Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW WTL x BOSJ Results & Report! (11/14/21)

World Tag League gets a turn!

Published

2 years ago

November 14, 2021

Steven Mitchell

World Tag League tags in on the tour!

The Super Juniors had their time, now World Tag League kicks off! But will the Dangerous Tekkers be up for taking on Minoru Suzuki and TAKA MICHINOKU?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

World Tag League 2021: The Dangerous Tekkers VS Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku; Dangerous Tekkers win.
World Tag League 2021: Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask; Kojima & Tenzan win.
World Tag League 2021: Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe VS The Guerrillas of Destiny; Guerrillas of Destiny win.
World Tag League 2021: The United Empire VS Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale; Chase & Fale win.
World Tag League 2021: Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi; Yano & Tanahashi win.
World Tag League 2021: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI VS SANADA & Tetsuya Naito; Sanada & Naito win.

PLAY BY PLAY

World Tag League 2021: The Dangerous Tekkers VS Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku!

What a way to open this year’s tournament! Not only are the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions up first, they’re against their mentors! But will there be any respect shown to the Meanest Man and the Blue Playmaker? Or will Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. make them #JustTapOut like anyone else?

Taichi makes his entrance with ZSJ and he goes right after Taka?! He throws Taka out the ring and whips him into railing! And then more railing! The bell rings to get this on record, Suzuki and ZSJ brawl at the entryway while Taichi whips Taka into yet even more railing! The brawl moves to the ring, ZSJ and Suzuki each egging the other on! Taichi gets a chair, and he SMACKS Taka! Is this just how Suzuki-Gun operates?! Suzuki ROCKS ZSJ, Taichi drags Taka up. Taichi puts Taka in the ring, then drags him back out to RAM him into railing! And he chokes Taka with the mic cord! The ref counts, Taichi lets off, to then choke Taka again!

The ref counts again and Taichi lets off. Meanwhile, ZSJ and Suzuki have each other down on the mat with dueling heel hooks! Taichi puts Taka in the ring and he stands on Taka’s head. The ref reprimands, Taka kicks at Taichi, so Taichi snapmares and KICKS Taka! And KICKS him again! Taka gets up, Taichi kicks him more, then CHOKES him! The ref reprimands and counts, Taichi lets off to then dig his boots into Taichi. Taka reaches at Taichi, Taichi lets off at 4. Fans rally up, Taichi drags Taka up to wrench and HOOK KICK! ZSJ and Suzuki throw EuroUppers again, Taihci covers with a knee, TWO! Taka kicks back while ZSJ whips Suzuki into railing.

Taka kicks, Taichi stomps, repeat. Taichi puts Taka in the corner, choke grips, but Taka choke grips back. The ref reprimands as Taichi chokes Taka again. Taichi lets off, then snapmares Taka. Taichi goes after Taka with a neck wrench but Taka endures. Taka even eggs Taichi on! Taichi wrenches harder, then throws Taka down. Taichi gets a leg, Taka resists so Taichi kicks away on him. Taichi stomps, stands on Taka’s head, and has the HALF CRAB! Taka endures, kicks from upside-down, but Taichi pulls the leg way back! Taka crawls, Taichi tries to put more weight on the leg, but Taka gets the ropebreak! Taichi lets go and fans rally but Taichi KICKS Taka down.

Taichi whips Taka into the Tekker corner, tags ZSJ and ZSJ throws EuroUppers! Taka gets up, ZSJ snapmares and NECK TWISTS! ZSJ clamps onto Taka to get the arms for a straitjacket stretch! Taka endures, even as ZSJ bends him back against his knees. Taka gets the ropebreak with a foot, so ZSJ lets off reluctantly. ZSJ stands on Taka’s head, tags in Taichi, and Taichi kicks at Taka. Taka gets up, Taichi pie faces him! Taichi eggs Taka on, they get forehead to forehead, then Taichi sobats! Taka winces, but he dropkicks Taichi’s legs out! But Suzuki is leaving Taka to do this alone? Taka goes after Taichi with a knee, but Taichi shoves him into the corner!

Taichi chokes Taka, ZSJ tags in, and ZSJ gets Taka’s arm! ZSJ wrenches Taka’s arm, brings him to his knees and twists the arm to the wrist. Taka endures as ZSJ bends the fingers way, way back! ZSJ taunts Taka, wrenches again, but Taka fires forearms! Taka is free but ZSJ blocks the boot to a standing toehold! ZSJ scoops, Taka slips out but ZSJ elbows him. ZSJ runs, Taka runs the other way and BOOTS ZSJ down! Fans fire up as now Suzuki tags in! Suzuki runs in to BOOT ZSJ! Suzuki goes corner to corner, ZSJ follows to EuroUpper! ZSJ runs but Suzuki follows to BOOT! ZSJ BOOTS, snapmares, and NECK-

NO! Suzuki spins through to snapmare back! But ZSJ also escapes the neck twist! The two stand off and fans fire up! Suzuki and ZSJ step to each other, Suzuki throws a forearm! ZSJ comes back to push with his shoulder, then throws a EuroUpper! Suzuki CHOPS and ZSJ falls back! Suzuki eggs ZSJ on, ZSJ gets up to EuroUpper! Suzuki forearms, ZSJ EuroUppers, repeat! ZSJ eggs Suzuki on now so Suzuki DECKS ZSJ! Fans continue to rally as Suzuki slaps ZSJ around. ZSJ gets up to EuroUpper, Suzuki forearms, repeat! Suzuki gets the edge but ZSJ headbutts low to EuroUpper and run. Suzuki follows, drop steps and gets the SLEEPER! ZSJ is fading!

Fans rally, ZSJ gasps and tries to get up but can’t. Suzuki stands him up, spins him around and reels him in, but ZSJ drags him down to a one-leg cradle! TWO!! Suzuki escapes but ZSJ wrenches to PELE the arm! Suzuki SHOTEIS, ZSJ KICKS the arm! Snapmare and PENALTY KICK! But SUzuki just snarls so ZSJ KICKS again! Suzuki stays up, so ZSJ gets a good running start, PENALTY KICK! Suzuki is down, ZSJ tags Taichi! Taichi brings Suzuki up to KICK! And KICK! And KICKS! Suzuki snarls but Taichi stands on his head and taunts him. Kowata Kicks! Suzuki laughs those off to throw a forearm! Taichi KICKS, Suzuki forearms, repeat!

Suzuki eggs Taichi on as they keep going back and forth! Suzuki ROCKS Taichi, he staggers to ropes, and Taka wants in? Taichi chokes Suzuki first, and has him against ropes! Taichi whips, Suzuki reverses to headbutt! Taka tags in! Taka runs in to SHINING WIZARD, then a snapmare to a cover, ONE! SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO!! Taka aims from a corner as fans rally up again. Taichi gets up, Taka kicks but Taichi blocks! Taichi spins Taka, spins him again, SEITEIJYUJIRYOU!! Suzuki rushes in but ZSJ catches him, but Suzuki switches with him! Around and around they go, ZSJ finally gets the cobra twist!

The Tekkers have double submissions but Taka fights, only for Taichi to wrench harder! Suzuki falls over, but Taka manages to move around and get the ROPEBREAK! The Tekkers let Taka and Suzuki free, but Suzuki and ZSJ go out of the ring. Taichi runs but Taka BOOTS! Taka drags Taichi down to a CROSSFACE! Taichi crawls, reaches, but Taka rolls him away from ropes to then get the other arm! NECKLOCK! Taka gets the legs and the other arm, HEAVY KILLER #3!! But ZSJ gets in to KICK away on Taka! Taka lets go of the hold, to CALF KICK ZSJ down! Fans cheer and rally behind Taka as he sees Taichi go to a corner.

Taka runs in, to JUMP KICK! And HOOK KICK! And SUPERKICK!! Cover, TWO!! Fans rally even harder as Taka drags Taichi up. ZSJ and Suzuki brawl again, Taka scoops but Taichi slips out to BOOT! Taka CALF KICKS Taichi, but Taichi stays up to GAMANGIRI! Both men are down and fans fire up! Suzuki has ZSJ on the apron with an ARMBAR, but OFF COME THE PANTS for Taichi! Taichi watches Taka slowly rise. Taka roars but Taichi KICKS him down! Taka roar as he sits up and fans rally again. Taichi KICKS Taka back down! Taka gets up again, but Taichi hits AX BOMBER! Cover, TWO!! Taka survives but Taichi keeps his cool.

Taichi toys with Taka and Suzuki shouts to him. Taka gets up, SLAPS Taichi, but Taichi reels him in for DANGEROUS SAIDO! Cover, Taichi lets up at one?! Suzuki shouts to Taka, fans rally up, but Taichi just waits. The standing count begins and Taka crawls his way over. Taichi brings him up, Taka leans on Taichi, and he throws a forearm. Taichi isn’t affected, so Taka SLAPS him! Taichi DECKS Taka with another forearm! Taichi gets Taka up, Alabama lifts, BLACK MEPHISTO! But Taichi doesn’t cover? Are the Tekkers showing Taka some kind of tough love? A standing count begins again as Suzuki shouts at Taka. Even ZSJ wants Taka to get up!

The count is 7! Then 8! The count reaches 10, Taka is still down! The Tekkers win!

Winners: The Dangerous Tekkers, by TKO (gain 2 points; Suzuki & Taka gain 0)

Taichi tells Taka to get out of the ring, and Taka crawls to the ropes. Taichi stands Taka up just to pie face him down. Fans rally for Taka as he keeps trying to stand. Taka gets to his feet, Taichi seems to argue with Suzuki about having Taka as his tag partner. But Suzuki argues back that they’re all still the same team. Suzuki gets Taka up, Taichi gives Taka another stern talking to, and Suzuki-Gun stands together, stronger than ever! Will this encouragement help Taka get back to his former glory?

World Tag League 2021: Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan VS Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask!

Another interesting battle to start WTL this year, #TenCozy takes on their #ThirdGen partner! Blue Justice teams up with Tiger Mask, who is currently IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion with Robbie Eagles. Will Tiger Mask start on a journey towards becoming a double tag champion? Or will Kojima & Tenzan be heading for their lucky number seventh reign?

To show some solidarity with Nagata, Tiger Mask wears a blue mask. The teams sort out and Tiger starts with Tenzan. Fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Tenzan puts Tiger on the ropes but lets off cleanly. Tiger avoids the Mongolian Chops! Tiger kicks low, headlocks, but Tenzan powers out. Tiger rams shoulders but Tenzan stays put. Tiger runs, rams shoulders again, but again Tenzan stays put. Tiger sobats, runs, but Tenzan runs him over! Tenzan stomps Tiger, brings him up and headbutts him! Mongolian Chops! And again! Tiger falls, Tenzan stomps him, then tags Kojima. Kojima DECKS Nagata, then he and Tenzan pinball Tiger between forearms and Mongolian Chops!

Kojima uses the Mongolian Chops! Fans fire up and Kojima brings Tiger up to scoop and SLAM! Kojima goes to the apron, Tenzan runs, but Tiger avoids their senton headbutt combo! Tiger drags Kojima out, Nagata goes after Tenzan! TenCozy ends up on the ropes figuratively as Tiger and Nagata have them against railing. Nagata POSTS Tensan, Tiger CLUBS Kojima into the ring. Tiger stomps Kojima, sits him up and KICKS him! Then cover, TWO! Fans rally, Nagata tags in and he goes after Kojima with forearms! Nagata wrenches an arm to an ELBOW BREAKER, then wrenches again for another ELBOW BREAKER!

Nagata CLUBS away on Kojima’s arm, wrenches again but Kojima gets ropes. Tiger tags in and he KICKS the arm! And again! And again! Kojima CHOPS, Tiger SLAPS! Tiger stomps Kojima, clamps onto an arm and pulls it to an armlock. Nagata BOOTS Tenzan down, then mugs Kojima with Tiger. Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Tiger tags Nagata, and they get Kojima up for a double whip. They double shoulder Kojima down, then Nagata stomps him. Nagata sits Kojima up to KICK him down! Fans rally, “KO-JI-MA!” “NA-GA-TA!” Nagata kicks and KICKS Kojima around, but Kojima stays up. Kojima blocks a kick, CLUBS the leg, but swings into a waistlock.

Kojima elbows free, blocks another kick, and hits a DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up as both men are down! Kojima crawls over, hot tag to Tenzan! Tenzan rallies on Nagata, DECKS Tiger, then goes back to Nagata with Mongolian Chops! Again and again, then headbutt in the corner! Tenzan stomps Nagata, whips him corner to corner, then runs in to clothesline! Nagata staggers and Tenzan calls his shot! BIG snap suplex! Cover, ONE!! Nagata has a lot of fight in him, and fans rally up. Tenzan brings Nagata up but Nagata fights the clinch. Tenzan fights Nagata’s clinch, Nagata throws a forearm but Tenzan gives it back! The fans fire up as the two go back and forth!

Tenzan Mongolian CHOPS, then runs, but into a BOOT! Nagata runs but into a MOUNTAIN BOMB BACK DROP! Fans rally up as Tenzan tags Kojima! Kojima DECKS Tiger, stomps and MACHINE GUN CHOPS Nagata! Nagata stops that to fire off machine gun ELBOWS! Kojima brings the MACHINE GUN CHOPS back! Kojima whips corner to corner to forearm smash! Kojima throws Nagata down, fires up, but has to block Nagata’s boot! Kojima fires forearms then a ROLLING ELBOW! Fans fire up while Nagata is down! Kojima drags Nagata back up, whips him to ropes, but Nagata rolls! Fake out to a dropkick to the legs! Hot tag to Tiger Mask!

Tiger is up top, CROSSBODY! Sobat, KICK, KICK, and then a waistlock! Kojima switches, Tiger drops to victory roll! TWO! Tiger runs but into a kick and a DDT! Cover, TWO! Tenzan gets in to DECK Nagata! TenCozy regroups, gets Tiger up, HEADBUTT to double whip! But Tiger fights the combo move off! Sobat to Tenzan, Kojima is in a corner! Nagata runs in to BOOT Kojima! Nagata and Tiger double whip, Tiger run sin to ROUNDHOUSE! Nagata runs in to BOOT, then gets an EXPLODER! Tiger hooks Kojima up, TIGER DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! Tenzan is a little late to the party but Nagata throws him back out.

Tiger rallies the fans, gets Kojima up and chicken wings, but Kojima holds off the suplex! Kojima kicks and COZY CUTTERS! Cover, TWO!! Kojima throws off the armband and aims at Tiger. Kojima runs but Tiger ducks the lariat to crucifix takedown! Cover, TWO, but Tiger has an arm! Tiger gets both arms for a DOUBLE ARMBAR! Kojima endures, moves around, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Tiger keeps on the hold, Tenzan stomps him down. Nagata ENZIGURIS Tenzan out of the ring! Then DOUBLE GIRI to Kojima! Tiger fires up, SHOTEI to Kojima, then eh runs, into the COZY LARIAT!! Cover, TenCozy wins!!

Winners: Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Nagata & Tiger Mask gain 0)

The Blue Tigers couldn’t overcome the heart of TenCozy, and so the points go to them! Will Nagata & Tiger Mask shrug off this frustrating loss to get better in the second round? Will TenCozy start their journey back to the top here?

World Tag League 2021: Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe VS The Guerrillas of Destiny!

Everyone’s Kokeshi and the Runaway King Kong are ready to take on the Silverback and the Good Bad Guy! Will the gritty old guard get back to the gold? Or will Tanga Loa & Tama Tonga prove ain’t nobody better than Guerrilla?

GoD Low Sweet, the teams sort out, and Honma starts with Tama. Tama takes off the vest to get serious already as fans rally up. Tama and Honma circle, tie up, and Tama powers Honma to the ropes. The ref counts, Tama lets off slowly and fans cheer. Honma dodges the cheap shot to then headlock. Honma grinds Tama down, but Tama fights up. Tama powers his way to a headlock and grind Honma. Honma powers out, Tama runs him over! Honma gets up and Tama kicks low. Tama whips, Honma reverses and runs in but Tama BOOTS! Tama runs but into a HIP TOSS! Honma runs, runs Tama over again, and fans fire up!

Tag to Makabe and he gets Tama up to ROCK with a haymaker. And then another! Makabe DECKS Tama, Loa talks trash but Makabe drags Tama up. Makabe bumps Tama off Honma’s boot, then throws big forearm sin the corner. Tag to Honma, he stomps away on Tama. Honma drags Tama up, CLUBS him on the back, then brings him around to scoop and SLAM! Honma fires up and runs, but the falling headbutt misses as Tama moves! Loa gets in to DECK Makabe! Tama steadies himself while Loa bumps Makabe off the apron. Tama CLUBS Honma over and over, then drags him up to throw body shots. Tama whips Honma to ropes to CLOBBER him!

Tama sits Honma up to knock him back down, then he tags in Loa. Snap suplex to slingshot senton! Fans cheer the combo as Loa stands over Honma. Fans rally, Loa stands Honma up and RAMS him into the Guerrilla corner. Loa rams his shoulder in again and again, the ref counts, Loa lets off to ROCK Honma with a right! Honma forearms back so Loa hits him again. Honma forearms again and Loa likes the fighting spirit. Loa ROCKS Honma then throws him into ropes! Honma sputters but Loa kicks him out of the ring. Fans rally up again, Tama goes around the way to put Honma back in. Loa DECKS Makabe, then goes back to Honma.

Loa drags Honma up, scoops him, tags Tama in, and then SLAMS Honma. Tama slingshot sentons this time! And he kicks at Makabe on the outside for good measure. Fans rally up, Tama paces then CHOKES Honma! The ref counts, Tama stops, only to CHOKE Honma more! The ref reprimands and counts, Tama stops and drags Honma up. Fans rally, Tama throws body shots on Honma then tags Loa in. Tama continues to mug Honma and CLUB him down. Loa covers, TWO! Loa wraps on a chinlock and he grinds Honma down. Honma endures, fans rally up, and Honma fights his way up. Honma throws body shots, Loa CLUBS him, then clinches for forearms.

Loa scoops Honma, for a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Loa DECKS Makabe as the fans rally up again. Tama gets in but Honma throws forearms on them both! Tama CLUBS Honma, Loa ROCKS Honma with a forearm, then the brothers double whip. Loa runs in but misses the splash! Tama catches Honma and Loa runs in but Honma boots Loa away! Honma spins Tama around, then gets Loa, DDT COMPLETE SHOT COMBO! Fans rally up, hot tag to Makabe! Makabe rallies on the Guerrillas with corner to corner clotheslines back and forth! Makabe climbs up to rain down fists on Loa! He gets 10 but Loa blocks the Northern Lights!

Loa CLUBS Makabe, runs, but into a LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Makabe stomps Loa, but Loa shakes his head. Loa gets up, Makabe throws forearms but Jado coaches Loa up. Loa gets fired up as Makabe keeps throwing forearms! Makabe runs, Loa dodges and runs to SPEAR! Hot tag to Tama! Tama gets Makabe up, throws forearms and haymakers, then brings him around to a SLEEPER! Tama CLUBS away on Makabe’s chest then lets him go. Fans rally but Makabe eggs Tama on! Tama throws more haymakers, tells Makaabe to stay down, but Makabe still eggs Tama on. Tama throws more haymakers, whips Makabe to ropes, but Makabe reverses! Tama ducks one but not the LEFT LARIAT!

Hot tag to Honma! Honma gets Tama up to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Tama goes to a corner, Honma whips corner to corner then runs in to back elbow! Honma gets a BULLDOG, then fires up to KOKESHI HEADBUTT! Fans fire up and Honma drags Tama up. Honma suplexes but Tama blocks! Fans rally as Honma keeps trying, and he gets Tama up, but Tama slips out! Dragon sleeper, TONGAN TWIST! Fans fire up as Tama waits on Honma. Honma stands, GUN- NO!? Honma has a SLEEPER! Tama reaches, flails, but Honma keeps him from ropes, SLEEPER SLAM! Honma runs to BASEMENT KOKESHI! Cover, Loa breaks it!

Makabe goes after Loa, he and Honma coordinate. CROSS BOMBER! Loa falls from the lariat sandwich, Makabe goes after Tama in a corner. Makabe stands Tama up, he whips Honma in to back elbow! Makabe runs in to clothesline! Then Honma hoists Tama up top, and then climbs up to join him. Makabe then goes to Electric Chair Honma? Loa stops them from whatever they were planning, but they mug him and double whip. Loa busts through the lariats to DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE them! The Guerrillas get Honma up, BACK SUPLEX NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up and Loa keeps Makabe down on the outside as Tama pounds the mat.

Fans clap along, Honma slowly rises, Tama runs in to GUN STUN!! Cover, Guerrillas win!

Winners: Guerrillas of Destiny, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Honma & Makabe earn 0)

World Tag League 2021: The United Empire VS Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale!

Aaron Henare returned to be Great-O-Khan’s corner man, and now they are tag partners here in WTL! Will the Ultimate Weapon and the Dominator dominate the Crown Jewel and Rogue General? Or will Bullet Club be #TooSweet to start the tournament?

Bullet Club attacks the moment the United Empire is in the ring! Chase knocks Khan down then goes after Henare, and Fale stomps Khan out of the ring. The bell rings to get this on the record as Chase headlocks and punches Henare then Fale smacks Khan off the apron! Chase uses Henare’s own jacket to choke him! The ref reprimands, Fale stands on Khan’s chest. Henare hits back and headbutts Chase! Khan gets up to throw forearms but Fale DECKS him! Chase rams Henare into railing then rains down rights! Chase regroups with Fale and they put Khan in the ring. They stomp Khan, whip him, body shot to knee lift to LARIAT! Cover, TWO!

Fale looms over Khan, drags him up, scoops him and SLAMS him near the ropes. Tag to Chase, and Bullet Club stand on Khan and salute! They let off as the ref counts and Khan gasps and sputters. Chase drags Khan up by his ponytail, wrenches the hair, and CLUBS Khan on the neck! Chase whips Khan to a corner, runs in and forearm smashes, then reels him in for a LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Chase drags Khan up, throws forearms, but Khan eggs him on as he throws forearms back. Chase throat chops! Chase whips, Khan holds ropes, and then Khan BOOTS Chase! Khan DECKS Fale and runs Chase over! Khan drags Chase up and whips, Chase reverses, Khan DECKS Fale again!

Chase waistlocks Khan, Khan resists the lift, Henare clubs Chase! Henare and Khan double whip Chase but Chase kicks Henare down! Khan spins Chase to get the HITSUJIGOROSHI! Chase endures, Henare gets Chase’s legs for a FLOATING CLOVERHOLD! Chase endures, but Fale gets on the apron! The Empire drops Chase to DECK Fale! Khan drags Chase up to Mongolian Chop him to the corner, and Mongolian Chop him again! And then another Mongolian Chop! Tag to Henare, he drags Chase up to ROCK with a forearm. Henare knees low, suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Fans rally, Henare looms over Chase, but Chase throws body shots!

Henare eggs Chase on, then snapmares him to KICK him on the back! Cover, TWO! Tag to Khan, they mug Chase with Mongolian Chops to his back. Khan CLUBS Chase, taunts Fale, then sits on Chase’s head in the corner. Chase grabs at the ponytail but Khan pulls his arms back! Henare and Fale keep the ref busy, but the ref still counts Khan. Khan hops down, tags Henare, and Henare has Chase in a corner with stomps and forearms. Henare knees low, whips corner to corner, and Khan runs in to clothesline! Henare runs in to SHINING WIZARD! The Empire coordinate, but Chase dodges and Khan BOOTS Henare!

Khan runs at Chase but Chase spins him to a LARIAT! Fans rally up and Chase tags in Fale! Fale gets Khan up, whips him to a corner, then runs in to SPLASH Henare! Fale whips Henare into Khan, then runs in to SPLASH them both! Khan falls, Fale runs to ELBOW DROP Henare! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Fale takes aim at Henare. Henare gets up, Fale choke grips, but Khan grabs Fale with a sleeper! No Grenades here as Fale flails! Henare gets up, runs in and BODY SHOTS Fale hard! Henare and Khan coordinate, BOOT ROUNDHOUSE COMBO! Cover, TWO!! Fale survives and fans fire up! Khan goes after Chase while Henare bobs ‘n’ weaves with Fale.

Henare fires off fast hands and kicks, then SCREW HIGH KICKS Fale down! Cover, TWO!! Fale survives again but Henare scowls. Henare powers up, brings Fale up, but Fale is too big to torture rack! Chase gets in, but Henare dodges to get him for a fisherman! But Fale gets Chase out of the Streets of Raging, and Chase hits a SHI TRIGGER! Khan gets up but Fale DECKS him! Chase takes aim, drags Henare up, Fale runs, GRENADE LAUNCHER! Cover, Bullet Club wins!!

Winners: Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale, by pinfall (gain 2 points; United Empire earns 0)

An explosive first win for Chase & Fale! Does this mean there’s more power in Bullet Club than once thought? As for the United Empire, will they ever get off the ground without their leader, Will Ospreay?

World Tag League 2021: Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi w/ Dick Togo!

How rare that a Joker and an Ace work together. But will the provisional Mr. KOPW 2021 and the former IWGP US Heavyweight Champion head towards the tag titles? Or will the King of Darkness and the Tokyo Pimp look to add to the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles they just got?

Wait a minute! Yano and Tanahashi come out dressed like high school ruffians! Tanahashi’s got the start of a duck tail pompadour! The ref isn’t even sure if he wants to check Yano and Tanahashi at this point. The jackets are put aside and Tanahashi still shows off the muscles. Bullet Club Low Sweets, Yujiro starts and Yano impatiently asks Tanahashi who should start. Tanahashi barely says a thing and Yano “agrees” to let him start. Fans rally up already with “Let’s Go, Ace!” as he and Yujiro circle. They approach, Yujiro knees low then slaps away. Tanahashi fires up but Yujiro rakes his eyes! Yujiro headlocks and grinds the pompadour down.

Tanahashi powers up to wrench free and get Yujiro into a headlock! Fans cheer, Yujiro throws body shots, but Tanahashi holds tight as Yujiro tries to power out! Yujiro pulls hair, Yano gets in to pull Yujiro’s hair! Evil gets in to pull Yano’s hair! Yujiro joins in, but then Tanahashi pulls both Yujiro’s and Evil’s hair! The ref reprimands everyone and Yano bails out. Tanahashi refuses to the ref clubs Tanahashi’s hands! Tanahashi is surprised, but he tags Yano in. They double whip Yujiro to double shoulder tackle! Fans rally for “Y T R!” and Yano gets Yujiro up. Yujiro blocks the suplex and BITES Yano’s hand. The ref counts, Yujiro lets go to whip Yano, and surprise! Bare buckles a la Evil!

Tanahashi gets in but Yujiro kicks him, and whips him into the bare buckles! Tanahashi writhes, Evil drags him out and Yujiro kicks Yano out. Yujiro RAMS Yano into railing, and again! Evil uses a shirt to choke Tanahashi! Yujiro digs his knee into Yano’s neck but lets off as the ref counts. The fans rally up as the ring count climbs, but Yujiro puts Yano in to cover. TWO, Evil protests but Yujiro rains down fists! Yujiro then pats Yano on the head before he tags in Evil. Evil drags Yano up to throw him out. Evil distracts the ref so that Dick can DECK Yano! Dick drags Yano up, puts Yano in, Evil drags Yano to a cover. TWO, and Evil is upset again!

Evil tags Yujiro, Yujiro stomps Yano but fans rally up. Yujiro digs his heel into Yano’s chest, Evil holds Yano down! The ref reprimands Evil but he lets off. Yujiro drags Yano up, snapmares him down and drops a leg! And an elbow! And a headbutt! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up as Yujiro tags in Evil. Evil taunts Tanahashi, then drags Yano up to put him in the cobra twist. And Bullet Club links up to the railing! Yano endures, Tanahashi protests, Evil lets Yano down to cover. TWO, and Evil tries again! TWO, and Evil tries again! TWO!! Yano is still in this, and Evil is furious! Evil stands on Yano’s head, drags him up, btu Yano fires off forearms! Evil rakes eyes!

The ref reprimands and counts, Evil stops but Yano pulls hair! Evil kicks, whips but Yano reverses to throw Evil down by his hair! Fans rally up as both men are down, hot tag to Tanahashi! Tanahashi runs to FLYING FOREARM Evil! Tanahashi DECKS Yujiro, fires off fast hands on Evil, then whips. Evil reverses, Tanahashi WRECKS Dick with a dropkick! Tanahashi blocks Evil’s kick to DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up with Tanahashi and he drags Evil up to scoop and SLAM! Tanahashi goes to the second rope for a SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up again, Tanahashi runs, but Yujiro and his cane are at the ropes!

Evil reels Tanahashi in, Tanahashi elbows free and runs, but Evil distracts the ref and Dick trips Tanahashi! Yujiro tags in, he gets Tanahashi up and kicks low to then throw forearms and CHOPS. Yujiro whips corner to corner, runs in and BOOTS Tanahashi! Then fisherman, but no buster as Tanahashi fights it to a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Yano rallies the fans, and Tanahashi tags him in! Yano gets the buckle pad untied, but Yujiro attacks him! Yujiro whips, Yano reverses, and Yano finishes with the pad! Then he baits Yujiro into bare buckles! But Evil sneaks up behind Yano to take the pad away from him! Evil kicks Yano low, Tanahashi gets in but Yujiro goes after him.

Dick throws the blue pad in and Yujiro picks it up. The House of Torture takes aim, but Yano and Tanahashi block, to PAD DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up as Yujiro flounders to a corner. Yano and Tanahashi get Yujiro up to double whip. Tanahashi whips Yano in to elbow, then he adds a SPLASH! Feed to Yano, ATOMIC DROP! Tanahashi fires up, but the lights go out! Not this again! Something is happening, and the lights come back to show House of Torture standing over Yano & Tanahashi. It was DICK who messed with the lights! Evil throws Tanahashi out and CLUBS him down. Yujiro goes after Yano, Evil CLAWS Tanahashi. Yujiro BOOTS Yano down!

Yujiro drags Yano up but he blocks Yano’s low blow! Evil LOW BLOWS Yano! Yujiro gets Yano up to SHOVE into the bare buckles! Then he runs in to BOOT! Evil corner clotheslines, then FISHERMAN BUSTERS! Basement dropkick from Yujiro! Dick gets the ref in the ring, cover and count, Tanahashi breaks it in time! Tanahashi brawls with Evil, Evil throws the leg to the ref to mule kick Tanahashi down! Dick gets Yujiro his pimp cane, and Yujiro aims at Yano. Yano dodges the cane shot to shove Yujiro into Evil! The ref is down, Yano hits a DOUBLE LOW BLOW! Dick gets in, he gets added to the pile! Yano and Tanahashi TRIPLE LOW BLOW! Roll up on Yujiro, Yano & Tanahashi win!!

Winners: Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi, by pinfall (gain 2 points; EVIL & Yujiro earn 0)

The winning hand goes to the Joker & the Ace! Will their unique combination be the key to winning World Tag League? Will the House of Torture be able to redeem themselves next round?

World Tag League 2021: Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI VS SANADA & Tetsuya Naito!

The Fierce Warrior & the Headhunter meet the Cold Skull & Uncontrollable Charisma once again. They were fighting for the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships before, but neither of them could take down the Tekkers. But who gets the all important first win in this first round main event?

Goto-Hashi wait as LIJ take off their elaborate ring gear. Naito’s new maroon suit is just as detailed as his others, but he makes sure to take a moment as this is his return to the ring after having to drop out of the G1. The teams sort out and Goto insists. Hashi steps aside, and after the fist bump, Sanada starts for LIJ. Fans rally at the bell as Sanada and Goto circle. The two tie up, Goto waistlocks but Sanada wrenches and switches. Goto wrenches back, hammerlocks to a headlock, then grinds the hold. Sanada throws body shots, powers out but Goto runs him over! Things speed up, Goto counters a hip toss with a hip toss! But Sanada dropkicks Goto down then DECKS Hashi!

Tag to Naito, LIJ double whip Goto and double clothesline him down to then double basement dropkick! Naito covers, TWO! Naito drags Goto into a chinlock and fans rally up. Goto endures, Naito grinds the hold, but Goto scoots around to get the ropebreak. Red Shoes counts, Naito lets off. Naito stomps Goto, brings Goto up to CLUB him, then whips him to ropes. Goto reverses, Hashi gets in, they run Naito over! Then they work together to hip toss senton! Sanada gets in but Chaos drums him down! Goto stomps Naito, drags him up, snapmares then chinlocks. Naito endures now as Goto digs his knee in. Naito pulls at hair but Red Shoes reprimands.

Goto JAMS his elbow into Naito’s head! Tag to Hashi, Goto and Hashi stomp Naito in the corner. Hashi brings Naito up to throw a forearm, then another. Naito hits Goto, elbows Hashi, hits Goto again, but Hashi ROCKS Naito then CHOPS! Naito staggers, Goto ROCKS him, Hashi CHOPS again! Goto-Hashi dig their boots in but let off as Red Shoes reprimands. Hashi hangs Naito out to dry, Goto holds him there, and Hashi runs to dropkick Naito down! Cover, TWO! Fans rally but Hashi drags Naito up. Hashi bumps Naito off buckles, tags Goto, and Goto stomps away on Naito. Naito hits back with forearms but Goto snapmares him down and KICKS him in the back! Cover, ONE!

Goto keeps his cool and stomps Naito back down. Goto drags Naito up, Naito throws body shots! Goto knees low, whips him to a corner and stomps him down! Goto fires off forearms, whips Naito corner to corner, then runs in to MURAMASA! But Naito slips out of the bulldog to get a NECKBREAKER! Hot tag to Sanada! Cold Skull rallies on Goto, arm-drag then back suplex BACKBREAKER! Hashi gets in to get an ATOMIC DROP, and then tossed out of the ring! Sanada PLANCHAS Goto, then gets back in to PLANCHA Hashi! Fans fire up and Sanada encourages them to get louder. They get louder and Sanada is satisfied.

Sanada puts Goto in, aims from the apron and springboards in, but Goto gets under. Goto comes back but Sanada blocks to trip Goto up! Sanada gets the arms and legs, but Goto kicks Sanada away. Goto rushes Sanada, Sanada kicks and runs but Goto follows to LARIAT! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Hot tag to Hashi! Hashi drags Sanada up to throw forearms and CHOPS! Hashi whips corner to corner, runs in but Sanada dropkicks his legs out! Naito gets on the corner, Sanada crawls over and tags him in! Naito throws forearms, kicks, more forearms, then whips. Naito elbows Hashi down then basement dropkicks!

Naito gets Hashi up, dragon sleeper to the BACKBREAKER and then the PUMA BLANCA! Hashi endures the leg full nelson and fans rally. Hashi scoots around and gets the ropebreak! Naito claims he needs help, so Red Shoes works to undo the hold. Red Shoes has a hard time with it and accuses Naito of resisting. Naito lets Hashi out of the hold and fans rally up. Naito brings Hashi up, ROCKS him with a forearm, then throws more in the corner. Hashi hits back but Naito eggs him on, to then ELBOW him down! And elbow him again! And again! Naito whips Hashi corner to corner, runs in to JUMP KICK but he misses as Hashi dodges!

Goto runs in to corner clothesline! Hashi runs in to CHOP! Hashi feeds Naito to Goto’s kick, then Goto-Hashi coordinate, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP BLOCKBUSTER! Fans rally up, Hashi runs at Naito in the corner, BIG clothesline! Hashi whips to CHOP Naito, then mule kicks! Hashi goes up the corner, and leaps for a BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up for Naito as he survives but Hashi fires up. Hashi drags Naito up, reels him in, fisherman but no Kumagoroshi as Naito knees free. Sanada dropkicks Hashi’s legs, kicks and whips Goto, but Goto reverses to fireman’s carry! Sanada slips out the back but Goto elbows him and whips him to a corner.

Sanada tumbles up and out to springboard, but the leg gives out! Goto drags Sanada up but Sanada dropkicks Goto’s legs out! Was it a feint? Hashi dropkicks Sanada’s legs, but then Naito wrenches and reels Hashi in for a TORNADO DDT! All four men are down and the fans fire up! Goto and Sanada slowly roll out of the ring and Naito sits up. Naito drags Hashi up, reels him in for back elbow after back elbow, and again and again and again! Hashi staggers, Naito drags him up and puts him on the top rope. Naito climbs to SUPER STEINER! Fans fire up and Naito waits on Hashi to rise. Hashi stands, Naito runs in, but into a SUPERKICK!

But Naito stays up and fires up?! Only for Hashi to LARIAT him down! Hashi drags Naito up, KUMAGOROSHI! Cover, TWO!! Hashi hurries to put Naito into the BUTTERFLY LOCK! Naito endures, fans rally up but Hashi leans on the hold. Naito crawls with his legs, reaches out, but Hashi drags him away from the ropes! Goto gets in to play defense, fireman’s carry to USHIGOROSHI! DISARMER!? Sanada and Naito endure the dual submissions, but Naito scoots around again. Hashi drags Naito way, way back! Goto hooks the arm deep on Sanada, but Hashi is losing his grip on Naito. Naito moves around more, but Hashi gets the KIMURA-FLY!

Naito keeps moving, keeps reaching out, Hashi pulls way back on the double wristlock! Naito flails, reaches, fans rally as hard as they can, and Naito gets the ROPEBREAK! Hashi lets go of Naito, Goto lets go of Sanada. Sanada bails out but Goto goes after him. Hashi wraps on a sleeper hold and drags Naito up. Goto gets in, BACKSTABBER and feed to fireman’s carry! But Naito slips out, only to get a SUPERKICK from Hashi! Fireman’s carry, SUPERKICK to USHIGOROSHI! They get Naito up, but Sanada saves him from GYW! Dueling dragon sleepers, so Goto throws Naito away and Hashi turns things around to suplex

Sanada slips out, Goto gets him, Hashi gets the legs! But Sanada fights out to get Goto with a MAGIC SCREW! BOOT to Hashi, Hashi CHOPS Sanada! SOBAT from Sanad, to a BIG back suplex! Naito jackknifes! TWO!!! Hashi escapes but Sanada PLANCHAS Goto down! Naito gets Hashi up, wrenches and tilt-o-whirls, but no Destino! Hashi SUPERKICKS, half nelsons, but no Karma! Shove and ATOMIC DROP, to forearm and ROLLING ELBOW to ENZIGURI! Dropkick, and scoop, VALENTIA! Sanada PLANCHAS Goto again! Naito gets Hashi back up, tries again, DESTINO!!! Cover, LIJ wins!

Winners: Sanada & Tetsuya Naito, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Goto & Hashi earn 0)

Los Ingobernables de Japon gets through Chaos and has a big first win in the tournament! Will Goto-Hashi be able to #GetBackUp in the second round? As for LIJ, Naito gets the mic to speak for the first time since the G1. “Beunas noches, Korakuen Hall~! Sorry to keep you waiting. But Tetsuya Naito has finally returned to the ring, CABRON!” He wasn’t exactly rushing to get to World Tag League, but don’t worry about him. He does look to win his first one in five years, though. And he wants to get through this year UNDEFEATED alongside Sanada! So please, look forward to it. Fans clap for “L I J!” “NA-I-TO!” “SA-NA-DA!” in hopes of seeing that.

Naito hopes to see everyone here again when WTL returns to Tokyo on November 30th. And they’ll end this night the only proper way it can! “Bushi! Sanada! Hiromu! Takagi! Y Naito! Nosotros Los Ingoberrrrrrnableeeees~! DE! JA! PON!” Will LIJ take over WTL and then finally get those IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships again?

Here are the current World Tag League Standings!

Dangerous Tekkers: 1-0, 2 points
SANADA & Tetsuya Naito: 1-0, 2 points
Toru Yano & Hiroshi Tanahashi: 1-0, 2 points
Satoshi Kojima & Hiroyoshi Tenzan: 1-0, 2 points
Guerrillas of Destiny: 1-0, 2 points
Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale: 1-0, 2 points
Minoru Suzuki & TAKA Michinoku: 0-1, 0 points
Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI: 0-1, 0 points
EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi: 0-1, 0 points
Yuji Nagata & Tiger Mask: 0-1, 0 points
Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe: 0-1, 0 points
The United Empire: 0-1, 0 points

My Thoughts:

A really good start for World Tag League, but not quite as hot as Best of the Super Juniors’ yesterday. For one, not as many shocking results, but they did have some great matches all the same. For one, Suzuki-Gun fighting itself was a great choice for the start to the entire tournament. This apparently was less about Suzuki’s team winning as it was seeing if Taka still had it. Though, since it turned into 2v1 handicap match 75% of the time, I don’t think Taka was going to do so well anyway. But Tekkers win, and the faction is still in one piece. ZSJ did great in the G1, I’m sure the Tekkers will do a great job in WTL.

We got a really good match out of the older guys, and I was rather surprised that TenCozy got the win there with Tiger Mask and Nagata getting going at the end there. And I really do find it curious that Tiger Mask is in this heavyweight tag tournament when he’s the junior heavyweight tag champ. Probably guarantees that Tiger Mask & Nagata won’t win but will at least have a good showing. Guerrillas of Destiny have got to get back in the tag title hunt, so this was a good start. I was really shocked that United Empire lost to Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale. Maybe this will be their one loss and they go on a tear.

Yano and Tanahashi make a great combination, I already hope they are a finalist team. I almost expected Sho to be the one who messed with the lights to return the favor for yesterday, but maybe Sho’s already on the road to the next location since BOSJ round 2 is tomorrow. And then we got a great main event out of Chaos and LIJ, especially for Naito’s in-ring return. LIJ winning makes sense given that, and there’s a chance Naito & Sanada are a finalist team. Sanada is back to just being a tag team guy, but I would hope he gets to be a tag team champion for it come WrestleKingdom 16.

My Score: 8.5/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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AEW Coverage

Mitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (4/27/24)

It’s a slam dunk!

Published

2 mins ago

April 27, 2024

Steven Mitchell

Guns up for all the Jacksonville Gold Members!

Another three hour block of All Elite Wrestling starts with a Collision! But will the Bang Bang Gang still be the best three man unit ever? Or will Top Flight go from the coldest to the goldest trio in the game?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

The Acclaimed VS Grizzled Young Veterans; win.
Toni Storm w/ Mariah May & Luther VS Anna Jay; wins.
Unified AEW & ROH World Trios Championships: Bullet Club Gold VS Top Flight; wins and

PLAY BY PLAY

[Coverage will begin after the NBA Playoffs on TNT]

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/26/24)

It’s Draft Day!

Published

1 day ago

April 26, 2024

Steven Mitchell

And with the first overall pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects…

The WWE Draft returns for 2024, the first four rounds being right here on Friday Night SmackDown! With champions protected, who ends up where to challenge them?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee w/ Zelina Vega & Carlito VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo; Rey & Dragon win.
Bron Breakker VS Cedric Alexander; Bron wins.
WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton; No Contest.
Cody Rhodes VS Carmelo Hayes; Cody wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Backstage interview with Paul Heyman.

Kayla Braxton is with the Wise Man and says that here on night one of the Draft, there are already rumors circulating, including those about The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Heyman will clarify these are not rumors regarding The Tribal Chief, Roman… Reigns. These are facts! Ladies and gentlemen, Your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, has voluntarily withdrawn from eligibility for this year’s Draft. That is not a negative but a positive. Who built SmackDown since the Pandemic? Roman Reigns. Who is the biggest star in the entire industry? Roman Reigns. Why would Roman Reigns hog the number one draft pick spotlight when he won’t be returning in the immediate future?

Read into his words, Kayla, that is not what a real Tribal Chief would do. Instead now, the pressure is on Nick Aldis. Because if Roman Reigns isn’t the first draft pick, then who is? The first two picks make history in a brand new era. And Heyman doesn’t know about you, but he is intrigued. No Tribal Chief up for grabs, who gets their opportunity to shine in the spotlight?

SmackDown throws it to the NXT Performance Center.

Jackie Redmond says the emotion down here is palpable! There is excitement, hope, and a little bit of nerves. But for these NXT Superstars, tonight is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work, dedication, a little bit of luck and a whole lot of self-belief. It was just last year that the NEW WWE Tag Team Champion, Grayson Waller, was hoping his name would be called. And it is funny this is NXT, but time to buy a vowel, throw in an E! Who is next? We find out tonight! The draft pool is deep, who rises to the top of the list?

Corey Graves is in the ring.

Corey welcomes Cincinnati and all of us at home to night one of the 2024 WWE Draft. Understandably, the GMs have their hands full, so Corey will be moderating the contract signing for the WWE Championship match that takes place next Saturday for Backlash: France. Without further ado, it’s the #1 contender, The Phenomenal AJ Styles! Styles makes his entrance, taking a seat at the table on camera right. And now, the Undisputed WWE Champion, the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes! Cincy fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” as Cody makes his entrance and gets his pyro before joining everyone in the ring.

Styles looks over the contract, absolutely tuning out the fans going wild for “CODY! CODY!” Styles then gets the mic to say before he signs, he doesn’t know if we realize that we’ve got two Georgia boys about to mix it up for the first time, and for the biggest prize in the game. Styles understands why they boo, but they gotta know that he doesn’t respect LA Knight, LA Knight got under his skin. He accepts that. But that’s why Styles lost at Mania. But what happened? Styles got his composure back and realized that he is Phenomenal. Styles BEAT Knight to earn the right to face Cody Rhodes at Backlash.

Now unlike Knight, Styles does respect Cody. They hadn’t crossed paths yet, but they’ve been down the same roads. They had to prove themselves outside of the WWE. And Styles is willing to believe that the same man who gave him advice a long time ago gave Cody the same advice, on how to stand on their own two feet and be the men they are today. That man was The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes. The fans cheer for “DUSTY! DUSTY!” Styles learned a lot from Dusty. Styles gets a little emotional thinking about Dusty, he was a good man. Dusty taught Styles how to carry himself, and to carry the weight of a championship.

And Styles looks at this WWE Championship here. The weight of this isn’t just the leather and gold. And at Backlash, we see if Cody can carry it. Styles goes back to his table, signs the contract, and then hands it off to Corey. Corey brings that to Cody, and Cody picks up his mic. “So… Cincinnati…! Whadda we wanna talk about? Certainly, we can talk about respect. There is not a locker room on Earth that you’ll find where everyone in it, every single person, they all respect AJ Styles. Last week, I went on to say you are the modern day Excellence of Execution. I respect the roads that you have traveled down to get here, the parallel paths that perhaps you and I have.

“Mutual respect, much respect. But that respect goes by the wayside at Backlash. I can feel it in your words to a degree. You’ve been here before. And it seems you’re implying that I cannot carry the weight of that championship. Well, good thing the man who trained me not far from where I sit now used to tell me all the time, it’s not about winning the title, it’s about keeping it.” The fans cheer that. Cody says boy does he respect Styles’ familiarity with Cody’s last name. But when you put C O D Y in front of it on this paper, that means they’ve never touched before. That means Backlash is a level playing field.

That means no matter how Phenomenal Styles is, this isn’t a dream match for Cody. It’s a must-win! Cody signs while the fans cheer, and it is official! Cody even throws the pen to the crowd as a free souvenir. Cody then offers a handshake, and Styles says y’know what? It was a beautiful thing to see Cody #FInishTheStory and win the title. But it’s a shame that Cody’s title reign will end at Backlash. Styles still shakes Cody’s hand, and then walks away. Cody picks up the belt and holds it high, will he get to hold it high again in Lyon, France?

Triple H is here!

Just as Cody was on his way to the back, The Game makes his way out here! HHH raises Cody’s hand, then invites him over to the podium. HHH welcomes us to the first round of the 2024 WWE Draft. It is a night that changes the landscape of the WWE going into the future, and things are a bit different this year. As the GMs ponder their next steps, they have to understand it is about protecting the roster they have as it is making the roster they want. Meaning that when they use their picks, they have just as much of a chance gaining a superstar as they do losing one they already have.

HHH just felt that since champs are protected and Cody will be staying here on SmackDown, maybe Cody could help read the SmackDown picks and HHH can read the Raw picks. And since SmackDown goes first, Cody reads first. Cody takes the card to say that with the first pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects… The E S T, Bianca Belair! The stongEST, fastEST, roughEST, toughEST stays on Friday nights! HHH reads that for the second pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, Raw selects… YEET! JEY USO! Monday nights will still have Main Event Jey Uso! And the fans “YEET!” Cody says for the third pick, SmackDown selects… NXT’s Carmelo Hayes!

The fans fire up as SmackDown manages to snag… HIM! The former NXT Champion makes history again by being the first NXT superstar to be chosen this high in the Draft! HHH says that’s a hell of a pick. But then the fourth and final pick of this first round, Raw selects… SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! It is still going to be Monday Night Rollins as the Visionary stays on the red brand! Cody and HHH shake hands, and then Melo makes his way out! Melo has the mic to say when they talk about who’s next up, about who’s the hottest out, they don’t call them “the hottest out,” they just call him “Carmelo Hayes.”

The fans chant “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” to remind Melo how he’s leaving NXT. Melo says okay, okay. But then to Cody Rhodes, ever since Cody won the title, he’s been talking about “If you aim for the king, you best not miss.” Well, funny how that works. Because when Melo shoots, Melo don’t miss. And as a first round draft pick, what better way to shoot his shot on SmackDown than to shoot it right at Cody? Melo leaves the mic with Cody but Cody picks it up to say, “Fortune certainly favors the bold, but I dunno. You folks don’t wanna see me in action tonight, do ya?” The fans go wild! Oh, but what if Cody forgot his gear?

Oh that’s right! He didn’t forget his gear! And this title right here, for Cody, means absolutely 100%, Melo’s on! They shake on it, and we’re about to see a huge first-time-ever showdown! But will this bold first move work out for… HIM?

Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee w/ Zelina Vega & Carlito VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo!

The LWO is still not convinced Legado Del Fantasma had nothing to do with the beating that took the Boy Wonder out ahead of WrestleMania. Will the King of Lucha help get to the bottom of things? Or will Angel & “Berto” make it as easy as ABC, 1-2-3?

The teams sort out, Dragon runs up on Humberto but Humberto LARIATS him down! Humberto drags Dragon up, tears the shirt away and CHOPS! Humberto whips, Dragon ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Humberto tumbles out, Dragon builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Humberto! The fans fire up as Dragon pushes Humberto into the ring, goes up a corner, and then CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Dragon facelocks to drag Humberto up, but Humberto wrenches out to CLUB Dragon down. Humberto waistlocks but Dragon throws elbows. Angel tags in as Humberto shoves Dragon. Dragon ducks but Angel holds ropes open, and Dragon tumbles to the floor!

The fans boo and LWO hurries to check on Dragon! Angel & Humberto just soak up the heat as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and both Dragon and Humberto are down! They crawl, hot tags to Angel and Rey! The fans fire up as Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirl RANAS! Angel ends up in a corner, he puts Rey on the apron, but Rey ROCKS Angel! Rey goes up to SEATED SENTON! Rey keeps moving, wrenches and kicks, then hops on! CODE RED! Cover, Humberto breaks it! The fans boo but Humberto hauls Rey up. Rey fights and RANAS Humberto up and out! But Angelo kicks, scoops, but Rey slips free! Angelo kicks low, reels REy in, and underhooks, but Rey fights those to RANA Angel onto ropes! Rey dials it up to 619!

Tag to Dragon and he takes aim! Angel stands, into the tilt-o-whirl, PROJECT DRAGON!! Cover, LWO wins!

Winners: Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee, by pinfall

Carlito and Zelina hug it out with the team, but then Santos Escobar & Elektra Lopez walk out here. Santos says whoa, whoa, whoa, hold that celebration. Because Santos is many things, but a liar is not one of them. And when Santos said he did NOT attack Dragon that night before Mania, he meant it. Elektra has been working for weeks to track down the security footage from that night. And Rey… Oh, Rey. What you’re about to see, you will find very, very interesting. The footage plays, and it was CARLITO!! Carlito throw Dragon around backstage! No one can believe it, because of how well Carlito fooled even Dragno.

Speaking of, Carlito RAMS Dragon into Rey, then hits a BACKSTABBER! Never has that move’s name been more fitting! Carlito runs away in a panic, and Rey stands back up in a rage! Santos says he told Rey that he was right all along. They were supposed to be family, and yet look how that turned out. How will the LWO recover from this shocking development?

Bron Breakker VS Cedric Alexander!

The Big Bad Booty Nephew has been making a case for himself ever since showing up on SmackDown, and he’s already bringing the straps down! Is he going to break PRIMED Alexander while also breaking match time records? Or will Cedric prove he’s too fly for Bron?

The bell rings and Cedric dodges Bron to CHOP and ROCK! Cedric whips, Bron reverses and Cedric handsprings, into a SPEAR!! Cover, Bron wins!

Winner: Bron Breakker, by pinfall

Well, hard to say if that’s an all-time fast match, but that was a fast match! QR Code stuff going on, but will we all see Bron take the world by storm?

Nick Aldis heads out.

And waiting is Tiffany Stratton. She asks if he saw what she did last week. Wait, of course he did. Because she is the Center of the Universe. She dropped Naomi and Bayley, where is her title match? Aldis tells Tiff to look at his watch. It is NOT set to #TiffyTime. And he was this close to sending her to the back of the line. But then someone convinced him otherwise, good for her. Tonight, she goes 1v1 with Naomi again, and the winner faces Bayley for the title at Backlash. Whose stupid idea was that?! Bayley says DING DONG, it was hers. It is a win-win situation here. If Naomi wins, she gets the match she got cheated out of.

And if Tiff wins, then she’ll find out when she attacks the Role Model. Tiff gasps as she has a #TiffanyEpiphany. Bayley should be ringside for that match so she can see Tiff do what Bayley couldn’t, and that’s beat Naomi. Tootles. Tiff leaves, but will the only thing she gets is to #FeelTheGlow?

Michelle McCool and Torrie Wilson are here!

One is a former WWE Women’s Champion, the other is a WWE Hall of Famer, but they’re both here to present Draft picks! Michelle says with the first pick of the second round, SmackDown selects… The Viper, Randy Orton! SmackDown will still have to watch out for an RKO outta nowhere! Torrie says that with the second pick of the second round, Raw selects… BRON BREAKKER! We just saw Bron make quick work of opponents here on SmackDown, but now he’s gonna be rampaging on Raw!

Michelle says that with the third pick of the second round, SmackDown selects… NIA JAX! The Irresistible Force may have to change targets from the Women’s World to the Undisputed Women’s title, but will she be unstoppable all the same? And with the fourth and final pick of this round, Raw selects… LIV MORGAN! The Revenge Tour will still be part of Monday nights, will we watch Liv rise to the top?

The Bloodline arrives backstage.

Paul Heyman is there to greet them and open the door to the SUV. He apologizes for not being faster about that, but Solo Sikoa asks The Bloodline if they’ve been drafted. Not yet. Then give Solo the details. Okay, well, Roman Reigns withdrew right before the show began, and then Solo keeps adding members, so no one really knows what they’re getting if they draft The Bloodline! Solo sighs, and here comes Tama Tonga. Heyman asks they be patient but Solo wants Heyman to repeat that for him. Heyman gets scared, but then KEVIN OWENS jumps in! Kevin fires off on Tama, security and refs rush in to stop it!

The Prizefighter wants Solo’s “MFT” to bring the fight like he did last week! Security still drags Kevin away, but will he get that fight he wants?

Kayla Braxton is on stage.

SmackDown returns and Kayla welcomes us back to the show. And please welcome out the first overall pick, Bianca Belair! The fans fire up as The EST walks out on stage, and Kayla congratulates her on being the first overall pick. But let’s talk Backlash. Breaking news, Bianca and Jade Cargill are going to challenge for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, against the Kabuki Warriors. How satisfying would it be to dethrone them on the stage of this magnitude? Bianca says so satisfying. She really hopes Jade gets drafted to SmackDown because given all this history with Damage CTRL, all the partners by her side, Bianca has never been the one to finally end it with them.

For everything they’ve done to her and this division, Bianca feels Jade is the perfect woman to help her end this. Now, DMG CTRL is falling apart piece by piece, and that final piece is the tag titles. So once Bianca & Jade take the gold at Backlash, the Kabuki Warriors won’t even have a reason to come back to SmackDown. But wait, they’re here now! Asuka & Kairi walk out here and Kayla moves aside. The Empress of Tomorrow and the Pirate Princess taunt the EST, but here comes The Storm! Jade makes her way to stand right by Bianca’s side. The four shout and argue, but this will be settled on May 4th!

WHOA! Tama and Kevin are brawling their way out here! The ladies move aside so the gentlemen can brawl all the way down to ringside! Tama hits low, gets in the ring, but Kevin pursues! Kevin TACKLES Tama, but Solo CLOBBERS Kevin! The fans boo as The Bloodline beats Kevin down! The refs hurry out here but clearly Solo’s Bloodline won’t listen! Tama DECKS producers, DECKS guards, HEADBUTTS them, throws hands and even THROWS the guards! Tama and Solo beat Kevin down again, but here comes Randy Orton! The Viper is still on SmackDown and he’s still pals with Kevin, so here he comes!

Orton DECKS Tama, fires hands on Solo, then RK- NO, Solo gets free and gets away! Orton wants to pursue, almost runs Jamie Noble and refs over to do it, but the Bloodline has gotten away! The fans cheer Randy on, and KAevin even hugs him! But then Kevin and Randy try to give chase! Security stops this, when and where will we see #RKKO strike down Solo and Tama?

The Dudley Boyz are here!

The fans fire up as Bubba Ray & D-Von are both here for the next round of picks! Cincy chants for “E C DUB! E C DUB!” Bubba and D-Von look at the cards, it’s hard to read. So out come the glasses! Bubba says with the first pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects… L A KNIGHT! YEAH!! The Mega Star stays on Fridays! D-Von says with the second pick of the third round, Raw selects… RICOCHET! Mondays still has the One and Only, is Ricochet going to bring that WWE Speed Championship home to Raw, too?

Bubba says with the third pick of the third round, SmackDown selects… THE BLOODLINE! That means Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga and Paul Heyman are staying right here on Friday nights. And D-Von says with the final pick of this round, Raw selects… SHEAMUS! The Celtic Warrior just got back, but he won’t have to worry about going anywhere else but Monday nights.

WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton!

It’s time to run it back once again! The Glow got robbed by the Spoiled Rich Girl, but supposedly, it’s #TiffyTime. Will Naomi prove there’s no such time on the clock? Or will Bayley be the one feeling the Backlash over giving Tiffany one more chance?

The bell rings and Naomi hits a THESZ PRESS! Naomi rains down fists, Tiffy shoves her away and goes to ropes, but Naomi gets up in Tiff’s face. Naomi whips, Tiff holds ropes to bail out and fans boo. Naomi scowls, runs in and WRECKS Tiff with a dropkick! Naomi then gets Tiff up, SMACKS her off the apron, and then SMACKS her off it again! And again! Naomi puts Tiff in, goes up a corner, but Tiff gets under the jump! Naomi runs back up but Tiff YANKS her into ropes! Tiff runs to HIP ATTACK! Naomi sputters, Tiff scowls and drags Naomi up, to then put through ropes. But Naomi RAMS into Tiff!

Naomi reels Tiff in, for a HEATSEEKER! Tiff flops to the floor, and then Naomi SPLIT LEG DROPS! Naomi says it’s #NaomiTime, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Naomi runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO! Naomi survives and Tiff is frustrated but the fans rally up. Tiff drags Naomi up, whips her to a corner, but Naomi goes up and sunset flips! TWO! Tiff escapes, knees Naomi low, then whips. Naomi slides under the lariat to then mule kick! Then she headscissor SPIKES Tiff down! Cover, TWO! Tiff survives but barely, and Naomi keeps her cool. Naomi headlocks, but Tiff shoves her into buckles! Tiff runs, but Naomi follows, DOUBLE RUNNING FACEBUSTERS take them both down! The fans fire up as the two rise!

Naomi KICKS, ROCKS and ROCKS Tiff again! Naomi fires shots again and again but Tiff knees low! Tiff reels Naomi in, but Naomi wrenches out to ENZIGIRI! And then BUCKLE BULLDOG! But then NIA JAX attacks Bayley!? Nia SMACKS Bayley off buckles, rains down fists, and this momentarily distracts Naomi. Naomi refocuses, but by now, Tiff’s slipped away! Nia KICKS Bayley in the side, so Naomi goes out to ROCK her! Nia POSTS Naomi and that throws the match out!

No Contest

The fans boo as Nia ruins the fun, then runs Bayley over! Nia smiles as she blows kisses to Cincy. Tiff smiles, she drags Naomi up and puts her in the ring. Then she drags Bayley in! Tiff wants a repeat of last week as she puts them side by side in the drop zone! Tiff then goes up and up for the PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Tiff says it’s her time, but the #1 contendership is still in question. Who gets their shot at the Role Model at Backlash?

B-Fab and the Street Profits meet up backstage.

Angelo Dawkins has a “WHO-DEY” sign, but Montez Ford is wondering where Bobby Lashley is right now. B-Fab says calm down, he’ll be here. Byron Saxton walks over and apologizes for interrupting. He doesn’t know what the Draft destination for this group will be until Monday Night Raw, but we do know that The Profits will challenge A-Town Down Under for the WWE Tag Team Championships. YESSIIIIIIR~! B-Fab says it doesn’t matter where they get drafted. The Profits are going to take down A-Town Down Under and take those titles. Then they’ll have their first class tickets right back to SmackDown.

SmackDown? Did someone say SmackDown~? In walk Austin Theory & Grayson Waller, showing off the titles. And Theory says you can’t have SmackDown without the GREATEST undefeated tag team of all time. And sorry, Dawkins, but these are championships, something the Bengals know nothing about! B-Fab keeps Dawkins back, but then in steps Bobby Lashley! The All Mighty scares Theory & Waller right off, and Dawkins says see y’all next Friday! Will there be nothing keeping these Profits down the night before Backlash?

The Final Testament speaks.

Karrion Kross says good evening. What’s going on here? You guessed it! More random acts of violence! Just follow him. Kross & Scarlett lead the way to show The Authors of Pain beating down New Catch Republic! Rezar beats down Pete Dunne while Akam victimizes Tyler Bate! Paul Ellering says they will know about sacrifice! Kross says whether they get drafted to Raw or stay on SmackDown, the violence will continue until they get what they want! So sayeth The Final Testament!!

Teddy Long and JBL are here!

The Hall of Famer General Manager and the Hall of Famer WWE Champion are both here, ready to give us the fourth and final round of picks tonight! Teddy gets right to it! The first pick of the fourth round, SmackDown selects… AJ STYLES! The Phenomenal One is really an obvious choice, because one way or another, the WWE Championship stays with SmackDown! JBL says the second pick of the fourth round, Raw selects… THE ALPHA ACADEMY! Raw keeps Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri & Akira Tozawa, A THANK YEW~!

Teddy says with the third pick of this round, SmackDown selects… ANDRADE! A big move as now El Idolo will be part of Friday nights. And with the final pick of this fourth round, Raw selects… NXT’S Kiana James! The Calculator, the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, has the Raw hat to put on, and after a quick hype package, Jackie Redmond is there to interview her. Kiana, congratulations! You are heading to Monday Night Raw! How much does this mean to her? This means the world to her. She is filled with gratitude, but also knows every decision she has made up to this point has been by design to get her here.

Kiana is so proud of her time in NXT, but she’s ready to show Raw why she is the One Percent. Was she surprised? Of course she was! HBK is here to wish her luck and congratulations. Is Kiana going to start the hostile takeover of the Raw Women’s Division?

Backstage interview with Nick Aldis.

Kayla is with the SmackDown GM and says that with night one in the books, how does he feel about SmackDown’s selections? He feels really good about them. SmackDown’s future is bright, he can’t wait for the new recruits to show up and show out for the blue brand. But he also wants to turn attentions to Backlash, because he’s got some new matches to announce! The first PLE in France, this is exciting stuff, Kayla. Aldis says that the WWE Women’s Championship will now be on the line in a Triple Threat! Bayley VS Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton! Will the odds make it that much harder for the Role Model to succeed?

There’s one more match to announce, but Aldis will let the GM GOAT take it from here. Teddy Long steps in, and don’t forget. We’ll talk about this tag team match. The Bloodline VS Kevin Owens & Randy Orton! Holla, players. Solo & Tama will have to face The Viper and the Prizefighter, will #RKKO strike fast and strike hard?

Cody Rhodes VS Carmelo Hayes!

The American Nightmare just put pen to paper for his match with the Phenomenal One, but he isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. The former NXT Champion is shooting his shot, but will this be nothing but net? Or will it be a frustrating airball?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, the fans rally for Cody as he puts Melo in a corner then arm-drags him away. Melo runs up, Cody headlocks, Melo powers out then drops. Melo hurdles, but Cody kicks low to RHODES UPPERCUT! Melo staggers to ropes, the fans fire up, but then melo throat chops and springboard FLYING LARIATS! Melo says that’s why he’s a first round pick! But then Cody CLOBBERS him! Cody asks if Melo’s ready for this, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns once again and Cody has a headlock. Cody hits a takeover, Melo flails and kicks around, but Cody grinds him down. Melo pushes with his forearm, then headscissors, but Cody kips free. Melo CHOPS, the fans “WOO~!” but Cody brushes himself off. Melo pie faces Cody! Cody fires forearms on Melo, then whips, but Melo reverses. Melo ELBOWS Cody, then runs up to KICK him in the side! Melo fires forearms and CHOPS in a corner, then throws body shots. Melo digs his boot in, the ref counts, and Cody goes to another corner. Cody eggs Melo on, Melo storms up, but Cody puts him in the corner to CHOP!

Cody swings, Melo dodges and CHOPS! Cody turns things around to CHOP! The fans rally, Cody whips corner to corner, then he back drops Melo away! Melo staggers up, Cody runs, and he rallies on Melo with forearms! Cody goes up and over in a corner but Melo tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! Melo springboards, FADE AWAY! Cover, TWO! Cody survives that flying DDT, but we see the NXT roster all fired up watching Melo take it to the champ. Melo sits Cody up, drags him into a facelock, but the fans rally for Cody. Cody fireman’s carries but Melo slips free to dragon sleeper! Melo grins, but Cody cradles! TWO!!

Melo swings, Cody boots, then Cody springboards to BEAUTIFUL DISASTER! Melo flips inside-out, Cody covers, TWO! Melo is still in this and he snarls up at Cody. Melo gives a forearm, Cody gives it back, and the fans rally up. Cody scoops Melo, storms around, and then hits a RUNNING POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Melo survives and Cody grows frustrated. Cody pounds the mat, the fans rally up, and then Cody goes to ropes. Cody springboards again, CODY CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives yet again, proving why he’s a former NXT Champion, on top of NXT North American Champion! But then Cody drags him up!

Cody back suplexes, Melo lands out of it, then FIRST 48! Doe goes Cody and Melo goes up! Melo is setting up for the game winner! NOTHING BUT- NO, Cody avoids the flying leg drop! Melo rolls through, Cody dodges to SUPERKICK! Cody brings Melo around, but Melo gets free! They both run, both springboard, but completely miss each other, and Cody takes a rough landing! Melo drags Cody up, reels him in, but Cody wrenches out to dragon sleeper! CROSS RHODES!! Cody shakes out the bad arm but still makes the cover, and Cody wins!

Winner: Cody Rhodes, by pinfall

Melo took his shot but it was blocked! Even so, Cody sits Melo up to show him respect and tell him he’s still the future. But did this match end up more of a trap game for Cody after that crash landing? Or will he be alright in time for Backlash and his phenomenal opponent?

Speaking of, Styles sneaks right into the ring! Cody sees him in time and Styles stays back. Cody and Styles stare down, but Styles says it was that close. Styles offers a handshake, and Cody takes it. There’s still respect here, for now. But will nothing stop Styles from turning Cody’s story into a tragedy after all?

My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown to open the WWE Draft but to also set up Backlash. To recap, SmackDown took Bianca, Melo, Orton, Nia, LA Knight, The Bloodline, Styles and Andrade while Raw took Jey, Rollins, Bron, Liv, Ricochet, Sheamus, The Alpha Academy, and Kiana. Many of those choices made sense, as picks won’t be wasted on keeping champions on brands, and just need to be used to keep most stories alive and change up a few others. Kiana is perhaps one of the more surprising moves, but well-deserved. She has been a solid character and solid in-ring performer almost from the start, she’s a solid addition to Raw.

Bron of course demolished his opponent tonight, it’s just a shame it was Cedric and not local enhancement talent. But Bron will also be a good addition to Raw, but maybe he can move past his squash match phase and get right to story. Melo being a first round pick was great stuff, and he had a great promo with Cody to give us tonight’s main event. That double springboard whiff was definitely a timing problem, but at the same time, a Fade Away countered into a Cody Cutter would’ve been way too epic just for TV. Cody with a great win, and we got a really good contract signing segment, but you can bet Cody retains.

Really good tag match from LWO VS Legado but naturally Rey & Dragon won. I knew it was only a matter of time before Carlito was outed, and how he handled being exposed was pretty good. And with Andrade being drafted to SmackDown, you just know that means Andrade joins the LWO. The Final Testament attacking New Catch Republic was a wild moment, I almost thought Ellering was going to use the pliers in his hands to grab at fingers. Maybe we get that next week for SmackDown in France. Good promos from A-Town Down Under and the still technically unnamed faction of Bobby Lashley’s. As great as The Profits are, it feels like Theory & Waller will cheat to retain.

Really good promo with Tiff and Bayley to set up Naomi VS Tiff round 3, but I did not think Nia Jax would disrupt all that. A Triple Threat at Backlash is good stuff, it will protect Bayley if she loses, but can also protect Naomi and Tiff if Bayley uses them against each other to win. Good promo from Bianca that then turned into the shouting match of Bianca & Jade with Kabuki Warriors. Their tag title match is official, and I’m pretty sure Bianca & Jade win. I also liked that this segment ended up having Kevin and Tama brawl right through it. Orton saving Kevin was a great move, RKKO VS Solo & Tama is going to be awesome stuff, I can’t wait to see it.