Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (5/24/21)
Rematch of rematch on Raw!
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships are back on Raw, but will they return to Raw?
Natalya & Tamina won the WWE Women’s Tag titles on SmackDown, but they might lose them on a Raw! Will their reign last more than 10 days?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE World Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Drew McIntyre VS Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods; inconclusive.
- Beat the Clock Challenge: Rhea Ripley VS Nikki Cross; Cross wins.
- Asuka VS Charlotte Flair; Charlotte wins.
- Shelton Benjamin VS Cedric Alexander; Alexander wins.
- Matt Riddle VS Xavier Woods; Riddle wins.
- AJ Styles VS Jaxson Ryker; Ryker wins.
- Sheamus VS Humberto Carrillo; Sheamus wins.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Natalya & Tamina VS Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax w/ Reginald; Natalya & Tamina win and retain the titles.
PLAY BY PLAY
Raw opens with MVP in the ring!
Montel Vontavius Porter says it is his honor to present to us the Chief Hurt Officer, the All Mighty WWE World Champion, Bobby Lashley! Lashley makes his entrance, accompanied by a new assortment of lovely ladies. The ladies go with Lashley to the ring, and a recap package of last week plays to remind us that it was Drew McIntyre who ruined the celebration at that time. MVP’s open challenge for a match with Lashley was open to anyone not named McIntyre or Braun Strowman. But Kofi Kingston stepped up, only for MVP to correct our assumptions by saying he never said it was a title match. It was still a title caliber showdown, and to get back at MVP, McIntyre helped Kofi get the win!
Back in the present, Lashley’s ladies boo mean ol’ McIntyre and MVP says that they need an energy change. “Can we please have an explosive round of applause for our WWE Champion, the All Mighty, Bobby Lashley?” The ladies oblige and cheer Lashley on. MVP says it is exciting tonight, Lashley looks handsome and the ladies are here. He has exciting news, too! Not only is the champion here, but in July, WWE is leaving the ThunderDome and getting back on the road to be at an arena near you so you can see the WWE Champion up close and personal! The ladies love that, too. Lashley says life is good. As it should be.
But sadly, there is a perennial dark cloud, in the form of that “petty, bitter, crass” Drew McIntyre. We already know how the ladies feel, but Lashley, put your feelings to word. Lashley beat McIntyre at WrestleMania 37. He beat McIntyre AND Braun at #WrestleManiaBacklash. So if it was up to Lashley, that’s a no go for McIntyre. No more Drew. Done with him! And they tried to move on, they really did. They offered a gracious open challenge to anyone with the courage to step up. And to MVP’s surprise, that scrawny, dreadlocked cartoon character, Kofi Kingston, thinks just because he was once a world champion means he could face Bobby Lashley.
And again, the dark cloud, Drew McIntyre- Shows up NOW! McIntyre has a mic to say they shouldn’t look so surprised. We all knew he was going to walk out here eventually because they’re business is his business, and his business is getting the world title back. Oh here we go again. McIntyre says if it wasn’t for MVP, he would’ve won at Mania. If it wasn’t for Braun, McIntyre would’ve won at Backlash. So he wants his 1v1 rematch, and he knows Lashley wants it, too! McIntyre knows what kind of competitor Lashley is. Lashley wants to prove without a doubt that he is the NUMBER ONE on Raw.
But then again, McIntyre could be wrong. Maybe deep down, Lashley knows he can’t measure up to McIntyre! Maybe just maybe, the All Mighty doesn’t have the BALLS! McIntyre will check: Ladies, does he have balls? MVP wants to speak but McIntyre cuts him off by saying Lashley did just lose to Kofi. Lashley didn’t lose to Kofi, McIntyre hit him with a cane! But what’s really pathetic and desperate is that McIntyre had to go to those measures to get a win off Lashley! MVP says that’s the truth. McIntyre only hears excuses. But it’s a New Day, yes it is! Here come Kofi and Xavier Woods!
“Boys, boys, boys…” They’re making great points, they really are. Things move around fast on Raw but let’s not breeze by how last week, Kofi Kingston pinned the WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley! And he’ll say it again for those who didn’t hear him! Kofi Kingston pinned the WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley, BAAAAABYYYYYYY~! Lashley asks Kofi if he thanked McIntyre for that one. McIntyre says “You’re welcome,” but Kofi pretends not to hear anything. What did he say? What did he say? It seems like McIntyre is insinuating that Kofi wouldn’t have won without him. No that’s what you’re saying. Kofi didn’t ask McIntyre to get in his corner, that’s just for ya bois, the NEW~ DAY~!
Kofi doesn’t need McIntyre’s help, but he answered the open challenge because he never got his rematch for the WWE title! And McIntyre knows all about those since he gets rematch after rematch after rematch etc., Kofi wants McIntyre to step his ass aside so he can do what McIntyre hasn’t done in months, and that is pin Bobby Lashley. For once, MVP and Lashley agree with Kofi. McIntyre says Kofi could’ve done it all by himself, but he didn’t. But here comes Adam Pearce! He’s hearing all this and it all makes sense, but there’s an easy way to settle this! Kofi Kingston VS Drew McIntyre, winner moves on to face Bobby Lashley at Hell in a Cell!
MVP likes that idea! That’s a brilliant idea! Ladies, we’ll go to the VIP Lounge on stage and watch this up close and personal! Lashley likes that idea, too! Will McIntyre blow apart #KofiMania2 with a Claymore tonight? Or will there be Trouble in Paradise?
Braun Strowman speaks.
“All aboard the Strowman Express. The WWE is coming home, and the next stop is Texas. I am your Conductor of Destruction, the Monster Among Men, Braun Strowman, and I can’t wait to get back to competing on the road, and anyone that gets in my way is gonna get these hands!”
WWE World Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Drew McIntyre VS Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods!
Raw returns and the VIP Lounge is indeed set up right on stage, so that Lashley, MVP and the ladies can all relax and watch the match. The bell rings, McIntyre and Kofi circle, and they tie up. McIntyre powers Kofi to a corner, lets off with a pie face, but Kofi keeps cool. They tie up again, McIntyre shoves Kofi to the corner, and then smirks as he waits on Kofi to come back. The two go again, knuckle locks, Kofi kicks a hand and gets a headlock. McIntyre powers up, Kofi shifts to clinch the arms, then get into a waistlock. McIntyre wrenches free and wristlocks to then YANK the arm. Kofi rolls, flips and handsprings to wrench back!
McIntyre powers out, runs Kofi over, and looms over him. McIntyre speeds things up but Kofi hurdles and hurdles to leap, into a waistlock and SLAM! McIntyre stalks Kofi to a corner now, brings him back up, and DECKS him with a right hand! Kofi shakes out the stars floating around his head but McIntyre dead lift suplexes! Kofi knees free and dropkicks back! McIntyre stays up but runs into a waistlock! Kofi holds on and gets a Russian Leg Sweep! Kofi rebounds off ropes to SPLASH! Cover, ONE!! Lashley cheers somewhat sarcastically as Kofi gets McIntyre up. McIntyre blocks the Penalty Kick to CHOP back!
McIntyre has Kofi in a corner, brings him out and CHOPS him off his feet! McIntyre paces while even Woods winces from that shot. McIntyre stomps Kofi’s hand! McIntyre gets Kofi up, reels him in and gets Kofi up, but Kofi counters the bomb to RANA McIntyre out of the ring! Woods mockingly asks if McIntyre’s alright, and then Kofi PLANCHAS! Direct hit and MVP pretends to be impressed. Woods gets the “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” rhythm going but McIntyre whips Kofi. Kofi leaps over the steps, comes back to hop on and he throws hands! McIntyre blocks the Poison-Rana to APRON INVERTED ALABAMA SLAM! McIntyre refreshes the count, talks trash to Lashley, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns, McIntyre CLUBS and CHOPS Kofi in corners, but Kofi hits back! McIntyre rains down furious fists, then snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! McIntyre keeps his eyes on Kofi as he stalks him to another corner. McIntyre gets Kofi up, then ROCKS him with a right! Kofi ends up in the ropes and McIntyre pulls him back against them with a chinlock! The ref counts, McIntyre lets off at 4, then gets Kofi in a corner for an OVERHEAD SUPLEX! Kofi flies across the ring and Lashley might actually be impressed. McIntyre kicks Kofi out of the ring, goes out after him, and brings Kofi up to scoop for a SNAKE EYES off the barriers!
McIntyre puts Kofi back in the ring, stomps him down, and brings him around for another dead lift suplex! McIntyre holds Kofi up for a count of 10, points at Lashley and then SLAMS Kofi down! Cover, TWO! Kofi survives but McIntyre is right on him with an armlock and chinbar! Kofi endures as McIntyre grinds him down, and MVP leads the ladies in a rallying clap for Kofi. Kofi gets up, throws hands and gets free! McIntyre kicks low, whips him to a corner, but Kofi goes up and up and missile dropkicks! Both men are down and the ThunderDome fans fire up! Kofi CHOPS McIntyre, and CHOPS again! Kofi dropkicks but McIntyre stays up!
Kofi runs, McIntyre dodges but Kofi swings around the clothesline to get a GUILLOTINE! McIntyre powers through to SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Kofi survives, MVP says it was that close. McIntyre is a bit annoyed, but he TOSSES Kofi to a corner. Kofi STOMPS McIntyre down in return! Cover, TWO! Woods coaches Kofi as he gets back up. Kofi gets McIntyre up, throws forearms and stomps, then rams in his shoulder! Kofi whips corner to corner but McIntyre reverses. Kofi slips out to swing kick back! Kofi climbs, but McIntyre intercepts with haymakers! McIntyre climbs up to join Kofi, gets him up, but Kofi fights back! Kofi headbutts McIntyre down!
McIntyre staggers to his feet, Kofi leaps for a CROSSBODY! But McIntyre rolls through, pops Kofi up, and hits a MICHINOKU DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Kofi survives and even Lashley is surprised! McIntyre glares at Lashley, tells him this is it, but Lashley gets upset and throws his jacket off! Lashley storms his way to the ring but MVP tells him to let it resolve! McIntyre is just trying to get on Lashley’s nerves! Lashley gets to the edge of the ramp as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and McIntyre rains down hands on Kofi! Kofi elbows back but McIntyre copies Sheamus with Beats of the Bodhrain before getting Kofi up! SUPER BACK SUPLEX!! Both men are down and now Lashley is ringside with MVP to watch. Cover, TWO!! Kofi survives again and McIntyre is at a loss for words, as it were. McIntyre sits Kofi up, but Kofi hits back with haymakers! McIntyre throws hands, Kofi throws body shots, but McIntyre CLUBS Kofi! Kofi throws more body shots but McIntyre CLUBS him more and more! Double underhooks, but the Future Shock is made into a jackknife! TWO, and McIntyre SPINEBUSTERS to his own jackknife, TWO!!
McIntyre dead lifts Kofi for a POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre is beside himself but Woods fires up for Kofi! McIntyre gets up, Kofi slowly goes to the ropes, and McIntyre is right behind him. McIntyre turns Kofi around to whip to ropes, scoop, but Kofi tilt-o-whirls free! Kofi baits McIntyre into a corner and POSTS him! MVP mockingly asks if McIntyre is alright. Kofi goes to the apron, gets to the corner and slowly climbs to the top rope. Kofi aims, leaps, STANDING FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre survives and MVP is a bit surprised. Kofi grits his teeth as he goes to the ropes. Kofi staggers over, McIntyre shoves him but Kofi tosses him out of the ring!
McIntyre staggers back up, sees Lashley in front of him, but turns around into Kofi’s SUPER TRUST FALL! It’s dominos as McIntyre tumbles into Lashley and Lashley falls out of his chair! Kofi puts McIntyre in, follows after, and gets McIntyre for an SOS!! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre survives but Lashley and MVP get in! They both attack McIntyre and Lashley! Woods gets in to get MVP off Kofi but Lashley CLOBBERS Woods! Kofi hits Lashley with a TROUBLE IN PARADISE! Lashley staggers back up into a CLAYMORE!! McIntyre is snarling, but MVP gets Lashley away! With simultaneous attacks, who wins by disqualification!?
Rhea Ripley confronts Charlotte Flair backstage.
She wishes The Queen luck in her match tonight, which she’ll need since she’ll lose to Asuka again. Charlotte says it is so obvious how Rhea is jealous of her. Her trying to get in Charlotte’s head is a sign of how threatened she is by Charlotte’s presence. Rhea wants to be just like Charlotte, the most decorated and most feared woman in WWE history, as a 13-time champion. So deal with it, as it will be Charlotte’s beautiful face she sees inside Hell in a Cell. Actually, Nikki Cross says she could beat both of them! In fact, how about Nikki take on one of them tonight? If Charlotte didn’t have a match with Asuka, she’d beat Nikki in under two minutes. But she’s not even worth Charlotte’s time.
Rhea says people don’t pretend to despise Charlotte, they really don’t like her. And it’s because she talks like that to others. Then maybe Rhea should beat Nikki in under two minutes. Rhea would be happy to. Challenge accepted! Will crazy Cross shock us all against the Raw Women’s Champion? We find out NEXT!
Beat the Clock Challenge: Rhea Ripley VS Nikki Cross!
The Nightmare wants to lead by BRUTALITY, but can she beat a former Women’s Tag Team Champion in 120 seconds or less?
Raw returns, Nikki makes her entrance, and the bell rings to start the two minute countdown. Nikki rushes Rhea but Rhea shoves her down with one hand! Rhea smirks and says the clock is ticking. Nikki gets up, rushes Rhea again and gets a leg. Rhea JAMS Nikki, brushes her leg off, and keeps egging Nikki on. Nikki rushes Rhea, Rhea catches the crossbody, and pops Nikki around, but Nikki slips off! Nikki ROCKS Rhea, but Rhea gets mad. Nikki runs into Rhea’s hands but Nikki jawbreakers free! Nikki goes up top, leaps and CROSSBODEIS! Cover, TWO!! Rhea narrowly escapes but Nikki fires up! Nikki runs in to SPLASH and BULL= NO! Rhea shoves free to DROPKICK Nikki down!
Rhea snarls, gets Nikki up and throws hands! Rhea keeps Nikki cornered, RAMS Nikki into the corner, but lets off to bring Nikki around to bump her off buckles! Rhea fires off hands again and again but we’re under 10 seconds!! TIME RUNS OUT!!
Winner: Nikki Cross by timeout
Did Rhea forget SHE had to win in two minutes or less?! Nikki celebrates her big return win, but here comes Charlotte! The Cruel(la) Queen struts her way down the ramp, has her pyro, and Nikki says neener neener! Charlotte laughs because that’s what Rhea was doing to her last week. But will Charlotte make up for her loss last week in yet another battle with the Empress of Tomorrow?
Damian Priest speaks.
The Archer of Infamy introduces himself in Spanish, then in English, he lets us know that the WWE is heading on the road, and to Texas, and you can come see why he will #LifeForever in person.
Kofi and McIntyre both barge into Adam Pearce’s office.
They both demand he do something about what Lashley and MVP did, but he is just as mad as they are! Then look it! He has a solution: rematch, nothing changes. Winner goes on to HIAC! It’s official! Kofi’s good with that, but keep MVP and Lashley away. Then he’ll have no problem beating McIntyre, and beating Lashley again. Well everyone knows McIntyre is willing to go through everyone, and that includes Kofi. Will we get a fair and square finish to Kofi VS McIntyre on Memorial Monday Night Raw?
Asuka VS Charlotte Flair!
Raw returns again, and Asuka makes her entrance! Will she make sure history repeats itself in another win over The Queen?
The bell rings and the two stare down. They slowly circle, tie up, and go around. Charlotte drags Asuka down but Asuka fights back up to throw Charlotte down. Charlotte gets back up, uses leverage to grind Asuka down and get her to a corner. The ref counts, Charlotte lets off and Asuka avoids the sucker punch! Charlotte avoids the heel kick, but Asuka stares her down as they reset. They tie up again, Charlotte waistlocks but Asuka pries free to wrench and switch. Charlotte drop toeholds, floats to a facleock, but Asuka slips around to a hammerlock. Charlotte goes back to a corner and Asuka says it was that close!
The two reset again, Charlotte goes for a leg but Asuka knows that and blocks. Asuka wrenches, wristlocks, but Charlotte rolls and monkey flips! Asuka gets up fast and comes right back, but into a sweep! Cover, ONE, and Charlotte puts on the headscissor squeeze! Asuka endures, but Charlotte turns Asuka over to THROW her! Charlotte holds on, throw but Asuka pops out this time! Asuka mule kicks, catches her breath, and brings Charlotte to a corner. Charlotte blocks a buckle bump, but so does Asuka! Asuka gets the buckle bump this time, and another! Asuka whips Charlotte to ropes, Charlotte holds the ropes but Asuka HIP ATTACKS! Asuka runs, but Charlotte CHOP BLOCKS!
Charlotte stomps away on the leg! The ref has her let off so he can check on Asuka. Charlotte goes after the leg again, brings Asuka to ropes and then through ropes to have a HANGING KNEEBAR! Asuka shouts, Charlotte lets go as the ref counts, and Charlotte lets out a “WOO~!” while she soaks up heat. Charlotte stalks Asuka, gets the leg and has a standing toehold! Charlotte tortures Asuka’s foot, but Asuka endures and keeps her shoulders up. Asuka rolls but Charlotte SMASHES the knee into the mat! Charlotte now has an ANKLE LOCK! Asuka endures all over again, fights up and rolls to send Charlotte into ropes!
Charlotte tumbles out, Asuka goes to the apron, and leaps, but Charlotte dodges the flying hip attack! Charlotte gets Asuka up and brings her to steps, SHIN BREAKER on steel! Asuka writhes while Raw goes to break!
Raw returns once again and Charlotte kicks Asuka around the ropes! Charlotte is after the leg and has it on ropes, to then drop a knee on the knee! Asuka writhes and flounders, but Charlotte has her at the ropes again. Charlotte puts the leg back on ropes to wrap it around and pull! The ref counts, Charlotte lets off with a dropkick to the leg! Cover, TWO!! Asuka toughs it out and crawls to a corner, but Charlotte drags her around for a toehold! Charlotte even digs a forearm into Asuka’s face! Asuka hits back but Charlotte CLUBS her down! And again! Asuka uses her good leg to pry free but Charlotte gets both legs for a BOSTON CRAB!
Asuka endures, crawls, reaches, but slips through to victory roll! TWO!! Charlotte gets up, blocks a kick and CLUBS the leg! Asuka uses the other leg to get an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Charlotte flails, clasps hands, and reaches for ropes with her legs! Asuka shifts around to an ASUKA LOCK, but Charlotte ropes into the ROPEBREAK! Asuka lets go and KICKS Charlotte in the back! And again! Asuka runs, but the hip attack is caught for a SHIN BREAKER! Asuka falls in a heap, clutching the bad leg! Charlotte stalks Asuka, and stomps away on the bad leg! Charlotte gets Asuka up to the top rope and drags her into the Tree of Woe! Charlotte climbs to stand on the bad leg and stomp it!
The ref counts, Asuka falls out of the Tree at 4, and Charlotte adjusts to MOONSAULT! Asuka moves and gets a GERMAN SUPLEX! Both women are down and fans rally on their screens! Charlotte goes to a corner, Asuka gets the bad leg moving and runs to HIP ATTACK! And KICK! And waistlock! Charlotte elbows free, but walks into a POP-UP KNEE! BACK HAND! HEEL KICK! Asuka aims, runs, BASEMENT HIP ATTACK! Cover, TWO! Asuka is too tired to be frustrated, and she gets her leg going. She avoids Charlotte’s shoulder from the apron but not the HOTSHOT! Charlotte gets in to refresh the count and gets Asuka to a corner! Charlotte SLAMS the leg against post!
Charlotte goes for another but Asuka YANKS her into the post! Asuka hits a SLIDING KNEE from the apron! Charlotte goes to the desk, Asuka hurries over, but Charlotte THROWS Asuka into the desk! Both women are down on the outside as Raw goes to another break!
Raw returns again, and Charlotte CHOPS! And CHOPS! But Asuka dodges, blocks the boot and hits a CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO!! But Asuka has the ARMBAR!! Charlotte hurries to clasp hands again but Asuka rolls her to the ASUKA LOCK!! Charlotte turns over to avoid the full extension, then gets up to RAM Asuka into buckles! Asuka holds on and thrashes Charlotte around! Charlotte goes to ropes and they tumble to the apron! Asuka lets go and falls to the floor! Charlotte kicks Asuka from the floor, and then gets up. The ring count is 5 of 10, then 6 as Asuka and Charlotte get in. Charlotte and Asuka glare at each other, then throw forearms from the mat!
Asuka and Charlotte brawl as they stand back up! Asuka fires off palm strikes, but Charlotte ducks the back hand! BOOT FEINT ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Charlotte is shocked that El Idolo’s move didn’t hep! Charlotte drags Asuka around by a leg, puts the leg on the ropes and drops down on it! And then again! Asuka dodges that to roll up and BUZZSAW! Charlotte staggers while Asuka fires up! Asuka runs corner to corner but only gets buckles! Asuka boots back, but Charlotte puts Asuka in the ropes for a DRAPING BACKBREAKER! Charlotte scowls while Asuka is in a drop zone. Charlotte climbs up top, MOONSAULT but she again has to land on her feet!
STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Another shout out to Almas but Charlotte is furious! “I’ve already beaten Asuka!!” She doesn’t understand why this is so much harder! Charlotte gets the leg, but Asuka makes it a cradle! Charlotte scrambles free, but into the ASUKA LOCK! Charlotte rolls back to a cover, CHARLOTTE WINS!!
Winner: Charlotte Flair, by pinfall
Another instant classic ends in the blink of an eye! Asuka’s bad leg was Charlotte’s ace in the hole! Will the Queen use this as the win that takes her back to the throne?
Lashley and MVP still live it up backstage.
The ladies pamper Lashley but a staffer walks in. MVP makes sure he addresses Lashley as The All Mighty as he tells Lashley that Pearce wants to talk to him. Lashley grumbles, but he reluctantly leaves to attend to business. Will this have anything to do with next week’s rematch of Kofi and McIntyre?
Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke speak.
They’re both so thrilled to be back on the road! It’s been way too long since they’ve been able to jam out to their favorite songs in the car. But Dana misses performing in front of fans the most. Luckily, WWE will be back home before you know it. Then everyone can flex with them in Texas!
Lashley and MVP meet with Pearce.
This better be quick, the All Mighty has some “extracurricular activities” to get back to. Pearce asks them what happened out there. Is this the kind of WWE Champion wants to represent Raw? Lashley says he is the ONLY one who can represent Raw! Does Pearce think McIntyre or Kofi can do as well as WWE Champion? This was to help Pearce! Well let’s see how long that lasts. They’ve surely heard about the rematch Pearce made for next week. They might like that, but they won’t like this: If either of them are even seen ringside, they will be SUSPENDED for 90 DAYS, and without pay! And that’s a whole lot of money for them!
MVP has Lashley stay calm and save it for HIAC. Will this ringside ban be enough to keep Kofi VS McIntyre fair and square?
Shelton Benjamin VS Cedric Alexander!
The Gold Standard is looking to build a win streak, but #PRIME wants to prove he was right all along! Alexander has a mic to taunt Benjamin. He knows Benjamin wants after him but just hold on. Before they get started, Alexander has to get something off his chest. “We had something, man. We were the Raw Tag Team Champions! We were part of The Hurt Business, the best thing in WWE for the past year!” Alexander wants Benjamin to remember when MVP took them in and took them from being obscure nobodies to the to top of the mountain! But then they got kicked out and why is that?! LOOK AT HIM, SHELTON!
The reason is because Shelton is washed up! Alexander is why Shelton was champion again! When they got kicked out, they kicked SHELTON out, and Alexander was collateral damage! But Alexander has years left to make up for that. He’s young, fresh and in his PRIME. But what about Benjamin? How many years does he have left? How many chances was he given? What does Benjamin have to show for his hard work? A couple weeks ago, Benjamin got lucky! Yay for Shelton~! Benjamin is getting impatient as Alexander says this will be different. Alexander learns and evolves. Tonight ends with Alexander’s hand being raised! This is the last time we see Shelton, because Alexander will make him gone for good!
Alexander finally gets in the ring, the bell sounds and Alexander bails out! Benjamin is furious but Alexander is trolling him as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns and Benjamin finally has Alexander in the ring and fires off hands! Benjamin whips Alexander corner to corner hard! Alexander staggers into haymakers! Benjamin has Alexander in a corner, whips him to ropes, and then CLOBBERS him with a shoulder! Alexander flounders, goes to a corner, and begs for mercy. Benjamin drags Alexander up but Alexander throws body shots. Benjamin ROCKS Alexander, stomps him, and brings him out. Alexander fires off hands, runs but into a back elbow! Alexander flounders again and Benjamin dares him to run his mouth now. Benjamin stomps Alexander at the ropes, drags him up, and throws him out!
Benjamin goes out after Alexander, stomps him against barriers, then gets him up to whip him hard into barriers! Alexander writhes, Benjamin gets Alexander up and puts him back in, and stalks Alexander to ropes. Benjamin drags Alexander up, scoops him but Alexander slips out. Alexander dumps Benjamin out, but Benjamin skins the cat! Benjamin swings, Alexander dodges and mule kicks! Alexander handsprings but no Neuralizer! Benjamin shoves, clinches, but Alexander holds ropes! The ref counts, Benjamin lets go and Alexander KICKS him back! Alexander climbs, Benjamin ROCKS him with a right!
Benjamin headbutts Alexander then climbs up! Benjamin fireman’s carries Alexander, but Alexander fights back! Alexander shifts to SUPER STEINER! Cover, TWO! Alexander is furious that Benjamin survives! Alexander rains down furious fists then CHOKES Benjamin! The ref counts, Alexander lets off and KICKS Benjamin in the back! Alexander drops down, headlocks and traps an arm to fire off more fists! Alexander grinds Benjamin while talking trash, but Benjamin endures. Benjamin fights up, throws body shots, then haymakers! Alexander uses the ropes to spring and KNEE! Dropkick, cover, TWO!
Alexander pushes Benjamin around, drives elbows into the ribs and back, then clamps on with a head-and-arm lock. Benjamin endures as Alexander grinds him down. Benjamin fights up but Alexander KICKS him! And KICKS! And talks trash as he KICKS Benjamin more! “Gold Standard, huh!?” Benjamin gets mad and Alexander just keeps taunting him! Benjamin stands, scares Alexander with that glare, then CLOBBERS him!! Benjamin throws hands on Alexander in a corner, whips him corner to corner and hits a clothesline! Benjamin then gets Alexander up for a SPINEBUSTER! Benjamin fires up and the ThunderDome fires up with him!
Alexander staggers up, but avoids Pay Dirt to roll Benjamin! ONE, Alexander cartwheels and blocks a kick, but gets the DRAGON WHIP! Both men are down but Alexander flounders away. Benjamin stalks behind Alexander, gets a leg, but Alexander desperately holds the ropes. Benjamin gets Alexander up, waistlocks and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Benjamin holds on and drags Alexander back up, but Alexander throws elbows. It doesn’t work, GERMAN SUPLEX! Benjamin keeps hold again, Alexander throws more elbows and is free this time. Alexander runs but Benjamin reels him in for an O’Conner Roll! No Chaos Theory as Alexander thumbs Benjamin in the eye! NEURALIZER! Cover, Alexander wins!!
Winner: Cedric Alexander, by pinfall
Alexander shouts, “I told you!!” Alexander wins through some underhanded tactics, but will that matter in the long run? Or will Benjamin still be a survivor and find a way to turn things around?
John Morrison speaks.
“The most moist-see superstar in the WWE, America’s Moist Wanted, the man who is all thrills and no frills, Johnny Drip Drip” is back on the road in front of all the fans! Don’t forget your ponchos, amigos, cuz you’re gonna be in the splash zone!
Matt Riddle VS Xavier Woods!
Bro… You ever have friends who don’t like each other but you try and get them to get along but then it totally blows up in your face? And then you end up taking one friend’s side and get angry at the other? That’s kinda what Riddle is dealing with right now. Can he and Woods still be bros after coming to blows in the ring? Or will Riddle only be rolling with The Viper from now on?
Raw returns as Woods makes his entrance sans Kofi. This will be a true 1v1 and that’s the way Riddle likes it. He also likes the trombone playing Woods does. But things get serious as the bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Riddle powers Woods to a corner but Woods turns it around. Riddle turns it back around but so does Woods. The ref has them separate, and the two grin and go again. Riddle powers Woods to the corner, the trombone falls, and Riddle clinches with Woods. They fight for control., Riddle throws Woods down but Woods gets up. Woods puts Riddle in a corner, the ref calls for another ropebreak, and Woods lets off.
Riddle and Woods go again, collar ‘n’ elbow, and Woods waistlocks. Riddle pries free and wrenches an arm but Woods uses a chinbar to get a facelock. They roll, Riddle pops out and has a body scissors! Woods gets a ropebreak with his foot, and Riddle lets him free of the Bromission. The two go again, Woods shoots in to get legs but Riddle makes that a body scissor and GUILLOTINE! Woods pops free, tries to get Riddle down, but Riddle has a triangle hold! Woods again has a foot for the ropebreak, and Riddle lets off again. This is definitely a case of chess in the ring, but Riddle gets a gut wrench suplex! And another!
Woods goes to a corner, Riddle is laser focused as he runs in! Woods dodges, Riddle goes up but Woods SHORYUKENS! Woods gets Riddle for an ELEVATED SUPLEX! Cover, ONE!! Riddle survives that miscalculation but Woods brings him back up. Woods suplexes, slingshots and slams Riddle down, then rolls through! But Riddle wrenches, pops Woods up and gets a TRIANGLE HOLD! Woods fights free, gets to his feet and yanks Riddle up into a suplex!! Cover, TWO!! Riddle survives again but is surely shocked at Woods’ own showing of strength! Woods gets Riddle up, reels him in and back suplexes but Riddle lands on his feet to ROCK Woods!
Riddle fires off forearms and kicks in a corner, but Woods CHOPS back! And throws forearms! Riddle ROCKS Woods again, Woods ROCKS Riddle back! DOUBLE CLOTHESLINES! Both men are down but fans are firing up! Woods stands first, Riddle follows, and Riddle catches Woods to headscissor him out of the ring! Riddle is on the apron, Woods staggers over so Riddle brings him up. They brawl on the apron, Riddle fires off KICKS! Woods blocks, back hands, and fireman’s carries! APRON DEATH VALLEY!! Woods is pulling out all the stops and Riddle is feeling it! Woods might have just solved Riddle as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Riddle hits a PELE on Woods! Woods ends up in a corner, Riddle hits a forearm smash! Riddle goes side-to-side, for another forearm smash! Then a BROSPLODER! Riddle runs, Woods avoids the Penalty Kick and the Standing Moonsault, then gets knees up for the Broton! Riddle writhes, stands up, and staggers into a CHOP! Woods fires off forearms and CHOPS on repeat, faster and faster, against the ropes! Woods whips, Riddle reverses but Woods ducks and dodges to tilt-o-whirl and headscissor! Riddle gets up, Woods whips then back drops! Woods hops up, leaps and SHOTGUN missile dropkicks! Woods kips up and covers, TWO!!
Woods grits his teeth, gets Riddle back up, but Riddle gets around to ripcord, FINAL FLASH! Gut wrench, but no! Woods reverses, but Riddle reverses back, and then back again! Woods RAMS Riddle into a corner and puts him in the Tree of Woe! Woods stomps Riddle, runs corner to corner and dropkicks Riddle out of the Tree! Riddle staggers up, Woods fires up and trophy lifts! GUTBUSTER DROP! Cover, TWO!! Woods doesn’t lose focus, he goes to the corner and climbs back up! But Riddle intercepts Woods with forearms! Riddle climbs, clubs Woods, but Woods knocks him down! Wood kicks from the apron, then steps in, into a FINAL FLASH!
Woods wobbles, Riddle gets him up with a DEAD LIFT SUPER GERMAN!! Cover, TWO?!? Woods lives and Riddle is in shock! Riddle drags Woods to a drop zone, goes up top, FLOATING BRO but Woods moves! Riddle rolls, into the HONOR ROLL! And a mule kick! But Riddle stops the basement DDT, tilt-o-whirl to a gut wrench! Woods slips free, CHOPS Riddle, but Riddle hits an RKO!?!? That really IS outta nowhere! Cover, Riddle wins!!
Winner: Matt Riddle, by pinfall
The Bro just invoked the power of the Viper! Is this a sign that RKBRO is inevitable?!
AJ Styles talks with Omos backstage.
We can’t hear what they’re saying, but Styles and Omos fist bump, and then Styles heads to gorilla alone! Is the Phenomenal One going to prove he can beat the Drifter’s follower without back-up?
BREAKING NEWS!
Charlotte Flair’s win over Asuka tonight has made it undeniable for management! Charlotte WILL face Rhea Ripley for the Raw Women’s Championship at Hell in a Cell! But will it be in the Cell? Or just a Nightmare between the ropes for the Queen?
AJ Styles VS Jaxson Ryker!
The Phenomenal One and his tag team partner want to prove they’re on top of the Raw Tag Division, but they’re going one partner at a time. Styles beat the Drifter, but what about the follower in Jaxson Ryker?
In a surprising move, Ryker enters without Elias! This is truly 1v1 as the bell rings, but Ryker runs right into a dropkick! Styles runs and hits a clothesline in a corner, then fireman’s carries for an USHOGOROSHI! Cover, TWO!! Ryker survives but Styles gets him up. Ryker RAMS Styles into a corner! Ryker ROCKS Styles, Styles BOOTS Ryker! Styles runs but into Ryker’s DOUBLE AX HANDLE! Ryker gets Styles up, suplexes, slingshot and TOSS! Cover, TWO! Ryker keeps on Styles, talks some trash, but Styles KICKS a leg! Ryker gets Styles up for a BEARHUG! Styles endures as Ryker squeezes tight! Styles throws elbow after elbow but Ryker CLUBS him down!
Ryker slingshot suplexes again but Styles lands on his feet! Styles puts Ryker outside, builds speed, and WRECKS Ryker with a dropkick! Styles gets Ryker up and in the ring, but ELIAS attacks outta nowhere! The Sympho-Knee was like the hidden bonus track nobody wanted! Styles stumbles into the ring, and into Ryker’s SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, RYKER WINS!!
Winner: Jaxson Ryker, by pinfall
The follower just pinned a GRAND SLAM CHAMPION! But Omos rushes out and he finds Elias hiding! Omos drags him up, TOSSES him, then chases Elias and Ryker up the ramp! Elias stumbles, and gets BODIED into the LED screens!! Ryker ran, not even waiting for his mostly-fearless leader! Omos goes back to check on Styles, and someone might need to check on Elias! Will Omos and Styles make Ryker and Elias for playing games?
Jeff Hardy speaks.
“Man, it feels like a millennium since I heard the roar of our crowd. I’m ready to traverse the universe and reignite the fire within everyone!” WWE won’t just show up, they’ll take it to the extreme with “HARDY! HARDY! HARDY!”
Sheamus VS Humberto Carrillo!
The Fella is ready to settle the fight that never truly finished with the young superstar. Will Sheamus make Carrillo regret coming back for more? Or will this finally be the night Carrillo earns his title shot?
Raw returns as Carrillo makes his entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. Sheamus kicks low, CLUBS Carrillo down then throws him out of the ring. They brawl outside the ring now and Sheamus RAMS Carrillo into barriers! Sheamus puts Carrillo in, Carrillo hits back! Carrillo fires off hands, Sheamus kicks low and Sheamus reels Carrillo in for a LARIAT! “You should’ve stayed at home, fella!” Sheamus throws body shots in the corner, then some knees and then CLUBBING forearms! Carrillo writhes, Sheamus talks trash and gets Carrillo up for a suplex SLAM! Sheamus mockingly asks if Carrillo is alright, then he drops knees on Carrillo’s head!
Sheamus chinbars Carrillo and has an arm. Sheamus digs his forearm into Carrillo’s face and then hooks the nose! The ref reprimands, Sheamus lets off but keeps on the chinbar. Carrillo fights up, throws forearms, but runs into Sheamus’ elbow! Sheamus sits Carrillo up for beats of the Bodhrain! Sheamus lets off and tells commentary that those were for Corey Graves, in a nice way. Sheamus stomps Carrillo, talks trash again, but Carrillo SLAPS him! And again! Carrillo fires off forearms, CHOPS, and a whip! Sheamus reverses, Carrillo kicks him back! Sheamus is in the ropes and Carrillo WRECKS him with a dropkick! Carrillo builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit into the desk!
Carrillo gets Sheamus up and in, climbs up top and leaps, FLYING BACK ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Carrillo can’t believe how close he was, but he runs and is put on the apron. Carrillo ROUNDHOUSES back, gets in and wheelbarrows, to victory roll, but Sheamus sits on it! Sheamus holds tights in the cover! Sheamus wins!
Winner: Sheamus, by pinfall
Sheamus goes after Carrillo, even though he won! Scoop and SLAM, then a CLOVERLEAF! But Ricochet flies in outta nowhere with a missile dropkick! Carrillo gets up to springboard ENZIGURI! Sheamus is down, Ricochet LIONSAULTS! Carrillo is up top, he MOONSAULTS! Ricochet keeps upping the ante, SPRINGBOARD 450!! Sheamus bails out and he has two high-flyers who doesn’t stop fighting! Will one or both Ricochet and Carrillo get their golden opportunity?
Backstage interview with Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, and Reginald.
How do they intend on recapturing the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships? Well what happened last week was a fluke so it won’t happen again. Shayna says she knows exactly what happened: Nia got distracted, again, because of Reggie. Shayna, don’t be a bully! Reggie is really scared after the flame mishap. He’s seeing triple, and is having nightmares! Oooh~! Who cares!? Shayna & Nia were unstoppable before all this stuff that doesn’t matter, like Reggie. No, they still ARE unstoppable. Then let’s prove it, as JUST Shayna & Nia. Reggie says he is only trying to help.
Yes, and he can do that by staying back here. If Shayna sees Reggie ringside for another one of her matches, she’ll give him a reason to have nightmares! Will being without their sommelier help the Queen of Spades & Irresistible Force get back on track?
Eva Marie speaks.
“Along my journey, I learned that as an athlete, it’s just as important to build yourself up from the inside as much as the outside. Physical strength starts with the right mindset. The weight of the world may tear you down, but discipline and consistency will overcome weakness.” She’s learned to become her own cheerleader, and wants to do the same for others. She trains men and women all over the world to become better versions of themselves. This is the Eva-Lution.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Natalya & Tamina VS Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax w/ Reginald!
Raw returns once again, and the former champions make their entrance. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and this rematch of a rematch closes out Raw!
The teams sort out, Nia and Tamina start and Reggie is watching backstage. Nia and Tamina circle, but then Nia tags out to Shayna? Shayna and Tamina circle, but then Shayna bops Natty! Natty wants in so Tamina obliges. Natty and Shayna tie up, go around, and Natalya hits a headlock takeover. Shayna headscissors, Natty kips free and they go again. Shayna wrenches the arm to a wristlock, Natty rolls and handsprings and slips through to NORTHERN LIGHTS! Cover, ONE!! Natty gets up but Shayna kicks low! Shayna headlocks, Natty powers out but Shayna runs her over. Things speed up, Natty hurdles and goes to hip toss but Shayna blocks!
Shayna tries a hip toss, Natty blocks, rolls to a cover, TWO! Ghost pin, TWO!! Natty narrowly escapes but Shayna has the hammerlock! Natty moves around, gets up, and reaches back to slip and drag Shayna down with a heel hook! Shayna fights the grip, stomps Natty, then stands to tie up the legs! Shayna is STEALING the SHARPSHOOTER! Natty powers out, and spins, but no discus! Shayna hits a judo throw, then YANKS Natty’s arm! Nia tags in, swaggers over to Natty, and drags her up. Nia clamps onto the arm, and drops a leg on it! Nia drags Natty up again, throws her into the corner and tags in Shayna.
Shayna and Nia mug Natty, Shayna wrangles Natty down with a keylock, and has the arm stuck! But wait! Is that Reggie walking down the ramp?! Shayna just told him to stay in the back! Natty gets her arm free, gets around Shayna and hits a GERMAN SUPLEX! Reggie goes to ringside and asks what happened as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns once more, and Shayna has Natty’s arm in a keylock. Natty fights up, fights back, but Shayna throws her down! Cover, TWO! Shayna gets the arm right back into the keylock, but Natty endures all over again. Natty fights up, arm-drags free, but Shayna rolls to come back, into a scoop SLAM! Both women are down, crawl for their corners, hot tags to Nia and Tamina! Tamina fires off haymakers on Nia, dodges a clothesline and hits a running headbutt! Tamina uppercuts, but Nia scoops her! Tamina slips through to sunset flip, but Nia rolls through, Tamina SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO!!
Reggie panics as Tamina goes to a corner. Tamina climbs, Nia ROCKS her first! Nia fireman’s carries but Tamina fights free! SUPERKICK but it’s sent into ropes! Nia rolls Tamina up, TWO!! Nia drags Tamina back up, RAMS her into the corner, and Shayna tags in! They mug Tamina, Shayna fires off hands, but the ref counts., Shayna lets off at 4, throws more shots, and Nia tags in. Shayna holds Tamina for Nia’s SPLASH! Tag back to Shayna, and she KNEES Tamina in the corner! Shayna snapmares to a cover, TWO! Shayna keeps between Tamina and Natty and kicks Tamina back to the corner. Shayna throws forearms, lets off but Tamina elbows Nia! Then ROCKS Shayna!
Shayna stays up but Tamina ROCKS her again! Shayna runs to swing on Natty! Natty avoids it, Shayna turns around into a SPINNING POWERSLAM! Hot tag to Natty! Natty gets Shayna for the catapult into the SUPERKICK!! Cover but Nia breaks it! Nia HEADBUTTS Natty! Tamina THESZ PRESSES Nia! They brawl and fall out of the ring! Reggie stays clear as Tamina ROCKS Nia! Nia shoves Tamina, Tamina runs but is DUMPED over the barriers! Shayna runs at Natty in the corner, but Natty dodges! Shayna hits buckles, Natty hits a DISCUS! Natty hurries to get the legs but Reggie distracts the ref! Shayna gets a cradle but the distraction lasts too long! TWO!!
Shayna KNEES Natty down, but he shouts at Reggie that he shouldn’t be here! She had Natty beat there! She shouts at Reggie to go away and he sheepishly obeys. But then MORE FIRE explodes at the ramp! Reggie freaks out again, Shayna turns around into a CRADLE! Natty & Tamina win!!
Winners: Natalya & Tamina, by pinfall (still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
The Queen of Harts has both belts while Tamina is still stuck behind barriers, she’s as shocked as any of us are that things turned out this way! Shayna checks on Reggie, and he says he’s alright. He stands up, Shayna grabs him by his suit jacket! “I am tired of you interfering in my matches! Let’s see how YOU do! You, the Cirque du Soleil sommelier twerp, versus ME next week!” If Reggie has the balls to show up next week, Shayna will make him wish he was IN that explosion!! Will Shayna solve the distraction problem by making Reggie #TapNapOrSnap?
My Thoughts:
This was a bit of a mixed bag for Raw. For one, it was like the show had Go Home Syndrome, but it wasn’t a go home! There were so many recaps tonight! Do they think NO ONE was watching last week and that we were all new? Though, I suppose some people have dropped Raw because it’s been so copy-and-paste lately. But overly recapping is not the way to recapture those people’s interests. Making it so a match has this forced “go to commercial” spots doesn’t help, either. While getting Kofi VS McIntyre as a contender’s match is a great move, having McIntyre just stop focusing on Kofi so he can stare down Lashley and give us a break in action is just not good for the flow.
The only thing worse than having a match manufacture a spot for a commercial break is having someone drone on about stuff they’ve already said to fill for time. Cedric’s promo just kept going and going with the same things he said about Benjamin before, just angrier. We should’ve gotten action for that same stretch of time to make a really good match even better. Cedric using a cheap tactic to then win is great stuff for him and the story, but he should just trash talk during the match to use time efficiently.
Riddle VS Woods was a good example of that. The recap package took care of any promo that would’ve been given, though even that time could’ve been given to the match, which was still great stuff. Riddle winning was very likely, but the RKO from Riddle was awesome! I have a feeling that, as great as it would be for Kofi to challenge Lashley at HIAC, McIntyre wins so that New Day faces RKBRO at the PPV. I feel like it’d be better for Raw if Kofi won, McIntyre had to figure things out for himself, and we got New Day VS RKBRO on a Raw. Sheamus VS Carrillo was great, Ricochet joining in was great, but I would love if McIntyre circled back to Sheamus and their rivalry circled around the one title McIntyre hasn’t had yet.
The Styles VS Ryker segment was good, though I figured Elias would find a way to cheat and help Ryker win. But Omos showing off his shocking speed was great stuff, too. I suppose this means Ryker & Elias get the tag title shot, and probably on television so HIAC doesn’t get oversaturated. Keeping the PPVS cards short has made them better, and it does help TV out, too. Ryker and Elias can get their shot, lose, and then Styles & Omos move on to face RKBRO at MITB in July, part of the big return to touring. Oh, which reminds me, if we get promos of superstars campaigning for the return to touring every week leading up to July 16th, I’m going to go nuts. We’ve heard the news, anyone who is really paying attention right now already knows it, please let it end here.
Asuka VS Charlotte for the second week in a row was another mixed bag. We got another great match, preceded by a very confusing Beat the Clock Challenge where it looked like Rhea was the one confused on how those work. Rhea’s main roster accomplishments make her one of the better call ups from NXT, but the way Raw is handling her character is actually in the line with one of the weaker ones *cough* Bobby Roode */cough*. It was nice for Nikki to have a positive on her in-ring return, but it was more because Rhea had a brain fart. Charlotte beating Asuka to suddenly have a 1v1 with Rhea at Hell in a Cell is bad pacing. Aren’t Charlotte and Asuka 1v1 in the recent series? Tiebreaker next week for the right to challenge would make more sense.
The women’s tag titles only getting 10 minutes as a match was not nearly what this stuff deserves, but that’s WWE, isn’t it? They struggle with men’s tag team divisions, they struggle with women’s singles divisions, so of course they’re going to struggle with a women’s tag team division. Especially since we got supernatural interference by Alexa Bliss without ever seeing Alexa once tonight. I suppose it’s alright, what more would Alexa herself add other than another promo explaining how creepy Lily is?
Natty & Tamina were of course going to win but because a combination of Alexa and Reggie distracting Shayna. Now the champions can move on to another team, hopefully one from SmackDown. Shayna VS Reggie in a co-ed match will be interesting, though, so that’s a silver-lining in this. I have a feeling this will be the make or break moment for Shayna & Nia as a team. I feel like “break” is more likely. Nia might side with Reggie and fights Shayna, and then they both get back into the singles division, which honestly is best because Rhea will surely be champion through HIAC and will need new opponents on the road to MITB.
My Score: 8/10
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The Hollywood A-Lister’s got his own nightmare before Christmas!
Christmas is just a few days away, but things aren’t merry and bright for Raw! The Miz must face his fears as he faces Dexter Lumis 1v1!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Natalya VS Alba Fyre VS Iyo Sky; Iyo wins and advances to the next round.
- Chad Gable w/ Team American Made VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy; Gable wins.
- Dominik Mysterio VS Damian Priest; Damian Priest wins, by disqualification.
- The Miz VS Dexter Lumis; Lumis wins, by disqualification.
- Sami Zayn VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Drew McIntyre walks to gorilla.
The Scottish Terminator makes his way through the curtain and to the stage, and the fans have a mixed reaction as he goes to the ring. McIntyre grabs a mic, and he says, “After Hell in a Cell, I’ve never been so beat up in my entire life. 16 staples in my head, my back almost broken from landing on the steel steps. And I went home to Scotland. The reason I went home, and I haven’t really talked about it publicly, is because a very close family member passed away. Some people probably feeling sympathy right now. Some guys in the back are probably talking to each other, saying, ‘I didn’t know.’ Maybe if you cared enough, you would’ve asked.
“Over these past two months, guess how many people phoned me to check. Not how I was doing mentally but how I was doing physically after Hell in a Cell. ONE PERSON! These past 17 years, I’ve been led to believe we’re all a big happy family in the back. We’re brothers and sisters, we travel the world together, we spend more time with each other than with our actual families, but it’s all BS! My brother, John, in Scotland wouldn’t stab me in the back to take my spot, but people like Jimmy, Jey and Sami 100% would.” The fans boo that, then chant “YEET! YEET! YEET!” McIntyre says that proves his point.
After watching everything The Bloodline did, Jey says he is a changed man. He does a cute hand sign, he says a made-up word, and the fans just forget about it and move on. That’s the other thing McIntyre realized: He has given and given and given all this time, and the fans turned on him for a guy who was gone for years and has told the WWE fans to go screw themselves! McIntyre was fighting for the fans, he thought they believed in him, so he believed in the fans! McIntyre bled out in the cell, and while he was gone, the fans instantly forgot him! The fans boo, that’s not true! But McIntyre says from now on, he gives no more for anybody!
McIntyre will take and take and he will tell the truth! The real villains are Roman Reigns and CM Punk! And if you choose to prop them up, as he already said, Jey, Jimmy & Sami, the things Roman did to you… Roman took a vacation, then simply snapped his fingers and they were by his side again! McIntyre suggests everyone who ever wronged McIntyre should sleep with one eye open. But wait, here comes Sami Zayn! The fans cheer and sing for Sami but Sami says hey, McIntyre is angry, he doesn’t have to believe Sami in place of believing everyone has ulterior motives. Sami doesn’t blame him.
But personally, man to man, Sami did not know what happened with McIntyre’s family. They figured he was recovering from one of the most vicious matches of all time. Sami thought that, all the guys ‘n’ girls in the back thought, and that’s all the fans thought. Believe that or not, fine, but Sami wants to level with McIntyre. Talk about 17 years, Sami has 22 years in this game. Sami’s been through what McIntyre’s been through. Sami’s had losses. Trust him. He has had losses he had to put on the side and go to work that week. The same sacrifices, from birthdays to weddings to funerals that he should’ve been at? Sami’s done it all.
Sami has put unnecessary stress on his wife, on his kid, and why? Because this is the life that they both chose! They are WWE SUPERSTARS! The fans cheer that! And as such, they are LUCKY to be WWE Superstars! And you think this is just your story or Sami’s story? Y’know who else has stories like this? Every single person sitting in the stands. Every single person at home! The kids who struggle at school, the adults who struggle at work, who struggle economically, physically, and they have their losses and sacrifices, but they still get up every day to do what they gotta do to soldier on, without pointing a finger at everyone else!
The fans fire up for that passion. Sami says McIntyre dares pointing a finger at the fans for forgetting him?! They didn’t forget, brother! They MADE McIntyre! And McIntyre still thinks the world revolves around him just because once upon a time, someone told him he was “The Chosen One.” But newsflash, just because you’re mad doesn’t make you special. And now McIntyre thinks everyone else is somehow tied to him? What Jimmy does has nothing to do with McIntyre. What Jey does has nothing to do with McIntyre! What SAMI does has nothing to do with McIntyre!
But McIntyre, if you want to still walk around all angry and pointing fingers at the fans, at Sami, at Jey, at Jimmy, at Punk, at Roman, and still be mad about The Bloodline, fine. No one is stopping McIntyre. But Sami has no problem being McIntyre’s problem and facing him in this ring right now! McIntyre says if Sami wants to know the truth… IT isn’t just anger. McIntyre’s anger comes from pain, and he doesn’t doubt what Sami just said. There was so much truth and passion, but it’s never the whole truth, is it? Sami has a way of spinning things. Because Sami can fly back home every week to his family. McIntyre is halfway across the world from his!
And no one here in Boston ever leaves Boston, they’re with their families 24/7! McIntyre doesn’t have that luxury! The fans boo that veiled insult, but McIntyre says he will remain calm and ask Sami why he wants this fight. They both know the result, we saw it time and time again, Sami has NEVER beaten McIntyre. So McIntyre suggests, given Sami isn’t 100%, and Sami’s wife and kid are here tonight… Sami should just walk back there, take their hands, and leave this arena. Of all those in the Bloodline, Sami is the least of McIntyre’s worries.
Sami says McIntyre is right about a couple things. When it comes to win-loss records, McIntyre has Sami’s number. And Sami is not 100%. Haven’t been since Saturday Night’s Main Event. And yes, the smart thing would be to just go home, celebrate and get healthy over the holidays. But Sami would so much rather do this. Sami fires hands! The fans fire up but McIntyre shoves Sami away. McIntyre swings, but gets caught! Sami lifts but McIntyre fights free, then GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT! McIntyre takes aim, but here comes JEY USO! The fans fire up as Jey runs down the ramp, slides in, and then dodges McIntyre to SUPERKICK!
The fans fire up as Jey & Sami DOUBLE LARIAT McIntyre up and outta the ring! The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” with Jey & Sami Uso! Will the Scottish Terminator’s mission be ended when Sami and/or Jey shut him down?
Adam Pearce is met by Pure Fusion Collective.
The Raw General Manager asks Sonya Deville what he can do for her and she says not much. She knows how stressful this job can be since she once had it. She’s just here to make things easier. And how’s that? Well, Kairi Sane is not cleared to compete, there is an opening in the tournament, and Sonya wants it. Oh, is that so? Y’know, Sonya, that is a terrible idea. They caused this scenario so he’s just gonna reward them? Are they outta their minds? And zip it! Plus, he already filled that vacancy with Iyo Sky. Happy Holidays! PFC is upset by that since Iyo just lost to Liv Morgan, but will there be nothing to stop the Evil Genius now?
WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Natalya VS Alba Fyre VS Iyo Sky!
Just as Pearce said, PFC taking out the Pirate Princess will not mean they get away with murder! The Queen of Harts and the Fire Keeper must now figure out how to handle this change to the program. Will Iyo redeem herself for losing Saturday Night’s Main Event by moving on to the next round?
Raw returns and Alba makes her entrance, Isla Dawn seeing her to the ramp, and then Natalya makes her entrance. The bell rings and Alba kicks Natty then ELBOWS Iyo! Alba whips but Natty reverses and Alba tumbles out of the ring! Iyo rolls Natty, TWO! Iyo whips, Natty dodges in the corner and gets Iyo up! REBOUND SIT-DOWN, and then Natty steps on Iyo, only for Alba to trip Natty up! Alba brings Natty out to send into steel steps! But then Iyo DIVES onto Alba! The fans fire up with Iyo and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Natty brawls with Abla. Alba knees low, but Iyo CROSBODIES them both down! The fans fire up and Iyo SHOTEIS Alba! And SHOTEIS her again! And then DROPKICKS her down! Iyo brings Alba around, whips, but Alba reverses. Iyo goes up and out, then blocks a shot to ROCK Alba! The fans fire up, Iyo spirnboards, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Iyo handsprings up and the fans fire up again! Iyo gets the fans going, but Alba wrenches and facelocks, TORNADO DDT! Alba gets Iyo up again to GOURD BUSTER her onto Natty! Alba then rearranges them into the drop zone!
Alba goes up, the fans are torn, but Alba grins as she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover on Iyo, TWO! Cover on Natty, TWO! But into a KOJI KLUTCH! Natty endures, flails, fights around, but Alba holds on tight! Natty pushes, stacks Alba, TWO!! Natty has the legs! Alba flails now, but Iyo runs up! Natty trips Iyo onto Alba, and she has them both! Natty turns them both over, DOUBLE SHARPSHOOTER!! Iyo and Alba both flail, both claw at the mat, and Alba gets the ROPEBREAK! No disqualifications so Natty can hold on! But now Iyo drags herself under the ropes, and there’s no room left, so Natty has to let go!
Natty rises up and she stalks Iyo to the apron. Natty drags Iyo up but Iyo HOTSHOTS Natty! Natty staggers, rebounds, but Iyo jumps the baseball slide! Natty hits Alba down, and then Iyo PENALTY KICKS Natty! Iyo fires up and springboards, ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit on both targets and the fans fire up! Iyo hurries to get Natty up and into the ring, then she drags Natty into the drop zone. Iyo climbs, but Alba CLUBS Iyo first! Alba snarls as she climbs up, but Iyo holds onto ropes! Natty CLUBS Alba and she adds on! SUPER GERMAN SUPLEX on Alba! But Iyo stays up top to go OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Iyo wins!
Winner: Iyo Sky, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)
The Genius of the Sky moves on, ready to fly against The Morrigan! Will Iyo be able to get past Lyra Valkyria and head for the title?
Judgment Day sulks in the clubhouse.
Finn Balor tells JD McDonagh that he can’t believe this. This was supposed to be a Merry Christmas, Finn was supposed to be celebrating with two titles, and now he has none! Liv Morgan tells Raquel Rodriguez to tell Finn that the reason she suggested he stay away from Damian Priest is because she knew this would happen. Raquel starts to relay the message, but Finn has JD tell Liv that she’s got her own problems to worry about and to stay off his back. But then Liv tells Raquel to tell Finn that the reason she’s “on his back” is because he lost the tag titles. JD, tell Liv that Christmas is-
Dominik speaks up to stop the arguing. Christmas IS around the corner, and now they’re not even talking to each other? Dom says he’s gonna go talk with Pearce and get a match with Priest! Dom’s gonna step up for this family. Oh, Dom thinks he’s better than Finn? No, it’s not even like that. Dom has a plan. He’ll talk with Pearce then fill everyone in later. Dom heads out, JD prays for one week of no drama while it’s Christmas. Will Dirty Dom make sure The Punisher pays for screwing Finn & JD over? Or will Priest be given the gift of sending Dom South of Heaven?
Sami and Jey regroup backstage.
Sami can’t believe Jey didn’t text or call about the comeback. Jey says, “My bad.” But Sami says it’s fine, he’s happy Jey is back. And thanks for having his back out there tonight and every night, Sami appreciates Jey. Jey thanks Sami for that, and says you know he had to come back for payback. Jey is gonna handle business! Actually, Sami was kinda hoping he could handle McIntyre. Sami talked a big game, he’s gotta back it up. But Sami, you’re not even 100% tonight. Sami knows, but he started something so he has to finish it. Jey says alright. He’s got next! They secret handshake and Jey wishes Sami luck. Will Sami finally get a win on McIntyre in a Christmas miracle?
Chad Gable w/ Team American Made VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy!
As “Master” Gable said last week, it was about time he settled things with his past. Will Gable prove to the world that he was always the reason the Alpha Academy was relevant? Or will he find out he can’t keep up with the Stamina Monster?
Raw returns and the #AlphaBabes make their entrance, showing off that new merch while they’re at it. The bell rings and the fans rally up. Tozawa and Gable tie up, Gable wrenches and talks trash right to Tozawa’s face! Gable CHOPS Tozawa down, stands him up, CHOPS him down again, repeat! Gable whips and CLOBBERS Tozawa, then raises the fist. The fans boo more but Gable talks smack on Otis. Gable drags Tozawa up, suplexes, but Tozawa slips free! Tozawa SOBATS, spins, slides under, and SPIN KCIKS! Gable goes to a corner and Tozawa puts him up! But Gable gets Tozawa for a HANGING ARMBAR!
Otis protests, the ref counts, and Gable lets off at 4. Gable says he didn’t break a rule, and Otis never learns. Gable SLAPS Otis, slides into the ring, but Tozawa victory rolls! TWO, but Tozawa SUPERKICKS Gable down! Tozawa rips the shirt off, goes up top, and SUPER SENTRONS onto knees! Gable saves himself and hauls Tozawa up to GERMAN SUPELX! And then GERMAN SUPLEX again! Gable GERMAN SUPLEXES again! But he isn’t done, Gable spins Tozawa around, and POWERBOMBS him! ANKLE LOCK!! Tozawa flails but he’s so far from the ropes! Tozawa TAPS, Gable wins!
Winner: Chad Gable, by submission
But Gable won’t let go! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Gable just drops into a GRAPEVINE! So Otis storms in and he drags Gable off the leg! Otis TOSSES Gable! The fans are thunderous, but Team American Made steps up to support Gable. Gable says Otis never learns! But Otis’ hips are moving! He’s shaking, quaking, and the fans fire up, but American Made backs off. Will Gable finally fight Otis and put this beef to rest?
The New Day talks backstage.
They still don’t understand how everyone here doesn’t see things their way. But then Dirty Dom walks over, clapping with “New! Day Rocks!” Finally, someone who understands! Dom says he never liked Big E, but uh, no, what they did was crazy. Well, whatever, Broke Ass Tom Selleck! Dom says Tom Selleck wishes! Dirty Dom heads for gorilla, ready to fight for the Judgment Day. But will Dom go from “Broke Ass Tom Selleck” to just broken?
Dominik Mysterio VS Damian Priest!
Judgment Day’s history has always been a rocky one, but it has never been rockier than right now. Betraying Rhea Ripley & Damian Priest probably has a lot to do with it, but will Dom be able to smooth things over by taking Damian down? Or will Priest finally beat some sense into #LatinoCheat?
The bell rings and Dom bails right out! Dom dares Priest to come get him, but Priest says Dom needs to get back in the ring. Priest will even give him a free shot! Dom storms up to the apron, steps in, and takes that swing, but Priest blocks it! Then Priest BELL CLAPS Dom, DECKS him, then DECKS him again! Dom staggers around, Priest picks him up to SLAM DUNK! Dom staggers back up, into a torture rack! Priest bends Dom with the Argentine Backbreaker! Priest then THROWS Dom down and the fans fire up. Priest paces around, powers up his arm, and Dom rises. The fans rally and Priest runs, but Dom ducks a lariat!
Dom kicks, CLUBS and KICKS again! SUPERKICK! Then DROPKCIK! Priest staggers but Dom hurries to stalk behind him. Priest sits up first and glares at Dom. Dom panics, but he DUMPS Priest out! Dom builds speed to DIVE, but into Priest’s hands! FLATLINER onto the desk! The fans fire up and Priest drags Dom up to then POST him! Dom falls in a heap, but Priest puts Dom in the ring. Priest then notices a very suspicious Santa Claus. Priest snatches the beard away, and tada! It’s JD! Priest TOSSES JD and the fans cheer! JD wants mercy but Priest SLIDES him across the desk! The fans fire up as Wade narrowly avoids getting hit!
Priest then has a Spider Sense moment, and he looks under the ring! Carlito spits out his apple in surprise! Priest drags Carlito up and TOSSES him into the timekeeper’s area! But then Finn attacks!
Winner: Damian Priest, by disqualification
Finn fires hands, but Priest blocks the desk bump! Priest body shots and SMACKS Finn off the desk! And again, and again! Priest puts Finn in the ring, Dom runs up, but Priest DECKS him! Priest fires more hands on Finn, but the Judgment Day regroups! They mug Priest 4v1 as usual, and JD even drops elbows! The fans boo but the Judgment Day stand Priest up. WAIT! Here comes the War Raiders! Erik & Ivar fire hands on Dom & Carlito, and Priest TOSSES JD! Finn realizes he’s alone, and Priest SUPERKICKS him down! Priest stomps a mudhole into Finn, the Raiders put Carlito and Dom in the ring!
Ivar KNEES Carlito, then feeds him to Erik’s KNEE! The fans cheer, JD gets up, but Priest LARIATS him inside-out! Dom is fed to the WAR MACHINE!! Finn staggers up, but Priest grabs him! And Finn goes SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! The Judgment Day just got further embarrassed, and that’s not even considering JD’s Santa costume. Will the War Raiders be some unlikely allies for Priest in this ongoing war with the Judgment Day?
Sit-down interview with Seth Rollins.
Jackie Redmond thanks The Visionary for taking this time to talk with her, and he says it is his pleasure. Jackie talked with CM Punk and heard what he had to say, what Punk believes, when it comes to Rollins’ hatred for Punk. And we have heard from Rollins, as well, but Jackie’s still just curious. What is the root cause, the driving force, of this disdain he clearly feels for CM Punk? Rollins says the thing is, he has tried to explain how he feels many times over the years, and it sort of… Well, he won’t say he’s talking into the wind, but Rollins just feels Punk has needed the WWE more than the WWE needed him.
And so that hypocrisy from Punk is what just eats at Rollins. It is hard for Rollins to let that go. Jackie mentions how Rollins has talked about getting rid of it by “cutting it out” and fighting through it, and how this fight with Punk has to happen as a catharsis. What does “cutting” Punk out look like? What should we expect from, not even so much a match, that doesn’t feel like the right word now. Rollins says it’ll be fight. That’s what we’re getting, no question. It is the biggest fight in their sport right now, and Rollins needs it now. After Survivor Series, seeing Punk hand-in-hand with Roman Reigns… Roman’s finger in the air, Punk doing the stupid Go To Sleep thing…
Rollins just wanted to throw the remote through his TV, he was so viscerally, internally destroyed. Rollins felt that was it, no more waiting. The world needs to see it. This is perfect. The Netflix debut, the world will be watching. But to answer the question, he doesn’t know what it’ll look like. You might see a side of Rollins that no one’s ever seen. No pun intended, it will be raw, visceral, violent. Rollins needs to exorcise this demon from his soul, he has to cut the cancer out of his brain, or he is going down. Then the only way to process the betrayal is to go through a fight, and we get that on January 6th, Raw in LA for Netflix.
Jackie thanks Rollins for the time and his honesty. Rollins says yeah, he can’t wait. Will Rollins truly #BurnItDown when it comes to fight CM Punk?
The Miz VS Dexter Lumis!
The Hollywood A-Lister has his own history with the man now turned buzzard, and things are only worse now that this is about the Final Testament and the Wyatt Sick6. Will Miz manage to bury the past once and for all? Or will he get no mercy from Lumis?
Raw returns as Miz waits. A message flashes, “I OPENED THE DOOR,” and then the lights go down. And from that mysterious door to the other side, out steps Lumis. He takes off the Mercy the Buzzard mask, then rushes the ring! Miz scrambles right out as Lumis slithers along the mat! The fans cheer Lumis on while Miz tentatively returns to the ring. The bell rings, Miz wants Lumis to hold on, but Lumis swings hands! Miz bobs ‘n’ weaves, then throws a punch! Lumis just glares at Miz! Miz runs away, Lumis gives chase, and they go around the outside, then back inside! Lumis drags Miz out of the ring to ROCK him!
Miz staggers, Lumis THROWS him into barriers! The fans cheer, Lumis ROCKS Miz again, and then Lumis SMACKS Miz off the apron! Lumis pushes Miz into the ring, Miz bails out, but Lumis goes out to the apron. CANNONBALL! The fans fire up and Lumis brings Miz up. Lumis CLUBS Miz, stalks him, then puts him in the ring. Miz again asks for mercy, but then he tries a cheap kick! Lumis blocks and UPPERCUTS! Lumis scoops, Miz slips free and Miz BOOTS Lumis! Miz runs, but into a THESZ PRESS! Lumis rains down fast hands, then runs to AX HANDLE! The fans fire up and Lumis brings Miz up.
Miz breaks free to throat chop! The ref reprimands but Miz runs, only for Lumis to catch him! URENAGE! Lumis storms around, then goes looks to the corner. Lumis climbs, but wait, the Authors of Pain are here! So Lumis CANNONBALLS onto them! The fans fire up but Kross attacks!
Winner: Dexter Lumis, by disqualification
The Final Testament beats Lumis up and puts him in the ring. Miz stands, confident now that he has reinforcements. Kross says they’ve got Lumis where they want him, but Lumis looks to the sky. Seems it’s the other way around! The lights go down, and when they come up, the rest of the Wyatts are here! They brawl with Final Testament and then send them running! Nikki wants uppies, and Erik Rowan pops her up to POWERBOMB her out onto The Final Testament! Nikki is all fired up as the Wyatts stand together! Will The Final Testament be the one buried and forgotten after all is said and done?
The War Raiders regroup backstage.
Erik & Ivar are fired up after getting the better of Judgment Day, and then Priest walks in. He says what’s up, and they give him some pushes and shoves of excitement. Priest says okay, okay, settle down. But that was good, and he appreciates the save. Ivar says hey, they’ve all known each other a long time. And while they haven’t always seen eye to eye, there has always been honor here. They may not be friends, but Priest had their backs in a big way last week and they don’t forget that. They owed him, they got him. Priest respects that. If the War Raiders are at war with the Judgment Day, then he’ll go to war with them.
They all fist bump, and Erik & Ivar say they like the sound of that. Could these three finally tear down Judgment Day once and for all?
The zero symbol returns…
And now it’s joined by a pentagram? What could these clues be leading to?
The New Day barges out to ringside.
And Kofi Kingston tells Joe Tessitore & Wade Barrett on commentary that no no no no! You do not get to speak about them like that! Woods asks what is going on around here? What happened to unbiased journalism? How long has Tessitore even been with the WWE? Not that long, right? Certainly not long enough to know that his job is not to have an opinion but to tell the TRUTH like they have! But it seems in 2024, no one wants the truth! Certainly not these fans. Wade was sympathizing with E as well! Well that’s fine, because Wade and Big E have something in common. They’re not man enough to lace up their boots again and get in the ring!
The fans boo now but Kofi says speaking of getting back int he ring, allow the New Day to do that and continue to tell everyone what they were trying to tell people before. They did NOT put hands on Big E. They could have, laid him out here in the ring, stretchered out of the building again, but they didn’t! So why is everyone so upset!? The fans keep booing but Kofi says this was supposed to be a homecoming for Kofi, and for the woman he bought a plane ticket for to come all the way here to Boston from Ghana, and that is Kofi’s mom! Kofi’s mom is in the front row! Miss Elizabeth Kingston is here, but she doesn’t seem very amused.
Kofi says his mom sat in the middle seat for 20 HOURS, just to see Kofi, and the fans are ruining her experience! This is his mother! The woman who taught him how to be the man that he is today! She does not deserve to see her son get booed out of his own hometown! Woods says they gave the fans ten of the best years of their LIVES…! Kofi steps back outside to apologize to his mom for the fans. She does not deserve this. Kofi doesn’t understand why they’re doing this. Kofi wants a hug. Miss Elizabeth stands up, but she pushes Kofi! She’s upset with HIM, not the fans! Miss Elizabeth takes her coat and leaves! Kofi is confused, what’s this about?
Kofi calls after his mom but she tunes him out. Though, it might be hard to hear over the fans. Will it ever get through to the New Day that they are in the wrong?
The New Day regroups backstage.
And then they cross paths with Rey Mysterio. Woods asks if he’s gonna pile on. Rey says no, it’s not like that. Rey thought about what they said last week, being a locker room leader and all. Rey definitely could’ve handled things better, so he’ll apologize to them. Rey just has the responsibility to help everyone as much as he can. So hey, what New Day did was out of pocket, all foul. And if they want to start fixing things, they can start by apologizing. Whoa, hold up. Them? Apologize to Rey and the locker room? No, they aren’t apologizing, because they didn’t do anything wrong! This is ridiculous!
Rey is just as bad as Big E and everyone else! Why not let Woods pop that mask off again so he can hear them better. New Day did nothing wrong. Rey says okay, fine, que pasa nada. Just don’t say he didn’t try. From this point on, New Day is on their own. And oh, get used to hearing this. “New! Day SUCKS!” With that, Rey takes his leave. After hearing that, will Kofi & Woods have anything but a Merry Christmas?
Sami Zayn VS Drew McIntyre!
The Honorary Uce may have just lost to the Scottish Terminator at Saturday Night’s Main Event, but he isn’t going to give up the fight. Will Sami finally get a win over McIntyre as a Christmas miracle? Or will McIntyre ruin the holidays with a Claymore?
Raw returns and Sami makes his entrance. The bell rings and McIntyre kicks low! McIntyre fires hands, then CHOPS Sami in a corner! McIntyre ROCKS Sami, stands him up, and then CHOPS again! The fans are torn but McIntyre paces while Sami sits down. Sami rises up, and he avoids a chop to fire hands! The fans fire up as Sami CHOPS and fires more punches! The ref backs Sami off, but Sami comes back to stomp and punch! The fans rally behind “SAMI USO!” and Sami whips Mcintyre corner to corner. McIntyre reverses, Sami goes up, but McIntyre KICKS him out of the air!
McIntyre snarls and then he deadlift suplexes Sami! Sami writhes and clutches his back, but McIntyre storms over to him. McIntyre STMOPS Sami’s hands! Then he ROCKS Sami with a right! Sami goes to ropes but McIntyre CHOPS him again! The fans “WOO~!” as that chop echoes out! The fans rally for Sami but McIntyre grins. McIntyre whips but Sami KICKS him in return! Mcintyre comes back but Sami TOSSES him out! The fans fire up and Sami builds speed, but then Mcintyre moves so Sami Arabian Presses to land back inside. Sami smiles as he gets the better of McIntyre, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Sami is in the corner. McIntyre storms up to stomp away on him again! The ref backs McIntyre off but then McIntyre storms back up. McIntyre drag’s Sami up to the apron, and he suplexes Sami up and into the ring! Sami flounders to the ropes and the ref checks him. Sami says he’s still in this, so McIntyre drags Sami back up. But Sami CHOPS McIntyre! And CHOSP! And fires forearms! Sami whips, McIntyre reverses but Sami ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for McIntyre to tilt-o-whirl BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Sami survives and McIntyre grows annoyed. The fans rally up but Sami writhes form all the damage.
McIntyre stalks Sami to the ropes, eggs him on, and then whips him to ropes. Sami ducks ‘n’ dodges again, and this time Sami tilt-o-whirls to DDT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Sami and McIntyre both rise up, and McIntyre bails out. Sami storms up to ropes, grits his teeth, and he PLANCHAS! But McIntyre catches him! And then he aims for the desk! Sami fights free, and he DRIBBLES McIntyre off the desk! Sami backs off as the ring count climbs, but Sami goes back for McIntyre. McIntyre stops the step bump to SMACK Sami off the steps! McIntyre refreshes the ring count because he wants to do more damage!
McIntyre stalks Sami up the steps, then lifts him for an APRON BACKBREAKER!! Sami falls and writhes, and McIntyre has a manic look on his face as he watches Sami suffer, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns once again and Mcintyre has Sami in the Inverted Alabama Lift! INVERTED ALABAMA- VICTORY ROLL! TWO!! McIntyre escapes and runs up, but Sami dodges! McIntyre POSTS himself! The fans fire up as McIntyre flops back, and Sami hurries to the corner! Sami climbs, but his back slows him down! McIntyre ROCKS Sami first! And then CHOPS him! McIntyre climbs up after Sami, fires some shots, then fireman’s carries Sami! SUPER WHITE NOISE! A shoutout to Sheamus and McIntyre covers, TWO!! The fans fire up while McIntyre grows frustrated. Sami stirs but McIntyre watches him closely.
The fans rally and McIntyre drags Sami back up. But Sami cradle counters! TWO! McIntyre GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTTS! Sami falls and McIntyre snarls. McIntyre goes to a corner, and he takes aim at Sami. Here comes the countdown! “THREE! TWO! ONE!” But Sami LARIATS McIntyre! And then a clinch, EXPLODER into the corner! Sami goes to the other side and the fans fire up! Sami aims as McIntyre rises, but that back tightens up. Sami fights through the pain, gets running, but CLAYMORE!! Cover, McIntyre wins!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
That was perhaps the closest Sami’s come, but he was still so far away from victory over McIntyre. 3-0 in 2024, 10-0 overall, and McIntyre stands over Sami to rub it in. Sami is already dazed, but McIntyre rains down fists! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but McIntyre shoves the ref away to HAMMER Sami down! But here comes Jey, just like earlier tonight! Jey runs in, dodges again, and this time, SPEAR!! Jey has Mcintyre down, but now he goes up! But wait! TAMA TONGA SHOVES JEY OFF THE TOP!! Solo Sikoa & The Bloodline are here! McIntyre is just as surprised, but given the truce they called on Friday, McIntyre takes his leave.
The Bloodline beat down Sami & Jey, which McIntyre loves to see. Tama Tonga rains down fists on Main Event Jey in a corner, but the fans chant for “O T C! O T C!” Instead, Jacob Fatu gets running! But Jey dodges the hip attack! SUPERKICK for Tama! Jey fires haymakers on Jacob! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Solo steps in to swing, but Jey dodges! Jey ROCKS Solo! Jacob SUPERKICKS Jey! The fans boo as the Samoan Werewolf gets all geeked up! Solo adds his SAMOAN SPIKE!! Solo throws off his jacket, sits Jey back up, but Sami gets in! Sami fires hands, but Tama TACKLES Sami! Tama beats Sami down and fans boo again.
Solo tells Tama to set Sami up, and Tama stomps Sami into the corner. Jacob runs in, to HIP ATTACK! Jacob isn’t done, he puts Sami in the drop zone to go up, up and BEST MOONSAULT EVER! The fans boo but Solo adds on another SAMOAN SPIKE!! Solo roars, then he and his Bloodline stand over the OGs. Jacob adorns Solo with the ula fala, will not even Roman Reigns be able to stop the “Undisputed” Tribal Chief? Will all of the WWE have no choice but to acknowledge Solo Sikoa?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw here to build both the last Raw of 2024 and the first Raw of 2025, aka the Netflix debut. Rollins had a very good interview promo to add just a little more to things, but I feel like there’s little left that they need to say. Very good stuff with Judgment Day, such as the classic “X, can you tell Y…” gag from Finn and Liv. Dom thinking their plan to screw Priest over would work is hilarious, as was how it all fell apart. Priest gets the win from disqualification, but then great save from the War Raiders. Good promo from Priest and War Raiders, love the reference to ROH by saying “honor” there, and that’s a solid Six Man Tag right there.
Fun little bit from Pearce with Pure Fusion Collective, and of course Sonya thought she’d get a second chance, and of course Pearce uses real logic to say no way. Iyo Sky replacing Kairi Sane was announced last week on social media, so I guess Sonya didn’t check between shows. Great Triple Threat from Iyo, Alba and Natty, and of course Iyo won or else why put her in there? Iyo VS Lyra next round will be great stuff, as will Dakota Kai VS Zoey Stark, and whatever combination we get for the title match is going to be great. I don’t think we’ll get DMG CTRL VS DMG CTRL, so if Dakota wins, Iyo loses, and then vice-versa.
Great stuff with American Made and Alpha Academy, but of course Tozawa takes the loss. Otis standing up to Gable & The Creeds was a great moment, and I really hope we get Gable VS Otis for the big Netflix debut. Win or lose, Otis should definitely have a moment where he rallies through Gable and both Creeds, really get the crowd hot before the finish. Miz VS Lumis was good but could’ve been better. With only two hours, I guess they had to trim things down to the basics. Another disqualification finish tonight is a bit much, but I guess it keeps things going until we can come up with some kind of new 8 Man Tag, or even a really wild Mixed 10 Person match so Nikki and Scarlett can get involved legally.
Great stuff with New Day, from their interaction with Dom, then their “interrupting” the show to try and get their point across. It was great to have Mama Kingston there, and I just knew she would be disappointed in Kofi. Good promo with Rey, too, as Rey now leaves New Day out in the cold. I feel like we need a big tag team match to not only have Heel New Day show their stuff against like LWO, Alpha Academy, etcetera, and then they earn their way to a match with the War Raiders to revisit their feud, just with flipped Heel and Face dynamics. That could be some really good stuff as Raw on Netflix paves the road to WrestleMania 41.
And great stuff with McIntyre and the extended Bloodline. He and Sami had a great promo to again bring up family and sacrifice, but also how Roman’s OG Bloodline came back together without Roman ever changing a thing. Great brawls, great saves by Jey, and of course McIntyre won the match. Jey will of course get next, probably also for the Netflix debut, but good stuff with Solo Sikoa and his Bloodline showing up. They beat down Jey & Sami to send a message to Roman, who was obviously not going to be here tonight. There will surely be a response in part on SmackDown, but maybe more verbal than physical.
I feel like the “Transfer Window” will need to put all Bloodline members, old and new, on one brand so the story can be told all on one show. It’d just be easier while Jimmy’s foot is healing, because what can Roman do without backup against Solo, Tama & Jacob? And honestly, still waiting on when and where Hikuleo is going to show up. This is a good time to bring him in with Tonga Loa also hurt, so Solo can get the numbers edge on Roman again.
My Score: 8.8/10
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The Road to the Tokyo Dome goes through KOPW!
As 2024 nears an end, Great-O-Khan defends the KOPW Championship one more time, against a former KOPW Champion in Taichi! Who will be THE 2024 King of Pro-Wrestling?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Chase Your Dream Match: Shoma Kato VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
- Boltin Oleg VS Satoshi Kojima; Boltin wins.
- Triple Threat Tag: Jeff Cobb & Jakob Austin Young VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson VS Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi; Narita & Yujiro win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS El Desperado & Master Wato; Desperado & Wato win.
- Fatal 4 Way: Kevin Knight VS Robbie Eagles VS Francesco Akira VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Eagles wins.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
- Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; ZSJ & Fujita win.
- KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi; Khan wins and is the definitive 2024 KOPW Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
After the Triple Threat Tag…
The House of Torture of course cheated to win, but they wouldn’t leave it at that! They waited until the United Empire and TMDK argued with each other to then attack them all! Yujiro Takahashi CLUBS Oiwa down while Narita shoves Cobb into big Hartley Jackson! And then Narita JAMS Cobb with the pushup bar! The fans boo but Narita JAMS Oiwa up, too! The Souled Out Son of Strong Style is so proud of himself as he holds up his NJPW World TV Championship, but wait. Christmas music starts playing? The fans clap along as surprise! Santa and his reindeer are here! Well, one reindeer. But shouldn’t the House of Torture be on the naughty list?
Santa Claus walks over, and he gets the mic. He sounds familiar as he tells, “Narita-san… You have a Christmas present waiting. Would you like it now?” Narita asks what the heck is going on. Santa steps into the ring and offers Narita the little tiny bag. Narita snatches the bag, then he and Yujiro look at it. The fans asks, “Nani nani? <What is it?>” Narita tells them to shut up. Narita gets the bag open and pulls out… Blue sunglasses! With LED lights! The fans cheer as the lights go down! “E! L! P!” EL PHANTASMO IS HERE! The Headbanga has been battling cancer, but he’s here in Korakuen Hall!
Narita is furious but ELP slides right into the ring! Narita & Yujiro run away, but the fans cheer ELP on as he stands side-by-side with Jado Claus. ELP gets the mic now, and the fans cheer him on. ELP takes a moment before saying, in Japanese, “Cancer. Cancer… I’ve beaten cancer! And I love Korakuen!” But ELP asks Jado-san how to say a certain something in Japanese. He whispers it, but then Narita & Yujiro attack! The fans boo these cowards, but then Narita says Merry Christmas! But ELP BOOTS him, ELBOWS Yujiro, then dodges Narita to SUDDEN DEATH! Jado Claus DECKS the Tokyo Pimp!
ELP again asks Jado, and Jado says on behalf of ELP, that ELP is going to wrestle tomorrow night! And… Then he’ll be at the Tokyo Dome! ELP grabs the NJPW World TV Championship! ELP looks it over, and looks to the crowd, and then to Jado, but then Jeff Cobb and Ryohei Oiwa get in the ring. Cobb asks if ELP’s good. ELP is good. Are they good? Then let’s turn it up a notch! FATAL 4 WAY for the TV Championship! Narita snatches his belt, gets out of the ring, and tells everyone to shut up! The odds just got stacked against the House of Torture, will the New Year have a NEW NJPW World TV Champion one way or another?
Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita!
Ahead of battling for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, The Roughneck and The Front Man bring some back up! The Ace is also preparing to fight Evil, will he and Shota bring a Once in a Century Paradigm Shift? Or will ZSJ and the Japanese Young Punk prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The teams sort out and Shota starts against ZSJ. The fans cheer this WrestleKingdom preview, and Korakuen duels between “SHOTA! SHOTA!” and “ZAKU! ZAKU!” ZSJ and Shota feel things out, then knuckle lock. ZSJ clinches but Shota fights back with his own clinch. ZSJ slips around to chinbar but Shota wrenches to a wristlock. ZSJ rolls, tries another chinbar but Shota cranks the wristlock. ZSJ bridges, spins, slips around and wrangles Shota! Shota kips up to WRING the arm, but ZSJ UP KICKS! The fans cheer as the two reset. Shota and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. ZSJ then stands on Shota’s hand!
ZSJ has another hand and twists the wrist! Then he has both arms for a motorcycle stretch but Shota fights up. Shota turns things around, and he fights ZSJ as ZSJ tries to turn them back. ZSJ keeps trying, and he pushes through, but Shota spins things right back around! The fans cheer while Shota digs a foot into ZSJ’s back. ZSJ flips, kips up, spins things around, but Shota spins them back! The fans cheer, and Shota spins ZSJ. ZSJ dodges the lariat, Shota blocks a kick, but ZSJ ducks the enzigiri! Shota avoids the Penalty Kick and arm-drags ZSJ, but ZSJ headscissors! Shota kips free, avoids a leg pick, and the fans cheer!
Shota dares ZSJ to go for the leg but the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and each man breaks free of one. They back off, and Shota tags in Tanahashi. The fans cheer, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Korakuen strongly supports President Ace. Tanahashi and Fujita circle, tie up, and Tanahashi powers Fujita back. The ref counts, Tanahashi lets off slowly, but then Fujita turns things around! Tanahashi turns things around, and repeat! The ref counts, Fujita lets off slowly, but then both men block a kick! They argue over who lets go first, and eventually agree for a mutual break. They set the feet down, but then Fujita holds on!
Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi, then whips. Tanahashi reverses but Fujita ducks ‘n’ dodges to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Fujita aims from a corner. Fujita runs corner to corner but Tanahashi BOOTS him! Shota CLOBBERS Fujita, then eggs ZSJ on! ZSJ runs up, Shota blocks a kick and he sends ZSJ into Tanahashi’s ELBOW! Shota CLOBBERS ZSJ and the fans fire up. Shota pursues ZSJ to the outside and CLUBS him down! Shota clamps onto ZSJ with a chinlock but the ref reprimands. Tanahashi CHOPS Fujita, but Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Fujita storms back up, but he blocks a boot!
Fujita DRAGON SCREWS Tanahashi’s leg! Fujita kips up, ZSJ sends Shota into railing, and Fujita stomps Tanahashi. The fans rally and Fujita brings Tanahashi up to CHOP! Fujita eggs Tanahashi on, CHOPS him again, then CHOPS again! Tanahashi flounders and ZSJ tags in. ZSJ drags Tanahashi up to UPPERCUT! Tanahashi ends up in the TMDK corner, ZSJ UPPERCUTS him again! ZSJ says, “Mada mada!” and he UPPERCUTS again! Tanahashi falls, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Fujita brings Tanahashi up. Fujita CHOPS again, and then CHOPS again! Tanahashi is stinging and using the ropes for defense while the fans rally up.
Tanahashi storms up but Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi CHOPS, Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi falls and Fujita BLASTS Shota! Tag to ZSJ and he grabs a leg. Fujita also grabs one, they drag Tanahashi to center, and then they both go after arms. Then they shift, ZSJ has an arm while Fujita has a leg! Then they both have legs again! Then ZSJ has a leg and Fujita has an arm! Then back to the arms! They both isolate the arms for DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans cheer, the ref reprimands and ZSJ “apologizes” with a bow. ZSJ stands on one of Tanahashi’s legs to then twist the other! Tanahashi endures, even as ZSJ TWEAKS the ankle!
ZSJ twists the foot the other way, flips Tanahashi over, and shifts around to have a headscissor and armlock! Shota stomps ZSJ but Fujita goes after Shota! Fujita TOSSES Shota, ZSJ tags Fujita back in. Fujita stomps Tanahashi, KICKS him in the back, but Tanahashi gets mad! Fujita KICKS Tanahashi but Tanahashi fires up! Fujita KICKS and CHOPS, but Tanahashi fires forearm after forearm! Fujita CHOPS again! Tanahashi grits his teeth but Fujita CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! SHOTEI! Fujita falls but so does Tanahashi! The fans rally up while both men crawl, hot tag to Shota! Shota rallies on Fujita with big forearms and elbows!
Shota whips, Fujita reverses, but Shota dropkicks the legs out! ZSJ runs up and RAMS Shota! Then ZSJ runs, but into Shota’s DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Shota goes to Fujita. Shota whips corner to corner, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! Shota reels Fujita in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t mind. Shota clinches but Fujita fights the suplex with elbows. Shota runs up, but Fujita wrenches, waistlocks, but Shota ELBOWS free! Shota whips, Fujita reverses and DROPKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita crawls, hot tag to ZSJ!
ZSJ runs up to BOOT Shota! Shota stays up so ZSJ runs to BOOT him again! And BOOT him again! Shota roars and ROCKS ZSJ! Shota runs to ROCK ZSJ again! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Shota eggs him on, repeat! Shota UPPERCUTS and ZSJ roars! ZSJ UPPER- NO, Shota hooks the arm, but ZSJ wrenches out of the backslide to PELE the arm! Then ZSJ basement DROPKICKS Shota! The fans fire up while Shota clutches a leg and an arm. ZSJ kicks him around, scuffs him and taunts him. The fans rally, the ref checks Shota, but Shota is okay to continue. ZSJ stands Shota up to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT!
Shota clinches to EXPLODER! Both men are down and the fans rally again! Shota crawls, hot tag to Tanahashi! Fujita runs up, but Tanahashi blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! Payback for earlier! Tanahashi runs up at ZSJ in a corner, blocks a boot, and DRAGON SCREWS! Tanahashi put some stank on that one! Then he goes up the corner for a SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! ZSJ stays in this but the fans continue to rally! “GO ACE! GO ACE!” echoes out as Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ catches him into a COBRA TWIST! Tanahashi endures, then throws elbows into ZSJ’s leg. Tanahashi gets free to DRAGON SCREW again!
ZSJ writhes, Tanahashi ties the legs up, but ZSJ kicks at him! Tanahashi blocks a kick to GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And now, TEXAS CLOVER- NO, ZSJ fights the turnover and reels Tanahashi into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Tanahashi endures and the fans rally up, but Shota gets in! Shota stomps away on ZSJ, but then Fujita MISSILE DROPKICKS Shota! Fujita brings Tanahashi up but Tanahashi SHOTEIS him down! ZSJ is after Tanahashi but he avoids the shotei! ZSJ SLAPS Tanahashi, then PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives but ZSJ gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans fire up as ZSJ stand Tanahashi up.
ZSJ scoops but Tanahashi fights that, to a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up but Tanahashi isn’t done! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi stands ZSJ up again, but ZSJ scoops to ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, ZSJ & Fujita win!
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita, by pinfall
Shota can’t believe The Ace fell, but this is why ZSJ is the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! Will ZSJ do this all to Shota when they’re 1v1 in the Tokyo Dome? Or will Shota prove he’s mightier than The Mighty?
KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi!
The Dominator has, well, dominated as KOPW Champion for a long stretch of 2024, but the Holy Emperor did close out 2023 with this title. Granted, Taichi says that win, lose or draw, this is his final KOPW Championship match. As such, tonight’s stipulation is a sort of “Best Of” compilation as we go Best 2 Out of 3. Part one: a no ropes Sumo Rules match! Part two: Yoshinobu Kanemaru as special guest referee? Well, he would be a neutral party… And part three, if needed, will be a LAST MAN STANDING MATCH! Will Taichi “retire” from this truly freestyle division standing tall? Or will Khan truly conquer KOPW for the United Empire?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, but Taichi also brings back the trophy for the occasion, and it’s time to end the year in style!
Sumo Rules!
Both men finish preparations with weight belts and some stretching. They square up, the ref says go and they RAM into each other! The fans rally as both men go for those weight belts to use as leverage. They go around, get very close to the ring edge, but then Khan moves things away. Khan THROWS Taichi, but Taichi stays on the ring so the sumo match continues. They reset and go again! Taichi pushes Khan back with both hands, but Khan digs in his heels! They clinch, go around, and Taichi goes for the edge! Khan pulls on Taichi’s leg to get around, but Taichi uses that to steer Khan to another edge! But Khan hits a fireman’s carry takeover!
Khan drags Taichi up but Taichi fights off the throw! They clinch and fight for control again. They each try to lift with the belt! Khan has Taichi near the edge, but then Taichi has Khan near the edge! Khan is teetering and the fans fire up! Taichi THROWS Khan to the floor, Taichi wins the fall!
Khan: 0; Taichi: 1
Special Guest Referee!
The fans are thunderous as Taichi takes the Sumo Rules fall, but now we go to a much more complicated situation. The ropes have to be put back up, sure, but now the Heel Master of all people is going to be the referee! The time it takes to set up the ropes is a reprieve for both sides, especially Khan as he has to catch his breath and refocus. Once the ropes are up, both men wait in the ring. All that is left is the buckle pads, and of course, Kanemaru himself. Kanemaru gets a proper introduction and entrance before he goes to the ring, and wow, he’s even wearing an official NJPW referee shirt with the lion mark on it.
Referee Kanemaru does his check and he even tells Taka Michinoku to watch himself. Kanemaru does a far less thorough check of Khan than Taichi! Did the Empire pay Kanemaru off?! Kanemaru has Taichi cool off, then whispers something to Khan! The bell rings, the fans rally for Khan, and Khan circles with Taichi. They tie up, Taichi powers Khan to ropes, and Kanemaru calls for a ropebreak. Then he has a fast count! Taichi lets off before 4 and argues with Kanemaru! Kanemaru says that’s his count, deal with it. Khan and Taichi reset, tie up, and Khan puts Taichi on ropes. Kanemaru pays more attention to Taka than Taichi!
The fans can’t help but laugh as Kanemaru finally does count, and now it’s really slow! Taichi protests, but Khan pulls Taichi’s arms. Then he CHOPS Taichi and stops at “3!” Khan then goes after Taichi, wrenches and wristlocks, and Kanemaru is asking if Taichi gives up!? Taichi tells him to shut up, but Khan kicks and CLUBS Taichi. Khan whips, Taichi BOOTS Khan down, then covers! Kanemaru strolls over to count! And it’s so slow! “TWO” and the fans cheer. Taichi is upset, but Khan rolls Taichi up! SO FAST!! TWO!! Taichi is getting pissed but Kanemaru backs away. Taichi stomps Khan, and Kanemaru’s untying a buckle pad?!
Taichi stomps Khan around, Khan leaves the pad there loosely, and Taichi whips. Khan reverses, and SURPRISE! bare buckles! Taka protests but Kanemaru SMACKS him with the pad! Khan plays dumb, and then he stands on Taichi’s lower back. Taichi has the ropes, but Kanemaru kicks the arm away! Khan has Taichi’s other arm, Taichi keeps grabbing for ropes but Kanemaru keeps kicking the hand away! Khan drags Taichi up, brings him around, and ROCKS him in the back! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan Mongolian Chops him on the back! And Mongolian Chops again! And Mongolian Chops again! Kanemaru doesn’t bother counting at all!
Taka protests, Kanemaru warns him, but then Khan hops up to sit on his throne! The fans cheer while Taichi endures, and only now does Kanemaru count! Khan asks hold on, hold on, so Kanemaru stops counting! Khan hops down, and then he puts Kanemaru up on the throne! Khan gets the fans to join in on the “Ohh…! HMPH!” Kanemaru isn’t into it so he hops down. Khan apologizes to Kanemaru, then he kicks Taichi around. Taichi gets up to fire hands! Khan kicks low, whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down. Taichi stands, and he drags Khan up into SEITEI JUJIHOU!
Kanemaru might be stuck, he can’t ignore Khan tapping. But then Kanemaru drags Khan over to the ropes! Taichi is frustrated with Kanemaru but Kanemaru says that’s a ropebreak. Taichi storms up on Kanemaru, but then Khan waistlocks! Ripcord and SAYANAGI! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan runs in, but Taichi dodges! GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Taichi snarls. Taichi TAKES OFF THE PANTS! The pants were a bit stubborn, but still. But then Kanemaru “checks” Khan just to stay between him and Taichi! Taichi says move or else! Kanemaru says he’s the ref!
Kanemaru kicks Taichi, CLAWS Taichi’s eyes, then traps his arms! Khan gets up to IRON RIGHT!! Kanemaru “scolds” Khan, then “checks” Taichi. Khan rests in a corner and Kanemaru drags Taichi up for him. Taichi CHOKES Kanemaru! Kanemaru kicks low! Kanemaru whips Taichi into a corner, ELBOWS him, then Khan LARIATS! Khan snapmares and covers, Kanemaru wants more first! Khan sits Taichi up for a BASEMENT DROPKICK! Now cover, TWO!! Taichi survives so Kanemaru hurries to get his whiskey! Khan takes a swig, and Kanemaru sets Taichi up! WHISKEY MIST into Kanemaru! Taichi hits the GEDO CLUTCH, but Kanemaru really can’t count now!
Taichi lets off of Khan since there was no count to be had. Taichi drags Kanemaru up, but Khan WHISKEY BOTTLE SHOTS Taichi! IRON CLAW!! Kanemaru calls for the bell? He just hands the win to Khan without counting, so now we’re all tied up!
Khan: 1; Taichi: 1
Kanemaru has fulfilled the contract, Khan gives him the envelope of money. Khan even makes sure we all see how many thousands that is! Kanemaru heads out, is he going to party hard for the holidays? But that aside, it is time for the final fall!
Last Man Standing!
Taichi gets the mic first, and tells Khan that if that’s how Khan wants to do it, then Taichi will get down and dirty with Khan! No lumberjacks, no special guests, just the straight up ten count, and it can happen anywhere in Korakuen Hall! Khan says bet! The announcement is made for the official rule change, and now we have the final fall! Khan rushes Taichi on the outside, then whips him into railing! And we’re already going into the crowd! Khan throws Taicihi at English commentary, but big Hartley is a solid wall for Chris. Khan then drags Taichi up into the bleachers, and the fans clear out of the way!
Khan CHOKES Taichi with a chair, then lets off to clear chairs out of the way. The Young Lions try to help but Khan gets mad at them and pushes them aside. Khan drags Taichi up, knees him low, and then reels him in! But Taichi fights the sayanagi! Taichi SHOVES Khan, Khan falls to the floor but gets up, only for Taichi to CROSSBODY! Down goes Khan and Red Shoes hurries over. Both men are down but Taichi sits up. The count starts and Khan is still down at 5 of 10! Khan hurries to get up, and Taichi stomps him down! Taichi drags Khan back up into the bleachers, but we go the other way.
Taicih KICKS Khan down, Young Lions keep the fans back again, and Taichi drags Khan along. They keep moving through the crowd, and Taichi shoves Khan into chairs! Khan sputters but Taichi drags him up again. Taichi KNEES Khan, then drags him up. They go back down to floor level, and then Taichi aims at chairs! Taichi whips but Khan reverses and he BOWLS Taichi into chairs! Not quite a strike but he got a good number of those chairs! Khan pops the railing loose from the special corner piece, and he brings that corner piece over! Khan SMACKS Taichi with the steel! Taichi staggers away but he sits in a chair.
Khan starts folding chairs to stack them on the floor. Khan then uses one chair as a leash to drag Taichi over! Khan CLUBS Taichi, adds that one chair to the pile, and then snap suplexes Taichi onto the chairs! Taichi writhes but Khan rises up. Khan roars and the fans fire up! The count begins again but Taichi slowly sits up at 4. Taichi rises up, and he stands at 8! Khan brings Taichi around in a headlock, and they go to the orange bleachers! Khan uses the gate to smother Taichi, then they go up to the higher level! The fans fire up but then fans have to move! Khan KNEES and CLUBS Taichi, then whips Taichi at the exit door!
Taichi tumbles into the hallway! Khan drags Taichi back into the arena and uses the HITSUJIGOROSHI against the chairs! Taichi endures as Khan chokes him, then Khan lets him go! Red Shoes checks on Taichi, Taka coaches him, but the count begins. Khan sits in a chair to relax while he waits. Taichi sits up at 7, and stands at 9! Khan storms up on Taichi to CLUB him on the back! Khan headlocks Taichi, brings him to the other section, and he gets up close to the fans for photo ops. Khan then whips, but Taichi reverses, and Khan is sent into the wall! Taichi leaves Khan behind while the count begins again.
Khan sits up so Taichi KICKS him back down! Taichi drags Khan up, KICKS him again, and Khan falls to his knees. Taichi drags Khan up by his ponytail, and he goes close to the stairs that lead to the back! Khan fights the suplex, and for his life, but then he turns things around! Taichi fights the suplex, throws hands, and then DDTS Khan to the floor! Red Shoes checks both men, then starts the count. Taichi shakes out his arms and sits up at 4. Taichi stands at 6 but Khan is still down at 8! Khan drags himself up at 9! Taichi CLUBS Khan down, then brings him back up. Taichi brings Khan back to ground level, then snapmares him hard for a KICK!
Khan is in agony but Taichi drags him back up. But Khan RAMS Taichi into the railing! Taichi sputters while also sitting in a chair. Khan staggers away to ringside, and he goes looking under the ring. Khan brings out a trolly cart? Khan JAMS Taichi up using his own mic stand, then leaves him behind. Khan brings out a TABLE! Fans rally up as Khan puts the table on the trolly, then he staggers over to Taichi. Khan CLUBS Taichi down, then SHOVES him onto the table trolly combo. Khan has fans clear out, and then he SNOW PLOWS the chairs with Taichi on the cart!! The fans fire up as Khan stands over Taichi.
Khan drags Taichi up, and he brings the table along, too. Khan kicks chairs out of the way as he returns to the upper deck! Khan SMACKS Taichi off the edge, then he clears out space. Khan sets the table up, then he goes up to fetch Taichi. Khan JAMS Taichi up with a chair, then SMACKS him! Taichi writhes, fans rally, and Khan drags Taichi up. Khan vows to end this! IRON CLAW, and ELIMI- NO! Taichi fights Khan off! Taichi stumbles away through the crowd, but then grabs himself a chair. Taichi runs up to JAM Khan right in the face! Taichi then steals Khan’s idea to choke grip and CHOKE SLAM down through the table!!!
Khan writhes and the fans go nuts! Taichi hobbles around while Red Shoes counts Khan. Khan is still down at 5! Still down at 7! 9! KHAN GRABS RED SHOES’S HAND!! Khan survives, and though he has a couple bloody cuts on his back, he crawls his way to the ring. Taichi eggs Khan on and the fans are thunderous! Khan drags himself into the ring, Taichi runs, AX BOMBER!! The fans fire up and the count returns! Khan is still down at 5, stirs at 6, sits up at 7, and he rises at 8! So Taichi just runs up to AX BOMBER!! Khan drops to his knees, flops over, but he’s already pushing himself back up! Taichi runs again, AX BOMBER!!
Khan staggers around but he stays on his feet! Taichi says fine, AX- SAYANAGI!! Khan turns things around, and he AX BOMBERS in return!! Both men are down and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and Khan crawls for ropes at 5! Taichi slowly sits up at 6, and both men go to corners at 7! Red Shoes waits on them to rise up, and then Taichi fires up! Taichi runs up, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so Taichi BOOTS! Khan BOOTS back! Taichi URAKENS! Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Taichi SOBATS! Khan BODY BLOWS! Both men drop to knees, but they also grab at each other.
The fans rally as Khan and Taichi slowly rise. They are forehead to forehead, and then Taichi AX BOMBERS! Khan drops to his knees, Taichi BUZZSAWS, but Khan blocks it! Khan ROCKS Taichi with a right! And then Khan reels Taichi in, but Taichi Alabama Lifts! BLACK- NO, Khan fights into a GUILLOTINE! Taichi is stuck in the body scissors!! Taichi flails, even taps out, but that’s not how Last Man Standing works! Khan squeezes tighter and tighter, Taichi fades, and Red Shoes checks! Khan lets Taichi go and the count begins! Khan rises at 6, and Taichi is somehow up at 9!! So Khan clamps on an IRON CLAW!
Khan lifts Taichi, but Taichi slips free! Taichi shoves Khan and ROCKS him! DANGEROUS SAIDO!! But Khan is staggering to his feet?! Khan goes to a corner, flounders along ropes, but he isn’t down yet! The fans rally hard while both men fight to their feet! SUPERMAN PUNCH from Khan! PELE from Taichi! Both men are down again! Red Shoes starts the count on them both, and the fans rally even harder! Taichi is up at 7! Khan grabs Red Shoes at 9 again!! Taichi roars, Korakuen is with him, and he powers up! TENSHI JUJI- NO!! Khan blocks, and he hooks Taichi! Taichi CLUBS away on Khan, but Khan still lifts! ULTIMATE ELIMINATOR!!
Both men are down again and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and they’re both down at 5! At 7! 9! Khan pushes up, but he FLOPS back down!! DOUBLE TEN! IT’S A DRAW!! What does that mean for the belt!? Red Shoes goes out to talk with Abe-san, and then the announcement is made. In the end, with it being 1-1-1, a true draw, it all goes to KHAN!
Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (DEFINITIVE 2024 KOPW Champion)
Khan flips Taichi off, one last insult added on top. Khan is given the belt back, but Taichi grabs his trophy. Taichi steps up to Khan, and gives him the trophy, saying it is rightfully his now. Taichi shows Khan that respect, and Khan returns it with a handshake. Khan “retires” Taichi from KOPW, what will the Holy Emperor look to do in 2025?
As for Khan, he grabs the mic, and he asks Taichi to wait a moment. “You served this title for three years. We will honor your glory!” The fans applaud that, and Khan asks the previous champion to come closer. No, closer. The fans cheer Taichi on as he steps closer to ringside. Khan says Taichi served this title well, so here is his reward. Khan is giving the trophy back? Taichi says no, he gave that to Khan out of respect. Khan says to Taichi and to everyone to listen well. “We are the last KOPW Champion!” Everyone is a bit surprised to hear that.
Khan says, “As an alternative, on January 4th in the Tokyo Dome… as THE last KOPW Champion, We demand that the January 4th match determine the next IWGP World Heavyweight Championship challenger!” The fans are really intrigued by that idea! Khan throws down the belt, and Chris makes sure English speakers understand what Khan is suggesting. The New Japan Ranbo determining a #1 contender? Khan says that these are the words of the final KOPW Champion, The Great-O-Khan! “HAIL US, PEASANTS!” A New Year, a new era? Will Khan’s revolution bring glory to the United Empire?
My Thoughts:
A very good night for Road to Tokyo Dome, though I did skip a lot just because I didn’t have a lot of time today. But luckily I was skimming through, or I would’ve missed ELP’s great return. Congratulations on him beating cancer, and I like that they’re adding him to the NJPW World Television Championship match. It makes sense given ELP’s beef with the House of Torture, and honestly, why not just have ELP win? Not even so much for getting over cancer (though kind of that, too) but because fans love ELP and it’d help him solidify his singles run with Hikuleo long gone for WWE.
Really good stuff in the other tune-up matches, such as #DespeWado winning and the chaotic end to the Fatal 4 Way. Eagles won to help him and Fujita have momentum, but there is still more to the Road to Tokyo Dome first. Honestly that tag Fatal 4 could really go any which way they want so I’m not sure how the go-home math would even work. And Gedo of course took the loss against LIJ. Yota Tsuji is aiming for David Finlay and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, but who knows how things go before we get to WrestleKingdom.
Very good tag match from Shota & Tanahashi VS ZSJ & Fujita, and it was technically a surprise for Tanahashi to take the loss. This works on many levels, as Tanahashi should be figuratively on the ropes going into his match with Evil, and this gives Fujita equal momentum alongside Eagles. And then great main event, Khan and Taichi really went the distance with this one. And it all makes sense after Khan reveals this is the end of the KOPW Division. Khan wants to make the New Japan Ranbo to basically be the Royal Rumble and that is pretty cool. I think they could keep the belt to represent that contender’s status the same as the G1 Climax having a briefcase, because that KOPW belt actually looks pretty nice.
My Score: 8.8/10
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