Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (1/11/22)
Tonight is Phenomenal!
NXT has a phenomenal main event!
For the first time ever, AJ Styles has a match on NXT! Will his main event debut be phenomenal? Or will he suffer the Grayson Waller Effect?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Xyon Quinn VS Santos Escobar w/ Legado del Fantasma; Escobar wins and leaves with Elektra Lopez.
- Cameron Grimes VS Damon Kemp; Grimes wins.
- Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Qualifier: Joe Gacy & Harland VS Malik Blade & Edris Enofe; Blade & Enofe win, by disqualification, and advance to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
- Crowbar on a Pole: Pete Dunne VS Tony D’Angelo; D’Angelo wins.
- Six Woman Tag: Indi Hartwell, Persia Pirotta & Wendy Choo VS Kacy Catanzaro, Kayden Carter & Amari Miller; Hartwell, Pirotta & Choo win.
- Solo Sikoa VS Boa; Double Count-Out Draw.
- AJ Styles VS Grayson Waller; Styles wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
The NEW NXT Champion, Bron Breakker, heads to the ring!
The unbreakable Big Booty Nephew raises the belt high, his side plates put on it just today, and he gets the mic. Fans chant, “You Deserve It!” and Bron tells Tommaso Ciampa, “Thank you.” Ciampa is an unbelievable athlete, a great performer and an outstanding human being. Most didn’t see it, but after the match, Ciampa stood up and told Bron it was his time. Ciampa then paid respects to Bron’s father, Rick, who was watching live for the first time. Bron knows he has big shoes to fill, but he’s ready. And what he loves about NXT is that there are no bye weeks. They have to get up and perform for each and every one of the fans.
So to anyone who wants after Bron and the title, know this: Every day when you show up for training, Bron’s already trained; every day you watch film, Bron’s already watched it; every day you wanna leave early, Bron’s staying. Why? Because he’s THE NXT Champion! Bron will prove why he earned this title each and every week! Who will Bron prove that against next to build his legacy? Just as Bron makes his way out, Legado del Fantasma make their way in. The Emperor of Lucha eyes Bron and the title, but will he hold onto a different asset here tonight?
Xyon Quinn VS Santos Escobar w/ Legado del Fantasma!
The Gentleman Fighter has courted Elektra Lopez, but now is the finale of this NXTelenovela. Who wins and has both the heart and loyalty of Lopez on their side?
The bell rings and Quinn immediately CLOBBERS Escobar! Quinn CLUBS away on Escobar, throws body shots in the corner, then CLUBS Escobar more. Quinn RAMS into Escobar, keeps him cornered and fires off more body shots! Legado protests but Escobar shoves Quinn away, only for Quinn to CLOBBER him again! Lopez watches from the perch as Quinn cravats and drags Escobar up. Quinn scrapes Escobar’s face off the ropes, then throws hands and even headbutts! Escobar staggers away, Quinn throws more body shots! Quinn scoops Escobar to give him SNAKE EYES! Escobar flops down and fans are torn.
Quinn clamps onto Escobar with a chinlock, but Escobar gets up. Quinn scrapes him off ropes again! Fans duel, Quinn throws body shots and RAMS his shoulder in! The ref counts, Quinn keeps Escobar cornered to throw more heavy hands! Escobar goes to another corner, but Quinn TOSSES him across the ring! Escobar flounders to the corner, Quinn powers up and NXT goes picture in picture.
Quinn stands Escobar up to ROCK him with a right, then CLUB him down! Quinn keeps after Escobar, throws more body shots, but Escobar hits back! Escobar runs, into a FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Quinn keeps his focus, keeps after Escobar, and chokes him on the ropes! The ref counts, Quinn lets off and Escobar hits back! Quinn CLUBS Escobar, throws him out, and then follows him out. Escobar leans against the announce desk but Quinn RAMS him into the apron! And then CHOPS him against it! Escobar grits his teeth but Quinn puts him in. Joaquin Wilde runs at Quinn but gets TOSSED through the air!
Quinn turns around, Escobar DIVES! Direct hit and Quinn is sent into the desk! Mendoza helps Wilde up, Escobar goes back to Quinn, and Escobar RAMS Quinn into the apron. Escobar puts Quinn in, paces around while talking trash, and he stomps Quinn down. Escobar gets a leg for a spinning toehold! Escobar hooks up the legs, rolls, and has an INVERTED DEATHLOCK! Quinn endures, Escobar puts pressure on the legs, but Quinn crawls and drags Escobar with him to the ROPEBREAK! Escobar lets go at 4, but he stomps and KICKS the bad leg! Escobar sweeps the legs in the corner, then CLUBS Quinn down.
Quinn hobbles up but Escobar KICKS his leg more. Escobar brings Quinn around, NXT returns to single picture, and Escobar has an ANKLE LOCK! Quinn endures the unique grip Escobar uses, Quinn crawls but Escobar drops into a grapevine! Escobar stomps the leg, lets go to bring Quinn up, and runs side to side to RAM into the bad leg! Fans rally and duel as Escobar poses. Lopez has moved to ringside now, Escobar covers, TWO! Escobar KICKS Quinn down, KICKS the leg, then drags Quinn over, so he can SPLASH down on the knee! Escobar taunts Quinn, but Quinn throws forearms. Escobar SLAPS him down, then puts Quinn in a corner
Quinn hits back, Escobar puts the leg on the ropes. Escobar ROCKS Quinn, runs corner to corner and dropkicks the bad leg! Escobar falls but Lopez has a poker face as she watches. Escobar drags Quinn around, brings him up and puts him in a corner. Escobar CHOPS, but that just angers Quinn! GAMANGIRI, and Escobar goes to the far corner. Escobar fires up, runs in but Quinn CLOBBERS him! Quinn fires off body shots and a HEADBUTT! Quinn RAMS into Escobar at the corner, then TOSSES him across the way again. Quinn runs back in, another RAM, then a fireman’s carry. Mendoza distracts so Quinn TOSSES Escobar.
Quinn runs Mendoza off, but then Escobar dumps him out! Escobar goes out after Quinn, fireman’s carries, but Lopez stands in his way! Escobar drops Quinn to ask what this is about. They’re familia, aren’t they? Quinn CLOBBERS Escobar from behind, puts him back in, but Escobar comes back! Quinn CLOBBERS Escobar, gives a look to Lopez, and she puts her hands on him to feel those muscles. But then she LOW BLOWS him!! She never loved Quinn, she just wanted to reel him in! Mendoza puts Quinn in for Escobar, PHANTOM DRIVER! Cover, Escobar wins!
Winner: Santos Escobar, by pinfall; Lopez stays with Legado
Familia is forever, and the façade finally brings Quinn down! He’s no longer undefeated, and no longer Lopez’s love. Will he ever get his revenge on Legado for this?
Tony D’Angelo speaks.
“Petey Poppins, there’s 16 different ways to use a crowbar. Tonight, I’m only gonna need, I dunno, like, three.” He wanted to let Dunne off with just a busted hand. But he’s coming back after Tony? Oh, ey, big mistake. Tonight, Dunne is done. Tony just wanted a trophy from WarGames, but Dunne doesn’t listen. He’s like Tony’s dog, having to be taught not to go on the rug. But tonight, everyone will learn Tony is in charge. Will the Bruiserweight be broken by NXT’s Godfather?
Mandy Rose has a photoshoot.
“After a successful title defense, this is how your champ celebrates. Boys, get my good side. Who am I kidding? Every side is my good side.” Mandy arrived in style and left with the title. They couldn’t touch her. Mandy makes this title look hot and fans tune in to see her. Why? Because NXT 2.0 is all about Mandy. So keep watching and staring, like she knows you will.
Update on Von Wagner.
After the outburst he had involving assaulting members of the live audience, Von Wagner has been fined an undisclosed amount of money, and suspended indefinitely! When and where will we see vicious Von make his return?
Cameron Grimes VS Damon Kemp!
The Carolina Cash Money Caveman is back in action! And as he said last week, his 2022 resolution is to get him some new gold! Will that journey to a title start here?
The bell rings, Grimes and Kemp circle, and Grimes gets a leg. Kemp powers through to a waistlock and a SLAM. Grimes gets up and gets free, to get the leg again. Kemp rolls to get Grimes’ leg, but Grimes gets up to roll and get Kemp for a victory roll! TWO, Grimes arm-drags and has the armlock. Kemp claws at the hold, and Malcolm Bivens appears. Kemp headscissors, Grimes kips free. “Kiss mah grits!” Grimes swaggers, Kemp gets up but Grimes ROCKS him! And KICKS him! And KICKS again! Grimes whips Kemp to ropes, Kemp whip Grimes into a corner! Grimes elbows back, goes up top and leaps, into an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly!
Kemp roars, fans fire up for the new guy, and Kemp clamps on a chinlock. Fans rally for Grimes as he fights up, snapmares free, and runs to DECK Kemp with a forearm! Grimes starts to rally, Kemp goes to a corner. Grimes runs in to BOOT Kemp down! Grimes goes up, leaps, BIG CROSSBODY! Fans fire up with Grimes as he aims from the corner. “TO~ THE~ MOON~!” CAVE-IN! Cover, Grimes wins!
Winner: Cameron Grimes, by pinfall
Kemp’s a blue chip prospect but he just got busted! Grimes says he’s the man here, and he’s going for gold! Will Grimes cash in and make this his year?
Joe Gacy speaks.
“Harland and I want to express our sincerest gratitude to the tournament committee for allowing us to participate in tonight’s Dusty Rhodes Classic play-in match. This is an opportunity that will not be taken lightly, nor will it be squandered.” To allow them even this opportunity sis something they will remember for the rest of their lives. And they plan to use this platform to show that no mater one’s size, skills or experience, everyone has an equal opportunity to be winners of the Dusty Cup. Malik Blade, Edris Enofe, when you two step in the ring with them, you are still in a safe space. And though tonight they are rivals, Harland wants to let them know they are not rivals in life.
What does that even mean? Will it matter when the qualifier is over?
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Qualifier: Joe Gacy & Harland VS Malik Blade & Edris Enofe!
It’s the classic “win and you’re in!” But will Mr. Inclusion and his hulking protégé try to help Malik & Edris understand they’re still winners even in defeat? Or will Malik & Edris shock the world and go from a new team to top team?
The teams sort out, Gacy starts against Edris. Fans rally up for the Excellence of Execution as he ties up with Gacy, but Gacy powers him to a corner. Gacy lets off, but Enofe ducks the cheap shot! Enofe waistlocks, Gacy elbows free, and Gacy headlocks. Enofe powers out, Gacy runs him over, and things speed up. Enofe leaps but into a fireman’s carry! Enofe slips off, shoves, but Gacy whips Enofe to ROCK him with a right! URENAGE! Cover, TWO! Gacy keeps on Enofe and brings him over. Enofe keeps Gacy from tagging Harland with an arm-drag! Gacy powers up, Enofe still keeps him from Harland, but Gacy knees low!
Gacy and Enofe clinch, Enofe gets around to roll him up. TWO, and Enofe KNEES Gacy to the corner! Tag to Malik, fans fire up as he and Enofe whip and dropkick Gacy down! Malik dodges Gacy to arm-drag him for an armlock. Fans rally and Malik tags Enofe. They double whip, Gacy reverses to send Enofe to ropes, but Enofe hurdles Gacy and Malik hurdles Enofe. Malik goes to the side, Enofe comes back and holds Gacy, Malik hits a ROLLING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Harland seethes while Enofe fires up and runs at Gacy. Gacy dodges and Enofe hits buckles! Gacy drags Enofe over, tag to Harland!
Fans fire up, Enofe tags Malik, but Harland hits Malik first. Harland has a SLEEPER! Malik JAWBREAKERS free, but Harland just gets angrier! He waistlocks Malik to RAM him into the corner, then he digs his knee in! The ref counts, Harland lets off, but then digs his knees in again! Harland CLOBBERS Enofe, then drags him in to POST him! Harland goes back to Malik, dribbles his head off the buckles, but the ref counts. Harland keeps going, the ref disqualifies him!
Winners: Malik Blade & Edris Enofe, by disqualification (qualify for the Dusty Rhodes Classic)
Harland won’t stop torturing Malik in the corner! The ref gets his attention, but Gacy hurries in to keep Harland from attacking the ref. The ref says he’s just doing his job, and Gacy calms Harland. How is it Gacy can quell the rage of Harland? Can Malik & Edris rebound from this to take the Dusty Cup?
Imperium speaks.
Walter says the faction was built on three key principles: integrity, discipline and honor. “Every part of our many successes has been achieved through the glory of working harder than everybody else.” Barthel says it is impossible to explain the level of commitment to everyone here. Americans are imperfect specimens, living lives of gluttony and sloth, and are unable to imagine a world without entitlement and spoils. Aichner says when Imperium achieve success, they don’t celebrate and congratulate themselves or take time off. They just work harder. There is no easy road. Perfection is paved with pain and suffering. They don’t wish upon stars or believe in pipe dreams.
They look down on the unkempt, uneducated and unfashionable. They carry and present themselves with class, elegance and sophistication. They are Imperium, and they are not like you. To them, the mat is sacred. Will they build an empire here in NXT?
Crowbar on a Pole: Pete Dunne VS Tony D’Angelo!
The Bruiserweight doesn’t care that he has a busted hand, he’ll beat Tony D’s brakes off with every other part of his body. Will Dunne be done with Tony after this? Or will Tony take the crowbar and leave the winner?
The bell rings and the two stare down. Then they both look at the crowbar, and Tony heads that way! Dunne chases after, but Tony DECKS him! Tony says he outsmarted Dunne, he just wanted to bait Dunne in. But Dunne CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Tony knee slow, suplexes, but Dunne makes it a body scissors and double wristlock! Tony endures, powers out, but Dunne wrangles him down to STOMP the shoulder! Dunne then goes for the crowbar! Dunne climbs the corner, Tony drags him down and fires off haymakers! Tony throws body shots, clinches, but Dunne counters to a GUILLOTINE!
Dunne wrangles Tony down, to STOMP his head! Dunne then goes up the corner, but Tony again brings him down. Tony throws body shots like a hockey scrum, then runs into the corner. Dunne boots but Tony blocks to get the leg, SHOULDER CAPTURE SUPLEX! Fans fire up and Tony grins as he goes to the corner now. Tony climbs up, but Dunne drags him down now. Dunne pulls hair, keeps Tony down on the buckle and stomps away! Dunne sees the crowbar tilting towards him and he grabs the hook. But Tony kicks Dunne down! Dunne KICKS Tony back, brings him up, but Tony suplexes Dunn in! FALCON ARROW! Both men are down, NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Tony knuckle locks, lifts and SLAMS Dunne! We see ringside, a lot of other items were brought out but left there because the crowbar is the only legal weapon. Dunne fights Tony off with kicks, then stomps him down, before a PENALTY KICK! Dunne wrenches and has a half straitjacket for a NECKBREAKER! Fans fire up, Dunne gets the arm and bends it, isolates it, and STOMPS it! Fans rally up, Dunne looks to the crowbar, but he brings Tony up first to wrench and ELBOW BREAKER! Dunne isolates the arm again, to STOMP it again! Tony writhes, Dunne looms over him, and Dunne kicks Tony down.
Dunne climbs the corner! He gets a hand on, but Tony drags him back down for a waistlock, and GERMAN SUPLEX! Dunne lands on his face and stomach, Tony gets up to go for the corner! Tony climbs up, and he brings the crowbar down! Tony grins and he storms up, but Dunne dodges the crowbar! Dunne dodges again, the hook gets caught on the rope, and Dunne KICKS Tony’s arms! Dunne has the crowbar but Tony avoids getting smashed! Dunne shrugs, swings, but hits pole! Tony goes to the announce desk, but he says if that’s what Dunne’s got… Tony trips Dunne, drags him out and gives him an APRON BACK SUPLEX!
Tony gets the crowbar now, he stalks Dunne to the announce desk, but Dunne holds him off. This is just like last week, as Tony isolates the arm! Dunne slips away, then dodges, and Tony hits the steps! GAMANGIRI knocks Tony down! Fans fire up with Dunne but the ring count is climbing! Knee drop to the bad arm! Dunne gets in, the count continues but Dunne goes out to get Tony in. Dunne wants to finish Tony, and he has the crowbar! Dunne hooks Tony’s arm, and puts the crowbar against Tony’s mouth! Tony endures this CROWBAR CROSSFACE CHICKENWING!
Tony RAMS Dunne into the corner, is free of the submission, and he gives Dunne a CROWBAR NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Dunne survives and Tony is beside himself. Dunne grabs the crowbar but Tony grabs the hand! Tony STOMPS the hand! Then he digs the crowbar into the hand. Dunne headbutts but Tony holds on to SMASH the hand! Tony wraps Dunne up again but Dunne gets free to DREAM SMASHER ELBOW! GAMANGIRI after GAMANGIRI in the corner! KNEE DROP to the arm, BUZZSAW to the face! Dunne has the crowbar and fans fire up! Dunne swings, Tony gets around, GERMAN SUPLEX! Dunne lands on his feet, drop toehold, and CROWBAR STF!!
Tony endures as the crowbar is put in his mouth! Tony back headbutts Dunne away! The crowbar might’ve gotten Dunne on the side, too. Tony brings a chair in from outside, the ref stops him, and Dunne STOMPS the bad arm! Dunne wants the chair, the ref stops him, too! Dunne kicks, Tony blocks, but Dunne turns suplex into TRIANGLE HOLD! Dunne BENDS the fingers! Tony gets the ropebreak, the ref counts, Dunne throws elbows until he lets go. Dunne and Tony each grab the crowbar, and they start throwing forearms! Tony TACKLES Dunne onto the chair! Tony POSTS Dunne! Dunne flounders, Tony has the crowbar, and he CLOBBERS Dunne with it! Cover, Tony wins!
Winner: Tony D’Angelo, by pinfall
The Wise Guy of NXT got lucky with that chair placement, but he still brutally defeated the Bruiserweight. Will Dunne just have to fogetaboutit from now on?
Backstage interview with Grayson Waller.
McKenzie says tonight is the night he finally goes 1v1 against AJ Styles. Yes, in the main event. Where Waller is destined to be, where he deserves to be, and where he’ll stay after he wins. He’s everywhere right now! His social media is going off, he’s the face of NXT, he’s been on Raw, and he might even go to SmackDown, slap Roman Reigns around and hit Shinsuke Nakamura in the face. It is everyone’s dream to have a WrestleMania moment, but Grayson makes Grayson Waller moments. He jumped off the cage at WarGames, and had the Chairshot Heart Around the World, times two. And tonight, he’ll create another moment, just you watch.
NXT checks in with another Mandy Rose photoshoot.
“Toxic Attraction is made up of three sexy, self-confident, successful women. And we’ve got all the gold to prove it. Tell ’em, girls.” Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne being the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions, they know that women want to be them, and men want to be with them. And ever since Halloween Havoc, the thirst has been at an all time high. Mandy saw what no one else did: two women who kick ass in the ring and break hearts outside it. Don’t believe them? Ask the rest of the division, and the men they’ve ghosted. No one can hang with this trio. Mandy is at the top of her game, and there isn’t a tag team in the world that can touch Gigi & Jacy. If you wanna prove them wrong, you know where to find them. Follow the crowd, because they follow Toxic Attraction, the attraction of NXT.
Six Woman Tag: Indi Hartwell, Persia Pirotta & Wendy Choo VS Kacy Catanzaro, Kayden Carter & Amari Miller!
Persia & Indi are eager to get back at the tag titles, but it’s hard to say if Wendy is eager to do anything. Will Wendy wake up and bring the fight? Or will KC Squared plus the Vibe of St. Louis equal a winning combination?
The teams sort out, Indi starts against Amari and Wendy takes another nap. Indi and Amari tie up, Amari gets the arm and wrenches to a wristlock. Amari throws Indi, brings her back up but Indi powers out. Amari mule kicks and SHOTGUNS Indi out! Amari builds speed, Kacy tags in, Amari DIVES! Direct hit, Kacy tags Kayden, and they work together so Kayden can FLY and take out Indi! Kacy then TORNILLOS to take out Persia! Fans are fired up, Wendy wakes up to see what’s going on, and we see Brooks & Briggs watching backstage. Kayden gets in, Indi follows, and Indi whips but Kayden boots back. Kayden gets the arms, hammerlock to COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO!
Fans chant, “NAP TIME!” for Wendy as Kayden keeps Indi from the corner. Indi kicks Kayden, Kayden gets an arm, but Indi keeps Kayden from her corner now. Indi whips Kayden to the corner, Kayden dropkicks Persia! Indi reels Kayden back in, Kayden sunset flips, TWO! Kayden and Indi DOUBLE FOREARM each other down! Wendy takes a sip of- Where’d she get that drink?! Hot tags to Wendy and Amari! Wendy dodges Amari just by stretching and bending back! Amari runs back in, Wendy kicks and kicks and LARIATS! Wendy fires up, she whips Amari to ropes, OVERHEAD Belly2Belly!
Wendy is all fire dup, she handspring FOREARMS! And EXPLODERS! Cover, Kacy breaks it! Persia hits Kacy, gets her up, SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Kayden BOOTS Persia, dodges Indi, but runs into a SPINEBUSTER! Amari hits a CODE BREAKER! All six women are down and fans fire up! Wendy is napping again!! Amari drags her but Wendy kicks her away! Tag to Persia, she scoops Amari to a fireman’s carry. Tag to Indi, TKO FACEBUSETR to the PRETTY SAVAGE ELBOW! Cover, Indi and team win!
Winners: Persia Pirotta, Indi Hartwell & Wendy Choo, by pinfall
Wendy Choo, who knew? Will all of these women be making their way towards gold soon enough?
MSK talks backstage.
They’re feeling great, but wait. The Dusty Cup? She’s even more beautiful than they remember! The road to the titles runs through the tournament. And just as Shaman Bro Riddle said, the comeback is greater than the setback. History is gonna repeat itself as these two run through the field! Like the Grizzled Young Veterans, or the good ol’ boys, Briggs & Jensen. And also the Creed Brothers Creed Diamonds Diamond Creed. Dakota Kai walks in, marveling at the cup, too. She wants this, too. WE want it! Wait, we? Does Dakota have a new tag partner we don’t know about? “Nothing defers friendship more than success.” No! Don’t you put that evil on them!
Solo Sikoa speaks.
“Boa. You want to jump me in the shadows? You wanna fight? That’s a language I can understand.” And he doesn’t care which Boa it is, “Let’s get it.” The fight is coming, but will Boa be in control? Or will it be Tian Sha walking to the ring?
Kay Lee Ray walks in.
She’s looking for Mandy Rose but the photoshoot is done. So she can show up to do that but not to defend the title? KLR sees how it is. And she starts smashing everything! Mandy thinks she can do whatever she wants, huh? How about we get a shot of this? And she HOMERS the photo camera! “Sorry.” Will KLR look to break Mandy’s reign soon enough?
Solo Sikoa VS Boa!
The two are already in the ring as NXT returns, and the bell sounds. These two circle, and it is clear Boa is Boa with no face paint. Solo dodges him to CHOP and CHOP and bump him off buckles. Solo CHOPS again, then whips Boa to ropes. Fans duel, Boa wrenches to sobat! Boa CLUBS and KICKS Solo, then throws him out of the ring. Solo comes back. Solo ducks the roundhouse to trip Boa and rain down forearms! Solo switches around to headlock and punch away! Solo lets off to drag Boa up and CHOPS him off his feet! Boa gets up, Solo ROCKS him with an uppercut! Boa bails out, Solo follows him, but Boa hits back with body shots.
Boa POSTS Solo, the ring count climbs, but Boa puts Solo in at 5 of 10. Fans rally for Solo, Boa stomps away on a leg. Boa stomps Solo in the gut and again, then he drags Solo up. Boa has a cut on his forehead but he throws knees to whip and KNEE Solo! Then whip and KNEE again! And then again! Double underhooks, BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Boa sits Solo up and wraps on a modified cobra clutch. Solo endures, fans rally up, but Boa shifts to a chinlock. Solo endures again, blood in his mouth, but Boa leans on Solo. Fans rally up, Solo fights to his feet, but Boa wrenches to kick. Solo blocks, CLUBS the leg then elbows and and DECKS Boa!
Solo runs to drop the SENTON! Boa gets up, Solo fires up and fans rally as he clotheslines Boa and himself out of the ring! Both men are down, fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” and Solo drags Boa up. Solo RAMS Boa into steel steps! The ring count is climbing, Solo stands Boa up but Boa SMACKS him off the desk! The count is 10!!
Double Count-Out
Boa still POSTS Solo! They brawl to the back from the crowd side, and Solo SMACKS Boa with a chair! They go backstage, is the battle going to rage on?
Backstage interview with AJ Styles.
The Phenomenal One says those two were going out it and that’s what he loves about NXT: the passion. It is infectious, to everyone but Grayson Waller. Waller is the opposite. We heard him, he his confident, but believes he has Styles where he wants him. That’s nerves talking. Grayson will step up to the plate, but the Grayson Waller Effect ends tonight. 2022 is Styles’ year. HIS Georgia Bulldogs won the NCAA National Football Championship, so Styles is going to ride that momentum to WrestleMania! That all starts here, with shutting Grayson Waller’s mouth. Will NXT truly be phenomenal in the main event?
Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams arrive.
THE North American Champion and his partner in rhyme roll up in style, and they tell security to keep it right here, they’ll be back soon. What will Melo & Trick have to say after ending Roderick Strong’s title reign?
Solo and Boa are still brawling!
Referees try to stop them bot Solo sends Boa crashing into trunks! And he throws chairs at Boa, then throws Boa into trash cans! But Boa RAMS Solo into spare girders! And SMACKS him with a lid! And smack shim off a lid! Solo hits Boa with that lid, then TOSSES Boa over trunks! Solo hurries after, but a FIREBALL erupts! Refs shout for medical, and from behind the trunks rises TIAN SHA BOA! Will Solo have to think twice before fighting this darkness again?
BREAKING NEWS!
Von’s suspension has been LIFTED! And his fine has been PAID! But why? And by who? Could Von have a friend in high places?
Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams head to the ring.
Fans are torn as the Face of the New School, the (self-proclaimed) A Champion of NXT and Trick walk out. They get mics, Trick says “First thing first, I need everyone to get out of their seats to make some noise for your North American Champion.” Melo, Trick is happy for you. When Melo has gold, they both have gold. See, Melo & Trick are like peanut butter & jelly, like Shaq & Kobe, like… Trick & big booty- Whoa, whoa, whoa, brother. Right, sorry. But it is what it is. Now to serious business. Set it up. Trick gets what Melo is talking about, and Melo says last week, he had one of the toughest challenges of his career against one of the toughest opponents in Roderick Strong.
So with that said, Melo would like to take a moment of silence for Strong’s Cruiserweight title reign. Trick holds up the shirt, and Melo says, “Rest in piss to all my ops.” He pours one out, then says on to the real celebration! Get fired up for your UNIFIED champion, baby! Melo is him! And since he’s had the ball, it’s been first downs and touchdowns, and he ain’t passing anytime soon. What, really? Trick knows what he means. Right, sorry. Talk your talk. Melo says he has more accomplishments than he does months in NXT. When it comes down to it, two things are true: numbers don’t like, and Melo don’t miss.
And here’s the best part. Melo IS the walking cheat code. Melo IS the history maker in the physical form. And Melo IS the most scintillating champion EVER in NXT! Trick likes that, too. You can call it the NXT Unified North American we talk for a minute because I wanna know your name Championship. But with it around Melo’s waist, it is THE CHAMPIONSHIP! Step up and get stepped on. Because that’s all it is, and that’s all it’s ever gonna be. But here comes AJ Styles! Melo & Trick talk a little trash, but will they find they don’t want none?
Melo & Trick return to the parking lot.
But the security guard lost their keys?! Well who took them? Cameron Grimes asks if Melo is looking for something. Grimes says that in 2021, he would be doing donuts in this Bentley. But in 2022, he’ll keep it straight with Melo. He’s coming for that North American title. And then he’ll go TO~ THE~ Moon. Don’t miss! Melo catches the keys, but Trick keeps him from going after Grimes. Will Melo make Grimes regret calling the champ out like that?
AJ Styles VS Grayson Waller!
The Phenomenal One has been exactly that in his pro-wrestling career, and that includes becoming WWE Grand Slam Champion in the fastest fashion. But for the first time ever, he’s wrestling in NXT! Will it just be another in a long list of incredible accomplishments? Or will the 21st Century Success Story keep that success rolling?
NXT returns as Waller makes his entrance, to a chorus of boos from the fans. The bell rings and Styles and Waller talk trash. They circle, Waller gives a testing kick and jab, but Styles is more annoyed than anything. Waller goes to ropes for defense, but then comes back to tie up with Styles. Styles puts Waller in a corner, the ref calls the ropebreak, and Styles pushes Waller as he lets off. They go again, Styles headlocks, Waller endures and powers through to his own headlock. Styles endures the grind, Waller hits a headlock takeover but Styles rolls it to a cover, ONE! Waller still has the headlock but Styles wrenches out.
Styles hammerlocks, Waller drops back and slips free. Waller shows off with drop steps, but Styles KICKS the leg! Styles fires off in the corner, CHOPS, then follows Waller to another corner. Styles CLUBS Waller down, fans fire up and Styles bumps Waller off buckles. Styles gets the leg, Waller holds ropes, so Styles KICKS the leg! Waller hobbles, he forearms Styles back, but runs into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! Fans fire up with Styles, and Styles brings Waller up but bump him off buckles. Styles bumps Waller off more buckles, then scoops to SLAM him. Styles runs to drop a knee! Cover, TWO!
Waller gets away and shakes out the cobwebs. Styles storms over but Waller throws him into buckles! Waller CHOPS, and CHOPS, but Styles turns things around to CHOP and CHOP and facelock. Waller slips out to JAB! Then he runs, into Styles’ dropkick! Waller bails out of the ring, Styles aims, PLANCHA, but Waller moves so Styles goes to the apron. Waller trips Styles and Styles hits the edge! Waller gets in, drags Styles through ropes, and turns him for a NECKBREAKER HOTSHOT! The ref reprimands but Waller just builds speed, to slide, and LARIAT Styles down! Fans boo as hard as ever as NXT goes picture in picture.
Waller soaks up the heat, gets back in the ring to refresh the count, then he RAMS Styles into Plexiglas barriers! Waller pretends he can’t hear the fans as he steps on Styles. Waller puts Styles in, stalks him and throws kidney shots! Styles is in a corner, Waller elbows him down! Waller chokes Styles on the ropes, the ref counts, and Waller lets off. Waller drags Styles up, he whips him to a corner hard, and Styles slumps off buckles. Waller storms over, brings Styles up and cravats for a neck wrench. Styles endures, Waller throws short shoulders, then grinds Styles down. Styles throws elbows, Waller throws him down by his hair!
Waller looms over Styles walk talking trash to the fans. Styles goes to ropes, Waller CLUBS him, then Waller throws hands. Waller has the cravat again, grinds Styles back down, but Styles endures as NXT returns to single picture. Fans rally for Styles, Waller cranks the neck wrench, but Styles throws body shots! Styles gets free, but Waller LEG LARIATS Styles down! Fans boo, Waller kicks Styles around, and Waller drags Styles up. The ref reprimands, Styles ROCKS Waller with forearms and haymakers! Waller kicks low, whips, but Styles holds ropes to then BOOT back! Styles runs, but into a fireman’s carry! Styles slips out to fire off the Phenomenal Blitz!
Fans fire up, Styles tops it off with a BASEMENT FOREARM! Styles fires up now and fans are thunderous! Styles runs in at the corner, BIG clothesline! Fireman’s carry, USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO! Styles is surprised but he keeps his focus. Fans rally up, Styles reels Waller in, but Waller grabs ropes to fight the Clash. Styles puts Waller on the apron, ROCKS him with a forearm and Waller flops to the floor. Styles slingshots, for another big FOREARM! Fans fire up, Styles gets Waller up and into the ring, then he prepares the arm. Waller bails out, Styles goes after him, but Waller hotshots him! Waller gets in, ROLLING ELBOW!
Waller aims from a corner, he goes up the corner and walks the ropes, BALLER WALLER ELBOW! Cover, TWO! Styles grits his teeth, crawls to a corner, and Waller takes aim. Waller runs in corner to corner, but Styles dodges the splash! Waller blocks the German Suplex, so Styles rolls Waller to a CALF CRUSHER! Waller endures, flails, but Styles pulls way back! Waller claws, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Styles lets go quickly, but fans are fired up for “NXT! NXT!” Styles gets up, storms back over, and grabs the leg. Waller holds the ropes so Styles KNEES the knee, and hoists Waller up! Waller sunset flips, TWO!
Styles runs, into a fireman’s carry! WIDOWMAKER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives and Waller can’t believe it! Waller hobbles, he drags Styles back up, and Waller wants to steal the Clash?! But Styles back drops out! Waller hobbles to a corner, Styles runs in, but Waller puts him outside. Styles ROCKS Waller, springboards, but Waller slides under! Somersault and STUNNER!! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives Waller’s best shot and Waller can’t believe it! “This is Awesome!” “NXT! NXT!” Waller gets his bad leg moving, he drags Styles back up, and Waller throws knees to put Styles in a corner. Waller hoists Styles up and climbs as fans rally.
Styles resists the superplex, slips under, and he trips Waller! Waller hits buckles, Styles kicks low and reels Waller in! Waller pushes free, Styles ducks, PELE! Styles gets Waller up, SHEER DROP BRAINBUSTER!! Styles grits his teeth, goes back to the apron, and fans are thunderous for the PHENOMENAL FOREARM!! Cover, Styles wins!
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall
Styles’ first match on NXT is his first win on NXT! And he gets a mic to tell Waller, “Now that I’ve given you that ass kicking… You’re good, but you’re not phenomenal. But your night is not over yet! I want to introduce you to one of my friends.” L A KNIGHT?! Waller freaks out as the Million Dollar Megastar returns to get his pound of flesh! Waller runs away into the ring, Styles is there, and Knight gets in to CLOBBER Waller! Knight fires off hands and then he DECKS Waller! Waller bails out, Knight pursues and TOSSES Waller over the announce desk! And he’s still after Waller!
They get back in the ring, Waller hobbles and Knight LARIATS! Then Knight clotheslines Waller out of the ring! Knight is all fired up and Waller crawls away as fast as he can. Knight and Styles shake on it, will Grayson realize the Grayson Waller Effect has backfired?
My Thoughts:
A great NXT to follow up New Year’s Evil last week, especially with things they managed to blend and link together. Bron had a good opening promo, but his exit overlapping with Escobar’s entrance was a great foreshadowing. Escobar winning because Lopez was leading Quinn on was a bit of a letdown but should’ve been expected. Escobar is now clear to be the next challenger to the title. He hadn’t gotten his shot during NXT 1.0, and he is a great 1.0 guy for Bron to prove himself against in his first defense. Similarly, we got a really good promo segment from Melo & Trick, and a great interaction with Grimes to set up that title match. Grimes himself is a great challenger, but I have a feeling Melo wins.
Mandy’s promos being via photoshoot (and swimsuit) were definitely in character, and even Gigi & Jacy had a good promo of their own. Not sure why they haven’t been on camera lately but as I said before, it could be about recovering from minor injuries and/or sharpening those in-ring skills. The Six Woman Tag was pretty good, and it was pretty great for Wendy Choo (Karen Q) to have a strong part in the win for her team. Indi & Persia are top choices for winning the Women’s Dusty Cup, but I’m very curious as to who Dakota Kai will have as a partner. She’s not exactly someone the others can trust. KLR’s response to Mandy’s promo was great, I hope we see that match for the next themed episode.
Speaking of, is that themed episode going to be the Valentine’s Day one? Valentine’s Day will be a Monday but NXT can still do Vengeance Day 2022. There are plenty of these love story angles floating around still. Brooks & Briggs watching KC Squared, they’re definitely going to console Kacy & Kayden while attempting to get a second date, but there’s a good chance it’ll get shot down. Speaking of them, I bet they find a way to tie the Dusty Tag Team Classics into this, too. Both Brooks & Briggs and KC Squared are going to be strong competitors in those tournaments, but probably not winners. Imperium had a really good vignette, I’m thinking they face MSK.
Gacy & Harland not being in the tournament was a surprise, but it fits in character that Harland goes too far and loses focus of what they were out there for. Malik & Edris needed to work on their timing and coordination, so who knows if they make it out of the first round. Maybe they’re to bolster up a Heel team like the Grizzled Young Veterans. Solo VS Boa was great stuff, and I like that they ended up with a draw and a brawl backstage. I was just waiting for that moment for Boa to change and have the face paint on. Those two should have some kind of No Disqualification match to really bring this to another level, and with Boa as Tian Sha the whole time.
Dunne VS Tony was a really good match, even for an Item on a Pole match. There’s a good chance Dunne is moving on after losing here, maybe even being called up through the Royal Rumble. Tony himself could move on to the North American Championship after this, without really having to worry about Heel or Face dynamics since his persona could play it either way. The main event was great stuff, and of course Styles wins. It is too soon for Waller to be better than Styles, and also he’s facing some comeuppance now that Knight is back. Knight VS Waller is going to be great stuff, and is itself a way to build someone towards a title.
My Score: 8.6/10
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The Last Time is Now on SmackDown!
LA Knight is in the Last Time is Now Tournament, determined to meet John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event, but who is his opponent?! Time to find out, YEAH!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- The Last Time is Now Tournament Opening Round: Jey Uso VS The Miz; Jey wins and advances.
- WWE Untied States Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov VS Axiom; Ilja wins and retains the title.
- The Last Time is Now Tournament Opening Round: LA Knight VS Zack Ryder; Knight wins and advances.
- Jade Cargill VS B-Fab; Jade wins.
- Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes VS Bronson Reed w/ Paul Heyman; Cody wins, by disqualifications, and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Rhea Ripley AND Iyo Sky are here!
Albany, New York fires up as Mami & The Genius are both here on SmackDown following the chaos on Raw. Because at Survivor Series, Rhea said it herself: WARGAMES! Rhea & Iyo each get a mic and the fans cheer them both on. Rhea says, “Since I’ve been out with a broken nose, the Kabuki Warriors, they’ve been causing a little bit of chaos. And now that they’ve managed to get their hands on the Tag Team Championships, they think they’re pretty much untouchable.” The fans boo, but then Rhea says throw Nia Jax & Lash Legend into the mix, which the fans boo also… “And now they think they are untouchable again because they have the ‘numbers advantage.'”
But the funny thing about numbers is you just end up with more enemies. Iyo says, “A lot of enemies. But they always catch up to you. And now, there is nowhere to hide! WARGAAAMES~!” The fans cheer as Iyo & Rhea go wild for that. Rhea says, “And y’know what? We’re not going in alone. So I would like to introduce two of our teammates: Charlotte Flair & Alexa Bliss!” The fans cheer as the former tag team champions make their way out to the ring, Charlotte in a modern art suit with her pyro, and then followed by Alexa in her goth preppy fusion. #Charlexa stands with Rhea & Iyo in the ring, mics also in hand.
The four hug it out and the fans “WOO~!” Alexa says if the Kabukis wanna play dirty, fine. If Nia & Lash wanna jump in, too, great! And they can get all four at once, it is so on! Those four started this fight, these four will end it! The very second Rhea said, “WarGames,” Alexa knew they were in. Right, Charlotte? The fans “WOO~!” and Charlotte says, “Lexi, I can’t do this. I can’t pretend anymore.” What? “Look, Rhea. I don’t like you.” The fans boo and Iyo is shocked. Charlotte says she doesn’t trust Rhea, and she thinks Rhea is a snake. But Rhea doesn’t like or trust Charlotte and probably thinks she’s the snake, and Charlotte doesn’t blame her.
There is too much history here, too much bad blood. Just because they have the same enemies doesn’t change that. Charlotte cannot look past it. Alexa is Charlotte’s friend, she trusts Alexa. So if Alexa wants to do this, that’s fine. But count Charlotte out. What!? The fans boo as The Queen steps away, but Alexa calls after her. Charlotte goes up the ramp, Alexa apologizes to the others and tries to figure out why Charlotte did this. Can Alexa get Charlotte to change her mind before it’s time to go to war?
Jey Uso is in the concourse!
And he asks them to please, please, play his music! UH UH, YEET!! The fans fire up and bounces along as Main Event Jey Uso makes his entrance, ready for The Last Time Is Now! But will it be Albany, New YEET? Or will the Hollywood A-Lister put all that fire from last week to good use?
The Last Time is Now Tournament Opening Round: Jey Uso VS The Miz!
SmackDown returns and the fans continue to YEET, and then they want the encore! But instead, The Miz makes his entrance. The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Miz KNEES low! Miz CLUBS Jey, then talks some trash. The fans rally for Jey but Miz brings Jey around. Jey blocks the buckle bump to fire off haymakers, “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey whips, Miz reverses, and Miz hits a kitchen sink KNEE! The fans boo but Miz soaks up the heat. Jey goes to ropes, Miz storms up on him, and Miz fires haymakers of his own! Miz soaks up more heat as he backs p, then he runs in, but Jey turns lariat into backslide! TWO!
The fans fire up as Jey stands, but Miz blocks a kick! Miz spins Jey, the DRAGON WHIP hits! Miz ends up on the apron, but he slides under Jey to sunset flip! TWO, and Miz catches Jey now! Jey fights the Finale with ama r-drag, but Miz avoids the superkick! So Jey LARIATS Miz up and out! The fans fire up and “YEET!” Jey builds speed and DIVDSE! Miz is send into the desk! Albany fires up while Jey snarls and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Miz stalks Jey. The tide has turned and Miz storms up, but Jey ELBOWS him away! Jey goes up, but Miz kicks the legs out! DRAPING CODE BREAKER! Then a DDT! Jey gets spiked! Miz covers, TWO! Jey survives and Miz is stunned! Miz snarls as Jey sits up, and then Miz KICKS! And KICKS! And KICKS! The fans say “YES! YES! YES!” to the It Kicks, and Miz winds up, only for Jey to duck the buzzsaw! POP-UP NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Miz survives and crawls to a corner while Jey shakes his head. The fans rally as Jey goes to the other corner. “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey runs up, but Miz dodges!
Miz runs up and SHOULDER TAKCKLES! And SHOULDER TACKLES! Miz parodies John Cena with the SPIN-OUT BOMB! The fans fire up as Miz says when his hand goes up, your mouths go shut. “You Can’t See Me!” FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! The fans are torn as Miz now fireman’s carries Jey! But Jey fights free, shoves Miz, SUPERKICK! Then a fireman’s carry in return! Miz slips free, SKULL CRUSHING FINALE!! Cover, TWO!?! Jey survives and everyone is shocked, especially Miz! Jey flounders, stands, and goes to a corner. Albany is thunderous for Jey but Miz storms right up on him.
Miz puts Jey up top, then climbs up after him! Miz full nelsons again! But Jey fires elbows! Then he fireman’s carries Miz! The fans are thunderous as Jey hits a TOP ROPE RACK DROP! Then he gest moving, SPEAR!! Jey doesn’t stop there, he goes up the corner again! USO SPLASH!! Cover, JEY WINS!
Winner: Jey Uso, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
Albany YEETS again as Jey stays alive in the tournament! But who else will join him, Sheamus, and Rusev on the road to Washington, DC?
Ilja Dragunov talks with Nick Aldis.
The Mad Russian Dragon is glad he gets to have another Open Challenge, but then in walks Tommaso Ciampa. The Sicilian Psycho hopes Aldis is explaining to “our so-called fighting champion” how to respect the rules of an Open Challenge. Aldis says the champion has every right to dictate the rules how he sees fit, but Johnny Gargano asks if Ilja has the right to call his best friend a jackass. Candice LeRae asks if Ciampa looks like a jackass! Enough with calling him a jackass! The only jackass here is Ilja denying the one man answering the challenges! Make it make sense! Well, they were just discussing this, so listen very carefully!
When Ilja took on the legacy of the United States Open Challenge, Ilja promised to do things the right way. And the right way mean sto not give opportunities to… jackasses! But to fight warriors who are willing to fight with respect and honor. And there is nothing honorable about Ciampa. So tonight, Ilja will give this opportunity to a man who fights with honor, and someone Ilja respects. Oh no, seriously?! AXIOM steps in! Ciampa accuses Ilja of cowardice, but Axiom thanks Ilja for this opportunity. Aldis wishes them both the best of luck, then moves on, only for Paul Heyman and Bronson Reed to be waiting outside his office.
Heyman smiles, a big contract folder in hand, and he asks Aldis, “How’re you doing? We need to talk to you for a minute.” Aldis says please, step inside. These three go into the office to talk, but what exactly about?
SmackDown returns and…
Aldis calls in extra security for his office. He tells Heyman that before The Vision is escorted from the building, what can he do for them? Heyman says that’s awfully dramatic, Aldis. But this is the WarGames agreement, which allows Heyman to “take any talent that is under WWE contract across all brands. Tha tincludes SmackDown, your brand. My heads-up to you, you’re welcome.” Any talent across all brands? Yes, thank you for coming all the way to Albany to confirm what was already in the paperwork. This could’ve been an email, Heyman. So unless there’s anything else to discuss, he would like to ask them kindly to leave. Because The Vision will NOT be disrupting Aldis’ show.
And security steps in on cue. Heyman says oh goodness, look who it is! Cody Rhodes steps in, and Heyman says, “It’s the golden goose who’s being afforded all this protection.” Cody asks, “Mr. Heyman, what do you wanna talk about?” Heyman wants to talk about Cody getting involved with Vision business on Raw. Cody doesn’t know about this golden goose stuff, but he saw on Raw that they were putting his friends in the fire, which means he was next through the flames, but Heyman already knew that. But this is Friday Night SmackDown, and the business of today… is right here. “And if you’re not here to fight, then you should leave.”
Bronson says he’ll fight. Cody asks Aldis to make the match: Bronson Reed VS Cody Rhodes… TONIGHT! Aldis says that works, but Heyman asks why they’d give this away and not make it a title match? Cody says fine, book it. Aldis gets worried now, but Cody says, “BOOK IT!” Then it is official. Cody VS Bronson for the Undisputed Championship. Heyman smiles and thanks both Mr. Aldis and “Champ” Cody. Did Cody just get goaded into losing the gold? Or will the American Nightmare find a way to slay the Colossal Aussie?
WWE Untied States Open Challenge: Ilja Dragunov VS Axiom!
Speaking of titles, The Czar didn’t appreciate the Sicilian Psycho getting salty all over again, so he again passed on Ciampa to face Axiom. But will Ilja be able to deny the Undeniable Truth? Or will Axiom finally have singles gold on SmackDown?
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They feel things out, Axiom rolls to wrench and wrangle Ilja. Axiom has the armlock but Ilja fights up. Ilja wrenches in return, then cording holds for a HIP TOSS! Cover, ONE, but Ilja holds onto the arm. Axiom kips up, slips around, and spins Ilja to snapmare and headlock. Ilja slips out to armlock in return and the fans cheer the technical exchange. Ilja knuckle locks to straight arm lever and SLAM Axiom! Axiom fights up but Ilja wrenches him again. Ilja whips Axiom to a corner, but Axiom dodges the lariat! Axiom waits on Ilja and he says it was that close. Ilja and Axiom reset, knuckle lock, and Axioim headlocks.
Axiom hits the takeover but Ilja keeps his shoulders up. Ilja CLUBS at Axiom from below, then fights up. Ilja powers up and out, Axiom RAMS him, but Ilja RUNS Axiom over! Cover, ONE, and Ijoa gets moving! Axiom trips Ilja up, but Ilja blocks the hip toss! Ilja slips through but Axiom fights the backslide! The fans rally as the two fight for control, and then they spin around. Ilja ROCKS Axiom with a forearm! Axiom ROCKS Ilja! Ilja BOOTS Axiom down! The fans rally, but Axiom catches the hammer into the ARMBAR! Ilja fights to stack, and he deadlifts Axiom! Axiom lets go, but Ilja ducks the enzigiri to SLAP Axiom down!
The fans rally and Axiom dodges to then DROPKICK back! Ilja staggers, Axiom GAMANGIRIS him up and out! The fans fire up while Ilja sputters, and Axiom takes aim. Axiom runs, GOLDEN- NO! Ilja stops the triangle moonsault as he CLUBS Axiom on the back! Axiom is stuck up top, Ilja CHOPS him! Axiom kicks at Ilja, Ilja CHOPS, and repeat! The fans rally as these two brawl on the apron. Ilja HEADBUTTS Axiom right back into the ring! Then Ilja climbs, aims, and SUPER SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Axiom survives, Ilja is a bit surprised, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Ilja snarls as he rises up, and he paces around Axiom. Axiom slowly sits up, Ilja fires up, but he turns around into a CHOP from Axiom! So Ilja CHOPS Axiom right off his feet! Cover, TWO! Ilja keeps close and brings Axiom up to CHOP again! And again! And then HEADBUTT! And CHOP! HEADBUTT! CHOP! Ilja then reels Axiomi in for a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO! Ilja still keeps axiom down with a facelock. Axiom endures, fights around, and he wrenches out to headlock back. Axiom waistlocks, Ilja bucks the O’Conner, but axiom kips up, into a CHOP! Cover, TWO! Axiom survives again but Ilja stays focused.
Ilja puts Axiom in a corenr, CHOPS him, and Axiom flops against the ropes. Ilja drags Axiom back up, whips corner to corner, and Axiom hits hard! Ilja runs up to KNEE low, then he runs side to side to BOOT WASH Axiom right outta the ring! Ilja roars and the fans cheer. Ilja goes out to BOOT Axiom, then follows him around the way. They go back into the ring, Ilja brings Axiom around, and Ilja waistlocks, only for Axiom to fight the lift. Axiom switches, Ilja fights the lift, and Ilja wrenches out to HEADBUTT! And HEADBUTT! And then Gotch lift POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Axiom is toughing it out bu tIlja is not deterred.
Ilja clamps on with a rear bearhug and he squeezes tight, Axiom endures so Ilja ELBOWS him down! And ELBOWS again and again and again! Ilja just HAMMERS away on Axiom, then clamps back on with another bearhug. Axiom still endures, fights back to his feet, but Ilja GERMAN SUPLEXES! Ilja holds on, drags Axiom back up, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Fans chant for “One More Time!” and Ilja GERMAN SUPLEXES! Ilja still holds on, Albany wants another, so Ilja drags Axiom up. Axiom switches, but Ilja again bucks the O’Conner! Axiom kips up, but he ducks the chop to NORTHERN LIGHTS!
The fans cheer while both men are down! The fans rally as Ilja stands, and he swings, but Axiom CROSS COUNTERS! Ilja falls back, Axiom goes to a corner, but Ilja storms up. Axiom BOOTS Ilja down, hops up the corner, and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Ilja survives and Axiom grows frustrated but the fans rally up. Axiom rises, Ilja roars to give him more, so Axiom KICKS! And KICKS! Ilja wants more so Axiom KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! Ilja blocks to SLAP, ROCK, boxing elbows, and BOOT! Axiom falls and the fans fire up again! Ilja powers up, runs, CONSTANTINE- NO, Axiom catches him to an ARMBAR!
Ilja fights, ends up in a TRIANGLE HOLD, but he works to stack Axiom! Axiom fights that off, but Ilja deadlifts Axiom again! POWERBOMB! Axiom flounders, Ilja snarls, and Ilja aims from the corner. Ilja powers up, the fans rally, H-BOMB FOR- NO, Axiom uses that to spring up and MOONSAULT DDT!!! Cover, TWO!?! No one can believe what they saw, nor that Ilja survived! “This is Awesome!” as Axiom has Ilja in a corner. Axiom ROCKS and CHOPS and hoists Ilja up. Ilja fights back with SLAPS and Axiom staggers. But then Axiom GAMANGIRIS! Axiom goes up after Ilja, but Ilja fires RIDGE HAND CHOPS!
Ilja and Axiom go to the very top, but Axiom hits the SUPER DUPER SPANISH FLY!! And then GOLDEN RATI- NO!! TORPEDO MOSCOW!! AND H-BOMB FOREARM!! Cover, Ilja wins!!
Winner: Ilja Dragunov, by pinfall (still WWE United States Championship)
It was all in a blink of an eye, but Ilja snatches victory from the jaws of defeat! Another instant classic is under Ilja’s belt, and he shows respect to Axiom for giving him this fight. The fans cheer that, but who will be next to challenge The Mad Russian’s reign?
R-Truth meets with Nick Aldis.
Truth knows last week that it was a heavy load, and Truth’s load was lost in the shuffle, but he is imploring to Aldis as employee to boss, please put Truth in the John Cena tournament. Aldis tries to tell Truth again, but Truth says don’t worry, he shined up his (lottery) balls so they’ll look real nice on TV. All he asks is Aldis handles them with care. Aldis again tries to get it through to Truth but Truth says just take his balls. FINE! Aldis takes them, and then Chelsea Green walks in. She asks if she heard John Cena’s name dropped. She did. Then speaking of legends, she has no idea why SHE didn’t get pyro when she won the Women’s US Championship.
But putting a pin in that, when is her championship celebration happening tonight? Aldis goes to say it’s not but she says that’s right, he CANCELLED it! She’d all of it prepared and ready to go! But all will be forgiven if this “injustice system” that is WWE would just give her a celebration next week, with pyro. Yes, he can make that work. Just for right now, hold onto these for him. Aldis hands Chelsea the Truth balls, and Alba says they do look nice. But will The Hot Mess really get everything she demand- er, wants?
SmackDown shares footage from the break.
As Axiom was on his way back up the ramp, Tommaso Ciampa attacked him! The Psycho Killer took out all his anger out on Axiom, only for Frazer to chase him off! Ciampa is only showing everyone Ilja is right about him, but will Ciampa not stop until he gets his opportunity?
Sami Zayn is here!
The fans cheer and sing along with the song as #BigMatchSami heads to the ring. Sami gets a mic and asks, “How we doing tonight, Albany? We good?” The fans cheer, and they chant for “Sami! Sami!” Sami takes a moment before he says, “I gotta tell ya. Since I’ve come to SmackDown, there have been some extremely high highs, and some extremely low lows. As soon as I came over to SmackDown, the first thing I said I would do is I said I would beat Solo Sikoa for the United States Championship.” The fans cheer that, and Sami says he did do that! He got to do amazing things with that title, like wrestle John Cena in his last match on SmackDown!
Sami got to go toe-to-toe with the best talent SmackDown has to offer week in and week out. The fans cheer again, and Sami says that was all great. But he won’t lie, the last four weeks have been extremely challenging. he has had to watch from the sidelines, hurt and not medically cleared, as Solo & MFT run roughshod every single week! The fans boo, and Sami says he’s had to sit and watch, unable to do anything, while MFT attacked Sami’s friends, those Sami liked and respected. And Sami gets it, Aldis told him not to get involved, don’t get hurt, and so Sami did. He sat back week after week. But he is here to tell us that that ends TONIGHT!
The fans cheer and Sami continues by calling out Solo! He knows Solo has a problem with him, and he sure has a problem with Solo, so let’s deal with it face to face! Solo & MFT make their way out here, and Solo has a mic in hand. Solo tells Sami, “You really think you knwio who you are, huh? You think you know, but you don’t. I know the real Sami, I know the real you. Yeah. He’s pathetic, a liar, desperate, and when you’re desperate, you do desperate things, which makes you so damn selfish!” The fans boo, but Solo says Sami only cares about Sami! Sami doesn’t care about the guys in the back, or even the fans here in Albany.
The fans boo, but Solo says for himself, what he cares about is his family. Solo cares about the men standing behind him and their loyalties to him. Unlike Sami! Sami knows nothing about loyalty when it comes to family. In fact, watch who you’re talkinga bout before he gets in there and kicks Sami’s ass! Don’t forget, Sami, you’re still wounded. The fans boo as MFT now flanks the ring, and Solo says this can end very badly for Sami. Solo could drop Sami right here and now, but he won’t. He will wait until Sami is 100% and medically cleared. Then once that happens, understand this: Solo is coming after you!
The fans boo, but Sami says, “Well, the good news for you, Solo, is you’re not gonna have to wait very long. Because as of tonight, I am officially 100% medically cleared! So if you wanna do something about it, go ahead and do something about it right now!” Sami calls Solo’s bluff, so Solo takes off the jacket But then Sami says before that, Solo needs to know this: Sami didn’t come here alone. And just as he says that, Rey Fenix, Shinsuke Nakamura & Motor City Machine Guns all YANK MFT off the apron! The brawl is on and the fans fire up! Solo panics, Sami shrugs, and Solo takes a swing! Sami fires counter punches!
The fans fire up as Sami fires off on Solo in a corner! Sami stomps a mudhole, then he goes to the far corner! The fans fire up, but Talla gets Solo outta the ring! The fans boo but then JC Mateo CLOBBERS Sami! JC, Tama & Loa all mug Sami, but Sami’s friends get them! They TOSS the Guerrillas and even LARIAT Loa up and out! The fans fire up as now Fenix goes up, up, and TORNILLO CROSSBODIES MFT! Fenix regroups with Sami and friends! Will Sami and his team soon cut down Solo’s “Family Tree?”
Cody Rhodes prepares backstage.
Jey Uso says hey and Cody congratulates him on the win in the tournament. Jey says he just heard about Bronson’s title shot at Cody tonight. It might get a little slimy, so Jey’s got his back. Of course! Cody and Jey shake hands on that again, and then Jimmy Uso steps in. #BigJim says hey, Uce. Any time you can get your hands on The Vision sounds like a party to Jimmy, so count him in, too. They shake on that, and Jimmy says he spoke with Punk earlier. Count him in for WarGames, too! The three shake hands, The Usos head out, but will Cody be able to fire the first shot in that war? Or will a Tsunami end the reign of the American Nightmare?
Solo Sikoa argues with Nick Aldis backstage.
Solo demands that with Sami 100% healthy, he wants a match with him tonight! Aldis says first, there’s no more time on the card, that can’t happen. And second, Solo clearly has more enemies than just Sami. So how about this? In two weeks, SmackDown before WarGames, it’ll be MFT VS Sami, Fenix, Nakamura & MCMG in a 5v5 Survivor Series style Elimination Tag! Now if you’ll excuse him. Aldis leaves, and there’s a Wyatt Sick6 glitch on screen. And in fact, Uncle Howdy is lurking in the shadows. Will the Wyatts be watching that 10 Man Tag very, very closely?
The Last Time is Now Tournament Opening Round: LA Knight VS ???
The Mega Star knows what this tournament is all about, and he knows everyone wants to be John Cena’s final opponent, but what he doesn’t know is who will be his first round opponent! We’re all about to learn that in the matter of moments, but will it not matter when this is LA Knight’s game? Or will what you don’t know actually hurt you?
Everyone waits and watches the stage. “WOO! WOO! WOO! YOU KNOW IT!” It’s Matt Car- well, no, he’s ZACK RYDER again!? Long Island Iced Z returns to the WWE, but will he prove he’s #AlwayZReady? The bell rings, the fans cheer and “WOO WOO WOO!” Knight and Ryder circle, Ryder gets the “WOO WOO WOO!” going hotter, and the two tie up. Ryder rolls Knight, TWO! Ryder says it was that close, and Knight says yeah, okay. They go again, tie up, and now Knight wrenches Ryder to YANK, YANK, YANK the arm! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Knight wrenches, Ryder ducks, but then Knight switches.
Ryder bucks the O’Conner, but Knight avoids the Rough Ryder! Knight returns, but Ryder tosses him out! The fans cheer as Ryder smiles, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Ryder whips corner to corner. Knight hits buckles hard, then drops to his knees. The fans cheer Ryder as he pushes Knight to the corner, then whips him again. Knight reverses and BACKDROPS! The fans fire up while Ryder flounders, then he goes to the apron. Knight storms over, Ryder ROCKS Knight first, and then Ryder goes to supelx! Knight supelxes but Ryder slips free! Knight dodges to JAB, JAB, and JAB! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Then ROLLING ELBOW! Knight clinches to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Knight whips, Ryder hits buckles hard, and Knight hits the JUMP NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!
Ryder survives but Knight nods. Knight brings Ryder up, kicks low, then fires hands. Knight bumps Ryder off buckles, then whips him to ropes. Knight scoops, Ryder slips free, and Ryder ROCKS Knight! And CHOPS! And ROCKS! And then whips, but Knight reverses. Ryder turns backdrop into FACEBUSTER! Big forearm in the corner, and Knight sits down! The fans pump their fists with Ryder, “WOO WOO WOO! YOU KNOW IT!” BROSKI BOOT! Cover, TWO! Knight survives but the fans rally up as Ryder aims from a corner. Ryder hooks Knight’s arms, turns him, but Knight RAMS Ryder into buckles! Dragon sleeper, REVERSE DDT!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Knight then rolls back to his feet and the fans cheer. Knight goes up the corner, and he spells it out, “L! A! KNGIHT! YEAH!” BOX JUMP ELBOW- NO, Ryder moves, runs up, ROUGH RYDER!! Cover, TWO!! Knight survives and the fans are shocked! Ryder is also surprised, but he hurries to watch Knight. “This is Awesome!” and Ryder reels Knight in, Knight wrenches out and kicks, B F- NO! Ryder rolls Knight up, TWO! Knight runs up, but into KNEES! Ryder goes up, up, RADIO SILENCE into a POWERBOMB!! Then Knight hauls Ryder up, B F T!! Cover, KNIGHT WINS!
Winner: LA Knight, by pinfall (advances to the next round)
YEAH! Knight didn’t care who it was gonna be, he fought and won his spot in the second round! Knight, Jey, Sheamus, Rusev, who else will advance in this historic tournament?
Alexa Bliss, Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky talk backstage.
They still can’t get their heads around why Charlotte just walked out on them. Charlotte also isn’t texting back or anything. Rhea knew they had beef, but she thought Charlotte would put it all aside like she did. Tonight just shows they gotta now find two more people for the team. Alexa says she has someone to call, Iyo says Charlotte was their best bet, though. But then Asuka, Kairi, Nia & Lash all attack! The brawl is on, Rhea HEADBUTTS Kairi down, but Lash DECKS Rhea! Then Nia sends Iyo into Lash’s KNEE! Lash then sends Iyo into a road case! And then same for Rhea! Security rushes in, Asuka says okay, okay, they’re good.
Nia says bye, losers~! The Irresistible Four just did a lot of damage. Will they even need a fifth woman to finish off what’s left of Rhea, Iyo and Alexa?
Jade Cargill VS B-Fab!
The Storm finally reigns on the mountaintop of WWE, and she is not playing nice with anyone. Will she strike down someone who was once a friend? Or will B-Fab truly be fab when she gets a win on the champ?
SmackDown returns, B-Fab makes her entrance, Michin staying backstage to let her handle things on her own. The bell rings and Jade dares Fab to try something. They tie up, Fab goes for a leg, but Jade spins her around. CHOKE- NO, Fab slips free and DROPKICKS! And DROPKICKS! Jade is in a corner, Fab runs up, HEEL KICK! Fab fires ELBOW after ELBOW, then fires up! The fans rally, Fab runs up, but Jade blocks the boot! Jade DECKS Fab with a forearm, then drags her right back up. Jade scoops Fab to FALL AWAY SLAM! Jade kips up, fires up, and the fans are with Jade on this one.
Jade waits on Fab, brings her around with the guzel, CHOKE SLAM! Jade tells Fab to stand down, but then she brings Fab up anyway. Jade revels in the cheers, then lifts Fab to POWERBOMB! Jade paces while she tells Fab to stay down, but Fab manages to sit up. Jade says fine, and she brings Fab up again. Fab fights, Jade lifts, POWERBOMB! Jade stands over Fab as she tells her to stay down, but the fans want to see that “One More Time!” Jade drags Fab up, has the chicken wings, and then JADED! Cover, Jade wins!
Winner: Jade Cargill, by pinfall
Jade mockingly checks her imaginary watch, and she says this is who she is! Michin is here now to make sure B-Fab is okay, but then Jade tells them both to get outta here. Mia is upset Jade would be like this just because she’s champion now. Jade tells Mia to know her place, then SHOVES her down! The fans boo but Mia wants after Jade! The ref keeps them apart, Jade steps out, and she smirks as she leaves. Jade says she is #ThatB*tch then, now, and forever, so just keep ’em coming.
Nick Aldis announces the final four first-round entrants.
“Last week on SmackDown, four superstars were selected at random to compete for the most prized career-altering opportunity: To face the Greatest of All Time, John Cena, in his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Tonight, fate will once again decide the superstars that will compete in The Last Time Is Now Tournament. First up, it’s a former first-round draft pick, Carmelo Hayes, taking on The Vision’s own Bronson Reed. And finally, the high-flying luchador, Penta, will go one-on-one with The Prince, Finn Balor. The only thig I have left to say, gentlemen, is good luck.” No Truth, but will the vision be clear as we approach December 13th?
Backstage interview with Carmelo Hayes.
Cathy Kelley is with H1M and brings up him going on record as to how he idolized John Cena growing up and would love this opportunity to go 1v1. What would a win in the opening round mean for him? Melo says first, he has to address this Miz situation. “Mike, you might’ve won the battle, but the war’s just begun. I will see you when I see you. And John Cena… The GOAT, the Last Time Is Now Tournament, you got a long line full of heavy hitters, killers, all wanting to be the one that’s gonna put you down, all wanting to be the one that’s gonna hang your jersey from the rafters. And respectfully, John, I’m one of ’em.
“50% of people might overlook me, 50% of people might think I can get the job done, but 100% of me knows that if I get that shot, I won’t miss.” But then in steps Bronson Reed. He tells Melo that he’s gonna end Cody Rhodes, then he will end John Cena after he ends H1M next week. Bronson heads out, Heyman nods towards Melo, and then The Oracle follows. Will Auszilla be taking it all on the road to the end?
Aleister Black speaks.
“Fear, Damian? That’s so silly that even you don’t believe that. No, no no no. You threw me on top of a table. You tried to throw me through things. And then you took the bottom part of the steel steps, and you tried to crush my head. The only person that fears anything is you. Fear of what we have made you become.” Zelina Vega says, “We said that we would force you to break your code. We said we would corrupt you. And I think we did exactly that.” But enough about him. They have their eyes set on greater things. That brings them to the entire locker room. Namely, those who hold world titles.
Aleister left fear behind the day he stepped foot back into the WWE, and he has become the one thing no one wanted him to become: everyone’s enemy! Does that mean the Dark Father is watching tonight’s main event very, very closely?
Undisputed WWE Championship: Cody Rhodes VS Bronson Reed w/ Paul Heyman!
The American Nightmare and The Colossal Aussie are both preparing for WarGames, and while it is Cody, Punk & The Usos at four against Bronson, Bron Breakker & Logan Paul at three, this could still tip the scales back in The Vision’s favor. Will a Tsunami wash away the reign? Or can Cody escape from New York with the gold?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who can carry that weight!
The bell rings and the fans rally as the two circle. They tie up, Bronson shoves Cody to a corner, but Cody dodges! Bronson hits buckles, Cody fires hands, then kicks to RHODES UPPERCUT! Cody runs to ROCK Bronson, but then Bronson responds with a BODY CHECK! And ELBOW DROP! The fans boo but Bronson covers, ONE! Cody shows toughness and goes to the outside, but Bronson runs in around the way! BODY CHECK! The fans boo, Bronson snarls, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Bronson drags Cody up, HEADBUTTS him, then stalks him around the way again. Bronson storms in after Cody, but Cody BODY BLOWS! Cody fires a forearm, but Bronson HEADBUTTS him down! Bronson raises the one but the fans don’t acknowledge their Tribal Thief. Bronson whips and CLOBBERS Cody! Cover, TWO! Bronson drags Cody into a chinlock and leans on the hold, but Cody fights around. Cody reaches out, fights to his feet, and fires body shots. The fans rally as Cody ROCKS Bronson, but Bronson scoops to SLAM Cody! Bronson snarls again, but Cody avoids the elbow drop! Cody rises up, goes to a corner, but Bronson SPLASHES!
Cody sputters against the ropes but Bronson CHOKES him! The ref counts, Bronson steps off at 4, and Cody sputters again. Bronson storms up and ROCKS Cody! Bronson puts Cody in another corner, BODY BLOWS, then whips corner to corner hard! Cody staggers, falls over, and Bronson drags Cody back up. Bronson has a chinbar, and he stretches Cody with the chinlock. Cody endures, fights back up, and SmackDown returns to single picture. The fans rally but Bronson CLUBS Cody, then back suplexes! Cody lands out, ducks a haymaker, and springboards! BEAUTIFUL DISASTER KICK!
The fans fire up and Cody rises, but so does Bronson. Cody JABS, JABS, JABS, then flip, flop, and fly! BIONIC- NO! Fireman’s carry, JAGGED EDGE! Cover, TWO! Cody survives but Bronson goes up! The fans freak out for the TSUNAMI, but it FLOPS as Cody moves! Cody hurries to springboards again, SUPER CODY CUTTER!! Cover, TWO! Cody fires up and the fans are with him! Bronson is outside, Cody runs and DIVES, but into a forearm! Cody stumbles and staggers o the outside, Bronson runs up, but Cody TOSSES him into the timekeeper’s area! The fans fire up again and Cody refreshes the ring count.
Cody clears off the desk! HE even topples the belt pedestal! But BRON BREAKKER FLYING SHOULDER TACKLES!!
Winner: Cody Rhodes, by disqualification (still Undisputed WWE Champion)
Logan Paul is here, too! They mug Cody, SMACK him off the desk, then put him back in the ring! Was this the real plan all along? The fans boo as Bron rains down fists, then Logan gets his turn! Bron rips his shirt away and wants Logan to set Cody up. Logan does as told, but THE USOS hurry out here! Jey & Jimmy said they’d have Cody’s back, so they get in the ring to brawl with Logan and Bron! The fans fire up, but Bron shoves Jimmy! Jimmy SUPERKICKS Bron! Jey joins in, DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Bron falls, Logan runs up, DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Then the ONE D!! That’s one and done for The Maverick!
The fans fire up as now Jimmy decides to GET THE TABLE! The fans are thunderous as Jimmy puts that in for Jey, Jey sets it up, and the fans are all fired up! Logan is put on the table, the Usos go to the corners, but DREW MCINTYRE SHOVES JIMMY! Isn’t he suspended!? Jey runs up, but he gets a GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTT!! The fans boo as Drew saves Logan’s bacon! Aldis storms out here, asks what the hell Drew is doing here, and Heyman claims this is per the WarGames contract! Heyman could recruit anybody under WWE contract, even suspended superstars! Drew sets the table up in a corner, and he drags Jey Uso!
But Jey breaks free to SUPERKICK! The fans cheer as Jey now lines up a shot, but Drew KICKS first! Bron returns to SPEAR Jey through the table!! Jimmy is back to throw hands, but Logan uses ONE LUCKY RIGHT to knock Jimmy out! The fans boo, but now Cody is back! He throws hands on Drew and Logan, but a CLAYMORE takes Cody out! Drew throws off his shirt, he stares down with Bronson, and then Drew puts Cody in the drop zone! Drew step on Cody before the TSUNAMI hits!! The fans are either booing or desperately calling for CM Punk, but it is clear The Vision was thinking ahead.
Drew takes the contract from Heyman and they shake hands on the deal. The numbers are even, but will the odds be in The Vision’s favor now that they have a Scottish Terminator on their side?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown here, with quite a lot of surprises and big moves as perhaps a response to the sinking ratings and sinking interest. Charlotte not automatically being onboard with the team-up was certainly surprising, but given that 4v3 ambush backstage, that will surely compel Charlotte to join up. She’ll see it’s not about her and Rhea getting along so much as as it is them getting to beat up on their enemies, as we knew going into this. Then I would think they still bring in Stephanie Vaquer and Nikki Bella as the fifth members for each side, to help build the title story on top of everything else, jus as I said on Monday.
Obviously Cody wasn’t going to lose the Undisputed Championship tonight, but that was a great move to bolster the show’s card and give an excuse for all the Men’s WarGames build tonight. Logan & Bron being here to help Bronson was a given, and Heyman using a unique WarGames contract to bring Drew McIntyre onboard was certainly a clever move. As I figured on Monday, Jimmy Uso was a natural addition to Team Cody, or maybe it’s Team Punk. And I would certainly think Roman Reigns will also be a natural addition to this match, but I’m curious as to the fifth man for The Vision. Would Lesnar really want to be in WarGames? Well, granted, he’d be the last person to enter the match and “clear house,” but he’d still have to get in there.
Great stuff with the US Championship, such as Ilja continuing to troll Ciampa. Ilja VS Axiom was awesome, through I swear I heard one drunken idiot slurring the word, “BORING~!” That person is the kind of American fan Gunther (and therefore Zack Sabre Jr.) was talking about, IYKYK. But in the end, I figured we’d get more DIY VS Fraxiom, and maybe after that, Ciampa finally gets his match with Ilja. Great promo from Sami with Solo, and great ambush from Team Sami on MFT to set up their own 5v5. I figured that if they weren’t doing the WarGames, they’d get to do the traditional Survivor Series match, and the go-home SmackDown continues to be a substitute for the kickoff show, but in the best way possible.
Another hilarious promo with Truth and Aldis, and Chelsea joining in so we can hype up a celebration certainly teases someone interrupting. Either Giulia is going to crash the party to demand a US Championship rematch, or they plug NXT Gold Rush by having Thea Hail & Joe Hendry get the better of them ahead of the AAA Mixed Tag Team Championship match. I’m leaning more towards the former, they’ll build the tag match plenty on NXT. And speaking of Truth, a shame he doesn’t get in on the final part of the bracket, but Melo VS Bronson and Penta VS Finn will be great matches. With Bronson busy with The Vision’s story, I would hope Melo wins, and it’d be great if they teased a Boston VS Boston showdown.
Jade of course beat B-Fab tonight but that was pretty good for what was basically a squash match. Michin probably gets a match with Jade next, and likely loses that. Jade’s first title defense could be Survivor Series to basically be a buffer between the WarGames matches but also to just get one on the books. There’s a lot on hold for right now with the WarGames matches having a lot of great contenders involved, but I would think we get some Charlotte VS Jade build on the other side of Survivor Series.
And of course, great matches for the Last Time is Now tournament. Jey VS Miz was a great match, and Miz hitting Cena’s moves was an appreciated reference. But I figured Jey would win, they wanna tease a rematch of the Royal Rumble finalists from earlier this year. Matt Cardona was a great surprise, though him being Zack Ryder was perhaps even more surprising. People have been talking about Knight being punished and that he was being set up to lose, but if commentary is talking about that concept, then you know that is not the case. Great win for Knight, great showing for Cardona/Ryder, and here’s hoping Ryder gets to do more in WWE from here on.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA Live! iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 11.13.2025
With a month off, does TNA come back hot or with 87% talking and a show that should’ve been an email?
So last week was the definition of a filler episode with nothing really to speak of except for validating the Dani Luna versus Indi Hartwell match tonight. This is the first real iMPACT! episode since Bound For Glory and…it’s probably opening with Mike Santana talking. TNA needs to stop following the cookie patterns of WWE and you know…start with something interesting after nearly a month off. But let’s listen to talking…
Rascalz vs. The System at #TNATurningPoint!?@TheMooseNation @Myers_Wrestling @TheEddieEdwards @MrsAIPAlisha @DirtyDangoCurty @TheBadReed @ZacharyWentz
WATCH #TNAiMPACT LIVE on TNA+: https://t.co/OPjzyXNgY5 pic.twitter.com/cwwHo3IbwL
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) November 14, 2025
Ratings:
- Dani Luna vs Indi Hartwell: Dani wins via DQ – ** 1/2
- Jason Hotch w/Order 4 vs Cedric Alexander: Cedric wins via Lumbar Check – ** 1/4
- TNA Knockouts Championship: Heather by Elegance w/ M & Personal Concierge vs Kelani Jordan (c): Kelani retains via One of a Kind – (-*) – yes that’s Negative 1
- TNA World Championship: Mike Santana (c) vs Ryan Nemeth: No Contest – NXT Attacks
- TNA World Championship: Mike Santana (c) vs Kaz: Kazarian wins via Roll-Up – * – TITLE CHANGE!!!
Results:
Oh look, it does open with Mike and the crowd gives him the “You Deserve It” and it’s a sparse few minutes and Mike starts his promo in Spanish, so that’s a good way to make people ignore the show in three minutes. I understand Spanish, but let’s be honest, the bulk of people who watch are whiter than copy paper, so the whole “Champ is here in Orlando, for Puerto Ricans, and others…blah blah” is not a smart way to open after a month with no real content. So after Santana says nothing in two languages, Ryan Nemeth comes out to Nic’s music because Nic isn’t there. Ryan tries to talk some shit and go for a cheap shot, Santana catches his hand, emasculates him and then tells Ryan he’s going to tell Santino to make a match between the two of them tonight, and he’s going to drop Ryan. So we’ve got a squash match to look forward too and maybe Nic showing up at the end for a beat down.
Kelani is going to have to go through Heather tonight and M tomorrow at Turning Point. So we get another crappy promo from heel Kelani, giving her free title defenses. Yikes…this is bad, I do kinda like the gimmick of Xia translating for Lei since Xia, Lei and Mara crash the interview. But it just makes me angry that one of those three don’t have the belt. Kelani ain’t worth a damn.
After the commercial we get Santino, Ava and Arianna to promote Gold Rush. And then they showed a video package of it, so a complete waste of 4 minutes aside from noting that Arianna got a chant from the crowd. She’s gotten herself over decently to the TNA crowd.
Dani Luna vs Indi Hartwell
It has been 30 minutes and we get the first match…sheesh.
Indi with back to back Double Legs, Dani is getting worked over, Dani tries a Sunset Flip but Indi stops it and drops an elbow. Dani eats Chops, tries to Whip Indi to the corner, Up and Over and Indi takes Dani down and goes back to the chops. Dani finally blocks a Scoop Slam, but Indi blocks the attempted German Suplex so Dani drives her into the corner and finally gets some offense in. A bit of a botchy looking rope straddle where Indi had to lift herself back up to eat the Lariat. Big Power Whip bouncing Indi out of the corner, sliding Lariat for a near fall.
Jaw Jacker by Indi but she misses the Yakuza Kick, gets hung up, Dani tries to turn it into a Powerbomb but a Frankensteiner Counter and a few strikes forces Dani to powder. Indi tries to throw her into the steps, Dani stops herself and turns back into the Spinebuster. Indi to the top as Dani crawls into the ring and eats a Diving Elbow to the back for a near fall. Dani counters Hurts Donut, Shotgun Kick levels Indi. Dani is on the outside looking for a weapon, throws out the Time Keeper, grabs the chair, Indi catches Dani in the Small Package for 2. Indi grabs the chair and lays into Dani.
Indi…has no facial expressions to make sense of this. This is stupid, poorly acted by Indi but the crowd is eating it up like morons. That was the most boring “take out your aggression” I’ve ever seen. Indi cuts some mid ahh promo in the back about an NoDQ match or something at Turning Point and now The System comes out to guess what? If you said TALK, you’d be correct! Assuming this isn’t a rib, the most interesting thing to come from this is Dango announcing he’s retiring after Genesis, but then The Rascalz music hits.
They say they should give the people what they want, and Dezmond Xavier returns to The Rascalz for a 4 on 4 match. They never mentioned Dez by name, but that is the implication. So with JDC retiring and Dez potentially returning, at least that’s interesting.
Jason Hotch w/Order 4 vs Cedric Alexander
Shoulder tackles and a quick Cruiser style start, Hotch powders mid running to pose and act smart so Cedric Dives to wipe out Jason and hits the Flatliner in the middle of the ring for a near fall. Cedric tries to continue and Hotch pulls the tights to send Cedric through the ropes, Skyler takes a cheap shot. Hotch with the Irish Whip, Cedric puts the brakes on, so Hotch hops the ropes and trips up Cedric, but Cedric comes back when Hotch continues, Dropkick to the back of the head, Lumbar Check attempt, but nope, back and forth, Hotch tries the Chaos Theory but Cedric blocks the Suplex, they throw into the corner, Hotch hops the rope, wants the Gamengiri, but Cedric blocks it and backs up, Rolling Neckbreaker from Hotch gets countered into a Lumbar Check! Cedric wins!
Order 4 attempted beat down, but Hardy Boyz make the save, Swanton on Ali is teased but they pull Ali out for foreshadowing.
TNA Knockouts Championship: Heather by Elegance w/ M & Personal Concierge vs Kelani Jordan (c)
Well talk about mental gymnastics to try and make this match make sense, and list this under “who asked for this” – because I’d rather drink bleach in traffic than watch this match.
Color by numbers powder moment, commercial break immediately and I can feel the coma sinking in. Kelani with a bad kick, Heather with a bad Hip Toss right off the commercial…Christ, end this. Lei, Xia and Mara are watching from the back and they look as bored as I do Heather with a clunky Drop Toe Hold into a Hesitation Dropkick for two. Jaw Jacker from Kelani…I wonder how the Patriots and Jets game is going. Hmm, 14-7 for the Pats, closer than expected.
Heather and Lani do a dumb strike exchange since there’s no hatred, heat or fire in this match, Kelani with a Cartwheel move, Facebuster, all near falls, locomotion Cradles into a bad Super Kick. Heather botches a Satellite DDT, this is one of the worst matches I’ve seen all year. Sloppy, slow, clunky and botchy. One of Kind is hit, no one is surprised. This was a waste of 10 minutes.
Great, now we sit through an Elijah concert for prolly about 10-15 minutes since the Ryan vs Santana match isn’t gonna be a real match. I like Elijah, he’s actually a pretty good singer and the gimmick is fine. But this episode has been complete garbage, so more non-wrestling on the wrestling variety show is too much.
Ali comes out to interrupt and challenge Cedric and Hardyz, Elijah wants to pick the fight, but Ali cracks him in the face with the mic and then guitar shot on the injured triceps. Meh.
TNA World Championship: Mike Santana (c) vs Ryan Nemeth
Ryan grabs a mic and yells at the crowd because they won’t cheer for him, and Santana lets happen because Santana isn’t taking the seriously. Ryan even tries to ask the referee to make them cheer. Eventually the bell rings and Ryan attacks immediately, punches into an Irish Whip and Dropkick. Ryan tries the Whip again, but Up and Over, Santana catches the foot, Ryan shakes his head when Santana berates him and drops him, throws him to the other corner, Cannonball! Ryan wants to Spin the Block, but Nic’s Music Hits, he’s carrying the trophy but someone attacks Nic.
Then a bunch of NXT people spill out of the crowd and attack. Charlie Dempsey, Lexis King…and others. I think Robert Stone is directing traffic for NXT. But this…this is what the show was hinging on, an Invasion/Overrun angle? Bad booking is bad, ya know?
TNA World Champuonship: Mike Santana (c) vs Kaz
Kaz’s music hits, he calls his shot, Fade to Black, but Santana Kicks out. Frankie tries the Chicken Wing, Santana slams him into the corner, wants Spin the Block, but the beatdown stops him from being able to execute the move, Roll-Up, and Santana…loses. Frankie Kazarian is the new World Champion.
Overall Score: 3/10
There was something interesting with Dango being on the retirement tour, The Rascalz bringing Dez home and Lei Ying and Xia’s gimmick is endearing. Plus like I said in the rundown, I enjoy Elijah’s musicianship, but I don’t appreciate a Wrestling Show basically no wrestling. Is it variety? Sure, but it’s a wrestling show first. So a show that has 3 squash matches and a 5 minute X Division match that could’ve been much better with time…the wrestling was forgotten tonight. A month off and they lost the plot on the rebound. Ugh…I’ve had diarrhea more enjoyable than this.
The Invasion/Attack is corny but Kaz managing to pull off the Cash In, is…okay I didn’t see it coming, but it doesn’t save the show being awful.
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