Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (5/3/21)
Raw is ALL MIGHTY!
Raw is chocked full of champions!
The Raw Tag Team Champions AND the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions defend their titles, and Bobby Lashley faces one of his contenders! But will it be the Scottish Warrior or Monster Among Men that steps up?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Raw Tag Team Championships: AJ Styles & Omos VS The New Day; Styles & Omos win and retain the titles.
- Charlotte Flair VS Dana Brooke w/ Mandy Rose; Charlotte wins.
- John Morrison w/ The Miz VS Damian Priest; Priest wins.
- Lucha House Party VS Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin; LHP wins.
- Drew Gulak VS Angel Garza; Garza wins.
- Elias & Jaxson Ryker VS Randy Orton & Matt Riddle; Orton & Riddle win.
- Open Challenge: Sheamus VS Mansoor; Sheamus wins, by disqualification.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler w/ Reginald VS Naomi & Lana; Jax & Baszler win and retain the titles.
- Bobby Lashley w/ MVP VS Braun Strowman; Lashley wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Raw shares footage from earlier today.
MVP met with Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville in their officer, and Pearce knows he doesn’t have to remind MVP of what Bobby Lashley said last week. MVP insists Pearce put some respect on the name, “The All Mighty Bobby Lashley.” MVP reminds Pearce that the All Mighty said he could beat Drew McIntyre or Braun Strowman in 1v1 competition. Yes, and so Pearce has a coin that they will flip, Lashley faces whoever it says. MVP checks the coin, and sees that it feels right. But McIntyre walks in and can’t believe this is a thing. MVP said Lashley isn’t worried so why even worry about the coin toss? And it doesn’t matter whether it’s tonight, next week or at Backlash, McIntyre beats Lashley to take back HIS title.
But Braun walks in to say McIntyre is “so wrong.” Lashley will eat his words when BRAUN beats him, just like Braun beat McIntyre last week. Oh, yes, surely Braun convinced himself he won all by himself, no Mace or T-Bar. Braun and McIntyre argue, Pearce tells them to save this for the Triple Threat. Braun, call the toss. Braun chooses tails, and tails never fails! Braun gets Lashley, and promises a preview of the Pay-Per-View. MVP says Braun shouldn’t plan on getting anywhere near Lashley’s championship. What’s that supposed to mean? McIntyre says that after Braun and Lashley beat each other up, they’re both getting one-way tickets to Claymore Country.
MVP says that was poetic but not what he meant. It’s that once Lashley puts Braun in the Hurt Lock tonight, Braun won’t even make it to Backlash. Oh is that so? But now we know which two titans battle in tonight’s main event! Who will be left standing to go strong into #WrestleManiaBacklash?
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome the NEW Raw Tag Team Champions, AJ Styles & Omos!
Finally, the PHENOMENALÂ duo return! Styles and Omos have the belts and bring them to the ring, and they get mics to finally speak as champions. “For those of you who were foolish enough NOT to tune in for WrestleMania Saturday, you would’ve seen AJ Styles and Omos defeat the New Day and become the NEW Raw Tag Team Champions!” And by the way, it was Omos’ first match ever, and he WRECKED the New Day! Omos is likely to wreck them again tonight, here on Raw! But before tossing Kofi & Woods around like rag dolls in a WrestleMania rematch, Styles has a question for the WWE Universe: “Did you miss us?”
Of course you did! They’re the Raw Tag Team Champions, of course the fans missed them! And Styles is sure we have questions for them, like where they went after their victory. They went to party, that’s where! Off the coast in Florida, in the Caribbean, having Pina Coladas and getting sun tans, it was awesome! They have better things to do than throw tomatoes like the New Day. Ridiculous. And officially, Styles is a GRAND SLAM CHAMPION~! He could go on and on about all that, and how he did it in just five years. The New Day has been through a lot, Styles doesn’t want to make them jealous and stuff, but they’re here for one reason and one reason only.
But the New Day enters to interrupt! Styles smiles as he likes the gear. They’re like AJ Styles! Woods says Styles & Omos made a hell of an impact, and that was incredible. Kofi wasn’t even sure these two still worked here but they’re back, congrats on the time off. Bravo. You love to see it. Because this is the work ethic that allowed the New Day to become 11-time champions! Yeah, came and went, had a lack of respect, all that, right? That’s what champs are made of, right? Are they? But look, all jokes aside, they’ve had fun, but New Day will tell you something about them. There IS a reason why they’re ELEVEN TIME champions: Every time they get knocked down, they pick themselves up and dust themselves off, to get those titles back like clockwork!
And as for Styles, he can take shots and jabs if he wants, but here’s the fact: on the greatest night of Kofi’s career, #KofiMania, with family and friends there to celebrate with him, it was a very physically draining match, emotionally draining, and somehow, some way, Kofi was back the very next night on Raw, not even part of the roster then, because that’s the kind of champion Kofi is, that the New Day made him! Brag, boast, and talk about you won ONE time and somehow had a month off! That’s not the way that New Day rolls, bruh. Omos says this is ENOUGH from the morons talking and joking. Omos didn’t knock enough sense into them at Mania! But after tonight, neither of them will be able to laugh! Or even walk! OH~! Come get this work, New Day!
Well then, hopefully the champs enjoyed the victory lap. Because we’re back to reality. And the reality is, the New Day aren’t just going to be the one, two, three four five so on and so on time, but the TWELVE TIME W! W! E! WORLD! TAG! TEAM! CHAMPIONS~!! It’ll be WrestleMania revisited, after the break!
Raw Tag Team Championships: AJ Styles & Omos VS The New Day!
Raw returns and Styles starts with Woods. They circle, approach, and Styles acts like he forgot something. Styles tags to Omos! The 7’4″, just-under 400 pound tower stands before Woods for the first time on a Monday night! Woods gives kicks but Omos isn’t bothered. Omos grabs Woods by his head to TOSS him! Woods flounders back up, Omos CLUBS him down! Styles loves what he sees as Omos gets Woods up to TOSS him into the New Day’s corner! Omos dares Kofi to step up, so Kofi tags in. Kofi circles around Omos, kicks him in the leg, but Omos still isn’t bothered by it. Kofi tries again, but it still doesn’t do anything. Omos blocks a kick, spins Kofi, and just shoves him down!
Omos drags Kofi up, whips him to ropes, but Kofi ducks then boots back! Omos felt that one! Woods tags in, New Day double dropkick! Omos rebounds to DOUBLE LARIAT! Styles is fired up! Omos dares the New Day to try again, Omos drags Woods up and SMASHES him with a knee! Styles and Omos high-five, but the ref says that’s a tag! Styles argues the difference with the ref, but Woods rolls Styles up, TWO!! Woods ENZIGURIS, Styles falls out of the ring, tag to Kofi! Woods WRECKS Styles with a dropkick, Kofi builds sped but Omos stands in his way. Kofi decides to TRIANGLE TRUST FALL instead! Direct hit and things are in New Day’s favor now as Raw goes to break!
Raw returns again and Woods grinds Styles down with a chinbar and armlock. Styles fights up, throws forearms, and is free. Styles runs but into a mule kick! BASEMENT COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO! Woods drags Styles up and into the corner, “Time to turn up!” The Unicorn Stomp-ede starts up, tag to Kofi then tag to Woods and repeat! The cycle ends on Kofi for Woods to whip him in, BASEMENT DROPKICK! Omos is frustrated as Kofi covers, TWO! Styles survives and Omos is relieved, but Kofi drags Styles around. Kofi has the armlock, shifts to a top wristlock, but Styles endures. Styles fights up, throws haymakers, and is free again, only for Kofi to KNEE him down! Kofi covers, TWO!
Kofi drags Styles up, but Styles hits a jawbreaker! Styles reaches but Kofi keeps him from Omos. Styles elbows then PELES! Woods tags in and gets Styles by the waistband! Woods reels Styles in, Styles slips out of the back suplex, tag to Omos! Woods rushes Omos but into an iron claw! Omos CLOBBERS Kofi then SLAMS Woods! Omos dead lifts Kofi for a BACKBREAKER! Woods staggers into a scoop, for a BACKBREAKER! Omos has a New Day member in each corner, and he runs to back body block Kofi, then corner to corner to back body block Woods! Kofi staggers in, into the TWO HAND SLAM! Woods mule kicks but Omos stays on his feet! Omos BOOTS Woods down!
Omos roars as he looms over both New Day members! Styles tags in and climbs up Omos! SUPER PHENOMENAL FOREARM to Woods! Cover, Styles & Omos win!
Winners: AJ Styles & Omos, by pinfall (still Raw Tag Team Champions)
Talk about phenomenal! Will it take a team even greater than the New Day to dethrone a team this powerful?
Sonya Deville talks with someone backstage.
She understands how they feel, and will take their request into consideration. it’s Charlotte Flair! She smiles as she struts out of the office and Pearce asks what that was about. Nothing he needs to worry about. Pearce tells Sonya that while he appreciates her input and feedback, she is overstepping her bound. There’s a stare down between the two governing officials, are we just one wrong move away from a power struggle?
A classic never goes out of style.
Eva Marie asks, “Do I have your attention?” She’s been thinking about where she’s been and where she’s going. Does she have your attention? Good. There are twists and turns in the road of life, but she’s always tried to control her destiny. “But part of that is giving back.” She has your attention, and wants to inspire you. She’s come full circle, “this is Eva-lution.”
Backstage interview with MVP & Bobby Lashley.
Luck was on Braun’s side to face Lashley in tonight’s main event, but MVP says Braun’s luck actually ran out. Braun could have a salad of just four-leaf clovers, then eat a rabbit’s foot stew, and still wouldn’t have enough luck to change tonight’s outcome with the All Mighty WWE Champion. Braun is just lucky being in the ring with Lashley, or unlucky depending on your perspective. But whether it’s Braun or McIntyre, neither can compare to Lashley. MVP won’t discount how great and ferocious those two are, they’re “forces of nature” no normal man could handle.
But Lashley himself says he is no normal man. He is even more ferocious, and even more of a FREAK of nature. And neither of his opponents can take this title. You’ll have to pry it out of his cold, dead hands, and even then, Lashley doesn’t like your odds. But he could lose the title without being in the decision, and he won’t let that happen. MVP says the Strowman Express will be derailed, so all aboard the All Mighty Era!
The New Day are recovering backstage.
But while they have icepacks, Elias and Jaxson Ryker are lurking with a basket of tomatoes! Getting hit with these was the single most humiliating moment in Elias’ career. But they have a clear shot at them, so it’s time for payback. The trainer leaves, and the tomatoes fly! Wait, they accidentally hit RANDY ORTON!! The Viper had unfortunate timing, for Elias. But then Matt Riddle scoots by and says hey. Will RKBRO have something to say to the Drifter and his follower?
Charlotte Flair VS Dana Brooke w/ Mandy Rose!
The Queen dispatched with one #SexyMuscleFriend, but now she must face the other! Can Dana get payback for Mandy? Or will it be a clean sweep as Charlotte pursues the throne?
Raw returns as Dana & Mandy make their entrance. The bell rings and the Flex Appeal stares down Charlotte. They approach, tie up, and Charlotte wrenches to push Dana around. Charlotte still says Dana hasn’t gone anywhere from being the protégé she was. Dana fires off furious forearms! Charlotte shoves her away, swings but Dana dodges to handspring! Dana goes around and around and headscissors Charlotte, to then dropkick her down! Charlotte gets up, gets Dana for a backbreaker then a Complete Shot to ropes! Charlotte stomps Dana, drags her to a cover, TWO! Charlotte is annoyed that Dana is still in this, but she tells Mandy to back up.
Charlotte is on the apron and she BOOTS Dana back in! Charlotte covers, TWO! The count is not to Charlotte’s liking but she drags Dana up to throw her out hard! “I thought I taught you better than this.” Mandy gets Dana up and in but Charlotte KNEES Dana down! Dana hotshots back! Charlotte staggers, Dana turns her around to ENZIGURI! Charlotte staggers but she comes back to CLOBBER Dana! Dana rolls to a corner, Charlotte checks her neck, and then runs in, but into a BOOT! Dana elbows Charlotte, goes up and headscissors, but Charlotte powers her up,. Dana sunset flips, Charlotte STOMPS her down!
Charlotte is getting frustrated as she stalks Dana. She runs in but Dana dodges the boot! Dana fires off haymakers as Charlotte is stuck on the ropes! Dana runs corner to corner to handspring back in, for a back elbow! Charlotte staggers, Dana whips her to the other corner and handsprings in again, for another back elbow! Dana pushes Charlotte down, climbs up top, and SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, TWO!! Charlotte survives and Dana can’t believe it! Dana grits her teeth, Mandy coaches her up, and Dana runs corner to corner again for another handspring! Charlotte CHOP BLOCKS Dana down! Figure Four, to Figure EIGHT!! Dana taps, Charlotte wins!
Winner: Charlotte Flair, by submission
A valiant effort, but now Charlotte is making her pay for it! But Mandy dropkicks Charlotte out of the bridge! And then runs to KNEE FROM A ROSE! Mandy scrapes Charlotte out of the ring, but here comes Sonya! Charlotte has a big grin on her face as Sonya heads to ringside. What will this WWE official in the Queen’s back pocket have to say after the break?
Raw returns and Sonya stands with Charlotte in the ring.
“As WWE official, equal to that of Adam Pearce,” Sonya Deville allows Charlotte to “make a proposal.” Charlotte has to be honest. She was a bit taken aback to hear Asuka has another opportunity against Rhea Ripley for the Raw Women’s Championship, and Charlotte was again left out of the conversation. Does Charlotte have to again remind us all that SHE beat Asuka’s undefeated streak? Does she again have to remind us that SHE put Rhea on the map when she won the NXT Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 36? Does Charlotte have to remind us again that RHEA stole CHARLOTTE’S chance when she took the spot at WrestleMania 37?
Yes, Charlotte has made mistakes, she understands that. She has learned the error of her ways, and is happy to be back. But Sonya can’t look Charlotte in the eye that if Charlotte is added to Backlash, that the PPV wouldn’t be a bigger deal. She’s not done talking, Sonya. Asuka and Rhea can only take the division so far. But you add Charlotte, she makes it that much more important. Charlotte is the influencer of the WWE, the original influencer of the WWE, the most FAMOUS influencer in the WWE Women’s Division! She influences, others follow. it’s more than being a locker room leader. She says something, they do it.
We all know Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, right? And how some of their friends the coattails to become famous? Charlotte relates to that. She gave Sonya the opportunity to be the authority, and she made a courageous and correct decision by undoing the unjustice of suspension! “But here’s the thing, love me or hate me, the division NEEDS me! The WWE Universe NEEDS me!” Charlotte is happy to oblige, but she needs a match worthy of her! Sonya made the right decision once, so do it again and ADD her to Backlash! Sonya, Sonya, Sonya, make that courageous decision. Sonya, be fair to Flair. You got it?
Sonya finally gets to speak and says that is a compelling argument. The men have a Triple Threat match, so then the women will, too. Charlotte has been added to the title match at #WrestleManiaBacklash. But here comes the champion! Rhea Ripley says no no no, hold on. Rhea’s put up with a lot, but this is CRAP. There’s a reason why Charlotte wasn’t in the match at WrestleMania, and it’s the same reason why NOBODY wants to see her in the coming match! “Nobody likes you,” Charlotte! NOBODY! Rhea is confident that she can beat Asuka 1v1 because she already has. And she became champion because of it. But a Triple Threat? Everyone knows how unfair that is!
But Rhea should’ve known that bringing Charlotte back was just a part of the plan. And now, the Empress of Tomorrow walks out! Asuka also says this is CRAP! Sonya tells them to watch their mouths, but Asuka mocks Charlotte as a “whining, crying little baby!” WAH WAH~! But it doesn’t matter to her! She can beat Charlotte, she can beat Rhea, and why? Because she is ready to become Raw Women’s Champion again! Charlotte says this is why no one compares to Charlotte! They get thrown one curveball, and look at them! They’re losing their minds! Rhea is walking into Backlash with a title, but Charlotte will be walking out with it!
Rhea gets in Sonya’s face about this, Sonya tries to defend her position, but Charlotte CLOBBERS Rhea! So Asuka hits Charlotte! Asuka pushes Charlotte out and is all fired up! Fair or not, will the Nightmare be in for a nightmare of her own? Is the Queen going to slip in and take her throne back? Or will the Empress destroy them all and EARN the throne back?
Backstage interview with Humberto Carrillo.
Dale Gas! But when it comes to him challenging the “fighting champion,” The Fella and Carrillo have gone back and forth. Carrillo says Sheamus is a “tough guy” bully, just because he thinks he can do it. Carrillo knows what it feels like to be bullied, and he won’t let anyone do it! He’ll keep challenging Sheamus over and over until he- GETS BLINDSIDED! Sheamus mugs Carrillo, bumps him off road cases and tables! He even throws him into a bigger case! Sheamus then tells Carrillo, “Looks like you’ll be in no condition to accept my open challenge tonight. But chin up, there’s always next week.” Has the Celtic Warrior cleared out one contender? Or only lit a new fire inside him?
Pearce confronts Sonya backstage!
What the hell? Making the Raw Women’s Championship match into a Triple Threat?! This is beyond abuse of power! Last week, they agreed to make decisions together. Sonya sent a text. They share an office! Well the service must be terrible, but this was an urgent decision that had to be made. But yes, they should make decisions together. Pearce agrees, but are they really going to be on the same page?
John Morrison w/ The Miz VS Damian Priest!
The Hollywood A-Lister has tried to stop the Archer of Infamy but has only ended up looking a fool. Will the Guru of Greatness be the one to take Priest to Slam Town? Or will Priest just #HitTheLights?
Raw returns and Miz has a mic. “last time I checked, I am the Miz, one of the most decorated stares in WWE history.” And this is John Morrison, AKA America’s MOIST Wanted, a man so nice you have to say his nickname twice, Johnny Drip Drip! And last Monday, they suffered a sophomoric prank by being pelted by rotten tomatoes by The New Day and Damian Priest! What kind of treatment is that for someone of their pedigree? Forget your opinions for a moment and just look at the accomplishments! A WrestleMania main event; a two-time world champion; a two-time Mr. Money in the Bank; Intercontinental Champion; United States Champion; WWE Tag Team Champion; movie star, reality TV star, the list goes on and one!
And when you hear that, you think about a first-ballot Hall of Fame inductee! An all time great whose accomplishments stack up against literally anyone in history! Cena, Rock, Austin, Hogan… Miz. It is only farfetched when you ignore the facts. But would any of them be subjected to the disrespect he received? NEVER! And what about Morriso- And yet MIZ is the bad guy? He simply wanted an itsy, bitsy, teeny-weeny, bit of respect. R E S P E C T! Aretha Franklin, baby! Now about Morrison- Priest has shown them such disrespect, they have no choice but for Morrison to BEAT respect into him! Forgiveness ain’t good for dripness, and now it’s Johnny’s turn!
But Priest makes his entrance, and it’s time to either get respect or get wrecked!
The bell rings, Morrison waistlocks then headlocks, but Priest powers out to pop-up and ATOMIC DROP! Those are still tender! Priest sweeps the legs, covers, ONE! Priest clamps onto an arm, drags Morrison down, but Morrison shifts to get a toehold. Morrison floats to get a waistlock then headlock, but Priest wrenches out to a hammerlock. Priest spins Morrison for a cravat but Morrison throws body shots. Morrison wants a Moonlight Drive, but Priest shoves him to clothesline him out of the ring! Priest is fired up and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Morrison fires off on Priest against the ropes. Morrison whips, Priest comes back to knee low! Morrison trips Priest, spins to throw down forearms, then stomps him before raining down more! Priest shoves Morrison away but Morrison comes back with a SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO! Miz is fired up as Morrison clamps onto Priest. Morrison squeezes the chinlock tight, but Priest endures and fights his way up. Fans rally on their screens, Priest gets up but Morrison knees low and CLUBS him on the back. Morrison runs, into a FLAPJACK! Both men are down and Miz is worried.
Morrison and Priest slowly rise, Morrison drags Priest up but Priest ROCKS him with a right! Priest fires off shots, ROCKS Morrison again, and then KICKS away from all sides! Morrison boots the punch away, then fights through a block to ROCK Priest! Priest KICKS and KICKS again, then spins, but Morrison ducks to EDDY GORDO KICK! Priest staggers about, but he punches Morrison’s forearm away! Priest BOOTS, then runs to back elbow in the corner! Priest gets Morrison up, Morrison slips out and shoves, but Priest CLOBBERS him! Cover, TWO!! Miz is relieved again as Morrison survives, but Priest looms over the Guru of Greatness.
Priest goes to a corner, climbs up, but Miz gets on the apron! Priest scares him off, but Morrison gets up top to SUPER SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!?! Priest survives and Miz is furious with the ref! The ref says the count was fair, but Morrison grits his teeth. Morrison drags Priest to a drop zone, goes up, but Priest drags him out of Starship Pain! Miz distracts, Morrison rolls Priest, but now the ref is missing the count! ONE, Morrison is angry with the ref but gets the BELL CLAP! HIT THE LIGHTS!! Cover, Priest wins!
Winner: Damian Priest, by pinfall
The Miz realizes he just cost his friend! Priest stares Miz down as Miz fixes his suit, but how will Miz fix his Priest problem?
Mansoor signs a Raw contract!
He is officially Monday Night Manny! Sheamus walks in and shows off his US Championship. Surely, we all know Carrillo wanted to challenge for the title, but we know that kid doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Accidents happen, though. Hey, who is this? An intern? Awesome! Mansoor introduces himself as a Raw superstar, just like Sheamus. Oh, just like Sheamus, huh? Mr. Hot Shot, huh? Is that what this is? Well then, tonight’s a big night, huh? Let’s make it even bigger! If Mansoor answered the open challenge and faced Sheamus, not for the title, there’s no better way for the fans to get to know him then taking a Brogue in the side of the head. See you out there, buddy!
Mansoor knows things change fast around here, but he didn’t expect it to be that quick. Pearce says Mansoor will get used to it. Will the still undefeated Mansoor be taking Sheamus up on his invitation?
Backstage interview with MVP.
But he won’t let Kayla even start as he says Lashley VS Braun shouldn’t even happen. He still can’t figure out how Braun weaseled his way into a situation where he made the title match a Triple Threat. Braun doesn’t belong! MVP knows that, Lashley knows that, and McIntyre knows that. In fact, McIntyre and Lashley have a lot in common. Their long road to the world title, their ferocity, tenacity and will to win like no other two in the world. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise MVP if Lashley and McIntyre teamed up to take out Braun so they could have the 1v1 match they rightfully deserve. Oh, and watch what the All Mighty Lashley does to the “so-called” Monster Among Men.
Lucha House Party VS Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin!
Raw returns and this match is suddenly happening! Gran Metalik whips Alexander but Alexander runs him over. Things keep moving, Metalik hurdles but Alexander sweeps and covers, ONE! Alexander kicks low, whips Metalik to ropes, but Metalik handsprings to arm-drag! Metalik CHOPS Alexander, whips, but Alexander reverses, only for Metalik to RANA! Alexander staggers to a corner, Metalik runs in. Alexander dodges, Metalik goes up and around the ropes to missile dropkick Alexander down! Cover, TWO! Metalik gets Alexander up, runs, but into a scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Both men are down, Alexander crawls to a cover, TWO!
Tag to Benjamin and Alexander holds Metalik down for Benjamin to get him up. Benjamin scoops and SLAMS, then scoops and SLAMS! Benjamin drags Metalik back up, whips to ropes, and LAUNCHES him with a back drop! Cover, TWO! Metalik survives but Benjamin keeps on him. Benjamin scoops Metalik for a BACKBREAKER, and then the rack! Cover, TWO! Benjamin drags Metalik up, tags Alexander in, and they mug Metalik. Alexander bumps Metlaik off buckles, fires off body shots and then stomps a mudhole in! The ref counts, Alexander lets off, and #PRIMED runs back in to forearm smash! Metalik boots back, then SLING-DOGS him down!
Both men crawl, hot tags to Lince Dorado and Benjamin! Golden Lynx fires off on Gold Standard, Quebrada but Benjamin dodges to CLOBBER Lince! Cover, TWO!! Benjamin throws hands on Lince in a corner, stomps him and knees him down, but the ref counts. Benjamin brings Lince around to ROCK him with a right, then whip him to ropes. Lnice uses the pop-up to rana but Benjamin blocks it! Benjamin brings Lince up, Lince tries to DDT but is denied! Benjamin BOOTS Lince down, covers, TWO! Benjamin drags Lince up, throws more hands in a corner, then whips corner to corner. Lince comes back to tilt-o-whirl and DDT!
Both men are down, Alexander runs in but is sent right back out! Tag to Metalik, Lince springboard CROSSBODIES! Metalik is up top, tightrope ELBOW DROP! Cover, Lucha House Party wins!!
Winners: Lucha House Party, by pinfall
That was Lucha LIT! Alexander is shocked, and he gets a mic to complain to BENJAMIN!? “We went from being WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS with the Hurt Business, to this?! Look at us! No wonder MVP and Lashley decided to kick us out!” But to be honest, they didn’t get kicked out, BENJMAIN got kicked out! Alexander should’ve turned on the weak link, too! Ask yourself this question, Benjamin: How long has he been here getting opportunity after opportunity and let it all slip through his fingers? How many years does Benjamin have left?
Alexander is in the PRIME of his life, and he refuses to waste another second keeping Benjamin alive. So this team is DONE. What does this mean for either man going forward?
Angel Garza has another rose.
But Drew Gulak asks the “pretty boy” if that’s for him. Oh that’s funny, huh? Yeah. It’s funny that the supposed ladies man can’t even score. And that rose smells almost as bad as Garza’s win-loss record. Speaking of, let’s have a match right now! If Garza accepts, then Gulak will smell like roses. Gulak can smell it, because Garza will shove the rose up his ass! Gulak is confused by the insult, but will one of these men get back on track at the other’s expense?
Backstage interview with Shelton Benjamin.
Those were harsh words from Alexander, what is his response? Harsh? Benjamin has survived this long in the WWE because he can take a hit. He’s seen so many bright stars come and go, much like Alexander. The only reason Alexander was in the Hurt Business was because Benjamin saw something in him that no one else did. If Alexander doesn’t want to learn from Benjamin, team with him, take the hits with him, then fine! Alexander’s a grown man, but he will RESPECT Benjamin. Benjamin LET Alexander run his mouth. But if he keeps going, Alexander will be just another bright young star that fizzles out while Benjamin continues to survive!
Drew Gulak VS Angel Garza!
Two former Cruiserweight Champions, two former 24/7 Champions, but only one can win tonight! Who returns to former glory in the wake of WrestleMania 37?
The bell rings, Garza takes his pants off and throws them at Gulak to then fire off SHOTGUN dropkicks! Garza hammers away, then snapmares and basement dropkicks! Garza is fuming as he rains down fists on Gulak! Gulak guards but Garza taunts him now. “Is that funny?!” Garza gets Gulak up, underhooks, and lifts for a BUTTERFLY BACKBREAKER! Gulak writhes, Garza grins and stalks him to a corner, but Gulak CHOPS! And boots! Gulak headbutts low and wraps on a sleeper hold! Gulak throws Garza around in the sleeper, then squeezes tight! Garza endures, Gulak taunts him, but Garza fights up to use the corner to swing and arm-drag free!
Garza runs in to CLOBBER Gulak! And another shotgun dropkick! Garza throws more forearms and has Gulak in a corner. The ref counts as Garza chokes Gulak then ROCKS him! Garza runs side to side for the BOOT WASH! Garza pushes Gulak around, double underhooks again, for the WING CLIPPER!! Cover, Garza wins!
Winner: Angel Garza, by pinfall
The Lethal Lothario emphasized the lethal part as he got a much needed win! But he grabs the rose, and does as he threatened! He puts it down Gulak’s pants to then PUNT it deeper! Every rose has its thorn, but will Garza be smelling sweet victory?
Matt Riddle finds the Viking Raiders backstage.
Sup, Erik & Ivar! Did you guys catch the NFL Draft? That was pretty wild stuff, huh? But which team do they cheer for? The Vikings? Or the Raiders? Actually, Erik is a Browns fan. Did not see that coming. Ivar explains that they’re the Viking Raiders, as in Vikings who raid. It isn’t two things together. Oh! Then lets raid and serenade some ladies Right, Ivar. You sexy stallion! Riddle then catches up to Orton again and says sup, bro. Orton isn’t your bro. Yeah, he knows, but metaphorically, they’re becoming bros for sharing the same interests and goals. Okay, they need to get serious, but Riddle is honored to tag with him. They’re undefeated! Unde…? They literally had just ONE match.
Orton sighs, and says they should win another one. Yeah! Snake skin, here we come! He’s even working on a logo so- Orton has Riddle zip the lip and “hand over the key.” Will #RKBRO continue to smoke teams outta nowhere?
Elias & Jaxson Ryker VS Randy Orton & Matt Riddle!
The Drifter and his follower should’ve been more careful about throwing tomatoes long range. The Viper was a casualty of a food fight gone wrong, but will he and The Bro use them to solidify their tag team partnership?
The teams sort out and Orton starts with Elias. Elias walks right into a kick, then Orton bumps Elias off buckles! Orton throws hands, stomps, and uppercuts, then even a headbutt! Orton keeps Elias cornered as he fires off more, but the ref counts. Orton lets off, Elias kicks low! Elias CLUBS Orton, tags in Ryker, and they mug Orton. Ryker throws hands, stomps Orton into a corner and fires off hands! Ryker lets off, Orton pokes him in the eye! Orton wrenches, wristlocks, and tags in Riddle. Riddle KICKS Ryker, gets a body scissor and Kimura! Ryker powers out and SLAMS Riddle down! Riddle is right back up to get a sleeper! Ryker fights the Bromission off and RAMS Riddle into buckles!
Elias tags in, Riddle leaps for Orton but Ryker catches him! SYMPHO-KNEE HART ATTACK! Cover, TWO! Elias throws hands on Riddle to keep him from Orton, then CHOPS him! Elias fires off m ore hands against the ropes, then lets off to whip and CLOBBER Riddle! Cover, TWO! Elias has Riddle’s hand and bends the fingers back! Riddle endures, fights up to fireman’s carry, but Elias elbows free! Elias ROCKS Riddle, tags Ryker, and they get Riddle up to suplex into a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Riddle survives but Ryker stomps and drops headbutts! Ryker drags Riddle up, throws body shots, and gets Riddle for the slingshot suplex! Cover, TWO!
Ryker digs his knee into Riddle’s back, then drags him into a high camel clutch! Riddle fights up, kicks free and fires off forearms! Ryker knees low, reels Riddle in and suplexes again, but Riddle slips around to ripcord and FINAL FLASH! Both men are down, Riddle crawls his way over, hot tags to Orton and Elias! The Apex Predator rallies, kicks Elias and puts him in ropes, but Elias gets free to hotshot Orton! Elias drags Orton out, but Orton blocks the bump to bump Elias off the desk! Orton gets Elias up for the DESK BACK SUPLEX! Orton drags Elias into the ring, fights off Ryker, and then slithers after Elisa! Elias swings, into the back2backbreaker!
Orton pushes Elias back out, drags Elias back up and in, and just like last week, he tags to Riddle! Riddle climbs up, DRAPING DDT! Ryker runs in, RKO for him!! FLOATING BRO!! Cover, RKBRO wins!
Winners: Randy Orton & Matt Riddle, by pinfall
That’s 2-0 for RKBRO! Somehow, someway, the Viper and the Stallion are running wild in the tag division! Orton still isn’t up for the pose, though. Will that be the moment this team is 100% bro-fficial?
Backstage interview with Drew McIntyre.
What is his perspective on tonight’s main event? Who wins? Tough question. From his perspective, it doesn’t matter, so long as they beat the hell out of each other. But to bring up the giants in the room, so to speak, what are his thoughts on Mace & T-Bar? Ah yes, Mange and T-Bag. Why do they keep going after him? Why did they screw him over so that there’d be a Triple Threat at Backlash? Whose side are they on and who are they against? Why did they ditch the masks but keep the names? McIntyre doesn’t know the answers, but there is an old Scottish saying: What’s far ye will not go be ye. AKA, what’s mean to be will be. And that said, what’s meant to be is McIntyre caving in some heads at Backlash and regaining the WWE Championship!
But in walks Braun, and says he heard MVP talking about how McIntyre and Lashley might team up against Braun. Braun gets it, they think he doesn’t. But he earned his opportunity beating McIntyre last week. There is nothing you can do about that! And at Backlash, BRAUN is walking out the new champion! Maybe. Maybe not. But for now, just get out of here. Will Braun take care of the Rocky Mountain Machine before Backlash even arrives?
Open Challenge: Sheamus VS ???
The Celtic Warrior waylaid Carrillo, and then dared the newest signee to Raw to step up. Will Mansoor make his ThunderDome debut in a fight with the fighting champion?
Raw returns as Mansoor makes his entrance! The star of Saudi Arabia is still undefeated at just under 50 wins between NXT, 205 Live and even WWE Main Event. But will his first fight on Raw be his first loss?
The bell rings, they tie up, Sheamus headlocks and throws Mansoor away. They tie up again, and Sheamus headlocks for the takeover! Mansoor kips free, headlocks back, but Sheamus powers out and runs him over! Things speed up, Mansoor leaps but into a fireman’s carry! Sheamus gets Mansoor to a corner but Mansoor grabs ropes. Sheamus lets Mansoor down to grab him by his jaw! Mansoor breaks free and shoves Sheamus, so Sheamus SLAPS him! Sheamus talks trash but Mansoor ROCKS him! Mansoor then rolls Sheamus up, ONE!! Sheamus gets up but Mansoor dropkicks him! Mansoor runs to dropkick Sheamus down! Oklahoma Roll, TWO!
Mansoor hurries to get an arm and wrenches to a wristlock. Sheamus powers up to KNEE low! Sheamus gets Mansoor up, puts him on the top rope, and then lets off to CLOBBER him to the outside! The ref starts a ring count while Mansoor is down and out. Mansoor gets up at 5 of 10, in at 6! Sheamus KICKS Mansoor while he’s down then stomp him at the ropes. Sheamus gets Mansoor up for the Dublin Smile! Sheamus then JAMS Mansoor down, drags him back up, and puts him through ropes for Beats of the Bodhrain! The ref counts, but Sheamus gets all 10 before 4, to then CLOBBER Mansoor again!
Sheamus goes out to get Mansoor up, trophy lift him, and TOSS him onto the barriers! Mansoor flops down, Sheamus leaves him behind! The ring count starts up again, Mansoor flounders up at 3. He drags himself to ringside at 5, grits his teeth and glares at 7, and gets in at 9! Sheamus is shocked! Sheamus gets Mansoor up, Mansoor elbows him again and again and again! Mansoor runs, but Sheamus reel shim in! Mansoor lands out of the back suplex, and dropkicks a leg out! Sheamus hits buckles, Mansoor ENZIGURIS him down! Mansoor keeps going, TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO!! Mansoor keeps on Sheamus with a clubbing forearm, then he goes up top!
But Sheamus trips Mansoor up! Sheamus fireman’s carries, for the WHITE NOISE! Sheamus isn’t done, he puts Mansoor in a corner and goes to the other side. But wait, Carrillo attacks!!
Winner: Sheamus, by disqualification
Carrillo WRECKS Sheamus then DIVES! Direct hit and Sheamus hits the desk! Carrillo does not let up, his fury fires off forearms! Sheamus SHOVES Carrillo into the desk, but Carrillo comes back, only to get a BROGUE! BROGUE for Mansoor, too! The Fella won in the end, but he isn’t happy about it! Sheamus holds his US Championship up, but when will he finally give someone a chance at it?
Raw returns to Alexa’s Playground.
Lily is “whispering” something to Alexa and she laughs. They’ve had so much fun tonight. Lily’s a big fan, so seeing her favorites up close was a nightmare come true. Did we enjoy their game? Because they love to play hide ‘n’ seek. But Alexa finds Lily in “peculiar positions.” Lily’s gotten her hands dirty a few times, and her favorite color is red. But wherever Lily goes, trouble follows. What was that, Lily? Really? Lily just told Alexa that a certain someone caught her eyes. Can’t say who, though> That’s their dirty little secret. But like Alexa said before: don’t blame her for what happens next.
Alexa sings, “Lily~, Lily~, what did you make me do~? The world~ goes~ crazy~, just at the sight of you. We have so much fun together, and we’ll be friends forever! But what’s that scream? Is this a dream? Lily, what did you make me do…?” Alexa smiles, but what horrors does she and “Lily” have in store?
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler w/ Reginald VS Naomi & Lana!
The Irresistible Force and Queen of Spades have been struggling to keep things together, but so far still have these titles together! Will they pull through or fall apart against the Ravishing Glow?
Raw returns as the champions make their entrance. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and it’s one more go around for the gold!
Nia and Naomi rush in, Naomi fires forearms but Nia shoves to then pop-up FLAPJACK! Tag to Shayna, Naomi avoids the leg drop but Shayna grabs a leg! Shayna drags Naomi up but Naomi enziguris! Hot tag to Lana, she climbs up and leaps for a CROSSBODY! Cover, TOW! Lana hurries to get Shayna up but Shayna shoves her away. Lana tilt-o-whirls into a Ravishing Russian Leg Sweep! Cover, TWO! Shayna staggers up, Lana runs in to HEEL KICK! Lana keeps moving, Naomi tags as Lana KNEES Shayna against ropes! Naomi runs in, wheelbarrow to a STUNNER! ROUNDHOUSE to victory roll, TWO!!
Shayna is up, Nia is on the apron, Naomi dropkicks Nia before bringing Shayna over. Tag to Lana but Shayna rams Naomi into buckles! Shayna elbows Lana away but the Ravishing Glow hit the DOUBL EFACEBUSTER! But Nia drags Naomi out to throw her! Lana WRECKS Nia with a dropkick and hurries to cover Shayna, but Reggie distracts the ref!! The ref is late to the count, TWO!! Shayna survives because the sommelier interfered! KIRAFUDA KLUTCH! Lana rolls back and escapes! Lana wheelbarrows, but back into the KIRAFUDA!! Lana taps, the champs win!
Winners: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler, by submission (still WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
Reggie’s presence pays off this time, and the titles stay with the champions! But will there ever come a time when this relationship sours?
MVP talks backstage.
“Braun Strowman is one of the strongest individuals I have ever seen in my life! But he is NOT the All Mighty WWE Champion, Bobby Lashley.” This is going to be a match between two bulls that will try and rip fresh from bone! A bone will break, and so will Strowman’s will. In this herd, there can only be one dominant bull, and that is Lashley! MVP and the All Mighty head to the ring, will Lashley back up MVP’s words?
Bobby Lashley w/ MVP VS Braun Strowman!
Speaking of breaking, there was a time when these two titans had a showdown that literally broke the stage! Will the Rocky Mountain Machine and Monster Among Men make that night look like a pillow fight with what could happen in the ThunderDome?
Raw returns as BRAAAUN~ makes his entrance! The ref makes sure they keep their cool staring down, and the bell rings. The two circle, tie up, and Strowman powers Lashley towards a corner. Lashley turns it around, but Braun powers him back the other way. They end up in a different corner, Lashley has Braun and he RAMS his shoulder in! Braun swings but into a waistlock. Braun backs Lashley into the buckles to fire off elbows, but Lashley gives them back! Lashley ROCKS Braun, runs, but Braun bounces him off! Lashley is shocked, Braun looks mad! Braun swings, but into a NECKBREAKER! Cover, ONE!!
Lashley gets up, MVP tells him to stay on Braun, and Lashley runs, into a STIFF ARM! Braun drags Lashley up to scoop him, but Lashley slips out! Braun clotheslines Lashley out of the ring! Lashley gets up and walks around the way with MVP. Braun keeps his eyes on them, Lashley gets on the apron and Braun BLASTS him off! Braun goes out, puts Lashley back in, and then storms up into the ring. Braun runs to the corner to SPLASH, then runs corner to corner, only to get a BOOT! Lashley runs, and CLOBBERS Braun! Cover, TWO! Lashley keeps on Braun with a chinbar then top wristlock. Braun fights up, Lashley keeps him down with a chinlock, but Braun throws body shots!
Braun gets up, gets Lashley in a chinbar, but here comes McIntyre! Braun still CLUBS Lashley down, but the Scottish Warrior is here to watch things up close and personal. Braun dares McIntyre to do something as he goes out to meet him at the ramp. Lashley LEAPS and knocks Braun down! Now Lashley stares McIntyre down, and holds out a fist? McIntyre isn’t taking sides, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns once more, and Lashley has Braun in a chinlock. McIntyre joins commentary to say that this is the first time he’s here to see this himself. He’s just getting the ultimate fan experience really. Braun powers up, powers out, and runs. Lashley hurdles but Braun catches him to a choke grip! MVP distracts and Lashley hits the COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO! Lashley is shocked by that, but he drags Braun up to throw hands! Lashley stomps Braun into the corner, digs his boots in, and lets off as the ref counts. Lashley gets Braun onto the ropes to throw clubbing crossface forearms! MVP says to pay attention to the count, then Lashley POSTS Braun!
Lashley digs forearms into Braun’s face, lets off at the ref’s count, and goes back to dig his forearms in again. Lashley lets off, he gets Braun up to snap suplex him! Cover, TWO! Lashley CLUBS Braun down, hammers away, and claws at Braun’s face! The ref reprimands, Lashley pulls on the jaw, then lets off to loom over Braun. Lashley throws hands, McIntyre tells MVP to worry about Lashley, not him. Lashley backs off to run corner to corner and RAM into Braun again! Lashley gets Braun back up, digs his forearms into Braun’s face, but lets off again at the ref’s count. Lashley gets Braun back up, throws down more hands, then goes side to side to ROCK Braun with a right!
Braun is in a daze as he’s against buckles, but Lashley drags Braun back up. Lashley climbs up, rains down more hands, then gloats. Braun Electric Chair lifts Lashley for a SLAM!! Cover, TWO!! McIntyre likes what he sees as Lashley and Braun are both down. Lashley goes to a corner, Braun goes to the other. Braun runs corner to corner to SPLASH, then he suplex TOSSES Lashley! McIntyre tells MVP that Lashley might not make it to Backlash. Braun BOOTS Lashley down, then drags him back up. Braun scoops, Lashley slips out and wants the nelson! Braun fights it off and throws big elbows! Braun scoops for a SIDEWALK SLAM!
Both men are down again but Braun is getting up. Lashley bails out and MVP coaches him up, but Braun gets on the tracks! Here comes the Strowman Express! But Lashley sends it into McIntyre!! McIntyre is pissed, he and Braun shove, but the ref counts. Braun gets in the ring at 8, McIntyre is on the apron! Braun turns around into a SPEAR!! Cover, Lashley wins!!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by pinfall
But now McIntyre gives Lashley a CLAYMORE! This could be just like Backlash as McIntyre aims at Braun! The count down starts, CLAYMORE!! And breaking news from the back, now McIntyre will face Lashley next week! Will the Scottish Warrior get the last laugh before Backlash?
My Thoughts:
When WWE advertised that there’d be the men’s tag titles, the women’s tag titles, and then Lashley VS someone, I thought this was going to be a big time Raw. It was not. The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match was treated like filler trash. Naomi & Lana losing because of Reggie interfering is fine but now in that quick of a fashion. But I get it, Nia & Shayna are defending these titles against Tamina & Natty for a SmackDown related feud, and I of course hope this means Tamina & Natty win, but they really need to treat things evenly between the two sides of the RawDown Women’s Tag Division. No wonder NXT had to get their own women’s tag titles…
The Raw Tag Team title scene, on the other hand, is getting pretty good again. I do like that the New Day’s promo was criticizing the time off Styles & Omos had, because in kayfabe, it was without reason. The rematch was good, but not quite where WrestleMania’s match was. It was pretty clear Styles & Omos weren’t going to lose so soon, but it was also a bit of an obligation. I did like that Raw is working to intertwine the tag team stories, with Elias & Ryker failing to get revenge and instead getting a match with Orton & Riddle. RKBRO is continuing to be a fun combination in their promos and their matches, even with it just being a couple weeks, but I’m sure they’ll get even better.
LHP VS Alexander & Benjamin was rather out of nowhere, but it turned out to be pretty good. Even more surprising, Alexander and Benjamin broke up. Both guys had great passion in their promos, and a feud of these two is actually a long time coming really. Gulak VS Garza was a little less out of nowhere but started over trash talk over Garza not getting the ladies. A little early 2000’s but whatever. Sadly, this is the state of two very talented former Cruiserweight Champions. Shows you how Triple H and his team sees Cruiserweights compared to how Vince’s team does. Mansoor is here now, though, so that’s cool for him. Carrillo still going after Sheamus, too, so I guess Sheamus is going to maul them both with the US Championship on the line.
Morrison VS Priest was a great match, but there’s something even more interesting going on with how Miz kept cutting Morrison off in the promo. There is a break-up coming in the Greatest Tag Team of the 21st Century, which has also been a long time coming, and I feel like Morrison will come out the Face regardless because Miz was the one disrespecting him and then messing him up in that match. Morrison deserves to be in the US Championship scene and Miz putting him over to get there would actually be a great element to their real-life friendship. But also, where is Keith Lee? Still wondering what’s going on there.
I have mixed feelings about Eva Marie making such a sudden return. She didn’t have the best run the first time, but you have to appreciate she wants to make up for that. Maybe it’s good timing that fans aren’t live in the audience or they might give her grief over her original run. There is good story mixing as Charlotte gets her spot in a Triple Threat thanks to Sonya and how that feeds into this Sonya VS Pearce story. Rhea and Asuka have logical reactions, and Asuka stands tall so she can stay strong in this story, but I feel like that means she’s losing the match. Alexa’s promo was just rife with clues about her first feud on her own, and I think the keyword is how Lily likes red. I don’t want to think it’s Eva, despite her former All Red Everything gimmick, so maybe it’s just about the title and whoever holds it after Backlash.
The world title story was a bit of a mess tonight. Did we really need all these extra backstage interviews and promos? I feel like if Raw can’t give us everyone’s major thoughts in one go, there’s something wrong with the creative staff here. I will say MVP gave a great promo each time because he’s that good, but Raw really needed to figure out how to fill time without being redundant. Lashley VS Braun was a great match, even with how it finished, but McIntyre standing tall here makes me think he’ll lose at Backlash, similar math to Asuka in her Triple Threat. McIntyre VS Lashley next week might end up another case of copy and paste, just proving Raw is spinning its wheels.
My Score: 8/10
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Time to burn it down!
Ahead of entering the Royal Rumble, Seth Rollins and Drew McIntyre go one more round in a rematch from WrestleMania 40!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods VS Rey Mysterio; Rey wins.
- Bayley VS Nia Jax; Nia wins.
- PENTA VS Pete Dunne; Penta wins.
- Damage CTRL VS Pure Fusion Collective; DMG CTRL wins.
- Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre; Rollins wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Nia Jax ambushes Rhea Ripley!
The Irresistible Force is here on Raw to face Bayley, but she’s getting her payback on Mami for last week! She dribbles Rhea into the steel chain link fencing again and again, even as security and Adam Pearce rush in! They get Nia to stop, but Rhea is pissed! Will Nia regret riling up Rhea Bloody Ripley?
Jey Uso is here!
Dallas fires up and bounces along as it’s time to YEET! Michael Cole does his best to keep up with the beat as Main Event Jey makes his way down the bleachers. Wade Barrett is subbing in for Pat McAfee (the NCAA College Football Championship is also tonight), and Wade says Maggle looks like a “drunk grandpa” doing the YEET. Jey makes it to ringside, he high fives Maggle, then goes to the ring. But the YEET doesn’t slow down, it just keeps going! Jey grabs a mic and tells Dallas, “Main Event Jey Uso is now in your citaaaaaa~!” The fans cheer and join in with a “YEET!” Jey says this weekend, “YEET!” Saturday Night’s Main Event, “YEET!” Jey takes home the big one!
But then before Jey can continue, GUNTHER makes his way out here! Der Ring General, World Heavyweight Championship around his waist, makes his way right to the ring. Gunther grabs himself a mic while the fans boo. Jey paces but Gunther tells him, “Lemme guess, the next thing you were about to say is you were going to win the World Heavyweight title.” Jey confirms, he is gonna beat Gunther, then hang the title up in his room. Gunther says Jey really is “a funny little man.” But let’s not act like we both know it won’t happen. Last week, Jey was right here in front of Gunther, and he said every morning, he looks in the mirror and bets on himself.
The thing is, Gunther believes Jey. Gunther was looking forward to Saturday to square off with Main Event Jey Uso. Until today, when he saw Jey walking in here acting like that conversation last week never happened. Not after seeing Jey act like a complete DORK! Like he’s the company mascot for the fans! At this point, Gunther doesn’t even care. He could jsut as well get challenged by Jimmy Uso. Jey tells Gunther to not say something about his brother. Gunther says it doesn’t matter what Jey says, he never follows up with his actions! The fans are the only ones naive enough to believe everything Jey says. Gunther does not.
Bet on yourself? Until when? Until Roman Reigns whistles for him? Until Sami Zayn needs him? Until Jimmy needs him? Even Cody needed Jey and Jey showed up! All that makes Jey is a useful idiot, and Jey doesn’t even see it! Jey, your words and your actions do not align. Gunther’s always do! So on Saturday, when the bell rings, Gunther exposes Jey for the flash in the pan that has NO business being even this close to the World Heavyweight Championship. The fans boo but Gunther tells Jey to go. The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” but Jey says Gunther’s right again. Everything Gunther just said is true again.
Jey is the mascot of the WWE. And the fans here are his team. The fans are his squad. They ride with him! “YEET!” Slide with him! “YEET!” And they will be with him when he beats Gunther for the world championship! “YEET!” Jey reminds us he respects Gunther. But Gunther will respect Jey, too. Because only one of them in this ring main-evented a WrestleMania, and it ain’t Gunther. But then Gunther DECKS Jey! Gunther stomps Jey, the fans boo, but then Gunther DECKS Jey again! Gunther stands Jey up, but Jey TACKLES Gunther! Jey rains down fists and teh fans fire up! Gunther gets up, but Jey fires more hands!
Jey has Gunther’s shirt over his head for a hockey scrum! Gunther gets free, but Jey SUPERKICKS him down! The fans all “YEET!” while Der Ring General retreats! Jey has the belt and he dares Gunther to come get it! Jey drops it at the ropes, Gunther storms up to the apron, but Gunther stays back. Gunther leaves Dallas with the belt tonight, but will Jey leave San Antonio with it this Saturday?
The New Day walks the halls.
And then they spot someone. “Finally, somebody who understands!” JBL is here! They all shake hands, and JBL loves seeing them. Kofi Kingston says JBL is not just a champion and a Hall of Famer, but he’ll be on commentary tonight for The New Day’s match with that “hypocrite of a locker room leader,” Rey Mysterio. JBL should let New Day know they are the victims of a disgusting smear campaign! Kofi even sweetens the deal with a whole $2. Kofi says JBL understands being in a tag team but having to cut the deadweight to get ahead. And when he did, what happened? He had the greatest success of his career!
Not as great as The New Day, but please, be an acolyte for ya bois! JBL says yes, he does “get it.” Big E, all the muscles and charisma and personality, everywhere they go, the fans love Big E. Everyone chants for New Day, for Big E. You get rid of him, the fans have to pay attention to Kofi & Woods! Wow, okay. Backhanded compliments? Be that way. The New Day heads out, JBL asks if he can keep the two bucks. Will Kofi & Woods finally see who’s really in the wrong? Or will they continue to have a bad day here on Raw?
Backstage interview with Bayley.
Cathy Kelley is with the “busiest superstar” in WWE right now, as Bayley was on Raw, NXTÂ and SmackDown all last week. And she has an announcement to make, so for those who ahven’t heard, could she share? Yes, cat is out of the bag, Bayley is back on Raw officially via the Transfer Window! She started here after her NXT call-up, so it just feels right. But also, she is declaring for the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble! And if you remember, she won the 2024 Rumble, so going back to back sounds really good. She could choose Tiffany Stratton, she could choose Rhea Ripley, or- Nia Jax interrupts.
Nia says Bayley can have Rhea, Nia gets Tiffy. Also, Nia is going to win the Women’s Rumble, not Bayley. Oh, yeah, Bayley did see what Nia did to Rhea earlier. If Nia wants to try that, Bayley dares her. Nia says she’ll see Bayley out there. Nia leaves, but will the Irresistible Force rough Bayley up the same way she did Rhea? Or will Bayley continue to be the Role Model, even after changing brands?
Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods VS Rey Mysterio!
Raw returns and JBL is out there with Wade and Maggle already. The New Day makes their entrance, and they hate their song! They have it turn off, they get the tron to stop, and Woods says they already told the idiots in production that they’re no longer using that stuff! It’s ya bois, the NEW~ DAY~, and Dallas is starting to piss Kofi off! They have been doing this for too long and too well to be disrespected like this. They are walking Hall of Famers, unlike this FRAUD, JBL! JBL, give him that money back! Kofi snatches it out of JBL’s lapel pocket. Woods says Rey’s getting the brakes beat off him by the one and only Kofi Kingston~! BECAUSE NEW! DAY- “SUCKS!”
The fans chant “NEW! DAY SUCKS!” and the bell rings. Kofi and Rey circle, feel things out, and Kofi waistlocks to then headlock, waistlock, and he shoves Rey to a corner. The fans boo but Kofi soaks up that heat. JBL says this is the only time he’ll cheer a “deadbeat dad” like Rey. Rey and Kofi tie up, Rey waistlocks but Kofi switches to SLAM Rey down! Kofi slaps Rey around, and the fans boo as Kofi & Woods soak up the heat. Kofi taunts Rey, Rey and Kofi reset, and they tie up. Rey wrenches, hammerlocks, but Kofi wrenches out. Kofi wristlocks, Rey rolls and kips up, then Rey wrenches to headlock.
Kofi powers up and out, drops down then CLOBBERS Rey! The fans boo but Kofi keeps moving. Rey drops down, blows past Kofi, then tilt-o-whirls to RANA! Kofi staggers up, Rey dropkicks the legs out! Kofi is on ropes, Rey dials it up, but Kofi ducks the 619! Rey then PLANCHAS, but Kofi moves! Rey is on the apron, Kofi YANKS him down! The fans tell Kofi off but he drags Rey up and into the ring. Kofi then fires UPPERCUTS on Kofi, CHOKES him in the corner, then stomps a mudhole in! The ref counts, Kofi steps off, and then Kofi whips corner to corner. Rey reverses, runs up, but Kofi SWING KICKS! Rey GAMANGIRIS in return!
Rey RAMS Kofi, slingshots and SUNSET- NO, Kofi holds on, and he CLUBS Rey down! The fans boo but Kofi brings Rey in! Woods says watch this, “Hall of Famer!” Kofi lifts Rey, Rey pops free, but Kofi stomps away on him! Kofi glares at JBL, then he drags Rey up. The fans boo but Kofi SMACKS Rey off the apron. Kofi then reels Rey in, but Rey RANAS Kofi into the steel steps! The fans fire up as Rey rises, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Kofi has Rey down with an armlock. Rey fights to his feet, the fans fire up, and the forearms go back and forth! Kofi ROCKS Rey, Rey ROCKS Kofi, but then Kofi kicks low! Kofi whips, Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges, then Rey leaps to FLYING FOREARM! Both men are down and the fans fire up again. Woods coaches Kofi while Rey goes to the apron. Rey then goes to the corner, but Kofi hurries over that way. Kofi fires body shots, then he climbs up after Rey. Kofi brings Rey up but Rey fires body shots in return! Rey BENDS Kofi’s fingers, then he HEADBUTTS Kofi! Kofi staggers up, Rey hits the SEATED SENTON!
Rey gets moving, but Kofi ducks the springboard crossbody! Kofi sunset flip, but Rey rolls through, basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Kofi goes to a corner, Rey CLUBS him, and the fans rally. The ref gets between them, but Kofi pokes Rey in the eyes! Kofi leaps, CROSSBODY SPLASH to the back! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Rey as he stays in this. The fans chant “NEW! DAY SUCKS!” Woods argues with a fan, Kofi aims, TROUBLE IN- NO, Rey dodges, then comes back to RANA! Kofi is on ropes, Rey dials it up! But Woods trips Rey! The ref saw that clear as day! Woods argues with the ref, but the ref EJECTS Woods!
The fans fire up while Woods throws a fit! Rey DECKS Woods! But Kofi CLOBBERS Rey! The fans boo, but Kofi hauls Rey up! Rey victory rolls Kofi onto ropes! Rey redials, 619!! And then the springboard, but onto knees! Kofi covers, TWO!! Rey survives, the fans fire up, but Kofi seethes. Kofi hauls Rey up, clinches, S O- NO! Rey makes the SOS a cover, REY WINS!
Winner: Rey Mysterio, by pinfall
But Woods CLBOBERS Rey from behind! The New Day mugs Rey, the fans boo more, but here comes the LWO! Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro run The New Day off! The fans boo, Cruz & Wilde check Rey, but then the New Day sneak back in! They drag Wilde out to POST him! Cruz hurries but now New Day retreats for real! Insult to injury here, but will Kofi & Woods continue to be blinded by their own arrogance?
Backstage interview with Team American Made.
Cathy Kelley waits as Chad Gable is arguing with his own people, then says okay, sorry, he was inspiring the team. But yeah, he’s the talk of the whole freakin’ wrestling world the past week, but he is man enough to admit he has a problem. And it all started with losing to Penta last week! It was Dragon Lee before that, and Rey Mysterio before that. Gable asks, “What’re we gonna do her?” But he’s figured it out! He found a man who knows a thing or two about lucha libre, and that man is intelligent with a mustache to match. That man is Dominik Mysterio! While Dom helps Gable with his lucha problem, the team has their marching order.
Ivy Nile says there’s a Women’s Intercontinental Championship with her name all over it. Brutus says those tag titles should’ve already had their names on them, HAHA~! Julius mocks how War Raiders cry about “One more injury~ and we’re done forever~!” Like that’s something to be proud of? No more asking, they’re just taking! They’ll take those tag titles from a team near the end of their career and put them on a team that’s entering their prime. Gable says this team that bleeds red, white ‘n’ blue will have waists wrapped in gold, and it will be glorious. Team American Made heads out, but can Dirty Dom really help Gable clean up his act?
Sami Zayn is here!
Dallas sings his song, and the Underdog from the Underground goes right to the ring. He grabs a mic and thanks Dallas for that, that never gets old. But he wont’ beat around the bush, he’ll just get right to business. Sami spoke with Adam Pearce, and Sami is now officially entered into the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match! The fans like the sound of that! Sami says Rollins told him he’s already helped a lot of others, so time to help himself. Well, Sami thought about that, and thought about what he wants. When he thought about that, it opened a whole bunch of thoughts. Sami pictured what 14-year-old Sami wanted.
Sami thought about what the millions around the world who dream of becoming pro-wrestlers, and the thousands who actually live the dream and get to do it. And then the even smaller group lucky enough to call themselves WWE Superstars. And then the smallest group of all, the hardest to crack into at all, is the upper echelon, the top tier, and that is where Sami is now! The fans cheer, and Sami firmly believes he is as good as everyone else in that group. That group is all in the Royal Rumble, and the only difference between Sami and the others, aka Roman, McIntyre, Rollins, and so on, is that they all have a world title to their name… and Sami doesn’t.
Sami has said it before, he’ll say it again, he’s had a great life, a great career. He doesn’t need the world title to complete him. The fans have supported Sami throughout the years, and believe it or not, that support means more to him than any world title could ever mean! So no, Sami does not need that world title, but DAMMIT, he WANTS it!! The fans love that! Sami says 14-year-old Sami wants that title, and he’s still with Sami! That kid sets foot in this ring every time Sami does. So Sami doesn’t need it, he wants it, so he will TAKE IT! WAIT, Kevin Owens is here!? The fans boo and Sami is certainly stunned seeing SmackDown’s Prizefighter back on Raw.
Kevin, who is still carrying the “Winged Eagle” title, while wearing a Bret Hart merchandise jacket, makes his way to the ring. Kevin grabs the mic, and while fans boo, he looks to Sami. Sami says he knew it was a matter of time before Kevin showed up. How does Kevin wanna do this? Kevin asks what Sami means. Sami knows Kevin. We all saw what Kevin did to Cody over teaming with Roman, so how’s this going down? Aw, is that why Sami thinks Kevin is here? No, Kevin admits, he was upset at first. But he realizes now that Sami teaming with Roman isn’t the same as Cody teaming with Roman.
Sami and Roman had a lot of history, the same as Sami and Kevin. And Roman did terrible things to Sami that Sami overlooked, just as Kevin did to Sami that Sami has overlooked. Or rather, Sami forgave Kevin for those things. Same as him forgiving Roman! Because that is who Sami is: Sami is a good person. And Rollins is right, Sami does a lot for others, especially his friends. And well, Sami is still Kevin’s best friend. A brother even! Kevin is here to tell his brother that he whole heartedly believes Sami can and will win the Royal Rumble. Kevin knows that the Sami he’s known for 20 YEARS will win the Royal Rumble!
And why? Because Sami deserves it! Sami deserves to go to WrestleMania and fight for the WWE Championship, and Kevin knows Sami will do it! Then Kevin and Sami can accomplish one more thing together. Think of everything they’ve done and seen each other do in this business. They main-evented WrestleMania to become tag team champions. But there’s one more thing they haven’t done: main event WrestleMania for THE WWE Championship. And when Sami wins the Rumble, they can do that, so long as Kevin walks away THE WWE Champion. But Kevin knows both of those things are going to happen.
Kevin knows Sami will win the Rumble because Kevin has his back. He does. And Kevin knows he’ll be THE WWE Champion because just like Sami had Roman’s back, he’s got Kevin’s back. Right? Kevin just knows it. Sami is his best friend, his brother, and if Kevin needs him, Sami will be there. Kevin drops his mic and heads out, but Sami is rather confused. Is Kevin suggesting Sami do what it sounds like? What will Sami do on this Road to WrestleMania?
Backstage interview with Sheamus.
Cathy is with The Fella and brings up his Intercontinental Championship match he has this Saturday against Bron Breakker. Why is this title so important to him? Sheamus says many would look at his career, and say he has the perfect backwards WWE career. He was only six months into his career, and he beat one of the biggest names this business has ever seen in John Cena to become WWE Champion. Ironically, the Intercontinental Champioship is what drew Sheamus to the WWE. That title has become an obsession for the past five years, but guess what? The stars are aligned! Saturday Night’s Main Event, Sheamus will bust Bron aside and fulfill destiny!
Sheamus will win the last championship he has yet to win! And for everyone who is watching, Let’s Go, Irish! A quick shoutout to Notre Dame, but then Sheamus spots Bron Breakker. Bron tells Sheamus that this title is Bron’s. This is as close as Sheamus will ever get to winning it. Because on Saturday, Bron beats him and BREAKS him like an old man! So just do us all a favor and retire. Sheamus shoves Bron, but Bron laughs it off and takes his leave. Will the Celtic Warrior finally have his WWE Bingo in another banger? Or will this title still belong to Bron Breakker?
Bayley VS Nia Jax!
The Role Model and the Irresistible Force were just on SmackDown but they’re bringing their beef over to Raw! Will Bayley make her official transfer back a successful one? Or will Nia be rolling towards the Royal Rumble?
Well, well, well, Roxanne Perez seems to be stalking Bayley. She was in the crowd for SmackDown last Friday, and now she’s here in the crowd tonight. The bell rings, Nia runs up, but Bayley dodges! Nia hits buckles, Bayley fires hands, then runs to ELBOW her! Bayley climbs up to rain down fists! The fans count, Bayley ges to 6 before Nia brings her off the corner! Bayley still fights, but Nia stops the rana! Nia brings Bayley up to a fireman’s carry, but Bayley kicks off ropes! TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Nia sits up but Bayley fires hands! Bayley runs, but into a POP-UP HEADBUTT! Bayley sputters, Nia covers, ONE!!
Bayley scrambles away but Nia stalks her. Nia puts Bayley on the ropes, CHOKES her, but the ref counts. Nia lets off at 4, she soaks up some heat, then she HEADBUTTS Bayley again. Bayley goes to a corner, Nia digs her boot in, but the ref counts. Nia stops at 4, the fans boo some more, and Bayley crawls. Nia drags Bayley up, pushes her down, then runs, only for Bayley to avoid the elbow drop! Bayley fires forearms, then whips. Nia takes a swing but Bayley gets around to hit a back suplex! Cover, TWO! Nia is tougher than that but she’s also dazed. Bayley rises, runs in, but Nia URENAGES Bayley down! Now Nia climbs the corner!
The fans fire up as Bayley SHOVES Nia to the apron! Bayley BOOTS Nia to the floor, then builds speed! Bayley DIVES, down goes Nia! The fans fire up and Bayley gets in Roxie’s face! Roxie takes a swing, but Bayley blocks! Bayley DECKS Roxie! The fans go wild, security stops Roxie from getting at Bayley! Bayley mocks the little idiot, then goes back for Nia while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Nia drags Bayley up. Nia drops a LEG on the arm! Cover, TWO!! Bayley survives and Nia grows frustrated. Nia taunts Bayley, the fans boo Nia, and Bayley sits up. Nia drags Bayley by her hair, then runs, but Bayley avoids the leg drop! Bayley hurries to ELBOW Nia in the back! And then SLIDING LARIAT! Bayley keeps moving, and drops an ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Nia survives the onslaught but the fans rally for Bayley. Both women slowly rise up, and Bayley runs up to KNEE Nia out to the apron! Bayley then drags Nia in through the ropes, but Nia HOTSHOTS the bad arm!
Bayley writhes, Nia taunts the fans, then Nia goes back to the apron. Nia stands on Bayley’s bad arm! But Bayley avoids another leg drop! Nia clutches her lower back while she and Bayley both rise up again. Bayley runs in to SUNSET FLIP BUCKLE BOMB! Nia flops to the floor and the fans fire up! Bayley leaves Nia behind for the count to handle this. Nia is still down at 5 of 10, and at 7! Nia springs up and in at 8! But Bayley goes up, up, and she hits a BANZAI DROP! Cover, TWO! Bayley didn’t quite A-Nia-Late Nia, but she goes up to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Nia survives again but if only barely!
The fans rally as Bayley brings Nia up. Nia shoves Bayley away, then scoops her, SHOULDER BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Bayley stays in this and the fans rally up again. Bayley goes to a corner, Nia runs in, and Nia SPLASHES Bayley! Bayley flounders against the ropes, then Nia runs in. Bayley TOSSES Nia to the apron, but Nia ROCKS Bayley! Nia drags Bayley up, and POSTS her! Bayley dangles in the ropes, and Nia snarls. Nia runs to HIP ATTACK Bayley against the post! Bayley flounders back in, the fans boo, and Nia climbs up! But Bayley is up to YANK Nia down! The fans fire up as Bayley runs, and she KNEES Nia down! Cover, TWO!!
Nia survives yet again but the fans continue to rally behind Bayley. Bayley goes up a corner, but now Nia is up! Nia ROCKS Bayley, then climbs up after her. Nia fireman’s carries, but Bayley squirms around! SUPER SUNSET FLIP BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?! Nia survives that wild fall but Bayley goes right back up! MACHO ELBOW!! Cover, TWO!!! Nia survives again and Bayley is beside herself! Nia and Bayley rise, and the fans fire up again. Bayley reels Nia in, but the bad arm won’t let her clinch! Nia fireman’s carries, but Bayley fights free! Bayley runs, CHOP BLOCKS a leg, then hurries to run again. Nia POP-UP SAMOAN DROPS!!
Nia hurries to SENTON! Then she drags Bayley to a drop zone! Nia goes up, to A-NIA-LATE Bayley! Cover, Nia wins!!
Winner: Nia Jax, by pinfall
A powerful battle between two former champions, but the Irresistible Force crushes Bayley on her return to Raw! But wait! RHEA RIPLEY makes her way out here! Mami wants revenge, and Nia says bring it! They brawl in the ring, the fans fire up, and Rhea HEADBUTTS Nia! Rhea RAMS Nia into the corner again and again, but here comes security! The fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!” but the two are separated! But then Nia breaks free to SPLASH Rhea and whoever else was in the way! Nia CLUBS away on Rhea, producers and refs rush out here to stop this, but Rhea is up! She LEAPS at Nia for more!
The fans are thunderous as Rhea shoves everyone out of the way to ROUNDHOUSE Nia! Nia falls out of the ring, but rhea isn’t done! Rhea goes to the apron, but Nia trips her up! Nia DRIBBLES Rhea off the announce desk! Nia now clears the desk, and Adam Pearce is shouting that this is enough! Nia puts Rhea on the desk, but security swarms her! Wait, Rhea is back up! CANNONBALL!! Rhea takes Nia and the security guards out! The fans fire up but producers have to drag Rhea away from Nia! Dallas cheers on “MAMI! MAMI!” and she grabs a mic. Rhea gets on the desk to shout, “YOU! ME! SATURDAY NIGHT’S MAIN EVENT!!”
The fans are all fired up, because now things are going to get wild in San Antonio! But will the Queen of the Ring A-Nia-Late Rhea? Or will Nia get eradicated?
Judgment Day meets with American Made.
The others aren’t so sure about this, but Chad Gable says Dom said he could help with Gable’s luchador problem. Does he have some info? C’mon! Help him out! Okay, okay. Dom has someone who can help Gable. Dom hands him a piece of paper, and Gable asks, “This is the guy?” Dom says it sure is. Gable tells Judgment Day and “JD McDouche” that he’s off to master the dark arts of lucha libre. The others ask Dom what this is all about. Dom says it’s a long story but he and Gable go way back. Okay, fine, but how does this help Judgment Day? Next week is the tag title rematch but Finn is still out of action from last week’s Street Fight!
Liv Morgan says listening to Finn hasn’t really helped them win, has it? C’mon, Liv, this is serious. They’re gonna have to forfeit! Dom says maybe he could sub in. Finn shouldn’t care so long as they get the titles back, right? JD says yeah, that’s a good point. They’ll get this. Liv says yeah, Finn should be fine. And Dom is quite the mastermind now, huh? Liv just hopes this plan goes better than the one he had for her match with Rhea. Hey, didn’t she say she was over that? Yes, she did. Can Dom not take a joke? Okay, okay. Dom does have a plan for Liv, though. And even though she’s not mad, he’ll make it up to her, okay? Oh, he will. Now, let’s go.
Liv & Dom head out, Raquel tells Carlito to stop staring. Will Judgment Day (not) keep it together?
Lyra Valkyria speaks.
“Last week, I walked into Raw ready to become a history maker. And that meant spreading my wings and shedding any dead feathers that made me doubt the heights I knew I was capable of reaching. I took fear, I took doubt, and I used them to become something more. And now that I have this, it’s about what comes next. And what comes next is building a legacy as a valiant, fighting Women’s Intercontinental Champion.” The Morrigan is ready for more, just how high will she soar?
WWE celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.
He had a dream, and that dream lives on in us. May we keep that dream alive so that it may come true every day.
Seth Rollins warms up backstage.
Sami checks with him and knows the match with McIntyre is coming up. But Sami just wants Rollins to know that as a friend, he appreciated the talk they had last week. Rollins knows, and he heard Sami out there. Rollins respects Sami’s choice. It’s about time we got that Sami back. And Sami is almost rooting for that Sami. But push comes to shove int he Rumble, Rollins will throw Sami right over the top rope. Sami says, “Not if I throw you out first.” Sami again wishes Rollins luck, then heads out. Rollins finishes his preparations, but Karrion Kross is watching from afar! Could Mr. Doomsday have his next target in mind?
PENTA VS Pete Dunne!
#CeroMiedo made its debut in the WWE just last week, and it was a massive hit! But now he’s up against a man who feels disrespected left, right, front and back! Will the Bruiserweight take out all his frustrations on the new kid in class? Or will Penta continue to blow the roof off the arenas?
The bell rings and the fans already chant, “CERO! MIEDO!” Penta tells Dunne to listen, but Dunne grabs the hand! Penta KICKS Dunne, but Dunne CHOPS! Penta CHOPS, Dunne CHOPS, then the forearms start flying! Dunne headlocks, Penta fires body shots, and Penta powers out. Penta hurdles then mule kicks Dunne, and Dunne sputters away. Penta swaggers, but Dunne CLOBBERS him! The fans boo but Dunne grabs an arm. Dunne hammerlocks that arm, pulls on the other, and he bends the fingers back! Dunne STOMPS Penta’s arm! The fans tell Dunne off while Penta writhes, but Dunne drags Penta up again.
Dunne wrenches and whips, but Penta reverses. Then Penta runs up to GAMANGIRI! Penta whips again, Dunne reverses and he GAMANGIRIS! Penta sputters, Dunne brings him up, and Dunne whips. Penta reverses. Dunne goes up and flips and SUPERKICK from Penta! Penta hits Dunne outta the sky and Dunne bails out of the ring! The fans fire up and Penta says, “CERO! MIEDO!” Penta runs and DIVES into a forearm! Dunne gives back that anti-air, then he reels Penta in. APRON X-PLEX! Penta writhes again while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns, Dunne runs up to SLIDING FOREARM Penta down! The fans boo while Penta sputters, but Dunne runs up to SLIDINGN FOREARM again! Dunne paces, the fans chant, “Butch Sucks!” but Dunne just runs up on Penta. Penta dodges, mule kicks, and he runs to SLING-DOG! Dunne flounders to a corner, Penta runs and headstands on the corner! SWINGING DROPKICK! Dunne sputters more but Penta fireman’s carries. The fans fire up for the SWINGINGN DEATH VALLEY! Cover, TWO! Penta is frustrated, but the fans rally up again. Penta and Dunne rise up, and Penta goes after Dunne. Dunne ENZIGIRIS first!
Dunne STMOPS the hands, then he BUZZSAWS! Penta goes to a corner, Dunne runs up, but Penta SUPERKICKS! Penta runs up, DESTROYER!! Dunne tumbles out of the ring! The fans fire up with Penta and he builds speed again! Penta FLIES and down goes Dunne! The fans are thunderous while both men are out at the ramp! Penta and Dunne stir, the ring count climbs, and Dunne is in at 5 of 10. Penta rises at 6, and he slaps some sense into himself. Penta is back in at 7, DES- NO, Dunne stops the second shot and tucks Penta in! CRUNCHY DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Penta survives and the fans fire up!
Penta shakes out the bad arm, but he and Dunne sit up. They go forehead to forehead, then forearm for forearm! Dunne CHOPS, but Penta CHOPS! The fans cheer Penta on and he tells Dunne to listen! “CERO! MIEDO!” But Dunne bends the fingers, SNAPS them, then wraps Penta into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Penta endures, fights up, and he deadlifts Dunne, for a POWER BREAKER!! Dunne writhes, Penta grabs Dunne’s arm and traps it! Penta CLUBS Dunne, then grabs the other arm, SACRIFICE!! Dunne writhes in even more pain, but Penta brings him around. Pump handle, PENTA DRIVER!! Cover, Penta wins!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall
The luchador proved he could do power on top of punishing submissions, and he is 2-0 here on Raw! Will the Penta Era take over the WWE?
Logan Paul speaks.
“Man, it must suck to be a Logan Paul hater. For years, all of you have wanted me to fail. But you know why it’s never happened, and it never will? Because when I do something, I become the best at it. I became the King of the Internet. I was the only man in history to beat Floyd Mayweather. So what makes you think the WWE will be any different? Look around, dummies. This is my life now. And I will eat, sleep and breathe wrestling until I become the greatest superstar to step into that ring. You can quote me on that. You’re looking at the GOAT, ladies and gentlemen.” The Maverick makes his return next week in Atlanta, will he receive a “warm welcome?”
CM Punk is here!
The Voice of the Voiceless, the Second City Saint, the Best in the World, takes a page out of Jey Uso’s playbook by entering through the concourse and then the bleachers! Dallas fires up as he joins Jackie Redmond in the perch for an interview. Jackie says the fans love chanting Punk’s name, and thanks him for coming out here for this in-arena interview. Punk says before any questions, he has a question for us: “Is it great to be alive on a Monday night in Dallas, Texas or what?!” The fans cheer that, and Jackie says of course it is.
But to the question: There are only so many ways to get to the main event of WrestleMania, something Punk wants to do for the first time in his career. The Royal Rumble is certainly one way, but that is a match he’s never won. And it is shaping to become one of the most stacked fields ever. Punk, Roman, John Cena, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Sami Zayn, and more. So, the question is, what makes this Rumble different for Punk? Punk says, “History.” And he is a maker of history! Just three weeks ago, he main-evented the first Raw live on Netflix, and he beat Rollins, a man favored to win this year’s Rumble.
This business is a fickle one, constantly asking, “What have you down for me lately?” Punk says he makes history! And he’ll do it in two weeks when he walks in, throws 29 other superstars over the top rope. The stakes are much too high, the lights are much too bright, and the pressure is on! And that is when Punk feels alive and when he thrives. No one can beat Punk when he’s at his best and with the people behind him. Jackie brought up Cena, but Punk can’t see Cena throwing him out. Roman Reigns? Roman needed Punk’s help to settle family business at WarGames. And in the Rumble, there are no friends!
Punk has put McIntyre in the dirt, and don’t ask him about Sami. You put HOGAN in the rumble, Punk will throw his old ass out and kill Hulkamania once and for all! February 1st, 60 THOUSAND strong, on the Peacock, live and in living color, Indianapolis, Indiana, Punk will settle scores and cash in debts. He’ll even call in a favor or two if he needs to. On that night, 29 other men are going night-night, and ONE MAN gets his hand raised. One name, three syllables: C, M, PUNK! “CM” might stand for “Confident Man” right about now, but will Punk be unstoppable on this road not just to WrestleMania, but also the road to his dream?
Damage CTRL VS Pure Fusion Collective!
This rivalry went back and forth all over 2024, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down just because it is a New Year. Will Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky finally kick PFC to the curb for what they did to Kairi Sane? Or will Sonya Deville, Shayna Baszler & Zoey Stark put them on the shelf right beside the Pirate Princess?
The teams sort out, the bell rings, and Kai starts against Shayna. Shayna opens with a KICK to the leg, but Kai walks that off. Shayna KCIKS again, Kai gets mad, and the two go again. Kai blocks one kick but not the second KCIK! Shayna runs up, fakes Kai out, then trips her up! Shayna scuffs Kai, then soaks up the heat. Shayna runs back in, but Kai goes up and over to roll her up! TWO, and Kai slips past Shayna to DROPKICK her down! The fans fire up for Kai, but Shayna stops the arm-drag! Shayna whips, Kai stops herself and BOOTS Shayna away. Kai runs up, Zoey tags in before the flying mare!
Things speed up, Shayna drops down and Zoey springboards to MISSILE DORPKICK Kai down! Sonya wants everyone to take notes! Zoey clamps onto Kai with a chinlock and she grinds Kai down. The fans rally, Kai fights up, and Kai fires body shots. Zoey CLUBS Kai, CLUBS her again and again, then soaks up heat. Zoey puts Kai in the corner, tags Shayna back in, and then Zoey whips Shayna in for a KNEE! Shayna scoops Kai, BACKBREAKER and LARIAT! Shayna covers, TWO! Kai stays in this, but Sonya says her team’s got this. Kai crawls, but Shayna clamps onto the leg for a toehold.
Kai endures, kicks at Shayna with her free leg, but Shayna still bends the trapped leg! The fans rally, Kai kicks and kicks, but Shayna drops an ELBOW on the leg! Shayna tells Dallas to shut it, then she drags Kai around to bend the leg in another direction! Kai endures, reaches out for Iyo, but Shayna pulls the leg. Kai kicks at Shayna again, then BOOTS her away! Kai and Shayna crawl, hot tag to Zoey! Zoey brings Kai up but Kai ENZIGIRIS! Shayna runs back in, but Kai TOSSES her out! Hot tag to Iyo! The Genius of the Sky fires SHOTEI after SHOTEI on Zoey! Iyo ROCKS Shayna, then runs! PFC avoids the handsprings, but Iyo blocks a kick!
Iyo sends the foot at Zoey, but she ducks! Iyo SHOTEIS Zoey again! Then she dodges Shayna to GERMAN SUPLEX her away! The fans fire up as Iyo whips Zoey. Zoey reverses but Iyo uses that to DIVE onto Shayna! Iyo hurries up, blocks a shot, then ROUDNHOUSES Zoey! The fans fire up as Iyo climbs, and Iyo MISSILE DROPKICKS Zoey! Iyo handsprings up and the fans are thunderous! Iyo aims from the corner, runs in and SHINKANSEN! Iyo drags Zoey to a cover, TWO! Zoey survives but Iyo goes up. Sonya storms up, but Kai YANKS Sonya down! The fans fire up as Iyo climbs, but Shayna LARIATS Kai!
Zoey YANKS Iyo down, SUPERKICKS her, and then reels her in! ATAXIA!! Cover, TWO!! Zoey is furious, but she tags in Shayna. PFC gets Iyo up, ROLLING DEATH VALLEY, then a SLIDING KNEE! Cover, Kai breaks it! The fans fire up but Zoey TOSSES Kai! Zoey then PLANCHAS, but Kai dodges! Kai goes up to the apron to PENALTY KICK Zoey! Shayna BOOTS Kai, then dodges Iyo! KIRAFUDA KLUTCH!! Iyo flails, but she runs to the ropes! HOTSHOT and Shayna falls back! Iyo hurries up top, the fans fire up, OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, DMG CTRL wins!
Winners: Damage CTRL, by pinfall
PFC tried to use the numbers, but Iyo & Kai just used their skills! Will DMG CTRL still take control of Raw? Or will Sonya, Shayna & Zoey figure out a winning formula?
Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre!
With the Royal Rumble just down the road, it is this WrestleMania 40 rematch that could determine how WrestleMania 41 looks. The Visionary and the Scottish Terminator look to run it back, but who will be in pole position for Indianapolis?
Raw returns and McIntyre makes his entrance. The bell rings, the fans fire up, and the two stare down. The fans sing Rollins’ song, and Rollins says he’s got two good knees now. No Bloodline, no CM Punk, just them! The two circle, tie up, and McIntyre pushes Rollins to the corner. The ref counts but McIntyre talks smack as he lets off. Rollins shoves McIntyre, McIntyre shoves Rollins! They stare down again, Rollins talks a bit more smack, and McIntyre grins. McIntyre CHOPS, and Rollins likes that! Rollins CHOPS, McIntyre CHOPS, repeat! The fans “WOO~” but then McIntyre headlocks. Rollins powers up and out, but McIntyre runs him over!
McIntyre looms over Rollins, then brings him up. But Rollins CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHOPS! McIntyre headlocks, Rollins powers up and out, drops down, hurdles over, then redirects McIntyre to SHOULDER TACKLE! McIntyre rebounds to SHOULDER TACKLE Rollins! The fans fire up again while Rollins goes to ropes. McIntyre stomps Rollins, ROCKS him, then stalks him to ropes. McIntyre CHOPS Rollins against the ropes, then whips. Rollins ducks ‘n’ dodges, to then SLINGBLADE! Rollins keeps moving, and he LARAITS McIntyre up and out! The fans fire up as Rollins builds speed, to WRECK McIntyre with a dropkick!
McIntyre is at the desk. Rollins builds sped, and Rollins DIVES! McIntyre hits desk, but Rollins keeps going! Rollins DIVES again, but McIntyre stops that to TOSS Rollins up and over the desk! Rollins is down between the armchairs and McIntyre snarls, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and both men slowly rise in the ring. McIntyre looms over Rollins, saying Rollins is still too damn selfish. But Rollins fires hands! McIntyre hits back, they go back and forth! McIntyre kicks low, whips Rollins toa corner, but Rollins BOOTS him away! McIntyre returns, and he pushes through the boot to ELBOW Rollins! McIntyre has Rollins in the Inverted Alabama Lift, ALABAMA- VICTORY ROLL! TWO!! Rollins goes back to the corner, and he BOOTS McIntyre again! The fans fire up while both men are down! Rollins feeds off that energy and rises up. Rollins ROCKS McIntyre, then counter punches him!
Rollins CHOPS and ROCKS McIntyre again and again, then CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! The fans fire up, the ref counts as they’re on ropes, but Rollins roars! Rollins whips, McIntyre reveres, Rollins leaps, but into McIntyre’s arms! McIntyre pops Rollins up, but Rollins slips out of the suplex to then POST McIntyre! McIntyre staggers back, so Rollins POSTS him again! McIntyre sputters, Rollins brings him around and POSTS him a third time! McIntyre is stuck in the corner now, but Rollins SLAMS the arm against the post! Rollins aims as McIntyre staggers away. Springboard, FLYING KNEE! McIntyre says up, Rollins hits a RUNNING KNEE! Cover, TWO!
Rollins takes a breath as the fans rally up. McIntyre is down so Rollins goes to the apron. Springboard SWANTON! Cover, TWO! McIntyre survives but Rollins snarls. Rollins stalks McIntyre, grabs the arm, and he goes to wrangle McIntyre. McIntyre rolls free, fireman’s carries, but Rollins fights free! Rollins goes to a corner again, puts McIntyre on the apron, but McIntyre ROCKS Rollins! McIntyre climbs, but Rollins springs up to join him! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Roll through, but MCINTYRE hits the FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up as both men are down! “This is Awesome!” as McIntyre kips up!
McIntyre still wobbles a bit, but he makes his way to a corner. McIntyre tells Rollins to get up. Rollins rises, McIntyre runs in, but Rollins ducks the Claymore! Now Rollins aims, and he runs up, but McIntyre hits a SPINEBUSTER! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Rollins survives, but McIntyre brings him in! Deadlift and- RANA! Rollins then SUPERKICKS McIntyre, runs, tilt-o-whirls, and FALCON ARROWS! The fans fire up as Rollins manages a cover, TWO!! The pin wasn’t much but neither was that kick-out, both men are running on fumes. The fans sing Rollins’ song, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!”
Rollins runs, CURB- NO, McIntyre avoids the stomp! Underhooks and FUTURE- NO, Rollins fights the DDT to underhook! PED- NO, McIntyre wrenches out to short arm LARIAT! McIntyre rolls away to go to the apron, then he drags himself up the corner. McIntyre reaches the top, Rollins stands, FLYING- NO, Rollins blocks the lariat to try and wrangle McIntyre. McIntyre scoops Rollins, Rollins slips free, and Rollins still wants the arm! McIntyre fights the takedown again so Rollins CLUBS away on the arm! Rollins brings McIntyre down, into a CROSSFACE!! McIntyre endures, reaches out, but Rollins pulls him back!
McIntyre fights, claws his way over, and he manages the ROPEBREAK! Rollins holds until the ref counts 4, and now Rollins tells McIntyre to get up and fight. “You question me? You question my integrity!?” Rollins gets in McIntyre’s face, the ref backs him off, but now McIntyre CLAWS Rollins’ face! Rollins staggers, McIntyre reels him in, underhook and FUTURE SHOCK!! Cover, TWO?!? Rollins survives and now McIntyre is pissed. McIntyre rises, and he tells Rollins that his words and actions don’t line up. Short arm LARIAT! McIntyre drags Rollins up again, short arm LARIAT! The fans rally and McIntyre shakes his head.
McIntyre tells Rollins to get up, and Rollins sputters as he slowly sits up. McIntyre reels Rollins in for a short arm- NO, Rollins slips up and around, and a jackknife bridge! ROLLINS WINS!!
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall
Rollins snatches this one away, and McIntyre CLOBBERS Rollins for it! The fans boo but McIntyre scares the ref off. But Rollins fires hands in return! McIntyre CLAYMORES outta nowhere!! McIntyre is still seething, and he drags Rollins over to the corner. McIntyre pulls Rollins’ hair to put him up against the post! The fans boo, the ref says don’t, but SAMI ZAYN to the rescue! Sami fires hands, then he POSTS McIntyre! Sami makes sure Rollins is alright, and then Sami goes back for Drew. But he gets a GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT for it! McIntyre stands Sami up to THROW him into barriers!
McIntyre snarls as he looks to Rollins again. McIntyre gets in the ring, and he tells Rollins they should be on the same team, but Rollins is just so selfish! But here comes Sami! McIntyre moves, HELLUVA KICK to Rollins!! The fans can’t believe it and neither can Sami! Sami apologizes to Rollins, but McIntyre grins, this all worked out for the better! Will McIntyre use everyone else against each other to ensure he is the one going to WrestleMania?
My Thoughts:
Another great episode coming in at just two hours and 35 minutes or so. I don’t mind things “ending early” compared to the usual three hour run, but I am curious as to how they’re only using two-and-a-half hours. I suppose they have their plan and just go with it. That way, if things go long, they have breathing room for it. But they really could’ve added like one more thing to this and it would’ve been fine, I think. That said, good go-home stuff for Saturday Night’s Main Event, such as a good promo from Jey and Gunther. Though, they didn’t really add more to what last week had, other than that brawl. Jey stood tall, go-home math would suggest he loses.
Sheamus and Bron had a good promo to put the final touches on their build, but as I said last week, this is a rather interesting one. Sheamus really should win that Intercontinental Championship already, but I don’t know if Saturday Night’s Main Event is a “big enough stage” for such a moment. Great stuff with Bayley, Nia and Rhea tonight, especially that match. It seems the Transfer Window is finally putting some actual transfers in, what with Wyatt Sick6 on SmackDown and now Bayley on Raw. Rhea VS Nia on Saturday Night’s Main Event is going to be an awesome title match, but it feels like Rhea will retain to solidify her as champion past the Royal Rumble.
And speaking of the Rumble, Bayley is certainly a top choice to win. For one, it’d be historic for Bayley to not just win back-to-back, but to also be the first woman to have won two Rumbles at all. Very good promo from Punk to hype himself up for the Rumble, and he did mention a favor… Though, it’d be rather Heel of Punk to use a favor from Heyman to basically rig the Rumble or give him protection during it, but it’d also be great continuity as The Shield was to shield Punk. Sami of course declared for the Rumble, but Kevin showing up was a great surprise. And Kevin clearly implies that if Sami helps Kevin cheat the ladder match, Kevin will help Sami cheat the Rumble. Or rather, if Kevin does help Sami win the Rumble, Sami better help Kevin win the ladder match.
Sami also had a good promo with Rollins backstage, with the real fun part being Kross watching from the background. Kross needs a new feud with the Wyatts going to SmackDown, and moving on to names like Rollins and Sami would be some big stuff for him and The Final Testament. Rollins VS McIntyre was a great main event, and classic move having the quick pin win this so that McIntyre is still strong even in defeat. Sami making the save was also a nice touch, as was the Helluva Kick accidentally hitting Rollins. The Rumble has a lot of feuds crossing over, and Kross can add onto what happened here, we’ll get some really good chaos in that match.
Great promo between New Day and JBL to where even JBL, notorious as one of the meanest, most obnoxious Heels of his time, is on Big E’s side. And we finally got New Day back in the ring, but it’s a little disappointing that it wasn’t a tag match. Dragon Lee hasn’t gotten to do much, and he’s doing even less now. It was still a great match from Kofi VS Rey, with Rey getting his own quick pin win. New Day beating Rey up of course brought out the LWO, and I’m sure we’ll get New Day VS Cruz & Wilde next. We can only hope for Dragon Lee’s sake that he gets to be part of the blowoff for this feud. Actually, better yet would be him in the Intercontinental Championship scene.
Penta might also make a great choice for the Intercontinental Championship scene. Penta had another awesome match, as Pete Dunne is always a great opponent. Maybe Penta gets in on the Rumble so he can check that off his bucket list. He doesn’t need to win, he can just have a great showing, and rivalries can spark from those interactions. Lyra had a very good promo but I was hoping for a little more after her winning the Women’s Intercontinental Championship. DMG CTRL VS PFC was a great tag match, and a great win for DMG CTRL. Dakota and Iyo could each make a case for a match with Lyra, but clearly Ivy will be up first. She would make a solid first defense for Lyra, and then Lyra can have rematches from the tournament with Kai and Iyo.
At the same time, PFC might already be thinking about changing up the team with Zoey taking the loss. Good stuff with Judgment Day. Dom and Liv plotting and scheming while being passive aggressive is a fun phase for them. They’re probably plotting on how Liv can win the Women’s Rumble, but it’ll likely backfire and that’ll push the Liv x Dom break-up. Also, you can bet Finn won’t like Dom taking his spot against the War Raiders, especially if they win. That said, I don’t see them winning, Erik & Ivar should definitely be able to handle Dom & JD. It certainly feels more likely the Creeds can take the tag titles than Judgment Day.
I do wonder who Dom recommended to Gable, though. It’d be cool if WWE brought in some other lucha legends, as WWE seems to be expanding their partnerships. WWE is working more closely with TNA now, and I believe TNA still has a working relationship with AAA, especially after AEW moved over to working with CMLL because of the relationship with NJPW. Also a super crossover like NXTNAAA would be a lot of fun to see for WrestleMania weekend.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA Genesis Results & Match Ratings: 1.19.25
Does TNA Believe in Joe Hendry more than Mokuba Nemeth believes in his big brother?
Hot off the heels of the TNA and WWE working relationship announcement, the Kickoff show already has the first sprinkle of NXT talent with Ashante “Thee” Adonis coming out after Ariana Grace tries to take all of the credit for the partnership. Jake something runs over Ashante, but it’s a good quick nod on free YouTube. Oh it also looks like the ring announcer is McKenzie Mitchel again. I did like her first run in TNA in what was that… like 2016-2018 or 19? She’s got personality, she’s cute and a solid announcer, so nice to see her back.
I’m not gonna run down any predictions on who I think will win, because honestly, I just feel like Hendry needs to win today or it’s been an entire waste of momentum. So lets get to the main show!
Ratings:
- X Division Championship: Moose (c) vs Ace Austin: Moose retains via Lights Out – *** 1/4
- The System vs Maniac Marines: Marines win via K.I.A. – ***
- Knockouts Tag Titles: Elegance Clique (Heather & Ash) w/Personal Concierge vs Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat) (c): Spitfire retain via Pressure Drop – **
- Jordynne Grace vs Tessa Blanchard: Tessa wins via Magnum – ****
- I Quit Match: Josh Alexander vs Mike Santana: Santana wins! – ***
- TNA Tag Team Championships: The Hardyz (c) vs The Rascalz: Hardyz retain via Swanton Bomb – *** 1/2
- Raven’s Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match: TNA Knockouts World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Rosemary: Masha wins via Avalanche Requiem – ** 3/4
- TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) vs Joe Hendry: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation – *** 3/4 – TITLE CHANGE!!!!!!!
Results:
X Division Championship: Moose (c) vs Ace Austin
As soon as the bell rings, Ace jumps on him, forces him into the corner and stomps on him. Moose tries to fight out but Ace stays relentless. Ace has a counter for everything Moose is trying to counter in the early goings. Even when Moose catches him during the apron Handstand Dodge, Ace still has a counter for his counter. It’s not until a rake to the eyes from Moose that finally gives him a moment to start dictating the pace. A huge Irish Whip on the outside through the barricade is what Ace feels…twice. Ace tries to fight back from Moose continuing the momentum, Ace eats a Pump Kick, but blocks Moose’s attempt at a Suplex and counters with his own Vertical Suplex on Moose! JDC gets in the proximity of Ace so Ace kicks him, which delays his springboard, so Moose catches him and bounces him off the apron like a super ball.
Moose lets the count go, Ace barely gets in at 9, Moose throws him corner to corner, is slowing things down and being very deliberate. Ace starts powering through the pain, catches a Pump Kick, dodges a Spear into the corner and puts together a few strikes, Double Stomp, Triangle Kick, wants The Fold but Moose puts the brakes on there. Ace tries to spring off the ropes but Moose grabs him and hits Go To Hell for two! Fighting Spirit spot, Ace starts winning the trade, a Headbutt from Moose stops Ace, Moose flips him over the ropes to the apron, tries a few more things, Ace looks for a Springboard, Moose catches him but Ace slips it for a Frankensteiner. Moose powders to the opposite apron and Ace hits his Inside Out Headscissors sending Moose crashing to the floor. Alisha and JDC try to help up Moose, and while the referee is distracted JDC posts Ace. Moose goes for the Around the World Lights Out, but Ace moves and Moose kills JDC! Ace hits The Fold on the floor!
Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers run down the ramp, Ace sees them so he hits the Fosbury Flop to take them out. Ace is rolling, he goes for the Triangle Kick but Moose counters with Lights Out! 1-2- KICK OUT? Moose sets up for another Lights Out, Ace sidesteps it for the Cradle, kickout, Uranage, Cradle counter, Art of Finesse from Ace but Lights Out to the Spine from Moose! Moose sets up another and lands the Lights Out to retain!
Post Match the System looks to beat down on Ace, but Maniac Marines music hits and they go after Myers and Edwards. Guess the match is now!Â
The System vs Maniac Marines
Steve and Eric beat the hell out of the System members while the referee tries to set the match, it still hasn’t started but we get stereo 10 count punches in the corner, big fists causing Myers and Edwards to powder. This is essentially a Tornado Tag right now because the match hasn’t even started. Okay it eventually starts and Maclin hits the Backbreaker on Edwards and Busaiku Knee on Myers. He looks for a SCUD but Lish grabs the foot which is just enough! Maclin tries to charge anyway but gets caught in the Blue Thunder Bomb and now the match slows down and Eddie is in control.
Maclin absorbs some Chops from Eddie in the corner, no sells a little and fires, Eddie tags out Myers tries to slow things down with a Russian Leg Sweep but Maclin continues to try and rally. Eddie’s back in, shortarm Gowan Lariat into a cocky cover for two. Eddie tries to keep moving but Maclin hits the Vertical Suplex. Maclin is too slow to tag out so Eddie tags out and Myers cuts off Maclin. After a few more quick tags from System members, Maclin finally lands a Lariat to get the simultaneous tag and EY comes in hot. EY does the Flair corner flip, knocks Eddie off the apron, Myers eats a Macho Elbow but only two. Eddie knocks Maclin off the apron, Tandem Tiger Driver for two, EY fights back to level Eddie, Tree of Woe Myers Caught in Crosshairs but Lish gets in the ring! Eddie grabs Eric and distracts the ref, Lish clocks Maclin with either knuckles or a full hand of rings, Spear from Myers is only a two!
System Overload attempt, it’s thwarted by EY, Myers gets crotched in like a Reverse Tree of Woe, so Maclin hits the Caught in the Crosshairs on the back, EY with a Plancha to the outside to take Edwards out and K.I.A. from Maclin means Maniac Marines win!
Knockouts Tag Titles: Elegance Clique (Heather & Ash) w/Personal Concierge vs Spitfire (Dani Luna & Jody Threat) (c)
Elegance duo comes out dressed like Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. They do a Go Eagles chant right before the bell rings to a chorus of Boos.
Even though Elegance Clique throws their pompoms and try a cheap shot, Spitfire just plow through them, literally. Quick tags, some assisted moves, Ash gets away from Spitfire, tags in Heather and shoves her forward trying to take them off guard, but they turn around…grab Heather and a long Tandem Stalling Suplex with a Deep Squat for two. Concierge distracts the referee, looks for a low Dive onto Heather but Ash just kicks Dani in the face, and the referee sees nothing. Heather rolls her back in, Kawada Kicks, Forearm Shiver, trip into a Dropkick to the face! Ash hangs Dani off the apron and Heather hits the Double Stomp from the apron to the floor.
Ash starts choking Dani on the ropes, distracts the referee and Heather paintbrushes Dani with pompoms as Ash goes for a series of pinfall attempts. Quick tags, Dani is in their corner, Cartwheel Back Handspring Elbow from Ash into a Seated Dropkick from Heather. Dani has been getting smacked around for the last 4 or 5 minutes. Ash leans on Dani for a while, but Dani gets a head of steam, comes off the ropes and Shotgun Dropkick gives her space. Jody gets a hot tag, she Sack of Shits them both, Vader Hammers in the corner into a Michinoku Driver, which Ash breaks up with a Meteora. Heather and Ash have a nice tandem move for a two count. Jody tries to fight back, but Elegance stops it, blind tag from Dani, Senton takes out both Elegance Clique members and Dani stalks her prey. Snap Suplex two times on Ash, but Heather stops the third and Jody just tosses Heather out of the ring in a rough way. Jody tries her Double Knees German Suplex spot but Ash moves. Dani with the Shinsuke Nakamura Inside Out German, Pressure Drop and Spitfire retains.
Boo…
Jordynne Grace vs Tessa Blanchard
Grace charges Tessa immediately, and the ref needs to pull her off, but Tessa gets thrown around the ring literally, the crowd is chanting “Fuck You Tessa”, Tessa powders, eats a Dive and then a Jackhammer on the outside! Grace puts Tessa on her shoulders up to the ring, but Tessa finally fights off and flips off the crowd, revels in it for a second, tries the Frankensteiner, but Grace holds on, smashes Tessa into the guardrail twice, looks for the Reverse Bomb on the apron, but Tessa gets out, stomps on Jordynne a few times, hooks Jordynne’s face with the crook of her leg and drives Jordynne’s face into the apron. Unique looking and decent.
Tessa has the correct intensity, pushes into two quick pinfall attempts and starts getting deliberate. Drags Jordynne’s face across the rope, throats Grace, kicks her in the face and Slingshot Elbow is another near fall. Tessa with the Front Facelock, Grace tries to fight out but Tessa holds on and drops her with a Scorpion Death Drop for another near fall. Jordynne fights Tessa off with a few elbows, looks for a Superplex, but Tessa fights off, wants the Avalanche Sunset Bomb, but Jordynne stops it, Tessa kicks Grace’s feet, looks for a Rope Hung Death Drop but Jordynne fights it off and smashes Tessa’s face into the turnbuckles but Tessa hits the Rope Hung Backstabber for two. Tessa looks for Magnum, but Jordynne cuts her off, they fight at the top, Avalanche Sack of Shit! They both sell the exhaustion of the match so far.
They trade blows, two Scoop Slams from Jordynne, Lawn Dart into the Top Turnbuckle! Package Powerbomb for two! Dragon Suplex attempt from Grace, Tessa breaks it, Headlock Takeover, quick counter wrestling, Tiger Destroyer from Tessa! Only for a two count, but still nice. Buzzsaw attempt is shrugged off, Tessa comes off the ropes and eats the Spinebuster from Jordynne for two quick pinfall attempts. Tessa with the Body Scissors and pulls herself up and fights back, Jordynne slaps her around, looks for the Suplex but Tessa slips it and Neckbreaker Counter for a two count! The brawl to the apron, Grace eats a forearm and Tessa hits the Tornillo on Jordynne! They posture on the steps, Tessa wants a move but Jordynne counters her and Spicolli Driver from the stairs to the floor from Jordynne!
More back and forth in the corner, just positioning and counters, it’s like watching chess. Jordynne grabs Tessa for an Avalanche Air Raid Crash, but Tessa fights it and turns it into an Avalanche Crucifix Bomb! After trying a grounded submission Tessa locks in the Octopus, tries to wrench the fingers but Jordynne counters, Rope Assisted German Suplex into a Capture Suplex for 2! Kudome Valentine attempt from Grace but Tessa gets out, Backfist from Jordynne, Tessa bounces off and Cutter gives her a two count! Tessa calls for Magnum, Jordynne dodges it, Tessa rolls through, tries boots but Grace grabs Tessa and hits the around the world Reverse Alabama Slam! Tessa keeps trying to remove Buckle Pads but they’re on good, Tessa reverses out of the Kinikku Buster, hits the Buzzsaw into the partially exposed buckle but Grace grabs the rope. Tessa removes another pad, Bulldog into exposed buckle, Magnum, and Tessa is still sexy.
The turnbuckle pads being on too well made the finish a little flat, but it was a damn good match. There’s also a joke in the match with Tessa coming out wearing Red and Gold (Yellow), so the racism allegations are never going away if she keeps making it easy.
I Quit Match: Josh Alexander vs Mike Santana
There’s intensity but its all just technical tactics to take each other to the ground and grab a limb. But since we just came off of a pretty good match, things can’t start too hot. Every time Santana throws Josh to the outside, Josh scurries back to the ring, he’s playing scared. There’s a “He’s a bitch” chant that pops up. Santana cuts off Josh’s charge with a few well placed boots which sends Josh outside, Tope con Hilo levels the bald man. Santana throws Josh into a guardrail, Yakuza Kicks back to back rock Josh a bit. Fans call for tables and Santana slides one out to a huge pop. Santana sets it up, plays to the crowd, tries a Powerbomb onto the table but Josh slips it and Overhead Belly to Belly sends Santana crashing. A fan can be heard saying “That look like it hurt” to which Santana replies ” It did asshole”. Now Josh is dissecting Santana’s legs to soften him up for the Ankle Lock. Josh goes for the corner spot with the Figure Four around the post after bouncing the knee off the post a few times.
Josh tries to continue but Santana slides out and counters Josh and bounces his face off the post. Josh walks it off a bit as Santana stalks him and then a quick Chop Block has Santana writhing in pain. Josh decides to be a heel and do the Three Amigos instead of the Kurt Angle Germans. Disrespectful bald jerk. Santana gets throated, dropped to the apron on his ass, Low Crossbody but Santana flattens out and Josh goes flying! Santana tries a Dive, but Josh catches him and just drops him spine first on the apron. After a small resilient flurry of slaps from Santana Josh goes for the Germans. Santana brushes off on the third, goes for the Rolling Buck Fifty, gets caught in the Torture Rack, Santana fights off Josh’s shoulders, kicks him into the corner, Senton into the seated Josh. Perches him up top, points at the table, tries something but Josh fights him off, Moonsault from Josh misses and a Death Valley Driver gives both a moment to breathe.
Santana Spin the-BLOCK-ED! Josh sweeps the leg, Ankle Lock and Santana refuses to quit twice but slips the boot ala Eddie Guerrero. Josh pauses a moment, Santana charges and Josh dumps him over the top rope through the table! Santana says he doesn’t quit, Josh looks surprised, so he goes looking for more plywood. He also grabs the bottom set of stairs and throws them into the ring. Scoop Slams Santana into the broken table and continues looking for weapons, like a chair and zip ties. Santana crawls into the ring, Josh steps on the worked on leg and smashes it repeatedly with the chair. Josh goes into Full Mount, rains down strikes, exposes the elbow for Elbow Strikes and tries to soften him up for the zip ties. C4 Spike but Santana raises up like the Undertaker and fires into beating the piss out of Josh. Frankensteiner on Josh into the Frog Splash, Spin the Block! Josh doesn’t quit. Santana grabs the zip ties that Josh introduced, ties the hands behind Josh’s back, Spin the Block 2! Josh doesn’t quit. Santana sets up the steps as a ramp, table in front of Josh in the corner and Cannonballs through the table into Josh! Josh still doesn’t quit off the Jackass stunt. Santana finds a sock filled with quarters and starts beating Josh like it’s a slapjack. Josh still doesn’t quit. Santana tells Josh to bite the curb and is about to Curb Stomp him into the steps and Josh gets scared and quits.
TNA Tag Team Championships: The Hardyz (c) vs The Rascalz
Fraxiom comes out to watch the match, so this nicely sets up a potential early angle between NXT and TNA for the crossover.Â
Trey and Matt start, but it’s a slow Headlock basic counters and feint spots. Jeff and Wentz want to play, so this is very Japanese in giving each member a free chance to interact before any cutoffs or tandems. The crowd likes both men, so this is interesting but more Stalemate spots. Jeff manages a Polish Hammer to tag in Matt and go for a quick tandem move and keep Wentz in the Hardy Corner bouncing his face off buckles in Delete fashion. Tag from Jeff for another tandem Rocket Launcher into the bottom rope and Leg Drop from Jeff. Wentz counters the Twist with a Jumping Knee so he manages a tag to Trey and then a few quick striking double team spots. Quick tag to Wentz, Matt comes in to break it up, drops Matt and Wishbone. Quick Tag, MCMG ACS Rush homage. Wentz Dives onto Matt on the outside, Matt catches him into the Side Effect on the floor! Jeff gets the best of Trey after he’s a little distracted. Manhattan Drop from Jeff, into a tag to Matt and then some double team strikes for a near fall. Delete Head Smashes again on Trey.
Vertical Suplex from Matt for another 2. Matt tags out and Hardys look for more Tandem attacks, Plot Twist but Wentz recovers and makes the break! Trey flips out of Jeff’s arms, tags in Wentz, and Wentz cleans house on both Hardys. Corner to corner, tags back in Trey they hit the Saki Kashima assisted Dropkick on each Hardy and then they dump the Hardys at the feet of Fraxiom. FIVE HOLE DIVE FROM RASCALZ! Misses the Hardys and hits Fraxiom! This builds heat for The Rascalz and Fraxiom as Hardys attack the Rascalz while distracted. Poetry in Motion off the stairs from Jeff!
Facebuster from Jeff for two! Wentz hits a Busaiku Knee on Jeff to stop him from hitting Trey, Side Effect drops Wentz, Enzuigiri from Trey drops Matt and all four are down to catch their breath a bit. Original Poetry in Motion on Trey! Twist of Fate from Matt but countered and Matt is thrown into Jeff who’s selling a knee. Superkick into Feed Em to the Lions! Wentz Dives on Matt but Trey can’t quite make a clean pinfall. Jeff eats a Cheeky Nandos and Top Rope Tiger Feint, Twist of Fates for everyone and Jeff re-NO Trey kicks out! Another Twist but eats a Superkick from Wentz, tries the UFO Cutter on Matt but Matt just throws him to the outside. A Twist of Fate from each Hardy Boy, Swanton Bomb and the Hardyz retain!
Thursday’s Live Show will have Fraxiom vs The Rascalz for the NXT Titles!Â
Raven’s Clockwork Orange House of Fun Match: TNA Knockouts World Championship: Masha Slamovich (c) vs Rosemary
Do Rosemary’s shorts have Pokemon Gym Badges on em? Masha goes for the Staple Gun, it almost gets countered immediately, but she gets the first few clicks of the Staple gun, it actually doesn’t backfire, but she lets Rosemary powder and starts grabbing a few weapons. Masha finally decides to attack Rosemary with a cane, but Rosemary turns things around with the green mist. Slamovich gets some of the mist out of her eyes, chases her into the ring and eats a Drop Toehold into a Chair. Rosemary sets up the table, panders to the crowd and Masha launches herself over the top with a Crossbody, into Rosemary and then through the table! Masha finds her old chain she used to make Killer Kelly submissive and starts choking and dragging Rosemary around the ring and then Sabus the chair at Rosemary for emphasis.
Masha tries to hit the front flip Senton onto a seated Rosemary, but Rosemary moves and Masha hits the chair weird. Rosemary beats her with a chair a few times, looks under the ring, gets giddy and finds Janice! Rosemary swings Janice, breaks it, and then uses the two pieces to block the cane Masha had and then pressed the nail portion into Masha’s back! Rosemary is talking to Janice and goes to the back to find tacks that she spills out on the stage. Rosemary wants a Chokeslam into tacks, Masha counters, misses a Lariat and then eats the Spear into the tacks! Barbed Wire board is set up in the ring, Spicolli…nope! Russian Death Device into the Barbed Wire! Masha goes to the top, Footstomp into the barbed wire but only for 2 again! Masha goes to the outside and grabs a ladder.
A trash can lid gets thrown at Rosemary for good measure, Masha ascends the ladder and then Rosemary pushes the ladder and Masha goes crashing through one of two tables set up on the outside. Rough spot, rough looking, but Masha manages to move enough to break the pinfall since its falls count anywhere. Rosemary now goes full Kevin Steen and makes some chair art for a spot, drags Masha into the ring, sets he on the chairs and goes to the top. Masha sits up as Rosemary climbs, counters the momentum and Avalanche Requiem through the chairs! Masha retains.
Cora Jade’s music hits and sets up nicely after Masha was on NXT.Â
The Countdown Panel starts off with their main event picks they hinted towards and it’s necessary because they have to clean up the ring. Mark Henry picks Joe Hendry, and he better be correct. Ryan Nemeth interrupts with the “my brootthhheerrr” stuff, and Santino calls him “Fuck Face Guy”. It’s all good stuff, and I’m still a big fan of the Mokuba gimmick, but now they ban Ryan Nemeth.Â
TNA World Championship: Nic Nemeth (c) vs Joe Hendry
Simple chain wrestling start until Nic has a few words and then snaps off a Dropkick, does his show off Dolph stuff so Hendry runs him over with a Shoulder Block and then a Knee Lift. Hendry tries his Stalling Suplex but Nic slips it into a Rear Naked Choke! Hendry spins Nic around, walks around with the Stalling Suplex before finally dropping Nic. Ryan Nemeth shows up with a ticket, so he’s sitting in the crowd now. Joe gets distracted just enough for Nic to jump up and hit a delayed DDT. After Nic tries to stretch Joe a little, Hendry goes into locomotion Cradles but Nic drops Joe to take a breather. Nic does his single Shot to the Heart Elbow and he’s really embracing the old Dolph Ziggler show off ego. Ziggler looks for a Rude Awakening after more arrogant moments, but Joe tries to fight it off, so Nic just snaps off a Jumping Neckbreaker.
Joe manages to hit a Cutter off the ropes to try and get some energy from the crowd. Strike exchange happens here, Uppercuts from Joe and Fists from Nic. Joe blocks one fist, throws a few of his own together and a Lariat levels Nic. Sack of Shit into the Kip Up! Counters galore from both men before Nic gets caught in the Pop-Up Powerbomb! Attitude Adjustment for just a near fall. You see moments of Nic trying to cheat or find an angle but he hasn’t done anything overtly heelish yet. Joe is rocking him with chops, perches Nic on the top, looks for the Superplex but Nic fights back, Hendry gets pushed off, Crossbody but Hendry rolls through, holds on and gets his Powerbomb countered into a FAMEasser for two! Nic crawls to a corner, looks to climb for something big, Hendry cuts him off, Avalanche Sack of Shit! Kaz walks out with the trophy as both men sell, but JBL comes out of the crowd and Clothesline from Hell on Kaz. JBL punches Ryan in the face as he comes out to say something. Then Tuxedo JBL leaves after doing his job. Standing Ovation from HENDRY! 1-2-NO! Nic kicks out!
The crowd chants “One More Time” and it fires up Hendry, he does the heel turn and goes full Queen Stomp, tries again, but Nic slips it. Superkick into Danger Zone and it’s….HENDRY KICKS OUT! Nic is tuning up the band, Hendry catches Nic, Sack of Shit, Kip Up, big fire, Standing Ovation! JOE HENDRY WINS!
Overall Score: 7/10
Even if the match quality wasn’t bonkers, mostly all the matches did what they needed to do, were fairly good and a good number of NXT talent showed up to make the Live iMPACT! and TNA really feel like something special right now. I’m an unabashed Tessa fan, so I’m giddy she won and Hendry finally getting the title is the latest they could’ve really dragged this out to, but at least it stops him from becoming Tetsuya Nai-Joe.
I’m not gonna be a hypocrite from previous complaints I made with too many champions being babyfaces, because that’s still bad and proves the next few title defenses could prove volatile. However, I of course just enjoy most of the current champions. So while it doesn’t erase the fact it’s bad, it makes it more palatable for me personally. Now if only PCO destroyed the Knockouts Tags instead of a different irrelevant belt.
Also let’s be very clear, anyone that believes the PCO stunt was a legit shoot doesn’t know wrestling. Everything is a work until it isn’t and then it still could be turned into a work. Don’t be gullible and just anticipate something to be worked out of it one way or the other.
Still though, good show with a lot of hype for the Live iMPACT, so Thursday should be fun! See you there!
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