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