Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (5/3/21)
Amazing prizes are on the line!
NJPW has a title match, a title opportunity match, and… iron fingers?
NJPW has done some unique things lately, but Wrestling Dontaku 2021 might take the cake! Who takes the Iron Fingers from Hell for their own?
NOTE:Â NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship Right to Challenge match: Tanga Loa VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins and the Dangerous Tekkers will challenge Guerrillas of Destiny for the titles.
- Iron Fingers from Hell Ladder Match: Taichi VS Tama Tonga; Taichi wins and owns the Iron Fingers from Hell.
- NEVER Openweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Jay White w/ Gedo; White wins and becomes the new NEVER Openeweight Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
IWGP Heavyweight Championship Right to Challenge match: Tanga Loa VS Zack Sabre Jr!
Well this is different. With their tag partners fighting over the Iron Fingers from Hell, it is on the Silverback to face the Submission Master and determine the fate of the tag titles! Will ZSJ make Loa #JustTapOut and earn a title match for both him and the Sliest Wrestler in the World?
The bell rings, Loa and ZSJ circle and fans rally up. They feel out the grapple, Loa calls for a test of strength, and ZSJ knuckle locks but kicks an arm away. Loa shoots in but ZSJ backs off and they reset. ZSJ and Loa approach again, still feeling it out. ZSJ tries to bait Loa in but Loa corners him instead. Loa and ZSJ tie up with collar ‘n’ elbow, and ZSJ slowly but surely uses leverage to push Loa back. Loa eggs him in, then brings him around to ropes. The ref calls for a ropebreak, and Loa lets off. Loa swings, but ZSJ dodges and runs to sunset flip! TWO, ZSJ has a headlock but Loa powers out. Kitchen sink knee becomes a school boy roll, TWO!
ZSJ dodges a boot to get a cobra twist to the ground cobra cradle! TWO, and the two stand off! Fans cheer this opening exchange as things reset again. ZSJ and Loa both grin and fans rally back up as the two circle. Loa wants another try at the test of strength, and ZSJ accepts. They knuckle lock, ZSJ kicks an arm and headlocks. Loa powers out to run ZSJ over! ZSJ rolls to ropes but Loa looms over him. Loa gets ZSJ up to wrench the arm, then wristlocks for the knuckle lock. ZSJ claws at Loa’s face, works on the knuckle lock, but Loa gets his test of strength after all! Loa makes ZSJ drop to his knees as he puts pressure on the wrists.
ZSJ fights up, Loa pushes him back down, but then ZSJ rolls to reverse the wrenching! Loa powers through to turn and flip ZSJ, then reel him in for a NORTHERN LIGHTS! Cover, TWO as ZSJ bridges! Loa sweeps legs, TWO as ZSJ bridges again. Loa hops on, TWO as ZSJ still bridges! Fans cheer the showing of strength, then ZSJ kips up and wrenches through to keylock and wrangle Loa down! ZSJ stomps the arm, but Loa is right up to CLOBBER ZSJ! Loa likes the daring of ZSJ, and brings him up to DECK him again! Loa gets ZSJ up to whip him to a corner, then runs in to clothesline! ZSJ is down and Loa shakes out the bad arm.
Fans rally for “ZSJ! ZSJ!” but Loa drags ZSJ up to scoop and RUNNING POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! ZSJ is still in this but Loa smiles. Loa stalks ZSJ to ropes, stomps him down, then drags him out to the apron. Loa CLUBS ZSJ in the chest, then slides back inside. Loa chokes ZSJ with both hands! The ref counts, Loa lets off, and Loa stalks ZSJ to a corner. Loa stomps ZSJ down, digs his boot in, but lets off as the ref counts. Loa stomps ZSJ one more time before catching his breath. Fans still rally as ZSJ sits up, but Loa is back on him. Loa whips, ZSJ goes up and around to TORNADO DDT! Both men are down and fans fire up!
Loa crawls to a corner, fans rally as ZSJ rises, and ZSJ runs corner to corner to EuroUpper! Loa eggs ZSJ on so ZSJ throws more EuroUppers! Loa fireman’s carries but ZSJ slips out to PELE the arm! And sweep the leg! ZSJ locks Loa’s arm to stomp it again! ZSJ goes after that arm but Loa resists. ZSJ uses a top mount to get leverage, hammerlock and TWIST! Loa writhes but ZSJ won’t leave the arm alone! ZSJ pulls both arms in, hammerlock on one and a deep wristlock on the other! Loa gets a ropebreak with his foot and ZSJ reluctantly lets him go. ZSJ runs in to kick the bad arm, then kick it again! ZSJ eggs Loa on now but Loa tries to get away.
ZSJ wrenches an arm but Loa ROCKS him! Loa runs, into a boot! ZSJ runs and boots again, then boots again! ZSJ runs but into a SPINNING POWERSLAM! Loa’s bad arm keeps him from making the cover, but he gets ZSJ back up! Loa manages a lift but ZSJ shifts to get a GUILLOTINE! Loa stays on his feet, powers back up and suplexes, but ZSJ slips out! PELE to the arm again! Loa still RAMS ZSJ into a corner! Loa stomps away, fans rally up, and Loa drags ZSJ up into a scoop. Loa aims for a corner but ZSJ slips off. ZSJ throws EuroUppers again, even as Loa eggs him on. Loa kicks low, then enziguris but ZSJ ducks it! PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! LARIAT from Loa! Cover, TWO!
Loa gets the CROSSFACE! Loa cranks ZSJ back but fans rally as ZSJ endures! ZSJ moves around, reaches out, and gets a ropebreak with a leg! Loa holds on but lets go as the ref counts. Loa slaps ZSJ around, drags him back up, but ZSJ plays dead. Loa still dead lifts ZSJ to a suplex! And holds him up for a count of 10! For 15! And then the slam! Loa wags his finger, telling ZSJ that wasn’t going to be enough. Loa climbs up, throws up a Too Sweet, and then DIVING HEADBUTTS, but FLOPS as ZSJ moves! ZSJ traps Loa’s head for a NECK CRANK!! ZSJ gets the arm and hammerlocks it! Loa resists as ZSJ goes after the other, but he gets the JIM BREAKS!!
Loa endures as ZSJ pulls way back on the armbar, and powers his way over, to get the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go in frustration as Loa survives. Fans rally back up as both men slowly rise. ZSJ eggs Loa on then PENALTY KICKS! ZSJ runs, gets around Loa’s lariat, but Loa holds off the Iron Octopus! Loa scoops, but ZSJ slips out to trip him, body scissor and EURO CLUTCH!! TWO!! Loa narrowly escapes but fans fire up! ZSJ runs, PENALTY KICK! Loa stays up so ZSJ throws more KICKS! ZSJ runs, into a SPEAR! Loa fires up, gets ZSJ up, POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! ZSJ survives and fans fire up again as Loa is beside himself!
Loa aims from a corner, dares ZSJ to get up, and then runs in, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! ZSJ swings another kick, but Loa ducks it to ENZIGURI! Loa drags ZSJ up, scoops him, thumbs down, but ZSJ turns Ape Shit into a crucifix takedown! Cover, ZSJ WINS!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (Dangerous Tekkers are the NEW #1 Contenders)
Loa didn’t need to tap out to lose, he just got caught off-guard! Can ZSJ and Taichi catch Guerrillas of Destiny unaware when the titles are on the line?
Iron Fingers from Hell Ladder Match: Taichi w/ Douki VS Tama Tonga w/ Jado!
One down, one to go! The Submission Master did his part to secure a title match, but now, the Holy Emperor needs his prized weapon back! Will the Good Bad Guy continue to frustrate Taichi and lord this one over him?
The introductions are made, the Iron Fingers are in the bag and raised high above, and one of the more unique ladder matches in wrestling begins!
Tama and Taichi rush each other, Taichi KICKS, Tama forearms, repeat! They go back and forth, fans fire up as they pick up speed, and Taichi gets the edge with his KICKS! Tama SUPER FOREARMS but Taichi is up to AXE BOMBER! Fans fire up as Taichi CHOKES Tama! Tama turns it around to rain down rights! Taichi turns it back around with more choking! Tama turns it around again for more ground ‘n’ pound, but Taichi just turns it back around again! Tama claws at Taichi’s face, the two back off, and fans cheer the stand off! Taichi fixes his hair and fans build to a rally. Tama hears it, “TA-I-CHI! TA-I-CHI!”
Tama and Taichi realize how close they are to ladders, so they both go out and fetch a ladder! There’s a new stand-off now that both men know the other is “armed,” and they circle around the outside of the ring. They wait on the other to make the first move, and then they both slide in with their ladders! Taichi and Tama clash with their steel! They’re in a deadlock and back off. They go again, battering ram versus battering ram! Taichi disarms Tama, but Tama dropkicks Taichi’s ladder into him! Taichi is down, clutching his arm, and Tama sets his ladder up! It’s a bit short, though, can he reach the bag? Tama tries from the very top and can just brush against the plastic!
Tama can’t bring the bag down like that, though, and he hops down. Tama sees the big ladders outside, and stomps Taichi down! Tama rains down some rights, then gets his ladder and puts it in a corner. Tama goes back to Taichi and throws more punches. Tama drags Taichi up, throws body shots, then aims. Tama whips but Taichi blocks! Tama throws forearm after forearm, then whips again. Taichi reverses but Tama blocks! Taichi tries to send Tama at the ladder but Tama won’t budge! So Taichi rakes Tama’s eyes! Taichi then whips but Tama reverses, and Taichi CRASHES into ladder! Fans fire up as Tama staggers and Taichi writhes.
Fans rally again for “TA-I-CHI!” as Tama stands him up. Tama sets Taichi against the ladder, then runs to SPLASH him against it! Taichi falls over and writhes even more! Tama drags Taichi around to cover but this is a ladder match! Tama wants the ref to make an exception, but nope! Tama gets Taichi’s ladder up and puts it in the opposite corner. Fans rally while Tama paces, and Taichi kicks at him from below. Tama throws forearms, gets Taichi up and whips him at his own ladder! Taichi stops himself, then dodges, sending Tama’s SPLASH into the ladder! Tama staggers back, into a back drop into his own ladder! Tama clutches his ankle, that was a rough way to hit a ladder!
Tama rolls out of the ring, Jado is there to check on him. Fans rally as Taichi stands, and he gets one of the ladders. Taichi throws it out of the ring, and then the same for the second ladder. Taichi seems to also understand these are not tall enough to win. Taichi hobbles over to where Tama is, brings him up and whips him into railing! Tama falls over, Taichi brings one of the short ladders over, and undoes the safety hinges? Taichi makes a ladder bridge! Fans fire up as Taichi brings Tama up and over with Kowata Kicks! Taichi gets Tama up, lines up the shot, but Jado creeps over! Taichi backs Jado off with a glare, but then Tama ROCKS Taichi with a forearm!
Tama throws more hands and even drops elbows! Tama gets the other short ladder, brings it around the way, but Douki stops him from tossing it at Taichi! Tama CLOBBERS Douki for that, but Taichi kicks Tama! Taichi shoves Tama into railing, then gets the second short ladder. Tama stands up, Taichi aims and CLOBBERS him with it! Fans fire up as Taichi fetches one of the tall ladders! Taichi puts the tall ladder in the ring and points to the fingers! Taichi stands the ladder up, starts to climb, but Jado shots out Tama. Taichi didn’t position the ladder well, he can’t reach the bag! Tama grabs Taichi and anchors him! Taichi clubs Tama, Tama clubs Taichi’s leg!
Tama climbs up but Taichi keeps throwing down hands. Tama CLAWS Taichi’s back, and CLAWS it again! Fans rally as the two fight up high, and Taichi elbows Tama down! Taichi adjusts his position on the rung, to LEAP, into a GUN STUN!! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Tama rolls to the ladder and uses it to drag himself up. Fans rally as Tama positions the ladder directly under the bag. Tama climbs, reaches out, but DOUKI springboards in to dropkick Tama off the ladder! Douki checks on Taichi but Jado is here! KENDO STICK SMACK! Down goes Douki! Jado kicks Taichi out of the ring, and then to make it even harder on him, Jado has tape!
Jado tapes Taichi to railing! Is he copying Yano or something? Tama gets up and Jado says this is his chance! Fans rally for Taichi but Tama stomps him against the railing! Tama tells Taichi to say good-bye to the fingers forever! Tama goes into the ring, goes back to the ladder, but almost tips it over! Tama steadies himself and the ladder, then begins the climb! Fans rally for Taichi but Tama laughs and shakes his head. Wait, ZSJ is here! ZSJ gets past Jado and then shakes the ladder to mess with Tama! Tama begs no, ZSJ looks like he’s backing off, but then ZSJ pushes the ladder over! Tama crashes down, Jado gets in, but ZSJ snapmares Jado for a NECK CRANK!
Fans fire up as ZSJ goes out to free Taichi from the tape! ZSJ coaches Taichi up and fans fire up as ZSJ helps him back in the ring! Taichi crawls to the ladder, stands it up, and begins his climb! But Loa attacks ZSJ! Loa gets in and CLUBS Taichi back down! Loa stomps Taichi, folds the ladder and puts it in a corner. Loa drags Taichi up and reels him in, but ZSJ gets in to forearm away on Loa! Fans fire up but Loa DECKS ZSJ! Loa gets ZSJ up, scoops and hits APE SHIT!! Better late than never, right? Loa mocks Taichi and gets him up, to LARIAT! Loa drags Taichi up, reels him back in, and lifts, but Douki returns to make the save!
Loa isn’t really hurt by Douki’s attack, but then Douki ENZIGURIS! Douki fires up, runs, but Loa blocks his rana to swing him around… Wait, not the corner ladder? POWERBOMB through Taichi’s LADDER BRIDGE!! Douki might be broken, just like the ladder! Jado hobbles over to coach Tama back up, and tells the Guerrillas to hit Magic Killer! Loa gets the other short ladder back in the ring, then he fetches Taichi. GoD drags Taichi up, lines up the shot, but Taichi fights free! FOREARM for Tama, SUPERKICK for Loa! Tama kicks but Taichi blocks, to LOW BLOW!! Fans are thunderous as everyone is down! Taichi grits his teeth as he slowly gets back up.
Taichi grabs a ladder, fires up and gets to his feet! Off come the pants! Jado gets in, and he KENDO STICK SMACKS! Taichi doesn’t even flinch! Taichi gets Jado and SLAMS him on the ladder! Taichi goes back to the tall ladder as the fans rally hard as ever! Taichi stands the ladder up, climbs up again, but Tama is back! Tama hurries to anchor Taichi! Tama drags Taichi down but Taichi choke grips, for a SUPER CHOKE SLAM!! Both men are down again and fans fire back up! Taichi roars as he goes back to the ladder! Taichi climbs, reaches the top, and grabs for the bag! Tama has the short ladder and he CLUBS Taichi over and over with it! Tama hits a HOME RUN with it!!
Taichi flops down, Tama hobbles around and goes out to get something from under the ring! Tama has a TABLE! Tama puts the table in the ring, sets it up, and is a chair away from making this a TLC match in NJPW! Taichi tries to climb, Tama clubs him again! Tama gets Taichi off the ladder in bomb position, but Taichi fights the bomb itself! Taichi gets back to the ladder! Taichi SMACKS Tama off the rungs, then climbs again! Taichi reaches the top but Tama climbs up the other side! They brawl, and then they both choke grip! Tama breaks free, throws hands, and climbs up! Tama wants the bag, but Taichi rakes his eyes! Taichi wants the bag, but Tama rakes his eyes!
Tama clubs Taichi, Taichi hits back. Fans rally as they brawl, Taichi grabs Tama’s hand to keep it from grabbing! Tama throws headbutt after headbutt, then lines up another shot! SUPER GUN- NO!! Taichi lets Tama falls through the table all alone!! Taichi is all alone on the ladder! Fans are thunderous as he stands back up, reaches inside the bag, and brings out the fingers! Taichi wins!!
Winner: Taichi (rightful owner of the Iron Fingers from Hell)
The Dangerous Tekkers swept the night! Taichi almost doesn’t even believe he gets to have the fingers back. The referee has to tell him he won these, and Taichi humbly accepts. ZSJ gets Taichi the mic so he can speak on this moment. “With this, he’s done. It’s over. It’s over now, so the least you can do is play his music.” And as such, NJPW plays Takashi Iizuka’s theme. Taichi dedicates this to Iizuka, and together with ZSJ and Douki, celebrates this moment. Taichi has the Iron Fingers back once and for all, but now, can he and ZSJ take the tag titles back?
NEVER Openweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Jay White w/ Gedo!
This match has been building for quite some time, and now we see it come to blows! Will the Once in a Century NEVER give up and NEVER lose to the Switchblade? Or will King Switch trump The Ace?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if it will be a #TTO or #JTO to end night one!
White shows off the abs and fans do cheer the physique. White and Gedo then Low Sweet before Tanahashi shows off the pecs! Fans cheer that physique, too, but now their bodies will be put to the test! Fans rally with “LET’S GO, ACE! LET’S GO, ACE!” and that gets on White’s nerves. White bails out of the ring then gets back in the ring then circles with Tanahashi. They approach, White talks some trash, but Tanahashi says it won’t be like last time. Tanahashi dodges a kick to get a leg, but White gets the ropebreak first. Tanahashi lets go cleanly and fans cheer. White and Tanahashi circle and tie up, and are in a deadlock as Tanahashi stands firm.
Tanahashi then pushes White back towards ropes, and gets him against them. Red Shoes calls for the break, Tanahashi lets off to flex, but White puts Tanahashi on the ropes. White lets off to flex now, but Tanahashi drop toeholds him into ropes! Tanahashi headlocks, White tries but can’t power out and fans cheer! White gets up and tries again but Tanahashi stays clamped on tight! Tanahashi hits a headlock takeover, White keeps his shoulders up, and White gets up to his feet. White pulls hair to put Tanahashi in a corner, then whips him corner to corner. Tanahashi reverses, runs in but White dodges. White runs into Tanahashi’s elbow, then Tanahashi crossbodies!
Fans fire up and Tanahashi does air guitar before he flexes on White. White swings but into Tanahashi’s headlock! Tanahashi grinds but White gets him up to straddle him on ropes! Red Shoes reprimands as Tanahashi topples to the floor! White mockingly applauds, then he goes out to fetch Tanahashi. White drags Tanahashi up and suplexes for an APRON GOURD BUSTER! Tanahashi clutches a leg, White SLAMS it on the apron! White throws elbows on each leg, then SLAMS the leg on the apron again! White shows off the dancing pecs before he slithers back into the ring. Fans rally for Tanahashi but White just smirks. White stalks Tanahashi, stands on a leg then stomps it down.
White does the same to the other leg! Gedo cheers as White kicks Tanahashi to a corner. White talks trash, stomps Tanahashi, then RAMS his shoulder into him again and again! White throws forearms, more stomps to the legs, then brings Tanahashi around for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans cheer as Tanahashi survives! White gets the leg and steps through, for the Butterfly Stretch! Tanahashi endures but White shoves him down. White keeps on the legs but Tanahashi throws forearms. White thumbs Tanahashi’s eyes! Red Shoes reprimands, White stops, and White turns over to make this a modified deathlock!
Tanahashi endures and fans rally up while White pushes up for more leverage! White even does push-ups just to show off! Tanahashi drags himself over to the ROPEBREAK! White tells Red Shoes he needs help undoing the hold, so Red Shoes gets the legs unhooked. White thanks Red Shoes, then gets Tanahashi under the ropes for a CATAPULT GUILLOTINE! Tanahashi writhes as Gedo cheers White on. Fans still rally for Tanahashi but White talks more trash. Tanahashi gets up and throws forearms. White kicks the legs, Tanahashi throws more forearms, repeat! Tanahashi fires off a strike fest and ROCKS White!
Tanahashi whips, White reverses, but White kicks into a DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up and then rally as White goes to a corner. Tanahashi stands, White follows, and White hobbles into another strike fest! Tanahashi whips, White reverses, but Tanahashi hits FLYING FOREARMS! Fans fire up with Tanahashi and he brings White around for more forearms. Tanahashi EuroUppers White into a corner, then dropkicks him down! Tanahashi scoop SLAMS White, then hops up the corner. SOMERSAULT SENTON! Cover, TWO! White is still in this but the fans still rally for Tanahashi. Tanahashi dares White to stand, then fires up as he runs, to dropkick a leg out!
Tanahashi knew White was expecting Slingblade and faked him out! Tanahashi gets White’s legs but White kicks him away. White hobbles up but Tanahashi waistlocks. White elbows free, grabs hair, but Tanahashi breaks free! White kicks low to DDT Tanahashi down! Tanahashi goes to a corner, White runs in, but into another dropkick to the legs! White falls out of the ring, Tanahashi fires the fans up and then goes to the apron. White trips Tanahashi up! White SLAMS Tanahashi’s leg against the post! Then he SLAMS the other leg! Tanahashi crawls back to center and White mocks the fans rallying up again. White walks off his own leg pain before going into the ring.
Tanahashi gets him at the ropes! White fights Tanahashi off, but steps into a whip! Tanahashi has White in the ropes for a DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! White flops back down, Tanahashi goes back out and climbs up top! ACES HIGH CROSSBODY! Direct hit and both men are down! Fans are thunderous as Red Shoes checks on both men. They’re both okay so a ring count begins. Tanahashi sits up at 4 of 20, gets to his feet at 9 of 20, and brings White up at 15. Tanahashi puts White in and fans cheer that he wants to finish this properly! Tanahashi runs as White stands, but White is ready for the Slingblade! White waistlocks, Tanahashi elbows free and tries again, but again White gets around.
Tanahashi elbows free again, runs, but still no Slingblade! White holds tight with the waistlock, but Tanahashi stomps White’s foot! Tanahashi runs but into a COMPLETE SHOT! White waistlocks, dead lifts and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Fans fire up as both men are down again. White drags Tanahashi up and reels him in but Tanahashi fights. White waistlocks, Tanahashi elbows again, but into a SNAP SAIDO! White drags Tanahashi back up, fisherman lift, but Tanahashi fights that off to TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi drags White back up, but White suplexes! Tanahashi fights that again for another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT!
Tanahashi gets White up but White sprawls to block. White grabs Tanahashi’s leg as an anchor, and Tanahashi lets him go, to get White’ sleg! GROUND DRAGON SCREW! White hobbles into a third TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi fires up and the fans are thunderous! Tanahashi runs, but White ducks the Slingblade! White catches Tanahashi for an URENAGE! Both men are down again and fans build to another rally. White gets Tanahashi into position, sleeper hold, SNAP SLEEPER SUPLEX! That was a nasty Triple S, but White grins as he hobbles around. White vows to end this, and he drags Tanahashi by a leg, for a GROUND DRAGON SCREW!
Gedo tells White to make Tanahashi suffer, and White gets both legs. Tanahashi kicks and kicks but White still figure-fours the legs! White steals Tanahashi’s Texas Clover Hold!! Fans rally as Tanahashi endures and claws his way over, only for White to drag him far, far away! White lets Tanahashi go to step through for HIS move, the TTO!! Tanahashi endures the inverted figure four that White loves to call “Tana Tapped Out,” but he isn’t giving in yet! Tanahashi drags himself over, reaches out, and gets the ROPEBREAK! White holds on until Red Shoes counts, and lets go at 4. Fans rally up again as White drags Tanahashi into another sleeper hold.
White drags Tanahashi up, but Tanahashi blocks the suplex. White CHOP BLOCKS Tanahashi’s leg! White drags Tanahashi back up but Tanahashi throws elbows! Tanahashi PALM STRIKES White, reels him in, full nelsons, but White resists the suplex! Fans rally, White breaks free, but Tanahashi reels him back in! White breaks the nelson again, but Tanahashi shifts to a STRAITJACKET GERMAN! Bridging cover, TWO!! White survives but Tanahashi gets him up. Tanahashi whips, White reverses, but Tanahashi reverses to SLINGBLADE! The fans are thunderous but Gedo is on the apron! Tanahashi BLASTS Gedo down, then goes up a corner!
Tanahashi aims, but White is up, HIGH FLY FLO- White catches Tanahashi’s crossbody! Tanahashi slips out of the Bladerunner to get a full nelson! White breaks the nelson, reaches down to trip Tanahashi, and gets the TTO back!! Tanahashi endures all over again! Fans rally as Tanahashi powers up, drags himself over, but White drags Tanahashi back! Fans rally even harder now as Tanahashi turns to his side. White turns him back, but Tanahashi turns it over! White turns it back, and the pressure is back on Tanahashi! Tanahashi powers his way over and gets the ROPEBREAK! White has to again let go reluctantly, and is beside himself as Tanahashi is still in this.
The fans are thunderous again as White grabs at Tanahashi. Tanahashi holds the ropes, White stands on Tanahashi’s head. Red Shoes counts, White backs off but goes after the legs again. White demands Tanahashi let go of ropes, but Red Shoes counts White. White lets go and tries to keep his cool, then gets Tanahashi up. Tanahashi gets White’s leg for a DRAGON SCREW! Both men are back down, and fans build to another rally. Tanahashi stands, White crawls, Tanahashi gets White up but White gets a leg! DRAGON SCREW! White gets up at the ropes, walks off the pain, and hobbles after Tanahashi. Tanahashi kicks White’s leg out!
Tanahashi gets his bad leg working, fans still rally for him, but now White kicks Tanahashi’s leg out! Move for move, damage for damage! Tanahashi and White slowly rise, White trips Tanahashi for a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! White steps through but Tanahashi kicks him into ropes! White hobbles back but Tanahashi trips him, GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Again, they mirror each other! Fans are thunderous and not stopping as each man grabs at the other’s leg. Tanahashi and White circle around on the mat, stare down, and Tanahashi evades, only for White to match him. They each have the other’s foot, and now it’s a stand-off.
Who lets go first? They agree to both let go and reset, and fans cheer this bit of sportsmanship. White and Tanahashi approach, White throws a forearm but Tanahashi gives it back. White forearms, Tanahashi forearms back, repeat. They throw forearms as they slowly rise, and White eggs Tanahashi on. White throws a forearm, Tanahashi forearms back, White CHOP BLOCKS! White kicks Tanahashi’s leg, stomps it, then has the ankle for a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi can’t even writhe, he just clutches the leg. Tanahashi crawls to a corner, White scowls and runs in, to EuroUpper! Tanahashi falls, White catches his breath, and he comes back to EuroUpper Tanahashi back down!
White eggs Tanahashi on and the fans rally again. Tanahashi drags himself up, White runs in and EuroUppers Tanahashi back down! White dares Tanahashi to stand but Tanahashi is struggling to even sit up! The fans haven’t given up on Tanahashi but White drags him from the corner. White drags Tanahashi up and watches him wobble. Tanahashi gets a leg but White pulls hair. White ROCKS Tanahashi, Tanahashi dropkicks but White avoids it! White eggs Tanahashi on, and Tanahashi stands again, but his palm strike isn’t strong enough! White dodges and lets Tanahashi fall over. Tanahashi is furious with himself and forces himself to stand.
White toys with Tanahashi, pushes him around, and Tanahashi LARIATS White down! That’s what White gets for getting cocky! Both men are down and the fans continue to rally with thunder. White kicks at Tanahashi but Tanahashi grabs a foot. Tanahashi and White get up, White hops to a corner and kicks at Tanahashi. Tanahashi blocks the other boot, for a DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi stands up, stalks up behind White, and whips him to ropes. White reverses, reels Tanahashi in, but Tanahashi turns Bladerunner into SLINGBLADE! Tanahashi is fired up again and he gets moving, ANOTHER SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!!
White survives but Tanahashi is red hot as he goes up top! Tanahashi aims at White as he stands, HIGH FLY FLOWBODY! Direct hit but Tanahashi is only getting started! Tanahashi’s back up top, for the HIGH FLY FLOW to the LEGS!! Fans are volcanic as Tanahashi gets White’s legs, for the TEXAS CLOVER HOLD!! Will it become the #JTO?! White reaches, almost gets the ropes, but Tanahashi drags him away! White endures as Tanahashi sits DEEP! Gedo gets on the apron, Red Shoes sees him, but he doesn’t see White tapping out all over!! Tanahashi realizes what’s happening literally behind his back, and lets White go to get Gedo’s leg! DRAPING DRAGON SCREW!
Gedo falls down, Tanahashi gets White again! White cradles, TWO!!! Tanahashi survives White’s fix, and runs in, but into a backslide! White uses the ropes!! TWO!! Red Shoes missed it but Tanahashi escaped it! Tanahashi has a leg again, but White reels him in! But still no Bladerunner! Tanahashi has the nelson but White resists with all his strength! White reaches, Tanahashi keeps him from ropes, but White gets Tanahashi in position! BLADERUNNER!! WHITE WINS!!!
Winner: Jay White, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Champion)
It wasn’t a tap-out but the tried and true Bladerunner that helps The Switchblade cut down Tanahashi! White is given the belt, and then the mic to speak. He first hushes the crowd, reclines back, and says the clapping is more insulting than silence. White says, “Tana, old friend, what’ve you been going on about recently?” He saw it on Yota Tsuji’s shirt, something like “Nevermind, never quit, never give up.” Whatever that is, right? So dumb. Well, Tana doesn’t have to say that anymore because this title has nothing to do with him anymore! Never quit? Tana just lost so that’s quitting! Tana gave up!
Tana may not want to admit it, fans don’t want to admit it, but it’s time to hang the boots up and quit. White did what he promised and took this title from Tanahashi, so Tanahashi can stop now. And speaking of this belt, “Life is just made up of moments, and you have to hold onto them, because they come and go.” You need to see every last moment. And for everyone watching, this moment right here that you have just been a part of, you’ve just been a part of HISTORY, make sure you cherish this moment.” Because this makes White the first ever to hold the IWGP US, Intercontinental, Heavyweight and now NEVER Openweight Championships in his career! That makes White “the one REAL Belt Collector!” If anyone wants to dispute that, you know where to find him.
Everyone knows who White is. He’s the “Last Rock ‘n’ Rolla, the NUBMER ONE ASSET in all of pro-wrestling,” and is the reason NJPW sold out Madison Square Garden! White is the NEW NEVER Openweight Champion, and the first ever Quadruple Crown! “Anybody who steps in this ring with me, will BREATHE… with the Switchblade! Because now it is more evident and more true than ever, it is now STILL! MY! ERA!!” King Switch has spoken, and perhaps even issued a challenge to the world. Will anyone step up to refute his claims?
My Thoughts:
Another great event for NJPW, and certainly leading into a huge event tomorrow. ZSJ VS Loa was a great match and it works well that it essentially was finished with a roll-up and not a finisher because that keeps both sides strong going into the coming tag title match. I haven’t been watching NJPW that long, but long enough to know NJPW doesn’t have many ladder matches. This was a very good ladder match by any standard, even with it being for a non-traditional prize. It was overbooked with Jado, Douki, ZSJ and Loa getting involved, but it just made sense to do that. Taichi wins and this match now feels more like a loving tribute to Iizuka, and that’s pretty cool.
The NEVER Openweight title match was awesome, it really helped elevate this belt so that it feels on par with the IWGP belts. I did appreciate that the story was Tanahashi starting to struggle and break down by the end, as has Tanahashi’s overall story been these last few years. White winning was a bit of a surprise to me, I thought Tanahashi was going to pull this off, but I suppose White can do more with this belt right now and freshen some things up. White making history as having the four major singles titles is definitely big, and a claim to fame in his own right. I can’t be sure who he’ll defend this against first, but the open possibilities makes it fun.
My Score: 9.2/10
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They’re the best around! Nothing’s ever gonna keep ’em down!
With quite a lot of pro-wrestling crossover in both blocks, this might be the most star-studded tournament ever ever! But will the Rogue Luchador still be THE Best of the Super Juniors?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Ninja Mack & Katsuya Murashima VS Taiji Ishimori & Robbie X; Taiji & Robbie win.
- Six Man Tag: Master Wato, Ryusuke Taguchi & Kevin Knight VS MAO, Tiger Mask & Shoma Kato; Wato, Taguchi & Knight win.
- YOH & Toru Yano VS Robbie Eagles & Hartley Jackson; Yoh & Yano win.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Nick Wayne VS SHO; Nick wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Dragon Dia VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Dia wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Kosei Fujita VS Francesco Akira; Fujita wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS KUSHIDA: Hiromu wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Titan; Desperado wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Nick Wayne VS SHO!
The Prodigy isn’t just the historic youngest ROH World Television Champion ever, he is now the historic youngest entry into the BOSJ ever! But will he make The Patriarchy proud? Or will the Murder Machine ruin all the fun right in round one?
Well to start, Sho grabs a mic to tell Nick, “Congratulations on your first BOSJ. To commemorate this moment, here’s this towel as a present.” It is in fact a House of Torture rally towel, but as Nick cannot read Japanese, he doesn’t realize Sho is pranking him. It reads, “I am a country bumpkin.” Nick still bows in thanks for the gift, and Sho talks more trash, this time on Chiba. Chiba is so far removed into the countryside and from civilization that no one’s phones get reception. Sho tells Nick again congrats on being here, and he’ll let Nick introduce himself to the “country idiots.” Nick takes the mic, but Sho ATTACKS!
The fans boo as Sho CLUBS away on Nick, then talks more trash. The bell rings and Sho puts Nick against ropes. Sho wraps an arm around ropes, pulls on the arm, but stops as the ref reprimands. Sho stops to whip Nick, Nick reverses and hurdles, then bypasses Sho to UPPERCUT him down! Nick handsprings up and the fans cheer! Sho bails out but Nick builds speed, only for Sho to use a Young Lion as a shield! Nick stops short and goes to the apron, only for Sho to YANK him down! The fans boo more but Sho just grins. Sho drags Nick up, brings him to a corner, and SLAMS Nick’s arm off the post! Sho then goes to fetch a chair!
The ref stops that, so Sho knuckle locks Nick and brings him to the crowd! Sho wrenches Nick to a wristlock and ELBOW BREAKER, then he aims at the chairs! The fans hurry away and Sho BOWLS Nick into the chairs! STRIKE! The ref reprimands but Sho just takes a chair and digs it into Nick’s side! Sho stands on Nick’s hand, has another chair, but the ref reprimands. Sho puts the chair aside and drags Nick to his feet. Sho wrenches the arm, pulls it through the corner, and wraps it around the post! The ref reprimands again and Sho lets go at 4. Sho puts Nick in the ring, and then he SLAMS the bad arm against the post!
Sho hurries off to go snatch the bell hammer! The ref stops Sho, and Sho grabs a chair! Sho SMACKS Nick’s arm against the post! The fans boo but Sho laughs as he gets away with it! Nick shakes out the bad arm but Sho is right on him with a cover, TWO! The fans cheer as Nick stays in this, but Sho grins as he drags Nick up to knuckle lock. Sho wrenches, ELBOW BREAKERS, and Nick falls back. Sho stands Nick up to wrench again, then pushes him down to kick, KICK, and SUPER- NO, Nick blocks the kick! Sho ducks the lariat to POP-UP ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Nick clasps hands, but Sho pries it free, ARMBAR!!
The fans rally up and Nick scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, the ref counts, and Sho lets go at 4. Nick clutches his bad arm but Sho goes outside to grab the ROH World TV title! The ref reprimands, stops Sho as he steps in, and Sho sets the belt down. To step on it! The fans boo and Nick gets pissed! Nick fires hands, but Sho CLAWS his face! Sho whips Nick, Nick grabs ropes, but that also hurts his arm! Nick still ELBOWS Sho away, ELBOWS him again, then runs up. Sho SWATS the lariat, whips, and the ref almost gets hit! Sho runs up, but Nick BOOTS him away! Nick goes up, and MISSILE DROPKICKS!
The fans fire up and Nick goes back to a corner. Nick runs in and UPPERCUTS! Nick snapmares Sho, runs up, and he spins Sho for an ASAI DDT! Cover, TWO! Sho survives but the fans rally for Nick. Nick shakes out the bad arm, storms over to Sho, and waistlocks to drag Sho up. Nick then shifts to a half nelson, but Sho fights the full nelson! Sho swings Nick into ropes! Nick falls in a heap, clutches the bad arm, and stands up, only for Sho to run in! Nick TOSSES Sho, builds speed, and FLIES! Direct hit on Sho and the fans fire up with Nick! Nick drags Sho back up, puts him in the ring, and the fans rally as Nick goes up the corner.
Nick aims, FROG- NO, Nick has to roll through as Sho moves. Nick goes back, but Sho dodges again! Nick still pursues, but Sho uses the ref as a shield again! And then SPEAR! Both men are down, but Sho crawls his way over to the corner. Sho grabs Nick’s title again and the ref stops him! Sho SHOVES the ref, then grabs his Torture Tool! Sho aims, but Nick dodges! Nick kicks low, and then he has the torture tool! The ref stops Nick, Nick apologizes, but Sho LOW BLOWS in the distraction! The fans boo but Sho reels Nick in! POWERÂ BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Nick survives and Sho is shocked while the fans fire up!
Sho “aims his bow” and reels Nick in. Sho tucks the arms but Nick fights the lift! Nick BACKDROPS, Sho sunset flips, TWO! Sho stands, ducks a kick, and then GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Nick’s right up! Only for Sho to LARIAT Nick back down! Sho laughs and drags Nick back up. Nick trips Sho to a jackknife bridge! TWO! Sho shoves the ref, but Nick blocks the low blow! Nick slips around, DRAGON SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Sho survives but the fans fire up with Nick! Nick waits on Sho to rise up, then he ROUNDHOUSES him! Nick brings Sho around and hooks a leg, PRODIGY PLEX!! Cover, Nick wins!!
Winner: Nick Wayne, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Sho earns 0)
Sho tried a lot of different tricks, but Nick still gets the better of him! The Prodigy has his first win in his first BOSJ, will he soon be the youngest man to win Best of the Super Juniors?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Dragon Dia VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!
After a tough time last year, The Infinite Carat Diamond is back and ready to shine! But will he overcome the Heel Master’s many antics? Or will he crack under the pressure?
Classic House of Torture, Kanemaru attacks Dia during his introductions! The fans boo but Kanemaru SMACKS Dia off the commentary desk! And then POSTS him! The bell rings to get this on record as Kanemaru stomps Dia. Kanemaru drags Dia up, brings him around, and whips him at another post! Dia uses that to swing into the ring! Dia then DROPKCIKS Kanemaru off the apron, slingshots out, but Kanemaru YANKS him down! Kanemaru puts Dia in the ring, but then on the apron, SUPER KNEE SMASH to the floor! The fans boo and the ref checks Dia. Dia is somehow okay to continue, but Kanemaru leaves him behind.
The ring count starts, Dia hobbles up and rolls in at 7 of 20. The fans cheer but Kanemaru stomps Dia’s leg! Kanemaru has Dia on the ropes but the ref counts. Kanemaru whips Dia to then dropkick the leg out! Dia writhes but Kanemaru drags him up, for a SHIN BREAKER to the mat! Dia writhes more but Kanemaru brings him around by that leg. Kanemaru YANKS the leg, then looms over Dia. Dia clutches his knee so Kanemaru stomps him on the side. Kanemaru then grabs the leg and twists it in a standing toehold! The fans rally as Dia endures, but Kanemaru puts on even more pressure! Dia fights around and has the ROPEBREAK!
The fans applaud, the ref counts, and Kanemaru lets go at 4, just to stomp the leg again! Kanemaru drags Dia to center while the fans rally, and Kanemaru has another standing toehold! Dia endures as Kanemaru uses his own leg for leverage. Kanemaru pushes on the foot, but Dia fires hands from below. The fans rally, but Kanemaru turns Dia over for a HALF CRAB! Dia endures, fights forward, and the fans rally, only for Kanemaru to pull back more! Dia still scrambles his way over to the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Kanemaru lets go, only to SMASH the knee on the mat again! Dia writhes but he refuses to let this take him out.
Kanemaru drags Dia around, drops an ELBOW on the knee, then he pulls on the leg! Dia still endures, even as Kanemaru puts on more pressure. Dia tries to fight back with a chinlock but Kanemaru thrashes the leg! Kanemaru then drops KNEE after KNEE on Dia’s knee! Kanemaru kneels on the leg, slaps Dia around, then kicks him around. The fans rally and Dia rises up to CHOP! Kanemaru gives Dia more mocking kicks, but Dia CHOPS again! Kanemaru kicks the leg out! Dia writhes, Kanemaru stomps him more, but the fans continue to rally. Kanemaru stomps the leg, digs his boot in, but he also uses ropes for leverage!
The ref reprimands and counts, so Kanemaru steps off at 4. Kanemaru stalks Dia as he crawls away. Dia still refuses to give up, so Kanemaru drags him up and grabs the leg. Dia fights the lift with elbows! Kanemaru kicks the bad leg again! Kanemaru whips Dia to a corner, runs up, but Dia BOOTS him! And BOOTS him again! Dia runs, slides, and then tilt-o-whirl arm-drags! And DROPKICKS! The fans fire up while Kanemaru tumbles out! Dia fights through the pain to build speed, but Kanemaru gets away! Dia sees Kanemaru go to the side, and intercepts him with a 619! Kanemaru falls to the floor, Dia sets up, and ASAI MOONSAULTS!
The fans fire up as Dia takes Kanemaru down again! The ref checks and both men are okay to continue. Dia rises, the fans fire up again, and Dia hobbles over to Kanemaru. Dia puts Kanemaru in the ring, the fans rally, and Dia SOBATS! And LEG SWEEPS! And STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Dia stays fired up and the fans stay with him. Dia goes up the corner, shakes out the bad leg, and DD- NO, Kanemaru dodges the 4D! Kanemaru then DROPKICKS Dia’s leg! Kanemaru steps through to FIGURE FOUR! Dia endures as the fans rally up, but Kanemaru puts on the pressure! Dia drags Kanemaru along as he grabs the ROPEBREAK!
The fans cheer but Kanemaru doesn’t let go. The ref counts and Kanemaru lets go at 4. Kanemaru drags Dia up, scoops him, BRITISH FALL! Cover, TWO! Dia survives but Kanemaru brings him right up. Kanemaru suplexes, but Dia cradle counters! TWO, and Dia leaps up! Kanemaru stops the rana to SMASH the knee! Step through and FIGURE FOUR!! Dia endures and the fans rally up again! Dia keeps his shoulders up but Kanemaru puts on the pressure! Dia works to move around but Kanemaru turns against him! Dia rolls through, and crawls his way over to the ROPEBREAK! Kanemaru lets go cleanly this time while the fans applaud.
Dia clutches his knee but Kanemaru brings him right up. Kanemaru scoops and SLAMS Dia into the drop zone! Kanemaru goes up, MOONSAULT! Kanemaru has to bail out as Dia moves! Kanemaru returns, blocks a boot, and CLUBS the leg! Kanemaru whips, Dia reverses, but Kanemaru reverses back, to send Dia at the ref! Dia stops short, but Kanemaru CLOBBERS Dia into the ref! The fans boo but Kanemaru hurries to bring Dia up. Kanemaru THROWS Dia down, then grabs his whiskey! Kanemaru takes a swig, but the ref grabs the bottle! Kanemaru lets him have the bottle, but then Dia ENZIGIRIS! The whiskey mist goes to waste!
Dia puts Kanemaru up top, climbs, and the fans fire up for the ASTRO SCISSORS! Kanemaru tumbles away, but Dia runs up to REPTIALIAN!! Cover, Dia wins!!
Winner: Dragon Dia, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kanemaru earns 0)
Much like Sho to open, Kanemaru had his tricks up his sleeve, but none of them paid off! Dia is already shining with this win, but will he be the centerpiece of the whole A Block?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Kosei Fujita VS Francesco Akira!
The Japanese Young Punk and the Italian Crown of Fire are both former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions looking to spark something all on their own. But will Fujita prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel? Or will Akira blaze a trail to the top of the block?
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle fast. They tie up, Fujita powers Akira to the mat then goes for an arm. Akira slips around, Fujita waistlocks, but Akira keeps moving. The two separate and the fans applaud this opening exchange. The two reset and circle again. They tie up, Fujita waistlocks but Akira wrenches out to hammerlock. Fujita switches the hammerlock, but Akira sits down, rolls, and hammerlocks in return. Fujita spins, steps over, and he holds Akira down so he can CHOP Akira on the back! The fans applaud but Akira is annoyed. Akira says okay, and he fires a forearm!
Fujita eggs Akira on so Akira fires another forearm! And then a CHOP! Fujita comes back to CHOP! The fans fire up, Fujita runs, but Akira CALF KICKS him down! The fans fire up more while Fujita bails out. Akira storms out, saying if Fujita wants to play, let’s play! Akira POSTS Fujita, brushes himself off, then drags Fujita back up. Akira CHOPS Fujita against the apron! Akira sits on the apron and wraps Fujita up with the headscissors! The ref reprimands but Akira lets go at 4. The fans rally, Akira drags Fujita back up, and then ROCKS him with a forearm! Akira talks some smack, ROCKS Fujita again, but then Fujita ROCKS him in return!
Fujita RAMS Akira into the apron, CHOPS, and CHOPS, and then KNEES low again and again! The ref reprimands and wants this in the ring. Fujita puts Akira in, the fans applaud, and Fujita runs corner to corner. Akira puts Fujita on the apron, but Fujita springboards, only for Akira to stop him and trip him up! Fujita flops to the mat, Akira covers, TWO! The fans rally while Akira drags Fujita up. Fujita breaks free to fire a forearm, but Akira eggs him on. Fujita fires another forearm, but Akira blocks the chop! Akira KNEES low, scoops and SLAMS, then covers, TWO! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally as Fujita stays in this, but Akira stays on Fujita with a rear bearhug! Fujita endures, even as Akira squeezes tight and talks more trash. Fujita crawls, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Akira lets go in frustration. Akira drags Fujita up, bumps him off buckles, then RAMS into Fujita! Akira RAMS in again, then whips corner to corner. Akira runs up and LARIATS! Akira then snapmares and covers, TWO! Fujita toughs it out and the fans rally up, but Akira stays focused. Akira drags Fujita up, but Fujita breaks free to CHOP! Akira mule kicks, whips, but Fujita reverses. Akira dodges the chop but not the LEG LARIAT!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Fujita and Akira go to corners and the fans rally. Fujita runs corner to corner and CHOPS! Akira is stinging, but Fujita whips corner to corner. Fujita runs up again, but Akira puts him on the apron! Fujita ducks a shot to ROCK Akira, then he springboards, MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Fujita sits Akira up to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Akira stays in this but Fujita stays focused. Fujita waistlocks to deadlift, but Akira fights with elbows! Akira runs, but Fujita drop toeholds, and then has the legs tied up! Akira fights the rest of the hold, but Fujita still grabs the arms!
Fujita and Akira struggle against each other, and Akira slips an arm free to have the ROPEBREAK! Fujita lets go and the fans rally up again. Fujita stands Akira up and suplexes, but Akira fights that off! Akira wrenches, Fujita ducks the lariat to waistlock, but Akira runs to ropes! Akira TOSSES Fujita out with that and then runs to WRECK him with a dropkick! The fans fire up as Akira builds speed, and he FLIES! Down goes Fujita and the fans fire up more! Akira roars, the fans cheer, and the standing count starts. The fans chant for “A! KI-RA!” and he puts Fujita in at 6 of 20, Akira goes to the corner, springboards and LIONSAULTSÂ onto knees! Cover, TWO!!
Akira survives the turnaround and the fans rally up. Fujita stalks Akira, waistlocks and deadlifts, but again Akira fights with elbows! Fujita still reels Akira in and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Akira lands on his feet! Akira SUPERKICKS, but Fujita CHOPS! Akira ENZIGIRIS! Fujita HEEL KICKS! The fans fire up with Fujita now and he brings Akira around. Fujita suplexes, but Akira slips free! Akira has the arms, pops Fujita up, TIGER GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Fujita survives and Akira is stunned! The fans rally up while Akira drags Fujita up. Akira reels Fujita in, SPEEDFIRE! But Akira isn’t done, he goes to the corner!
The fans rally for “A! KI-RA!” and he runs in, NOVA- NO, Fujita ducks the Fireball to DOUBLE CHOP! But Akira comes back to LARIAT! The fans fire up again as Fujita flounders around! Akira roars and he gets moving, but Fujita sidesteps! Akira bucks the O’Conner and runs in, only for Fujita to drop toehold! Fujita wants the legs but Akira cradles him, TWO!! Both men rise and the fans rally again! Fujita dodges to SNAP GERMAN!! But Akira manages to stand?! Akira runs back in, but Fujita pops him up! Fujita has the waistlock, and he holds on even as Akira fights with elbows! GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!!!
Akira survives and the fans fire up again! Fujita hauls Akira up again, half nelson then facelock, but Akira fights with knees! The fans rally as Akira fires knees down low, only for Fujita to hook one! Fujita suplexes Akira into a torture rack! BURNING HAMMERÂ DDT!! Cover, Fujita wins!!
Winner: Kosei Fujita, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Akira earns 0)
Akira brought the heat, but he was put out like a light with that one! Whatever Fujita calls that new move, will it be the key to his success in this tournament?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Hiromu Takahashi VS KUSHIDA!
Two of the most decorated Super Juniors battle once more, all to help kick off this year’s tournament! Will the Ticking Timebomb make things more and more fun? Or will the Time Splitter turn back the clock to his former glory?
As soon as Hiromu’s ringside, Kushida wants to dive out onto him! Hiromu scrambles away from one corner, only for Kushida to hurry and DROPKICK him off the apron! The fans fire up as Kushida climbs and the bell rings, but Hiromu hurries up top! Hiromu trips Kushida, then brings him to a fireman’s carry! The fans fire up but Kushida fires elbows! Kushida has the HOVERBOARD way up there! The fans rally, the ref reprimands, but Hiromu throws Kushida off! Kushida finally takes his jacket off, and he HANDSPRING KICKS Hiromu down! Kushida builds speed, but then Hiromu slides back in!
Kushida lands safe on the apron, only for Hiromu to SUNSET FLIP! Kushida holds onto the ropes, throws hands, then RAN- NO! Hiromu stops the rana, brings Kushida back up, but Kushida fights free of the powerbomb! Hiromu dodges the boot, and then DROPKICKS Kushida’s leg! Kushida writhes and the ref checks him while the fans rally up. Hiromu stands and catches his breath. Kushida is still in this, so Hiromu drags him around, and SMASHES the knee on the floor! Kushida hobbles and flounders around, but Hiromu stomps him down. The ref reprimands but Hiromu drags Kushida around to SMASH the knee again!
Kushida writhes and Hiromu paces. Hiromu keeps Chiba fired up while Kushida rolls into the ring. Hiromu slides in but Kushida hurries to bail back out. Hiromu pursues, then pushes Kushida back into the ring. The fans rally as Hiromu keeps Kushida from escaping again. Hiromu CHOPS, then whips Kushida to a corner. Hiromu runs in and LARIATS! Then he snapmares to basement DROPKICK the legs! Kushida writhes but Hiromu turns him over for the MAXIMUM THE HOLDING! But Kushida scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Hiromu lets go, only to drag Kushida back. Hiromu fakes the knee smash so he can grapevine the leg!
Kushida endures the modified leg lock and he crawls his way forward! Hiromu puts on the pressure with his modified Trailer Hitch, but Kushida still manages the ROPEBREAK! Hiromu lets go and the fans rally up. Hiromu taunts Kushida, but Kushida CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Kushida runs, but Hiromu drop toeholds and leg scissors! Kushida endures the modified calf slicer as Hiromu puts on the pressure! The fans rally, Kushida crawls, and Kushida reaches out again for another ROPEBREAK! Hiromu lets go and the fans applaud. Hiromu drags Kushida back, turns Kushida over, and SMASHES the knee again! And again!
Kushida writhes and the fans rally but Hiromu looms over Kushida. Hiromu stomps Kushida’s leg! Kushida hobbles to the corner but Hiromu stomps a mudhole into that leg! The ref counts, Hiromu backs off, and Kushida hobbles up. Kushida CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Hiromu kicks the bad leg! Kushida CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS again! Kushida whips, Hiromu reverses, but Kushida manages the handspring and BACK ELBOW! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Kushida and Hiromu go to corners while the fans rally. Hiromu stands up first, but Kushida runs up! Kushida blocks boots, and has an ANKLE LOCK!
Hiromu hops around, reaches out, and has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Kushida lets go at 4, but he has Hiromu stuck on the top rope. Kushida runs to DROPKICK Hiromu down to the floor! The fans rally while Kushida crawls to the apron. Hiromu rises up and Kushida takes aim, FLYING RANA! Hiromu tumbles and the fans rally up again as Kushida puts Hiromu in the ring. SOMERSAULT DDT, and then ARMBAR! Hiromu scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Kushida lets go in frustration, but he aims for an arm! Kushida runs up and DROPKICKS Hiromu’s left arm! Then he KICKS, KICKS, KICKS, only for Hiromu to block the last one!
Hiromu also blocks the fastball to DRAGON SCREW! Kushida writhes but Hiromu gets the legs, MAXIMUM THE HOLDING!! Kushida flails, reaches out, drags Hiromu along, ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Hiromu holds on. The ref counts so Hiromu lets go at 4. Hiromu grows frustrated but the fans continue to rally. Hiromu drags Kushida up, fireman’s carries, but Kushida fights free! Kushida runs in, Hiromu BOOTS him, then Hiromu runs, only for Kushida to dodge! Kushida tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! Then he slips around to drag Hiromu into the HOVERBOARD!! Hiromu endures and the fans fire up more!
Kushida puts on the pressure as Hiromu fights around, but then Kushida headscissors Hiromu to keep him down! Hiromu flails, reaches out, and the fans rally as he fights the scissors. Hiromu rises, clasps hands behind his back, but Kushida puts on more pressure! They go around and around, but Kushida fires elbows! Hiromu CLUBS away on Kushida in return! The armlock is undone, but Kushida fires Kawada Kicks! And it’s back to the HOVERBOARD! But Hiromu fireman’s carries free! He throws Kushida into a dragon sleeper, makes it a facelock, suplexes, only for Kushida to fight free! Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Kushida KICKS a leg!
Kushida KICKS Hiromu’s leg again and again, and Hiromu falls! Kushida runs, but into a HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up! Hiromu and Kushida slowly rise, and Hiromu fireman’s carries! But Kushida hits a crucifix takedown! TWO, and Kushida steps over for LA MAGISTROL! But Hiromu stuffs it to his own cover, TWO! Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Hiromu wrenches and tucks, HIROMU-CHAN ROLL, but Kushida rocks it back! JAPANESE LEG ROLL CLUTCH!! TWO!!! Kushida ducks a shot, spins Hiromu, and ROLLING ELBOWS! Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Kushida PELES!
Kushida runs, but Hiromu follows! Kushida dodges, they both run, but Hiromu hits a CODE BREAKER! Shoutout to Bushi before the MAXIMUM THE HOLDING!! Hiromu steps over to make it MTH 2.0!! Kushida endures, reaches out, but Hiromu turns it back over, and makes it a BACKBREAKER! Then back to MTH 2.0!!! Kushida endures, but he TAPS!! Hiromu wins!!
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Kushida earns 0)
The Ticking Timebomb’s arsenal continues to evolve, and he manages to make one of the best Junior Heavyweight technical wrestlers tap out! Is this a sign that Hiromu can make his way back to the top of this division? Is there still time for Kushida to do the same?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: El Desperado VS Titan!
The Rogue Luchador finally won a BOSJ trophy with last year’s tournament, but now he wants to go back to back! Will Desperado start strong with this main event? Or will El Inmortal bring down THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion?
Titan offers a handshake, Desperado takes it, and the fans cheer. The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. Despy gets Chiba even more fired up, then he ties up with Titan. They go around, Despy waistlocks, but Titan spins to facelock. Despy wrenches out, Titan rolls, then Titan kips up, bridges, and handsprings. Titan wrenches, WRINGS Despy, then covers, ONE! Despy trips Titan to cover, ONE! The two stand off and the fans cheer. Titan and Despy reset, circle, and feel things out. They knuckle lock, but then Titan trips Despy. Things speed up, Titan ducks ‘n’ dodges, but he avoids Despy’s hurdle to dropkick the legs out and DOUBLE STOMP!
The fans fire up and Titan watches Despy rise. Titan runs but Despy puts him on the apron. Titan blocks a shot to CHOP, then he springboards to CROSSBODY! Titan keeps moving and he DROPKICKS Despy out of the ring! The fans fire up and Titan builds speed, but Despy avoids the slide! Despy comes back, Titan dodges and returns to tilt-o-whirl, but Despy blocks the DDT! Despy suplexes Titan to the floor! The fans rally and Despy stretches out his back. Despy drags Titan up, brings him around the way, and CHOPS him! Titan leans against the railing and the fans rally up. Despy paces, then he brings Titan around, only for Titan to CHOP!
Despy eggs Titan on and CHOPS in return! And CHOPS again! Titan snarls while he and Despy go around the way. Despy CHOPS again and Titan falls to his knees. Despy puts Titan in the ring, the fans applaud, and Despy storms in so he can hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Titan is tougher than that and the fans applaud, but Despy clamps onto Titan with a chinlock. Titan pries at the hold but Despy shifts into a modified motorcycle stretch. Despy leans on Titan and folds him up. Titan endures, and Red Shoes notices Despy pulling at the mask strings. Despy stops that and whips Titan to a corner. Despy runs in and LARIATS!
Titan tumbles and sits up while the fans rally. Despy looms over Titan, eggs him on, and then stands him up. Titan CHOPS! Despy eggs Titan on so Titan CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Despy KNEES low, runs, but Titan follows! Titan trips Despy, goes to the apron, and then GAMANGIRIS! Despy staggers away, Titan springboards in, FLYING RANA! Despy tumbles out, Titan DIVES and Despy is sent into the Young Lions! Titan rolls back into the ring and fires up! The fans rally with Titan and he builds speed, but Despy moves! Titan just changes course to DIVE again! Down goes Despy and the fans fire up!
Titan rises and the fans cheer. Titan drags Despy up, puts him in, and kicks him down. Titan then fireman’s carries Despy for a DEATH VALLEY BOMB! Cover, TWO! Despy toughs it out but Titan steps through, only for Despy to cradle! TWO, and Titan SUPERKICKS! Despy stumbles into the corner and Titan fires up again. The fans rally up, Titan runs corner to corner, FRAME OUT LARIAT! Despy falls and Titan goes up! Titan aims for DIVING- NO, Despy avoids the stomps! Titan comes back, but into a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO, but into the STRETCH MUFFLER! Titan endures, fights around, but Despy wants that arm!
Titan pushes up to have both legs and RANA Despy away! Despy goes back outside but Titan FLIES! Down goes Despy but it’s a hard landing for both! Even commentary is stunned seeing that! The fans fire up even more and Red Shoes checks on both men. Titan rises, drags Despy up, SMACKS him off the apron then pushes him in the ring. Despy sputters his way to center, and Titan rises up! The fans fire up for the springboard, DIVING BODY PRESS! Titan bounces off but crawls back to the cover, TWO! Despy survives and the fans fire up more! Titan roars and the fans rally behind him again as he grabs a leg.
Titan steps through, but Despy kicks and kicks and kicks! Titan lets go, but he comes back to CLUB Despy! Titan stands Despy up but Despy fires body shots and CHOPS! Titan ducks the haymaker to fire off a strike fest! But the LOCO MONO finds him! Despy runs, but Titan goes Matrix to then CALF KCIK! Titan roars and reels Despy in, but Despy suplexes first! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! The fans rally and Despy rises. Despy drags Titan up, reels him in and underhooks the arms, but Titan fights the lift! Despy still tries, but then he KNEES Titan low! Despy roars, the fans fire up, and Despy whips, but Titan reverses!
TORNADO- NO, Despy stops the DDT again! Despy suplexes, Titan slips free and shoves, TORNADO DDT! Then Titan suplexes for the GOURD BUSTER, and SUPER- NO, Despy blocks and rolls Titan up! STRETCH MUFFLER! NUMERO DOS!! Titan fights, Despy wants the other arm, but Titan uses his core to sit up! DESTROY- NO, Despy blocks the rolling piledriver, and he tucks Titan in! DUDEBUSTER!! Cover, TWO!! Titan survives and the fans fire up again! Titan rolls away to one corner, Despy crawls to the other, and the fans rally as hard as they can. Despy aims as Titan rises. Despy runs in, but Titan SOBATS, KICKS, and fires off strikes! WHEEL KICK!
The fans fire up as Titan now skins the cat to the top rope! Titan aims, and DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS!! Direct hit, but Titan clutches his foot! Titan crawls to the cover, TWO!!! The delay saves Despy and the fans fire up again! Titan drags Despy around, has the leg, and rolls to have LLAVE IN- NO, Despy pushes through to turn Titan over! STRETCH MUFFLER! NUMERO DOS!! Titan fights around, Despy grabs the other arm, NUMERO DOS PLUS!!! Titan QUITS, Despy wins!!
Winner: El Desperado, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Titan earns 0)
While Titan won against Desperado last year, and even the year before that, third time is the charm as Desperado has avenged himself! But with this only being round one, is there still a chance Titan will make this his tournament?
As for Desperado, he grabs the mic to tell Titan in Espanol that this was their third BOSJ battle. Despy knows he won today, but that is just one out of three. “I can’t let that go. I don’t know when, but next time, I’ll even the score. I want to face you more. Perhaps you can come to Japan more? Alright. When can we fight for this title? Where can it be? Arena Mexico? Korakuen Hall? Tokyo Dome?” Titan jokes they could do it here in Chiba. Despy thanks Titan, and says he’ll now address the fans.
The fans applaud, and Despy apologizes for the side conversation. He admits he doesn’t have the best long-term memory. But he’s pretty sure he tapped out to Titan the last two times, even in last year’s opener. That much he does remember, so he’s glad he won today. He explains how that makes him and Titan 2-1 and that Despy wants to make the score even. He also explains how he wants to face Titan for the title even. The fans like the sound of that, and Despy also explains about asking where to do it, and how Titan was down for doing it here. The fans applaud, and Despy says Titan sure is cool, huh?
Despy says that in a tournament like this, whether you’re a champion or a Young Lion, you’ve got an equal chance of winning. There are no real byes here. It doesn’t matter where you come from or how long you’ve been in the business, “that’s what’s so interesting. A Young Lion might beat me. Or someone from another promotion might beat the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. That’s what makes the Super Juniors exciting. But it doesn’t matter if you’re young, a masked man, or whatever, I’m still the champion. It doesn’t matter that I won last year and could repeat this year. Hiromu won three times in a row, four total.
“One time isn’t enough. That guy is always ahead of me. Even if we’re not fighting, I’m always competing with my rival.” The fans applaud that! Despy then says, “It’s too early to talk about how emotional and cool this series is. Doesn’t matter how dirty or clean you do it. It’s about the man raising the trophy at the end! And it’ll be me!” The fans cheer as Despy drops the mic to hold up the title. Will he still be the Best of the Super Juniors after another grueling gauntlet of a tournament?
Here are the A Block standings!
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-0, 2 points
Dragon Dia: 1-0, 2 points
Kosei Fujita: 1-0, 2 points
KUSHIDA: 0-1, 0 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 0-1, 0 points
Francesco Akira: 0-1, 0 points
Here are the B Block standings!
El Desperado: 1-0, 2 points
Nick Wayne: 1-0, 2 points
Titan: 0-1, 0 points
SHO: 0-1, 0 points
My Thoughts:
A great opening to the BOSJ this year, but rather surprising to see a mixed bag of matches. I suppose part of it was the various schedules needing to be accommodated, what with Clark Connors still in California last night for Resurgence. Good stuff with both House of Torture guys losing, giving Nick Wayne and Dragon Dia great wins to start their runs. Sho pranking Nick was pretty clever, too, made me think of Edge & Christian pulling stuff like that on Kurt Angle. Great stuff from Fujita VS Akira, carrying from their rivalry when United Empire and TMDK were fighting over the Junior Heavyweight Tag titles. It really feels like these two can make a singles feud out of it, too.
Hiromu VS Kushida was great, especially with how fast it got going. Great win for Hiromu, he’s always a frontrunner in the block so I expect big stuff for his run. And similarly great stuff from Despy VS Titan, with a great win for Despy. Just as his promo after said, he finally got one on Titan, and it would be great if Titan could spend more time in NJPW but he is still more a CMLL talent than anything. There is still potential for them meeting again in the semifinals, but it really depends on the plans they have for everyone else. And a lot of Despy’s promo did kinda nod to how Nick Wayne is in the block, being the youngest in this tournament while also from AEW. Despy VS Nick could really steal the show, whenever it’s set to happen. Actually, is it the next round?
My Score: 8.8/10
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The storied rival has its final chapter!
For the last time, John Cena and Randy Orton battle over the WWE Championship! This time, it is on Backlash, in Orton’s hometown of St. Louis!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE United States Championship Fatal 4 Way: Jacob Fatu VS Drew McIntyre VS LA Knight VS Damian Priest; Fatu wins and retains the title.
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria VS Becky Lynch; Lyra wins and retains the title.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio VS PENTA; Dominik wins and retains the title.
- GUNTHER VS Pat McAfee; Gunther wins.
- Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena VS Randy Orton; Cena wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
It’s the WWE Backlash Countdown Show!
Join Michael Cole, Wade Barrett & Big E in discussing, analyzing and predicting all the action on this highly anticipated night!
Backstage interview with Lyra Valkyria.
Byron Saxton is with The Morrigan and asks how she is feeling tonight. She looked up to Becky Lynch for so long, only for her to stab her in the back. And at the same time, Lyra has dedicated this match to Bayley. How is Lyra going to manage all her emotions? Lyra says there is so much going on in her head, but the way to deal with it is focusing on the main emotion: embarrassment. She gave herself “the ick” looking back and seeing how she ate everything Becky fed her. Becky would’ve had a friend for life in Lyra, but then Becky turned on her. And what did The Man expect? For Lyra to run home to Dublin and cry?
No! That shows Lyra that Becky underestimated her. Lyra meant it when she said she is the better wrestler now. Becky may still be the bigger star, but when that bell rings, Lyra will show that she was never a stepping stone. Becky becomes Lyra’s stepping stone, as well as the crowning name on the long list of opponents when Lyra retains the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. Lyra is locked in, but will the Luck of the Irish favor her in the end?
Vic Joseph joins the panel!
The Voice of NXT helps plug Battleground, but he also gives Lyra her props. From NXT UK to NXT USA, Vic has seen Lyra achieve her potential every step of the way. The NXT Women’s Championship match between Lyra and Becky was all about someone from the NXT roster stepping up and proving herself, and Lyra did just that. Lyra took the NXT Women’s title off Becky, but will Lyra keep the Women’s Intercontinental title from Becky? Or is #BeckyHogan going to step on Lyra to get ahead?
Jackie Redmond & Peter Rosenberg tag in for the panel.
Cole & Barrett have to go prepare for calling Backlash, so Jackie and Peter join Big E in looking back on memory lane. John Cena VS Randy Orton as a rivalry predates the iPod, Wikipedia, and even the original Xbox! 25 years later, will this truly be the end of an era for WWE?
Pershard Owens sings the Star Spangled Banner.
Talkin’ ’bout a detonator…
The fuse is let, and tonight is about to be explosive. Egos, attitudes, grudges, ambitions, motivations, and glory, it’s overflowing! WrestleMania was historic, but now everyone will face the Backlash!
WWE United States Championship Fatal 4 Way: Jacob Fatu VS Drew McIntyre VS LA Knight VS Damian Priest!
The Samoan Werewolf only just took this title “for the family” at WrestleMania, and yet now the stakes are raised! The Scottish Warrior wants to fight a real fighter, the Mega Star wants to redeem himself from his loss, and the Archer of Infamy wants to kill two birds with one stone by avenging his own loss while putting gold back around his waist. Will one of these challengers get what they want? Or will Fatu dog walk all of ’em, YADADA MEAN!?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s really all gas and no brakes with it!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as all four men look at each other. Knight talks some smack but St. Louis is loud for “FATU! FATU!” Knight runs up to throw hands on Fatu, Priest and Drew go after each other! Fatu fires back and they trade shots. Priest and Drew are on the outside while Knight throws hands “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Priest CLUBS Drew, Fatu TOSSES Knight, and then Fatu runs corner to corner. Knight dodges, Fatu hits buckles, and Knight hits a JUMP NECKBREAKER! Priest is back in the ring, but Knight gives him a BIG back suplex! Knight WRECKS Drew with a dropkick, then RAMS into Fatu!
Knight slingshots to SHOUDLER TACKLE Fatu! Knight sunset flip BACKBREAKERS, then he dodges Drew to pop-up and POWERSLAM! The fans fire up as The Mega Star is unlocking that kavorka! Spell it out, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” ELBOW- NO, Priest catches Knight, but Knight kicks free! DDT! Knight runs and DOUBLE ELBOW DROPS! Fatu shoves Knight, scoops, but Knight slips free, REVERSE DDT! Cover on Fatu, ONE!! Fatu is tougher than that, but Knight drags Fatu up. Fatu RAMS Knight into a corner, fires hands, then he ROCKS Priest! Knight ROCKS Fatu, Priest ROCKS Fatu, and Knight runs, they HIGH-LOW COMBO!
The fans fire up for that teamwork, and then Priest & Knight POST Fatu! Fatu flops out of the ring, but Priest avoids Knight’s cheap shot! BELL CLAP! Drew RAMS Knight into Priest, then OVERHEAD SUPELXES Knight! Priest runs up, but into a SPIENBUSTER! Drew has Knight again, NECKBREAKER! Then a NECKBREAKER for Priest! Fatu is back, but Drew gives him a NECKBREAKER! Drew kips up, the fans fire up, and Drew aims at Fatu. Drew runs up, but Knight LARIATS! Fatu SUPERKICKS Knight! Fatu kicks Knight out, ELBOWS Priest away, then goes up. Priest JUMP KICKS! Priest climbs up to the very top, SUPER STEINER!
Fatu flounders, Priest rises, and Priest clinches Knight for a FLATLINER! Priest goes out to run around the ring, and he FLYING AX HANDLES Fatu! Priest puts Fatu back in, then dodges a shot to ROUNDHOUSE Fatu! Priest knuckle locks Fatu, St. Louis wants tables, but Priest goes Old School to CROSSBODY Drew! Fatu runs up, Priest dodges, COMEBACKER LARIAT! Fatu flounders out, Priest runs to ELBOW Drew! And ELBOW Knight! Priest runs, and he LARIATS Drew up and out! Knight swings, misses, and Priest DREAMCAST KICKS! The fans fire up and Priest goes back out. Priest runs in but Fatu POP-UP SAMOAN DROPS Priest onto the barriers!
The fans fire up with Fatu, and then Fatu stares down with Drew. The fans fire up even more as these alpha males step into the ring. This is the match-up Drew wanted all along, and the two men step up. The hands start flying and the fans fire up! The fans are strongly on Fatu’s side, but the hands keep going faster and faster! Fatu gets the edge, but Drew HEADBUTTS! Drew runs, but Fatu BODY CHECKS him! Drew is right up, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but runs into a POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! The fans are thunderous, and Fatu runs in, HIP ATTACK on Drew! The fans fire up again, and Fatu drags Drew to the drop zone.
Fatu climbs the corner as St. Louis declares, “This is Awesome!” Fatu nods, reaches the top, but Drew is up to CLAW Fatu’s face! The ref reprimands but that’s all he can do! Drew goes up to the top, but Knight trips Drew up! Knight puts Drew in the Tree of Woe to stomp away, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight then runs corner to corner and back again, KNEE for Drew! Knight then climbs up, has Fatu on the very top, but Fatu HEADBUTTS Knight down! Fatu adjusts, but Drew sits up! SPIDER SUPLEX throws Fatu onto Knight! But Fatu’s right up to HIP ATTACK Drew!! And then he DIVES onto Priest!! Fatu is all fired up and the fans are thunderous!
Fatu goes up again, SEWANTON BOMB on Drew! Fatu geeks out, but gets B F T!! Priest has Knight, SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Drew hits a CLAYMORE on Priest!!! Priest falls on Knight for a cover! DREW BREAKS IT!! The fans are electric as all four men are down! “This is Awesome!” and that might be an understatement now! Priest flops out of the ring, Fatu and Drew go to corners, and Knight finds his way to another. The fans rally, Fatu geeks out, and Fatu runs, into a FLYING HEADBUTT! And then a kick and FUTURE SHOCK!! Then Drew has Knight, but Knight wrenches out! B F- NO, Drew powers out, reels Knight in, FUTURE SHOCK!!
Drew kips up, the fans fire up, and Drew calls his shot! Drew gives the countdown, “THREE! TWO! ONE!!” CLAYMORE for Knight!! Cover, PRIEST yanks the ref!! Priest really does screw Drew this time! Drew is furious but Priest drags him out now! Priest and Drew throw hands and the fans fire up! Drew THROWS Priest and himself over the barriers! Fatu is up, he brings Knight around for HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT! Fatu has Knight down, goes up, up, BEST MOONSAULTÂ FLOPS!! Knight rises up, goes to the corner, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” BOX JUMP FLYING AX HANDLE! And then the BOX JUMP ELBOW DROP!! Cover, TWO!?!
Fatu survives and Knight is beside himself! Priest and Drew are brawling in the crowd! Priest SMACKS Drew off a road case! Priest makes Drew look into the camera, “He’s bored at work!” Priest ROCKS Drew, but Drew ROCKS Priest! They go up to some upper deck, and Priest ROCKS Drew again! They stand on road cases, but Drew HEADBUTTS! Drew reels Priest in, takes aim, but Priest CLAWS Drew’s face! Priest decides to do what Drew was planning, and with the straps down, SOUTH OF HEAVENÂ DOWN THROUGH THE TABLES!!! The fans go nuts with Priest and Drew down in the wreckage!!
Producers and medical hurry to check Drew and Priest, but that just means Knight and Fatu are the only two left! Knight RAMS Fatu into the apron, then POSTS him! Knight hobbles but he brings Fatu back up to SMACK him off the desk! Fatu is on the desk, and Knight uses a piece that fell off to SMACK Fatu! Knight keeps Fatu on the desk, and he looks for a perch. The fans fire up as Knight climbs the corner! “L! A! KNGIHT!” NO, Solo Sikoa gets Fatu clear! Knight is furious but Solo tells him it’s not going down like that. Knight storms up on Solo, but a LARIAT hits outta nowhere!! IS THAT JEFF COBB?!?
The fans go nuts as now the Imperial Unit is Solo’s new enforcer! Cobb THROWS Knight around, POSTS him, and then runs to SPLASH Knight against the post!! Cobb drags Knight up, puts him in the ring, and Fatu sees what’s going on. Fatu is not happy with Solo bringing in reinforcements when he didn’t want it, but Solo still serves Knight up on a silver platter. Fatu doesn’t look the gift horse in the mouth, and he gives Knight a HIP ATTACK!! Fatu puts Knight in the drop zone, goes up and up, BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Cover, Fatu wins!
Winner: Jacob Fatu, by pinfall (still WWE United States Champion)
The Samoan Werewolf may not like Solo bringing in a ringer, but he still keeps his gold. Will nothing stop “the family” now that they’ve reloaded the arsenal?
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Lyra Valkyria VS Becky Lynch!
When they say, “Never meet your heroes,” perhaps those people were talking about this scenario right here. The Morrigan & The Man were bonded by their Irish blood, and by how the younger followed in the footsteps of the elder. They’ve battled over the NXT Women’s Championship and even won the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania. But the moment they lost those titles, Becky showed her true colors and betrayed Lyra! Becky called Lyra “recycling,” or rather, “less offensive trash,” but will Becky be the one thrown out this time? Or will Becky take away a title just as Lyra did to her back in the day?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who the real Lass Kicker is around here!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Lyra and Becky circle, tie up, and they go around. Becky puts Lyra in the corner, the ref counts, and Becky lets off to talk trash. Becky shoves, Lyra shoves, and the two reset. They tie up, Lyra waistlocks, Becky switches, and Becky SLAMS Lyra down. Becky smothers Lyra into the mat, then waistlocks again. Lyra fights up, ELBOWS free, then runs. Becky dodges and RUNS Lyra over! Becky flexes, talks trash, then soaks up the heat. Things speed up, Lyra drops down then hurdles, but Becky hits an arm-drag, only for Lyra to ghost pin! TWO, and Becky arm-drags again!
The fans boo but Becky soaks it up. The two reset, tie up, and Lyra waistlocks. Becky elbows Lyra, whips her to ropes, but Lyra slides under! Lyra blocks a kick, trips Becky, and then turns Becky over with the REVERSE CRAB, to then go for the arms! MEXICAN SURFBOARD! Becky endures as Lyra swings her around! Lyra drops Becky, stands on the legs, and then hooks the legs up! Becky resists but Lyra still gets the arms to pull her back, into the ROMERO SPECIAL! Becky endures, Lyra rolls and pulls Becky back into the ROMERO SPECIAL! Becky still endures, but Lyra rolls her and pulls her back again! AÂ third ROMERO SPECIAL! Then a cover, TWO!
Becky escapes, but Lyra waistlocks. Becky switches, Lyra spins through and NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Becky scrambles and Lyra says she told her she’s the better wrestler! Lyra then dodges to ENZIGIRI! Becky bails out, the fans “WHEW~” with Lyra, and she WRECKS Becky with a dropkick! The fans fire up and Lyra puts Becky in the ring. Lyra climbs, but Becky trips her up! Becky THROWS Lyra down, then snarls as she rains down fists! The fans boo but Becky seethes as she paces around. Becky signals that she will be champion! She CLOBBERS Lyra, smothers her into the mat again, then HAMMERS away on Lyra! Cover, ONE!!
Lyra is tougher than that, but so is Becky given she has a bloody cut on her elbow. Lyra ELBOWS Becky but Becky CLUBS Lyra! Becky stands Lyra up to SLAP her! And CHOP her! And CHOP again! Lyra falls into a corner but Becky soaks up the heat. Becky stands Lyra up, runs corner to corner, but Lyra dodges! Becky hits buckles, but then she dodges to JUMP KICK! And BECKSPLODER! Lyra writhes, Becky covers, ONE!! Becky argues the count with the ref, then goes back to Lyra. Becky talks trash on Lyra, CHOKES her on the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Lyra goes to the corner but Becky brings her around to TOSS her out!
Lyra is on the floor, Becky builds speed, and Becky WRECKS Lyra with a dropkick! Becky THROWS Lyra into barriers, then SMACKS her off more barriers! “Is this your girl?” Becky tells Lyra’s fiancé to thank her! Lyra fires forearms off on Becky! Becky POSTS Lyra in return! Becky puts Lyra in the ring, covers, TWO! The fans rally for Lyra but Becky talks more trash. Becky SLAPS Lyra, pie faces her, but Lyra just stares defiantly! Then Lyra SLAPS Becky back! The SLAPS fly, Becky clinches, but Lyra cradle counters! Roll through, into a RUNNING FISHERMAN BUSTER!! Both women are down and the fans fire up!
Lyra feeds off that energy and she rises up! Lyra runs and LARIATS! And LARIATS! And SOBATS! KICKS! HEADBUTTS, KICKS again, then runs, cartwheel and ENZIGIRI! Becky staggers around, Lyra GUT WRENCH BOMBS! Cover, TWO!! Becky survives and Lyra is beside herself! Becky goes to the apron but Lyra drags her up. The fans rally m ore, but Becky ROCKS and ROUNDHOUSES Lyra! Becky climbs, but Lyra ROCKS her first! Lyra reaches the top, and fans actually duel as Lyra stalling SUPERPLEXES!! Cover, TWO!! Becky survives, reminding us why she’s a Grand Slam Champion!
The fans rally up and Lyra has Becky for a fireman’s carry! Becky fights free, waistlocks, but Lyra switches! O’Conner Roll, TWO! Becky has the O’Conner, but wants the rope! The ref stops that! The fans boo and Becky “apologizes,” but then she runs up on Lyra! Lyra scoops, Becky slips free, EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Cover, TWO!! Lyra survives and Becky is growing frustrated. The fans rally for Lyra more and Becky dares Lyra to get up. Lyra rises, Becky clinches, but Lyra slips free to shove Becky into buckles! Lyra runs up, Becky dodges, but Lyra stops the jump kick! Lyra DUMPS Becky out, takes aim, and PLANCHAS! Down goes Becky!
The fans fire up as Lyra hurries to put Becky back in. Lyra climbs the corner, takes aim, TURN OF FORTUNE!! Cover, TWO!!! Lyra is frustrated, but she hurries back up! MOONSAULTÂ onto knees! Becky turns that around on Lyra while the fans fire up! Becky crawls her way over to Lyra, both women stand, and the forearms fly! Becky ROCKS Lyra but Lyra ROCKS Becky right back! The shots pick up speed, Lyra gets the edge, but Becky KNEES low! UPPERCUTÂ into a hook! Becky fights the backslide, SLAMS Lyra down, ARMBAR!! Lyra clasps hands, rolls through, and she has the ARMBAR!!
Becky fights, rolls, high stacks, TWO! Becky steps over, DISARM-HER!! Lyra rolls Becky to a cover, TWO!! Becky clinches, MANHAND- ARM-DRAG! Cover, TWO!! MANHANDLE SLAM!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Lyra survives and Becky cannot believe it! St. Louis is thunderous, “This is Awesome!” Becky is freaking out trying to figure out what to do. Becky just HAMMERS away on Lyra! The fans boo but Becky goes to the outside. Becky grabs a chair! The fans boo but The Man is getting desperate! Becky brings the chair in, the ref stops her, and they tug-o-war over the chair! Becky give sit up to the ref, but that lets her untie a buckle pad!
Becky drags Lyra up, brings her around and whips, but Lyra reverses! Becky stops from hitting steel but Lyra GERMAN SUPLEXES! And HEEL KICKS! MOONSAULT!! Cover, TWO!! Becky survives and Lyra is beside herself! The fans rally while Lyra now thinks on what she must do. Lyra drags Becky up, fireman’s carries, but Becky fights free! Becky shoves Lyra into a buckle! MANHANDLE SLAM!! Cover, TWO?!?! Lyra survives one thing after another and Becky is going berserk! Becky HAMMERS away on Lyra again, and even DRIBBLES Lyra head off the mat! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Becky stands Lyra up.
Becky aims but the ref sees the bare buckle! The ref stops that, goes to fix things, but Lyra fireman’s carries! NIGHTWING DRIVER!!! The ref is too busy with the buckle! Cover, TWO!?!?!? Becky survives thanks to her shenanigans and Lyra is completely frazzled! Lyra drags Becky up, fireman’s carries, but Becky still fights! Clinch and MAN- NO, wheelbarrow for the victory roll! TWO, and Becky SLAPS Lyra! Roll-up, high stack, TWO! Lyra has a victory roll, LYRA WINS!!!
Winner: Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion)
Becky attacks Lyra! The Man is a sore loser! DISARM-HER!! The ref reprimands, pries at Becky’s grip, but Becky refuses to let go! More refs rush in, Becky still doesn’t stop, so producers are needed! Adam Pearce shouts right at Becky, and only now does Becky let go!! Lyra is down, potentially her arm and even her nose broken by the woman she once looked up to! Becky scowls, wants to go back for more, but the producers stand in her way. Did Becky still coset Lyra her title with all the damage she did? Or can The Morrigan rise up and keep her #ShinyShiny?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Dominik Mysterio VS PENTA!
Though it took a Fatal 4 Way to win it, and an Irish Ace in the hole to keep it, “Dirty Dom” thinks he is already the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time, as well as the greatest Mysterio and the greatest luchador ever. But now, the Man with Zero Fear gets another shot, and hopefully it’ll be a fair one. Will Penta prove he is the greatest? Or will Dom have another dirty trick up his sleeve?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly El Campeon!
The bell rings and Dom circles with Penta. Dom talks trash but the fans rally behind Penta. Dom shoves Penta, so Penta DROPKCISK Dom! Penta runs up, Dom dodges and fires hands! Dom whips, Penta ducks ‘n’ dodges and RANAS! Dom tumbles, the fans fire up, and Penta runs in. Dom dodge the kick, comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! The fans cheer because that was impressive, and Dom runs up again. Penta pops him up to SUPERKICK him upside-down! Then BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Dom stays in this and Penta nods respect. The fans rally for Penta while Dom goes to a corner.
Penta runs in, Dom pops him up to crotch him on the ropes! Dom then DROPKICKS Penta down to the floor! The fans cheer, Dom builds speed, and Dom DIVES to TORNADO DDT! Dom flexes and fans cheer because that was impressive, too! Dom refreshes the ring count then mocks Penta’s swagger. Dom stomps Penta, fans actually sing for “Dirty, Dirty Dom~!” Dom stands Penta up to CHOP, but Penta CHOPS in return! The CHOPS go back and forth, then Dom dodges to SHOVE Penta into steel steps! Dom rolls into the ring and flexes. The fans cheer, Dom goes out to drag Penta up, and Dom puts Penta in.
Dom hears the fans dueling, tunes out the taunts, and he slingshots to SENTON! Cover, TWO! Penta stays in this and Dom argues the count. The ref defends it, so Dom just stomps away on Penta! Dom uses the Finn style jump stomps, then he rains down fists! Dom lets off to soak up cheers and jeers, then covers, ROPEBREAK! Dom is annoyed and he CLUBS Penta into the chinlock. Penta endures, claws at the hold, and fights up. Penta fires body shots, but Dom fires knees! Dom whips, Penta KICKS him, then Penta dodges to come back, SLING-DOG! The fans fire up and Dom bails out. Penta goes up, up, and from the post, SUPER CROSSBODIES!
The fans fire up as Dom and Penta crash down! The ring count starts, both men stir at 3 of 10, and Penta rises up. Penta pushes Dom into the ring, huffs ‘n’ puffs, and he climbs up the corner. Penta leaps, but into Dom’s kick! Dom snap suplexes, that’s Uno Amigo! Then another suplex, but Penta slips free! Penta shoves Dom, but Dom drop toeholds him onto ropes! Dom dials it up, but Penta ducks the 619! Penta GAMANGIRIS, then slingshots to CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Dom survives and both men are down! The fans rally up and Dom DROPKICKS Penta! Dom runs up, OBLIVION!! Cover, TWO!!
Penta survives Liv’s move and Dom is furious! Dom runs up, Penta puts him on the corner, and Penta GAMANGIRIS! Penta climbs, but Dom shoves him down! Penta CHOPS from the apron, then runs up, but Dom BOOTS him! Dom hops down, reels Penta in, but Penta fights the suplex! Penta ENZIGIRIS, then runs up, APRON DESTROYER!!! Both men are down and the fans go nuts! But wait, here comes Carlito! Judgment Day let Dom come out here alone, but Caribbean Cool isn’t gonna let this go down! But this is all so Finn & JD can get Penta up! Finn gets an idea and grabs a chair!
But the ref sees Finn! Finn’s improvising just cost him his chance! The ref EJECTS Judgment Day!! The fans fire up as now things are 1v1 again! Carlito can’t believe Finn messed this up! Penta FLIES onto Judgment Day! The fans fire up but wait, Finn avoided disaster! Where’d he go? Penta hobbles, rolls into the ring, and SUPERKICKS Dom down! Penta vows to finish this, but Finn returns! Finn distracts the ref now, and EL GRANDE AMERICANO is here! Grande HEADBUTTS Penta with that loaded mask!!! Dom goes up, FROG SPLASH!!! Cover, DOM WINS!
Winner: Dominik Mysterio, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
The Prince almost screwed things up, but then he managed to turn things around with help from the supposed other greatest luchador in history! Will Judgment Day owe Chad Gable- Er, uh, El Grande Americano big time for this?
GUNTHER VS Pat McAfee!
Once again, Der Ring General lost a championship, at WrestleMania, against someone he surely felt was beneath him. And while his ego was still hurting, he lashed out against Michael Cole in an attempt to intimidate and silence commentary. Pat stepped up for his friend, got beat up for it, but he isn’t going to back down just because Gunther is a bully. In fact, Pat has always believed in standing up to bullies, which is why he’s getting back in the ring! Will Pat win one for all the underdogs out there? Or will Gunther unleash all of his anger and silence Pat for good?
The bell rings and Pat throws his shirt to the crowd! The fans fire up as Pat and Gunther circle. They feel things out, Gunther smirks but Pat is stone cold serious. The fans taunt Gunther with, “You Tapped Out!” but Gunther ignores that. He and Pat tie up, and Gunther shoves Pat to a corner. Pat sees what he’s dealing with now, but he still comes back to circle with Gunther again. They tie up, Gunther headlocks and THROWS Pat! The ref checks Pat but Pat stands back up. Pat and Gunther circle again, tie up, and Gunther grabs an arm! Gunther wrenches Pat, wrangles him down and steps over. Gunther pie faces Pat around and the fans boo.
Gunther wrenches, wristlocks, but Pat rolls, rolls, handsprings, and wrenches! But Gunther breaks free! Pat avoids the chop and the fans fire up! Pat and Gunther circle again, and Gunther is oddly amused. Pat and Gunther tie up, and Pat headlocks! Gunther powers Pat to ropes, Pat shifts to a facelock, but Gunther puts Pat on the apron! Pat holds on, the ref counts, and Pat lets go slowly. Gunther pats Pat on the head, and Pat says okay. Pat ROCKS Gunther! Pat slingshots, runs, and fires forearms! Pat runs, into a CHOP! Pat is right down and coughing for air! Gunther drags Pat up, just to CLUB him back down!
Gunther stomps and kicks Pat around, pushes Pat, but Pat comes back to JAB! JAB! HAYMAKER! Pat fires hands, and even CHOPS! Gunther eggs Pat on! Pat CHOPS, the fans fire up, but Gunther wants more! Pat CHOPS, but Gunther CHOPS Pat down again! The fans boo as Gunther glares at Michael Cole. Gunther stalks Pat to a corner, talks trash, “You wanna play with the big boys, huh?” Gunther CHOPS Pat in a corner, CHOPS again, then stomps a mudhole! Gunther stops and Pat puts up his dukes! The fans rally, but Gunther CHOPS Pat down! The fans boo and Cole tells Gunther fine, just pin and finish it!
Gunther decides not to do that, he wrenches and whips Pat instead. Gunther CLOBBERS Pat, but Pat avoids the elbow drop! Pat KICKS Gunther! That NFL punt wasn’t quite enough, and Gunther snapmares Pat! Gunther KICKS Pat now! Pat writhes, but he still rises up! The fans rally behind Pat and he stands again. Pat roars, Gunther eggs him on, and Pat spins to CHOP! Gunther CHOPS, but Pat stays up to CHOP! Gunther BOOTS Pat down now! Gunther glares at Cole, dares Cole to help Pat, but Wade Barrett tells Cole to just sit down. The fans still taunt Gunther with, “You Tapped Out!” as Gunther goes back to Pat.
Gunther talks trash on the fans, then he brings Pat up. Gunther dares Cole to keep cheering his guy on. Cole says stop toying with Pat then! Pat SLAPS Gunther! Gunther CHOPS Pat, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Pat sputters, Cole says just end it then! Gunther looms over Pat, eggs him on, and Pat still rises up! Gunther clamps onto Pat’s head, and then has the SLEEPER!! Pat is already red from everything else, but wait! Pat pries at the grip! Gunther is amused as Pat manages the ROPEBREAK, but then Gunther GERMAN SUPLEXES! Pat flounders and Gunther paces. Gunther laughs as the fans boo, because Gunther knows only he can end this.
Gunther soaks up the boos and he stalks Pat to ropes. Pat sits up, Gunther clamps onto him again, and Gunther uses a facelock to put Pat in a corner. Gunther CLUBS Pat, reels him in, and hoists Pat up top! Gunther CLUBS Pat, then climbs up. The fans rally for Pat, and he holds on for dear life! Pat fires elbows and he knocks Gunther down! Pat adjusts, and manages to MOONSAULT! Gunther moves, Pat lands out, GERMAN SUPLEX! Pat lands out?! PUNT!! PUNT!! And then a PUNT!!! Cover, ONE?!?! Gunther takes all those shots and is just pissed!! Gunther eggs Pat on, so Pat SLAPS him! Gunther eggs Pat on more, so Pat SLAPS again!
Pat SLAPS, Gunther CHOPS, but Pat just feeds off that now! The CHOPS keep going, and then Pat ELBOWS Gunther! The forearms go back and forth, Pat fires fast hands, Gunther guards! Pat runs, and he BOOTS Gunther! Pat keeps moving, to SUPERKICK! Shoutout to the Panama City Playboy, but Gunther reels Pat in for a POWERBOMB!! Cole says fine, just end this match already! Gunther clamps on the BOSTON CRAB!! But Pat endures! Cole goes to the apron to tell Pat to keep fighting! But Gunther drags Pat back to rain down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! The fans cheer on Cole, but Gunther grabs him through the ropes!!
The fans boo as Gunther drags Cole into the ring! The ref reprimands and Cole says Gunther should just pin Pat already! Gunther pushes Cole around, has him by his tie, then reels Cole in! But Pat BOOTS Gunther! Gunther BOOTS Pat!! Gunther glares at Cole as Cole is on the outside again. Pat O’Conner Rolls! TWO!! Pat bails out, Cole coaches him, but Gunther is on Pat again! Gunther suplexes, but Cole trips Gunther!! Cole holds Gunther’s foot down as Pat covers, TWO!!! Gunther is pissed, but Pat puts on the SLEEPER!!! Gunther flails, powers out, and short arm LARIATS!! Gunther drags Pat back up, and he stares Cole down before putting on the SLEEPER!!!
Pat is down in the body scissors and he’s turning purple! The fans rally as Pat still fights, but Gunther traps his arms, too!! Pat is still fighting even now!! Pat rises up, throws elbows, and the fans are thunderous! Pat fires shot after shot but Gunther wrangles him back down!! Pat is caught again, and NOW he’s out! Gunther wins!!
Winner: Gunther, by submission
Gunther pushes Pat away and Cole is distraught. Cole goes to Pat’s side, feeling just a bit responsible for letting it go this far. Der Ring General grins as he still returns to his winning ways. Pat manages to sit up again now that he can breathe, and Cole helps him stand. Gunther and Pat stare each other down, and Gunther shows Pat a nod of respect! Gunther leaves, but will he be just as ruthless as he heads back for the mountaintop?
Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena VS Randy Orton!
Both men have been here in the WWE for 25 years, never wrestling anywhere else, and never wanting to go anywhere else. And while he’s “gone Hollywood,” Cena still became the #NeverSeenSeventeen. The Viper is still only at 14, but he hopes to change that tonight as he now has the homefield advantage. Will the Legend Killer add one more name to that hit list? Or will Cena still be the Last Real Champion?
The fans obviously sing along with Voices as their hometown hero makes his entrance. Orton already seems to be getting chills hearing his hometown sing that for him. Then things turn to “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” even before the music plays. Then things turn to “JOHN CENA SUCKS~!” with the music, even as Cena wears his St. Louis Blues inspired merchandise. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who is truly the greatest of their generation!
The bell rings and the fans fire up as Cena and Orton circle. They feel things out, tie up, and are in a deadlock. The two break, the fans applaud, and the two reset. Orton and Cena circle again, tie up again, and are in another deadlock. They break again and the fans again applaud. St. Louis rallies behind “RANDY! RANDY!” which annoys Cena, but then he offers a handshake. The fans boo and Orton smirks. Orton steps up, Cena still offers, and Orton accepts. But then Cena pokes Orton in the eyes! Cena fires hands, headlocks, but Orton powers up and out. Orton runs Cena over, then he pokes Cena in the eyes!
The fans cheer, Cena bails out, and Orton goes to the corner so he can look down at Cena. The fans cheer more and Cena slides in. The two tie up, go around, and Orton puts Cena in a corner. The ref counts, Orton lets off at 4, but he counters Cena’s punch! Orton ROCKS Cena, headlocks, and the fans duel, “You Can’t Wrestle!” “YES, HE CAN!” Cena powers up and out, ducks down, and hurdles over! Orton still runs Cena over again! The fans fire up as Orton headlocks, hits a takeover, but Cena keeps his shoulders up. Cena endures, fights up, and powers out. Orton runs Cena over yet again! Cena bails out and the fans boo.
Cena wants to walk!? The fans boo more but Cena doesn’t care. But Orton rushes out to CLUB Cena from behind! Orton ROCKS Cena, ROCKS him again, and they return to ringside. Orton ROCKS Cena, Cena rolls into the ring, and Cena comes back to LARIAT! Cena rains down fists, the fans boo, but Cena stops to catch his breath. Cena brings Orton up to bump him off buckles. Cena climbs up and fans boo more as Cena rains down fists! The fans still count along, and Cena goes to 7 before he hops down. But Orton kicks low! Orton bumps Cena off buckles, then climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count and Orton goes past TEN, to hit TWENTY!!
The fans fire up and Orton backs off. Cena staggers around, Orton reels him in, and UPPERCUTS Cena down! Cover, TWO! Orton drags Cena to center to stomp a leg! The fans cheer and Orton stomps Cena’s other leg! Cena clutches his ankle, but Orton stomps Cena’s hand! The fans cheer as Orton picks Cena apart, with a stomp to the other hand! Orton pushes Cena down and runs up, to KNEE DROP! Cover, TWO! Cena stays in this but Orton stays focused. Cena goes to ropes, rises up, but Orton is on him with a kick down low! The fans cheer Orton and he whips, but Cena reverses. Cena clamps on a SLEEPER! And becomes a backpack!
Orton stays on his feet and Cena slips down. Orton powers up and out, and he catches Cena for a SLEEPER! Cena endures, but he drops to a knee. Cena fights up, powers out, and he grabs the SLEEPER again! The fans boo but Orton powers up and out. Orton has the SLEEPER! Cena powers out, to have the SLEEPER! Orton slips around to hit a BIG back suplex! The fans rally while both men are down. Orton and Cena stir, Cena goes to the ropes, and Orton is up. Cena ducks ‘n’ dodges to start up those SHOULDER TACKLES! And then the SPIN OUT BOMB! The fans boo but Cena smooths his hair. Cena smirks, raises his hand, and says the fans can’t see him!
Cena runs, and FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLES! Orton staggers, Cena fireman’s carries, but Orton slips free! Orton shoves Cena and LARIATS! And LARIATS again! Orton dodges then SNAP POWERSLAMS! The fans fire up while Cena flounders to the apron! Orton storms over there, drags Cena through the ropes, but Cena slips through to roll Orton up! TWO, and Cena has a leg! Orton fights off the crossface, but Cena powers through! STFU!! Orton endures, reaches out, but Cena drags him from the ropes! Orton BOOTS Cena away and Cena goes back to the apron! Orton runs up, has Cena in the ropes, DRAPING DDT!
The fans fire up while Cena sputters, and Orton starts to hear those voices! Orton watches Cena rise up, R K- NO, Cena powers out, fireman’s carries, and ATTITUDE- RKO?!?! Orton turns that around at the last second and the fans are losing their minds! “This is Awesome!” while both men are down again! Both men slowly rise up, Cena has Orton, but Orton ROCKS Cena! Cena ROCKS Orton! Orton kicks Cena low, but then Cena fires a body shot! Orton HEADBUTTS Cena, but Cena HEADBUTTS back! Orton ROCKS Cena again, but Cena ROCKS Orton again! Orton UPPERCUTS! Cena HAYMAKERS! Cena fireman’s carries, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!! Cover, TWO!?!
The fans fire up as Orton survives while Cena grows frustrated. Cena waits on Orton to rise up, the fans duel again, and Cena fireman’s carries! Orton grabs ropes, Cena pries him free, but Orton slips off the carry! Cena ducks ‘n’ dodges to start more shoulder tackles, but into an RKO!!! The fans fire up but Cena flounders away to a corner! Orton clutches his shoulder, the RKO continues to be a double-edged move when you get right down to it. But wait! Orton wants to go yard! But Cena avoids the Orton Punt! Fireman’s carry and ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!! Cover, TWO!!!! Orton survives again and Cena is beside himself!
The fans rally as hard as they can for Orton but Cena stalks Orton to a corner. Cena talks trash, and he mocks hearing those voices! Cena smirks as the fans boo, and then Cena decides to further copy Orton! Cena aims from a corner, runs up, but Orton dodges Cena’s kick! RK- NO, Cena shoves Orton into the ref!! The ref goes down, Cena has Orton again, ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT!! But no ref means no pins! Cena smirks again, and he tells the fans, “Shh.” Cena goes outside, grabs the title belt, and Cole asks why he’s resorting to this. Cena says, “History.” Cena slips back into the ring with the belt, but Orton hits an RKO!!!
The ref stirs, Orton covers, and the ref counts! TWO!!!! The delay saves Cena and Orton is beside himself! Cena flops out of the ring, crawls off towards barriers, but Orton pursues. Orton huffs ‘n’ puffs and storms up on Cena. The fans call BS, but Orton thinks this is a good a place as any. Orton clears the desk! The ref reprimands but then Cena RAMS Orton into the ref!! The ref hits steel steps! Cena POSTS Orton, and the fans are dueling again! Cena sees the desk, and then smirks again. Cena decides to use another of Orton’s ideas, and he fireman’s carries Orton. But Orton slips free and fireman’s carries! ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTÂ onto the desk!!
Cena tumbles off the desk and to the floor! Then the desk breaks! They really made those sturdier than before. Orton mutters something while he clears space. Orton drags Cena up, SMACKS him off the pieces of the desk, then goes back to the ring. The fans fire up as Orton starts looking underneath the ring! Orton goes around the way, and tada! Orton brings out a TABLE! St. Louis fires up again as Orton sets the table up right where he found it, then he drags Cena over that way. Cena fires hands and SMACKS Orton off barriers! And off the steps! Cena fireman’s carries Orton, but Orton fights free! Orton fireman’s carries again!
Orton hits another ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT, through the table!!! Once again, Orton gives Cena his move! Orton drinks some Prime Hydration, then goes back to Cena. Orton steps over Cena to drag him back up, and he puts Cena in the ring. “This is Awesome!” but the ref is still down! Orton huffs ‘n’ puffs and he hears those voices again! Cena stirs, rises to his feet, and RKO!!! Cover, here comes a spare ref!! The count, TWO!??!?!? Another delay saves Cena and Orton is at a loss for words! The ref defends the count was fair, but Cena has the belt again! Cena aims, runs up, but Orton dodge! BELT SHOT on Eddie Durango! RKO AGAIN!!!!
Orton covers, he would’ve won ten times over! Nick Aldis and his producers hurry to ringside to finally check on both refs. Orton argues with Aldis, they need another official! Aldis says okay but there aren’t many left to work tonight! Orton is furious, so he just RKOS Aldis! And RKO for each and every producer! Even Jamie Noble!! The fans are thunderous as Orton unleashes that 2009 Viper! Orton looms over Cena, seethes, and goes with the last thing he has in his arsenal. Orton lines up a shot, Cena rises up, BUT R-TRUTH gets in the way! Truth pleads with Orton to spare his “childhood hero!” Orton just RKOS Truth!!
Cena is up, and he LOW BLOWS Orton!!! The fans boo, but Cena isn’t done there! He has the belt, and he CLOBBERS Orton with it!!! Cena puts the belt outside, the first ref returns, and he counts the cover! CENA WINS!!!
Winner: John Cena, by pinfall (still Undisputed WWE Champion)
Cena’s first defense of his 17th world title is certainly one for the history books! It took multiple referees, tables, distractions, and even a friend/fan biting the bullet for him, and Cena comes out the other side still the champion. Cena takes the mic, and he shouts to cut the damn music! Cena says he doesn’t need the music, he needs competition. And he sure as hell doesn’t need the fans. “Drink it in, St. Louis. Because this is what the Last Real Champion looks like.” The fans boo as Cena holds up the title at the corner, but if this is what the Last Real Champion needs to survive the Viper, what more will it take for him to finish his Farewell Tour?
My Thoughts:
Despite the concerns from right after WrestleMania, this Backlash turned out amazing! It didn’t need a two hour preshow when there wasn’t gonna be a preshow match, but I get that they did so because this was the final Backlash for Cena, they needed time to talk about Cena becoming the 17 time world champion, and what facing Orton one more time meant to everyone. Cena VS Orton: The Final Time was definitely better than Cody VS Cena at Mania. There was a lot of talk of Cena “purposefully” giving a bad match at Mania and whether that saved it from actually being a bad match because of the meta, but I think they realized that this time, it had to be a legitimately good match.
And it was! It was great stuff from two icons of wrestling, no matter what anyone says. It’s that saying of “I’m not as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was.” It didn’t flip the classic moment of Orton slapping the ref to get disqualified, but Cena did still took out two refs through the course of this. Great stuff with Aldis and all those producers, aka former/retired wrestlers, taking RKOs so Orton could unleash his anger. And while I figured R-Truth would play a part, I didn’t think we’d get him taking an RKO. Cena of course resorts to all the cheating ways to win, but this is Heel Cena after all, what else would he do? And now there is some real intrigue as to who is next for Cena as he continues his farewell tour.
To go back to the top, awesome move with the Fatal 4 Way opening tonight. All four guys got their stuff in, it was wild, and yet, Solo Sikoa still gets involved, just as they implied last night. Additionally, Solo brought in a new member to the team, also as they implied. Personally, I still wanted Hikuleo, just so that Solo would be leading the entire Guerrillas of Destiny, but maybe they want to wait until Tama and Loa are health. At the same time, I can’t fault them for going with Jeff Cobb because he’s Jeff Cobb. Cobb is sturdy, strong, athletic, and anyone who has watched NJPW, ROH and/AEW already knows what he’s capable of. You can tell already that this only ups the tension within the faction, and we might get Cobb VS Fatu very quickly.
Lyra VS Becky was great, with Becky really doing her best to Heel her way through this. I really thought she was going to pull off a cheap win thanks to the buckle or some other trick, but Lyra does prove herself the better wrestler tonight. Now, with Lyra holding her nose and then playing up the damage to the rest of her body, they could be setting up some injury angle where she has to take time off, maybe even vacate the title. Lyra’s fiancé was right there, this could be Lyra’s out so the two of them can have their wedding and honeymoon and all that while Becky goes for the vacated title. Bayley could even return to be a major roadblock to that title, and we get a great match from Bayley VS Becky to crown a new champion.
Dom VS Penta was great, and St. Louis seems to be a Dom friendly crowd. Naturally, Judgment Day had to help, but also a logical move for El Grande Americano to get involved because of how Penta superkick’d Gable. Penta will surely confront Gable and get a match with El Grande, this can lead us into something for either Worlds Collide or Money in the Bank in June. As for Dom, things seem patched up in Judgment Day for now, but that could easily change at a drop of a hat. Honestly, Worlds Collide needs to be built starting this Monday, and maybe some AAA stars show up to call out “the greatest Intercontinental Champion/greatest Mysterio ever.”
And of course, for being a bit sudden, Gunther VS Pat was great stuff. It went about how I expected, with Pat just taking damage and getting back up. A little surprised Cole tried to help Pat cheat Gunther out of this, but it didn’t change the outcome. Gunther make Pat take a nap to get the win, but I did like the modicum of respect Gunther showed on his way out. Logan VS Jey is set for Saturday Night’s Main Event in a couple weeks, but much like Rollins, perhaps Gunther tries to change plans? Or maybe Gunther wants the Intercontinental Championship? Gunther should go for something, I’m just not sure what with all these other stories going on right now.
My Score: 9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
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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
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