Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (10/3/22)
An extreme go-home!
Raw gets ready for Extreme Rules!
With Extreme Rules this Saturday, Bianca Belair and Bayley sign the contract for their Raw Women’s Championship Ladder match! But will The EST keep DMG CTRL under control?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Rey Mysterio & AJ Styles VS The Judgement Day; The Judgement Day wins.
- Bobby Lashley VS Mustafa Ali; Lashley wins.
- Candice LeRae VS Dakota Kai w/ Damage Control; Dakota wins.
- Johnny Gargano VS Otis w/ Chad Gable & Austin Theory; Otis wins.
- Braun Strowman VS Chad Gable w/ Otis & Austin Theory; Braun wins.
- Angelo Dawkins w/ Montez Ford VS Solo Sikoa w/ The Bloodline; Solo wins.
- Alexa Bliss w/ Bianca Belair VS Iyo Sky w/ Damage Control; Iyo wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Rey Mysterio & AJ Styles VS The Judgement Day!
The King of Lucha has so far failed to reach his son, Dominik. And the Phenomenal One has so far refused to give in despite his former friend, Finn Balor, reaching out to him. With an I Quit match between Finn and Edge this Saturday at Extreme Rules, will the Prince and the Punisher make Rey give up on Dom and Styles give up on his pride? Or will Rey & Styles get their pound of flesh before the Rated R Superstar gets his?
Before the match, the Judgement Day get mics as fans in St. Paul boo. Finn says, “Eleven years ago, Edge was medically forced to quit.” Rhea adds a sarcastic, “Aww.” Finn says against all the odds, Edge fought back with strength and determination, and he overcame and returned to doing what he loves most, and that is performing in the ring for all the fans. Priest says, “Let’s hear it for Edge, huh?” Finn says, “But as with most things in life, you can only outrun fate for so long. Judgement catches up to all of us. And at Extreme Rules, I am gonna act as the cruel hand of fate that reminds Edge he doesn’t belong anywhere near a ring that I’m standing in!”
Rhea laughs but fans boo. Finn says he’s doing Edge a favor cuz he’s a nice guy. Finn will beat Edge so bad that he’ll be down and out and he’ll be forced to utter the words, “I QUIT!” Priest tells Finn that he has to say, Priest is so excited to witness firsthand a beating so bad that Edge does have to say “I Quit.” And let that serve as notice to anyone that wants to step to The Judgement Day! They will always rise. And that goes especially for their opponents tonight, AJ Styles & Rey Mysterio. Fans chant, “Who’s Your Daddy?” at Dom but Rhea whispers something to him. Dom says, “I’ll tell you exactly who my daddy is, and it’s not Rey Mysterio.”
Dom tells “Jefe, I hate you. I hate you so much. You lied to me my entire life. And I have a new family now, thanks to the Judgement Day.” Finn says speaking of family, his old friend, AJ Styles! Styles, Finn could’ve ended you last night- No, not last night! Last week! He’s so mad at Styles he’s messing up! But Finn could’ve ended Styles but he chose not to. And do you know why? Because Styles is Finn’s friend. The offer is still extended. But trust Finn, he’s not a bad guy, so don’t make him do bad things! Or else the Judgement Day will start by opening up- Wait! Here comes Styles! The Phenomenal One and the King of Lucha make their entrances, and this battle begins!
Rey and Styles don’t wait for a bell, they brawl with Priest and Finn already! Styles whips Finn but Dom and Rhea get Finn outta there. Only for Rey to RANA him! Styles clotheslines Priest out of the ring to the SLINGSHOT FOREARM! Fans fire up as #REYJ stand tall already. Finn is seething as he glares at Rey but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and the match is officially underway as Finn whips Rey to a corner. Finn snarls, runs in but into an elbow! Rey runs and RANAS Finn again! Rey then runs at the corner but is put on the apron. Rey GAMANGIRIS back, goes up top and SEATED SENTONS! Rey keeps moving, ducks ‘n’ dodges and then tilt-o-whirl RANAS! Finn staggers to the corner and Priest tags in. Rey dares Priest to bring it, then goes after Priest at the ropes! Priest shoves Rey away, Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges but Priest avoids the crossbody! Rey flops, stands up, and Priest BOOTS him down! Cover, TWO! Rhea coaches Priest and he whips Rey into the corner.
Priest runs to back elbow! Tag to Finn, they mug Rey, and Finn snap suplexes Rey for Uno Amigo! And then another for Dos Amigos! Fans boo as Finn gives us Latino Heat, and he finishes THREE AMIGOS! Cover, TWO! Finn is annoyed but fans rally up as Rey stays in this. Finn drags Rey up, puts him against ropes, but Rey holds ropes to block the whip. Finn gets Rey loose to whip and slide him out of the ring! Rey hits the floor and Rhea is there to taunt him. The ref starts a ring count but Priest drags Rey up to scoop him. Priest fakes a Snake Eyes on the desk to SNAKE EYES off the apron!
Fans boo but Priest tags Finn back in. Finn waits on Rey as he crawls in. Finn stomps away at the ropes, then lets off as the ref counts. Rey crawls but Finn drags him up to snapmare and chinlock. Finn grinds Rey, leans on the hold, and fans rally up. Rey fights, throws elbows, and JAWBREAKERS free! Rey reaches out but Finn keeps him from Styles! Finn knees low, whips Rey to ropes, but Rey wheelbarrows and BULLDOGS! Fans fire up but Rhea freaks out as both men are down! Finn and Rey crawl, hot tags to Priest and Styles Styles fires off the Phenomenal Blitz! Then the SLIDING FOREARM! Priest flounders but fans fire up!
Styles clotheslines in the corner, fireman’s carries Priest, but he drops Priest as Finn gets in. Styles DECKS Finn, goes back to CHOP Priest, then he PELES Priest! Styles reels Priest in, but Priest shoves Styles and Finn holds the ropes open! Styles tumbles to the floor and the Judgement Day is back in control as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Finn tags Priest. Finn scoops Styles, BACKBREAKER LEG DROP COMBO! Cover, TWO! Rhea is frustrated but the count was fair. Priest clamps on a leg crucifix full nelson! Styles endures, pushes to a cover, TWO! Styles hooks Priest’s leg and rolls him, but Priest rolls through to DECK Styles! Priest stands Styles up, springboards, but into an ATOMIC DROP! And then Styles PELES again! Fans fire up and both men crawl again, but Rhea is lurking! Finn distracts and Rhea trips Rey off the apron! Fans boo but Priest drags Styles away to then LARIAT! Tag to Finn, he and Priest whip Styles, but Styles blocks a kick!
Styles sends Priest’s kick into Finn’s stomach, and then reels them both in for a DOUBLE DDT! Fans fire up as Styles, Finn and Priest are all down, but Rhea eggs Rey on. Then Dom stands in the way and eggs Rey on! Dom kneels and dares Rey to hit him! Rey says this is not the time. But then Rhea CLOBBERS Rey while the ref is checking Priest! Rhea dusts herself off and Styles sees what happened. But then Finn SHOTGUNS Styles down! Finn goes up top, COUP DE GRACE!! Cover, Judgement Day wins!
Winners: The Judgement Day, by pinfall
Rey can’t keep focus with Dom in his head, and that costs the team! Styles is upset and Rey apologizes, but then Styles shoves Rey down! Dom may be in Rey’s head, but is Finn getting in Styles’? Wait, then Finn CLOBBERS Styles! He, Priest, Dom and Rhea all stomp away on Styles, and Finn keeps saying, “I’m your friend! I’m your only friend! Why don’t you listen to me?!” Fans boo but Finn drags Styles up, to feed him to Priest’s SOUTH OF HEAVEN CHOKE SLAM!! If this is how Finn treats a longtime friend, just how far will he go to end an enemy?
Backstage interview with Bobby Lashley.
Kevin Patrick finds The All Mighty as he’s making his way into the arena, and congratulates him on his three month reign. A dominant US Championship reign, but what’s next? Has it been three months already? Well, Lashley’s legacy is solidified but he will not become complacent. He said it once and he’ll say it again: It isn’t the title that makes the man, it is the man that makes the title. So three days, three months, three years, his mentality won’t change. Lashley knew what it takes to get here. He’s been pushed by the industry’s best and he’s beaten them all. McIntyre, Reigns, Lesnar, and Rollins.
So what’s next? Lashley wants someone who had the same hustle and desire that he had to get here. Someone with that mentality is what Lashley is after. Well, then, Mustafa Ali has plenty of desire. But for some reason, he’s still at the back of the line, waiting to be called. But he is done waiting. Ali is done! He is stepping up to the front of the line, and he wants an opportunity now. Right now! Okay, Lashley sees the hustle, the grind. Just keep it up and Lashley will make sure Ali gets that opportunity. NO! Ali isn’t asking! He’s demanding an opportunity! Lashley says people are getting too comfortable disrespecting him. If Ali wants his opportunity, he’s got it!
Will the Beacon regret getting the All Mighty’s attention? Or is he going to make the most of this opportunity he made for himself?
Sami Zayn and Jimmy Uso are backstage!
And they’re cracking up about something. Something about the couch and the chair being on fire but Sami didn’t see it so he was still dancing. Solo Sikoa is there and doesn’t seem quite as amused as Jimmy by this story. Sami’s friend runs in with a fire extinguisher, asks where his dog went, and Sami says, “I’m right here.” HA! Jimmy wishes he was there, that sounded like a good time. But then Jey storms in and Jimmy clams up. Sami says hey, Jey. What’s so funny? Sami says it’s not that important. Right, y’all’re here having a good time when they’re supposed to be handling business! Jimmy says relax, they’re just joking.
Sami says no, Jey is right. This is business. The Bloodline has to let everyone know that next week, the Tribal Chief is coming as part of the Raw season premiere. Right! Sami says the Honorary Uce can lead by example. Let’s put some fools on notice! YEET! Let’s go! Oh hey, look here. Sami addresses the Street Profits and lets them and all of Raw know. Next week, the Bloodline will be here with the Tribal Chief, so prepare to acknowledge him. Montez Ford tells Angelo Dawkins, “Look who it is! It’s the Honorary Uce! The hype man of the century, Sami Zayn! Along with the Bloodline, walking around Monday Night Raw like they own the arena.”
You don’t own anything, Sami! In fact, there’s only two things the Bloodline needs to acknowledge, and that’s DEEZ- No, whoa, hold on. Don’t do ’em like that, fam. Jimmy says no, finish it. Deez what? Say something disrespectful and get two matching boots, Tez. He of course means the bad leg the Profits gave Ford the last time they faced off. Dawkins says Jey’s got a lot of bass in his voice. How about Dawks breaks off a boot in Jey’s ass? Solo has everyone step back. The Street Champion dares Dawkins to try that on him. Then say less, fam, Dawks will see you out there!
Sami says that’s good, see you out there, fam. The Bloodline’s Enforcer is ready, will he tear into Dawkins like he did Ricochet and Moss last Friday?
Bobby Lashley VS Mustafa Ali!
The Rocky Mountain Machine has reigned for three months, and looks to keep going and going and going. But he won’t stand for those thinking he’s some big pushover. Will he turn out the lights on The Beacon? Or will Ali catch Bobby off guard here tonight?
The bell rings and Ali rushes to dropkick, but Lashley dodges! Ali crashes, Lashley fires off on him, then OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes him! Lashley aims and runs in to RAM Ali into a corner! And again and again! Then he turns Ali for a NECKBREAKER! Lashley then drags Ali up to suplex and hold him! Fans fire up for the SLAM! Ali grits his teeth but Lashley aims again. Lashley runs corner to corner but into a KNEE! Ali aims to CHOP! And ROCK! And whip, but Lashley blocks! Lashley whips but Ali goes up, only to get caught! Ali slips off and ducks to then SUPERKICK! Lashley wobbles, Ali goes up and up and leaps, FLYING DDT!
Lashley bails out and fans fire up as Ali builds speed, to DIVE! Direct hit, Lashley hits desk, but stays up. Ali brings Lashley back but Lashley blocks to toss Ali in first. Ali KICKS Lashley back out! But Lashley drags Ali out to join him and LARIAT! Ali gets turned inside out and fans fire up as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Lashley drags Ali back up. Lashley elbows him in the corner over and over, then whips him corner to corner hard! Ali bounces off the buckles and hits the mat, and Lashley looms over him. Lashley drags Ali up to put him in a corner for more elbows. Lashley CLUBS Ali, whips him corner to corner again, and Ali bounces off buckles into the COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO! Ali survives but Lashley keeps focus. Ali says, “I’m not staying down.” Lashley drags Ali up and bumps him off buckles. Lashley puts Ali up top, climbs up after him, and then brings Ali up. Ali fires off body shots and forearms and headbutts! Lashley falls!
Ali aims, and he 450 SPLASHES Lashley’s ARM!! Lashley writhes, Ali drags him up and CLUBS the bad arm! But Lashley shoves him away with the good arm. Ali SHOTGUNS Lashley into a corner, fires off on the bad arum, and runs, into a MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO!? Ali survives and shocks Lashley on that one. Lashley drag Ali up and gut wrenches him for the CLIFFHANGER! Cover, TWO?!? Lashley is growing frustrated with Ali, but Ali crawls and drags himself up. Lashley tells Ali to stay down, “You don’t want this.” Ali SLAPS Lashley! Lashley’s pissed now! Lashley TOSSES Ali out!
Lashley goes out, drags Ali up, and fireman’s carries to POST him! Ali flies away but Lashley refreshes the count. Lashley hauls him up again, and POSTS Ali again! Lashley refreshes the count again, hauls Ali up for a third time, and TOSSES him into the timekeeper’s area! Lashley goes into the ring to let the count handle Ali. Ali crawls, the count is 5 of 10, but Ali flounders. We’re at 8, then 9, but Ali is in at 9.999!! Lashley is more confused than anything! What is Ali thinking? Lashley aims from the corner, runs in, and SPEARS Ali!! But that’s not all! Lashley is going to teach Ali a lesson with the HURT LOCK!! Ali refuses to give up, but he fades out! Lashley wins!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by submission
Lashley has a mighty body, but Ali shows he has a mighty heart. Ali still lost, but did he at least win Lashley’s respect? Lashley goes back to Ali as he sputters around. Lashley drags Ali up, but SETH ROLLINS attacks! And CURB STOMPS Lashley!! The Visionary laughs as he drags Lashley up and CURB STOMPS him onto the belt!! The Visionary gets revenge for not becoming WWE United States Champion. And then just because he can, CURB STOMP for Ali to the floor! Rollins is going to hang around because he has a face-to-face with Matt Riddle, but there is a No Physicality Agreement in effect. Will the Visionary and the Bro stick to that agreement?
Raw returns with Rollins in the ring.
Last week, after Raw went off the air, Rollins instigated another brawl with Matt Riddle, which is why there’s the No Physicality Agreement, and why Daniel Cormier will be the Fight Pit’s special guest referee! But Rollins is all smiles as he says, “Well now that we have cleared Bobby Trashley from the ring, HAHAHAHA, we can get on with this evening’s festivities. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Monday Night Rollins! And I am your host for this evening. I am a visionary. I am a revolutionary. I am Seth…” “FREAKIN’ ROLLINS!” “And this Saturday, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, I go one on one with the Original Bro… Matt Riddle.”
It’ll be in a match that is soon to become synonymous with Rollins. “Ladies and gentlemen, behold: The Fight Pit.” The narrator of this video package says, “As animosity reaches its peak and hatred goes beyond extreme, the endurance of one’s will is put to the test in one of the most barbaric structures in WWE History. No ring ropes, only steal. No doors, no pinfalls, no escape. The only way to win is by submission or knockout. A blank canvas built for torment, painted only by destruction and devastation. Where your only weapons are your skills and your ability to absorb pain. Toughness is showcased. Careers are altered. But in the end only one will have their hand raised in victory. But neither will ever be the same again.”
Rollins says, “Oooh~! The things I’m gonna do to Riddle inside the Fight Pit. I’m gonna show him what I just showed Bobby Lashley, what I showed Cody Rhodes, what the entire world already knows, and that is I am the most dangerous man in the history of this industry. But that’s Saturday, and we’re here in St. Paul tonight. And I’m scheduled to go face to face with Matt Riddle, so let’s not waste anymore time, Riddle! I know you’re back there scootering around, so why don’t you scoot you annoying face out here so it can piss me off in person.” Fans boo Rollins but “Bro…” Here comes Riddle!
Riddle has a mic to say, “Bro, bro, bro.” Rollins says there he is! No scooter? Aww. Well there’s the guy whose face Rollins will smash this Saturday. Come and pay your respects to the King of the Fight Pit! Riddle asks Rollins what he’s even talking about. Riddle needs to remind Rollins that he’s never BEEN in a Fight Pit before. Riddle has! Well Rollins reminds Riddle that tonight, there is the No Physicality Agreement. Fans boo and Rollins says he knows they want to see them fight, but if Riddle so much as lays a finger on Rollins, the match will be off. Riddle says don’t worry, he won’t put much stitches in that pretty little forehead.
Riddle is actually going to give Rollins an educational lesson on the Fight Pit. Because Riddle won’t just hurt Rollins, he won’t just beat Rollins, Riddle is gonna kill Rollins on Saturday. When Riddle beats Rollins’ lifeless body with elbows and fists and Daniel Cormier has to pull Riddle away and raise his hand in victory, the fans won’t be singing Rollins’ song, it’ll be “BRO~ OHHH~ OHHHHH~!” Riddle gets in Rollins’ face about it but Rollins laughs it off. Until the fans echo it! Rollins says Riddle has it twisted! Even though Riddle and Cormier come from the same place, Cormier isn’t on Riddle’s side. Cormier is a fan of Rollins!
But Rollins has to admit, “Bro,” Riddle has a nice signing voice. Does he sing his kids to sleep at night? “Oh… That’s right. You’re not allowed to see your kids anymore, are you?” Rollins laughs and dares Riddle to take a shot. Wait! He can’t! Because they have their big money match and Riddle needs all the cash he can get. Cuz let’s face it, child support can get expensive. Rollins laughs in Riddle’s face but Riddle tells him his breath is KICKING. But here’s a question for Rollins: When was the last time he held a title? Oh, right! Last time he even fought for one, it was against his boy, Roman, and he choked Rollins out.
Or remember when Rollins last main-evented Mania? Oh wait, he hasn’t. But his wife, Becky, sure has! And there’s a trend here. Seems Rollins comes up second to Roman, to Becky, and this Saturday, he’ll be second to Riddle! Fans fire up for that one but Rollins is fired up. They each dare the other to throw hands but Cormier pops in via the titantron! Cormier says enough. We’ve watched you two whine, argue and complain for months. Enough! This behavior has been insane, we’re all tired of it. The parking lot, the arena, all around the world! For all the people wondering, yes, this is Daniel Cormier. He is one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time, he is THE Double Champ.
Matt, listen, bro. They go way back as UFC fighters. Rollins, Cormier has admired him from afar, ever since he won that first world title. But as the whole world is fed up, so is Cormier. Someone told them they’re in a Fight Pit, and Cormier’s down for that. He lives in the cage, he loves the cage. But there has to be a third man. Can’t be any ol’ ref, so WWE called ya boi, DC, and he will lay down the law to make sure only one of them makes it out of the pit and we put an end to this. That’s what Cormier plans to do. So no more yapping, go train hard and train smart, and we’ll see you both in Philly. Fans fire up for that, but Rollins flicks Riddle’s hat away. Who survives when it’s TIIIIIME?!
Candice LeRae comes across Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss & Asuka.
They all say hey and wish Candice luck against Dakota Kai. Bianca wants Candice to make sure she shows Damage Control what the Poison Pixie is made of. Candice thanks Bianca and vows to do just that. She heads to gorilla, will she take control against DMG CTRL?
The Miz is on the phone with Maryse.
The Hollywood A-Lister tries to get his “beautiful, gorgeous, sexy wife” to hear him out. It is being handled. This B List horror film ends tonight. This lowlife has broken into their home, attacked Miz while wearing a hockey uniform, and cost both Miz and Ciampa the US Championship. Where even IS Ciampa?! But Miz is not leaving until he gets assurances that something is being done about “you know who.” Nothing, and Miz means nothing, will ruin his birthday next week. Maryse presents: The Miz’s Birthday Bash, Live in Brooklyn! And there will be no unwanted surprise appearances from “He Who Shall Not Be Named.”
But speaking of, Dexter Lumis is creeping in from the back door! Someone calls to Miz and he storms over, narrowly avoiding Lumis’ grasp! Miz tells the staffer to shoo, he’s on the phone with his wife. Miz gets gushy with Maryse about saying bye, but Lumis is still lurking. Will the Tortured Artist ruin things despite all of Miz’s preparations?
Candice LeRae VS Dakota Kai w/ Damage Control!
Mrs. Wrestling, the Poison Pixie, came back with a strong win over the Almost SuperHero, and now she takes on one half of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions! Will Candice take Dakota for a Wild Ride? Or will #CobraKai be immune to sting Candice first?
The bell rings and Candice circles with Dakota. They tie up, Dakota gets around and she shoves Candice. Dakota taunts Candice then uses ropes as a defense. Candice backs off, but Dakota rushes in to waistlock. Candice switches, Dakota hooks a leg to trip her, and runs. Candice ducks the boot, rolls Dakota up, TWO! Dakota swings, into a backslide! TWO, and Candice arm-drags Dakota down! Candice has an armlock and she grinds Dakota. Dakota endures, fights up, but Candice arm-drags her again. Dakota is frustrated but Candice keeps on the arm. Bayley & Iyo coach Dakota and she fights up.
Dakota powers Candice into a corner, goes side to side, but Candice dodges the boot to bump Dakota off buckles! Candice snapmares and NECK SNAPS to then jackknife! TWO but Candice DROPKICKS Dakota down! Dakota goes to the apron, fans rally but Dakota avoids the shoulder. Candice avoids the boot to smack Dakota off the corner! Dakota falls to the floor and crawls to the ramp. Candice builds speed, but Dakota hurries out of the way. Candice frowns but she WRECKS Dakota with a dropkick! Bayley protests but Candice springboards to CROSSBODY! Direct hit and Dakota is down while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Dakota has Candice in a motorcycle stretch. Candice fights up and turns around to arm-drag Dakota away! Dakota staggers up, Candice RAMS into her, then elbows her! Dakota runs back in to BOOT Candice down! Cover, TWO! Dakota is frustrated but she slaps Candice around. She sits Candice up for Kawada Kicks! Fans boo but Bayley cheers. Dakota dusts her boots off to then scuff Candice around. Bayley taunts Candice that she’s gonna call Baby Wrestling, little Quill Gargano, and tell her mom’s gonna be late getting home. Candice gets mad and pie faces Dakota, but Dakota SCORPION KICKS!
Dakota puts Candice in a corner, runs Around the World, but Candice BOOTS first! Fans fire up while both women are down! Dakota flails and checks her nose while fans rally. Candice stands, she ROCKS Dakota with a forearm! And again! And then CHOPS! And ROCKS! And CHOPS again! Candice backs Dakota down with fast hands! The ref counts and Candice lets off in the corner, but fans fire up! Candice runs in to back body block! And snapmare to a step-up SENTON! Cover, TWO! Bayley and Iyo keep cool as they coach Dakota. Dakota shoves Candice, Candice tilt-o-whirls into an IRON OCTOPUS!
Dakota endures and DMG CTRL freaks out! Dakota fights to a corner and she RAMS Candice into buckles! Dakota kicks Candice, then runs in, but into another BOOT! Candice climbs up but Dakota BOOTS her! Dakota climbs up, CLUBS away on Candice, then stands Candice up. Candice fights the superplex, fights back and slips under, but Dakota holds off the bomb! So Candice YANKS Dakota into the buckles! And then hits a HIGH ANGLE GERMAN! Fans fire up while DMG CTRL freaks out! Candice crawls after Dakota, fans rally behind her, but Iyo distracts the ref. Candice goes up but Bayley trips her up! Roll up from Dakota, Dakota wins!
Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall
DMG CTRL snags one away from Candice and Bayley is all fired up! But will Bayley be able to maintain control of the situation with her contract signing later tonight?
Johnny Gargano walks to gorilla.
Wait, is that Lumis sitting on a trunk, petting an unconscious Miz? Gargano looks back, and Lumis is gone! Gargano pokes Miz and it startles Miz awake. Miz has a picture of Lumis and Miz at a birthday party. Gargano knows that’s not good. Miz runs away and Gargano just chuckles, “Oh, Dexter.” Gargano continues to gorilla, will he have the last laugh against the tree trunk known as Otis?
DMG CTRL celebrates backstage.
Bayley says tag team champion or not, Dakota’s gonna give- Wait, Sarah walks in to congratulate Dakota. Obviously, this is why Bayley wants Kai & Sky in her corner for the Extreme Rules Ladder match. And speaking of, the Raw Women’s Championship match- Bayley stops Sarah there. It took her that long to realize why Bayley wants “weapons” like Dakota & Iyo on her side? Sarah’s just as dumb as Bianca! Bianca only just realized the importance of allies. But this won’t ruin Bayley’s mood, because she’s gonna do Bianca a favor tonight. It’ll just be her and Bianca, but for the contract signing only.
Bayley addresses Bianca by looking right at the camera. Tonight, it will just be the two of them. “But remember: you asked for this.” The Role Model is going to play fair and square for now, but is she just going to turn up the heat at Extreme Rules?
Johnny Gargano VS Otis w/ Chad Gable & Austin Theory!
Johnny Wrestling helped Kevin Owens and Drew McIntyre fight the Alpha Academy and the Youngest Mr. Money in the Bank Ever on SmackDown, and now things are 1v1! Will Master Gable’s Number One Guy crush Gargano’s Rebel Heart? Or will Otis have to take one #ForTheAcademy?
Theory joins commentary to talk down on Gargano but Gargano says he’s got his eyes on him. Gargano and Otis circle, Otis rushes in but Gargano gets around. Gargano throws hands, wrenches an arm, then drop toeholds, but Otis is way too stocky for that! Otis drags Gargano up, TOSSES him to a corner, but Gargano dodges to fire off more hands. The ref counts, Gargano climbs up and rains down fists. But Otis carries Gargano corner to corner to RAM him into the corner! Then he CLUBS Gargano down! Fans boo but Otis shouts, “For the Academy!” Gargano fires off hands but Otis shoves him. Gargano ducks ‘n’ dodges and RAMS Otis!
Otis stays up and comes back with the WRECKER ELBOW! “Who’s the man?!” Theory cheers Otis on and Otis goes back for Gargano. Otis drags Gargano up, bumps him off buckles, and CLUBS him over and over. Otis taunts Gargano, CHOKES Gargano on the ropes, and Theory says he loves it. Otis drags Gargano up, scoops him, and SLAMS him! Fans rally for Gargano but Otis looms over him. Otis drags Gargano up, gut wrenches him to a Canadian rack, and makes it a backbreaker rack! Gable and Theory high five, but Gargano endures and throws hands! Gargano gets free, goes to a corner, Otis runs in but into a BOOT!
Gargano elbows Otis away, then dodges! Otis POSTS himself! Gargano runs to LARIAT! Otis stays up, Gargano runs and LARIATS again! Nope, Otis is still up. Otis choke grips but Gargano ROLLING ELBOWS! Otis scoops Gargano but Gargano slips off to ENZIGURI! Otis staggers to a corner, Gargano runs in to back body block! Gargano runs again, but into a clinch! EXPLODER! Gargano is dazed and Gable says, “That’s my guy!” Otis drags Gargano to a drop zone and climbs up the corner, VADER FLOP!! Gargano gets up to BUZZSAW! And BUZZSAW! And SUPER- LARIAT from Otis! Theory says that is when you run into reality!
Otis trophy lifts, but Gargano fights free, DDT!! Gargano wants Otis to get up, and Otis sits up into the SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!?!? Otis survives and Theory is upset. Otis bails out of the ring but Gargano builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit and Otis hits the desk! Theory is upset, Gargano LEAPS the desk to CLOBBER Theory! Gargano fires off hands on Theory and fans are loving it! Gargano hurries up to the apron to TORNADO DDT Otis to the floor! Fans fire up but Otis is getting up! Gable distracts the ref, Theory SMACKS Gargano with the briefcase! Otis hauls Gargano up for the WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM! Cover, Otis wins!
Winner: Otis, by pinfall
Theory screwed Gargano over, but he goes after Gargano more! So do Gable and Otis! But here comes BRAUN!! The Monster of All Monsters CLOBBERS Otis at the ramp! Then he runs into the ring, but both Theory and Gable bail out! Braun slides out and he catches Gable, to TOSS him into the ring! Gable’s been taking credit for Braun’s career, will Braun take all the credit for ending Gable’s?
Braun Strowman VS Chad Gable w/ Otis & Austin Theory!
The bell rings, Braun sees Otis on the outside, and he TOSSES Gable onto Otis!! Fans are fired up with Braun and Raw goes to break!
Raw returns and Gable is in the ring, Braun dragging himself up from commentary. That was of course the doing of Otis during commercial, but that got Otis EJECTED! Gable goes out and stalks Braun. Braun stands up, Gable rushes in and KNEES Braun into the POST! Gable gets back in the ring, he lets the ring count climb, but Braun is stirring. Braun drags himself up at the barriers, staggers over, and he stumbles into the ring at 8 of 10. Gable CLUBS and KNEES away on Braun! The fans boo but Gable says, “A THANK YEW~!” Gable throws more hands, runs the ropes, but runs into a scoop! Gable kicks free, shoves and GERMAN SUPLEXES Braun!? Bridging cover, TWO!
Gable is shocked but we’re all shocked he pulled that off! Gable tells Braun to look at him. Gable runs this ring! He CLUBS Braun, talks more trash about it doesn’t matter how big Braun is, but Braun doesn’t embarrass him in his hometown. Gable SLAPS Braun down, and we see Omos and MVP watching this backstage. Gable talks more trash, but Braun choke grips! Braun has both hands now and he puts Gable right up top! But Gable gets a HANGING ARMBAR! Braun powers up to deadlift Gable. But Gable pokes eyes! Gable runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and dropkicks a leg out! Gable climbs up a corner, he leaps at Braun and MISSILE DROPKICKS!
Braun is down, Gable goes back up, and he MOONSAULTS, but has to land out as Braun moves! Braun BOOTS Gable down! The shirt comes off, the fans fire up, and Braun glares at Gable. Braun reels Gable in, lifts him up, MONSTER BOMB!! Cover, Braun wins!
Winner: Braun Strowman, by pinfall
The Monster of All Monsters puts away the Alpha Academy headmaster! But with the Nigerian Giant watching backstage, will Braun have to soon defend that title of alpha titan in the WWE?
Bobby Lashley finishes up with the trainer.
Lashley is mad but Kevin Patrick asks him about that blindside attack from Rollins. How is Lashley doing? Lashley is going to crush Rollins’ throat so we never have to hear that cackle again. And then, after Riddle beats Rollins in the Fight Pit, Lashley will finish Rollins off! Lashley will get Rollins next week on the season premiere, for the US Championship! No backing out, no excuses, no running away! Lashley gets Rollins in the ring to bounce him around like a pinball, then he’ll put Rollins in the Hurt Lock until he screams for mercy! Then Lashley will make Rollins pass out in the middle of the ring. That’s how Lashley feels. What will even be left of Rollins after this next week?
Corey Graves is in the ring.
He welcomes us all to this “historic moment.” There are ladders in the ring, but also chairs and the table for this contract signing. “It is the first-ever Ladder match for a women’s championship in WWE history.” So first, the challenger, Bayley. The Role Model makes her entrance solo, as promised. Then the Raw Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair. She is also solo, because she doesn’t need back-up to take on Bayley. Bianca and Bayley sit at the table and Corey says let’s not wait any longer. Let’s make this official with the contract. Bayley tells Bianca it’s just them, just like she asked. Is she okay? Does she feel safe?
Bayley feels great, really, despite not having her girls with her. But Bayley feels really good since DMG CTRL has done everything Bayley has said to a T. Her plan has been going really good and that clearly shakes Bianca’s confidence. But don’t worry about that, Bayley is doing this favor for her since Bianca’s dumb enough to accept a Ladder match for the title. But that’s fine, Bayley’s got her. Bayley signs her part of the contract and says, “Bianca, Bianca, Bianca. Look what your ego has gotten you into! I mean, I bet your ego makes you think that Bayley chose a ladder match because you KOD’d me on top of a ladder at Hell in a Cell.”
Or maybe Bianca thinks that Bayley has half the ego as Bianca and she wants to make history again by winning the first-ever women’s title ladder match. “But uh, ding dong, hello, here’s something for all you guys. It’s much bigger than that, okay? I think big picture here. The ladder is symbolic for my entire WWE career since the day I walked in. Unlike you, I’ve had to literally climb and climb and climb… *fake panting* And climb and climb and climb and try to the top. And in that process, I was you. Yeah, I was you, ponytail and all! You guys remember that, huh? Colorful sequins. And you see those little girls out there? That little girl I walked by on the ramp with the EST shirt, a Bianca Belair sign.
“You know what those signs use to say? Those signs used to say BAYLEY. They used to have headbands on. They used to put their ponytails to the side. But you know what happened, Bianca? Those signs changed. The T-shirts changed. And the cheers started to fade. They gave up on me, Bianca, and they stopped caring. And when they stopped caring, my whole career started spiraling. I started to fall further and further and further, and I had to do something to climb my way back to the top-” Bianca tells Bayley to shut up. Bianca signs her part, and it’s official. Corey thanks them both and wishes them both luck.
Bianca tells Bayley she just runs her mouth over and over again. Girl, UH-UH! Bayley has this chip on her shoulder that has absolutely nothing to do with Bianca. It might be really hard to see someone have everything you want, but comparison is the thief of joy. Bayley should never compare herself to Bianca, because she will never be Bianca, do it like Bianca or do it better than Bianca. Fans cheer that. Bianca says everything Bayley did didn’t work because Bayley was pretending to be someone she wasn’t. This is the real, authentic Bianca and that is why fans connect with her. Bayley didn’t “evolve,” she just became the real Bayley. And now she’s here showing us her real colors.
As far as her little plan, congrats, it took you a whole year to come up with a plan. But Bianca doesn’t need a plan, because she stays ready so she doesn’t have to get ready. Plus, does Bayley think she’s the only one that tried to surprise her at SummerSlam? You see how that worked out, right? But since Bayley likes plans, she can plan on still calling Bianca the Raw Women’s Champion after Extreme Rules. Well, we’ll see about that on Saturday, because DMG CTRL will disagree with that since they’ll be right by Bayley’s side. Actually, what’re they doing right now? What time is it? Because they were supposed to go get something to eat.
Oh no! Kai & Sky are attacking Alexa & Asuka! They already did something to Asuka’s leg and now they’re mugging Alexa! And then Bayley YANKS Bianca by her hair over the desk and she hammers away! Then she TOSSES Bianca back over the desk, to go after her more! Bianca bails out but can’t get away! Bayley whips but Bianca reverses and Bayley hits LED apron! Bianca bolts to the back, but Bayley laughs. Bianca finds Asuka and Alexa but the damage is done! The Empress of Tomorrow clutches her knee, will Bianca be down an ally at Extreme Rules? Alexa glares at the camera and tells DMG CTRL this is NOT over! Alexa VS Iyo, TONIGHT!!
Angelo Dawkins w/ Montez Ford VS Solo Sikoa w/ The Bloodline!
The Profits may be out of the tag team running while Ford’s foot heals, but can Dawkins unleash the Curse of Greatness? Or will the Street Champion of the Island sharpen his edge as he also prepares for Ricochet this Friday?
The bell rings and the two tie up. They go around in a deadlock but Dawkins powers Solo back. Solo turns things around to put Dawkins in the corner, but he lets off as the ref counts. Dawkins ROCKS Solo with uppercuts and haymakers but Solo ROCKS him back! Solo CHOPS Dawkins in the corner, ROCKS him again, then whips corner to corner. Dawkins goes up and over and keeps moving but Solo RAMS him! Dawkins RAMS Solo back, then hurdles over. Solo shoves, Dawkins handsprings and DROPKICKS Solo down! Ford fires up, Solo bails out and is furious! Sami tries to cool Solo off but Solo rushes in, but Dawkins DECKS him!
Solo gets up in a fury and he grabs a chair! This is just like SmackDown! Sami slows Solo and says not to give Dawkins a win like this. Jey tells Sami to back of, Solo’s his brother. Jey says Solo’s good, he’s got this. The Bloodline lets cooler heads prevail while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Solo has Dawkins down with a neck wrench. Dawkins fights up so Solo rains down HEADBUTTS! Solo clamps on the shoulder claw but Dawkins still endures. Fans rally and Dawkins fights up. Dawkins pries free of the hold to throw big body shots and forearms! Dawkins whips, Solo reverses and then SAMOAN DROPS on the rebound! The Bloodline holds up the fingers, #WeTheOnes, and Solo snarls as he stares at Dawkins. Fans rally for Dawkins but Solo throws haymakers! Dawkins wobbles on spaghetti legs, but Solo whips him for another SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Dawkins survives and Solo is annoyed.
Sami and the Usos argue the count but Ford defends that was two. Solo taunts Dawkins, “This is it? This is who you’ve got for me?” Solo steps to Dawkins in the corner, gets in Dawkins’ face, and says, “They call me the Enforcer!” Solo whips Dawkins hard into the corner! Dawkins falls to the mat and writhes. The Bloodline loves this as Solo looms over Dawkins. Solo drags Dawkins up to clamp that claw on again! Dawkins still endures, fans rally up again, and Dawkins fights against the claw. Dawkins throws elbows but Solo throws a knee! Then clinches for a BELLY2BELLY! Solo soaks up the heat as his brothers hold up the fingers.
Sami coaches Solo to keep on Dawkins, to show no mercy. Dawkins gets to a corner and Solo aims from the other. Solo powers up, “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” HIP ATTACK!! Dawkins is dazed and Solo looks at him flounder. Ford coaches Dawkins to dig deep and fight, but Solo aims again. “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” HIP- ENZIGURI from Dawkins!! Ford and St. Paul are thunderous as Solo and Dawkins are both down! Dawkins and Solo rise, Dawkins stands first, and he LARIATS Solo! And again! Solo HEADBUTTS! Solo whips, Dawkins hurdles and FLYING UPPERCUTS! Fans fire up and Solo goes to a corner, CYCLONE SPLASH and ENZIGURI from Dawkins!
Dawkins reels Solo in, for the SILENCER! Cover, TWO!! Sami gets on the apron, but then Jey tells him to get down? Jey says Solo can handle this, Uce! This all distracts Dawkins either way, Solo SUPERKICKS! But now the ref doesn’t see the cover! The ref hurries, TWO!! Solo is mad at Sami and Jey! They get down, Dawkins rolls Solo! TWO!! Dawkins dodges, and he POUNCES Solo out! Sami hurries to Solo’s side to check him and coach him, but Jey pulls Sami off Solo. Jey has his brother, but then Jimmy wants everyone to just cool off. Jey and Sami argue, Dawkins FLIES! Down go the Usos! Dawkins puts Solo in, Sami yells at him about the Usos!
Dawkins DECKS Sami! But Dawkins gets in for Solo to WHEEL KCIK! And then SPINNING SOLO!! Cover, Solo wins!
Winner: Solo Sikoa, by pinfall
In the end, the Bloodline made it work! Solo gets the win and winning fixes everything. At least, it should. Are the problems between Sami and Jey going to persist? Will it end up costing the Bloodline big time down the line?
Theory talks with Otis backstage.
Theory is proud of Otis for doing exactly what he was supposed to in that ring. Wait, where’s Gable? Otis says hold on. He drags Gable up. Gable says he almost had Braun. Theory says Gable did good. But hey, they’re not done with Gargano. Next week, on the season premiere of Raw, Theory himself will take on Gargano, and Theory vows to put Gargano down. A-Town Down! Will the Youngest Mr. MITB Ever finally have his way and be rid of Johnny Wrestling?
Edge speaks!
“This version of Edge that you’ve seen since I’ve come back is pretty much Adam. More or less, the veil of character has been dropped, and I’ve been pretty transparent since I’ve come back. At 37 years old, I was told that I had to retire, forced to retire, I had no choice. Until I decided to make it a choice. Because I can’t quit. The lousy part is, by the time that choice became a reality, I was 46, and it was difficult. And it’s progressively become more and more difficult. Now I’m not looking for sympathy. It’s my choice. This is my freakin’ dream gig, I love this.
“But what’s become… harder… is the fact that it’s not just taking a toll on me now. It’s taking a toll on my entire family. And I didn’t have this family before. It’s harder to hide it from the girls when they can hear me coming down the stairs like a symphony of bones cracking in the morning. But maybe even more difficult is seeing the… doubt… Or maybe even the fear in Beth’s eyes. Because she wants her husband to come out of this whole, and I think she’s afraid that ship has already sailed. And maybe I’m… insane? Maybe I’m too selfish? Maybe I’m too damn stubborn, but those are all things that you need in order to succeed at the level that I’ve succeeded at this business. I can’t apologize for that.
“But that brings me to Judgement Day. I gotta give ’em credit. They’ve made it more difficult. No matter how many times I beat ’em, they always come back. They always pick me apart, knock me down, and it’s harder and harder to put the pieces back together to come back. But I do. And I understand that Rey wants to distance himself from this because of Dominik, I get it. And it’s my fault the Judgement Day even exists. So I know what I have to do, and my back’s against the wall. You can ask Foley, you can ask Taker, you can ask Cena, you can ask Orton, I come out swinging or headbutting or whatever the hell else I have to do to be a one man gang!
“So Finn, in an I Quit Match at Extreme Rules, you are facing something, someone that you’ve never faced before and you can’t hurt me enough. All four of can’t hurt me enough to make me say, ‘I Quit.’ You cannot physically hurt me enough to make me say, ‘I Quit.’ I hope you’re all ready for a war, because I damn sure am.” The Rated R Superstar has given his ultimatum, will the Judgement Day be the ones facing their judgement day?
Alexa Bliss w/ Bianca Belair VS Iyo Sky w/ Damage Control!
The Five Foot Fury is furious over what Bayley’s buddies did to the Empress of Tomorrow. Alexa’s been trying to find that spark to return to her old self, will this be just the thing she needs? Or will the Evil Genius have the same trick up her proverbial sleeve as Dakota did earlier tonight?
Raw returns and DMG CTRL make their entrance. The bell rings and the two rush in! Iyo DROPKICKS Alexa, fires off hands and knees, then whips. Alexa blocks, fires off forearm after forearm on Iyo, but Iyo shoves back. Alexa runs Iyo over, and again! And then hits a THESZ PRESS! Alexa rains down hands, then hits another THESZ PRESS! More fast hands, and then Alexa drags Iyo up. Alexa bumps Iyo off buckles, stomps a mudhole, then lets off. Iyo dodges the return, holds a leg and avoids the slaps to DRAGON SCREW! Alexa clutches her leg but Iyo stomps away on it! Iyo drops knees on the knee!
Kai & Bayley cheer and Iyo CHOPS Alexa. Alexa blocks the punch to ROCK, ROCK and SHOTGUN Iyo! Fans fire up and Alexa stands on Iyo at the ropes for a SKATEBOARD STOMP! The ref counts, Alexa lets off but runs in to KNEE Iyo against the ropes! Alexa then YANKS the ropes to bring Iyo down, and she drops INSULT2INJURY! Cover, TWO! Iyo is showing the toughness of a decorated champion, but Alexa snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Alexa drags Iyo up, dodges the Shotei, but Iyo uses the waistlock to HOTSHOT Alexa! Then a DRIVE- NO, Alexa avoids the dropkick! But Iyo avoids a wrecking ball dropkick to SHOTGUN Alexa again!
DMG CTRL are fired up and Alexa is down while Raw goes to break!
Raw returns once again and Alexa JAWBREAKERS then CLOBBERS Iyo! And again! Then mule kicks, but Iyo wrenches out of the DDT. Alexa reverses that to hit an STO! Alexa KNEES Iyo down, covers, TWO! Bayley & Kai coach Iyo but Alexa drags her up. Alexa whips but Iyo holds ropes to BOOT back! Iyo then spins Alexa around, underhooks, TIGER BACKBREAKER! Alexa goes to a corner but Iyo runs in, SHINKANSEN! Iyo then steps on Alexa to go up top and OVER THE MOON- FLOP! Alexa shows her resilience as a decorated champion, and she hits a DDT! Alexa drags Iyo into a drop zone and now she goes to the corner!
Fans fire up as Alexa climbs up, for TWISTED BLISS! But Bayley distracts the ref! Bianca yanks Bayley out to fire off! But Dakota joins in, Bianca gets 2v1! And sent into steel steps! But Alexa CANNONBALLS them both down! Alexa hurries back and climbs up again! But a SHOTEI stops her! Iyo then tucks Alexa for an AIR RAID CRASH! Iyo goes back up fast, for OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Iyo wins!
Winner: Iyo Sky, by pinfall
DMG CTRL with another assist! They sweep the night, working together as a well-oiled machine. But then they mug Alexa! Asuka can’t help with her busted leg, and Kai & Sky fetch a ladder! Bayley beats down on Alexa, but Bianca gets in to fire off on Bayley! Kai & Sky RAM Bianca down with the ladder! And then Iyo keeps Alexa down, but wait! Asuka is still hobbling out here? On one good leg, she has a kendo stick to SMACK Dakota! But Iyo WRECKS Asuka with the ladder! Then Kai & Sky SLAM the ladder on Asuka! They keep it on top of her, and then bring it around to open it up. Bayley drags Alexa over to put her inside the ladder!
Bayley tried doing this to Shotzi on Friday, Kai & Sky DOUBLE BOOT the ladder to crush Alexa!! Fans boo as Bayley tells Asuka to stay out of her business. Kai & Sky stand the ladder up for her, and Bayley soaks up the heat as she says DMG CTRL are going to take over! Bayley drags Bianca up, stands her in the corner, and Dakota runs Around the World to BOOT Bianca down! Bayley drags Bianca back up by her ponytail and then hooks her up, ROSE PLANT! Bayley drags Alexa up, ROSE PLANT! Kai & Sky stand the ladder over Bianca and Bayley brings the Raw Women’s Championship belt up with her to the top.
Fans boo as DMG CTRL stands over their enemies, but will they be on top of the WWE after this Saturday? Or can Bianca prove she’s the toughEST and bounce back from this beating to beat Bayley back?
My Thoughts:
This was a great Raw, especially for a go-home. Great opener with The Judgement Day getting that heat in their promo, and a great match with Rey & AJ. It makes sense The Judgement Day would win, Finn needs that momentum against Edge. Also a good detail of Styles being upset with Rey. Edge also had a great promo to frame what he’s even acknowledged as his last year as a wrestler. He and Finn are going to have one hell of a match, I would think Styles helps Edge fight off the rest of Judgement Day so that it stays Edge VS Finn, but who knows how it goes. Edge saying there’s nothing they can do to him, I feel that triggers Rhea Ripley dragging Beth Phoenix from somewhere and using her against Edge, a la Roman VS Jey and Roman going after Jimmy.
I like that we’re getting integrated storytelling with Lashley and the Rollins VS Riddle feud. Lashley VS Ali was great stuff, and Ali got to look very tough even in that loss. Lashley was definitely going to show Ali respect before Rollins ambushed him, and now Lashley wants to tear into Rollins just as bad as Riddle. Riddle and Rollins had a great promo segment together, even though they were taking shots they’ve taken before. Though, I suppose those shots still hurt even a second time. Cormier had a good promo to introduce himself to the WWE fans, but this is one of those moments that affect my disbelief. How did WWE set up a camera for Cormier when this is supposed to come off as Cormier having had enough and he’s barging into the argument? Fight Pit’s still gonna be awesome, though, and could go either way if Rollins is also going into a US Championship match.
Great bit with The Miz talking on the phone with Maryse and Lumis getting him. Gargano seeing Miz and Lumis and just laughing it off was great, too. Gargano VS Otis was a great match, and we got a great transition into Braun VS Gable. The Alpha Academy splits the night but Theory stepping up to face Gargano now is a bit of a surprise. That’ll be a great match either way, I’m just not sure which way it’ll go. But Omos & MVP watching Braun’s match is another indicator that we’ll get Omos VS Braun soon. As I said last week, I feel like Braun is going to win that as Omos just feels stuck after how Vince booked him.
Great stuff out of The Bloodline tonight, both the backstage stuff where only Jey is against Sami’s stories, and then them all picking a fight with The Profits. Dawkins VS Solo was great stuff, but with all that back-up, of course Solo wins. Solo is also going to have a great match with Ricochet this Friday. If Sami costing the Bloodline some titles isn’t the make-or-break, I bet it’ll be Sami being skipped over to go after the Intercontinental Championship. Solo is getting all this momentum, it makes sense the family would want him getting the midcard gold, not the Honorary Uce. And again I’ll say, the real endgame is Sami and Kevin Owens teaming together to take the tag titles off the Usos. Kevin’s story is starting to feel like he needs his old pal to break through again.
And great stuff from the women’s division. Candice VS Dakota was great stuff, but of course DMG CTRL helps Dakota win. Great promo from Bayley backstage, great stuff for the contract signing, including the attack on Asuka & Alexa backstage. Great match from Alexa and Iyo, and during that beatdown, I honestly thought that Candice was going to rush out instead of Asuka. But Asuka shows us awesome resilience by dragging that bad leg and fighting DMG CTRL. Of course, DMG CTRL stands tall here, this gives Bayley big momentum going into the match. However, with that, I feel like Bianca is going to win. Candice should definitely go out to help her with Alexa and Asuka beat down tonight. Then Candice can team with Alexa to go after Kai & Sky and the tag titles.
My Score: 8.9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
IF YA SMELLALALALALALA~…!
As Cody Rhodes teams with Damian Priest & Braun Strowman against Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline, FINALLY, The Rock has come back to SmackDown!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Drew McIntyre VS Jimmy Uso; Jimmy wins.
- The Miz & Carmelo Hayes VS R-Truth & LA Knight; Miz & Melo win.
- Tiffany Stratton VS Candice LeRae w/ Nia Jax; Tiff wins.
- Naomi w/ Bianca Belair VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez; No Contest.
- WWE Tag Team Championships: #DIY VS Pretty Deadly; Pretty Deadly wins, by disqualification, and DIY retain the titles.
- Six Man Tag: Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga; changed to…
- Damian Priest & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu w/ Tama Tonga; Priest & Braun win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Cody Rhodes talks with Nick Aldis backstage.
They shake hands, but the SmackDown General Manager tells the WWE Champion there’s been a change: Cody’s out of the Six Man Tag match. What? Why would Aldis do that? It is out of Aldis’s hands. Wait, Solo Sikoa shows up to do what he did, but they can’t do the Six Man Tag that they advertised? How is this out of Aldis’s hands? Who do they need to talk to so they can do the match? Aldis says there’s no one either of them can call, if you smell what’s cooking. This is coming from The Final Boss, and The Final Boss wants to see Cody in the ring tonight. What business could The Great One have with The American Nightmare?
Drew McIntyre VS Jimmy Uso!
The Scottish Terminator rubbed it in Big Jim’s face that only one of them is going to Elimination Chamber in Toronto, which Big Jim was able to brush off. But McIntyre harping on how only one Uso is going to WrestleMania was a step too far. These two look to have it out, but is Jimmy just playing into McIntyre’s hands? Or will McIntyre get embarrassed by “the other Uso” this close to that big time match?
Speaking of, Jimmy has a message for Drew as he heads to gorilla. “Everybody know you’re going to Elimination Chamber, right? But Big Jimmy got a question for the Big Easy: Will Drew go onto the Elimination Chamber and win that? Will Drew go onto WrestleMania and win that? Ey, Drew, I think we got an answer for you, Uce. The answer is…” “NO YEET!” Jimmy makes his entrance, the bell rings, and the fans rally behind Jimmy. Jimmy and Drew jaw, and then Drew raises his hands, to say UP YOURS! But Jimmy ROCKS and CHOPS away! Drew puts Jimmy in a corner, Jimmy dodges to CHOP!
Jimmy climbs and he rains down fists! The fans count, Drew dumps Jimmy tot eh apron at 5, but Jimmy GAMANGIRIS! Jimmy goes up, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Jimmy hurries to CHOP, then he whips. Drew reverses to send Jimmy to the corner. Jimmy BOOTS back, goes up, and leaps, but into a clinch! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Jimmy flounders to a corner, Drew runs up to SPLASH and OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Jimmy flounders again, the ref has Drew hold on, and Jimmy bails out. Drew storms out to get Jimmy and he whips Jimmy HARD into barrier! The fans boo but Drew looms over Jimmy.
The ring count starts, Drew mockingly calls him “Jey,” then puts Jimmy in the ring. Drew says NO MANIA for Jimmy. Drew stands Jimmy up, ROCKS him, then runs up, only for Jimmy to put him on the apron! Drew blocks a superkick, but not the DRAGON WHIP! Drew drops, Jimmy DIVES! Down goes Drew and the fans fire up! Jimmy grins, goes back to the apron, and then aims. But Drew stops the Penalty Kick to THROW Jimmy down! Drew then has Jimmy in the Reverse Alabama Lift! REVERSE ALABAMA SLAM onto the steel steps! Drew stands on the desk to say “NO YEET!” while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Drew revels in the heat from New Orleans, then he leaves Jimmy behind. The ref checks Jimmy, he’s able to continue, so a ring count starts. Drew paces while Jimmy stirs. Jimmy drags himself up using the desk, then lunges in at 9! Drew is annoyed but he rains down fists! Drew stomps Jimmy, then eggs him on. Jimmy rises as the fans rally, but Drew is right on him in the corner. Drew winds up, but Jimmy counter punches! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And whips, only for Drew to reverses. Jimmy goes up, but Drew KICKS him out of the air! Drew then hauls Jimmy up, snap suplex! Cover, TWO!
Drew says okay, Big Jim. He clamps onto Jimmy with a top wristlock and grinds the arm. Jimmy fights up, fireman’s carries, but Drew elbows free. Drew bumps Jimmy off buckles, then hauls him up to the top rope! Drew CLUBS Jimmy on the back, climbs up, then CLUBS Jimmy more. Jimmy fires elbows and Drew drops back. But Drew runs up to CLUB Jimmy again! SmackDown returns to single picture as Drew CLUBS away on Jimmy again! Jimmy keeps taunting “Jey,” then drags him up. Jimmy fights the back suplex! The fans rally, Jimmy fires hands and a HEADBUTT! Jimmy SMACKS Drew off the post!
Jimmy rises to USO IN THE WIND! Down goes Drew and the fans fire up! A standing count starts while both men stir on the mat. They both stand at 5, and Drew swings! Jimmy counter punches, then fires more shots! Mule kick, UPPERCUT, but then Jimmy dodges Drew! SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Drew is tougher than that, but Jimmy hurries to a corner. Jimmy aims as Drew goes to the other corner, “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jimmy runs, but Drew FLYING HEADBUTTS! The Glasgow Kiss stuns Jimmy, and Drew hits a SPINEBUSTER! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Jimmy shows his own toughness, and the fans rally behind him.
Drew paces, then he stalks Jimmy. Drew stands Jimmy up, reels him in, but Jimmy fights the underhooks! Jimmy wrenches, UPPERCUTS, but Drew ROCKS Jimmy back! Jimmy UPPERCUTS, Drew HAYMAKERS! Drew whips, Jimmy reverses and Drew ends up on the apron! Drew ROCKS Jimmy first, then climbs the corner! FLYING- SUPERKICK! Jimmy runs to SPEAR! Cover, TWO!! Drew survives, Jimmy’s spear doesn’t hit quite like The Tribal Chief’s. Jimmy goes to the corner, climbs up, and the fans rally up. USO- NO, Jimmy rolls through as Drew moves! Drew dodges a lariat to NECKBREAKER!
Both men are down, the fans rally, and Drew kips up! Drew scowls as he aims at Jimmy. “THREE! TWO! ONE!” CLAY- SUPERKICK!! Jimmy hits first! GLASGOW KISS returns! Drew reels Jimmy in, “This is your WrestleMania! This is as close as you get!” Drew shouts Jimmy is nothing, then ROCKS him with forearm after forearm! GLASGOW KISS! Another Reverse Alabama, but Jimmy victory rolls it! JIMMY WINS!!!
Winner: Jimmy Uso, by pinfall
Drew is furious, but his own ego caught him there! But then Drew CLOBBERS Jimmy! The fans boo Drew being a sore loser, but he puts Jimmy back in the ring! Drew rains down fists, then he DRIBBLES Jimmy off the mat! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Drew says that was Jimmy’s Mania Moment! Drew will win the Chamber, he will go to Mania, and he will win there! Jimmy means NOTHING to Drew! Drew puts Jimmy up against the post, then takes aim! The fans boo, but refs and producers rush out here! They swarm Drew to keep him from going after Jimmy again. Drew says fine, fine, then takes his leave.
Producers help Jimmy to his feet, but then Drew BLASTS through the refs! CLAYMORE for Jimmy!! The Scottish Terminator hits his target, then laughs as he actually leaves. Will McIntyre make this his Road to WrestleMania?
A car pulls into the parking lot.
And out steps Solo Sikoa. Solo heads inside, and he finds Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga waiting. Solo tells them that last week with Tama, that was an accident. Jacob says yeah, it’s all good, Uce. But keep it 100: If it wasn’t an accident, Solo wouldn’t be standing here right now. Well, good! Glad to see we’re all on the same page. Solo says he will be in the corner during the match for Jacob & Tama. Uh, no, Solo, no disrespect, but Jacob & Tama have been running things on SmackDown these past couple weeks. So tonight, it’s Jacob & Solo running the play? Yadada mean? Yeah, of course. And that right there, Jacob, is exactly why Solo loves him.
Solo says he’ll be back, he has to talk with Nick Aldis. Solo heads out, but will he really just step right back into place from before he lost the ula fala?
Carmelo Hayes is backstage.
R-Truth calls out to Melo, and says for the first time ever, Truth VS Melo! What’s Truth talking about? Duh, they have a match. No, Truth, Melo knows. But they had a match last week. Truth says he has never met Melo in his life, but they have a tag match tonight. What? No, they don’t. Who even made this match? Him. Truth, they are not going through this H1M who’s on first thing again. Melo is H1M. No, him made the match. The Miz!? Miz says he’s H1M. So now there’s two of you? No no no! Melo is H1M, this is The Miz! Yeah, #MeloDon’tMiz! NO! That’s not a thing! Tonight, they are. Who’s Truth’s partner?
Truth says he’s got a guy. A Louisiana legend! In fact, he just got here, so Truth’s gotta go. Laters. Miz says he has been workshopping this, and the fans love it. Think about it: Melo Don’t Miz! Melo Don’t Miz! And we are…! Melo shakes his head. Truth steps in and says Miz just wants Melo to say, “Awesome.” Miz offers a fist bump, Melo says no. Will Melo wish he had missed tonight’s show? Or will Miz actually help H1M get another win?
Zelina Vega speaks.
“My whole life, people have taken one look at me, and they try to define me. My size has never stopped me before. It never stopped me from becoming tag team champion. Or my personal favorite, the history-making first-time-ever Queen of the Ring. That’s me. Make no mistake about it, I’ve never had it easy. I had to scratch and claw to get anything around here. But this is a fresh start. Because I have something to prove. And my dreams are a lot bigger than your measuring stick. It ain’t over until Zelina Vega says it’s over.”
The Miz & Carmelo Hayes VS R-Truth & ???
Miz makes his entrance but Melo kinda steps all over it. So he already missed his cue… But who did Truth find to team with him in the Big Easy? We’ll see, after the break.
SmackDown returns and Truth makes his entrance. “What’s up?” Well, more like who is his partner? He’ll tell us! His tag team partner is a local legend, born and bred right here in New Orleans! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Louisiana Knight! Wait, he means L A Knight! Yes, Louisiana abbreviated is LA, but that’s not… Oh, Truth… Truth gives Knight a Po’ Boy and some Mardi Gras beads, so Knight embraces it. The teams sort out, and Truth calls out him! Does he mean Miz or Melo? Well, Melo says he is H1M, so that’s who starts. The fans cheer on Knight while Truth and Melo tie up. Melo KNEES low, whips, but Truth reverses.
Melo springboards, FADEAWAY JUMPER! Melo makes his free throw, but Truth drop toeholds! Truth headlocks, Melo powers up and out but Truth whips! Melo turns hip toss into lateral press, TWO! Truth has a ghost pin, TWO! Melo trips to cover, ONE! Truth trips to cover, ONE! Melo runs up, Truth does the splits, and then hits a BIG hip toss! The fans fire up, Truth counts, Melo gets up at TWO, but Truth was just goofing. The ref explains to Truth that he is the ref, not Truth! Melo is annoyed, he runs up on Truth, but Truth wrenches him around! Melo pulls hair but Knight tags in. The fans fire up as Knight fires hands!
Knight ROCKS Melo, whips Melo, but Melo reverses! SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Knight drags Melo up to tag Truth back in, and Truth ROCKS Melo! Melo staggers, but he refuses to tag! Truth arm-drags Melo, then grinds the arm. Melo insists he’s got this, then arm-drags free. Truth staggers up, he and Melo bump heads! Truth staggers around more, and he tags Miz?! Truth forgot The Awesome Truth isn’t a thing anymore! Again! Melo BLASTS Truth off the apron, the fans boo, but Miz tags himself in! Melo is annoyed, but Miz goes to fetch Truth while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again, and Melo has Truth. Truth ROCKS Melo, but Melo holds onto the wristlock! Truth reaches for Knight, Knight reaches for Truth, but Melo holds on. Truth takes a swing, but into an O’Conner Roll! TWO and Melo BLASTS Knight! Truth rolls Melo up, TWO! Melo kicks low, calls his shot, but Truth suplexes for a STUNNER! The fans fire up while both men are down! Truth and Melo crawl, hot tags to Miz and Knight! The fans fire up as Knight rallies on Miz! “YEAH! YEAH!” Knight whips, Miz reverses, but Knight lEAPING LARIATS! Knight TOSSES Melo in for good measure!
Knight stomps a mudhole into Melo, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” LARIAT for Miz! KNEE for Melo! Knight scoops and POWERSLAMS Miz! Knight keeps running, JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Knight stays on Miz as he brings Miz up. Knight ROCKS Miz, then ROCKS him again! Knight whips, Miz grabs the ropes. Miz KICKS, then takes a swing, but into a back suplex! Miz lands out, tag to Melo! Miz ELBOWS Knight, but Knight scoops! Miz tilt-o-whirls through, Melo SUPERKICKS Knight down! cover, TWO! Knight stays in this but Melo says he’s got this! Melo waits on Knight, then leaps, but NO 48!
Knight kicks low, but NO B F T! Tag to Truth! Knight ELBOWS Melo, Truth runs in! CENA SHOULDER TACKLES! Then the SPIN OUT BOMB! Truth says it’s time! “YOU CANT SEE ME~!” truth runs for the FIVE KNCUKLE SHUFFLE! Truth then fireman’s carries, but Melo slips free! Melo shoves, Truth dodges, and Truth hits the LIE DETECTOR! Truth then gets Melo in the S T R-TRUTH! But Miz CLOBBERS Truth! Knight ROCKS Miz, then LARIATS him up and out! Knight then goes out to THROW Miz into barriers! The fans fire up again, but NAKAMURA ATTACKS KNIGHT!
The fans boo, but the sinister samurai then POSTS Knight!! Nakamura slithers away while Melo keeps the ref’s attention! Truth sees Knight is down, Melo runs up, but Truth dodges! Miz tags in, full nelson, and a FIRST 48 FINALE COMBO?!? Cover, Miz & Melo win!!
Winners: The Miz & Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall
Well, what do you know? Nakamura aside, Miz and Melo made it work! Okay, they’re both trying to hog the spotlight, but is there a future for Melo Don’t Miz? Will Knight only have more of a reason to take that title off Nakamura now?
Charlotte Flair speaks.
“The GOAT… doesn’t have to call themselves The GOAT. Now, I have crafted a legacy that no one, I mean no one, can touch. And I’m back.” The Women’s Royal Rumble Winner chose Tiffany Stratton, but will The Queen take back her throne? Or will WWE always be on #TiffyTime? Speaking of…
Tiffany Stratton VS Candice LeRae!
The WWE Women’s Champion may have gotten past Nia Jax, but now she knows Charlotte Flair is waiting for her at WrestleMania, and is going to be teaming with Trish Stratus in Toronto! Will she be in Tiffy Top Shape for that Tiffy Trishy dream match? Or will the Poison Pixie be quite the problem all on her own?
Before the match, Tiff grabs a mic while the fans cheer. Tiffy says, “I know, I know. You know it, you know it, and you know it. Ever since I won this title, everybody’s just been so obsessed with me. And last week, I had Nia Jax beat, until Candice LeRae decided to interfere and help her little meal ticket. And at Elimination Chamber, Trish Stratus and I make sure the Unstoppable Force comes to a definitive end!” The fans cheer that, but Tiff says enough about them. Let’s talk Charlotte Flair. The fans boo that name, but Tiff says Charlotte took her sweet old time, grabbed a chair, grabbed a mic, and she looked down on Tiff.
Charlotte chose Tiff as her WrestleMania opponent. In that moment, Tiff’s dream came true! And as she lied down there and looked up at Charlotte, she realized the rumors are true: No one loves to kick a girl when she’s down quite like Charlotte Flair. So at WrestleMania, Tiff isn’t coming for Charlotte’s legacy; that’s all Charlotte’s. Tiff is coming for the spot Charlotte desires the most: The number one spot as the top girl in the WWE! But here comes Nia & Candice to interrupt. Nia has a mic to tell Tiffy, “I Have to say, this is really cute. Like, it’s really cute that you actually think you were gonna beat me last week.”
Doesn’t Candice think that is cute? Candice says yes, it is so~ cute. And Tiff wouldn’t even be standing there if not for little Trish Stratus~. Exactly! And it’s even cuter that Tiff is out here talking about Charlotte when she wont’ even see WrestleMania! Because after Nia & Candide destroy Tiff at Elimination Chamber, Nia is coming back for her WWE Women’s Championship. Nia & Candice step up to the ring, and Nia says Tiff won’t even see the Grandest Stage of Them All. Tiff tells Nia to just give it up. This title isn’t even hers anymore. And once Tiff beats Candice tonight, Nia won’t have anyone to do her dirty work anymore!
Candice tells Tiffy that while they’re meant have a match right now, she and Nia are feeling impatient. Nia says they should just get rid of Tiff right now! But the ref steps in and says not gonna happen! Tiff VS Candice will, after the break.
SmackDown returns and Candice has Tiffy down with an armlock. Tiff fights up as the fans rally, but Candice wrenches to wristlock. Tiff spins through, goes to ropes, then up the corner to flip and arm-drag! The fans fire up as Tiff rallies on Candice! DROPKICK, and Tiff snarls! Tiff goes to the corner, and Charlotte makes her entrance? The Queen chooses to be fashionably late all so everyone looks at her, including Tiffy. Tiffy handsprings, but Candice dodges! Candice runs up to UPPERCUT, then she snapmares and NECK SNAPPERS! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Candice clamps onto Tiffy with a top wristlock.
The fans “WOO~” as Charlotte now chooses to join commentary. Tiff fights up, has the ROPEBREAK, but Candice CLUBS away on her! Candice backs off, runs up, but Tiff drop toeholds her to ropes! Tiff runs, HIP ATTACKS, and Candice flops back! Cover, TWO! Tiff stays on Candice with a whip, but Candice reverses. Candice CLOBBERS Tiff, covers, TWO! Charlotte corrects Tiffy’s words earlier: Charlotte isn’t the “top girl,” she is THE woman in WWE. Candice HIP DROPS Tiff but the fans rally up. Candice scuffs Tiff, then grinds an arm to drop a knee on the elbow! And another knee drop! Tiff endures and the fans rally up.
Candice keeps on that arm, thrashes it around, but Tiff fights up. Tiff fires body shots, then shoves Candice to Alabama Lift her! Candice sunset flips, Tiff rolls through, TIFFY STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Tiff is frustrated and Candice bails out. Tiff goes to the apron, goes up the corner, and ARIHARA MOONSAULTS! Direct hit on Candice and Nia, and Tiff almost stuck the landing! The fans fire up with Tiff and she goes into the ring. Tiff points to the WrestleMania sign, and then at Charlotte, but SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Tiff waits on Candice, Candice slides in, and Tiff stomps her down! Candice bails out, Nia is there to coach her, but Tiff lets the ring count start. Candice gets on the apron, Tiff kicks her, but Candice RAMS Tiff! Candice CLUBS Tiff, has her in the ropes, and hits a NECKBREAKER HOTSHOT! Candice climbs, aims, and leaps to MISSILE DROPKICK Tiff down! Cover, TWO! Candice is frustrated but this is why Tiff’s a champ. The fans rally, but Candice stomps Tiff! Candice scowls at the fans, stalks Tiff, then brings her up. Tiff fires body shots, then she rolls Candice up! TWO, and Candice CLOBBERS Tiff! Cover, TWO, into a ghost pin! TWO!
Candice escapes to hit a CODE BREAKER! Both women are down, but Candice scowls again as she crawls over to Tiff. Candice rains down fists, Nia tells fans to shut up, and Candice steps on Tiff’s face. Candice huffs ‘n’ puffs, pushes Tiff around, then scuffs her. Tiff rolls Candice up again, TWO! Candice DECKS Tiff! Cover, TWO! Charlotte is stoic on commentary as Candice drags Tiff up and puts her in a corner. Candice fires hands, then backs off. Candice runs up to ROCK Tiff again! Candice then runs, but Tiff dodges! SmackDown returns to single picture, and Tiff rallies with LARIAT after LARIAT! The fans fire up, Tiff handsprings, BACK ELBOW!
Tiff then reels Candice in for a SKY HIGH! High stack, TWO! The fans rally for Tiff, Nia coaches Candice, but Charlotte still seems nonplussed. Tiff and Candice rise, and Candice runs up. Candice puts Tiff on the apron, but Tiff ROCKS her! Tiff bumps Candice off buckles, then goes up, but Candice ROCKS her back! Candice climbs up, and she fires hands on Tiff! Tiff fights the suplex! Tiff DECKS Candice, then adjusts position, to SANTON- FLOP! Candice ghost pins, TWO!! Tiff escapes, but Candice hits the step-up SENTON! And then a LIONSAUL FLOP! Tiff hurries to fireman’s carry, ROLLING SENTON! And then PRETTIEST MOON- NO, Nia drags Candice out of the ring!
The fans boo, Nia tells them to shut up, but Tiff is on the apron! Nia swings, Tiff cartwheels over, and then she DROPKICKS Nia! Tiff Alabama Lifts Candice, to ALABAMA SLAM her into barriers! Tiff stares down Charlotte, tells her just wait for Mania, then she puts Candice in the ring. Tiff goes to the corner, PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Cover, Tiff wins!
Winner: Tiffany Stratton, by pinfall
Charlotte gives moderate applause, but Nia CLOBBERS Tiff from behind! The fans boo, but Nia just drags Tiff to a corner. Nia goes up, but wait! Trish is here!! The fans fire up for the legend as she rushes into the ring! Trish avoids a haymaker to CHICK KICK! Then THESZ PRESS for Candice! And then a SPINEBUSTER! Trish helps Tiff to her feet, but Nia grabs them both! Trish fires fast hands on Nia! Candice CHOP BLOCKS Trish! Tiff is still dazed, Nia HEADBUTTS her back down! Nia & Candice mug Trish, and then Nia HEADBUTTS Trish! Trish & Tiff are side by side, and Nia drags them into the drop zone! A-NIA-LATOR!!
The fans boo but there’s nothing can be done! Nia grins as she helps Candice away, will these two trash Trish & Tiff in Toronto? Charlotte steps into the ring, stands over Tiff, and points to the WrestleMania sign. Will The Irresistible Force & Poison Pixie unwittingly do the dirty work of The Queen of Flair?
Cody talks with Damian Priest backstage.
Priest asks why Cody’s boy, The Rock, is here tonight. Cody says given the time of year, his guess is as good as anyone’s. But tonight will surely be eventful. Cody congratulates Priest on entering the Elimination Chamber. Priest says what’s wild is, last year, they both walked out as champions. What sucks is that this year, only one of them can. Now, Priest is man enough and he respects Cody to say that after Chamber, he’s coming for that title. Cody says he wouldn’t have it any other way. Cody heads out, but what business does The Rock have tonight?
Braun Strowman steps in, and he tells Priest that congrats on winning, and good luck in the Chamber. But let’s be honest, Braun had Jacob dead to rights last week. If not for Solo Sikoa, things would look a lot different next week. Priest chuckles and says take it easy, he’s sounding like Drew with the excuses. But it is what it is, Priest just beat Braun to the punch. But that was last week. Tonight, Solo and Jacob, two of the baddest men in the business. Priest & Braun handling business? Oh, they’re handling business. The only business Braun cares about is getting his hands on those two. Priest says Braun definitely will.
Braun heads out, will the Monster of All Monsters and the Archer of Infamy make sure Solo & Jacob #GetTheseHands? Or will the rogues run roughshod all over SmackDown once again?
Backstage interview with Naomi & Bianca Belair.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and brings up last week’s SmackDown, the security footage led us to believe Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez were the ones behind Jade Cargill’s attack. Now, hold on, Saxton. They don’t think, Naomi knows they were. Fair enough. But this Monday, they can get their revenge when they defend the tag titles against Liv & Raquel. How ready are they for this match? Bianca says so ready! They have been waiting for months for an update. Jade has been recovering, she hasn’t been able to call or text, so the GlowEST took matters into their own hands to get revenge.
Bianca & Naomi will handle Liv & Raquel, then move on to Elimination Chamber, where one of them is gonna win to face Rhea at WrestleMania. Not only will you #FeelTheGlowEST on Monday, but Liv feels it tonight! #Let’sGLOW! The champs head out, but will they clear their Road to WrestleMania of any other distractions?
Alexa Bliss speaks.
“When I was away, there was a lot of… change that happened in me. But when I look around, I see this place is still the same. The names and faces may be different, but the desperation and insecurity remains the same. You’ll see Toronto when I turn the Elimination Chamber into something of a playground of my own. I know the Chamber. I love the Chamber. I’ve won the Chamber. And for the other five women, it’s gonna be a Hell like they’ve never experienced before. Need I remind you, this is my division, and I am in charge.” Bliss smiles and says, “See you soon.” The film comes off the reel, but will things get twisted in Toronto?
Naomi w/ Bianca Belair VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez!
The Big Easy is all about having fun, and they’re fired up for Naomi’s entrance. But wait! Liv & Raquel don’t wait, they attack Bianca & Naomi while the lights are still down! They mug Naomi, but Bianca drags Liv out of the ring! Then Bianca storms in to fire off on Raquel! The fans fire up, but Liv returns to CHOP BLOCK Bianca! Raquel hauls Bianca up for a TEJANA BOMB!! Naomi runs up, fires more hands, but Liv brings Naomi around. Naomi fires hands on her, but Raquel throws her down! Liv runs up, OBLIVION!
Liv & Raquel stand tall, the refs rush out here, but clearly the singles match isn’t happening. Will we be getting something even meaner and nastier between these four on Monday?
The Rock arrives!
His truck pulls into the parking lot, but we’ll see him in the ring, after the break!
SmackDown returns and…
Aldis is chewing out Liv & Raquel for the attack. He doesn’t know what they get away with on Raw, but they can’t pull that crap here. Now get the hell out of his building. Liv & Raquel just laugh that off, but then Chelsea Green & Piper Niven walk in. Chelsea says have no fear, Chelsea & Piper are here to sub in for Bianca and Naomi at Elimination Chamber. Aldis sighs, and says they’re not missing the Chamber. What? But Chelsea had an outfit picked out! This is a travesty to not have the greatest Canadian export since maple syrup on a Canadian PLE! Does he know who she is? The first-ever, longest reigning, tallest, shortest, prettiest, richest, tannest, sparkliest, oldest, youngest Women’s US Champion! Piper asks what this is aboot, eh?
Aldis says this is them testing his patience. They need to pack their gear and whatever else they want, because they’ll be in action next week on SmackDown in Toronto. And oh, it’ll be a good one. Wait, they need more details! At least an e-calendar notification? Aldis is leaving Chelsea in the dark on what’s coming, will she absolutely hate it?
The Rock heads to the ring!
Wait, what is this New Orleans related remix? The Final Boss steps out on stage, he shows those goosebumps, then continues down the ramp, shaking hands with fans. The Rock hits his signature pose on the corner, but then takes the long way around to pick up a fan’s phone for them before going back into the ring. The fans all cheer for “ROCKY! ROCKY!” and he grabs himself a mic. He waits as the fans continue to chant his name, and then he says, “Ahh, you feel it, don’t you? You feel it. The Rock has got chills up and down his body because you know, on a Friday night, for the Final Boss to get inside his bird and fly all the way here, you know that I’m dropping some ish on you tonight!”
The fans fire up and The Rock smiles. Rock says, “Let’s get this show on the road.” The fans anticipate what’s coming but he says hold on, he’ll do it. “FINALLY! The Rock has come back…” “TO NEW ORLEANS~!” Rock smiles, and he adds, FINALLY, WrestleMania is coming back to New Orleans!! The fans are thunderous to hear that! WrestleMania 30, WrestleMania 34, and now WrestleMania 42!? Yes, next year, 2026, LIVE from the Superdome! One of the greatest cities on Earth in New Orleans, Louisiana! The pyro goes off to commemorate the occasion, and the logo is already on the tron! Rock smiles at that, then he smiles at the WrestleMania 41 Vegas logo.
The fans are losing their minds, as we now know April 11th and 12th, 2026, the Big Easy has the Grandest Stage of Them All. Rock says you damn right holy ish! Oh when the saints go marching in…! Oh how I’d love… Wait, no, this ain’t singalong with The Final Boss! Sit there, shut up, and let The Final Boss sing the song! The fans are torn, but Rock says he sings! Oh how I’d love, to be in that number~! Oh when the saints go marching in~! Okay, that’s good enough. You got him, that was a great duet. The Rock is singing with the largest collection of STD’d trailer trash he has ever seen! The fans can’t believe Rock would do that to them!
Rock says now, dropping this news wasn’t the only gift he was going to drop on us. The Final Boss came here to call somebody out. The Rock will call out a man who he respects, who he admires, and who we all admire. That man is our WWE Champion, the one and only, Cody Rhodes. The fans cheer as The American Nightmare makes his entrance! They sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” and we get Cody’s pyro before he goes to the ring. Cody gets his second “WHOA~ OH~!” and round of pyro, then he steps inside to join The Rock. The fans cheer Cody on, so he holds up the title and the fans cheer even more.
Cody grabs a mic, but Rock says, “That feels good, doesn’t it? I mean, that’s gotta feel amazing, right? They love you, man.” Cody tells NOLA, “I love you, too.” Rock says this is crazy. Pretty much no one knows this, but since after WrestleMania last year, they’ve actually become good friends. No, it’s true, they have. Last time they were together was the Raw Netflix debut. Rock gave Cody his flowers, told Cody he has carried the company like the incredible champion that he is, so thank you, Cody. Rock meant it, and that night, they went to the back, drank tequila for two hours and had a great ol’ time.
They chopped it up, had a blast, but Rock wants to call Cody out here for something important. Here’s the thing… The fans get a bit rowdy as they wait, and Rock says Cody is a great champion. A great WWE Champion. Cody knows that. Again, they’ve become good friends, so over the months, they’ve texted. Even their moms became good friends! Look! Mama Johnson & Mama Rhodes together after WrestleMania 40! It is a pleasure becoming Cody’s friend. But Rock wanted this face to face to tell him a few things. One: Cody has been a great champion, but he needs to understand. Yes, The Rock, The Final Boss, is on the Board of TKO. And TKO owns WWE.
The Rock is the Director of the Board of TKO. Don’t boo that! The Rock’s good friend, Ari Emanuel, who owns everything Endeavor, The Rock joked with Ari, “Can you believe that you own The WWE?” Ari says he doesn’t own the WWE, The Rock does. Rock said no, no, he doesn’t know if he owns the WWE. But The Rock knows he is the most powerful… Cody, you are a great champion. But Rock wants Cody to be something more. Rock wants Cody to be something more than just our champion. Rock wants Cody to be his champion. The fans don’t like where that’s going.
Cody says he did not expect them to become friends, nor their moms to become friends, nor the tequila. Cody didn’t have that on his bingo card. But becoming The Rock’s champion? The Rock of all people should know, Cody is the people’s champion. The fans cheer Cody more, and Rock says yes! Cody is their champion! Of course! The Rock is also The People’s Champion, he loves that about Cody. This is their universe, they were both born into this business. But Rock means something even bigger than just this. Rock knows Cody’s goal is to bring as much joy and happiness to everyone around the world, as many as possible.
The fans cheer, and Rock says that’s Cody. Cody is that guy, and everyone knows it. Cody is on social media, Instagram, millions of followers. Millions, and millions! The Rock has half a BILLION. That’s not a flex. But The Rock is the most followed American man in the world, that’s what he wants for Cody. Rock wants Cody to be even higher. If Cody becomes The Rock’s Champion, he will open doors to possibilities Cody never even imagined. If Cody becomes The Rock’s Champion, every dream he has ever had can come true. Every dream of Brandi’s, of their daughter’s. Think about how Rock brought them to the premiere of Moana 2, in Hawaii.
Thank you, by the way, for making that cross a BILLION dollars, fans, Rock loves you. Rock has met the Rhodes family, they’re amazing. But imagine it: Cody’s daughter’s children, their dreams, long after Rock and Cody are gone, all those dreams can come true. Rock just needs Cody to be his champion. The fans say don’t do it! Rock tells Cody to just think about it, though. Rock is a very lucky man, he has it all. Cody also has it all. They’re very fortunate. They’re Mama’s Boys, they’re Girl Dads, they’re lucky men. Fans say don’t do it, Rock tells them to shut up or he’ll slap the syphilis off their face! Rock is trying to have a moment here, shut your mouths!
The one thing that Rock has never had, that he wants more than anything, is a brother. And that is what Cody can be. Last year, WrestleMania, Rock’s goal was to face his cousin, Roman Reigns, for the title. Cody knows, the fans know. Rock talked with his friend, HHH. He talked with Nick Khan, who is his friend. They are also Cody’s friends. Rock knew it wasn’t in the plans, but they talked about moving Cody aside to make what was best for business: Rock VS Roman, WrestleMania 40! What’d Cody do? Cody pitched a b*tch fit! Cody told The Rock he ain’t doing it, and he stood up to The Rock. And y’know what else? Cody SLAPPED Rock!
No one does that and gets away with it. But that is why Cody is special. That is why Cody should be Rock’s Champion. And that is why Rock will take Cody from where he is to a level so far above. Rock will make sure every dream, every desire, for generations to come, it all comes true. Rock’s dad, Cody’s dad, Soul Man & American Dream, they are looking down right now. They were friends, Cody and Rock are friends, Cody should be Rock’s Champion. He doesn’t need to answer Rock tonight. He can think about it, talk with his wife and daughter, as will The Rock. Then Cody can think about it. Meet Rock in Toronto on March 1st to give him the answer.
Fans still say don’t do it, but Rock says it is okay. Before he leaves, this has been an amazing night, this is a hot crowd, thank you all very much. But before he leaves, Rock wants us to know this: The one thing Rock wants more than anything in this world… is that. Wait, the title? Cody’s title? The fans’ title? This is all this is about? No no no no! Brother… Rock doesn’t want the title. He wants Cody’s soul. The fans duel, “NO! NO! NO!” “SELL YOUR SOUL!” Rock pats Cody on the cheek and says see you in Toronto. The Rock leaves, giving Cody a lot to think about. Rock does give one last glance back at Cody, then smirks.
What will The American Nightmare choose: His integrity? Or his aspirations?
WWE Tag Team Championships: #DIY VS Pretty Deadly!
Did Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano got these titles thanks to Kit Wilson & Elton Prince? #YESBOY! Did they survive a couple title defenses thanks to Kit & Elton? #YESBOY! But when Pretty Deadly needed DIY, was DIY there for them? #NOBOY! So now, Kit & Elton are looking to give Ciampa & Gargano their comeuppance! Will we finally get another #SidePlateCheck? Or will Ciampa & Gargano remember for themselves, that if you wanna be champions, you gotta do it yourself?
But as DIY make their entrance, they have mics, and Johnny Wrestling tells NOLA, “Give it up one time for your TWO-TIME WWE Tag Team Champions…! The BTTITW (Best Tag Team In The World), D I Y~!” The fans boo instead. Ciampa says there is no denying that tonight has been electrifying. Gargano says this is a hot crowd. But please, if we could be somber for a second. Guys, this is serious. Two weeks ago, Pretty Deadly embarrassed DIY, and now reluctantly, DIY will return that favor by crushing their hopes and dreams of ever becoming WWE Tag Team Champions. So please, let us all rise to our feet… Yes, you in the LSU jersey, stand up.
Ciampa thanks Wade Barrett, and asks for everyone to remove their hands and bow their heads for a moment of silence for Pretty Deadly, beginning… now. The fans boo instead! And then Pretty Deadly make their entrance! The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who really needed who in this broken relationship!
But then DIY jumps Pretty Deadly! The ref reprimands, DIY whip but Pretty Deadly reverses! DOUBLE DORPKICKS! Then DOUBLE LARIATS send DIY up and out! The disco ball hasn’t even stopped spinning! The fans cheer while DIY throw a fit! They regroup, cool down, and go back to the ring. Gargano distracts Elton, Ciampa CLOBBERS him, and the bell rings. But Elton fires hands on Ciampa! Elton whips, Ciampa reverses and he pulls hair! The ref reprimands, Ciampa throws Elton to the apron and KNEES him down! Tag to Gargano and he aims, SUPERKICK! Elton goes down in a heap, DIY cheers themselves on, and SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown returns, Gargano tags in, and DIY hits the BACK SUPLEX BOMBO COMBO! Cover, TWO! Elton stays in this but Gargano tags Ciampa back in. Gargano sends Ciampa in, but Elton ELBOWS him away! Gargano runs in, but Elton puts him on the apron! Gargano goes after Kit, but Kit blocks the kick! Kit BOOTS Gargano down, but then Ciampa BOOTS Kit! Elton dodges Ciampa to come back, DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Elton and Ciampa are down, sputtering and writhing, and the fans rally up. Elton crawls, Kit rises, hot tags to Kit and Gargano! Kit rallies on DIY with big forearms! Kit whips, Gargano reverses, Kit UPPERCUTS!
Kit UPPERCUTS Ciampa in a corner, then LARIATS! Kit runs to LARIAT Gargano! Kit pushes Gargano down, kicks him and hits a TWIST- NO, Gargano slips through to ROCK Kit! Kit yoyos, DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up, Kit tags Elton! They get Gargano up, but Gargano BOOTS Elton! Gargano ELBOWS Kit away, then runs up on Elton! Elton dodges, then gives Kit the boost, DRY MARTI-KNEES! Cover, TWO!! Gargano survives but Ciampa is in! Elton fireman’s carries Ciampa, but Ciampa slips free! Ciampa whips, Elton reverses, Kit UPPERCUTS Ciampa! Elton shows off his strength with the GOTCH LIFT PLEX!
Tag to Kit, but IN COME THE PROFITS! Ford SHOVES Kit down, Dawkins mugs him!!
Winners: Pretty Deadly, by disqualification; DIY retain the titles
Not again! Just like they did Motor City Machine Guns, The Profits make sure no one else takes these titles off DIY! URENAGE from Ford to Elton! Dawkins keeps hammering away on Kit, and then Ford POSTS Elton! Dawkins fireman’s carries Kit, to POST him, too! Looking like the All Mighty with that one! Gargano fires forearms in return, but ends up int he POUNCE GERMAN SUPLEX! Then Ciampa runs up into a FLAPJACK! Ford goes up top, then flies in FROM THE HEAVENS!! Direct hit on Ciampa! But wait! MCMG rushes out here, wanting their payback! The Profits brawl with MCMG, but Ford TOSSES Shelley to the apron!
Ford runs up, Shelley goes to kick, but Ford blocks it! Ford LARIATS Shelley down, Dawkins hits Sabin with THE BIG ENDING! The fans are torn as Dawkins whips Sabin, Profits get him for the REVELATION!! And if there’s been any revelation, it is that Ford & Dawkins don’t just want the smoke, they want to burn down the tag division to get it! Will nothing stop them once they’re back in action?
Kevin Owens speaks.
“You got what you wanted, huh? You got your match. You couldn’t, uh… You couldn’t just take the punishment that you deserved, that I’d already given you, and let it go. No, you… You wanted me and you to go again. You wanted to fight me, you want to hurt me, you want to end my career, which would hurt my family, by the way. Which is truly despicable. But what about your family, Sami? Huh? Have you thought of them? What about your family, huh?” Kevin reveals he is right outside the Zayn home! Kevin peers inside to watch Sami, his wife, and his son!
Kevin asks Sami via the video if Sami knows what he’s about to put them through, when they have to watch Kevin end Sami’s career. And what happens then, eh? When Sami can’t provide for them, and everything they have, like this nice house, the shelter, the security, the peace they have, when it’s all gone? And why? What for? Because Sami’s too proud? Because Sami’s selfish? Sami IS selfish. Because Sami is making Kevin do this to Sami’s family. Kevin will never forgive Sami for that. He’ll see Sami in Toronto. “But remember… You asked for this. It’s all your fault.” As if Kevin’s delusions aren’t already grand, will he continue to blame everyone else but himself?
Damian Priest & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu w/ Tama Tonga!
Elimination Chamber is on the horizon, and the Road to WrestleMania makes for strange bedfellows. Priest, Braun and Jacob were fighting each other just last week, but Solo’s return really threw things for a loop. Can Priest & Braun give Solo and the Samoan Werewolf their punishment? Or will everything (not) be fine in Solo’s Bloodline?
SmackDown returns as #OneBigSOB makes his entrance. As Solo, Jacob & Tama head to gorilla, we hear from Solo. “Tonight, we handle business. And it starts with Braun Strowman & Damian-” Jacob interrupts with, “Man, c’mon, DP! C’mon, Braun! I thought we did this! So tonight, we about to even up the score. If you ain’t know, I’m all gas, no brakes with it! See, since we touched the scene, we been dropping bodies like bread crumbs! Yadada mean!? FA-TUUU~! Hit my music!” The rogues enter to Jacob’s theme, is this alone proof he’s the new alpha? Or will the match be the last nail in that coffin?
The teams sort out, but Jacob stares down both Priest and Braun. NOLA seems to acknowledge Jacob, but Solo convinces him to stand down. Solo starts against Priest, the bell rings, and the two tie up. They go around, Priest powers Solo back, but Solo powers Priest back. They break, stare down, and Solo talks some trash. Solo shoves Priest, Priest shoves back. They circle again, tie up, and Priest puts Solo in a corner. The ref counts, Priest lets off at 4, but Solo stomps Priest’s foot! Solo throws hands, then a HEADBUTT! Priest staggers, but then he ROCKS Solo! And ROCKS him! And HEADBUTTS! That was a mistake!
Solo shakes his head to HEADBUTT Priest! Priest goes to a corner, Solo throws haymakers and body shots on repeat! The ref counts, Solo lets off and says see? Solo and Jacob as one! But Priest THROWS Solo to the corner to fire off haymakers of his own! Priest ROCKS Solo, the fans fire up, and Priest whips., Solo reverses to UPPERCUT! Solo talks smack but Priest ROCKS him again! Tag to Braun and the fans fire up! Braun stares Jacob down, tells him to shove it, then runs up to SPLASH Solo! Braun stares Jacob down again, goes back for Solo, and hits another LARIAT! Braun scoops, Solo slips free, but Braun runs up!
Solo ELBOWS Braun away, tags to Jacob, and Jacob runs in, but Braun dodges! Braun CROSSBODIES! Jacob is right up, but Braun BOOTS him right back down! Solo runs in but Braun TOSSES him! Priest hurries after Solo, Braun CLOBBERS Jacob! LEAPING LARIAT for Solo! Braun then gets on the track, STROWMAN EXPRESS SMACKS a chair out of Tama’s hand! The Good Bad Guy thought he was being sneaky! But then Jacob CROSSBODIES Braun into the timekeeper’s aera! The fans go wild as Jacob rises up, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Jacob hauls Braun up, drags him around the way, HEADBUTTS him, then brings him over to SMACK off the desk! Braun staggers, but he ROCKS Jacob in return! And THROWS Jacob into steel steps! Braun drags Jacob up, puts him in the ring, but Jacob SUPERKICKS Braun! Braun falls into the corner, Jacob HIP ATTACKS! Jacob’s all geeked up, then he tags in Solo. Solo soaks up some heat while Jacob HIP ATTACKS Braun again! Solo puts Braun on ropes to CHOKE him! The ref counts, Solo stops at 4, but Jacob gets a HEADBUTT in! Braun flounders, Solo taunts him and eggs him on, but Braun CHOPS him!
Solo HEADBUTTS Braun right down! Solo rains down fists, then lets off so he can put Braun on the ropes. Solo CHOKES Braun again, stops as the ref counts 4, and Jacob gets another cheap shot in! Solo tags Jacob in, then he HEADBUTTS Braun again and again! Jacob runs to BODY CHECK Braun! Jacob fires up, Braun flounders to ropes, but Jacob rains down fists! Tag to Solo, he soaks up heat from NOLA, then he stomps away on Braun! The ref counts, Solo lets off, then he keeps Braun from Priest by anchoring a leg. Tag to Jacob and Jacob climbs up, FROG SPLASH! Jacob roars while Braun writhes!
Jacob looms over Braun but he glares at Priest. Priest gets heated, but Jacob fires hands on Braun as SmackDown returns to single picture. Braun stands, but Jacob HEADBUTTS him again! Jacob runs for another BODY CHECK! And then a SENTON! Cover, TWO! Braun stays in this and he goes to a corner. Jacob snarls, tags Solo in, and the fans boo. Solo runs corner to corner to HIP ATTACK Braun! Solo grins as he copies Jacob’s geeking out. Tag back to Jacob and fans cheer! Jacob aims, runs, and HIP ATTACKS! Jacob keeps going, but Braun BOOTS from below!! The fans fire up while both men stagger to their feet.
Braun SPINEBUSTERS Jacob! Both monsters are down, the fans rally up, and they crawl, hot tags to Solo and Priest! Priest fires hands on Solo, then whips. Solo reverses but Priest SHOUDLER TACKLES Solo! Priest runs to BACK ELBOW! Jacob is back, but Priest dodges to WHEEL KICK! Priest then waits on Solo, but Solo catches Priest! Priest elbows free, but Solo SUPERKICKS! But Priest JUMPING ROUNDHOUSES! Solo comes back, Priest ROCKS him first! Solo swings, but into the FLATLINER! Cover, TWO! Solo survives but Priest puts him in a corner. Priest whips corner to corner, then runs, only for Solo to put him on th eapron!
Solo takes as swing, Priest dodges and ROUNDHOUSES! Priest then knuckle locks with Solo, goes up top, and he tightrope walks for some OLD SCHOOL! The fans fire up and Priest powers up the arm! Priest runs, but Solo ducks the Comebacker! Priest fights the fireman’s carry to BELL CLAP, ROUNDHOUSE, and then he reels Solo in! But Tama is on the apron! Priest DECKS Tama, but Jacob HOTSHOTS Priest! Solo hits the URENAGE! Cover, TWO!! Priest survives and Solo is stunned! Solo snarls, looks to his taped-up thumb, then he drags Priest up. The fans boo but Solo taunts the fans now. SAMOAN- NO! Priest grabs Solo!
But Jacob runs in! Priest ROCKS Jacob, ELBOWS Solo, then he dodges, so Jacob’s SUPERKICK hits Solo! An accident just like last week’s shot to Tama, but Jacob doesn’t seem as upset by it. Priest TOSSES Jacob, then CLOBBERS Solo! STROWMAN EXPRESS CLOBBERS Jacob & Tama!! Priest brings down the straps, the fans are thunderous, and Priest grabs Solo by the neck! SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, Priest & Braun win!
Winners: Damian Priest & Braun Strowman, by pinfall
Just as Solo thought it’d be like before, he and Jacob were not on the same page! Priest is rolling towards Elimination Chamber, will this be just what he needs to go back to WrestleMania?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown here, but with some interesting moves after the sudden change in plans with The Rock showing up. Naomi and Bianca had a good promo to hype up what was meant to be a full match of Naomi VS Liv, but word had already come out before the show that things were being cut for time. But at the very least, they did the right thing of making it a brawl that adds heat to the tag title match on Monday. Also, hilarious how Chelsea & Piper thought the beatdown on Bianca & Naomi was so bad that they would need to be pulled from the Chamber. I also can’t wait to see what happens on Toronto SmackDown.
As for The Rock, I do appreciate he used his authority to kayfabe change more things, all so he could have his promo with Cody. I also appreciate Rock blending his different roles and even different sides, both Heel and Face, to A) bring the news of WM42 being in NOLA, and B) recreate the Corporate Champion/People’s Champion story from the Attitude Era. That was some wild stuff he was saying to Cody. I’m sure quite a few people will try and talk with Cody next week in the go-home. Heels will say do it because they’d love to have what Rock can give, Faces will say not because Cody’s better than that. But naturally, Cody is not going to become The Rock’s Champion, causing Rock to turn on him and really up things going into WrestleMania 41 and perhaps even beyond.
Good stuff in the Elimination Chamber related stories. Jimmy VS McIntyre was great stuff to open, and how fitting that McIntyre loses to Jimmy after talking all that trash about Jimmy and Jey being the same. Jey got McIntyre with something quick, Jimmy got McIntyre with something quick, McIntyre’s ego is obviously his weakness. And at the same time, McIntyre of course destroys Jimmy after because that’s his other personality trait. Priest had good promos with Cody and Braun, and we got great stuff from Solo’s Bloodline. Naturally, we got a miscommunication spot to help finish, we’re really close to Solo VS Jacob, I can feel it. Priest & Braun get the win, mostly because Priest isn’t winning in the Chamber when you’ve got Punk and Cena in there.
Very good stuff with Tiffy Time, from the promos leading into the match to Charlotte being ringside just to watch. Nia & Candice of course get the better of Tiff & Trish, because Tiff & Trish are definitely winning the tag match in Toronto. Charlotte just seems to enjoy trolling Tiff with her presence, so Charlotte probably shows up in Toronto to then confront Tiff after the match. I expect the seven weeks after Elimination Chamber to really heat up, as will Charlotte’s involvement, where she’ll get more active verbally and physically. Also, hell, Rock should go full Corporation and have Charlotte be his Corporate Women’s Champion because of how established she is.
Hilarious stuff from Truth tonight, as always. Truth and Melo having their “who’s on first” again was good stuff, and of course Miz gets in on this story, too. Truth & Knight VS “Melo Don’t Miz” was really fun, but yeah, should’ve figured Nakamura would get involved, too. Melo & Miz making it work could also be really fun, and while Knight VS Nakamura is a rehash, I really hope they find a way to up things. It feels like we’re getting the same with the tag titles as Profits “ruined” that great tag match from DIY and Pretty Deadly, then brawled with MCMG to still come out on top. Last year had a ladder tag title match, so why not do one for these titles this year?
Speaking of escalating, Kevin filming a promo outside Sami’s house was some really well done stuff, as expected of someone as good as Kevin and in such a story as him and Sami. Their match should main event, it needs time to breathe, as it could be just as, if not more violent, than the Chamber matches. What a powerful closing moment we could have if it’s a bloody Kevin and Sami, and one of them is standing over the other, triumphant yet mournful because it was their best friend in the world that they just brutalized.
My Score: 8.9/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA LIVE! iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 2.20.2025
So the first live episode got fairly positive praise from everyone; will this continue the trend?
Filming at Full Sail seems to have set the stage nicely this week! Going into a Live episode we got Moose and The Hardy Boyz on NXT, as well as Jordynne Grace’s involvement with Steph and Giulia giving a little shine to TNA happenings since she’s newly WWE.
This episode should be interesting, we finally see Lei Ying Lee (fka Xia Li) back in action, Rascalz take on Tyson and Tyriek, Tessa should be seeing some action as well…so generally interesting happenings for the second Live iMPACT! of 2025. Let’s see how this one goes down!
No matter where @ManceWarner and @stephdelander go, @TheSamiCallihan WILL FIND THEM!
Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/NY8HgI02kY pic.twitter.com/mXz9U7m9PL
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 21, 2025
Ratings:
- Tyson & Tyriek w/Wes Lee vs The Rascalz w/Ace Austin: Rascalz win via Meteora/Swanton Combo – ***
- Lei Ying Lee vs Rosemary: Lei wins via Thunderstruck – **
- NoDQ Match: Leon Slater vs JDC: Dango wins via The System help – ** 3/4
- Masha Slamovich vs Mila Moore: Masha wins via Requiem – N/A
- Elijah & Joe Hendry vs The Colons: Elijah wins via Tombstone Piledriver – *** 1/4
Results:
Oh yeah, and another Hendry concert is…cut off by a commercial, LOLTNA. First Hendry is cut off by AXSTV’s new Anime Hour bumper, and now Primo and Epico are showing up in TNA. I definitely didn’t have this on my BINGO card. The crowd starts chanting “Where’s Carlito”, which they do acknowledge and play off of well. Oh they’re using their shoot names of Orlando and Eddie now…but before they attack the lights go out and we get another guitar strum! ELIAH/ELIAS/EZEKIEL/EBENERZER/EMERY/EL VAGABUNDO – shows up to back up Hendry. Okay I can apologize away the redundant concert since it played into an Elijah debut. The crowd is immediately popping and chanting “This is Awesome” 10 minutes into the show.
Tyson & Tyriek w/Wes Lee vs The Rascalz w/Ace Austin
Treehouse bros take it to the bigger men quickly, a few fast dives, a little MCMG style tandem strikes, Tyson fires and tries to take them out but they Low Bridge him. Tyriek comes in and they try similar things but Tyriek manhandles them both and throws them out of the ring, Trey is the first one back up and Tyriek and Tyson take his damn head off with his Corkscrew Running Euro Upper. Trey finally manages to flip out of the manhandle, tags in Wentz and Wentz goes for the hot and spicy cleaning house spot. Corner to Corner Knee Lifts for both big men, a Rolling Snapmare, into a Superkick for Tyson and Standing Shoot Star on Tyriek but only for two because Wes feints like he’s going to interfere.
Tyson and Tyriek pull off a tandem Assisted Backdrop Driver, but Wentz breaks it up, Tyson gets knocked out, Wentz hits the Tornillo, Wes tries to interfere again after Trey gets perched on the corner buckle but Ace runs around and trips Wes at the last second causing him to faceplant on the apron, Trey hits the Meteora, Wentz hits a Swanton from the other side of the ring and Trey gets the pinfall victory.
It was fast paced, all gas no brakes, but it didn’t overstay its welcome, so it was pretty fun all things considered.
After the match Wes grabs a mic, complains a little but challenges them to a 6 man match as Sacrifice. So we’re THAT’S where we’re getting the expected 3v3.
Fir$t Cla$$ comes out with an entourage of hot chicks and probably influencers or something. The “First Class Penthouse” , Gabby AF, Mafiosa Valentina, and Carolina are apparently known in their own way. Gabby I know was the awful one who did something for Impact a last year and sucked, but she’s part of the Busted Open Network I believe so that’s why she’s around. Two of them look like Noelle Foley and Frank the Clown…oh they actually are. Look at that. I do love KC Navarro as the Hype Man, they have this whole set up of AJ being mad that they haven’t gotten more Tag Title shots, so TNA placated him with his own Piper’s Pit and he’s *pregnant pause* totally happy with that. He says he loved Piper and hated Hogan before it was cool.
This is actually quality content and AJ is cutting a nice promo in this segment. They introduce their first guest, the greatest performer in TNA history, many whole say he’s Phenomenal with a whole lot of style….it’s A-J-Francis.
.@AJFrancis410 is GOING OFF!
Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/NY8HgI02kY pic.twitter.com/kGehtp9iTE
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 21, 2025
Lei Ying Lee vs Rosemary
Things were slow until Rosemary took her into a corner quickly, hit the Upside Down, and we get a lot of Lei trying to avoid Rosemary’s offense. Rosemary goes for a Spear in the corner and Lei forward rolls, starts connecting with a bunch of right hands, backs Rosemary into the corner, goes for 10 Count Punches, pulls her out, Airplane Spin TKO for only a two count. Rosemary tries As Above So Below, Lei shrugs it off, Rosemary tries to go after Lei anyway and eats Thunderstruck! Lei Ying Lee wins!
After the match Rosemary catches Lei on the ramp and hits the Green mist in the eyes. Match was far too short and so many of Lei’s set up moves look better than her finish. We’ve seen Kofi Kingston do it for years so it’s not bad, just the current Knockouts Division are awful and don’t take the move well.
Eric Young and the jabronis come out, EY cuts a very basic power crazed psycho kind of promo, gets the “What” chants from the crowds. EY is trying to recruit Maclin even though Maclin made his line in the sand last week. EY tries to spin it as maybe he took out Josh FOR Maclin instead of in spite of his trust. This really doesn’t seem interesting at all, but that’s probably because I hate the two Jabronis EY is with.
NoDQ Match: Leon Slater vs JDC
I really don’t have any interest in Slater. He’s got no personality beyond “flippy guy with a British accent”.
Dango immediately powders, grabs a chair and goes to swing on him but misses. So Leon is making JDC look dumb by dodging the post chop, using the chair to shield himself from a punch by JDC, and then clapping Dango’s fingers between the chair. So typical System match, look inept for the first few minutes, then take advantage of something to take over. Oh look, Leon takes too long setting up the table, Dango gets in a few pot shots, tries to whip him into the table but Leon leaps over it, and then leaps back over to clobber Dango. Dango is still trying to recover so Leon hits his over the corner post con hilo, and the crowd appreciates it but I’m not interested. Leon panders to the crowd after the big spot and then eats an X-Plex into the chair from Dango.
JDC throws Leon back in, goes for a pinfall that’s only a two and we cut to a commercial. Coming out of the commercial JDC is in control with a Kendo Stick until he isn’t, Leon counters and takes the keno stick, brutalizes Dango a few times then comes off the ropes with the kendo shot for 2. Leon goes for another table, and again, at least the crowd is receptive to this match. Leon sets it up, looks for something off the apron but Dango stops him first until he eats a dropkick to fall onto the table, Leon hits the Swanton 450 through the table on the outside. Does it look cool? Sure. Do I care about dumbass moves? Nope.
Oh thankfully the rest of The System comes out to stop the pinfall, Shield Bomb Leon through the first table, and roll him back in for Dango to win.
The Hardy Boyz come out to try and make the save, but the numbers are against them, so Oba Femi’s music hits! Oba cleans house but doesn’t get his hands on Moose, so they’re at least building the eventual clash between Moose and Oba.
The crowd starts a “Tessa, we comin for you” chant before she even starts talking. Tessa is actually playing off the crowd well, Santino’s music hits and Tessa thinks he’ll help her out with the crowd and Santino calls bullshit basically. Santino says if Tessa doesn’t wrestle next week, she’s fired and Masha’s music hits. Masha decides to step in for Tessa’s enhancement talent match.
Masha Slamovich vs Mila Moore
Jobber tries to attack Masha early but Masha stops her, rocks her and Requiem ends the match.
Masha stares down Tessa, and then Cora Jade attacks from behind and hits Jaded.
Ryan Nemeth comes out to his Abyss music remix. What will Mokuba say today? “MYYYY BIIIGG BBRROOOOTTHHHEEEEER” he repeats at least 4 times and it’s hilariously cringe. He announces that Nic will return at Sacrifice, he literally just came out to give a PSA.
Elijah & Joe Hendry vs The Colons
Hendry starts with Eddie, after a brief tie up it seems like Hendry reads the room and points at Elijah and the crowd wants him in. So Joe tags in Elijah, a little back and forth, Shoulder Tackle from Elijah, Rope Walk with Elijah lays out Eddie and a tag to Joe allows for a quick tandem knockdown, but Eddie powders as the Walking and Talking Duo hold the ring going into the final commercial break.
We come back and Hendry is bouncing Orlando off the ropes as he return a strike, but Orlando is obviously losing, eats a Euro Upper, and then gets walked around in the Stalling Suplex for posterity. Eddie tries a sneak attack but gets caught and Sack of Shit, into Kip Up, turn and then Orlando with the ambush! A few quick short cuts and an Irish Whip/Dropkick combo gives the Colons a near fall. Hendry does get locomotion variation cradles, but eats a Dropkick to stop the attempt at momentum. Orlando stays on Joe, but Joe finally starts to fire up as the crowd starts to get behind him. Euro Uppers make some space, but a Snapmare says no.
Eddie gets tagged in and a quick Leg Sweep into a Front Chancery keeps Eddie in control. As Joe tries to get back up, Eddie turns it into a Guillotine, but finally the Suplex counter connects for Hendry! Simultaneous tags! Elijah bulls over Orlando, catches a Leap Frogging Orlando with the Manhattan Drop as Orlando retreats to a corner, Stinger Splash into Spinebuster for two. Elijah tries to keep up the attacks but Orlando finds a few ways to make space, launches himself from the middle rope and eats the Jumping Knee! Eddie breaks up the pinfall, Hendry takes Eddie out and Elijah hits the Tombstone Piledriver for the win!
Overall Score: 6/10
Well there were more live hiccups than the first episode, and this felt both more epic and less epic at the same time. Elijah and the Colons debuting was a nice way to kick things off, Oba Femi showing up for the save was fantastic. There were a few decent matches, but also a lot of really short and rushed matches. Tessa played off the crowd well, but Masha really is useless on the mic. Lei Ying Lee needs to framed stronger, her matches have done nothing to show off her ability. It just proves that the Knockouts don’t know how to sell a kick to the head because they all take it in the shoulder and fall in corny ways.
Viva La Sam could be something fun if the next 3 weeks are just hand cam footage of him being like “I’m Sami Callihan and I’m gonna kick Mance Warner’s ass”, Elegance Clique getting the rematch with a stipulation is nice to see and while I like Fir$t Cla$$, that segment went a little long for a cornball swerve payoff. It’s one thing to placate the Influencer squad especially when we’ve seen Logan Paul and Ishowspeed do so well in WWE…but these are like Z Tier Influencers that no one cares about. These kind of dorks stream on Kick because they aren’t relevant enough for Twitch, not because they chose Kick over it.
So yeah, the low lights were pretty low, and the highs were a little fleeting, but at least they were pretty fun. Not a bad show, just clunky with noticeable issues and Masha shouldn’t be allowed to speak English anymore. She’s such a charisma vacuum when she’s not rambling in Russian.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Oblong Ball Foot Show: One For The Road
The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl Champions! Tune in as we recap an excellent NFL season and touch on a...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Super Bowl LIX Preview
The culmination of a season long journey is upon us. Andrew, Rey and Tunney break it all down for you...
The Front and Center Sports Podcast – NFL Conference Championships and Jimmy Butler
The Chairshot presents a new episode of The Front and Center Sports Podcast, with an NFL Conference Championship preview, and...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: NFL Conference Championships
It's Championship Sunday and the gents have you covered as we breakdown both AFC and NFC title games!
Oblong Ball Foot Show: NFL Divisional Playoffs
Rey, Andrew and Tunney catch you up on the NFL coaching carousel and breakdown the Divisional round matchups.
Bandwagon Nerds #276: Do You Style Your Moustache?
The Nerds continue their review of Season 3 of Invincible, review Captain America: Brave New World, and check out trailers...
Bandwagon Nerds #275: Master of Porpoise
The Nerds begin their review of Season 3 of Invincible and look at the latest trailers for Final Destination, Jurassic...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (2/5/25)
There’s a lot going on this time around!
Bandwagon Nerds #274: Rey Cash Caught Sleeping On The Job
Tune in for another episode of BANDWAGON NERDS for your weekly fix in the world of Comics & Pop Culture!
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (1/31/25)
The Bracket of Courage!
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: Weekend Wrasslin’ Wrap-up!
DJ, Rob and Jason break down NXT Vengeance Day and AEW GrandSlam Australia. Plus, Rob's SmackDown adventure and some beer...
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (2/21/25)
The Final Boss is back!
Andrew’s TNA LIVE! iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 2.20.2025
So the first live episode got fairly positive praise from everyone; will this continue the trend?
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (2/20/25)
Anillo de Honor!
DWI Podcast #464: NXT Vengeance Day & SNL 50
NBA All-Star weekend, SNL 50th anniversary and plenty of Rasslin' talk this week on the DWI podcast.
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (2/19/25)
Phoenix is Dynamite!
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (2/18/25)
NXT is Absolute!
Mitchell’s ROH Global Wars Australia Results & Report! (2/17/25)
G'day, mates!
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (2/17/25)
Visionary VS Prince!
#TheOddity 028: One Monkey = Total Chaos
Join Dave Wortz and PC Tunney for your weekly newsletter on the ridiculous and dumb of actual headlines from around...
-
Coverage7 days agoMitchell’s WWE Vengeance Day Results & Report! (2/15/25)
-
AEW Coverage7 days agoMitchell’s AEW Grand Slam: Australia Results & Report! (2/15/25)
-
Coverage4 days ago
Mitchell’s ROH Global Wars Australia Results & Report! (2/17/25)
-
Coverage5 days ago
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (2/17/25)