Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (2/18/22)
One more stop before Saudi Arabia!
What happens just half a day before Elimination Chamber?
While Elimination Chamber has a lot of gold on the line, SmackDown puts up the WWE Intercontinental Championship! Will Sami Zayn get back “his” title?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Sheamus w/ Ridge Holland VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
- Jey Uso w/ Jimmy Uso VS Ivar w/ Erik; Ivar wins, by disqualification.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura VS Sami Zayn; Zayn wins and becomes the new WWE Intercontinental Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
Adam Pearce is in the ring.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown!” The four women we saw last week are going to have a tag team match at the Elimination Chamber event! But only if they all sign the contract. So please welcome the team of WWE official, Sonya Deville & the SmackDown Women’s Champion, Charlotte Flair! Sonya, arm still in a sling, makes her way out, followed by The Queen. Charlotte holds up her title before taking her seat with Sonya at the table. Next, Pearce introduces Naomi & the Baddest Woman on the Planet, Ronda Rousey! Naomi is out first, then Rowdy Ronda makes her entrance.
Ronda and Naomi are all smiles as they go to the ring and Naomi even rocks out to Ronda’s theme as they take their seats. Pearce says they just need four signatures, but Sonya interrupts. She knows how these work, she’ll sign. But then Sonya thinks to have things explained to Naomi & Ronda, since they don’t know how to follow rules. Ronda knows rule one is sign the damn contract. Naomi says rule two is to slap the taste outta Sonya’s mouth. Sonya says this is why she doesn’t like them. They have no respect for authority- Sonya, stop stalling and sign. Don’t tell Sonya what to do! Ronda asks if Sonya forgot how to spell her name. It’s B I T-
Oh haha. Why do they think this is so funny? Naomi lost to Charlotte last week. And Ronda’s never beaten Charlotte. But that’ll change. Don’t interrupt! Sonya wants them all to respect her but Ronda says to shut up! Just sign it, Sonya. Sonya does, and passes it to Charlotte. Charlotte signs her part, and even dots the I. Now, this is their last chance to back out. if Naomi or Ronda want to speak- Naomi says Sonya better stop stalling or she’ll flip the table over and use Sonya’s head as the pen. Charlotte hushes everyone, and then laughs. “The both of you need to listen to Sonya’s new stipulation.”
What now? See, this is what’s funny. Those two don’t listen, but Sonya was trying to tell them something. Ronda did an interview a few days ago, where she said she could win with one arm behind her back. So then Sonya thought, “What a badass idea! Ronda Rousey wrestling with one arm tied behind her back!” So the higher ups added here in the fine print, “Ronda Rousey will wrestle this match with one arm tied behind her back.” They can back out if they want. Nope, Ronda just signs her part, and does Naomi. Ronda says she could have no hands and still tap dance on Sonya’s head.
But this match is up tomorrow, and Ronda has both hands now. She throws the contract at Charlotte, then smacks her off the table! Naomi ROUNDHOUSES Sonya, then she and Ronda both flip the table onto their opponents! Sonya & Charlotte just felt humiliated, but will they #FeelTheGlow and the pain at Elimination Chamber?
Sheamus & Ridge Holland meet up backstage.
The Fella tells his protégé that it was a bit of a letdown last week. That insignificant flea, Ricochet, got the better of him. Sheamus explains to Ridge that he has never had a problem with Ricochet. Always knocked the snot outta him. But the fact Ricochet beat Ridge, that’s annoying. Ridge needs to give Ricochet a hammering he’ll never forget! Is Ridge retaining any of this? He is. Then what did he say? When they go out there, you tool up and get your head in the game. Ridge said that he wants to be great like Sheamy. So tonight, he will watch what Sheamus does when he takes Ricochet’s bleedin’ head off. It’s fight night, but will the Celtic Warrior win the fight?
Sheamus w/ Ridge Holland VS Ricochet!
SmackDown returns and the One and Only makes his entrance. The bell rings and Sheamus makes sure Ridge is watching. Ricochet dropkicks Sheamus! And again! And fires off in the corner! Sheamus shoves him away but Ricochet comes back, sunset flips out of the scoop, TWO! Sheamus knees low, CLUBS Ricochet, then EuroUppers him to ropes. Sheamus whips, Ricochet kicks back! Sheamus staggers, Ricochet dropkicks him outta the ring! Ricochet builds speed and DIVES for a somersault tope! Direct hit and Sheamus goes into barriers! Fans fire up as Ricochet KICKS Sheamus then gets him in the ring.
Sheamus staggers up, swings but misses, and Ricochet ROCKS Sheamus. Ricochet springboards, Sheamus gets under and scoops Ricochet for a BACKBREAKER! Sheamus drags Ricochet to a corner, digs his knee in, but lets off at 4. Sheamus digs his boot in now, lets off again, and argues about the count. Ricochet kicks back from below, but Sheamus brings him up. Ricochet fires body shots, haymakers and CHOPS! Sheamus ROCKS Ricochet back, bumps him off buckles, then reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Ridge applauds his mentor and Sheamus wraps on a chinlock. Sheamus grinds Ricochet down but Ricochet endures.
Fans rally up, Ricochet JAWBERAKERS, then JUMP KNEES! Ricochet runs, and CROSSBODIES himself and Sheamus out of the ring! Ricochet then MOONSAULTS, but Sheamus catches him! Sheamus pops Ricochet around to FALL AWAY SLAM Ricochet over the announce desk! The Fella is still seething but standing tall as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Sheamus is up top! Ricochet stands, Sheamus leaps to FLYING CLOTHESLINE! Ridge wants Sheamus to finish this, and Sheamus drags Ricochet up on the apron. Sheamus CLUBS away for the Beats of the Bodhrain! Sheamus stops at 9, goes out, and he CLOBBERS Ricochet into the ring for 10! Ridge and Sheamus both ask, “Are you not entertained?!” Sheamus then goes inside, kicks Ricochet around and drags Ricochet back up to put him in a corner. Ricochet BOOTS back! Ricochet runs, tilt-o-whirls and DDTs Sheamus down! Ridge looks worried and coaches Sheamus up.
Fans rally, Ricochet slowly gets up and shakes out the cobwebs. Sheamus drags himself up the ropes, Ricochet bobs ‘n’ weaves and throws hands! Ricochet CHOPS, whips, but Sheamus reverses. Ricochet springboards to CROSSBODY! Ricochet springboards again, FLYING LARIAT! STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Cover, TWO! Sheamus sputters, Ricochet PENALTY KICKS him! Then LIONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet keeps cool, gets to a corner, and he wants Sheamus to stand. Ricochet goes to fireman’s carry, Sheamus elbows that away. Sheamus whips Ricochet, Alabama lifts, ALABAMA SLAM! Cover, TWO!!
Sheamus and Ridge are both frustrated that Ricochet is still in this. Sheamus slaps Ricochet down, goes back to a corner and climbs back up. Ridge cheers his mentor while the fans rally for Ricochet. Ricochet gets Sheamus’ leg but Sheamus CLUBS him down. Sheamus stands up, but Ricochet gets right up there with him! SPANISH FLY!! Cover, TWO!! Sheamus survives and Ridge is relieved. Ricochet drags Sheamus into the drop zone and goes to the corner. Ricochet climbs, Ridge gets up on the apron to distract! Ricochet hops down, dodges Sheamus, Ridge almost gets the Brogue! Sheamus is upset, turns around, RECOIL!! Cover, Ricochet wins!!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall
Ridge can’t believe he just cost Sheamus that match! Does the One and Only just have their number? Ridge gets in, apologizes to Sheamus, but Sheamus shoves him away. Sheamus argues with Ridge, then shoves him down! Ridge isn’t listening to his lessons! Ridge keeps trying to apologize, but will his mentor forgive him after he’s cooled off?
Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.
Kayla asks Sami about his Intercontinental Championship that he lost over a year ago. With Rick Boogs out of the picture because of “suspiciously faulty wiring,” how- Sami stops her there because he knows what she’s getting at. First and foremost, he had nothing to do with that and accepts no responsibility. But it’s cute how so much Kayla cares. Especially when she, and basically no one in the WWE Universe, has ever cared what happened to Sami. He lost? He did not. He was robbed of it, ousted, overthrown in a coup. And the WWE has done everything they can to keep him from getting it back, and done everything to embarrass Sami!
They’ve blocked Sami’s documentary from releasing. He has been shocked, arrested, put in a wheelchair. It has been the worst year of his life. But none of that matters because tonight will be the best night of his life! He’ll regain HIS Intercontinental Championship! And respectfully, Kayla, please get away so he can center himself. There’s still a lot of time before the main event, will the Great Liberator “center” himself enough to be ready for the King of Strong Style?
The Undertaker is entering the WWE Hall of Fame!
Finally, his legendary career will be given the one honor yet to be given! A truly special superstar, a mythological character in the flesh, a truly larger than life Phenom! A 30 year career, transformation and reinvention again and again, a WrestleMania streak that’ll never be replicated, and the respect of everyone, both wrestlers and fans. A true icon that crossed over into the world of entertainment outside of pro-wrestling, perhaps even the greatest of all time. #ThankYouTaker, #YouDeserveIt!
Roman Reigns talks with the Usos in his suite.
Whatever it is he is saying, Jimmy & Jey are having a good laugh. But will the Tribal Chief be anything but smiling after tonight’s face-to-face with GOLD~BERG?
Jey Uso w/ Jimmy Uso VS Ivar w/ Erik!
The SmackDown Tag Team Champions made one Viking Raider look like a chump when it was Jimmy VS Erik, and then they got the jump on both Viking Raiders and took their headdresses from them! Will things continue on that trend now that we’re seeing the other halves go 1v1? Or will the War Beard bring the raid?
SmackDown returns and the Viking Raiders make their entrance. The bell rings, Jey dodges Ivar to mule kick! Jey storms up to throw body shots in the corner, then haymakers, but lets off as the ref counts 4. Jey taunts Erik but Ivar ROCKS Jey with haymakers and back hands. Ivar whips Jey to a corner, Jey goes up and over and rolls, to come back into a SEATED SENTON! Ivar covers, TWO! Ivar stalks Jey to the ropes, drags him up by his hair, and whips him to scoop and SIDEWALK SLAM! Ivar keeps moving, but Jey avoids the splash! Jey SUPERKICKS Ivar down then covers, TWO! The Usos are annoyed but Jey keeps focus.
Jey throws down haymakers then clamps on a chinlock. Ivar endures but Jey throws crossface forearms. Erik rallies the fans with “RAID!” and Ivar fights up. Jey slips off the fireman’s carry but Ivar cartwheels around him! Ivar blocks the kick, but Jey DRAGON WHIPS through! But then Ivar comes back to LARIAT! Ivar gets up, catches his breath, and he rallies with the fans. Ivar runs corner to corner, BRONCO BUSTER! Ivar goes up top and fans fire up! VIKING SPLASH!! Cover, Jimmy attacks using the headdresses!
Winner: Ivar, by disqualification
Erik ROCKS Jimmy, then takes the headdress to CLOBBER Jimmy! Jimmy & Jey are still on the losing end of this one, but will they win when the gold is on the line?
Drew McIntyre heads to the ring!
The Scottish Warrior, his sword in hand, is ready for his Falls Count Anywhere match with Mad Cap Moss. But what will he have to say about that match here tonight? We’ll see, after the break.
SmackDown returns and McIntyre has the mic. “In this job, I’ve gotten to travel to some cool places, live in some cool places, and I used to live in Mandeville, just over the bridge.” He used to hang out in New Orleans all the time, back in 2010 when the Saints won the Super Bowl. The Bourbon Street was wild! The only people that can keep up with Scots when it comes to drinking, is New Orleans. McIntyre ended up in a police car, it wasn’t his fault, but luckily someone recognized him and had him party with them all night long! And McIntyre’s been thinking, reflecting on his career and life. It almost ended because of “Happy” Corbin & “Mad Cap” Moss.
Footage replays from Day One’s attack backstage, where Corbin nearly crushed McIntyre’s throat. McIntyre says that he wanted to play that not for anyone but his benefit. He wants to remember how he felt during that moment, during rehab and how he was told he wouldn’t make it back to WrestleMania. Last year, McIntyre was champion This year, it is personal! But Mad Cap, it is anything goes! McIntyre do whatever he wants! He can beat Moss up in the ring, up the ramp, in the crowd, go backstage, flush his head, take him to the desert, drown him in the Red Sea! The ideas are unlimited! Hell, give McIntyre some help coming up with more!
And today, that means a hashtag! #MadCapMauling! Send McIntyre all your ideas on how he can inflict pain! He’s got a lot of time on the flight to Saudi Arabia! But here comes Corbin & Moss! Corbin wants to stop this. This is ridiculous. McIntyre is coming up with a hashtag to bully Moss, talking about drowning him in the sea! McIntyre, what kind of role model are you to little Scottish kids? Moss hopes McIntyre packs a good neck pillow. From what Moss hears, McIntyre isn’t near 100%. But he’s right about one thing: tomorrow, they can fight all over the place. But the joke’s on McIntyre. And like any good comedian, Moss is great at using the environment.
And after Moss finishes what started on Day One, he and Corbin will be laughing all the way home. And here’s one more joke: “What does Drew McIntyre’s bad neck have in common with a popular breakfast cereal? They both go snap, crackle, pop!” McIntyre says this is actually rather sad. Moss, aside from your terrible jokes, you have all the talent in the world. Yet he aligns with a piece o’ crap like Corbin, and then went after McIntyre. At Elimination Chamber, McIntyre will hurt Moss, end him, and make this Saturday the night laughter died! Will McIntyre do anything and everything he wants to finally shut Moss up?
Backstage interview with Shinsuke Nakamura.
Kayla lets him know Sami’s vowed to get the title back. But what’s his plan without having Boogs here? The plan is to kick Sami in the face. He does enough talking. But he thinks he can win the Intercontinental title, so Sami but be InZayn! The King of Strong Style heads out, will he deny Sami the “justice” he’s been seeking?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura VS Sami Zayn!
SmackDown returns and Sami makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the Master Strategist has a legitimate way to take the title back.
The two circle at the bell, feel out the grapple, but then Sami goes to ropes for defense. Nakamura is annoyed but he backs off. Sami comes back, circles with Nakamura again, and feel out the grapple again. Nakamura kicks but Sami manages to get back to ropes. Fans rally behind Nakamura as Sami cools off. They circle, tie up, and Sami waistlocks to a headlock. Nakamura powers Sami to a corner but Sami turns it around. The ref counts, Sami lets off with a cheap shot! Then a haymaker! Sami throws more hands, stomps Nakamura down, then whips Nakamura corner to corner. Nakamura comes back to DYNAMIC DROPKICK!
Fans fire up as Nakamura KICKS and KICKS, but Sami blocks! Nakamura ENZIGURIS! Nakamura throws KNEES into Sami’s head ‘n’ shoulders! Nakamura has Sami in the corner for some Good Vibrations! Or is it bad? Nakamura puts Sami up top and throws body shots. Nakamura then runs in for the TOP SHELF KNEE! Sami flops down to the apron, Nakamura slides out and brings Sami further out. Nakamura runs to KNEE LIFT! Then Nakamura goes up, GUILLOTINE KNEE misses as Sami moves! Nakamura hits the floor and clutches his knee as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again and Sami rains down rights on Nakamura’s head! Sami then throws crossface forearms before clamping on a chinlock, even trapping an arm. Nakamura endures and fans rally up. Sami squeezes tight, leans on the hold, but Nakamura gets his arm free. Sami leans all his weight, then pushes Nakamura down for an elbow drop. Cover, TWO! Another, TWO! Another, TWO! Sami is frustrated but he kicks Nakamura around. Fans rally up for Nakamura and Sami mocks their applause. Sami brings Nakamura up to CHOP him! And CHOP! And CHOP! Sami runs and LARIATS Nakamura down! Cover, TWO!
Sami looms over Nakamura, rains down elbows right on Nakamura’s head, then clamps on the chinlock. Nakamura flails, fans rally up more, and Nakamura gets up. Nakamura arm-drags free, then spins around for an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Sami flails, moves around, makes it a cover, TWO! Sami is free, but Nakamura counter punches! And again! Nakamura fires off a strike fest, then the AX KICK! SLIDING KNEE! Sami flounders to a corner, Nakamura bumps him off buckles. Nakamura goes corner to corner but blocks knees. He puts Sami in the ropes, CLUBS him, then runs to SLIDING GERMAN!
Fans fire up with Nakamura as he gets back in. Cover, TWO! Sami shakes out the cobwebs but Nakamura is on him with a chinlock of his own. Nakamura drags Sami up but Sami fights the clinch with elbow after elbow after elbow! Sami tries now, but Nakamura returns those elbows! And then a knee! Nakamura runs, but Sami scoops for a MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Nakamura survives! Sami hurries but Nakamura flops out of the ring. Sami knows he can only win the title in the ring, so he goes out the side, runs in, DAREDEVIL BOOT from Nakamura! Sami tried to go back in time but flops to the floor!
Nakamura refreshes the ring count, takes aim, but Sami sends the Kinshasa into the steel steps! Nakamura is clutching that knee again as SmackDown goes to another break!
SmackDown returns yet again, and Sami lets off in a corner, but then stomps away on the bad leg again! The ref counts, Sami lets off at 4, and then he SLAPS Nakamura. Fans chant, “Sami Sucks!” as Sami puts Nakamura up top. Sami climbs and stands Nakamura up, but Nakamura fires off elbows! Nakamura knocks Sami down, Nakamura hits a FLYING KNEE! Cover, TWO! Nakamura is growing frustrated while Sami sits up in a daze. Nakamura stands him up, Sami ducks one kick but not the WHEEL KICK! Nakamura goes to the corner, takes aim, “YAO~!” But Sami dropkicks the legs out! Then gets Nakamura up, BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!
Sami looks to the ref in frustration but he accepts the count. Nakamura drags himself to a corner, Sami storms over and fires off hands. Sami boxes Nakamura, stomps him, but the ref gets him to stop. Sami mocks Nakamura, “C’MON~!” Sami stomps Nakamura more, but Nakamura gets up and has the leg! Nakamura ROCKS Sami with fast hands and knees and kicks! Nakamura has Sami on the ropes, kicks him more and more while hearing the count, and lets off at 4. Nakamura then tells Sami, “C’MON~!” Sami get sup, into a ROUNDHOUSE! Sami staggers, Nakamura pushes him down to kick him more and more.
The ref counts again, Nakamura again stops at 4. Nakamura aims and powers up, “YAO~!” KIN- NO, Sami bails right out! Nakamura stops and is frustrated again, but he reaches at Sami from the ropes. Sami trips Nakamura and SLAMS the leg against the post! And again! And again! The ref reprimands but Sami just slams the leg over and over and over! Sami finally lets off, slithers in, and catches the kick to BOOT the other leg! Cover, SAMI WINS!
Winner: Sami Zayn, by pinfall (NEW WWE Intercontinental Champion)
No one can believe it! A deep leg hook finishes Nakamura off! Sami had a master plan all along, and it worked out in his favor!
WWE celebrate Black History Month.
Booker T visited the For Oak Cliff Community Center in the Oak Cliff Dallas area. For Oak Cliff was founded by Taylor Toynes and Xavier Henderson, two young men who grew up in the area and even worked as teachers before founding the organization. They want to build the community up through their four pillars: education, advocacy, community building, and art. They serve all ages, and have served more than 30 THOUSAND community members, and have distributed 4 MILLION pounds of food.
Aliyah congratulates Ricochet backstage.
She’s very impressed with that huge win over Sheamus. She’s never seen anything like that! He thanks her for that, and it felt good. Sheamus is a former US Champion, WWE World Champion, and for some reason, he’s just been trying to make Ricochet miserable. But after winning, Ricochet realizes Sheamus’ past could be his future. This was one step forward, so yeah, it was good. Ricochet leaves, but Sami walks over and says if they wanna talk about big wins, what about the Intercontinental Championship? He just won it back! Talk later! Sami asks people around if they want autographs and pictures. Will Sami’s big win just inflate that ego?
Roman Reigns heads to the ring!
The Tribal Chief, with Paul Heyman carrying the belt for him, is a 536 DAY WWE Universal Champion, the longest reigning world champion of the last 35 YEARS in the WWE. He holds up that title and the pyro goes off. Then he and Heyman continue towards the ring, Heyman of course holding the title up as a banner. The Head of the Table will have one more face-to-face encounter with the Icon, GOLD~BERG, but will it be civil? We’ll see, after the break.
SmackDown returns and Roman is in the ring, and he holds up the belt to cue more pyro. Heyman has a mic in hand, and he passes it to Roman. Roman smiles, and says, “New Orleans… Acknowledge me.” Many of the fans seem happy to, but others still refuse. Roman hears the chants for his name, but also the chants for “GOLD~BERG!” Roman wants “The Wiseman” to celebrate him. Heyman speaks, “Ladies and gentlemen, this is the best part of my day, because I know none of you understand what it’s like to stand this close to true greatness, but I? I find it spiritually orgasmic.
“If you never got a chance to see, in his prime, Michael Jordan. If you never got to see, in his prime, Wayne Gretzky. If you never got a chance to see, in his prime, Drew Brees, then you didn’t miss a damn thing cuz he played for the Saints.” But if you never got to see Tom Brady in his prime, then does Heyman have a gift for you. But the fans chant, “Who dey? Who dey?” Heyman and Roman wait it out. The 11th Commandment on the Island of Relevancy, “Thou Shalt Not Interrupt the Wiseman’s Promo.”
But 14 hours from now, it is your opportunity to see, in his prime, at his best, in the ring, doing what he does to continue to cement his GOAT status! YOUR Tribal Chief, YOUR Head of the Table! The End All Be All, the Undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman… Reigns! Fans do cheer for that. But here comes GOLD~BERG! He has his security detail through the hallway before he walks out on stage for his pyro. Goldberg then gets in the ring, gets himself a mic, but then drops it! Roman smirks at that, and says, “I was going to give you one last chance to acknowledge me, but…” Goldberg steps closer. And then closer.
Fans are fired up and chanting “GOLD~BERG!” as loud as they can. Goldberg smirks now, and takes one more step closer. Roman doesn’t want Goldberg crowding him. Roman runs things around here, so Goldberg is either here to fight or talk. Which is it? Roman hands Goldberg his mic, and Goldberg says, “Tomorrow, 12 o’clock, I gotta apologize in front of all these wonderful people in the entire world, I was wrong. You’re not next. When it comes to the Universal Championship, I’M NEXT!” Goldberg has said his piece, but will he be leaving Elimination Chamber in one piece? Or will Roman force Goldberg to acknowledge him?
My Thoughts:
This episode was about the same as last week’s episode, so it was like we got two subpar go-homes in a row for SmackDown. Only three matches, a lot of recaps to fill time, but I did really like that Undertaker vignette to officially announce his Hall of Fame induction. We got a pretty good contract signing segment for the women’s tag we’re getting at Elimination Chamber. Ronda & Naomi were giving Charlotte & Sonya some real good sass, and it does kinda play in the twist Sonya revealed about Ronda having one arm restrained. That’ll make for an interesting match, but I feel like Ronda & Naomi still find a way to win, and I bet Sonya takes the loss.
The Viking Raiders finally get going with Ivar’s win over Jey, but they still don’t look likely to win the tag titles. They should’ve been given much more in this build but Vince doesn’t like tag wrestling as much these days, and he has been doing all kinds of things to try and hinder Erik & Ivar, such as renaming them Erik & Ivar. If only they got to be War Raiders, Ray Rowe & Hanson. We got a pretty good promo segment out of McIntyre, Moss and Corbin, and honestly, Moss’ joke here was the best joke he’s ever told. But I like that McIntyre wants some fan interaction to hype this match, and I hope their Falls Count Anywhere really does explore the arena quite a bit.
Sheamus VS Ricochet was very good, and it was a good move for Ricochet to win. There’s tension between Sheamus and Ridge now, and I would think at some point, those two split up. Ridge should really be the one to dump Sheamus, he shouldn’t have even needed to be in this role in the first place, and this is probably his chance to strike out on his own on SmackDown. Aliyah congratulating Ricochet made me think they were bringing Mustafa Ali back into things given how those three were interacting when Aliyah first showed up. Instead, Sami gloats about his own win. Sami VS Nakamura was a great match, but could’ve been even better if there weren’t recap fillers.
Honestly, there’s a way the face-to-face of Roman and Goldberg could’ve been shorter. I get it’s all in Roman’s character to take his time, but in case you didn’t know, this wasn’t actually a live episode. This was recorded with last week’s episode in New Orleans, because how else could the SmackDown team make it to Saudi Arabia in time? They didn’t need a commercial break during Roman’s entrance, and honestly, Goldberg could’ve been defiant by interrupting things and just getting to that final line. Then whatever time that would’ve saved can be given to Nakamura VS Sami.
My Score: 8.2/10
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Happy New Year’s Evil!
NXT raises Hell in the City of Angels, but also raises the stakes! It’s a Triple Threat as Trick Williams defends THE NXT Championship against Oba Femi AND Eddy Thorpe!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez VS Giulia; Giulia wins and becomes the new NXT Women’s Champion.
- NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Kelani Jordan VS Lola Vice VS Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade; wins and will challenge for the title.
- Six Woman Tag: Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin & Shotzi Blackheart VS The Fatal Influence; Tatum, Gigi & Shotzi win.
- NXT Heritage Cup Championship Sudden Death: Lexis King VS Charlie Dempsey; King wins and is the rightful NXT Heritage Cup Champion.
- NXT Championship Triple Threat: Trick Williams VS Oba Femi VS Eddy Thorpe; Oba wins and becomes the new NXT Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
As NXT counted down to a New Year…
…we looked back on 2024, a year that brought NXT moment after moment. The biggest Stand & Deliver ever, NXT moving to CW, and even entered the ECW Arena. But as one countdown ends, another begins. A countdown to validation, a countdown to new challenges, a countdown to new opportunities, and a countdown to long awaited vindication. Forget the countdown to 2025, the countdown to New Year’s Evil, ends now!
A truck pulls into the arena.
And out steps THE ROCK! He promised on social media that he would be here, and so here he is! What will The People’s Champion get up to on the first NXT of 2025?
NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez VS Giulia!
These two met before, but there was some controversy to how that one ended. The Prodigy still thinks she’s the best in the world today, but now there will be no one coming to save her! Will Roxie make it past day 276? Or will she succumb to the Beautiful Madness?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and the first match of NXT’s 2025 is already epic!
The bell rings and the two tie up. The fans rally, Roxie hits a headlock takeover but Giulia headscissors. Roxie kips free, roles reverse as Giulia headlocks for the takeover. Roxie headscissors, Giulia kips free, and the two reset. The fans cheer as they circle again, and then they tie up. Roxie waistlocks, then she spins Giulia and has a hammerlock. Roxie wrangles Giulia into La Magistrol and then BRIDGE, TWO! ARMBAR! Roxie flails, rolls, but Giulia keeps her grounded. Roxie fights to a stack, TWO! Roxie headlocks, Giulia powers up and out, then drops down. Roxie cartwheels, and then she SLAPS Giulia!
The fans fire up while Roxie takes a bow. Roxie talks some trash, but then Giulia HEADBUTTS her! And HEADBUTTS, HEADBUTTS, HEADBUTTS! Giulia has Roxie in a corner, the ref counts, but Giulia lets off to whip corner to corner. Roxie reverses, runs up, but Giulia dodges! Giulia ROCKS Roxie, shoves her down, then climbs up the corner. The fans are fired up as she MISSILE DROPKICKS Roxie down! Roxie ends up in the corner, Giulia runs up and BOOT WASHES her! Roxie flops to the floor but Giulia pursues. Giulia kicks Roxie around, then puts her in the ring. Giulia goes up but Roxie grabs an arm! HOTSHOT!
The fans are torn but Roxie drags Giulia through the corner! Roxie bends Giulia’s arm against the crossbar, then DOUBLE STOMPS it! The fans are torn again, and maybe Giulia’s arm is busted, but NXT goes picture in picture.
Roxie drags Giulia into the ring, wrenches the arm, then throws Giulia down by her hair! But Giulia avoids the knee drop! Ghost pin, TWO! Giulia hurries to whip, Roxie reverses, CODE BREAKER to the arm! Giulia clutches that elbow, but Roxie pushes her to a cover, TWO! Roxie is frustrated but she STMOPS the bad arm again and again! Then she traps the arm for the KNEE DROP! Roxie mocks the fans, talks trash, then drags Giulia around ot whip her to the corner. Roxie runs up to UPPERCUT, then she wrenches and clinches, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, ONE!! Roxie is furious but she throws Giulia down by her hair!
The ref reprimands but Roxie digs her shoulder into Giulia’s shoulder. Roxie pulls the arm, talks trash while she SLAPS the arm over and over, then YANKS it back! Cover, TWO! Roxie is only getting angrier, and she clamps on a top wristlock. Roxie pulls on that bad arm, then wrangles Giulia to trap the arm. BRIDGING HAMMERLOCK! Giulia fights around, ROPEBREAK! Roxie lets off, just to CLUB Giulia on the back. Roxie keeps the hammerlock as she stands Giulia up, then she RAMS Giulia into buckles! Roxie reels Giulia in, wrenches, hammerlocks again, and then whips, but Giulia reverses! Roxie hits POST!
NXT returns to single picture and Roxie staggers back. Roxie ROCKS Giulia, Giulia ROCKS Roxie! Roxie rebounds to ROCK Giulia! Giulia ROCKS Roxie again! Roxie ROCKS Giulia once more, but then Giulia ROCKS Her back! The fans fire up as the forearms go faster and faster! Roxie gets the edge, then whips, but Giulia DROPKICKS her down! The fans fire up while Roxie flounders away. Giulia and Roxie slowly rise up, and Giulia goes to the apron. Giulia climbs, the fans rally, but Roxie ROCKS her first! Roxie climbs up after Giulia, then SUPER STEINERS! High stack, TWO!! Giulia survives and Roxie is furious!
Roxie stomps away on Giulia’s bad hand! The fans boo but Roxie drags Giulia up to ELBOW BREAKER, then she UPPERCUTS the arm! Another wrench, another wrench, and- SAIDO from Giulia! Roxie shrieks as she rises up! Roxie dodges Giulia, and she SAIDOS! But Giulia roars as she rises! The fans are thunderous as the SLAPS fly! Both women wobble, but they both SLAP again! Giulia fires hands from all sides, then winds up, HAYMAKER! Roxie staggers to ropes, Giulia storms up on her, but Roxie WRINGS the bad arm! The fans rally while Giulia bails out. Roxie says this is why she’s the champ! Roxie DIVES and down goes Giulia!
Roxie puts Giulia in the ring, fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” Giulia UPPERCUTS Roxie! Giulia goes up, the fans fire up, and Giulia underhooks the arms! SUPER BUTTERFLY PLEX!! The fans are thunderous, and then Giulia hammerlocks, scoops, and swings Roxie for the GLORIOUS DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! “This is Awesome!” as Roxie survives, and Giulia brings her up. Scoop and- NO, Roxie slips free, and she wrangles Giulia right down! CROSSFACE!! Giulia endures, fights around, and reaches out, but Roxie kicks off ropes to roll things back! But Giulia gets up! Roxie hops on, Giulia slips free!
But Roxie SHOTGUNS Giulia outta the ring! The fans are thunderous again as Roxie hurries to get Giulia up. But Giulia scoops! NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB on the floor!! Both women are down, and a ring count starts! They’re still down at 5 of 10! WAIT! CORA JADE puts Roxie in the ring! She interfered after all! But then Giulia slips in at 9.9!! But Roxie hops on! POP ROX!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Giulia shocks everyone, but Roxie clamps on! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! The ref EJECTS Cora, that’s what she gets! Roxie THEASHE the arm, but Giulia rolls her! TWO!! Roxie staggers up, into ARRIVEDERCI KNEE!!
Giulia roars, the fans are with her! Scoop and NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!!! Cover, GIULIA WINS!!
Winner: Giulia, by pinfall (NEW NXT Women’s Champion)
The Prodigy is indeed one of the greatest champs in NXT history, but she finally falls to one of the greatest champs in international wrestling history! The New Year has a new champion, will all of NXT succumb to the Beautiful Madness?
Refs find Eddy Thorpe down and out!
Eddy writhes on the steps, and Ava Raine walks in. Oh, okay, she gets it. Big Triple Threat, Eddy, time to get going. Hey, he didn’t fake this one! He really got attacked! Oh? And she’s supposed to believe him? The Alpha Wolf cried wolf before, but is he telling the truth now? Or will it not matter once he steps into the ring with Oba Femi and Trick Williams?
Je’Von Evans speaks.
The Young OG, jaw wired shut, fights through the pain to tell Ethan Page, “I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t talk. But I’m going to find you. For what you did to Cedric. For what you did to me. Ethan, I’m gonna make you feel my pain.” When and where will All Ego pay for all his crimes?
NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Kelani Jordan VS Lola Vice VS Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade!
The NXT Women’s Division continues to grow stronger and stronger, and this match is proof of that! The Standout wants payback on everyone in this match for looking down on her, will she overcome the odds to make it back to her title? Or will someone else be going after the Fatal Influence’s toxic cowgirl?
NXT returns and Lola makes her entrance, everyone else already waiting in the ring. The bell rings and the four watch each other. Cora talks trash on the other three, so Lola KICKS her, Vaquer ROCKS her, and Kelani ROCKS her! Lola mule kicks, Vaquer HEADBUTTS, and Kelani kicks low! Kelani TOSSES Cora, but then Cora drags Kelani out of the ring! Vaquer and Lola talk while Kelani DECKS Cora! Kelani gets back in, she shoves Vaquer into Lola and rolls Vaquer up, TWO! Lola runs up, Kelani rolls her up, TWO as Vaquer rolls Kelani! But Lola rolls Vaquer! Cora CLUBS Lola, DECKS Kelani, and TOSSES Lola!
Lola ends up on ropes, so Cora runs up to ELBOW her in the back! Cora STOMPS Kelani down, covers, but Vaquer drags Cora right up. Vaquer snapmares Cora, then wraps on the headscissors! Vaquer gives Cora the DRILLER into the mat, but Lola stomps Vaquer! The fans boo as Lola puts on the SLEEPER, but Kelani SUPERKICKS Lola! Kelani runs up to slingshot arm-drag Lola, then she DOUBLE DROPKICKS Lola and Vaquer !Kelani kips up, the fans fire up, and Kelani dodges Cora to CLOBBER her! Kelani keeps moving, she rolls over Cora’s dropdown, but Cora dodges Kelani to tilt-o-whirl RANA! But Kelani handsprings through!
The fans fire up as Kelani wags her finger. But then Cora and Kelani DOUBLE LARIAT! Lola and Vaquer brawl on the outside, and Lola BOOTS Vaquer down. Kelani PLANCHAS onto Lola! Cora CANNONBALLS Kelani! The fans fire up while Cora laughs sat Kelani. Cora mocks Kelani’s tears while NXT goes picture in picture.
Cora drags Kelani up, puts her in the ring, then stalks her to a corner. Cora stomps a mudhole into Kelani, and doesn’t have to stop as she digs her boots in because there’s No Disqualifications! Cora still does let off so she can SLAM Kelani down, though! Then she whips Kelani to a corner, runs up, and SHINING WIZARDS! Cora pushes Kelani down, covers, TWO! Cora stalks Kelani to ropes, puts her in a corner, then whips her corner to corner. Kelani blocks it, but Cora SLAPS her! Then runs up, but Kelani dodges the wizard! Roll up, TWO! Kelani brings Cora around, bumps her off buckles, then bumps her off more buckles.
Kelani TOSSES Cora out, but Lola TOSSES Kelani! Kelani RAMS into Lola, then slingshots to sunset flip! TWO, and both women hurry to their feet. Kelani gets around Lola, snapmares and runs, to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Lola stays in this but Kelani stays on her, KNEE to the back again and again! Then she pulls on Lola’s arms, digging her boots into Lola’s back! Lola endures, powers up, and pushes back to stack Kelani! TWO as Kelani kicks Lola away in time! But then Lola mule kicks Kelani! Lola whips Kelani to ropes, KNEES her low, then shakes her hips. Lola whips and KNEES Kelani again, more shaking hips!
Lola whips, Kelani wrenches, but Lola ducks the roundhouse, only for the CALF KICK to hit! Kelani crawls to ropes, but Cora is there. Kelani DECKS Cora, and Vaquer runs in! Lola dodges Vaquer to have a SLEEPER! Lola thrashes Vaquer around, but then Cora has a SLEEPER on Lola! Lola holds onto Vaquer, and now Kelani has a SLEEPER on Cora! Cora holds onto Lola, but Vaquer slips around to TRIPLE JAWBREAKER! All four women stagger around, and NXT returns to single picture as Vaquer serves Lola some SOLE FOOD! Vaquer then brings Cora around to bump off buckles, and she fires off HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT!
Vaquer runs side to side to BOOT Lola, then corner to corner, only for Kelani to stop her! The fans boo but Vaquer has Kelani’s leg! Kelani apologizes, but Vaquer still DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS! Kelani writhes, Vaquer gives Cora METEORA! Vaquer drags Cora back, but Lola has the SLEEPER again! Vaquer drops down, rolls Lola, TWO! Lola SPIN KICKS! And SPIN KICKS! And SPIN KICKS again! Kelani runs up but into LIGHTNING KICKS! The fans fire up as Lola sits Kelani down! Lola has targets in all corners, “I’M A LATINA~!” HIP ATTACK on Vaquer! HIP ATTACK misses Kelani! Cora DROPKICKS Lola!
Cora shrieks, runs up, and SHINING- NO, Lola stops the wizard to DUMP Cora out! But Vaquer DROPKICKS Lola! Vaquer goes up, up, and SUPER CROSSBODIES Lola and Cora! All three women are down, but then Kelani rises up! Kelani grins as she has a target, and she climbs up! The fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” as Kelani ARIHARA MOONSAULTS them all! Kelani drags Vaquer up and in, “This is Awesome!” as Kelani leaps again! CROSSBODY! But roll through! TWO!! Kelani escapes, Vaquer runs up, but Kelani gets around! O’Conner Roll, TWO! Vaquer has the GEDO CLUTCH, but then BRIDGES!
Lola is back to drag Vaquer away from Kelani! Cora rolls in while Lola TOSSES Vaquer! SHINING WIZARD at the ropes! But Kelani wrenches Cora into a RIGHT ANGLE SLAM! The fans fire up as Kelani steps on Cora, goes up, up, and FIVE STAR- FLOP!! Cora avoided disaster, Lola URAKENS Kelani! Vaquer SUPERKICKS Lola! Lola shrieks as she stays up, but Vaquer TOSSES her out! Vaquer has Kelani, tucks her in, SVB!! Cover, Vaquer wins!
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT Women’s North American Championship)
That Stephanie Vaquer Backbreaker gets the job done, and now she is aiming for Fallon Henley! Will Vaquer parallel Giulia by becoming the new champion in the New Year? Or will NXT stay under the Influence?
Ava Raine meets with the Unholy Union.
The NXT General Manager notes that with Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn winning over Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx, they will battle Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson next week, the winners becoming NEW #1 contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Alba says that is fantastic, Isla thanks Ava, and the wicked witches head out. Sarah Schreiber walks in to ask about Eddy Thorpe. Ava says Eddy is fine, this is just what he did last time. He can moan and groan and pretend he’s hurt, but she isn’t falling for it, the match stays as scheduled. Oba Femi walks in and says no, Eddy isn’t pretend. Oba did attack Eddy this time.
And Oba did it because Eddy smashed Oba in the face with the NXT Championship. We all saw that, so this is Oba returning the favor. Oh, well, then the match is still a Triple Threat. Oba says that’s fine, because that’s if Eddy makes it to the ring. But one way or another, the result remains the same. The Ruler is ready to become THE NXT Champion, will New Year’s Evil see the entire landscape change?
OTM speaks.
Bronco Nima & Lucien Price got #OutTheMud in the NXT Tag Division, and are proving the haters wrong. They got outta the hood, and look at them now: the NEW #1 Contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championships. Nathan Frazer, Axiom, they’re smooth, move like no one else in the game, but they ain’t never been in a dog fight. They’ve never had to fight for their food. So you will learn that you can’t see pain, you can only feel it. And you will feel it! Fraxiom thinks having two matches in one night is a struggle, but their problems and OTM’s problems are not the same! Try having to be 17 years old and you gotta put food on the table for your whole family!
So while OTM’s been dealing with some real-life struggles, Fraxiom been arguing like little kids. They’re dealing with some grown-ass men! Remember, they warned you. It doesn’t matter if you’re in sync or out, cuz next week, OTM takes those belts off Fraxiom’s shoulders to put around their waists. Next week, Fraxiom gets dragged through the mud! Will Nima & Price finally be golden? Or will Fraxiom prove they never slow down?
Six Woman Tag: Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin & Shotzi Blackheart VS The Fatal Influence!
As if things weren’t tense between the “freaks” and the Mean Girls of NXT before, the back and forth of screw jobs has only turned up the hostility. Will the outcasts prove they belong? Or will Fallon, Jacy & Jazmyn continue to influence NXT’s future?
NXT returns and Gigi makes her entrance, Tatum by her side, followed by Shotzi making her entrance. But the Influence doesn’t wait, Jacy DECKS Gigi off the corner! Jazmyn & Fallon go after Tatum & Shotzi while the fans boo and the ref reprimands. Jazmyn goes out to KICK away on Gigi! The bell rings, Tatum dodges Jacy to fire off forearms! Jacy shoves Tatum back, but Tatum SHOTGUNS Jacy down! The fans fire up with Tatum and she CROSSBODIES in the corner! Then BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, ONE!! Jacy crawls away but Tatum drags her up. Jacy fights free, then throws Tatum down by her hair!
The ref reprimands but Jacy PENALTY KICKS Tatum! Tag to Jazmyn, she PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Jazmyn runs, but Tatum kicks Jazmyn’s leg! Jazmyn hobbles, into a KNEE SMASH from Tatum! Tag to Gigi, then Gigi tags Shotzi. Tatum whips Gigi and she SHOTGUNS Jazmyn at the ropes! Tatum then sends Shotzi in, SENTON at the ropes! Tatum ELBOW DROPS, Shotzi covers, TWO! Shotzi drags Jazmyn up, but Jazmyn wrenches sand SWEEPS! Tag to Fallon and she runs up, but Shotzi dodges! Victory roll, TWO! Fallon stands, into a KNEE from Shotzi! Then a ROLLING ELBOW! Fallon flounders, Shotzi brings her around, snap suplex into buckles!
Shotzi drags Fallon to a cover, TWO! Fallon is tougher than that, but Shotzi watches the Influence closely. Shotzi fires forearms on Fallon while the fans cheer her on. Fallon kicks back, then talks trash on Shotzi. Fallon whips and KNEES Shotzi low, then runs, to YEEHAW FACEBUSTER! Cover, Gigi & Tatum break it! Jacy & Jazmyn storm in, the brawl is on again! LA loves it as Shotzi’s team TOSSES the Influence. Shotzi then builds speed, and she DIVES into a FOREARM! Fallon shoots Shotzi outta the sky, then stands her up. But Shotzi ROCKS Fallon back! Gigi hurries to check Shotzi, Jazmyn storms up, Gigi HEADBUTTS her!
Jacy CANNONBALLS Gigi down! Tatum CLOBBERS Jacy for it! But then Fallon swings on the corner to KICK Tatum down! Fallon turns around, Shotzi kicks her! Snap suplex to the floor! All six women are down, the fans fire up, and NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Fallon whips Tatum to the corner. Tag to Jazmyn, then a feed to the drop toehold! Tag to Jacy and she KICKS Tatum in the back! Then SENTON! Cover, TWO! Tatum toughs it out but Jacy clamps on a chinlock. The fans rally as Tatum endures being thrashed around. Tatum fights up, pries at the hold, but Jacy puts her in a corner. Jacy takes a bow but the fans boo. Jacy goes back to Tatum but Tatum ELBOWS her! Tatum kicks, Jacy blocks, but then Tatum gets around to hit a BIG back suplex! Both women are down, the fans fire up, and their teams coach them up. Tatum crawls, hot tag to Gigi!
The fans fire up as Gigi runs to BLAST Jazmyn & Fallon! Gigi runs up but Jacy runs away! Gigi catches Jacy to fire off forearms! And a KNEE! Gigi roars, and she CLOBBERS Jacy! And CLOBBERS her again! Gigi wrenches, ROUNDHOUSES, then shoves Jacy so she can follow and STO! Cover, TWO! Jacy stays in this, but Gigi hauls her up. Jacy fights the underhooks, Jazmyn runs in to CLUB Gigi! Jacy SUPERKICKS Gigi down, hot tag to Fallon! Fallon gets Gigi up, she and Jacy double suplex, but Gigi lands out to DOUBLE NECKBREAKER! Hot tag to Shotzi, she goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Gigi & Shotzi get Fallon up!
Shotzi runs, Gigi lifts, BLUE THUNDER NECKBREAKER!! Cover, Jacy & Jazmyn break it! The brawls on again, but Gigi & Tatum TOSS the Influencers! Fallon runs back in, but Gigi wrenches her, she and Tatum DOUBLE ENZIGIRI! Gigi hurries to the apron with Tatum, then they climb! Tatum ASAI MOONSAULTS Jacy, Gigi CANNONBALLS onto Jazmyn! Shotzi goes up, and she BALLPIT SENTONS Fallon! Cover, the “freaks” win!
Winners: Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin & Shotzi Blackheart, by pinfall
A great win for the Wild Child, and wait, she pinned the NXT Women’s North American Champion. Vaquer has her own shot at the title, will the walls start closing in on the Influence?
Ava Raine talks with Ethan Page.
She knows he heard what Je’Von said. Or at least, what Je’Von barely managed to say, given his jaw is wired shut from Ethan breaking it in half! Ethan says yes, and yet that moment has played one very episode since. For some reason, this big historic episode, New Year’s Evil 2025, and Ethan is nowhere to be seen on the card. Ava tells Ethan that she’ll make this very clear: this is HER show, this is NXT, and she calls the shots! Oho, hey, perfect timing. Ethan says there’s nothing perfect about this. But The Rock says oh no, there is something perfect about this. All Ego stares down The People’s Champ, and the fans can be heard from here!
Rock smiles and says, “Ethan Page.” That is correct, Final Boss. That is also correct. The Rock says good to meet Ethan, and Ethan says great to meet The Rock. They shake hands, and Rock says he’s heard a lot about Ethan. Not all good, a lot of bad actually. Apparently, Ethan broke a guy’s jaw. Is that right, Ava? Yes. Je’Von Evans. He deserved it. Oh, well, payback’s gonna be a b*tch, just so Ethan knows. Ethan highly doubts that. Well, Ethan also broke another guy’s wrist. Right, Ava? Ethan corrects The Rock that it was just Cedric’s fingers, but sure. Well, then Rock will tell Ethan as he told everyone else here on NXT that he’s talked with today…
If they need anything, come to The Rock. That includes Ethan. Wow, Ethan likes the sound of that. They shake hands, and Rock says one more thing. He IS The Final Boss. But uh, here on NXT, Ava’s the Final Boss. So if he and Ethan are gonna be cool, then Ethan and Ava need to be cool. Cool? Yeah, they’ll be cool. Then see him on main roster one day. Ethan sure hopes so. Rock says good, and he gives Ethan a pat on the butt as he leaves. Ava says she can’t wait for Ethan to be main roster’s problem. Ava says NXT is all about moments, and she feels like this is a good one. But speaking of, what’s Rock gonna say?
Rock has no idea! It’s crazy out there. But can she give him some advice? She can. No one has Rock’s record, no one can do what Rock does. Rock’s been in front of millions, and millions, but he’s never been in front of an NXT crowd. That passion hits different. We can literally hear that. So while Rock may not know what to say right now, he’ll feel it when he gets out there. Okay, Rock will feel it, and say it from the heart. They fist bump and Rock gets ready. “I dunno wtf I’m gonna say… CHEE-HOO~!” Will this be the one time The Great One is found speechless?
NXT Heritage Cup Championship Sudden Death: Lexis King VS Charlie Dempsey w/ No Quarter Catch Crew!
While The Drama King did win the Cup, it was the controversial nature of a disqualification caused by outside interference that has him having to “win it back.” And this time, it’s under standard rules, aka a single fall! No time limits, no breaks, and no Champion’s Advantage! Will the King finally and for truly have his crowning achievement? Or will the Cup stay with the No Quarter Catch Crew?
Entrances are made in picture in picture, then we return to single picture for the introductions. The Cup is raised, the bell rings, and there’s nothing to it but to do it!
The two tie up, Dempsey waistlocks but King wrenches. Dempsey wrenches back, wristlocks, but King spins, headlocks, and grinds the hold. Dempsey powers up and out, then ducks down, but King blocks the hip toss! Dempsey blocks in return, but King arm-drags and DROPKICKS! King hits a headlock takeover, Dempsey fights around, then rolls back to then hammerlock. Dempsey goes for the other arm, King resists, but Dempsey grabs the leg! Then he gets the arm, steps over, and King is being bent back! The fans rally while King endures, but Dempsey shifts to a cover, TWO!
Dempsey keeps on King with a wristlock, but King endures. King pushes through to spin Dempsey, headlock him, but Dempsey powers out to knuckle lock and wrench. Dempsey wristlocks again, but King rolls, wrenches, and wristlocks in return. Dempsey fights to a snapmare, but King holds onto the arm! King wrenches again, but Dempsey spins, breaks free, and he snapmares King. But King slips free to wristlock! Dempsey repeats the break and snapmare, and uses the cravat for a cover, TWO! Dempsey holds that cravat as King stands, and Dempsey fires knees! Dempsey whips, King goes up, but Dempsey catches him to a waistlock!
King goes to the corner, uses that to pivot and switch, O’Conner Roll! TWO, but King hurries to arm-drag! King has the cording hold and the fans cheer! Dempsey fights up, King pushes on the elbow, but Dempsey pulls hair. Dempsey puts King in the corner, but King dodges the haymaker to CHOP! King stalks Dempsey along the ropes, but Dempsey blocks the chop! Dempsey ROCKS King, UPPERCUTS him, then UPPERCUTS again! Dempsey whips, King grabs ropes, but then King DUMPS Dempsey out! Dempsey stands up, but King DROPKICKS him into the NQCC! Then King goes up, up and CROSSBODIES!
The fans fire up as King wipes out Dempsey, Tavion & Myles! Wren Sinclair is freaking out, but King has Dempsey up while NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Dempsey has the cravat, but King fights up! Dempsey ripcords, but King CHOPS! Dempsey KICKS King, then Dempsey wrenches to SLAP King! Dempsey wrenches again, but King fires forearms and a CHOP! And CHOP! CHOP! King whips, Dempsey reverses but King CLOBBERS Dempsey! And LARIATS! The fans rally up, but Dempsey wrenches. King SLAPS Dempsey, wrenches him and whips him to a corner. King runs up to LARIAT! Then CHOP! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! And Dempsey has an arm! DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! King endures as Dempsey kneels on King’s head!
King fights as the fans rally, and he RAMS Dempsey into a corner! Dempsey keeps on the arm, KNEES King away, then runs up, but into a SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! King hurries to a corner, climbs up, and the fans fire up for the CROSSBODY! But Dempsey rolls through! ARMBAR!! The fans go nuts, as does NQCC, but King fights around! King stacks Dempsey, then deadlifts him! POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Dempsey is still in this, and King grows frustrated. The fans rally, King ROCKS Dempsey, then reels him in. But Dempsey powers out of Coronation into a CROSSFACE CHICKEN WIGN!
King hurries to the ROPEBREAK! Dempsey holds until 4, then Dempsey ROCKS King! Dempsey fires off forearms but he might’ve even gotten a knockout! Dempsey CLUBS King, whips him, and ELBOWS him! Dempsey whips King to a corner, then runs up, but King BOOTS him! Dempsey whips again, but King goes up, around, and the two COLLIDE! Both men fall back and the fans fire up! Dempsey manages to stand, then runs back up. Backslide! TWO!! King stands, dodges Dempsey, but Dempsey drops down. King comes back, Dempsey hurdles, but not high enough as King runs right into Lil’ Charles!
The ref checks both men, and King says no, not again! He doesn’t wanna win like this, but what choice does he have? King brings Dempsey up. CORONATION!! Cover, King wins!
Winner: Lexis King, by pinfall (NEW NXT Heritage Cup Champion)
King was a new champion before, but now he is TRULY the new Heritage Cup Champion! King can finally put his name on the Cup, will he be able to survive the New Year with it?
Ava meets with Vaquer and Fallon.
She knows that Fallon just had her match, but so did Vaquer, and we have our next title match set. Shotzi steps in and asks Ava to hold on a moment. Before anything is made official, Shotzi points out she just pinned Fallon in that ring. Shotzi makes the case that SHE is #1 contender here. Vaquer says hey, she won the Fatal 4 Way that Ava made, and she beat three of the top stars in this division by herself. What’s that supposed to mean? Fallon says she loves this. They should fight it out, she fights the winner. Fallon leaves, Shotzi and Vaquer are all for it. Ava says she’s also all for it, just next week, not in the office.
The Wild Child and the Dark Angel are ready for a massive showdown, but who wins out to be THE #1 contender to the NXT Women’s North American Championship?
NXT Championship Triple Threat: Trick Williams VS Oba Femi VS Eddy Thorpe(?)
Ava said that one way or another, this is the main event. And The Ruler said that one way or another, he’s going to win it! Will Oba beating down The Alpha Wolf really improve his chances of winning? Or will Tricky Two-Time Two-Time make sure this is still the Whoop Dat Era?
Trick’s entrance is made with picture in picture, but NXT returns to single picture for Oba. And though we wait a moment, it doesn’t seem that Eddy is going to be joining us. The introductions are made for Oba and Trick, the belt is raised, and no matter what, New Year’s Evil is going to end with a bang!
The bell rings, the fans fire up, and Trick ties up with Oba. Oba powers Trick to a corner, RAMS him again and again, but then Trick slips away. Trick and Oba tie up again, and Oba powers Trick back. Trick powers Oba back, but then Oba slips around to waistlock and SLAM! Oba holds onto Trick, the fans rally and duel, “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” “HOOT!” Trick fights up, fires elbows, but Oba holds on! Trick jumps to JAWBREAKER free! Trick fireman’s carries, to DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO! Oba gets out of the ring while the fans rally up, and NXT goes to break.
NXT returns again and the fans duel as Oba grinds Trick down. Trick endures the chinlock, even as Oba thrashes him, but wait! We get a shot of backstage as Eddy storms into gorilla, armed with a chair! The fans rally up, Trick stands and pries the hold open, but Oba ROCKS Trick in the back! Oba then hoists Trick up to back suplex! Trick lands on his feet and goes to a corner. Oba runs up, Trick dodges, and Oba POSTS himself! Oba is stuck in the ropes, the fans rally as Trick hurries over, and while Oba falls back, Trick goes up. But Oba SWATS Trick first! Oba climbs up after Trick and the fans fire up!
Oba clinches Trick, but Trick clinches Oba in return! SUPER BOOKEND!! Cover, TWO!! Oba survives and the fans fire up! Trick and Oba rise, and Oba ROCKS Trick! Trick ROCKS Oba! They go back and forth with those heavy shots, and Trick gets the edge! Oba avoids the roundhouse to ROCK Trick! Trick BOOTS back! Oba RAMS Trick, Trick LEAPING LARIATS Oba! The fans are thunderous, and Trick dodges Oba to JUMPING NECKBREAKER! Trick scoops and SLAMS Oba! Trick whips Oba to ropes, and FLAPJACKS him! Trick kips up and the fans fire up with him! Trick aims from a corner as Oba rises, and SPIN- NO, Oba catches Trick!
POP-UP CHOP!! Oba storms after Trick, brings him around, FALL FROM- DDT!! Trick turns things around, and he takes aim again! SPIN KICK! Cover, TWO!! Oba survives again and Trick shakes his head. “This is Awesome!” as Trick goes back to a corner. Trick runs up at Oba, but Oba UPPERCUTS first! Trick staggers, Oba hauls him up! FALL FROM GRACE!! Cover, EDDY YANKS THE REF OUT!! The fans boo but Eddy storms into the ring. But Oba grabs Eddy first! And TOSSES him around! Then BOOTS him down! And BACK ELBOWS! Oba whips Eddy to a corner, Eddy bounces off buckles, and Oba hits a SPINEBUSTER!
The fans fire up for Oba as he hoists Eddy into the SHOTPUT BOMB! Oba aims, runs corner to corner, UPPERCUT! Oba keeps moving, UPPERCUT! But then TRICK SHOT for Oba!! Cover, TWO!??! Oba survives, Trick shakes his head, and the fans fire up again! Trick lets his hair down, LA duels between Trick and Oba, but Eddy is lurking! Oba dodges Trick, FULL METAL TRICK SHOT for Eddy!! Eddy flops out, Trick staggers on the bad leg, Oba gives him a FALL FROM GRACE!!! Cover, OBA WINS!!
Winner: Oba Femi, by pinfall (NEW NXT Champion)
Oba tries to remove Eddy from the equation, but The Alpha Wolf ended up a deciding factor in Oba’s victory! The Ruler is now THE champion in NXT, and he stands on stage alongside the other new champion, Giulia! Confetti flies as they hold up the gold, will they dominate this new era in NXT?
NXT goes picture in picture as the new champions return backstage. They are greeted and congratulated by many members of the NXT staff, and surely the celebration will begin after the show.
The Rock heads to the ring!
Los Angeles is fired up for “ROCKY! ROCKY!” even before the music hits, and they only get louder once The People’s Champion is on stage. The Rock goes down the ramp, high-fives the fans, and even makes sure the one fan’s shirt, “Pro-wrestling is real,” gets some attention. Rock then steps into the ring, poses on the corner, and then catches a mic. The Rock raises the eyebrow, revels in the cheering a little more, then shows the goosebumps. Fans “CHEE-HOO~!” and Rock takes a moment to soak in the moment. The fans cheer “NXT! NXT!” and Rock nods. Rock echoes the CHEE-HOO~! “And I love you, thank you.”
Rock says he has effin’ chills right now! This is crazy! Rock hears the fans continuing to cheer him on, and he says hold on, he has to get hold of his emotions. Rock finally catches his breath, sees he has about six minutes, but it’ll be the best six minutes ever. “The Rock has a lot of nicknames: People’s Champ; THE Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment; The Sexiest Man Alive! And, most proudly, The Jabroni Beating, Pie Eating, Trailblazing, Eyebrow Raising, Electric, Iconic, Holds All the Stock, THE Final Boss, The People’s Champ, The ROCK!” The fans cheer that, and again chant for “ROCKY! ROCKY!”
Rock then says that he needs them to help out. They all feel it, he feels them, so help him with this. This time last year, The Rock, everywhere he went, every gym, every restaurant, every church, every strip club… The same thing! “Oh, why you so mean to Cody? Don’t be mean to Cody! Cody gotta finish his story! Don’t be mean!” UGH. Okay, okay, but a year later, just last night, Netflix’s Raw premiere, WOO! An amazing night! Electric, historic! Rock wanted to give Cody his flowers. Cody’s been kicking ass! Carrying the company on his shoulders! And now, what’re “they” saying? “YoU cAn’T bE nIcE tO cOdY~! Don’t drink tequila with Cody~!”
Rock says F that noise! At the end of the day, let us all remind “them” that The Rock is the Final Boss, 20 steps ahead. The best thing to do is know your role, shut your mouth, and enjoy the ride The Rock is taking you on! LA cheers that! Rock says this is a rowdy crowd right here. Two-minute warning, though. Now, Rock’s in charge, F that, they can go all night if they want! The fans love that idea! Oh, “they” are sweating back there, sorry for the language. But here’s the thing: Rock knew he was coming to NXT even a couple weeks ago. He talked with Nick Khan and Triple H, he told them he should go to NXT.
We all knew it would be Intuit Dome on Monday, so Rock can go to NXT in The Shrine on Tuesday. They liked that idea, but then Rock didn’t know what to say. Think about it. Rock talked with Ava, Ava said he was gonna come out here and FEEL this crowd! She said the crowd would inform him on what he’d say. He loves them, he appreciates them, but he wants to say something very important. The main thing is, he wants to tell us all thank you. And here’s why. Because going to the Intuit Dome last night, that was a sexy ticket. LA, Netflix, Raw, the stars of WWE, celebrities of Hollywood, that’s the one you “have” to go to.
NXT, The Shrine, this is the one you WANT to go to! The fans cheer that! Rock will tell you something, the chills won’t stop! See, it is easy to go to the place with all the stars. Not that there aren’t stars here! But that’s what Rock needs us to know. Every single one of the fans here, how important and critical they are to this whole thing, because the thing is: the guys ‘n’ girls back there, they come out here, and who knows? In three years, they could be the main event of WrestleMania! But as we all know, they could also be out of the business. What it depends on, whether you boo or cheer, it is about how you react!
Rock has been down this road, wrestled in Memphis as “Flex Cavana,” he knows, probably the worst name in all of wrestling, but he knows what it is like to depend on the crowd. He wants us to know that we matter more than anything. His job takes him to a lot of places, but he will always come back home! WWE, NXT, Rock loves you! IF YA SMELLLLLL~… What The Rock is Cookin’!! The fans cheer The Great One, will this electrifying endorsement strap a rocket to NXT’s back?
My Thoughts:
An awesome NXT with New Year’s Evil, but also just a great LA crowd. The Rock had a great promo to close, clearly very genuine, and a lot of fun with The Rock being himself. Between Rock showing up and events like tonight’s New Year Evil being WWE coded, it is clear WWE is elevating NXT. Not so much that it’ll be the third main roster brand, but it’s certainly more than “just developmental.” Rock also had a very good promo with Ethan Page and Ava to help set up the closing promo, and I do like the idea of The Rock wanting All Ego to respect Ava, aka his daughter. Je’Von also had a very good promo, that grudge match is going to be some awesome stuff.
Speaking of grudge matches, all these titles matches were great given all the story and heat going into them. The NXT Women’s Championship opening was a little surprising, but that let it breathe and go as hard as it could. And as such, awesome win for Giulia, as expected. Same goes for the main event match, though I did like the outside the box idea: Eddy actually got attacked but gutted it out to join the match about halfway through. Oba VS Trick on its own was great, and then Eddy bringing a chair was good stuff. Oba winning was also expected, and Trick eating the pin could indicate Trick’s being called up. Roxie surely moves on, too, SmackDown being three hours could use some fresh faces to fill it out.
Great Fatal 4 Way, though I think one of the ads for the show messed up saying it was just Vaquer and Cora. That aside, great win for Vaquer, which for one lets Kelani and Cora settle things on their own, maybe even with Lola in the mix. The Six Woman Tag was also really good, though some of those wide shots made it hard to see what was going on. Great win for the Faces, but I’m partly disappointed that Shotzi pinning Fallon gives us Shotzi VS Vaquer, winner gets Fallon, and not just a Triple Threat. Though, it’ll also be a shame no matter who wins, as both Shotzi and Vaquer deserve a shot. But when things all sort out, I’m pretty sure Vaquer beats Fallon to be the champ.
Very good promo from OTM to hype up their tag title match, and there’s a chance they do win. Fraxiom has had such a good run as tag champs, this is definitely the time to have them move on and each become great singles champs. Good promo that was really more an announcement for Unholy Union VS Meta Four, winners get Bianca Belair & Naomi. Regardless of who wins, I feel like they could get the titles off Bianca & Naomi thanks to a Jade Cargill return. Jade can appear, shocking everyone, and she’ll even reveal whodunnit, aka probably Naomi at this point. Bianca will be confused and upset, Naomi will run away from Jade, Bianca takes the pin to crown new champs.
And while not really a new champ, Lexis King truly winning that Heritage Cup was good stuff. A little odd that they’d have an “incidental” head to the groin spot, like they did months ago when King first started his redemption story… But maybe this is to communicate that the real lesson for King is that it doesn’t matter what people think of him, he knows he’s a better person that his father. Maybe Dempsey moves on to the North American Championship from here, letting King face some fresh faces in the Heritage Rules Division. Then King can continue to ride that Tweener line with every victory until someone comes along that again makes him question where he stands.
My Score: 8.9/10
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What’s next for NJPW?
Zack Sabre Jr. is STILL IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, but he already knows Hirooki Goto has the next shot! TMDK VS Chaos in the main event!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Hiroyoshi Tenzan, Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata VS Shoma Kato, Katsuya Murashima & Daiki Nagai; Tenzan, Kojima & Nagata win.
- Special Exhibition: Josh Barnett VS Boltin Oleg; Time Limit Draw.
- 10 Man Tag: El Phantasmo, Jado, Shota Umino, Master Wato & Tomoaki Honma VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
- 8 Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Tiger Mask & Togi Makabe VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Clark Connors; Sanada & Connors win.
- El Desperado & KUSHIDA VS Taiji Ishimori & KENTA; Desperado & Kushida win.
- 8 Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
- Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi; Naito & Hiromu win.
- 8 Man Tag: Chaos VS TMDK; Chaos wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Special Exhibition: Josh Barnett VS Boltin Oleg!
The War Master made his return to NJPW with the Ranbo, and he had quite the confrontation with his former student. Will Barnett show Boltin he still has a lot to learn? Or will Barnett end up behind BARS?
The bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans rally as Boltin and Barnett circle. They feel things out, tie up, clinch, and go around. They break, clinch again, and Oleg gets a leg to bring Barnett down. Oleg powers to a cover, Barnett slips out, but Oleg hurries to waistlock. Barnett rolls, but Oleg gut wrenches! Barnett still rolls free, and the fans cheer this exchange. The two go again, clinch, and Barnett goes for an arm. Oleg powers Barnett down, floats around to stay on Barnett, and the two stand again. Barnett manages a double wristlock takeover, but Oleg slips out to go for legs. Barnett fights that so Oleg floats to a facelock.
Barnett slips out of the hold and the fans cheer. Oleg and Barnett go again, clinch, and they fight for control. Oleg throws Barnett down and the two reset again. Oleg and Barnett feel out another grapple, and Oleg gets around to waistlock. Oleg drags Barnett down to go for an arm, then he shifts to an armbar! Barnett has the ROPEBREAK, and Oleg lets go slowly. The fans applaud as the two reset again. They clinch, Barnett goes for a throw, and he has it on the third try! But Oleg hurries to float around and get Barnett’s back. Barnett turns that to a lateral press, TWO! Oleg fights but Barnett keeps him grounded with a wristlock.
We hit the two minute warning as Oleg rolls and rolls, and he goes for the wristlock. Barnett moves around, manages a headscissor, then a leglock! Oleg rolls to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Barnett lets go. The two hurry to their feet and go again. They go around in the clinch, then Oleg goes for a leg. Barnett fights that off with a cravat! Oleg pushes free of that, then he and Barnett tie up again. One minute left, Barnett clinches but Oleg powers him to ropes. The ref calls the break, but the two come off the ropes. Oleg waistlocks, and he brings Barnett down, but Barnett headscissors! Barnett has an arm to keep Oleg grounded!
Oleg fights around, we hit 30 seconds but Barnett puts on the pressure! Oleg endures, the fans rally, and we are under 20! Oleg slips free, and he manages a gut wrench! GUT WRENCH PLEX! at 10 seconds! And then a fireman’s carry! But Barnett slips free to a SLEEPER! TIME’S UP!
Time Limit Draw
It was hard to say who was saved by the bell there, but Barnett shows his student respect with a handshake and a hug. Barnett makes sure to get the mic so he can tell Oleg, “Yesterday, it wasn’t the Ranbo for us. It was a test for you to see if you would come here today, and meet me in this ring. You showed up. That’s the first part, you passed that part. Then, you wrestled your ass off tonight. I told you I was gonna go for that arm, but you learned. So congratulations, you’re now moving up. This is not the end. I’ll take you as high as I can, which means I’mma make you a champion some day, I promise you.”
The fans applaud, and Oleg takes the mic to respond. In Japanese, Oleg apologizes, as his English isn’t so good. But Oleg does tell Barnett that Barnett does know some Japanese, so Oleg will use that to tell him at the Ranbo, it was amazing to see him back and to take him on. Oleg is also honored to train under Barnett, to have this match here, and is looking forward to where they go next. Student and teacher head out, what heights will Oleg reach in the New Year?
After the 10 Man Tag…
While the United Empire won against El Phantasmo, Shota Umino and team, Great-O-Khan felt the need to add insult to injury! He not only beats down The Roughneck on the outside, but he takes those fan-made replica belts, AND RIPS THEM UP! The fans boo Khan being a villainous dictator, and Shota is the angriest of all! Shota rushes in there, but he gets mugged by The Empire! Young Lions step in but they can’t save Shota or the gifts that Khan destroyed. Will Shota make sure Khan pays for this with his blood, sweat and tears?
After the 8 Man Tag…
The House of Torture found a way to cheat Hiroshi Tanahashi’s team, but what else is new? And speaking of not all that new, they beat down Tanahashi & Yano, basically calling them out for a NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Championship match! But with that, here comes Boltin! Boltin runs off The House, but The House is getting away with stealing two of the three titles! Sho gets on the mic to talk trash on The Ace, the Joker & The Rook, and says that if they want their belts back, “Catch us if you can!”
The Murder Machine, Tokyo Pimp, Heel Master & Souled Out Son of Strong Style run away, leaving President Ace to consider his next course of action. Will Tanahashi, Yano & Oleg once again put The House behind BARS? Or will Tanahashi’s Final Road get a lot rockier from here on out?
Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Clark Connors!
Speaking of the New Japan Ranbo, The Holy Emperor and Cold Blooded had a confrontation that also cost them both the #1 contender’s spot. But at the same time, Sanada did cost Taichi the Global Heavyweight Championship just a few months ago. Will Taichi get a semblance of revenge? Or will Sanada and 100 Proof take down Taichi and the Blue Playmaker?
Well, the tables are turned as TakaTaichi goes after the War Dogs before the bell! The fans fire up as Taka brings Connors away, and then Taichi SMACKS Sanada off the timekeeper’s table! Taichi CLUBS Sanada, brings him back to the ramp, and CLUBS him again! The fans rally for Taichi as he moves railing aside, and has fans clear out. Taichi whips but Sanada reverses, STRIKE! Sanada even takes someone’s umbrella to JAM Taichi up! The fans boo but Sanada leaves Taichi behind. Connors has also turned things around on Taka, and then puts him in the ring. Connors talks trash, the fans boo, but the bell rings to finally get this on record.
Connors takes his time taking off his nice new fur jacket, but Taichi’s already back! Sanada kicks Taichi, then sends him into railing! Connors stomps away on Taka, drags him up, and CHOPS him! Taka staggers, Connors eggs him on, so Taka comes back. Taka eggs Connors on, so Connors CHOPS again! Taka staggers, but he comes back for more! Connors CHOPS again! The fans fire up with Taka, and then he pokes Connors in the eye! The fans cheer while Connors staggers away. Taka stomps Connors around, but Connors ROCKS Taka! Taka fakes an eye poke to kick the shin! Taka runs, but Sanada gets a cheap shot in!
Taka staggers around, Connors runs to JEEP FLIPPER! Sanada BLASTS Taichi off the apron! The fans boo but the War Dogs stalk Taka to their corner. Connors bumps Taka off buckles, then tags Sanada. Sanada CLAWS Taka’s back, then ignores the fans as they boo. Sanada brings Taka around, snapmares, and then clamps on a chinlock. Sanada has the ref watch Taichi, but then he uses wrist tape to CHOKE Taka! Fans boo, but Sanada hides it in the headscissors! The ref checks Taka but Taichi says something’s not right! The ref checks but Sanada’s quite the magician. The ref finally sees the trick and reprimands!
Sanada lets Taka go, the fans rally, but Sanada tags Connors. Connors stomps Taka around, then CHOKES Taka! The ref counts, Connors lets go and “apologizes,” but the fans rally again. Connors clamps on a chinlock and he grinds Taka down. Taka endures, and he pries at the hold, only for Connors to CLUB him down! Connors stands Taka up to CHOP him again! Connors whips, Taka reverses and wrangles Connors into a JUST FACELOCK! But Sanada stomps Taka! Sanada whips, Taka reverses and wrangles Sanada! JUST FACELOCK! But Connors stomps Taka, then he BLASTS Taichi! Connors CLUBS Taka again, then talks smack.
Connors runs, but Taka goes the other way! Connors avoids the boot to knee low! But Taka CALF KICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Taka and Connors crawl, hot tags to Sanada and Taichi! The fans fire up as the two run up, but Sanada dodges an Ax Bomber! Sanada kicks and whips, but Taichi comes back to BOOT! The fans fire up as Taichi gives Sanada some Kawada Kicks. Taichi whisp, Sanada reverses, but Taichi comes back. Sanada blocks the boot, trips Taichi, but Taichi fights against Paradise! Sanada comes back, kicks and whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and DANGEROUS HOOK KICK!
The fans fire up, and Taichi BOOTS Connors for good measure! The fans rally for Taichi, and he paces around. Taichi drags Sanada up, but Sanada takes a swing! Taichi gets around, DANGER- NO, Sanada fights the saido! Sanada CLUBS away on Taichi, then whips, only for Taichi to reverse. But Sanada dropkicks the legs! Then he DROPKICKS Taichi out of the ring! Sanada storms up to the ropes, PLANCHAS, and down goes Taichi! The fans boo but Sanada soaks that up. Sanada drags Taichi up, puts him in the ring, and the fans rally again. Sanada stands Taichi up, fireman’s carries, but Taichi fights free!
Taichi swings, but Sanada catches him! Taichi fights the Skull End, so Sanada shifts to a waistlock. Taichi fights the suplex to then PELE! The fans fire up while both men are down! Taichi rises again, and OFF COME THE PANTS! The fans fire up but Connors grabs Taichi’s hair! Taichi RIDGE HAND CHOPS Connors! But then Sanada CHOKES Taichi using the pants! Dragon sleeper, SKULL END, but Taichi rolls free! AX BOMBER!! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Taichi and Connors crawl, hot tag to Taka! Taka runs up to BOOT! Taka runs again but Sanada gets around! O’Conner BRIDGE, but Taka flips it to JUST FACELOCK!
The fans fire up but Connors runs in! Taka kicks his legs out to get him in a TRIANGLE HOLD! Taichi then takes Connors for a SEITEI JUJIHOU! Taka CLUBS away on Sanada, pulls way back, but Sanada fights to the ROPEBREAK! Taka lets go, whips Sanada to a corner, then SHINING WIZARDS! CALF KICK! BOOT! SUPER K!! Taka covers, TWO!! Taichi keeps Connors on the outside while Taka fires up! The fans rally behind Taka as he scoops Sanada! But Sanada slips free, only for Taka to SHOTEI! Taka runs, but Sanada shoves him at the ref! POP-UP LOW BLOW!! The fans boo, but Sanada has Taka in the SKULL END!!
Now Connors keeps Taichi out of the ring! Taka endures, but he TAPS! War Dogs win!
Winners: Sanada & Clark Connors, by submission
Cold Blooded indeed to cheat his former friends. But then Sanada grabs some beer from ringside, and he pours it all over Taka’s face! Taichi is pissed and he shoves Connors away! Taichi storms into the ring, but Sanada bails right out. Taichi grabs a chair and pursues! The War Dogs fall back while Young Lions do their best to stop Taichi! When and where will the War Dogs settle things with Just4Guys?
After El Desperado & KUSHIDA VS Taiji Ishimori & KENTA…
The Time Splitter gets the win for his team by making The Fang Revived tap out to the Hoverboard! But now, Kushida gets the mic to speak. “Konosuke Takeshita! You also know ‘the world,’ so please, ‘teach’ me. I want the NEVER-” But then Taiji snatches the mic! Taiji says he’ll get to Kushida later. But DESPY! You know what Taiji wants, right? Put the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship on the line against him! “Come, let’s play.” The fans like the sound of that! Desperado takes the mic, and he says Taiji’s getting better on the mic.
But sure, why not? After all, Taiji and the six other guys in that gauntlet ganged up on him! Desperado will do it wherever, dome or no dome, so long as he can beat Taiji. The fans like the sound of that! And so now it is official! El Desperado VS Taiji Ishimori for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, and Kushida VS Konosuke Takeshita for the NEVER Openweight Championship, Saturday, January 11th, BATTLE IN THE VALLEY! Who leaves the Golden State with the gold?
After the 8 Man Tag: LIJ VS War Dogs…
Los Ingobernables de Japon comes away with the win as Titan forces Gedo to tap out to Llave Enmortal, but the rest of the teams still had some fire in them. Yota Tsuij and Gabe Kidd have a stare down, and Yota simply holds up the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship as a silent dare for Gabe to come after him. As for Drilla Moloney, he grabs the mic to shout at Shingo Takagi! Drilla tells Takagi that he’s a HEAVYWEIGHT now! “Rampaging Dragon, huh? Dragon’s aren’t real!! The only thing that’s real is me, and my dogs! Show me WTF you’re about, Takagi!” Another challenge has been issued, when and where will Takagi take on 44 Caliber?
Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi!
The Uncontrollable Charisma & Ticking Timebomb were so close and yet so far from winning those IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships last night, but the chase is never ending. Will Naito & Hiromu stay tranquilo and head back for the titles? Or will they get burned by the Funky Sauce?
Hiromu brought back that ridiculous costume, and he still struggles to get out of it. But that aside, the teams sort out, and Taguchi makes sure his neck is alright before he steps up. Zayne says that’s fine, he and Taguchi are friends. And he’s friends with Red Shoes. See? Matching shoes! Taguchi feels awful, he should’ve thought of that. LIJ fist bump, the fans cheer, and Hiromu steps up against “Funky.” The bell rings, the fans rally, and Taguchi tests the waters with some big kicks. Hiromu stays back, then the two tie up. Hiromu headlocks, but Taguchi pulls hair. Red Shoes reprimands, Taguchi powers up and out, then drops down.
Taguchi bypasses Hiromu, and bypasses, and bypasses! Hiromu slides out and says timeout! He knows that trick too well to fall for it again. The fans cheer, but Taguchi slides out! Taguchi chases Hiromu back into the ring, and then he bypasses him again! But then Taguchi drops under the CROSSBODY! Hiromu flops, but Taguchi may have overdone it there. Zayne BLASTS Naito off the apron, then he stomps Hiromu. Zayne calls to Taguchi, stomps Hiromu again, and then gets ice for Taguchi. Taguchi ices the groin, then he hobbles over to help Zayne double whip Hiromu. Zayne then blows past Hiromu to BULLDOG! Taguchi adds a basement DROPKICK!
The fans cheer but Taguchi still ices his groin. Zayne puts Hiromu in a corner, he and Taguchi double whip. Taguchi whips Zayne in, but Hiromu dodges! Zayne hits buckles, Naito trips him up, and Hiromu dodges the hip attack! Hiromu runs up on Zayne to CROSSBODY! Naito brings Taguchi up, and feeds him to a CROSSBODY! The fans cheer and Hiromu brings Taguchi back up. Hiromu wrenches Taguchi, tags Naito, and Naito CLUBS Taguchi’s arm. LIJ double whip Taguchi, atomic drop, and then dropkick to the legs! Naito basement DROPKICKS Taguchi, covers, TWO! Taguchi stays in this but Naito cravats for the neck wrench.
Taguchi endures as Naito puts on the pressure, and then Hiromu tags in. LIJ mugs Taguchi, and Hiromu CHOPS Taguchi to a corner. Hiromu whips corner to corner, runs up and LARIATS, then snapmares to run and basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Taguchi stays in this but Hiromu tags Naito back in. The fans rally while LIJ stands Taguchi up. Taguchi fires off CHOPS on them both! Hiromu kicks low, Naito kicks, then Hiromu CHOPS! LIJ double whips, Taguchi ducks the lariat to HIP- DOUBLE ATOMIC DROP! Taguchi staggers around, LIJ double whip him again, but he DOUBLE HIP ATTACKS!
The fans fire up while Taguchi and LIJ are all down! Taguchi rolls to hot tag Zayne! Zayne fires off forearms on Naito, whips him to ropes, and hip tosses! STANDING CINNAMON TWIST! The fans fire up and Zayne stands Naito up. Zayne suplexes, but Naito fights that! Naito suplexes, Zayne fights that! Zayne tries again, Naito slips around to waistlock, but Zayne powers Naito to a corner! Naito holds on, Zayne tries again, but Naito sends Zayne into buckles! Naito goes up to FLYING RANA! The fans fire up and Naito brings Zayne around. Zayne CHOPS and ROCKS Naito, but Naito SPITS at him! Naito whips, but Zayne reverses, only for Naito to reverse back!
TORNA- NO! Zayne stops the DDT, then scoops Naito, but Naito wrenches the hair! Red Shoes reprimands but then Zayne BITES Naito’s fingers! Zayne rolls, wrenches, and ENZIGIRIS! Naito staggers away and the fans rally up. Hot tag to Taguchi, and he BLASTS Hiromu off the apron! Funky Sauce double whip Naito corner to corner, then Taguchi CORNER HIPS! Zayne uses Taguchi to LEAP FROG SHOTGUN! Then Taguchi helps Zayne roll to his feet, for Zayne to whip him in, HIP ATTACK! Then CANNONBALL! The fans fire up as Zayne & Taguchi drag Naito to the cover, TWO! Naito stays in this and the fans rally.
Funky Sauce get Naito up, ROLLING AX KICK SIDEWALK SLAM COMBO! Cover, but Hiromu breaks it! Zayne TOSSES Hiromu, Taguchi chicken wings Naito! But Naito rolls back, only for Taguchi to sit on the cover! TWO, but into OH MY GAH ANKLE! Someone is sent into railing outside, and Naito rolls free! But Taguchi stays back, and he BLINDSIDE KETSUYES! The fans fire up as Taguchi calls upon the powers of Strong Style! “ORYA~!” KETSU- NO, Naito sends Taguchi into the corner! Hiromu LARIATS, Naito UPPERCUTS, Hiromu SUPERKICKS, and Naito ENZIGIRIS! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!
Hiromu CLOBBERS Zayne while Naito hits the ROLLING JACKKNIFE BRIDGE! TWO!! The fans fire up as Hiromu helps Naito with the BOOSTED TORNADO DDT!! Taguchi flounders, Naito drags him back up, wrench and DESTINO!! Cover, LIJ wins!
Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall
They may have lost that Triple Threat last night, but Naito & Hiromu are still World Tag League winners for a reason. Will this be just the thing they need to get back to the tag titles? Wait, Naito gets the mic, and he says, “Buenas noches, OTA-KU~! The IWGP Tag Team Championship Three Way at The Dome… Hiromu and I couldn’t become the champions. I don’t want to say that they didn’t beat us. That’d be lame of me. The new IWGP Tag Team Champions, The Young Bucks, please accept our request for a title shot!” The fans like the sound of that! Naito doesn’t know if The Bucks are watching this or not, but he looks forward to their answer, cabron!
Naito has called out Matthew & Nicholas, the ball is in their court! Will The Bucks make LIJ wait very long?
8 Man Tag: Chaos VS TMDK!
Hirooki Goto is the NEW #1 Contender to the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship after winning the New Japan Ranbo. That has him aimed squarely at Zack Sabre Jr, so both men have brought their teams to back them up. Will the Fierce Warrior, Headhunter, Azucar & Direct Drive build momentum for the New Year? Or will The Front Man, The Mullet and the NEW IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions prove this year is mighty?
The teams sort out and Yoh calls out Fujita. Wait, is that why Yoh has arm straps and his hair’s styled like that? Is he trying to be a Japanese Young Punk? The bell rings, the fans rally up behind both “FU-JI-TA!” and “YO-OH! YO-OH!” Yoh and Fujita take their time circling each other, then they tie up. They’re in a deadlock, but Yoh’s height is leverage to push Fujita back. They end up on ropes, Yoh lets off slowly, and then he fakes a chop to pat Fujita on the shoulders. The fans cheer, the two tie up again, and now Fujita pushes Yoh right to the ropes. Red Shoes calls the break, Fujita lets go, and he smooths Yoh’s hair, to then give him a kiss on the forehead.
The fans cheer and Yoh is flustered. Fujita eggs Yoh on, Yoh runs up but Fujita dodges. Fujita kicks, whips, but Yoh reverses. Yoh drops down, drop toeholds, then he basement- NO, Fujita avoids the dropkick! Yoh avoid the Penalty Kick, and the heel kick! Fujita avoids a lariat, Yoh avoids the backhand, and the fans fire up as the two reset. Fujita blows a kiss and Yoh is “shot through the heart!” Yoh composes himself and tags in Rocky Romero. The fans rally up as Fujita tags in Eagles, and Eagles circles with Rocky. They tie up, Rocky powers Eagles back to the ropes, but lets off slowly. Rocky rolls back and gives some Latino Heat.
The fans cheer, but then Eagles trips Rocky! Things speed up, Rocky hurdles but Eagles leaps over. They keep going and Eagles arm-drags! Rocky arm-drags! Rocky evades an arm-drag to UPPERCUT! The fans cheer while Eagles is in a daze, and Rocky tags Goto. The fans rally up as Goto & Rocky double whip, but Eagles reverses to crisscross! Eagles kicks Goto, then WHEEL KICKS Rocky! Hot tag to ZSJ! The fans fire up as ZSJ UPPERCUTS Goto again and again! ZSJ whips, Goto grabs ropes, and Yoshi-Hashi tags in! Goto BOOTS ZSJ, then Bishamon DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLES! Then Hashi runs for ZANMAI! Yoh runs in, ZANMAI! Rocky runs in, ZANMAI!!
The fans fire up for that hattrick, and then Chaos says, “Se~ no!” DRUM BEAT! The fans fire up as Chaos all flexes! Red Shoes reprimands, the fans cheer “GO-TO-O!” but Hashi stands ZSJ up. Hashi CLUBS ZSJ, CLUBS him again, then wrenches. ZSJ wrenches back and then wristlocks! Hashi ends up in the TMDK corner and Ryohei Oiwa tags in. Oiwa kicks Hashi, wrenches his arm and YANKS it! Oiwa RAMS then whips Hashi, but Hashi dropkicks the legs! Hashi keeps moving, BLOCKBUSTER! The fans cheer and Hashi ROCKS Oiwa. And ROCKS him again! Oiwa goes to a corner, so Hashi CHOPS him!
Oiwa eggs Hashi on so Hashi CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Hashi whips corner to corner, runs up, and CHOPS again! The fans cheer while Oiwa sputters. Hashi turns Oiwa, but Oiwa wrenches out to top wristlock! Oiwa wrangles Hashi, isolates the arm and STOMPS it! Oiwa tags ZSJ, then BLASTS the Chaos corner! ZSJ drags Hashi up, wrenches an arm, and Oiwa adds on. They both top wristlock and wrangle Hashi, but then Fujita & Eagles step in! Eagles & Fujita get the legs for toeholds while Oiwa & ZSJ keep on the wristlocks! Red Shoes reprimands but the fans cheer this quadruple hold combo!
TMDK then rotates, Fujita & Oiwa with legs while ZSJ & Eagles have arms! And then rotate again, and rotate again! Red Shoes reprimands more but he also has to keep Chaos from storming in. Red Shoes counts all four TMDK members, and they all let off at 4. ZSJ tags Fujita and Fujita stomps Hashi’s arm. Fujita drags Hashi up, whips him to a corner, then CHOPS! Hashi sits right down and the fans fire up! Fujita stands Hashi up to snapmare, and he runs to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Hashi stays in this and the fans rally up. Fujita BLASTS Rocky, but Rocky’s right back to fire hands! Eagles gets in and stomps Rocky out!
Fujita & Eagles double whip Hashi, double ELBOW, then split the wishbone before DOUBLE KICKS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally and duel while Fujita brings Hashi up. Fujita whips Hashi to the corner, then CHOPS! Tag to Oiwa, and Oiwa brings Hashi around for a headlock takeover. Hashi endures, fights up, but Oiwa grinds the hold. Hashi fires body shots, then CHOPS! Hashi headlocks and he grinds Oiwa down. Oiwa wrenches out, headlocks again, but Hashi powers up, only for Oiwa to hold on tight! Hashi fights up, lifts Oiwa, but Oiwa thrashes the hold. Hashi powers free this time, but Oiwa runs him over!
The fans fire up as Hashi rises, but then Oiwa headlocks for the takeover. Hashi headscissors, Oiwa kips free, and Oiwa ROCKS Hashi! Oiwa ROLLING- SUPERKICK from Hashi! Both men go to ropes, Oiwa fires up, but Hashi LARIATS him down! The fans fire up while both men fall! Hashi and Oiwa crawl, the fans rally up, hot tags to Goto and ZSJ! Th efans fire up as ZSJ dodges Goto then fires UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT! ZSJ whips, Goto reverses, and Goto LARIATS! Goto whips corner to corner to MURAMASA! Then SAIDO! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Goto storms around. Goto brings ZSJ up, but ZSJ double wristlocks!
ZSJ wrenches the arm, but Goto fires forearms! ZSJ wrenches and PELES! ZSJ SWEEPS the legs, and the fans rally up again. ZSJ PENALTY- NO, Goto blocks that kick, he knows it well from Shibata. ZSJ fires forearms, but Goto fireman’s carries! But ZSJ slips free, and he hooks Goto up in the IRON OCTOPUS! TMDK BLASTS Chaos off the apron, and Goto falls into a GROUND OCTOPUS! Goto endures, fights around, but Rocky DOUBLE STOMPS ZSJ! Eagles kicks Rocky then TOSSES him out! Eagles keeps after Rocky on the outside while ZSJ stands up. ZSJ KICKS Goto, then KICKS, then KICKS again!
ZSJ runs but Goto follows, and he LARIATS ZSJ down! The fans fire up and Goto snarls. Goto rises, the fans are behind him, and he dragon sleepers! But ZSJ slips down, victory roll, EURO CLUTCH! TWO!! Goto escapes, but ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Goto rises to run up, but into a full nelson! Goto fights that, so ZSJ GERMAN SUPLEXES! Goto rises up again! They DOUBLE LARIAT, and ZSJ staggers! DOUBLE LARIATS, and ZSJ staggers again! Goto roars, runs, but ZSJ ROUNDHOUSES the lariat away! But then Goto LARIATS after all! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! ZSJ and Goto stir, crawl, and hot tag to Fujita and Yoh!
The fans rally as Yoh and Fujita fire forearms back and forth! Yoh ROCKS Fujita, ROCKS him again, and again! Yoh whips, Fujita reverses, and Eagles gets a KICK in! Yoh DECKS Eagles, Fujita ROCKS Yoh! Fujita whips, Yoh reverses, and Rocky gets a KICK in! Fujita DECKS Rocky! Yoh and Fujita storm up to each other, Yoh shoves Fujita around, and the forearms start flying! Eagles and Rocky storm in, and they fire forearms with each other! The fans fire up, Red Shoes reprimands, but Rocky CHOPS Eagles! Yoh ROCKS Fujita, but Fujita turns things around on him! Eagles does the same with Rocky, and they each CHOP Rocky and Yoh!
TMDK whips RPG Revise, but RPG Revise dosido! TMDK dodges, but then RPG Revise dodges, and they LARIAT in the corners! Then they trade, but TMDK dodges! CHOP for Yoh and DOUBLE KNEES for Rocky! Eagles feeds Rocky to Fujita’s SOBAT! Eagles UPPERCUTS, then Eagles & Fujita SUPERKICK HEEL KICK COMBO! Rocky falls, the fans fire up, and TMDK drags Yoh up. They double wrench and lift Yoh, but Yoh fights free! Yoh fires shots on them both, then runs, but into a GAMANGIRI! Fujita fires up and the fans are with him! Tag to Eagles, he and Fujita stand Yoh up to wrench, lift, MAXXIE BOMB! Cover, Hashi breaks it!
Fujita whips but Hashi reverses, out goes Fujita! Oiwa runs up, Hashi dodges, but then Oiwa dodge! Oiwa LARIATS Hashi down! The fans fire up as Oiwa gets Hashi out of the ring. Eagles goes corner to corner at Yoh, but Yoh pops him up to the apron! Eagles kicks low, then springboards, SNIPER DROPKICK to the legs! But Yoh denies Eagles the figure four! Goto corner LARIATS, then feeds Eagles to Yoh’s FALCON GOROSHI! Cover, but ZSJ YANKS Yoh back! Goto goes after ZSJ and they fire forearms back and forth! The fans fire up while ZSJ eggs Goto on! The shots go faster and faster, harder and harder!
ZSJ ROCKS Goto, whips, but Goto reverses to fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Goto stomps ZSJ out of the ring, leaving Yoh and Eagles to rise up. Yoh pounds the mat, the fans rally, and Yoh vows to end this. Yoh brings Eagles around, underhooks, DIRECT- NO, Eagles fights the lift, wrenches, schoolboy BRIDGE! TWO!! Yoh runs up but into a scoop! Fujita is in, but Rocky saves Yoh from the Sweet Buster! Rocky shoves Eagles into Fujita, but Fujita fights off RPG Revise! Fujita runs, into the 3K!! Eagles runs up, but Rocky gets around to BACKSTABBER! Yoh gives Eagles the FALCON ARROW!
The fans fire up and RPG Revise tune up! Eagles stands, staggers, and Rocky reels him in, 3- NO, Eagles hits Yoh first! Eagles runs up, Rocky blocks Eagles’ kick, and he sets Eagles up. Yoh runs in, but Eagles slips free, SUPERKICK hits Rocky! Yoh freaks out, Eagles trips him and steps through! But Yoh cradle counters! TWO!! Eagles escapes, and he ROUNDHOUSES! SUPERKICKS! ENZI- NO, Yoh ducks! Yoh tunes up fast, and he SUPER- NO, Eagles mule kicks the leg! Then TRIG- NO, Yoh ducks that and GROUND COBRA CRADLES! Cover, CHAOS WINS!!
Winners: Chaos, by pinfall
Eagles can’t believe it, but Rocky is thrilled! RPG Revise just got a win over the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions! Will Yoh & Rocky look to take those titles off the Ichiban Sweet Boys? But speaking of titles, ZSJ quite literally rubs the world title in Goto’s face. We also have Hashi and Oiwa still scrapping on the outside, and then Eagles gives a shove to Yoh. Rocky gets in Eagles’ face, Fujita and Yoh seem to at least keeping things to trash talk, and now Young Lions have to get in between Hashi and Oiwa as they CHOP each other! Hashi CHOPS Oiwa and he goes staggering away! Hashi storms up, Oiwa gets in Hashi’s face, and ZSJ wants his guys stand down.
Easier said than done as Fujita & Eagles hold up the tag titles to taunt Yoh & Rocky. And then Hashi and Oiwa trade CHOPS again! Oiwa even adds some SLAPS! But then Hashi CHOPS Oiwa, and Oiwa almost falls back! Oiwa runs up to fire forearms! ZSJ is frustrated but Oiwa fires LARIATS! Hashi CHOPS again, then eggs Oiwa on. The fans sound like they’re on Oiwa’s side, and Red Shoes has everyone separate. But then Oiwa gets loose to go after Hashi again! Oiwa fires forearms but Hashi CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! Oiwa roars, despite his chest being so red! Hashi CHOPS him again and again, and this goes up the ramp!
Oiwa CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS but Hashi doesn’t care, he just CHOPS back! And CHOPS again! Talk about chaos! Oiwa tries to scoop Hashi! Young Lions stop him, but Hashi fights free to ROCK Oiwa! Red Shoes reprimands, but then Yoh gets on the mic! “Hey! Hey! Stop! Stop the fighting! Stop!” The fans cheer him being het voice of reason. Yoh says they are ruining New Year Dash! If they wanna fight so bad, just do it in the ring. Yoh then says that CHAOS won the night! The fans cheer that, and Yoh says that “2025 will belong to Chaos. Everyone already knows that Chaos is truly the strongest.
“Isn’t that right, Goto-san? Goto, who won an IWGP World title shot, don’t you agree?” The fans cheer as Yoh offers the mic. Goto picks up his title contract and takes the mic to say, “I won this! I finally made it back to this point.” The fans applaud that. Goto says he WILL challenge for the title… in OSAKA! The fans cheer that, too, and Goto says “No matter how many times you get beat, if you don’t give up, you aren’t defeated. The battle has only just begun. In the year 2025, join the Goto Revolution!” The fans are ready, will The Fierce Warrior finally stand atop the mountain? Or will ZSJ make him #JustTapOut?
My Thoughts:
A great New Year Dash, and though I skipped the matches, they still had meaningful moments after so this was a really packed show. Barnett saying he wants to bring Oleg to a title, which of course means singles title, I have a bad feeling that the House of Torture will win those NEVER Openweight Six Man titles off Oleg, Yano & Tanahashi. Barnett will then take Oleg to like the NEVER Openweight singles title or maybe the NJPW Strong Openweight title. Kushida calling out Konosuke Takeshita for the NEVER title is wild, that and Desperado VS Taiji Ishimori this Saturday at Battle in the Valley will be some awesome stuff.
Drilla calling out Takagi after LIJ won against the War Dogs was pretty wild, too. Takagi VS Drilla 1v1 will be great stuff, can’t wait to see who wins out. Naito & Hiromu of course rebound but that was a really fun match against Funky Sauce. Naito calling out The Bucks is great, but I think that’ll be saved for New Beginnings in Osaka, Battle in the Valley is too soon to waste that title match on. And clearly, Goto wants New Beginnings in Osaka to be where he battles ZSJ. Great 8 Man Tag that also helped set up Hashi VS Oiwa 1v1 and then TMDK VS RPG Revise for the Junior Heavyweight titles. Those will all be great matches, and a Chaos VS TMDK faction warfare story is some good stuff to carry NJPW through to the Spring.
My Score: 8.9/10
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