntyre walks to gorilla.
The Scottish Terminator makes his way through the curtain and to the stage, and the fans have a mixed reaction as he goes to the ring. McIntyre grabs a mic, and he says, “After Hell in a Cell, I’ve never been so beat up in my entire life. 16 staples in my head, my back almost broken from landing on the steel steps. And I went home to Scotland. The reason I went home, and I haven’t really talked about it publicly, is because a very close family member passed away. Some people probably feeling sympathy right now. Some guys in the back are probably talking to each other, saying, ‘I didn’t know.’ Maybe if you cared enough, you would’ve asked.
“Over these past two months, guess how many people phoned me to check. Not how I was doing mentally but how I was doing physically after Hell in a Cell. ONE PERSON! These past 17 years, I’ve been led to believe we’re all a big happy family in the back. We’re brothers and sisters, we travel the world together, we spend more time with each other than with our actual families, but it’s all BS! My brother, John, in Scotland wouldn’t stab me in the back to take my spot, but people like Jimmy, Jey and Sami 100% would.” The fans boo that, then chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” McIntyre says that proves his point.
After watching everything The Bloodline did, Jey says he is a changed man. He does a cute hand sign, he says a made-up word, and the fans just forget about it and move on. That’s the other thing McIntyre realized: He has given and given and given all this time, and the fans turned on him for a guy who was gone for years and has told the WWE fans to go screw themselves! McIntyre was fighting for the fans, he thought they believed in him, so he believed in the fans! McIntyre bled out in the cell, and while he was gone, the fans instantly forgot him! The fans boo, that’s not true! But McIntyre says from now on, he gives no more for anybody!
McIntyre will take and take and he will tell the truth! The real villains are Roman Reigns and CM Punk! And if you choose to prop them up, as he already said, Jey, Jimmy & Sami, the things Roman did to you… Roman took a vacation, then simply snapped his fingers and they were by his side again! McIntyre suggests everyone who ever wronged McIntyre should sleep with one eye open. But wait, here comes Sami Zayn! The fans cheer and sing for Sami but Sami says hey, McIntyre is angry, he doesn’t have to believe Sami in place of believing everyone has ulterior motives. Sami doesn’t blame him.
But personally, man to man, Sami did not know what happened with McIntyre’s family. They figured he was recovering from one of the most vicious matches of all time. Sami thought that, all the guys ‘n’ girls in the back thought, and that’s all the fans thought. Believe that or not, fine, but Sami wants to level with McIntyre. Talk about 17 years, Sami has 22 years in this game. Sami’s been through what McIntyre’s been through. Sami’s had losses. Trust him. He has had losses he had to put on the side and go to work that week. The same sacrifices, from birthdays to weddings to funerals that he should’ve been at? Sami’s done it all.
Sami has put unnecessary stress on his wife, on his kid, and why? Because this is the life that they both chose! They are WWE SUPERSTARS! The fans cheer that! And as such, they are LUCKY to be WWE Superstars! And you think this is just your story or Sami’s story? Y’know who else has stories like this? Every single person sitting in the stands. Every single person at home! The kids who struggle at school, the adults who struggle at work, who struggle economically, physically, and they have their losses and sacrifices, but they still get up every day to do what they gotta do to soldier on, without pointing a finger at everyone else!
The fans fire up for that passion. Sami says McIntyre dares pointing a finger at the fans for forgetting him?! They didn’t forget, brother! They MADE McIntyre! And McIntyre still thinks the world revolves around him just because once upon a time, someone told him he was “The Chosen One.” But newsflash, just because you’re mad doesn’t make you special. And now McIntyre thinks everyone else is somehow tied to him? What Jimmy does has nothing to do with McIntyre. What Jey does has nothing to do with McIntyre! What SAMI does has nothing to do with McIntyre!
But McIntyre, if you want to still walk around all angry and pointing fingers at the fans, at Sami, at Jey, at Jimmy, at Punk, at Roman, and still be mad about The Bloodline, fine. No one is stopping McIntyre. But Sami has no problem being McIntyre’s problem and facing him in this ring right now! McIntyre says if Sami wants to know the truth… IT isn’t just anger. McIntyre’s anger comes from pain, and he doesn’t doubt what Sami just said. There was so much truth and passion, but it’s never the whole truth, is it? Sami has a way of spinning things. Because Sami can fly back home every week to his family. McIntyre is halfway across the world from his!
And no one here in Boston ever leaves Boston, they’re with their families 24/7! McIntyre doesn’t have that luxury! The fans boo that veiled insult, but McIntyre says he will remain calm and ask Sami why he wants this fight. They both know the result, we saw it time and time again, Sami has NEVER beaten McIntyre. So McIntyre suggests, given Sami isn’t 100%, and Sami’s wife and kid are here tonight… Sami should just walk back there, take their hands, and leave this arena. Of all those in the Bloodline, Sami is the least of McIntyre’s worries.
Sami says McIntyre is right about a couple things. When it comes to win-loss records, McIntyre has Sami’s number. And Sami is not 100%. Haven’t been since Saturday Night’s Main Event. And yes, the smart thing would be to just go home, celebrate and get healthy over the holidays. But Sami would so much rather do this. Sami fires hands! The fans fire up but McIntyre shoves Sami away. McIntyre swings, but gets caught! Sami lifts but McIntyre fights free, then GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT! McIntyre takes aim, but here comes JEY USO! The fans fire up as Jey runs down the ramp, slides in, and then dodges McIntyre to SUPERKICK!
The fans fire up as Jey & Sami DOUBLE LARIAT McIntyre up and outta the ring! The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” with Jey & Sami Uso! Will the Scottish Terminator’s mission be ended when Sami and/or Jey shut him down?
Adam Pearce is met by Pure Fusion Collective.
The Raw General Manager asks Sonya Deville what he can do for her and she says not much. She knows how stressful this job can be since she once had it. She’s just here to make things easier. And how’s that? Well, Kairi Sane is not cleared to compete, there is an opening in the tournament, and Sonya wants it. Oh, is that so? Y’know, Sonya, that is a terrible idea. They caused this scenario so he’s just gonna reward them? Are they outta their minds? And zip it! Plus, he already filled that vacancy with Iyo Sky. Happy Holidays! PFC is upset by that since Iyo just lost to Liv Morgan, but will there be nothing to stop the Evil Genius now?
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Natalya VS Alba Fyre VS Iyo Sky!
Just as Pearce said, PFC taking out the Pirate Princess will not mean they get away with murder! The Queen of Harts and the Fire Keeper must now figure out how to handle this change to the program. Will Iyo redeem herself for losing Saturday Night’s Main Event by moving on to the next round?
Raw returns and Alba makes her entrance, Isla Dawn seeing her to the ramp, and then Natalya makes her entrance. The bell rings and Alba kicks Natty then ELBOWS Iyo! Alba whips but Natty reverses and Alba tumbles out of the ring! Iyo rolls Natty, TWO! Iyo whips, Natty dodges in the corner and gets Iyo up! REBOUND SIT-DOWN, and then Natty steps on Iyo, only for Alba to trip Natty up! Alba brings Natty out to send into steel steps! But then Iyo DIVES onto Alba! The fans fire up with Iyo and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Natty brawls with Abla. Alba knees low, but Iyo CROSBODIES them both down! The fans fire up and Iyo SHOTEIS Alba! And SHOTEIS her again! And then DROPKICKS her down! Iyo brings Alba around, whips, but Alba reverses. Iyo goes up and out, then blocks a shot to ROCK Alba! The fans fire up, Iyo spirnboards, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Iyo handsprings up and the fans fire up again! Iyo gets the fans going, but Alba wrenches and facelocks, TORNADO DDT! Alba gets Iyo up again to GOURD BUSTER her onto Natty! Alba then rearranges them into the drop zone!
Alba goes up, the fans are torn, but Alba grins as she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover on Iyo, TWO! Cover on Natty, TWO! But into a KOJI KLUTCH! Natty endures, flails, fights around, but Alba holds on tight! Natty pushes, stacks Alba, TWO!! Natty has the legs! Alba flails now, but Iyo runs up! Natty trips Iyo onto Alba, and she has them both! Natty turns them both over, DOUBLE SHARPSHOOTER!! Iyo and Alba both flail, both claw at the mat, and Alba gets the ROPEBREAK! No disqualifications so Natty can hold on! But now Iyo drags herself under the ropes, and there’s no room left, so Natty has to let go!
Natty rises up and she stalks Iyo to the apron. Natty drags Iyo up but Iyo HOTSHOTS Natty! Natty staggers, rebounds, but Iyo jumps the baseball slide! Natty hits Alba down, and then Iyo PENALTY KICKS Natty! Iyo fires up and springboards, ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit on both targets and the fans fire up! Iyo hurries to get Natty up and into the ring, then she drags Natty into the drop zone. Iyo climbs, but Alba CLUBS Iyo first! Alba snarls as she climbs up, but Iyo holds onto ropes! Natty CLUBS Alba and she adds on! SUPER GERMAN SUPLEX on Alba! But Iyo stays up top to go OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Iyo wins!
Winner: Iyo Sky, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)
The Genius of the Sky moves on, ready to fly against The Morrigan! Will Iyo be able to get past Lyra Valkyria and head for the title?
Judgment Day sulks in the clubhouse.
Finn Balor tells JD McDonagh that he can’t believe this. This was supposed to be a Merry Christmas, Finn was supposed to be celebrating with two titles, and now he has none! Liv Morgan tells Raquel Rodriguez to tell Finn that the reason she suggested he stay away from Damian Priest is because she knew this would happen. Raquel starts to relay the message, but Finn has JD tell Liv that she’s got her own problems to worry about and to stay off his back. But then Liv tells Raquel to tell Finn that the reason she’s “on his back” is because he lost the tag titles. JD, tell Liv that Christmas is-
Dominik speaks up to stop the arguing. Christmas IS around the corner, and now they’re not even talking to each other? Dom says he’s gonna go talk with Pearce and get a match with Priest! Dom’s gonna step up for this family. Oh, Dom thinks he’s better than Finn? No, it’s not even like that. Dom has a plan. He’ll talk with Pearce then fill everyone in later. Dom heads out, JD prays for one week of no drama while it’s Christmas. Will Dirty Dom make sure The Punisher pays for screwing Finn & JD over? Or will Priest be given the gift of sending Dom South of Heaven?
Sami and Jey regroup backstage.
Sami can’t believe Jey didn’t text or call about the comeback. Jey says, “My bad.” But Sami says it’s fine, he’s happy Jey is back. And thanks for having his back out there tonight and every night, Sami appreciates Jey. Jey thanks Sami for that, and says you know he had to come back for payback. Jey is gonna handle business! Actually, Sami was kinda hoping he could handle McIntyre. Sami talked a big game, he’s gotta back it up. But Sami, you’re not even 100% tonight. Sami knows, but he started something so he has to finish it. Jey says alright. He’s got next! They secret handshake and Jey wishes Sami luck. Will Sami finally get a win on McIntyre in a Christmas miracle?
Chad Gable w/ Team American Made VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy!
As “Master” Gable said last week, it was about time he settled things with his past. Will Gable prove to the world that he was always the reason the Alpha Academy was relevant? Or will he find out he can’t keep up with the Stamina Monster?
Raw returns and the #AlphaBabes make their entrance, showing off that new merch while they’re at it. The bell rings and the fans rally up. Tozawa and Gable tie up, Gable wrenches and talks trash right to Tozawa’s face! Gable CHOPS Tozawa down, stands him up, CHOPS him down again, repeat! Gable whips and CLOBBERS Tozawa, then raises the fist. The fans boo more but Gable talks smack on Otis. Gable drags Tozawa up, suplexes, but Tozawa slips free! Tozawa SOBATS, spins, slides under, and SPIN KCIKS! Gable goes to a corner and Tozawa puts him up! But Gable gets Tozawa for a HANGING ARMBAR!
Otis protests, the ref counts, and Gable lets off at 4. Gable says he didn’t break a rule, and Otis never learns. Gable SLAPS Otis, slides into the ring, but Tozawa victory rolls! TWO, but Tozawa SUPERKICKS Gable down! Tozawa rips the shirt off, goes up top, and SUPER SENTRONS onto knees! Gable saves himself and hauls Tozawa up to GERMAN SUPELX! And then GERMAN SUPLEX again! Gable GERMAN SUPLEXES again! But he isn’t done, Gable spins Tozawa around, and POWERBOMBS him! ANKLE LOCK!! Tozawa flails but he’s so far from the ropes! Tozawa TAPS, Gable wins!
Winner: Chad Gable, by submission
But Gable won’t let go! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Gable just drops into a GRAPEVINE! So Otis storms in and he drags Gable off the leg! Otis TOSSES Gable! The fans are thunderous, but Team American Made steps up to support Gable. Gable says Otis never learns! But Otis’ hips are moving! He’s shaking, quaking, and the fans fire up, but American Made backs off. Will Gable finally fight Otis and put this beef to rest?
The New Day talks backstage.
They still don’t understand how everyone here doesn’t see things their way. But then Dirty Dom walks over, clapping with “New! Day Rocks!” Finally, someone who understands! Dom says he never liked Big E, but uh, no, what they did was crazy. Well, whatever, Broke Ass Tom Selleck! Dom says Tom Selleck wishes! Dirty Dom heads for gorilla, ready to fight for the Judgment Day. But will Dom go from “Broke Ass Tom Selleck” to just broken?
Dominik Mysterio VS Damian Priest!
Judgment Day’s history has always been a rocky one, but it has never been rockier than right now. Betraying Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest probably has a lot to do with it, but will Dom be able to smooth things over by taking Damian down? Or will Priest finally beat some sense into #LatinoCheat?
The bell rings and Dom bails right out! Dom dares Priest to come get him, but Priest says Dom needs to get back in the ring. Priest will even give him a free shot! Dom storms up to the apron, steps in, and takes that swing, but Priest blocks it! Then Priest BELL CLAPS Dom, DECKS him, then DECKS him again! Dom staggers around, Priest picks him up to SLAM DUNK! Dom staggers back up, into a torture rack! Priest bends Dom with the Argentine Backbreaker! Priest then THROWS Dom down and the fans fire up. Priest paces around, powers up his arm, and Dom rises. The fans rally and Priest runs, but Dom ducks a lariat!
Dom kicks, CLUBS and KICKS again! SUPERKICK! Then DROPKCIK! Priest staggers but Dom hurries to stalk behind him. Priest sits up first and glares at Dom. Dom panics, but he DUMPS Priest out! Dom builds speed to DIVE, but into Priest’s hands! FLATLINER onto the desk! The fans fire up and Priest drags Dom up to then POST him! Dom falls in a heap, but Priest puts Dom in the ring. Priest then notices a very suspicious Santa Claus. Priest snatches the beard away, and tada! It’s JD! Priest TOSSES JD and the fans cheer! JD wants mercy but Priest SLIDES him across the desk! The fans fire up as Wade narrowly avoids getting hit!
Priest then has a Spider Sense moment, and he looks under the ring! Carlito spits out his apple in surprise! Priest drags Carlito up and TOSSES him into the timekeeper’s area! But then Finn attacks!
Winner: Damian Priest, by disqualification
Finn fires hands, but Priest blocks the desk bump! Priest body shots and SMACKS Finn off the desk! And again, and again! Priest puts Finn in the ring, Dom runs up, but Priest DECKS him! Priest fires more hands on Finn, but the Judgment Day regroups! They mug Priest 4v1 as usual, and JD even drops elbows! The fans boo but the Judgment Day stand Priest up. WAIT! Here comes the War Raiders! Erik & Ivar fire hands on Dom & Carlito, and Priest TOSSES JD! Finn realizes he’s alone, and Priest SUPERKICKS him down! Priest stomps a mudhole into Finn, the Raiders put Carlito and Dom in the ring!
Ivar KNEES Carlito, then feeds him to Erik’s KNEE! The fans cheer, JD gets up, but Priest LARIATS him inside-out! Dom is fed to the WAR MACHINE!! Finn staggers up, but Priest grabs him! And Finn goes SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! The Judgment Day just got further embarrassed, and that’s not even considering JD’s Santa costume. Will the War Raiders be some unlikely allies for Priest in this ongoing war with the Judgment Day?
Sit-down interview with Seth Rollins.
Jackie Redmond thanks The Visionary for taking this time to talk with her, and he says it is his pleasure. Jackie talked with CM Punk and heard what he had to say, what Punk believes, when it comes to Rollins’ hatred for Punk. And we have heard from Rollins, as well, but Jackie’s still just curious. What is the root cause, the driving force, of this disdain he clearly feels for CM Punk? Rollins says the thing is, he has tried to explain how he feels many times over the years, and it sort of… Well, he won’t say he’s talking into the wind, but Rollins just feels Punk has needed the WWE more than the WWE needed him.
And so that hypocrisy from Punk is what just eats at Rollins. It is hard for Rollins to let that go. Jackie mentions how Rollins has talked about getting rid of it by “cutting it out” and fighting through it, and how this fight with Punk has to happen as a catharsis. What does “cutting” Punk out look like? What should we expect from, not even so much a match, that doesn’t feel like the right word now. Rollins says it’ll be fight. That’s what we’re getting, no question. It is the biggest fight in their sport right now, and Rollins needs it now. After Survivor Series, seeing Punk hand-in-hand with Roman Reigns… Roman’s finger in the air, Punk doing the stupid Go To Sleep thing…
Rollins just wanted to throw the remote through his TV, he was so viscerally, internally destroyed. Rollins felt that was it, no more waiting. The world needs to see it. This is perfect. The Netflix debut, the world will be watching. But to answer the question, he doesn’t know what it’ll look like. You might see a side of Rollins that no one’s ever seen. No pun intended, it will be raw, visceral, violent. Rollins needs to exorcise this demon from his soul, he has to cut the cancer out of his brain, or he is going down. Then the only way to process the betrayal is to go through a fight, and we get that on January 6th, Raw in LA for Netflix.
Jackie thanks Rollins for the time and his honesty. Rollins says yeah, he can’t wait. Will Rollins truly #BurnItDown when it comes to fight CM Punk?
The Miz VS Dexter Lumis!
The Hollywood A-Lister has his own history with the man now turned buzzard, and things are only worse now that this is about the Final Testament and the Wyatt Sick6. Will Miz manage to bury the past once and for all? Or will he get no mercy from Lumis?
Raw returns as Miz waits. A message flashes, “I OPENED THE DOOR,” and then the lights go down. And from that mysterious door to the other side, out steps Lumis. He takes off the Mercy the Buzzard mask, then rushes the ring! Miz scrambles right out as Lumis slithers along the mat! The fans cheer Lumis on while Miz tentatively returns to the ring. The bell rings, Miz wants Lumis to hold on, but Lumis swings hands! Miz bobs ‘n’ weaves, then throws a punch! Lumis just glares at Miz! Miz runs away, Lumis gives chase, and they go around the outside, then back inside! Lumis drags Miz out of the ring to ROCK him!
Miz staggers, Lumis THROWS him into barriers! The fans cheer, Lumis ROCKS Miz again, and then Lumis SMACKS Miz off the apron! Lumis pushes Miz into the ring, Miz bails out, but Lumis goes out to the apron. CANNONBALL! The fans fire up and Lumis brings Miz up. Lumis CLUBS Miz, stalks him, then puts him in the ring. Miz again asks for mercy, but then he tries a cheap kick! Lumis blocks and UPPERCUTS! Lumis scoops, Miz slips free and Miz BOOTS Lumis! Miz runs, but into a THESZ PRESS! Lumis rains down fast hands, then runs to AX HANDLE! The fans fire up and Lumis brings Miz up.
Miz breaks free to throat chop! The ref reprimands but Miz runs, only for Lumis to catch him! URENAGE! Lumis storms around, then goes looks to the corner. Lumis climbs, but wait, the Authors of Pain are here! So Lumis CANNONBALLS onto them! The fans fire up but Kross attacks!
Winner: Dexter Lumis, by disqualification
The Final Testament beats Lumis up and puts him in the ring. Miz stands, confident now that he has reinforcements. Kross says they’ve got Lumis where they want him, but Lumis looks to the sky. Seems it’s the other way around! The lights go down, and when they come up, the rest of the Wyatts are here! They brawl with Final Testament and then send them running! Nikki wants uppies, and Erik Rowan pops her up to POWERBOMB her out onto The Final Testament! Nikki is all fired up as the Wyatts stand together! Will The Final Testament be the one buried and forgotten after all is said and done?
The War Raiders regroup backstage.
Erik & Ivar are fired up after getting the better of Judgment Day, and then Priest walks in. He says what’s up, and they give him some pushes and shoves of excitement. Priest says okay, okay, settle down. But that was good, and he appreciates the save. Ivar says hey, they’ve all known each other a long time. And while they haven’t always seen eye to eye, there has always been honor here. They may not be friends, but Priest had their backs in a big way last week and they don’t forget that. They owed him, they got him. Priest respects that. If the War Raiders are at war with the Judgment Day, then he’ll go to war with them.
They all fist bump, and Erik & Ivar say they like the sound of that. Could these three finally tear down Judgment Day once and for all?
The zero symbol returns…
And now it’s joined by a pentagram? What could these clues be leading to?
The New Day barges out to ringside.
And Kofi Kingston tells Joe Tessitore & Wade Barrett on commentary that no no no no! You do not get to speak about them like that! Woods asks what is going on around here? What happened to unbiased journalism? How long has Tessitore even been with the WWE? Not that long, right? Certainly not long enough to know that his job is not to have an opinion but to tell the TRUTH like they have! But it seems in 2024, no one wants the truth! Certainly not these fans. Wade was sympathizing with E as well! Well that’s fine, because Wade and Big E have something in common. They’re not man enough to lace up their boots again and get in the ring!
The fans boo now but Kofi says speaking of getting back int he ring, allow the New Day to do that and continue to tell everyone what they were trying to tell people before. They did NOT put hands on Big E. They could have, laid him out here in the ring, stretchered out of the building again, but they didn’t! So why is everyone so upset!? The fans keep booing but Kofi says this was supposed to be a homecoming for Kofi, and for the woman he bought a plane ticket for to come all the way here to Boston from Ghana, and that is Kofi’s mom! Kofi’s mom is in the front row! Miss Elizabeth Kingston is here, but she doesn’t seem very amused.
Kofi says his mom sat in the middle seat for 20 HOURS, just to see Kofi, and the fans are ruining her experience! This is his mother! The woman who taught him how to be the man that he is today! She does not deserve to see her son get booed out of his own hometown! Woods says they gave the fans ten of the best years of their LIVES…! Kofi steps back outside to apologize to his mom for the fans. She does not deserve this. Kofi doesn’t understand why they’re doing this. Kofi wants a hug. Miss Elizabeth stands up, but she pushes Kofi! She’s upset with HIM, not the fans! Miss Elizabeth takes her coat and leaves! Kofi is confused, what’s this about?
Kofi calls after his mom but she tunes him out. Though, it might be hard to hear over the fans. Will it ever get through to the New Day that they are in the wrong?
The New Day regroups backstage.
And then they cross paths with Rey Mysterio. Woods asks if he’s gonna pile on. Rey says no, it’s not like that. Rey thought about what they said last week, being a locker room leader and all. Rey definitely could’ve handled things better, so he’ll apologize to them. Rey just has the responsibility to help everyone as much as he can. So hey, what New Day did was out of pocket, all foul. And if they want to start fixing things, they can start by apologizing. Whoa, hold up. Them? Apologize to Rey and the locker room? No, they aren’t apologizing, because they didn’t do anything wrong! This is ridiculous!
Rey is just as bad as Big E and everyone else! Why not let Woods pop that mask off again so he can hear them better. New Day did nothing wrong. Rey says okay, fine, que pasa nada. Just don’t say he didn’t try. From this point on, New Day is on their own. And oh, get used to hearing this. “New! Day SUCKS!” With that, Rey takes his leave. After hearing that, will Kofi & Woods have anything but a Merry Christmas?
Sami Zayn VS Drew McIntyre!
The Honorary Uce may have just lost to the Scottish Terminator at Saturday Night’s Main Event, but he isn’t going to give up the fight. Will Sami finally get a win over McIntyre as a Christmas miracle? Or will McIntyre ruin the holidays with a Claymore?
Raw returns and Sami makes his entrance. The bell rings and McIntyre kicks low! McIntyre fires hands, then CHOPS Sami in a corner! McIntyre ROCKS Sami, stands him up, and then CHOPS again! The fans are torn but McIntyre paces while Sami sits down. Sami rises up, and he avoids a chop to fire hands! The fans fire up as Sami CHOPS and fires more punches! The ref backs Sami off, but Sami comes back to stomp and punch! The fans rally behind “SAMI USO!” and Sami whips Mcintyre corner to corner. McIntyre reverses, Sami goes up, but McIntyre KICKS him out of the air!
McIntyre snarls and then he deadlift suplexes Sami! Sami writhes and clutches his back, but McIntyre storms over to him. McIntyre STMOPS Sami’s hands! Then he ROCKS Sami with a right! Sami goes to ropes but McIntyre CHOPS him again! The fans “WOO~!” as that chop echoes out! The fans rally for Sami but McIntyre grins. McIntyre whips but Sami KICKS him in return! Mcintyre comes back but Sami TOSSES him out! The fans fire up and Sami builds speed, but then Mcintyre moves so Sami Arabian Presses to land back inside. Sami smiles as he gets the better of McIntyre, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Sami is in the corner. McIntyre storms up to stomp away on him again! The ref backs McIntyre off but then McIntyre storms back up. McIntyre drag’s Sami up to the apron, and he suplexes Sami up and into the ring! Sami flounders to the ropes and the ref checks him. Sami says he’s still in this, so McIntyre drags Sami back up. But Sami CHOPS McIntyre! And CHOSP! And fires forearms! Sami whips, McIntyre reverses but Sami ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for McIntyre to tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Sami survives and McIntyre grows annoyed. The fans rally up but Sami writhes form all the damage.
McIntyre stalks Sami to the ropes, eggs him on, and then whips him to ropes. Sami ducks ‘n’ dodges again, and this time Sami tilt-o-whirls to DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Sami and McIntyre both rise up, and McIntyre bails out. Sami storms up to ropes, grits his teeth, and he PLANCHAS! But McIntyre catches him! And then he aims for the desk! Sami fights free, and he DRIBBLES McIntyre off the desk! Sami backs off as the ring count climbs, but Sami goes back for McIntyre. McIntyre stops the step bump to SMACK Sami off the steps! McIntyre refreshes the ring count because he wants to do more damage!
McIntyre stalks Sami up the steps, then lifts him for an APRON BACKBREAKER!! Sami falls and writhes, and McIntyre has a manic look on his face as he watches Sami suffer, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns once again and Mcintyre has Sami in the Inverted Alabama Lift! INVERTED ALABAMA- VICTORY ROLL! TWO!! McIntyre escapes and runs up, but Sami dodges! McIntyre POSTS himself! The fans fire up as McIntyre flops back, and Sami hurries to the corner! Sami climbs, but his back slows him down! McIntyre ROCKS Sami first! And then CHOPS him! McIntyre climbs up after Sami, fires some shots, then fireman’s carries Sami! SUPER WHITE NOISE! A shoutout to Sheamus and McIntyre covers, TWO!! The fans fire up while McIntyre grows frustrated. Sami stirs but McIntyre watches him closely.
The fans rally and McIntyre drags Sami back up. But Sami cradle counters! TWO! McIntyre GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTTS! Sami falls and McIntyre snarls. McIntyre goes to a corner, and he takes aim at Sami. Here comes the countdown! “THREE! TWO! ONE!” But Sami LARIATS McIntyre! And then a clinch, EXPLODER into the corner! Sami goes to the other side and the fans fire up! Sami aims as McIntyre rises, but that back tightens up. Sami fights through the pain, gets running, but CLAYMORE!! Cover, McIntyre wins!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
That was perhaps the closest Sami’s come, but he was still so far away from victory over McIntyre. 3-0 in 2024, 10-0 overall, and McIntyre stands over Sami to rub it in. Sami is already dazed, but McIntyre rains down fists! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but McIntyre shoves the ref away to HAMMER Sami down! But here comes Jey, just like earlier tonight! Jey runs in, dodges again, and this time, SPEAR!! Jey has Mcintyre down, but now he goes up! But wait! TAMA TONGA SHOVES JEY OFF THE TOP!! Solo Sikoa & The Bloodline are here! McIntyre is just as surprised, but given the truce they called on Friday, McIntyre takes his leave.
The Bloodline beat down Sami & Jey, which McIntyre loves to see. Tama Tonga rains down fists on Main Event Jey in a corner, but the fans chant for “O T C! O T C!” Instead, Jacob Fatu gets running! But Jey dodges the hip attack! SUPERKICK for Tama! Jey fires haymakers on Jacob! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Solo steps in to swing, but Jey dodges! Jey ROCKS Solo! Jacob SUPERKICKS Jey! The fans boo as the Samoan Werewolf gets all geeked up! Solo adds his SAMOAN SPIKE!! Solo throws off his jacket, sits Jey back up, but Sami gets in! Sami fires hands, but Tama TACKLES Sami! Tama beats Sami down and fans boo again.
Solo tells Tama to set Sami up, and Tama stomps Sami into the corner. Jacob runs in, to HIP ATTACK! Jacob isn’t done, he puts Sami in the drop zone to go up, up and BEST MOONSAULT EVER! The fans boo but Solo adds on another SAMOAN SPIKE!! Solo roars, then he and his Bloodline stand over the OGs. Jacob adorns Solo with the ula fala, will not even Roman Reigns be able to stop the “Undisputed” Tribal Chief? Will all of the WWE have no choice but to acknowledge Solo Sikoa?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw here to build both the last Raw of 2024 and the first Raw of 2025, aka the Netflix debut. Rollins had a very good interview promo to add just a little more to things, but I feel like there’s little left that they need to say. Very good stuff with Judgment Day, such as the classic “X, can you tell Y…” gag from Finn and Liv. Dom thinking their plan to screw Priest over would work is hilarious, as was how it all fell apart. Priest gets the win from disqualification, but then great save from the War Raiders. Good promo from Priest and War Raiders, love the reference to ROH by saying “honor” there, and that’s a solid Six Man Tag right there.
Fun little bit from Pearce with Pure Fusion Collective, and of course Sonya thought she’d get a second chance, and of course Pearce uses real logic to say no way. Iyo Sky replacing Kairi Sane was announced last week on social media, so I guess Sonya didn’t check between shows. Great Triple Threat from Iyo, Alba and Natty, and of course Iyo won or else why put her in there? Iyo VS Lyra next round will be great stuff, as will Dakota Kai VS Zoey Stark, and whatever combination we get for the title match is going to be great. I don’t think we’ll get DMG CTRL VS DMG CTRL, so if Dakota wins, Iyo loses, and then vice-versa.
Great stuff with American Made and Alpha Academy, but of course Tozawa takes the loss. Otis standing up to Gable & The Creeds was a great moment, and I really hope we get Gable VS Otis for the big Netflix debut. Win or lose, Otis should definitely have a moment where he rallies through Gable and both Creeds, really get the crowd hot before the finish. Miz VS Lumis was good but could’ve been better. With only two hours, I guess they had to trim things down to the basics. Another disqualification finish tonight is a bit much, but I guess it keeps things going until we can come up with some kind of new 8 Man Tag, or even a really wild Mixed 10 Person match so Nikki and Scarlett can get involved legally.
Great stuff with New Day, from their interaction with Dom, then their “interrupting” the show to try and get their point across. It was great to have Mama Kingston there, and I just knew she would be disappointed in Kofi. Good promo with Rey, too, as Rey now leaves New Day out in the cold. I feel like we need a big tag team match to not only have Heel New Day show their stuff against like LWO, Alpha Academy, etcetera, and then they earn their way to a match with the War Raiders to revisit their feud, just with flipped Heel and Face dynamics. That could be some really good stuff as Raw on Netflix paves the road to WrestleMania 41.
And great stuff with McIntyre and the extended Bloodline. He and Sami had a great promo to again bring up family and sacrifice, but also how Roman’s OG Bloodline came back together without Roman ever changing a thing. Great brawls, great saves by Jey, and of course McIntyre won the match. Jey will of course get next, probably also for the Netflix debut, but good stuff with Solo Sikoa and his Bloodline showing up. They beat down Jey & Sami to send a message to Roman, who was obviously not going to be here tonight. There will surely be a response in part on SmackDown, but maybe more verbal than physical.
I feel like the “Transfer Window” will need to put all Bloodline members, old and new, on one brand so the story can be told all on one show. It’d just be easier while Jimmy’s foot is healing, because what can Roman do without backup against Solo, Tama & Jacob? And honestly, still waiting on when and where Hikuleo is going to show up. This is a good time to bring him in with Tonga Loa also hurt, so Solo can get the numbers edge on Roman again.
My Score: 8.8/10
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The Road to the Tokyo Dome goes through KOPW!
As 2024 nears an end, Great-O-Khan defends the KOPW Championship one more time, against a former KOPW Champion in Taichi! Who will be THE 2024 King of Pro-Wrestling?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Chase Your Dream Match: Shoma Kato VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
- Boltin Oleg VS Satoshi Kojima; Boltin wins.
- Triple Threat Tag: Jeff Cobb & Jakob Austin Young VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson VS Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi; Narita & Yujiro win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS El Desperado & Master Wato; Desperado & Wato win.
- Fatal 4 Way: Kevin Knight VS Robbie Eagles VS Francesco Akira VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Eagles wins.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
- Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; ZSJ & Fujita win.
- KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi; Khan wins and is the definitive 2024 KOPW Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
After the Triple Threat Tag…
The House of Torture of course cheated to win, but they wouldn’t leave it at that! They waited until the United Empire and TMDK argued with each other to then attack them all! Yujiro Takahashi CLUBS Oiwa down while Narita shoves Cobb into big Hartley Jackson! And then Narita JAMS Cobb with the pushup bar! The fans boo but Narita JAMS Oiwa up, too! The Souled Out Son of Strong Style is so proud of himself as he holds up his NJPW World TV Championship, but wait. Christmas music starts playing? The fans clap along as surprise! Santa and his reindeer are here! Well, one reindeer. But shouldn’t the House of Torture be on the naughty list?
Santa Claus walks over, and he gets the mic. He sounds familiar as he tells, “Narita-san… You have a Christmas present waiting. Would you like it now?” Narita asks what the heck is going on. Santa steps into the ring and offers Narita the little tiny bag. Narita snatches the bag, then he and Yujiro look at it. The fans asks, “Nani nani? <What is it?>” Narita tells them to shut up. Narita gets the bag open and pulls out… Blue sunglasses! With LED lights! The fans cheer as the lights go down! “E! L! P!” EL PHANTASMO IS HERE! The Headbanga has been battling cancer, but he’s here in Korakuen Hall!
Narita is furious but ELP slides right into the ring! Narita & Yujiro run away, but the fans cheer ELP on as he stands side-by-side with Jado Claus. ELP gets the mic now, and the fans cheer him on. ELP takes a moment before saying, in Japanese, “Cancer. Cancer… I’ve beaten cancer! And I love Korakuen!” But ELP asks Jado-san how to say a certain something in Japanese. He whispers it, but then Narita & Yujiro attack! The fans boo these cowards, but then Narita says Merry Christmas! But ELP BOOTS him, ELBOWS Yujiro, then dodges Narita to SUDDEN DEATH! Jado Claus DECKS the Tokyo Pimp!
ELP again asks Jado, and Jado says on behalf of ELP, that ELP is going to wrestle tomorrow night! And… Then he’ll be at the Tokyo Dome! ELP grabs the NJPW World TV Championship! ELP looks it over, and looks to the crowd, and then to Jado, but then Jeff Cobb and Ryohei Oiwa get in the ring. Cobb asks if ELP’s good. ELP is good. Are they good? Then let’s turn it up a notch! FATAL 4 WAY for the TV Championship! Narita snatches his belt, gets out of the ring, and tells everyone to shut up! The odds just got stacked against the House of Torture, will the New Year have a NEW NJPW World TV Champion one way or another?
Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita!
Ahead of battling for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, The Roughneck and The Front Man bring some back up! The Ace is also preparing to fight Evil, will he and Shota bring a Once in a Century Paradigm Shift? Or will ZSJ and the Japanese Young Punk prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The teams sort out and Shota starts against ZSJ. The fans cheer this WrestleKingdom preview, and Korakuen duels between “SHOTA! SHOTA!” and “ZAKU! ZAKU!” ZSJ and Shota feel things out, then knuckle lock. ZSJ clinches but Shota fights back with his own clinch. ZSJ slips around to chinbar but Shota wrenches to a wristlock. ZSJ rolls, tries another chinbar but Shota cranks the wristlock. ZSJ bridges, spins, slips around and wrangles Shota! Shota kips up to WRING the arm, but ZSJ UP KICKS! The fans cheer as the two reset. Shota and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. ZSJ then stands on Shota’s hand!
ZSJ has another hand and twists the wrist! Then he has both arms for a motorcycle stretch but Shota fights up. Shota turns things around, and he fights ZSJ as ZSJ tries to turn them back. ZSJ keeps trying, and he pushes through, but Shota spins things right back around! The fans cheer while Shota digs a foot into ZSJ’s back. ZSJ flips, kips up, spins things around, but Shota spins them back! The fans cheer, and Shota spins ZSJ. ZSJ dodges the lariat, Shota blocks a kick, but ZSJ ducks the enzigiri! Shota avoids the Penalty Kick and arm-drags ZSJ, but ZSJ headscissors! Shota kips free, avoids a leg pick, and the fans cheer!
Shota dares ZSJ to go for the leg but the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and each man breaks free of one. They back off, and Shota tags in Tanahashi. The fans cheer, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Korakuen strongly supports President Ace. Tanahashi and Fujita circle, tie up, and Tanahashi powers Fujita back. The ref counts, Tanahashi lets off slowly, but then Fujita turns things around! Tanahashi turns things around, and repeat! The ref counts, Fujita lets off slowly, but then both men block a kick! They argue over who lets go first, and eventually agree for a mutual break. They set the feet down, but then Fujita holds on!
Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi, then whips. Tanahashi reverses but Fujita ducks ‘n’ dodges to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Fujita aims from a corner. Fujita runs corner to corner but Tanahashi BOOTS him! Shota CLOBBERS Fujita, then eggs ZSJ on! ZSJ runs up, Shota blocks a kick and he sends ZSJ into Tanahashi’s ELBOW! Shota CLOBBERS ZSJ and the fans fire up. Shota pursues ZSJ to the outside and CLUBS him down! Shota clamps onto ZSJ with a chinlock but the ref reprimands. Tanahashi CHOPS Fujita, but Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Fujita storms back up, but he blocks a boot!
Fujita DRAGON SCREWS Tanahashi’s leg! Fujita kips up, ZSJ sends Shota into railing, and Fujita stomps Tanahashi. The fans rally and Fujita brings Tanahashi up to CHOP! Fujita eggs Tanahashi on, CHOPS him again, then CHOPS again! Tanahashi flounders and ZSJ tags in. ZSJ drags Tanahashi up to UPPERCUT! Tanahashi ends up in the TMDK corner, ZSJ UPPERCUTS him again! ZSJ says, “Mada mada!” and he UPPERCUTS again! Tanahashi falls, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Fujita brings Tanahashi up. Fujita CHOPS again, and then CHOPS again! Tanahashi is stinging and using the ropes for defense while the fans rally up.
Tanahashi storms up but Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi CHOPS, Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi falls and Fujita BLASTS Shota! Tag to ZSJ and he grabs a leg. Fujita also grabs one, they drag Tanahashi to center, and then they both go after arms. Then they shift, ZSJ has an arm while Fujita has a leg! Then they both have legs again! Then ZSJ has a leg and Fujita has an arm! Then back to the arms! They both isolate the arms for DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans cheer, the ref reprimands and ZSJ “apologizes” with a bow. ZSJ stands on one of Tanahashi’s legs to then twist the other! Tanahashi endures, even as ZSJ TWEAKS the ankle!
ZSJ twists the foot the other way, flips Tanahashi over, and shifts around to have a headscissor and armlock! Shota stomps ZSJ but Fujita goes after Shota! Fujita TOSSES Shota, ZSJ tags Fujita back in. Fujita stomps Tanahashi, KICKS him in the back, but Tanahashi gets mad! Fujita KICKS Tanahashi but Tanahashi fires up! Fujita KICKS and CHOPS, but Tanahashi fires forearm after forearm! Fujita CHOPS again! Tanahashi grits his teeth but Fujita CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! SHOTEI! Fujita falls but so does Tanahashi! The fans rally up while both men crawl, hot tag to Shota! Shota rallies on Fujita with big forearms and elbows!
Shota whips, Fujita reverses, but Shota dropkicks the legs out! ZSJ runs up and RAMS Shota! Then ZSJ runs, but into Shota’s DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Shota goes to Fujita. Shota whips corner to corner, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! Shota reels Fujita in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t mind. Shota clinches but Fujita fights the suplex with elbows. Shota runs up, but Fujita wrenches, waistlocks, but Shota ELBOWS free! Shota whips, Fujita reverses and DROPKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita crawls, hot tag to ZSJ!
ZSJ runs up to BOOT Shota! Shota stays up so ZSJ runs to BOOT him again! And BOOT him again! Shota roars and ROCKS ZSJ! Shota runs to ROCK ZSJ again! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Shota eggs him on, repeat! Shota UPPERCUTS and ZSJ roars! ZSJ UPPER- NO, Shota hooks the arm, but ZSJ wrenches out of the backslide to PELE the arm! Then ZSJ basement DROPKICKS Shota! The fans fire up while Shota clutches a leg and an arm. ZSJ kicks him around, scuffs him and taunts him. The fans rally, the ref checks Shota, but Shota is okay to continue. ZSJ stands Shota up to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT!
Shota clinches to EXPLODER! Both men are down and the fans rally again! Shota crawls, hot tag to Tanahashi! Fujita runs up, but Tanahashi blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! Payback for earlier! Tanahashi runs up at ZSJ in a corner, blocks a boot, and DRAGON SCREWS! Tanahashi put some stank on that one! Then he goes up the corner for a SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! ZSJ stays in this but the fans continue to rally! “GO ACE! GO ACE!” echoes out as Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ catches him into a COBRA TWIST! Tanahashi endures, then throws elbows into ZSJ’s leg. Tanahashi gets free to DRAGON SCREW again!
ZSJ writhes, Tanahashi ties the legs up, but ZSJ kicks at him! Tanahashi blocks a kick to GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And now, TEXAS CLOVER- NO, ZSJ fights the turnover and reels Tanahashi into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Tanahashi endures and the fans rally up, but Shota gets in! Shota stomps away on ZSJ, but then Fujita MISSILE DROPKICKS Shota! Fujita brings Tanahashi up but Tanahashi SHOTEIS him down! ZSJ is after Tanahashi but he avoids the shotei! ZSJ SLAPS Tanahashi, then PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives but ZSJ gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans fire up as ZSJ stand Tanahashi up.
ZSJ scoops but Tanahashi fights that, to a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up but Tanahashi isn’t done! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi stands ZSJ up again, but ZSJ scoops to ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, ZSJ & Fujita win!
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita, by pinfall
Shota can’t believe The Ace fell, but this is why ZSJ is the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! Will ZSJ do this all to Shota when they’re 1v1 in the Tokyo Dome? Or will Shota prove he’s mightier than The Mighty?
KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi!
The Dominator has, well, dominated as KOPW Champion for a long stretch of 2024, but the Holy Emperor did close out 2023 with this title. Granted, Taichi says that win, lose or draw, this is his final KOPW Championship match. As such, tonight’s stipulation is a sort of “Best Of” compilation as we go Best 2 Out of 3. Part one: a no ropes Sumo Rules match! Part two: Yoshinobu Kanemaru as special guest referee? Well, he would be a neutral party… And part three, if needed, will be a LAST MAN STANDING MATCH! Will Taichi “retire” from this truly freestyle division standing tall? Or will Khan truly conquer KOPW for the United Empire?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, but Taichi also brings back the trophy for the occasion, and it’s time to end the year in style!
Sumo Rules!
Both men finish preparations with weight belts and some stretching. They square up, the ref says go and they RAM into each other! The fans rally as both men go for those weight belts to use as leverage. They go around, get very close to the ring edge, but then Khan moves things away. Khan THROWS Taichi, but Taichi stays on the ring so the sumo match continues. They reset and go again! Taichi pushes Khan back with both hands, but Khan digs in his heels! They clinch, go around, and Taichi goes for the edge! Khan pulls on Taichi’s leg to get around, but Taichi uses that to steer Khan to another edge! But Khan hits a fireman’s carry takeover!
Khan drags Taichi up but Taichi fights off the throw! They clinch and fight for control again. They each try to lift with the belt! Khan has Taichi near the edge, but then Taichi has Khan near the edge! Khan is teetering and the fans fire up! Taichi THROWS Khan to the floor, Taichi wins the fall!
Khan: 0; Taichi: 1
Special Guest Referee!
The fans are thunderous as Taichi takes the Sumo Rules fall, but now we go to a much more complicated situation. The ropes have to be put back up, sure, but now the Heel Master of all people is going to be the referee! The time it takes to set up the ropes is a reprieve for both sides, especially Khan as he has to catch his breath and refocus. Once the ropes are up, both men wait in the ring. All that is left is the buckle pads, and of course, Kanemaru himself. Kanemaru gets a proper introduction and entrance before he goes to the ring, and wow, he’s even wearing an official NJPW referee shirt with the lion mark on it.
Referee Kanemaru does his check and he even tells Taka Michinoku to watch himself. Kanemaru does a far less thorough check of Khan than Taichi! Did the Empire pay Kanemaru off?! Kanemaru has Taichi cool off, then whispers something to Khan! The bell rings, the fans rally for Khan, and Khan circles with Taichi. They tie up, Taichi powers Khan to ropes, and Kanemaru calls for a ropebreak. Then he has a fast count! Taichi lets off before 4 and argues with Kanemaru! Kanemaru says that’s his count, deal with it. Khan and Taichi reset, tie up, and Khan puts Taichi on ropes. Kanemaru pays more attention to Taka than Taichi!
The fans can’t help but laugh as Kanemaru finally does count, and now it’s really slow! Taichi protests, but Khan pulls Taichi’s arms. Then he CHOPS Taichi and stops at “3!” Khan then goes after Taichi, wrenches and wristlocks, and Kanemaru is asking if Taichi gives up!? Taichi tells him to shut up, but Khan kicks and CLUBS Taichi. Khan whips, Taichi BOOTS Khan down, then covers! Kanemaru strolls over to count! And it’s so slow! “TWO” and the fans cheer. Taichi is upset, but Khan rolls Taichi up! SO FAST!! TWO!! Taichi is getting pissed but Kanemaru backs away. Taichi stomps Khan, and Kanemaru’s untying a buckle pad?!
Taichi stomps Khan around, Khan leaves the pad there loosely, and Taichi whips. Khan reverses, and SURPRISE! bare buckles! Taka protests but Kanemaru SMACKS him with the pad! Khan plays dumb, and then he stands on Taichi’s lower back. Taichi has the ropes, but Kanemaru kicks the arm away! Khan has Taichi’s other arm, Taichi keeps grabbing for ropes but Kanemaru keeps kicking the hand away! Khan drags Taichi up, brings him around, and ROCKS him in the back! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan Mongolian Chops him on the back! And Mongolian Chops again! And Mongolian Chops again! Kanemaru doesn’t bother counting at all!
Taka protests, Kanemaru warns him, but then Khan hops up to sit on his throne! The fans cheer while Taichi endures, and only now does Kanemaru count! Khan asks hold on, hold on, so Kanemaru stops counting! Khan hops down, and then he puts Kanemaru up on the throne! Khan gets the fans to join in on the “Ohh…! HMPH!” Kanemaru isn’t into it so he hops down. Khan apologizes to Kanemaru, then he kicks Taichi around. Taichi gets up to fire hands! Khan kicks low, whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down. Taichi stands, and he drags Khan up into SEITEI JUJIHOU!
Kanemaru might be stuck, he can’t ignore Khan tapping. But then Kanemaru drags Khan over to the ropes! Taichi is frustrated with Kanemaru but Kanemaru says that’s a ropebreak. Taichi storms up on Kanemaru, but then Khan waistlocks! Ripcord and SAYANAGI! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan runs in, but Taichi dodges! GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Taichi snarls. Taichi TAKES OFF THE PANTS! The pants were a bit stubborn, but still. But then Kanemaru “checks” Khan just to stay between him and Taichi! Taichi says move or else! Kanemaru says he’s the ref!
Kanemaru kicks Taichi, CLAWS Taichi’s eyes, then traps his arms! Khan gets up to IRON RIGHT!! Kanemaru “scolds” Khan, then “checks” Taichi. Khan rests in a corner and Kanemaru drags Taichi up for him. Taichi CHOKES Kanemaru! Kanemaru kicks low! Kanemaru whips Taichi into a corner, ELBOWS him, then Khan LARIATS! Khan snapmares and covers, Kanemaru wants more first! Khan sits Taichi up for a BASEMENT DROPKICK! Now cover, TWO!! Taichi survives so Kanemaru hurries to get his whiskey! Khan takes a swig, and Kanemaru sets Taichi up! WHISKEY MIST into Kanemaru! Taichi hits the GEDO CLUTCH, but Kanemaru really can’t count now!
Taichi lets off of Khan since there was no count to be had. Taichi drags Kanemaru up, but Khan WHISKEY BOTTLE SHOTS Taichi! IRON CLAW!! Kanemaru calls for the bell? He just hands the win to Khan without counting, so now we’re all tied up!
Khan: 1; Taichi: 1
Kanemaru has fulfilled the contract, Khan gives him the envelope of money. Khan even makes sure we all see how many thousands that is! Kanemaru heads out, is he going to party hard for the holidays? But that aside, it is time for the final fall!
Last Man Standing!
Taichi gets the mic first, and tells Khan that if that’s how Khan wants to do it, then Taichi will get down and dirty with Khan! No lumberjacks, no special guests, just the straight up ten count, and it can happen anywhere in Korakuen Hall! Khan says bet! The announcement is made for the official rule change, and now we have the final fall! Khan rushes Taichi on the outside, then whips him into railing! And we’re already going into the crowd! Khan throws Taicihi at English commentary, but big Hartley is a solid wall for Chris. Khan then drags Taichi up into the bleachers, and the fans clear out of the way!
Khan CHOKES Taichi with a chair, then lets off to clear chairs out of the way. The Young Lions try to help but Khan gets mad at them and pushes them aside. Khan drags Taichi up, knees him low, and then reels him in! But Taichi fights the sayanagi! Taichi SHOVES Khan, Khan falls to the floor but gets up, only for Taichi to CROSSBODY! Down goes Khan and Red Shoes hurries over. Both men are down but Taichi sits up. The count starts and Khan is still down at 5 of 10! Khan hurries to get up, and Taichi stomps him down! Taichi drags Khan back up into the bleachers, but we go the other way.
Taicih KICKS Khan down, Young Lions keep the fans back again, and Taichi drags Khan along. They keep moving through the crowd, and Taichi shoves Khan into chairs! Khan sputters but Taichi drags him up again. Taichi KNEES Khan, then drags him up. They go back down to floor level, and then Taichi aims at chairs! Taichi whips but Khan reverses and he BOWLS Taichi into chairs! Not quite a strike but he got a good number of those chairs! Khan pops the railing loose from the special corner piece, and he brings that corner piece over! Khan SMACKS Taichi with the steel! Taichi staggers away but he sits in a chair.
Khan starts folding chairs to stack them on the floor. Khan then uses one chair as a leash to drag Taichi over! Khan CLUBS Taichi, adds that one chair to the pile, and then snap suplexes Taichi onto the chairs! Taichi writhes but Khan rises up. Khan roars and the fans fire up! The count begins again but Taichi slowly sits up at 4. Taichi rises up, and he stands at 8! Khan brings Taichi around in a headlock, and they go to the orange bleachers! Khan uses the gate to smother Taichi, then they go up to the higher level! The fans fire up but then fans have to move! Khan KNEES and CLUBS Taichi, then whips Taichi at the exit door!
Taichi tumbles into the hallway! Khan drags Taichi back into the arena and uses the HITSUJIGOROSHI against the chairs! Taichi endures as Khan chokes him, then Khan lets him go! Red Shoes checks on Taichi, Taka coaches him, but the count begins. Khan sits in a chair to relax while he waits. Taichi sits up at 7, and stands at 9! Khan storms up on Taichi to CLUB him on the back! Khan headlocks Taichi, brings him to the other section, and he gets up close to the fans for photo ops. Khan then whips, but Taichi reverses, and Khan is sent into the wall! Taichi leaves Khan behind while the count begins again.
Khan sits up so Taichi KICKS him back down! Taichi drags Khan up, KICKS him again, and Khan falls to his knees. Taichi drags Khan up by his ponytail, and he goes close to the stairs that lead to the back! Khan fights the suplex, and for his life, but then he turns things around! Taichi fights the suplex, throws hands, and then DDTS Khan to the floor! Red Shoes checks both men, then starts the count. Taichi shakes out his arms and sits up at 4. Taichi stands at 6 but Khan is still down at 8! Khan drags himself up at 9! Taichi CLUBS Khan down, then brings him back up. Taichi brings Khan back to ground level, then snapmares him hard for a KICK!
Khan is in agony but Taichi drags him back up. But Khan RAMS Taichi into the railing! Taichi sputters while also sitting in a chair. Khan staggers away to ringside, and he goes looking under the ring. Khan brings out a trolly cart? Khan JAMS Taichi up using his own mic stand, then leaves him behind. Khan brings out a TABLE! Fans rally up as Khan puts the table on the trolly, then he staggers over to Taichi. Khan CLUBS Taichi down, then SHOVES him onto the table trolly combo. Khan has fans clear out, and then he SNOW PLOWS the chairs with Taichi on the cart!! The fans fire up as Khan stands over Taichi.
Khan drags Taichi up, and he brings the table along, too. Khan kicks chairs out of the way as he returns to the upper deck! Khan SMACKS Taichi off the edge, then he clears out space. Khan sets the table up, then he goes up to fetch Taichi. Khan JAMS Taichi up with a chair, then SMACKS him! Taichi writhes, fans rally, and Khan drags Taichi up. Khan vows to end this! IRON CLAW, and ELIMI- NO! Taichi fights Khan off! Taichi stumbles away through the crowd, but then grabs himself a chair. Taichi runs up to JAM Khan right in the face! Taichi then steals Khan’s idea to choke grip and CHOKE SLAM down through the table!!!
Khan writhes and the fans go nuts! Taichi hobbles around while Red Shoes counts Khan. Khan is still down at 5! Still down at 7! 9! KHAN GRABS RED SHOES’S HAND!! Khan survives, and though he has a couple bloody cuts on his back, he crawls his way to the ring. Taichi eggs Khan on and the fans are thunderous! Khan drags himself into the ring, Taichi runs, AX BOMBER!! The fans fire up and the count returns! Khan is still down at 5, stirs at 6, sits up at 7, and he rises at 8! So Taichi just runs up to AX BOMBER!! Khan drops to his knees, flops over, but he’s already pushing himself back up! Taichi runs again, AX BOMBER!!
Khan staggers around but he stays on his feet! Taichi says fine, AX- SAYANAGI!! Khan turns things around, and he AX BOMBERS in return!! Both men are down and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and Khan crawls for ropes at 5! Taichi slowly sits up at 6, and both men go to corners at 7! Red Shoes waits on them to rise up, and then Taichi fires up! Taichi runs up, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so Taichi BOOTS! Khan BOOTS back! Taichi URAKENS! Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Taichi SOBATS! Khan BODY BLOWS! Both men drop to knees, but they also grab at each other.
The fans rally as Khan and Taichi slowly rise. They are forehead to forehead, and then Taichi AX BOMBERS! Khan drops to his knees, Taichi BUZZSAWS, but Khan blocks it! Khan ROCKS Taichi with a right! And then Khan reels Taichi in, but Taichi Alabama Lifts! BLACK- NO, Khan fights into a GUILLOTINE! Taichi is stuck in the body scissors!! Taichi flails, even taps out, but that’s not how Last Man Standing works! Khan squeezes tighter and tighter, Taichi fades, and Red Shoes checks! Khan lets Taichi go and the count begins! Khan rises at 6, and Taichi is somehow up at 9!! So Khan clamps on an IRON CLAW!
Khan lifts Taichi, but Taichi slips free! Taichi shoves Khan and ROCKS him! DANGEROUS SAIDO!! But Khan is staggering to his feet?! Khan goes to a corner, flounders along ropes, but he isn’t down yet! The fans rally hard while both men fight to their feet! SUPERMAN PUNCH from Khan! PELE from Taichi! Both men are down again! Red Shoes starts the count on them both, and the fans rally even harder! Taichi is up at 7! Khan grabs Red Shoes at 9 again!! Taichi roars, Korakuen is with him, and he powers up! TENSHI JUJI- NO!! Khan blocks, and he hooks Taichi! Taichi CLUBS away on Khan, but Khan still lifts! ULTIMATE ELIMINATOR!!
Both men are down again and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and they’re both down at 5! At 7! 9! Khan pushes up, but he FLOPS back down!! DOUBLE TEN! IT’S A DRAW!! What does that mean for the belt!? Red Shoes goes out to talk with Abe-san, and then the announcement is made. In the end, with it being 1-1-1, a true draw, it all goes to KHAN!
Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (DEFINITIVE 2024 KOPW Champion)
Khan flips Taichi off, one last insult added on top. Khan is given the belt back, but Taichi grabs his trophy. Taichi steps up to Khan, and gives him the trophy, saying it is rightfully his now. Taichi shows Khan that respect, and Khan returns it with a handshake. Khan “retires” Taichi from KOPW, what will the Holy Emperor look to do in 2025?
As for Khan, he grabs the mic, and he asks Taichi to wait a moment. “You served this title for three years. We will honor your glory!” The fans applaud that, and Khan asks the previous champion to come closer. No, closer. The fans cheer Taichi on as he steps closer to ringside. Khan says Taichi served this title well, so here is his reward. Khan is giving the trophy back? Taichi says no, he gave that to Khan out of respect. Khan says to Taichi and to everyone to listen well. “We are the last KOPW Champion!” Everyone is a bit surprised to hear that.
Khan says, “As an alternative, on January 4th in the Tokyo Dome… as THE last KOPW Champion, We demand that the January 4th match determine the next IWGP World Heavyweight Championship challenger!” The fans are really intrigued by that idea! Khan throws down the belt, and Chris makes sure English speakers understand what Khan is suggesting. The New Japan Ranbo determining a #1 contender? Khan says that these are the words of the final KOPW Champion, The Great-O-Khan! “HAIL US, PEASANTS!” A New Year, a new era? Will Khan’s revolution bring glory to the United Empire?
My Thoughts:
A very good night for Road to Tokyo Dome, though I did skip a lot just because I didn’t have a lot of time today. But luckily I was skimming through, or I would’ve missed ELP’s great return. Congratulations on him beating cancer, and I like that they’re adding him to the NJPW World Television Championship match. It makes sense given ELP’s beef with the House of Torture, and honestly, why not just have ELP win? Not even so much for getting over cancer (though kind of that, too) but because fans love ELP and it’d help him solidify his singles run with Hikuleo long gone for WWE.
Really good stuff in the other tune-up matches, such as #DespeWado winning and the chaotic end to the Fatal 4 Way. Eagles won to help him and Fujita have momentum, but there is still more to the Road to Tokyo Dome first. Honestly that tag Fatal 4 could really go any which way they want so I’m not sure how the go-home math would even work. And Gedo of course took the loss against LIJ. Yota Tsuji is aiming for David Finlay and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, but who knows how things go before we get to WrestleKingdom.
Very good tag match from Shota & Tanahashi VS ZSJ & Fujita, and it was technically a surprise for Tanahashi to take the loss. This works on many levels, as Tanahashi should be figuratively on the ropes going into his match with Evil, and this gives Fujita equal momentum alongside Eagles. And then great main event, Khan and Taichi really went the distance with this one. And it all makes sense after Khan reveals this is the end of the KOPW Division. Khan wants to make the New Japan Ranbo to basically be the Royal Rumble and that is pretty cool. I think they could keep the belt to represent that contender’s status the same as the G1 Climax having a briefcase, because that KOPW belt actually looks pretty nice.
My Score: 8.8/10
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TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
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