Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (11/14/22)
A Must-See Apology!
Will the Hollywood A-Lister really apologize?
Johnny Gargano revealed the truth, and now on Raw, MizTV is truly must-see as The Miz himself promises a full apology to Dexter Lumis!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Bobby Lashley VS Mustafa Ali; Lashley wins.
- Mia Yim VS Tamina; Mia wins.
- Matt Riddle VS Chad Gable w/ Otis; Gable wins.
- Dominik Mysterio w/ The Judgment Day VS Shelton Benjamin; Dominik wins.
- Iyo Sky w/ Damage CTRL VS Dana Brooke; wins.
- Austin Theory VS Dolph Ziggler; Ziggler wins, by disqualification.
- Akira Tozawa VS Baron Corbin w/ JBL; Corbin wins.
- WWE United States Championship: Seth Rollins VS Finn Balor w/ The Judgment Day; Rollins wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Seth Rollins heads to the ring.
Louisville sings “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” for the Visionary as he swaggers out, holding onto the United States Championship that he’ll defend later tonight. He doesn’t seem fazed by how he almost lost it last week, either. The Open Challenge was answered by Mustafa Ali, only for Bobby Lashley to sidetrack that. Then Lashley mauled Rollins and let Austin Theory cash his Money in the Bank contract, only to screw Theory over! The confusing motives and actions of the All Mighty aside, Rollins still has the title and now gets the mic. “Kentucky…! Welcome to Monday! Night! Rollins! HAHAHAHA! Allow me to introduce myself.
“I am a Visionary. I am a Revolutionary. I am Seth!” “FREAKIN! ROLLINS!” Fans cheer and Rollins says that by the hairs of his chinny chin chin, he is still our WWE United States Champion~! HAHAHA! “Yes, thank you, Bobby. Last week was crazy. Last week was wild. I put one little Open Challenge out into the universe and I’ve got contenders coming outta the woodwork.” People like Finn Balor, Mustafa Ali, and the All Mighty himself, Bobby Lashley! “And for the first time ever, Austin Theory tried to cash in his MITB contract on my United States Championship. Now, that didn’t work out too well for him. But the point is…”
Louisville says, “That was Stupid!” Rollins shrugs and says, “Look, I’m sure he’ll be out here later, you guys can tell him how stupid he is then. HAHAHAHA!” But the point is, something seems different about the US title lately. Rollins can’t put his finger on it. What’s the one thing that’s different? OH RIGHT! ROLLINS! Because now that he is the US Champion, this title is “without question THE top prize on Monday Nights! And right here in the main event tonight, we are going to add to my legacy as United States Champion when I go one on one with a former friend, a former foe, Finn Balor.” But wait! Here comes LASHLEY!
The Rocky Mountain Machine makes his way down to the ring with a mic of his own. “The Visionary! Last week, I turned little Selfie Boy into a punchline. And as for you, Seth, that beating that I gave you last week is going to continue to happen until I get my United States Championship back!” Rollins chuckles and tells “Big Bob” that he had his chance. But instead of a match, he decided it’d be better to take Rollins’ soul from his body. Now, Lashley’s temper got the better of him. It might have to do with that little lose at Crown Jewel. The one to, ahem, BRRROCK! LESNARRR! Oh, and now Mustafa Ali is here!
Ali has a referee with him, what is the Beacon up to? He’s calling out Lashley about the opportunity Lashley cost him! Lashley warns Ali back about the beat down last week paling in comparison to this week. Use your head and make a smart decision. Walk out before Lashley hurts you. Fans boo and then Lashley turns to Rollins. Rollins is sure that’s a good point. But Ali gets in the ring! Lashley ELBOWS Ali, TOSSES him out, and then says that will serve as message to anyone who stands between him and the title Rollins stole from him! But Ali jumps on! Ali fires off hands but Lashley dumps him back out!
Rollins gets to the back since he has the main event to worry about. Lashley says Ali is either stupid or gutsy, but he’s pissing Lashley off. If Ali wants a whooping, Lashley welcomes him to it, but it won’t be pretty. Come get some! Will Ali once again feel the wrath of the All Mighty?
Bobby Lashley VS Mustafa Ali!
Raw returns as the bell rings, and Ali DROPKICKS Lashley in the corner! Ali fires off hands but Lashley blocks the whip. Lashley whips Ali hard into the corner and Ali tumbles out of the ring! Lashley goes out after Ali, scoops him and runs, but Ali slips off to POST Lashley! Lashley staggers, Ali runs in, but is thrown intro the timekeeper’s area! Ali gets on the barriers and LEAPS on Lashley! Lashley shifts Ali around to POST him in return! Lashley refreshes the ring count, drags Ali up, and TOSSES him over the announce desk! Lashley leaves Ali behind now, and the ring count climbs. The count passes 5 of 10 but Ali manages to get up!
Ali flounders his way over at 8 of 10, and slides in at 9.5! Ali is still in this but Lashley hauls him up, into the CLIFFHANGER! Ali crawls to the corner and drags himself up. Lashley is annoyed but he fires off hands and stomps away! Lashley runs in, but into an elbow! Ali goes up, leaps, but Lashley catches him! MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! Lashley tells Ali to stay down, the ref asks if Ali wants to stop, but Ali refuses to quit! Ali crawls to the ropes and drags himself up again. Lashley sighs as Ali flounders over to him. Lashley hauls Ali up again, for another MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! “Is he done?!”
The ref asks Ali if he wants to stop, but fans want that “ONE MORE TIME!” Lashley watches Ali drag himself up with the ropes again. Ali is in the corner, and he dares Lashley to bring it! Lashley runs in, but Ali goes up and over! Lashley POSTS himself, and Ali is up on top! FLYING DDT!! Lashley flounders now and fans fire up! Ali gets back to the corner, runs corner to corner, into a SPEAR!! Lashley roars and calls for it! HURT LOCK!! Al is a ragdoll, Lashley wins!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by referee stoppage
Ali again showed heart, but again it was not enough to topple the mountain of a man that is the All Mighty Lashley. Will Lashley steamroll his way back to the US Championship?
Backstage interview with The OC & Mia Yim.
Cathy Kelley asks if they’re at all worried about retaliation from The Judgment Day after last week. AJ Styles says, “Retaliation? Now that we’ve evened the odds? Now that we’ve solved our Rhea problem? Bring it, kiddos.” Gallows says that’s right! But the boys owe the Big LG, he’s why Mia teamed with them. Gallows has a way with the ladies, after all. Uh… Styles changes the subject by saying this whole thing between the OC and Judgment Day needs to come to an end. They’ve been a thorn in Styles’ side since WrestleMania just because he wouldn’t join them! So Styles officially challenges Finn Balor to a match 1v1 at Survivor Series to put this to an end!
Karl Anderson says no doubt Styles will handle business. Just like the toughest woman in the building, “Michan,” will tonight in her return match. Michan? It’s Korean for “Crazy.” But boys, Mia is going to go so the OC can chill in the dojo and have the beers on ice. But first, throw it up! Too SWEET~! Will Mia go michan in her first match back in the WWE?
Mia Yim VS Tamina!
The Head Baddie in Charge is back and ready to take over! Will Raw be seeing blue? Or will the Daughter of Superfly ruin the homecoming?
Wait, speaking of Judgment Day, Rhea Ripley & Dominik Mysterio head to ringside to watch this one closely. The bell rings, Tamina CLOBBERS Mia, and then CLUBS away in the corner! The ref counts, Tamina lets off at 4, and runs back in to HIP ATTACK! Tamina drags Mia up, scoops her, and SLAMS her! Rhea is amused but fans taunt Dom, “Whose Your Papi?” Tamina is up top, SUPERFLY FLOPS as Mia moves! Mia aims from the corner, she runs in at Tamina and fires off forearms! Tamina punches but Mia CHOPS, CHOPS, KICKS, KICKS! Tamina shoves, Mia dodges the lariat and RANAS!
Tamina ends up in a corner and Mia runs in to BOOT her! Mia roars, wrenches Tamina, whips her corner to corner and forearms! Mia snapmares, KICKS Tamina, KICKS her again, then runs. Tamina ROCKS Mia with an uppercut! Damage Control is watching backstage as Tamina fireman’s carries. Mia slips off, EAT DA FEET! Cover, Mia wins!
Winner: Mia Yim, by pinfall
Rhea is no longer amused as Mia comes out on top. Mia dares Rhea to do something about it, and Rhea creeps up to the apron. Fans rally as Rhea steps inside, but then she steps back outside. The Eradicator says Mia’s not worth her time. But Rhea says Mia better keep her in mind. When and where will these two throw down as part of the OC VS Judgment Day war?
Matt Riddle is hitting the bong…os again.
The Bro spots Cathy Kelley and says what up! Cathy says he’s preparing for a match, but she has to ask, where is Elias/ Elias is doing big rockstar things. He’s booking some gigs now that he and Riddle are a band! Riddle is focused on Gable while Elias is focused on tickets, merchandise, y’know, rockstar stuff. But “SHOOOOSH~!” Gable finds Riddle! Bro… Shoosh. Bro! Shoosh! Bro! Shoosh! Bro! Shoosh! Bro! Shoosh! Repeat. SHOOSH!! Enough! Look! The only thing more ridiculous than Riddle & Elias as a band, is the idea of them as a tag team! So tonight, Gable will do to Riddle what Otis did to Elias last week: Put you down, bro. Into the ground! A thank yew~!
Riddle says those guys are lame. But will “Master” Gable be game when he and the Stallion throw down in the ring?
Damage Control finds Mia Yim backstage.
Bayley, Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai welcome Mia back to the WWE. That was impressive. No one’s been able to hang with Rhea until now. Thanks. But that makes them wonder how someone as talented as Mia could be forgotten about. They have a lot in common. They also know what it is to be cast aside, forgotten about, and they did something about it and remind people who they are! Mia needs to remind people who Mia is! They can do that as a team at WarGames! Mia appreciates that, but she has no problems with Bianca or her side. Well, maybe Mia should think about it. Just don’t think too long.
But The OC come around and ask “Michan” if things are alright. Yeah, just talking. DMG CTRL heads out. The OC congratulate Mia on the win and they have the beers! Will Mia find herself dragged into the war for the Raw Women’s Division? Or will she stay focused on Rhea and Judgment Day?
Matt Riddle VS Chad Gable w/ Otis!
The Drifter did get flattened by the Dozer, but Master Gable did have a part to play. Will the Bro be alright all on his own? Or will he wish he was walking with Elias tonight?
The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, Gable blocks Riddle’s leg pick with a facelock, then he shifts to get the waistlock. Gable then spins Riddle around for a leg pick, roll, and facelock! Gable gator rolls Riddle then waistlocks again. Riddle breaks that to get an arm, but Gable powers Riddle to a corner to stop the double wristlock! The ref counts, Riddle lets off, but Gable throat chops! The ref reprimands and fans boo but Gable says, “A Thank Yew~!” Gable then lifts Riddle for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Gable drags Riddle up, CHOPS him to the corner, then ROCKS him with forearms.
Gable CHOPS again, then gets a leg! DRAGON SCREW! Otis taunts Riddle, “How’s that feel?” Riddle gets up to throw forearms and palm strikes! Riddle kicks but into a DRAGON SCREW! Riddle crawls to a corner, Gable whips him corner to corner, but Riddle goes up and over to KICK Gable down! And then he deadlifts for the gut wrench suplex! Fans fire up and Riddle runs to BROTON, but onto knees! Gable has Riddle in a corner but runs into an elbow! Riddle climbs but Otis pushes the steel steps over! The ref reprimands Otis but Riddle is distracted! Gab le goes up top for a SUPER GERMAN SUPLEX!
Fans are fired up while both men are down! The ref checks Riddle while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Gable has a standing toehold. Riddle endures and fans rally up. Riddle gets a leg free to kick Gable away, but Gable kicks the bad leg out! Gable tells the fans to “SHOOOOSH~!” before he drags Riddle up. Riddle FISHERMAN BUSTERS in return! Both men are down again but fans rally up for Riddle. Riddle and Gable sit up, and Gable shouts, “SHOOSH!” Riddle shouts back, “BRO!” SHOOSH! BRO! SHOOSH! BRO! SHOOSH! The forearms start flying, “SHOOSH!” “BRO!” They stand, fans are with Riddle as he gets the edge and fires off a flurry! BOOT, then a spin and ripcord, FINAL FLASH!
Gable wobbles, Riddle kips up! Riddle runs in to forearm smash! Then side to side for another smash! BROSPLODER! And a BROTON! Riddle runs, Gable ducks the Penalty Kick to roll up! But Riddle rolls through to POWERBOMB! Flip over and FINAL FLASH! Cover, TWO!! Gable survives so it wasn’t that final. But fans rally for “R K O! R K O!” Riddle gut wrenches Gable and tucks, but Gable drops to victory roll and then drag Riddle around! ANKLE LOCK!! Riddle endures again, even as Gable leans on the foot! Riddle rolls to throw Gable, then he JUMPS for a TRIANGLE!! Gable flails, clubs at Riddle, but Riddle holds on!
Gable deadlifts, then slips free to Gut wrench! CLIFFHANGER DDT!! Cover, TWO!?! Riddle survives and Gable is beside himself! He tells Louisville to “SHOOOOSH~!” and then he climbs up the corner. MOONSAULT, but Riddle moves! Riddle sidesteps Gable to put him in the ropes and fans fire up! DRAPING DDT! Riddle hears those voices, bro! Riddle aims but Otis gets on the apron! Riddle DECKS Otis, goes to the apron and PENALTY KICKS him! But Gable drags Riddle in with a waistlock! CHAOS- NO, Riddle slips out! But he runs into a backslide! Gable has his feet on the ropes, Otis hold his feet in place! Gable wins!!!
Winner: Chad Gable, by pinfall
The Academy steals another one! Fans boo but the record will say the Academy is 2-0 in the series. Will Elias return to help Riddle win 2v2?
Baron Corbin and JBL play cards backstage.
Corbin grins and asks the third guy what he’s got. A pair o’ twos… Oh~, big hand! But Corbin has two Queens and three Kings, and JBL says, “BALL GAME!” Corbin just took this guy for everything! Kentucky bourbon is brought to the table, but JBL says he doesn’t want anything from “a bunch of banjo picking Kentucky hillbillies.” The bourbon is taken away, and Corbin tells the loser to leave. That guy does leave, and JBL says he got them the finest Ugandan preserve prime whiskey. Cheers! Wait, someone new sits at the table. AKIRA TOZAWA!? JBL tells him they’re busy. Akira says he plays poker. Can he even afford to sit at the table?
Akira puts on sunglasses. Has he ever played before? Nope. Does he know any of the rules? Nope. Then his money’s good here! Akira slams down a $20 and we’ll see how it goes!
The Miz heads to the ring.
This week’s MizTV is promised to be a genuine, from-the-heart episode as Miz, in his best Mr. Rogers cosplay, will apologize to Dexter Lumis. Will it really be genuine? Or will it be genuine Miz attitude?
Raw returns and Byron Saxton is in the ring with The Miz. Miz welcomes us to the Most Must-See WWE Talk Show and says this will be unlike any before, as he is relinquishing his role as host to Byron. But stay seated, Byron. Instead, Miz is the guest. This is when Byron thanks Miz for joining him. In that case, thank you for joining him. Byron says this is a special edition, but in light of the recent evidence- OH, the hidden camera footage that Johnny Gargano aired last week? Yes. Is Miz sorry that he paid Lumis to attack him? Miz has a prepared statement for that, actually. If he could have absolute silence, he’d appreciate it. Fans boo instead.
Miz puts on his reading glasses while fans boo and jeer. “Ladies and gentlemen, please. This means the world if you could just be quiet for just a little bit so I could finish my statement, and we can move on from all of this. I regret paying Dexter.” So he did pay? Can he please continue!? Miz does regret paying Lumis. But all Miz ever wanted was empathy? Is that too much to ask? He has been here for 18 YEARS, never called a day off, never injured, and even when he was, somehow, someway, he’d still be here and he never got so much as a cheer! Not even a pat on the back! Even when he tried to help Lumis get back on his feet when he was jobless, people were still not on Miz’s side.
Miz has asked for every little. But Lumis… Lumis kept taking and taking until Miz couldn’t see end in sight. That’s why Miz stood up for himself and put a stop to Lumis’ greed! If that’s true, then why did he give a different story to the Hollywood producer who turned out to be a private investigator? Miz was telling her what she wanted to hear! He was putting on a performance so she’d buy his intellectual property! “We know Hollywood. They (the fans) don’t know Hollywood. But in a real city, a big city like Hollywood, they don’t want real, so I had to spin the truth to make it more interesting.
“In reality, ladies and gentlemen, I am just a devoted father, a loving husband, and a man who was cooped up in his bedroom all weekend long because he was depressed and sick about everything that has happened!” Gargano makes his way out here! Fans cheer for Johnny Wrestling and says, “Miz… You weren’t depressed, you were actually vacationing with your family in Cabo.” Oh did Gargano have photographers spy on Miz and take pictures? No, Maryse put it online with pictures on Instagram! Miz wasn’t in them but Gargano is sure he was there, so thanks for confirming another lie. Doing good, Miz.
Miz says he was depressed in his hotel room! Oh stop deflecting! Does Miz wanna know why no one here cares about him? Because he always takes the easy way out! Why would he take the hard way?! Miz never takes the right way. Instead, just hire Lumis into tricking people into liking him! Byron asks Miz if he’d like to respond, but Gargano says Miz would just lie about it anyway. It’s how he got caught up in this mess! He got caught in a lie and stopped paying Lumis. That’s easier than saying the truth. Miz, can you- OH SHUT UP, BYRON! Ask the questions Miz gave you! Oh, is Miz paying Byron now?
Miz says if Gargano wants to talk about the truth, then Gargano should tell everyone why HE’S so involved in all this! Gargano is just doing what Miz was doing, using Miz’s story to get fans to chant, “Johnny Wrestling!” Fans actually do chant, “Johnny Wrestling!” Gargano does love that. But the truth is, Mike, everyone here knows Miz is a compulsive liar. Always have been, always will be, and about literally everything. Starting with that sweater. IT’S A CARDIGAN! Either way, Miz is lying to himself if he thinks he’s pulling that off, Mr. Rogers. To be fair, Mr. Rogers is a good guy. Miz IS a good guy! Miz IS a good guy! No, he’s not.
Y’know what? SORRY! Miz is SORRY! “I’m! SOR! RY!!” Now can we just move on so Miz can be the cornerstone of the WWE and a role model for his children?! He can do that by paying Lumis what he owes! Miz is ready to move on, and Gargano says that’s true. That’s why Gargano talked to the WWE officials. They felt that the hidden camera footage was pretty convincing. So this all comes to an end in two weeks, in this very ring, when The Miz takes on Dexter Lumis! Fans cheer that! And if Lumis wins, Miz has to pay him everything he’s owed, AND he finally gets a WWE contract. Fans like the sound of that, too!
Miz tells Gargano to tell “that deranged psychopath” that this will be the biggest mistake of his life. The next time Miz sees Lumis, there will be no money, no contracts, just lights out and it’ll be AWESOME! Hmm… Well, how about telling him that yourself? Miz turns around, and the cameraman was Lumis all along!! Miz tries to run, he has to ditch his cardigan, and then he makes it to the back! The clock is ticking, will Miz have no choice but to literally put his money where his mouth is?
Backstage interview with Shelton Benjamin.
Cathy says he had a confrontation with Austin Theory last week, so what is his reaction to Theory’s failed MITB cash-in? Shelton chuckles but Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio creep over. Dom says Shelton knows all about being a failure. He’s been one since Dom’s “deadbeat dad,” Rey Mysterio was in his prime. And uh, Dom is better than Rey, so that makes Dom way better than Shelton. Shelton tells the “little boy” that he doesn’t have time for this, so just skip down back the hall before Shelton gives him the whooping his dad should’ve. Dom says, “Try me.”
Priest keeps Shelton from hitting Dom now, and tells Shelton to come down. Yeah, calm down! Dom sure is brave hiding behind Priest. But Priest says Shelton should get how the Judgment Day works by now. If you have a problem with Dom, you have a big problem with Priest. Yeah! A serious problem! Shelton says that’s fine, because he wouldn’t mind working on those problems tonight. Alright, then tonight, we settle this in the ring. Yeah, in the ring! Shelton says it’s about time someone taught them a lesson. Shelton accepts DOM’s challenge! “See you in the ring, Junior.” Dom is confused, but he did step in it. Will Dom prove he’s so great going up against the Gold Standard?
Dominik Mysterio w/ The Judgment Day VS Shelton Benjamin!
Raw returns and Shelton Benjamin makes his entrance. The bell rings and Shelton circles with Dom. They tie up, Shelton powers Dom to a corner, but he lets off as the ref counts. Dom SLAPS Shelton! Shelton rushes at Dom but Dom bails out. Fans boo but Dom just soaks up the heat. Dom smirks while Rhea and Priest flank the ring. Shelton is distracted, Dom slides in and CLOBBERS Shelton from behind! Dom CLUBS and punches Shelton to a corner, but lets off as the ref counts. Dom gives some Latino Heat, but Shelton ROCKS Dom with haymakers! Dom staggers and Shelton SLAPS him down!
Rhea is upset and Dom is backing up. Shelton whips Dom to ropes but Dom kicks back! Shelton just CLOBBERS Dom! Shelton drags Dom up, whips him to ropes but Dom holds ropes and bails out again. The ref starts the ring count while Rhea and Priest back Dom up. Shelton still storms out, but Dom slips away to the other side. Dom slides into the ring, kicks Shelton low, then goes to suplex. Shelton blocks to snap suplex Dom! Dom BOOTS from the corner, but then Shelton glares at him! Dom wants mercy! Shelton drags Dom up but Dom JAWBREAKERS! Shelton staggers, Dom runs in, but Shelton puts him on the apron.
Dom HOTSHOTS Shelton away! Fans boo but Dom gives more Latino Heat. Dom slingshot sentons in! Dom stomps away on Shelton, rains down fists, and Rhea swings a rally towel of sorts. Dom lets off as the ref counts, and Dom soaks up all the heat. Fans boo, Dom continues to give Latino Heat. Dom drags Shelton up but Shelton ROCKS him! And ROCKS him! And whips him to ropes! Dom goes up to RANA! Dom wants Shelton to get up, and he hops on to wheelbarrow Shelton to ropes! Dom dials it up, but Shelton scoops Dom! POWERSLAM! Fans fire up and Dom gets to a corner. Shelton runs in to STEP-UP KNEE!
Shelton brings Dom out to EXPLODER! Dom flounders out of the ring and Priest is there to help him up. Shelton storms right out and puts Dom in the ring. Shelton says, “No problem.” Priest and Rhea glare at Shelton, but Dom rolls Shelton up! TWO!! ANKLE LOCK! Shelton leans on the hold as Dom flails around, but Rhea distracts the ref! Priest helps Dom get the ROPEBREAK! Fans boo, but Shelton drags Dom away! Shelton warns Priest, but then Dom POSTS Shelton! Dom brings Shelton around for a DDT! Shelton is in the drop zone, and Dom goes up top! One more Latino Heat before the FROG SPLASH! Cover, Dom wins!
Winner: Dominik Mysterio, by pinfall
The Judgment Day gets another huge assist as they help Dom pin another big name in the WWE! Will Judgment Day continue to do whatever they want to whoever they want? Will Finn Balor keep this momentum going as he goes for gold in the main event?
Backstage interview with Austin Theory.
Cathy introduces him as the former Mr. Money in the Bank, and Theory is a bit upset by that. Cathy was going to allow him to tell us his side of things during the failed cash-in. Aw, she’s so sweet. But Theory takes a moment before he says, “Nobody understands me. Nobody understands the pressure I’m under, and everybody just thinks that I’m made for this because of the way I look. Because of my athleticism, because of these so-called handed-out opportunities. They have no idea what the full story is.”
Theory was touted as the next big thing, and he proved that day one! He exceeded that expectation! He outgrew the ceiling of being the next big thing and became the face of a franchise. People still hate on him to this day because of that! Why? Because they can’t relate. The whole world looks at a person like him and wants to see him fail, fall short, but that’s not gonna happen. For Theory, when he thinks about last Monday, they say he failed but they’re wrong! Theory feels more alive than he ever has. Let’s talk about that briefcase, that MITB contract. It was an anchor on Theory!
Just look at Roman Reigns! No one’s been able to touch him these last two YEARS! No one. And has Roman looked vulnerable? Well, when he does, which is rarely, he has The Bloodline. Look at Theory’s previous attempts! SummerSlam: Brock Lesnar was in the way. Clash at the Castle: Tyson Fury was in the way. And if they weren’t,, the Bloodline certainly would’ve been. Roman Reigns is unstoppable, and that scenario of Theory cashing in on Roman doesn’t exist. So what did Theory do? What did he realize the best next thing? Going after one of the greatest champions of this past decade in Seth Rollins.
And where was Rollins? On his back! Theory had Rollins beat with A-Town Down, but Lashley mauled Theory like a madman. If not for Lashley, Theory would be the TWO-TIME US Champion, and the man who pulled off the greatest cash- “Worst. Cash-in. Ever.” Dolph Ziggler says Theory is coming up with all these excuses. If Ziggler ever gets a traffic ticket, he’ll know who to call. But a couple months ago, Ziggler offered his help. Tried to show Theory things no one showed Ziggler. But for some reason, Theory’s failed cash-in… Ziggler would know, because he was there for the best one. Theory’s ego is just too big, it didn’t wanna listen.
Theory tells Ziggler he’s sick of people talking down to him like he’s a kid. Theory is done being the youngest this and the youngest that, the future, the next big thing, and someone’s protégé. Theory is the NOW. And he’ll prove that in the ring to show he has no more excuses. Ziggler says, “Sure thing, kid.” Will Theory show everyone that he’s no longer waiting his turn, and that his time is now?
Iyo Sky w/ Damage CTRL VS Dana Brooke!
Nikki Cross follows Bayley and Dakota Kai as they accompany the Evil Genius to the ring! Will Sky be soaring this close to Survivor Series: WarGames? Or will the Flex Appeal avenge the WWE 24/7 Championship?
Raw returns as Dana makes her entrance. The bell rings and Dana rushes Sky with forearms! Sky shoves Dana way, Dana rolls her up, TWO! Dana gets around, waistlocks and SLAMS Sky, then she drags her back up. Sky swings elbows but Dana ducks them! Sky reaches back to headlock then throw down elbows! Sky runs and HOTSHOTS Dana, to then DRIVE-BY DROPKICK! Fans boo but Sky springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! Sky kips up and fans fire up as she watches Dana. Dana sits up and Sky CLUBS and stomps her down! Sky drags Dana up, whips her to a corner, then runs in to back elbow!
Sky throws more elbows, then trips Dana up! Sky digs her boots into Dana, lets off at 4 and DOUBLE KNEES her! Kai & Bayley cheer but fans boo. Sky drags Dana up but Dana blocks the suplex! Sky CLUBS Dana, drags her up again, and whips, but Dana blocks! Dana ROCKS Sky, Sky ROCKS Dana, repeat! Fans fire up as the forearms fly and Dana gets the edge! Dana whips, Sky reverses and scoops, but Dana tilt-o-whirl headscissors! But Sky handsprings through! And FLAPJACKS Dana down! Sky steps on Dana, goes to the ropes, and LIONSAULTS, but Dana moves! Dana kicks low, reels Sky in, DDT! Cover, TWO!
DMG CTRL is concerned but Dana is furious. Dana handsprings in, but into a waistlock! Sky GERMAN SUPLEXES Dana down! Dana flounders to the corner, Sky roars and runs in, SHINKANSEN! Dana is down in the drop zone, Sky goes up top, and goes OVER THE MOONSAULT! Cover, Sky wins!
Winner: Iyo Sky, by pinfall
DMG CTRL celebrates the victory, and Nikki even kicks Dana out of the ring. But wait, Mia Yim makes her way out? She calls out DMG CTRL and says she knows they’ve been waiting for an answer. Miz was thinking real hard about the offer for WarGames. Honestly, they’re right. WarGames is a fight where everyone has to pick a side. And Mia just picked hers. Bayley smiles, but Mia smiles, too. Because here comes BIANCA BELAIR! And Asuka, and Alexa Bliss! The HBIC is Team EST! That’s four and four now, who will each side get for their fifths?
We check back in with the poker game.
And Akira Tozawa is raking it in!! JBL and Corbin even lost their hats! What’s Akira laughing at? It’s just 12 hands in a row, that’s no big deal. Corbin goes all in right now on this hand! What’s Akira got? No, no…! THREE COWBOYS, YEEHAW~! Well, Corbin has three aces! But he doesn’t show the hand. Akira stops Corbin, and reveals JACK SQUAT! CHEATER!!! JBL says fine, but they’re not done until Corbin says they’re done. Akira says no more money. Let’s step outside. What? A duel? No! A match! In the ring! No tricks. Akira offers a handshake, Corbin reaches out, but Tozawa slaps it away! Tozawa then snatches all the money away! Will Corbin at least win back his dignity?
Austin Theory VS Dolph Ziggler!
Even more shocking than cashing in on the US title and failing, Theory has NO SMARTPHONE! He’s not taking selfies on his way to the ring, the “now” of WWE is all business! But will now truly be his time? Or is it only the future in theory?
Raw returns as Ziggler makes his entrance. The bell rings and Theory and Ziggler circle. They feel things out, fans chant, “That Was Stupid!” but Theory facelocks. Ziggler trips Theory into a corner, but lets off as Theory gets the ropes. Theory gets up, ties up with Ziggler, and headlocks. Ziggler powers out but Theory runs him over! Theory runs, Ziggler hurdles but into a fireman’s carry! Ziggler sips off but Theory blocks the superkick! Theory spins Ziggler to DECK him! Theory talks trash, that didn’t change. Theory stomps Ziggler, talks more trash, and he headlocks. Theory bumps Ziggler off buckles, then scoops to a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!
Ziggler rolls to ropes but Theory stalks him. Theory drags Ziggler up, CHOKES him on the ropes, and he talks more trash! “Show me something!” Theory lets off as the ref counts, fans boo, and Ziggler sputters. Theory drags Ziggler up but Ziggler throws body shots! Ziggler throws haymakers, runs, but Theory ELBOWS him down! Cover, TWO! Theory rains down fists, covers, ONE!! Theory is frustrated and he chinlocks. Theory grinds Ziggler down, fans rally for Ziggler, and Ziggler fights up, only for Theory to throw him down by his hair! Theory rains down more fists, and he lets off in a huff.
Theory drags Ziggler back up, but Ziggler JAWBREAKERS! Ziggler ROCKS Theory, then SPALSHES in the corner! Ziggler rains down fists, but stops at 4. Theory pushes Ziggler away, Ziggler comes back, but Theory stops the satellite DDT! Theory blocks another superkick and spins Ziggler around to back suplex! Ziggler lands on his feet but Theory LARIATS him down! Theory snarls, drags Ziggler up, and POSTS him! Fans boo but Theory is fuming as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Ziggler fires haymakers on Theory! Fans fire up as Ziggler rains down fists in the corner, at high speed! Ziggler gets TEN, then he drags Theory into a NECKBREAKER! Theory stagger sup into the SATELLITE DDT! Cover, TWO! Both men are down and fans rally up as they stir. Ziggler grabs Theory for a facelock, he brings Theory up, but Theory ROCKS Ziggler! Ziggler jumps, but Theory catches the legs to CATAPULT Ziggler! But Ziggler lands safe on the corner! Only for Theory to JUMP and CLUB him on the back! Theory then brings Ziggler back into a torture rack, for TOWER HACKER BOMB! Cover, TWO!!
Fans fire up but Theory snarls as Ziggler survives. Theory calls his shot now, and he brings Ziggler up as fans boo. Fireman’s carry, A TOWN- NO! Ziggler gets a SLEEPER!! Ziggler is a backpack and fans fire up as Theory turns red! Theory fades, drops to a knee, but Theory snarls and gets a second wind! Theory RAMS Ziggler into buckles! But Ziggler holds on! Ziggler thrashes around, but Theory rolls! Ziggler stays clamped on, but Theory keeps moving around! Theory powers his way up, pries the hold open and THROWS Ziggler off! Ziggler stagger sup, but he KNEES Theory in the head! And then hits a FAMOUSER!! Cover, TWO!!
Ziggler is beside himself as Theory survives! Fans rally up while both men are down. Ziggler crawls after Theory as Theory crawls to ropes. Theory is in the ropes, the ref counts and Ziggler lets off. Theory hits a cheap back elbow! Theory drags Ziggler up to POST Ziggler again! Theory is glaring daggers at Ziggler as he drags him back in. Fans boo but Theory sneers as he tells Ziggler, “I’m a kid, huh? I’m the kid?” He POSTS Ziggler again, and even harder! Theory shakes his head because he’s not done with Ziggler. Theory brings Ziggler around again, takes aim, but Ziggler POSTS Theory! ZIGZAG!!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Louisville can’t believe Theory survives Ziggler’s best shot! Ziggler and Theory stir, and Ziggler slowly rises. “This is Awesome!” and Ziggler pounds the mat to fire himself back up. Ziggler goes to the corner, tunes up the band, and SUPER- FOREARM from Theory!! Fireman’s carry, A TOWN DOWN! But Theory doesn’t cover? Theory is letting the rage build, and he hauls Ziggler up again! ANOTHER A TOWN DOWN!! And still no cover?! Theory rains down fists from all sides! The ref has Theory stop and Ziggler flops out of the ring. Theory has a wild look in his eyes now as he goes out after Ziggler! He RAMS Ziggler into steel steps!
Theory storms around ringside, he tears the steel steps apart, and it clips Ziggler in the head! Theory drags Ziggler back up, the ref tells Theory to stop this, but Theory SMACKS Ziggler off the announce desk! Fans boo but Theory asks Ziggler, “Who’s the kid?! Who’s the kid?!” He dribbles Ziggler off the desk! The ref calls for the bell!!
Winner: Dolph Ziggler, by disqualification
Theory doesn’t let the bell stop his rage! He TOSSES Ziggler into the timekeeper’s area! And he SLAM DUNKS chairs down on Ziggler! And he even grabs Corey Graves’ armchair to SLAM it onto Ziggler!! Theory is tearing everything apart, then he rains down more fists on Ziggler! The officials rush out to stop this! Theory is ushered away from Ziggler but he’s still fuming all around ringside. Only to go back for more!! Theory wants to tear Ziggler apart but the officials drag him away! “I’m a kid, huh?! I ain’t a damn kid!” Theory storms off as Louisville is thunderous with boos! Will Theory the man unleash this rage #AllDay?
DMG CTRL regroups backstage.
Except for Nikki, they’re all concerned about Mia joining Bianca’s team. Who’re they gonna get as a fifth? But then in walks Rhea Ripley. “Yeah, there’s no need to keep looking. Because if Mia’s on Bianca’s side, then I’m on yours. Now does anyone have a problem with that?” Nope! Good. Let’s go to war. DMG CTRL hit the jackpot! But now, who will Bianca get as a response to the Eradicator?
Akira Tozawa VS Baron Corbin w/ JBL!
The Stamina Monster won big at the poker table, but now he’s looking to win big in the squared circle. Will Tozawa take Corbin for all he’s worth in and out of the ring? Or will he suffer the wrath of the Modern Day Wrestling God?
The bell rings and Corbin ties up with Tozawa. Corbin puts Tozawa in the corner, smothers him, but the ref counts. Corbin lets off, smirks, but Tozawa KICKS him! And KICKS, spins, slides under, and SPIN KICKS! Corbin staggers and Tozawa fires up! Tozawa fires fast hands and then whips, but Corbin reverses to run Tozawa over. Fans taunt “BUM ASS CORBIN” as he choke grips Tozawa! CHOKE- DDT!! Tozawa turns things around then hurries up top! Tozawa MISSILIE DROPKICKS Corbin down! Cover, ONE!! Corbin gets up and JBL coaches him, but Tozawa throws hands in the corner. Tozawa whips, Corbin reverses but runs into boots!
Tozawa goes up, and calls Corbin out for being a “CHEATER~!” FLYING RANA! Fans fire up and Tozawa builds speed to DIVE! The tope sends Corbin into barriers! Fans fire up and Corbin gets in the ring. Tozawa hurries back in but Corbin bails out. Tozawa and JBL argue, Tozawa DIVES, but Corbin RAMS him into the barriers! Both men are down but Corbin drags himself up as the ring count starts. Corbin RAMS Tozawa into more barriers, throws big haymakers and KNEES, then he CLUBS Tozawa right in front of fans. Corbin puts Tozawa in the ring at 6 of 10, rolls in at 7, but Tozawa dropkicks the legs out!
Tozawa runs, and he RANAS again! Tozawa runs in to SHINING WIZARD! Fans fire up as Corbin is down! Tozawa climbs up, but Corbin stands, Tozawa FLYING SENTONS! Tozawa hurries back up top but JBL glare at him. Tozawa leaps, but into Corbin’s arms! END OF DAYS! Cover, Corbin wins!
Winner: Baron Corbin, by pinfall
Or as JBL says, “BALL GAME!” Corbin may have lost a considerable amount of money, but he makes it up by getting the winner’s purse! Will Corbin continue to make JBL proud and prove he IS the Modern Day Wrestling God?
Backstage interview with Bianca, Mia, Alexa & Asuka.
Cathy is with Team EST to ask their reaction to Rhea joining Team Bayley as the fifth and final member? Bianca says, “Rhea’s definitely a problem, no doubt. But Michan ain’t nothing to play with, either.” And if their team looks this good with just four, just wait for the fifth. Well, Cathy has breaking news for next week: One member from each team will compete to determine the numbers advantage in WarGames. Do they have an idea as to who is competing for Team EST? Bianca says they’re not going to let the secret out here. But Bianca says she would love to lead the team to that advantage, but so would everyone here.
And to get that advantage is huge, so this decision is not being taken lightly. However, Bianca will tell us this: “No matter who they throw at us, we gone represent. Because we are the roughest, the toughest, the baddest team in this fight. And while all those other girls are all about games, we’re about war.” Team EST heads out, and the Alpha Academy step in. Gable says, “Esqueeze me. Have you forgotten to interview tonight’s big winner, Master Gable? The man who single-handedly put down Matt Riddle just one week after my number one guy, Otis, put down Elias?” Otis adds it was “Easy peasy.”
Gable asks, “Could you imagine the pure carnage that would result if they ever stepped to us as a team?” It’d be like another victory on a silver platter! Yes please, a thank yew~! Rollins walks by, singing his own song, “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” Then he does a “SHOO~ OOO~ OOOOSH~!” remix. Clearly, Rollins is ready for the main event. Speaking of…
Finn Balor is at gorilla.
Byron walks over to ask him that, before this match tonight, any response to Styles’ challenge for a match at Survivor Series? “Byron, what sorta question is that? Of course I accept! Does AJ Styles even know who I am?! Ask Edge, he’ll tell ya. Ask Rey Mysterio, he’ll tell ya. But AJ Styles, that’s for Survivor Series. Tonight is about Seth Rollins. Me and Seth have a lot of unfinished business, and I’m about to remind Seth exactly who I am. I am Finn Balor, and I am fitting to go out there and become the NEW United States Champion.” The Prince is ready! Will he settle that golden debt with The Visionary?
WWE United States Championship: Seth Rollins VS Finn Balor!
Universal Championship, Intercontinental Championship, and now United States Championship, this is a golden trilogy a long time coming! Will Finn take this title and make it reeeeeal~? Or will the Visionary, the Revolutionary, Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins, stay atop the mountain of Monday nights?
Raw returns and Rollins makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if this is still Monday Night Rollins!
The bell rings and fans sing, “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” Rollins and Finn circle, feel things out, and tie up. Finn waistlocks, Rollins laughs as he wrenches free to an ELBOW BREAKER. Rollins wristlocks but Finn rolls, trips Rollins and gets a headlock. Rollins headscissors, Finn kips free, and the two stand off. Fans applaud and rally up for Rollins. Rollins smirks as he and Finn circle and feel things out again. They double knuckle lock, Finn shoots in to waistlock and SLAM Rollins down. Finn facelocks, Rollins rolls but Finn stays with him. Finn rear mounts, Rollins switches and gets an arm. Rollins says, “That’s right,” as he grinds the arm.
Finn fights up, he arm-drags free and then headlocks. Rollins endures as Finn pushes up into an almost Bully Choke. Rollins moves around, Finn holds on with a headlock, but Rollins powers up. Finn holds on tight as Rollins tries to power out. Finn hits the headlock takeover, Rollins rolls it to a cover, ONE and Finn holds on. Fans rally for Rollins as he endures, then feels around. Rollins fights up, powers out, then drops. Finn ducks but Rollins ELBOWS him down! Finn staggers around, Rollins throws Finn out, and Rollins PLANCHAS! Direct hit and down goes Finn! Fans fire up with Rollins, “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Finn is in the corner. Rollins goes corner to corner to forearm smash! Finn flounders while fans fire up, and Rollins stalks him along the ropes. But Finn wheelbarrows, victory rolls, and then stomps away on Rollins at the ropes! The ref counts, Finn stops at 4, and Rollins bails out of the ring. Finn hurries out after him to bring Rollins to the desk. But Rollins blocks the bump off the desk to SMACK Finn off it instead! Finn crawls away, Rollins stalks after him, and the ring count climbs. Rollins headlocks Finn, but Finn RAMS Rollins into the desk! The corner gets Rollins in the ribs!
The ring count is 7 of 10 as Rollins hobbles away. Rollins and Finn slide in at 8, and Finn stomps away at the ropes again! Finn digs his heel in each time, but he stops as the ref counts. Finn mocks Rollins’ usual swagger, then he brings Rollins up to whip. Finn KNEES Rollins against ropes, then whips him the other way for another KNEE! Finn snarls, he whips Rollins again, and he kitchen sink knees! Cover, ONE!! Rollins grits his teeth while clutching his ribs, but Finn hip drops Rollins down! Finn soaks up the heat as fans boo, and he snapmares Rollins to CLUB him on the back. Finn clamps on a chinlock and he grinds Rollins down.
Fans rally, Rollins fights up, and he JAWBREAKERS free! Rollins CHOPS, whips, but Finn reverses and slips around to have a cobra twist! Rollins endures the abdominal stretch as Finn digs his elbow into the ribs. Rollins endures, fans rally, and Rollins powers up to power out! Rollins hip tosses Finn down! Finn gets up but Rollins counter punches! And again! And again! Rollins CHOPS! ROCKS! CHOPS! Repeat! Rollins whips, Finn reverses again but Rollins kicks him away! Rollins runs to KNEE Finn out of the ring! And then Rollins DIVES! Direct hit and now Finn hits the desk! Fans fire up as Rollins nods his head!
Rollins puts Finn back in the ring as fans sing, “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” Springboard FLYING KNEE! Finn flounders back up, into a LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Rollins keeps cool, he knows Finn is tough. Fans continue to sing and Rollins goes to the corner. Rollins aims, runs in, but Finn SLINGBLADES! Finn snarls, runs in, but into a SUPERKICK! Rollins hurries to a corner as Finn goes down! Rollins is up top, for a FROG SPLASH, onto knees!! Cover, TWO!!! Rollins escapes the cradle and Finn can’t believe it, but Raw goes to break!
Raw returns once again and Rollins endures as Finn CLUBS him against ropes. Finn then fires off on Rollins while he’s in the ropes, but stops as the ref counts 4. Finn runs side to side, but Rollins dodges to trip Finn up! Rollins drags Finn up, and Finn knows what this feels like! Finn flails and pops free of the powerbomb! He SHOTGUNS Rollins into the barriers! Finn puts Rollins back in, climbs up top, and he takes aim for CUOP DE- NO, Rollins move! But Finn avoids the curb stomp! Rollins kicks low, hooks the arms, but Finn back drops free! Rollins sunset flips, TWO, into a deadlift POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!
Fans fire up as both men are still in this! “This is Awesome!” as Rollins stands and goes back up the corner. PHOENIX SPLASH, but Finn moves! SHOTGUN again, and Rollins hits buckles! Finn fires up and hurries to the corner! Finn climbs, but Rollins trips him up! The Prince is stuck on his throne, and Rollins climbs up after him. Rollins brings Finn up, for the SUPERPLEX! And roll through, to FALCON- NO, Finn slips out to 1916!! Cover, TWO!?! Rollins survives but Finn is too sore to be frustrated. Finn grits his teeth, he throws knees into Rollins’ ribs, and then CLUBS away on the lower back!
The ref has Finn stop so he can check Rollins. Rollins slowly sits up but Finn drags him up. Rollins kicks low and hooks the arms! But Finn trips Rollins! Rollins avoids the double stomps to kick and try again! Finn slips off the bomb but Rollins FALCON ARROWS! Cover, TWO!! Rollins growls and fans fire up again. “OH~ OHH~ OHHHH~!” Rollins aims from the corner again, but the Judgment Day rush out! Dom gets on the apron but Rollins DECKS him! But Finn rolls Rollins! TWO!! ROLLING ELBOW from Rollins, and then the DREAM SMASHER! Priest gets up but gets away before Rollins can hit him! Finn trips Rollins for the DOUBLE STOMP!
Finn fires up, fans boo, but The OC rush out! They take the fight to the Judgment Day! Finn is distracted, he sees Gallows, Anderson and Mia! Dom and Karl spill into the ring and Dom wants mercy! Karl clotheslines Dom out of the ring instead! But then Finn clotheslines Karl! Mia and Rhea brawl in the timekeeper’s area! Priest throws Gallows into the barriers, then he POUNCES Karl over the desk! Gallows ROCKS Priest with an uppercut, then THROWS him into the crowd! Finn focuses, and he SHOTGUNS Rollins back down! Finn hurries up top, Dom distracts the ref, but STYLES appears! Styles shoves Finn off the top!!
Fans cheer as The OC get one over on Finn! But Priest comes back for more! Priest brawls with Gallows, Styles joins in, but Dom rushes over there! They brawl into the crowd, and the fans are loving it! As for Rollins, he runs at Finn, CURB STOMP!! Cover, Rollins wins!
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall (still WWE United States Champion)
BUT THEORY ATTACKS! Theory wants payback on Rollins, and he fireman’s carries to hit A TOWN DOWN! Rollins flops out of the ring but Theory’s rage is still going! He RAMS Rollins into the steel steps! And then dribble shim off the desk! And again! And again! And RAMS him into the apron! And POSTS him! The ref tries to stop Theory but he keeps raining down fists on Rollins! Theory puts Rollins back in the ring, drags him back up, and he fireman’s carries for another A TOWN DOWN!! Fans boo but Theory holds up the US Championship. Theory aims at Rollins as he staggers to his feet, BELT SHOT!!
Fans are thunderously booing like they were earlier tonight as Theory stands over Rollins with the belt held high. Will Theory be the future United States Champion? And what of Bobby Lashley’s claim to the title? Will Rollins be able to survive this series of challengers?
My Thoughts:
A really good episode of Raw, but it sure took some time to rev up. It felt promo heavy, and that’s never good for any wrestling program. I will say that we at least got some good promos to move stories along. For one, pretty good MizTV segment. Miz was so obvious with how fake he was being, so of course Gargano called him out on that. And Lumis revealing himself as the cameraman feels familiar, but that was great stuff. I figured this was going to settle with both money and WWE contract on the line, and I would think Lumis wins. Good promo from Riddle and Gable, but an even better match. And it seems they’re setting up the tag team blow-off, that has to be the moment Elias smashes Riddle with his guitar to return to being a Heel.
Real good stuff out of the Women’s Division, though maybe a bit lopsided. Good promo from The OC as a group, Styles challenging Finn to a 1v1 for Survivor Series is part of what I expected, but it doesn’t really account for keeping the factions out of it. Priest & Dom VS Good Brothers should be a thing so we can get just Finn VS Styles at the PPV. Maybe that can happen as part of the go-home next week, so we can see Priest & Dom work as a duo. But back to Mia, of course she was going to win her return match, but I feel like Rhea walking out there and showing us DMG CTRL watching was a lot at once, kind of took away from Mia’s win.
Sky VS Dana was good stuff, and for a moment I thought Dana was going to join Team EST. Mia joining Bianca’s team instead to then motivate Rhea to join DMG CTRL’s side all made sense, even though I don’t think they needed to. I suppose it does help tie up a lot of stories together instead of having Mia VS Rhea as a separate match somewhere. But I think that leaves Team EST’s fifth spot to be the “surprise” that is Candice LeRae. She got beat up by DMG CTRL, she’ll want payback on them just as much as Bianca, Asuka & Alexa. And this saves big returns like Becky’s, or even Sasha & Naomi, for the next phase of DMG CTRL’s story to take us to Royal Rumble.
Good promo from Shelton, Priest and Dom, with Dom playing his part perfectly as the small fry with the big ego hiding behind the big guy. Shelton VS Dom was a good match, but of course Judgment Day cheats to win that. I’m curious as to HHH’s plans for Shelton, and even Cedric Alexander, as we’re suddenly seeing them on TV again. Maybe Hurt Business reunion? Lashley VS Ali was a great first match of the night, though it seemed like a rehash of the last time these two faced off. Ali is meant to be facing Ricochet on SmackDown, maybe they use this match here as kayfabe reason for swapping someone else into the SmackDown World Cup.
Speaking of that opening, Rollins had a great promo to kick things off, and he has a point that he’s making the US title a big deal again. And while he hasn’t changed his swagger from when he was Heel Visionary, Rollins is making the pivot into Face Visionary, and fans love it. Theory and Ziggler had a good promo to set up their match, and it was a great match. Theory showing off his rage was great stuff, even if it wasn’t the way I saw this going. Finn VS Rollins was awesome stuff, worthy of the main event and worthy of making the US title feel big.
The Judgment Day and OC brawling during this made some sense, but it also seemed to protect Finn in the loss, or perhaps made Rollins look weaker, depending on how you look at it. Lashley helped Rollins survive last week, the factions did that this week, Rollins needs to win on his own to really solidify himself. Theory attacking Rollins to close out the show does help double down on Theory’s new Heel edge and Rollins being Face. I was surprised Lashley didn’t come back for his own pound of flesh, but maybe the go-home decides who is challenging Rollins next. Though as I say that, Theory VS Lashley would be too hard to call after what we just saw out of Theory. Maybe just make it a Triple Threat?
My Score: 8.5/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/27/24)
Rural Revitalization continues!
Will Great-O-Khan be setting the table?
It’s Rural Revitalization in Hiroshima for the KOPW Championship! Can Yuya Uemura survive tires, lemons and a table? Or will Great-O-Khan conquer him for the United Empire?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Frontier Zone – Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano VS Rey Paloma & HANZO; Oleg & Yano win.
- Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask & Bishamon VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita VS Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira; Cobb & Akira win.
- Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii VS The House of Torture; Desperado, Shota & Ishii win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Tomoaki Honma & Shoma Kato; Tanahashi & Murashima win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sho & Yoshinobu win.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; TMDK wins and retains the titles.
- KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan VS Yuya Uemura; Yuya wins and becomes the new KOPW Champion.
- 10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK w/ Zack Sabre Jr. VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado!
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls snatched the titles away during the Windy City Riot, but the Guerrillas of Destiny are getting their rematch! Will the Headbanga & Young Guerilla redeem themselves on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku? Or will they see The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if The Mighty stay NJPW Strong!
The teams sort out and Hysterical Haste starts against ELP. The fans rally up with the bell and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but then Shane cording holds into a wrench and wristlock. ELP rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. ELP keeps Shane from ropes so Shane rolls, kips up, snapmares and KICKS ELP! The fans cheer while Shane shakes out his leg. ELP grimaces as he stands and shakes out the arm. The two reset, tie up, and ELP waistlocks. ELP goes for a chinlock but Shane standing switches. ELP switches, Shane switches again, and repeat. ELP headlocks, Shane powers out, then reels ELP in for a headlock.
ELP powers out, Shane runs him over, and then he sits ELP up to run. ELP drops under, hurdles over, but Shane shoves him. ELP rolls off Shane’s back to RANA! The fans fire up as ELP kips up and fixes his hair. The fans rally for “E L P! E L P!” while Shane is in a corner. Shane comes back to fire a forearm! ELP fires a forearm back! Shane fires another forearm so ELP gives it back. They go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! ELP gets the edge, but Shane UPPERCUTS! Shane CHOPS ELP, whips him corner to corner, but ELP goes up and over and keeps moving. ELP fakes Shane out to avoid the dropkick!
ELP goes to ropes to LIONSAULT but Shane moves! ELP sits up but avoids the Penalty Kick! The two stand off and the fans cheer! Shane and ELP reset, and Leo reaches out. ELP tags him in and the fans rally up. Shane tags Mikey, and he circles with Leo. They get face to face, and Mikey pie faces Leo! They tie up, Leo shoves Mikey away, but Mikey comes back. They tie up, Mikey headlocks but Leo lifts. Mikey thrashes the hold, Leo powers out and they RAM shoulders! Leo eggs Mikey on so Mikey runs and they RAM shoulders! Leo runs, Mikey ELBOWS him! Mikey runs, Leo runs him over! The fans fire up as Leo flexes.
Leo drags Mikey up, suplexes, but Mikey fights it! Mikey tries to suplex but Leo’s so tall! Leo suplexes, Mikehy slips free to waistlock, but Leo RAMS him into a corner! Leo runs in, Mikey dodges, only for Leo to LARIAT outta the corner! Tag to ELP and the Guerrillas get Mikey up. ELP BLASTS Shane while Leo whips Mikey to a corner. Leo SPLASHES, ELP clotheslines, then feed to the SIDEWALK SLAM and FALLING AX HANDLE! The Guerrillas high-five, ELP covers, TWO! ELP brings Mikey up but Mikey fights the suplex! Mikey powers out, whips, but ELP BLASTS Shane! ELP dodges Mikey, waistlocks, but Mikey swings. ELP ducks, into a DDT!
The fans fire up while Mikey shoves ELP over and tags in Shane. Mikey brings ELP up to TOSS him out, and then Mikey BLASTS Leo! Shane whips ELP into railing! Shane flexes, fans applaud, and Shane drags ELP up. APRON BACK SUPLEX! Shane shoves ELP in, covers, ROPEBREAK! The fans rally as ELP stays in this but Shane grabs one of ELP’s hands. Shane stretches out the arm to then KICK ELP in the shoulder! Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires forearms! Shane shoves ELP but ELP ELBOWS Mikey! ELP fires off on Shane, whips, but Shane reverses and Mikey trips ELP up! Shane basement dropkicks ELP and he spins around into a HAYMAKER from Mikey!
ELP flops to the floor, Mikey claims the apron is slippery, but the referee reprimands him all the same. The ring count starts but Mikey puts ELP in at 4 of 20. Shane covers, TWO! Shane keeps ELP down with body scissors. ELP endures, reaches out, drags Shane along as he crawls over, and the fans rally up. Shane grabs ELP’s arm and brings him into a cover, TWO! Shane whips ELP away into The Mighty corner! Tag to Mikey, he sends Shane in, but ELP puts Shane on the apron! ELP BOOTS Mikey, ROUNDHOUSES Shane, then runs, but Mikey catches him! Mikey RAMS ELP back into the corner!
Mikey taunts Leo then digs boots into ELP. The fans rally up and ELP throws body shots. Mikey eggs ELP on so ELP CHOPS! ELP tries to get under but Mikey grabs a leg and drags him back! Tag to Shane, and Shane stomps ELP down. Shane kicks ELP around, kicks him more, but ELP fires off hands! Shane back drops ELP up and away! The fans rally while Shane drags ELP back to a cover, but Leo breaks it! Shane drags ELP back, tags Mikey in, and TMDK mug ELP. ELP sputters, Mikey tags Shane back in, and Shane sucker punches Leo! Mikey hoists ELP up but ELP BOOTS Shane! ELP backs Mikey into the corner, then goes up and over Shane!
Shane runs into Mikey but Mikey still pursues ELP. Mikey drags ELP back but ELP ENZIGIRIS free! The fans fire up, but Shane gets ELP’s legs! ELP BOOTS Shane away, hurries up again, but Mikey BLASTS Leo first! Mikey then brings ELP around to back suplex! ELP lands on his feet, but Shane back suplexes! ELP still lands on his feet, then he ducks under TMDK to hot tag Leo! The fans fire up as Leo UPPERCUTS Shane, swings on Mikey, but Mikey dodges, only for Leo to BOOT him! Leo scoops Shane for SNAKE EYES and a BOOT! The fans fire up with Leo while Shane and Mikey go to opposite corners.
Leo runs in to SPLASH Mikey! Leo keeps going but Shane BOOTS him! Shane runs up but Leo ELBOWS him down! Leo runs to drop the JUMPING ELBOW on Shane! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Leo watches Shane stir. Shane rises, Leo choke grips! GODS- NO, Shane slips free and Mikey fires a forearm! Shane UPPERCUTS, Mikey LARIATS, but Leo stays up! Shane runs to LARIAT! Leo roars, but TMDK double kick! TMDK reels Leo in, but Leo DOUBLE SUPLEXES them instead! The fans fire up and Leo watches TMDK bail out. Leo tags ELP and ELP goes up. Leo helps him walk the tightrope, to ARIHARA MOONSAULT TMDK down at the ramp!
The fans fire up again, and Leo goes out to get Shane in. ELP & Leo get Shane up to CHOP, straitjacket torture rack, and then Leo runs. BOOT into the spin, BRAIN SALAD! Cover, Mikey breaks it! Mikey fires forearms on Leo & ELP, runs, but ELP hurdles so Leo can DDT! Mikey bails out, the fans fire up, and ELP tunes up the band. Shane rises, into SUDDEN- NO, Shane dodges! Shane runs up, but into Leo’s hands! ELP aims, but Shane pulls Leo into SUDDEN DEATH! Shane UPPERCUTS ELP and DROPKICKS Leo! Shane KICKS ELP, BOOTS him, then reels him in for an INVERTED EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!!
ELP survives and Shane is surprised! The fans fires up, Shane and ELP rise, and ELP staggers to a corner. Shane puts ELP up top, ROCKS him with a right, then climbs up. Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires body shots! ELP HEADBUTTS Shane down but Mikey tags in! Shane goes up, ELP sends him back down, so Mikey UPPERCUTS! Mikey gives Shane the boost, and they get ELP for the SUPERPLEX BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives but Mikey powers up and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives again and the fans fire up! Mikey grows frustrated, he drags ELP up and reels him in.
ELP slips free of the Blue Thunder to kick and tuck the arms! But Mikey trips ELP to jackknife bridge, TWO! ELP rolling clutches! TWO and Mikey has the cover! TWO and ELP ghost pins, TWO!! Mikey escapes but ELP dodges! ELP DROPKICKS Mikey down and the fans fire up! Both men crawl, hot tag to Leo! Leo runs to BLAST Shane, then he turns to look at Mikey. Mikey eggs Leo on, then fires forearms! Leo ROCKS Mikey with just one! Mikey fires another flurry, but Leo ROCKS Mikey again! Leo eggs Mikey on and the fans rally. Mikey kicks low, ROCKS Leo, then runs, but into a scoop! Tag to ELP before the POWERSLAM!
ELP goes up to SWANTON BOMB! And then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, ELP tags Leo back in, and they tune up the band again! Mikey rises, but Shane trips Leo! Mikey ROCKS ELP, Shane UPPERCUTS ELP! Feed to the scoop but ELP slips free! ELP shoves Mikey into Shane, and Leo grabs them both! But both Shane & Mikey fight free of the choke slams! Shane KNEES, Mikey FOREARMS, but then ELP fires off on TMDK! ELP runs, but into a double trophy lift! THUNDER- DOUBLE DDTS!! ELP turns things around on TMDK, and the fans are thunderous! Mikey stands up into SUDDEN DEATH! ELP PLANCHAS onto Shane!
GODSEND for Mikey! ELP then climbs up the ropes, then climbs onto Leo! SUPER THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, but Shane barrels through ELP to break it!! The fans are thunderous again but ELP is frustrated. ELP fires off on Shane, runs, but Shane LARIATS! Shane dodges Leo but runs into the POWER TRIP! GOD- NO, Mikey rolls Leo up!! TMDK WINS!!
Winners: TMDK, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Leo is furious! He is sure Mikey pulled tights there! He stomps at Mikey, pushes past ELP and goes after Mikey on the outside! Mikey and Leo push each other around, but there’s nothing Leo can do about this one. Will he and ELP just have to fight their way back up to the top? As for TMDK, will they continue to rock ‘n’ roll through the ranks with all this gold?
KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan w/ Callum Newman & Francesco Akira VS Yuya Uemura w/ Taka Michinoku & Taichi!
It’s Rural Revitalization 2: Hiroshima Style! The Dominator just managed to make it past Tanga Loa, will he make it through the Heat Storm? Or will KOPW soon belong to Just5Guys?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who can put in the work!
This first round is Mazda tire carrying. Each man has a big orange cone placed in their corner, so they simply have to go fetch the tires from the stacks outside. Whoever gets four tires first wins the round! The bell rings, Yuya kicks Khan then heads for ropes, but Khan reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Khan goes out now, hurries up the ramp, and grabs two tires at once! The fans cheer and Khan gets those tires in the ring. Then he goes back for more! A risky move but that means four tires are on play. Yuya DROPKICKS Khan and here’s where the risk is involved! Yuya aims to PLANCHA but Khan chucks a tire!
Yuya falls back, Khan gets the tires in then drags Yuya out. Khan CLUBS away on Yuya against the apron, then uses a tire to bind Yuya’s legs! Khan CLUBS Yuya more, and Khan even ties Yuya up in the ropes! Khan sacrifices two tires to trap Yuya! The fans cheer the creativity, and Khan STOMPS Yuya on the apron before heading for more tires. Yuya works to get free as Khan brings two more tires to the ring. Khan sets those tires in, Yuya gets free, but Khan has stacked two tires. Then three, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Yuya takes the tires off Khan’s cones, leaving him with just one. Yuya goes out to get the last tires remaining!
Yuya brings tires to his cone, then clears out some space. Yuya has two tires, steals Khan’s one, but then Khan grabs Yuya for an IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Yuya fights free, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! Khan throws the tires off Yuya’s cone, then throws the cone! We’re back to zero and zero, and Khan whips Yuya into a corner, to then clothesline him! The fans fire up as Khan climbs up and sits on his throne! Khan then hops down to Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian CHOP! Yuya sits down, Khan takes a tire, but then THROWS it at Yuya! Yuya goes up and over and AX HANDLES Khan down!
The fans rally as Khan grabs tires and cone, and he starts stacking! Yuya has two, then three! He just needs to find one more! Yuya grabs one from outside, but Khan reels him in! Khan DECKS Yuya, then undoes some of the stack. Khan confiscates a tire, makes sure it’s nice and bouncy, but also works up quite the sweat. The fans rally as Khan aims and takes a swing, only for Yuya to counter tire with tire! They clash again, and again! Then they set up for TIRE SUMO! And again, TIRE SUMO! They run in again, and Khan RAMS Yuya! Yuya is disarmed, and Khan CLOBBERS him with the TIRE SUMO!
The fans fire up while Yuya is down and Khan grabs tires. Khan says he’s not done with Yuya yet. Khan starts stacking tires at the center of the ring, then drags Yuya up. Khan clinches Yuya into HITSUJIGOROSHI! Yuya endures, even as Khan throws knees! Khan then scoops to SLAM Yuya on the tires! That’ll leave some skid marks! Khan then drags Yuya off the stack, brings him up and around, to then put a tire around his head. And then another! Yuya’s two tired to stand but Khan makes him! Khan throws a BODY BLOW, then he TRIPS Yuya into a TIRE DDT! The fans fire up while Khan grabs the other tires.
Khan stacks tires on his cone, that’s two. Khan hurries to find other tires on the outside, and he has a third. Khan considers his options, and takes one of the tires from Yuya. But Yuya clings to the tires, so Khan stomps him! Yuya refuses to let go of the tires! Khan stomps Yuya more but Yuya defends the tire with his body! Khan claws at Yuya, they tug-o-war over the tire, but Khan pulls on Yuya’s ear! Yuya kicks low, kicks again, then SMACKS Khan with the tire, and DROPKICKS Khan down! The tire goes tumbling out of the ring while Yuya fires up! Yuya takes Khan’s tires, hurries them over to his cone, that’s three right there!
Now Yuya has to hurry and find another! Yuya goes outside, grabs the tire, but Khan intercepts! They tug-o-war again, but then Khan RAMS Yuya into a corner! Khan takes this tire, that’s one. Khan finds tires on the outside and brings them in! Yuya hurries to cover tires again! Khan stomps Yuya, still stacks three, so it’s all down to this seventh tire! Yuya and Khan tug-o-war yet again, the fans rallying behind them! Khan grabs Yuya’s arm, but Yuya slips around to a SLEEPER! Khan fights up but Yuya squeezes tight! Yuya then CLUBS away on Khan, runs, but into a TIRE SWEEP! And a BASEMENT DROPKICK!
Khan grabs the final tire, but Yuya schoolboys him away! Yuya rolls through, snatches the tire, and complete his stack! Yuya wins the first round!
Khan: 0; Yuya: 1
Just like with Tanga Loa, Khan drops the ball in the first round! But then, will history repeat itself here as we prepare for the second round?
The tarps are set down, the table is set, and it’s time to eat up some Hiroshima lemons! Khan makes sure the people watching at home and around the world understand that Hiroshima lemons are the best, which probably means they’re the most sour. Khan puts on his bandana and takes his seat at the table. He and Yuya get some wet wipes to clean their hands, and it all comes down to who finishes their one lemon first. Ready, set, EAT! Yuya starts fast and that face shows how sour these are. Khan says hold on, and he just takes a HUGE bite! Yuya is suffering but Khan is reveling in the sourness! Khan’s already halfway through!
Yuya can barely keep the lemon in, but Khan’s eaten it all up! Can he get it all down before Yuya? Khan is chewing and chewing, Yuya is practically shaking from how sour it all is! Khan keeps going and… Yes, Khan has it all down! Khan wins!
Khan: 1; Yuya: 1
Khan now lets his body feel the stinging sweetness, and he says it was delicious! But then, that leaves us with this third and final round. And this time it’s a TABLES match! Who will be feeling sour and sore after this one?
The bell rings, both men rush in, Yuya dodges to fire haymakers! Yuya whips, Khan reverses but Yuya CLOBBERS him! Khan gets up, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Khan bails out, Yuya aims and PLANCHAS! Direct hit at the ramp, and the Heat Storm fires back up! The table is there, so Yuya drags Khan right up! Yuya goes to suplex but Khan blocks! Khan fights with body shots, turns things around, but Yuya fights the suplex! They fight for control, but Khan RAMS Yuya into the apron! The fans rally, Khan drags Yuya back up, and whips him into railing! Yuya tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land!
Khan storms out after Yuya and he asks fans move aside. Young Lions help the fans clear out while Khan drags Yuya up. Khan brings Yuya around and reminds everyone, No Disqualifications! Khan BOWLS Yuya through chairs, and that’s definitely a strike! The fans cheer Khan as he stands on chairs, but then asks more fans to move aside! Khan stomps Yuya, stomps a chair onto Yuya, then tosses that chair aside. Sorry to whoever had that seat… Khan then drags Yuya up and brings him around, but Yuya throws body shots! Khan Mongolian Chops Yuya down! Khan drags Yuya back up, and BOWLS him into more chairs!
Yuya is stuck on the seats, that wasn’t quite a strike. But Khan stacks chairs on Yuya to pick up the spare. Khan SMACKS chair with chair! Yuya sputters while fans applaud, and Khan goes back to fetch Yuya. Taichi and Taka are there but so are Newman and Akira. The Empire keeps the two out of five guys at bay while Khan drags Yuya to the back of the crowd. Khan whips Yuya into the emergency exit! Khan then SLAMS railing down on Yuya, and then SMACKS railing with railing! Khan talks trash while Taka and Taichi coach Yuya up. The ref checks Yuya, but he’s somehow able to continue, so Khan drags him up.
Khan brings Yuya around to drag him through the chairs! Khan brings Yuya back to ringside, then into the ring. The fans applaud, and then Khan goes looking under the ring. Khan eventually finds another lemon! Khan takes a big bite and uses the citrus to power up! Then he DIGS the lemon into Yuya’s face! The citric acid burns but the fans fire up! Khan goes to fetch the table from outside, puts it inside, and then sets it up in a corner. The fans rally up as Khan stalks Yuya. Khan drags Yuya up, reels him in to scoop, but Yuya slips free! Khan avoids hitting table, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! Yuya whips Khan into the blue corner, then DOUBLE CHOPS again!
The fans fire up and Yuya grits his teeth. Yuya roars, brings Khan up and reels him in for a BIG back suplex! The fans rally again and Yuya brings Khan up. Yuya clinches, but Khan fights the lift! Yuya still tries, but Khan fights it to a head ‘n’ arm clinch. Yuya gets around, headlocks, but Khan pops out to waistlock. Yuya fights being pushed around, then switches to get an arm. Khan clinches but so does Yuya. They fight for control, and Khan’s SAYANAGI takes Yuya down! The fans fire up and both men stir. Yuya flops out of the ring, but Khan crawls in pursuit. Khan drags Yuya up, then RAMS him into railing!
Yuya writhes, Khan goes looking under the ring, and he brings out another TABLE! Khan SMACKS Yuya with the table, then stands the table up at ringside. Khan drags Yuya up, SMACKS him off the apron, then climbs up. Khan drags Yuya up onto the apron, Mongolian Chops, then regular CHOPS! Khan UPPERCUTS, then clamps on the IRON CLAW! Khan scoops but Yuya fights free! Yuya DROPKICKS! Khan holds onto ropes to stay up, but Yuya hurries to run! Yuya LARIATS, but into the IRON CLAW!! Khan drags Yuya up and over, ELIMINATOR- NO, Yuya grabs ropes to fight that off! Khan kicks low, winds up, but Yuya traps the arm!
Yuya traps the other arm, takes aim, but Khan fights the Deadbolt with all his might!! The fans are thunderous as Yuya still tries! Khan BITES Yuya’s ear! And then POSTS him! But Yuya runs up, into a BOOT! Yuya falls back, Khan sits down, and the fans rally again! Khan undoes his hand tape, ends up pushing the table over, and then he folds it all up. Khan puts the table in the ring, pushes Yuya aside, and then he sets this table up again, in the blue corner. Yuya goes up top to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Yuya roars! Yuya has his choice as he hauls Khan up. Yuya traps the arms, but Khan makes it a BELLY2BELLY!
But Yuya rises back up! Yuya runs in, gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Khan’s right up! Khan LARIATS Yuya down! The fans fire up as Yuya is right back up, and URENAGES! Both men are down again and the fans are thunderous! Khan flounders around, he and Yuya crawl to center, and Yuya fires a forearm! Khan gives it back! Both men stand, and Yuya fires a haymaker! Khan comes back to forearm! Yuya wobbles, but he comes back to HAYMAKER! Khan staggers, wobbles, but comes back to FOREARM! Both men stagger, but Yuya fires another haymaker! Khan fires a flurry of forearms, but Yuya haymakers!
Khan ROCKS Yuya, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! But Khan throws an IRON RIGHT! The fans fire up again as Yuya falls! Khan roars with Monster Rage and he hauls Yuya up! IRON CLAW, and then ELIMIN- NO, Yuya slips free! Yuya wrenches, traps the arms, DEADBOLT SUPLEX through the table!! YUYA WINS!!
Winner: Yuya Uemura, 2-1 (NEW KOPW Champion)
Yuya slammed the Deadbolt shut on Khan and now he takes the title from him! The Heat Storm is rising, how hot will he make the KOPW Division through the Summer?
10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
These factions have been battling all over this Road to Wrestling Dontaku, but now they will fight ’til the last man! Will there be a roll call for Bushi, Hiromu, Takagi, Yota y Naito? Or will this alliance with the Good Looking Emperor, Jake Lee, help David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney shoot down LIJ?
Wait, it seems Naito has brought backup of his own? It’s SLYLY! The dragon-like mascot of Hiroshima Toyo Carp, and half-brother to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Phillie Phanatic! Well, Naito does love him some baseball. Tensions are running high, and Finlay throws his shirt at Yota. Yota balls that shirt up, and throws a fastball over the plate! The teams sort out, Finlay pushes Yota around and Gabe talks trash on Takagi. Red Shoes gets them all to settle down, and the War Dogs bark and put up the Too Sweet. Jake joins in at the end there. LIJ mocks the barking before they fist bump, and the fans cheer.
Things finally sort out and Finlay starts against Yota. The fans fire up behind “YO~TA! YO~TA!” at the bell, and Yota makes sure Finlay hears that. Finlay gets on the corner but the fans all boo. The two circle, tie up, and Yota uses his size to put Finlay on ropes. Finlay turns that around to grind forearms in Yota’s face and push him around. Finlay then backs up to SPIT at him! The fans boo but Yota CHOPS Finlay in return! The fans cheer, Yota headlocks, and Yota grinds Finlay down. Finlay powers up and out to headlock back, but Yota powers up and out. They RAM shoulders, Yota rebounds to run Finlay over!
The fans fire up, things speed up, but Finlay bails out. The fans boo but Finlay says he’s got time. Yota barks at Finlay but Finlay just mockingly applauds. Finlay returns, kips up just to show off, but then Hiromu wants in! Yota tags Hiromu, Finlay tags Drilla. Hiromu fires forearms on Drilla, whips, to ROCK, trip, KICK the ropes, then run and SHOTGUN Drilla down! The fans fire up while Hiromu barks. Hiromu runs corner to corner to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! The fans fire up but Connors runs in to knee Hiromu low! Connors barks, runs, but Hiromu kicks low! Bushi dropkicks legs out so Hiromu can basement dropkick!
The fans fire up but Drilla fires hands and CHOPS on LIJ. Hiromu CHOPS back, he and Bushi double whip to TU LO SABE! Cover, TWO! Drilla stays in this but Hiromu fires Hiroshima up. Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Drilla slips free to RAM Hiromu into the corner! The Dogs mug Hiromu while Jake Lee runs up to BLAST Naito! Finlay and Connors help out in mugging Yota and Bushi! Things have pilled out into the crowd in multiple areas while Naito fights back! Jake kicks Naito, then whips him hard into railing! Naito tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land! Gabe and Takagi throw HEADBUTTS back and forth!
Finlay snatches a phone? He’s taking pictures of Jake stomping away on Naito! But then Yota attacks Finlay! Finlay POSTS Yota, a ring count starts, but the Dogs just keep beating LIJ down! Drilla finds his way back to ringside, Hiromu manages to make his way in! Hiromu crawls in at 17 but Drilla is there to stomp him! Drilla bumps Hiromu off Finlay’s boot! Drilla tags Jake in, they mug Hiromu, and Jake digs his boot in while Finlay pulls Hiromu’s hair! Red Shoes is busy getting everyone to stop brawling! Jake lets off but Hiromu fires off CHOPS! Jake just kicks low, whips, and then HIP TOSSES Hiromu down!
Hiromu staggers up but Jake clamps on a SLEEPER! Tag to Finlay and they mug Hiromu in the corner. Red Shoes reprimands and counts, the fans boo, and Finlay lets off at 4. Finlay soaks up heat, then he takes Hiromu’s Kamaitachi mask and THROWS it to the crowd! Finlay then BLASTS Yota off the apron! The Dogs CHOKE Hiromu more, mug him while Finlay argues with Red Shoes, then Finlay brings Hiromu up. Finlay fireman’s carries and goes to dump Hiromu! Hiromu clamps onto ropes, Bushi runs in to make the save! Connors goes after Bushi so Takagi makes the save! But Connors goes after Takagi now!
Finlay puts Hiromu on the apron but Hiromu rolls back in, SAFE! The fans cheer while Finlay is frustrated. Finlay storms up on Hiromu in a corner but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS! Finlay knees low, whips corner to corner hard, and Hiromu flounders all the way back to where he started! Finlay drags Hiromu up and over, the fans still cheering him on, but Connors tags in. Connors BLASTS Naito off the corner, then snap suplexes Hiromu down! Connors runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Connors stays on him with a seated full nelson. The fans continue to rally for “HI-RO-MU!” as he endures!
Hiromu fights around, even as Gedo barks at him to give up. Hiromu still gets the ROPEBREAK! Finlay pushes the foot away and that distracts Red Shoes, allowing Drilla to join in and stomp Hiromu! Drilla & Connors double whip but Hiromu gets around to lift Connors and throw him at Drilla, FORCED RANA! The fans fire up but Connors keeps Hiromu away from his corner! Hiromu blocks a kick, and a punch, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally again while both men are down! Hot tag to Naito! Naito rallies on Connors, BLASTS Drilla, swings on Jake, but Jake gets away. Connors CLUBS Naito, whips, but Naito reverses to arm-drag!
Naito atomic drops, runs, and ELBOWS Connors down, to then basement dropkick! The fans fire up while Naito stares Jake down. Naito covers Connors, TWO! The fans rally, Naito drags Connors up and dragon sleepers, for the NECKBREAKER! And then, LEG HOOK NELSON! Connors endures but Gabe stomps Naito! Gabe BLASTS Takagi, the rest of the Dogs attack, and Gabe stomps away on Naito! Gabe tells off the fans but the fans boo. Red Shoes reprimands so Gabe steps away, and Connors drags Naito up. Connors UPPERCUTS, whips, but Naito reverses to TORNADO- NO, Connors powers out!
Connors dodges Naito, redirects and POUNCES! Naito is down but the fans rally up. Naito and Connors crawl, hot tags to Takagi and Gabe! The fans fire up for the NEVER Openweight Championship appetizer! They RAM shoulders, Takagi ROCKS Gabe then runs to RAM him! Gabe rebounds to RAM Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to RAM Gabe! Gabe fires a forearm, whips Takagi to a corner then runs in to clothesline! Takagi says that’s not enough, so Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe says he’s a madman, then whips, only for Takagi to reverses. Takagi runs in, blocks a boot, and clotheslines through! The fans fire up with Takagi, but Gabe shoves him!
Takagi kicks and CLUBS away on Gabe, but Gabe BITES Takagi’s forehead! Red shoes reprimands, but Takagi spins Gabe around to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Gabe’s still in this but the fans rally behind “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi looks around, “Oi, Hiroshima! TOKI GA-” NO, Gabe CLOBBERS Takagi! It isn’t his time yet, and Gabe stands Takagi up to HEADBUTT again and again! Then Gabe suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi’s tougher than that but Gabe shakes his head. Gabe scuffs Takagi, eggs him on and runs, but Takagi blocks the Rebounder to HEADBUTT! Gabe HEADBUTTS! Both men shake their heads, and then Takagi HEADBUTTS!
Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS again and again, but then Gabe HEADBUTTS again and again! Takagi fires a forearm, Gabe gives it back, repeat! The fans fire up as the shots go back and forth! Gabe gets the edge, but Takagi fires boxing elbows! Gabe CHOP! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! Gabe UPPERCUTS and YUKON LARIATS! But Takagi’s right up to LARIAT!! Gabe rises and shouts! Both men run in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And again! Gabe fires palm strikes, talks trash, but gets a JAB, HEADBUTT, and a PUMPING BOMBER take takes both men up and out! DOUBLE ELIMINATION!!
Fans go wild as Takagi’s sacrifice play makes things 4v4! Bushi and Drilla jump in and Drilla fires off shots! Drilla ENZIGIRIS, ripcords, but Bushi dodges to RANA! And DROPKICK! Drilla bails out but Bushi builds speed, only for Connors to SNAP POWERSLAM! Drilla gets in, he and Connors get moving, SPEAR GORE COMBO!! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives but the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions coordinate. Connors BLASTS Naito off the apron before he climbs a corner, and Drilla gets Bushi up. Drilla suplexes, but Bushi slips free! Bushi shoves Drilla into Connors, then runs back in to CODE-
NO, Drilla blocks and aims for ropes! Bushi slips free, dodges Drilla, but Drilla ducks the enzigiri, only for the REWIND HEEL to hit! Bushi whips Drilla up and out and to the floor, Bushi ELIMINATES Drilla! We’re 4v3 in LIJ’s favor, but then Connors SPEARS Bushi! Connors says this is it, and he reels Bushi in for- NO! Bushi turns No Chaser into a backslide! BUSHI ROLL! Bushi ELIMINATES Connors!! The Black Mask singlehandedly handles the tag champs and the fans fire up! But then Finlay CLOBBERS Bushi and rains down fists! Finlay roars in rage, then he drags Bushi up. Canadian Rack, but Bushi slips free to backslide!
Finlay rolls through to UPPERCUT! Jake BLASTS Naito, BLASTS Yota, and then Finlay gets Bushi up! Finlay POWERBOMBS Bushi to the outside, onto Naito and the rest! Finlay ELIMINATES Bushi! We’re back to 3v2 as Finlay still has Jake but LIJ still has Naito, Hiromu and Yota. And speaking of Yota, he gets in to brawl with Finlay! Yota whips, Finlay reverses but Yota flipping RANAS! Then he BLASTS Jake! Yota runs corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH Finlay! Yota keeps moving, he runs Finlay over to then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he smiles and paces around.
Yota brings Finlay up and fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free. Yota kicks, runs, but Finlay ELBOWS him down, then SENTONS on top! Finlay barks as he aims at Yota. Yota rises, Finlay runs in, and UPPERCUTS at the corner! Then clotheslines! Then FALCON ARROWS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Yota but Finlay grows frustrated. Finlay drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the lift! Finlay CLUBS away on Yota, tries again, and he has Yota up, but Yota fights free of the bomb! Yota fires forearms, but Finlay UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! Finlay runs, but Yota backslides to KNEE Finlay down!
The fans fire up again as we pass 20 minutes, and Yota drags Finlay up. Yota goes up and up but Finlay shoves him over! Yota’s on the apron, he and Finlay brawl! Yota ROCKS Finlay, but Finlay gets in Red Shoes’ face! Jake grabs at Yota, Yota kicks him away, but Finlay BLASTS Yota down and ELIMINATES him! The fans boo but the Dogs have made this 2v2! Finlay and Jake stand together, and they dare Naito & Hiromu to join them. Naito and Hiromu oblige as they step inside. Naito stares Jake down, Hiromu stares Finlay down, and they start swinging! The fans fire up, but then Finlay fireman’s carries Hiromu! Finlay aims for ropes!
Naito gets past Jake to save Hiromu, but then Jake BOOTS Naito down! Jake scrapes Naito out of the ring and goes after him, but Hiromu fireman’s carries Finlay! Hiromu runs at ropes and dumps Finlay out! Finlay stays on the apron but Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Finlay holds onto ropes and wobbles, but Hiromu builds speed! Hiromu DIVES and SUNSET FLIPS, but Finlay still holds on! Finlay throws down hands, gets back inside, he’s SAFE! Hiromu is also safe because he went through the second rope. Hiromu runs back in, but avoids Blue Thunder to wheelbarrow! But Finlay turns that into an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER!
Hiromu writhes, the fans rally as hard as they can behind him, but Finlay drags Hiromu up. DOMINATOR! Cover, Naito breaks it! Jake stomps Naito and TOSSES him out! It was all second rope so Naito’s safe, but Finlay talks trash on Hiromu. Finlay drags Hiromu up, reels him in, suplexes, but Hiromu slips free! Finlay UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS! Flashback to the 23rd! Hiromu just takes UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT from Finlay, but he doesn’t stop! Then he SUPERKICKS! Hiromu runs, but into another UPPERCUT! Finlay gets Hiromu up, but Hiromu RANAS Finlay up and out to ELIMINATE him!!
The fans are thunderous as The Rebel is shocked! Hiromu mocks him, but then Jake runs in! Hiromu gets under the boot to get under Jake! Jake fights Hiromu off, snarls, and then runs up! Hiromu dodges to kick a leg! Hiromu runs, but Jake kitchen sink knees! Jake takes aim, runs up, and FACE BREAK SHOT! Hiromu tumbles up and out and to the floor, Jake ELIMINATES him! And now, at 25 minutes in, we’re down to just Jake and just Naito! Naito slowly rolls into the ring as the fans rally behind him. Jake watches Naito stand, and the two stare down. Jake runs in but Naito dodges to fire off forearms!
Naito whips but Jake reverses to KNEE low! Jake fires up but fans boo as he stands Naito up. Jake reels Naito in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Naito protects the plate but Jake is aiming another heater! Jake waits as Naito stands, then winds up to choke grip! But Naito throws back elbows to get free! Naito then wrenches, TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Naito rises, he drags Jake up, and he throws those heavy back elbows! Jake crawls around, Naito brings him up, and Naito throws more heavy back elbows! Jake wobbles and staggers to the corner but Naito is right on him.
Naito brings Jake around for even more heavy back elbows! Jake falls over, the fans fire up, and Naito aims from the corner. Naito drags Jake up and in, but Jake BOOTS Naito down! Naito dangles off the apron! Red Shoes keeps the War Dogs from interfering, and Naito stands up. Jake aims, runs in, but Naito avoid the FBS! Naito drags Jake ot the apron, Jake elbows him back! Jake runs up, but into an ELBOW! Naito goes up and over, sweeps the legs, then BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICKS! Jake falls, LIJ wins!!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, Naito as the lone survivor
It came down to the bottom of the ninth, technically speaking, and Naito just hit the walk-off homer! Jake is stunned and Finlay is frustrated, but Yota just smiles back at him. Finlay and Yota will have it out as part of Wrestling Dontaku Night One, who will be smiling then?
As for LIJ, they regroup in the ring and have their hands raised. Slyly’s even still hanging around! But uh, he’s a little too chunky to get in the ring, so he just settles for pumping up the crowd like he does at baseball games. Naito gets the mic to say that it was three months ago, the Splash Strong series back in January, since Naito was last in Hiroshima. Naito would like to thank the fans from coming here tonight, “Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer, and Naito continues by saying, “Hiroshima is my second home. I really long to have a match at Mazda Stadium.” The fans love the sound of that!
Naito does preface that him saying that doesn’t mean there’s anything planned. So please, tranquilo, be patient, and look forward to the day that finally happens. So, shall they do it? The fans cheer again! So then, for the first time in Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in a year and eight months, is everyone ready? The fans cheer because they sure are! Well then, the only way to close The Road to Wrestling Dontaku here in Hiroshima… Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Slyly! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRNABLEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!! Slyly gets in on the roll call! Will all of LIJ have success as we reach Wrestling Dontaku next week?
My Thoughts:
A great event to conclude Road to Dontaku before getting to Wrestling Dontaku itself. An unfortunate change in the card, Sanada fell ill and could not compete, so his match alongside Taichi against Tanahashi & Tomoaki was changed into Tanahashi and a Young Lion VS Tomoaki and a Young Lion. Hopefully Cold Skull gets well soon. Great tag title match from TMDK VS GoD, and while I figured TMDK was going to retain, I didn’t think it’d be in a shady way like holding tights. While ZSJ VS Cobb for the NJPW World TV title is still to come, I doner of GoD shift gears and ELP becomes a singles guy so Leo and Loa can team up. Then ELP can challenge ZSJ in a battle of initials while the Brothers Guerrilla get to take on Shane & Mikey.
Great Rural Revitalization again, they managed to pull off great comeback spots each round. I was very surprised Yuya won out, I felt like Khan could’ve done one more Rural Revitalization before losing. But at the same time, Yuya feels like the unofficial fourth Reiwa Musketeer behind Narita, Shota & Tsuji. Yuya getting a title, any title, ahead of the others is good stuff for him, and could even bring about a feud with one of the Musketeers for the Summer. And then a great 10 Man Elimination Tag. I again really like that NJPW allows over the rope eliminations even in a tag match like this to really mix things up. Jake Lee not winning out for the War Dogs is really surprising, but I feel like that means Jake will defeat Naito 1v1.
My Score: 8.9/10
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It’s a violent end to a legendary friendship!
Former Best Friends, Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor, have been through many Parking Lot Brawls, but this is their first time as enemies! Will there be broken bones to go along with the broken hearts?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor; Trent wins.
- Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo; Rosa wins.
- “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell; Bill wins.
- Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions; Shibata & Garcia win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor!
Years of friendship, thrown away, and why? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Freshly Squeezed having more success in AEW than them? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Cassidy as a person? Because #JustTrent turned out to be the selfish one in the relationship? Well, then will #JustTrent get his ass kicked? Or will he take advantage of how Chuckie T. is a Kentucky Gentleman?
Trent stares Chuck down while we hear the crowd of other wrestlers taunting him. Trent takes a swing, but Chuck dodges to fire off hands! The brawl is on, and Chuck gets the edge! Chuck ROCKS Trent, then SMACKS him off a car hood! And then off the car door! Chuck drags Trent up, but Trent RAMS Chuck into the car! And throat chops him just because! Trent gets space, runs back in, but Chuck dodges so Trent hits the passenger door! Chuck gets a trash can lid and he stands Trent up. Trent jumps through the open window but Chuck drags him back out. Trent kicks low, and he gives Chuck a CAR HOOD BACK SUPLEX!
Trent grabs the trash can lid, SMACKS Chuck right in the head and Chuck falls down! The crowd boos but Trent opens a car trunk to bring out a trash can, a dustpan and a baseball bat! Chuck storms up but Trent CHUCKS the trash can into Chuck’s face! Chuck flounders and Trent smirks. Trent SMACKS Chuck with the trash can, CLUBS him around, and Chuck is busted open! The white car has red polka dots on it now, and Trent talks trash, “This is what you wanted?!” Trent runs up, but Chuck POP UP POWERBOMBS Trent onto a car hood! Trent writhes, Chuck staggers around, and Chuck brings Trent around.
Chuck headlocks Trent before he SMACKS him off another car door. Trent goes around the back and then up onto a truck! Chuck follows, and he CLUBS Trent in the chest! But Trent slips under, and he CLAWS Chuck’s bloody face! Trent DECKS Chuck and Chuck falls through drywall sheets! Trent looms over Chuck as he crawls out of the wreckage. Trent stalks Chuck, brings him around and SMACKS him with the trash can lid! Trent hoists Chuck onto a car roof, SMACKS him again, then goes back to the truck. Trent climbs onto the roof of the truck, to FLYING ELBOW from car to car! Cover, TWO!!
Trent is furious, but Chuck is still in this as Rampage goes picture in picture.
Trent fumes, paces around, and goes back to the goodies. He brings out… Is that a screwdriver?! And he JABS Chuck in the head with it!! And then he DIGS it into Chuck’s forehead!! As if he wasn’t already bleeding badly!! Trent leaves Chuck behind, to fetch what looks to be a flat screen TV. Then he brings out a wood door!? Did someone visit Home Depot before coming here? Chuck CHOPS Trent in return then fires haymakers! Trent CLAWS Chuck’s face! Trent grabs that TV and CHUCKS it, only for Chuck to duck it! Rampage returns as TV screen hits windshield! Chuck kicks low to snap suplex Trent through the door!!
The crowd is losing its minds as Trent crawls. Chuck gets Trent’s legs, to CATAPULT him into the truck’s tailgate!! The crowd fires up while Chuck gets a sinister look on his face. Chuck takes a piece of that drywall to SMASH it on Trent! Chuck gets that trash can, he SMACKS Trent with it! Chuck sees the pile of extra goodies nearby, and he uncovers some light tubes! But first, he’ll clean up the mess, he SMACKS Trent with the dust pan! And SMACKS him again and again! And then one more shot with the trash can! Trent writhes, but Chuck drags Trent up. Chuck SMACKS Trent off the tailgate, then clears some space.
Chuck climbs up, but Trent ROCKET LAUNCHES him onto the light tubes!!! The tubes shatter under Chuck’s back! Trent sputters, he’s bloody now, too. Trent puts Chuck against the car hood and stands on him! Trent soaks up the heat, but Chuck TRIPS Trent! Trent writhes, Chuck reels Trent in, Canadian Rack, RAZOR’S EDGE onto a windshield!! Trent writhes while fans chant “HOLY CHUCK!” Chuck covers Trent on the hood, TWO!! Trent survives and hurries around the back of this sedan. Chuck snarls, goes up after Trent, and they meet on the roof. They’re both so bloody as they fire forearms back and forth!
The crowd cheers Chuck and boos Trent, and as the two swing wild, they end up HUGGING! You GOT to give the people what they want, right? They stand, Chuck ROCKS Trent and reels Trent in, but Trent LOW BLOWS!! Trent has Chuck now, PILEDRIVER ON THE CAR ROOF!!! And then, SNAKE BITE!! Trent is choking Chuck out!!! Chuck IS out, Trent wins!!
Winner: Trent Beretta, by submission
The Best Friends tore each other apart, but it is #JustTrent that stands tall in the end. He’s clearly lost the respect of his peers given how the other wrestlers are chanting “You Suck! You Suck!” But wait, Trent isn’t done? He has a monkey wrench!? Cassidy & Kris step forward to say no, this is going too far! Trent says this is all Cassidy’s fault! And SMASH, Trent hits Chuck’s leg with the wrench, and even shatters the glass behind it!! Chuck clutches the already recovering leg, and now Cassidy wants after Trent! Kris stops Cassidy, Trent’s still got the wrench! Trent escapes into the shadows of the arena, what darkness is living in Trent’s heart?
Don Callis is watching this.
And he seems to like the sadistic savagery he just witnessed. Trent may not have Best Friends anymore, but could he end up with a whole new family?
Backstage interview with Kyle O’Reilly.
Arkady Aura is with #CombatKyle and brings up his impressive showing in Dynamite’s Casino Gauntlet this past Wednesday. But we all want to know, what is next for her? Well, on Saturday, May 11th, AEW is coming to his hometown! Collision in Vancouver, British Columbia! The Rogers Arena, the same building an 11-year-old Kyle saw his first wrestling show ever. And at that show, Kyle told his dad that he was gonna do this one day. Papa O’Reilly said, “Oh yeah, sure you will, kid.” But somehow, Kyle pulled it off. 25 years later, he’s coming back home to do the one thing he’s ever been good at and that’s wrestling.
Kyle is going to take on the best wrestlers this world has to offer, right here in AEW, where the best wrestle. Kyle is ready for a fight, who will take him up on that in two weeks?
Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo!
La Mera Mera and The Virtuosa could not coexist in the race for the AEW Women’s World Championship, and now they will Rampage against each other! Who will stand tall, ready for another shot at the title?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Deonna and Rosa step up, talk a little trash, then Deonna pie faces Rosa! Rosa swings but Deonna catches the arm! Rosa avoids the takedown to knee low! They tie up again, go around and around, and Deonna puts Rosa in a corner. The ref counts, Rosa powers her way out but Deonna headlocks. Rosa powers up and out, but Deonna RAMS her! The two stay up, Deonna eggs Rosa on then kicks her low! Deonna whips, Rosa blocks the hip toss, but then Deonna blocks a hip toss! Rosa avoids the lariat to DECK Deonna! Rosa rains down fists but the ref reprimands.
Rosa sits Deonna up, clamps on a COBRA CLUTCH, and she grinds Deonna down. The fans rally but Deonna fights up. Deonna throws hands, then wrenches, but Rosa breaks free. Deonna BOOTS Rosa, then has the arm for the ARMBAR DDT! Deonna dusts herself off as she paces, then she KICKS Rosa’s arm. And KICKS it again! Rosa goes to ropes, Deonna pushes her down and ties her up in Paradise! Rosa is stuck, Deonna soaks up the cheers and jeers, and then runs to DROPKICK Rosa out of Paradise! Deonna stands Rosa up but Rosa ROCKS her first! Deonna stands, Rosa RAMS into her then bumps her off buckles.
Rosa goes up and up to leap, but Deonna blocks the rana and has a BOSTON CRAB! They’re in the ropes, the ref counts, and Deonna lets go. Rosa crawls to the corner, Deonna paces while soaking up the heat. Rosa stands, builds speed, and she WERCKS Deonna with a dropkick! Rosa fires up despite the pain in her back, and she kicks Deonna. Deonna stands, Rosa CHOPS her against the post! And CHOPS her again! Deonna ducks, Rosa chops post! Deonna SUPERKICKS Rosa down, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Deonna steps on Rosa’s face, steps away, and Rosa staggers up to railing. Deonna storms up but Rosa kicks her low. Rosa then runs Deonna side to side to POST her! But then Deonna RAMS Rosa into apron! And SMACKS her off it! Deonna snarls, brings Rosa around, and she puts Rosa in the ring. Cover, TWO! Deonna clamps onto Rosa to pull her arms in, for a straitjacket stretch! Rosa endures, fights up, but Deonna turns that into a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Rosa is still in this, and she is feeding off the energy of the fans! Rosa stands, and she ELBOWS Deonna! And body shots! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again!
Rosa has Deonna in a corner to UPPERCUT! Rosa runs corner to corner and back again, but Deonna dodges! Rosa POSTS herself and falls to the apron! Deonna storms back over, brings Rosa up and wraps the bad arm against ropes! The ref counts, Deonna KICKS the ropes as she lets off, and Rosa clutches the elbow. Deonna returns but Rosa RAMS into her! Deonna CLUBS Rosa, has her in a corner, and HEADBUTTS the lower back as Rampage goes to break.
Rampage returns and Deonna runs in, but into an ELBOW! And then a BOOT! Rosa goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Rosa as she rises up! Deonna runs in, Rosa dodges to fire forearm after forearm! Deonna shoves, Rosa ENZIGIRIS! Rosa runs, to SHOTGUN BOOT! Deonna flounders to ropes, Rosa pounds the mat and the fans rally again. Rosa runs side to side to DROPKICK again! Cover, TWO!! Deonna toughs it out while Rosa shakes out her arm. Rosa drags Deonna up, but Deonna SOBATS! Deonna runs to KNEE LIFT and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Deonna wants the Fujiwara but Rosa rolls free!
Deonna BOTOS Rosa down, covers, TWO! Rosa is still in this and the fans rally up. Deonna is frustrated but she fireman’s carries Rosa. Rosa fires elbows, waistlocks, but Deonna pries the hold open! Deonna waistlocks, Rosa victory rolls and STOMP 182! The fans rally up again and Rosa covers, TWO! Deonna stays in this but Rosa stays on her. Rosa drags Deonna to a drop zone, goes to a corner and climbs. But Deonna rises and catches the leap! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Rosa endures, reaches out, pushes Deonna over to get a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Deonna is in the body scissors but she fights around!
Deonna rises, to BACKPACK SENTON! Deonna is free, the fans fire up, and Deonna brings Rosa back up. Deonna SLAPS Rosa, then reels her in! Gotch Hold, but Rosa jackknife bridges! TWO, Deonna sunset flips, TWO! Prawn hold, TWO! FUJIWARA!! Rosa rolls it to a cradle, ROSA WINS!!
Winner: Thunder Rosa, by pinfall
Deonna thought she had the perfect formula but Rosa says she just beat her at wrestling! But then Deonna CLOBBERS Rosa at the ramp! The fans boo but Deonna drags Rosa up to RAM her into the bleachers! Rosa slumps down, but Deonna digs her boot in! Deonna SLAPS Rosa around, tells the ref to shut up, and she SLAPS Rosa more! So Rosa SLAPS back! They brawl on stage and then out to the ledge of the upper level! The fans fire up as they keep going! Security rushes in, the fans boo, but Deonna flips Rosa off! It seems nothing was settled here, will these two look to go Double or Nothing?
Backstage interview with The Undisputed Kingdom.
Arkady Aura is with Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett as she notes Will Ospreay is the NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship. Taven says hold on, before we get started here, “Not Lexy,” as three guys who care deeply about neck health, and as two guys who nursed someone from the brink of paralysis (aka Roddy), The Kingdom wishes a very speedy recovery to “the world’s greatest boss. TK, stay strong, buddy.” Roddy then shouts that “WILL… Ospreay. Congratulations, you did it! You have signed, sealed and delivered the downfall, demise and destruction of The Aerial Assassin at Double or Nothing.”
Roddy says the world can sing Ospreay’s praises, but none of that matters when you step in the ring with Roddy. Just like all the ones before, Roddy will dismantle Ospreay, he will BREAK Ospreay, and he will make Ospreay fall in front of The Savior of the Backbreaker. Roddy’s confidence is strong, but will Roddy be the one feeling the End of Heartache after taking on the #BillyGOAT?
“Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell!
The human skyscraper says he wants to sit under the Learning Tree, but Chris Jericho’s gonna need a bigger tree if he’s to give guidance to Big Bill. Will Bill prove he is worthy of The Wizard’s sage advice?
The moment Bill is in the ring, he SPLASHES Trevor right in the corner! The bell rings, Bill runs to BOOT Trevor down! Trevor flounders around, Bill runs corner to corner and SPLASHES again! Trevor flops around, Bill wants Jericho to watch this. Bill said he’d show Jericho he is worthy, and we do see Jericho watching backstage, holding the FTW Championship on his shoulder and oddly still wearing a #LionHook shirt… Jericho nods as Bill CLUBS Trevor on the back! Bill then tells Jericho to watch him! Scoop and BIG BOSS SLAM!! Cover, but Bill lets off! Bill wags his finger, he wants Jericho to see more.
Bill brings Trevor up, reels him in, and short arm LARIATS! Cover, but again Bill lets off! Bill is having too much fun at poor Trevor’s expect. Bill says Jericho’s gonna wanna teach him. Bill hoists Trevor up for the SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAM!! One foot cover, a very Jericho move, and Bill wins!
Winner: “Big Bill” Morrissey, by pinfall
Trev might want to change his last name to Well-done, because he got roasted. Bill wants Jericho’s guidance, does he even need it when he can do all this?
BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!
Rampage won’t be following up Collision next week but it also won’t be back on Friday just yet. For AEW’s return to Canada, Rampage is going to be BACK TO BACK with Dynamite! Get ready for a truly All Elite Wednesday!
Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions!
The Wrestler said during Collision earlier tonight that he was going to take on Shane Taylor Promotions by himself if he had to, but then the Dragonslayer offered his help. Now they’re both going to take on #TAIGASTYLE and Big Bad Shaney T. himself! Garcia wears basic trunks and boots to match Shibata, will The Wrestlers win out? Or will STP rumble, bad man, rumble?
The moment all four men are in the ring, Shibata CLOBBERS Lee Moriarty and then he and Garcia both go after Shane! The fans fire up as they stomp and kick Shane right out of the ring! Then they go out to keep after him! Shibata whips and BOOTS Shane into railing! Garcia fires off on Lee, then Shibata adds an UPPERCUT! Shibata whips and BOOTS Lee against railing! Garcia stomps Shane, Shibata snap suplexes Lee to the floor! Shibata leaves them behind to go into the ring and sit cross-legged! Garcia sits with him! The fans fire up and the two go out again. The brawling continues but Shane throws heavy hands!
Lee ROCKS Garcia, Shane puts Shibata in, and Shane storms in after Shibata. Lee sends Garcia into railing, but Shibata fires hands on Shane! Shibata KICKS and KICKS, but Shane blocks the boot! Shane JABS Shibata and Shibata falls back! Shane talks trash, the fans boo, but Shane drags Shibata up. Shane HEADBUTTS Shibata, tags Lee, and they mug Shibata. Lee stomps a mudhole in, lets off as the ref counts, but he sneaks mule kicks on Shibata the whole time! Shibata trips Lee, stomps him, but Lee gets up to RAM into Shibata! Lee brings Shibata around, suplexes, but Shibata slips free to waistlock!
Lee elbows free, kicks, but Shibata blocks! Lee KNEES Shibata but Garcia tags in! Shibata BOOTS Lee, Garcia LARIATS! Garcia DROPKICKS Shane, gets around Lee, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And then another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Garcia brings Lee up again but Lee suplexes! Garcia slips free, spins Lee and kicks low, to then TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The trifecta is complete and the fans fire up! Garcia storms up on Lee, brings him up, and UPPERCUTS! The fans rally for Garcia, he CHOPS Lee to ropes. And CHOPS Lee against ropes! Garcia runs, but Shane trips him! Lee distracts the ref so Shane can DRAPING DDT to the floor!
Shibata protests but Lee mocks him by sitting cross-legged. The ring count climbs, Garcia drags himself up at 3 of 10, slides in at 5, but Lee stomps Garcia at the ropes! Lee drags Garcia up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Shane. Shane pushes Garcia against the buckles, to then CHOP! Garcia seethes and he fires forearm son Shane! The fans fire up, Garcia throws more shots, then leaps, but into Shane’s arms! Shane RAMS Garcia into a corner, then CHOPS! Shane runs up, but Garcia BOOTS! Garcia spins, but Shane ROCKS him first! And URENAGES! And then SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO!
Shane seethes but he keeps Garcia from Shibata, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Shane mocks Garcia’s dance, drags him up, but Garcia CHOPS! Garcia staggers, but Shane fires body shots in the corner! Shane ROCKS Garcia, tags Lee, and STP mugs Garcia. Garcia flounders to ropes, Lee CHOKES him! The ref counts, Lee steps away, and he stomps Garcia around. Lee wraps an arm around the ropes, then fishhooks Garcia! The ref counts, Lee lets off, and Garcia feeds off the energy of the fans. Lee brings Garcia up but Garcia fires forearm sand CHOPS! Lee gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Garcia stays in this but Lee stays on him with a wrench. Tag to Shane, and Lee hooks Garcia up in a COBRA TWIST, just so Shane can KNEE Garcia down!
Shane has Garcia on ropes, ROCKS him with a forearm, then scoops him for SNAKE EYES! Garcia slumps down in the corner, Shane drags him back up, and TOSSES him out! Shane goes out to then put Garcia against railing. Shane ROCKS Garcia, talks trash on fans, then brings Garcia around to scoop and SLAM him to the floor! Shane talks more trash on the fans, Lee has him cool off, and Shane brings Garcia up again. Shane puts Garcia in, tags Lee, and then Lee clamps on with a top wristlock and stretches Garcia out! Garcia endures, turns to fight the pressure, but Lee CLUBS him down. Lee drags Garcia up, tags Shane, and Shane scoop SLAMS!
Shane runs to SPLASH Garcia again! Rampage returns to single picture, Shane drags Garcia to a drop zone, and he goes up a corner. The fans boo but Shane blows them a kiss. FALLING SPLASH FLOPS as Garcia moves! T he fans fire up, but Lee KICKS him down! Lee hurries back and tags in, then he drags Garcia up. Lee wrenches, wristlocks, but Garcia endures. Lee SNAPS the fingers! The fans boo Lee being so villainous, but he drags Garcia up. Lee bumps Garcia off buckles, Shane holds Garcia up, but Garcia fights free with boots and haymakers and elbows! The fans fire up, Garcia sends Lee into Shane!
Lee hurries to waistlock but Garcia switches, SAIDO! The fans are thunderous as Lee and Garcia crawl! Hot tags to Shane and Shibata! Shibata BOOTS Shane! Shane roars, Shibata runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and BOOTS! Shibata whips to BOOT Shane in the corner! Shibata fires forearms, the ref counts, but Lee runs up. Shibata DECKS him! Garcia RAMS Lee into a corner, climbs up, and while Shibata fires forearms on Shane, Garcia rains down fists! Garcia goes all the way to nine, then DOES HIS DANCE! Shibata and Garcia coordinate, DOUBLE HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Garcia stands Shane up. Shibata runs in to BOOT!
Shibata CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS Shane, then CHOPS, CHOPS and JABS! Garcia does his dance while Shibata JABS and CHOPS to the rhythm! The fans are loving this, as now Garcia runs in to KNEE Shane! Shibata & Garcia get Shane up, to DOUBLE SUPLEX!! Cover, ONE?!? Shane has power to spare, but Garcia BOOTS him! Shibata BOOTS him! They go again, but this time Shane DOUBLE SUPLEXES them!! The fans boo but Shane tags in Lee. Lee runs up to clothesline Shibata, and JAB! And CHOP! JAB! CHOP! JAB! CHOP! Shibata just scowls at Lee! Lee says okay, and he fires more JABS and CHOPS!
Shibata steps into the shots, so Lee eggs him on! Shibata ROCKS Lee! Shane runs up, HEADBUTTS, then Lee HALF HATCH SLAMS! Cover, TWO!! Shibata toughs it out and STP grows frustrated. Lee drags Shibata up, kicks then waistlocks, but Shibata fights the lift! Shane storms in, helps Lee put on the full nelson, and Shane promises to knock Shibata out! But Shibata BOOTS Shane first! Garcia jumps on for a SLEEPER! Shibata switches on Lee for a SLEEPER!! The fans fire up as STP start fading out! Shane fires up to RAM Garcia into buckles! But Shibata BOOTS him! And Garcia SAIDOS!! Shibata PENALTY KICKS Lee!! Cover, The Wrestlers win!
Winners: Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia, by pinfall
Shibata helps Garcia stand up, and Garcia is proud to have won alongside one of his heroes! And with the fans cheering him on, Garcia sets up… to DO HIS DANCE! Will this momentum help Shibata avenge Hook and take that FTW Championship off of Chris Jericho? Or will The Learning Tree have some things to teach Shibata?
My Thoughts:
A great Rampage here, though I was oddly more excited when I thought it was just Deonna VS Rosa and the Parking Lot Brawl. But even so, at least Bill squashing a dude was used in story. He was showing off, he’ll surely have Jericho’s blessing if he helps defeat Shibata on Dynamite, but a part of me almost wants this to be all a trap. Bill was teammates with Ricky Starks in a feud against Jericho, and if Jericho is being obliviously arrogant then maybe Bill is using that against Jericho, too. But either way, let’s just hope this story helps Bill get going rather than slow him down like the #JerichoVortex has always done.
The Parking Lot Brawl was moving maybe a bit fast for me, especially with how there were some obvious spots already set up when they arrived, such as the drywall draped across the truck bed. But they surely got bloody, and in the end, Trent won out because he was willing to sink to the lowest low. And then they’ve written Chuck off again with that monkey wrench to the shin, so Cassidy VS Trent is definitely a Double or Nothing match. And something is just telling me that if Kris is gonna turn out to be the villain in the Willow Nightingale story, she’s probably gonna screw Cassidy over to help Trent, too.
Really good match from Deonna VS Rosa, and with Rosa getting a quick pin then that brawl, we’re clearly getting more out of them. Good promo from Kyle O’Reilly to hype AEW’s newest Canada tour, and good promo from The Kingdom to tie in their old Neck Health Awareness gag to the Tony Khan piledriver angle. Roddy calling out Ospreay, I would definitely think Ospreay wins the title at Double or Nothing. And really good tag main event from Shibata & Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions. STP keeps getting great showings even in losing, but Lee took the loss here to keep Shane himself strong. Great win for Shibata but this just adds to the go-home math where Jericho retains the FTW Championship on Dynamite.
My Score: 8.7/10
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