Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome Results & Report! (12/24/21)
What a gift from NJPW!

It’s a holly jolly Road to Tokyo Dome!
NJPW gives us a Christmas Eve present on the road to WrestleKingdom 16! And Toru Yano is holding an End of the Year Party Match for his KOPW trophy!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Triple Threat: Tiger Mask VS Ryusuke Taguchi VS El Phantasmo; ELP wins.
- Six Man Tag: Third Gen VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Great Bash Heels VS KENTA, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale; Kenta, Chase & Fale win.
- KOPW 2021 End of Year Party Rules: Toru Yano VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Yano wins and is Mr. KOPW 2021.
- 8 Man Tag: Chaos VS House of Torture; Chaos wins.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Suzuki-Gun; Suzuki-Gun wins.
- Shingo Takagi & BUSHI VS Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles; Okada & Eagles win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Triple Threat: Tiger Mask VS Ryusuke Taguchi VS El Phantasmo!
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships are a big target on the backs of Tiger & Eagles! One half of each team is facing off in a title match sampler, will the living legend make it through both the Funky Weapon and Headbanga?
As they make their entrance, the Cutest Tag Team offers a Christmas present, but to who? ELP keeps saying this person and that person isn’t worthy. Not even Milano Collection AT deserves it? But then they get in the ring, and maybe a Young Lion? Or a ring staff member? No, not them, either. ELP puts the box down and asks one to come into the ring to receive the gift. But then he puts it down to STOMP it! And PUNT it out of the ring! Will he be a Grinch for Taguchi and Tiger?
The bell rings and fans rally up as the three circle. ELP rushes Taguchi but Taguchi throws him out! Tiger kicks away on Taguchi, CLUBS him, then headlocks. Taguchi powers out, Tiger runs him over, and things speed up. Taguchi hurdles and hip attacks Tiger down! ELP returns but he’s thrown right back out! Tiger returns and he sobats Taguchi, then whips him to a corner. Tiger ROUNDHOUSES Taguchi, and fans rally up. Tiger whips Taguchi but Taguchi reverses, only for Tiger to throw Taguchi out. Tiger runs but into ELP’s mule kick! That foot’s definitely loaded! Tiger bails out, fans rally and ELP PLANCHAS but crashes down as Taguchi moves!
Taguchi stomps ELP, and gets the leg, and ELP scrambles! Taguchi lets the foot go, ELP stomps Tiger as he makes his way around the corner. ELP gets in but Taguchi’s there. ELP swears there’s nothing in his boot this time, and he wants a handshake as a Christmas promise. Taguchi doesn’t trust that but ELP even kneels. Taguchi says if it’s for Christmas, then okay. But then ELP stomps Taguchi’s foot! Taguchi clutches his toes while ELP flexes. ELP isolates Taguchi’s leg and STOMPS the foot! Then he gets an arm and rallies the fans up to STOMP the fingers! So much for the Christmas promise!
ELP then gets Taguchi up, knuckle locks and CHOPS, to go up and up and all around, to CLAW Taguchi’s back! ELP drop steps his way out and then CLAWS Tiger! ELP gets in and cartwheels corner to corner, to PURPLE NURPLE!! The ref reprimands and counts, ELP lets go, but then goes back for another PURPLE NURPLE!! The ref counts, ELP stops at 4, and fans rally up for Taguchi. ELP brings Taguchi out to snap suplex, Uno Amigo! And then another, Dos Amigos! ELP wants three but Taguchi blocks! Fans fire up, Taguchi throws body shots, Taguchi gets his Uno Amigo! And then Dos Amigos! And then ELP blocks! ELP turns it into a cradle, TWO and Taguchi has it!
TWO, ELP has it! TWO, Taguchi has it! Rolling Small Package! They go around and around and around and around, and then they break free. They stagger around dizzily, Taguchi enziguris but whiffs! Both men still fall over! Tiger gets in to cover Taguchi, TWO! Tiger covers ELP, TWO! Fans rally up for Tiger now as he throws forearms with ELP. They go back and forth, Taguchi runs in to DOUBLE HIP ATTACK! Fans fire up as Taguchi sits them both up to hit point blank hip attacks back and forth! Taguchi fires up and runs, but both ELP and Tiger fall over and Taguchi just plain misses! Fans rally up while all three men are down!
Tiger and ELP sit up and they brawl again, now with haymakers back and forth! Tiger kicks, ELP forearms, repeat! Taguchi comes back to ENZIGURI ELP! And ENZIGURI Tiger! Fans fire up as Tiger and ELP end up on opposite ends. Taguchi starts up Forever Hips! Then he baseball slides to apron ENZIGURI ELP! Fans fire up as Taguchi aims, and he springboards to MISSILE HIP! Cover, Tiger breaks it! Tiger waistlocks but Taguchi resists the lift. Taguchi breaks free but Tiger tilt-o-whirls to crucifix takedown! Cover, but ELP breaks it! ELP gets Tiger for the straitjacket torture rack, and SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, Taguchi breaks it just in time!
Taguchi CLUBS ELP, bumps him off buckles, and fans fire up! Taguchi hoists ELP up top and ELP lands hard on his groin. Taguchi climbs up, but Tiger yanks him down! Tiger climbs up now to fire off on ELP, and then stands ELP up to double underhook! SUPER BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, Taguchi breaks it again! Taguchi throws Tiger aside, gets ELP up to chicken wing, DODON’S THRONE! Cover, Tiger breaks it! Tiger throws hands, whips, and tilt-o-whirls Taguchi to a BACKBREAKER! Tiger underhooks, but Taiji Ishimori distracts from the apron! The ref tells him to get down, but the opening allows Taguchi to power through and jackknife bridge!
But then ELP adds on for a stacked cover! ELP WINS!
Winner: El Phantasmo, by pinfall
The Headbanga is the Grinch that stole this win! Taiji gets in to beat up Taguchi, and then beat up Tiger Mask! Taiji sets Taguchi up for ELP, but the ring crew gets in! He takes SUDDEN DEATH! A Young Lion gets in, he takes SUDDEN DEATH! ELP takes aim again, tunes up the band, but ROBBIE EAGLES springboards in! He missile dropkicks ELP down, then gives Taiji a TURBO BACKPACK! Robbie, Tiger and Taguchi work to get ELP’s boot off! ELP kicks them away and Taiji gets ELP out of there! The Cutest Tag Team runs away, the secret of ELP’s boot still a secret! But will Tiger & Eagles expose that secret while holding onto the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag titles?
Six Man Tag: Third Gen VS The United Empire!
Satoshi Kojima, Hiroyoshi Tenzan & Yuji Nagata reunite! After a rough go for all of them in World Tag League, will their Christmas at least be merry? Or will the Dominator, Hawaiian Hulk & Ultimate Weapon conquer TenCozy & Blue Justice for the holidays?
The ref barely finishes his check and the Empire attacks! Aaron Henare goes after Tenzan, Great-O-Khan is after Kojima, and Jeff Cobb goes after Nagata! They throw Third Gen out and the bell gets this on record. Khan Mongolian Chops Kojima and CLUBS him, Cobb rams Nagata into the apron and Henare throws body shots. Henare puts Tenzan in the ring while Cobb digs his knee into Nagata’s chest. Henare drags Tenzan up, bumps him off buckles, and fires off body shots while the ref tries to restore order. Fans rally up for Tenzan and Third Gen as Henare brings Tenzan out for a suplex! Cover, TWO!
Henare brings Tenzan up but Tenzan hits back with forearms! Henare gives those back, they go back and forth, Tenzan Mongolian Chops! And again! Henare hits a heavy body shot! Then a HEEL KICK! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up as Tenzan gets up, but Henare CLUBS and KNEES him! Henare runs, into the WHEEL KICK! Hot tag to Kojima and Khan! Kojima dodges Khan’s boot to fire off forearms to the back! Kojima whips, Khan reverses but Kojima CLOBBERS him! Fans fire up, Khan gets to the corner and Kojima fires off MACHINE GUN CHOPS! Khan calls his team over, but Cobb just gets added to the MACHINE GUN CHOPS!
Kojima tops Cobb off then gives Khan a little more! Fans fire up, Kojima whips corner to corner and forearm smashes! Kojima fires up as he climbs the corner, but Henare throws a body shot! Then Henare throws Kojima! Henare DECKS Nagata, Khan drags Kojima up. Henare runs but Tenzan trips him up! Kojima breaks free to ROCK Khan! Tenzan gets in, TenCozy pinball Khan between Mongolian Chops and forearms! Kojima Mongolian Chops, then DDT’s Khan down! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up as Kojima brings Khan up in the cravat. Khan fights the cutter, shoves Kojima to ropes, and Cobb grabs Kojima’s foot!
Kojima glares at Cobb, but Khan puts Kojima in the IRON SLEEPER! Kojima starts to fade, Khan folds Kojima up for a cocky throne cover. TWO, Khan runs and BOOTS Kojima to a corner! Tag to Cobb, Cobb runs in to dropkick! Cobb is copying Tetsuya Naito’s COMBINACION CABRON! Then GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up and Cobb slaps Kojima around. Cobb wants to mock Kojima’s armband move but he has no armband to take off. Cobb still runs, but Kojima clubs Cobb’s clothesline away! Then Kojima kicks and hits a COZY CUTTER! Both men are down and fans fire up! Kojima crawls over, hot tag to Nagata!
Nagata KICKS Cobb in the chest over and over! Cobb ends up in a corner, Nagata whips him corner to corner. Nagata runs in to BOOT Cobb, but Henare stops Nagata from hitting the exploder! Henare scoops Nagata but Nagata slips free to give Henare the EXPLODER! But he turns around into Cobb’s SUPERKICK! Cobb runs in but misses in the corner, Nagata SHINING WIZARDS! Feed to TENCOZY CUTTER! NAGATA LOCK II!! TenCozy keeps the rest of the Empire away with an Anaconda Vice to Henare and Kawatagoroshi for Khan! The Empire endures all these submissions, Cobb fights around, and gets a ROPEBREAK with a foot!
Third Gen lets the Empire go and fans rally up. Nagata whips Cobb corner to corner, then sends Teznan in for a clothesline! Then Kojima hits a back elbow! They feed Cobb to Nagata’s BOOT! BRAINBUSTER! Cover, Khan breaks it! Kojima CLUBS Khan, but Khan fights the waistlock. Drop sayanagi for Kojima! Headbutt for Khan! SAMOAN DROP for Tenzan! Nagata ROCKS Henare, whips him to Cobb for an ATHLETIC PLEX! Fans fire up again and Khan drags Nagata up. He whips Nagata to a corner, then runs in to clothesline! Henare runs in to SHINING WIZARD! feed to the BOOT ROUNDHOUSE combo! Then they get Nagata up for Cobb, TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, The Empire wins!
Winners: The United Empire, by pinfall
Cobb mocks Naito’s posing as he, Henare and Khan stand tall. Khan also calls out Sanada, as they’re having a 1v1 match at WrestleKingdom 16, Night Two! With Will Ospreay on his way back, is it only a matter of time before the United Empire rules over all NJPW?
Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi & Great Bash Heels VS KENTA, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale!
The Ace teams with Tomoaki Honma & Togi Makabe ahead of taking on Fang Revived in a No Disqualification match for the IWGP US Championship! Will Everyone’s Kokeshi & Rampaging King Kong help the Once in a Century Talent get ready? Or will the Crown Jewel & Rogue General help Kenta make them Go To Sleep?
Tanahashi takes off the jacket to show off the muscles, and fans cheer, but Bullet Club attacks! Kenta of course goes after The Ace while Chase is after Honma and Fale is after Makabe. The bell rings to get this on record as Bullet Club mugs Tanahashi. Chase and Fale keep Tanahashi up so Kenta can kick him down. Fans rally for Tanahashi as Kenta stomps him around. Kenta drags Tanahashi up but Tanahashi fires forearms! Kenta gives them back, they go faster and faster and fans fire up! They go shot for shot, Tanahashi gets the edge and fires off a strike fest! Kenta kicks but Tanahashi blocks it, CLUBS the leg, then runs. Kenta uses the ref as a shield!
Tanahashi carefully moves the ref aside, but Kenta BOOTS and sobats Tanahashi! Tanahashi blocks the next kick to DRAGON SCREW the leg! Fans rally up as both men are down! Hot tags to Chase and Makabe! Makabe rallies on Bullet Club, and runs at Chase in the corner to clothesline! Makabe climbs up to rain down fists! Fale stops Makabe at 8 but Makabe hits him back. Makabe whips, Fale reverses, Makabe bounces off buckles and Fale runs him over! Chase BOOTS Honma down, Fale goes out after Honma, and Chase rains down fists on Makabe! The ref reprimands the closed fists, so Chase CHOKES Makabe! The ref reprimands again and Chase lets off.
Fans rally up but Chase bumps Makabe off buckles. Chase climbs up and rains down fists on Makabe! Chase gets to ten, then tags Fale in. They mug Makabe with heavy body shots, but fans still rally for Makabe. Makabe eggs Fale on so Fale throws more body shots, and even forearms. Makabe doesn’t back down so Fale throws shots in the corner! Tag to Chase, he cravats to neck wrench Makabe, and then snapmare. Chase JAMS a knee into the back, and then pulls on the arms for a motorcycle stretch. Fans rally up, Makabe fights to his feet, and he turns things around on Chase, only for Chase to turn it back around. Chase digs his foot into Makabe’s back, then pushes Makabe down.
Tag to Fale, Chase mocks Honma, and Fale throws body shots on Makabe. Fale CLUBS away on Makabe in a corner! Fale whips Makabe corner to corner, runs in, but Makabe dodges! But Kenta gets in to DECK Tanahashi before the tag! Kenta whips Tanahashi into railing while Makabe tags in Honma! Makabe rallies on Bullet Club, but he can’t knock Fale down! Honma fires up and runs, but Chase kicks him from behind! Fale and Chase mug Honma, then they double whip. Honma holds ropes, BOOTS Chase, and kicks Fale low! Chase runs back in, but into the COMPLETE SHOT DDT COMBO! Honma fires up, runs and KOKESHI for Fale! KOKESHI for Chase!
Fans fire up as Honma drags Fale up. Honma tries to suplex but Fale’s too big! Kenta gets in and CLUBS Honma, but then Tanahashi gets in to SHOTEI Kenta down! Tanahashi stomps Kenta out of the ring and they brawl outside. GBH get Fale up to DOUBLE SUPLEX! Fans are fired up as Honma covers, TWO! Honma hurries up top but Chase anchors his foot! Honma fights Chase off, but Fale choke grips Honma! Fale drags Honma down from the top, but Honma breaks free to throw forearms and haymakers! Honma fires up, but turns into the SHI TRIGGER! Fale gets Honma with the GRENADE! Cover, Bullet Club wins!
Winners: Kenta, Chase Owens & Bad Luck Fale, by pinfall
Kenta keeps going after Tanahashi and Makabe on the outside, the win isn’t good enough for him! Kenta gets a chair from under the ring to SMACK Tanahashi with it! Kenta drags Tanahashi up and puts him in the ring. Chase stomps Tanahashi, Kenta brings out a kendo stick! But Tanahashi fights free! Tanahashi has the stick! And he swings, only for Kenta to bail out! Fans rally, “Let’s Go, Ace!” The No Disqualification match is coming, but is Kenta underestimating how extreme Tanahashi can get?
KOPW 2021 End of Year Party Rules: Toru Yano VS Yoshinobu Kanemaru!
This is the LAST KOPW match of 2021! The Producer could be a back-to-back KOPW Champion, if he can outdrink the Heel Master! That’s right, every two minutes, each man must take a shot! It’s first fall to a finish, or the first to fall over drunk! Who parties hard this holiday season and goes home with the trophy?
The introductions are made, the trophy is presented, and we see who can hold their liquor and hold their own!
Fans rally up as Yano and Kanemaru circle. But then Kanemaru bails out? He doesn’t seem in the mood for Yano’s antics. Fans rally up harder and Kanemaru gets back on the apron. Kanemaru gets his whiskey and fans cheer. The fans did vote that the drinks tonight would be whiskey over Yano’s sake, after all. But we see the clock and we’re under a minute before it’s time to drink. Yano goes outside to delay now, and now Kanemaru dares Yano to get back in. They argue, but no body makes a move. The countdown signals itself, time to drink! Kanemaru and Yano go to the tables at ringside, and they get the mic so we can hear them each opening the bottles.
Yano and Kanemaru each pour themselves a shot, fans rally as they say, “CHEERS!” Also there’s the standing count. Both men drink up and get up before 8 of 20 to get back in the ring. Obviously this first shot wasn’t going to take them out, so we continue! Fans fire up as the two argue again. Yano wants Milano Collection AT’s thoughts, and Kanemaru also argues with him. Yano uses that distraction to roll Kanemaru up! TWO, and Yano apologizes! Kanemaru rushes in, Yano dodges to get the arms! Kanemaru reverses that to backslide Yano, TWO! Kanemaru kicks Yano low, but Yano grabs Kanemaru’s hair and throws him down! Roll up, TWO!
Kanemaru gets to the corner, Yano runs in but Kanemaru dodges to roll Yano up, TWO! Fans fire up as both men catch their breath. We’re back under a minute, and it seems like both men are starting to feel that whiskey hitting. Kanemaru stomps Yano, then he whips Yano to ropes. Yano holds ropes, but Kanemaru BOOTS him down! Yano bails out, staggers around, but Kanemaru pursues. Kanemaru pulls Yano’s hair and whips him into railing! Kanemaru pulls Yano’s hair more to shake him around! The countdown begins, and it’s time for another shot! Fans rally as both men make their way over to the tables.
Kanemaru and Yano argue even as they sit down and pour themselves another drink. “CHEERS!” The ring count starts, they get the drinks down, and Yano is already in the ring to untie the buckle pad! Kanemaru gets in, Yano dodges and throws him the pad! The ref takes the pad from Kanemaru, and Yano SLAPS Kanemaru on the back of the head! Yano shakes Kanemaru around! The fans rally up and Yano throws Kanemaru away! Kanemaru dry heaves and sputters in the corner! Yano drags Kanemaru up, whips him corner to corner, but Kanemaru reverses! Yano hits the bare buckles! Kanemaru shakes Yano around now! Up, down, back, forth! Now Yano dry heaves! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally as Yano and Kanemaru slowly stand. Kanemaru whips, Yano reverses and redirects, but then Kanemaru reverses! Yano reverses, Kanemaru reverses, they keep going around and around! And around, and around! They’re slowing down but they’re still going around! Both men fall over dizzy! The countdown is back! #WhiskeyTime! Both men drag themselves out of the ring as fans rally up. They somehow make it to the tables and sit down for round three. They pour their drinks, and Kanemaru gets it down right away! “CHEERS!” Yano struggles to even sit up, and the ring count is 7 of 20! Yano takes his time, but Kanemaru is stopping him!? If he doesn’t drink, does he lose?!
The count is 15 of 20, Kanemaru leaves Yano behind! Yano drinks and hurries! Yano gets in at 19!! He’s safe! Kanemaru is furious but Yano goes back out. Kanemaru goes out the other side, and they argue again. The ring count starts again, Kanemaru gets on the apron at 5, and in at 7. Yano argues with Kanemaru again, even as the count reaches 15 of 20 again. Yano walks around the ring, but he gets in at 19 again! Kanemaru stomps Yano over and over, then whips him to ropes. Yano reverses but Kanemaru dropkicks the leg out! Kanemaru gets Yano for a ROLLING CRADLE! Around and around and around, and around and around, and then the cover! TWO!!
Both men stagger and fall over dizzy! And the countdown is back! Fans rally up and it’s #WhiskeyTime again! Yano and Kanemaru roll out of the ring, but Yano’s dry heaving again. Kanemaru and Yano take a moment to steady themselves before sitting down for round four! Kanemaru is ballsy, filling his shot glass to the brim! Meanwhile, Yano’s doesn’t even look half full! Fans rally, so Yano matches Kanemaru with a full glass! “CHEERS!” The count starts, Kanemaru downs it! We’re at 10 of 20 already as Yano works up the courage. Yano gets it down, but then Kanemaru sends a Young Lion into Yano’s path! Down goes Yano! We’re at 18 of 20, Yano is in at 19.9!!
Kanemaru gets right on Yano for a cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Deep leg hook, TWO!! Fans fire up but Kanemaru gets his personal bottle of whiskey, and takes a BIG swig! He pushes the ref aside, but Yano blocks Kanemaru from spitting the whiskey in his face! Yano turns Kanemaru towards the ref, LOW BLOW and Kanemaru spits the whiskey all in the ref’s face!! Yano then gets the bottle, and makes Kanemaru drink even more! Yano drags Kanemaru up, pops him up, POWERBOMB! Cover, Yano wins!
Winner: Toru Yano, by pinfall (Undisputed Mr. KOPW 2021)
The Producer is victorious! But Yano has a special box that he brings to the ring. Yano unveils a bottle of his own whiskey and says, “CHEERS!” Yano drinks to his win as the repeat Mr. KOPW! Can anyone stop Yano from a historic threepeat in 2022?
8 Man Tag: Chaos VS House of Torture!
Yoh joins Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI and the returning Tomohiro Ishii in hopes of getting revenge on Evil, Sho, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo! Will this help Goto-Hashi-Ishii get back to the NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championships? Or will Darkness Fall on Christmas Eve?
Introductions don’t even finish before House of Torture attacks! Sho of course goes after Yoh while Yujiro hits Hashi, and Evil throws Ishii out while Dick stomps Goto. Things spill out of the ring, the bell rings to get this on record, and Evil rakes Ishii’s eyes before whipping him into railing! Yujiro has Hashi against the railing as he rakes Hashi’s eyes, Evil keeps after Ishii. Sho brings Yoh up to put him in the ring, the Murder Machine officially starts against Direct Drive. Sho stomps Yoh to a corner, stomps him in the corner, then digs his boots in. The ref reprimands and counts, Sho lets off at 4. Fans rally up, even as Sho stands on Yoh’s head. Yoh fights up but Sho rakes his eyes!
The ref reprimands again, Sho stops at 4, then whips. Yoh reverses, runs in, but misses in the corner, and Sho rakes his eyes again! Sho runs, Yoh dodges, and Yoh hits FLYING FOREARMS! Tag to Hashi, Yoh and Goto BLAST the House of Torture while Hashi stomps Sho. They whip Sho to a corner, Goto clotheslines, Hashi CHOPS, and Yoh back elbows! Feed to Goto’s kick, and Goto hooks Sho up. Hashi runs, BLOCKBUSTER LEG SWEEP! Fans fire up for the #GotoHunt, and Sho scrambles to a corner. Hashi follows him as he scurries around the ring, and then stomps him at the ropes. Ishii gets a shot in, Hashi stands on Sho’s head, and Sho grabs the ropes!
The ref counts, Hashi lets off at 4. Hashi drags Sho up, but Sho wrenches a hand and bends the fingers! Sho whips Hashi to the corner, and surprise! The buckle pad is gone! Hashi hits bare buckles as the Bullet Club special comes into play! House of Torture hits the Chaos corner, and Evil uses a chair on Ishii! Evil chokes Ishii with the chair while Sho and Dick dig their boots into Hashi at the ropes. The ref counts, Dick lets off but Sho keeps going. The ref counts more, Sho stops at 4. Evil’s still choking Ishii with the chair! Evil stops that to rake Hashi’s eyes while the ref is busy with Sho. Sho tags Dick, Dick drags Hashi up and CLUBS him to the corner.
Dick throws hands, he brings Hashi around and snapmares, and then fist drops! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Evil tags in and he taunts Yoh. The ref stops Yoh, but he misses Evil using the House of Torture shirt to choke Hashi! Evil then covers, TWO! Evil argues the count but the ref say sit was fair. Tag to Yujiro, Yujiro stomps and snapmares Hashi to then drop a leg, drop an elbow, and drop a headbutt! Cover, but Yoh gets in and Yujiro backs off. Sho gets in to kick Yoh back out, and Yujiro drags Hashi away. Hashi throws body shots and forearms, but Yujiro knees low. Yujiro puts Hashi on the ropes to BOOT him down! Yujiro brings Hashi around to fisherman, but Hashi fights the suplex!
Hashi suplexes, but Yujiro BITES the hand! Yujiro ROCKS Hashi with a forearm but Hashi fires off a strike fest! Hashi blocks Yujiro’s boot, but Yujiro ROCKS him again! Yujiro reels Hashi in but Hashi suplexes Yujiro high and hard! Fans rally up, both men crawl, hot tag to Evil and House of Torture trips up Chaos! Evil brings Hashi up but Hashi spin back kicks! Hot tag to Ishii! The Stone Pitbull runs but Dick trips him up! Evil knocks Ishii to the corner, he and Dick double whip Ishii to the corner. Dick runs in to clothesline, but Ishii avoids Evil and Evil ends up hitting Dick! Ishii runs back in, Evil dodges and Dick takes another clothesline!
Ishii runs after Evil but Evil gets him in a waistlock. Sho runs in but Ishii boots him away! Ishii standing switches and shoves Evil into Sho! Ishii swings but Evil waistlocks again. Evil shoves Ishii at the ropes but Ishii DECKS Yujiro off the apron! Ishii dodges Evil again to run and run Evil over! Fans fire up as Ishii stalks Evil to a corner. Ishii stands Evil up to CHOP and forearm on repeat! Evil sits down and Ishii rains down forearms! The ref has to back Ishii off, and Evil bails out. Evil eggs Ishii on but Goto gets Evil back in the ring! Ishii and Yoh double whip to uppercut, forearm and Yoh runs, but Sho trips him up! Ishii rushes over but Evil waistlocks.
Ishii breaks free but runs into Dick’s kick! Evil trips Ishii for the SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Yujiro intercepts Goto while Ishii endures. Ishii crawls, reaches out, but Sho holds the rope back! Ishii still gets the ROPEBREAK! Evil holds until 4, then tags in Dick. Fans rally up as Evil and Dick stomp Ishii. Dick slaps Ishii around but Ishii sits up. Dick stomps him down, drags him up, slaps him around more, then whips. Dick catches Ishii for a sleeper hold, but Ishii back suplexes out of it! Fans fire up while both men are down! Ishii crawls over, hot tag to Goto! Yujiro runs in but Goto runs him over! Goto DECKS Sho, then runs in to MURAMASA Dick! And BULLDOG! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally up as GOto stands Dick up and fireman’s carries. Dick slips free, pokes eyes and headlock punches Goto down! Evil and Sho knock Ishii and Yoh down, then they put Goto in a corner. They double whip corner to corner, Dick runs in to back elbow! Sho clotheslines, Yujiro BOOTS, and Evil clotheslines! Then FISHERMAN BUSTER! Dick covers, TWO! Evil distracts the ref while Dick gets Goto with the SPOILER CHOKER! Fans rally, and Goto fights free! Goto DECKS Dick, but Evil knees Goto and rakes the eyes! Evil runs, Hashi LARIATS him down! Yujiro BOOTS Hashi! Yujiro goes after Ishii but Ishii blocks the boot to turn him around and GERMAN SUPLEX!
Dick kicks Ishii and whips him into bare buckles! Goto waistlocks Dick, Dick standing switches and Sho runs in, but Goto gets clear and Sho clotheslines Dick! Yoh dropkicks Sho out! Fans fire up as Yoh PLANCHAS down on Sho! Goto gets Dick into dragon sleeper but Dick fights around. Goto suplexes, Dick slips free, but Hashi SUPERKICKS him down! Goto fireman’s carries Dick, SUPERKICK to Ushigoroshi dragon sleeper! Goto-Hashi get Dick up, SHOTO!! Cover, Chaos wins!!
Winners: Yoh, Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi & Tomohiro Ishii, by pinfall
Yoh still goes after Sho on the outside, and Ishii battles Evil chair to chair! Evil loses his chair, but then LOW BLOWS Ishii! The brawling continues all around ringside as Yujiro RAMS Hashi into railing, and Sho does the same to Goto! Evil puts Ishii back in the ring, drags him up, and gives him EVERYTHING IS EVIL! But then Yoh runs Evil off, only for Sho to run in !Yoh avoids the wrench shot to JUMP KNEE! Sho avoids Direct Drive to run away!
Things are far from over between Chaos and the House of Torture, though! On WrestleKingdom 16, Night One, Yoh and Sho look to settle their RPG3K fallout, and Evil challenges Ishii for THE NEVER Openweight Championship! And then on Night Two, the House of Torture will defend their NEVER Openweight Six Man titles against Goto-Hashi-Ishii! Will The King of Darkness become the King of NEVER? Or will Chaos make sure that NEVER happens?
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Suzuki-Gun!
Hiromu Takahashi is ready to take on El Desperado for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship at WrestleKingdom 16, while Sanada & Tetsuya Naito look to be a speedbump in the road for the Dangerous Tekkers. Will LIJ make sure the Rogue Luchador, Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr. are stumbling into the New Year? Or will momentum be on the side of the champions?
The teams sort out, Sanada and Taichi have a quick dancing pec showdown, but it’s the Ticking Timebomb that starts against Desperado. Fans rally up for this WrestleKingdom preview, and the two rush each other at the bell! They ram shoulders, then fire off forearms back and forth! Fans rally as they keep going, fast and furious! Hiromu then changes things up to CHOPS, and Desperado CHOPS in reply! They go back and forth with CHOP after CHOP, already turning red in the chest! They shift from overhand to back hand CHOPS, but neither is backing down! Hiromu then SLAPS Desperado, so Desperado SLAPS back! Now it’s a SLAP fight!
Desperado ROCKS Hiromu with more of a palm strike then slap! Hiromu wobbles, Desperado reels him in, but Hiromu fights the back suplex to run. Desperado elbows him at the ropes, but then Hiromu returns the favor! Hiromu runs but Desperado sees through the feint to whip Hiromu and elbow him again. Then Desperado feints to elbow again! Hiromu still whips Desperado to a corner to clothesline! Hiromu runs but Desperado follows to clothesline him in the other corner! Desperado then runs corner to corner, but Hiromu follows to clothesline! Hiromu snapmares Desperaod, runs but Desperado avoids the basement dropkick!
Desperado dodges, spins Hiromu around and ROCKS him with an elbow! Hiromu wobbles, but he mule kicks and front kicks! Fireman’s carry, but Desperado slips off. Hiromu elbows Desperado then runs corner to corner to SHOTGUN dropkick Desperado into the corner! Naito DECKS Taichi, Sanada DECKS ZSJ! Hiromu fires up and the fans are with him as he drags Desperado back up. Hiromu suplexes but Desperado fights free and gets around to back suplex! Hiromu roars as he rises up, but Desperado runs, into a SUPERKICK! Hiromu runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! Both men are down and fans fire up!
Desperado and Hiromu stir, crawl for their corners, ZSJ tags in and he drags Hiromu away from LIJ! ZSJ snapmares to NECK TWIST, then he DECKS Sanada! Taichi trips Naito off the apron to whip him into railing! ZSJ chokes Sanada with camera cable! Taichi RAMS Naito into more railing! ZSJ lets Sanada go and the ref reprimands the Tekkers. ZSJ gets back in as fans rally up, and ZSJ cravats Hiromu for a neck wrench. Hiromu endures, ZSJ snapmares him into double leg hook chicken wings! And then a dragon sleeper! Hiromu endures and kicks around, and he gets the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, ZSJ lets go to then tag in Taichi.
Taichi stomps Hiromu and taunts him as he does. Fans rally for Hiromu but Taichi puts him in a cobra twist! Hiromu endures as Taichi pushes his head and neck down. Taichi even adds a leg, but Hiromu endures so Taichi lets go. Cover, but it’s a choke! The ref reprimands, Taichi stops so he choke-covers again! The ref still reprimands, so Taichi CHOKES with both hands! The ref counts, Taichi stops at 4. Hiromu sputters, Taichi brings him up, Hiromu CHOPS back! Taichi CHOKES Hiromu to the ocrner for it! Tag to Desperado, and Suzuki-Gun dig their boots into Hiromu. The ref reprimands, they all let off, and Desperaod drags Hiromu back up.
Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS but Desperado just CHOPS Hiromu down! Desperado CHOPS Hiromu in the corner, whips him corner to corner then runs in, into a BOOT! Hiromu runs but the rana is blocked! Hiromu fights the bomb but Desperado knees back. Desperado runs, into a POP-UP POWERBOMB! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Desperado and Hiromu crawl, hot tags to Naito and Taichi! Naito drops, arm-drags and kicks low, then DECKS ZSJ before he RANAS Taichi! Fans rally as Naito runs in to JUMP KICK, swing in, and then he taunts Taichi before COMBINACION CABRON! Naito mocks Taichi’s sumo before he has a cocky cover, ONE!
Naito drags Taichi up, reels him in and turns him, but Taichi breaks free to CHOKE Naito! The ref reprimands, Taichi whips Naito into the DANGEROUS HOOK KICK! Fans rally up, Taichi run sin at Naito to clothesline in the corner! Taichi then reels Naito in, but no saido as Naito fights free. Naito hits an atomic drop, then he hammerlocks and full nelsons. No Gloria as Taichi fights free, but then Naito clinches! Taichi blocks with a sumo grip on the waistband! Taichi THROWS Naito off! Fans fire up but Naito elbows and ENZIGURIS back! Taichi AX BOMBERS on the rebound! Fans are fired up as both men are down!
Naito and Taichi crawl, hot tags to Sanada and ZSJ! ZSJ and Sanada go around and around but neither can catch the other in a cobra twist. Sanada throws ZSJ out, then PLANCHAS, but ZSJ gets clear! COBRA TWIST! Sanada endures, ZSJ puts him back in the ring. ZSJ gets around to full nelson then snapmare, but Sanada handsprings through. ZSJ headlocks, Sanada powers out but ZSJ catches him to the COBRA TWIST! Fans fire up, Sanada endures, and Sanada powers out to hip toss! Sanada gets the legs then the arms, but ZSJ keeps resisting Paradise. Sanada keeps trying, but ZSJ reels him in for the sunset flip! TWO, and Sanada sits on the cover, ONE!
ZSJ has it, ONE, Sanada has it, ONE! ZSJ has it again, ONE, and Sanada keeps ZSJ down, but it’s a double fall! ONE as they both raise their right hands! Double fall, ONE as they raise their left hands! Another double fall, TWO as they both raise the same side! TWO as they raise the other side! Another double cover, TWO as they both get both shoulders up!! Fans fire up as the two reset and stand off. ZSJ offers a handshake, but then he uppercuts Sanada as he goes for it! ZSJ runs but Sanada dropkicks the legs out! Sanada drags ZSJ, steps through, but ZSJ drags Sanada down to a EURO CLUTCH! Cover, TWO! DRAGON SLEEPER!
But ZSJ rolls through, only for Sanada to roll through! ZSJ blocks the bridge, rolls Sanada with body scissors, but Sanada blocks ZSJ’s bridge! Sanada catches the arms to double chicken wing! But ZSJ rolls through that to get the EURO CLUTCH! Suzuki-Gun wins!!
Winners: El Desperado & The Dangerous Tekkers, by pinfall
Once again, the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions get the better of LIJ! Will this help the Holy Emperor & Submission Master against the World Tag League winners, Goto & Hashi? And what of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship showdown of Desperado and Hiromu? They had a draw in this year’s Best of the Super Juniors, will we see the Ticking Timebomb or Rogue Luchador reign supreme?
Shingo Takagi & BUSHI VS Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles!
Alright, we did just see this at the WTL x BOSJ finals event over a week ago. And along the way on the Road to Tokyo Dome. But this is the last time around before the holidays! Will the Dragon & Black Mask or the Rainmaker & Sniper of the Skies have a Merry Christmas this year?
The teams sort out, and Takagi and Okada start to give us a WrestleKingdom preview! Fans are fired up already as they rally, “TA-KA-GI!” “O-KA-DA!” The two circle, feel out the grapple, then tie up. Takagi waistlocks, but Okada wrenches an arm to a wristlock then hammerlock. Takagi headlocks free, grinds Okada down, but Okada pries out of that to have a headlock of his own. Okada grinds Takagi, Takagi fights up and pries free to a hammerlock then headlock takeover. Okada headscissors, Takagi kips free, and fans cheer the exchange. Fans rally up again as the two circle. Okada stays back but ends up cornered. Takagi backs off, but Okada runs in to tie up!
Okada puts Takagi on the ropes, Red Shoes calls for the ropebreak, and Okada lets off, to fake the chop and pat Takagi on the shoulder. But Takagi actually CHOPS! Okada throws a forearm, Takagi gives it back and the fans rally as they go back and forth. Okada changes to EuroUpper, then he runs, only for Takagi to run him over! Takagi knocks Eagles off the apron and he wraps a chinlock onto Okada. Okada moves and gets the ropebreak, Takagi lets off quickly. Takagi drags Okada up, wrenches his arm, then tags in Bushi. Bushi hops up to drop ax handles on Okada’s arm! Bushi has Red Shoes watch Eagles, so that he can choke Okada with his shirt!
Eagles protests and Red Shoes sees, and so he counts. Bushi lets off to then stomp Okada down. Fans rally, Bushi snapmares Okada and digs in his knee in the chinlock. Bushi also smothers Okada by holding his nose closed! Red Shoes reprimands, Bushi lets off, and then Bushi stomps Okada down. Tag to Takagi, Bushi bumps Okada off buckles. Takagi bumps Okada off more buckles, then he taunts Okada. Okada dares Takagi to hit him but Takagi just pie faces him. Okada throws forearms but Takagi eggs him on with a chest bump. Okada throws another forearm, and Takagi DECKS him! Fans cheer as Takagi brings Okada back up.
Takagi suplexes high and hard, floats to the cover, TWO! Fans rally up, “O-KA-GI!” “TA-KA-DA!” Okada blocks the back suplex, clubs away on Takagi, but Takagi CLUBS him on the back. Takagi runs, into a FLAPJACK! Fans fire up while both men are down. Hot tag to Eagles! Eagles kicks and whips but Takagi reverses, only for Eagles to RANA! And WHEEL KCIK! Eagles kips up, fans fire up, and Eagles KICKS and KICKS. Takagi blocks a kick to CLUB the leg, but Eagles dropkicks the legs out, to then LEG LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Eagles goes to the corner and goes up top. 450 but Eagles bails out as Takagi dodges. Takagi runs in but into a BOOT!
Eagles runs, but Takagi pops Eagles up for a fireman’s carry to GUTBUSTER and DDT! Fans rally, hot tag to Bushi! Bushi aims from a corner now, and missile dropkicks Eagles away! BUSHIROONI! Bushi runs to back elbow, then he brings Eagles out to spin around and DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Bushi gets Eagles for a fisherman, but no screw as Eagles spins through! Schoolboy with bridge, TWO! Bushi kicks but Eagles blocks, only for Bushi to fight off the Turbo Backpack! Bushi backslides but Eagles rolls off and sobats low! Eagles cravats, Bushi fights out of the Shiranui, then elbows Eagles away to reel him in.
Eagles trips Bushi, goes for the figure four but Bushi makes it a cradle! TWO!! ROUNDHOUSE, SUPERKICK but no Pele! Bushi gets around to kick, Eagles ducks the enziguri but not the HEEL KICK! But Eagles PELES! Both men are down and fans fire up! Eagles and Bushi crawl, hot tags to Okada and Takagi! Okada BOOTS, Takagi swings but Okada dodges to BOOT again! Okada fires off forearms, whips corner to corner but Takagi reveres. Okada boots but Takagi blocks to LARIAT! Takagi reels Okada in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up again, Takagi drags Okada up to Gory Especial! But Okada blocks with all his might!
Okada gets around, wrenches the arm, and has the MONEY CLIP! But Takagi stays standing and arm-drags free! Takagi runs into the corner, but Okada pops him up to the Alabama! REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Eagles DECKS Bushi! Okada gets Takagi’s arm again, MONEY CLIP! Fans rally as Takagi endures, and he throws haymakers on Okada. Okada cranks on the arm, Takagi crawls forward but Okada drags him away! Takagi keeps trying, and he gets the ROPEBREAK! Okada lets Takagi free and fans rally up as they both go outside. Okada stalks Takagi, kicks low, and hits a DDT! Fans rally back up while Okada rests against the railing.
Okada stands, drags Takagi up and into the ring. Okada climbs up the corner but Bushi goes after him! Eagles goes after Bushi and whips him, but Bushi reverses to send Eagles into railing! Takagi hits Okada up top, then climbs up after him. Okada and Takagi brawl, but Takagi fires up! Takagi hits the SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Okada survives but Takagi fires up with “OI! OI! OI!” Fans clap along, Takagi sits Okada up and runs, but Okada ducks the sliding lariat! Okada runs but into the ELBOW! JAB! But he blocks the Yukon lariat, only to get a DISCUS PUMPING! Fans fire up with Takagi as he drags Okada back up.
Okada fights out of the torture rack but Takagi whips him to ropes. Okada reverses and dropkicks Takagi down! Okada drags Takagi back up, ripcords, but Takagi dodges the lariat! But Takagi runs into Okada’s dropkick! Both men are down and fans are fired up again! Takagi and Okada stir, Takagi tags Bushi in! Bushi stomps Okada, brings him up and throws forearms. Bushi whips corner to corner, runs in but Okada boots. Bushi blocks, puts the leg in the ropes and hits a DRAPING BACKSTABBER! Bushi drags Okada up to FISHERMAN SCREW! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up as Okada survives! Bushi aims from a corner, runs at Okada, but no Code Breaker!
Okada dodges and Eagles missile dropkicks Bushi’s leg out! Eagles DECKS Takagi off the apron then jumps to ax handle Takagi down! Okada wraps on the MONEY CLIP! Bushi endures, fans rally up, Bushi fights up to claw Okada’s face! Eagles is sent into railing, but Okada dropkicks Bushi down! Okada goes to the corner, climbs up top, MACHO ELBOW! Rainmaker Pose! But he has to dodge Takagi! Okada gets Takagi for a ripcord, but Takagi dodges the lariat to waistlock and ripcord back. Okada ducks Pumping Rainmaker, and gets Takagi with a DISCUS LARIAT! Fans fire up as Bushi runs, into a gut wrench and TOMBSTONE!
Okada ripcords to RAINMAKER on Bushi! Eagles keeps Takagi down as Okada high stacks Bushi, Chaos wins!
Winners: Kazuchika Okada & Robbie Eagles, by pinfall
Just like the WTL x BOSJ finale, Okada and Eagles stand tall! The Junior Heavyweights head to the back to give the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion and the G1 Climax Champion the ring. But then, before either Takagi or Okada can get the mic, the lights dim and the titantron has WILL OSPREAY! He has his copy of the IWGP World Heavyweight title with him as he says, “Did you miss me? I’ve missed you. Long time no see. I’m back in Japan! Feeling great, actually. Feeling fantastic.” Ospreay wonders who’ll be feeling good on January 5th. He knows on the 4th, it’s Takagi VS Okada for the “interim” world title. And then they will face the REAL champion on the 5th!
Ospreay has traveled the world while injured, and he faced the world’s finest. “Still unpinned, still unsubmitted, still undefeated!” And this whole time, Ospreay’s been staring at the logo on the belt. Fans around the world just think it’s a cute little lion head, one synonymous with NJPW. But for Ospreay, it is a prophecy! “For 50 years, NJPW has been looking for that lion. And here I am! I am that lion! I have been waiting my whole career to main even at WrestleKingdom and it is finally going to happen!” It doesn’t matter if it’s Takagi or Okada, because Ospreay is finally fulfilling his destiny!
Best of luck to Takagi and Okada, they’re going to need it. Then the world will see there is only ONE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. “And his name is Will Ospreay.” Ospreay’s message ends and the lights come back up. Takagi is annoyed but Okada gets the mic first. “Takagi, you saw that, right? Ospreay, I heard you faced the best, but there’s no one around better than us.” Takagi gives a thumbs up in agreement. “Everyone’s a nobody compared to us. Takagi, on January 4th, let’s show the world what a battle between the IWGP World Heavyweight and G1 Champions can be.” Fans cheer for that one.
Okada continues to say, “We guarantee a hot fight for you all on January 4th. And on January 5th, I will go on to face Ospreay. Let me say this to you, Takagi. You’ve put in a lot of work over the last year, but you can’t carry NJPW into its 50th Anniversary. A wrestler with one hot year can’t carry NJPW for the next 50 years. Only I can carry NJPW into the next 50 years, into the next 100 years, and beyond!” Takagi gets a bit annoyed again but fans rally. “But now, I’ll let the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Takagi, talk.” Okada drops the mic and takes his exit so Takagi can close this out.
“Hold on a second. I don’t need the big talk anymore. On January 4th, bring me the serious Okada, the strongest Okada. That’s the guy I wanna crush! And one more thing. Nobody’s making it rain in the Tokyo Dome. Money isn’t falling. Okada’s tears will!” Fans rally behind that one! Takagi continues to say, “That damned Ospreay ruined the atmosphere again. But it’s down to me to end the year. A lot happened this year, in the world and here in NJPW. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all your support through everything. I’ve gone through a lot myself. I took the title in June, and then caught COVID in August. Then straight back to a title match. And managed to keep this belt for the year.
“One more one more thing. I’m the Tokyo Sports 2021 MVP!” Fans applaud but he asks they be a little louder. They do get louder and he thanks them for that. “Ospreay and Okada both called me interim? That ticks me off. I need to crush them both to prove a point! January 4 may come next year, but it’ll be the culmination of this year for me! No need for fakes, no need for retired belts. Just the best fighting for this belt! On January 4th and 5th, the Rampage Dragon will soar in the Tokyo Dome!” Fans cheer the current IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but can he survive WrestleKingdom 16’s first two nights to be the UNDENIABLE best wrestler in NJPW?
My Thoughts:
A great event from NJPW on Christmas Eve, especially as a go-home to the big WrestleKingdom events they have planned this time around. That opening Triple Threat was very good, and ELP winning would make me think the cutest Tag Team actually take the loss in the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team title Triple Threat. I feel like the champions will retain, as Rocky Romero has been busy going back and forth between Japan and the USA, so he and Taguchi won’t be able to properly defend the titles. I figured the United Empire would win, I almost skipped that match, but I did like seeing the Empire calling out LIJ throughout.
The next Six Man Tag was also great, as it helped build Tanahashi VS Kenta. Them going No Disqualifications really opens things up, as it’s not really something NJPW does that often, so I bet these guys come up with some really fun stuff. Who wins could go either way, but Kenta’s been the one going between Japan and the USA, maybe he retains so he can keep things going on NJPW Strong, give some guys over there a title shot. And then I just loved the KOPW match. It was great comedy, especially with the countdown having an actual noise. Yano retaining was a bit of a surprise, but him going back to back to set the pace for this trophy is a great nod to Yano’s comedy genius.
The 8 Man Tag was very good, and given all that’s going on for the first two nights of WK16, Chaos winning makes sense. The math means Sho probably wins against Yoh to also avenge his BOSJ loss, and I think House of Torture keeps the NEVER Openweight Six Man titles. Ishii VS Evil could go either way, but many times there have been NEVER Openweight Double Champions, and Evil could be the next one. Goto-Hashi might have a good chance at those IWGP Heavyweight Tag titles after Suzuki-Gun stood tall against LIJ, which was also a great match. Hiromu VS Desperado still feels like it could go either way, but it’d be pretty big if Hiromu won the title right after winning BOSJ.
And then the main event was very good, a step up from the last time I saw this one. Chaos winning hear gives Eagles momentum so he and Tiger can retain their tag titles, but there’s a good chance Takagi defeats Okada on night one. I figured Ospreay was returning for WK16 to then have this “undisputed” IWGP World Heavyweight Champion story, Takagi VS Ospreay could go either way. Either way, WK16 is going to be huge, fitting of NJPW’s 50th year.
My Score: 8.4/10
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London calling to the champion crowns!
SmackDown brings gold to London as LA Knight defends his WWE US Championship and The Street Profits defend their tag team titles! Will the landscape change this close to WrestleMania?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Pretty Deadly; The Profits win and retain the titles.
- Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS The Secret Her-vice w/ Chelsea Green; The Secret Her-vice wins.
- WWE United States Championship: LA Knight VS Braun Strowman; Braun wins, by disqualification, and Knight retains the title.
- Charlotte Flair VS Mia Yim w/ B-Fab; Charlotte wins.
- Randy Orton VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.
- Jimmy Uso VS The Miz; Jimmy wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Cody Rhodes is here!
We follow The American Nightmare as walks to gorilla, then through the curtain, and London sings along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, says hello to fans along the ramp, and then we get the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and pyro. Cody goes to the ring, grabs a mic, then kneels down to kiss the WWE logo on the mat. The fans continue to sing along all the way to the end, “I AM MY KINGDOM!” The fans then cheer, and Cody holds up the belt to fire them up even more! The fans now sing for “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” and he soaks it in. The fans cheer again as Cody smiles, and he finally says, “So, London~! Whaddya wanna talk about?”
The fans chant “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” Cody hears that dueling, and he smiles again. The song of “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” returns, then they cheer. Cody says, “At WrestleMania 41, I will be facing John Cena…” The fans boo, but Cody says, “I will be facing John Cena as he goes to break the record and win 17. But that is WrestleMania 41. In just a few nights, I will be standing face to face with John Cena in this very same city, in this very same arena.” The fans cheer that, but then here comes Randy Orton! Now the fans sing along with Voices as The Viper heads to the ring. Orton also high-fives fans before he joins Cody.
Orton grabs a mic, paces while the fans keep singing on their own, and then the fans cheer. Orton says he’s not really the sentimental type, but for Cody and for London, screw it. The fans chant “R K O! R K O!” and Orton tells Cody, “Look at you. Look at who you are now, the man you are now. Look at where he came from.” The fans cheer and sing “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” and Orton says he remembers a Cody in his early 20s, just breaking into the business. Cody was busting his ass harder than anyone else. He wasn’t exactly happy, and in fact, he was frustrated. But Cody was man enough, smart enough, to know he needed to grow, and that he couldn’t grow in the WWE.
Cody wasn’t exactly treated fairly in the WWE, so Cody left the WWE! That took some big ass balls to do what he did! Cody changed the business singlehandedly, and everyone in the back knows it. And Orton appreciates Cody for it. But then Cody came back, as they all knew one day he would. And the industry has been changed forever since the day Cody came back to the WWE. Cody is a bit teary eyed as Orton says Cody’s still the same guy, he just did what he set out to do, and he grew. Orton teases he would sing along with the fans, but the fans might leave. The fans again sing “CODY! CODY RHODES~!”
Orton asks if they remember when Cody Rhodes faced Seth Rollins in Hell in a Cell. The fans cheer because they do. Orton says that was impressive, and even impossible, as he started with a partially torn pec and then ended with a fully torn pec! His body changed all kinds of shades of purple that Orton’s never seen on a human body. The pain he must have been in. Cody persevered not just for himself. Maybe not even at all for Cody. It was not even for his family legacy; it was for each and every single fan out there! Then Cody went on to WrestleMania, beat Roman Reigns and finished the story!
But there’s always another story, isn’t there? And Cody’s right in the middle of one. Cody is in charge of his legacy, and it is a privilege for Orton to watch Cody take control of it. Ticket sales have been up, there’s more intrigue around the world, and listen to the people! It is 99.9% all because of Cody! The fans cheer that, and of course they sing. Orton says what he’s trying to say is a long-winded version of he respects Cody, loves him, and is very, very proud of him. The fans cheer that! Orton then says, “But… But now it is time for WrestleMania.” They both look to the sign, and Orton says he can guarantee Cody that Orton will kick Kevin Owens so hard in the head…!
Orton can just feel it already! He forgets how many days are left, but he can’t wait to remove Kevin’s head from his shoulders. And Orton knows Cody will enter champion, exit champion, but not before he beats the holy hell outta Cena all up and down the Vegas strip! But after all the smoke clears and the dust settles, just like Orton wants Number 17, there will come a time when Orton will want Number 15. But Orton won’t kick Cody in the balls like a coward. Orton will look Cody in the eye because he respects Cody, is proud of Cody, and sees him as an equal. Orton will look Cody in the eye and tell him that he’s coming for the title.
The fans cheer but wait! Drew McIntyre is here! The fans cheer the Scottish Terminator as he steps out on stage, mic in hand, and has a wry smile on his face as he looks at the ring. Drew waves as the fans now sing, “OH~ Drew McIntyre~!” Drew says, “Isn’t this wonderful? A couple of nepo babies having a love fest in the middle of the ring> It makes me absolutely sick. What’d you just say, Randy? if Cody gets through Cena at WrestleMania, you’re coming for that title? What exactly have you done since that big comeback to justify that title match? Aside be Randy Orton. The only big moment I can remember is you being on the shelf for months and months and months.
“People like to make jokes about it, but more people talk about my five-minute-45-second title reign than your entire comeback so far! So get to the back of the line, sunshine! As for you, Cody, you should’ve listened to me. But you shunned me. You attacked me. Everybody should’ve listened to me about John Cena, but they didn’t. And the next night, he kicked you right in the twig ‘n’ berries, proving me right as usual. And the main event of WrestleMania should be Cody Rhodes VS The UK’s only ever world champion, Drew McIntyre!” Fans do like that idea. But sadly, it’s not, because of that guyliner wearing Temu Undertaker, Damian Priest!
Drew wants to talk about what is happening. And what’s gonna happen! Drew steps up to the ring while fans sing for him again. Drew says it will not be Randy that takes the title from Cody, should he get through Cena; it’ll be McIntyre. The fans cheer, but Orton says they were trying to have a moment. Can Drew just cut the crap already? Drew says okay, sure. He’ll tell the truth, because that’s all he ever does. The truth is, Kevin might have a point! If those Voices are talking to Orton again, then they know Drew very, very well. And he’s thinking, “My God, Randy looks great! Absolutely jacked! On the outside.”
On the inside, that back is hanging by a thread. And if Orton provokes McIntyre, McIntyre will break him. And as for Cody- Cody kicks Drew and UPPERCUTS him! The fans fire up, and Orton R- NO, Drew gets away! The fans boo, but the battlelines are drawn! Even if Cody makes it out of the frying pan that is Las Vegas, it’ll be into the fire that is these contenders waiting in line! Will the American Nightmare be ready for whoever comes for the crown?
WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Pretty Deadly!
Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins are finally golden again, but it’s time to put the titles on the line already! And while they’re ready for the grind, they’re up against the hometown heroes! Will the Profits still be up in the O2? Or will Kit Wilson & Elton Prince say #YESBOY to a new reign of their own?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who really wants the smoke!
The teams sort out and Kit starts with Dawkins. They tie up, Dawkins headlocks, but Kit powers up and out. Dawkins runs Kit over, the fans fire up, and Dawkins fires hands on Kit in the corner! The fans rally for Pretty Deadly, Dawkins whips Kit to a corner, but Elton takes that bump! Kit CLOBBERS Dawkins, then tags Elton! Atomic drop into DROPKICK! Ford runs up, but into a DOUBLE HIP TOSS! Dawkins whips, Elton reverses, and then Elton hurdles so Kit can DDT! The fans fire up with Pretty Deadly while the Profits bail out. Pretty Deadly has control while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Elton is right on Dawkins as he gets in, and UPPERCUTS him to the corner. Elton clinches Dawkins for another UPPERCUT! Tag to Kit, and Elton RAMS into Dawkins so Kit can UPPERCUT! Dawkins flops over, Kit drags him up to wrench the arm. Kit whips, Dawkins reverses, but Kit grabs ropes. Kit ELBOWS Dawkins, DECKS Ford, but Dawkins CLOBBERS Kit! The ref reprimands but Dawkins RAMS Kit into the corner again and again! The ref counts, Dawkins fires fast hands, then he tags in Ford. Ford says, “SUCK IT!” then he KICKS Kit! Ford scuffs Kit, then drags him to a cover, TWO!
Ford keeps Kit down with a facelock, but Kit endures the grind. Kit fights up, fires body shots, but Ford whips him away. Kit sunset flips! Ford rolls through, and PENALTY KICKS! Ford mocks Elton with the Scott Hall fingers, and the ref has to keep Elton back. Ford drags Kit up, tags Dawkins, and the Profits mug Kit. Dawkins CLUBS Kit down, then stalks him. Dawkins stays between Kit and Elton, then whips Kit into the Profits’ corner. CYCLONE- NO, Kit dodges! Ford tags in, he keeps Kit from Elton now, but Kit slips out of the suplex! Kit fakes high to go low, hot tag to Elton! Elton rallies with LARIAT after LARIAT!
Elton kicks and whips Ford to a corner, then UPPERCUTS! Elton whips the other way, UPPERCUTS again, and then does it again! Elton adds to the hattrick with a lift, Ford says a quick prayer before the SUPLEX! Ford flounders, gets to his feet, but Elton dodges to springboard and FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Ford stays in this, but Elton stays on him. SmackDown returns to single picture and fans rally for Pretty Deadly as Elton gives Ford a back suplex. Ford lands out, waistlocks, but Elton switches and shoves Ford. Ford CLOBBERS Elton in return! Ford is also dazed but he covers, ONE!
Kit reaches out, Elton and Ford both crawl, hot tags to Kit and Dawkins! The fans fire up as Dawkins wrenches Kit, underhooks and SILENCER! Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts Kit, Ford climbs, but Kit slips free! Kit shoves Dawkins into Ford! Ford falls to the floor, but Dawkins ENZIGIRIS Kit! Elton tags in, and Kit LARIATS Dawkins! Pretty Deadly combine for DRY MARTI-KNEES! Cover, TWO!! Dawkins survives and the Profits are a bit unsure of what to do next. Dawkins crawls to a corner, Elton runs up, but Dawkins dodges! Elton hits buckles and Dawkins TOSSES Kit, then Dawkins hits a SKY HIGH on Elton!
Dawkins hurries to tag Ford and Ford climbs up! But Kit pushes Elton out of the way! Kit takes FROM THE HEAVESN, and Elton ghost pins Ford! TWO!! Ford escapes, and he ROCKS Elton! Elton UPPERCUTS Ford! Dawkins sneaks a tag, Ford SUPERKICKS! POUNCE SAIDO COMBO!! Cover, KIT BREAKS IT! The fans fire up while all four men are down! The teams go to opposite ends, then they all stand up in the corners. They all roar, all run in, and Kit SPEARS Ford while Elton FLYING UPPERCUTS Dawkins!! London is thunderous, and Kit hurries to tag in! Pretty Deadly gets Dawkins up, for SPILT MILK!! Cover, FORD BREAKS IT!
The fans are shocked, as is Elton, but Ford saves this for his team! “This is Awesome!” as Ford runs up and Elton TOSSES him out! Now DRY MARTI- NO! Dawkins doesn’t accept the second serving, and he DUMPS Kit out! Kit skins the cat while Dawkins DECKS Elton! Dawkins catches Kit to an Electric Chair! Ford rises, DOOMSDAY BLOCKBUSTER!! Cover, Profits win!
Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall (still WWE Tag Team Champions)
Pretty Deadly put up a heroic fight, but the hometown heroes could not capture the gold. Dawkins & Ford hold onto the gold, will this be the strongest the Profits have ever been?
Kayden & Katana talk with Zelina Vega.
Carter & Chance know La Muneca got screwed over by The Green Administration. Chelsea thinks she’s untouchable, but someone’s gonna stop them eventually. Well, speaking of, Alba Fyre leads the way in as she & Piper Niven “scope the perimeter.” There’s one small threat. They frisk the “miniscule” threat, but nothing they haven’t dealt with before. Chelsea struts in and says, “The Eagle has landed~!” Zelina says she is so glad the “Bootleg Men in Black” have crashed the party. Now, yeah, they all know she’s small. But clearly this small “threat” is a big threat to Chelsea’s title reign. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have taken all three of them to beat her.
KC Squared agree with that. How about tonight, we see what happens when the odds are even? Chelsea says that’s fine, because Agents P & A are ready. The Secret Her-vice has been given their next mission, but will they be able to crash the party? Or will the party crash them?
Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS The Secret Her-vice!
SmackDown returns and The Green Administration makes their entrance. The teams sort out, Alba starts against Katana, and the two tie up. Alba KNEES low, CLUBS Katana down, then fireman’s carries. Katana fights free, tags Kayden, and they KICK, double whip, and then trip Alba up for the basement DROPKICK! Katana adds a slingshot SENTON, Kayden covers, TWO! Kayden tags Katana, they double whip Alba to a corner, then Kayden runs in. Alba DUMPS Kayden out, ROCKS Katana, and she tags Piper! Katana arm-drags Alba out, then goes out to run up. Kayden gives her a boost, Katana CROSSBODIES Alba down!
The fans fire up, but Piper goes up and out?! CANNONBALL and down goes KC Squared! Piper salutes Chelsea and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns, Kayden rallies on Alba while the fans rally up. Kayden fires up, runs in and whips, but Alba reverses. Kayden wheelbarrows, victory rolls, then SUPERKICKS! Kayden fires up again but the fans are torn. Kayden runs in at Alba to BOOT WASH her against the ropes! Chelsea protests, Kayden kicks at her, then Kayden springboards for a LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Alba survives, Kayden whips, but Alba KICKS back! Tag to Piper, but Kayden jackknife bridges Alba! The ref explains bout the tag, Piper runs up, but Kayden moves! The SENTON hits Alba! Piper panics, Kayden tags Katana!
Katana goes up onto Kayden’s shoulders, VICTORY ROLL LAUNCHER, but Piper catches Katana! Katana fires hands, BOOTS, and then hurries to go up again. Kayden ROCKS Piper, and fireman’s carries?! SAMOAN DROP! Kayden then gives Katana the boost, for the KEG STAND SPLASH!! Cover, ALBA BREAKS IT! Kayden runs up on Alba to BOOT her out! Katana gives Kayden the boost now, SUPER CROSSBODY onto Alba! Kayden hurries to tag back in, and she brings Piper up. Piper swings, Kayden dodges and SUPERKICKS! Katana goes up, Piper staggers over that way, but Chelsea distracts the ref!
The fans are torn as Alba grabs Katana. Katana kicks Alba down, chases Chelsea off, but Piper sends Kayden into her! Piper scoops to PIPER DRIVER!! Cover, Secret Her-vice wins!
Winner: The Secret Her-vice, by pinfall
The Women’s US Champion helps her team, and now they all mug Kayden & Katana! But here comes Zelina! Vega runs down the ramp, CLOBBERS Alba, and then she gets in the ring! Zelina tilt-o-whirl DDTS Piper! And she KNEES Alba off the apron! But Chelsea CLOBBERS Zelina! Chelsea fires up, the UK is oddly with her, and she chicken wings Zeina. But Zelina fights free to fire forearms and body shots! And a BACK ELBOW! Zelina reels Chelsea in, CODE- SUPERKICK from Alba! SENTON from Piper! The Green Administration is just too much for Zelina to fight against alone! But can she, Kayden & Katana find a way to turn things around?
WWE United States Championship: LA Knight VS Braun Strowman!
Did the Mega Star just get this title back from Shinsuke Nakamura? YEAH! Did he help the Monster of All Monsters fight off Solo Sikoa’s rouge bloodline? YEAH! And now, does he have to defend this title against the monster he just helped? YEAH!! But will Knight still reign this close to WrestleMania? Or will Braun #GetTheseHands back on a championship?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s time for Knight’s biggest challenge, YEAH!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two circle. The two tie up, and Braun SHOVES Knight away. Knight comes back, Braun SHOVES him down again! Knight gets up, gets around, and he headlocks. Braun powers up to back suplex, but Knight lands out! Knight tries but Braun’s too big to suplex! Braun ELBOWS Knight, storms up on him, but Knight fires haymakers! Knight whips, Braun reverses, but Knight KICKS back! Knight runs, but Braun HIP TOSSES! Cover, TWO! Knight stays in this, but Braun brings him up. Braun puts Knight in a corner, CHOPS, then runs, for a SPLASH! Knight sputters along ropes, Braun keeps moving, but Knight DUMPS him out!
The fans fire up as Knight then WRECKS Braun with a dropkick! Knight keeps moving, and he WRECKS Braun again! The fans fire up with Knight, but then Braun BOOTS Knight down! The fans are torn but Braun stands tall as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Braun puts Knight back in the ring. The fans cheer as Knight KICKS Braun! Knight tries again, but Braun’s still too big to back suplex! Braun CLUBS Knight, then runs in at the corner. Knight BOOTS Braun, goes up, and FLYING BULLDOGS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Knight and Braun rise back up, and Knight dodges a shot to JAB! Then he dodges to JAB! JAB! JAB! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” But Braun KNEES low! Braun scoops, Knight slips free, and Knight RAMS Braun into buckles! Then the BACK SUPLEX! The fans fire up and Knight rises again! Knight spells it out, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO!
Braun has plenty left in the tank but the fans rally for Knight. Knight stands Braun up to kick low, but Braun THROWS Knight away! Knight rises, and Braun LARIATS Knight up and out! The fans fire up as Braun rips the shirt! Braun gets on the track, and he runs in, STROWMAN EXPRESS MEETS JACOB FATU!! The Samoan Werewolf strikes Braun down!
Winner: Braun Strowman, by disqualification; LA Knight retains the title
The fans boo as Jacob now goes after Knight! He just ruined what was becoming a great match, but Jacob fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT on Braun! SAMOAN DROP onto the desk!! The desk doesn’t budge, but Braun might’ve been broken in half! The UK fires up for Fatu as he puts Braun in the ring! Jacob fires more HEADBUTTS, then HEADBUTTS away on Braun in the corner! The fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE, FATU~, FATU~!” Jacob runs corner to corner, but Knight kicks him first! Knight fires haymakers, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Jacob denies the BFT to POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! And then HIP ATTACK for Braun anyway!
Jacob keeps going, HIP ATTACK for Braun again! Jacob throws off his jacket, glares at Braun, and he runs in for a third HIP ATTACK! Braun flounders into the drop zone, so Jacob goes up, up, BEST MOONSAULT EVER! Direct hit on Braun, but the fans want that “ONE MORE TIME!” Jacob obliges, BEST MOONSAULT EVER! The Samoan Werewolf just tore up #OneBigSOB and LA Knight, will there be no stopping him from taking the United States Championship?
Backstage interview with Jimmy Uso.
Jackie Redmond is with #BigJim, and she says that while she knew WWE was going global this month, she did not know they’d get the slap heard ’round the world! Jimmy says he’d do it again, and he’ll slap Gunther as many times as he needs! Jimmy knows Jey is up in his own head, doubt is creeping on him. But just because Jey’s 0-3 against Gunther doesn’t mean Gunther’s unbeatable! The Ring General CAN be got! Jimmy’s going to Raw this Monday, he will bust Gunther’s ass, Jey will go to Mania and bust Gunther’s ass to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. And then they leave Las Vegas just like this: YEET!
Jimmy heads out, but then The Miz & Carmelo Hayes walk by. Miz is mocking Jimmy’s words, and he asks excuse me. Miz says it’s just funny that suddenly, Jimmy is a tough guy, even though for most of his career, he’s been “The Other Uso.” Doesn’t Jimmy get it? Jimmy and Jey are career sidekicks while Gunther is a main character. Gunther is the lead, neither Jimmy nor Jey can beat him. And here’s another thing: The Usos are just blips on the trailer that was Roman Reigns’ Bloodline. Melo says Jimmy & Jey are stuck outside the club, they can’t even get in.
Miz says as a former WWE Champion, a former WrestleMania main eventer, Jimmy will never know what it is to carry this industry. And after this year’s WrestleMania, neither will Jey. Oh, and by the way, if Jimmy ever slapped Miz like that, Jimmy would still be on the ground. Jimmy feints the slap and Miz freaks out. Jimmy says it may be him and Gunther on Monday, but he’ll holler at Aldis real quick so it can be Jimmy VS Miz here tonight. Yeah, YEET! Jimmy heads out, Melo says he thought Miz was gonna do something about the slap. Will Miz have to do something about running his mouth before he gets his teeth kicked in?
Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga find Jacob Fatu backstage.
Solo asks Jacob what the Hell he was doing out there. Jacob goes out there alone without saying a thing to them? Jacob says he ain’t gotta say nothing to nobody! Matter fact, didn’t Solo not tap in with him last week? Tama says, “But Jacob,” only for Jacob to say, “But nothing, Tama!” Solo wants Jacob to lower his tone, but Jacob says okay. Let him be very clear with them. When it comes to Braun Strowman, Jacob WILL be the last man standing. Y’all better get in where you fit in, cuz that US title? Oh, Jacob’s bringing it home to the family. And he will do it with them, or without them! Yadada mean? Fatu heads out, is the Samoan Werewolf no longer following Solo?
Naomi speaks.
“I mean… How did we even get here? I don’t know. One thing that I do know is that I’ve always been the woman to do the right thing. I’ve always been the woman to do the right thing. So Bianca, what makes you think that my attack on Jade was anything different from me doing the right thing? When I sit here and I think about all that I’ve sacrificed, all that I’ve given, and that’s what really breaks my heart. Because through all of that, I’m made to be the bad one in this situation. I just don’t understand, how does Jade come in outta nowhere and take my place with you? I want you to ask yourself this, Bianca. Who inspired you? Hmm?
“Who’s inspired women over the last decade? Who’s always had your back from day one of you being here? Me. Not Jade. Hmm. But you know what? What I’ve learned through all of this: You teach people how to treat you. And I’m done with being treated as a third wheel. I’m done being pushed to the side, I’m done with being too nice, I’m done with being undervalued, underutilized, underappreciated! So moving forward, hmm… Moving forward, here’s my message to you, Jade. If you continue to be in my way, I strongly advise you to proceed with caution.” The Glow shows her dark side, but will the storm be moved?
Nick Aldis meets with Jade Cargill.
Speaking of, the SmackDown General Manager understands things have been rather difficult for her as of late. Jade says she’s been trying to get her hands on Naomi for the past few weeks, now where is she? No one has seen her all day, so as far as anyone knows, Naomi’s not here. Well, when Jade catches Naomi, it’s on sight. Jade leaves, B-Fab & Michin are there. They let her know that what Naomi did to her was straight trash, totally uncalled for behavior. And after Jade gets her hands on Naomi, she’ll handle that business. Jade agrees. Mia says they’ve all got business to handle. Jade’s got Naomi, and Mia’s gonna get Charlotte for messing with her girl, B.
B-Fab says Naomi’s got what’s coming to her: no sympathy, no regrets. Jade, just do what you gotta do. Oh, she will. Jade also wishes Mia luck tonight. Mia & B-Fab head out, will the Head Baddie in Charge make the Queen bow down in London?
The darkness approaches.
“You are as I was. As I am, you will be.” The shadows are starting to take shape, but is SmackDown about to fade to black?
Charlotte Flair VS Mia Yim w/ B-Fab!
The Queen looks down on everyone, so it’s no surprise that everyone else wants to take her down. Charlotte may have checked off B-Fab, but will the HBIC be a much different story? Or will Charlotte only sharpen her edge before facing Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania?
WAIT! NAOMI ATTACKS B-FAB & MICHIN! Naomi drags Mia up for a FACEBUSTER! Naomi rains down fists, the ref reprimands and the fans boo, but Naomi tells the ref to back off. Naomi then BOOTS B-Fab off the apron! Naomi goes out after B-Fab to THRWO her into barriers! Naomi SLAPS B-Fab, tells her to stay down, but B-Fab gets up. Naomi fires hands, then she SMACKS B-Fab off the desk! Naomi rains down fists, but here comes Jade! Jade hurries down the ramp, she runs around the way, but Naomi runs away! Jade makes sure B-Fab is okay, but refs have to help her to the back. And what of Mia? Will she even be able to compete?
Charlotte makes her entrance, not really caring about what Naomi just did to Mia. But that means she also crosses paths with Jade. The fans like the look of this stare down, but Jade and Charlotte both let the other slide. Charlotte gets her pyro, and it seems she’ll still get her match. Will Mia be little more than an appetizer now?
The bell rings, and Charlotte BOOTS Mia down! Cover, TWO! Mia stays in this and the fans rally up. Charlotte just struts around while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns, Charlotte has Mia down with a chinlock, but the fans rally up. Mia fights up, fires body shots, and she then blocks a shot to ROCK Charlotte! Mia ROCKS Charlotte again and again, then reels her in for a TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up as Mia hurries to cover, TWO! Mia drags Charlotte up, wrenches, but Charlotte says no to Da Feet! BIG back suplex! Mia stagger sup, Charlotte whips her, but Mia reverses! Charlotte goes up and out, BOOTS her away, then slingshots in and rolls Mia! Mia rolls through and BUZZSAWS! Mia runs corner to corner, but Charlotte avoids the cannonball!
Charlotte YAKUZA KICKS Mia down, then fires herself up! The fans “WOO~!” as Charlotte has Mia in the drop zone,. Charlotte steps on her, goes up the corner, but Mia gets underneath her! SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO! Charlotte survives and Mia is shocked! Mia nods as the fans rally back up, and she brings Charlotte up. But Charlotte ROCKS Mia! Mia SOBATS, PELES, and then runs to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Charlotte stays in this, Mia grows frustrated, but the fans continue to rally. Mia uses that energy to stay focused, and she stalks Charlotte to waistlock. But Charlotte ELBOWS her away!
Charlotte CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOSP! Charlotte winds up, and she CHOPS again! Mia sputters, but then she dodges the boot! Charlotte is caught, and Mia hits a SAIDO! Charlotte flounders to a corner, the fans rally behind Mia, and Mia runs up, CANNONBALL! Mia hurries to wrench and EAT- NO, Charlotte shoves Mia away! Charlotte gets under, back suplexes, but Mia lands out! EAT DA FEET!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Charlotte’s long legs help her survive by a literal foot! Mia is beside herself while Charlotte bails out. Mia storms after Charlotte, runs up, but Charlotte dodges! Mia’s kick hits steel steps!
Mia hobbles away, goes to the apron, but Charlotte CHOP BLOCKS the bad leg out! Charlotte grabs Mia’s leg, drops a KNEE on the knee, but fans chant, “We Want Tiffy!” Charlotte just steps through, FIGURE FOUR, into FIGURE EIGHT!! Mia taps, Charlotte wins!
Winner: Charlotte Flair, by submission
Charlotte got more of a fight out of Mia than expected, but she still won. Will The Queen be more than ready to reign again after WrestleMania?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Jackie Redmond is with the WWE Women’s Champion and says Charlotte certainly looks confident. Let’s be real, Charlotte came at Tiff pretty hard. It got a lot of people talking. Tiff says yes, people talk. And Charlotte sure loves to hear herself talk. Ten years into the business and Charlotte is still so insecure that she can’t let a “rookie” get a word out. But last week, Tiff did learn something: She learned that walking into WrestleMania, she isn’t the one with something to lose. Truth is, if Tiff loses, then she lost to the great Charlotte Flair, as just a 25-year-old rookie with one year into SmackDown.
But if Charlotte loses… Well, then she lost to an “undeserving, delusional, unoriginal, backflip doing, blonde-hair-having, little girl.” Did she get it all? And Tiff can’t wait to hear the look on Charlotte’s face when they hear the words, “And STILL!” Then maybe Charlotte will finally shut up for the sake of literally everyone! They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and Tiff will make damn sure what stays is Charlotte’s massive ego. Tiff is walking into and out of Mania as the WWE Women’s Champion. Tootles! Tiff heads out, will it still be #TiffyTime after WrestleMania?
Randy Orton VS Drew McIntyre!
The Viper told Cody how proud he was, but also how he wants the next shot after John Cena. The Scottish Terminator took offense to that, and basically said he is taking that shot instead. Will this match be an unofficial #1 contender’s match between these two former world champions?
SmackDown returns and McIntyre makes his entrance. The bell rings and the fans sing, “OH~, Drew McIntyre~!” and chant “R K O! R K O!” Drew and Orton circle, tie up, and they go around in a deadlock. Drew powers Orton to a corner, but Orton headlocks back. Drew powers up and out, then he runs Orton over! Orton hurries to ropes and Drew mockingly asks, “How’s the back feel, Randy?” Orton stands, he and Drew reset, and the fans duel some more. Drew calls for a knuckle lock, Orton accepts, but then Drew kicks low! Drew bumps Orton off buckles, then climbs up, but he panders for too long and Orton YANKS him down!
The fans fire up as Orton climbs now! Orton rains down fists, and the fans count to nine. Orton hops down, brings Drew around, and POSTS him for ten! Drew tumbles out of the ring, Orton goes out after him, and they’re by the desk! But Drew kicks Orton first and SMACKS him off the desk! Drew clears the desk, and he brings Orton up for the DESK- NO, Orton fights free! Orton turns things around, DESK BACK SUPLEX for Drew! The fans fire up while Orton leaves Drew behind, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Drew writhes on the floor, but Orton goes out to fetch him! Orton brings Drew around, UPPERCUTS him, then says one more time! DESK BACK SUPLEX! Drew writhes as that desk stays standing! Orton grins, refreshes the ring count, and then he storms up on Drew. Drew pokes Orton in the eye! Drew POSTS Orton now, then brings him around to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP into barriers! Orton slumps down, and Drew also grits his teeth from that double-edged attack, but Drew fires up as he stands tall. Drew drags Orton up, puts him in the ring, then stalks Orton. Drew looms over Orton, and HIP DROPS him!
Orton sputters, Drew says one more time, and he winds up for the HIP DROP! Drew paces around Orton, says maybe one more time, and he pretends he can’t hear the fans. Drew winds up again, but Orton flips over! Hip drop meets kneecaps! And then Orton pokes Drew in the eyes! The ref reprimands but Orton rises up. Drew sputters and flounders, Orton ROCKS him with a right! Drew ROCKS Orton back! Drew storms up, Orton kicks low, but Drew fires another haymaker! The haymakers go back and forth, Orton gets the edge, but Drew GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTTS! Cover, TWO! Drew clamps onto Orton with an armlock!
SmackDown returns to single picture and the fans rally up. Orton fights up, pries at the chinbar, and then throws right hands! Drew CHOPS Orton in return! The fans “WOO~” and Drew winds up. Drew ROCKS Orton again, eggs him on, then CHOPS again! Drew shoves Orton to a corner, CHOPS again, then dares Orton to fight! Drew whips corner to corner, but Orton comes back to LARIAT! And LARIAT! Drew swings, Orton dodges, SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up as Orton stalks Drew to the apron. Drew HOTSHOTS Orton first! Drew then runs in, but Orton puts him through the ropes!
The fans fire up as Orton has Drew for the DRAPING DDT! The fans fire up for Orton, and Orton hears those voices! Drew rises, but then Orton spots KEVIN OWENS! The Prizefighter is on the ramp, Orton glares at him, but then he turns around into a CLAYMORE!! Cover, DREW WINS!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
Kevin’s mere presence costs Orton, and now Drew has a huge win propelling him down the Road to WrestleMania! As for Orton, Kevin drags him out of the ring, SMACKS him off the desk, and then climbs up to join him! The fans boo but Kevin and his hot pink sneakers have Orton in position, but Orton slips free and TRIPS Kevin up! Kevin hits the desk then the floor! Orton staggers around, the fans rally behind him, and Orton stalks Kevin to the corner of the barriers. Orton lines up the shot! Orton runs in, but Kevin jumps over barriers! Security is there to stop Orton from pursuing, so Kevin runs away into the night!
The fans boo, but The Viper was that close! Will Orton be able to strike Kevin down and completely take him out?
Fire, thunder, smoke…
The force of nature is drawing ever closer. And he’s ready to fly! REY FENIX arrives next Friday Night SmackDown!
Jimmy Uso VS The Miz!
#BigJim gave Gunther a piece of his mind and a mark on his cheek, but it seems not everyone got the message. Will the Hollywood A-lister soon star in the Uso Penitentiary? Or will he prove Jimmy is NOT ready for a world champion level opponent?
The bell rings and the two tie up. Jimmy powers Miz to a corner, Miz turns things around, and the ref counts. Miz takes a swing, Jimmy ducks it to CHOP! And CHOP! Miz shoves Jimmy back, then runs up, but Jimmy TACKLES Miz! Jimmy rains down fists, Miz shoves him away to go to ropes, but Jimmy storms back up. Miz ELBOWS Jimmy away, then runs back up, only for Jimmy to LARIAT him down! The fans fire up while Jimmy storms up on Miz. Jimmy CHOPS Miz, has him in a corner, then whips corner to corner. Miz reverses, Jimmy goes up and over, then UPPERCUTS! Miz staggers back to ropes, but Jimmy is right on him.
Jimmy whips, Miz reverses and kitchen sink knees! Then basement BOOTS! The fans fire up, Miz scowls, and Miz KNEES Jimmy in the back again and again. Miz stalks Jimmy to the ropes now, and he CHOKES Jimmy! The ref counts, Miz runs, and Miz STRADDLE ATTACKS! The fans boo, but Miz runs again. Jimmy ducks the boot, then dodges a lariat! Jimmy runs up to LARIAT Miz up and out! The fans fire up and Jimmy builds speed, but Miz runs away! Jimmy smirks as he goes out the side, and UPPERCUTS Miz over the barriers! Jimmy makes sure Gunther knows he’s coming to get him, but SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and both men are down. Miz and Jimmy crawl, and Jimmy pounds the mat. The fans rally, Jimmy rises and runs up to LARIAT! And LARIAT! And mule kick! Jimmy then UPPERCUTS Miz, dodges a lariat, then SAMOAN DROPS! The fans fire up, Jimmy goes to the corner, “UCE! OH!” Jimmy runs in, but Miz puts him on the apron! Jimmy UPPERCUTS again! Jimmy climbs, leaps, but Miz gets under! Miz then waistlocks, ripcords, and MOVIE MAKER! Fans boo that blatant parody, but Miz full nelsons! Jimmy drops, victory rolls, TWO! Miz has the cover, TWO! Miz hurries to BASEMENT DDT! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally up as Jimmy survives! Miz stalks Jimmy, the fans rally up more, and Miz fires a KICK! And then another KICK! The fans say “YES! YES! YES!” to the It Kicks, but then Miz winds up. Jimmy ducks the buzzsaw, Miz blocks the superkick, but the DRAGON WHIP connects! Miz rebounds to B-MOVIE KNEE!! Cover, TWO!! The parodies don’t get it done, but Miz still has his original work to fall back on. The fans rally for “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Miz runs in, A-LIST LARIAT! Miz shoves Jimmy down, then springboards, but into a SUPERKICK! Jimmy hurries up top, for the USO SPLASH!! Cover, Jimmy wins!
Winner: Jimmy Uso, by pinfall
Miz may be a movie star, but Big Jim’s the one winning this main event! Jimmy then borrows Joe Tessitore’s headset to call out Gunther! He’s coming after dat ass on Monday! Gunther won’t be the ring general, he will be “Private Gunther,” and he will salute Big Jim! Uh, uh, YEET! Will Jimmy be the one making examples out of the World Heavyweight Champion? Or will everything come crashing down when Gunther gets his turn?
Drew McIntyre returns backstage.
And he says hey to Lewis Capaldi, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, and also a big fan of Drew’s. They’re ready to have a good night in the pub, but Jackie Redmond walks over to congratulate him on the win tonight. She was hoping to get some thoughts on that victory and what happened with Orton and Kevin. Drew says it’s alright, this is what happens. He doesn’t care about anybody else’s business, but no one gets away with screwing him over. And when no one meddles in his business, he wins! Drew called out Priest, where is he? Priest doesn’t have the balls! So time to get mad in the pubs, everyone’s invited!
Drew turns the corner, but PRIEST IS THERE! Priest ROCKS Drew, SMACKS him off the door, then throws him into road cases! Priest ROCKS Drew, SMACKS him off the trunk of a car, and then again! Or since it’s London, “the boot.” The driver complains, but Priest BODY SLAMS that guy through a table! Drew comes back to KNEE Priest low, SMACK him off the trunk, and then off the side! They go to the hood, or bonnet for UK. Drew drags Priest up, but Priest CLAWS Drew’s eyes! Priest then sends Drew SOUTH OF HEAVEN through the windshield! Priest tells security that he’s done for now. Any more jokes, Drew? Didn’t think so! RIP, jackass!
Priest leaves, the producers hurry to help Drew, and Drew’s got glass in his eye! Will that glass help Drew see why he shouldn’t piss off the Punisher?
CM Punk heads to gorilla.
He has a security detail with him, and he passes by Drew writhing in pain. Punk chuckles, then continues on. Will his contract signing with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins be just as brutal? We find out, after the break.
Nick Aldis is in the ring.
The SmackDown General Manager welcomes us back, and says it is his honor and privilege to be here in the O2 in London. Now, we all know why he and this table is here, and why additional security is here tonight. Tonight, we are here to sign a contract for a Triple Threat. Perhaps the biggest Triple Threat in the history of WrestleMania: Seth Rollins VS CM Punk VS Roman Reigns! The fans cheer all those names, and here comes the OTC! London puts the ones up, and Paul Heyman accompanies THE Tribal Chief out on stage. Roman raises his finger to the sky for the pyro, then security follows him to the ring.
SmackDown goes picture in picture as Roman’s entrance continues, and he raises his finger to the sky for the second round of pyro. Roman steps into the ring, SmackDown returns to single picture, and Heyman hands him a mic. The fans sing, “ROMAN! ROMAN REIGNS~!” Roman nods, the fans cheer, and now they chant, “O T C! O T C!” Roman tells London, “ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” The fans cheer again, and again chant, “O T C! O T C!” Roman smiles, but he sees the chairs are not to his liking. Heyman makes sure to put one at the head of the table. Heyman also dusts the chair off while Roman enjoys the singing of, “ROMAN! ROMAN REIGNS~!”
Roman takes a seat and says that was beautiful. The way they sing to their Tribal Chief, it’s just beautiful. The singing continues, and Heyman even joins in! Roman smiles, and he says that is what he’s talking about. That’s the OTC for you, baby! The biggest star on the planet! The OTC came here for two reasons. One: to be acknowledged; check! And two: to sign this contract. Roman does just that, and he says he’s checked both boxes. That means- “BURN IT DOWN!” Seth Rollins interrupts! The fans now sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins struts out in his red wine paisley suit and conducts the O2 Choir all the way into the ring.
The fans cheer while Roman frowns, but Rollins takes the seat to Roman’s left. Rollins offers Heyman a chance to sing to this song, but Heyman frowns. Rollins chuckles, and he says the fans do have beautiful singing voices. He doesn’t know why Roman is in such a hurry to leave, though! This is their building! There’s a lot of history here! 12 years ago, they landed on the roof of this place in a helicopter! They came down those stairs over there, “ready to burn down the old guard!” They put the Undertaker down through the desk, and they were going to remake this company in their image!
Now don’t get him wrong, Rollins knows a lot has happened since then. They fought against each other, with each other, a little bit of love and a whole lot of hate. But Rollins dare says, as the fans continue to sing “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~,” that Rollins and Roman accomplished their mission. The fans start to chant for CM Punk, but Rollins tunes them out. Roman says, “We? We? You keep saying we. Our mission? We died a long time ago. It’s only been ME. You been here, but I done all the work! I’ve made this place what it is today! I took us to the level that we are here today! I made this place better than we found it!
“I’m the one that made us desirable to Netflix! I’m the one that took us into billion-dollar deals! Tell me, what have you done?” Rollins shouts, “I’ll tell you what I’ve done! YOU, YOU, YOU, it’s that mindset that keeps me having to screw you! You understand that? And your biggest mistake is not understanding the danger that’s right in front of us! The danger that’s right in front of you! You let the biggest snake in the world, CM Punk, into the garden! And you could’ve cut his head off at WarGames! But instead, you shook his hand. You could’ve let me finish him inside the cage at The Garden, but you didn’t. And now, I am left to do what I always do: Clean up your mess, again.”
Rollins drops his mic, picks up the pen, and signs his part. And now, here comes CM PUNK! The fans fire up and sing along with Cult of Personality, then join in on saying, “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME~!” Punk goes to the ring, but as he grabs a mic, he goes up a corner, just like he did last Friday. “I have come here to chew bubblegum and sign a contract. And I’m all outta bubblegum.” The fans cheer the Rowdy Roddy Piper reference, and Punk hops down to take his seat on Roman’s right. Punk looks over said contract, but Roman asks if Punk needs a highlighter or something. What’s he doing? Just go to page four, clause five.
Punk does as Roman says, but Roman says Punk needs to hurry, this is precious TV time. Punk reads the segment, Roman tells Heyman to just smarten Punk up. Heyman tells Punk he knows what Punk is looking for. It is in there. They’re closing the show at WrestleMania. The fans go wild hearing that! Heyman tells Punk that he gets to live his dream of dreams. CM Punk will be a WrestleMania main eventer! The fans cheer and while Roman smiles, Rollins is furious. Roman says, “One man’s dream is another man’s favor! CHECK!” Wait, this was the favor? Rollins says no! This is not something to laugh at, and Punk does not get to tear up!
Punk is NOT deserving! He does NOT deserve this! The fans boo but Rollins continues to throw a fit! Main eventing WrestleMania is SACRED, the most important thing in the world to Rollins! More than anything! Except the fact that Punk NEVER gets to main event! This is all Roman’s fault! This is all Heyman’s fault! Rollins THROWS his mic down, paces angrily, but Punk picks up the mic. The fans cheer Punk on again, and Punk stands to thank London, to thank Chicago, to thank Louisville, Kentucky, and to thank ALL the fans. As corny as it sounds, he thanks the WWE Universe who stood by him and chanted his name for TEN LONG YEARS!
Roman says hold on, hold on. Punk shouldn’t be thanking the fans! He should be thanking the Tribal Chief! It is because of Roman that Punk gets this honor! So please, take this moment, close the show with that acknowledgement! Do this the right way. The credits are already rolling as Punk kneels before Roman!? Punk smiles, and he thanks “My Tribal Chief, the holder of the ula fala, the Head of the Table, the… Big Dog? Thank you for allowing a kid from Chicago to be graced by your presence. Thank you, My Tribal Chief, for allowing me to stand in your ring. And thank you so much. Thank you, Roman Reigns, so very much.
“But because of you, I will see you in the main event of WrestleMania.” And again, Rollins is agonizing over this. Punk finishes putting his signature on the contract, and London tells him, “You Deserve It!” Punk thanks Roman again, and then says, “But that’s not the favor that I’m owed.” WHAT?! Roman looks at Heyman and Heyman can’t look him in the eye! If getting this Triple Threat made into the main event isn’t the gift of the Wise Man, then what is?!
My Thoughts:
A good SmackDown, but they pulled off quite the paradox. They made it feel like they were struggling to fill three hours, yet they also filled the show to the point where that contract signing segment was almost bleeding over the three hour mark. Ironically, part of the problem was just how excited the London crowd was for this. The superstars still wanted to enjoy the chants and songs, but that’s time SmackDown doesn’t have to spare. It made the opening promo from Cody, Orton and Drew take longer, and it kinda did the same to the contract signing at the end. Even so, we still got a very good promo, and good stuff to set up Orton VS McIntyre.
Orton VS McIntyre was a great match, but of course Kevin costs Orton. McIntyre gets his win, Kevin and Orton have a bit of a brawl, but of course Kevin ends up on the losing end and runs off. McIntyre’s trash talk also comes back to bite him as Priest gets the better of him in their brawl. Here’s hoping Drew didn’t actually get glass in his eye, but that being the thing in kayfabe can be some good stuff. I can imagine McIntyre with an eyepatch, and he takes it off at the opportune time to get the better of Priest in their match. Also what a fitting choice for Punk to be passing by Drew suffering because of real glass.
Very good title matches tonight, but of course the status quo was kept. Pretty Deadly gets to look great here in London, but the Profits only just got the belts, they’re not going to be transitional champions like that. And Knight VS Braun was really good stuff, but honestly, Jacob Fatu going after them both should’ve been a given. Jacob also had a great promo with Solo & Tama to start adding to that divide between Jacob and Solo. I would hope Solo doesn’t screw Jacob out of the US Championship, but it feels like he will as Solo won’t stand for Jacob defying his authority, even though Solo’s been trying to make Jacob the champion all along.
Very good stuff from Jimmy Uso tonight, from his promo with #MeloDon’tMiz and then a great match with Miz. Their match ended up the de facto main event match, so that’s also great for both guys. Great win for Jimmy, but that’s likely because Jimmy is losing big time to Gunther on Monday. And it might just be me, but it feels like only now is the Jey VS Gunther build really moving, largely in part because Jimmy got involved. Jimmy’s promo after his match is something along the lines of what Jey should be saying. But I suppose as brothers, Jimmy is the one who knows Jey best and knows what Jey needs to be motivated again. And seeing Jimmy get beat up by Gunther will definitely motivate Jey…
Good final vignettes for Rey Fenix and Aleister Black. I’m a little surprised they confirmed Rey Fenix is showing up next week, and that they confirmed who Rey Fenix even is. I believe commentary confirmed Rey Fenix is Penta’s real brother, even namedropped “Lucha Brothers,” but all that is still surprising considering Fenix is going to start on SmackDown. Aleister’s vignette (at least I am fairly confident it’s his) was giving us glimpses of his silhouette, but I think there was usage of AI in the snake imagery. It was fine they did it for El Grande Americano because that is all trolling, but they really should try and do things the old fashioned way of photoshop and stock imagery.
Very good stuff in the Women’s Division tonight, though the WWE Women’s Championship portion was the weaker. Naomi’s got a great Heel persona going, her promo was great, and her going after B-Fab & Michin over them supporting Jade was a great detail. Jade runs Naomi off, helps B-Fab, but there was no helping Michin in being fed to Charlotte. Tiffany had a decent promo, and it does fit how Charlotte kept her from speaking so she finally gets things out here. It didn’t really add that much, though, but they already gave us a great brawl so not sure what more they can give.
KC Squared VS The Secret Her-vice was a very good match, but of course Chelsea made sure her team won. A Six Woman Tag of Zelina & KC Squared VS The Green Administration is certainly coming, to help give us Zelina VS Chelsea for the Women’s US Championship.
My Score: 8.7/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 3.27.2025
Bad news out of the TNA management side, but this is a taped episode from El Paso! So we won’t see any of the fallout just yet!

Now we all heard the news about the TNA change in hierarchy, and I…have no positive outlook on that. Delirious sucked at booking and creative in the dying days of ROH before it got bought as a B show. Dreamer having even more control is concerning because his ideas the last two years haven’t been much better.
Gail leaving makes more sense to me. Be it firing or a “you can’t quit, you’re fired” kind of situation, the Knockouts division is the worst it’s been in a long time and Gail was close with Scott D’Amore. So I don’t think Gail parting ways is as big of a problem since TNA has slowly been bleeding out with the Scott faithful.
Granted, I think the next few shows were already taped before the firing so things shouldn’t be completely unwatchable for at least a week or two. So let’s see where we’re going.
.@WeAreRosemary sends @XiaBrookside a CHILLING message!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/LaVxF6l2yc pic.twitter.com/srciTTbel0
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 28, 2025
Ratings:
- Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley vs Elegance Clique w/Personal Concierge: Ash wins via Rarefied Air – ** 1/4
- Fir$t Cla$$ & Frankie Kazarian vs Laredo Kid, Octagon Jr & Chavo Guerrero Jr: Chavo wins via Gory Bomb into Frog Splash – *** 1/4
- Jacy Jayne vs Masha Slamovich: Masha wins via Russian Death Device – ***
- Eric Young w/two losers vs Ace Austin: Eric wins via Piledriver – ** 1/2
- Seto & Mokuba – I mean – Nic Nemeth w/Ryan Nemeth vs Leon Slater: Nic wins via Danger Zone – *** 1/4
Results:
Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley vs Elegance Clique w/Personal Concierge
Ash and Gigi start off, Gigi with a little Rascalz after her first takedown. So both her and Wentz are making it obvious something’s going on between them, and I’m not mad at it. Good for my man Wentz.
Tatum and Gigi get some quick tandem offense in, Ash does manage to scurry off to a tag and Heather gets bent into a Pretzel. Some kind of Inverted Tarantula from Tatum, Gigi tags in, Bronco Buster on Heather followed by Kawada Kicks. Heather sells against the ropes, Gigi goes for a Hesitation Dropkick, but Concierge pulls her away so Gigi crashes and burns. Ref is distracted, Ash gets in some cheap shots and then the Elegant duo starts working over Gigi. A few quick tags, but once Heather comes in, Gigi fights out of the corner, gets the hot tag to Tatum. Tatum stacks up both Elegance members, Corner Stacked Crossbody, Butterfly Suplex and an Elbow Drop with some some flare. Tatum goes to the top rope, Heather pulls Gigi off the apron, Concierge shoves Tatum off the turnbuckle and Ash hits Rarefied Air for the win.
Post match the Elegance Clique wants to make their wish with the cake, they light the candles and Tatum and Gigi recover enough to do what we all expected last week, the cake in the face spot. Some…suggestive licking from both of our Hot Topic Hotties, so…no complaints here.
.@Ashamae_Sebera, @Heathereckless and @IamGeorgeIceman are having a meltdown!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/LaVxF6l2yc pic.twitter.com/FnKwPqm2ff
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 28, 2025
Fir$t Cla$$ & Frankie Kazarian vs Laredo Kid, Octagon Jr & Chavo Guerrero Jr
Chavo and Kaz start since he’s King Petty, a quick rope run turns into a Headscissor from Chavo. Kaz recovers, they lock up, Kaz hits the Knee Lift during the lock up to tag out to KC. KC pulls off some athletic dodges, gloats a bit so Chavo waits, measures and nails a gorgeous Dropkick. Laredo comes in on fire, quick high spots that send KC bouncing around like HBK against Hulk. KC powders after sells the Satellite Takedown, AJ checks on him and we go to commercial.
Back from commercial, Octagon is lighting up KC’s chest with overhand chops, he perches, Sunset Headscissor Flip from corner to corner, KC tries to Back Drop him but Octagon does a headstand, kicks KC away and lays him out with a high spot. AJ gets on the apron to stop Octagon from running the ropes, the referee has a stroke or something because he stops paying attention and AJ pulls Octagon out of the ring and chucks him. KC with the Tope con Hilo and tag (tag ropes haven’t mattered since the 80s we all know this). So AJ is getting taunted by the crowd in Spanish, but he’s manhandling Octagon since it looks like a Child fighting their parent. AJ knocks off Chavo and Laredo, Laredo pops up and tries to get involved but he’s caught on the shoulders, Octagon goes for the Crossbody but gets caught and AJ pulls off “World’s Strongest Wasteland” but Chavo breaks up the pinfall. AJ throws Octagon into the corner, Tennessee Whiskey, and tag out to KC. KC hits a few moves, but starts to lose the momentum until he connects with a Super Kick. Simultaneous rope run into the Dueling Crossbodies, so we get the timely tag outs from both sides. Kaz and Laredo come in, Laredo lands like two moves before Kaz hits a Sole Butt, Lariat and eats his lunch. KC and Kaz try to double team Laredo but he fights out and the crowd is chanting for Chavo.
Chavo tags in, and he’s rocking KC, Saito Suplex, Low Bridge to AJ, Reverse the Whip so Chavo goes to the corner and perches, KC feeds, Chavo Backflips to safety, rolls through and lays out KC. Chavo is feeling himself, 3 Amigos start on KC but only 2, Kaz comes in and Chavo switches to Kaz for the Amigos, only 2 again before AJ breaks it up. AJ goes for the disrespect, but Chavo counters and hits the 3 Amigos on the biggest Culero. Aztec Warriors dive to stop AJ and Kaz, KC tries a Dirty Victory Roll but Chavo kicks out. GORY BOMB into FROG SPLASH!
Chavo looked fantastic and he’s the one in the best shape in the ring. I wouldn’t be mad at more Chavito.
Jacy Jayne vs Masha Slamovich
I expect very little from this match.
Collar and Elbow, gator rolling for the first 30 seconds or so, then Jacy goes to some Hair Pull takedowns and does a little taunt before Masha pops back up and hits a Lariat into a Dive. Jacy sells it like she’s really hurt, even the ref tries to hold Masha back a little before Masha gets annoyed and just grabs her, Masha throws her in, looks for a Dive and Jacy sees it and powders. Masha tries to go back to the well for the Dive again but Jacy hits the Uppercut and then an Apron Run PK to drop Masha. Forearms rain down into a Foot Choke as Jacy continues to arrogantly play to the crowd. Another Foot Choke into a Cannonball, and near fall.
Masha gets space with a Sole Butt, tries to snap off Requiem but Jacy fights off, fights through a Sunset Flip another effective PK keeps Masha on her ass. Jacy looks for a kinda half-assed Camel Clutch as Masha is fighting up, but Jacy runs her into the corner, gets distracted mouthing off to the crowd, so Masha recovers, 5 Hole Up Kick sends Jacy into the corner, Yakuza Kick into Capo Kick for two. Requiem attempt again, but Jacy pushes off, a little back and forth, Masha tries a Backslide but Jacy gets away and hits a V-Trigger but only a 2 count. Jacy looks for the Discus Punch but Masha ducks it, they strike back and forth, but some dodges from both leave the exchange more even. Jacy with the Front Kick to the face sends Masha to the outside. Jacy wants another PK, but Masha blocks, Electric Chair Apron Snake Eyes. Masha throws her in, a PK into a near all. Requiem attempt 3, and thwarted from Jacy with a Superkick into a Neckbreaker. Senton misses from Jacy, Buzzsaw Kick, into Spinning Back Kick and Russian Death Device for the win.
Better than I expected, and Tessa attacks as soon as the bell rings. Xia Brookside and Lei Ying Li make the save after Tessa grabs the belt.
Eric Young w/two losers vs Ace Austin
Ace and Eric tie up, World of Sport start but as soon as Ace starts to get away EY punches him in the face. Eric looks at the camera and says “This is what trust looks like”, turns his back on Ace, when Ace looks to attack, the loser duo cut him off. EY takes advantage of the weird situation, but Ace with some Up and Over quick spots, into an Inside Cradle and La Magistral. EY kicks out of the quick flash attempts, but eats a Dropkick, and Ace goes all Speed Kils on him with fast strikes and then a face buster for another near fall. Strike spot very early in the match, Ace gets the best of it, goes for a Tear Drop Suplex but EY sits on it to block, Headlocks to keep him close and then a snap Lariat into beatdown bully tactics. EY takes the referee’s attention and one of the nerds punch Ace in the face.
Eric tries to lean on Ace, but Ace fires, a few strikes, Click Click Boom, the Miz Seated Lariats in the corner, Mochizuki Triangle Kick connects! Only a 2 count, but Ace seems to be in control. Ace puts EY on the ropes, a few strikes to keep him rocked, wants a Superplex, but EY blocks, bites the face and Macho Elbow gets a very close two count. EY tries the Piledriver but Ace turns it into a Jacknife Cradle,Spinning Heel Kick, calls for The Fold, but the losers hop on the apron to distract, Ace attacks them. Ace tries to time out the Triangle Kick again, but Eric dodges, throws Ace head first through the buckles. As Ace stumbles out of the corner, Piledriver, and it’s over.
Oh look it’s the “we’ll hear from Joe Hendry” segment. Again, I’ve loved this gimmick since Day 1, even didn’t hate his What Culture Pro stuff, but there is such a thing as milking a cow too much.
Elijah interrupts the whole “Who’s next” speech. When Elijah comes out he says he’s not the challenger and he believes in Joe. The crowd wants Elijah to turn on Hendry. Elijah pauses for a moment, and starts proving his friendship with stating his favorite color and a little “You Got a Friend in Me”. The crowd is into singing along and waving their cameras like Lighters to a 30 year old song. THANKFULLY Kaz breaks up the hug fest. Now he gets the “Culero” chant.
Kaz pulls out a Bass…what the hell is this Jam Session. Kaz has to warm up so he plays “La Cucaracha” on the bass. Kaz…is a national treasure. Hendry kicks Kaz out of the ring after his Heelish and playfully racially charged song choices. Kaz tries to sow dissension, but Joe and Elijah pinball Kaz between them. Kaz slips a power move and tries to shove Elijah into Joe but Elijah puts the brakes on, a small tense moment. But then Joe and Elijah play “Nah Nah Nah Nah, Hey Hey, Goodbye”…and that goes right into a commercial. Oddly…perfect.
Nic Nemeth w/Ryan Nemeth vs Leon Slater
Nic shoots the half immediately for a flash pinfall but Leon kicks out at one. Nic continues to keep things grounded with his amateur wrestling skills, and then does a little Dolph Ziggler show off. So Nic isn’t really taking this seriously, and Leon starts getting the best of things with an Arm Wringer, into drag, Shoulder Tackle and rope run as Nic tries to Leap Frog and Leon puts on the brakes and just shoves Nic on his ass. Nic gets annoyed, a few strikes, grinds his face along the ropes, but Leon keeps stringing some offense together, Back Handspring Elbow into his Corner con Hilo.
Ahh the classic formula of the commercial gives the heel the advantage, Twisting Suplex from Leon stops Nic’s offense momentum, right hand, Leon lifts Nic up for something, Nic slips it, kicks him in the gut, looks for the FameAsser, but Leon catches him into a Blue Thunder Bomb variation. Slater wants the Swanton 450, but Nic powders. Leon tries to adjust into a Dive, but Nic cuts him off, counter for counter and a FameAsser out of the counters for a two count. Nic starts the big brother tactics, bootwashes and arrogance, Slater fires, punches into a Yakuza Kick. Leon wants another Lethal Injection variant, but Nic catches him into a Rear Naked Choke. Slater tries to turn it into a pin so Nic breaks it. Leon wants a Leg Lariat but misses and gets unceremoniously dropped by Nic. Nic puts Leon up on the buckles, Superplex possibly but Slater counters, tries to collect himself for a move, but Nic falls into the ropes to crotch Leon, and finally hits the Superplex.
Twist of Slate from Leon, Swanton 450 but knees get up. Locomotion Cradles from both but they kick out, Ryan picks the ankle to trip up Leon just a touch and then Danger Zone ends the match.
Ryan starts the post match beatdown, but the Hardy’s music hits and they come down to the ring for the save. Matt challenges the Nemeths for Rebellion because they’re not medically cleared yet.
Overall Score: 6.5/10
Decent story motion, no match was offensive, and there was actually some solid match action for television standards. I don’t have a ton to complain about aside from the Knockouts Division is in a weird spot, and giving Hendry a lot of just talking and hollow payoff segments feels stupid. If we need to hear from him every week, give him a talk segment like Highlight Reel or something. Yes I know First Class just got The Penthouse, but if Hendry is going to talk more than wrestle, give him a talk segment for us to sink our teeth into.
There was the announcement that Xia, Lei Ying and Masha will face Tessa, Jacy and a mystery partner. So you gotta wonder if there’s going to be another NXT mercenary, a surprise return or if it’ll just be Rosemary since she’s got her issues with Xia. Also I just realized that Unbreakable is going to be on a Thursday, seemingly after iMPACT? I’m gonna have to see how they do it, because if there’s an Impact episode and 2-3 hour PLE…I do not want to be awake until 1am. People need to work, and I will be Unwakeable if things go that long.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!