Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Power Struggle Results & Report! (11/6/21)
The Power Struggle returns!

The Road to WrestleKingdom 16 starts here!
NJPW begins the countdown to WrestleKingdom 16, and Power Struggle is on another level! Will Takagi VS Okada be changed to an entirely different match?
NOTE: NJPW no longer wants to feed AXS TV now that it is with Anthem and Impact Wrestling. But never fear, I will cover NJPW in the spirit of AXS in providing the most important matches of the show.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Chaos VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins and becomes the new NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions.
- Provisional KOPW 2021 Amateur Wrestling Match: Toru Yano VS Great-O-Khan; Yano wins and retains the trophy.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles VS El Desperado; Desperado wins and becomes the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion.
- IWGP US Heavyweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi VS KENTA; Kenta wins and becomes the new IWGP US Heavyweight Champion.
- WrestleKingdom Right to Challenge Contract: Kazuchika Okada VS Tama Tonga w/ Jado; Okada wins and retains the Right to Challenge.
- IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Zack Sabre Jr; Takagi wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships: Chaos VS House of Torture!
Tomohiro Ishii finished the G1 5-3, Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi both finished 3-6, but now they must focus on being a trio again! The King of Darkness, Tokyo Pimp and the traitorous High Voltage are coming for the titles, will Chaos #StayGold in Osaka?
The introductions are made, Bullet Club Low Sweet, and Chaos anticipates the sneak attack! They brawl and Ishii throws out Sho while Hashi throws out Evil and Goto throws out Yujiro Takahashi. The bell rings to get this on record as Ishii throws Sho into railing and Hashi POSTS Evil! Hashi also throws Dick Togo into the ring! He isn’t part of the match but Chaos knows better than to let tricky Dick off easy. Chaos surrounds Dick and hammer away on him! Fans cheer as Dick bails out. Ishii DECKS Evil, Hashi ROCKS Sho, and Goto keeps after Yujiro. Evil throws Ishii into railing but Goto bumps Yujiro off buckles and fires forearms.
Goto whips corner to corner, runs in and MURAMASA! But Yujiro BITES Goto’s hand to deny the bulldog! The ref reprimands, Yujiro clubs Goto’s arm. Yujiro whips Goto into the blue corner, and surprise! Evil takes the buckle pad off! Goto hits bare steel as the Bullet Club’s favorite strategy comes into play. Evil goes after Hashi on the outside while Yujiro stomps Goto down. Evil RAMS Hashi into the timekeeper’s area! Sho and Dick mug Ishii while Yujiro chokes Goto. The ref counts, Yujiro lets off and tags in Evil. Evil uses Sho’s old Chaos towel to choke Goto! The ref is busy with the outside shenanigans but Evil calls for the pin. Cover, TWO!
Evil is frustrated already but he tags Sho in. Sho digs his fingers into Goto’s face! The ref reprimands, Sho shifts to a chinlock. Goto endures, gets a ropebreak, and the ref counts. Sho lets off at 3, fans rally up for Goto but Sho slaps him around. Goto glares at Sho and eggs him on. Sho kicks, Goto CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Sho rakes eyes! The ref counts, Sho stops to run, but Goto follows. Sho dodges but Goto deflects the boot to LARIAT! Yujiro gets in to go after Goto and whip him to the corner! Goto stops himself and DECKS Evil! Goto sends Yujiro into the bare buckles then hits a BIG back suplex! Fans fire up as both men are down! Hot tag to Ishii!
The Stone Pitbull runs into forearms and a KICK from Sho, but he just ROCKS Sho with a forearm! Ishii whips Sho, Sho reverses but Ishii comes back to run him over! Ishii kicks Sho around and into a corner. Ishii stomps Sho, slaps him around, but Sho rakes eyes and fires off forearms! Sho sits Ishii down to dig both boots in! The ref counts, Sho stops at 4. Sho eggs Ishii on and fans rally up. Ishii stands, slaps Sho then puts him in the corner to CHOP! And CHOP! Those are high shots already! The ref warns Ishii but Ishii tells him to shut up as he CHOPS Sho again! Ishii drags Sho up and suplexes but Sho blocks to wrench and waistlock.
Ishii elbows out, runs but things speed up. Sho goes the other way, but Ishii blocks the spear! Ishii suplexes, but Sho resists again to wrench the fingers! Sho wrenches the arm, KICKS away on the leg and chest, but Ishii blocks. Sho rakes eyes again, the ref reprimands and Sho whips. Ishii reverses, Sho ducks and dodges to ram Ishii. Ishii rebounds and dodges Sho, only for Evil to get a cheap shot in! Sho SPEARS Ishii down! Fans fire up as both men are down, but Sho tags Evil. Evil kicks at Ishii, drags him up, but blocks the kick to give it to the ref! Ishii blocks Evil’s kick to spin him for a GERMAN SUPLEX! Both men are down, Evil gets to a corner. Ishii crawls, hot tag to Hashi!
The Headhunter runs in to clothesline Evil! Then he shoves Evil out to go up the corner, BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Hashi drags Evil up and reels him in, but Evil pulls hair! Hashi breaks free to fire off hands and a CHOP! Evil staggers, Hashi runs but Yujiro is there with the pimp cane! The ref warns Yujiro, Evil waistlocks Hashi but Hashi elbows free. Evil grabs the ref to keep him from seeing Dick trip Hashi! Goto gets in but Evil mule kicks him down. Yujiro gets in, he and Evil double whip, but Goto ducks the double clothesline to shove Evil into Yujiro! Goto then headlocks Evil, but Evil powers out to send Goto into the bare buckles!
The House of Torture regroups, and they mug Hashi. Sho and Evil double whip Hashi corner to corner, then Evil clotheslines! Sho adds his clothesline, then Yujiro BOOTS! Yujiro reels Hashi in, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Evil drags Hashi up as fans rally up, and Evil fireman’s carries for DARKNESS FALLS! Cover, Ishii breaks it in time! Sho goes after Ishii and kicks him out of the ring. Sho stomps Ishii at the ramp while fans rally back up. Evil slashes his throat and drags Hashi up again. Evil spins Hashi but Hashi denies the STO! Hashi kicks but Evil blocks and rakes eyes! Evil throws Hashi’s leg into the ref and down he goes! Dick gets in, he and Evil give Hashi MAGIC KILLER!
Evil calls for the ref, cover, TWO!! Hashi survives and Evil is furious! The fans fire up but Evil drags Hashi back up. Another slash of the throat and Evil reels Hashi in. Hashi wrenches out of the STO! Evil rakes eyes again, kicks low and whips, but Hashi reverses to send Evil into the bare buckles! SUPERKICK! Dick gets on the apron, Hashi throws Evil into him! Schoolboy with bridge, but Sho and Yujiro both get in to break the cover! Goto and Ishii go after them, but Sho and Yujiro whip. Ishii and Goto reverse, fireman’s carries and STEREO USHIGOROSHIS! Fans fire up with Chaos as Hashi aims at Evil. Hashi runs, but Evil catches the lariat! EVERYTHING-
No, Hashi fights out and gets around to DRAGON SUPLEX Evil! Hashi runs and LARIATS! Fans fire up with Hashi again as he gets Evil up. KUMAGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Evil survives but Hashi fires up more! Hashi drags Evil back up, half nelson and pump handle, but Evil grabs the ref! They end up by the ropes, Dick uses the SPOILER CHOKER! But Hashi powers out and DECKS Dick! Yujiro gets in, but Hashi ducks the pimp cane! Hashi feeds Yujiro to Goto’s LARIAT! Sho gets in and JAMS Goto with a chair! Ishii gets in to DECK Sho! Evil shoves the ref at Ishii, but Ishii pushes the ref aside. Evil runs in, Ishii waistlocks, but Evil gets away as Hashi runs in, and Hashi LARIATS Ishii!
Evil rakes Hashi’s eyes, runs, but Hashi moves and Goto fireman’s carries! Evil slips out but Goto dodges, SUPERKICK from Hashi! Goto fireman’s carries again, Hashi SUPERKICKS Hashi into the USHIGOROSHI, and Ishii adds a SLIDING LARIAT! Chaos knocks Sho and Yujiro off the apron, then Goto-Hashi get Evil with dragon sleeper and leg lift, SHOTOU!! Cover, Dick drags the ref out!! Goto glares at Dick, but Sho and Yujiro get in to DOUBLE LOW BLOW Goto-Hashi down! Ishii runs in to DOUBLE LARIAT Sho and Yujiro down! Ishii drags Evil up but Dick uses the SPOILER CHOKER! Dick chokes Ishii out, Sho gets in with a WRENCH!
Sho CLOBBERS Hashi with the wrench! Sho sneaks away and uses the wrench to choke Goto! Evil drags Hashi up, reels him in, EVERYTHING IS EVIL!! Cover, HOUSE OF TORTURE WINS!!
Winners: The House of Torture, by pinfall (NEW NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)
The dastardly King of Darkness and his cohorts dethroned Goto-Hashi-Ishii! And to add on, CANE SHOT for Goto! And then they CUT the Chaos towel up and throw away the pieces! Sho has the wrench again, and he takes aim at Goto, only for YOH to return!! Yoh fires off on Sho, Yujiro, and SUPERKICKS Evil! Yoh rains down furious forearms onto Sho! Sho runs away before Yoh can do any more, but it’s clear there’s no running from his past! Will Direct Drive find a way to avenge himself and Chaos for what High Voltage has done to them?
Provisional KOPW 2021 ???: Toru Yano VS Great-O-Khan!
The Producer definitely upset the Dominator in each of their past encounters, so now the KOPW trophy is on the line! The fans had the choice, and they didn’t want the #KissMyFeet match, they went with the AMATEUR WRESTLING MATCH! As such, two referees and Yuji Nagata will be the judges for this match, to make sure things are done properly! Will Blue Justice make sure both Yano and Khan keep this one clean?
Young Lions help demonstrate amateur wrestling for the sake of fans perhaps not as familiar, and to make clear how the point system will work. After the explanations, Khan makes his entrance, and he’s wearing a wrestling singlet! And he even as Aaron Henare as his cornerman! Yano then makes his entrance, and he’s in his own singlet! The introductions are made, the trophy is raised, and we see these two go back to wrestling’s roots!
The bell rings and the two shake hands. They circle, feel things out, tie up, and time is ticking. Yano holds off Khan’s attempts at his legs, they tie up again, and Khan keeps pushing the offense. They end up in the ropes, the ref whistles and the two break. Fans cheer the opening exchange and the two go again. Yano goes for a leg but Khan holds him off now. Khan tries for a takeover but Yano holds that off to turn things around and put Khan on the ropes. The ref calls for a break and Nagata awards a point to Yano! The two reset, tie up, Khan gets around but Yano gets away. Last minute of this first period, Yano shoots in but Khan holds him off!
Khan and Yano are in a deadlock, the ref calls for a reset. They go again, Khan works to fake Yano out and then shoots in low to get the waistlock! That’s two points! Khan keeps the waistlock, tries to roll Yano, but Yano resists! They end up in the ropes, but Khan still gets the two points! He’s got a 4-1 lead with just 20 seconds left. The clock is paused as they reset, and they go again. Yano tries but we’re under 10 seconds, and then time is up!
Yano: 1; Khan: 4
The cornermen help refresh Khan and Yano and Henare says Khan has Yano on speed. Yano may be down but he keeps cool as the second period begins.
Khan and Yano tie up right away, fighting for control. Yano pushes the issue and they end up on ropes. Point for Yano, he’s already begun his comeback. They go again, another clinch but then Yano fights to a facelock. Khan keeps himself up with both hands and then slips out. Yano holds off the attempt at a leg, and the two go again. Khan stays on the offensive and puts Yano on the ropes. That’s a point for Khan to keep this at a three point advantage. They tie up again, Yano slips around but can’t get the waistlock. Khan and Yano circle, Yano goes after Khan but Khan slips away. Fans rally up and the two tie up. Khan shoots in, Yano blocks but Khan slips away again.
Last minute of the period, they’re in another clinch, but Yano gets a THROW! That’s FOUR points and Yano’s going for a back mount! Khan gets to ropes before Yano can turn him over. But Yano has the lead as we only have 30 seconds in this round! Yano and Khan go again, Khan gets aggressive but Yano holds him off. Khan keeps trying to shoot in but Yano holds him back with a facelock. And that’s the round!
Yano: 6; Khan: 5
Fans are fired up and Khan is frustrated, as Yano is declared the winner!
Winner: Toru Yano (still provisional Mr. KOPW 2021)
Khan is a sore loser and attacks from behind! Henare attacks Yano’s Young Lion, and Nagata gets up on the apron, only for Khan to Mongolian Chop him down! The straps come down as Khan and Henare stomp Yano. Khan drags Yano up and whips him corner to corner! Then he runs in to clothesline! Henare adds a SHINING WIZARD! Henare and Khan BOOT ROUNDHOUSE COMBO Yano down! Khan throws off the sweatband to let his ponytail out, and Henare drags Yano up to Khan can clamp on the iron claw! ELIMINATOR SLAM! Nagata gets in and runs Khan and Henare off! Blue Justice stands up against the United Empire, but will he and Yano be able to avenge this disrespect?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Robbie Eagles VS El Desperado!
In quite the surprise, the Sniper of the Skies and Tiger Mask took the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships from Suzuki-Gun on the Road to Power Struggle. That makes Eagles the newest Mr. Junior Heavyweight! But will he be able to stay a double champion? Or will the Rogue Luchador redeem himself and take back one of those belts?
The introductions are made, the singles title is raised, and we see how high Eagles can really fly!
Fans already rally for “EA-GLE-SU! EA-GLE-SU!” at the bell. Eagles and Desperado slowly circle, approach and tie up. Desperado waistlocks, Eagles switches and trips Desperado then runs. Desperado stays low but Eagles stops to jump up! But Desperado rolls and the knee drop hits nothing but mat! Desperado bails out and Eagles says he was that close. Desperado gets in around the way, circles with Eagles again and fans rally. They tie up, Eagles wrenches to a wristlock, but Desperado pokes Eagles in the eye! Desperado wrenches as the ref reprimands, but Eagles rolls and rolls and handsprings to wrench back.
Eagles gets the headlock, Desperado fights up and powers out to reel Eagles into a headlock of his own. Eagles powers out but Desperado runs him over! Fans cheer, things speed up and Eagles hurdles. Desperado jumps over, comes back and leaping arm-drags Eagles out! Eagles gets to the apron, shoulders back in then slingshots up and over to come back and springboard FLYING arm-drag! Desperado is sent out, and Eagles builds speed, but he fakes Desperado out to springboard and flip back. Eagles double guns and blows them out while Desperado gets frustrated. Desperado gets on the apron but Eagles dropkicks him down!
Eagles builds speed, baseball slides but Desperado ducks under to kick low! Desperado runs Eagles at the corner, but Eagles goes up and around to mule kick Desperado back! Fans cheer that agility, and Eagles runs, but is popped up to the apron. Desperado blocks the mule kick to trip Eagles up! Desperado builds speed to SOMERSAULT TOPE! Direct hit at the ramp and fans cheer! Desperado mockingly asks Robbie what happened, and then drags him up. Desperado has media move aside so he can POST Eagles this time! Desperado leaves Eagles behind but fans rally up. Eagles is back into the ring as the count starts, but Desperado is after him.
Eagles throws body shots and a chop, but Desperado shrugs it off. Eagles chops again, but Desperado CHOPS Eagles down! Desperado stands on Eagles’ head, lets off as the ref reprimands, and then drags Eagles up. Desperado reels Eagles in, then suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Desperado stomps Eagles down but fans rally up. Desperado goes after a leg, stands on the knee, but lets off as the ref counts. Desperado comes back to stand on Eagles’ leg again! The ref counts, Desperado lets off at 4, and he brings Eagles up to snapmare him down. Desperado traps one arm in a hammerlock and then has a chinlock. Desperado grinds Eagles’ neck but Eagles endures as fans rally again.
Eagles reaches out but Desperado traps that arm in a chicken wing. Desperado pulls hair, but the ref reprimands. Eagles kicks and scrambles and gets a ropebreak with a leg! Desperado lets Eagles go, to stomp the bad leg again! Desperado digs his boots into Eagles at the ropes again but the ref counts. Desperado lets off, stalks Eagles at the ropes, then drags him up to reel him in. Eagles knees free of the shin breaker then manages a RANA! Desperado gets mad but he runs into a WHEEL KICK! Eagles manages to kip up! Fans rally behind him as he KICKS and KICKS and KICKS Desperado! Eagles runs, but Desperado ducks, only for Eagles to come back with a BLINDSIDE LARIAT!
Desperado bails out but Eagles builds speed and DIVES! A somersault tope of his own, and Eagles lands on his feet! Fans fire up and rally behind Eagles as he hobbles back to Desperado. Eagles gets Desperado up, puts him in the ring and aims. Springboard and missile dropkick to the leg! Eagles gets the leg, rolls, hooks Desperado up, RON MILLER SPECIAL!! Desperado screams in pain, Eagles thrashes the legs, but Desperado crawls and reaches out for the ROPEBREAK! The fans are fired up and the ref counts the break. Eagles lets Desperado go and Desperado flounders to a corner. Eagles KICKS the bad leg, then runs corner to corner to DOUBLE KNEE!
Eagles rolls back but Desperado BOOTS back! But Eagles uses a tiger feint to kick out the bad leg! Eagles runs corner to corner again to METEORA! Desperado flops, Eagles jackknife bridges, TWO! Desperado is still in this but fans rally up. Eagles gets fans clapping, “Robbie, Robbie, Robbie! OI OI OI!” Eagles then gets Desperado up, cravats but no sliced bread! Desperado shoves Eagles away, blocks a boot but not the second! Eagles runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO! STRETCH MUFFLER! Desperado thrashes the leg, reaches out, but Eagles keeps Desperado from getting his arms.
Desperado keeps after the leg, Eagles clubs Desperado but Desperado works harder! Eagles crawls and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Desperado lets go, but then drags Eagles from the ropes for a GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Eagles clutches the leg while Desperado gets his own moving. Desperado rolls Eagles to GUITARRA DEL ANGEL! Cover, TWO!! Eagles survives but Desperado fires up! Desperado reels Eagles into underhooks, but no Pinche! Eagles slips out to SLICED BREAD! But the bad leg bothers Eagles, he can’t make a cover! Eagles crawls over, cover, TWO! Desperado gets up, Eagles SUPERKICKS him down!
Eagles goes to the corner, climbs up and aims, 450 SPLASH onto knees!! Double-edged for Desperado but fans fire up as both men are down. Eagles crawls, Desperado hobbles up, and Desperado goes back for Eagles. Eagles throws forearms but Desperado scowls. Desperado ROCKS Eagles with a forearm in return! Eagles ROCKS Desperado, Desperado ROCKS Eagles! The forearms keep going back and forth and fans rally up as they pick up speed. Desperado wobbles, Eagles throws more forearms, but Desperado kicks the bad leg out! Eagles kicks Desperado’s bad leg out from below!
Eagles KICKS Desperado in the chest again and again! Desperado blocks one, reels Eagles into a fireman’s carry, pops him up, but Eagles POISON-RANAS! And runs to FLYING GAMANGIRI! Cover, TWO!! Desperado survives again but Eagles keeps his focus. Eagles rolls Desperado and picks him up, but Desperado denies the Turbo Backpack to suplex. Eagles fights out, victory rolls, and wants the leg! Desperado kicks him low first! Desperado gets Eagles in the inverted Gory Especial but Eagles slips out to ROUNDHOUSE, SUPERKICK and PE- NO! Desperado ducks the enziguri to get the leg and roll! STRETCH MUFFLER! But Eagles rolls it to a cradle, TWO!!
Desperado runs into a schoolboy with bridge! TWO, LOCO MONO!! Eagles is down but Desperado fires up! Desperado goes for the inverted Gory Especial, GUITARRA DE LA MUERTA! Cover, TWO!?! Eagles survives and Desperado is shocked! Desperado slashes the throat and vows to end this. He hobbles over, drags Eagles up and underhooks, PINCHE- RANA! Eagles has a cover, TWO!! KNEE DROP to Desperado’s bad leg! Fans are thunderous as Eagles drags Desperado and kicks away on the bad leg. Eagles steps through, Desperado schoolboys! TWO, to NUMERO DOS!! Eagles endures and reaches out with only one limb free!
Desperado turns and rolls him away, and gets BOTH arms for NUMERO DOS PLUS!! Eagles endures, and verbally quits! Desperado wins!!
Winner: El Desperado, by submission (NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)
Desperado takes back the singles title! Eagles could not keep going with the weight of both belts, but will he be back to try again? Or is Desperado going to be on to bigger and better on the road to WrestleKingdom?
IWGP US Heavyweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi VS KENTA!
The Ace and Fang Revived have some history when it comes to this title, and their rivalry looks to leave a new mark on the belt’s history. Will the Once in a Century Talent stay golden? Or will Bullet Club leave Osaka with another prize around their waists?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if Kenta takes a bite out of Tanahashi!
Fans already rally with “Let’s Go, Ace! Let’s Go, Ace!” but Kenta takes over with his clap rhythm. Tanahashi gets fans back on “Let’s Go, Ace!” but Kenta bails out. Tanahashi refuses to be trolled and the “Let’s Go, Ace!” continues. Kenta gets on the apron and claps, so fans join his clapping. Kenta gets back in the ring, circles with Tanahashi, and they tie up. Tanahashi puts Kenta on ropes, the ref calls for the ropebreak and Tanahashi lets off. Kenta bails out again so “Let’s Go, Ace!” returns. Kenta gets back on the apron, takes his time walking through the ropes, and circles with Tanahashi again.
Tanahashi and Kenta tie up, are in a deadlock, and Tanahashi puts him on ropes. Kenta turns things around, but Tanahashi turns it back. Kenta pulls hair to turn it around but Tanahashi pulls hair, too! The ref calls for the break and Tanahashi lets off to air guitar. Then he tosses it to Kenta! Kenta turns it into an air violin? He tosses it back to Tanahashi then kicks low! Kenta headlocks, Tanahashi pries at the hold and gets a top wristlock, to a headlock of his own! Fans cheer the exchange, but Kenta powers up, only for Tanahashi to hold tight! Kenta rolls to a cover, TWO! Tanahashi keeps the headlock, Kenta endures the grind, and fans again rally, “Let’s Go, Ace!”
Kenta pulls hair, throws body shots then whips. Tanahashi reverses and arm-drags Kenta to then dropkick him down! Kenta bails out, Tanahashi PLANCHAS! Direct hit and fans fire up with Tanahashi! Tanahashi hops up on the apron and fans clap along, “Let’s Go, Ace!” Tanahashi skins the cat and fans cheer the agility. Kenta is annoyed, so he just grabs the US title belt! Kenta wants to run away with it? Tanahashi pursues Kenta up the ramp and knocks him down! Tanahashi brings Kenta up, Kenta elbows him away. The ref calls for them to get in the ring, Tanahashi runs at Kenta but into a POWERSLAM to the ramp! Kenta gets the belt again and goes back to ringside.
The ring count starts, Kenta is in at 4 of 20 and he wants Tanahashi to be counted out! The count reaches 10, Tanahashi rises, and Kenta already holds the belt up like it’s his. The count reaches 15, Kenta wants things to speed up. Tanahashi stands at 17 and hobbles over, and manages to slide in at 19! Kenta is furious, he gives the belt back to the ref, but that’s all a ploy so he can untie a buckle pad a la Yano! Kenta drags Tanahashi up and whips him into the bare buckles! The ref reprimands but Kenta claims it was like that before. Kenta rains down fists, but lets off as the ref reprimands the closed fists. Kenta turns Tanahashi for a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!
Kenta clamps on with headscissors and squeezes tight! Tanahashi endures, turns Kenta over, but Kenta turns it back. But they’re by the ropes and Tanahashi gets a ropebreak with a foot! Kenta lets off and drags Tanahashi up. Tanahashi fires off hands, Kenta hits back and hits a DDT! Cover, TWO! Kenta argues the count but the ref says that was fair. Kenta wraps on a chinlock and grinds Tanahashi down. Tanahashi endures, fights up, throws body shots, but Kenta throws him down by his hair! Kenta claps, fans join in and Kenta mockingly asks Tanahashi what’s wrong. Kenta gives toying kicks in the corner but Tanahashi grits his teeth and fires back!
Kenta KICKS Tanahashi into the corner, eggs Tanahashi on, and Tanahashi fires off more forearms. Kenta BOOTS Tanahashi and Tanahashi wobbles. Tanahashi still elbows back and goes up to CROSSBODY Kenta down! Fans rally as both men stir. Tanahashi fires off fast hands, whips Kenta to ropes but Kenta reverses, only to get FLYING FOREARMS! Tanahashi fires up, brings Kenta up and scoop SLAMS him into a drop zone. Tanahashi goes up, second rope SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up behind Tanahashi and he runs, but Kenta BOOTS first! Tanahashi tries again, gets another BOOT, then runs into a POWERSLAM! Fans fire up as both men are down again!
Kenta stands, drags Tanahashi up, waistlocks, but Tanahashi elbows out. Tanahashi runs but into boots! Kenta goes up, reels Tanahashi in, TORNADO HOTSHOT! Kenta climbs, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Kenta argues the count again then drags Tanahashi back up. Fans still rally but Kenta puts Tanahashi through ropes, but Tanahashi fights. Tanahashi gets the leg, DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Kenta flops out of the ring and fans rally harder for Tanahashi. Tanahashi goes up the corner, but Kenta goes up to ROCK him first! Tanahashi tumbles to the apron, tries to skin the cat but Kenta dropkicks him down first!
Kenta drags Tanahashi up and whips him at railing! Then he BOOTS Tanahashi up and over! Tanahashi is in no man’s land but fans still rally up. Kenta goes looking under the ring while the ref checks on Tanahashi. Kenta finds what he’s looking for: a TABLE! Tanahashi crawls back to ringside but Kenta’s set the table up already. Kenta fetches Tanahashi but the ref tells him to stop. Kenta POSTS Tanahashi instead, and brings him around towards where he put the table. Kenta puts Tanahashi on the apron, climbs up to join him and fireman’s carries! Tanahashi holds ropes, throws elbows on Kenta, then turns things around with a fireman’s carry of his own!
Kenta holds the ropes now, gets into the ring but Tanahashi ROKCS him. Tanahashi goes to shoulder but Kenta dodges to KICK and KICK Tanahashi. Kenta brings Tanahashi out on the ropes, BRAIN KILLER! Both men are down from the draping DDT but fans rally up. Kenta crawls, Tanahashi rolls to a corner, Kenta runs in corner to corner to BOOT! Tanahashi sits down, Kenta goes back corner to corner, HESITATION DROPKICK! Kenta fires up and climbs the corner, DIVING DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives the coup de grace but Kenta slashes the throat. Kenta then considers the table. Kenta brings Tanahashi around, throws him back out, and follows after.
Kenta CLUBS Tanahashi, puts him on the table, rains down fists, but the ref reprimands him. Kenta gets back in the ring, to then climb the corner! Tanahashi falls off the table so Kenta has to hop down. DIVING STOMPS from the apron! Kenta drags Tanahashi up and brings him around to whip. Tanahashi reverses to SLINGBLADE to the floor! Fans fire up again as both men are down! Tanahashi gets up, drags Kenta up, and brings him back to the table! Tanahashi puts Kenta on the table, rains down forearms, then goes into the ring. Tanahashi goes up top as fast as he can but the ref tells him not to! Tanahashi doesn’t care, he SUPER HIGH FLY FLOWS through the table!!!
Fans are thunderous as Kenta and Tanahashi are down in the wreckage! The ref checks and somehow, both men are okay to continue! The ring count starts, Tanahashi writhes and manages to get up at 7 of 20. Kenta stirs, Tanahashi drags him up at 13 and puts him in at 15. Kenta manages to stand and Tanahashi runs, to SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!! Kenta survives, even after all that, but Tanahashi goes up top fast! HIGH FLY ATTACK! But he isn’t done there, he goes right back up top! HIGH FLY FLOW onto knees! Kenta saves himself at the last second! Tanahashi gets back up first, but Kenta drags him into an omoplata! GAME OVER CROSSFACE!
Tanahashi flails, reaches and gets a ROPEBREAK! Kenta doesn’t let go but the ref forces him to. Fans rally up again, Tanahashi gets to ropes but Kenta runs in to KNEE him in the back! Kenta runs and runs to BUSAIKU KNEE! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi is still in this but Kenta fires up! Kenta drags Tanahashi back up, fireman’s carries, GO TO- NO! Tanahashi blocks for a DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi gets the leg again, GROUND DRAGON SCREW! Then Tanahashi ties up the legs, but Kenta resists the turnover! Tanahashi keeps trying, Kenta throws him into bare buckles! Schoolboy, TWO!!! Tanahashi survives and Kenta can’t believe it!
Kenta gets up, aims from a corner and Tanahashi stands, BUSAIKU KNEE! Cover, TWO! Kenta roars, drags Tanahashi back up, fireman’s carry, GO TO- SLINGBLADE!! Tanahashi counters at the last second and fans fire up again! Tanahashi runs but Kenta redirects him into bare buckles! Fireman’s carry, GO TO SLEEP!! Cover, KENTA WINS!
Winner: Kenta, by pinfall (NEW IWGP US Heavyweight Champion)
Bullet Club gets another belt! Kenta puts Tanahashi down, is there a new Ace in NJPW?
WrestleKingdom Right to Challenge Contract: Kazuchika Okada VS Tama Tonga w/ Jado!
If you’re wondering where Right to Challenge briefcase is and why the classic IWGP Heavyweight Championship belt is back, The Rainmaker is making a point of what he’s planning. When Okada wins the top title at WrestleKingdom 16, he’s reinstating the belt he became synonymous with in NJPW. However, that’s if he can avenge his one loss in the G1 Climax 31! Will the Good Bad Guy shock the world again and take Okada’s title shot from him?
The introductions are made, the symbolic belt is raised, and we’ll see who has the right to challenge the top champion!
Tama and Okada rush each other at the bell, but Tama ROCKS Okada with big forearms! Tama CLUBS Okada, but Okada throws forearms back. Okada whips, Tama reverses but Okada swings. Tama dodges, but then Okada dodges and comes back, GUN- No, Okada holds that off! Okada want the arm but Tama arm-drags him off. Tama runs in but is put on the apron and Okada DECKS him. Okada runs but Tama moves, so Okada rolls back and shows off a bit. Fans cheer and Okada dares Tama to come back. Tama paces around the outside, slides back in but Okada blocks his kick. Okada CLUBS the leg, ROCKS Tama with a forearm, then bumps Tama off buckles.
Okada throws back elbows in the corner but Tama shoves Okada. Okada ROCKS Tama with another forearm, then he brings Tama around to hit a NECKBREAKER! Cover, ONE, but Okada keeps cool. Okada wraps Tama up in a straitjacket stretch and fans rally as Tama endures. Okada keeps on the arms but Tama reaches with his legs. Tama scoots and gets the ropebreak! Fans cheer, Okada lets off, and Tama throws body shots. Okada eggs Tama on, Tama throws shoulders and body shots. Okada knees low, snapmares and sits Tama up to run and basement dropkick! Fans rally up as Okada slowly stalks Tama.
Okada brings Tama up, scoops and SLAMS him, then goes to the apron to slingshot, but Tama moves! Okada rolls through the senton and is put on the apron. He ROCKS Tama, but Tama GUNSTUN HOTSHOTS! Fans fire up as Okada falls to the floor. Tama goes out, stomps Okada, then goes into the ring. Red Shoes starts the ring count and it reaches 10 of 20 before Okada gets up. Tama gets impatient, goes out and snap suplexes Okada to the floor! Red Shoes goes out to check on Okada, he’s alright to continue, and fans rally as the ring count restarts. The count reaches 10 of 20 again before Okada sits up. Okada crawls at 14, stands at 17, and is in at 18!
Tama rains down rights but Red Shoes reprimands about closed fists. Tama scoops, SLAMS and drops an elbow! Then another! Then a JUMPING elbow! Cover, TWO! Tama paces, fans rally up for “O-KA-DA!” and Tama sits Okada up to CLUB him in the chest. Tama wrenches the neck, traps an arm in a top wristlock then clubs away on Okada more! Tama lets off and paces before he drags Okada up into a chinlock. Tama digs his knee into Okada’s back but Okada endures. Tama pulls back but Okada fights up and throws body shots. Tama shifts to a full SLEEPER and he drags Okada down into body scissors! Okada endures and gets out of the scissors, but Tama turns him from the ropes.
Okada sits up, fans rally up more, but Tama moves around to lean on Okada. Tama thrashes Okada around but Okada fights up. Okada throws body shots, runs, but Tama wraps on another sleeper! Tama brings Okada back down, but still Okada endures. Okada fights back up as fans rally, and he throws elbows. Okada is free, he ROCKS Tama then runs, but Tama follows to get a sleeper! But Okada slips right out and ROCKS Tama in the back! Then BOOTS Tama down! Fans fire up as both men are down and stirring. Okada stands up, Tama follows, and Okada brings him around for forearms.
Okada whips, Tama reverses but Okada ducks and dodges to CLOBBER Tama with a back elbow! Fans fire up and Okada whips Tama to the corner. Tama boots back, runs in but into a FLAPJACK! That was a big one! Cover, TWO! Okada keeps cool as Tama rolls away to a corner. Okada storms over, blocks the boot and ROCKS Tama with a forearm. Okada puts Tama up top to dropkick him down to the floor! Fans fire up again as Okada rests in the ring. Fans rally up for “O-KA-DA!” and he slowly goes out the side. Okada stalks up behind Tama, brings him around and hits a DDT to the floor! Okada takes his time getting up and going into the ring while the count begins.
The count reaches 10 of 20 but Okada goes out to fetch Tama. Okada puts Tama back in the ring, then goes up the corner. Tama staggers back up, Okada leaps to missile dropkick! Cover, TWO! Okada gets Tama up, wrenches and puts on the MONEY CLIP! Okada wrangles Tama down the mat but Tama grabs at hair. Red Shoes reprimands, Tama crawls and reaches out to ropes, and gets the ropebreak with a foot! Okada lets go and Tama sputters as he bails out. Okada goes out after him again, CLUBS him on the back, and drags him around the way to the ramp. Okada scoops, but Tama fights out to TONGAN TWIST to the ramp!
Both men are down and fans fire up again. Tama gets up first, the ring count is 7 of 20 as he staggers about. Tama drags Okada up at 11, puts him in the ring at 15, and fans cheer as Tama wants to finish this properly. Tama steadies himself, runs corner to corner and hits a SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Okada is still in this but Tama drags him back up in a dragon sleeper, TONGAN TWIST! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives but Jado coaches Tama up. Fans rally, Tama drags Okada up, but Okada blocks the fireman’s carry. Okada CLUBS Tama, wrenches the arm, but Tama steps inside the Money Clip to RAM Okada into buckles. Tama whips, Okada reverses, MONEY CLIP!
Tama endures but he still drops to a knee. Fans rally, Tama throws body shots and then ROCKS Okada with a forearm. Okada dodges the super forearm to a BACK2BACKBREAKER! And MONEY CLIP!! Tama flails and kicks, reaches out, but Okada drags him back from the ropes! Okada leans on the hold, Tama still endures but he’s fading! Tama gets a second wind and gets the ropebreak! Okada lets go and both men catch their breath while fans cheer. Okada gets up, paces, then brings Tama back up. Okada scoops, SLAMS Tama in a drop zone, and goes up top. MACHO ELBOW! Fans fire up with the Rainmaker Pose!
Okada drags Tama up, wristlock ripcords but Tama dodges the lariat! And he fakes out Okada’s dropkick! Okada gets to a corner, Tama runs in but Okada pops him up to the Alabama lift! Tama fights off but Okada ROCKS him with a forearm! Okada runs in but Tama pops him up! ALABAMA SLAMA! Tama hurries to get Okada up, fireman’s carries and ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Tama hurries up top and SUPREME FLOW! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives and fans rally up. Tama stands, waits on Okada, GUN- NO! Okada ripcords, but Tama jumps again! Okada blocks Gun Stun to a gut wrench, but Tama slips off the back! GUN-
NO! Ripcord, but Tama ducks under, slips around, Half Hatch, BLOODY SUNDAY!! A shoutout to the Prince and fans are thunderous! Tama hears voices like the Viper, fans drum along and Okada slowly rises. GUN- Still no! Okada shoves Tama away to dropkick him down! Both men are on the mat and fans fire up again. Tama gets to one corner, Okada goes to the opposite. Okada runs corner to corner but Tama dodges the back elbow! Tama goes to the opposite corner now, runs in, but Okada dodges the splash! Tama blocks the gut wrench, throws elbows to get free, but Okada runs in to SHOTGUN dropkick!
Okada drags Tama up, gut wrenches, but again Tama blocks! Okada CLUBS Tama on the back, ROCKS him with a EuroUpper, then ROCKS him with another! And again! Tama drops to a knee, Okada gut wrenches, but Tama slips to get the gut wrench and TOMBSTONE! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Tama powers up, brings Okada up, and underhooks, but Okada fights out to wrench. Tama ducks the lariat and waistlocks but Okada elbows free and runs, into Tama’s dropkick! Fans fire up and Tama is back on his feet! Tama gets Okada up, reels him in, and underhooks again, but Okada again fights and back drops, to then sit on the cover, TWO!!
Tama gets up, GUN- NO! Ripcord, but Tama ducks and runs, but into Okada’s dropkick! Okada fires up and fans are right with him! Okada drags Tama up, gut wrench and a throw into GUN- NO! Okada somehow holds off the cutter to waistlock, but Tama throws elbows. Okada holds on to HIGH ANGLE GERMAN! And holds on again to ripcord, GUN- NO! Okada again holds it off to spin, but Tama gets around, slips through, underhooks, but Okada back drops free again! Tama comes back and leaps, but into a gut wrench, MICHONOKU! Ripcord, RAINMAKER!! Cover, Okada wins!
Winner: Kazuchika Okada, by pinfall (still Right to Challenger holder)
This was a fast and furious chess match, but it is still the Rainmaker who stands tall! He keeps the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, but he does show Tama respect. Who else will be gunning for Okada’s golden ticket? Will anyone stop Okada from resetting the NJPW landscape?
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship: Shingo Takagi VS Zack Sabre Jr!
Speaking of avenging losses, the Dragon was one of the Submission Master’s biggest wins in this year’s G1. Will ZSJ give us a repeat performance and stand at the top of NJPW? Or will Takagi refuse to #JustTapOut?
The introductions are made, the top title belt is raised, and we see if a Dangerous Tekker can become a double champion!
Fans rally up as the two stare down. The two approach, feel things out, circle and then tie up. Takagi puts ZSJ on the ropes but lets off quickly. They approach again, Takagi gets around to waistlock, but ZSJ switches. Takagi switches back, ZSJ pries an arm to a hammerlock but Takagi headlocks to a facelock. Takagi snapmares, but ZSJ slips out to get the arm again. ZSJ goes from hammerlock to snapmare but Takagi slips out now to get a wristlock. Takagi YANKS the arm, ZSJ tries to fight the wrench but Takagi still gets it. ZSJ bridges, handsprings, slips through and wrenches Takagi to a wristlock. Takagi powers ZSJ back, rolls, but ZSJ rolls with him to keep the wristlock.
Takagi arm-drags but ZSJ arm-drags back to have an armlock! Takagi fights back up, puts ZSJ on the ropes, and then gets away. Fans cheer the technical exchange as the two reset. ZSJ and Takagi approach as fans rally up, “TA-KA-GI!” or perhaps even “ZSJ!” The two tie up, are in a deadlock for a moment, but Takagi pushes ZSJ back to ropes. Red Shoes calls for another break, Takagi lets off but points out ZSJ is still hooking legs. ZSJ lets off and Takagi swings, but ZSJ ducks the chop to get a cravat. Takagi tries to break it but ZSJ lets go long enough to avoid the clubbing, and then gets the cravat right back!
Takagi rolls to throw ZSJ off, things speed up, and ZSJ catches Takagi into a cobra twist! Takagi hip tosses free, ELBOWS, but ZSJ jumps on before the Yukon Lariat! Takagi throws off the Guillotine, avoids the Pele to the arm, and sits ZSJ up to run and SLIDING- No, ZSJ ducks and Penalty Kicks, but Takagi avoids that! They go arm-drag for arm-drag, ZSJ has the armlock but Takagi headscissors but ZSJ kips free, only for Takagi to run him over with a shoulder! Fans cheer as ZSJ goes to a corner. Takagi storms over, digs his knee in, but lets off as Red Shoes counts. Takagi puts ZSJ’s leg on the rope and stomps away on it!
Takagi stands on the knee, ZSJ kicks and him and says, “You’re the champion?” Takagi says, “Yes, I am champion!” Takagi drags ZSJ up to a facelock, ZSJ drops but Takagi stands him up to CHOP! ZSJ eggs him on, Takagi CHOPS him again! Takagi chops but ZSJ blocks! Takagi rolls but ZSJ uses that to get an ARMBAR! Takagi blocks, turns ZSJ over and wheelbarrows, but ZSJ drags Takagi down to a KNEEBAR! Takagi fights up, ZSJ shifts to a HEEL HOOK! Takagi endures, fights up and turns ZSJ in to a SHARPSHOOTER! Then an STF! Takagi focuses on the crossface, then wants a Fujiwara! ZSJ moves around to get the ropebreak! Takagi lets go and ZSJ bails out.
ZSJ kicks railing in frustration then wants Takagi to back off. Red Shoes has Takagi back up, and Takagi drops down, daring ZSJ to come get him. ZSJ doesn’t fall for it, so Takagi stands up to have one hand behind his back. ZSJ gets in, they knuckle lock, and ZSJ wrenches the arm. Takagi adds the other arm and he has the strength advantage now. ZSJ rolls back to reverse the pressure onto Takagi! Takagi fights up, turns things around, fireman’s carries, but ZSJ gets to the apron. ZSJ ducks the chop and has a rope assisted OCTOPUS! Red Shoes counts, ZSJ lets go quickly and catches his breath. Takagi joins ZSJ on the apron, ZSJ KICKS Takagi. And KICKS. And KICKS!
Takagi fireman’s carries! ZSJ slips back into the ring and has a SLEEPER over the ropes! But Takagi pries it open to ELBOW BREAKER! But ZSJ comes back for another SLEEPER! And body scissors! Red Shoes reprimands, they’re in the ropes! ZSJ lets go at 4 and Takagi flops to the floor! Red Shoes checks on Takagi but ZSJ talks trash as fans rally up. ZSJ waits as Takagi drags himself up. Takagi gets to the apron, ZSJ is there to PENALTY KICK him down! Fans fire up and ZSJ goes back into the ring. The count starts but ZSJ doesn’t want to wait, and he goes back out to put Takagi in the ring. ZSJ sits Takagi up to dropkick him in the back of the head!
Takagi goes to a corner, ZSJ walks over and fish hooks Takagi’s face! ZSJ then gets the arms for a straitjacket stretch, and uses his shoulder for leverage. Takagi gets the ropebreak with a foot and ZSJ lets go. ZSJ taunts Takagi with how time is ticking on the 60 minute limit, but Takagi throws body shots. ZSJ gives those backs, snapmares, but Takagi kicks him away from the neck twist. ZSJ kicks, Takagi blocks, but ZSJ slips out of the dragon screw to NECK TWIST! Cover, TWO! ZSJ keeps on Takagi with a cravat neck wrench and some short shoulders. Takagi throws body shots, ZSJ headlocks but Takagi powers out to ELBOW, JAB and YUKON- GUILLOTINE!
ZSJ has Takagi again, but Takagi powers out to a BIG suplex! Fans rally up, ZSJ goes to a corner and Takagi fires off elbows! Takagi throws a knee, whips corner to corner, then runs in to clothesline! ZSJ staggers, Takagi runs but blocks a boot to JAB! Yukon feint to a DDT! Cover, TWO! Takagi fires up and fans rally as he brings ZSJ up. Takagi throws forearms, then a DOUBLE CHOP! ZSJ stays standing, and he headbutts low, only to uppercut into a Gory Especial! But ZSJ blocks Noshigami with a sleeper! ZSJ slips around to hook a leg, then put on the IRON OCTOPUS! Takagi endures, powers up and denies the sunset, but ZSJ catches sliding lariat to an ARM TWIST!
Fans fire up as both men are down. ZSJ grabs Takagi’s arm, bends it and isolates it, then STOMPS it! Ghost pin, TWO, but ZSJ uses that for a mounted ARMBAR! Behind the back grip, then a double wristlock! Takagi rolls to the ropebreak! ZSJ lets go and both men are down again. Fans rally up, ZSJ gets an arm and wrenches it. And wrenches again! And again! Takagi swings, ZSJ ducks and tilt-o-whirls into an octopus stretch, but Takagi makes it a SIDEWALK SLAM! Takagi shakes out the bad arm as fans rally, and he runs in, blocks a boot and LARIATS through! But ZSJ shoves Takagi and eggs Takagi on! Takagi eggs him on in return, and ZSJ fires off EuroUppers!
Takagi fires up, swings, but into a full nelson! He breaks it, but ZSJ GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Takagi’s right up to SAIDO! But ZSJ is up, into the ELBOW! ZSJ catches the Yukon, wrenches and PELES the arm! Then he BOOTS Takagi’s lariat, ducks the Yukon, and runs, to tilt-o-whirl FACEBUSTER! But Takagi’s right back up!? POINT-BLANK PUMPING LARIAT! But ZSJ’s right back up!! PENALTY KICK! Both men are down and fans are thunderous! ZSJ sits up, Takagi follows, and ZSJ facelocks. Takagi blocks the scoop, switches to a waistlock but ZSJ throws elbows back. Takagi ducks and puts ZSJ’s leg in the ropes. Takagi gets the other, DRAPING DRAGON SCREW!
Fans rally as both men are down again. Takagi gets up and shakes out the bad arm before he drags ZSJ back up. ZSJ EuroUppers but into a backslide! ZSJ rolls through but Takagi traps ZSJ’s head to NECK TWIST! Fans fire up as Takagi shows some savvy. Takagi drags ZSJ back up, reels him in, POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO! But into an STF! ZSJ endures, reaches, crawls, but Takagi rolls him away into a crossface! ZSJ endures again, fights and gets the ropebreak! Takagi lets go but he grabs at the legs. Wheelbarrow, but ZSJ slips out to get the arm! Takagi resists the wristlock and CLUBS ZSJ. ZSJ boots a lariat away, roundhouses another away, and then scoops to ZACK DRIVER!!
Both men are down and fans fire up again! ZSJ and Takagi stir, sit up, and ZSJ gets Takagi’s arm for an ELBOW BREAKER! And another! Takagi tries a sleeper but ZSJ switches it onto him. Takagi powers out, pops ZSJ to a fireman’s carry, but ZSJ slips into a backpack sleeper, but Takagi drops right down on him! But ZSJ shifts to an ARMBAR! Takagi clasps hands, turns, and fights up but ZSJ lets him go. Takagi runs to SLIDING FOREARM! Both men are down again and fans fire back up. Takagi fires up with “OI! OI! OI!” and fans clap along. Takagi fires up and says, “MOTO!” He pump handles but ZSJ victory rolls, TWO!
ZSJ trips Takagi, gets a body scissor and turns Takagi over, but Takagi turns EuroClutch into sleeper and body scissors! ZSJ endures, but he’s already turning red. ZSJ sits up, pushes back and gets free, but Takagi blocks the Penalty Kick! ZSJ SLAPS Takagi, but Takagi catches him into MADE IN JAPAN! Cover, TWO!! ZSJ survives but Takagi keeps his focus. Fans rally up again, Takagi runs as ZSJ stands, PUMPING BOMBER!! ZSJ tumbles to ropes and Takagi can’t go after him because of the pain in his arm. But fans still rally, and Takagi gets up and roars! Takagi hauls ZSJ up to the top rope and then has a fireman’s carry up top! ZSJ fights to get a double wristlock!
Red Shoes reprimands them both, but Takagi throws forearms and headbutts. Takagi CLUBS ZSJ down off the ropes, but ZSJ gets back up. Takagi boot shim away, but ZSJ springs right up for a SUPER ARMBAR TAKEDOWN!! Takagi clasps hands but ZSJ shifts sides! ZSJ drags Takagi into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Takagi endures, dead lifts but ZSJ hooks the ARMBAR! Takagi falls but into the ROPEBREAK! ZSJ lets go, both men too sore to be frustrated. ZSJ kicks at the bad arm but Takagi sits up. ZSJ kicks Takagi down, but Takagi sits back up. ZSJ kicks and kicks and kicks! Takagi eggs ZSJ on, ZSJ gets the arm and STOMPS it! ZSJ runs to PENALTY KICK!
ZSJ drags Takagi up, SIT-OUT ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!?! No one can believe Takagi survived that!! ZSJ gets the arm, throws elbows into the shoulder and chest, then sits Takagi up for more elbows. Takagi blocks one, wrenches for an ELBOW- NO! ZSJ hops on for another backpack sleeper! Takagi stays up this time, fans rally hard as ever, and Takagi goes to a corner. Takagi climbs, Red Shoes calls for the break, ZSJ still holds on, SUPER BACKPACK SENTON! Takagi is free but both men are down and fans are thunderous again. Takagi flounders, ZSJ springs on him for the DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! Omoplata, but Takagi rolls, into a TRIANGLE HOLD!
ZSJ throws elbows into Takagi’s head, squeezes as tight as he can, and fans are rallying as hard as they can! Takagi endures, grabs at Red Shoes, then dead lifts! Fireman’s carry, LAST OF THE DRAGONS!! But he’s too tired to cover!! Fans are thunderous again, Takagi rises and roars, and he drags ZSJ up. Takagi ROCKS ZSJ with elbow after elbow, and he eggs ZSJ on. “Oi, Zack! OI!” ZSJ gets up, EuroUppers again and again, but Takagi headbutts his own arm to get it working. Boxing elbows back and forth from all sides and then he ROCKS ZSJ! ZSJ SLAPS away with palm strikes! Takagi JABS! He ducks the roundhouse but not the ENZIGURI! Takagi SLIDING FOREARMS!!
Fans are electric as Takagi drags ZSJ up. ZSJ holds off the fireman’s carry, Takagi wrenches and tries the pump handle but ZSJ slips around to flip Takagi over with the pump handles! EURO CLUTCH!! TWO!!! Takagi narrowly escapes and even Takagi’s is surprised! ZSJ EuroUppers, and again, but Takagi pats ZSJ on the shoulder. ZSJ swings, but into the Gory Especial! NOSHIGAMI!! Both men are down again, but the fans only get hotter for this! Takagi pump handles and torture racks but ZSJ slips out to a dragon sleeper! Takagi powers through to dragon sleeper, and put ZSJ in the ropes! DRAPING GTR!!
Takagi drags ZSJ back up, powers up, POINT-BLANK PUMPING!! Cover, TWO! ZSJ is still in this and time’s still running out. Takagi gives quick headbutts, then pump handles and torture racks, LAST OF THE DRAGONS!! Cover, Takagi wins!!
Winner: Shingo Takagi, by pinfall (still IWGP World Heavyweight Champion)
The Dragon still reigns! Taichi jumps off commentary to kick the Young Lions away and check on ZSJ. Taichi argues the count but Red Shoes defends it was all fair. Will there be another chance for the Tekkers in the future?
As for Takagi, he gets the belt back and does his best to put it on display as he rests on the mat. But wait! Here comes Okada and his Right to Challenge Heavyweight Championship! Okada joins Takagi in the ring, and then Okada gets the mic first. “Takagi, congratulations on your defense. And thanks for the hard work. From here, the G1 31 Champion will take over from the World Champion and carry NJPW. Thank you for all that you’ve done.” Okada confirms that the belt he carries is his contract for January 4th.
Okada then says, “The G1 Champion, the World Heavyweight Champion, who’s the real deal? Let’s find out.” Takagi may be the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but he’s also a G1 Climax A Block loser! “Step up to me, Kazuchika Okada, you bastard!” Takagi gets his turn with the mic and says he didn’t think Okada would come out here. Saves him having to call Okada out. But Okada’s right, he didn’t make it out of the A Block. He came in second and Ibushi went to the finals. But if Takagi had made it, Okada knows he wouldn’t have won, right? “Are you still carrying that toy around? You like that thing, huh? But you are a great G1 Champion. That can’t be denied.
“But I did managed to defend this belt today, somehow.” Okada understands what Takagi’s saying, right? Does he get it? The G1 Champion VS The World Heavyweight Champion? “Let’s find out who the strongest is! And let’s do it on January 4th in the Tokyo Dome!” Fans cheer for that, and Takagi drops the mic. The two champions stare down for a moment, then turn to the crowd to see who gets more cheers. Okada takes his leave to give Takagi his moment. Takagi stays to say, “I’m not leaving this half-assed. This is the last big Osaka event for the year, so let me speak just a bit more.” Fans cheer that. “Okay, here we go!
“Today was tough. Really, really tough.” Takagi thought he’d give up so many times, but he couldn’t lose now, could he? ZSJ was “the best and strongest challenger possible.” But you know what that means? Takagi beat the best challenger, making him the best in the world right now! He thanks the fans for that applause. But his dreams and visions are far from over. He is only looking on and up. “Like a dragon, with this IWGP World Heavyweight title, I’m soaring to the Tokyo Dome!” Mic drop! But will Takagi keep from dropping that title all the way to the New Year?
My Thoughts:
What a great event and what a big event size wise for Power Struggle. So much change to the title landscape but really some needed ones. I like that Bullet Club has gotten some gold back. They have all of the NEVER titles, with Jay White still NEVER Openweight Champion while in the US, and now Kenta has the US title here. Still waiting on a proper Bullet Club Civil War, and these belts can be a big part of that. Those matches were both great, with a lot of story in Sho betraying Chaos and then being chased off by Yoh, while Tanahashi VS Kenta was just great overall.
Yano VS Khan was a great way of using KOPW to give us something actually serious and technical. I figured Yano would win, but I like that we’re also getting Nagata involved. Nagata taking on Khan would be a really good match, but who knows where that brings either after that. Eagles VS Desperado was great, and I was surprised to learn Eagles & Tiger Mask won the tag titles. Desperado getting the singles title back was only a little surprising, as he’s been a great singles champion and of course can be there to take on Hiromu at some point. The World Tag League and Best of the Super Juniors combo series is coming back, chances are Eagles & Tiger Mask are gonna be busy.
And of course the top title picture is awesome. Okada VS Tama II was Tama’s newest best singles match, but I figured Okada would retain the Right to Challenge. Okada making the old IWGP Heavyweight title the representation of the contract is genius, and Okada will surely hold onto it until WK16. Takagi VS ZSJ was awesome stuff, though at a certain point I felt maybe they were both getting gassed. They were going so hard for so long, it’s obviously not easy to keep that up. But It was probably the best match all week, and Takagi gets a big win. Okada walking out to officially call Takagi out was good stuff, that match could go either way. Honestly, the old Heavyweight Championship belt is a better design, but I don’t think that’s going to give Okada the win.
My Score: 9.3/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA Under Siege Results & Match Ratings: 5.23.25
Let’s see if this proves to be better than the awful build.

Well let’s hope the matches are interesting or something because this card is such a useless pile of nothing matches. Xia Brookside vs Rosemary went the expected way with Brookside snapping to beat the hell out of Rosemary and get DQ’d. So Xia Darkside is on the horizon and Santino had a good promo with Robert Stone.
I look forward to a prostate exam more than this show…something please don’t suck.
Tessa Blanchard, @MrStoneWWE and @VIX_CROW had words for @AriannaGraceWWE and @milanmiracle ahead of Under Siege!
WATCH The Countdown to #TNAUnderSiege on TNA+: https://t.co/c91Dlt9FZM pic.twitter.com/pT6Xm1Gg69
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 24, 2025
Ratings:
- Mike Santana vs KC Navarro w/AJ Francis: Santana wins via Spin the Block – *** 1/2
- Eddie Edwards w/Lish vs Cody Deaner: Eddie wins via Boston Knee Party – **
- Northern Armoury w/Hammer the Honey Badgers vs Dango, Moose and Brian Myers w/Lish: Armoury wins via Piledriver – ** 3/4
- Match by Elegance: TNA Knockouts Tag Titles: Spitfire vs Elegance Clique (c): Elegance retains via Rarefied Air – **
- Order 4 vs The Rascalz, Indi Hartwell & Raj Singh: Ali wins via 450 – ***
- Arianna Grace vs Tessa Blanchard: Tessa wins via Magnum – *
- TNA Knockouts Championship: Victoria Crawford (Alicia Fox) vs Masha Slamovich (c): Masha retains via Requiem – *1/2
- TNA Tag Team Championship: Bootleg Hardyz (Leon Slater & Matt Hardy vs Kaiba Boys (c): Seto wins via Danger Zone – ** 1/2
- Joe Hendry & Elijah vs Frankie Kazarian & Trick Williams: Hendry wins via Standing Ovation
Results:
Mike Santana vs KC Navarro w/AJ Francis
AJ feigns a ‘turf toe’ injury to randomly call the audible to have KC wrestle Mike. Comedy open, then KC ducks and dodges strikes, rope runs but then gets caught and tossed into a corner. Eats a Hip Attack in the corner and a Back Body Drop for a near fall. Santana mean mugs AJ and then 3 Amigos and a Latino Heat shimmy, only a near fall but it gets a pop.
KC tries to fight back to his feet and then eats a Back Chop and KC looks like he was shot in the chest. AJ was late to the interference as a second, but it at least looked funny. KC hits the 305, drives Santana into the corner, and seats Santana with the Snapmare. KC goes for a either a Satellite move or Blessing in Disguise, Santana stops KC’s momentum and Inside Out Suplex. Santana kips up and rocks KC. KC tries to avoid him, Santana does the following roll and hits the Rolling Buck Fifty. Calls for Spin the Block, but KC hits a Superkick, Pump Kick for Santana, rope runs, Santana tries the Buck Fifty again but KC avoids, strings a lot together, Corner Boot Wash into a Frog Splash for only 2.
KC tries a surprised Blessing, Santana blocks, Body Scissors Victory but Santana rolls with it, KC perches and tries a Cross Body but gets caught Buckle Bomb into Cannon Ball! 1-2-…oh KC kicked out. My son KC is looking like a million bucks in change. Spin the Block attempt, but KC crumbles to avoid. Santana hits a Jacknife Powerbomb, goes for another but KC flips out of it and eats the Spin the Block.
Santana helped KC up and shakes his hand, AJ attacks him after the fact. KC looks conflicted in helping the beat down. KC is gonna be money, give him the face turn, he’s fantastic. Extend his contract and push him to the damn moon right now.
Eddie Edwards w/Lish vs Cody Deaner
Eddie lands a few chops, hits the ropes and Cody gets the Thesz Press into Ground and Pound but Eddie hits another chop. Mostly Kobashi offense and Lish interfering. Chops, Lariats and Wife. A little jawing from Eddie, he throws Deaner into the ropes, Deaner stops the momentum and Clothesline’s the both to the outside, Deaner tries to fire up with the fans but when he turns he eats the Blue Thunder Bomb on the apron. Eddie wants a count, Deaner beats the count around 8, and Eddie jumps on him.
Deaner fires, no selling Eddie’s onslaught of Chops, Deaner goes to the top, Eddie cuts him off, rocks him, Superplex into the Tiger Driver but only a two count. Eddie starts talking crap to a fan, Cody hits a Dork Right Hand, Shiranui off the steps, rolls Eddie in, goes to the top, Crossbody but only for 2. Deaner calls for DDT, Lish gets on the apron, Eddie pulls out the Planeteer ring, Falcon Punch, but Deaner kicks out.
Eddie is besides himself, Deaner fires, tries to lock in the DDT, Eddie pushes him back to the ropes, Lish with the Uppercut to the Cock, Boston Knee Party and Deaner is gone.
Eddie is my favorite wrestler of 2025. He got rid of a parasite with the worst gimmick ever.
Northern Armoury w/Hammer the Honey Badgers vs Dango, Moose and Brian Myers w/Lish
The system were insulting Canada and making fun of jobless Deaner so Eric Young runs them down, gets big pops from the Canadian crowd and create an impromptu match using a local Mascot as their outside help to deal with Lish.
Dango and Temu Yuta start, moves that don’t matter follow because Sinner & Saint are useless. Thank god when Moose tags in, he demands Eric Young in. I wouldn’t want to dirty my hands with useless jobbers either. Shoulder Tackle spot where they bounce off each other, EY hits a Hip Toss, and Locomotion uninteresting spots from Jabroni duo, the crowd starts singing “Oh Canada” because of course.
God I hate Sinner & Saint…I have no desire to engage with the moves. I would rather watch lemon party…and a “We’ve Got Healthcare” chant starts. Hair Jabroni gets isolated for a while, Myers hits a Flatliner and a Cheap Shot. Myers goes for a Spear, eats a Knee Lift…someone tag in EY so I can care. THANK YOU.
EY cleans house, rocks everyone EY with the Flair Flip into the Corner, walks to the top rope, Moose tries the escalara cut off but EY pushes him off, Polish Hammer, EY goes back to the top, Jabroni Duo tandem Powerbomb Moose, Dive on the others, Macho Elbow connects for 2. Piledriver attempt, but Moose gets out, hits a Lights Out. Hair dork with a splash to break it up, Myers does a thing, Bald Jabroni does the stupidest Back Handspring Shotei I’ve ever seen, Dango disposes of Baldo…EY hits the Spicolli Driver on Moose and stalks him into the corner, Moose pulls EY into the buckle, Lish pulls out Kendra and beats the hell out of the Mascot. Hands Kendra to Moose, local Canadian board members get involved, Moose eats a Piledriver.
This felt…so damn TNA it wasn’t bad I just detest Sinner & Saint. They have no charisma, do nothing interesting or different or well. But a TNA chicanery overbooking classic.
Match by Elegance: TNA Knockouts Tag Titles: Spitfire vs Elegance Clique (c)
Spitfire start fast, set up a table because they’re dressed like the Dudleys, Dani gets the Powerbomb attempt countered. Elegance attack Jody, pull out some Hockey props that got sideways as the Elegances are dressed like Mounties. Things kind of devolve to slow and telegraphed spots, where’s Jisoo when I need someone to say “Not bad, but not good”.
Yeah I couldn’t care enough to follow what’s going on. It was kind of fun, but slow, corny, a Bad Powerbomb from Heather misses the table and instead her head clips the table. Why would you have someone 4 for 9 try to Powerbomb a beautifully thicc girl like Dani. I don’t ask Brad Williams to powerbomb…well…ANYONE. Same same.
Order 4 vs The Rascalz, Indi Hartwell & Raj Singh
Champagne Singh has a rambly promo that sucks. Dude can’t wrestle, he can’t talk…why pick him? He didn’t even get cheap pops.
Tornado start, Rascalz double the hands, then things calm down and Indi starts with Tasha. Indi throws Tasha into the ropes for a Stun Gun that she bounces back from and into a Side Walk Slam. Skyler tags in, Wentz takes things over, Rascalz hold Skyler’s legs and Signh does the “Wazzup”.
Singh starts beating the hell out of both hands, Tasha dives, Singh catches her, but Ali picks the ankle, Apron Hung DDT as Tasha helps with a Stomp. So they try Locomotion isolation on Singh, he fights off a bit, but Ali tags in and Hotch and Ali hit a beautiful Outside In Rolling Neckbreaker spot. Ali hits the Standing Corkscrew, Singh manages to clock him and the Knockouts tag in. She clears the Hands off the apron, but Ali grabs her hair, dodges her swing, Tasha tries the School Girl for the flash win but Indi kicks out and then hits the Spinebuster. Ali breaks up the pin with a Senton. Signature spam moment, Ali got the best of it, but now we get the Human Centipede Suplex Struggle…but Tasha and Indi fight ontop of them. Inside of the suplex, they’re the cheerleader style Pyramid base. Indi his the Cutter through the base of teammates. Okay…that was unique, I always liked Indi.
Rascalz hit the Hands with a Hot Fire Flame into a Tornillo from Wentz. The Hands may be out for the rest of the match. Singh vs Ali. Ali tries to use the feet on ropes, Rascalz push off. The faces surround Ali, bit the Hands actually recover, Tasha tries to deal with Indi, and Ali hits a very stiff looking Sliding Dropkick to Indi’s face. 450 on Singh to win the match. He then starts choking Singh with the apron skirt and Tasha gets in his way and he shoves her hard. Ali’s new gimmick is…sexually frustrated mad woman hater? Not sure…it’s interesting at least.
Indi better be fine though. She’s a cutie who can actually work.
Arianna Grace vs Tessa Blanchard
Robert Stone tells Santino that without a manager’s license he can’t be out here. He’s banned from ring side.
Tessa Wrist Locks, Front Facelocks, just making fun of her. The crowd does the “She’s a Racist” chant so Tessa does the Hulk Hogan pose. She’s loving the heat. Arianna has been getting so dominated this looks more like the start of a Pornhub video aside from normal pro wrestling. Tessa is just picking her apart. Tessa misses or Arianna was supposed to move and didn’t so it looked kinda bad.
Grace hits a slap and Tear Drop Suplex to finally start doing things. Rolling Elbows, Cutters and a lot of simple offense as Tessa stays cocky but Arianna keep landing a punch or two, finally hits the Superplex but only for two. Arianna tries another Superplex, but Tessa bites her face, wants Magnum but slips so she adjusts to hitting the Buzzsaw first and redoing the finish.
It was sloppy and uninteresting, but they’re both hot, so I’m not complaining. I’d just like to know if the botches were Tessa’s fault or Arianna being green as fuck.
TNA Knockouts Championship: Victoria Crawford (Alicia Fox) vs Masha Slamovich (c)
They start cat fight style until Masha hits the Drop Toe hold into PK and lariat as Alicia powders, Masha follows and starts arguing with Robert Stone and Alicia hits a beautiful Jumping Side Kick. The her Northern Lights Suplex on the floor. Masha tries to fight out and misses her Sole Butt so Crawford screams at her, slams her down and starts getting annoyed. Forearms into a Vertical Suplex Crawford goes into the pin for only two.
Rope run, Masha fights back again, bad looking Capo kick…great interference by Stone has Masha stumble into Crawford and she hits a gorgeous Package Piledriver. Belt distraction spot but the ref tries to wrestle it away, Masha tries to stop it, Masha clocks the ref, Crawford connects with the belt. Tries about Package Piledriver but Masha blocks and hits the Russian Death Device, but ref is still dead. Masha tries to revive the ref, School Girl kick out, spinning back fist, Requiem… meh.
TNA Tag Team Championship: Bootleg Hardyz (Leon Slater & Matt Hardy vs Kaiba Boys (c)
Matt and Nic start off, Matt gets the early upper hand with this weird Headlock open into the Shoulder Tackle and Headlock Takeover. Matt finally tags out from the most boring opening sequence, but Leon starts doing the same Headlock crap. The last match was boring, this is starting bad and now tornado brawl but the Bootlegs clear the ring. Holy hell this is bad…starting too slow after two bad matches. Nemeths forgot who was level cause this is so boring. Holy crap this is the worst 5 minutes ever. I am slipping into a coma while sharting.
They’ve been isolating Leon long enough for the crowd to chant “We want Matt”, there’s a tease but Matt gets pulled off the apron. Ryan connects on the Implant DDT. Tries another but Leon counters and hits a Back Handspring Elbow. Simultaneous tags, Matt has control, Delete Buckle Smashes. Matt hits Delete Buckle Smashes on Ryan too, then Side Effects for everyone, Twist of…countered. Nic pushes Matt into Ryan and Ryan gets popped. FameASSer gets a 2. Assisted Back Drop/Neckbreaker and Slater makes the save. Throws Mokuba out, Plancha, Matt tries to roll up Nic but he kicks. Nic hits the Twist of Fate for arrogance, only two.
Superkick is caught, Leon flies in with a Leg Lariat, then Plot Twist for only 2! Ryan moves Nic from Poetry In Motion, Matt moves closer, Poetry over the Post. Twist of Fate from Matt, Swanton 450…1-2…Ryan saves the day and smashes Matt’s face into the apron. Leon tries to help, but misses and gets thrown into the Steps, Superkick and Danger Zone onto Matt, Kaiba Boys retain.
Half of that match was unwatchable.
Joe Hendry & Elijah vs Frankie Kazarian & Trick Williams
Kaz and Elijah start, some interesting counter spots with Elijah using the ropes for Short Arm Lariats, a few times, tags in Joe and Trick asks for the tag. Kaz tells everyone to fuck off, doesn’t tag and goes after Joe with a few short punches, but Joe Shoulder Tackles and Hip Toss, tags in Elijah and they do a Simple Double Back Elbow, look for a Double Bomb but Kaz rolls through and tags in Trick when he wants to. Trick and Elijah connect and its mostly Trick talking and then Rope Run spots, and a lot of talking.
Dysfunctional teammate tagging in and out yelling stuff… ugh. Elijah wipes them both out in the most uninteresting ways, and Joe hits his Rock the Baby Flying Senton. And that’s the first time the crowd pops this match. Kaz starts walking away, Trick goes after Kaz, the faces go after both, they deposit the heels into the crowd and start brawling into the crowd. The referee is out there with them and not counting.
At least this brawl has forced the crowd out of their Canadian coma, people in the ring, Elijah Rope Walk, Hendry Stalling Suplex at the time. Elijah walked 3 corners and then they punctuate together. Elijah hits the ropes, Kaz trips him, he eats a Trick Kick and a Flapjack. Trick tags out for Kaz to continue to isolate Elijah, Trick tags back, Elijah tries to fight out but Trick kicks Elijah in the head and then cheap shots Hendry on the apron. Leg Lariat from Trick on Elijah.
Eventual tag out to Hendry, Sack of Shits and Kip Ups. Standing O, Trick says no, so Hendry hits the Olympic Slam for two. Trick counters AA with Bookend, Trick to the top, Crossbody, Joe rolls through, AA. Kaz tags, Backstabber, Sliding Lariat, Slingshot Leg Drop for two. Kaz goes Chicken Wing, Joe says no, AA for Kaz. Elijah tags in, and loses control immediately, Trick tags in and also loses control immediately. Trick tries to fly at him, but Knee Lift from Elijah for a 2. Trick Shot on Elijah, Joe makes the save, Kaz takes him outside and grabs a guitar. Kaz tags in and tries to use the guitar, Highwayman’s Farewell but Trick saves it. Trick wants to use the guitar, distracts ref, Elijah’s roll up doesn’t win. Trick Shot accidentally hits Kaz Standing Ovation and face win.
Is Trick winning at Battleground or will this just be very one sided in matches?
Overall Score: 2/10
Two points for KC Navarro being the best thing going right now.
The rest, botches, botches everywhere and boy oh boy:
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It’s getting hot in Georgia!
WWE begins a big Memorial Day Weekend with SmackDown and The Street Profits defending the WWE Tag Team Championships against Fraxiom!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: Charlotte Flair VS Zelina Vega VS Giulia; Giulia wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- Chris Sabin w/ Alex Shelley VS Tommaso Ciampa w/ Johnny Gargano; Ciampa wins.
- Mia Yim & B-Fab VS The Secret Her-Vice w/ Chelsea Green; Mia & B-Fab win.
- Jimmy Uso & Rey Fenix VS Jacob Fatu & JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa; Fatu & Mateo win.
- Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: Shinsuke Nakamura VS LA Knight VS Aleister Black; Knight wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Fraxiom; The Profits win by disqualification and retain the titles.
PLAY BY PLAY
Drew McIntyre arrives backstage.
And is immediately attacked by Damian Priest! The Archer of Infamy and the Scottish Terminator are #OnSight with each other, and the brawl is on! Priest gets the edge, but then Drew RAMS him into a road case! Security and producers pull these two apart, but it takes a lot of them! Will these two have to be sent home so they can make it to tomorrow night’s Steel Cage match?
Tiffany Stratton is here!
Savannah, Georgia fires up as the WWE Women’s Champion struts her way to the ring. And even after a red hot battle last week, it is still Tiffy Time! Tiff has the mic to ask, “Savannah, Georgia, what time is it?” “TIFFY TIME!” Tiff says that is right. So much can change in over a year. This time last year, she was walking into Money in the Bank with all the hype in the world. Some thought she was in over her head, but here she is, standing as THE WWE Women’s Champion! The fans cheer that! And along the way, she has beaten some of the best. On the Grandest Stage of Them All, she beat Charlotte Flair!
And just last week, she kicked Nia Jax’s face off! And in two weeks at MITB, someone will have the same opportunity as Tiff had. So word of advice to whoever wins: If you try cashing in on Tiff, just know- Wait! Alexa Bliss is here! Savannah fires up all over again as Lil’ Miss Bliss makes her way down to the ring, then grabs herself a mic. Bliss says she and Tiff haven’t been formally introduced. Alexa is a former women’s champion, and a former Miss MITB. And Tiff, Alexa has had her eye on you. Tiff caught Alexa’s eye when Tiff beat Charlotte at Mania. And Alexa felt a little bad for Charlotte, but then remembered you can’t feel bad for a narcissist who calls herself The Queen.
Alexa doesn’t need to do stuff like that. But what she does need is the briefcase hanging up there, because Tiffy… Is it okay if Alexa calls her that? Tiff says yes. Alexa tells Tiffy that this is all business. Tiff cashed in on Nia, just like Alexa. But the difference is, Alexa actually liked Nia. She doesn’t know Tiff. So Tiff better pray that Alexa doesn’t win. If you think that rise to the top was quick, just wait for the downfall. But wait! Now Charlotte Flair makes her way out here! The fans boo The Queen, but she struts out in her black feathered robe, gets her pyro, and also gets a mic. Charlotte puts the robe aside and is dressed for her match.
Charlotte tells everyone that if there’s one thing she’s known for is humility. She might be the most humble 14-TIME champion in the history of the WWE! Now, she wants to humbly congratulate Tiff for beating her at Mania. “Tiffany, sweetie, you’re doing great. But it’s not gonna last forever.” And the thing is, Charlotte’s done everything there is to do in the WWE except win the Women’s MITB. So when she does win, and she cashes in, not only will Charlotte take that title back, she plans on taking back the spotlight! Fans chant “Charlotte Sucks!” but Charlotte says when she wants something, she doesn’t wait, she just takes!
Tiff tells “Char” that she is lowkey giving hypocrite. Didn’t Charlotte say that cashing in was the “easy way?” Then why is Charlotte trying to qualify? ANd to be honest, Charlotte and Alexa are both a little… vintage for Tiff. They were the standard, she’s the upgrade! Whether they like it or not, but as long as Tiff is champion, it’ll always be Tiffy Time~! Tiff drops the mic, waves tootles, and then holds up her title on the way out. But will it still be her title after Money in the Bank? Or will she be the prime target for Miss MITB 2025? Well, speaking of that match, Giulia makes her entrance! Will MITB succumb to the Beautiful Madness? Or will wrestling royalty take over?
Women’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: Charlotte Flair VS Zelina Vega VS Giulia!
SmackDown returns as Zelina makes her entrance, going full Prominence Burn with her entrance attire. One month as Women’s US Champion, could the inaugural Queen of the Ring soon add “Miss MITB” to her list of accomplishments?
The bell rings and the fans cheer as the three stare down. Charlotte gets some last-minute stretching in, then she, Zelina and Giulia circle. Giulia and Charlotte stare down more, but Zelina won’t be left out. She pushes them, but Charlotte KNEES Zelina low! Charlotte TOSSES Zelina, then goes back to Giulia. They circle, but Zelina rolls Giulia up! TWO, Charlotte scoops Zelina, but gets a tilt-o-whirl RANA! Giulia CLOBBERS Zelina, and then she stares down with Charlotte. The fans rally and ‘WOO~!” as the two tie up. They go around, break, and Giulia dodges a boot. Zelina wheelbarrows Charlotte, but is sent at Giulia, so she RANAS through!
Zelina runs, Charlotte scoops her and talks trash before the FALL AWAY SLAM! Charlotte kips up, the fans “WOO~!” again, and she goes to Zelina. Charlotte CHOPS Zelina, but Giulia storms up. Giulia pushes Charlotte aside so she can CHOP Zelina. Giulia and Charlotte stare down, then Charlotte KNEES low! Charlotte RAMS Giulia into Zelina, those two fall, and then Charlotte waistlocks Giulia. Giulia fights the lift, drops down and slips out to trip Charlotte! The fans cheer as Giulia ties up the legs! Giulia then SLAPS Charlotte to get those arms, DEATHLOCK SURFBOARD and STOMP! The fans fire up and Giulia stands over Charlotte.
Giulia taunts Charlotte, then hits a NECK TWIST! Giulia then drags Charlotte up, ROCKS her, CHOPS her, and ROCKS her again! Giulia fires off shots, but Charlotte CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Giulia goes Matrix on the fourth, but they DOUBLE LARIAT! Zelina is back to reel Giulia in, and she kicks at Charlotte. Charlotte stops that, she and Giulia DOUBLE SUPELX, only for Zelina to DOUBLE DDT! Cover on Charlotte, TWO! Cover on Giulia, TWO! DOUBLE KNEES for Charlotte int he corner! Giulia runs up, Zelina blocks a shot to ELBOW her away! Zelina runs at Charlotte, is put on the apron, and Charlotte DECKS her!
Giulia runs up, Charlotte puts her outside and BOOTS her down! The fans “WOO~” and rally up as Charlotte goes out. Charlotte and Giulia brawl, but Zelina goes up top! DOUBLE QUEBRADA! Down go Charlotte and Giulia and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes picture in picture!
Zelina points to the briefcases, stomps Charlotte, then puts Giulia in the ring. Charlotte follows as Zelina covers, TWO! Zelina covers Charlotte but Giulia breaks it! All three stand, Charlotte CLUBS Zelina, then coordinates with Giulia. Giulia bumps Zelina off buckles, Charlotte stomps a mudhole in, and then Giulia adds her own. Giulia digs her boots in, steps off to drag her up, and Charlotte joins in so they can DOUBLE SUPLEX! But Charlotte and Giulia both want to cover, TWO! Zelina survives because of the delay, and Charlotte argues with Giulia. Giulia goes for Zelina but Charlotte rolls her up! TWO, and Charlotte LARIATS Giulia down!
Charlotte storms up on Zelina, brings her around, but Zelina JAWBREAKERS free! Zelina runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and CROSSBODIES! Zelina hurries to whip Charlotte, but Charlotte reverses. Zelina goes up and over and rolls Charlotte up, TWO! ROLLING KICK! But Giulia brings Zelina up, BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Charlotte CLOBBERS Giulia at about the same time, so now she and Giulia start shoving. Charlotte CHOPS, then pie faces, then CHOPS! Charlotte whips, but Giulia SHOTGUN BOOTS! Charlotte tumbles away and Giulia goes to the corner. Charlotte hits her with a BACKBREAKER and BUCKLE SHOT! Cover, TWO!
SmackDown returns to single picture, Charlotte slaps Giulia around and talks trash. Charlotte pie faces Giulia, the fans boo, but Giulia SLAPS back! Giulia fires knees, then fires up! The fans are with her and she runs in, only for Charlotte to DUMP her out! Giulia stands but into a GAMANGIRI! Zelina is in a corner, Charlotte runs up but Zelina BOOTS her! And FLYING RAN- NO! Charlotte brings Zelina up, but Zelina spins around! Giulia is up top, MISSILE DROPKICK DOOMSDAY!! Cover on Charlotte, TWO! Cover on Zelina, TWO! Giulia is annoyed but the fans rally up. Giulia ROCKS Zelina, ROCKS Charlotte, repeat!
Charlotte CHOPS Giulia, CHOPS Zelina, repeat! Zelina kicks Charlotte, Giulia HEADBUTTS Zelina, then Giulia BOOTS Charlotte! Cover on Charlotte, TWO! Giulia clamps onto Charlotte, drags her up, and whips her to a corner. Charlotte goes up and out and then BOOTS back! Zelina runs up, Charlotte RAMS her! Charlotte fires up, the fans are torn, but Charlotte climbs. Zelina & Giulia stand up, Charlotte DOUBLE CROSSBODIES! Zelina is up, tilt-o-whirl, LA MYSTICA! DRAGON SLEEPER! But Giulia KNEES Zelina down! But Charlotte BOOTS Giulia! Cover, TWO! Giulia is tougher than that, and then Zelina scraps with Charlotte.
Charlotte CLOBBERS Zelina, the fans are torn, and Charlotte steps on Giulia and Zelina to go to the corner. Charlotte climbs, the fans boo, but Charlotte is up to MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Both Zelina and Giulia survive and Charlotte is furious! Charlotte paces around, but she gets dragged down by Giulia! RINGS OF SATURN!! Charlotte is flailing, fighting, rolls, but Giulia rolls through to make it a ghost pin! TWO, and Zelina DOUBLE SHOTGUNS! The fans fire up as Zelina kips up, dials it up, 619 on Charlotte! Giulia grabs Zelina to HEADBUTT her! And HEADBUTT Charlotte! Both women wobble, and Charlotte SPEARS!! Cover, TWO!!!
Giulia narrowly survives but Charlotte TOSSES Zelina out. Charlotte stomps away on the legs, steps through, but Giulia makes it a cradle! TWO!! Giulia ducks ‘n ‘dodges, and she- NO, Charlotte blocks the boot to have the FIGURE FOUR! METEORA from Zelina!! Giulia is freed, but Zelina hops on, CODE RED!! Cover, CHARLOTTE CLOBBERS IT!! The fans are thunderous, “This is Awesome!” while all three women are down. Zelina goes to a corner, Charlotte to another, and Giulia is on the outside. Zelina and Charlotte rise, Charlotte runs up, but Zelina dodges! Charlotte hits buckles, staggers, but avoids Code Red to BOOT Zelina!
Charlotte has a leg, steps through, FIGURE FOUR!! But Giulia is up top! Charlotte bridges into the FIGURE EIGHT, but Giulia hits a DIVING DOUBLE STOMP!! Charlotte’s leg takes the damage, so Giulia scoops Zelina! NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!! Cover, Giulia wins!!
Winner: Giulia, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
It was an instant classic, and now the former NXT Women’s Champion is going to be one step away from a new prize! Will she make this the Beautiful Madness in the Bank and snatch a title just as quickly?
#DIY speaks.
Tommaso Ciampa says, “Ever since we came to SmackDown last year, we have turned this tag team division into the best on the planet.” Johnny Gargano adds, “We did that!” The Profits hold the gold, but every time DIY takes a step forward, Motor City Machine Guns are breathing down their neck. Shelley, Sabin, the only thing they ever did was piggyback off Gargano’s friendship to get into this company. MCMG likes to say that they are your favorite tag team’s favorite tag team. Talk about egotistical sociopaths! And if that wasn’t enough, there are the young rookies, Fraxiom, adding to the delusion! Frazer goes on social media shouting from the mountaintops, “Oh, thank you, MCMG!”
How pathetic! Add Fraxiom to the long list of people trying to hold DIY back! Conspiring against them! And after last month, the brutal TLC, it is clear that something needs to change. That change begins tonight, when Ciampa takes on Sabin 1v1. And Ciampa promises that when this entire story is done, you are looking at the THREE-TIME WWE Tag Team Champions, D I Y! Ciampa storms off, but will the Sicilian Psycho scratch Sabin off their hitlist? Or is it time for the Machine Guns to fire back?
Zelina returns backstage.
The Women’s US Champion is clearly upset over her loss, but Chelsea Green walks over. She has her Secret Her-vice stand down, there is absolutely no threat here. But it is amazing how Zelina manages to be a champion and yet still a loser. How does she do it? Zelina ROCKS Chelsea, and then the Secret Her-vice mugs Zelina! But Mia Yim SMACKS Alba with a kendo stick! Piper DECKS Mia, B-Fab runs up and it is chaos! Nick Aldis shouts, “ENOUGH! ENOUGH! Everyone just calm down!” Mia says Zelina got Chelsea, but she & B-Fab need to get after the Secret Her-vice tonight! Aldis likes the sound of that! They’ll do it TONIGHT!
B-Fab says see you later! Will Piper & Alba pay for Chelsea’s crimes? Or will there be no getting past the Green Regime?
Chris Sabin w/ Alex Shelley VS Tommaso Ciampa w/ Johnny Gargano!
SmackDown returns as DIY makes their entrance. The bell rings and Ciampa circles with Sabin. They tie up, Ciampa pulls Sabin’s ear, and he puts Sabin in a corner. The ref counts, Ciampa lets off, but Sabin avoids the cheap shot! Sabin arm-drags Ciampa and the two reset. The fans rally, the two circle, and they knuckle lock. Sabin spins to wrench and headlock. Ciampa powers up and out but Sabin runs him over! Cover, ONE, but Sabin arm-drags to an armlock. Ciampa endures, fights up, but Sabin hammerlocks. Ciampa slips through, but Sabin puts the hammerlock right back on! Sabin grinds the arm, Ciampa reaches out, but Sabin pulls him back.
Ciampa again tries to get free but Sabin just puts the hammerlock right back on him. Ciampa ELBOWS Sabin down, shakes out the bad arm, then he whips Sabin into buckles. Ciampa stomps away, the ref counts, but Ciampa stops at 4. The fans boo but Ciampa soaks up the heat. Ciampa stalks Sabin while Gargano talks trash. Ciampa wrenches and CHOPS Sabin, then snapmares for a STOMP! Sabin clutches his face but Ciampa pushes him to a cover, ONE!! Ciampa is frustrated but he stomps Sabin’s hand! Ciampa stomps Sabin around, drags him up, and whips. Sabin ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirls to RANA!
Ciampa gets up, Sabin arm-drags again, and Ciampa bails out. Gargano cools Ciampa down, but Sabin PLANCHAS! Ciampa rolls in, Sabin lands safe on the apron, but Ciampa throws Gargano’s jacket at him! Sabin is stuck, WILLOW’S BELL! Sabin flops out and the fans boo, but Ciampa whips him into barriers! The fans are torn but DIY clap and pat themselves on the back while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Sabin BULLDOGS Ciampa! The fans fire up while both men are down! Ciampa and Sabin crawl to opposite corners, then stand. Ciampa runs up, Sabin BOOTS him, then LARIATS! And LARIATS! Sabin blocks a kick, SWEEPS the leg, then PENALTY KICKS, but Ciampa blocks! Ciampa stands, but Sabin wrenches and STRAITJACKET GERMAN SUPLEXES! The fans fire up as Sabin runs corner to corner, GAMANGIRI! Cover, TWO! Ciampa scrambles to the outside and Gargano checks on him. Sabin goes to the apron, Ciampa dodges and hops up. Ciampa ROCKS Sabin, Sabin ROCKS Ciampa, repeat!
The CHOPS go back and forth and the fans “WOO~” with each one! Ciampa fires up, ducks a chop, and picks Sabin up for an APRON AIR RAID CRASH!! Cover, TWO!! Sabin survives and the fans fire up! Ciampa snarls and looms over Sabin. Ciampa drags Sabin up, brings him around, and reels him in. Ciampa grins as he underhooks, for the- NO, Sabin fights the Fairytale Ending, has a leg, then an arm, to DRAGON SCREW! Ciampa hobbles around and Sabin runs to springboard! FLYING DDT!! Cover, TWO!! Ciampa survives and the fans fire up again as Sabin climbs. Sabin aims as Ciampa rises, but Gargano distracts him!
The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but now Shelley is after Gargano. Gargano backs off, Ciampa runs up, but Sabin dodges! The BOOT hits Shelley, Sabin rolls Ciampa, TWO!! Sabin staggers, dodges Ciampa, and Ciampa tumbles out! Sabin builds speed to TRIANGLE JUMP PLANCHA! Down goes DIY! The fans fire up as all four men are down! Sabin rises, he fetches Ciampa into the ring, “This is Awesome!” as Sabin climbs a corner. Ciampa CHOPS first! Ciampa climbs up after Sabin, reels him in, but Sabin fires body shots! Sabin ROCKS Ciampa, Ciampa falls, and he clutches the leg! The ref checks Ciampa and Sabin isn’t sure what to make of this.
BUT CANDICE LERAE IS HERE! She HOTSHOTS Sabin!! PSYCHO KNEE from Ciampa!! Cover, Ciampa wins!!
Winner: Tommaso Ciampa, by pinfall
DIY does it again, and the Poison Pixie is the magic difference maker! Will this “change” be what helps DIY take over SmackDown?
Backstage interview with Fraxiom.
Byron Saxton is with Nathan Frazer & Axiom to bring up their meteoric rise in the WWE. They debuted on SmackDown just a month ago but have been undefeated in that time. How much pressure is there heading into the biggest match of their careers? Frazer says it has been a wild ride, and he’d be lying if he said this wasn’t the biggest night of their lives. Axiom says they can think back on those nights when they were dreaming of an opportunity like this. And tonight is that night! They could become the NEW WWE Tag Team Champions! They’re nervous, because the Profits are one of the best tag teams in the world.
But tonight, the Profits are just a step on Fraxiom’s path to greatness. Frazer agrees with amigo Axiom, because while DIY said that stuff about them, they’re not worried about what DIY said. They are only concerned with the Profits and that if they beat them again, they can become champions! They can make history! If they believe in themselves, if they’re on the same page, then they could take on any tag team on the planet! Byron wishes them luck, but will it be the combination of speed and agility that takes the titles?
Damian Priest heads to the ring.
But before he can properly make an entrance, Drew McIntyre is on him! They brawl again, and Priest sends Drew into barriers! Then he ROCKS Drew! Drew hits back, the fans fire up, and Drew sends Priest into barriers now! Priest ROCKS Drew, Drew kicks Priest, and then Drew POSTS Priest! Security hurries out here but the fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” Producers and refs join in and separate the two. Priest grabs a mic to shout at Drew, “Where you going? You gonna go hide behind your phone? Nah, it’s Guepa Time! Tomorrow, I send your ass to the hospital! But tonight, I’m getting my pound of flesh!”
Priest DOUBLE LARIATS security, then leaps out to attack Drew on the ramp! They brawl, the producers separate them, and Aldis says for these two to be taken away! Drew and Priest are going to be like wild animals inside that Steel Cage, who will even survive Saturday Night’s Main Event?
Solo Sikoa talks with JC Mateo backstage.
Solo knows JC knows, but then Jacob Fatu walks in. Solo says big tag match tonight! Fatu & Mateo, same page, baby. But Fatu wants to talk with Solo in private real quick. Why? Anything he has to say to Solo, he can say to JC. JC’s family now. What is on Fatu’s mind? Fatu says first thing on his mind is that he doesn’t trust JC. He doesn’t know JC. He doesn’t like JC. And he damn sure doesn’t like what Solo’s got going on. See, Fatu didn’t need the help at Backlash. At the end of the day, JC ain’t blood, and he damn sure ain’t family. Solo has JC stand down, and Solo says that aggression is what he is talking about!
Just take that aggression and transfer it to Jimmy Uso & Rey Fenix. Speaking of Jimmy, Solo knows Jimmy is upset that Roman Reigns left. Jimmy is all sad. But y’know who never left? Solo! And he never will. He wants Jimmy to come back, but the only way that can happen is if Fatu and Mateo work together as a family. YADAD- NO, Solo, stop that. That’s not even it. You saying it wrong. But see you out there tonight. Yarrrrrda mean? Solo says he doesn’t hear the difference. But can the Samoan Werewolf and the Imperial Unit tear down #BigJim and the Firebird?
Charlotte Flair walks backstage.
But Alexa says, “And that’s why it’s important to have friends. Because when you don’t, there’s no one there to lift you up when everything falls apart.” Charlotte asks, “What’d you say?” Alexa says she wasn’t talking to Charlotte, she was talking to Lily. But see you at MITB. Oh… Sorry. Alexa leaves The Queen behind, but will Charlotte show she can do bad all by herself?
Mia Yim & B-Fab VS The Secret Her-Vice w/ Chelsea Green!
The Head Baddie in Charge & Miss Fabulous made sure the Green Regime didn’t bully Zelina Vega, and now they’re stepping right up to the Hot Mess’s personal security. Will Mia & Fab kick some serious lass tonight? Or will Alba & Piper pave the way to Chelsea’s “reelection?”
SmackDown returns and Michin makes her entrance, followed right by B-Fab’s. They go to the ring together, and the teams sort out. Piper starts with B-Fab and they tie up. They throw hands in the clinch, then end up on the ropes. Fab keeps firing shots but Alba tags in. Now Alba & Piper mug Fab, then THROW her down! Piper runs to BLAST Mia, Alba sets Fab up and Piper SENTONS! Chelsea applauds, Alba adds a SUPERKICK, and Alba covers, TWO! Alba drags Fab up and puts her in the corner to stomp a mudhole in! Tag to Piper and Chelsea taunts Fab while another Piper stomps another mudhole in!
Tag to Alba, she stomps a mudhole, then argues with the ref so Piper can pull Fab’s hair! Alba KNEES Fab down, tags Piper, and Piper drags Fab up. Piper straitjackets to the COBRA CLUTCH! Fab endures, the fans rally, and Fab fires body shots! Piper ripcords but Fab ducks the lariat, only for Piper to hit a SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fab survives, Chelsea is frustrated, but Piper SLAPS Fab around! Piper kicks Fab around, drags her up, and Piper reels Fab in for a suplex. Fab slips free, reaches out, but Piper keeps her from Mia. Fab wrenches and KNEES Piper down! The fans fire up and Fab crawls, but so does Piper!
Hot tags to Michin and Alba! Mia dodges Alba, ROCKS Piper, then LARIATS Alba! And LARIATS! Mia DROPKICKS Alba and the fans fire up! Mia runs up, whips, but Alba reverses. Mia RANAS Alba away! Mia dusts off, but Piper is in! Mia ROUNDHOSUES Piper, then kicks off Alba to ASAI DDT Piper! Mia has Alba again, but Chelsea distracts everyone! The ref reprimands, but ZELINA is here! She YANKS Chelsea down and KNEES her in the face! The fans fire up for the US Champion, and she runs away! Piper chases her, but Fab LARIATS Piper! But Alba rolls Mia up, TWO! Mia stands, Fab tags in! Mia makes Alba EAT DA FEET!
Fab is in, she has Alba for the NECKBREAKER REMIX! #Fab-U-LOST! Cover, Fab & Mia win!
Winners: Mia Yim & B-Fab, by pinfall
Mia & Fab bail out before Chelsea & Piper can get in! The Green Regime suffers a humiliating defeat, will they pack it in before it gets worse? Or will Chelsea have to resort to some extreme measures to get back in power?
Backstage interview with The Street Profits.
Byron is now with the WWE Tag Team Champions, Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins, and says there is a belief out there that all the pressure to win tonight is on them. What? Well, Fraxiom beat them once, and if they do it again, the Profits have to say goodbye to the tag titles. Dawkins says, “Hold up, fam. This is a big night for Fraxiom, this is a big night for us! They got one up on us, and that’s cool, props to them. But tonight, it’s about these! This right here is Gucci! This right here is food on the table! This ain’t no friendly exhibition, and we gonna see under the bright lights if the moment’s too big for Fraxiom.”
Ford adds, “Oh, oh, Fraxiom’s on a roll! Fraxiom’s undefeated! Fraxiom’s the best tag team in the world! All LIES! Okay? Cuz tonight, it’s like he said, we’re gonna see if the moment’s too big for ’em, cuz we gonna walk out of Savannah, Georgia the same way we walked in: YOUR WWE Tag Team Champions!” But then in steps Solo Sikoa with JC Mateo & Jacob Fatu. Solo chuckles, because the family is about to handle their business first. Will nothing stop Solo’s Bloodline from rising from the ashes? Or is that more a Fenix thing?
Legado del Fantasma sits at the table.
Santos Escobar wants to tell Los Garza this. “Angel, Berto, you’re mi familia. And yes, like any other familia, there are a lot of beautiful moments, bonding moments. But sometimes, there’s fighting, there’s bickering. I just know what we are capable of when we come together.” Berto says this is just another stupid pep talk. Santos says it is more than that! This is business. And on June 7th, Worlds Collide in Los Angeles… They will come together as the best this house has to offer, against the best they have to offer. Legado has shown who they are, where they come from, and what they are about across the globe!
And now, this is the opportunity to stand victorious. And this time, it will be in front of their people! Santos will drink to that. Angel stands with Santos, but Berto is reluctant. Santos tells Berto to trust him. See the vision. Berto raises his glass after all, but just to drink. Santos tells Angel to let him be, because soon, Berto will understand. Salud. Legado is set to face AAA’s best in Pagano, Psycho Clown & El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr! But who will be the best of the best when Worlds Collide?
Jimmy Uso & Rey Fenix VS Jacob Fatu & JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa!
SmackDown returns and we’re backstage with #BigJim and Fenix. Jimmy gets them fired up. Last week, they were opponents. But tonight, they’re teammates, carnal. What’s Fenix say? Fenix says tonight, for the first time ever, they will show all the beautiful people of Georgia who they are! Jimmy says he’s with it! Vaminos, carnal! ANIMO, UCE! Jimmy makes his entrance first, followed by Fenix. The teams sort out and Jimmy starts against Fatu. The fans rally behind Jimmy as he and Fatu slowly circle. Solo tells Jimmy that he can still be in the family, he just has to be smart. Fatu and Jimmy circle, but then Mateo tags in!
The fans boo while Fatu and Mateo stare down. Fatu steps out, and Jimmy fires hands on Mateo! Jimmy runs, but Mateo RUNS him over! Mateo stomps Jimmy in the corner, then Fatu tags in. The fans rally for Jimmy while Fatu stares Mateo down. Mateo backs off, Jimmy kicks, but Fatu blocks! But the DRAGON WHIP hits! Tag to Fenix, Jimmy gives him the boost for the ENZIGIRI! Then for a RANA! Fatu tumbles out, Mateo runs in but Fenix SUPERKICKS !Jimmy SUPERKICKS! Then they DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Mateo tumbles out, Jimmy sets up and Fenix builds speed! Jimmy gives Fenix the boost for the TOP ROPE TORNILLO!
The fans fire up as Fenix wipes out Fatu AND Mateo! The fans fire up, Solo gets his behemoths to focus, but the fans say “ANIMO YEET!” while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and the fans rally for Jimmy as he endures a bearhug from Mateo. Jimmy fights up, fires body shots and elbows, but Mateo shoves him to ELBOW him, JAB him, and YUKON LARIAT him! Mateo then GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULTS! Solo loves it, but he wants Mateo to focus. The fans rally while Mateo and Fatu stare down. Fatu tags in, and he HIP ATTACKS Jimmy! The fans fire up as Fatu geeks out, and then Fatu goes back to Jimmy. Fatu drags Jimmy up, HEADBUTTS him down, and then runs to SENTON! Jimmy writhes, Fatu fires up, and fans are torn. Solo tells Jimmy that he still loves him, so Jimmy can join them.
Fatu CHOKES Jimmy, lets off at 4, and Jimmy sputters to a corner. Fatu runs corner to corner to HIP ATTACK! The fans are torn but Fatu stares down with Mateo. Fatu tags Mateo in, Mateo storms up to stomp Jimmy, and then he stands Jimmy up. Mateo puts Jimmy up top, grins as he climbs up, but Jimmy holds onto the ropes! The fans rally and Jimmy fires elbows! Jimmy throws elbow after elbow, “YEET! YEET! YEET!” and Mateo finally falls back! Jimmy sets up, USO IN THE WIND! The fans fire up while both men crawl! Hot tags to Fatu and Fenix! The fans fire up as Fenix fires forearms on Fatu over and over!
Fatu whips, Fenix BOOTS him, then Fenix SOBATS! And ENZIGIRIS! Fenix knuckle locks, CHOPS, and goes up, up, and even ADIOS AMIGOS for Mateo! Then FLYING RANA for Fatu! The fans fire up as Fenix hurries to WRECK Mateo with a dropkick! Fatu whips Fenix, Fenix goes Tiger Feint Rewind, HEEL KICK! POISON-RANA! Cover, TWO!! Fenix is stunned that Fatu survived! The fans are torn but Fenix refocuses. Fatu sputters, Fenix brings him up and fires hands. Fatu HEADBUTTS Fenix, pops him up, and SAMOAN DROPS him! Fatu geeks out and the fans fire up! Fenix is i the corner, Fatu grins and runs in, but Fenix dodges!
Fatu wipes out against buckles, Mateo tags in! Mateo hurries to deadlift Fenix, and he GERMAN SUPELXES! But Fenix lands out! Jimmy tags in! Fenix sends Mateo into a GAMANGIRI! Jimmy goes up, up, and FLYING CROSSBODIES! Cover, Fatu SENTONS it apart! “This is Awesome!” as Fenix springboards and MISSILE DROPKICKS Fatu out! Fenix then DIVES, but Fatu catches him! And RAMS him into apron! And TOSSES him over the desk! The fans fire up as Jimmy SUPERKICKS Mateo! SUPERKICK for Fatu! Jimmy dodges Mateo to SPEAR!! Jimmy hurries up top and the fans fire up!
But Solo is there to distract! Jimmy ignores his brother but Fatu is there! Jimmy hurries to USO SPLASH, but has to roll through as Mateo dodges! Jimmy comes back, but into a TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, Mateo & Fatu win!
Winners: Jacob Fatu & JC Mateo, by pinfall
Even Solo is stunned seeing that one. Mateo & Fatu kept it together, will Solo’s family be the ones running SmackDown from now on?
Backstage interview with LA Knight.
Byron Saxton wants to note the impressive win we just saw, but The Mega Star says, “NAH NAH! You gotta 86 that trash, cuz we’re standing in my locker room right now, so lemme talk to ya! You wanna talk about anything with those cross-eyed halfwits, let’s talk about Solo Sikoa being in Money in the Bank. Let’s talk about the fact that he’s got himself a first-class, front-row seat to watching me monkey rip that case down off that ladder. And what that means is, you think about it, the odds are against me, it’s 1-in-6 chance, but the odds are against everybody. But the odds have been against me ever since I stepped foot, and still I stand here the man they call The Mega Star! YEAH!
“But then I think about it. I’m gonna return to the city that helped make me, Los Ange. I’m gonna walk into Money in the Bank, and what I’m gonna do is I’m gonna show up and I’m gonna show out. But before I get there, I gotta walk through the darkness. Now, what do I mean by that? What I mean by that is tonight, in a little bit, the lights are gonna turn out and out walks Aleister Black. Then the lights are gonna turn out a little bit later, and out’s gonna walk Shinsuke Nakamura. And through all that, the man who’s gonna walk out and shine a little light on a couple guys who are living spooky season year round, NAH NAH! It’s championship season!
“And what that means is that this man has to go through two of ya, on the job, all day, every day, dropping BFTs on everybody, which means one of ya catching three the hard way. Cuz I hit it and quit it, moving on to Money in the Bank. But with or without the case, you gotta understand, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, I am walking, talking, living, breathing Money in the Bank, with everybody saying…” “L! A! KNIGHT!” “YEAH!!” Knight is ready to make this his night, but will LA be heading home to LA to win the big one?
R-Truth is here!
Savannah cheers but Truth isn’t worried about rapping his theme song as he goes to the ring. Truth steps inside, grabs a mic, and he tells Savannah, “Make some noise! WHAT’S UP!?” “WHAT’S UP?!” Truth will tell ’em what’s up. Everyone keeps asking him, “How’re you gonna handle fighting your childhood hero, John Cena, on Saturday night?” The fans boo, but Truth says they don’t get it. He’s not fighting his childhood hero, John Cena, tomorrow night. The man we all see now, the man who attacked Truth, Truth doesn’t recognize him. But Truth has been thinking about his childhood hero, John Cena.
Truth couldn’t figure out where it went wrong, or how he could’ve prevented this. Then he realized the problem. “What?” Truth says he realized the problem! It’s power. It’s always power! Cena used to call Truth his friend, his brother, but the more power and fame Cena got, the more disconnected he became. The text messages were less. The replies were slower. The phone calls stopped! Truth felt like Cena was always annoyed with him, because no matter what Truth did, it was wrong. Truth blames himself. Then Truth thought he did something to upset Cena, or getting on his nerves. But then Truth talked to others, and they said they felt the same way!
“John Cena isolated himself with power! He was like that goblin fella on Lord of the Rings! He became corrupted with all the power he gave himself. That’s you, John Cena! That’s you! Staring at your championship, calling it Your Precious! It’s not the championship, it’s your ego, dawg!” The fans cheer that. Truth says Cena stopped having fun, and now he’s mad when someone else wants to have fun. The fans also cheer that. Truth doesn’t like who Cena has become. And he doesn’t believe Cena is happy. “What?” “He’s not happy.” Cena is the greatest of all time. He is, y’all! Truth doesn’t know if he can bring Cena back, but he’s gonna try.
Truth says Cena will not take Truth’s joy away from him! The fans cheer that! Truth says, “You wanna ruin wrestling? So if I wanna save wrestling, I gotta save you! Now, I don’t wanna have to put my hands on you, but if I have to… I will beat the ever-living Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect right back in yo ass!” The fans love that! Truth tells he’ll leave us with this. “I miss my hero. I can’t deny it. So Saturday, we fans again! If Cena wins, WE RIOT! WHAT’S UP?!” The fans fire up for that! Will Truth be the one to stop Cena from ruining wrestling and his own legacy?
WWE hears from three more contenders.
The Eerie Glow says, “Undervalued, underappreciated, underestimated. The old Naomi allowed herself to be taken advantage of. I’m done with thanking people for the scraps they gave me.” But The Storm says, “Naomi took everything away from me. She took my friendships, my title, and my health. But not just that, she took my opportunity at the WWE Women’s Championship.” And the Irresistible Force says, “I only have one thing on my mind, and it’s the title. And if anyone gets in my way, I show them no mercy. Naomi and Jade Cargill got in my way. I don’t care about petty drama. But when somebody ruins my chances at MY championship, I’m going to ruin their chances.”
Jade refuses to let anyone take one more thing from her, and she’ll be damned if it is MITB. Nia says she’s worked with Naomi before, but she doesn’t trust her. Naomi says she is taking her revenge, taking back all the times she let Nia and Jade get the better of her. Jade says next week, they better watch their backs, because a storm is coming. Nia doesn’t care who it is, she will A-Nia-Late them all until she gets what she wants. Naomi is taking her victory, that contract, and it all will be Money in the Bank. Three forces of nature are set to collide, who will even survive?
Men’s Money in the Bank Qualifier Triple Threat: Shinsuke Nakamura VS LA Knight VS Aleister Black!
Just as the Mega Star said, he must face a sinister samurai of Strong Style and the Dark Father in an intense Triple Threat. Who makes it out of Savannah with their golden ticket to the Golden State?
SmackDown returns and Nakamura makes his entrance, then LA Knight makes his. The bell rings and the fans rally as the three circle. Knight points to the briefcase to say that’s his, only for Nakamura to CLOBBER him! Aleister goes after Nakamura, they brawl, and then Nakamura kicks and CLUBS and KNEES Knight. Aleister is back, he and Knight go after Nakamura 2v1, then Aleister CLUBS Nakamura down. Knight ROCKS Nakamura, coordinates with Aleister, and they hit a HIGH LOW uppercut and leg sweep combo! They TOSS Nakamura out, then Knight and Aleister circle. The fans rally up and the two tie up.
Knight wrenches then hammerlocks but Aleister switches that, and fans already want tables. Knight switches the hammerlock back on Aleister but Aleister elbows free. Aleister runs, but Knight dropkicks the legs out. Knight runs but Aleister avoids the basement dropkick to KICK Knight! Aleister runs up but Knight dodges and JUMPING NECKBREAKERS! Knight stomps a mudhole in, “YEAH! YEAH!” and then Knight runs corner to corner. But Nakamura is back to sweep the legs! Knight lands on his face, Nakamura kicks him out of the ring, then he grins as he is 1v1 with Aleister. The fans rally as the two circle.
Nakamura and Aleister both BOOT! And BOOT! And then kick for kick! Aleister blocks a kick to trip Nakamura, but Nakamura avoids the kick! Nakamura trips Aleister, but Aleister avoids the kick to kip up! Aleister then blocks a punch to fire off strikes, and he KNEES Nakamura down! Nakamura bails out, the fans fire up and Aleister builds speed to go up, out, and up again. But Knight springs up to get Aleister! MEGA PLEX! But Nakamura is up to FLYING KNEE! All three men are down and the fans fire up! Nakamura roars as he rises up, but SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and the fans rally as Aleister rallies on Nakamura with elbows! Aleister fires a strike fest, SWEEPS the legs, then runs to SLIDING KNEE! Aleister kips up, the fans fire up, and Aleister runs to QUEBRADA! Down goes Nakamura and Aleister covers, but Knight breaks it! Knight reels Aleister in and suplexes, but Aleister knees free! Aleister takes a swing, Knight blocks to spin Aleister around for a cravat. Aleister powers out, but Knight ducks the heel kick! Knight torture racks, for a BURNING HAMMER! Cover, Nakamura breaks it! Nakamura TOSSES Knight out, goes after him, then sends him into steel steps!
Nakamura rolls back into the ring and he storms up on Aleister. Nakamura kicks Aleister around, taunts him, and SLAPS him! Aleister gets in Nakamura’s face, and the forearms fly! The fans rally as Aleister fires another strike fest, but Nakamura SHADOW ELBOWS! But then Aleister SHADOW ELBOWS! Nakamura HEADBUTTS and whips, then runs up. Nakamura blocks a boot but not the KNEE! Aleister storms up but into the ROLLING KICK! Aleister sits in a corner, Knight KNEES him down! Knight TOSSES Nakamura, hauls Aleister up, and he whips to scoop. Aleister slips free, shoves, and JUMP KNEES! Knight tumbles out and fans fire up!
Aleister goes up and out, goes up again, and he ASAI MOONSAULTS! Nakamura takes the hit, but Knight KNEES Aleister again! “This is Awesome!” as Knight puts Aleister in, only for Aleister to FLY! Down goes Knight but Aleister is also down. Aleister drags himself up with the apron, then puts Knight in the ring. Aleister runs, QUEBRADA, but Knight dodges! Kick and DDT! Knight rolls back to his feet and the fans fire up! Spell it out! “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” ELBOW DROP! But KINSHASA outta nowhere!! Nakamura covers, ROPEBREAK!! Knight survives and Nakamura is shocked! Nakamura seethes and he goes for Aleister now.
Nakamura runs in, but Aleister blocks the knee! Aleister KICKS, Nakamura WHEEL KICKS! Nakamura POSTS Aleister, brings him back in, REVERSE EXPLODER! Nakamura aims again, “YAO~!” BLACK MASS!! Knight TOSSES Aleister to take the cover, KNIGHT WINS!!
Winner: LA Knight, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
YEAH!! The Mega Star is the Mega Opportunist, and now he’ll be in the City of Angels! But will Knight be climbing the ladder to success?
The Miz & Carmelo Hayes watch this.
Melo says it’s just like he said! It feels good to watch Aleister drop the ball. Miz says what would be better is if Melo listened to him last week, and he would’ve beaten Aleister. How many times must Miz take a Black Mass for Melo to listen? Melo says he gets it, but it’s fine. He is in a MITB qualifier. Melo takes credit, but then Miz says no, Miz did that. Miz talked with Aldis and it was the option of either Miz or Melo in that match. Miz knows he could win MITB and cash-in again, he chose Melo. It is Melo’s time to shine. Miz just wants Melo to understand how important MITB truly is. It is the gateway to superstardom!
That MITB briefcase too Miz not just to the WWE Championship, but to the main event of WrestleMania! He isn’t sure he’d be where he is today if not for MITB. He wouldn’t be TWO-TIME WWE Champion! That is how much Miz believes in H1M. And that is why he’ll win the qualifier! And who will make sure Melo walks out of LA with briefcase in hand and “Dre” around his neck? The Miz! Who will make sure Melo becomes Mr. MITB? Miz! And who is going to listen to Miz and execute the play like he designed it? Melo. Exactly! Because they are Melo Don’t Miz, and they are AWES-H1M! Coach Miz has Melo fired up, but will the star player win it all?
BREAKING NEWS for Saturday Night’s Main Event!
Since she’s been whining and complaining, Chelsea Green gets her rematch for the WWE Women’s United States Championship! Will the Green Regime have its second term? Or will Zelina Vega refuse to lose to a tyrant?
Solo Sikoa and his family regroup backstage.
Solo says that’s what happens when they are focused and stick to the plan. Aldis walks over to tell them congrats on the win. And he has some exciting news! Next week on SmackDown is the the final Triple Threat qualifier for the Men’s MITB. And Fatu is in! Good luck! Aldis leaves and Fatu grins. Solo says okay, there it is! Congrats, Fatu! Now they can both be in MITB, they can both win! That briefcase is in the bag! Fatu says, “I love you, Solo.” Still not quite how he used to say it. JC asks if Solo is okay with this, and Solo says yeah, it’ll be alright. But does this improve the family’s chances of taking the prize? Or drastically ruin it?
Bianca Belair speaks.
“I read in a book the other day, ‘The only consistent thing in life is change.’ And that really stuck with me. Because I know I try to smile through everything, but if I’m being transparent right now, these past six months have been the most uncomfortable, difficult, challenging, frustrating times in my career. Losing championships, losing friendships, losing my first time at WrestleMania, on top of that getting injured, it has been rough.” Bianca says that she won’t lie to us, she has wanted to give up and say forget it, but then, what kind of example would she be for herself if she let that define her?
So she is going through it, but she’ll get through it. She has been hit from every direction, but she’s still standing. She’s healing in her body, her heart, and she’ll become stronger and wiser. Here is to a new beginning. She has been through so many changes and still came out the person she is today. So to rephrase the quote from earlier, “The only consistent thing in life is change, and me.” She promises us this, her best is yet to come. She returns to SmackDown next week in her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, just how much greater will the EST be?
WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Fraxiom!
Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins fought so hard to get these titles, and then fought even harder to keep them in that TLC Triple Threat. So how much harder will they fight to keep the new kids on the block from taking the titles on their first try? Or will Nathan Frazer & Axiom be undeniable as they #NeverSlowDown?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who walks through the smoke to shine with the gold!
The teams sort out and Axiom starts against Dawkins. They tie up, Dawkins SHOVES Axiom down, and he eggs Axiom on. Axiom comes back, they feel things out, and they knuckle lock. Axiom rolls and wrenches, but Dawkins wrangles him. Ford says Axiom feels it now! Dawkins wrenches and grinds the shoulder to push Axiom to the mat. The fans rally as Axiom endures, fights up, and waistlocks. Axiom brings Dawkins over and Frazer tags in. Frazer headlocks, Dawkins lifts, but Axiom helps Frazer hit the takeover! Frazer grinds the headlock, but Dawkins fights up and powers out. Dawkins drops down, hurdles over, then runs up to hurdle agian!
Frazer hurdles, Dawkins stops the monkey flip to wheelbarrow! Then he stops the victory roll! Dawkins stands Frazer up, shoves him to ropes, then CLOBBERS him on the return! The fans fire up and Dawkins drags Frazer to a cover, TWO! Dawkins puts Frazer in the corner, tags Ford, and they whip to DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Ford taunts Fraxiom, drags Frazer up, and he tags Dawkins. Ford wrenches, he and Dawkins mug Frazer, then Dawkins stays between Frazer and Axiom. Frazer fires body shots but Dawkins KNEES him down! Dawkins stalks Frazer to a corner, throws body shots, then keeps him from Axiom.
The fans rally, Dawkins shoves, but Frazer grabs ropes. Dawkins storms up, Frazer facelocks, but Dawkins RAMS him into buckles! Frazer falls against the ropes, Dawkins has the legs and YANKS Frazer up! Frazer lands out to PELE! Tag to Axiom, and the speed blitz begins! BASEMENT DDT! Ford runs up but Axiom dodges to SOBAT! Frazer KICKS, and then gives Axiom the BOOSTED DROPKICK! Profits regroup outside, Frazer DIVES to hit Ford! Axiom DIVES to hit Dawkins! They reset, and Frazer builds speed to FLY! Down go the Profits and the fans fire up! Axiom goes to the ring, he goes up, up, and TRIANGLE MOONSAULTS!
Axiom wipes out the Profits, the fans fire up with Fraxiom, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Fraxiom drags Dawkins up and into the ring, and Axiom hurries to fire forearms. Axiom has Dawkins in a corner and fires even more forearms! The ref counts as Axiom adds stomps, and Axiom stops at 4. Axiom runs corner to corner, but Dawkins catches him to a wrench and underhooks, for the SILENCER! Cover, TWO! Axiom survives but Dawkins stays focused. Dawkins has Axiom in the Profits’ corner and stomps away. The ref counts, Dawkins stops at 4, and he drags Axiom up to snapmare. Tag to Ford for the slingshot SENTON! Ford paces, then drags Axiom up to THROW him down! Cover, TWO!
Ford clamps onto Axiom to keep him from Frazer, and he grinds Axiom down. Axiom endures, fights up, and he fires body shots! Axiom headlocks now, but Ford powers out. Axiom sunset flips, Ford rolls through and PENALTY KICKS! Then Ford runs to SPLASH DOWN! Cover, TWO! Tag to Dawkins and they stand Axiom up for a KICK to the gut! Dawkins does the Renaldo and the fans cheer. Dawkins ROCKS Axiom, but Axiom comes back to ROCK Dawkins! Axiom fires forearms and CHOPS, but Dawkins shoves to FLAPJACK! Cover, TWO! Dawkins paces, talks some trash, then drags Axiom into a chinlock stretch.
SmackDown returns to single picture and Dawkins grinds Axiom down. The fans rally, Axiom endures, and Axiom fights up. Axiom fires body shots, but Dawkins THROWS him down! Axiom still fights as Dawkins leans on him. Axiom fights up, JAWBREAKERS free, and Dawkins staggers. Axiom reaches out but Dawkins RAMS him into the Profits’ corner! Tag to Ford and Ford slingshots in just to show off. Ford RAMS Axiom, then he tags Dawkins back in. Ford holds Axiom in place, Dawkins runs and CYCLONE SPLASHES! Axiom falls, Dawkins covers, TWO! Dawkins holds onto a hand but Axiom CHOPS! And CHOPS!
Axiom reaches, Dawkins KNEES him low, then Dawkins whips Axiom to the corner. Axiom BLASTS Ford, BOOTS Dawkins, then goes up! DEEP IMPACT DDT! Both men are down and the fans rally up! Dawkins and Axiom crawl, hot tags to Frazer and Ford! Frazer rallies with high speed forearms! Frazer CHOPS, whips, but Ford reverses. Frazer ducks ‘n’ dodges and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up as Frazer SLINGBLADES Ford down! And then RUNNING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Ford scrambles to a corner but Frazer runs up. Ford puts Frazer on the apron, but Frazer ROCKS Ford! Frazer avoids Dawkins’ sweep to SUPERKICK!
Frazer springboards but fakes Ford out! Ford’s antiair crashes ‘n’ burns, and Frazer springboards back in for a MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Frazer hurries to bring Ford up, but Ford shoves him away! Tag to Dawkins, then Ford slips around to back suplex! Frazer lands out, dodges Ford and ROCKS Dawkins! Frazer ROCKS Ford, but then Dawkins POUNCES Frazer into Ford’s arms! BIG back suplex! Dawkins covers, TWO! Frazer is tougher than that and SmackDown goes back to picture in picture.
Frazer sputters but Dawkins stomps him around. Dawkins drags Frazer up, hoists him into the Electric Chair, and Ford goes up! But Frazer fights free to shove Dawkins into Ford! Ford falls to the floor, Frazer rolls Dawkins, TWO! ENZIGIRI! Frazer rolls and rolls and hot tags Axiom! Frazer waistlocks Dawkins, Dawkins switches, and Dawkins shoves Frazer at Axiom. Axiom goes up and over but Dawkins ROCKS him! And ENZIGIRIS Frazer! Dawkins has Axiom for DEEP SIX!! Cover, TWO!! Dawkins is shocked, and surely somewhere out there, the Lone Wolf felt that. Dawkins drags Axiom up and brings him over.
Tag to Ford and the Profits mug Axiom. Ford then hits a BIG back suplex, and a STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Axiom is tougher than that and Ford is frustrated. Ford stomps Axiom, kicks him around, then runs to KICK Axiom in the back! Axiom goes to ropes, Ford waits on him to stand, and then he GERMAN SUPLEXES! Axiom tumbles and Ford does his Beast impression. Ford waits on Axiom, kicks him around, then hauls him up for a suplex! Cover, TWO! Axiom is still in this but Ford looms over him. SmackDown returns to single picture again as Ford KICKS Axiom! Axiom shoulders Ford, but Ford CHOPS Axiom!
Axiom staggers back, Ford eggs him on, and Axiom fires up. The fans rally as Axiom CHOPS and ROCKS, but then Ford ROCKS Axiom! Axiom ROCKS Ford back, kicks low, then fires fast hands! Ford ducks a shot, shoves Axiom, and then follows, only for Axiom to DROPKICK! Ford wobbles, and Axiom has the REAR NAKED CHOKE! Ford flails as he is in the body scissors, and he fights around. Dawkins steps in, Frazer intercepts with a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! The Profits endure, Dawkins powers up, and he suplexes Frazer onto Axiom! All four men are down and the fans fire up! Dawkins and Frazer crawl while Ford and Axiom stir.
Ford and Axiom reach out, Axiom tags Frazer! Ford runs up but Frazer dodges and GAMANGIRIS! Ford is stuck up top and Frazer rises up! Frazer brings Ford to the top rope, but Ford fires body shots! Ford shoves Frazer away, Frazer springs right back up, but Ford again shoves Frazer! Frazer backflips, goes back up, and Axiom tags in! Frazer hits the SUPER DUPER PLEX and roll through! CHASING THE DRAGON!! Cover, TWO!! Ford survives and Fraxiom is shocked! Frazer and Axiom coordinate, and Frazer DIVES, into a HAYMAKER! Dawkins then RAMS Frazer into steel steps! Ford rolls Axiom, TWO!! ENZIGIRI!
Tag to Dawkins and Dawkins hurries to pick Axiom up! Electric Chair and Ford is up top! BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY!! Cover, Frazer springboards to SPLASH it apart!! “This is Awesome!” as it continues! Dawkins BLASTS Frazer off apron and into barriers! Then he CLOBBERS Axiom! Dawkins goes up, but Axiom GAMANGIRIS! Axiom climbs up to join Dawkins, Frazer tags in, SUPER SPANISH FLY!! And then PHOENIX SPLASH!! Cover, FORD BREAKS IT and leaps at Axiom, but into the GOLDEN RATIO!! Axiom remembers last time and turns the formula around! All four men are down and the fans are thunderous!
Dawkins wakes up and realizes this is still going. Wait, DIY is here! The fans boo as Gargano, Ciampa & Candice are here, but MCMG also rushes out here! DIY and MCMG brawl, the fans fire up, and Candice is beside herself! Axiom runs at Ford but Ford TOSSES him out! Then Ford runs to FLY out onto MCMG & DIY!!! The fans are thunderous again, but Frazer is up top! PHOENIX- NO, Dawkins dodges and Frazer rolls through! Frazer comes back, but into a SKY HIGH!! Dawkins shouts to Ford and Ford hurries up from the pile of humanity! Ford tags in, climbs up top, and wait! THE LIGHTS GO DOWN!?!
Savannah is losing their minds as guess who~! THE WYATT SICK6 ARE BACK!! Ford says a prayer and begs for mercy as he sees Uncle Howdy, Joe Gacy, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan & Nikki Cross all back again! And then Lumis goes up to SUPER BELLY2BELLY Ford!! DISQUALIFICATION!
Winners: The Street Profits, by disqualification (still WWE Tag Team Champions)
Erick CLOBBERS DIY! Gacy chases down Dawkins! Nikki LEAPS onto Candice! Gacy dodges Dawkins and brings him to the UPSIDE-DOWN!! Then Lumis gets a boost for the POWREBOMB SENTON!! And Howdy has Frazer by the MANDIBLE CLAW!! Howdy laughs as Frazer suffers, and Savannah says, “This is Awesome!” Rowan feeds Gargano to Howdy for the SISTER ABIGAIL!! The Wyatts are back again, and so are the fireflies! There’s even a little red ‘n’ black cake with a candle. “My life, for you!” Howdy blows out the candle, and we all miss Bray Wyatt. But will his family finally have the whole world in their hands?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown, especially as the go-home to Saturday Night’s Main Event. Well, it was mostly video packages, but Truth did have a great promo to put a punctuating note on the build to Truth VS Cena. The crowd could’ve been better about letting Truth talk and not having to “What?” all the time. But Truth won them over enough with his fire and passion at the end. That said, Truth isn’t winning. At least, he won’t win straight up. If he gets anything, he gets a disqualification or count out win by using this rage and pride brewing in Cena against him. My personal choice would be a very “Lex Luger beats Yokozuna by count-out” style win and celebration with the Faces.
They also did a great job going from one story to another, certainly with the Women’s Division. Great promo with Tiffany, Alexa, and Charlotte, aka three generations of blondes in WWE. It also did great to lead right into a Triple Threat, which was a great match. Charlotte losing was a touch surprising, but Giulia being right into MITB is great, she is going to be a great part of that ladder match. Plus, it sets Charlotte up for Alexa talking “to Lily,” and then Zelina being confronted by The Green Regime. That segment was great in setting up Secret Her-vice VS Mia & Fab, and that was a really good match. Fab busting out her finisher is great, and all of that helped set up the Women’s US Championship rematch, a great addition to SNME.
Great promo from Nia, Naomi and Jade, their Triple Threat could probably be the best Triple Threat of all these qualifiers. But because Naomi and Jade still have their own feud to continue, I would think Nia makes it in. Great promos from Solo, Fatu and JC, as well as from Jimmy and Fenix. Great tag match from those guys, but I figured the Heels would win. Jimmy still won’t be joining Solo’s side, but there’s a chance Jimmy and Fatu will end up with an understanding once Fatu and Solo have their fallout. Fatu in next week’s Triple Threat is great, I feel like he’ll win there to really complicate the Men’s MITB and add to the story with Solo.
Knight had a very good promo going into his Triple Threat with Nakamura and Aleister, and a great Triple Threat with those guys. Knight getting in makes so much sense because duh, they’ll be in Los Angeles for it and he is LA Knight. Plus, Knight has beef with Solo and Fatu to settle, he’ll go right at those guys in that ladder match. Melo and Miz had a good promo to let us know that for one, Melo is in the Triple Threat next week. However, Miz’s “coaching” will surely cost Melo again, and at some point, Melo Don’t Miz is gonna have their breakup and feud, which could be really good stuff. It’d also make for a great way to get Melo up the ranks as he’ll surely win out in the end, over a guy who has won just about everything he could win.
Drew and Priest going after each other was great stuff, and if they weren’t already advertised for a Steel Cage, this would’ve been a great way to get to something like that. That match could steal the show, but I feel like Drew needs to win again so we really can move on from this. Drew can go back for the US Championship if he wants, or ironically go after Cena as a self-righteous “hero” who thinks he can save WWE from Cena. Though I feel like the way Drew wrestles is too brutal for 2025 Cena.
Very good promo from Legado, and I figured we were getting a direct WWE VS AAA match for Worlds Collide. But between them taking NXT off the logo and advertising that Worlds Collide will be on YouTube, is Worlds Collide even going to be that long of a show? It might end up under an hour like it’s just WWE Evolve or something. Very good promo from DIY to call out MCMG, and we got a great match of Ciampa VS Sabin. Candice rejoining DIY is great, and her costing Sabin was good stuff. And then we got great stuff in the tag title story tonight. Very good promo from Fraxiom, very good promo from Profits, and an awesome main event, even with the overbooking.
Of course, part of how that match ended being the return of the Wyatt 6 totally makes up for anything being “ruined” by the interference. The fans have wanted the Wyatts to return, not always understanding that Bo Dallas was healing up physically. But how perfect that their return was the anniversary (or close to it) of Bray Wyatt’s passing, hence the cake. At this point, it should be clear that step one to the Wyatts taking over SmackDown is taking the tag titles. We could get a huge match of DIY, MCMG, Profits, Fraxiom and I would think Gacy & Lumis for those titles. That’d be an awesome match that has so many moving parts, it’d work just fine if the Wyatts won while keeping everyone else strong.
My Score: 8.8/10
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