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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One step away from the Cup!
David Finlay awaits in the New Japan Cup finals, and will either face Shota Umino or Shingo Takagi! Can the Roughneck slay the Rampaging Dragon?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata; Kojima & Nagata win.
- 10 Man Tag: The United Empire VS El Phantasmo, Jado, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg & Daiki Nagai; The United Empire wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hontai VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
- Six Man Tag: Just4Guys VS Bullet Club War Dogs; War Dogs win.
- Six Man Tag: Bullet Club War Dogs VS House of Torture; Double Count-Out Draw.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
- 2025 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Shota Umino VS Shingo Takagi; Shota wins and advances to the finals.
PLAY BY PLAY
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS House of Torture!
Yota Tsuji was cheated out of the New Japan Cup by the King of Darkness, but that’s no surprise. However, that means Evil has a golden ticket to the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Will Dick Togo & Yujiro Takahashi help Darkness Fall? Or can Testuya Naito & Bushi help Yota keep everything tranquilo?
Even now, Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire. Eventually, the pants are put aside, and Naito is wearing the new Tendedero merch shirt. LIJ fist bumps, but The House attacks! The fans boo but the bell rings so this is on record. Evil has Yota on the outside and he CLAWS Yota’s eyes! Yujiro CHOKES Naito, Dick bumps Bushi off buckles, and then Yujiro TOSSES Naito! Dick CHOKES Bushi now, then he and Yujiro double whip. Dick runs corner to corner but Bushi dodges! Bushi BOOTS Yujiro, then headlocks Dick! BULLDOG DROPKICK COMBO! The fans fire up and Bushi hurries to tag Naito.
Naito stomps Yujiro, Bushi joins in, and Evil protests. Evil runs in, but into an atomic drop! Evil staggers away to a corner, Naito & Bushi whip Yujiro into him! Evil falls, Naito kicks Yujiro, and holds him in place, for the NECKBREAKER! Naito poses and the fans cheer. Naito then covers, TWO! Tokyo Pimp is tougher than that, but Naito drags Yujiro up to cravat. Yujiro endures the neck wrench, Naito CLUBS him then whips. Yujiro reverses and Dick gets a cheap shot in! Yujiro runs, but Bushi gets as cheap shot in! Naito runs but Evil trips him up! Dick BLASTS Bushi, Yujiro BLASTS Yota, and Evil drags Naito out.
Evil RAMS Naito into the timekeeper! Abe-san again suffers at the hands of Evil! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Evil drags Naito up. Evil pushes Naito into the ring, then he and Dick loosen the blue buckle pad. Yujiro covers Naito, TWO! Yujiro drags Naito up while the fans rally, but Yujiro snapmares to drop a leg! And he drops another leg! And another leg! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer, but Yujiro taunts LIJ. Yujiro drags Naito up, bumps him off Evil’s boot, and then he tags Evil in. Evil CLAWS Naito’s eyes then stomps away on the legs! The ref reprimands, Evil drags Naito out, and then Evil stomps the leg more!
Evil drops an ELBOW on the knee! Evil pulls on the leg in a toehold, then traps the leg in a leg scissors! Yota runs in and stomps Evil, but Dick TOSSES Yota back out! Evil pulls on the leg, almost has an ankle lock, but Naito has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Evil lets go, and he tags in Dick. They split the wishbone on Naito! The fans rally for Naito but Dick throws down fists. Cover, TWO! Naito is tougher than that and the fans continue to rally. Dick is annoyed, but Naito fires body shots on him! Dick CLAWS Naito’s eyes! The ref reprimands but Dick whips. Naito reverses and ELBOWS Dick, to then arm-drag him!
Naito dropkicks Dick’s legs out! The fans rally, Dick and Naito crawl, hot tag to Yota! The fans fire up as Yota CLOBBERS Dick, then BLASTS the House! But Dick CLAWS Yota’s eyes! Yota runs, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Yota runs corner to corner, to SPLASH! Yota scoops and SLAMS to then run and BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he paces around. Yota drags Dick up, suplexes, but Dick fights that! Dick wrenches, hammerlocks, headlocks, then punches Yota! Tag to Evil and they mug Yota! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Dick & Evil stand Yota up.
Dick & Evil double whip to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Yota down! Cover, TWO! Yota is tougher than that and the fans rally up, but Evil tells them to shut up. Evil drags Yota to his feet, talks more trash on the fans, but the fans give that back. Evil “puts one out” on Yota, then fireman’s carries! Yota slips free to ROCK Evil! The fans fire up with Yota, he runs, but Evil goes the other way! But Yota catches the pounce into a clinch! BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER, and STOMP! The Gene Combination hits and the fans fire up! Evil sputters, Yota rolls and tags in Bushi. Bushi runs up to dropkick Evil’s legs out! Then Bushi BLASTS Dick!
Yujiro kicks Bushi, whips him to ropes, but Bushi reverses to dropkick the legs out! Evil is back but Bushi DECKS him! Bushi then builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and Evil is sent into railing! The fans fire up, Bushi puts Evil back in, and Bushi aims from a corner. Bushi runs corner to corner to ELBOW Evil, then he puts a leg in the ropes to DROPKICK it! Bushi brings Evil out and has the leg, but Evil pulls on the mask! Bushi breaks free, kicks, but Evil blocks, hands it to the ref, and mule kicks Bushi down! Dick & Yujiro BLAST Naito & Yota off the apron! They then double whip Bushi to a corner! Dick ELBOWS Bushi! Yujiro BOOTS! Evil LARIATS!
Dick goes up, Evil & Yujiro hold Bushi open, and the ref reprimands! No one to distract him this time! But then Evil just grabs the ref and turns him around! The ref can’t get free, Bushi suffers the DICK CHOP! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives and the fans fire up! Evil is stunned but he brushes that off. Evil paces around Bushi, slashes his throat, and vows to end this! Evil drags Bushi up, spins him, EVERY- NO, Naito gets in to kick Evil down! Yujiro is in, Evil distracts the ref, and Yujiro blocks a kick to LOW BLOW Naito!! The fans boo, but Yota runs up! Yujiro blocks his kick, and trips him up, to FALLING HEADBUTT LOW BLOW!!
The fans boo but Evil still holds onto the ref. Bushi stands, Evil shoves the ref at him! Bushi pushes the ref aside, and he blocks the low blow! But Dick LOW BLOWS from the other side! Evil & Dick get Bushi up, for MAGIC KILLER!! Cover, the House of Torture wins!!
Winners: House of Torture, by pinfall
But they’re not done, as they beat up on Yota now! They snatch the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship from him, and Evil holds it up. The fans boo, but Evil takes aim at Yota! But Yota LOW BLOWS Dick! And he dodges Evil’s attack to then pop-up LOW BLOW! Yujiro has his pimp cane! Yota blocks that, takes the cane, and LOW BLOWS Yujiro with it! The fans fire up behind Yota as he takes his belt back. Yota holds it up to show that not everything is Evil! Will the Gene Blast stop the House of Torture from having more gold?
2025 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Shota Umino VS Shingo Takagi!
The Paradigm Shift has certainly taken a turn after The Roughneck gave up his fiery red locks. Shota has changed up his style in the ring to match his new look, but will this Second Chapter lead to the Cup? Or will this young hero fail to slay the Rampaging Dragon?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. They’re strongly behind “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” but Shota doesn’t let that bother him. Shota and Takagi slowly step forward, feel things out, then clinch. Takagi waistlocks but Shota turns around to facelock. Takagi wrenches out and has a wristlock, but Shota rolls, wrenches back, and then hammerlocks. Takagi reaches back to headlock and he hits the takeover, but Shota headscissors. Takagi kips free and the fans cheer the standoff. The two reset and feel things out again. They knuckle lock, then go shoulder to shoulder in a Test of Strength! Shota has the leverage but Takagi powers up.
Takagi breaks a grip, wrenches, headlocks, and he grinds the hold. The fans rally up while Shota endures. Shota pries at the headlock but Takagi keeps it on tight. Shota powers up and out the back, then headlocks in return. Takagi endures the grind now, and he powers up and out! They RAM shoulders, Shota keeps going to RAM Takagi! Takagi rebounds to RAM Shota, but Shota stands his ground! Shota fires a forearm, Takagi fires a DOUBLE CHOP! Takagi whips, but Shota reverses to scoop, HOTSHOT, and then he RUNS Takagi over! The fans fire up while Takagi bails out. Shota waits on Takagi, and the fans rally up again.
Takagi takes his time stepping back inside, and he resets with Shota. They knuckle lock, but then Shota shoots in and trips Takagi up. Shota stomps that leg, then he SMASHES the knee off the mat! Shota stalks Takagi to a corner, then puts the leg around ropes. The fans rally, Red Shoes reprimands, but Shota pulls on the leg. Shota then brings Takagi out to trip him, and Shota stomps away on the leg. Shota drops an ELBOW on the knee, and pulls on the toehold! Takagi endures, works his way back, and has the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go, but then he drops a knee on the knee! Red Shoes reprimands but Shota stomps Takagi’s leg again.
Shota drags Takagi up, facelocks and turns him, but Takagi elbows free! Takagi runs in at the corner but Shota BOOTS him! Shota runs, but Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feint and DDT! Shota staggers around while the fans fire up, and Takagi LARIATS Shota up and out! Shota staggers into railing then slumps down. The fans rally behind Takagi while he shakes out the bad leg. Takagi goes out to fetch Shota, and he drags Shota back up. Takagi RAMS Shota into the apron, then RAMS him in again! Takagi whips Shota hard into railing and Shota slumps down! Red Shoes wants Takagi to get this back in the ring, so Takagi rolls in.
The fans applaud and the ring count begins. Shota is still down at 5 of 20, sits up at 8, and he rises up at 10. Shota stands at 13 and hobbles his way over. Shota rolls in at 15, but Takagi stands on him! Red Shoes reprimands but Takagi marches in place before he steps off. Takagi KICKS Shota in the back, then drags him up to whip. Takagi KNEES Shota at the ropes, then runs to CLOBBER Shota! The fans fire up and Takagi flexes. Takagi drags Shota up, reels him in and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Shota is tougher than that, but Takagi looks to the camera. Then he wags his finger, it’s not time yet.
Takagi clamps onto Shota with a chinlock and squeezes tight. Shota endures, so Takagi sits him up and shifts around to also trap an arm. Shota endures being twisted and turned, and he kicks his way forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud, and Takagi lets go, only to BELL CLAP! Red Shoes reprimands but Takagi brings Shota around to SENTON! The fans cheer more and Takagi stands back up. Takagi looms over Shota, kicks him around, but Shota just gets mad. Shota glares at Takagi so Takagi eggs him on. Shota stands to fire a forearm! Takagi shakes his head, so Shota fires another forearm! And another!
Takagi wobbles a bit and Shota fires a flurry! But then Takagi blocks one to wrench and knuckle lock! Takagi goes up the ropes!? The fans fire up, but Shota breaks free! Takagi gives thumbs down, and the fans boo, but Takagi HIP ATTACKS Shota down! Takagi rallies the fans behind him, then reels Shota in. But Shota BACKDROPS free! Takagi gets up fast, but Shota dropkicks the legs! Shota turns Takagi for a NECKBREAKER! Shota snarls, goes to a corner, and the fans rally again. Takagi stands, Shota runs corner to corner and UPPERCUTS! Then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect, but Shota stays clam.
Shota drags Takagi up and reels him in, but Takagi fights the lift! Shota CLUBS Takagi, whips him to a corner, then runs up, but he blocks a boot! KNEE JAMMER, and then a SHIN BREAKER! Shota turns Takagi over for the STF! The fans rally as Takagi endures and Shota pulls on the hold! Takagi reaches out, crawls his way over, and fights his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Shota lets go in frustration. Shota stands Takagi back up to reel him back in, but again Takagi fights the lift! Shota KNEES Takagi again and again, then tries again. Takagi still fights that lift! Takagi CLUBS at the legs, but Shota CLUBS away on Takagi’s back!
Shota UPPERCUTS into a spin! Takagi suplexes, Shota fights it, so Takagi hits a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Both men are down and the fans rally back up. Shota crawls away to a corner while Takagi slaps his leg into working. Takagi watches Shota stand, then he runs in. Takagi blocks a boot, CLUBS the leg, and he LARIATS Shota down! The fans fire up and Takagi gets them even more fired up. Takagi stands Shota up, but Shota fires forearms! Takagi SHOVES Shota down, but Shota is right up to fire more forearms! Takagi THROWS Shota down, but Shota’s right up to fire forearms! Takagi YUKON LARIATS outta nowhere!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi rises and grabs at Shota but Shota shakes him off. Takagi still tries to stand Shota up but Shota kicks him now! So Takagi short arm LARIATS Shota down! And he short arm LARIATS again! Then a scoop for a SLAM, and Takagi goes up! YUKON ELBOW DROP! Takagi hauls Shota up, and hits a POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! Into an STF! Takagi gives Shota a taste of his own medicine! Shota endures, the fans rally, and then Takagi shifts to Just Facelock! Shota still endures, then fights around and reaches out. Takagi shifts to a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Shota still endures!
Shota reaches out but Takagi pulls on that arm! The fans rally, Takagi puts as much as he can into the Fujiwara, but Shota fights and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud while Takagi lets off, and he throws some elbows down for good measure. Takagi then brings Shota up, puts him on the top rope, and he fires ridge hand chops! Takagi climbs up, goes to the very top, and hits a SUPER DUPER PLEX! The fans fire up and Shota writhes! Takagi covers, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up again. Takagi finally says, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as the time has finally come! They then join in with “OI! OI! OI!”
Takagi stalks Shota, brings him up, and pump handles, only for Shota to fight the lift! Shota slips free, half nelsons, but Takagi elbows free! Shota UPPERCUTS, then UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Shota winds up and runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT at the ropes! Takagi keeps moving, Shota gets around to SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! But Takagi’s right up to SNAP GERMAN! Shota’s right up, ducks a lariat, and he SNAP GERMANS! Shota roars, runs up, but into a PUMPING BOMBER!! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Takagi and Shota go to opposite ends, and the fans rally up.
Takagi goes to a corner, drags himself up, and Shota is in the other corner. The fans rally harder, and they both run in! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, but neither man falls! So they DOUBLE LARIAT again! Both stay up, Takagi SWATS a lariat to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Then he whips Shota, but Shota reverses to TORNADO DDT! Takagi’s right up!? But Shota LARIATS him back down!! Shota also falls and the fans rally back up! Takagi and Shota stir, and Shota crawls his way over to Takagi. The “SHOTA! SHOTA!” fans are showing up now, and he reels Takagi in, for a POWERBOMB!! High stack cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up again and Shota fires himself up. Takagi slowly rises up, Shota runs, but Takagi swats the lariat! ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- SHOTGUN! But Takagi’s up to PUMPING BOMBER again!! Both men are down again as we hit 20 minutes! Takagi pounds the mat, the fans rally up, and Takagi crawls over to Shota. The dueling is starting to sound even, and Takagi brings Shota up. Shota fires boxing elbows, then a ROLLING- NO, Takagi catches him! Pump handle, MADE IN JAPAN! Cover, TWO!! Takagi shouts out Milano Collection AT with how he tucks Shota’s arms! TAKAGI DRIVER 98!! Cover, TWO!!
Shota survives but Takagi keeps moving, SLIDING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Takagi gets going again, and he PUMPING BOMBERS!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Shota survives and shocks everyone! Takagi thinks on what he must do now, and he brings Shota back up. The fans rally, Takagi pump handles and torture racks! But Shota kicks and flails to get free! Shota LARIATS, but Takagi stays up while Shota drops to his knees! Takagi shakes his head, brings Shota up again, but Shota ENZIGIRIS! Takagi goes to a corner, Shota fires forearms and an elbow, then a ROLLING ELBOW! Takagi stays up to ELBOW! JAB! And whip!
Shota reverses, and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up, Shota brings Takagi to his feet for the fisherman and SECOND- NO, Takagi fights that to scoop Shota! LANDSLIDE DRIVER!! The fans rally up again and Takagi watches Shota rise. Takagi runs, Shota dodges, but then Takagi dodges! DOUBLE LARIATS!! Shota falls on the cover, ONE?!?! Shota gest going again, SHOTA BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!!! Takagi will not be beat at his own game and the fans fire up! Shota goes to a corner as the fans are dueling, and Shota BUSAIKU KNEES! Then he hooks the leg, SECOND CHAPTER!!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!!
Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
The Rampaging Dragon has been slain! Perhaps if this was the Shota from before New Beginning, the story would be different, but the Second Chapter writes Takagi out of the tournament. Will Takagi battle his way to the top from a different path?
As for Shota, he decides not to say anything, and exits the ring. But wait! David Finlay & Gedo make their way out here! Gedo grabs the mic to ask, “Oi, kid, where’d you go? Get back out yere, you punk! Get back here, kid!” Shota responds to that taunting and makes his way back out. Gedo tells Shota, “I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but do you realize who you’re facing in the finals? The Savage King, David Finlay! He’s crazy strong, kid! Tougher than you can imagine! Whatever it took for you tog et here, in an instant, it’ll be destroyed! Get over here, ya punk! Get over here! I wanna know how much you want this!”
“You want to come in here, say your piece? Just try!” Gedo drops the mic for Shota, and then Shota stares Finlay down. Shota picks the mic up, and he tells Finlay, “I promise I will beat you.” Finlay likes the sound of that. These two stare down, and we are just days away from them battling for it all! Who will be the 2025 New Japan Cup Champion, and the man aimed squarely at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?
My Thoughts:
Another great night for New Japan Cup, but with as much filler as yesterday’s event. The War Dogs sure have their hands in many things, as does the House of Torture with how Evil is building to a title match with Yota Tsuji. The War Dogs and House of Torture going to Double Count-Out Draw again was a good move, it keeps both sides equal as we wait for them to do whatever huge faction warfare match they’re planning. As for Yota VS Evil, hard to say at this point as House of Torture won the match but then Yota stood tall after that scrap. It’d be really weird if Evil gets that title off Yota just to be a transitional champion to Finlay so that Finlay can get “his” title back.
Shota VS Shingo was a great match, but the crowd really took a second to get into it. There still seems to be a number of fans who are uncertain on Shota so they didn’t feel like cheering right away, but Shota got them on his side as things heated up. Shota winning makes sense, he’s got this new attitude and so that’s part of the push. I hope he changes his aesthetic enough once we get to the finals on March 20th. Take those all white paints, airbrush something on them that helps represent what “Second Chapter” Shota is about, or even just go with a solid color like red or blue to indicate the change visually. As for who wins, that is anyone’s guess, as Finlay will have to circle back to the Bullet Club Civil War at some point.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Adrenaline in Brussels, every thought out of control!
Cody Rhodes has called him out and now it’s the moment of truth: Will John Cena return to Monday Night Raw live from Brussels, Belgium?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- No Holds Barred: PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser; Penta wins.
- Dakota Kai VS Ivy Nile; Dakota wins.
- Jey Uso VS Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller; Jey wins.
- The Creed Brothers VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee; Rey & Lee win.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS Finn Balor; Bron wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
JOHN CENA IS HERE!
Brussels erupts with booing as the traitorous GOAT makes his way out. He’s wearing the custom Belgium merchandise, but not even that is enough to appease the fans, and they still sing, “John Cena SUCKS~!” Cena grabs the mic and paces around while the fans boo and give thumbs down. The dueling does begin, “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” and Cena just stands there to let it play out. Then he drops the mic and turns to leave, but that makes everyone boo! Cena picks up the mic, fans chant, “You Sold Out!” so Cena drops the mic again. The fans boo, so Cena picks the mic back up.
Cena finally speaks, “When someone is properly grounded in life… They shouldn’t have to look outside themselves for approval.” Fans chant and sing at Cena some more, but Cena says they are making this so easy for him. “For 25 years, I’ve been the victim, okay? I have been the victim of an abusive relationship. No, no, no, you have lost your time to talk!” The fans say, “You Sold Out!” Cena says fine, take the floor. But what do they do with it? They just abuse and bully him into being their damn puppet, and expect him to do it with a smile on his face! NO MORE! The fans tell Cena off, and he lets them say it. “So very classy. Thank you.”
“Look, I am not a ‘baby face,’ I am not a ‘heel.’ I’m a human being. And each and every one of you has been AWFUL to me! Go ahead, go ahead! You’ve been awful!” The fans boo more, but Cena says it has been the same damn noise for 25 YEARS! When he first got here, the fans let him know really loud that they hated him. Moments of embarrassment and shame, they let him know he wasn’t worthy of them. So he changed himself, and it worked for a second, but then it wasn’t enough! So what’d he do? He worked hard like always, he started to win and win and win and win, and win and win and win and win!
But oh, he won a lot, and fans hated it! It wasn’t enough! So what’d Cena do? He spent 10 YEARS giving away everything he possibly could, and it still wasn’t enough! The fans tell Cena to STFU, but he just smirks and shakes his head. In his final moments, what’s the only thing he can do? He can walk away. Wow, and now you cheer. But he announced his retirement in a move no one has done before. He really is walking away at the end of this year. He tried one last time to get along with the fans. He tried one last time to do something nice, but they ruined it! Just like they ruin everything!
Because just like right here tonight, it was great for two seconds, and then it wasn’t enough! The fans sing “Hey Hey Hey~, Goodbye~!” Cena says, “Each one of these idiots is proving my point with every breath. My point is, no matter what I do, it is never enough, and you should all be ashamed of yourselves. All you ever do is take. You take, you take, and you take! And you only care about yourselves! I put my values on the line to make a very important choice in my life, and all you could think is, ‘What do we get?’ My story changed! ‘What do we get? John Cena’s coming to my town! What do we get? This is trending! What do we get?’
“Not one of you SOBs asked me how I feel. No one! It’s just ‘What do we get? What do we get?’ YOU GET NOTHING! You get what you have earned, and what you have earned is NOTHING! You don’t get a new look, because you dress like me, I don’t dress like you idiots! You don’t get new music! That is MY voice on that song, and your time is finally up! And my time is finally now! The only thing you get is to take a long look in the mirror to see how awful each and every one of you has been for 25 years to me!” The fans still boo, and even shift to, “We Want Cody!” Oh, they want Cody? OH~, of course! The brand new, shiny toy! Because they’re about to put this one out to pasture.
Like he said, they’re just proving his point that they’re awful people. And that’s every single person here! No one is safe, no one can hide, especially those he can pick out in the crowd. This guy, that guy in the front row, and that other guy. Yes, he sees them. The “Let’s Go Cena” people. They’re the ones who support Cena. The dueling begins again, and Cena says, “You hear that, world? The Cena Sucks Jagoffs, they have already proved themselves awful people. I’m about ot tell you why the Let’s Go Cena people are just as awful. You claim to support me? What have you ever done? What have you, you, you, what have you ever done to support me, huh?!
“What have you ever done for me? All you ever do is steal from me! You steal! You steal my personal moments! You steal my time! You have made me your freakin’ toy! I am an object to you! You have made me the butt to a stupid ‘invisible’ joke for 15 years, and you still think it’s funny! It is NOT funny! It is pathetic! You are pathetic.” Fans tell Cena off again, but Cena says they don’t wanna hear this, huh? Not ready to hear this? Not ready to lean into the uncomfortable conversation. The truth is, the fans don’t wear his merch to support him. They wear it to feel good. They wear words like Hustle, Loyalty, Respect, but Cena LIVES them.
The fans think they can buy the words “Never Give Up?” Cena is the definition of perseverance, and everyone here knows it! “You do not support me. What you do is you use me as an excuse for your pathetic failure of a life. Because all you’ve ever done there for 25 years is sit on your ass and watch me be great! NO MORE! This, everybody, including that one kid right there, is a toxic, dysfunctional relationship! Oh, you don’t wanna hear it, huh? It’s too tough for ya? Well listen to this. I’m breaking up with you. I’m done. I’m breaking up with every single person. Whether you like me or you don’t, you’re dumped.
“I don’t need you anymore. I don’t care about you. And you don’t matter to me. And here’s the thing. There’s no noise you can make, there is nothing you can do, because you know I’m right and you know you are wrong!” WAIT! Here comes Cody! Brussels erupts with cheers this time, and they sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, continues down the ramp and high-fives fans, and Cena just waits on Cody. We get the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and more pyro as Cody throws off his jacket and steps into the ring with Cena. Cody raises the Undisputed WWE Championship, the fans cheer, and then Cody gets himself a mic.
The fans cheer as the song dies down and Cena scowls. The fans sing, “CODY! CODY RHOOODES~! CODY, CODY RHOOODES~!” Cody lifts the belt again and the fans cheer more. Cody then finally says, “I think everybody was willing to hear you out, even myself. If I understood correctly from what you just said, they’ve given you their worst. Sure, they might’ve given you their worst. But they’ve also given you their best for 25 years, and they did that because you were special. They did that because you were special. They did that because you could take it. They did that because you could carry it!” The fans cheer that.
Cena says, “Look, kid,” but Cody tells him, “ENOUGH! And it’s certainly not ‘kid.’ It’s champion!” The fans cheer that, too! And Cody wants to ask Cena something. “Who the hell are you? Where’s the guy on this shirt? Right here! Even after what you did, I was excited at the prospect of going week to week, face to face, with John Cena. And instead, I got this. Well this better not show up at WrestleMania. Because if it does, I run it over, I run it out, because I already took its best shot and it wasn’t good enough, I retire it early! So go find John Cena, because I wanna wrestle him at WrestleMania 41, not this whiny b*tch!”
Cody drops his mic and leaves the ring, the fans all fired up! Cody gives Cena one last look before he makes his way back up the ramp. The fans sing for “CODY! CODY RHOOODES~!” again, and he again lifts the belt. Cena is still in the ring, so the fans boo. Cena drops his mic, exits the ring, and the fans again sing “Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye~!” Cena gives them one last look before he goes backstage. Will this Cena be all we get from now until the end of 2025?
No Holds Barred: PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser!
After going back and forth, and even adding Pete Dunne to the mix, the Man with No Fear and the Impeccable German have it out with nothing holding them back! Will Penta show Kaiser what #CeroMiedo looks like when it is fully unleashed? Or will Kaiser say NEIN to another loss?
Raw returns and Penta makes his entrance. The fans fire up with the pyro, and “CERO! MIEDO!” The fans even sing, “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~! CEROOO~, MIEDOOO~!” The bell rings and Penta eggs Kaiser on. Kaiser is annoyed with the fans, but then he and Penta start throwing hands! Kaiser gets the edge, but Penta avoids the lariat to CHOP Kaiser down! Kaiser staggers, Penta runs up, and Penta LARIATS Kaiser up and out! Then Penta slides out, runs up, but Kaiser THROWS him into the timekeeper’s area! The fans boo, but Penta gets up on the barriers! Penta tightrope walks his way to FLYING RANA Kaiser into the apron!
The fans fire up with Penta and he pursues, but Kaiser bails out. Kaiser grabs chairs, puts them in the ring, but Penta runs up to DROPKICK Kaiser down! Penta then builds speed and he FLIES! Direct hit, the fans fire up, but then the fans cheer as Penta clears the commentary desk! Penta puts Kaiser up there, CHOPS him, but Kaiser CHOPS back! They CHOPS go back and forth, the fans cheer and boo. Penta fires off a flurry, but Kaiser CLAWS Penta’s face! Then KAISER ROLL on the desk! The fans lose their minds while Kaiser stands tall, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns, Kaiser has Penta up top, and he CLAWS at the mask! But Penta fights Kaiser off! The fans fire up as Kaiser staggers, and Penta CROSSBODIES! Kaiser staggers up, Penta dodges and KICKS Kaiser in the leg! Then SLING-DOG! Kaiser flounders to a corner, Penta whips, but Kaiser reverses. Penta goes up and over to BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Penta rises. Penta aims from a corner, calls his shot, and runs up, but into a GAMANGIRI! Kaiser fireman’s carries, KAISER ROLL again, then cover! TWO! Penta survives, but Kaiser kicks him out of the ring. Kaiser UPPERCUTS Penta, then RAMS him into steel steps!
The fans boo, Kaiser leaves Penta behind, but only to go out the side. Kaiser gets running, wanting his favorite shot! But Penta BACKDROPS Kaiser onto the desk! The fans are thunderous as Kaiser writhes! Penta has the fans singing again, and he brings Kaiser off the desk to put in the ring. Penta stalks Kaiser, but Kaiser SMACKS Penta! The fans chant, “We Want Tables!” but Penta CHOPS! Kaiser fires a haymaker, Penta fires back, and the two stand. Kaiser ROCKS Penta, but Penta ROCKS Kaiser! The haymakers keep going, then Penta trades CHOPS with Kaiser’s haymakers! Penta fires a flurry of forearms, then says “CERO! MIEDO!”
Penta runs, tilt-o-whirls, but Kaiser SLAMS him down! BLINDSIDE SLIDING FOREARM! Cover, TWO! Penta survives but Kaiser stalks him to ropes. Kaiser tells Penta to listen to him! Penta will fear KAISER! Kaiser will teach Penta what it means to fear! Kaiser CLUBS Penta down, the fans sing for Penta, but Kaiser grabs a chair. Kaiser dares Penta to get up, and then he SMACKS Penta on the back! Penta scrambles to a corner but Kaiser grins as he storms up. Kaiser CHOKES Penta with the chair and shouts, “Are you scared? Say it!” Kaiser wants Penta to admit he’s afraid, but Penta just powers up! The fans fire up as Penta pushes Kaiser back! “CERO! MIEDO!”
Kaiser drags Penta up, clinches, but Penta WRINGS that arm, then has the other! THE SACRIFICE!! Kaiser writhes, clutches that elbow, but now Penta has the chair! Penta winds up but Kaiser wants mercy! Penta shakes his head but Kaiser says he gives up?! Kaiser says Penta wins? Penta isn’t sure about that, but then Kaiser CLAWS Penta’s eyes! Kaiser has th echair, but Penta SUPERKICKS the chair into Kaiser! Then he SMACKS Kaiser! Then he gives the chair back to SUPERKICK it into Kaiser again! Penta goes up, Kaiser staggers around, and Penta reels him in, FLYING MEXICAN DESTROYER on the chair!!
The fans are losing their minds, but Penta then hits a PENTA DRIVER!! Cover, Penta wins!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall
Brussels gives this brutal opener a standing ovation! Will Penta now leave Kaiser in the past to go for bigger and better prizes? Cathy Kelley interviews Penta on the ramp and congratulates him on the win. That was a definitive end to that match, and we’re on the Road to WrestleMania. What is next for Penta? Penta says first off all, THANK YOU, BRUSSELS! They are amazing, he loves ’em! But the Penta New Era is here! It is alive in Europe, but also in every continent in the world! What is next for Penta? Listen: THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
Penta wants to tell everyone that he doesn’t care what he has to do, he WILL be champion! Because he is Penta, and he has CERO MIEDO! That very title is on the line later tonight, will Penta be aimed at Bron Breakker or Finn Balor for WrestleMania?
Dakota Kai heads to gorilla.
Iyo Sky gives her a pep talk before her match, but uh, is that Dominik Mysterio talking with Karrion Kross? Is Dom still trying to recruit new members? Or is Mr. Doomsday giving Dom some special advice of his own?
The Judgment Day is in the clubhouse.
Carlito is adding to the great graffiti backstage, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez talk about how Dominik should’ve taken the match with Bron Breakker instead of- Finn walks in! Liv & Raquel say hey, and they wish him luck tonight. Finn thanks them for that, and he wishes them the best of luck in their matches. Jade Cargill is gonna be another stop on the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour! And Raquel, by this time next week, they’ll both be Intercontinental- Oh, Dom walks in! Hey, bud! The man of the moment! Finn knows Dom knows, but Finn wants to say from the bottom of his heart, thanks for getting him the title match.
Dom says of course! Whatever it takes to get Judgment Day back on top. But here’s the thing… Dom was talking with some people, and he has an idea. Oh, an idea? Is Dom sure he should say this? Dom says it’ll be okay. Ever since JD McDonagh went down, they kinda lost some muscle around here. So Dom found the perfect person to add to the Judgment Day! Finn is annoyed and asks who. Penta! Finn wants to get something straight. After all this time, and after all they’ve been through, Dom goes behind Finn’s back, has all these conversations with all these people, and the one he lands on… is offering a spot to Penta, the guy who just declared HE wants Finn’s Intercontinental title?!
Finn seethes, and tells Dom he’s just a snake! Finn storms out, the mood ruined. Dom didn’t know Penta was gonna go for the title. Carlito says Dom doesn’t watch the product, huh? Well, Dom stepped in it this time. Is there some way he can he make it up to Finn? Or should he just give up on adding members?
Dakota Kai VS Ivy Nile w/ Team American Made!
Speaking of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, both #CobraKai and the Diamond Pitbull have fought for and failed to take that title from Lyra Valkyria. With Raquel Rodriguez facing Lyra next, who will prove they’re worthy of the shot after that?
What a surprise to see Chad Gable showing up. He apologizes for being late, and then he joins The Creed Brothers in Ivy’s corner. The bell rings, and Dakota fires off fast hands on Ivy! The ref reprimands as they’re in the corner, but Dakota backs off. Dakota runs up, but Ivy stops the flying-mare! Ivy throws Dakota away, Dakota keeps moving, but Ivy LARIATS! Ivy is already frustrated and she rains down fists! The fans boo, Ivy tells them to shut up, and Maggle taunts Gable about his lucha mask that he may or may not have. Ivy stands Dakota up, whips her to a corner, and Dakota bounces off buckles into Ivy’s GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!
Ivy is annoyed but Gable coaches her on. Ivy drags Dakota up, reels her in, and she suplexes. Dakota cradle counters! TWO, and Dakota goes to a corner. Ivy runs up, Dakota ELBOWS her away, then Dakota BOOTS her! Dakota runs to DISCUS LARIAT! And then LARIAT again! And DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Dakota while Ivy ends up in a corner. Dakota runs in to BOOT WASH! Dakota then puts Ivy through ropes, and JUMP- NO, Ivy avoids the stomp! But Dakota GAMANGIRIS! The fans fire up again and Dakota builds speed, but Gable is on the apron! The fans boo, Ivy storms in, and Ivy scoops Dakota for a SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Cover, TWO!
Dakota survives, and here comes the LWO! They go after The Creeds for what Gable or not Gable did! Gable runs but gets flanked, so he goes into the crowd! The fans fire up as Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee chase after Gable! Ivy is shocked, but that lets Dakota run Around the World! BOOT! And then a fireman’s carry, GO TO KICK!! Cover, Dakota wins!
Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall
American Made falls apart in Brussels, and now #CapKota is in pole position for the title chase! Will she get one more shot on goal with Lyra? Or will she and her old rival, Raquel, meet again?
Iyo Sky heads to the ring!
The fans fire up as the Evil Genius, the NEW Women’s World Champion, is ready to sign on the dotted line! She and Bianca Belair are going to put pen to paper, but will that be all that happens? We find out after the break.
Raw returns as Bianca is in the ring, and Adam Pearce has joined them. Pearce welcomes everyone in French, and says it is now time to make this world title match official between challenger Bianca Belair, and champion Iyo Sky! The fans cheer that! Pearce says they know how this works. Two signatures makes this official, so the floor is theirs. Iyo and Bianca both take their seats, and Iyo picks up her mic first. “Bianca, you will not disrespect me again. Rhea will not disrespect me again. No one will disrespect me again. Because I am the Women’s World Champion!” The fans cheer that! “And after WrestleMania, I will still be the Women’s World Champion!” The fans cheer even more for that!
Iyo signs her part, the fans cheer again, and even chant, “You Deserve It!” Iyo bows in thanks for that. Now Bianca has her turn to speak. “Iyo, I have all the respect in the world for you. I really do. But last week, I gave you a pass because it was lowkey my fault, so I’ma tell you exactly what I told Rhea. If you put your hands on me and think you can get away with it, you don’t know me at all. So WrestleMania, you gonna find out exactly who I am. I am Bianca Belair, The EST of WWE, and I will be your NEW Women’s World Champion.” Fans are a bit more torn here, but Bianca signs her part. Pearce says it is now official!
The fans cheer and Pearce thanks them for being so professional. But then RHEA RIPLEY shows up! The fans fire up but Pearce, Bianca and Iyo are all shocked and upset about this. Mami has a mic as she storms down the ramp, but Pearce already calls in refs! Pearce asks what Rhea is doing out here, but Rhea asks them what they’re all doing out here. Because last she checked, Iyo slapped her in the face and she won’t do nothing about it, like Bianca over here. How the hell is Bianca acting like nothing happened? Well, for one, Bianca had to sign the contract for WrestleMania. That’s what she’s doing out here.
Rhea says real funny, coming from Bianca. Because Bianca had no business being out here for Rhea’s title match, but there she was. So time to take a page out of Bianca’s book, and she’s just out here to watch. Oh, then Rhea will be just watching WrestleMania! Bianca and Rhea argue, Iyo gets riled up, and she storms up like last time. But Bianca pie faces her first! Bianca says she ain’t getting smacked today! Well she gets a HEADBUTT from Rhea! Bianca ends up on the table, and then Rhea kicks Iyo! Rhea reels Iyo in, and hauls her up, to POEWRBOMB onto Bianca! The table doesn’t break, but Pearce has had enough of Rhea!
Rhea sees the contract on the floor, then picks it up. And she SIGNS IT, TOO!? Can she do that?! We have the two signatures, but is she making this into a Triple Threat?! Pearce argues with Rhea all the way to the back as she plays keep-away, but is Mami about to be on top one way or another?
Jey Uso walks ‘n’ talks.
“Yeah! Yeah! Main Event Jey Uso is now in your citaaay~! YEAH! I ain’t been myself lately. Been doubtin’ myself. Mind playin’ tricks on me. So I flew halfway around the world to whoop somebody’s ass! And that person tonight is Austin Theory. But at WrestleMania, it’s me and you, Gunther, when I shock the world and become World Heavyweight Champ! So Uce! Hey, Uce! Please hit my music-” GUNTHER IS AT GORILLA! Jey and Gunther get to shouting but Pearce and security barge in! Pearce says not tonight! Not after everything Rhea just did! Gunther says he talked to Jimmy on Friday, and he’s just as dumb as Jey!
Jey shoves Gunther, security ushers Gunther out, and Jey says he’ll see “G” out there! UH UH, YEET!! Jey makes his entrance, will he be even more fired up to fight #AllDay Austin Theory?
Jey Uso VS Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller!
Raw returns and A-Town Down Under makes their entrance. The bell rings, Waller distracts Jey already, and Theory fires off haymakers! They end up in the corner, the ref reprimands and counts, but Theory talks trash on the Yeet! Theory drags Jey up, whips him corner to corner, but Jey goes up and over. Jey keeps moving, he ducks ‘n’ dodges then SPEARS!! Cover, Jey wins!!
Winner: Jey Uso, by pinfall
That was fast! Jey really IS fired up to fight Gunther for Mania! Waller storms in, but Jey SUPERKICKS him down! Jey then watches ATDU regroup, and Jey FLIES! Jey clips the ropes just a bit but he still takes ATDU down! Jey gets back up, but GUNTHER GETS HIM IN A SLEEPER!! Gunther squeezes tight, but Jey RAMS Gunther into a corner! Jey is free to fire haymakers! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey pops, locks, but Gunther blocks the shot! Jey ROCKS Gunther with his off hand, and then he YANKS the title from Gunther!! The fans fire up, Gunther runs up in a rage, but Jey DUMPS him out! The fans fire up as Jey holds up the belt!
Gunther is furious, the fans cheer, but then Jey tosses the belt back. Der Ring General tried to punk out Jey, but Jey turned the tables! Will nothing stop Jey from proving he IS a main event player?
Pearce argues with Rhea.
Pearce will not allow Rhea to get away with what she’s doing! You can’t just write your name on a contract! Rhea says yes she can, she literally just did it! This is like talking to a child. Give him the contract! No! Yes! No! YES! NO! Rhea Ripley, give her the contract! Rhea says then he should put her in the match, her name’s on the contract! She shoves the contract into Pearce’s chest, he thanks her and takes his leave. But here comes Bianca! She and Rhea brawl! Bianca HAMMERS away, but now Iyo gets in, to go after Rhea! Bianca shoves Iyo aside and says Rhea is hers! Iyo DECKS Bianca, tells Bianca not to screw with her, but then Rhea SHOVES Iyo into a door!
Rhea goes after Bianca, and throws her into road cases! Pearce returns to have refs usher Rhea out of here! Rhea demands to be in that title match! Will Mami get what she wants? Or will she throw things out of whack until she does?
The Creed Brothers VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee!
After that wild encounter earlier tonight, this was a natural choice for all parties involved! Will Julius & Brutus get payback for Master Gable being run out of the building? Or will American Made learn not to mess with the L W O?
The teams sort out and Julius starts against Dragon. The bell rings, and Julius JUMP KNEES Lee down! The fans boo but Julius drags Lee up for a fireman’s carry. But Lee pops up to RANA Julius away! Brutus runs up but Lee dodges to SUPERKICK! Brutus tumbles out, Lee DIVES onto Brutus! Lee goes up a corner, then CROSSBODIES Julius! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Lee clamps onto Julius. Lee reaches out but Brutus YANKS Rey down! Julius turns things around and hits Lee with a ROLLING SPINEBUSTER! Then a SLIDING LARIAT! Julius scowls, the fans boo, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and the fans rally as Lee wipes out the Creeds! Lee crawls for his corner, hot tags to Julius and Rey! The fans fire up as Rey BLASTS Brutus, BOOTS Julius, then ELBOWS Brutus to dodge Julius! Tilt-o-whirl DEJA VU RANA! Julius flounders around, the fans fire up, and Rey climbs up on Julius. Rey rains down fists, and the fans count all the way to “Sept” (seven in French) before Julius carries him off the corner! Brutus is there and Julius hands Rey off! But Rey fights back, elbowing Julius away and raining fists down on Brutus! But Brutus THROWS Rey at Julius, and Julius catches Rey!
Julius powers up and brings Rey around, but Rey swings to DDT! Lee is back, FLYING RANA for Brutus to the floor!! The fans are thunderous and Rey goes up top! But Julius springs up after him! Only for Rey to HEADBUTT him away! Rey leaps, FLYING RANA and Julius is on the ropes! Rey dials it up and the fans cheer the 619! DROP THE DIME! Cover, LWO WINS!
Winners: Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee, by pinfall
The King of Lucha and his Boy Wonder took down the Creeds, but WAIT! That American Made luchador is back! He CLOBBERS Rey, dodges Lee, and then FLYING HEADBUTTS! El Americano rains down fists on Lee, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Rey storms up to fire forearms! The fans fire up, but Gable- er, uh, Americano waistlocks again! GERMAN SUPLEX and Rey lands on Lee! The fans boo “whoever this is,” but now he goes up top! The fans chant “You Suck! You Suck!” a la Angle, but Americano says SHOOOOSH! DIVING HEADBUTT on Lee!! “UH GRACIAS~!” Americano runs away as security rushes out here!
Gable was ran off from the building, yet this luchador returns. What is going on with this masked man mystery?
Seth Rollins is here!
Brussels sings his song, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as The Visionary is in a comparatively normal outfit. Rollins high-fives fans and makes his way to the ring in his dark green suit and boots highlighted with gold chain and wristwatch. What will Rollins have to say about the shocking way Roman Reigns returned? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns as the fans continue to sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins revels in it while he has the mic in hand. The fans applaud as the singing just keeps going. Another round of applause, and then Rollins tells Brussels, “Welcome to Monday Night Rollins!” The fans cheer again, and Rollins says that by the sound of this, they already know it. In case you don’t, this is a Visionary, this is a Revolutionary, this is SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! The fans cheer more, the singing returns, and Rollins again smiles. The fans applaud, and Rollins says alright. He was coming out here mad as Hell, but it is hard to be mad with those beautiful voices serenading him.
Rollins takes a moment as fans start to chant “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Well, we’ll get to him, but Rollins wants to talk Roman Reigns first. “O T C! O T C!” Yes, you saw the footage last week. Is Rollins mad as Hell that Roman came for revenge? Absolutely not, cuz he’d have done the same damn thing! HAHAHA! “The problem is, even after all these years, and a Wise Man in his ear, Roman Reigns still can’t come up with a plan. He needs his Architect to do it for him.” Roman had the time, the place, the moment, but he left one detail out: That detail is the man the fans were all chanting for just a few moments ago.
The “C M PUNK!” chant returns and Rollins says yes, “The luckiest loser on the face of the planet.” Because of Rollins had just a few more seconds in that cage, he would’ve ended what he promised the world. He would’ve stomped Punk through the mat, ended the Mania dream, and put Punk’s career on ice! Rollins would’ve taken care of the Punk Problem for everyone, including Roman. But like the good ol’ days, Rollins is left to clean up Roman’s mess. The “O T C!” chants return, and Rollins says don’t worry, he’ll put OTC in his place along the way. And it just so happens that Rollins’ two favorite people are going to be in the same place at the same time this Friday Night SmackDown.
Oh, trust him, Brussels, Rollins wishes those two were here, too. But… Rollins was just thinking… Why let them boys have all the fun? Maybe Rollins makes a trip down to Italy, makes a trip to SmackDown, and he puts himself right in between Roman and Punk? What do the fans think about that? The fans cheer, and Rollins says yeah, that sounds like a nice way to solve a problem and clean up a mess. But that is Friday, this is Monday, this ain’t about SmackDown, this is about the fans! This has been one hell of a crowd all night long! They’ve been singing with their beautiful voices, there’s just one match left and that is the main event for the Intercontinental Championship!
So Brussels, sing Rollins’ beautiful song as he makes his way to SmackDown and we make our way to the main event! Give it to ’em, Brussels! “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins revels in it again, and he says, “It’s on. See you boys on Friday, HAHAHA!”
Backstage interview with AJ Styles.
Cathy is with the Phenomenal One and says he had a lot to say on the Raw Recap show about Logan Paul. Could he give us a bit of that here? Styles says he stands behind everything he said. Styles hears the fans sing for him, then says Logan Paul just doesn’t belong. But then Karrion Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux walk over. Kross asks if that’s really how Styles feels. Styles says he doesn’t need this. Kross says he is just offering a different perspective, but if Styles doesn’t want it… Kross turns to go but Styles says fine, let’s hear it. Maybe Styles isn’t mad about Logan Paul. Maybe Styles is mad at himself. That’s enough of that.
No, hey, hold on! Kross just wants Styles to think: How long did it take for Styles to get to the WWE and find validation? 16? Styles says it was 17. Okay, okay. But it didn’t take Logan that long, did it? Is Styles not able to respect a guy who just waltzed into the business and did everything Styles has ever wanted to in record time? Styles sees where Kross is going with this, and it’s not gonna work. Styles leaves, but Kross says it’s working. He and Scarlett do the Scott Hall fingers, will their mind games make Styles and Logan bitter enemies?
Bron Breakker heads to gorilla.
And Penta is there! Penta looks at the title, and Bron smirks. Will this be the match-up for the title? Or will this Road to WrestleMania take a detour thanks to The Judgment Day?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS Finn Balor!
The Big Bad Booty Nephew has been chewing up this roster ever since he got here, but The Prince claims he chews up “rookies” like Bron his whole career. But until these two fight it out, it’s all just talk. Whose bark is worse than their bite when the bell rings?
Raw returns and Bron makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s time to see who’s the real badass around here!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. In fact, they’re even dueling, “Let’s Go, Balor!” and then barking for Bron. Finn and Bron feel things out, knuckle lock, but then Finn backs away to ropes. The ref has Bron stay back, Finn leaves the ropes, and the two reset. They tie up, Finn headlocks, but Bron powers up and out. Bron RUNS Finn over, the fans bark, and Bron snarls as he storms up on Finn. Finn kicks low, CLUBS Bron on the neck, then headlocks. Bron blocks the takeover with pure brawn, then he hoists Finn up! The fans fire up, but Finn uses that to flying headlock takeover! The fans cheer while Finn grinds Bron down.
Bron endures as Finn thrashes him around. Bron rolls Finn to a cover, TWO, and Finn holds onto the headlock. The fans rally, Bron powers out and headlocks. Finn powers out, drops down, then bypasses Bron to TOSS him out! Bron lands on his feet! The fans fire up, Bron storms in, and he RAMS Finn into a corner! Bron RAMS Finn again and again, then snarls again. Finn staggers to another corner, but Bron runs up to LARIAT! Bron whips Finn to TOSS him out, and Finn tumbles! Bron goes out the side, and he builds up speed! The fans fire up, but Finn SLINGBLADES Bron down! Finn has control while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Finn has Bron in a corner. Finn CHOPS and the fans “WOO~!” Finn paces, then he goes back to Bron for a haymaker. Bron counter punches! And counter punches! Bron fires hands, whips, then scoops, but Finn tilt-o-whirls through to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Finn ELBOWS Bron in the neck, the fans rally up, and Finn stalks Bron. Finn scuffs Bron, SLAPS him, and talks trash. “You know who I am? I’m Finn Balor!” Finn keeps scuffing and slapping, and the fans tell Finn he done messed up! Finn fires hands, but Bron just snarls! Bron ROCKS Finn again and again, then whips. Finn reverses, but Bron LEAPING ELBOWS!
Bron storms up again, clinches, and EXPLODERS! Finn flounders, Bron whips again, but Finn KICKS the backdrop away. Finn runs, Bron dodges and then catches Finn for a POWERSLAM! The fans fire up and bark, and then Bron drags Finn up. But wait, here come Dom & Carlito! It was only a matter of time before Judgment Day pulled this move! They distract Bron and Finn rolls Bron up! TWO, and Finn runs up, but Bron catches him by the neck! Military press, but Finn slips free, EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Cover, TWO! Bron survives and Finn is frustrated, but Dom & Carlito cheer Finn on.
Bron crawls to ropes, Finn spins him around, and Finn JUMP STOMPS! The fans tell Dom he sucks, Carlito tells Dom to tune that out, and Finn gives more stomps! Finn asks Dom what he’s doing out here, so apparently this was another of Dom’s ideas. Finn CHOPS Bron, then whips, but Bron ducks ‘n’ dodges and builds up speed to CLOBBER Finn! The fans fire up and bark again while Finn bails out. Bron storms out after Finn and the ref tells Dom & Carlito to back off. Bron LEAPS from the apron and onto the desk! Both men go tumbling over and the fans lose their minds! Bron sputters, Corey Graves lost a shoe, and “This is Awesome!”
Bron and Finn slowly stir, and Bron is on his feet! Finn crawls, wants mercy, but Bron stomps him! Bron puts Finn in the ring, and he dares Dom & Carlito to pull something. Bron slides in and builds speed again! SLINGBLADE! Finn hits first, and then he hurries to go again! SHOTGUN and Bron hits buckles! Bron slumps down into the drop zone so Finn climbs up! The fans fire up as Finn reaches the top! COUP DE- NO, Bron dodges, runs up, but Finn hurdles over the Spear! Roll up, TWO!! Bron grabs Finn again, military press, BREAKKER SLAM! Cover, TWO! Finn survives, both men are down, and the fans are fired up!
Dom & Carlito coach Finn but Bron is up first. Bron has blood in his mouth, perhaps from a busted lip, but he doesn’t care. Bron runs in, but Finn KICKS him first! And ENZIGIRIS! Bron is down again so Finn goes back up! But Bron hurries to trip Finn! Finn CLAWS at Bron’s head, then throws hands! The fans rally, Finn stands, but Bron ROCKS him first! Bron climbs up and brings Finn to the top! But Carlito distracts the ref! Dom YANKS Bron into a HOTSHOT, but that trips Finn up, too! Finn lands on his prince and he’s pissed at Dom! Dom apologizes, but Bron is just as mad! Bron BLASTS Dom, BLASTS Carlito, then springs up after Finn! SUPER STEINER!!
The fans are thunderously barking, Bron hits the SPEAR!!! Cover, Bron wins!
Winner: Bron Breakker, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
Bron is so badass, not even Judgment Day could cost him! But now Judgment Day attacks him! The fans boo but Dom goes to grab the belt. Carlito bumps Bron off buckles, but here comes Penta! The fans fire up as Penta slides in, and he dodges Dom to then SUPERKICK Dom down! Carlito runs up, into a SUPERKICK! Bron gives Carlito a SPEAR! But now Penta holds onto the title as he stares down Bron. The fans sing “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~! CERO~ MIEDO~!” Penta hands the belt to Bron, and Bron holds it up. Will these two put it all on the line in Las Vegas?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for Raw in Brussels, and the Brussels crowd was just as fun as the Barcelona crowd on Friday. Cena and Cody opening with their big promo segment was the right move to give it time to breathe. Cena did a perfect job of using the fans as part of his promo because he took the trope of “I blame the fans!” to the ultimate level. He didn’t just use recent stuff, he used his entire 25 years and all the phases he went through as part of it, and he really dug into some personal feelings for both him and the fans. Cody therefore had the perfect counter to show Cena was only focusing on the negative, and how that’s not who Cena has presented to us. I think we’re getting another appearance of Cena next week, can’t wait to see how Glasgow treats him.
Iyo and Bianca had a good contract signing but I expected a touch more from both promos. Rhea joining in was the main element, and this is clearly heading for a Triple Threat. That quick brawl backstage was good, and I feel like we’re going to get Rhea VS Bianca to see if Rhea earns her spot in the match. Good stuff from Jey and Gunther again, but I kinda wish we’d just gotten only brawl. Jey squashing Theory was pretty wild, and he still gets the better of Gunther here, but it should’ve just been all Jey and Gunther. Gunther promised a living Hell for Jey, but I’m not sure we’re quite there yet. All the more reason Gunther should’ve beat up Jimmy on Friday as a way to stick it to Jey.
Good promo from Styles and Kross to add to this Styles VS Logan Paul build. Kross continues to be a great instigator, but when is he going to get back in the ring for his own desires? Or is he just waiting for the right opening to mess with the right champion? Honestly, as it feels like Jey is going to win the world title, Jey is the perfect target for Kross. Jey admitted to himself that there is insecurity right now, and the belt can help give him confidence again, but Kross can certainly find ways to tear that back down on the way to Backlash and beyond.
Very good stuff from American Made. Gable being run off by the LWO of course set up “El Americano” for that tag match segment, but it was also a good part of Dakota being Ivy. I feel like it’d be a bit much of Dakota gets a third match with Lyra, but I don’t know if that means Judgment Day screws Lyra out of the title. Cheating Lyra could be a way to keep her strong in the loss, and we could get some good stuff as Dakota takes on Raquel. Plus, DMG CTRL currently having the world title makes them an eventual target of Judgment Day, and the tag titles could also be in the mix for some serious Two Woman Power Trip teasing.
Judgment Day also had great stuff tonight. Dom thinking Penta would want to join Judgment Day is interesting, I wonder if that was Kross’s idea. Penta VS Kaiser was a great opener, but I feel they could’ve done more for a No Holds Barred match. Still good stuff to give Penta the win and move on from Kaiser to call out the Intercontinental Championship. Bron VS Finn was a great match, even with Dom & Carlito showing up. Dom accidentally messing Finn up was pretty clever, and that just adds to the Judgment Day tension. While Bron VS Penta will be awesome stuff, I was kinda hoping we’d get Finn VS Penta to add even more intrigue to the Judgment Day story, but I guess that’s something that doesn’t need a title.
My Score: 8.9/10
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