Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Battle Autumn Results & Report! (11/5/22)
Battle Autumn’s series finale!
Who moves on to WrestleKingdom?
NJPW Battle Autumn wraps up with gold! Los Ingobernables de Japon and The United Empire fight over the Junior Heavyweight AND US Championships! Plus, the NJPW World Television Championship Tournament Semifinals wills end two to WK17 to fight for the gold! Will NJPW soon be completamente tranquilo?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: TJP & Francesco Akira VS BUSHI & Titán; TJP & Akira win and retain the titles.
- 8 Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, David Finlay & Alex Zayne VS The United Empire; The United Empire wins.
- Hikuleo VS Yujiro Takahashi; Hikuleo wins.
- NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Semifinal: Ren Narita VS SANADA; Narita wins and advances to WrestleKingdom 17.
- NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Semifinal: EVIL VS Zack Sabre Jr; ZSJ wins and advances to WrestleKingdom 17.
- Hiromu Takahashi & Taiji Ishimori VS Master Wato & El Desperado; Wato & Desperado win.
- Kazuchika Okada & Tama Tonga VS Jay White & KENTA; Okada & Tama win.
- IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: FTR VS Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb; FTR wins and retains the titles.
- IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS Tetsuya Naito; Ospreay wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: TJP & Francesco Akira VS BUSHI & Titán!
The United Empire lost the majority of the tune-ups to Los Ingobernables de Japon, but now it comes down to the match that matters! Can the Public Enemy & Nova Fireball conquer LIJ to open the night? Or will Black Mask & The #INMORTAL bring home the gold?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see just who conquers who!
The teams sort out, but then LIJ DOUBLE DROPKICK TJP & Akira! Fans fire up, the bell rings to get this on record as Bushi y Titan DOUBLE DIVE! The topes send TJP & Akira into railing and fans fire up again! Titan puts TJP in, stomps him, then Titan and Bushi double whip corner to corner. Bushi runs in to back elbow, then he sets up as a step stool. Titan runs and uses Bushi, but TJP dodges! Titan hits buckles, TJP holds Bushi down and Akira uses Bushi for FIREBALL IN MOTION! TJP then throws Bushi out and he gives Akira a boost to SHOTGUN Titan out! TJP slingshot dropkicks Bushi down!
Akira builds speed and TJP holds the ropes, Akira FLIES out to wipe out LIJ! Milano Collection AT lets out a very clear “OH SH*T!” on commentary! Fans are fired up as TJP and Akira put Bushi in the ring. TJP keeps Bushi down, Akira runs and TJP gives him a boost in an Electric Chair! Akira tells fans to take pictures now, and then he hits an ELEVATED SENTON! Cover, TWO! TJP DECKS Titan, he and Akira double whip Bushi, FLAPJACK FACEBUSTER! Cover off the Alley Oop, but Titan breaks it! Akira stomps Titan, he and TJP double whip him now, the mule kick, kick and KICK, basement SHOTGUN!
Akira goes out after Titan to keep him down, and TJP takes off his shirt to CHOKE Bushi with it! The ref counts, TJP lets off at 4, and Akira sends Titan into railing. TJP pulls Bushi’s shirt off and CHOKES him with it! The ref reprimands and counts, TJP stops at 4, and then TJP drags Bushi up. TJP taunts Titan, bumps Bushi off buckles and stomps him in the Empire’s corner. Fans rally as TJP scrapes Bushi’s face again and again. TJP runs side to side, but Bushi dropkicks the legs out! Fans fire up while both men are down! Bushi crawls, but Akira trips Titan off the apron! TJP drops knees on Bushi’s back and Akira slides in.
The Empire stalks Bushi to ropes as fans rally. TJP & Akira double whip, but Bushi ducks the double lariats to send TJP into Akira! Bushi then DOUBLE RANAS! Fans fire up as those three are down and Titan is up! Bushi crawls over, hot tag to Titan! Fans fire up as Titan rallies on the Empire! Knuckle lock and CHOP for TJP, then Titan goes up and up and jumps around to then springboard MISSILE DROPKICK Akira! Titan dodges TJP, but TJP puts him on the apron. TJP runs but into a body scissor throw! Titan then resets, to TOP ROPE QUEBRADA! Direct hit on both TJP and Akira and fans fire up! Titan puts TJP in, covers, TWO!
Titan keeps cool and waits on TJP to stand. Titan KICKS, KICKS, SOBATS and runs, but into a ROUNDHOUSE! TJP runs, but Titan follows to TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up as TJP is still in this. Titan pounds the mat, fans clap along, and Titan drags TJP up. Titan reels TJP in, Canadian Racks, and spins around, but TJP fights free! Tag to Akira, TJP holds Titan for the SUPERKICK! The Empire double whip Titan but he crisscrosses them. They kick, run, but Titan dodges to then DOUBLE SHOTGUN! Fans fire up as Titan rolls away, hot tag to Bushi! Bushi stomps Akira down then brings him up.
Akira rakes Bushi’s eyes! The ref reprimands, Akira puts Bushi in a corner and whips corner to corner. Akira runs corner to corner, but Bushi SWING KICKS him away! Bushi goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! And BUSHIROONI! Fans fire up and Bushi stomps Akira around more. Bushi drags Akira up, FISHERMAN SCREW! Cover, TWO! Bushi calls Titan in and they double whip Akira corner to corner. Titan whips Bushi for Bushi to whip Titan and repeat, Bushi staggers but he still forearms Akira in the corner! Bushi sets up again, TITAN IN MOTION! Then a feed to Bushi’s lift, Titan goes up, DROPKICK SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TJP breaks it!
Titan stomps TJP to a corner and he coordinates with Bushi. They double whip TJP corner to corner, then Bushi whips Titan in. TJP dodges Titan to SHOTGUN Bushi! SUPERKICK from Titan! SUPERKICK from Akira! Bushi monkey flips Akira but he lands on his feet! Bushi ducks Akira’s Superkick! Akira blocks Bushi’s kick, but he gets grazed by the enziguri and the HEEL KICK hits clean! Fans fire up as all four men are down! Fans rally, Bushi and Akira stir while TJP and Titan exit. Bushi and Akira head for each other, and Bushi throws a forearm. Akira throws it back. Bushi throws another forearm, and Akira staggers.
Akira throws a forearm again! Bushi throws it back! Akira throws forearm after forearm, then DOUBLE CHOPS! Bushi stays up, Akira eggs him on, and Bushi DOUBLE CHOSP back! Bushi fires off forearms, runs, but Akira follows to wheelbarrow and victory roll, STOMP 182! Fans rally with “A! KI-RA!” TJP joins in, he and Akira gets Bushi up in Electric Chair. Akira climbs the corner, but Titan GAMANGIRIS! Bushi slips off to BACKSTABBER TJP! Titan goes up, APRON DOUBLE STOMP for Akira! Bushi aims at Akira, sunset flip, then SPRINGBOARD SPLASH from Titan! Bushi covers, TWO!! Akira survives and fans fire up!
Bushi and Titan coordinate and they wait on Akira to stand. Akira is in the corner, Titan runs in, A-LIST LARIAT! Bushi hits a CODE BREAKER! Titan hurries up, but TJP trips him! TJP dodges Bushi, waistlocks, but Bushi switches. TJP ducks and the SUPERKICK hits Bushi! Akira reels Bushi in, SPEED FIRES! TJP drags Bushi up, the Empire coordinates, they run, 2 BY 2!! Cover, but Titan breaks it!! TJP hurries after Titan but Titan whips TJP. Titan goes Matrix but TJP catches him! Akira goes up, DOUBLE STOMP FINAL CUT! The Empire hurry to get Bushi up, and they hit the LEANING TOWER!! Cover, The Empire wins!
Winners: TJP & Francesco Akira, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
All those losses in Battle Autumn mean nothing now, because the Empire won out in the end! But will the combination of Bushi y Titan be back with Super Junior Tag League right around the corner? Or will the Empire be on to a new challenge?
NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Semifinal: Ren Narita VS SANADA!
The Son of Strong Style declares a changing of the guard, but he has to make it happen with his own two hands! Will he be able to do so in 15 minutes or less? Or will his quest hit a Skull End?
The bell rings and the countdown begins. Fans rally up as Sanada and Narita circle. They approach, feel things out, and Narita shoots in. Sanada holds him off, Narita shifts to go for an arm but Sanada goes for an arm, too. Narita facelocks, he brings Sanada down and then slips around to a back mount. Sanada moves around and gets around to waistlock. Narita and Sanada continue to go for arms and switch around with waistlocks. Narita goes for a leg but Sanada facelocks to block. Narita slips out to get a facelock back, and fans applaud this great technical exchange. Sanada fights up to fireman’s carry takeover, but Narita uses a leg guard to stop the lateral press.
Sanada and Narita sit up, Narita has a leg in between them as Sanada knuckle locks. Narita wants a headscissor but Sanada fights through to a cover, ONE. They stand and clinch, Narita pushes Sanada back to ropes, and fans applaud the ropebreak. Sanada turns things around, the ref calls for the break, and Sanada lets off to pat Narita on the shoulders. Fans applaud, Narita steps to Sanada and swings! But into a dragon sleeper! Narita scrambles to get the ROPEBREAK! Sanada lets off slowly and fans applaud again. Narita runs in but Sanada trips him up to put him right in Paradise! Fans fire up as Sanada stands on Narita!
Sanada encourages the fans to get louder and they oblige. Sanada likes the volume, and he runs to dropkick Narita out of Paradise! But Narita comes right back to knee low! Narita snapmares and KICKS Sanada! Narita then throws Sanada out of the ring, goes out after him, and whips. Sanada reverses and Narita hits railing! Narita comes back, but into a BOOT! Sanada puts Narita on railing, MAGIC SCREW to the floor! Fans fire up and Sanada stands Narita up. Sanada headlocks and he brings Narita along to the outside to No Man’s Land. PILEDRVER to the floor! Narita writhes and fans fire up as Sanada shows some edge.
Sanada leaves Narita behind, and fans rally up with their claps, “SA-NA-DA!” “NA-RI-TA!” The ring count starts and climbs to 5 of 20, then 10 of 20. Narita returns to ringside at 13, staggers over and in at 15. Sanada stomps away at the ropes! We’re at five minutes and Sanada ties Narita up in the ropes! ROPE PARADISE! Fans applaud and Sanada offers them to take pictures. Sanada leaves Narita behind as the fans rally up. Narita tries to get free on his own but Sanada dropkicks him out of Paradise again! Narita falls to the floor, and then Sanada PLANCHAS! Direct hit and down goes Narita! Fans fire up and Sanada puts Narita back in. Cover, TWO!
Sanada keeps cool and he brings Narita up into a chinlock. Narita endures, fights up, and throws elbows. Narita is free and he throws forearms! Sanada EuroUppers Narita in return! Sanada whips Narita corner to corner, Narita reverses but runs into a BOOT! Sanada runs, into an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Narita roars and he stands back up. Sanada sits up and Narita KICKS! Narita whips Sanada to a corner, runs in, and back elbows! Then HALF HATCH! Bridging cover, TWO! TO AN ARMBAR! Sanada clasps hands but Narita pulls them apart! Sanada kicks and flails to the ROPEBREAK! Narita lets off as the ref counts and fans fire up.
Narita drags Sanada up to KICK again! And again! Sanada blocks the next one to CLUB the leg! Sanada swings, into a SLEEPER! Narita then shifts to a cobra twist! Sanada fights that to hip toss free! Fans rally, Sanada dragon sleepers but Narita snapmares free, only for Sanada to handspring through! Sanada DROPKICKS Narita back! Sanada reels Narita in to back suplex, but Narita lands on his feet! COBRA TWIST! Sanada endures as Narita puts on the pressure! Sanada steps towards ropes, reaches out, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Narita lets off to KICK him! Then hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO!
Narita is frustrated but the fans rally up. Narita tells Sanada to get up! Sanada stirs, Narita sits him up, and KICKS as we hit 10 minutes! And KICKS! And KICKS again! Narita KICKS Sanada to a corner then stomps a mudhole! Narita digs his boots in but the ref reprimands and counts. Narita lets off to go corner to corner. Sanada ROCKS Narita, then QUEBRADAS to get the dragon sleeper! Sanada drops back but Narita rolls through to get a SLEEPER! Sanada arm-drags free! Sanada fireman’s carries, but Narita fights that into an IRON OCTOPUS! Sanada endures, fights up to the fireman’s carry, and throws Narita into the dragon sleeper!
Narita slips free but Sanada waistlocks and uses ropes to O’Conner DRAGON SLEEPER! Narita endures, Sanada drops back, SKULL END! Narita endures again as Sanada puts on the squeeze! Fans rally but Narita is fading! The ref checks, but then Sanada lets off to go to the corner! Sanada goes up top, ROUNDING BODY PRESS onto knees! Narita O’Conner Rolls and bridges! TWO!! Narita drags Sanada up, Sanada throws a forearm but Narita gives it back! They go back and forth, fans rally, and Narita gets the edge! ENZIGURI! BOOT! Sanada rebounds into a clinch, but he fights the lift! Narita HEADBUTTS away on Sanada!
Sanada HEADBUTTS and Narita wobbles! Fans fire up and Sanada whips corner to corner, but Narita reverses. Sanada goes up and out and springboard MISSILE DROPKICKS! Two minute warning as Narita stands up and roars! Narita rushes in, but Sanada gets around to O’Conner BR- NO, Narita blocks the bridge to get a SLEEPER! Sanada rolls back to DRAGON SLEEPER! Narita drops to victory roll! TWO!! SLEEPER!! Sanada endures, fans rally up, and Sanada fights up! Sanada throws elbows, gets free, and both men catch their breath. Fans rally again as we hit ONE minute! Sanada swings into an EXPLODER! Bridging cover, TWO!!!
Narita is furious, but he turns around into a EuroUpper! Sanada spins into a SLAP! And an ENZIGURI! But Sanada ENZIGURIS back! Sanada ROLLING ELBOWS! Fans fire up with Sanada, ROLLING- NARITA SPECIAL!! NARITA WINS!!!
Winner: Ren Narita, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
With just THIRTY SECONDS to spare, the Son of Strong Style snatches victory away from the Cold Skull! Is the changing of the guard going to become a reality?
NJPW World Television Championship Tournament, Semifinal: EVIL w/ Dick Togo VS Zack Sabre Jr!
The King of Darkness continues to stack the deck, but the Submission Master has an arsenal to unload! Will Darkness Fall on WrestleKingdom? Or will Evil #JustTapOut this close to the finals?
Evil and Dick drag one of the Young Lions out in a ZSJ jacket! They’re making an example of Kosei Fujita! But wait, is that really ZSJ wearing that hat? Dick goes to check, but surprise! It’s Ryohei Oiwa! Dick DECKS him for tricking them! But THE ZSJ sneaks up behind Evil! SLEEPER! The ref rings the bell, ZSJ rolls Evil up, TWO!! ZSJ HEADBUTTS Evil, headlocks, but Evil powers out. Evil dodges the boot, ZSJ dodges the lariat, but Dick trips ZSJ while Evil is in the ref’s face! ZSJ bails out, Evil goes out after him, and Evil whips ZSJ into railing! Evil scoops Kosei Fujita and SLAMS him on ZSJ!
Evil then attacks Oiwa with a knee! Evil scoops him to SLAM him on ZSJ! Evil stomps the hat, too. Evil then takes off his shirt to CHOKE ZSJ! The ref reprimands, fans rally for “Z S J!” but Evil lets off. Evil brings ZSJ around, knees him low, then brings out some chairs! The ref reprimands but Evil still puts one chair around ZSJ’s head. Evil has the ref check the Young Lions, but then ZSJ BOOTS Evil! ZSJ kicks Dick, BOOTS Evil again, then BOOTS Dick. ZSJ gets the chair, throws it away, and he headlocks Evil. ZSJ brings Evil around to the timekeeper’s area and makes Evil take a seat by pulling on his ears!
ZSJ then fetches Dick and brings him around. ZSJ RAMS Dick into the timekeeper’s table! Fans are thunderous as Evil gets a taste of his own medicine! ZSJ throws the chair off himself and fetches Evil. Abe-san cleans up his table but Evil rakes ZSJ’s eyes! Evil whips Oiwa at ZSJ but ZSJ pushes him aside. But Evil RAMS Fujita into ZSJ! Then Evil rakes Oiwa’s eyes just because! Evil steps through on ZSJ, but ZSJ trips Evil up! Instead of a Scorpion Deathlock, ZSJ has a HEEL HOOK with a grapevine! Evil endures, the ring count climbs, Evil goes after ZSJ’s feet but ZSJ twists Evil’s leg more! The ring count is at 7 of 20!
Evil endures, ZSJ lets go at 10 of 20 and hurries into the ring! Evil hurries, but who is that under the ring grabbing at Evil? Evil looks under, and it’s Dick! Dick didn’t know who he was grabbing! Evil gets in at 18! ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Evil is still in this but ZSJ scoops! Evil slips free, spins ZSJ around, EVERY- NO, ZSJ slips out of the STO to go around and bait Evil with a leg. Evil falls for it and ZSJ flips Evil over, EURO CLUTCH! TWO!?! Evil escapes and even he’s surprised! ZSJ kicks but Evil blocks! Evil gives the foot to the ref, but ZSJ blocks Evil’s kick to have an ANKLE LOCK! Evil endures as ZSJ leans on the hold!
Evil moves around, and he sends ZSJ at the corner! ZSJ stops himself, avoiding the bare buckles! Guess how that happened. Evil runs in, ZSJ dodges, and Evil has to stop from hitting bare buckles! ZSJ gets a SLEEPER! Dick gets on the apron but the Young Lions drag him down! Dick fights them off, but they YANK him down! But Evil MULE KICK LOW BLOWS! Cradle, TWO!!! ZSJ survives but Evil hurries to drag him up! EVERY- NO, ZSJ slips out, GROUND COBRA!! ZSJ WINS!!!
Winner: Zack Sabre Jr, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
We didn’t even need the five minute call, ZSJ did that in 4 minutes, 48 seconds! The Submission Master is moving on to the finals, will he get that first singles title in NJPW at WrestleKingdom?
IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: FTR VS Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb w/ Gideon Grey!
Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood are still the THREE BELT CHAMPIONS, even after facing Aussie Open. But now The United Empire’s big guns are here! Will the Dominator & Imperial Unit take these titles? Or will #7StarFTR still shine through?
Gideon Grey gives the United Empire their introduction, and then FTR make their entrance. The IWGP belts are raised, and we see how hard these teams will fight to have them!
The teams sort out, FTR hugs and Cash starts. The Empire forearm bump and Cobb starts. Fans rally as the bell rings and the two circle. Cobb says FTR isn’t going to walk into the Empire’s house and get away with it. Cobb and Cash tie up, Cash tries to push Cobb but Cobb stays put. Cobb pushes Cash away, and Cash shrugs that off. They tie up again, Cash tries to push Cobb but Cobb pushes Cash away again. Fans applaud, Cash and Cobb circle, and Cash goes for a leg. Cobb stays back, they tie up again, and Cash gets a headlock. Cobb powers up but Cash thrashes the hold. Cobb powers out and they RAM shoulders! Fans applaud as neither falls.
Cash runs, gets around and waistlocks. Cash lifts Cobb! But Cobb arm-drags free! Cobb rushes in, waistlocks and SLAMS Cash, then facelocks. Fans rally as Cash slips through to headlock back. Cobb powers out, scoops but Cash slips free to RANA! Fans applaud but Cobb is annoyed. Cash throws up the V for victory, and he tags in Dax. Cobb tags Khan and fans applaud. Khan and Dax stare down, tie up, and Khan pushes Dax to the ropes. Red Shoes calls the ropebreak and Khan lets off with a hard pat on the shoulder. Fans applaud and Dax dusts himself off. Dax and Khan tie up again, and Khan again pushes Dax back.
Dax turns things around and now he has Khan on the ropes. Khan turns things back around but Dax then puts Khan in a corner. Red Shoes calls the break, Dax lets off slowly, and he sharply pats Khan on the shoulders. Khan storms up, headlocks, but Dax powers out. Khan runs Dax over but Dax is right up. Khan headlocks again, Dax powers out again, but Khan runs him over again. Dax stands right up and he headlocks Khan. Khan powers out, they RAM shoulders, and Khan stares Dax down! Khan UPPERCUTS, but Dax kicks low and suplexes! Khan stands right up, so Dax throws a forearm! Khan throws it back!
Fans rally as the forearms go back and forth! Khan UPPERCUTS then MONGOLIAN CHOPS! And MONGOLIAN CHOPS! And then MONGOLIAN CHOPS Dax off his feet! Fans fire up and Khan stalks Dax to a neutral corner. Khan whips corner to corner, runs in, but Dax elbows him! Dax CHOPS, and CHOPS, and then snap suplexes! Dax drops a leg, then tags in Cash. Cash gets a boost for the BIG LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Cash drags Khan up, EuroUppers, and Khan falls over. Cash pulls Khan up, tags Dax, and they whip Khan to drop toehold and elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Khan stays in this, and Dax keeps Khan down with his ponytail!
Dax brings Khan around, but Khan throws a body shot! Khan shifts around to use his ponytail to CHOKE Dax! Cash protests but Khan lets off to CLUB away on Dax’s arm. Khan throws Dax out, then he swipes at Cash! Cobb POSTS Dax! Cobb puts Dax in for Khan to CLUB away on the arm again! Khan throws down elbows until Dax is on the mat! Khan then goes for a double wristlock! Dax endures, moves around, and gets the ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes calls it and Khan lets off. Khan puts Dax in the corner and Cobb holds Dax in place for Khan to sit on him! Fans applaud and Khan pulls back on Dax’s arms! Red Shoes counts and Khan hops down.
Tag to Cobb but Dax CHOPS! Cobb CHOPS and CLUBS Dax, then RAMS him in the open corner. Cobb hoists Dax up to RAM him in again! Fans applaud as Cobb drags Dax up on the apron. Cobb wraps the bad arm around ropes, but Red Shoes counts and Cobb lets off. Khan CLUBS Dax but Dax CHOPS Khan! Khan RAMS Dax into railing then puts Dax back in. Cobb covers, ONE!! Cobb is annoyed, but he drags Dax up. Tag to Khan, Khan DECKS Cash! Khan then storms back over, he wrenches Dax’s bad arm, but Dax SLAPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Khan ROCKS Dax! Khan CLUBS Dax, tags Cobb, and Cobb scoops Dax for a BACKBREAKER!
Cobb stands on Dax’s back, but no surfing this time. Cobb shifts to get the bad arm, but Cash reaches out. Fans rally, Dax stands, and Dax throws haymakers! Dax reaches for Cash but Cobb keeps him away. Dax throws more hands, Cobb shoves him away, but Dax runs in to sunset flip! Cobb stays up, drags Dax up, but Dax gets a leg! DRAGON SCREW! Fans fire up as Dax and Cobb hobble up. Cobb catches Dax again! Dax reaches but Cobb throws him away. Cobb DECKS Cash, but Dax dropkicks the leg out! Both men are down and fans fire up, but Cash is still down, too! Cobb runs in to UPPERCUT Dax!
Cobb hauls Dax up, RUNNING BACK SUPLEX! Cobb then tags Khan and Khan stomps Dax. Fans rally, Khan CLUBS Dax, and then Khan wrenches to a wristlock. Dax endures, Khan twists the wrist, but fans rally more. Dax fights up, throws body shots, and he gets free. Dax swings but Khan ducks. Khan swings but Dax ducks. Dax feints and gets Khan with a DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Khan and Dax crawl, Cobb tags in! Cobb brings Dax up to whip him away, but Dax dodges in the corner, hot tag to Cash! Cash fires off haymakers, and a CHOP! Haymaker, CHOP, repeat! Cobb swings but into a waistlock!
Cash lifts but Cobb elbows free. Khan full nelsons but Cash BOOTS Cobb away! Cash breaks free, whips Khan but Khan reverses, only for Cash to duck ‘n’ dodge and LARIAT! Fans fire up as Cash spins Cobb around to UPPERCUT! And GERMAN SUPLEX!! Fans fire up and Cash goes up the corner. Cash leaps to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Cobb flounders and Cash rallies the fans. Cash runs in at Cobb in the corner, but Cobb puts him on the apron. Cobb ROCKS Cash, and suplexes, but Cash blocks to HOTSHOT! Cash goes up, Khan is there with the IRON CLAW! Cash breaks free and brawls with Khan on the edge!
Cash’s UPPERCUT knocks Khan down, but Cobb ROCKS Cash. Cobb climbs, and he deadlift SUPERPLEXES Cash, but Cash slips out!! Cash tags Dax and Electric Chairs Cobb! FLYING BULLDOG!! Cover, Khan breaks it! The Steiner shoutout doesn’t finish it, and Khan clinches Cash for an EXPLODER! Fans fire up as Khan helps Cobb over to their corner. Khan tags in and Dax stares him down. Fans rally up, Dax ROCKS Khan! Khan ROCKS Dax! Dax ROCKS Khan! Repeat! Fans fire up as the forearms go faster and faster! Khan gets the edge, then whips Dax, only for Dax to reverse, wrench and short arm LARIAT! But Khan stays up!
Dax LARIATS, but Khan is still up! Khan then shoots around to LARIAT! Dax stays up! Khan LARIATS, Dax still stays up! DOUBLE LARIATS collide but both men stay up! DOUBLE LARIATS collide again, and again! Dax staggers back but Khan stays up and fans fire up! But both men roar as they storm up again! Khan SWATS the clothesline, ELBOWS Dax, then runs, and LARIATS! But Dax still stays up! Fans fire up but Khan can’t believe it! Dax swings, but into an STO! Khan has a head ‘n’ arm triangle for a cover, but Cash stomps it apart! Cobb runs in but Cash dumps him out, to then PLANCHA! But Cobb catches Cash!
Cobb hauls Cash around to TOSS him to railing! Cobb then runs in, but Cash sends him tumbling over the railing! Cash gets to the apron but Khan DECKS him! Dax waistlocks but Khan fights free. Khan swings, but Dax dodges to ROCK him with a right! OLYMPIC SLAM! But Khan is right up! Dax BOOTS Khan, Khan LARIATS Dax! Khan hauls Dax up to suplex, but Dax slips out and suplexes in return. Dax puts Khan up top, then climbs up. Cash tags in and goes to the adjacent corner! SUPERPLEX! FLYING SPLASH!! Power and Glory!! Cover, Cobb breaks it!! Fans fire up as Cobb ducks Cash to ripcord and TOUR OF- NO, Dax chop blocks!
Cash turns things around, TORNADO DDT! Dax hurries after Khan and hauls him up. Dax whips but Khan KICKS him, and LARIATS Cash! Khan BOOTS Dax, scoops and TTD on Cash! Cover, TWO!! Fans are thunderous as all four men are down! Khan clamps the IRON CLAW onto Cash! ELIMI- NO, Cash slips out and Dax tags in. Khan whips but Cash slides under! Dax flapjacks Khan, for the BIG RIG!!! Cover, FTR WINS!
Winners: FTR, by pinfall (still IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)
Cash & Dax not only stay IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, they stay the THREE BELT Champions! But with World Tag League around the corner, will FTR be able to keep things that way? Or will the United Empire be back for another round?
IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship: Will Ospreay VS Tetsuya Naito!
The Commonwealth Kingpin didn’t like the idea of it, but a #1 contender’s match of sorts was held at Royal Quest II, and it was the Uncontrollable Charisma that came out on top! The United Empire has gone 1-1, but will Ospreay cap the night with a win? Or will even he be conquered tonight?
The introductions are made, with Gideon Grey making Ospreay’s. The US title is raised, and to finish Battle Autumn, we see who has a golden ticket to WrestleKingdom!
Naito hands over Grey’s jacket as if it’s a prize, and maybe in a way, it is. Naito then takes his time with his entrance attire, as he always does. Ospreay is annoyed but he lets it finish. The bell rings and Ospreay rushes in! Naito avoids the dropkick, arm-drags, but Ospreay headscissors. Naito kips free, he dodges Ospreay and RANAS, but Ospreay handsprings! Naito avoids the Penalty Kick and the standing moonsault, Ospreay runs to handspring! Naito avoids the kick, kicks Ospreay, and he throws Ospreay out! Naito builds speed but Ospreay knows what’s coming! Ospreay slides in and he copies tranquilo as Naito tranquilos!
Fans fire up as Naito and Ospreay both smirk. Naito and Ospreay slowly sit up as fans rally up. Ospreay and Naito stand and reset. Ospreay shows off doing jumping jacks, and then he and Naito approach. Naito avoids Ospreay, though, and fans applaud. Naito wants Ospreay to hold on, and they circle again. Naito steps forward but then back. The circling continues and fans rally up. Naito tries to fake Ospreay again but Ospreay pushes him to ropes. They both fight for control, and Naito has Ospreay against ropes. Red Shoes calls for the break, Ospreay turns things around, and then Ospreay lets off slowly.
Naito ducks the cheap shot to fire off fists on Ospreay! Naito whips, hip tosses Ospreay into a backbreaker! Ospreay writhes, Naito drags him up, NECKBREAKER! And PLUMA BLANCA! Ospreay kicks and flails to the ROPEBREAK! Naito claims he needs help again, but he does let go at 4. Ospreay bails out and is fuming. Fans rally while Naito now says Ospreay needs to hurry up. The ring count starts and Ospreay stands, but then he clutches his neck. Ospreay shakes out his bad arm and tries to get feeling, and the ring count reaches 10 of 20. Ospreay hears it reach 15, and he slides in at 17. Naito stomps Ospreay down!
Naito drags Ospreay up, snapmares, and cravats. Naito pulls on the hold but Ospreay endures. Ospreay moves around, fights up to his feet, and he throws body shots. Naito still puts Ospreay in the corner, Ospreay demands the ropebreak, and Red Shoes counts. Naito holds, Ospreay CLUBS him, but Naito throws a hard back elbow! Fans rally as Naito throws another hard elbow! And another! Naito lets off as Red Shoes reprimands, and Naito whips Ospreay corner to corner. JUMP KICK! Leg sweep! But Ospreay disrupts Combinacion Cabron and puts Naito up top! Ospreay CHOPS Naito and Naito falls to the floor!
Fans fire up while Naito writhes and clutches his stinging chest. Gideon coaches Ospreay as the ring count starts. Ospreay goes out and stalks Naito around the way. Ospreay brings Naito up, and whips him hard into railing! Naito tumbles up and over! Ospreay shakes out the bad arm while fans rally up again. Ospreay goes out to fetch Naito in No Man’s Land, and he CHOPS him! Naito rests on the spare table, but Ospreay drags him up. Ospreay has Naito sit on the railing, and DECKS him back into ringside! The ring count finally starts again and Ospreay drags Naito up. Ospreay puts Naito in at 9 of 20 and fans applaud.
Ospreay stalks Naito to the other side of the ring. Ospreay drags Naito up while fans rally. Ospreay ROCKS Naito with a forearm! Naito staggers, Ospreay CLUBS him on the back. Naito staggers into a CHOP! Ospreay stalks Naito, and CHOPS him off his feet! Ospreay covers, TWO! Fans applaud and rally up again, but Ospreay drags Naito up. Naito throws body shots and forearms! Ospreay EuroUppers! Ospreay whips, Naito reverses but Ospreay turns hip toss into COBRA TWIST! Naito CLUBS Ospreay but Ospreay scoops for the SPIN OUT BACKBREAKER! Naito flounders away but fans rally up again.
Ospreay stalks Naito, drags him up, and snapmares to then dig a knee into Naito’s back. Ospreay has the chinlock but Naito endures. Naito grabs at Ospreay but Ospreay pulls back on the hold. Fans rally as Naito continues to endure. Naito fights around but Ospreay digs that knee in! Naito kicks and flails and gets the ROPEBREAK! Ospreay lets off quickly, and he drags Naito up. Ospreay whips Naito to ropes, but Naito holds ropes to BOOT back! Naito runs, into an elbow! Ospreay runs, into a BOOT! Both men are down and fans rally up again. Naito stands up first, he throws haymakers and kicks!
Naito whips, ELBOWS Ospreay down, then basement dropkicks! Fans fire up and Naito has Ospreay in a corner. Naito whips corner to corner, runs in and JUMP KICKS! Ospreay swings but Naito ducks to sweep the legs! Ospreay hits buckles, and then Naito SWINGING DROPKICKS! Not quite Combinacion Cabron but good enough! Ospreay staggers and Naito poses. Fans fire up as Naito hits the NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay barely gets a shoulder up, but Naito gives him toying kicks. Ospreay goes to the corner, Naito kicks him more, and fans rally up. Naito throws those heavy back elbows again!
Naito hoists Ospreay up, brings him out, and hits a SUPER DRAPING NECKBREAKER!! Cover, TWO!! But Naito puts PLUMA BLANCA back on! Ospreay flails but Naito drags him away from ropes! Ospreay turns and reaches out but Naito drags him away from those ropes, too! Naito slaps Ospreay around while Ospreay endures the hold. Ospreay grabs at Naito but Naito reclines back. The fans rally, Ospreay kicks and moves around, then reaches out, to the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud but Naito claims he needs help. Red Shoes isn’t falling for that so Naito lets go on his own. Ospreay clutches his shoulder again while fans rally.
Naito drags Ospreay up, but Ospreay throws a forearm! But it seems to take more out of Ospreay than it does Naito. Ospreay throws another, and another, but Naito ELBOWS and CLUBS Ospreay in return! Naito stomps Ospreay down, then glares at Gideon. Gideon backs off, Naito slaps Ospreay around. Naito whips, Ospreay handsprings to NEURALIZER! Fans fire up as Naito bails out, and Ospreay hurries over to SLINGSHOT ELBOW! Direct hit and both men are down at ringside! Fans rally up while Red Shoes checks. Both men are okay to continue, and Ospreay sits up first. Fans applaud as Ospreay drags Naito up and puts him in the ring.
Ospreay aims from the corner, he springboards, but Naito gets under! Naito wrenches to TORNADO- NO! Ospreay blocks it! Ospreay suplexes Naito, but Naito slips out! Naito waistlocks, Ospreay switches but Naito elbows free. Naito runs, but into the Tiger Wall Kick! And ENZIGURI! Both men are down again and fans rally back up. Ospreay goes to the apron, he aims from the apron again, and springboards, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Fans rally while both men are down. Ospreay sits up and he calls his shot. But Naito anchors a leg! Ospreay gives him Kawada Kicks for that. Ospreay springboards but Naito trips him up! DRAPING NECKBREAKER!
Naito then drags Ospreay to the apron, another DRAPING NECKBREAKER, TO THE FLOOR!! Fans are thunderous while both men writhe! Red Shoes checks and Ospreay is okay to continue, despite all that damage to his neck and shoulders. Naito drags himself up with the railing, and he hobbles over towards Ospreay. Naito drags Ospreay up, and whips him into the POST! Ospreay wipes out at Gideon’s feet! Naito storms over as Ospreay flounders against railing. Naito grins and opens the gate. Naito CHOKES Ospreay on the railing, then CLUBS him! Naito then turns Ospreay, but Ospreay breaks free!
Ospreay uses a backslide hook to bring Naito back over! Ospreay then jumps off the railing, OSCUTTER TO THE FLOOR!! Fans fire up again and Red Shoes checks both men. They’re somehow okay to continue, and a ring count begins. Naito and Ospreay writhe and stir, the count is 10 of 20. Ospreay and Naito slowly sit up at 15, flounder their way over to the ring, and they both spring in at 19!! Fans rally back up as both men are stirring. They crawl after each other, and Ospreay throws a forearm! Naito sits back up and he throws a forearm into Ospreay! Ospreay sits back up and he forearms Naito. Naito forearms Ospreay.
Ospreay throws another forearm, but so does Naito. Fans fire up as Ospreay roars! Ospreay ROCKS Naito, but Naito ROCKS Ospreay! Ospreay eggs Naito on and the forearms fly fast and furious! The forearms slow down, Naito SLAPS Ospreay, Ospreay throws more forearms! Naito throws those all back! FIVE in a row! Fans are thunderous as Ospreay is dazed! Naito drags Ospreay back up, and he throws elbows! Ospreay gives Kawada Kicks! Naito gives elbows! Ospreay clinches to an EXPLODER! But Naito has the arm! Naito drags Ospreay up to throw more elbows! Ospreay drops to a knee and fans fire up!
Naito drags Ospreay back up, and he throws more back elbows! Ospreay falls back in a heap! Naito paces while Ospreay sits up in a daze. Fans rally hard as ever and Naito stands Ospreay up. Naito throws more elbows! Ospreay falls back in another heap! Naito drags Ospreay up again, to wrench, but Ospreay RAMS Naito into a corner. Ospreay runs in, but into a BOOT! Naito runs, to RANA, but Ospreay blocks! Ospreay gets Naito up but Naito slips out to TORNADO DDT! Ospreay goes to a corner, Naito hoists him up top again, and then climbs up behind him! Fans are thunderous for the SUPER POISON RANA, BUT OSPREAY LANDS ON HIS FEET!!
Ospreay springboards to OSCUTTER!! Both men are down and fans are thunderous! Ospreay crawls to a cover, TWO!!! Naito survives, but Ospreay is too tired to be upset about it! Fans rally harder and harder, Naito slowly sits up as we pass 25 minutes! Ospreay slaps some sense into himself while Naito crawls to a corner. Ospreay crawls over and brings Naito up in a waistlock. Ospreay hoists Naito up top now, and Ospreay then tucks Naito in! CHEEKY NANDOS! And then Ospreay gets under Naito for an Electric Chair! Ospreay goes up the corner?! But Naito fights it! Naito turns to SUPER STEINER!!
Fans are electric, Naito runs in, but Ospreay holds that off to DOCTOR BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?! Naito survives and fans are electric again! Ospreay prepares his arm and he aims from the corner! But Naito wheelbarrows to victory roll! TWO!! Ospreay hurries, Naito ducks the superkick to ENZIGURI! Ospreay returns, but into a pop-up into the buckles! Naito then hurries to the corner, he gets Ospreay up, ESPERANZA!! Naito sets up again, he runs at Ospreay, CORRIENDO- NO! Ospreay slips free to SUPERKICK! And HIDDEN- DESTINO!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ospreay survives but Naito drags him up! Wrench and tilt-o-whirl, NO! Underhooks and STORM- DESTINO!?!?!? Cover, TWO!?!?!?
Naito doesn’t let that stop him! Fans are electric again and Naito drags Ospreay up! Wrench and tilt-o-whirl, but Ospreay slips out! Ospreay and Naito fight for control, POP-UP FOREARM!! And then HIDDEN BLADE to the face!!! Fans are at a fever pitch as Ospreay aims again, TRUE HIDDEN BLADE!!! Cover, TWO!?!?!?!? HOW?!?! But Ospreay doesn’t care, he just hauls Naito up again! Double underhooks, STORMBREAKER!!!!! Cover, OSPREAY WINS!!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (still IWGP US Heavyweight Champion)
Just after 30 minutes, this one comes to an end! Naito gave it his all, but it just wasn’t enough to dethrone Ospreay! If Naito can’t use the US title as a way to WrestleKingdom, then what is there for him?
As for Ospreay, he is helped up by Aussie Open, and Gideon Grey gets him the belt. Grey and Red Shoes raise Ospreay’s hands in victory, and then Gideon gets Ospreay the mic. Ospreay takes it and says, “And that is how you make the United States Championship worth it. Orange Cassidy, Dave Finlay, and now, Tetsuya Naito.” Ospreay counts three but he wants a fourth. “Well, Naito, gomenasai <very sorry,> no Tokyo Dome for you. But… My journey is still going. And we have in two, three weeks, Stardom NJPW crossover show! So… Open Challenge! Who is next?!” Ospreay and the Empire wait to see if someone will come out.
Well, no one? Then maybe someone should get on Skype or on Zoom. Anyone from “The Forbidden Door” want to show up? Who? No one’s answering! “Guess nobody wants to get in the ring with THE Best Wrestler in the World!” Gideon takes the mic to say Chaos, LIJ, and anyone else, there is just NO ONE that can do it night after night after night quite like the Empire! So on behalf of Aussie Open and Will Ospreay, Gideon thanks them for coming to see the United Empire!! The confetti flies and the crowns are up. Who will answer the call for the title? WAIT! Just as Ospreay’s heading out, the lights go out!
It’s… SHOOTER!! The Roughneck, Shota Umino, is back in Japan! Ospreay is a bit surprised, but he lets Shota approach and fans applaud. Ospreay and Shota get face to face, and Ospreay holds up the belt. “Is this what you want? Huh? Is this what you want? Welcome back, but you came back at the wrong time. I’m the United States Champion, what’re you gonna do about it?” Shota just pushes Ospreay aside to get the mic for himself. Shota holds up the mic, but then tosses it aside to DECK Ospreay! Shota then CLOBBERS Fletcher and DECKS Davis! Gideon gets in but Shota DECKS him, too!
Shota kicks Gideon out, then he dodges Ospreay’s belt attack! DEATH RIDER!! Shooter has learned a lot from the Maniac, Jon Moxley, and he holds up the title over Ospreay. Shota holds the belt up over his own head, but then bails out as the rest of the United Empire rushes out! Will the Roughneck have a golden homecoming at the Historic X-Over?
My Thoughts:
A great event for NJPW to wrap up Battle Autumn while moving things towards the next big events. Great opener for the Junior Heavyweight Tag titles, and I had a feeling the Empire would retain since they were losing so much during the build. Bushi and Titan got to show how great a combo they are during those tune-ups, but it seems TJP & Akira are still a better team when the pressure is on. The United Empire also winning that 8 Man Tag made sense to keep the rest of the faction strong going into the dual World Tag League, Super Junior Tag League series starting near the end of the month.
I skimmed the other matches, and I almost missed Hikuleo’s because it was so quick. Apparently, Sho tried to help Yujiro attack Hikuleo but Hikuleo whooped them both, and then all he needed was his finisher to get perhaps the fastest win in NJPW. I suppose that’s a good way to make it up to Hikuleo that he doesn’t get the NEVER Openweight title yet, and makes him look awesome so that of course he’ll be taking that title off Karl Anderson. I’m pretty sure the “Incredible Tag” of Hiromu & Taiji VS Wato & Desperado was great stuff, and the same for Okada & Tama VS White & Kenta, but those were of course just tune-ups. Wato & Desperado win, perhaps indicating they’re not going to win the Junior Heavyweight title.
We got great stuff in the NJPW World Television title tournament matches. I was rather shocked that Narita won, but they did bring it to the wire, and it fits the story Narita is telling about bringing around the new generation. And then it was hilarious that there were multiple Young Lions dressed like ZSJ, and that those guys came into play countering Dick Togo’s antics. ZSJ beats Evil surprisingly quick, too, and now we have the finals set for WrestleKingdom, with both guys getting to do a lot of build in the two months left. Now, the way the NJPW and TV Asahi officials introduced this title, it’s about the young generation, so I would think Narita is the one to win, but ZSJ really deserves to have a singles title finally, and being an inaugural champion would be great for him.
And of course, we got awesome stuff for the heavyweight tag titles and the US title. FTR VS Khan & Cobb wasn’t the insane match of the year contender that FTR VS Aussie Open was at Royal Quest II, but this was great stuff from both teams. I suppose FTR winning is fine, they can join World Tag League with the pressure of being champions on them, and we’ll see how that story plays out. Naito VS Ospreay was awesome stuff, practically WrestleKingdom worthy in itself, and it was a bit of a surprise that Ospreay won, but something made me feel like Naito’s story is going to be him scraping the bottom of the barrel to get on the WK17 card. Maybe he and Sanada get in WTL, too?
And then Shota returning here was great, he gets to have that rough Face persona where he’s not backing down from a fight. He is going to give Ospreay a great match since we saw a sampler at Royal Quest II. They can even build off that, where Red Shoes has to let his son take the brutal hits Ospreay is going to throw at him. I don’t think Shota gets the title but he’ll look great either way.
My Score: 8.8/10
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!
As if 2025 wasn’t already big enough!
AEW Dynamite not only holds a Casino Gauntlet to determine Jon Moxley’s challenger for Maximum Carnage, but we also welcome back Kenny Omega! What will The Cleaner have to say about the mess The Death Riders have made?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Will Ospreay VS Buddy Matthews; wins.
- Men’s Casino Gauntlet: ??? wins and will challenge Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship at AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage.
- Bobby Lashley w/ MVP VS Mark Briscoe; wins.
- Women’s Casino Gauntlet #1 Spot Triple Threat: Kris Statlander VS Willow Nightingale VS Toni Storm; wins and will enter #1 in the inaugural Women’s Casino Gauntlet.
PLAY BY PLAY
Will Ospreay VS Buddy Matthews!
The Aerial Assassin may not be Continental Champion after Worlds End, but you best believe he is going to shrug that off and keep on fighting. Will Ospreay make 2025 the Year of the Bruv? Or will the Aussie Juggernaut show that even in the New Year, the House Always Wins?
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!
Happy New Year’s Evil!
NXT raises Hell in the City of Angels, but also raises the stakes! It’s a Triple Threat as Trick Williams defends THE NXT Championship against Oba Femi AND Eddy Thorpe!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez VS Giulia; Giulia wins and becomes the new NXT Women’s Champion.
- NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Kelani Jordan VS Lola Vice VS Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade; wins and will challenge for the title.
- Six Woman Tag: Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin & Shotzi Blackheart VS The Fatal Influence; Tatum, Gigi & Shotzi win.
- NXT Heritage Cup Championship Sudden Death: Lexis King VS Charlie Dempsey; King wins and is the rightful NXT Heritage Cup Champion.
- NXT Championship Triple Threat: Trick Williams VS Oba Femi VS Eddy Thorpe; Oba wins and becomes the new NXT Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
As NXT counted down to a New Year…
…we looked back on 2024, a year that brought NXT moment after moment. The biggest Stand & Deliver ever, NXT moving to CW, and even entered the ECW Arena. But as one countdown ends, another begins. A countdown to validation, a countdown to new challenges, a countdown to new opportunities, and a countdown to long awaited vindication. Forget the countdown to 2025, the countdown to New Year’s Evil, ends now!
A truck pulls into the arena.
And out steps THE ROCK! He promised on social media that he would be here, and so here he is! What will The People’s Champion get up to on the first NXT of 2025?
NXT Women’s Championship: Roxanne Perez VS Giulia!
These two met before, but there was some controversy to how that one ended. The Prodigy still thinks she’s the best in the world today, but now there will be no one coming to save her! Will Roxie make it past day 276? Or will she succumb to the Beautiful Madness?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and the first match of NXT’s 2025 is already epic!
The bell rings and the two tie up. The fans rally, Roxie hits a headlock takeover but Giulia headscissors. Roxie kips free, roles reverse as Giulia headlocks for the takeover. Roxie headscissors, Giulia kips free, and the two reset. The fans cheer as they circle again, and then they tie up. Roxie waistlocks, then she spins Giulia and has a hammerlock. Roxie wrangles Giulia into La Magistrol and then BRIDGE, TWO! ARMBAR! Roxie flails, rolls, but Giulia keeps her grounded. Roxie fights to a stack, TWO! Roxie headlocks, Giulia powers up and out, then drops down. Roxie cartwheels, and then she SLAPS Giulia!
The fans fire up while Roxie takes a bow. Roxie talks some trash, but then Giulia HEADBUTTS her! And HEADBUTTS, HEADBUTTS, HEADBUTTS! Giulia has Roxie in a corner, the ref counts, but Giulia lets off to whip corner to corner. Roxie reverses, runs up, but Giulia dodges! Giulia ROCKS Roxie, shoves her down, then climbs up the corner. The fans are fired up as she MISSILE DROPKICKS Roxie down! Roxie ends up in the corner, Giulia runs up and BOOT WASHES her! Roxie flops to the floor but Giulia pursues. Giulia kicks Roxie around, then puts her in the ring. Giulia goes up but Roxie grabs an arm! HOTSHOT!
The fans are torn but Roxie drags Giulia through the corner! Roxie bends Giulia’s arm against the crossbar, then DOUBLE STOMPS it! The fans are torn again, and maybe Giulia’s arm is busted, but NXT goes picture in picture.
Roxie drags Giulia into the ring, wrenches the arm, then throws Giulia down by her hair! But Giulia avoids the knee drop! Ghost pin, TWO! Giulia hurries to whip, Roxie reverses, CODE BREAKER to the arm! Giulia clutches that elbow, but Roxie pushes her to a cover, TWO! Roxie is frustrated but she STMOPS the bad arm again and again! Then she traps the arm for the KNEE DROP! Roxie mocks the fans, talks trash, then drags Giulia around ot whip her to the corner. Roxie runs up to UPPERCUT, then she wrenches and clinches, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, ONE!! Roxie is furious but she throws Giulia down by her hair!
The ref reprimands but Roxie digs her shoulder into Giulia’s shoulder. Roxie pulls the arm, talks trash while she SLAPS the arm over and over, then YANKS it back! Cover, TWO! Roxie is only getting angrier, and she clamps on a top wristlock. Roxie pulls on that bad arm, then wrangles Giulia to trap the arm. BRIDGING HAMMERLOCK! Giulia fights around, ROPEBREAK! Roxie lets off, just to CLUB Giulia on the back. Roxie keeps the hammerlock as she stands Giulia up, then she RAMS Giulia into buckles! Roxie reels Giulia in, wrenches, hammerlocks again, and then whips, but Giulia reverses! Roxie hits POST!
NXT returns to single picture and Roxie staggers back. Roxie ROCKS Giulia, Giulia ROCKS Roxie! Roxie rebounds to ROCK Giulia! Giulia ROCKS Roxie again! Roxie ROCKS Giulia once more, but then Giulia ROCKS Her back! The fans fire up as the forearms go faster and faster! Roxie gets the edge, then whips, but Giulia DROPKICKS her down! The fans fire up while Roxie flounders away. Giulia and Roxie slowly rise up, and Giulia goes to the apron. Giulia climbs, the fans rally, but Roxie ROCKS her first! Roxie climbs up after Giulia, then SUPER STEINERS! High stack, TWO!! Giulia survives and Roxie is furious!
Roxie stomps away on Giulia’s bad hand! The fans boo but Roxie drags Giulia up to ELBOW BREAKER, then she UPPERCUTS the arm! Another wrench, another wrench, and- SAIDO from Giulia! Roxie shrieks as she rises up! Roxie dodges Giulia, and she SAIDOS! But Giulia roars as she rises! The fans are thunderous as the SLAPS fly! Both women wobble, but they both SLAP again! Giulia fires hands from all sides, then winds up, HAYMAKER! Roxie staggers to ropes, Giulia storms up on her, but Roxie WRINGS the bad arm! The fans rally while Giulia bails out. Roxie says this is why she’s the champ! Roxie DIVES and down goes Giulia!
Roxie puts Giulia in the ring, fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” Giulia UPPERCUTS Roxie! Giulia goes up, the fans fire up, and Giulia underhooks the arms! SUPER BUTTERFLY PLEX!! The fans are thunderous, and then Giulia hammerlocks, scoops, and swings Roxie for the GLORIOUS DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!! “This is Awesome!” as Roxie survives, and Giulia brings her up. Scoop and- NO, Roxie slips free, and she wrangles Giulia right down! CROSSFACE!! Giulia endures, fights around, and reaches out, but Roxie kicks off ropes to roll things back! But Giulia gets up! Roxie hops on, Giulia slips free!
But Roxie SHOTGUNS Giulia outta the ring! The fans are thunderous again as Roxie hurries to get Giulia up. But Giulia scoops! NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB on the floor!! Both women are down, and a ring count starts! They’re still down at 5 of 10! WAIT! CORA JADE puts Roxie in the ring! She interfered after all! But then Giulia slips in at 9.9!! But Roxie hops on! POP ROX!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Giulia shocks everyone, but Roxie clamps on! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! The ref EJECTS Cora, that’s what she gets! Roxie THEASHE the arm, but Giulia rolls her! TWO!! Roxie staggers up, into ARRIVEDERCI KNEE!!
Giulia roars, the fans are with her! Scoop and NORTHERN LIGHTS BOMB!!! Cover, GIULIA WINS!!
Winner: Giulia, by pinfall (NEW NXT Women’s Champion)
The Prodigy is indeed one of the greatest champs in NXT history, but she finally falls to one of the greatest champs in international wrestling history! The New Year has a new champion, will all of NXT succumb to the Beautiful Madness?
Refs find Eddy Thorpe down and out!
Eddy writhes on the steps, and Ava Raine walks in. Oh, okay, she gets it. Big Triple Threat, Eddy, time to get going. Hey, he didn’t fake this one! He really got attacked! Oh? And she’s supposed to believe him? The Alpha Wolf cried wolf before, but is he telling the truth now? Or will it not matter once he steps into the ring with Oba Femi and Trick Williams?
Je’Von Evans speaks.
The Young OG, jaw wired shut, fights through the pain to tell Ethan Page, “I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t talk. But I’m going to find you. For what you did to Cedric. For what you did to me. Ethan, I’m gonna make you feel my pain.” When and where will All Ego pay for all his crimes?
NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Kelani Jordan VS Lola Vice VS Stephanie Vaquer VS Cora Jade!
The NXT Women’s Division continues to grow stronger and stronger, and this match is proof of that! The Standout wants payback on everyone in this match for looking down on her, will she overcome the odds to make it back to her title? Or will someone else be going after the Fatal Influence’s toxic cowgirl?
NXT returns and Lola makes her entrance, everyone else already waiting in the ring. The bell rings and the four watch each other. Cora talks trash on the other three, so Lola KICKS her, Vaquer ROCKS her, and Kelani ROCKS her! Lola mule kicks, Vaquer HEADBUTTS, and Kelani kicks low! Kelani TOSSES Cora, but then Cora drags Kelani out of the ring! Vaquer and Lola talk while Kelani DECKS Cora! Kelani gets back in, she shoves Vaquer into Lola and rolls Vaquer up, TWO! Lola runs up, Kelani rolls her up, TWO as Vaquer rolls Kelani! But Lola rolls Vaquer! Cora CLUBS Lola, DECKS Kelani, and TOSSES Lola!
Lola ends up on ropes, so Cora runs up to ELBOW her in the back! Cora STOMPS Kelani down, covers, but Vaquer drags Cora right up. Vaquer snapmares Cora, then wraps on the headscissors! Vaquer gives Cora the DRILLER into the mat, but Lola stomps Vaquer! The fans boo as Lola puts on the SLEEPER, but Kelani SUPERKICKS Lola! Kelani runs up to slingshot arm-drag Lola, then she DOUBLE DROPKICKS Lola and Vaquer !Kelani kips up, the fans fire up, and Kelani dodges Cora to CLOBBER her! Kelani keeps moving, she rolls over Cora’s dropdown, but Cora dodges Kelani to tilt-o-whirl RANA! But Kelani handsprings through!
The fans fire up as Kelani wags her finger. But then Cora and Kelani DOUBLE LARIAT! Lola and Vaquer brawl on the outside, and Lola BOOTS Vaquer down. Kelani PLANCHAS onto Lola! Cora CANNONBALLS Kelani! The fans fire up while Cora laughs sat Kelani. Cora mocks Kelani’s tears while NXT goes picture in picture.
Cora drags Kelani up, puts her in the ring, then stalks her to a corner. Cora stomps a mudhole into Kelani, and doesn’t have to stop as she digs her boots in because there’s No Disqualifications! Cora still does let off so she can SLAM Kelani down, though! Then she whips Kelani to a corner, runs up, and SHINING WIZARDS! Cora pushes Kelani down, covers, TWO! Cora stalks Kelani to ropes, puts her in a corner, then whips her corner to corner. Kelani blocks it, but Cora SLAPS her! Then runs up, but Kelani dodges the wizard! Roll up, TWO! Kelani brings Cora around, bumps her off buckles, then bumps her off more buckles.
Kelani TOSSES Cora out, but Lola TOSSES Kelani! Kelani RAMS into Lola, then slingshots to sunset flip! TWO, and both women hurry to their feet. Kelani gets around Lola, snapmares and runs, to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Lola stays in this but Kelani stays on her, KNEE to the back again and again! Then she pulls on Lola’s arms, digging her boots into Lola’s back! Lola endures, powers up, and pushes back to stack Kelani! TWO as Kelani kicks Lola away in time! But then Lola mule kicks Kelani! Lola whips Kelani to ropes, KNEES her low, then shakes her hips. Lola whips and KNEES Kelani again, more shaking hips!
Lola whips, Kelani wrenches, but Lola ducks the roundhouse, only for the CALF KICK to hit! Kelani crawls to ropes, but Cora is there. Kelani DECKS Cora, and Vaquer runs in! Lola dodges Vaquer to have a SLEEPER! Lola thrashes Vaquer around, but then Cora has a SLEEPER on Lola! Lola holds onto Vaquer, and now Kelani has a SLEEPER on Cora! Cora holds onto Lola, but Vaquer slips around to TRIPLE JAWBREAKER! All four women stagger around, and NXT returns to single picture as Vaquer serves Lola some SOLE FOOD! Vaquer then brings Cora around to bump off buckles, and she fires off HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT!
Vaquer runs side to side to BOOT Lola, then corner to corner, only for Kelani to stop her! The fans boo but Vaquer has Kelani’s leg! Kelani apologizes, but Vaquer still DRAPING DRAGON SCREWS! Kelani writhes, Vaquer gives Cora METEORA! Vaquer drags Cora back, but Lola has the SLEEPER again! Vaquer drops down, rolls Lola, TWO! Lola SPIN KICKS! And SPIN KICKS! And SPIN KICKS again! Kelani runs up but into LIGHTNING KICKS! The fans fire up as Lola sits Kelani down! Lola has targets in all corners, “I’M A LATINA~!” HIP ATTACK on Vaquer! HIP ATTACK misses Kelani! Cora DROPKICKS Lola!
Cora shrieks, runs up, and SHINING- NO, Lola stops the wizard to DUMP Cora out! But Vaquer DROPKICKS Lola! Vaquer goes up, up, and SUPER CROSSBODIES Lola and Cora! All three women are down, but then Kelani rises up! Kelani grins as she has a target, and she climbs up! The fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” as Kelani ARIHARA MOONSAULTS them all! Kelani drags Vaquer up and in, “This is Awesome!” as Kelani leaps again! CROSSBODY! But roll through! TWO!! Kelani escapes, Vaquer runs up, but Kelani gets around! O’Conner Roll, TWO! Vaquer has the GEDO CLUTCH, but then BRIDGES!
Lola is back to drag Vaquer away from Kelani! Cora rolls in while Lola TOSSES Vaquer! SHINING WIZARD at the ropes! But Kelani wrenches Cora into a RIGHT ANGLE SLAM! The fans fire up as Kelani steps on Cora, goes up, up, and FIVE STAR- FLOP!! Cora avoided disaster, Lola URAKENS Kelani! Vaquer SUPERKICKS Lola! Lola shrieks as she stays up, but Vaquer TOSSES her out! Vaquer has Kelani, tucks her in, SVB!! Cover, Vaquer wins!
Winner: Stephanie Vaquer, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT Women’s North American Championship)
That Stephanie Vaquer Backbreaker gets the job done, and now she is aiming for Fallon Henley! Will Vaquer parallel Giulia by becoming the new champion in the New Year? Or will NXT stay under the Influence?
Ava Raine meets with the Unholy Union.
The NXT General Manager notes that with Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn winning over Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx, they will battle Lash Legend & Jakara Jackson next week, the winners becoming NEW #1 contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Alba says that is fantastic, Isla thanks Ava, and the wicked witches head out. Sarah Schreiber walks in to ask about Eddy Thorpe. Ava says Eddy is fine, this is just what he did last time. He can moan and groan and pretend he’s hurt, but she isn’t falling for it, the match stays as scheduled. Oba Femi walks in and says no, Eddy isn’t pretend. Oba did attack Eddy this time.
And Oba did it because Eddy smashed Oba in the face with the NXT Championship. We all saw that, so this is Oba returning the favor. Oh, well, then the match is still a Triple Threat. Oba says that’s fine, because that’s if Eddy makes it to the ring. But one way or another, the result remains the same. The Ruler is ready to become THE NXT Champion, will New Year’s Evil see the entire landscape change?
OTM speaks.
Bronco Nima & Lucien Price got #OutTheMud in the NXT Tag Division, and are proving the haters wrong. They got outta the hood, and look at them now: the NEW #1 Contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championships. Nathan Frazer, Axiom, they’re smooth, move like no one else in the game, but they ain’t never been in a dog fight. They’ve never had to fight for their food. So you will learn that you can’t see pain, you can only feel it. And you will feel it! Fraxiom thinks having two matches in one night is a struggle, but their problems and OTM’s problems are not the same! Try having to be 17 years old and you gotta put food on the table for your whole family!
So while OTM’s been dealing with some real-life struggles, Fraxiom been arguing like little kids. They’re dealing with some grown-ass men! Remember, they warned you. It doesn’t matter if you’re in sync or out, cuz next week, OTM takes those belts off Fraxiom’s shoulders to put around their waists. Next week, Fraxiom gets dragged through the mud! Will Nima & Price finally be golden? Or will Fraxiom prove they never slow down?
Six Woman Tag: Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin & Shotzi Blackheart VS The Fatal Influence!
As if things weren’t tense between the “freaks” and the Mean Girls of NXT before, the back and forth of screw jobs has only turned up the hostility. Will the outcasts prove they belong? Or will Fallon, Jacy & Jazmyn continue to influence NXT’s future?
NXT returns and Gigi makes her entrance, Tatum by her side, followed by Shotzi making her entrance. But the Influence doesn’t wait, Jacy DECKS Gigi off the corner! Jazmyn & Fallon go after Tatum & Shotzi while the fans boo and the ref reprimands. Jazmyn goes out to KICK away on Gigi! The bell rings, Tatum dodges Jacy to fire off forearms! Jacy shoves Tatum back, but Tatum SHOTGUNS Jacy down! The fans fire up with Tatum and she CROSSBODIES in the corner! Then BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, ONE!! Jacy crawls away but Tatum drags her up. Jacy fights free, then throws Tatum down by her hair!
The ref reprimands but Jacy PENALTY KICKS Tatum! Tag to Jazmyn, she PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Jazmyn runs, but Tatum kicks Jazmyn’s leg! Jazmyn hobbles, into a KNEE SMASH from Tatum! Tag to Gigi, then Gigi tags Shotzi. Tatum whips Gigi and she SHOTGUNS Jazmyn at the ropes! Tatum then sends Shotzi in, SENTON at the ropes! Tatum ELBOW DROPS, Shotzi covers, TWO! Shotzi drags Jazmyn up, but Jazmyn wrenches sand SWEEPS! Tag to Fallon and she runs up, but Shotzi dodges! Victory roll, TWO! Fallon stands, into a KNEE from Shotzi! Then a ROLLING ELBOW! Fallon flounders, Shotzi brings her around, snap suplex into buckles!
Shotzi drags Fallon to a cover, TWO! Fallon is tougher than that, but Shotzi watches the Influence closely. Shotzi fires forearms on Fallon while the fans cheer her on. Fallon kicks back, then talks trash on Shotzi. Fallon whips and KNEES Shotzi low, then runs, to YEEHAW FACEBUSTER! Cover, Gigi & Tatum break it! Jacy & Jazmyn storm in, the brawl is on again! LA loves it as Shotzi’s team TOSSES the Influence. Shotzi then builds speed, and she DIVES into a FOREARM! Fallon shoots Shotzi outta the sky, then stands her up. But Shotzi ROCKS Fallon back! Gigi hurries to check Shotzi, Jazmyn storms up, Gigi HEADBUTTS her!
Jacy CANNONBALLS Gigi down! Tatum CLOBBERS Jacy for it! But then Fallon swings on the corner to KICK Tatum down! Fallon turns around, Shotzi kicks her! Snap suplex to the floor! All six women are down, the fans fire up, and NXT goes to break!
NXT returns and Fallon whips Tatum to the corner. Tag to Jazmyn, then a feed to the drop toehold! Tag to Jacy and she KICKS Tatum in the back! Then SENTON! Cover, TWO! Tatum toughs it out but Jacy clamps on a chinlock. The fans rally as Tatum endures being thrashed around. Tatum fights up, pries at the hold, but Jacy puts her in a corner. Jacy takes a bow but the fans boo. Jacy goes back to Tatum but Tatum ELBOWS her! Tatum kicks, Jacy blocks, but then Tatum gets around to hit a BIG back suplex! Both women are down, the fans fire up, and their teams coach them up. Tatum crawls, hot tag to Gigi!
The fans fire up as Gigi runs to BLAST Jazmyn & Fallon! Gigi runs up but Jacy runs away! Gigi catches Jacy to fire off forearms! And a KNEE! Gigi roars, and she CLOBBERS Jacy! And CLOBBERS her again! Gigi wrenches, ROUNDHOUSES, then shoves Jacy so she can follow and STO! Cover, TWO! Jacy stays in this, but Gigi hauls her up. Jacy fights the underhooks, Jazmyn runs in to CLUB Gigi! Jacy SUPERKICKS Gigi down, hot tag to Fallon! Fallon gets Gigi up, she and Jacy double suplex, but Gigi lands out to DOUBLE NECKBREAKER! Hot tag to Shotzi, she goes up to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Gigi & Shotzi get Fallon up!
Shotzi runs, Gigi lifts, BLUE THUNDER NECKBREAKER!! Cover, Jacy & Jazmyn break it! The brawls on again, but Gigi & Tatum TOSS the Influencers! Fallon runs back in, but Gigi wrenches her, she and Tatum DOUBLE ENZIGIRI! Gigi hurries to the apron with Tatum, then they climb! Tatum ASAI MOONSAULTS Jacy, Gigi CANNONBALLS onto Jazmyn! Shotzi goes up, and she BALLPIT SENTONS Fallon! Cover, the “freaks” win!
Winners: Tatum Paxley, Gigi Dolin & Shotzi Blackheart, by pinfall
A great win for the Wild Child, and wait, she pinned the NXT Women’s North American Champion. Vaquer has her own shot at the title, will the walls start closing in on the Influence?
Ava Raine talks with Ethan Page.
She knows he heard what Je’Von said. Or at least, what Je’Von barely managed to say, given his jaw is wired shut from Ethan breaking it in half! Ethan says yes, and yet that moment has played one very episode since. For some reason, this big historic episode, New Year’s Evil 2025, and Ethan is nowhere to be seen on the card. Ava tells Ethan that she’ll make this very clear: this is HER show, this is NXT, and she calls the shots! Oho, hey, perfect timing. Ethan says there’s nothing perfect about this. But The Rock says oh no, there is something perfect about this. All Ego stares down The People’s Champ, and the fans can be heard from here!
Rock smiles and says, “Ethan Page.” That is correct, Final Boss. That is also correct. The Rock says good to meet Ethan, and Ethan says great to meet The Rock. They shake hands, and Rock says he’s heard a lot about Ethan. Not all good, a lot of bad actually. Apparently, Ethan broke a guy’s jaw. Is that right, Ava? Yes. Je’Von Evans. He deserved it. Oh, well, payback’s gonna be a b*tch, just so Ethan knows. Ethan highly doubts that. Well, Ethan also broke another guy’s wrist. Right, Ava? Ethan corrects The Rock that it was just Cedric’s fingers, but sure. Well, then Rock will tell Ethan as he told everyone else here on NXT that he’s talked with today…
If they need anything, come to The Rock. That includes Ethan. Wow, Ethan likes the sound of that. They shake hands, and Rock says one more thing. He IS The Final Boss. But uh, here on NXT, Ava’s the Final Boss. So if he and Ethan are gonna be cool, then Ethan and Ava need to be cool. Cool? Yeah, they’ll be cool. Then see him on main roster one day. Ethan sure hopes so. Rock says good, and he gives Ethan a pat on the butt as he leaves. Ava says she can’t wait for Ethan to be main roster’s problem. Ava says NXT is all about moments, and she feels like this is a good one. But speaking of, what’s Rock gonna say?
Rock has no idea! It’s crazy out there. But can she give him some advice? She can. No one has Rock’s record, no one can do what Rock does. Rock’s been in front of millions, and millions, but he’s never been in front of an NXT crowd. That passion hits different. We can literally hear that. So while Rock may not know what to say right now, he’ll feel it when he gets out there. Okay, Rock will feel it, and say it from the heart. They fist bump and Rock gets ready. “I dunno wtf I’m gonna say… CHEE-HOO~!” Will this be the one time The Great One is found speechless?
NXT Heritage Cup Championship Sudden Death: Lexis King VS Charlie Dempsey w/ No Quarter Catch Crew!
While The Drama King did win the Cup, it was the controversial nature of a disqualification caused by outside interference that has him having to “win it back.” And this time, it’s under standard rules, aka a single fall! No time limits, no breaks, and no Champion’s Advantage! Will the King finally and for truly have his crowning achievement? Or will the Cup stay with the No Quarter Catch Crew?
Entrances are made in picture in picture, then we return to single picture for the introductions. The Cup is raised, the bell rings, and there’s nothing to it but to do it!
The two tie up, Dempsey waistlocks but King wrenches. Dempsey wrenches back, wristlocks, but King spins, headlocks, and grinds the hold. Dempsey powers up and out, then ducks down, but King blocks the hip toss! Dempsey blocks in return, but King arm-drags and DROPKICKS! King hits a headlock takeover, Dempsey fights around, then rolls back to then hammerlock. Dempsey goes for the other arm, King resists, but Dempsey grabs the leg! Then he gets the arm, steps over, and King is being bent back! The fans rally while King endures, but Dempsey shifts to a cover, TWO!
Dempsey keeps on King with a wristlock, but King endures. King pushes through to spin Dempsey, headlock him, but Dempsey powers out to knuckle lock and wrench. Dempsey wristlocks again, but King rolls, wrenches, and wristlocks in return. Dempsey fights to a snapmare, but King holds onto the arm! King wrenches again, but Dempsey spins, breaks free, and he snapmares King. But King slips free to wristlock! Dempsey repeats the break and snapmare, and uses the cravat for a cover, TWO! Dempsey holds that cravat as King stands, and Dempsey fires knees! Dempsey whips, King goes up, but Dempsey catches him to a waistlock!
King goes to the corner, uses that to pivot and switch, O’Conner Roll! TWO, but King hurries to arm-drag! King has the cording hold and the fans cheer! Dempsey fights up, King pushes on the elbow, but Dempsey pulls hair. Dempsey puts King in the corner, but King dodges the haymaker to CHOP! King stalks Dempsey along the ropes, but Dempsey blocks the chop! Dempsey ROCKS King, UPPERCUTS him, then UPPERCUTS again! Dempsey whips, King grabs ropes, but then King DUMPS Dempsey out! Dempsey stands up, but King DROPKICKS him into the NQCC! Then King goes up, up and CROSSBODIES!
The fans fire up as King wipes out Dempsey, Tavion & Myles! Wren Sinclair is freaking out, but King has Dempsey up while NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Dempsey has the cravat, but King fights up! Dempsey ripcords, but King CHOPS! Dempsey KICKS King, then Dempsey wrenches to SLAP King! Dempsey wrenches again, but King fires forearms and a CHOP! And CHOP! CHOP! King whips, Dempsey reverses but King CLOBBERS Dempsey! And LARIATS! The fans rally up, but Dempsey wrenches. King SLAPS Dempsey, wrenches him and whips him to a corner. King runs up to LARIAT! Then CHOP! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! And Dempsey has an arm! DOUBLE WRISTLOCK! King endures as Dempsey kneels on King’s head!
King fights as the fans rally, and he RAMS Dempsey into a corner! Dempsey keeps on the arm, KNEES King away, then runs up, but into a SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! King hurries to a corner, climbs up, and the fans fire up for the CROSSBODY! But Dempsey rolls through! ARMBAR!! The fans go nuts, as does NQCC, but King fights around! King stacks Dempsey, then deadlifts him! POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Dempsey is still in this, and King grows frustrated. The fans rally, King ROCKS Dempsey, then reels him in. But Dempsey powers out of Coronation into a CROSSFACE CHICKEN WIGN!
King hurries to the ROPEBREAK! Dempsey holds until 4, then Dempsey ROCKS King! Dempsey fires off forearms but he might’ve even gotten a knockout! Dempsey CLUBS King, whips him, and ELBOWS him! Dempsey whips King to a corner, then runs up, but King BOOTS him! Dempsey whips again, but King goes up, around, and the two COLLIDE! Both men fall back and the fans fire up! Dempsey manages to stand, then runs back up. Backslide! TWO!! King stands, dodges Dempsey, but Dempsey drops down. King comes back, Dempsey hurdles, but not high enough as King runs right into Lil’ Charles!
The ref checks both men, and King says no, not again! He doesn’t wanna win like this, but what choice does he have? King brings Dempsey up. CORONATION!! Cover, King wins!
Winner: Lexis King, by pinfall (NEW NXT Heritage Cup Champion)
King was a new champion before, but now he is TRULY the new Heritage Cup Champion! King can finally put his name on the Cup, will he be able to survive the New Year with it?
Ava meets with Vaquer and Fallon.
She knows that Fallon just had her match, but so did Vaquer, and we have our next title match set. Shotzi steps in and asks Ava to hold on a moment. Before anything is made official, Shotzi points out she just pinned Fallon in that ring. Shotzi makes the case that SHE is #1 contender here. Vaquer says hey, she won the Fatal 4 Way that Ava made, and she beat three of the top stars in this division by herself. What’s that supposed to mean? Fallon says she loves this. They should fight it out, she fights the winner. Fallon leaves, Shotzi and Vaquer are all for it. Ava says she’s also all for it, just next week, not in the office.
The Wild Child and the Dark Angel are ready for a massive showdown, but who wins out to be THE #1 contender to the NXT Women’s North American Championship?
NXT Championship Triple Threat: Trick Williams VS Oba Femi VS Eddy Thorpe(?)
Ava said that one way or another, this is the main event. And The Ruler said that one way or another, he’s going to win it! Will Oba beating down The Alpha Wolf really improve his chances of winning? Or will Tricky Two-Time Two-Time make sure this is still the Whoop Dat Era?
Trick’s entrance is made with picture in picture, but NXT returns to single picture for Oba. And though we wait a moment, it doesn’t seem that Eddy is going to be joining us. The introductions are made for Oba and Trick, the belt is raised, and no matter what, New Year’s Evil is going to end with a bang!
The bell rings, the fans fire up, and Trick ties up with Oba. Oba powers Trick to a corner, RAMS him again and again, but then Trick slips away. Trick and Oba tie up again, and Oba powers Trick back. Trick powers Oba back, but then Oba slips around to waistlock and SLAM! Oba holds onto Trick, the fans rally and duel, “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” “HOOT!” Trick fights up, fires elbows, but Oba holds on! Trick jumps to JAWBREAKER free! Trick fireman’s carries, to DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO! Oba gets out of the ring while the fans rally up, and NXT goes to break.
NXT returns again and the fans duel as Oba grinds Trick down. Trick endures the chinlock, even as Oba thrashes him, but wait! We get a shot of backstage as Eddy storms into gorilla, armed with a chair! The fans rally up, Trick stands and pries the hold open, but Oba ROCKS Trick in the back! Oba then hoists Trick up to back suplex! Trick lands on his feet and goes to a corner. Oba runs up, Trick dodges, and Oba POSTS himself! Oba is stuck in the ropes, the fans rally as Trick hurries over, and while Oba falls back, Trick goes up. But Oba SWATS Trick first! Oba climbs up after Trick and the fans fire up!
Oba clinches Trick, but Trick clinches Oba in return! SUPER BOOKEND!! Cover, TWO!! Oba survives and the fans fire up! Trick and Oba rise, and Oba ROCKS Trick! Trick ROCKS Oba! They go back and forth with those heavy shots, and Trick gets the edge! Oba avoids the roundhouse to ROCK Trick! Trick BOOTS back! Oba RAMS Trick, Trick LEAPING LARIATS Oba! The fans are thunderous, and Trick dodges Oba to JUMPING NECKBREAKER! Trick scoops and SLAMS Oba! Trick whips Oba to ropes, and FLAPJACKS him! Trick kips up and the fans fire up with him! Trick aims from a corner as Oba rises, and SPIN- NO, Oba catches Trick!
POP-UP CHOP!! Oba storms after Trick, brings him around, FALL FROM- DDT!! Trick turns things around, and he takes aim again! SPIN KICK! Cover, TWO!! Oba survives again and Trick shakes his head. “This is Awesome!” as Trick goes back to a corner. Trick runs up at Oba, but Oba UPPERCUTS first! Trick staggers, Oba hauls him up! FALL FROM GRACE!! Cover, EDDY YANKS THE REF OUT!! The fans boo but Eddy storms into the ring. But Oba grabs Eddy first! And TOSSES him around! Then BOOTS him down! And BACK ELBOWS! Oba whips Eddy to a corner, Eddy bounces off buckles, and Oba hits a SPINEBUSTER!
The fans fire up for Oba as he hoists Eddy into the SHOTPUT BOMB! Oba aims, runs corner to corner, UPPERCUT! Oba keeps moving, UPPERCUT! But then TRICK SHOT for Oba!! Cover, TWO!??! Oba survives, Trick shakes his head, and the fans fire up again! Trick lets his hair down, LA duels between Trick and Oba, but Eddy is lurking! Oba dodges Trick, FULL METAL TRICK SHOT for Eddy!! Eddy flops out, Trick staggers on the bad leg, Oba gives him a FALL FROM GRACE!!! Cover, OBA WINS!!
Winner: Oba Femi, by pinfall (NEW NXT Champion)
Oba tries to remove Eddy from the equation, but The Alpha Wolf ended up a deciding factor in Oba’s victory! The Ruler is now THE champion in NXT, and he stands on stage alongside the other new champion, Giulia! Confetti flies as they hold up the gold, will they dominate this new era in NXT?
NXT goes picture in picture as the new champions return backstage. They are greeted and congratulated by many members of the NXT staff, and surely the celebration will begin after the show.
The Rock heads to the ring!
Los Angeles is fired up for “ROCKY! ROCKY!” even before the music hits, and they only get louder once The People’s Champion is on stage. The Rock goes down the ramp, high-fives the fans, and even makes sure the one fan’s shirt, “Pro-wrestling is real,” gets some attention. Rock then steps into the ring, poses on the corner, and then catches a mic. The Rock raises the eyebrow, revels in the cheering a little more, then shows the goosebumps. Fans “CHEE-HOO~!” and Rock takes a moment to soak in the moment. The fans cheer “NXT! NXT!” and Rock nods. Rock echoes the CHEE-HOO~! “And I love you, thank you.”
Rock says he has effin’ chills right now! This is crazy! Rock hears the fans continuing to cheer him on, and he says hold on, he has to get hold of his emotions. Rock finally catches his breath, sees he has about six minutes, but it’ll be the best six minutes ever. “The Rock has a lot of nicknames: People’s Champ; THE Most Electrifying Man in All of Entertainment; The Sexiest Man Alive! And, most proudly, The Jabroni Beating, Pie Eating, Trailblazing, Eyebrow Raising, Electric, Iconic, Holds All the Stock, THE Final Boss, The People’s Champ, The ROCK!” The fans cheer that, and again chant for “ROCKY! ROCKY!”
Rock then says that he needs them to help out. They all feel it, he feels them, so help him with this. This time last year, The Rock, everywhere he went, every gym, every restaurant, every church, every strip club… The same thing! “Oh, why you so mean to Cody? Don’t be mean to Cody! Cody gotta finish his story! Don’t be mean!” UGH. Okay, okay, but a year later, just last night, Netflix’s Raw premiere, WOO! An amazing night! Electric, historic! Rock wanted to give Cody his flowers. Cody’s been kicking ass! Carrying the company on his shoulders! And now, what’re “they” saying? “YoU cAn’T bE nIcE tO cOdY~! Don’t drink tequila with Cody~!”
Rock says F that noise! At the end of the day, let us all remind “them” that The Rock is the Final Boss, 20 steps ahead. The best thing to do is know your role, shut your mouth, and enjoy the ride The Rock is taking you on! LA cheers that! Rock says this is a rowdy crowd right here. Two-minute warning, though. Now, Rock’s in charge, F that, they can go all night if they want! The fans love that idea! Oh, “they” are sweating back there, sorry for the language. But here’s the thing: Rock knew he was coming to NXT even a couple weeks ago. He talked with Nick Khan and Triple H, he told them he should go to NXT.
We all knew it would be Intuit Dome on Monday, so Rock can go to NXT in The Shrine on Tuesday. They liked that idea, but then Rock didn’t know what to say. Think about it. Rock talked with Ava, Ava said he was gonna come out here and FEEL this crowd! She said the crowd would inform him on what he’d say. He loves them, he appreciates them, but he wants to say something very important. The main thing is, he wants to tell us all thank you. And here’s why. Because going to the Intuit Dome last night, that was a sexy ticket. LA, Netflix, Raw, the stars of WWE, celebrities of Hollywood, that’s the one you “have” to go to.
NXT, The Shrine, this is the one you WANT to go to! The fans cheer that! Rock will tell you something, the chills won’t stop! See, it is easy to go to the place with all the stars. Not that there aren’t stars here! But that’s what Rock needs us to know. Every single one of the fans here, how important and critical they are to this whole thing, because the thing is: the guys ‘n’ girls back there, they come out here, and who knows? In three years, they could be the main event of WrestleMania! But as we all know, they could also be out of the business. What it depends on, whether you boo or cheer, it is about how you react!
Rock has been down this road, wrestled in Memphis as “Flex Cavana,” he knows, probably the worst name in all of wrestling, but he knows what it is like to depend on the crowd. He wants us to know that we matter more than anything. His job takes him to a lot of places, but he will always come back home! WWE, NXT, Rock loves you! IF YA SMELLLLLL~… What The Rock is Cookin’!! The fans cheer The Great One, will this electrifying endorsement strap a rocket to NXT’s back?
My Thoughts:
An awesome NXT with New Year’s Evil, but also just a great LA crowd. The Rock had a great promo to close, clearly very genuine, and a lot of fun with The Rock being himself. Between Rock showing up and events like tonight’s New Year Evil being WWE coded, it is clear WWE is elevating NXT. Not so much that it’ll be the third main roster brand, but it’s certainly more than “just developmental.” Rock also had a very good promo with Ethan Page and Ava to help set up the closing promo, and I do like the idea of The Rock wanting All Ego to respect Ava, aka his daughter. Je’Von also had a very good promo, that grudge match is going to be some awesome stuff.
Speaking of grudge matches, all these titles matches were great given all the story and heat going into them. The NXT Women’s Championship opening was a little surprising, but that let it breathe and go as hard as it could. And as such, awesome win for Giulia, as expected. Same goes for the main event match, though I did like the outside the box idea: Eddy actually got attacked but gutted it out to join the match about halfway through. Oba VS Trick on its own was great, and then Eddy bringing a chair was good stuff. Oba winning was also expected, and Trick eating the pin could indicate Trick’s being called up. Roxie surely moves on, too, SmackDown being three hours could use some fresh faces to fill it out.
Great Fatal 4 Way, though I think one of the ads for the show messed up saying it was just Vaquer and Cora. That aside, great win for Vaquer, which for one lets Kelani and Cora settle things on their own, maybe even with Lola in the mix. The Six Woman Tag was also really good, though some of those wide shots made it hard to see what was going on. Great win for the Faces, but I’m partly disappointed that Shotzi pinning Fallon gives us Shotzi VS Vaquer, winner gets Fallon, and not just a Triple Threat. Though, it’ll also be a shame no matter who wins, as both Shotzi and Vaquer deserve a shot. But when things all sort out, I’m pretty sure Vaquer beats Fallon to be the champ.
Very good promo from OTM to hype up their tag title match, and there’s a chance they do win. Fraxiom has had such a good run as tag champs, this is definitely the time to have them move on and each become great singles champs. Good promo that was really more an announcement for Unholy Union VS Meta Four, winners get Bianca Belair & Naomi. Regardless of who wins, I feel like they could get the titles off Bianca & Naomi thanks to a Jade Cargill return. Jade can appear, shocking everyone, and she’ll even reveal whodunnit, aka probably Naomi at this point. Bianca will be confused and upset, Naomi will run away from Jade, Bianca takes the pin to crown new champs.
And while not really a new champ, Lexis King truly winning that Heritage Cup was good stuff. A little odd that they’d have an “incidental” head to the groin spot, like they did months ago when King first started his redemption story… But maybe this is to communicate that the real lesson for King is that it doesn’t matter what people think of him, he knows he’s a better person that his father. Maybe Dempsey moves on to the North American Championship from here, letting King face some fresh faces in the Heritage Rules Division. Then King can continue to ride that Tweener line with every victory until someone comes along that again makes him question where he stands.
My Score: 8.9/10
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!
Hockey (and Sports) Talk- Time 4 A Cool Change [010725]
The guys discuss the CFP Quarterfinals and how Alex Ovechkin breaking Wayne Gretzky's record this season now appears very likely.
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Who Is Your NFL MVP?
Join Rey Cash, Andrew Balaz and PC Tunney as they cover which way exactly the oblong ball bounces from week...
Hockey (and Sports) Talk- Back on the Hunt [123124]
The guys discuss all sorts of sports topics, including Alex Ovechkin's return and just how bad things have become for...
Hockey (and CFP) Talk- The Devil in the Details [122424]
The guys discuss the first round of the expanded CFP and also look at how Jacob Markstrom has anchored the...
Hockey Talk- Winter (Classic) Is Coming [121724]
Hockey Talk looks at Alex Ovechkin's recovery and when he might be back. Plus, the Winter Classic fast approaches. Is...
Bandwagon Nerds #270: Deathgrass & Rainbows
The Nerds return to the Trailer Park, address some rumors about Half-Life 3 and the MCU, and discuss Jason Mamoa...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (12/31/24)
History comes full circle!
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (12/31/24)
Let's start from the beginning...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (12/30/24)
Prepare to climb...
Bandwagon Nerds #269: Hopes & Resolutions
The Nerds ring in the New Year with some hopes and resolutions for some of our favorites like the MCU,...
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (1/8/25)
And now...
Greg DeMarco Show: Raw Is Netflix
The entire wrestling world is talking about Raw On Netflix--including Greg DeMarco and Patrick O'Dowd!
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (1/7/25)
NXT in LA!
Mitchell’s NJPW New Year Dash Results & Report! (1/6/25)
And it begins again!
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (1/6/25)
Netflix is Raw!
Mitchell’s NJPW WrestleDynasty Results & Report! (1/5/25)
Time to make history!
#TheOddity 024: Whiskey In The Holy Water
Join Dave Wortz and PC Tunney for your weekly newsletter on the ridiculous and dumb of actual headlines from around...
Mitchell’s NJPW WrestleKingdom 19 Results & Report! (1/4/25)
Do dreams truly come true?
Mitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (1/4/25)
The first Collision of 2025!
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: It’s A New Year And Hell Has Frozen Over!
Hell has frozen over! DJ watched Dynamite and the Mindless guys are ready to talk about Fight For The Fallen...
