Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (7/6/21)
The Bash is back, BAYBAY!
And you thought fireworks were only for the Fourth!
NXT begins another tradition as The Great American Bash returns! And it will end with a bang as Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole go one more round!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT Tag Team Championships: MSK VS Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher; MSK wins and retains the titles.
- Million Dollar Championship: LA Knight VS Cameron Grimes; Knight wins and retains the title, Grimes is now his butler.
- NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Io Shirai & Zoey Stark; Shirai & Stark win and are the new NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions.
- Adam Cole VS Kyle O’Reilly; Cole wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NXT Tag Team Championships: MSK VS Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher!
Nash Carter & Wes Lee want the NXT locker room to finally respect them, and they’ll gladly fight to earn it! But when they’re fighting Old Man Ciampa and Toothless Timmy, will they be the ones on learning a thing or two?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and the Bash starts off with some fireworks!
The teams sort out as fans chant and duel, “MSK!” “SUCKS!” Ciampa starts with Carter, they circle, tie up, and Ciampa powers Carter to a corner. The ref counts, Carter pushes back but Ciampa wrenches the arm. Ciampa has the wristlock, Carter rolls, handsprings and flips but Ciampa CHOPS him down! Things speed up, Carter hurdles and dodges to springboard and tornillo body attack! Ciampa gets up and Carter blows him a kiss, but Thatcher tags in. Thatcher and Carter tie up, go around with chinbars inside the collar ‘n’ elbow, but Carter gets Thatcher on ropes. Thatcher pushes back, wrenches the arm, but Carter tags out to Lee!
Lee runs in, body shot, MSK fires off kicks! Thatcher ducks the enziguri to SLAP Carter! And ENZIGURI Lee! Ciampa gets in to BOOT Carter! Ciampa & Thatcher get MSK in dueling clubbing forearms! Fans fire up with the gritty duo as Thatcher clamps on a chinlock. Lee endures but Thatcher keeps him down. Thatcher even fish hooks Lee’s face! The ref reprimands, Thatcher rams knees in, then gets a leg for a deep bending crossface! Lee endures so Thatcher drops an elbow on him! Tag to Ciampa, he stomps Lee down, then CHOPS him into the corner! Ciampa goes side to side to KNEE Lee in the corner! Ciampa mockingly says, “Night night,” then covers, TWO!
Ciampa keeps on Lee with a grinding chinlock. Fans rally and duel, Lee fights up but Ciampa throws in a knee! Ciampa scoops, Lee slips out and shoves Ciampa, but Ciampa holds ropes to stop things from speeding up. Ciampa rams Lee with a shoulder, but Lee gets back up to dropkick Ciampa down! Ciampa is dazed and ends up in the MSK corner! Lee runs in to uppercut, tag to Carter! Feed to a headbutt, uppercut, and ENZIGURI! Ciampa staggers about as fans fire up, and Carter runs in to SHINING WIZARD! Snapmare roll and PENALTY KICK! Ciampa bails out but Carter goes to the apron. Thatcher gets Ciampa out of the way to take the MOONSAULT!
Ciampa LARIATS Carter down, and then pats himself on the back as NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Ciampa whips but Carter boots him back! Ciampa waistlocks but Carter elbows him. Ciampa ripcords to a back suplex but Carter lands on his feet! Hot tag to Lee and Lee rallies with forearms! Thatcher avoids Lee’s superkick, Lee fires off on Ciampa! Snapmare and basement dropkick! Lee fires up, runs as Ciampa is on ropes, but Thatcher dumps Lee out! Fans cheer Thatcher and he gets Lee up to put him in the ring. Lee is mad but Ciampa KNEES him down! Cover, TWO!! Lee lives but Ciampa tags Thatcher. Thatcher drags Lee by a leg but Lee kicks away on him! Lee gets free and tags Carter!
MSK rallies on Thatcher with the kick combo, and this time top it off with the double stomp! And the PUSH-SAULT! Cover, TWO! Thatcher is still in this but Carter fires off CHOPS! Thatcher clinches to Belly2Belly suplex! Tag to Ciampa, and Thatcher digs a knee in while Ciampa stomps. Ciampa CHOPS Carter in the corner, fires off forearms, then tags Thatcher. Thatcher throws EuroUppers on Carter over and over, lets off to tag in Ciampa, and Ciampa CHOPS Carter! Carter hits back but Ciampa throws forearms. Carter CHOPS Thatcher, ROCKS Ciampa, repeat! Ciampa knees low, fires off hands and SLAPS Carter to then KNEE him!
Carter is on noodle legs and Ciampa eggs him on. Carter slaps himself, Ciampa fires forearms, and we have a brawl! Carter trips Ciampa up and rains down rights! Ciampa shoves him away, BOOTS him, then runs into Carter’s KNEE! Tag to Lee, Carter gets Ciampa up but Thatcher gets in! Lee hits Thatcher, but then Lee sends him into Ciampa! SUPERKICK, Thatcher is on ropes! Lee hits a CORNER 619! Thatcher wobbles, Lee springboards and handsprings, into a dropkick! Ciampa gets Lee up, for a PROJECT CIAMPA!! Cover, TWO!?! Lee lives and no one can believe it! Ciampa gets Lee up as fans go nuts!
Ciampa underhooks but Lee blocks! Ciampa CLUBS away on him, but Lee back drops to a bridging cover! TWO, and Ciampa tags Thatcher! Thatcher gets a leg, Lee kicks and gets free, then tags Carter! Carter runs in, Thatcher dodges, but Carter holds off the sleeper! Thatcher ripcords but Carter KNEES back! Ciampa tags back in to rally with clotheslines on MSK! Ciampa puts Carter up top, climbs up to join him, and gets him in position, only for Carter to sunset through! Ciampa goes to punch but gets tucked in, CHEEKY NANDOS! Tag to Lee, then tag back to Carter. Lee runs in to uppercut Ciampa, RAILGUN DROPKICK!
Carter and Lee take a corner each, climb up top, and SWANTON BOMB and tag to Lee! TORNILLO SENTON!! Cover, Thatcher drags Lee off the cover!! Thatcher leaves Lee on the floor, Carter runs in but gets DECKED! Thatcher puts Lee in at 6 of 10, tags in, and Ciampa gets Lee up. Double underhooks, for the ASSISTED FAIRY TALE ENDING!! To ANKLE LOCK!! Ciampa intercepts Carter but Carter slips out of Willow’s Bell to ram challengers into each other! Thatcher gets back up but Lee gets a cradle! MSK WINS!!
Winners: MSK, by pinfall (still NXT Tag Team Champions)
The Must-See Kids won by the skins of their teeth! Thatcher is shocked, Ciampa is disappointed, but are they learning to respect the young guns and their savvy?
The battery is still charging.
It is at 91%. It is almost done, but what will 100% mean?
NXT returns, and William Regal and Samoa Joe stand in the ring.
The NXT General Manager and his special enforcer are here as Regal speaks on the confrontations between Johnny Gargano and Karrion Kross. Therefore, Regal demands both Gargano and Kross make their way to the ring. Speaking of which, Johnny makes his way out to the ring first. Then Kross, without Scarlett, storms his way out to join them all. Joe keeps the peace but Johnny also keeps his distance from Kross. Regal says these two need to settle things. Gargano can’t believe Regal says he’s antagonizing Kross. Let’s get the formalities out of the way, “You suuuuuck~!” Kross seethes as fans echo Gargano’s chant.
Gargano continues by saying he’s been living rent free in Kross’ head, and there’s a lot of room in there! He’s living like a king! At TakeOver: In Your House II, Kross realized that he is not in Gargano’s league! That is why Kross tried to hit Gargano with a car! Kross is terrified to get in the ring 1v1 with Gargano because Gargano will expose him! Regal says he cannot in good conscience let this continue. Next week, it will be Gargano VS Kross FOR THE NXT CHAMPIONSHIP! Kross says, “Hold on a minute! You think I’m afraid of you?!” Gargano says yes, as do the fans. Kross didn’t try to run Gargano over, Gargano almost got himself run over, because he was in the way.
Size isn’t the only advantage Kross has over Gargano. He also has stronger convictions. For example, when Kross gets up in the morning, the same three things are on his mind: Never lose the NXT Championship; one day, main event WrestleMania; and one day, become WWE Champion. And what does Gargano do? Put on his wife’s jeans? Kross knows Gargano thinks he’ll do all these cool technical moves and win the match, but guess what! This isn’t a cartoon movie or a comic book! This is real life! And in real life, people like Gargano “get the living daylights beaten out of them” by people like Kross. And that’s just the way it is. Next week will be no different.
Then to ensure everything goes accordingly, Regal says there will be a special guest referee: Samoa Joe! Gargano and the fans like that idea! See you next week, Kross! Oh, and actually, it’s funny Kross mentions his wife’s pants, when Kross couldn’t even lace his wife’s boots! Kross says, “Why wait ’til next week?” But Joe stands in Kross’ way! Fans want to “Let Them Fight!” but Joe keeps his cool, and Kross has no choice but to stand down. Will Gargano get his way and embarrass Kross while dethroning him?
Kushida speaks.
“Against Kyle O’Reilly, it was a special moment for us. But suddenly, we were attacked from behind by the Diamond Mine. I’m ready to fight anytime.” Kushida is a proud Cruiserweight Champion, and he will defend this title that is “more valuable and shines brighter than diamonds.” So if the mine is open, Kushida is ready and waiting!
Million Dollar Championship: LA Knight VS Cameron Grimes!
The Million Dollar Legacy is more than just a belt, and the Million Dollar Feud is far from over! But with a Million Dollar Wager on top of this, will the Carolina Cash Money Caveman go #ToTheMoon? Or will he end up going wherever Knight tells him to as the Million Dollar Megastar’s butler?
The introductions are made, the most lavish belt ever is raised, and this Million Dollar Rematch begins!
Fans fire up for Grimes and he BOOTS Knight, then clotheslines him out of the ring! Grimes keeps going, aims from the apron to PENALTY KICK Knight down! The ref reprimands but Grimes fetches Knight to put him in the ring. Grimes climbs a corner, leaps, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Knight escapes but Grimes is right on him with a headlock! Knight fights up, Grimes grinds him down, and fans rally behind Grimes. Knight still gets up, powers out, and CLOBBERS Grimes with an elbow! Knight stomps Grimes, fans taunt him with “You Suck!” but Knight just smirks. Grimes shoves Knight but Knight whips corner to corner. Grimes reverses and Knight hits buckles hard!
Knight gets to the apron, Grimes storms over but Knight HOTSHOTS him! Knight slingshots but into a SUPER FOREARM! Cover, TWO!! Knight survives but fans rally with “To The Moon!” behind Grimes. Grimes gets Knight, drags him from the ropes but Knight boots him away! Grimes comes back, Knight avoids the kick but to the STANDING MOONSAULT! Grimes clamps back onto Knight with a chinlock, and digs his knuckles into Knight’s forehead and face! Knight endures, fights up, and shifts around to back suplex! Grimes lands on his feet, but Knight goes to a corner and rams Grimes into a buckle! Knight shoves, tilt-o-whirl POWERSLAMS! Cover, TWO!
Grimes gets to the apron as NXT goes picture in picture, but Knight stalks him around the way. Knight stomps Grimes, drags him out to the apron and CLUBS him! Grimes sputters as he gets away but Knight is after him. Grimes CHOPS Knight, and CHOPS him, but Knight throws him by his hair! Knight tells the fans to shut up and then stomps Grimes to ropes again. The ref counts as Knight digs his foot in, but Knight lets off at 4. Knight stands Grimes up to throw hands, then whips him to ropes. Grimes ducks and dodges to CROSSBODY again! Cover, TWO! Grimes whips Knight corner to corner, but Knight dodges the splash to hit a NECKBREAKER! Knight hurries to cover, TWO!
Knight keeps on Grimes with a chinlock and grinds him down now. Grimes endures, reaches out, but Knight keeps him from ropes. Knight squeezes tight but Grimes fights up as fans rally. Grimes stands, throws body shots, then CHOPS Knight again! Grimes runs, Knight follows and gets him with a kitchen sink knee! Knight soaks up the heat while posing on the corner, then he stalks Grimes as he crawls. Knight stomps Grimes, kicks him to ropes, then gets the legs for a ROPE GUILLOTINE! Grimes sputters and Knight swaggers around as he says HE is the champ, not Grimes. Knight stomps Grimes more, brings him up by his hair and CLUBS him back down.
Knight taunts the fans as he pulls Grimes up and CLUBS him down again. Knight gives toying kicks, then says his name, “L! A! KNIGHT!” NXT returns to single picture as Knight wraps Grimes up in anther chinlock. Grimes fights up and jawbreakers free! Fans cheer but Knight throws body shots! Knight whips Grimes to ropes again but Grimes ducks and dodges again, for a COLLISION COURSE! Fans fire up with “TO THE MOON! TO THE MOON!” as both men slowly rise. Grimes stands first and fires off hands on Knight! Knight hits back and they go back and forth! Knight uppercuts but Grimes fires forearms! Grimes runs but Knight pulls hair again!
Grimes glares at Knight to fire off slapping shots! Knight is against the ropes as Grimes fires off! Fans fire up with Grimes and Grimes whips Knight. Knight reverses but Grimes clobbers him! And again! Grimes scoops and swings Knight for a SLAM! Cover, TWO!! Knight still lives and Grimes can’t believe it! Grimes snarls as Knight goes to a corner. Fans still rally behind Grimes as he runs in and clotheslines! Knight crawls, Grimes waistlocks and dead lifts but Knight elbows free! Knight throws Grimes out but Grimes skins the cat, but into a torture rack! INVERTED DEATH VALLEY! Cover, TWO!! The fans are thunderous and Knight is furious!
Grimes gets up, avoids Knight’s finish and backslides him up, TWO! ROUNDHOUSE! Knight staggers to a corner, Grimes runs in but Knight puts him on the apron. Grimes ROCKS Knight, climbs up, but Knight springs up there fast for a BIG SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Grimes still lives and Knight is furious again! Knight goes out to grab the belt and just wants to leave?! Champion’s Advantage, of course! But wait, he gets in the ring with the belt! Knight wants the ref to check something on the floor but the ref knows what’s going on! He takes the belt, Grimes rolls Knight up! TWO and Knight has the cover now! TWO!! Knight flounders for the belt but fumbles it out of the ring!
Knight turns around into a POISON-RANA!! Cover, TWO!?!? Knight lives and Grimes is shocked! Fans chant, “That Was Three!” but not quite it seems. Grimes goes to a corner, demands Knight stand up, and then shouts, “TO! THE! MOOON!” But Knight bails out before the Cave-In! Grimes goes to the apron, but Knight trips him up! Knight gets Grimes in position, DDT onto the title!! The ref couldn’t see it from in the ring, and now Knight leaves Grimes for dead! Grimes is down at 5 of 10, but flounders at 7! He stands at 8 and Knight is bragging, Grimes is in at 9.999!!! Knight is shocked but the fans are electric!
Knight stalks Grimes as Grimes wobbles and staggers, into the BFD!! Cover, Knight wins!
Winner: LA Knight, by pinfall (still Million Dollar Champion)
Though every trick in the book wasn’t enough, Knight had one that was purely his own brand of underhanded! And now he has Grimes as his butler! What will he make Grimes do first?
Backstage interview with Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai.
The NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships are on the line next, so how do these two feel about that match? They both want to respond to McKenzie, but Dakota says she’ll handle this. “If it wasn’t for Shotzi and her little sidekick, I would be walking out of the Great American Bash a champion.” And Ember is just this bug that won’t die! If they have to squish her once and for all, they will do that. As for Shotzi herself, “green hair troll doll” she is, they’ve put her on the shelf before. Raquel promises next time will be for good! Well, they didn’t worry at all about the title match, but will Ricky Desperado & #CobraKai crush everyone in their way back to those belts?
NXT introduces the 2021 Breakout Tournament entries!
Trey Baxter, Carmelo Hayes, Andre Chase, Josh Briggs, Ikemen Jiro, Joe Gacy, Odyssey Jones, and Duke Hudson are the eight young, fresh faces ready to break out! The tournament begins next week, who will be the first four through to the next round? Our first match-up will be Jiro VS Duke! Will the Breakout Tournament be handsome? Or will it belong to the young Duke of NXT?
NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell VS Io Shirai & Zoey Stark!
The Way is a family, and doesn’t think a duo that aren’t even friends stands a chance! But the Evil Genius and the Rising Star(k) have put aside their differences for a chance at glory! Will Shirai fly and Stark steamroll their way to the top against Candice & Indi Wrestling?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see which way the NXT Women’s Division goes from here!
The teams sort out, Shirai starts against Indi and they tie up. Shirai waistlocks, Indi switches and SLAMS Shirai down! Indi keeps the waistlock but Shirai slips out to get a wristlock. Indi gets up, wrenches through, and puts the wristlock on Shirai. Shirai rolls, handsprings and breaks free. Indi rushes in, Shirai redirects and dropkicks a leg out to then basement dropkick Indi down! Shirai gives toying kicks, gets Indi up, but Indi fireman’s carries! SNAKE EYSE, then a tag to Candice! Candice covers, TWO! Another try, TWO! Candice is annoyed but she tags in Indi. They get Shirai up, whip her to a corner, but Shirai boots Indi away and dodges Candice for a swing kick!
Shirai climbs, aims, and missile dropkicks Indi down! Cover, TWO! Indi reaches out but Candice is still down, and Shirai bumps Indi off buckles. Tag to Stark and she brings Indi around. They double suplex Indi for a BIG slam! Cover, ONE! Indi gets up but Stark whips her to ropes. Indi reverses, Stark stops herself and kicks back to then spin and backslide! TWO, Indi ducks a buzzsaw but not the heel kick! Stark fires up, runs corner to corner but Indi pops her up to a fireman’s carry! Stark fights, shoves Indi but Indi back elbows Stark back! Indi brings Stark around to hang her out to dry! Stark flops off the rope, hits the apron and then the floor as NXT goes to break!
NXT returns Indi grinds Stark down with a top wristlock. Stark endures, fights up, but Indi throws her back down! Indi leans on the hold, grinds Stark into the mat but Stark fights up. Stark arm-drags free, leaps at Indi but is caught! Indi shoves her, but Stark comes back with a HEEL KICK! Both women crawl, tag to Candice! Candice hurries but Stark leaps, hot tag to Shirai! Candice and Shirai fire off fists! The CWC fire sup, Shirai shoves and runs Candice over, then does it again! Shirai FLAPJACKS Candice, and Candice ends up on ropes! Shirai runs in, 619! Candice flounders, Shirai springboards to missile dropkick! Cover, TWO!
Shirai keeps on Candice with a whip to the corner. Shirai back elbows, tags Stark, and Stark runs in to SHINING WIZARD! Shirai METEORAS, then gets Candice up, underhooks, SUPERKICK TIGER BACKBREAKER COMBO! Stark fires up, runs, SLIDING KNEE! Cover, TWO!! Candice is tough but Stark tags Shirai back in. Shirai has Candice in a drop zone as she climbs up top, OVER THE MOON FLOP! Candice dodges, then gets Shirai for a GargaNO Escape! Indi intercepts Stark with a SIDE EFFECT to SILENCE?! #InDex represented with dual submissions, but Shirai rolls Candice to a cover! Indi lets Stark go to break the cover!!
Candice staggers up, gets Shirai up, but Shirai SHOTEIS! Down goes Candice, and Shirai hurries to the corner! Shirai goes up and up but has to hit Indi away first! Candice gets up to SUPER GERMAN Shirai down! High stack but Stark blows it up! Indi BOOTS Stark down! Tag to Indi, she gets Shirai up and atomic lifts, Candice gives it a push start as she runs at Stark, Indi hits an impressive BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Stark is down, Indi high stacks Shirai, TWO!?! Shirai survives and shocks The Way! Tag to Candice and she gets Shirai up but Shirai cradles! TWO!! Candice SUPERKICKS Shirai down for that one!
Tag back to Indi, but the lights go out?! The battery is done charging?! And when the lights come back on, it’s TEGAN NOX!! Nox is 100% again and Candice is in shock! Shirai gets up, Indi springboards in but into a SUPERKICK! Shirai dropkicks Indi into Candice and Candice falls out! Tag to Stark, she gets Indo for ZK360!! Cover, Stark & Shirai win!!!
Winners: Io Shirai & Zoey Stark, by pinfall (NEW NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions)
Nox is pumped, but she also gets after Candice! Candice can’t get away before Nox fires off hands on her! Nox has Candice in the ring and rains down fists! Indi is in no shape to save Candice and Nox keeps raining down fists! Candice shoves Nox away, runs for it, but Nox pursues! That aside, Shirai & Stark now have the gold, will they take over the entire summer?
Backstage interview with Toni Storm.
Toni requested this time to say, “How can Raquel Gonzalez set her sights on the likes of Shotzi Blackheart when the global superstar, Toni Storm, deserves a championship match?” And she’ll answer her own question, too: Raquel knows that if she stepped in the ring with Toni, Toni would become champion. McKenzie says that while Toni waits on that, there is the challenge of Sarray. How does Toni respond? Oh it was cute, how Sarray said, “For example, Toni Storm.” Like she picked Toni’s name out of hat or something. Toni is not an example but the exception to the rule. Sarray was a big deal in Japan, but only after Toni left.
Toni has won more matches in Japan than Sarray’s had hot dinners! And yet Sarray wants a match with her? Sarray is not on Toni’s level, so the answer is NO. Toni storms off, but is she the one avoiding a match she might lose?
NXT shares footage from over the commercial break.
After The Way lost and Candice ran away from Tegan Nox, Indi was left all alone in the ring! And Dexter Lumis came to her aid! #InDex lives again, and Beth Phoenix leads the shippers in rejoicing!
Hit Row presents their Championship Cypher!
“Ladies and gentlemen, but especially the ladies,” this is Ashante Thee Adonis, and welcome to the NXT North American Championship Cypher Celebration. Don’t act like they ain’t got no matters. Ladies first! B-Fab Briana Brandy says we might be looking at the money, but look where that money goes! B-Fab says they about to put ’em in a hearse, it’s ladies first. Things poppin’, now the bubble burst. Feelings get hurt thinking you can stop the cream, the expiration date’s come, y’all’re souring. B-Fab knows you big mad, frown up, the count up, big bag. She comes through to any fool with a big mouth. She from up north, they thinking down south.
B-Fab the ritual, blessin’ every room. She know they hate like an album tune. Try to times B, you’ll never add to where she’s at. She just different, just sittin’ back. Here’s a big fact: nobody’s close to B. She’s the next closest to the closest B. Let ’em know! Top Dolla, let ’em know! Time to change the vibe just a bit, get it back to the hood. He grew up listening to rap music. He don’t act bougie, he don’t act stupid. Matter fact, he dap shooters, and those with packs moving. Where he from, brothers rarely make it out. And those that do, they have similar routes. You either ball or make music, but if you do both, you get seven figured out.
That’s why Hit Row at the tippy top. You gotta be a top dolla shot calla to get a shot! So like being in the backseat, you’ll be bumped and bruised like chicken pox. They gettin’ guac, hit the block, double date at the dinner spot! NXT, you ours now, and Swerve has his, so now the others gonna get their crowns! Put ’em on notice! MSK, Timmy ‘n’ Ciampa, Ray-Ray, Pooky and they mamas! They the emperors with their new groove like llamas. Hit Row gonna get hits in a row with an entendre! Who hotta than Top Dolla? Not nada! Now, the champion’s in the house! The one true champ, Swerve!
Swerve City, Hit Row in the building! Swerve so fast, why even bother keeping up? He gives it back to Dolla and Dolla says put respect on the name! Swerve slows it down so even mere mortals can understand: “I worked too hard to give you haters laughter, so I’m building classics as North American Champion!” They finish off with their group hit, the Hit Row theme song! And if you didn’t know, now you know!
Backstage interview with Samoa Joe & William Regal.
Before the main event, what are their thoughts on the Great American Bash? It’s been a great night so far, as MSK has earned the respect of Ciampa & Thatcher, there are NEW NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, and Tegan Nox has made her return. Plus, it seems Cameron Grimes has a new occupation. With Cole VS O’Reilly 2 left to go, Regal is looking forward to next week’s big NXT Championship match. Speaking of that, things were boiling over tonight, what is Joe’s take being special referee? Joe would agree here but he assures us that he will not change the trajectory of the match. So long as he is not provoked, it should all be okay. So may the best man win.
Adam Cole VS Kyle O’Reilly!
Normally, an unsanctioned match where anything goes would be the end of things. But for these two, who have known each other for almost two decades, that is never enough! Will bringing things back to a standard singles match be what puts the punctuation on this rivalry?
The bell rings, the two circle and the fans rally and duel already. Cole and Kyle tie up, go around, and Kyle puts Cole on the ropes. The ref counts, Kyle lets off at 4, and the two go again with knuckle locks. Cole trips Kyle but Kyle holds on and fights back with his legs. Fans duel, Kyle rolls Cole over for a double knuckle lock cover. Cole keeps pushing his arms up, uses his legs against Kyle and tucks him for a sunset, TWO! Kyle and Cole reset and fans fire up again! They go again, Kyle wrenches, Cole ends up on ropes but turns things around. Kyle turns it back around, lets off, but Cole ducks the roundhouse! Kyle stares Cole down as NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Cole ROCKS Kyle, then wrenches and whips. Kyle reverses, but Cole sunset flips! Kyle stays up and gets an ARMBAR! Cole scrambles, clasps hands, but Kyle goes for a leg! ANKLE LOCK! Cole screams, reaches, and gets the ropebreak! But Kyle KNEES The arm reaching out! Kyle stomps Cole, drags him up and YANKS the arm, then wrenches. Kyle hammerlocks and wrangles Cole down to CLUB him in the ribs and KNEE him in the back! Kyle floats over to CLUB and KNEE again, then runs to sliding KNEE Cole in the back! Kyle stomps Cole as fans duel, and Kyle wrenches the arm. Cole ROCKS Kyle, Kyle still wrenches.
Cole ROCKS Kyle, Kyle hammerlocks, but Cole elbows free! Cole runs but into a ROUNDHOUSE! Cole bails out, Kyle reaches for him, but Kyle avoids the Pele! Kyle knows Cole too well, but so does Cole as Cole avoids the flying knee! RUNNING NECKBREAKER takes Kyle down! Fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” as a ring count starts. Cole throws Kyle into barriers at 4, then follows him into the ring at 5. Cole BOOTS Kyle down, covers, TWO! Cole gets the bad arm moving, drags Kyle up, and turns him, for another NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up and duel as Cole drags Kyle back up and bumps him off buckles.
Cole wrenches, whips Kyle corner to corner hard, and Kyle bounces off buckles chest first! Cole drags Kyle around, sits him up and wraps on a headscissor squeeze! Fans rally and duel hard as ever as Kyle endures, but Cole throws elbows into Kyle’s head! Cole lets Kyle go and paces as Kyle sits up. Cole brings Kyle up to a fireman’s carry, but Kyle fights free! Kyle throws elbows, Cole powers up but Kyle slips off. Kyle shoves to kitchen sink knee! Cole sits up and gasps but Kyle grits his teeth as he comes back around. Kyle clinches for knees and kicks and a furious flurry of strikes! Leg sweep and Cole goes scrambling to a corner!
Kyle runs corner to corner and forearm smashes! Kyle wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER, but Cole ROCKS him! Kyle KNEES, BUTTERFLY SUPLEX after BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Cole gets to ropes, fans are thunderous, and Kyle KICKS Cole in the leg! Kyle gets Cole up, grabs the leg, SHIN BREAKER! Cole tries to enziguri but he misses! Cole avoids Ax ‘n’ Smash to hit a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO!! Cole grows frustrated, and says “I’m better than you, O’Reilly. Always have been and always will be! You are a disappointment!” Kyle gets up as Cole says Kyle is a disappointment to himself, and his “stupid wife!” Kyle gets pissed and fires off on Cole in the corner!
The ref backs Kyle off, Kyle lets off only to go after Cole more! Cole slips out from under to SUPERKICK a leg out! Kyle falls hard to the mat and fans are thunderous as Cole brings Kyle to the corner. Cole SLAMS Kyle’s leg into the post over and over! The ref reprimands, Cole lets off, but NXT goes picture in picture!
Cole stalks Kyle on the apron then into the ring. Cole grins as he takes his time getting in. Cole gets a leg for a foot DDT! Kyle clutches his leg but Cole gets him up to bump him off buckles. Cole puts the leg around ropes and pulls! The ref counts, Kyle tries a chinlock in retaliation, but Cole lets off to dropkick the leg! Cole taunts Kyle as he’s stuck in the ropes, and then drops a knee on the knee! Kyle writhes and clutches the leg but Cole stalks him. Kyle kicks from below but Cole stomps away on the leg! Cole drops an elbow on the knee, pulls on the toehold, but Kyle refuses to give up! Kyle uses a chinlock but Cole gets out to SPLASH the bad knee!
Cole smirks as he gets the leg and drags it to the ropes. Cole springboards for a straddle attack! Kyle writhes, Cole shoves him back to center and puts on a standing KNEEBAR! Kyle endures, keeps his shoulders up and kicks with the free leg! Kyle kicks Cole away, NXT returns to single picture, and Kyle stands. Kyle throws forearms but Cole trips him! Cole steps through, Kyle kicks out of the Figure Four, things speed up and DOUBLE CLOTHESLINES take both men down! Fans are thunderous again as both men stir. Kyle sits up first but Cole follows. Kyle throws a forearm from his knees, but so does Cole. They go back and forth, forearm for forearm, and fans rally up!
Kyle hits, Cole staggers, and Kyle fires off more! Kyle spins but into a BOOT! Kyle yoyos but Cole blocks to HANGING HALF CRAB! The ref counts, Cole lets go at 4 and Kyle CHOPS him away! Kyle gets to the outside but Cole goes through the apron, into Kyle’s DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Cole falls back into the ring, Kyle hobbles after him! Kyle gets Cole up for a suplex, but Cole fights free! Cole tries to suplex but Kyle fights free! Kyle ROUNDHOUSES the bad arm, but Cole kicks the bad leg! They go back and forth like this, Kyle wrenches the bad arm but Cole CHOP BLOCKS the bad leg! Cole takes aim, runs, and SHINING WIZARDS! Cover, TWO!!
Fans can’t believe it but they should know both men are tougher than this! Cole goes to the corner, climbs up, and aims as Kyle rises. Cole leaps, but Kyle gets under! Cole’s leg jams, Kyle fires knees and fast hands! Kyle kicks, sweeps but Cole jumps it to SUPERKICK! WHAT?! Kyle endures the kick to FISHERMAN BACK SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Both men are down and the fans are electric again! “This is Awesome!” as Cole stands and Kyle KICKS him back down! Kyle gets Cole up, fires off Kowata Kicks, but Cole fires forearms in return! Kyle trips Cole to float for a ground ‘n’ pound! Kyle wants the armbar but Cole blocks that side, so Kyle switches!
Cole gets up, steps through, but Kyle cradle counters! TWO!! Kyle shoots in, rolls to a HEEL HOOK! Cole moves around fast and uses that to get a FIGURE FOUR! Kyle endures now, fans rally both ways, and Kyle turns over, only for Cole to roll it through! Kyle pries at the legs, gets one for a DEATHLOCK HEEL HOOK FUSION!! Cole endures, this move would’ve put him away at TakeOver if not for Kross! Cole reaches over, ROPEBREAK! Cole saves himself this time and Kyle lets go more out of exhaustion than frustration. Kyle and Cole slowly rise, Kyle reels Cole in but Cole grabs ropes! Kyle has the leg but Cole ENZIGURIS him back!
Kyle staggers, but he steps over Cole’s takedown attempt to KNEE! AX ‘N’ SMASH!!! Kyle gets Cole in a waistlock but Cole PELES! Kyle comes back to PENALTY KICK but then he continues and falls out of the ring! A ring count starts but Cole doesn’t want to win like that. Cole is on the apron at 4, aims at Kyle, and leaps, PANAMA SUNRISE to the floor! Cole drags Kyle up, puts him in, covers, ROPEBREAK!! Kyle’s foot saves him and Cole can’t believe it! Cole takes aim but Kyle trips him! Cole kicks Kyle away, ducks the Penalty Kick to roll and SUPERKICK Kyle! Kyle yoyos to LARIAT!! Kyle fires up and reels Cole in, BRAIN BUSTER!
Kyle hurries up top, wanting to end this like he did at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver! KING KONG KNEE FLOP!? Cole avoids it to hit the LAST SHOT!! Cover, TWO!??!? How!?!? The CWC and commentary is losing their collective minds, and maybe so is Cole! Cole goes to the corner, climbs up, but Kyle SUPER ARM-DRAGS him down! Cole clutches that arm but avoids Kyle to mule kick and mule kick again! The knee takes damage, Cole climbs up again, PANAMA- KNEE!! Kyle’s bad knee hits Cole but that hurts Kyle more! Cole goes back up, PANAMA SUNRISE AGAIN!! And the LAST SHOT!!! Cover, Cole wins!!
Winner: Adam Cole, by pinfall
What a finale to the Bash! These two bashed it up, and Cole got the better of Kyle this night! But if the Unsanctioned match wasn’t the end, what’s to say this is the end?
My Thoughts:
What a great NXT and great second Great American Bash in NXT history. It was definitely like a two hour TakeOver on TV, and we even got some great story progression along the way. Opening with the men’s tag titles is very TakeOver formula, and that is a tried and true formula. MSK VS Ciampa & Thatcher was awesome stuff, MSK’s best match in NXT, and it was just a bit of a surprise that MSK retained. I feel like maybe Ciampa & Thatcher should’ve won to freshen things up a little, but I suppose MSK still has Imperium and Hit Row to face. Of course, some of those cuts by Nick Da Prick really hurt the path the other teams could take. Hit Row doesn’t get to face feud with Ever-Rise more and Imperium is just done with Breezango despite that loss.
The face-to-face of Kross and Gargano was great stuff, especially with Samoa Joe there. Gargano loves digging at Kross over in-ring skills, and it is a simple but effective burn in the eyes of certainly the NXT fans. Adding Joe as a special guest ref is quite the interesting move, and it at least will bring us ever closer to Joe’s in-ring return. Joe VS Kross would be a pretty badass match, even if the title isn’t involved, and it’d be a battle of rear naked chokes for the ages. Kushida calling out Diamond Mine is good stuff, and I feel like we should get Kushida VS Tyler Rust first before Kushida VS Strong for the Cruiserweight title. For that matter, why not get Diamond Mine on 205 Live for scouting? If 205 Live still matters, they need to make it look like it matters.
Which brings me to the Breakout Tournament participant announcement. Weren’t we supposed to get two more qualifiers for this week’s 205 Live? But we have our eight, and they all look very impressive. It is anyone’s guess how the brackets go, but I feel like Jiro is going to put Duke Hudson over. Jiro has had some exposure already because of 205 Live and his few NXT matches, and Duke is the new guy, so it just adds up to Duke moving on to round two. The Million Dollar rematch was great, maybe even a touch better than their ladder match. I had a feeling Grimes was losing this, he will be funnier as Knight’s butler. I hope this is an improvement upon how NXT UK had Nina Samuels as Xia Brookside’s assistant. Nina didn’t do any plotting, but maybe Grimes purposefully messes up to troll Knight.
Pretty much everything with the Women’s Tag titles was great. Good promo from Dakota & Gonzalez, awesome match from The Way VS Shirai & Stark, and Tegan making her return was great stuff. The battery vignette being for her made a lot of sense, a lot of people expected it to be her, and the return costing The Way the titles was a natural move. Nox can go after Candice 1v1, the titles move over to have Shotzi & Ember VS Raquel & Dakota again, winner more than likely challenges Shirai & Stark after. Maybe another tag team steps up to get in the mix, too. Lumis showing up to whisk Indi away was also a great touch, this #InDex stuff is really growing on me.
Storm replying to both Gonzalez looking past the singles division at the same time as responding to Sarray’s challenge was a good promo, too. I feel like Storm will go after Sarray as Sarray wins more and is named the contender over Storm. The Hit Row Cypher was a unique segment for NXT, which NXT likes to do. They do their best to innovate for WWE, and I do admit that I had no chance at keeping up with Swerve there. B-Fab and Top Dolla were still tricky at parts, but that just shows how good they are. Well, to be fair, Top Dolla felt slightly off with his lines here and there but it’s not like he stumbled or anything. And this moment shows NXT is investing in Hit Row, is seeing them as a top faction already, and they’re just going to get bigger from here.
I also feel like maybe this was pre-filmed and put where it was, because Dolla mentions MSK and Ciampa-Thatcher, as if that match hadn’t been resolved yet, but Hit Row definitely wants next on those titles. Maybe B-Fab finally gets in the ring, too? The main event was awesome stuff. For being a normal singles match, it really pumped up the intensity to keep even with the unsanctioned match. Kyle won the unsanctioned, Cole won this match, I’m thinking if there’s a TakeOver in August, that is the tiebreaker and it can be a Loser Leaves NXT, aka Loser Goes to RawDown. The WWE Draft is being dug back up, I think Cole loses so that the Draft puts him on one of the other shows.
Cole’s farewell match will be epic, he and Kyle could steal whatever weekend it’s put on, and even in losing, Cole will still have all this buzz showing up on draft night. Hopefully he goes to SmackDown. Raw might be building back up but not enough to really prove anything, so Cole on SmackDown would be the best for him.
My Score: 9.4/10
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Opening weekend wraps up with the Funky Weapon!
There’s more mix ‘n’ match as Best of the Super Juniors 32 keeps going! But will Ryusuke Taguchi kick Bone Soldier butt in tonight’s main event?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Dragon Dia & Katsuya Murashima VS Francesco Akira & Jakob Austin Young; Akira & Jakob win.
- El Desperado & Shoma Kato VS Nick Wayne & Daiki Nagai; Nick & Daiki win.
- Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi VS Kosei Fujita & Hartley Jackson; Hiromu & Takagi win.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Ninja Mack VS Robbie X; Mack wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Kevin Knight VS MAO; Mao wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Clark Connors; Connors wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Robbie Eagles; Eagles wins.
- Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Taiji Ishimori; Taguchi wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Ninja Mack VS Robbie X!
It’s the return of the Mack! Will the American Ninja start to take the block? Or will he be unable to solve for X?
The bell rings and the fans rally while the two circle. They start a “NINJA! NINJA!” chant, but then Robbie brings out a copy of the Ninja Mack mask! Just to rip it up! The fans boo, but Robbie throws it at Mack, and then SMACKS him down! The fans boo but Robbie stomps Mack at the ropes! The ref reprimands but Robbie ROCKS Mack! Robbie whips, Mack reverses, and Robbie handsprings over to then handspring with the ropes! Mack catches him, shove shim, hurdles over him, then backflips over, only for Robbie to SOBAT! The fans cheer, Robbie whips, but Mack reverses. Robbie goes up and over and shows off with his own handspring!
Mack runs in, Robbie slips out to the apron to ROCK Mack! Robbie springboards but Mack gets under. Robbie handsprings through, comes back and RANAS, but Mack handsprings through! The fans fire up and the two reset. Robbie runs up, Mack TOSSES him up and out! The fans fire up as Mack builds speed, and he handsprings for the NINJA- NO, Robbie moves back! But the Ninja Special continues even on the floor! Robbie runs away but Mack catches up, to HANDSPRING KICK him down at the stage! The fans fire up for that Super Ninja Special, and Mack leaves Robbie behind for the ring count.
Robbie sputters and crawls at 4 of 20, but is still far away at 10! Robbie hurries, the fans rally, and Robbie runs at 15 to slide in at 17! But Mack is on him with a facelock! Robbie fights up, lifts Mack, and then throws him away! Mack comes back, but Robbie uses the ref as a shield! Then he throws Mack down by his mask! Robbie throws down forearms and a stomp! The fans are torn but Robbie storms up on Mack to BOOT him in the corner! Robbie brings Mack around, suplexes then covers, ONE!! Mack is tougher than that and the fans rally up. Robbie CHOKES Mack on the ropes, then soaks up the cheers and jeers.
The ref counts, Robbie steps off at 4, then he WRECKS Mack with a dropkick! Mack is on the ground but the fans rally up. Robbie stands Mack up, CHOPS him, then stalks him to railing. Robbie pushes Mack into the ring, clamps on with a half nelson and covers, TWO! The fans cheer and Robbie gets annoyed. Robbie hauls Mack up to a fireman’s carry, but Mack slips around to sunset flip! TWO, and Robbie SWATS Mack’s haymaker to CHOP! Robbie whips, Mack reverses, but Robbie slides and then dodges! Mack is on the apron, Robbie runs to CANNONBALL KICK! The fans fire up as now Robbie builds speed!
Robbie goes up, up, and he ESCALARAS! Down goes Mack and the fans fire up with Robbie! Robbie drags Mack up and puts him back in the ring. Robbie then slingshots for a stalling SENTON! Cover, TWO! Mack is still in this and the fans rally up. Robbie and Mack slowly rise, and Robbie takes aim. Robbie runs in but blocks a boot! Robbie puts the leg on the ropes, KICKS the ropes, then SPIN KICKS Mack! Robbie snapmares Mack, RUNNING SHOOTING STAR onto knees! Mack cradles Robbie, TWO! Mack waits on Robbie, and DOUBLE CHOPS him! Then he DOUBLE CHOPS against the ropes! Mack won’t let Robbie get away as he unleashes CHOP after CHOP!
The fans fire up and Mack whips. Robbie reverses, then Robbie runs past Mack to fireman’s carry! ROLLING SENTON, STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO!! Robbie is frustrated but the fans fire up! Mack flounders to the corner, the fans rally up, and Robbie runs up to BOOT! Snapmare and now Robbie goes up the corner! From the top rope, X EX- NO, Mack dodges! Robbie rolls through, handsprings, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Mack holds on but Robbie victory rolls! TWO!! Mack and Robbie hurry up, Robbie handsprings, but into a DREAMCAST KICK AND CRADLE!! MACK WINS!!
Winner: Ninja Mack, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Robbie earns 0)
Innovating in the blink of an eye, Ninja Mack ends this just as quickly! Will every match Mack has be as fast ‘n’ furious as this? Or will someone find a way to slow Mack down?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Kevin Knight VS MAO!
The Jet may be All Elite now, but he’s always going to be #2Flyy! However, he’s up against DDT Pro’s Idol Wrestler. Can Knight get through the Michinoku Tornado? Or will his flight to the top be grounded?
The bell rings and the fans rally as Knight and Mao stare down. The fans seem strongly behind Mao as he and Knight circle. They tie up, Knight headlocks, then he hits a takeover. Mao fights around, stands back up, and he powers his way out of the headlock to have the armlock. Mao steps over to wrench the arm, but Knight rolls, handsprings, and wrenches back! Knight hammerlocks, but Mao reaches back to headlock. The fans applaud, but Knight rolls Mao to get free. Mao ducks a kick, Knight dodges a spin kick, and the fans cheer the standoff. Mao runs up, Knight dodges then arm-drags! Knight runs up, springboards and FLYING ARM-DRAGS!
Mao is up but Knight FLYING SHOULDER TACKLES! The fans fire up and Knight runs corner to corner to LARIAT! Knight goes up to rally the fans, then he hops down to stomp and UPPERCUT on repeat! The ref counts as Knight stomps a mudhole in, and Knight snapmares Mao for a SLIDING SHOULDER TACKLE! The fans rally, Knight covers, TWO! The fans applaud while Mao grits his teeth. Knight stands Mao up but Mao fires body shots! Knight ROCKS Mao, runs, but Mao ELBOWS him! Mao runs, Knight follows, but Mao goes up and around! Knight tumbles out to the apron, but he ROCKS Mao first!
Knight springboards but Mao WHEEL KICKS him down! Mao wrenches an arm and SLINGSHOT CUTTERS! The fans fire up and Mao climbs up, to then SPLIT LEG MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO, but Mao goes right to the corner! Mao aims again, for a KING KONG KNEE DROP! Mao rolls off the impact, but then rolls back and has Knight in the COBRA TWIST! Knight endures, the fans rally, and Knight powers his way to switch the twist! Mao endures now and the fans rally more. Knight says he’s #MecchaTsuyoi, but then Mao throws elbows! Mao switches things back, and he says he is meccha, meccha, TSUKAKUI! Mao puffs up to show how strong and handsome he is!
The fans cheer, but Knight powers out with a HIP TOSS! But Mao drags Knight down into a JUST FACELOCK! Knight endures, reaches out, fights around, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer again while Mao lets go. Mao rises and the fans rally while Knight is on the ropes. Mao runs and CANNONBALLS Knight against the ropes! Knight writhes but Mao brings him up, only for Knight to fire a forearm! Mao fires one back! Knight fires another forearm, so Mao fires back! They go forearm for forearm, then Knight has the edge. Knight winds up but Mao SHOTEIS! Mao whips Knight to a corner, but Knight comes back to LARIAT!
Knight LARIATS again, then whips, but Mao reverses. Knight goes up and over, runs back in, and he LARIATS again! The fans fire up with Knight as he goes to a corner. Knight aims, runs in corner to corner, but Mao dodges! Mao runs, but into a DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Mao survives and Knight is stunned but the fans rally up! Knight fires up and the fans rally again. Knight runs up but Mao stops the satellite DDT! Mao BOOTS Knight against the ropes, then runs, but he goes Matrix to avoid Knight’s superkick! Mao BOOTS Knight’s lariat to SHOTEI, but Knight ROCKS Mao with a forearm! Mao REAR HEADBUTTS!
Mao runs, Knight hurdles over to PELE! But Mao tiger-feints and rewinds to SPIN KICK! The fans fire up even more while both men are down! Knight staggers to his feet, Mao ROCKS him with a hard right! Mao reels him in, but Knight suplexes first! The fans fire up and Knight covers, ONE as Mao goes Matrix again! Knight is stunned, runs up on Mao, but blocks a boot. Mao ENZIGIRIS Knight, goes up, only for Knight to go to the UPPER ROOM! The fans fire up as Knight hurries to the apron and then the corner. Knight climbs, but Mao rises again! Mao goes up the ropes to SUPER STEINER Knight in return!
The fans fire up as Mao hurries up top again, but Knight goes back up! But no Upper Room, this is a SUPER DUPER PLEX!! But Mao’s right up!? And so is Knight! But then both men fall over! The fans fire up as Knight and Mao slowly stir. They both rise up, but Knight goes to the apron. Knight springboards, but into a DREAMCAST KICK! Mao reels Knight in and gut wrenches, but Knight TORNADO DDTS free!! Knight roars, runs, but Mao uses the ref as a shield! Then Mao runs to jump over the ref, only for Knight to jump over Mao! ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO!! Mao survives and the fans are thunderous!
Knight and Mao hurry back up, Knight runs up, but Mao stops the satellite again! MICHINOKU DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!?!? The fans rally as hard as they can and Mao aims, SUPERKICK! Cover, MAO WINS!
Winner: Mao, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Knight earns 0)
The Idol Warrior’s Samurai Kick strikes down the Knight! Knight shows respect with a bow, will we see these two meet again down the line? Will Mao soon take over the BOSJ for DDT Pro?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 A Block: Master Wato VS Clark Connors!
The Way of the Grandmaster is once again IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, but that just means he has a target on his back. Will Wato soon owe a golden ticket to this War Dog? Or will Wato be stronger than 100 Proof?
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two stare down. Connors and Wato circle, the fans rally more, and the two feel things out. Wato stays away from the leg takedown, then they feel out a knuckle lock. They back off, step forward, but Connors KNEES low! Connors ROCKS Wato, CHOPS Wato, then whips Wato. Connors bypasses but Wato hurdles over the backdrop! Connors still ROCKS Wato and has him in a corner. Connors runs in, but Wato BOOTS Connors, then BULLDOGS! The fans fire up with Wato and he KICKS Connors’ leg. And KICKS, and KICKS! Wato snapmares Connors, KICKS him again, then KICKS, KICKS, KICKS!
Connors ducks Wato, shoves him, and then hits the JEEP FLIPPER! Wato tumbles out of the ring but Connors pursues. Connors SMACKS Wato off the apron, then tells fans to move! The Young Lions usher fans out of the way, and Connors BOWLS Wato into the chairs! That was a STRIKE and then some! The fans fire up and even bark with Connors. Connors storms over to Wato, stomps him, then drags him up to his feet. Connors SMACKS Wato of a chair, then brings him back around. Wato fires elbows and CHOPS, but Connors CHOPS back! Wato staggers deeper into the crowd and Connors pursues!
The fans rally as Connors BOWLS Wato into more chairs! Connors has cleared out the whole section! The fans rally as Connors shoves the ref aside. Connors JAMS Wato up with a chair, then tells another section of fans to move! They hurry out of the way as Connors BOWLS Wato into even more chairs! Connors hits a turkey, aka bowling hattrick, and the fans fire up more. The ref reprimands but Connors clears out the chairs so he can stand Wato up. Wato fires body shots and forearms! Wato ROCKS Connors, and then Connors falls onto chairs! This entire area is a mess but Wato drags Connors up.
Connors body shots Wato, then POSTS him! Wato falls in a heap and the fans are torn. Connors intimidates commentary, then he goes looking under the ring. Connors brings out… a TIRE?! Why was one of those under there?! The ref reprimands Connors but Connors shoves him aside! Connors brings the spare tire over and JAMS Wato up! Connors sets the tire down, and he has Wato’s leg! Connors SMASHES Wato’s knee on the hubcap! The fans are torn but maybe so is Wato’s knee! Connors puts Wato in the ring, covers, TWO! Wato stays in this and the fans applaud, but Connors ties the legs up in a knot!
Wato endures, reaches out, and he claws his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer but Connors doesn’t let go. The ref counts so Connors stops at 4. Connors mocks the fans cheering Wato on, then drags Wato to his feet. Connors CHOPS Wato, whips him, but Wato blocks by holding ropes! Connors KNEES low, whips again, btu Wato reverses to ROCK, KNEE, and SHOTGUN Connors to a corner! The fans fire up and Wato rises. Wato runs in, Connors dodges, and Connors comes back, only for Wato to dodge! Wato then reels Connors in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Connors stays in this but Wato goes to the apron.
Wato slaps his leg into working, then watches Connors rise. Wato springboards but Connors gets under! Wato lands on his feet but his bad leg jams! Connors CHOP BLOCKS the leg! The fans are torn as Wato writhes, but Connors circles like a shark. Connors runs, but Wato catches him to a cradle! TWO!! Wato ROUNDHOUSE, but Connors blocks! And pops Wato up for a SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Both men are down and the fans fire back up! Connors rises, drags Wato up, then whips, but Wato avoids the powerslam! Wato runs in, tilt-o-whirls, then hooks Connors up, RECIENTEMENTE!! Cover, TWO!!
Connors survives but Wato doesn’t stop! He body scissors and rolls Connors into VENDEVAL!! Connors endures, fights around with his legs, and he rocks the boat, only for Wato to pour on the pressure! Connors still fights, but Wato puts even more pressure on!! Connors powers through to have the ROPEBREAK!! The fans cheer while Wato lets go in frustration. Wato drags Connors up, reels him in, but Connors holds ropes to fight the suplex! Wato KICKS the arms, TSUTEN- NO, Connors mule kicks the legs! Wato SOBATS and runs, but into a POWERSLAM!! Wato rises up, into a SPEAR!! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up as Wato survives, and Connors hurries to bring Wato up. Connors puts one out, but Wato fights No Chaser! ROUNDHOUSE, and Wato fires back up! The fans rally, Wato hooks Connors up, RECIENTE- NO, Connors slips free and reels Wato back in! NO CHASER!!! Cover, CONNORS WINS!!
Winner: Clark Connors, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Wato earns 0)
100 Proof gets his clear shot on Wato, and now he has both two points and a golden ticket for it! Will the DEFY Champion soon run the whole Junior Heavyweight Division?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: YOH VS Robbie Eagles!
The Direct Drive is also once again IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion alongside Wato, but that means the same target is on his back. Will Yoh owe this Ichiban Sweet Boy a title shot? Or can he shoot down the Sniper of the Skies first?
Wait, Yoh’s near jacket and gear is made with… recycled Ziploc bags? Well, guess that’s one way to stay fresh. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Yoh’s height gives him leverage to put Eagles on ropes. The ref counts, Eagles turns things around on Yoh, but he lets off slowly, to kiss Yoh on the cheek. The fans cheer, especially the ladies, and then Eagles asks Yoh for one in return. Yoh steps closer, but Eagles headlocks! Eagles hits the takeover, Yoh headscissors, and Eagles kips free. Roles reverse and Yoh headlocks for a takeover and Eagles headscissors. Yoh kips free, the two stand off, and the fans cheer.
Eagles steps closer and he gives Yoh another kiss on the cheek. Yoh still wants to reciprocate but Eagles says no thanks. Because right now, he wants to “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE!” “OI!” “ROBBIE ROBBIE ROBBIE!” “OI OI OI!” And Yoh kisses Eagles on the cheek three times! The fans cheer and Eagles is stunned. Eagles slaps sense into himself, then SLAPS Yoh! Yoh runs up, Eagles trips him, but Yoh boots him away. Yoh drops down, bypasses, then drop toeholds Eagles! He calls Eagles a “hentai (pervert)” before he DROPKICKS Eagles!
Eagles tumbles out, Yoh PLANCHAS and direct hit! The fans fire up for Yoh, and he uses a fan’s towel to wipe his face. Yoh stalks Eagles, puts him in the ring, then hurries to a corner. The fans rally as Yoh climbs, and he CANNONBALLS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Eagles goes to a corner. Yoh stomps Eagles, throws forearms, then wrenches and whips corner to corner. Yoh runs in and ELBOWS Eagles, then turns him, but Eagles SAIDOS free! The fans fire up while both men are down! Eagles covers, TWO! The fans applaud and Eagles sits Yoh up to run and SLIDING KICK! Cover, TWO!
Eagles is annoyed but the fans rally up. Eagles kicks Yoh around, drags him up, and reels him in for a scoop and SLAM! Eagles soaks up the cheers, then covers, TWO! Eagles eggs Yoh on, so Yoh fires a forearm then a kick, and repeat. Eagles kicks low, CHOPS, then whips. Yoh reverses but Eagles stops himself, so Yoh’s dropkick gets nothing. Eagles runs up to roll Yoh into a KNEEBAR! Yoh endures as Eagles grapevines the leg, and the fans rally up. Yoh reaches out, crawls around, and manages the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Eagles lets go. Eagles drags Yoh from the ropes to drop a KNEE on the knee!
The fans rally while Eagles paces. Yoh rises up, but Eagles KICKS, KICKS and KICKS! Yoh eggs Eagles on, so Eagles runs to LEG LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and Eagles drags Yoh up. Eagles cravats but Yoh fights the rest. Eagles CLUBS away on Yoh, UPPERCUTS, then ASAI- NO, Yoh slips free of the Asai DDT! But Eagles back suplexes! Yoh lands out and waistlocks but Eagles switches and CHOP BLOCKS! Eagles runs, but into a DROPKICK! Both men are down and the fans rally up. Yoh and Eagles go to opposite ends, then they both run up! Yoh rallies with forearm after forearm, then whips, only for Eagles to reverses. But Yoh FLYING FOREARMS!
The fans rally more and Yoh brings Eagles around. Yoh scoops and SLAMS Eagles, then he sets up to soak up cheers. Yoh soaks up quite a lot, and then Yoh ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO! KNEE DROP! Cover, TWO, SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Eagles stays in this and the fans rally up again. Yoh brings Eagles around, reels him in, but Eagles fights the suplex! Yoh CLUBS away on Eagles, then brings him up to suplex, only for Eagles to fight free! Eagles wrenches, but Yoh ROCKS him! And ROLLING ELBOWS! Yoh reels Eagles back in, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO! Eagles survives and the fans fire up again!
Eagles and Yoh stir and Yoh goes to a corner. Yoh tunes up and the fans rally. Eagles rises, Yoh aims, but Eagles ducks the superkick to trip Yoh and tie up the legs! RON MILLER SPECIAL!! ROPEBREAK, but Eagles brings Yoh up fast, ASAI DDT!! Both men are down again and the fans rally back up. Eagles drags Yoh up, but Yoh breaks free, only for Eagles to KNEE low! And KICK down! Yoh goes to a corner, Eagles runs in, DOUBLE KNEES! Eagles comes back but Yoh BOOTS him! Eagles returns again to BASEMENT 619, but Yoh jumps it! Yoh then JUMP KNEES Eagles! Eagles DOUBLE KNEES Yoh again!
Yoh sits down, Eagles runs in yet again, METEORA! The fans fire up as Eagles drags Yoh to center and covers. TWO, but Eagles stands Yoh up to hook him up! But Yoh fights the backpack to scoop and FALCON GOROSHI! The fans fire up while both men are down, and Yoh clutches his leg. Yoh crawls to the cover, TWO! Yoh clamps on an ANACONDA VICE!! Eagles endures as Yoh uses Tenzan’s signature hold! Eagles fights around, stands up, but Yoh SLAMS Eagles down! Yoh pulls on the hold but Eagles still endures! The fans rally, Eagles reaches out, then manages to sit up! Eagles stands again, fights towards ropes, but Yoh ripcords and reels Eagles in!
DIRECT- NO, Eagles BACKDROPS out of that! Yoh sunset flips but Eagles rolls through! Eagles steps through, but Yoh BOOTS him away! Both men stand and the fans rally. Yoh ROCKS Eagles, Eagles kicks the leg, and both men back up. Yoh slaps his leg into working, and DOUBLE FOREARMS collide! DOUBLE FOREARMS collide again! And then again! Both men stagger all the way back to the ropes, for DOUBLE I’LL BE BACK! Eagles and Yoh SUPERKICK each other down! The fans fire up and both men go to corners. Eagles runs in, Yoh pops him up! Eagles lands on the apron, KICKS the leg out, then springboards to SNIPER DROPKICK!
The fans fire up as Yoh flounders! Eagles aims again, HYPER- NO, Yoh ducks that and rolls Eagles. Eagles rolls through but Yoh blocks the superkick! But Eagles stops the dragon screw, grabs an arm, and YANKS Yoh up to the fireman’s carry! Eagles shifts Yoh around to the TURBO BACKPACK!! Cover, TWO!!! Yoh survives and Eagles is shocked! The fans fire up as Eagles takes aim, BASEMENT SUPERKICK! Eagles hurries up top, takes aim, and WARP 4.5!! Direct hit on Yoh’s legs, and then Eagles steps through. But Yoh cradle counters! TWO!! Eagles escapes but he and Yoh fight for facelock control!
Yoh suplexes, Eagles slips through to waistlock, but Yoh switches! Yoh half nelsons, but Eagles fights the suplex! Yoh powers up and gets the full nelson! Eagles breaks free, but Yoh hops up to POISON-RANA!! Eagles rises, into a SUPERKICK!! The fans fire up and Yoh powers up again! Yoh drags Eagles up and in, DIRECT- NO, Eagles arm-drags and steps through, but Yoh turns Ron Miller Special into an O’Conner! STAR GAZE- NO, Eagles pushes on the bad leg! Yoh falls forward and Eagles ties the legs up! RON MILLER SPECIAL!!! Yoh endures, flails, and claws at the mat while the fans rally! Eagles drags Yoh away from ropes, YOH TAPS! EAGLES WINS!!
Winner: Robbie Eagles, by submission (gains 2 points; Yoh earns 0)
Both IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions have lost! A golden ticket to Clark Connors, a golden ticket to Robbie Eagles, will Wato & Yoh be busy after the Best of the Super Juniors? Will Eagles use this win to go for the trophy?
Best of the Super Juniors 32 B Block: Ryusuke Taguchi VS Taiji Ishimori!
The Funky Weapon and the Bone Soldier have had quite a few battles through this tournament series, and more often than not, #ItsReborn! But will Taiji keep up that streak #ByGrace? Or will Taguchi finally get lucky here in the main event?
The bell rings and the fans rally behind “TA-GU-CHI!” Taguchi and Taiji circle, feel things out, then clinch. They go around, Taiji facelocks, but Taguchi wrenches out. Taiji wrenches in return and hammerlocks but Taguchi moves around. They stand, Taguchi switches the hammerlock, but Taiji drop toeholds. Taiji floats but Taguchi slips out the back to hammerlock again. The fans applaud this technical exchange, and Taguchi hooks an arm for a cover, TWO! Taguchi holds onto Taiji but Taiji fights up. Taiji wrenches out, but Taguchi rolls, trips Taiji and has the toehold. Taiji goes for an armbar but Taguchi goes for the leg!
Taiji scrambles forward and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud and Taguchi lets go. Taguchi scoots back and keeps his eyes on Taiji. The fans rally as Taiji stands and the two reset. They circle, tie up again, and Taiji headlocks. Taguchi powers up and out and RAMS shoulders with Taiji! The fans cheer as Taiji dares Taguchi to run. Taguchi runs, they RAM shoulders again, and now Taiji runs. Taguchi drops down, hurdles, but Taiji waistlocks. Taguchi elbows free, whips to arm-drag, then he RAMS Taiji! Taguchi springboards to FLYING ARM-DRAG! And DROPKICK! The fans fire up as the Dropkick Master returns!
Taiji bails out but Taguchi builds speed! Taiji runs away but Taguchi rolls back and swivels them hips! Then Taguchi does the dance moves! The fans cheer but Taiji is annoyed. Taiji rushes up but Taguchi HIP ATTACKS him down! Taguchi slingshots, but Taiji YANKS him down! Taguchi hits apron then the floor, and Taiji stomps him. Taiji drags Taguchi around and CATAPULTS him into the POST! Taguchi falls and clutches his arm but the fans rally up. Taiji paces around the outside while Red Shoes checks Taguchi. Taguchi is okay to continue, but Taiji undoes the blue buckle pad! Red Shoes is none the wiser as he starts the ring count.
Taguchi shakes out the bad arm while he’s down on the mat. We go past 5 of 20, then past 10. Taguchi stands at 14 and the fans applaud. Taguchi hears 17 and rolls in at 19! The fans cheer as Taguchi maximizes his rest time, but then Taiji stomps Taguchi down! Taiji pulls on Taguchi’s bad arm, twists the wrist, and even stands on Taguchi’s face! Red Shoes reprimands, and it sounds like a young fan in the crowd shouts at Taiji. Taiji tries to spot the kid but he just pulls on Taguchi’s arm more. Taguchi fights up, but Taiji hammerlocks and POSTS him! The fans boo as Taguchi is stuck in the bare corner. Taiji brings Taguchi out to snapmare and FIST DROP! Cover, TWO!
The fans cheer but Taiji keeps Taguchi down with an armlock! Taguchi endures, and he reaches out to a ROPEBREAK with his foot! The fans cheer but Taiji holds on! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, Taiji lets go at 4, and the fans rally more. Taiji has Taguchi on the apron and drags him up. Taiji wrenches to HOTSHOT the arm! Taguchi drops to the apron and rolls in, clutching that shoulder. Taiji grins and looms over Taguchi. Taguchi CHOPS from below, but Taiji CLUBS him! Taguchi CHOPS again, but Taiji CLUBS Taguchi again! Taiji then grabs the bad arm for a STRAIGHT ARM BAR! Taguchi scrambles around again, ROPEBREAK!
Taiji still holds on so Red Shoes counts again. Taiji lets go at 4 and Taguchi crawls to the ropes. Taguchi kicks from below but Taiji eggs him on. Taguchi kicks more, so Taiji stomps him down! Taiji taunts the fans as they rally up for Taguchi. Taiji drags Taguchi up, Taguchi fires body shots, and the fans rally again. Taguchi runs, but jumps into an atomic drop! Taiji runs, btu Taguchi follows! Only to get another atomic drop! Taiji laughs while Taguchi drops to his knees. Taiji waistlocks but Taguchi fires elbows. Taguchi runs but fakes Taiji out, and then HIP ATTACKS! Then Taguchi TRIANGLE JUMP PLANCHAS! Direct hit and the fans cheer!
Taguchi still clutches the bad arm and shakes it out, but both he and Taiji are down as the ring count starts. Taguchi sits up at 6, drags Taiji up at 10, and puts him in at 11. Taguchi steps in and HIP DROPS! And HIP DROPS! And HIP DROPS again! Taguchi then goes back out to the apron, and he fires the fans up for the SLINGSHOT HIP DROP, but onto knees! Taiji turns things around on Taguchi and Taguchi hobbles away to a corner. Taiji runs in, but Taguchi BOOTS him! Taguchi goes up to get Taiji for the DEADLY BUTT SHADE! Taiji staggers back, Taguchi goes up, FLYING HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up and Taguchi covers, TWO!
Taguchi kips up and the fans fire up! Taguchi calls upon the powers of Strange Style, “ORYA~!” KETSU- NO, Taiji rolls Taguchi up! TWO!! Taiji ROCKS Taguchi, whips, but Taguchi reverses. Taiji handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Taiji hobbles over to Taguchi, drags him up, and gut wrenches. Taguchi slips free and waistlocks but Taiji switches. Taguchi drop toeholds but Taiji scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Taguchi still uses OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Red Shoes reprimands, Taguchi stops, but then he drops KNEE after KNEE on Taiji’s ankle! Taguchi drags Taiji up and chicken wings!
DODON TO THE- NO, Taiji blocks the knees and deadlifts Taguchi into the CIPHER UTA- NO!! OH MY GAH- NO, VICTORY ROLL! TWO!! Taiji runs up, Taguchi dodges, ENZIGIRI! Both men are down again and the fans fire up! Taiji and Taguchi stir, and fans rally as Taguchi stands. Taguchi chicken wings but Taiji fights the lift! Taguchi CHOPS Taiji on the back, runs, but Taiji catches and spins him, to POST him again! Red Shoes reprimands but Taiji grabs Taguchi’s arm. Taiji hammerlocks one then half nelsons the other, but Taguchi fights the lift! Taiji powers through to hoist Taguchi up, SHOULDER BUSTER!
The fans rally while Taguchi writhes, and Taiji aims from the corner. Taguchi rises, Taiji runs in, LA MYST- NO, Taguchi powers through to roll Taiji up! TWO, and OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Taiji crawls, reaches out, but Taguchi drags him back! But Taiji drags Taguchi down! FUJIWARA, into the BONE LOCK!! Taguchi endures, fights around, reaches out, but Taiji rolls him away from ropes! Taguchi pops free to OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Taiji flails and reaches out, then grabs Red Shoes! Taiji YANKS Red Shoes into Taguchi, and that undoes the hold! Taguchi hurries back, but Taiji BOOTS Taguchi into Red Shoes!
The fans boo as Red Shoes goes down, but Taguchi rushes up on Taiji! Taiji slips around and hooks the arm, to LOW BLOW MULE KICK!! The fans boo more but Taiji GEDO CLUTCHES, TWO!!! Taguchi survives Taiji’s sneaky tactics and the fans fire up! Taiji, Taguchi and Red Shoes all slowly stand back up, and Taiji hobbles over to Taguchi. Taiji drags Taguchi up, but Taguchi is a ragdoll! Taiji snarls and he drags Taguchi up all the same, BLOODY- NO, Taguchi rolls through, and then has the OH MY GAH ANKLE!!! Taiji endures, Taguchi keeps him from ropes, and Taguchi pushes on that leg! The fans rally as hard as they can as Taguchi puts on the pressure!
Taiji grits his teeth, reaches out, but Taguchi twists the ankle more! Taiji fights forward, Taguchi drags him back, and repeat! Taguchi then yanks Taiji into the DODON BUSTER!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Taiji survives, but Taguchi just goes for OH MY GAH ANKLE!!!! The fans rally for Taguchi but Taiji rolls! Taguchi holds on!! Taguchi ELBOW DROPS the leg, then TWISTS the ankle!!! Taiji endures, but he TAPS!! TAGUCHI WINS!!!
Winner: Ryusuke Taguchi, by submission (gains 2 points; Taiji earns 0)
Taiji tried and tried, but who knew Taguchi would take this one so seriously? Will it only be #ByGrace that Taiji can turn this around and reach the top?
As for Taguchi, he ices his arm while the fans cheer him on. Then he gets the mic to say, “Thank you for the chants.” The fans cheer, and Taguchi continues, “Thank you all for so many of you showing up here in Iwanuma, and thank you for all the support.” The fans cheer again, and Taguchi adds that he’d like to thank Mayo Junichi Sato, as well as the Iwanuma City Board of Education. “The elementary and middle school kids were able to come here for free today, so we got so much support from the kids. For you to understand how pro-wrestling can give you strength is something that brings me so much joy.”
The fans applaud that, too, and Taguchi hopes they’ve all found a new hobby today in pro-wrestling. Please keep watching pro-wrestling, as there are so many great wrestlers for you to discover and enjoy. He hopes watching wrestling makes their lives more fun. He wishes them all the best. The fans applaud, and Taguchi says not just his opponent tonight, Taiji, but also Yoh and Mao are from here in the Miyagi Prefecture. “We produce a lot of great wrestlers, but I guess the Saito brothers are most famous.” The fans have a good laugh at that, and Taguchi says he hopes he can be like them in terms of popularity. Please continue to support him!
The fans applaud, and Taguchi says Hirooki Goto is leading NJPW and his Goto Revolution. The fans do applaud that, and Taguchi says he is willing to follow Goto. The G in IWGP may be for Goto, but the T in “The” that is in “Best of The Super Juniors” will now stand for Taguchi! The fans do like the sound of that. Taguchi says the BOSJ’s T will send his love to Iwanuma today. The fans like that, and Taguchi sees the cheerers are here, as is the mascot! The fans applaud and “Chief Clerk Iwanuma” waves. Taguchi says this is also on NJPW World, so this is good promotion around Japan and the world. You will see how great Iwanuma is today!
So, let’s go! The T in Best of the Super Juniors is for Taguchi! Iwanuma, daisuki desu~!” And since it’s been awhile, let’s do that, huh? The fans cheer and clap along as Taguchi does his dance! Will the Funky Weapon get even funkier as this tournament goes on? Will he lead the Junior Heavyweight Division just as Goto leads all of NJPW?
Here are the updated A Block standings!
Hiromu Takahashi: 1-0, 2 points
Dragon Dia: 1-0, 2 points
Kosei Fujita: 1-0, 2 points
Ninja Mack: 1-0, 2 points
Clark Connors: 1-0, 2 points
Master Wato: 0-1, 0 points
KUSHIDA: 0-1, 0 points
Yoshinobu Kanemaru: 0-1, 0 points
Francesco Akira: 0-1, 0 points
Robbie X: 0-1, 0 points
Here are the updated B Block standings!
El Desperado: 1-0, 2 points
Nick Wayne: 1-0, 2 points
MAO: 1-0, 2 points
Robbie Eagles: 1-0, 2 points
Ryusuke Taguchi: 1-0, 2 points
Kevin Knight: 0-1, 0 points
Titan: 0-1, 0 points
SHO: 0-1, 0 points
YOH: 0-1, 0 points
Taiji Ishimori: 0-1, 0 points
My Thoughts:
A great second day for BOSJ’s opening weekend. Mack VS Robbie X was immediately a high bar with that extra special Ninja Special Mack pulled off, and even how the finish came about with that spin kick into a cradle. Knight VS Mao also had some great innovation, and a great first win for Mao in his first-ever BOSJ. Connors and Eagles each getting a win over the tag team champions was a bit surprising, but they could do some big stuff with the tag teams after the tournament. I did like Connors using a tire in this match, and it sounds like that’s part of a new gimmick or something he’s doing. Yoh’s Ziplock outfit is pretty fun, too.
And great stuff out of the main event with getting “Serious Taguchi” here tonight. Taguchi is usually such a jokester so it’s great when he busts out a banger like this, especially when he wins. I appreciate Taguchi giving such a promo where he genuinely wants the kids to know pro-wrestling can be a hobby but also a career. I also like that he brought out the comedy here, copying Goto’s “the G in IWGP is for Goto” but to where it’s something irrelevant. Taguchi rising back up as a serious contender would be something to see, especially with all these crossovers.
My Score: 9/10
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CM Punk is back! Will Seth Rollins’ vision already be in trouble?
Last Monday Night Raw, CM Punk & Sami Zayn helped Jey Uso against Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker. What happens tonight as they’re all in Louisville?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- PENTA VS Chad Gable; Penta wins.
- The War Raiders VS The Creed Brothers w/ Chad Gable; The Creed Brothers win.
- AJ Styles VS Finn Balor w/ Judgment Day; Styles wins.
- Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley VS Giulia & Roxanne Perez; Iyo & Rhea win.
PLAY BY PLAY
WWE mourns the loss of “Sabu,” Terry Brunk.
CM Punk is here!
Louisville fires up for the Best in the World, and they know, “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME~!” Punk goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and asks, “Is it great to be alive on a Monday night in Louisville, Kentucky or what? I’m a pissed off man but I’m fortunate enough to say that this is my home! All the dust has settled from WrestleMania, and I waited a few weeks, and I’ve nursed a few injuries and a lot of hurt feelings, but I can’t shake being pissed off!” The fans cheer that! Punk says he has a lot of enemies. It’s really easy to list off who he’s NOT pissed off at. But number one with a bullet, a big, fat bullet…
The person that Punk is most pissed off at right now… is himself. The fans are surprised to hear that, but Punk says yeah, he’s mad at himself, mostly because we’ve been here before. This isn’t the first time Paul Heyman stabbed Punk in the back. Stab him in the back once, shame on you. Stab him in the back twice, shame on him. But he though the could trust his friend. Almost 12 years ago, Heyman smashed a ladder into Punk’s head, gave him 13 staples right down the middle, and they moved past that. At least, he thought they had. They had grown and matured as humans, or at least Punk knows Punk had.
And apologies to Jey Uso, but when Punk came back to the WWE, Jey had warned him about Paul Heyman, but Heyman is Heyman. Heyman is who he always has been: a fat little snake! So yeah, while Punk is pissed at Heyman, he’s more upset with himself. He might be upset with “Temu Punk,” Seth Rollins, but Punk will get them all. But we know how this ends, we’ve been down this road, Heyman knows how this ends, Punk can’t wait to get his hands around Heyman’s fat neck and squeeze until Heyman’s eyes pop out. But “Ladies and gentlemen…!” Punk says good, where are you, Penguin?!
Heyman storms out to the stage and Punk dares him to explain why he did what he did. And Wise Man, understand that whatever words you choose, they will be your last! But before that, here comes Rollins! The fans sing and Punk says that’s all Rollins is! But Rollins also has Bron Breakker by his side, and the trio stands together on stage. Rollins, in his all rattlesnake skin ensemble, is handed the mic. The fans chant for Punk but Rollins says, “Just when I think you can’t get any more selfish or any more egotistical, you find a way to top yourself. This man, Paul Heyman, was your best friend! Your best friend! And you made his life HELL on the Road to WrestleMania!
“And now you are out here in front of the entire world, gaslighting all of us, trying to make us believe that he betrayed you?” The fans seem to agree. Rollins says Punk makes him sick! Heyman believed in Punk for YEARS! YEARS, when no one else did. But y’know what Rollins believes? He believes Punk is scum, is trash, is excrement, and that he was right about Punk all along. And just when Rollins thinks he can’t hate Punk more than he already does, Punk stands there in that ring as THE reason Rollins is not World Heavyweight Champion right now! Punk says Rollins ain’t ever gonna be champ as long as Punk’s on two feet.
The fans cheer and Rollins groans. The fans chant for Punk but Rollins and Heyman chuckle. What is Punk’s deal? Does he love punishment? Does he love suffering? Does he love being on the wrong side of history? Wait, wait, wait. Rollins gets it now. Punk loves to play the victim. Punk loves to come out here and boo hoo, poor CM Punk~! Punk so desperately so wants to be a victim, he so desperately wants to die a martyr… The fans bark in anticipation, and Rollins says he believes that can be arranged. Rollins hopes Punk has prepared his last words. And with that, Bron is sent to the ring like the attack dog he is!
Punk says is the little doggy gonna bark or bite. And then the brawl is on! Bron RAMS Punk in the corner again and again, rains down fists, and the fans boo as Rollins swaggers into the ring. Bron runs but Punk BOOTS him! And TACKLES Rollins! The fans fire up but now it’s 2v1 as Bron gets back on Punk! But wait! Here comes Sami Zayn! Sami fires hands on Bron, then on Rollins! The fans fire up but Bron picks Sami up! EXPLODER! Punk is up to brawl with Rollins, but Bron joins in again! They mug Punk, and Heyman brings a chair! The fans boo but wait! JEY USO IS HERE! SUPERKICK and the chair is down!
Rollins and Jey brawl, Bron goes after Jey, it’s another 2v1 mugging! But then Sami is back, as is Punk, and they have chairs! They chase off Rollins, Bron & Heyman! The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” but Rollins has Bron stand down. Will Punk, Sami & Jey turn the tide when it’s their three against Rollins’ three?
PENTA VS Chad Gable w/ Ivy Nile!
While he still has #CeroMiedo, he also has zero titles because one way or another, Judgment Day screws him over! Of course, it was “El Grande Americano” who factored into things at Backlash, so Penta knows exactly who to go after this time! At least, maybe? Will Penta prove Gable and Grande are one in the same? Or will Gable #SHOOOOSH all the conspiracy theory noise?
Raw returns as Gable makes his entrance. Penta wants right after him but the ref keeps him back. And just as Michael Cole is wondering if Pat McAfee will make it tonight’s show, Pat arrives! Louisville cheers Pat and he gives high-fives on his way to commentary, still in one piece after his battle with Gunther. He even still has energy to hop up onto the desk to salute the fans.
The bell rings and Gable is a bit off balance from Pat’s entrance. Penta CLOBBERS Gable, stomps away on him, then KICKS Gable’s leg! Penta CHOPS Gable, CHOPS again, then CHOPS again! Penta whips, Gable ducks ‘n’ dodges to FLYING HEADBUTT! Gable rains down fists, then he paces around in a huff. Gable CHOPS Penta down, CHOPS him again, and CHPOS him again! Gable whips, then CLOBBERS Penta! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Penta and Gable is annoyed by that. Gable drags Penta up, but Penta fires body shots! Penta ELBOWS Gable, whips, but Gable reverses. Gable ELBOWS Penta down and he then hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO!
Gable is annoyed but the fans rally for Penta. Gable drags Penta up, whips corner to corner hard, and Penta falls! Gable storms up to put Penta on the top rope. Gable climbs up, pulls on Penta’s mask, but the fans boo. Gable pries at the mask now but the ref reprimands. Penta fires elbows and Gable falls back! Penta leaps to FLYING ARM-DRAG! Gable is up, Penta ducks ‘n’ dodges and RANAS! Gable tumbles out, Penta says “CERO! MIEDO!” and builds speed. Gable moves, Penta adjusts to PLANCHA, but Gable HEADBUTTS him down! Gable shouts, “Lucha Libre SUCKS!” and fans boo, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and the fans rally for Penta as he fights up. Penta fires elbows and is free of the chinlock, only for Gable to throat chop! Gable whips, Penta reveres, but Gable ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for Penta to SUPERKICK! Both men are down, Ivy is worried, and the fans rally up. Penta runs in at the corner to GAMANGIRI! Gable sits down, Penta headstands and SWINGING DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Penta covers, TWO! Penta is annoyed but he shakes out his arm and brings Gable up. Penta half nelsons, pump handles, but Gable slips around to shove. Penta springboards but Gable catches him to a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!
Penta escapes and Gable is upset. Gable drags Penta to the center of the ring, then goes up a corner. Gable DIVING HEADBUTTS into a CODE BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!! The fans fire up while both men are down, and Gable flounders away. Penta rises up and the fans rally. Penta storms up, KICKS and CHOPS Gable, then CHOPS again! Gable whips, Penta goes up, stumbles, but still goes up! Gable grabs ropes to fight the backstabber, then BUCKS Penta away! Gable goes up, MOONSAULTS, cover, TWO!! But into an ANKLE LOCK!! Penta rolls to throw Gable away, and then SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up while both men are down again! Penta calls his shot, hammerlocks an arm, and he SLAPS Gable into giving up the other arm! But Gable powers out and has the ANKLE LOCK!! Penta endures, fights forward, and reaches out, only for Gable to drag him back! Penta fights up and rolls to victory roll! TWO, and Gable rolls Penta up! TWO! Gable throat chops Penta again! Gable hauls Penta up to the top rope, then climbs up after him! They are on the very top, but Penta fights with body shots! Gable gives shots back, then talks trash, but Penta tells him CERO MIEDO! Penta SHOVES Gable, Gable lands out, but Penta hits a FLYING DESTROYER!! Cover, Penta wins!!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall
Gable tried to belittle lucha libre, but it backfired! Penta comes through and gets even with at least one enemy, but will he even the score with “El Grande” and Judgment Day soon enough?
Roxanne Perez & Giulia speak.
Roxie says, “Tonight, The Prodigy & The Beautiful Madness take on the Genius of the Sky and Rhea Ripley. And I think we’ve made it very, very clear that this division isn’t safe anymore.” Giulia says in Japanese, “They are strong, but we are hungry. We didn’t come here to wait our turn. We came to take over.” Roxie says that means going after the very top. Iyo, Rhea, they don’t give a damn about your history because they’re here to make their own! You are looking at the future of this industry. And the future starts tonight. Will these former NXT Women’s Champions put the WWE Women’s World Champion & Mami in the past?
Judgment Day meets in the clubhouse.
Carlito knows with Liv Morgan off making her movie, Raquel Rodriguez doesn’t have anyone to hang out with, so he offers to hang out with her. Maybe get something to eat? Raquel rolls her eyes, but Dom finishes a phone call with Liv. Liv says she misses Dom, but the filming is going great. Though, she said “Good morning,” but it’s night here. JD McDonagh says surely this isn’t the first time Dom’s heard about time zones. Dom says he doesn’t really pay attention to that. But he does need to talk with Finn about something real quick. He knows at Backlash, Finn hesitated with the chair and that almost cost Dom. If not for Grande-
Whoa, easy, Dom. Don’t get all paranoid like Damian and Rhea. Remember what they were like as champions? It didn’t go smoothly, sure, but it all worked out, and Dom is still the champ. Finn pats the title, and says he’ll handle Styles for Dom. Dom knows he will. They fist bump and Finn heads out, and JD tells Dom they’ll explain this. The light is the sun, and this skull is Earth. When the Earth turns, the light is somewhere else. Liv is probably over here where there’s sunlight. Rudimentary science aside, will The Prince come through for the champ and cross off a phenomenal contender?
The fans cheer Pat’s match at Backlash.
Pat stands on the desk again and waves to Louisville. For what was shown in the highlight reel, everyone was making sure he was okay before letting him out here. Pat admits everything is sore head to toe. He got a blood vessel popped in his eye, but he is sure he gave something to Gunther. Pat has respect for everyone who gets in that ring, and he hopes Gunther has respect a bit for him and Cole.
BREAKING NEWS for Saturday Night’s Main Event in Tampa!
Saturday, May 24th, Sami Zayn & CM Punk will have a tag team match against Seth Rollins & Bron Breakker!
Sami and Punk regroup backstage.
Sami says the two of them, SNME, taking on Rollins & Bron. Is Punk good? Punk is, but he isn’t. He can’t really trust anybody right now. Fair enough. Sami gets that given he had a hard time trusting Punk back at WarGames. But it all worked out, right? And Sami isn’t stupid, he knows Punk likes to do things his way, has his goals. Sami isn’t that different. Sami has his ambitions, too. But the truth is, neither of them are going to get anything done if Rollins & Bron are in the way. Punk says that’s no lie. Sami says all they gotta do is work together and take Rollins’ team out. Punk agrees, they fist bump, and things are set. But will Punk & Sami be able to stop “the vision?”
The New Day is here!
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods strut out to the ring because the WWE World Tag Team Champions want to “grace us with their presence” on commentary. That, and they want to watch Julius & Brutus Creed fight Erik & Ivar in hopes of stopping the War Raiders from earning their title rematch. Will the Creeds come through for the New Day? Or will the raid have its redemption? We find out, after the break.
The War Raiders VS The Creed Brothers!
Raw returns and both teams have made their entrances. The teams sort out, Erik and Julius tie up, and Erik snapmares to a cover, ONE! Julius snapmares to a cover, ONE! Erik runs, Julius drops down then hurdles over. Erik scoops to SLAM Julius, then he tags Ivar. New Day argue with Michael Cole how they cheated at Mania but Cole tried to help Pat by cheating at Backlash! Brutus tags in, he and Ivar circle, but Ivar scoops Brutus to SLAM! Tag to Erik, Julius runs in, but Ivar scoops and SLAMS him! Erik scoops and SLAMS Brutus, then they say “UP!” Erik scoops and SLAMS Ivar onto Brutus! The fans fire up with the Raiders!
Brutus sputters but Erik brings him up. Erik whips, Brutus ducks ‘n’ dodges and Julius sneaks a tag. Erik CLOBBERS Brutus but Julius LARIATS Erik! Julius ROCKS Erik, tags Brutus, and they mug Erik. The Creeds stomp a mudhole in, but stop as the ref counts. The fans boo but New Day puts the Creed Brothers over. Julius tags back in, the Creeds stomp another mudhole, and then they stop at 4. The fans rally, Erik fires body shots, and Erik backs Julius down, until Julius RAMS Erik into the corner! Brutus tags in and the Creeds continue to mug Erik! The ref counts, Erik gets away, and Brutus hits an AX HANDLE!
Tag back to Julius, he facelocks Erik, then BACKDROPS! Julius sucker punches Ivar, but Erik ELBOWS him away! Erik TOSESS Julius onto Brutus! New Day say Ivar is down because he’s a bad partner! Erik says forget it, and he DIVES, into a haymaker! Julius drags Erik out along the ropes, DRAPING BRAINBUSTER to the floor! The Creeds fire up, the New Day applaud, but the fans boo as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns, Ivar runs and SPLASHES Julius! Julius goes to a corner, Ivar whips him corner to corner, but Julius reverses. Ivar comes back with a SEATED SENTON! Brutus is in, Ivar cartwheels and LEG LARIATS! The fans fire up with Ivar, “WAR! WAR! WAR!” Ivar runs corner to corner and BRONCO BUSTERS Julius! Julius sputters into the drop zone and Ivar climbs. But Julius springs up after Ivar! Brutus tags in, Julius hits a SUPER DUPER PLEX for the Power! MOONSAULT from Brutus for the Glory! Cover, TWO!! Ivar is showing that grit, and then he catches Julius for a SPINNING POWERSLAM!
Both men crawl, Erik tags in! Erik intercepts Brutus to EXPLODER! Erik wrenches Julius to EXPLODER! Tag back to Ivar, then Ivar tags Erik back in. Ivar LARIATS, then feeds Julius to Erik’s KNEE! Erik picks Ivar up, SPINEBUSTER HIP ATTACK!! Cover, but Brutus breaks it! Brutus then CLOBBERS Ivar! Erik DECKS Brutus! Julius JUMP KNEES Erik! All four men are down, even New Day applaud this great match. Kofi takes credit for making this match, and then Julius and Brutus crawl to their corner. Erik crawls over, hot tags to Ivar and Brutus! Brutus ducks the leg lariat, and ANGLE SLAMS Ivar!!
Tag back to Julius and the Creeds double whip. Ivar breaks the double lariats, and then handsprings, but into a DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX!! Cover, ERIK KNEES JULIUS! Erik TOSSES Brutus, but Brutus drags Erik out! Erik DECKS Brutus then shouts for Ivar to rise! Woods gets closer, but Erik glares at him. The fans boo New Day while Ivar climbs. But wait, Kofi sneaks over to ROCK Ivar!! Brutus CLOBBERS Erik from behind! Julius tags Brutus, then Electric Chair Lifts Ivar! BRUTUS BALL DOOMSDAY!! Cover, Creed Brothers win!!
Winners: The Creed Brothers, by pinfall
New Day cheers on as their choices for this match win out! Will this lead to an American Made title opportunity?
Rollins and group regroup backstage.
Rollins looks at Bron seething in frustration, but Rollins says they probably think they got one over on “us.” “They probably think they’ve got us backed against the wall. They might even feel like they’re winning this battle. And maybe they feel like I’ve underestimated them.” Rollins chuckles and says, “They have no idea what I am capable of.” Bron calms down, and Rollins tells him there’s one more thing Bron has to do tonight before he leaves. Rollins whispers his instructions, and tells Bron to have fun with it. Bron smiles, what will Rollins’ attack dog do before the night is over?
Adam Pearce talks with Jey Uso.
The Raw General Manager knows the WWE World Heavyweight Champion was going to hear it at some point, but he wanted Jey to hear it from Pearce first. Jey says, “Yeet,” and they fist bump. Jey is now headed to gorilla, what news will he have to relay to the WWE Universe?
Jey Uso heads to the ring!
Louisville is ready to be #YEETVILLE as Main Event Jey makes his way through the crowd. They bounce along with that Day One Ish, and Jey even joins a young fan in the YEET! Jey reaches ringside, daps it up with Pat & Cole, then the YEET continues as Jey steps into the ring. Louisville is fired up even as Jey gets the mic, and they want that “ONE MORE TIME! ONE MORE TIME!” Jey hears the people, and he figures he’ll give the people what they want. Time for an encore of Day One Ish! Jey then says, “The World Heavyweight Champion, Main Event Jey Uso, is now in your citaaay~!” The fans cheer, and Jey feels that energy.
Jey says there’s a lot going on. “YEET!” Big target on his big back. “YEET!” So let him get something off his big chest. “YEET!” “Logan Paul! You talking out the side of your neck, Uce. You say I’m not championship material. You say I’ve got a glass jaw. He keep on duckin’ me, he keep on sneakin’ me. But look, tho. At Saturday Night Main Event, it’s me and you, Uce. Yeah, yeah! Face to face, aight? Face to face. Two time world shocker, the arena shaker. I promise you this, after that Saturday night, I still will be your world-” GUNTHER IS HERE?! The fans are shocked to see Der Ring General interrupting, but perhaps this should’ve been expected.
Gunther goes to the ring, grabs himself a mic, and the fans taunt him with, “You Tapped Out!” Gunther is a bit annoyed by that, but he focuses on Jey. “The unimaginable came true. Jey Uso: World Heavyweight Champion. It’s the first time since that moment that we meet again.” Jey says, “You mean the moment where I made you tap out?” The fans cheer and keep chanting, “You Tapped Out!” Gunther says he understands what Jey is doing. Gunther knows what it is like to be a champion. 80% of his time here in WWE, he has been a champion. There is a lot of pressure on Jey right now.
But just because Gunther understands doesn’t mean his opinion has changed. He can feel this is not natural to Jey. Because unlike Gunther, Jey is not a natural champion. And since Jey likes to run his mouth, Gunther is surprised Jey hasn’t spread the news. Let this be Gunther’s pleasure. As Pearce told Jey earlier tonight, the winner of Jey VS Logan will have the honor of handing that title over to its rightful owner, DER RING GENERAL, GUNTHER! Jey, in one month from now, June 9th, Phoenix, Arizona, Gunther challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship on Monday Night Raw!
“And Jey… I really do hope it’s you. Because I would love nothing more than to shut you and all these people up for good! I would love nothing more than to get into this ring with you again, and remind you of where your place is! Jey-” Jey stops Gunther there and takes off the sunglasses. Remind him of his place? He is IN his place! THIS is his place! Jey runs this place! With this title on his arm, Jey will handle that YouTuber, and then he will run it back with Der Ring General! Jey will walk into this match the same way he walked out of WrestleMania: The WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION! Four letters, one word… Uh, uh, YEET!!
The fans fire up with the very fired up Jey Uso! But from Saturday Night’s Main Event to a hot Raw in Phoenix, will this be the Summer of YEET?
Iyo Sky speaks.
In a mix of Japanese and English, the Women’s World Champion says, “I tried to show Roxanne respect last week. But all she and Giulia proved is that talented as they are in the ring, they don’t deserve any respect! Tonight, you’ll both learn the same lessons that Bianca and Rhea did at WrestleMania. Nobody in this division can stop me. Nobody in this division will ever take this championship from Iyo Sky!” The Genius is ready, but will she and Mami get along in tonight’s main event?
Backstage interview with Ludwig Kaiser.
Jackie Redmond is with the Impeccable German, and says last year was such a breakout year for him. He got wins over Sheamus, Bron Breakker, was a top contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, but now we’re almost halfway into 2025, and it feels like we haven’t seen Kaiser in competition that much. The question is- Wait, something is going down! Bron just attacked Jey! Bron knocked Jey down into a road case, then he leaves as producers and refs hurry over. Was this on Rollins’ orders? Sami rushes in and wants to know what happened, and the others explain it was Bron. Punk also hurries over, Sami calls for medics, is Jey going to be okay?
AJ Styles VS Finn Balor w/ Judgment Day!
The Phenomenal One told everyone in the club that whoever had the WWE Intercontinental Championship after Backlash, Styles would be after them next. Dirty Dom is still the self-proclaimed greatest Intercontinental Champion ever, but will Finn remind everyone why he was the original Universal Champion? Or will Styles make sure things are too sweet tonight?
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Finn hits a headlock takeover but Styles headscissors. Finn kips free, the two reset, and the fans cheer on Styles. Styles and Finn tie up again, Finn goes for an arm to wrench and wristlock, but Styles rolls, only for Finn to wrangle him. Finn kneels on the arm but Styles kips up. Styles wrenches back, but Finn rolls and hooks a leg, Styles fights the takedown to wrangle Finn now. Finn kips up, but into the headlock! Styles has Finn down but Finn rolls to headlock back! The fans rally as Styles rolls to a cover, ONE! Finn holds on, Styles powers up and out, and Styles hurdles, drops down, then DROPKICKS!
Finn flounders out of the ring and the fans fire up! JD & Carlito help Finn focus but a ring count begins. Styles waits on his old friend, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Finn RAMS into Styles at the corner again and again! The ref counts, Finn lets off and soaks up heat with the Too Sweet. Finn then storms up on Styles, but Styles BOOTS him! Styles scoops for a BACKBREAKER and the fans cheer. Styles drags Finn up, snap suplexes, then floats to a cover, ONE!! Finn is tougher than that but the fans still cheer Styles. Styles stays on Finn, brings him up, and he scoops Finn to SLAM him down! The fans rally, Styles runs, KNEE DROP! Finn flounders away to a corner but Styles is right on him. Finn kicks low, puts Styles in the corner and CHOPS! Styles just glares at Finn!
Finn throws hands but Styles CHOPS, CHOPS, and CHPOS in return! Finn FLAPJACK HOTSHOTS Styles! Styles sputters on the mat while Finn paces. Finn runs to KICK Styles in the side! Finn jump stomps away on Styles again and again! The ref reprimands, Finn argues with him, and then Finn mocks Louisville. Finn drags Styles up, throws some body shots from the side, then clamps on for a COBRA TWIST! Styles endures, even as Finn digs an elbow into the ribs! The fans rally and Styles fights with elbows to Finn’s leg! Styles HIP TOSSES free, then he LARIATS! The fans fire up as Styles runs, SLIDING FOREARM!
Styles fires up and the fans are with him! Styles runs in at Finn to LARIAT in a corner! Then fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! The fans rally while Carlito & JD grow worried. Styles stalks Finn, brings him up and in, but JD gets on the apron! The fans boo but Styles chases JD off. Styles goes back for Finn, but Finn cradles! TWO! Finn is up, he slips around, and he dragon sleepers, but Styles drops! Styles KICKS Finn away, then he fires off a Phenomenal Blitz! Finn dodges the lariat, comes back, DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! The fans fire up while JD & Carlito coach Finn, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Finn brawls with Styles up top! Styles throws hands, then he brings Finn to the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX! A hard landing and both men are down! The fans rally up while JD & Carlito are worried all over again. The fans rally up, “This is Awesome!” as Finn and Styles rise up. Styles fires a forearm, Finn fires a haymaker, and repeat! They stand up now, and Finn fires a body shot! Styles fires a haymaker, but Finn fires back! Finn gets the edge again, then soaks up heat. But Styles ROLLING ELBOWS! But Finn PELES, only for Styles to block! Styles then clamps onto that leg, CALF CRUSHER!!
Finn endures, reaches out, and he fights around! Finn drags Styles along for the ROPEBREAK! The fans are torn while Styles lets go. Finn drags himself up with the ropes, but Styles is back on that leg! Finn slips around, dragon sleeper, EYE OF THE HURRICANE! The fans fire up while both men are down again! JD & Carlito coach Finn as he rises up in the corner. Finn aims, runs in, but Styles LARIATS! The fans fire up and Styles whips Finn to ropes. Finn SLINGBLADES first! Finn keeps moving, and he SHOTGUNS Styles into buckles! Styles falls, Finn goes up, and COUP DE- NO, Styles dodges! Finn falls to his knees!
Styles grabs that bad leg again, CALF CRUSHER!! Finn endures, reaches out, but Styles rolls him from the ropes! Deadlift STYLES CLASH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Finn survives and now JD & Carlito are plotting. The fans rally as hard as they can, “This is Awesome!” Styles drags Finn up, reels him back in, but Carlito gets on the apron! The ref stops Carlito, JD grabs at Styles! Styles DECKS JD, then goes out, but Finn runs up! Styles ROCKS Finn, SLIDING KNEES Carlito, and then aims! Springboard, but Finn slips around! BLOODY SUNDAY!! Cover, TWO?!?! Styles survives and he shocks Finn! And then PENTA is back! he CROSSBODIES Carlito!
Penta scoops JD to BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up as Penta steps off JD to give Carlito a DESTROYER to the floor!! Styles BOOTS Finn, goes up and out, PHENOMENAL FOREARM!! Cover, Styles wins!!
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall
Penta gets even with Judgment Day after all! Styles gets the win thanks to Penta evening things up, but will Styles be able to take that Intercontinental Championship from Dirty Dom?
Becky Lynch is here!
Though, she isn’t very happy given she isn’t Women’s Intercontinental Champion right now. Becky sits up on a corner while she’s handed a mic and given the proper introductions. The fans are torn, but Becky says, “I… I wasn’t beaten on Saturday. No, no. Lyra was beaten on Saturday. Oh, oh, you don’t believe me? Well, one of us was taken to a hospital, her, and one of us went to their nice big bus, took a nice warm shower, drank a shot of tequila, and basked in their brilliance, me.” The fans are still torn, but Becky says, “Because even after everything that Lyra has done to me, after she came out week after week and attacked my character, the person that I am…
“I still made her the best version of herself! I gave her the best match of her career! And in just three weeks of standing on the outskirts of my spotlight, she has never mattered more than she does right now in her entire life, and it is not even close!” The fans boo that, but Becky hops down as she says, “But… when the bell ring after the match, I didn’t hear defeat. No, no, no. What I heard was an alarm ringing in my ear and I realized how much I had been manipulated not just by Lyra, but by all of you!” The fans definitely boo that. Becky asks if they wanna know why she walked away for almost a year.
“Because you asked me to! The last time that I won the world championship, I felt it, I heard the reaction, I saw all your comments online, and so I stepped away. Because if I’m not here to win world championships, then why am I here? But hey, hey, no, no. I’ve always been for the people. I’ve always been for the people. So whatever you want, because hey, man, I have you to thank for my career, right? You guys carried me on your shoulders into the main event of WrestleMania. You saw yourselves in me! I was you, you were me, we were in this together! Right? But then something happened. Something happened: I won!
“And you couldn’t see yourselves in me anymore, because you can’t recognize success. Because all you know is failure.” The fans boo more, but Becky scowls. Yeah, the fans hate what they cannot understand. You wanna know something? When Becky was out, one of her friends asked, “Do you miss it?” And she had a thought. She did miss being in the ring, but she liked herself more out of it. She didn’t understand what she was saying, but now she does. She wasn’t captured by all the fans! She didn’t have to listen to the fans tell her who she is and what she’s about!
She didn’t have to listen to all of the fans’ lies! The lies that are repeated from the one person she had hope for in this business! Becky didn’t have to spin her wheels to prove she isn’t what people said she was! But that all changes! From now on, whatever the fans say she is, then she is! If they say she’s selfish, then yes she is! If they say she’s greedy, then yes she is! If they say she’s cutthroat, then yes she is! And all those girls in the back that were happy Becky was gone, thought it was safe with the fire gone out inside Becky, well they’re gonna realize what it’s like to be held down by The Man! Will Becky look to burn it down from here on out?
Rusev speaks.
“I didn’t wanna do that, Otis. I don’t wanna do any of this. All I want is just… to go home and be rich. But I was once programmed by lesser people, too. And I can’t leave my brothers until you all wake up. Do you think these people care that you’re missing your family? Do you think these people care that each night, your choices are hurt or be hurt? Last week, Tozawa stepped up to me, and the crowd cheered him on. The world sent him straight into the frontline. And yet, you still seek their approval. That is because you let the sheep control the wolves. Get up off your knees, men! Don’t you see that their cheers are like a stone to a blade?
“But I can see right through them. That’s why they keep mocking me with chanting my name. But I will reclaim my own name once my job here is done. But until that day, remember this, my brothers. It will hurt me to hurt you. But I would rather you fall at my hand than fall out into the abyss.” Rusev is looking to redeem Monday Night Raw one brutal moment at a time, will no one be able to stop him?
Alpha Academy meets with Adam Pearce.
Maxxine Dupri & Natalya are with Akira Tozawa to encourage him to speak up. Tozawa says he wants a match with Rusev. Maxxine & Natty feel Tozawa can do this. Pearce respects Tozawa’s bravery, but think about this. Tozawa isn’t even medically cleared right now. Tozawa knows he will be soon. Pearce says he also knows that. And when Tozawa IS cleared, they will revisit this conversation. But then Sheamus steps in and says fair play, Tozawa. Good on him for not baking down. And Sheamus knows that when Tozawa is cleared, he’ll give Rusev hell. They fist bump, and Alpha Academy heads out.
As for Sheamus, Pearce says what a return. Sheamus says he needed that. He needed to shake off that ring rust. Well, not much rust, maybe it was in his head. But he wants to keep this momentum going. How about next week, Sheamus VS “that bouncing wallaby waster,” Grayson Waller. Pearce says consider that official, because that sounds like a banger. The Celtic Warrior shakes hands with the GM, will Sheamus make sure Waller feels what Austin Theory felt last week?
Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley VS Giulia & Roxanne Perez!
Between Monday Night Raw and Tuesday Night NXT, we’ve seen the WWE Women’s World Champion battle The Beautiful Madness & The Prodigy multiple times already. The Genius was victorious alongside “Juggernaut” Jordynne Grace last week, but will she and the Eradicator have similar success? Or will this be the start of an NXT takeover?
Raw returns as Iyo makes her entrance, followed by Rhea’s. The fans hit that triple digit mark on the decibels as Mami makes her way to ringside. The teams sort out and Iyo starts against Roxie. They circle, but then Roxie goes to leave, only for Iyo to grab her feet! Roxie kicks Iyo away, but Iyo comes back with a THESZ PRESS! Iyo rains down fast hands, Roxie turns things around, but then Iyo turns it back around. They end up in the ropes, Iyo backs off, only to grab Roxie’s legs and YANK her from the ropes! Iyo covers, TWO! Iyo clamps onto Roxie with a headlock, but Roxie powers up, only for Iyo to hold on tighter!
Louisville rallies, “We Want Mami!” as Roxie powers up and powers out this time, only for Iyo to pull hair! Iyo brings Roxie around but Roxie SLAPS her! Iyo ROCKS Roxie, chase Giulia off, but Roxie ROCKS Iyo! Roxie bumps Iyo off buckles, stomps away, then tags Giulia. Roxie sends Giulia in and she ELBOWS Iyo! Giulia sends Roxie in for an UPPERCUT! Giulia then brings Iyo to ropes to CHOKE her! The ref counts, Giulia steps away, and that lets Roxie get a cheap shot! Roxie takes a bow while the fans boo, but Rhea runs up on her! Rhea TOSSES Roxie into the ring! The fans fire up as Rhea DROPKICKS Roxie back out!
Giulia and Rhea want after each other but the ref stops this. Giulia gets Iyo for a NECK TWIST! Giulia whips, Iyo ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Giulia avoids the handspring! Only for Iyo to SHOTGUN Giulia down! The fans fire up and Iyo headlocks. Iyo reaches out but Roxie YANKS Rhea down! The fans boo but Giulia JAWBREAKERS free! Roxie SLAPS Rhea and laughs about it. Rhea just gets pissed! Rhea chases Roxie around the outside, but Giulia is there to CROSBODY! But Rhea catches her! Roxie DROPKICKS Rhea into the POST! But Iyo DIVES to take out Roxie! The fans fire up, but then Giulia DROPKICKS Iyo!
The ref reprimands everyone, starts a ring count, and the fans rally for Iyo & Rhea while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Roxie has Iyo with a bridging hammerlock. Iyo endures and the fans rally up. Iyo fights to her feet, fires elbows, then hits a FLYING-MARE! Both women are down, the fans fire up more, but Roxie grabs Iyo’s legs! Iyo BOOTS her away, Giulia runs in but Iyo TOSSES her out! Hot tag to Rhea! Rhea rallies on Roxie, whips, but Roxie reverses! Rhea reverses back to wrench and HOOK KCIK! Then GERMAN SUPLEX! The fans fire up with Rhea and she reels Roxie in! Canadian Rack, and RAZOR’S EDGE! Then a DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!! Roxie shows the toughness of a former NXT Women’s Champion but Rhea just stalks her.
Rhea hauls Roxie up, bumps her off buckles, but Roxie BOOTS her back! Roxie BOOTS Rhea down, then goes up, up, and LION- NO, Rhea gets under her for an Electric Chair Lift! Rhea SMACKS Roxie off buckles, then hoists her up there. Rhea climbs, positions herself just right, and has the Canadian Rack again! The fans fire up but Roxie fights free! Roxie ROCKS Rhea, goes up, and SUPER STEINERS! Cover, TWO!! Rhea shows her own championship grit, but Roxie tags Giulia! Roxie DROPKICKS Iyo off the apron while Giulia HEADBUTTS Rhea! Roxie SUPERKICKS Rhea, then Giulia reels Rhea in! Tag to Roxie and Giulia snap suplexes!
Roxie goes up, up, LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Rhea but Roxie rains down fists! Rhea pushes Roxie away, but Roxie hurries to clamp on with a SLEEPER! Rhea rises as the fans rally, but Roxie THROWS Rhea down! Rhea goes to a corner, Roxie runs up and UPPERCUTS! Roxie rolls and returns, but Rhea picks her up, ATOMIC FACEBUSTER! Both women are down and the fans fire up! Rhea and Roxie crawl, hot tags to Giulia and Iyo! The fans fire up as Iyo dodges to SHOTEI! Iyo whips, Giulia reverses, but Iyo goes up and out! Iyo blocks a boot, ROCKS Giulia then goes up top! MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up as Iyo kips up!
Iyo is ready to run wild and the fans are with her! But Roxie is back in, only for Iyo to dodge! Rhea scoops Roxie but Roxie TORNADO DDTS! Iyo SHOTGUNS Roxie! Giulia reels Iyo in for a cradle, TWO!! Giulia drags Iyo up, hammerlock and scoop, GLORIOUS- NO, Iyo slips free to waistlock! Giulia switches, Iyo victory rolls, STOMP 182! The fans fire up and Iyo hurries to put Giulia in the drop zone! Iyo steps on Giulia and goes up the corner! The fans fire up for OVER THE MOONSAULT!! Cover, Roxie breaks it! The fans boo but Roxie whips, Iyo reverses, Roxie tilt-o-whirls, but Iyo fights the leg sweep! Iyo hooks Roxie up but Roxie powers out!
Rhea is back, and she gives Iyo a boost! Roxie dodges, the SHOTGUN hits Giulia! Roxie SOBATS Rhea, runs up, POP- NO, Rhea pops out the back! MISSILE DROPKICK from Iyo! Roxie tumbles out, Iyo wants a high-ten. Rhea gives Iyo the high-ten, and then Rhea signals she’ll lift Iyo up! The fans fire up, but Giulia TRIPS Rhea first! Roxie runs up, Iyo BOOTS her, but Giulia is right up top! Giulia underhooks the arms, and she gives Iyo a SUPER DUPER BUTTERFLY PLEX!! Giulia roars, brings Iyo around, scoop and NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!! Cover, RHEA BREAKS IT! The fans fire up, but Roxie DROPKICKS Rhea!
Rhea EDDY GORDO KICKS Roxie in return! Giulia KNEES Rhea down! Giulia then focuses on Iyo, but Iyo wrenches her! Iyo underhooks, TIGER BACKBREAKER! Iyo then fires up and the fans are with her! SHINKAN- NO, Giulia puts her on the apron! Iyo ROCKS Giulia, climbs up, and Rhea sneaks a tag. Iyo leaps, Giulia dodges, Rhea reels Giulia in. But then Roxie is up top, so Rhea shoves Giulia forward, the CROSSBODY hits Giulia instead of Iyo! Roxie is stunned, Rhea smirks, and Iyo BUZZSAWS Roxie! Rhea drags Giulia up, HEADBUTTS her, and hits a RIPTIDE!! Cover, Rhea & Iyo win!!
Winners: Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley, by pinfall
The Eradicator had the champion’s back and vice-versa, and the top two women on Raw win out! But at the same time, Rhea still wants to be a champion herself. Will Mami get back on top soon enough? Or will the Genius be ready for that rematch, too?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw here to not just follow Backlash but to turn the corner towards Saturday Night’s Main Event. Great promo segment from CM Punk and Seth Rollins to open, and it naturally brought out Sami Zayn and Jey Uso for a brawl. This gives us a good set-up for Punk & Sami VS Rollins & Bron at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Jey and Gunther had a good promo together, with Jey getting fired up again because he knows Gunther is again underestimating him. And while I expected Logan Paul bringing another sucker punch, Rollins sending Bron after Jey is just as good. Though I feel bad Kaiser’s interview was no longer an interview but just a way to give us Bron’s attack.
Obviously Rollins won’t give up on the world title so easily, so he’s just trying to soften Jey up to make it easier to take that title, but it might backfire if Logan or Gunther gets the title first. Well, hopefully not Logan but I’m not sure Gunther would either. Great promo from Becky to talk down to not just Lyra but the fans. While blaming fans is a cliche Heel trope, seeing how John Cena did it and now Becky is doing it in a similar way, it still works. And her saying Lyra went to the hospital plants seeds of an injury angle as I was expecting on Saturday, so I wouldn’t mind seeing something where Becky and Bayley fight not just for their own grudge but for one more chance at the title.
Great promo from Rusev to once again frame what he’s doing as if it is a noble mission, but it would be something if someone came around to see things the way Rusev does. Tozawa wanting after Rusev and Pearce saying not yet is good stuff, Pearce is being a responsible boss by not letting Tozawa go right into a one-sided fight. Sheamus wanting his match with Waller “as intended” is also good stuff, and it’ll give Theory a chance to return the favor by being mostly unbothered like Waller was last week. The A-Town Down Under break-up has been on far too slow a burn, it needs to happen now as Rollins’ faction is rising up and we get into MITB season.
Penta VS Gable was a great match that also tied well into the Judgment Day story. Great win for Penta, and it might establish that Gable can’t win unless he’s El Grande Americano and therefore able to load the mask with plates. Penta getting his revenge on Judgment Day while also helping Styles win was good stuff, too. I wonder if Styles and Penta team up against Judgment Day for just a moment, before “El Grande” obviously gets involved and gets a 1v1 match with Penta. There’s also going to be Money in the Bank qualifiers soon, so maybe we see Penta and “El Grande” get in on that while also feuding with each other. Also, hilarious bit with JD teaching Dom about time zones.
Great tag team match of War Raiders VS Creed Brothers with New Day on commentary. New Day of course cost the Raiders since they don’t want another rematch with them, but I feel like helping the Creeds will backfire in that the Creeds will be just as hard to beat in a tag match. And then great promos from the women in tonight’s main event. A little surprised we didn’t get a Rhea one, unless I somehow missed it. But that was also a great main event tag, great win for Iyo and Rhea as a duo, and Iyo VS Rhea feels like a clear choice for the next title match. Nothing in the women’s division has been set up for SNME, so maybe that’s where we’ll get Iyo VS Rhea.
My Score: 8.8/10
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