Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/9/21)
It’s a special WrestleMania edition!
WrestleMania Week makes SmackDown even bigger!
The SmackDown before WrestleMania becomes a kickoff to this year’s two night event! Who wins the returning Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- SmackDown Tag Team Championships Fatal 4 Way: The Dirty Dawgs VS The Street Profits VS The Alpha Academy VS The Mysterios; The Dirty Dawgs win and retain the titles.
- Nia Jax w/ Shayna Baszler & Reginald VS Tamina w/ Natalya; Tamina wins, by disqualification.
- 2021 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal: Jey Uso wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
SmackDown opens with Daniel Bryan!
The Yes Movement is just days from an attempt at #YEStleMania2 and Bryan gets a mic to say, “We are so close.” We’re so close to the biggest event of the year, WrestleMania! Everyone is excited and Bryan is excited about everything! He’s excited to see the set, smell the smoke and breathe the fresh air of Raymond James Stadium! But he’s most excited to finally hear the roar of the WWE Universe in person! And don’t get Bryan wrong, the ThunderDome is awesome. But there is nothing like wrestling in front of a live audience, there’s nothing like being in front of fans at WrestleMania, and there is nothing like winning the Universal Championship in the main event of WrestleMania!
And that is what Bryan can’t wait for: he will walk down to the ring with 25 THOUSAND people chanting “YES!” in unison, there is nothing like it! Bryan is often associated with “Yes,” but most of his career revolved around being told, “No.” Is Bryan big enough? No. Does Bryan belong in the WWE? No. Is Bryan a superstar? No. Is he best for business? No. Can he be the face of the WWE? No. Does Bryan deserve to be in the main event of Mania? If you asked Batista and Randy Orton, or now Edge and Roman Reigns, they would say, “No.” But if you ask Bryan, “You’re damn right I do!”
Bryan is lucky, because every time he was told no, he was also told to ignore it! Bryan was told to dig down deep and find the truth, and that is how he came to say, “Yes, yes, yes.” Fans give the Yes Fingers in solidarity as Bryan says, “Every time life told me no, I said yes.” Will Bryan ever be able to wrestle again? Doctors said no, Bryan said yes. When he came back, could he ever be world champion again? People said no, Bryan said yes! At Fastlane, would Bryan tap out the un-tap-out-able Roman Reigns? Roman said no, Bryan said yes! And can Bryan main event Mania one more time? Adam Pearce first said no, but then he said yes!
This Sunday, at WrestleMania 37 Night 2, this is by far the biggest match of Bryan’s career. A Triple Threat for the Universal Championship. There’s Edge, furious because he thinks Bryan stole the spotlight that belongs on him. There’s Roman, who is enraged because for the first time, Bryan made him tap out, and if it happens again, Roman loses the title, isn’t Head of the Table or anything else he thinks he is. When people are furious, they are dangerous, and Edge and Roman are among the most dangerous in the WWE. But which Bryan are they facing? Not the SmackDown GM, not even “family man” Bryan.
This Sunday, they get the BEST DAMN BRYAN, the most DANGEROUS Bryan, the Bryan that tapped out Roman! The Bryan that will kick Edge’s head in despite his bad neck! The Bryan with fire in his eyes and in his heart as he’s willing to do anything! And that leads us to one last question: Can Daniel Bryan walk out of the main event of WrestleMania as NEW Universal Champion? Fans already know, and Bryan says “Yes. YES. YES! YES! YES!” But will the “No” from Roman and Edge ruin Bryan’s dreams?
The Street Profits are fired up, too!
Kayla tries to get an interview with them but both Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford are chanting “YES! YES!” with Bryan. Kayla knows this is #TakeBackSeason, but how does it feel to have a title opportunity? It’s about time! Bryan will win the Universal Championship and the Profits will win BACK the SmackDown Tag titles! But then Roode & Ziggler attack! The champions want an advantage in the Fatal 4 Way, but Dawkins throws Ziggler into a monitor! Things spill out on stage, and here come the ALPHA ACADEMY! And the Mysterios! The brawl spills down the ramp, Rey and Dominik are sent into barriers, and SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown Tag Team Championships Fatal 4 Way: The Dirty Dawgs VS The Street Profits VS The Alpha Academy VS The Mysterios!
SmackDown returns and these four teams are in the ring and this match is underway! In this Fatal 4 Way, only two teams are legal, and Chad Gable is throwing Dominik around with a waistlock! Dom gets up to throw Gable out, then dropkicks him as he returns! Dom arm-drags Gable around and clamps onto the arm. Gable gets up, pulls hair and Otis tags in. The Alphas whip, Dom tries to wheelbarrow but he just gets a POLISH HAMMER SUPLEX! Ziggler tags in to cover Dom, TWO! Ziggler is frustrated already, bumps Dom off buckles, then tags Roode in. The Dawgs mug Dom, Roode throws hands, and Roode whips Dom to ropes to CLOBBER him! Cover, TWO!
Roode drives his knee into Dom and has a chinlock. Dom endures, fans rally up and Dom fights back with body shots. Roode CLUBS Dom down, drags him up and scoops for a SLAM! Roode runs but Gable tags in! Gable drags Dom around to JAM the arm! Cover, TWO! Gable clamps onto the arm and grinds the shoulder, but Dom endures as Rey coaches him on. Dom gets up, Gable wrenches and back suplexes but Dom crossbodies! ONE, and Gable has a foot. Dom BOOTS Gable away and tags in Rey! Rey fires off on Gable, Gable whips but Rey dodges to tilt-o-whirl headscissor! Rey kicks Gable and whips, but Gable reverses.
Rey elbows back, goes up and QUEBRADA, but into a scoop! Tilt-o-whirl DDT from Rey! Cover, the Dawgs break it! Ziggler & Roode hit the Profits, but the Mysterios double DROPKICK! The Mysterios DECK Otis, too! The Mysterios whip Gable, pop him up and out but Otis catches him! Dom goes up and around to open the way, Rey DIVES! Then Dom MOONSAULTS! The Mysterios stand tall while SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown returns and Roode keeps Ford from his corner! Roode knees low and hard, whips him to the Dawgs’ corner but Ford goes up and over and handsprings to show off before he dropkicks Roode down! Cover, TWO! Ford is annoyed but he brings Roode up. Roode hits back, CLUBS Ford down, then has him in the Dawgs’ territory with the back suplex. Ford lands on his feet to ROCK Ziggler, ROCK Roode, then ROCK Ziggler again! But Ford turns around into Roode’s GLORIOUS SPINEBUSTER! Otis tags in off Roode and backs him down. Ziggler and Gable argue but Otis runs to DISCUS Ford down! Cover, Rey breaks it!
Otis is mad but he stays focused on Ford. Otis scoops and SLAMS Ford, runs and drops an elbow! Otis fires up for the Academy and he clamps onto Ford with a neck wrench. Ford gets up, Otis whips him and ROCKS him with that body shot! Tag to Gable, the Alphas mug Ford then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO!! Ford survives but Gable clamps onto him again. Ziggler tags in off Gable to return the favor, and he clamps onto Ford with a camel clutch. Ford fights up,. Ziggler chinlocks and cranks back, but Ford back suplexes! Ziggler lands on his feet to dropkick Ford down! Ziggler wants Ford to get up, he aims but no Famouser! Ford hits a SPIRALING POWERBOMB!
Both men are down, the four teams are fired up and so are the fans! Ford and Ziggler grab at each other to get past the other, hot tags to Roode and Dawkins! Dawkins rallies on Roode, dodges and leaping back elbows! Gable runs in, into an EXPLODER! Roode CYCLONE SPLASHES Roode, then runs to BULLDOG! But Rey tags in to stop that, and he SEATED SENTONS! Dawkins runs at Rey but is dumped out! Rey tilt-o-whirls and sends Roode into Otis! Tag to Dom, Dom dropkicks Roode onto ropes! Ziggler gets in but get added to the call! DOUBLE 619!! Rey gets Ziggler out, Dom goes up top, FROG SPLASH!! Cover, Otis SPLASHES down!!
Rey leaps but into Otis’ arms! Otis slides Rey out to the floor, but the Profits DOUBLE DROPKICK Otis out! Ford runs to FLY and take Otis down! Dom is down, Roode is down, but Dawkins and Gable tag in off them! Dawkins sunset flips and covers, TWO! Gable sits on the cover, TWO! Gable runs, gets around Dawkins and backslides, ONE!! Dawkins swings, but into CHAOS THEORY!! But Ford tagged in first! And he enters FROM THE HEAVENS!! But Roode tags in! Ziggler SUPERKICKS Ford out!! Roode covers, the Dirty Dawgs win!!
Winners: The Dirty Dawgs, by pinfall (still SmackDown Tag Team Champions)
It was utter chaos near the end, and the champions pounced on it! If three teams can’t stop them, will their reign ever end?
Backstage interview with Bianca Belair.
The EST is a night away from facing Sasha Banks in her first-ever WrestleMania match! Can she put into words what she’s feeling? Well, butterflies for sure, but that’s not bad! She’s excited and nervous. But her daddy always told her that being nervous means you care. Just don’t be scared. And she was raised not to be scared of anything. She has to be mentally tough as well as physically because this is the opportunity of a lifetime. Even when no one was watching, she was working so hard. Now the world gets to see what she can do.
But Sasha’s been here before and will do anything to keep the title. That makes her dangerous. What about Bianca? Well dang, Kayla. But no, the strongest, the fastest, the roughest, the toughest has all the tools to win and that makes HER dangerous. So when Bianca wins and becomes champion, that will be the greatEST night of her life!
WWE Media was with Big E as he went back to his roots.
Being he’s from Tampa, Florida, he went home before Mania. “Apollo, you spend a lot of time talking about remembering where you came from, reconnecting with home.'” Big E never forgot. WrestleMania is in HIS city, and this here is Big Jay the barber, a Tampa legend. This is where Big E gets his hair cut, and where he gets his mind right. Then there’s Downtown Tampa and the Calf Street Bridge, near his alma mater of Tampa Prep. This is where he would run two miles before a grueling two hours of wrestling training. This is what taught Big E about the grind.
And then there’s Raymond James Stadium, where Big E played in his high school all star game 17 years ago! Where champions shined! Big E owns a piece of this! And this is where Big E will walk in and walk out THE WWE Intercontinental Champion! And this is where Apollo’s dreams will come to die! Apollo wants to make this personal but Big E is ready to give it back in kind! Who goes bigger to have the gold at the end of WrestleMania?
Nia Jax w/ Shayna Baszler & Reginald VS Tamina w/ Natalya!
Last week, the Queen of Spades was caught off-guard by the Queen of Harts, and then all hell broke loose in the Women’s Tag Division! This time, the Irresistible Force and the Daughter of Superfly see if gold is thicker than blood. Who gains massive momentum going into WrestleMania Weekend?
SmackDown returns, the bell rings and the two tie up! Nia shoves Tamina down and says SHE dominates this! Tamina and Nia tie up again, and now Tamina shoves Nia! “Now that’s what I’m talking about!!” Nia gets up to pie face Tamina, Tamina SLAPS Nia! And then fires off haymakers! Tamina stomps away, the ref backs her off, and Reggie gets upset. Tamina grabs Reggie to drag him in! Shayna tries to save Reggie, and Nia CLOBBERS Tamina! The ref reprimands but Nia looms over Tamina. Nia puts Tamina in a corner, runs in and SPLASHES! Tamina goes rolling, Natty rallies for her but Nia KICKS her while she’s down!
Nia pushes Tamina around and says she’s not afraid of her. Nia stands Tamina up but Tamina fires off! Nia headbutts Tamina down! Tamina ends up in a corner, Nia stands on her! “I’m NOT scared of you!!” The ref counts, Nia lets off and Nia drags Tamina up to whip her to another corner. Nia runs in but Tamina dodges, Nia POSTS herself! Natty fires up and Tamina gets to the apron. Tamina drags herself up, heads for the corner and up top, but Nia is there! Tamina headbutts her away! Shayna gets on the apron, but Natty yanks her down! Natty whips but Shayna reverses to send Natty into steel steps!
Nia gets Tamina in a fireman’s carry but Tamina slips off! SUPERKICK to SAMOAN DROP!! Tamina can’t cover, though, that took so much in itself! Cover, but Shayna attacks!!
Winner: Tamina, by disqualification
Natty gets in and fires off on Shayna! They brawl, Tamina helps Natty and they double whip Shayna. Shayna holds ropes, bails out and regroups with Nia and Reggie! The second generation superstars have to fight through Tag Team Turmoil, but will they have the motivation and aggression to do it?
Backstage interview with The Riott Squad.
Liv and Ruby are here but Billie barges in again. Why? She doesn’t even have a partner. Um, sorry, what was that? Carmella is here! She’s Billie’s partner. Oh wow. But anyway, Ruby and Liv are laser focused on Tag Team Turmoil. But that means getting through four other teams, because now Billie & Mella are added to the mix. What does the Squad have that gets them the edge? Well besides getting rid of the sidekick, Liv & Ruby are more in synch than ever. Aw, how cute. If Mella wanted a lesson on friendship, she’d watch an after school special. Those WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships are Mella’s. Ahem. Right, hers and Billie’s. Because Mella Is Money!
And Billie…? is annoyingly- er, amazingly persistent, and that is an advantage in itself. But what about Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke? What about them? But then the Ravishing Glow gets in on this. Are we doing this again? Yes. But now it’s a BRAWL!! All four teams go after each other, the Squad stands tall over Billie & Mella, but then Natty & Tamina add on! They assault Dana, clobber Liv, and then TOSS Liv into a road case! Natty says Dana is worthless, and throws her into the same road case! Ain’t nobody meana than Natty & Tamina! Does any other team stand a chance of surviving Tag Team Turmoil this Saturday?
“Think you know Cesaro? Think again.”
Wait, what is this political commercial style video? “Cesaro has been competing in the WWE for 10 years, but he has never competed in a 1-on-1 match at WrestleMania.” He has not won the Universal Championship, either. Is this the example we want for our children? Seth Rollins is the superstar we all deserve as a two-time Universal Champion, Royal Rumble winner, and has had some of the most iconic moments in WrestleMania history. Rollins knows what it’s like to take charge, lead and win. He is a man we can all look up to. Just #EmbraceTheVision.
“This ad has been paid for by friends of Seth Rollins and is in no way directly associated with Seth Rollins himself,” even though this is Seth Rollins saying all that… Is Rollins running for office or just trying to anger Cesaro more?
EDGE heads to the ring!
The Rated R Superstar has another steel chair in hand because he is still seething over what Bryan did to him last week! We’ll hear his response to that and more, after the break!
SmackDown returns and Edge sits in the chair, with the spotlight on him. “I went to WrestleMania 6, Hulk Hogan VS The Ultimate Warrior. That night, I knew what I needed to do with the rest of my life.” And when Edge dreams things, he has to manifest them. That’s how things work for him. Some might relate but many won’t, “because common sense isn’t very common.” Edge did become a WWE superstar. A superstar who accomplished everything he could, “but ending my career on my terms.” Now, some will also say, “Isn’t that enough?>” If you have to ask, you have no idea the mentality it takes to see the heights he’s seen. To fight to get your career back for nine YEARS!
Edge didn’t “walk away from this,” he had this ripped away from him! He didn’t try to forge another career, this is all that he’s wanted to do! Edge fought and clawed and got his career back from fate’s hands. He didn’t come back for some greatest hits tour, to be the shell of his former self. He came back to steal the show and main event WrestleMania! Edge missed nine of them, so he won’t apologize for that. Daniel Bryan, he comes out saying this could be his last. Have you heard? This could be Bryan’s last! A month in Bryan’s is a year in Edge’s so what do you think this is for him!?
Bryan used sympathy to weasel his way in, even after all his ridiculous ideas! Facing the winner immediately? No. Face the winner the next day? No. But somehow this is a TRIPLE THREAT!? Bryan could pin Roman and Edge will have nothing! Instead of a 1v1, a Clash of the Titans between two eras, we have “some indie bookstore clerk troll” sticking his nose in Edge’s business. And then there’s Roman. Roman walks around like he created this and everyone else owes him. Edge doesn’t owe Roman anything. Roman owes Edge. Roman came into the WWE in a three man group. He made an entrance through the crowd. He used a Spear finisher. Well who set that template? “You’re Samoan Edge.”
Edge will admit that Roman is good. He always has been. Edge sees what Roman’s become. Edge came back to swing for the fences, and Roman is the Green Monster. They’ve had their 1v1 ripped away from them, the fans had that ripped away from them! Everyone sees Bryan for who he is, except for the Yes Lemmings who are the same people who used to chant, “What?” And somewhere in all of this, the fact that is lost is that this match takes place TEN YEARS TO THE DAY from Edge’s forced retirement. No mention of that, either. No video packages, no social media posts, no touching videos with music. NOTHING. Anyone else, that narrative is driven into the ground!
And why is that? Why is Edge having to remind us of this? Because since he’s returned, he hasn’t gotten the respect he deserves! Edge fought back from a torn triceps to enter the 2021 Royal Rumble, and then he outlasted 29 other superstars, and punched his ticket to Mania! Edge shouldn’t have to jump through hoops! Edge has come back from something no one has ever come back from! NINE YEARS! TRIPLE NECK FUSION! “You have no idea the pain that I have gone through to get this back!!” You want to call Edge a part-timer? That he’ll just phone it in? He’s doing ranas off the top ropes! He is doing what no one has ever done! And this is a slap in the face to him!
“So now, it’s time for me to take and demand the respect that I deserve. You will put respect on my name. In case you forgot, in case you never knew, I am the Rated R Superstar!” Fate, God’s Will, whatever you call it, Edge will be the NEXT Universal Champion, because he’s dreamt it, and now he must manifest it! Will Edge rise back up and return to the top with a capital (Rated) R?
Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville talk backstage.
Pearce says no one a year ago could’ve seen the main event we’re getting. Everyone is so excited. But Sonya doesn’t think it was fair to have made Ziggler & Roode defend their titles against three other teams at once. What does that have to do with Mania? It doesn’t. But thinking about it, Sonya doesn’t agree with Pearce’s decision, either. Bryan deserves a title match, yes. But at Mania, it should’ve been Roman VS Edge, 1v1. Just saying.
Backstage interview with Sasha Banks.
The Boss’ response to Bianca from earlier is, “Do you honestly think I care what Bianca has to say?” No! Bianca has to hear what Sasha has to say, just like everyone wants to. Bianca may be the EST, but she’s not the BEST, because Sasha is. Sasha has and always will be. Just like at Mania, Bianca will give Sasha her all, and Sasha will give it all back, boss style! And tomorrow night, when Sasha makes Bianca tap out, Bianca will finally realize her place is beneath Sasha. Bianca will give it her all, and realize it is never going to be enough against Sasha, the B-E-S-T, who will still be SmackDown Women’s Champion! Sasha is laughing now, but will Bianca have the last laugh this Saturday?
WWE Media was with Sami Zayn as he visited the Paul Brothers.
He wanted to check in with his “buddy,” Logan Paul, and turns out he is sparring with brother Jake. The Paul brothers are surprised that Sami is here. Sami says hey and says the trailer is huge! It’s getting so much attention thanks to Logan’s endorsement! Mania is going to be amazing! Sami has an idea! These three can work out together! Okay, stay right there! Sami hurries back to his car to get his things, but where did he park? Oops, the door. Sami knocks to get someone to let him back in, but the guy says they’re closed. Sami says he’s here with Logan! That doesn’t change anything and Sami is shut out.
Sami shows up here on SmackDown!
He’s upset that they show that! That was an edited, selective version! Logan and Jake apologized to the security guard and they hung out the next day! Well what did Logan have for breakfast? Grapefruit? Sami says no one can deny him! He will vindicate himself against Kevin Owens! But the music plays Sami off because superstars are heading to the ring for the- KEVIN ATTACKS SAMI! They brawl, Kevin bumps Sami off the desk then kicks! Sami gets away from the Stunner and runs away! Kevin hurries after him but Sami’s quick. Kevin tells Sami he’ll see him at Mania! But after the break, the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal returns!
2021 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal!
There are so many superstars from Raw and SmackDown, it’s easier to say who isn’t in this match. But with the trophy nearby, who will be inspired to join Cesaro, The Big Show, Baron Corbin, Mojo Rawley, Matt Hardy and Braun Strowman on the plaque? Or, will KING Corbin go down as the first-ever two-time winner of this match?
The bell rings and it’s just chaos! Murphy is after Kalisto, Corbin is after Erik, Benjamin and Alexander stick together, T-Bar tries to get Gulak out while Ryker steps on Slapjack. Tozawa calls upon his ninja power but gets thrown out, Alexander & Benjamin ELIMINATE him! Alexander & Benjamin mug Tucker, T-Bar and Mace drag Murphy up, and Lucha House Party is after Shinsuke Nakamura. Alexander & Benjamin ELIMINATE Tucker! Ali rallies everyone else against these two, and it’s a massive handicap brawl!! Only a few others splinter off, but the group throws and ELIMINATES Benjamin! And then ELIMINATE Alexander! No more allies as SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown returns and it’s still very hectic! Kalisto fights off Corbin and Jey Uso, T-Bar is after Gulak on the apron, and Elias helps Ryker against Erik. Erik whips Elias but Elias reverses and Ryker holds the ropes down, they ELIMINATE Erik! Mace and Nakamura brawl, but Mace helps T-Bar against the Cruiserweights! T-Bar and Mace get Gulak up but he gets free, only to get DOUBLE CHOKE SLAMMED out of the ring! Slapjack is alone, Carrillo fires off on Mace and T-Bar! But they get Carrillo for a DOUBLE TOSS out onto Gulak! Carrillo is ELIMINATED! Slapjack slingshots into Ryker’s ATOMIC DROP! Elias KNEES Slapjack out and ELIMINATES him!
T-Bar and Mace see that and glare at Elias and Ryker! They brawl 2v2! T-Bar ROCKS Elias, Mace ROCKS Ryker! They both shove Ryker and Elias out and ELIMINATE them! But Ali gets revenge and ELIMINATES Mace!! T-Bar grabs Ali, but Murphy saves Ali? T-Bar shoves him away, Ali body scissors and dumps T-Bar to ELIMINATE him!! But then Murphy brings Ali up, only for Ali to ROUNDHOUSE! Ali slingshots into a KNEE TRIGGER! Kalisto SCHOOL BOY KICKS Murphy! LHP hits a SUPER SPLASH! Kalisto says they can go to Mania! “Lucha! Lucha!” Lince says nah, and he CHOPS Kalisto! Metalik and Lince whip Kalisto, he fights back!
Kalisto hops up, reels Metalik in but Lince GAMANGIRIS Kalisto out to ELIMINATE him! But then Metalik ELIMINATES Lince! Every luchador for himself, after all! But Corbin is after Metalik! Metalik kicks back, runs in but Corbin TOSSES him to ELIMINATE him! The Wolf King is still in this as SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown returns and we’re down to a final seven! King Corbin stomps Ricochet, Jey Uso has Shinsuke Nakamura down in another corner, with Mustafa Ali helping, and Angel Garza battles with Buddy Murphy on the edge of the apron! Murphy holds on, gets up and hits back! Garza and Murphy brawl, Corbin throws Ricochet over but he holds on. Murphy BOOTS Garza, ducks the clotheslines, but Garza elbows the waistlock away. Garza throws more elbows, runs, but Murphy grabs at him! The pants tear away! Garza grins and shrugs, but runs into a BOOT! Corbin runs in, Murphy throws the pants at him and climbs up, but Corbin BLASTS Murphy off, and ELIMINATES him!
Garza gets Nakamura up top but Nakamura boots him away! Garza comes back with a clothesline, but is put on the top for the TOP SHELF KNEE! Garza holds on, shoulders back, but a KINSHASA ELIMINATES Garza! Now we’re at five! Nakamura BOOTS Jey, Corbin CLOBBERS him, but ALi is after former rival in Ricochet! Ricochet escapes the suplex, fights off another, and KNEES ALi, to then HEADCISSOR him onto Garza for the ELIMINATION! Jey runs in but into a shoulder! Corbin trips Ricochet’s springboard up, Jey SUPERKICKS and ELIMINATES him! Now it’s all SmackDown with Corbin, Nakamura and #MainEventJey!
And Nakamura is getting mugged 2v1! Jey stomps Nakamura, Corbin pushes him aside so he can stomp Nakamura! But Jey SUPERKICKS Corbin, dumps him out but Corbin holds on! Jey doesn’t know that, he whips Nakamura but Nakamura throws him out! KINSHASA ELIMINATES Corbin! Nakamura and Jey are the final two and they reset, but Jey fireman’s carries! Nakamura fights free, fires off, misses one kick but not the LEFT! Nakamura aims, and gets him for an STO! Nakamura fires up, “YAO~!” SUPERKICK from Jey first! But the KINSHASA comes back anyway!! Nakamura drags Jey up, whips him but Jey reverses to SUPLEX and ELIMINATE Nakamura! JEY WINS!
Winner: Jey Uso (2021 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner)
GOTTEE! Jey wants his name right on that plaque! And now, Roman Reigns walks out! The Tribal Chief joins Jey in the ring to give his final thoughts before Mania, after the break!
SmackDown returns once more, with Roman Reigns in the ring.
His Special Counsel, Paul Heyman, hands him a mic. “I’m annoyed that I even have to be here. I’m not a politician, I’m not running for president, I don’t have to sell myself to you.” He’s got better things to worry about. He is in a Triple Threat, where he can lose without even being pinned. But since Roman is here, he’ll state the obvious: ON Sunday night, in the main event of WrestleMania, Roman will show up and win. You know the catchphrase, you bought the shirt. That might seem arrogant, but for Roman, those are his humble beginnings. Show day is the easy day. Every single day of the week, when you prep at a 12, the 10 comes easy.
But to everyone else in this company, you wanna know what “show up and win” means? When Roman shows up, the WWE is winning. And he could be like Edge or Bryan. He could have one good week. Bryan’s real tough last week. Edge’s a real badass. But ever since he came back at SummerSlam, Roman’s been great week after week after week, for THIRTY WEEKS IN A ROW! Roman says the numbers don’t lie. Who do you think changed the ratings for SmackDown? ROMAN. Who made this title relevant? ROMAN. SO that brings him to Edge and Bryan, “the dreamers.”
This title is there dream, right? Bryan doesn’t want to hear “no” anymore, he wants someone to say “yes.” But now he’s saying he made Roman tap out? Fans know he did! “DB, you’re holding on by a thread here. If you made me tap out, then you’d be champion. But you’re not, and you won’t ever be. Because on Sunday, you can’t make me tap out.” And Edge, he wants to complete his comeback? Nobody took this from him? That’s garbage. Direct a finger at Roman because he took this from him! And from everyone else! Dreamers, the lot of them. This is where the comeback ends.
Edge thinks this title is his dream? No, being in the WrestleMania main event with Roman Reigns, THAT is the dream, and where the story ends! And where Roman’s story begins. These guys are the launching pad. If you thought what Roman did this past year was special, wait to see what’s next. Roman is Head of the Table because he’s not a dreamer! Dreamers are selfish! They only think of themselves! Roman’s the “man with the golden hand,” and everything he does has a purpose. Roman saves careers, right, Paul? Yes, sir! Who gave Jey the greatest year of his career? Roman. They all have gold to prove it now.
But Edge, Bryan, Roman won’t do that for them, He’ll crush their dreams! This isn’t a prediction, this is a spoiler! This Sunday, THE main event of Mania, Roman will wreck everyone and leave! Roman will smash ’em, stack ’em, pin ’em, and the ref will count to three. Then Roman will hold his Universal Championship high over his head and they will look up to see a man greater than them! Then millions of dollars of pyro go off, and they will feel the whole world #AcknowledgeMe. Roman has the last say tonight, but will he have the last say come this Sunday?
My Thoughts:
Well, I will say, this was a go-home episode. It had the Go Home Syndrome of too many recap packages and commercial breaks, not a lot of new action. This acted more like the WrestleMania kickoff show than it did a go-home. I will say that the promos from Bryan, Edge and Roman were all great stuff, because all three guys are great on the mic, but that doesn’t change the math we got last week. Bryan is rolling in hot only to be taken out by someone else. But who knows? WWE might think about how the fans are going to really cheer for him now that they’re live and in person, they could ditch the math and really give us #YEStleMania2 like how they gave us KofiMania, Becky Lynch winning both titles AND Rollins slaying the Beast all in one year at WM35.
The Fatal 4 Way Tag was a lot of fun, though I should’ve figured WWE would pull the “only two teams legal at once” card so that it’d be easier for the champions to retain and continue their reign. Maybe at Money in the Bank, The Profits get a fait 2v2, fitting under Sonya thinking it was unfair for the champs. That’s another thing, they have to expound on why Sonya is protective of Ziggler & Roode. Can it tie Bianca into it, too? Bianca VS Sonya would be pretty awesome. Bianca and Sasha had good promos tonight, but again I don’t think it changes the math. I am pretty sure Bianca wins, because that would make Mania that much bigger.
The RawDown Women’s Tag Division got some good play tonight, even if we got another scrub of a finish for the tag champs and Natty-Tamina. Tamina & Natty are going so strong, I can’t be sure they come out of the Tag Team Turmoil. I do appreciate that Mella & Billie are being put in the match, they might make a difference to a degree, but I can’t be sure. I still feel it should be Natty & Tamina because of how dominant they’re getting to be, so maybe WWE again ditches their usual math and lets those two win it all after standing tall. I am a little confused and disappointed as to why we’re not getting Bayley somewhere, such as forming #BayMella again, but maybe we’ll see something happen past Mania.
Seth Rollins’ political campaign ad parody was a hilarious addition to his gimmick here. Usually political gags in wrestling are awful but this was much more tongue in cheek than most of those other attempts. All of this has to mean Rollins loses, though, with WWE actually keeping to the go-home math. I wish they’d done this a week sooner so that Cesaro could come up with his counter, pointing out the legitimately (in kayfabe of course) awful things Rollins has done. Rollins can then say that’s “fake news” or “false narrative,” and then still loses the match. Sami did that a bit tonight, he and Kevin had a good brawl, but their match can still go either way to me.
The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was about as good as any WWE battle royal could go, and it was great for Jey that he won, but it also seems a shame. There could’ve been some story going past Mania if Jey lost at the last second in a reversal of what he did to Nakamura, so that should Roman retain, we could see a build to Roman VS Nakamura. Just on ring work, that’d be as good as any other feud Roman’s gotten since becoming Tribal Chief. It could still happen by way of Nakamura being deserving anyway, but every little detail helps the build.
My Score: 8.1/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Will the revolution still be televised?
After weeks of going back and forth, Ricky Saints and Ethan Page once again fight over the NXT North American Championship to settle the score!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT North American Championship: Ricky Saints VS Ethan Page; Ethan wins and becomes the new NXT North American Champion.
- Mike Santana VS Tavion Heights w/ No Quarter Catch Crew; Santana wins.
- Tatum Paxley VS Jaida Parker; Jaida wins.
- Jasper Troy VS ???
- NXT Women’s Championship: Stephanie Vaquer VS Jacy Jayne w/ The Fatal Influence; wins and
PLAY BY PLAY
NXT North American Championship: Ricky Saints VS Ethan Page!
As if the last few weeks weren’t enough, The Absolute and All Ego had a confrontation in Tampa during Battleground! Now it is their time to shine and set the tone, but who will finally put this one to bed?
The introductions are made, but the hands start flying! Security rushes in already but fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” The ref tells Mike Rome to say that no matter what, this match is starting right now! The bell rings, security clears out, and the hands fly again! Ethan headlocks, Ricky sends him into a corner, then Ricky hits a headlock takeover! Ethan kicks around, Ricky holds on, but Ethan pops free. Ricky hits another headlock takeover! Ethan fights up to hit a BIG back suplex! Ricky holds onto the headlock! The fans cheer on “Ricky! STROKES!” as Ethan keeps fighting.
Ethan headscissors, Ricky kips free, but now Ethan hits the takeover. Ricky endures as Ethan grinds the hold. The fans rally, Ricky powers Ethan to a corner, but Ethan turns it around. The ref counts, Ethan fires body shots, and the fans boo. Ethan stalks Ricky to another corner, then fires body shots. Ricky ELBOWS Ethan, BOOTS him, then blocks a kick to kick again. Ricky reels Ethan in but Ethan BACKDROPS free! Ricky staggers up, Ethan reels him in, Canadian Rack, but Ricky makes it to the apron! Ricky drags Ethan out of the ring, KICKS him from the apron, and then hops down to bring Ethan around.
Ethan blocks a whip to whip Ricky into steel steps! The fans boo harder but Ethan scowls as he stands up. Ethan locks eyes on a chair and he picks it up. Security tells him no, and Ethan says alright. Other security keeps Ricky from rushing Ethan, and now Ava Raine is here! She gives special instructions, fans hope it is “NO D Q! NO D Q!” The ref tells security to “Let Them Fight!” The fans fire up as Ethan and Ricky are set loose! Ethan whips Ricky, Ricky slips through the corner, and he comes back to CLOBBER Ethan! Ricky stomps away on Ethan, the fans fire up, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Ricky snarls and looms over Ethan before dragging him up. Ricky SMACKS Ethan off the apron, off steel steps, then kicks him around. Ricky puts Ethan in the ring, stalks him, and runs to ELBOW DROP! Ethan sputters but Ricky is right on him. Ricky bumps Ethan off buckles, CHOPS him, and checks his ears for ringing after that one. Ethan flops down, Ricky poses, and then grins as he drags Ethan up. But Ethan YANKS Ricky into buckles! Ethan stands Ricky up to CHOP and ROCK, and then CLUB him on the back. Ethan CHOPS Ricky in a corner and Ricky staggers away. Ethan is on him in another corner, whips corner to corner
But Ricky comes back to CLOBBER Ethan! Cover, TWO! Ethan stays in this but Ricky stays on him. Ricky ROCKS Ethan and Ethan tumbles out of the ring. Ricky storms outside, stalks Ethan, and stands him up against barriers. Ricky fires body shots, then dumps him over barriers! The fans rally as Ricky goes up and brawls with Ethan! The ref has reinforcements and they tell these two to go back to the ring. Ethan and Ricky keep throwing hands, NXT returns to single picture, and fans boo as security drags these two back to ringside. Etahn and Ricky fight off security! Ricky SPEARS Ethan over the desk!!
The fans go nuts as Corey, Vic & Booker are almost collateral! Ricky and Ethan rise up, tangled in cords, and they still brawl! Security does what they can to usher these two back to the ring, and the ref says they gotta do this in the ring! Ricky and Ethan let off, but then Ethan CUTTERS Ricky onto a chair!! The chair explodes, and everyone is losing their minds! Ricky gasps and sputters, the fans boo, and Ethan leaves Ricky behind. Is Ricky even able to speak, let alone continue this match? The ref checks Ricky, Ricky shakes his head, but is that to say no, he’s not okay? Or that no, he won’t let Ethan win like this?
The fans rally as hard as they can for Ricky while he crawls and sputters. Ricky’s fighting spirit is strong, but Ethan has him for a Canadian Rack! EGO’S EDGE!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ricky survives and Ethan is pissed! Ethan rains down fists while the fans boo. The ref counts as Ethan pulls hair, and Ethan stops at 4. This isn’t No DQ, Ethan still has to follow the ref’s orders. Ethan drags Ricky up, grins, but Ricky RAMS him into a corner! Ricky fires body shots and haymakers! The ref counts, Ricky steps back, but Ethan throat chops! The fans boo as Ricky again coughs and sputters. Ethan storms up on Ricky, throws hands, then eggs Ricky on.
The fans rally for Ricky as he rises up. Ricky throws a forearm, but there’s not much behind it. Ethan hits back, Ricky fires another shot, and they start picking up speed! The fans cheer, but Ethan fires a flurry! Ricky blocks the next shot to ROCK Ethan! But Ethan SUPERKICKS back! RIPCORD and POWER- DDT!! Ricky turns the tables and both men are down! “This is Awesome!” as Ricky still has life! Ricky and Ethan slowly rise, Ethan runs up, but Ricky LARIATS! And LARIATS! Ricky dodges to OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Then he wrenches Ethan, dragon sleeper, REVERSE DDT! Cover, TWO!! Ethan survives but Ricky skips being frustrated to catch his breath.
The fans rally, Ricky runs, but Ethan dodges. Ricky dodges, but Ethan LARIATS Ricky inside-out!! Cover, TWO!! Ricky survives and Ethan seethes. Ethan lifts Ricky, Ricky fights free, and Ricky shoves to ROCK Ethan! Ricky reels Ethan in, he Canadian Racks, but Ethan slips free to the apron! Ethan and Ricky grab at each other, the ref counts, and Ethan HOTSHOTS Ricky! Ricky sputters, Ethan is on him, TWISTED GRIN!!! Cover, ETHAN WINS!
Winner: Ethan Page, by pinfall (NEW NXT North American Champion)
No one can believe it, but this Ego Maniac has gold again. Ethan joins the exclusive elite who have had both the NXT Championship & NXT North American Championship in their careers, but this win comes with strings attached. Ethan must defend this title at Worlds Collide on June 7th, who will it be that steps to Ethan in LA?
Backstage interview with The Fatal Influence.
Sarah Schreiber is with Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne & the returning Jazmyn Nyx. The arguing at Battleground between Fallon and Jacy opened the way to opportunity as now Jacy is facing Stephanie Vaquer for the NXT Women’s Championship in tonight’s main event. Jacy says, “We said we would get it done, that we would get an NXT Women’s Championship match. We just didn’t say how we were gonna get it done. And clearly, all it took was me smacking the taste out of Stephanie’s mouth to get it.” Fallon says personally, it should’ve been her competing, because the last time Jacy stepped in the ring with Stephanie, she lost.
Jacy smiles and says that tonight, she brings gold back to the Fatal Influence since Fallon failed against who? Oh, right, Stephanie! But if Fallon wants to be in Jacy’s corner, fine. If not, also fine. Jacy heads out, Jazmyn is already back in the middle of the squabbling, but will NXT once again be under the Influence? Or will the Toxic Rockstar have a meltdown against La Primera?
Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura are backstage.
The Bullhead Brawler goes over how it was just chair shot after chair shot at Battleground. But didn’t Inamura go back to Japan? He did, but then he came back to NXT for Briggs. Well, that’s such a great surprise. And he has Inamura’s vest! Inamura thanks Briggs, and says he couldn’t leave Briggs like that. There are still things to accomplish. Yes, like becoming NXT Tag Team Champions. Inamura agrees there, and more. Oh, got it! They take out The Culling and set their sights on the tag titles! Yes, and… even bigger! Briggs is intrigued, and says, “Hell yeah.” Could we see Briggs & Inamura start on a Two Man Power Trip?
Mike Santana VS Tavion Heights w/ No Quarter Catch Crew!
The Standard of TNA has fought hard for 16 years just for a moment like this. Will the Boricua Badass bring that Total Non-Stop Action and make an impact on NXT? Or will Tavion use The Standard to reach new heights in his own career?
The bell rings and the fans rally up for “BORICUA! BORICUA!” Santana and Tavion circle, tie up, and go around. Tavion waistlocks, SLAMS Santana, then holds on as Santana fights up. Tavion SLAMS Santana again, but Santana fights up. Santana switches, wrenches, but Tavion slips through to wrench and wristlock. Santana rolls, handsprings, and wrenches to headlock. Tavion powers up and powers Santana to ropes. Tavion then powers out, and the two RAM shoulders! The fans fire up as Tavion and Santana egg each other on. Santana runs, Tavion hurdles, but Santana shoves Tavion to hurdle. Tavion rolls over but Santana SHOTGUNS!
The fans fire up while Tavion goes to the corner. Santana runs up, is put on the apron, but Santana ROCKS Tavion! And RAMS him, and slingshots. Santana stumbles, but he still springboards to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up, Santana brings Tavion up, but Tavion SAYANAGIS! Santana stumbles up, Tavion runs in, but Santana DUMPS Tavion out! Santana builds speed and he FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Tavion! Santana stands and the fans are fired up while NXT goes picture in picture.
Santana revels in the cheers, and he brings Tavion up. Santana puts Tavion in the ring, goes to a corner, and he runs corner to corner to UPPERCUT! Tavion wrenches and hits an atomic FACEBUSTER! Then a SENTON! Cover, TWO! Santana is annoyed but he stalks Tavion. Santana drags Tavion up, reels him in, but Tavion blocks the suplex. Tavion suplexes, and he holds Santana up, only for Santana to slip free! Santana waistlocks, Tavion switches, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Tavion keeps Santana down with a waistlock and makes it a rear bearhug! Tavion shifts to a cover, TWO! Tavion HAMMERS away on Santana, covers again, TWO!
Santana shows the grit that’s carried him through these 16 years, but Tavion is on him again. Santana snap suplexes first! That’s Uno Amigo and Santana hits another, Dos Amigos! Then THREE AMIGOS! Cover, TWO! Tavion is still in this but Santana stays cool. Santana stands Tavion up, they throw hands, but Santana RAMS low! Santana snapmares Tavion, basement DROPKICKS, then covers, TWO! Tavion stays in this, showing the toughness that made him an accomplished Olympian, but Santana brings him up. Tavion fires body shots, hoists Santana up, and RAMS him into the corner! And RAMS him again, and again!
Santana kicks back, then CHOPS! Tavion goes to a corner, Santana storms up to CHOP again! Santana stands Tavion back up, but Tavion dodges the chop! Tavion CHOPS Santana, then swings again. Santana dodges, he CHOPS, and then brings Tavion around. NXT returns to single picture as Santana whips, but Tavion stops himself! Tavion then changes direction to CLOBBER Santana! The fans rally up, Tavion fires forearms, then he whips and LARIATS at the ropes! Santana coughs, Tavion whips, and he LARIATS against ropes again! Wren & Charlie cheer Tavion on but Santana whips, drops down, and jumps, but Tavion grabs the legs!
Santana kicks free, Tavion comes back, roll into the fireman’s carry! The fans fire up for the- NO, Santana sunset flips it! TWO, Tavion is up, but Santana goes for a leg! Tavion GUT WRENCH PLEXES! Cover, TWO! Santana stays in this but Tavion stays on him with a chinlock. The fans rally up as Santana endures. Santana rises, throws body shots, but Tavion CLUBS Santana. Santana goes to a corner, BOOTS in return, but Tavion comes back. Santana ELBOWS Tavion, Tavion HEADBUTTS! Tavion whips, Santana reverses, and Santana CHOPS! The fans are loving that one! Santana whips, Tavion reverses, but Santana goes up and over!
Santana blocks a kick and ENZIGIRIS! Santana runs, slips around, and he shoves Tavion. Tavion goes up and over, but Santana reverse somersaults to CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Tavion survives that “Buck Fifty” and Santana is shocked, but “This is Awesome!” Santana brings Tavion up, fireman’s carries, but Tavion slips free and shoves again, OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Then a SLINGBLADE! Tavion fires up, waits on Santana, and he fireman’s carries. DEATH VALLEY BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Santana survives but Tavion nods. Tavion waits on Santana to rise up and the fans rally. Santana stands, Tavion runs, but Santana SUPERKICKS!
Santana whips, Tavion reverses, but Santana turns that back. Tavion bucks the O’Conner, Santana gets moving again, and Santana catches Tavion’s hurdle into a fireman’s carry! CHALK OUTLINE! Then Santana SPINS THE BLOCK!! Cover, Santana wins!
Winner: Mike Santana, by pinfall
Santana kept it 100 and he got the big win! The fans respect Santana, and Santana shows respect to Tavion. Dempsey isn’t so sure about this, but will he just have to get in the ring with Santana to learn what he’s all about?
The High Ryze speaks.
Wes Lee says, “Now y’all know I’ve been a part of something before. Brothers all connected, chasing the same dream, but… Is it possible for that connection to last if the dream’s changed? Not for long. See, the truth is, you can really only trust in yourself. That is, until something real comes along. Tyson Dupont, Tyriek Igwe, brute force and brilliant minds that mirror my conventions.” Tyson says they ain’t chasing greatness, they’re building it brick by brick. Tyriek says everyone wants to live the lifestyle, but the only way you get there is with loyalty. Not to a brand, but to a bond.
Wes says that is how you shatter the glass ceiling. Not by selling out but by buying in, and holding it down with the ones that stand with you. They didn’t fit the mold, so they made their own. And so long as they do that and stay true to the cause, there will only be one outcome: they rise. Will Wes and his new crew soon stand tall over NXT, Evolve, and ALL of the WWE?
Andre Chase speaks with Uriah Connors & Kale Dixon.
Mr. Chase tells his students to stop being overzealous. They’re demanding matches, jumping into action without a plan, and that’s how they got beat up by OTM. Kale says that sucked. Chase agrees. They need to when to seize the moment, but also when to fall back. They need to know when to take risks, but when- Uriah says, “So what you’re saying is that we need to take more risks.” Kale says they can definitely do that. No, that’s not- But Kale & Uriah spot Ava. They want to talk, she says she has a minute so get to it. Mr. Chase wants the boys to take risks and seize the moment, so they wanna do just that!
Ava says okay, she was just looking over the card for next week, and there is still a spot open. They can be in action against… Dark State. Uh oh. D-Dark State? But that’s four of them and two of Chase U… Well, no, it’ll be a Six Man Tag. Take those risks and have fun! Mr. Chase can’t believe what he just got dragged into… Kale says at least they all get to team up. Chase says they’re not a team! What will it take for Mr. Chase to reach these kids?
Luca Crusifino finds Tony D’Angelo backstage.
The Consigliere starts to ask about Battleground, but The Don tells him to sit down. Luca sits at the table, and Tony says we all thought Stacks clipped Luca in the desert. Then Luca shows up in Tampa like he was on vacation, and he just stares Tony down. Luca says he had no idea what to do. Tony doesn’t wanna hear excuses, but Luca says on his mother’s eyes, Stacks drove Luca further out into that desert and just left him there. Luca was just as shocked. Oh, just left him, huh? Then why didn’t he reach out? Well, Rizzo was in hiding, Stacks attacks Tony at the safehouse, and if Luca reached out, he might’ve put them all at risk.
Tony sighs, thinks on it, and says this still doesn’t smell right. Luca says Rizzo’s number was disconnected. After seeing everything going on, Luca had to come back. Tony says okay, so Luca comes back at Battleground, but he costs Tony the match? That was not Luca’s intent! Then what was? No, save it. Tony doesn’t know who to trust right now. Luca says he can be trusted. Is that true? Or is there more than meets the eye to this?
Trick Williams is here!
The fans fire up for the NEW TNA World Champion, and they chant “WHOOP DAT TRICK! WHOOP DAT TRICK!” Trick struts to the ring and grabs the mic to cut his music. “Reporting to you live, the sexiest and most entertaining superstar alive, Hollywood Trick has finally arrived!” Trick says he is making history this time! The fans chant “TRICK N A!” Trick says for the first time ever, and NXT superstar is holding the TNA gold! But add to that: TWO-TIME NXT Champion, ONE-TIME North American Champion, Iron Survivor Winner, let’s talk about it! Nah, forget that! Don’t you start clapping now!
If memory serves, a lot of the ones clapping were also waving their hands from side to side and playing singalong with #AverageJoe! If you were in that, he has one thing to say to you: “Don’t you feel stupid?” The fans are torn, but Trick grins as the “Average Joe!” chant starts. And speaking of average and stupid, why is everyone trying to figure out where’s the line between NXT and TNA? TNA and NXT? DAMMIT, don’t you cross Trick Williams cuz he IS the line! The fans chant “He’s The Line!” Trick says since NXT didn’t appreciate him like they should, he gonna go to TNA, wear this gold nice and proud. It look good, don’t it?
Check who else held this gold before: Kurt Angle; Drew McIntyre; Bully Ray Dudley; AJ Styles! But none of them compare to Trick Williams! Especially not Joe Hendry. So here’s how it goes: He is turning his back on the people cuz they turned their back on him. Yes, you did! You sang along! He remembers! Trick is gonna go to TNA, talk to management, all them who work for Trick now, and they gonna make some changes. Starting with the name! IT is now… TRICK’N A! But wait! Santana makes his way out here! The Standard says, “Big Trick Willy, huh?! The main man on the block, right?” Trick says let’s talk about it.
Santana says hey, he personally wanted to come out here and give him props for Sunday. Trick says he’ll say this. Santana just made his first mistake by interrupting his champion. Oh, first and foremost, let’s get this straight: Trick is NOT Santana’s champion. Second, Trick made a terrible first impression by coming out here as TNA’s champion and trying to tear down TNA. But guess what? TNA been killin’ the game! TNA been gainin’ momentum day after day! And the last thing that Santana is gonna do is sit back and as the man that carries the flag and watch someone else tear it down after what Santana and that TNA locker room have done to build it up!
The fans cheer, and Santana tells Trick, that ain’t happening. Trick tells Santana that obviously, he doesn’t get how things work. But that’s because Santana has never been THE TNA World Champion. So he’ll help Santana out. When you ARE the top champion of your brand, once you have carried that weight, only then can you call the shots! Santana says Trick makes him laugh. But guess what? People like Trick also piss Santana off. Let’s remind Trick, as he obviously needs a refresher… Santana is a loud ‘n’ proud Boricua from the Bronx, baby! The fans cheer that! Santana has seen guys like Trick come and go.
But let Santana be the one to tell Trick, he’s a pretender! Trick is a pretend fighter, a pretend rapper, what with those heels and tight pants. And after last Sunday at Battleground, Trick is a pretend champion! But Santana will tell Trick that Santana is the illest and realest! Trick ain’t ever dealt with someone like him! But to spit facts, Santana will be the man to take that TNA World Championship off Trick! Trick says let’s be real. Santana can keep popping off, but Trick will take off his pepper steppers and beat Santana’s ass! But wait, is that Santino Morella on the tron? He wants everyone to just take it easy, he sees it is getting heated.
And Santana will say this, “Tricky Williams,” congratulations on the victory. But as TNA Director of Authority, he wants Trick to know that he will be a fighting champion. Santino already spoke with Ava, and next week, Trick defends that title against Mike Santana! The fans are fired up already! Trick’s first defense is coming up fast, and Santana offers a handshake. Trick leaves him hanging, but then takes a swing! Santana blocks to throw haymakers! Then he THROWS Trick! The fans fire up as The Standard locks eyes on the belt. Trick says don’t do it, but Santana holds the belt up high! Will Trick’s first defense also be his last?
Ava talks with Stephanie Vaquer.
The NXT General Manager knows La Primera asked for this match tonight, but Ava has to address the rest of what happened at Battleground. At Worlds Collide, Vaquer will have a tag match against Dalys & Chika Tormenta. Ava knows that’s a lot on her plate, but Vaquer needs to find a tag partner. Vaquer thanks Ava for the news, and promises to find a partner. But first, she’ll defend her title. Wait, Lola Vice already volunteers! She’ll totally team with Vaquer. Ava says that’s perfect! Good luck out there. Lola says Vaquer doesn’t need luck to handle Jacy. Will Vaquer rock the Toxic Rockstar to then join Lola in LA?
Tatum Paxley VS Jaida Parker!
Loneliness can be soul crushing, and no one’s soul has been crushed more lately than Tatum’s. But will she use the pain she feels as motivation? Or will Miss Parker give her some physical pain to go along with the emotional?
The bell rings and the two tie up. Jaida powers Tatum to the corner, gets up in her face, but the ref counts. Jaida pushes Tatum, talks trash, but Tatum puts Jaida int he corner! Tatum CHOKES Jaida, Jaida shoves her back and RUNS her over. Things keep moving, Tatum hurdles, then rolls back to victory roll Jaida, TWO! Tatum dodges Jaida, underhooks, and BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES! Jaida flounders, Tatum snarls, and Tatum bumps Jaida off buckles! Tatum goes all three levels, but then Jada reverses. Tatum stops herself, but Jaida hits a BACKSTABBER! Tatum flounders away, Jaida runs up and RAMS into her!
The ref counts as Jaida digs her shoulders in. Jaida puts Tatum in the ropes, CHOPS her, then goes side to side for the TEAR DROP! Jaida high steps it while Tatum flounders, and then Jaida storms back up on Tatum. Jaida KICKS Tatum, ELBOW DROPS, then clamps on with the motorcycle stretch. Tatum endures, the fans rally, but Jaida stands on Tatum. Tatum fights up, turns around, but Jaida sits her back down! Jaida steps over to sit on Tatum! Tatum sputters, Jaida brings her up with a dragon sleeper, but Tatum slips free and O’Conner Rolls! TWO, and Jaida runs up. Tatum dodge sin the corner, rolls Jaida up, TWO!
Tatum jumps up to KNEE SMASH! Jaida staggers, Tatum rallies with forearm after forearm! ENZIGIRI! Jaida sputters, Tatum runs up again, CROSSBODY in the corner! Tatum snapmares Jaida, the fans rally, and Tatum runs to ROLLING AX KICK! Jaida staggers around, and Tatum SHOTGUNS her down! Jaida tumbles out, Tatum wants after her, but the ref holds Tatum back. Jaida sees the doll collection and tags the Gigi! She throws that one in, the ref reprimands and Tatum hurries after Gigi. Tatum cries, but the HIP-NOTIC hits!! Cover, Jaida wins!
Winner: Jaida Parker, by pinfall
That was cold blooded! Jaida uses Tatum’s emotions against her, but wait! THEA HAL is on Jaida! The fans cheer, Jaida gets free, but Thea wants the arm! Jaida scrambles away! Thea wants payback for the unwarranted hip attack last week, will she have her vengeance?
Jasper Troy speaks.
“Who is Jasper Troy? There was never doubt that I was going to win LFG. I’m gonna make an impact in NXT, and it starts tonight.” The LFG Season 1 Champion is ready, but who will “welcome” him to NXT?
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Best of the Super Juniors Results & Report! (5/25/25)
Round 8, all together!
The penultimate round of this round robin!
Best of the Super Juniors 32 enters round 8, and there are still a lot of moving pieces! Who will be that much closer to the finals?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Robbie Eagles; Eagles wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: KUSHIDA VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Kushida wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Titan; Yoh wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Dragon Dia VS Robbie X; Dia wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: MAO VS Nick Wayne; Mao wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Kosei Fujita VS Ninja Mack; Mack wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Taiji Ishimori VS SHO; Sho wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Francesco Akira VS Clark Connors; Connors wins, by disqualification.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Kevin Knight; Desperado wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current A Block standings!
Master Wato: 5-2, 10 points
Clark Connors: 4-3, 8 points
Francesco Akira: 4-3, 8 points
Kosei Fujita: 4-3, 8 points
Hiromu Takahashi: 4-3, 8 points
Robbie X: 3-4, 6 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 3-4, 6 points
KUSHIDA: 3-4, 6 points
Dragon Dia: 3-4, 6 points
Ninja Mack: 2-5, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Here are the current B Block standings!
YOH: 4-3, 8 points
Nick Wayne: 4-3, 8 points
MAO: 4-3, 8 points
Taiji Ishimori: 4-3, 8 points
El Desperado: 4-3, 8 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 3-4, 6 points
Kevin Knight: 3-4, 6 points
SHO: 3-4, 6 points
Titan: 3-4, 6 points
Robbie Eagles: 3-4, 6 points
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Robbie Eagles!
The Funky Weapon fell short in last round’s main event, but he proved he’s still got it. But can he get it going again this late into the tournament? Or does the Sniper of the Skies have the kill shot waiting?
The bell rings, Eagles runs up, wheelbarrows, victory rolls and has the legs, RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Taguchi claws at the mat, drags Eagles along, and makes it to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Eagles drags Taguchi back, but Taguchi kicks Eagles down to have OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Eagles scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Taguchi lets go, Eagles bails out, and Taguchi goes to the corner, TRIANGLE- NO, Eagles moves, Taguchi lands safe on the apron, but then the leg jams! Eagles 619s the legs out! Taguchi falls to the floor, Eagles brings him around, and he KICKS the bad leg! The fans rally, Eagles taunts Taguchi, then drags Taguchi around.
Eagles SMASHES Taguchi’s knee off the floor! The fans cheer, Eagles stands Taguchi up, and he puts him in the corner. Eagles pulls Taguchi’s legs against the crossbar! The ref reprimands and counts, Eagles lets go at 4, but he sits on Taguchi! Eagles eggs Taguchi on as he hops down, then rallies the fans. Eagles aims from the apron, springboards in, but into ANTIAIR HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Taguchi clutches his leg but he rolls his way to Eagles. Taguchi has Eagles on ropes and rubs it in his face! POINT BLANK HIP again and again! Taguchi then runs, to HIP ATTACK! Eagles sputters and the fans cheer!
Taguchi calls upon the powers of Strange Style, “ORYA~!” KETSU- NO, Eagles rolls up with bridge, TWO! Taguchi rolls Eagles, TWO! OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Eagles scrambles, rolls, and KICKS Taguchi down! The fans rally while Eagles shakes out the bad leg. Eagles stands, hobbles, and he shows some cheek! HIP ATTACK! And HIP ATTACK! Taguchi sputters, Eagles fires the fans up with some swivel, but Taguchi blocks the hip attack to HEADBUTT the butt! The fans cheer and Taguchi HEADBUTTS Eagles’ stomach! The forearms fly, Taguchi gets the edge, but Eagles ROUNDHOUSES! SUPERKICKS! ENZI- NO, Taguchi ducks! OH MY GAH ANKLE!
Eagles rolls and kicks free, then catches Taguchi. Taguchi shoves free to HIP ATTACK! Eagles says I’LL BE BACK, but Taguchi catches him! OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Eagles reaches out, crawls forward, and the fans rally up! Taguchi stands Eagles up, Eagles cravats, ASAI- NO, Taguchi slips free of the DDT! Drop toehold, and OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Eagles endures, the fans fire up, but Taguchi yanks Eagles back! Chicken wings, DODON- NO, Eagles victory rolls! TWO and Taguchi has it! TWO and they roll, roll, roll, roll, roll! In the end, Taguchi has it, TWO!!! Eagles escapes but both men are dizzy! Taguchi fires up, the fans are with him, but both men fall over!
The fans rally hard, and this is just the first five minutes! Taguchi ENZIGIRIS! Eagles is against ropes, but he comes back to HYPERION!!! Cover, EAGLES WINS!!
Winner: Robbie Eagles, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Taguchi earns 0)
It was a wild shootout from the start, but it is Eagles who hits the mark! Will the Sniper still take aim at the top? Or will someone else in the block block his path?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: KUSHIDA VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!
The Time Splitter and the Heel Master are on that bubble, one loss means the end for them! Will Kushida pick up speed and make it Back to the Future? Or does Kanemaru have one last cheap trick up his sleeve?
Kushida is on the corner for his entrance, and Kanemaru attacks! And ROCKET LAUNCHES him! The bell rings and Kanemaru whips to then DROPKICK the legs! Kanemaru steps through for a FIGURE FOUR! Kushida scrambles and rolls all the way to the ROPEBREAK! The ref reprimands, Kanemaru lets go, and Kushida scrambles away to the other side. Kanemaru drags Kushida back from ropes, holds him open, then gives a foot to the ref to split the wishbone! The fans cheer, Kanemaru turns Kushida over and SMASHES the knee! Kushida writhes more but Kanemaru is on him again, to YANK the leg!
Kanemaru taunts Kushida, mockingly asking what’s wrong. Kanemaru kicks Kushida to ropes, but Kushida CHOPS! Kanemaru kicks the leg, Kushida CHOPS, then Kushida CHOPS again! Kushida KICKS Kanemaru’s arm! The fans rally, Kushida whips, but Kanemaru reverses. Kanemaru handsprings, but Kanemaru DROPKICKS the legs! FIGURE FOUR!! The fans rally for Kushida while he endures, and he fights to push the main leg! Kanemaru powers the hold back down! Kushida endures, fights over, ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud but Kanemaru holds on until the ref reprimands. Kushida hobbles to the apron, and Kanemaru runs up.
Kushida RAMS Kanemaru, HOTSHOTS him away, then hurries up the corner. Kushida leaps but Kanemaru moves! Kushida’s leg jams, and Kanemaru trips him! Step through, but Kushida cradles, TWO!! Kanemaru escapes, Kushida waistlocks, but Kanemaru switches. Kushida slips under, FLIPS Kanemaru, and has the HOVERBOARD! Kanemaru fights up, spins through, and kicks the bad leg! Kushida PELES! Kanemaru goes to a corner, Kushida runs in, but Kanemaru BOOTS Kushida! Kanemaru runs, Kushida drops then HIP TOSSES into the ARM- NO, Kanemaru stacks Kushida, TWO! Kanemaru kicks and scoops, BRITISH-
NO, Kushida wrenches through to hop on, HOVERBOARD!! Kanemaru endures as Kushida thrashes the arm, and he grabs the ref! Kanemaru sends the ref into Kushida then ENZIGIRIS! Kushida and the ref are both down, so Kanemaru takes a swig of his whiskey! Kushida stands, but he smothers Kanemaru! Then TANAKA FASTBALL sends the mist flying! Backslide, KUSHIDA WINS!
Winner: Kushida, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kanemaru earns 0)
Another fast and furious match as this night gets going, and Kushida turns things around! Kanemaru is more than likely out of the running now, but can Kushida still make it to the finals? Or is time running out?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Titan!
One man is near the front but the other is near the back! Will Direct Drive kick it into gear and keep it fresh? Or will El Inmortal stay alive for a little longer?
The bell rings and the two rush in! Titan DROPKICKS Yoh and Yoh tumbles out! Titan builds speed, Yoh is back and he trips Titan! Yoh ties Titan up in the Paradise Lock! Milano Collection AT can’t believe what he’s seeing! Yoh fires the fans up, then runs to DROPKICK Titan out of Paradise! Yoh hurries to suplex, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Titan stays in this but Yoh stays focused as the fans rally up. Titan stirs while Yoh tunes up! SUPER- NO, Titan ducks the kick, shoves, and then goes Matrix to dodge! CALF KICK! Yoh tumbles, Titan runs, but Yoh puts Titan on the apron. Titan GAMANGINRIS in return!
Titan then springboards and FLYING RANAS! Yoh tumbles out again and Titan FLIES! Down goes Yoh and the fans fire up again! The fans fire up, Titan puts Yoh in the ring, and then Titan springboards again! DIVING BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! Yoh stays in this and the fans rally more. Titan waits on Yoh, pounds the mat, and the fans rally back up. Yoh stands, Titan throws off his elbow pads, and he FRAME- NO, Yoh BOOTS Titan first! Titan comes back but Yoh ducks a lariat to full nelson! Titan breaks free, switches, but Yoh elbows and runs! Titan follows to TORNADO DDT, and he brings Yoh up! But Yoh suplexes, FALCON GOROSHI!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Titan sputters, and Yoh roars as he rises up. The fans cheer and Yoh brings Titan around. Yoh underhooks but Titan fights it! The fans rally, Titan wrenches and tilt-o-whirls to DDT! Then he drags Yoh up to suplex, GOURD BUSTER! SUPERKICK! The fans fire up with Titan and he hurries to the corner! Titan skins the cat up top, aims and LA LANCER!! Yoh spasms, Titan covers, TWO!!! Yoh survives and the fans fire up again! Titan loosens his mask a bit, roars and the fans are with him! Titan drags Yoh up, reverse rack, but Yoh slips out of the yoyo! SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!!
Titan still lives, but Yoh roars again! Yoh drags Titan up, underhooks, DIRECT DRIVE!! Cover, YOH WINS!!
Winner: Yoh, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Titan earns 0)
It’s like everyone is going for a speed record in this round! Yoh seals the deal like Ziploc, and now leads with 10 points! Is it freshness guaranteed for the finals?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Dragon Dia VS Robbie X!
The block is sorting out with every match, but both men are on the bubble! Will the Infinite Carat Diamond be greater than X? Or will the X Express stay on track?
The bell rings and the fans rally. Robbie gets fans to bark for the War Dogs, and he ties up with Dia. Robbie puts Dia on ropes, the ref counts, and Robbie lets off, to CHOP! Robbie CLUBS Dia, stomps him down, then drags him back up. Robbie ROCKS Dia, whips, but Dia ducks ‘n’ dodges then slides to tilt-o-whirl and arm-drag! Then DROPKICK! Robbie tumbles out, Dia FLIES! Down goes Robbie and the fans fire up! Dia brings Robbie back up, puts him in the ring and covers, TWO! Robbie bails back out but Dia waits. Robbie shakes out an arm, rolls back in, but bails out again. Dia rushes after Robbie, but Robbie picks him up and POSTS him!
Dia writhes but Robbie KICKS him in the back! Robbie then stands Dia up just to DECK him! Robbie tells fans to move aside, and he grabs one of the chairs. Robbie brings that over, sits Dia down and CHOPSS! Robbie wants more chairs so he takes another one from the crowd. Robbie sets that chair up, runs up, and leaps to CANNONBALL Dia down! The fans fire up with Robbie, and he goes back to Dia. Robbie drags Dia up, puts him in the ring, then pushes to a cover, TWO! Dia stays in this and the fans applaud. Robbie stomps Dia on the back, then stands him up to whip corner to corner. Dia hits buckles hard and falls to the mat!
Robbie stands on Dia’s back, shouts for the War Dogs, and the fans cheer. Robbie sits Dia up, steps over, and he BITES Dia’s fingers! The ref reprimands and counts, Robbie stops and tells the ref to shut up. Robbie drags Dia back up, but Dia CHOPS! Robbie eggs Dia on, but Dia CHOPS again! Robbie CHOPS in return! Dia goes to a corner, Robbie runs up, but Dia BOOTS then RANAS! The fans fire up as Robbie staggers away. Dia growls and rises up. The fans rally and Dia runs in, but Robbie dodges. Dia dodges in return, then goes to the apron to trip Robbie! TORNILLO SPLASH! The fans fire up again as Robbie is on the ropes!
Dia dials it up, 619! Robbie flops back, Dia STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Robbie stays in this but Dia fires up more! The fans are with Dia and he goes to the corner. Dia climbs, watches Robbie rise, D D D- NO, Robbie stops the 4DT and suplexes! Robbie hangs Dia out to dry, then goes to the corner! GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Dia survives and the fans fire up again! Robbie is frustrated but he drags Dia back up. Robbie CLUBS Dia, suplexes, but Dia cradles! TWO!! Robbie escapes, hobbles away, but Dia runs up. Robbie BOOTS Dia, goes up, but Dia GAMANGIRIS! Dia goes up to get Robbie, ASTRO SCISSCORS!
Dia goes back up, D D D D T!! Cover, TWO!! Robbie survives going 4D but Dia just fires up more! Dia runs, rolls, REPTILI- NO, Robbie stops the rana! And makes it a SITOUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Dia survives and the fans are thunderous! Robbie thinks on what he must do next, but he rises up while the fans rally again. Dia is in the corner, Robbie LARIATS! Robbie puts the leg in ropes to KICK, then he SPIN KICKS! RUNNING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Dia stays in this but Robbie stays on him! “You’re dead, b*tch!” Robbie handsprings, Dia dodges, DOUBLE CORK!!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Robbie survives, but Dia SOBATS! ENZIGIRIS! But Robbie PELES! And DREAMCAST KICKS! Then Robbie reels Dia in, lifts, but Dia REPTILIAN RANAS!!! Cover, DIA WINS!!
Winner: Dragon Dia, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Robbie earns 0)
Both men love to go “X-treme,” but this skater boi is the one still standing! Will the Infinite Carat Diamond continue to shine until he’s holding up the trophy?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: MAO VS Nick Wayne!
DDT Pro collides with AEW/ROH, with both men just a step behind first place! But will the Strange Love Connection throw the Prodigy off his game? Or will the Idol Warrior see he just lives in Wayne’s World?
The bell rings and the two rush in! Mao BOOTS but Nick brushes that off! Nick and Mao fire forearms, Mao gets the fans to cheer him, then he kicks low! Mao whips, Nick reverses, then hurdles, then bypasses to UPPERCUT! Nick kips up and the fans fire up. Nick then covers Mao, TWO! The fans cheer while Nick flexes. Nick drags Mao up to CHOP! Mao comes back to SMACK Nick down! And then Tsukakui! The fans cheer as Mao waits on Nick. Nick rises, Mao winds up, and Mao kicks, kicks, and KICKS! Mao whips, Nick reverses, but Mao DROPKICKS! Mao kips up, and Tsukakui! The fans rally and Mao claps along.
Mao runs to BOOT Nick against ropes, then he runs again to CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO! Nick stays in this but Mao has JUST FACELOCK! Nick endures, and the fans rally as he reaches out, fights around, then finds the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Mao lets go. Mao gets a Shikaku chant going, then he brings Nick up. Mao whips, Nick grabs ropes and KICKS back! Nick kicks again but Mao blocks to step over and WHEEL KICK! Mao then reels Nick in and calls his shot, but Nick suplexes first! The fans cheer all the same while both men are down. Mao goes to ropes, Nick rises up, and the fans rally again.
Mao is in a corner, Nick runs in, and Nick UPPERCUTS! Nick snapmares then runs up, spins Mao, and ASAI DDTS! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer and Nick keeps his cool. Mao sits up and checks his head. Nick stalks Mao, waistlocks, but Mao fights the nelson! Nick still powers through to have half, but Mao REAR HEADBUTTS! Mao whips, Nick reverses, then Nick avoids the knee to SHOOTING STASR! Cover, Mao goes Matrix! GEDO CLUTCH BRIDGE! TWO, and Nick has the body scissors the JAPANESE LEG ROLL! TWO, and Mao has a waistlock! This is a DOUBLE COVER, TWO!!! Both men get up and the fans fire up!
Mao says look but Nick says shut up! Nick says look, Mao says he can shut up! Mao ROCKS Nick! Nick SUPERKICKS back! Nick goes up the corner, WAYNE’S- NO, Mao ducks the cutter, keeps moving, SPIDER-MAN into the GERMAN SUPLEX! Nick handsprings to STUNNER! Bit Mao kips up to STUNNER!! The fans are thunderous while both men are down again! Mao sits up first and the fans rally. Mao and Nick crawl to each other, go forehead to forehead, then they stand to go forearm for forearm! Mao gets the Shikaku chant going again, then he ROCKS Nick! Nick comes back to ROCK Mao!
The forearms keep going and the fans rally up. Nick fires a flurry, but Mao winds up to SMACK Nick! Mao powers up, runs, OSAKA- NO, Nick BOOTS the uppercut! Mao avoids the roundhouse! Mao SLAPS, SLAPS, but Nick CROSS COUNTERS! Nick fires up and runs, but Mao uses the ref as a shield! Then LEAP FROG into the GERMAN SUPLEX!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Mao survives the turnaround but Nick fires back up! The fans rally, Nick says “IKU ZO~!” and he hooks Mao up! But Mao fights the Prodigy Plex! Mao spins Nick around and around and around, then reels him in for a POWERBOMB! Nick stands, Mao hits a DESTROYER!
Nick ends up in a corner, Mao runs up, but into a SUPERKICK! Nick goes up to FLYING CRUCIFIX DRIVER! The fans fire up with Nick as he goes up, up, and WAYNE’S WORLD, but Mao handsprings through!? To STEAL WAYNE’S WORLD!!! Cover, TWO!??! But into the JUST FACELOCK!!! Nick scrambles, Mao rolls him away, DICK KILLER!!!! NICK TAPS, MAO WINS!!
Winner: Mao, by submission (gains 2 points; Nick earns 0)
More like the Nick Killer, but the point is, Mao overtakes The Prodigy to be right behind Yoh! But Mao still shows Nick respect with a handshake. Will these two run it back one day? Will one of them be the Best of the Super Juniors when they do?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Kosei Fujita VS Ninja Mack!
The Japanese Young Punk is mighty, and he is just outside the front of this block. However, the American Ninja Warrior, for all his speed and agility, has fallen completely out of the race. Will Mack manage to spoil something for Fujita? Or will even he see that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The bell rings and Mack offers the handshake. The fans applaud but Fujita dismisses it. Mack and Fujita circle, feel things out, then tie up. Fujita powers Mack back but Mack breaks free. They go again. fight for control, and Fujita pushes Mack to ropes. Mack powers his way back, then shoves Fujita way. The fans cheer and both men fire up as they go again. They clinch, fight for control, and Fujita puts Mack on the ropes. The ref counts the break, Fujita lets off with pats on the shoulder, but then CHOPS! Mack CHOPS, but Fujita CHOPS again! Mack CHOPS again, but so does Fujita! The fans rally as the CHOPS keep going!
Fujita CHOPS and Mack wobbles! Fujita CHPOS, CHOPS, CHPOS, then runs, but Mack UPPERCUTS! Mack runs, leaps over the dropdown, then TOSSES Fujita out! Mack builds speed, Fujita slips in, and he catches Mack in the handspring to GERMAN SUPLEX! Mack tumbles out and the fans fire up! Fujita goes up the corner and the fans rally, SUPER CANNONBALL! Down goes Mack and the fans fire up again! Fujita puts Mack in, then aims to ROUNDHOUSE! Cover, ONE!! Mack is tougher than that and the fans rally. Fujita stomps Mack, pushes him down, then yanks his leg for a HEEL HOOK!
Mack endures as Fujita grinds the hold, but Mack SLAPS and CHOPS! Fujita CRANKS the foot, but Mack scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Fujita DDTS the leg! The ref reprimands but Mack writhes. Fujita drags Mack around, and he SMASHES the knee! Mack writhes more but Fujita has him again. Fujita brings Mack around, turns him over, and has a HALF CRAB! Fujita pulls way back on that leg but Mack refuses to quit! Mack powers up, but Fujita brings him away from the ropes! Fujita has a deep angle on that leg, but Mack still makes the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Fujita lets go at 4, and the fans rally again.
Fujita stomps Mack, brings him up and CHOPS! Mack calls to his “little ninja” fans but Fujita CHOPS! Mack goes along ropes, the fans rally, but Fujita whips him corner to corner. Mack goes up and over, rolls, then comes back to UPPERCUT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Mack rises, hobbles his way over, and he brings Fujita up with a waistlock. GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, ONE, but Mack holds on! Fujita reaches for ropes, Mack GERMAN SUPLEXES again! Another bridging cover, TWO! Mack still holds on, and he GERMAN ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! The fans fire up but Fujita scrambles to the ROPEBREAK!
Mack lets go and the fans rally again. Mack brings Fujita up, bumps him off buckles, and then RAMS him in the back! And RAMS him again! Mack goes up, climbs up, and he CLUBS away on Fujita’s back. Mack drags Fujita up the corner, adjusts position, and the fans anticipate something wild already. Fujita fires body shots, he stands up, but Mack swings! Fujita ducks the punch to SUPER DUPER GERMAN!! The fans are thunderous while Mack flounders around! Fujita hurries to cover, TWO!! Mack survives but Fujita roars and the fans cheer again. Fujita brings Mack up, reels him in, and ABANDON- NO, Mack fights the suplex!
Mack wrenches through, but Fujita wrenches and drop toeholds! Fujita ties up the legs, grabs Mack’s head and has the chinlock! Mack endures, crawls, but Fujita pulls him back! Mack keeps fighting, keeps crawling, but Fujita has the arms! Mack resists against the Nemos Lock to have the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer as Fujita lets Mack go. Mack writhes but Fujita brings him up. Fujita hooks a leg, suplexes to the torture rack, but Mack fires body shots! Mack slips down, shoves Fujita, then goes Matrix to then HANDSPRING CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Another cover, TWO! Mack is frustrated but the fans rally back up.
Mack rises, he dares Fujita to get up, and the fans rally more. Fujita rises, but he blocks the buzzsaw! Fujita CHOPS, but Mack ducks the heel kick to leg sweep! SHURIKEN KICK!! Mack goes up, up, and NINJA BOMBS!! Cover, MACK WINS!!
Winner: Ninja Mack, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Fujita earns 0)
The underdog comes out on top as Mack still gets another win! Will Mack spoil Fujita’s chances at the finals? Or is there still hope for this Ichiban Sweet Boy?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Taiji Ishimori VS SHO!
The Bone Soldier is building momentum in the latter half of this tournament, but now he runs into the Murder Machine, who has done his best to cheat every opponent so far. Will Sho manage to stack the deck again? Or will be #ByGrace that Taiji avoids disaster?
Taiji turns the tables on Sho by attacking first! The fans fire up as Taiji runs Sho over from behind, then drags him to ringside, so he can POST him! Taiji has fans clear out, and then he BOWLS Sho into the chairs! STRIKE! Then he SMACKS Sho with a chair! Taiji CHOKES Sho with a chair, the ref reprimands, but this isn’t even a match yet! Taiji still leaves Sho behind so that he can go for the red buckle pad! The Bullet Club Special is now in play but Sho is still down. Taiji JAMS Sho up but almost knocks the ref over! Taiji CLAWS Sho’s eyes, drags him to ringside, and then puts Sho in the ring. Now the bell rings and the fans cheer Taiji on.
Taiji CHOKES Sho but Sho scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Taiji stops at 4, but then he CHOKES Sho some more! The ref counts, Taiji stops, and Sho sputters. Sho then CLAWS Taiji’s eyes! Sho bails out, Taiji pursues, and Taiji has Sho at the ramp. Sho wants to retreat into the crowd but the railing won’t give. Sho goes to the entryway, Taiji pursues, but then something goes on backstage! Sho leaves Taiji behind and acts like it is all okay. But YUJIRO TAKAHASHI is choking Taiji with the pimp cane! The fans boo as this is literally happening behind the ref’s back! Yujiro throws Taiji down and Sho laughs.
Sho stomps Taiji, drags him up, and he has fans move! Sho BOWLS Taiji into chairs, STRIKE! Sho says that’s what Taiji gets! Sho then storms up on Taiji, twists his wrist, and brings him back to ringside. They go in the ring, Sho drags Taiji up, and he whips Taiji into the bare buckles! Taiji suffers his own trickery and Sho says this isn’t on him for once. Sho digs a knee into Taiji’s back while he has the chinlock, but Taiji BITES Sho’s hand! The ref reprimands, but then Sho CLAWS Taiji’s face! The ref reprimands Sho now, and Sho stops at 4. Sho drags Taiji up, TOSSES him out, then goes out to grab a chair!
The ref stops Sho, but this lets Yujiro use the chair to JAM Taiji up! The fans boo but Tokyo Pimp gets away with another one. Sho drags Taiji up, puts him back in, then covers, TWO! Taiji stays in this but Sho drags him back up. Sho TOSSES Taiji back out, distracts the ref, but the ref won’t fall for it this time! The ref stops Yujiro, but then that lest Sho JAM Taiji up! The fans boo more as the ref can’t keep up with both guys. The ref does say Yujiro needs to go, but Sho puts Taiji in the ring. Sho kicks Taiji around but Taiji CHOPS! And CHOSP! And then he CLAWS Sho’s eyes! Taiji runs, but Yujiro is still here to trip Taiji!
The fans boo as Yujiro gets in the ring while Sho is in the ref’s face! Yujiro whips Taiji, but Taiji stops from hitting buckles! Yujiro runs in, and Taiji dodges! Yujiro hits steel, Sho whips Taiji, but Taiji handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! The fans cheer, and Taiji grins as he brings Sho up. Taiji whips Sho into the bare buckles! Sho falls and writhes but Taiji keeps on him. Taiji wrenches and POSTS Sho! The fans cheer while Sho clutches his arm. Taiji brings Sho out, hammerlocks then scoops, but Sho slips free to bend Taiji’s fingers! Taiji CLAWS Sho’s eyes! Taiji runs, the ref is used as a shield! Sho SPEARS Taiji!
The fans boo Sho while both men are down. Sho rises up, he bends Taiji’s fingers, then wrenches to kick, KICK and SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO! Taiji stays in this and Sho grows frustrated. Sho aims his bow and he drags Taiji up. Sho reels Taiji in, tucks the arms, SHOCK- NO, Taiji slips free to BLOODY- NO, Sho fights free, but Taiji JUMP KNEES first! Sho drops down, Taiji aims and runs in, LA MYSTICA! BONE LOCK!! Sho endures as Taiji pulls on the hold! Sho fights around, Taiji rolls him away to then RAM into Yujiro! Down goes Tokyo Pimp, but then Sho whips Taiji into the ref! LOW BLOW!! The fans boo but Yujiro is back to stomp Taiji!
Yujiro drags Taiji up while Sho crawls to his corner. Sho grabs for his “Torture Tool!” The fans boo as Sho takes aim, but Taiji BOOTS Sho! And LOW BLOWS Yujiro! ZIGZAG for Sho!! And then BONE LOCK!! Sho endures, but where’s the ref? Gedo gets off commentary, but here comes SANADA! Gedo helps the ref, but The Cold Blooded Sanada uses the wrench to CLOBBER Taiji!! The fans boo but Sanada stands Taiji up for the DEADFALL!! Sanada leaves Taiji for Sho, the ref is up, and Gedo is stunned! Sho covers, and SHO WINS!
Winner: Sho, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Taiji earns 0)
The House of Torture pulls out all the stops, but Sho is still only 4-4. Will Sho need to cheat one more time to finish above .500? Or was spoiling things for Taiji more than enough?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Francesco Akira VS Clark Connors!
This could be a very explosive combination as The Crown of Fire and 100 Proof are both a step behind the leader. Will Akira conquer this War Dog for the United Empire? Or will War Dogs Racing still have a chance at that final lap?
Oh, what’s this? Akira waits at the ramp for Connors? A bold strategy, Cotton, let’s see if it pays off for him. Connors steps out, sees Akira, and smirks. Connors likes Akira’s guts, and after he puts his things aside, Connors runs up! The two brawl on the ramp and the fans fire up! They RAM into railing, then more railing, then more railing! The railing almost falls over! Akira POSTS Connors hard and then keeps after him around the way! Akira CHOPS Connors, CHOPS again, and then again! And again! Akira is really fired up and the fans join in. But Connors UPPERCUTS Akira, SMACKS him off the apron, but Akira hits back!
Akira CHOPS, and he wants to go bowling! But Connors reverses the whip! Akira puts on the brakes, but the JEEP FLIPPER sends him into the chairs! The fans fire up and bark with Connors while he clears out space. Connors drags Akira up, brings Akira over, and puts him in the ring. But Akira is up to PLANCHA! Down goes Connors and the fans fire up with Akira! Akira drags Connors up, puts him in the ring, and this is finally a match! Akira reels Connors in, SPEEDFIRE! Akira aims, the fans rally, NOVA FIRE- NO, Connors ducks! And SPEARS!! The fans fire up and Connors has a wild look in his eyes as he wants more.
Connors puts one out, drags Akira up, and NO CHA- NO, Akira wrenches out to ROCK Connors! Connors runs up, but into a SUPERKICK! Connors comes back, Akira dodges, THE SPEAR HITS THE REF!!! The fans go nuts but Connors isn’t all that bothered. Connors hurries to aim at Akira, runs up again, but Akira dodges the lariat to CHPO, CHOP, and CHOP! The fans fire up but Connors shoves Akira, then SNAP POWERSLAMS! Connors goes out and he finds WHEEL-SAN! The fans cheer, but wait, that’s not what he wants? Connors brings out a TABLE! Table-san is put in the ring and Connors props it up in the corner.
Connors fetches Akira but Akira fires body shots. Akira CHOPS, Connors KNEES low, and then Connors SMACKS Akira off the table! Connors lines up the shot, runs in, but Akira dodge! Connors slams on the brakes, Akira comes back, and Connors LARIATS! Connors says Akira can’t get the better of him, and now he grabs Wheel-san! The fans cheer as Connors slides Wheel-san into the ring. Gedo wants Connors to kill Akira with this one, but the fans rally up. Connors drags Akira over, but Akira blocks the hubcap bump! Connors CLAWS Akira’s eyes, and he DRIBBLES Akira off the hubcap! The fans rally, and the ref is being carried away!
Connors smirks as he now can do whatever he wants. Connors puts Wheel-san over Akira’s face, and he CURB STOMPS!! Gedo loves it, but this isn’t the end! Connors brings Akira up, grins as he SLAPS the bloody forehead! But Akira CHOKES Connors! Akira is furious as he SLAPS and fires hands! Akira trips Connors and he rains down forearms!! The fans fire up as Akira brings it back to when Empire and War Dogs feuded so violently in the past! Akira takes off his belt, and he brings it over to LASH Connors! The fans fire up while Akira LASHES Connors again! Gedo does NOT like this as Akira LASHES Connors again and again and again!
Akira TOSSES his belt aside, that’s a free souvenir now. Akira won’t stop here, though, as he goes looking under the ring. Akira brings out chairs! Akira puts those in, then drag Connors over. Red Shoes is here and he says don’t do it, Akira! Akira stops himself, letting his rage subside. Akira tries to reason with Red Shoes, Red Shoes won’t let it go, so Akira SHOVES Red Shoes down! Connors has a chair, but Akira blocks the shot! Akira JAMS Connors up! Red Shoes says no, he can still stop now! Gedo says just end the match anyway! Akira SMACKS Connors with the chair again and again!! DISQUALIFICATION!
Winner: Clark Connors, by disqualification (gains 2 points; Akira earns 0)
But Akira doesn’t care, his rage has boiled up, and he SMACKS Connors again!! He gave Connors the points he wanted, was settling the grudge worth giving up a spot in the finals? Wait, Akira isn’t done, he wedges a chair in a corner, and then drags Connors up! Red Shoes reprimands, commentary all shout for Akira to stop, but Akira puts Connors against the chair. Young Lions rush in but Akira shoves them all away! The Young Lions come back, they keep Akira from running at Connors! Akira powers up and gets free, but Connors SPEARS Akira through the table!!! Both men are down in the wreckage, is nothing settled between Empire and War Dogs?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Kevin Knight!
The Rogue Luchador said at the start of this that anyone could win at any given time, no matter who they are and where they’re from. At the same time, he vowed just the other day that he would finish this off and win the whole thing! Will the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion stop The Jet from taking off? Or will Knight win that golden ticket shortcut to the top?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Knight and Despy circle, feel things out, and Knight waistlocks. Despy wrenches free but Knight rolls, kips up, and wrenches back to waistlock. Then Knight arm-drags for a takedown, and he drops a knee on the arm! The fans cheer, Knight wristlocks, then double wristlocks, but Despy fights up to the ROPEBREAK! Knight lets go slowly, and the fans cheer as Knight flexes. Knight teases Despy’s lack of abs, and Red Shoes checks. Despy says stop, and the two reset. They tie up, Despy trips Knight, then thigs speed up. Despy avoids the hurdle, but not the BACKDROP! Despy tumbles out and the fans rally.
Knight aims to PLANCHA, but Despy blocks his kick! Despy trips Knight up and Knight hits off the apron! Despy then goes for the leg, STRETCH MUFFLER! Red Shoes reprimands, Despy lets go, but he YANKS Knight’s leg. Knight hobbles but Despy kick shim down. Despy stalks Knight around the way, brings him up, but Knight fires body shots! Despy CHOPS back and Knight staggers away. Knight returns to CHOP, so Despy UPPERCUTS! Despy puts Knight in the ring, storms up on him, and hits a BIG back suplex! The fans cheer and Despy covers, ONE!! Knight is tougher than that but Despy taunts him.
Despy stands Knight up but Knight fires body shots. Despy kicks the leg, then grabs it, SHIN BREAKER! Knight hobbles and falls, and Despy looms over him. Despy grabs a leg but Knight kicks and kicks and kicks! Despy kicks in return, then brings Knight in, only for Knight to BACKDROP again! The fans rally as Knight rallies with LARIATS! Knight whips, Despy reverses, but Knight goes up and over! Knight comes back to LARIAT again! Knight then runs corner to corner, BIG LARIAT! Knight powers up to scoop and BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Despy stays in this, and Knight says he was that close.
Knight goes to the corner and the fans rally as he takes aim. Knight springboards but Despy DECKS him! Despy goes out to the apron and stands Knight up, but Knight fires forearms first! Despy SMACKS Knight in return! Despy underhooks, but Knight holds on for dear life! The fans rally, Knight fights free, and he SUPERKICKS Despy! Then he APRON SATE- NO, Despy just shrugs Knight off! Despy laughs as Knight falls on the floor. Despy then grabs a leg and SMASHES it on the floor! Despy YANKS the leg, then has the STRETCH MUFFLER! Red Shoes reprimands as Despy thrashes Knight’s leg! Despy stops and he leaves Knight behind.
Knight writhes and Red Shoes checks him, and somehow Knight is able to continue. The ring count starts, Knight seethes as he sits up, but we already pass 10 of 20! Knight hobbles at 14, grits his teeth, and he rolls in at 17! Despy is on him with a gut wrench! GUITARRA POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Knight survives but the STRETCH MUFFLER returns! Knight endures, reaches out, but Despy rolls him from the ropes! They go around, Despy has NUMERO DOS! Knight activates the core to sit up! Knight reels Despy into an IRON OCTOPUS! Despy sits down but Knight pulls on the arm more! The fans rally as Despy fights around, and finds the ROPEBREAK!
Knight lets go in frustration but now things are even. Knight roars and rises up to bring Despy around. Despy shoves Knight, Knight comes back, but Despy ROCKS Knight! Despy fires more shots, but Knight fires back! Knight ROCKS Despy, roars, but the bad leg won’t let him jump! Despy KICKS the legs out! Despy then storms up to whip, but Knight reverses and SKY 2 HIGH! Cover, TWO!! Despy survives and the fans cheer! Knight snarls, he pushes Despy to the drop zone, and Knight climbs the corner! Bad leg or not, Knight aims, but Despy SHORYUKENS! Despy then ROCKET LAUNCHES Knight off the top!
Knight sputters, Despy goes up, but Knight rises! UPPER ROOM!! The fans fire up as Knight manages that jump, and he goes back up top! MOTHERSHIP UFO SPLASH FLOPS as Despy dodges! SPEAR!! Cover, TWO!! Knight survives, Despy is frustrated, but the fans fire up again! Despy drags Knight up, underhooks, but Knight wrenches out! Cradle, TWO!!! Despy escapes, Knight slips around, backslide! TWO!! Despy and Knight stand, Knight SUPERKICKS! Despy LOCO ELBOWS! Despy runs, into a DROPKICK!! The fans fire up as Knight still manages that jump, too! Knight then takes aim and waits on Despy.
Despy rises, Knight somersaults, and SATELLITE DDTS!! Cover, TWO?!?! Despy survives and Knight is shocked but the fans fire up again! Knight backs away to the corner and he climbs up again. The fans fire up as Knight reaches the top, but Despy rises! Despy hits the ropes to trip Knight up! A savvy move and Despy goes after Knight. Despy brings Knight up but Knight fires body shots. Despy HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS! And HEADBUTTS! Knight fires more shots, but Despy ROCKS him! Despy goes to the very top, for a SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Both men writhe and the fans are thunderous! Despy crawls and covers, TWO!!!
The fans fire up again as Knight survives! Despy roars, he drags Knight up, and he underhooks for PINCHE LOCO!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Knight survives and shocks everyone! The fans love it but Despy is frustrated with Knight. Despy drags Knight up, underhooks him again, FACEBUSTER! Roll through and PINCHE- NO, Knight fights the lift! Knight reaches out, but Despy pulls that arm back! Despy underhooks again, for PINCHE LOCO!!! Cover, DESPY WINS!
Winner: El Desperado, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Knight earns 0)
Knight gave it his all but he could not bring down the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion! The Jet is now on the outside looking in, will Desperado make it to his back-to-back BOSJ wins?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Hiromu Takahashi!
The winner of BOSJ 30 now runs into the FOUR-TIME BOSJ winner, and it could all come down to this win! Will the Way of the Grandmaster continue on to the top of the block? Or will the Ticking Timebomb blow up all of Wato’s plans for the future?
The bell rings and the fans strongly rally for “HI-RO-MU!” The two circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Wato digs in and powers Hiromu to the ropes, but Hiromu turns it around. Red Shoes calls the break, Hiromu slowly lets off, and the fans applaud. But then Hiromu takes a swing! Wato dodges, headlocks, but Hiromu powers out. Wato RUNS Hiromu over, things keep moving, and Hiromu hurdles. Wato leaps over, then keeps moving to RANA Hiromu! Hiromu tumbles out, Wato builds speed, but Hiromu is back to ELBOW Wato! Hiromu whips Wato to a corner, Wato BOOTS in return and BULLDOGS!
The fans fire up with Wato and he goes back to Hiromu. Wato wrenches but Hiromu fights Recientemente. Wato KNEES low, whips, but Hiromu grabs ropes. Hiromu BOOTS Wato and then reels him in for a HANGING HEADSCISSORS! Red Shoes counts, Hiromu lets go to then whip Wato to a corner. LARIAT and snapmare, basement DROPKICK! The fans cheer, Hiromu covers, TWO! Hiromu keeps on Wato with the headscissors squeeze! The fans rally as Wato endures and moves around. Wato reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Hiromu lets go, Wato goes to the outside, but Hiromu is after him.
Hiromu CHOPS Wato, stalks Wato around the way, and they go past commentary. Hiromu stands Wato up to CHOP again! Wato flounders but Hiromu stays after him. Hiromu stands Wato up, CHOPS him again, and Wato falls back down. Hiromu brings Wato up, fakes putting him in and CHOPS! Then snap suplexes to the floor! Wato writhes, Red Shoes insists this be in the ring, then starts a count. Hiromu goes back to Wato, brings him up at 5 of 20, and puts him in at 8. The fans applaud and Hiromu covers, TWO! Wato toughs it out but Hiromu is right on him with a CAMEL CLUTCH! Hiromu sits deep on the hold already but Wato endures!
The fans rally, Wato frees an arm, and he uses that to crawl forward! Hiromu sits back down to bend Wato, but Wato still manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Hiromu lets go. Hiromu paces while Wato writhes, and we pass five minutes. Hiromu brings Wato back up, just to CHOP him back down! Hiromu eggs Wato on, and the fans rally again. Wato rises to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Hiromu CHOPS Wato right down! The fans rally, Hiromu drags Wato up to whip, but Wato reverses and CALF KICKS! Hiromu goes to ropes, runs up, but Wato scoops to BACKBREAKER! Hiromu tumbles out and the fans rally up again.
Wato builds speed and he FLIES! Down goes Hiromu and the fans fire up again! Wato drags Hiromu up, puts him in, and goes to the apron. Wato springboards in, FLYING UPPERCUT! The fans cheer, Wato covers, TWO! The fans rally up as Wato rises, and Wato fires himself back up. Wato wrenches and hooks Hiromu up, but Hiromu fights Recientemente! Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Wato fights free! Wato SOBATS, then wrenches again, but Hiromu fireman’s carries! Wato sunset flips, into VENDEVAL! Hiromu endures as Wato pulls on the head and neck! Hiromu rocks the boat to then head for ropes! Wato lets Hiromu go so he can body scissors and roll!
VEND- NO, Hiromu makes it a cradle, TWO! VENDAVAL!! Hiromu endures all over again and the fans rally up! Hiromu leans, but he’s fading! Red Shoes checks Hiromu, but he gets that second wind! Hiromu seesaws around, but he is still fading! A third wind helps Hiromu make it to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Wato lets go in frustration. Wato waistlocks but Hiromu fights the lift! Hiromu reaches out again, but Wato brings him away from ropes! Hiromu fires elbows to get free, but Wato swings through the lariat, CRUCIFIX DRIVER, then RECIENTEMENTE!! Cover, TWO!! Hiromu survives and the fans fire up!
Wato is frustrated but he just fires up more! The fans rally, Wato brings Hiromu up and chicken wings. RECIENTE- NO, Hiromu fights off The Second with an arm-drag! Wato is up but Hiromu mule kicks! Front KICKS! Hiromu SWATS the roundhouse to SUPERKICK! Hiromu runs, but Wato dodges! Wato tilt-o-whirls, schoolboys, but Hiromu rolls through to then HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Both men rise and the fans rally up again! Wato runs up, but Hiromu scoops to SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Wato is still in this and the fans still rally. Hiromu roars, the fans fire up with him, and he brings Wato into the dragon sleeper!
Wato fires knees from below, Hiromu staggers, and Wato ROUNDHOUSES! Hiromu roars, but the DREAMCAST KICK hits! Wato roars, the fans fire up, and Wato drags Hiromu up. Wato waistlocks to TSUTENKAKU!! Bridging cover, TWO!!! Hiromu survives and Wato is beside himself! The fans rally even harder as Wato rises. Wato drags Hiromu back up, chicken wings again, RECIENTE- NO, Hiromu flips through! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER meets KOZY LARIAT!! Hiromu slumps down and Wato stands tall! The fans are thunderous and Wato roars! Wato drags Hiromu up,b ut HIromu SUPERKICKS!
Wato kicks, Hiromu ducks, and CODE BREAKAER! Then HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!!! Wato survives and the fans are thunderous! Hiromu hauls Wato up, fireman’s carries, and the TIMEBOMB 1.5!! But Hiromu isn’t done, he dragon sleepers and TIMEBOMB 2.0!!! Cover, HIROMU WINS!!
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Wato earns 0)
To battle like this, these two truly are two of the Best of the Super Juniors! But in the end, four times beats one time, and Wato falls off the top spot. Will Wato still find his way into the finals?
As for Hiromu, he does offer a handshake of respect, but Wato refuses, too frustrated with himself to accept. Hiromu goes to the mic to tell Wato, “Where’s your belt? Aren’t you a tag champion? Take it easy, it’s okay. I figured I’d challenge. And as for my partner… Me and Kanemaru will challenge! I think! Understand, yesterday wasn’t really how Kanemaru felt. Me and him are challenging, so get ready!” The fans applaud, but is The Ticking Timebomb serious about the Heel Master coming around?
Moving on from that, Hiromu admits he’s really feeling that match now. Maybe Hiromu can’t go anymore. Hiromu thanks you for all your support, please chant for him. The fans do chant for “HI-RO-MU!” and he feels better. And it has been a little while since he’s done one, so maybe let’s do a little Hiromu survey! Don’t be shy, if this is your first time watching wrestling live, please raise your hand. Oh, a lot of you! And you didn’t even leave during this pointless promo! Thank you! The fans cheer and Hiromu wonders… Anyone planning on going to the finals in Ota? Yes, some, but not enough! Hey, Ota is near Nagoya, when you think about it.
In fact, nothing is “too far” within Japan! Everywhere is local in Japan! Everywhere is local in Japan! Right? The fans echo that, and Hiromu says, “Thank you for chanting that!” Hiromu says these are real fans here! The fans cheer that! Now, going through BOSJ, there is one thing Hiromu is sure of. He guarantees that BOSJ will be the best tour in ALL of NJPW! The fans cheer that! Hiromu vows that he will definitely win! IF he has your support! The fans cheer, and Hiromu says no really, he needs you! The fans chant his name again, and he powers up again. Hiromu thanks them, and promises that for the rest of BOSJ…
Hiromu will make it “Moto!” “Moto!” “Moto!” “Moto!” “MOTO!” “MOTO!” “MOTO!” “MOTO!” “MOTO!!” Fun for everyone!! The fans cheer as Hiromu sets down the mic, but will he get into the finals? Or could he still be one stumble away from missing out?
Here are the NEW A Block standings!
Hiromu Takahashi: 5-3, 10 points
Master Wato: 5-3, 10 points
Clark Connors: 5-3, 10 points
Francesco Akira: 4-4, 8 points
Kosei Fujita: 4-4, 8 points
KUSHIDA: 4-4, 8 points
Dragon Dia: 4-4, 8 points
Robbie X: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Ninja Mack: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Here are the NEW B Block standings!
YOH: 5-3, 10 points
MAO: 5-3, 10 points
El Desperado: 5-3, 10 points
Nick Wayne: 4-4, 8 points
SHO: 4-4, 8 points
Taiji Ishimori: 4-4, 8 points
Robbie Eagles: 4-4, 8 points
Kevin Knight: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Titan: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
Ryusuke Taguchi: 3-5, 6 points [ELIMINATED]
My Thoughts:
A great round here, but thankfully the last time all 10 tournament matches are on one card. I also appreciated that so many of those matches in the first half of the card were so fast and short. And at this point in the tournament, it makes sense a good chunk of each block goes down into mathematically eliminated territory. Mack still getting a win despite that was great for him, and he might’ve been the final nail in Fujita’s own run, depending on how the ninth round goes. The blocks still parallel each other at this point, three guys at 5-3 for 10 points, and it will really come down to who loses rather than who wins.
Wato may have lost tonight, but he could beat Kanemaru and still make it in. Hiromu has Robbie X, Connors has Fujita, one of those could end up a huge upset, but so could Kanemaru cheating Wato to then add onto this idea that Hiromu will team with him even though he isn’t going to be House of Torture. On the other side, Desperado VS Eagles, Yoh VS Taiji, and Mao VS Sho, those are also intriguing match-ups. I would think Despy makes it in as both champion and last year’s tournament winner, so the other two are going to be really tricky. And if this is where Nick Wayne’s run ends with him and Titan in a somewhat do-nothing match, it’s still a great first run, and he can be home in the USA and AEW in time for Fyter Fest.
My Score: 9/10
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