Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (1/17/23)
We’re heading for vengeance!
2023 is only gearing up for NXT!
Bron Breakker is STILL NXT Champion after New Year’s Evil, but he isn’t done with Grayson Waller! Vengeance Day is coming, and so is a STEEL CAGE!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Axiom & Apollo Crews VS Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams; Axiom & Apollo win.
- Alba Fyre VS Sol Ruca; Sol wins.
- Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen w/ Fallon Henley VS Gallus; Gallus wins.
- Thea Hail w/ Chase U VS Valentina Feroz; Thea wins.
- Tyler Bate VS Javier Bernal; Bate wins.
- Roxanne Perez & Lyra Valkyria VS Toxic Attraction; Roxie & Lyra win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Axiom & Apollo Crews VS Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams!
The Undeniable Truth and the man with foresight team up to take on two men who can’t help but run their mouths. Granted, Melo backs up a lot of his talk, but Trick has a lot of talk to back up. Will the Trick Melo Gang be able to pull this off when the numbers aren’t in their favor?
The teams sort out and Axiom starts against Trick. They circle, tie up, and Axiom waistlocks. Trick wrenches out but Axiom slips away. They go again, Axiom wrenches Trick’s arm, has the wristlock, but Trick slips through to wrench back. Trick cranks the wristlock, but Axiom rolls, handsprings and dropkicks! Fans cheer but Trick huffs and puffs. They tie up, Trick puts Axiom on the ropes, and he lets off as the ref counts. But Trick swings on Axiom! Axiom dodges the sucker punch, headlocks Trick, but Trick powers out. Trick runs Axiom over hard! Trick does a shoulder shimmy, then he drags Axiom up to run him over again!
Trick whips, but Axiom dodges, only to run into a pop-up HAYMAKER! Trick drags Axiom up, bumps him off buckles, and tags in Melo. Fans are torn as Trick Melo Gang double whip. Axiom reverses, kicks and CHOPS, then he knuckle locks Trick to go up, up and DOUBLE TAKEDOWN! Fans fire up as Axiom kips up and focuses on Melo. Axiom springboards to arm-drag and ENZIGURI! Axiom drags Melo over, tags in Apollo, and they wrench Melo’s arm to CLUB the shoulder. Apollo whips, Melo reverses but Apollo goes up and over. Apollo handsprings and drops and dropkicks Melo down! Fans fire up but Trick runs in, to get a dropkick!
Apollo sees Trick Melo Gang coming at him, and he DOUBLE OVERHEAD ARM-DRAGS! Apollo whips Melo, scoops but Melo slips free. Apollo hits a headlock takeover but Melo slips free to get the legs. Apollo kicks Melo away but Melo BOOTS him down! Melo keeps moving, tilt-o-whirl FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for Melo as he brings Apollo up. Melo headlocks, Apollo powers out and Axiom tags in. Axiom ROCKS Melo, feeds to Apollo’s KNEE, then Axiom GERMAN SUPLEXES! Melo flounders out of the ring, Trick goes to check on him, but Apollo picks up Axiom to TOSS him! Direct hit and down goes Trick Melo Gang!
NXT goes picture in picture as fans fire up for Apollo & Axiom. Axiom fetches Melo and puts him in the ring. Axiom steps in but Melo dodges! Axiom comes back, takes Melo down and has a toehold. Melo keeps his shoulders up, Axiom drags him around to stomp him! Axiom brings Melo up at the ropes but Melo throws hands in return! Tag to Trick and they mug Axiom. Trick talks trash to Apollo then whips Axiom, for a LARIAT! Trick drags Axiom back up, scoops, and SLAMS Axiom down! Cover, TWO! Trick pushes Axiom to the corner, tags Melo, and they mug Axiom some more. Melo drags Axiom up to scoop, but a little too hard, he basically throws Axiom!
Melo talks trash on Axiom, but Axiom CHOPS him! Axiom drags Melo back to tag in Apollo. They double whip Melo, drop toehold and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Apollo facelocks Melo to keep him down and grind him into the mat. Melo endures, fights up, but Apollo shifts to a chinlock. Melo chinbars Apollo in return to turn things around onto him! But Apollo rolls and slips out to facelock right back! Apollo leans all his weight on the hold, but Melo rolls and gets a headlock. Apollo wrenches out and YANKS Melo’s arm, then tags Axiom. Axiom goes up to drop AX HANDLES on the arm! Axiom drags Melo around in a facelock, and he grinds Melo down.
Melo endures, fights up, and NXT returns to single picture. Fans rally as Melo suplexes, but Axiom cradle counters! TWO, and both men run, DOUBLE LARIATS wipe both men out! Fans fire up as Melo and Axiom both stir. Melo clamps onto Axiom with a waistlock, but Axiom switches. Apollo intercepts Trick, he and Axiom STEREO GERMAN SUPLEX! They hold on, fans rally for the GERMAN SUPLEXES! Melo and Trick hold hands to thwart the third round, and then they both standing switch. They STEREO BACK SUPLEX, but both Axiom and Apollo land on their feet! BOOT for Trick, Melo blocks Axiom’s to send it into Apollo!
Trick anchors Axiom, Melo hits the springboard LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Melo drags Axiom over, tags Trick, and they stomp Axiom down. Trick drags Axiom by his arm, bumps him off buckles, and then again, for a CHOP! Apollo coaches Axiom but Trick stomps away on Axiom! Trick drags Axiom up, tags Melo, and they mug Axiom again. Melo snapmares Axiom and clamps on a chinlock. Axiom endures, fans rally up, and Axiom fights up. Melo whips Axiom but Axiom uses that to SHOTGUN Trick! Axiom dodges Melo to hot tag Apollo! Apollo DECKS Trick, blocks Melo’s punch to mule kick and BOOT! And LARIAT!
Fans fire up and Apollo whips Melo to ropes, for the LEAPING LARIAT! Apollo kips up and fans fire up more! Apollo runs corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH! And then whip the other way, another STINGER SPLASH! And ENZIGURI! Melo staggers, and Apollo says he’s gonna raise it up. Apollo trophy lifts and DROPS Melo, to STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, Trick breaks it! But Axiom DECKS Trick! Trick slips out, but from the apron, GOLDEN RATIO! Melo goes to the top rope, he leaps at Apollo, but Apollo blocks the shot! Wheelbarrow, Melo tries to roll but Apollo sit son it! Apollo & Axiom win!!
Winners: Axiom & Apollo Crews, by pinfall
Melo is shocked! Not only did he miss, Apollo turned that turnover into points! But is this game between them far from over?
Tony D’Angelo and Channing Lorenzo walk the streets.
Stacks asks The Don why they’re here. Tony says it’s business. This bridge represents the beginning, and in some cases, the end. Tony drops in two dimes for the lost. Stacks says rats get what they deserve. Tony tells Stacks that he did a lot this past year. He proved he was a solid earner, and he’s taken bullet for Tony time and time again. That whole Dijak thing didn’t end how they wanted. Stacks apologizes and says he’d do anything for Tony. But if this is it, then Stacks is loyal until the end. Do what you gotta do. Stacks turns his back to The Done, and the Don… pats him on the shoulder. Stacks’ days as a soldier are over. Because now, it’s time to become the Underboss.
Wait, seriously? He means that? Yes, this is the family crest. Now that Stacks is a part of the family, he gets to wear it. Stacks thanks Tony and they hug it out. Tony says he’s proud of Stacks and gives him a kiss on the cheek. With Stacks moving up in the world, will the D’Angelo Family soon take over NXT?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
McKenzie Mitchell is with the returning superstar and notes that last week, Tiffany made her return by calling out the entire roster. Tiffany stops her there, and says she didn’t ask for this interview, McKenzie did. So just get to the point. McKenzie wanted to share some footage showing that Tiffany’s return wasn’t received very well. Footage plays showing that sometime last night, Tiffany walked up to her private locker room, but it was locked! She banged on the door, and Indi Hartwell opened the door.
Tiffany asked Indi what she’s doing in there, and Indi said, “Oh, you think you deserve a locker room bigger than the one for the rest of the division, right?” Tiffany said, “Duh.” Well uh, it isn’t your locker room. You wanna call the rest of the division “pigs,” then you can dress somewhere else. Tiffany got upset, and didn’t even realize Indi still went to NXT. Back to the present, Tiffany is sure McKenzie enjoyed that. “That footage is disturbing and alarming. And did you see the way Indi was dressed? She could fit her entire wardrobe in a garbage bag. Same goes for the entire locker room. I guess I’ll just have to show them that there is only one superstar in the Women’s Division, and that’s me.”
Tiffany storms off, but will she soon realize she is anything but the Center of the Universe?
Toxic Attraction heads to the ring!
After a close call in the Women’s Battle Royal, Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne are BOTH contenders to the NXT Women’s Championship. Vengeance Day is going to see a Triple Threat, but that match can only be won by one woman. Gigi & Jacy both get mics and Jacy says they aren’t usually the ones to say “we told you so,” but… “WE TOLD YOU SO~!” They promised that the announcement would be, “Your winners,” and that is exactly what was said! Alicia, you did your job, kudos!
But the best part was watching all of the fans’ minds explode when it came down to the two of them! The fans mustered up every ounce of athleticism that they had just to get out of their chairs and elbows the people next to each other to say, “This is it! Toxic Attraction is done! They’re breaking up! History is unfolding right before our very eyes!” They were dueling between Jacy and Gigi, and for a hot sec, Jacy did try to eliminate Gigi. And vice-versa. But in the end, they’re a team! They think together, act together, and even fall to the floor at the same time together! There’s no animosity, jealousy or elephant in the room. Just Toxic Attraction doing what needs to be done.
And the revenge tour is in full effect! Full steam ahead to North Carolina! Vengeance Day, BABYYY~! And Roxanne Perez, they promise that you will regret the day you became champion. Because come February 4th, all Roxie will be hearing, “Your winners, and NEW~!” WAIT, here comes Lyra Valkyria! And all she is hearing are a couple of toxic crows demanding to be heard. IF it wasn’t for Cora Jade, Lyra would be flying to Vengeance Day while Gigi & Jacy would be at home, pinning the blame on each other. But it’s okay. Lyra will get her opportunity. She doesn’t see a champion when she looks at either of them!
Uh, sorry, Lyra, but where they hell did you come? You’re new, we get it. You dropped from the sky or whatever. But Gigi & Jacy have been champions for longer than Lyra’s even had her wings. Lyra will learn that Toxic Attraction runs things here in NXT. So nice try in wanting that Toxic Attraction rub, but back of the line ya go! Clearly, Lyra isn’t taking any of their shine. Lyra says all she sees are two women who know they can’t beat Roxanne by themselves, so they have to do it together. Well, they attack Lyra together! They stomp away, but here comes ROXIE! The champ runs off Gigi & Jacy!
Roxie helps Lyra stand up, Gigi & Jacy tell them to calm down. Roxie invites them back into the ring, but perhaps this showdown will have to wait for when Toxic Attraction wants it.
The Creed Brothers warm up backstage.
Brutus says it’s HIS turn with Jinder Mahal! Julius says he started this, he’s going to finish it. No, Julius had his chance! Brutus tells Ivy and Tatum that Julius is trying to take another turn when it’s Brutus’! Ivy says, “Here we go again.” And what’s she mean by that? Ivy is going to talk and they’re going to shut up and listen! What happened to them? What happened to The Creed Brothers who were motivated and disciplined? When they were locked in, they were the best tag team, with the titles to prove it. And now they’re after revenge, respect, retribution, whatever this is! But it’s far from where they need to be.
Indus Sher has global accolades, and Jinder is a former WWE World Champion. Ivy knew Julius was going to lose, and that the Creeds were gonna lose the tag match. Okay, so hypothetically, Ivy is right. She IS right!! Now grow a set and get back to being the Creeds, not whatever this is. Ivy storms off, and the brothers admit, she’s got a point. Will Diamond Mine be stronger than ever if they focus on gold?
Stevie Turner is live.
She says hey to chat and says she’s giving her reactions to last week’s Women’s Battle Royal. Cora Jade being out quick, she won’t get over that for some time. But what Stevie can’t get over is Kiana James saving Fallon Henley, and Elektra Lopez helping out Valentina Feroz. Forget alliances! This is every woman for herself! Sol’s Kofi-style save is definitely TikTok viral material, and Wendy Choo broke her fall with her own pillow. At least, until Lopez pulled the rug out from under her. Stevie loves the utter chaos, and no algorithm could put that draw together. But if Stevie had been in it, she would’ve won it. That day is approaching, so subscribe to the life of Stevie!
Alba Fyre VS Sol Ruca!
The match that Isla Dawn ruined is finally happening, though the Fire Keeper was a bit… aggressive in getting the Surfer Girl to agree to it. Will Fyre burn too hot for Sol? Or will Sol make sure not to wipe out in this big opportunity?
NXT returns and Sol makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, go around, and Fyre puts Sol in the corner. Sol breaks away and the two reset. Fans rally, they tie up, and Fyre waistlocks to SLAM Sol down! Fyre goes to a ghost pin, TWO! Sol drop toeholds and floats to a facelock. Fans applaud, Fyre wrenches out and WRINGS the arm, but Sol handsprings through! Sol comes back, Fyre waistlocks, and Fyre shoves Sol to a corner. Sol goes up and over, runs corner to corner and goes up to CROSBODY! Cover, TWO! Sol facelocks, backslides, TWO! Fyre escapes but Sol deflects the superkick!
Fans cheer the standoff and the two shake hands. Sol and Fyre tie up, but Fyre drops to get the leg. Fyre trips Solo, Sol kicks Fyre away and kips up. Sol runs in, Fyre sidesteps and hip tosses but Sol handsprings through! Sol hits a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Sol keeps her cool, but Fyre is getting heated. Fyre throws body shots, she throws Sol down then stomps away! Fans rally for Sol while Fyre cools off. Fyre CLUBS Sol, drags her up, and suplexes to a GOURDBUSTER! Fyre PENALTY KICKS Sol, but Sol stays up, so Fyre KICKS her again! Fyre drags Sol up, Gory Especials, but Sol kicks to resist! Fyre turns Sol around to CHOP!
Fyre whips Sol to a corner, Sol reverses but Fyre goe sup. Sol catches Fyre, but Fyre slips free to SUPERKICK! Sol flounders to the corner and Fyre fires off forearms to the back! And stomps! The ref counts, Fyre backs off, but then Isla Dawn appears in the perch! She smiles at Fyre while Fyre scowls. Fyre goes back to Sol, but Sol goes up the corner, IMPLODING CUTTER!! Cover, Sol wins!!
Winner: Sol Ruca, by pinfall
Fyre got put out by the #SolSnatcher! Will Ruca be red hot after a win off the former NXT UK Women’s Champion?
Dijak speaks.
“Tony D’Angelo and his goon learned the hard way exactly what ‘street justice’ really means. Next up on the docket for me is Wes Lee.” Dijak isn’t back in NXT to make friends. He’s here to collect punitive damages. And beating Wes will fill Dijak’s bag with something he never had: championship gold. Dijak would offer Wes a plea bargain, but Wes is probably too stupid to take it. Wes has no chance of walking out of Charlotte, North Carolina with that title. “High justice awaits you. You have 18 days, Mr. Lee. Because for you it won’t be Vengeance Day, it’ll be judgment day!” Will Dijak give Wes and the world a feast for the eyes? Or will Wes be the one who is must-see?
Sit-down interview with Grayson Waller.
Vic Joseph notes people have been talking about the big match-up last week at New Year’s Evil, but what is on Waller’s mind? Waller says that was supposed to be the night he “saved” NXT. We’ve all seen Bron’s run. He’s beaten everyone. “But he couldn’t beat Grayson Waller.” Highlights show that Bron was everything Waller knew he’d be: fast, strong, athletic, and stupid. Waller had Bron’s ever move from “moment one to moment done.” Losing that match had nothing to do with Bron and everything to do with the one thing out of his control: the ring itself. The middle rope broke because Waller put Bron through it!
Then 20 idiots had to run out and fix the ring. If they’d done their job right, Walelr would be champion! But they messed up, so that messed Waller up. Vic fast-forwards to “the knee seen around the world.” That somersault adlib, Vic thought Waller really was going to win. Yeah, knee to forehead, bang, done, except credit where it’s due, Bron survived. But Waller always has a back-up plan, and that was his baller elbow. But then he falls out of the ring, he hears the count, loses via count-out. And to be honest, he doesn’t feel like a loser. Bron was half dead in the ring! Waller is as much a champion as Bron is! So much so, Waller has his own copy of the title.
Waller puts the belt on his shoulder. He looks pretty good, doesn’t he? Vic says next time Waller can win the title for real, is at Vengeance Day. It’s a rematch, but inside a STEEL CAGE! Waller says most people don’t wanna be stuck in a cage with Bron. Waller isn’t most people. There is nowhere he wants to be more than stuck in a cage with “that dog.” HBK says he wants a decisive winner? No problem, Shawn! Waller’s got you! He’ll make sure of it! It doesn’t matter if the cage breaks or the ring breaks, Waller makes sure to pin Bron! It could be inside on the mat, outside on the cement, he’s winning!
This is the most important event in NXT history! NXT is back on the road, starting with Charlotte, NC! And who better to drive than Waller? Think of all the superstars that have been in Charlotte. “WOO!” And not one of them can hold a candle to Waller! Waller takes Bron, takes the title, and takes Charlotte viral when he becomes the NEW NXT Champion. The 21st Century Success Story is ready, will the Grayson Waller Effect finally take effect on Vengeance Day?
Gallus speaks.
Mark Coffey & Wolfgang are headed to gorilla as Mark says, “We’ve been away, haven’t we, Wolfie?” “Aye, Mark.” “And we’re back now, aren’t we, Wolfie?” “Aye, Mark. And we’re about to remind Briggs & Jensen, and every other team out there, why it’s Gallus Boys On Top.”
Briggs & Jensen also speak.
The Country Boys and Fallon are also on their way, and Briggs says, “Ain’t no free ones with us, Gallus. You already know that.” Jensen says, “These country boys’re ’bout to raise some hell tonight. Both teams are ready, both teams are tough, but which team will truly be on top after tonight? That match is on, after the break.
Alba Fyre is after a ref backstage!
Other refs try and get her to stand down as she has her bat pressed into the neck of the ref who called her match against Sol Ruca! He apologizes, Kayden Carter & Katana Chance tell Fyre to stand down, and Fyre listens. The refs get their fellow ref out of there, and KC Squared explain to Fyre that this could get her fired! Fyre is furious and they ask what’s going on. She doesn’t know! She can’t win title matches, she can’t win against rookies, so she doesn’t know! Katana says Fyre should be patient. It took KC Squared a long time to get the Women’s Tag titles, but look at them now! They’re the longest reigning tag champs, and there’s not a team that can beat them.
So Fyre should just chill. Oh, is that right? Then maybe Fyre can set her eyes on them! Tag Team Champion, Alba Fyre, that sounds good to her. Well, not unless she can become two people or has split personalities. KC Squared saved her ass and she’s gonna come at them like this? Katana has Kayden cool off, and says that they’re ready to take on anyone, but Fyre doesn’t have a partner. Fyre doesn’t need anyone! Fyre storms off, is this all Isla Dawn’s doing?
Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen w/ Fallon Henley VS Gallus!
Just as they were about to get in on the Pretty Deadly Gauntlet, the Country Boys were knocked down by Mark Coffey & Wolfgang, who were suspended until recently. Gallus sniped their spot in the match and may have sniped their shot at the tag titles, but will Briggs & Jensen turn things back around?
The teams sort out, but then a brawl breaks out! The bell rings, Briggs CLUBS Mark out of the ring and Jensen keeps after Wolfgang. Mark ROCKS Briggs in return, Wolfgang throws body shots, then he powers Jensen to the Gallus corner. Wolfgang throws hands, Mark tags in, and Wolfgang feeds Jensen to a LARIAT! Wolfgang throws down hands, stands Jensen up and ROCKS him! Jensen throws body shots, whips, but things speed up. Briggs tags in and he helps Jensen run Mark over! Then they double scoop SLAM! Briggs covers, TWO! Briggs clamps onto Mark with a facelock, he tags Jensen back in, and they double whip.
Mark reverses to send Jensen into a knee from Wolfgang! Mark ROCKS Briggs, ELBOWS Jensen, and tag to Wolfgang! Wolfgang drops an elbow, then rains down fists on Jensen. Wolfgang drops a knee on Jensen’s head, then another! Wolfgang drags Jensen up, headlocks, then clamps on a cobra clutch! Tag to Mark, Wolfgang ripcords Jensen for a shoulder, Mark CLUBS Jensen on the back! Mark KNEES Jensen down, then stalks him to ropes. Jensen throws an elbow but Mark KNEES low again. Jensen throws hands, fans rally up, but Mark ROCKS him with a forearm! Jensen leans on ropes, Mark tags in Wolfgang.
Gallus mugs Jensen, and Wolfgang whips Jensen, only for Jensen to hurdle! Jensen doesn’t get over Wolfgang cleanly, but he does make it to the ropes. Briggs tags in and runs in to fire off on Wolfgang! Briggs whips Wolfgang to a corner, runs in and clotheslines! Briggs keeps moving but has to swipe at Mark as he stands by the ropes. Briggs turns around and he BOOTS Wolfgang down! Fans fire up, Briggs brings Wolfgang up in a headlock, but Wolfgang powers out. Mark tags in, Wolfgang bypasses Briggs and Mark trips him up! Mark drags Briggs out to APRON BACK SUPLEX! Then he throws down hands!
Wolfgang BLASTS Jensen, Mark puts Briggs in. Fallon checks Jensen butt Mark mugs Briggs at the apron. Then Gallus pulls up the floor mats! Fans are freaking out but Jensen and Briggs brawl with Gallus! Jensen RAMS Wolfgang into barriers, but Mark goes to suplex! Briggs fights that off, to suplex Mark to the floor! Fans fire up for Briggs as NXT goes picture in picture.
Briggs leaves Mark behind to get in the ring. Briggs and Jensen regroup, see Gallus regrouping outside, and Briggs coordinates with Jensen. They both run, baseball slide, and then fire off haymakers on Gallus! They push Mark into the ring, but Wolfgang grabs at Briggs. Briggs kicks Wolfgang away, rushes in, but Mark gets around to waistlock. Briggs runs to ropes, bucks Mark, but comes back into an ENZIGURI! Mark BOOTS Briggs down, pushes him to the corner, and stomps him. Tag to Wolfgang, and Gallus mugs Briggs. Cover, TWO! Wolfgang clamps onto Briggs with a chinlock but Briggs fights up.
Wolfgang throws EuroUppers, then bumps Briggs off buckles. Tag to Mark and Gallus mugs Briggs in the corner. The ref counts, they let off, and Mark cravats. Briggs resists the snapmare but Mark knees low and CLUBS Briggs down. Mark throws hands but Briggs gives them back! Mark gets the edge, facelocks, and he grinds Briggs down. Briggs fights up, but Mark whips him away to CLOBBER him! Cover, TWO! Mark keeps on Briggs with a facelock and grinds him down again. Briggs endures, fights up, and NXT returns to single picture. Fans rally, Briggs fights his way over, and he BACK DROPS Mark away!
Hot tag to Jensen! Jensen rallies on Mark, BOOTS Wolfgang, then WHEEL KICKS Mark! Fans fire up with Jensen while Mark sputters. Jensen drags Mark up, suplexes, but the bad back stops him! Mark whips Jensen into the corner, kitchen sink knees, then tags Wolfgang. Wolfgang is up top for the DIVING SENTON! Cover, TWO!! Jensen survives but Wolfgang clamps on with a chinlock. Jensen endures as Wolfgang grinds him down. Wolfgang CLUBS Jensen, POSTS him, then tags Mark. Jensen flops to the floor, Mark drags him up and DECKS him! Mark pushes Jensen back into the ring, and he drops a knee! Cover, TWO!
Mark is annoyed but he stomps Jensen and kicks him around. Jensen throws hands but Mark knees him again. Mark drags Jensen up, pushes him to ropes and CLUBS him on the back! Jensen drops to his knees, Mark pushes him to a cover, TWO! Jensen goes to ropes but in the Gallus corner. Tag to Wolfgang and Wolfgang stomps Jensen down! Wolfgang digs his knee in, tags Mark, and Gallus stomps the legs. Mark facelocks to keep Jensen down, but Jensen fights up as the fans rally. Jensen powers Mark back, reaches out for Briggs, but Mark kicks Briggs’ hands! Mark CLUBS Jensen, runs in, but Jensen dodges! Hot tag to Briggs!
Briggs rallies on Gallus with big haymakers! Wolfgang runs in but is sent right out! Mark runs in but Briggs puts him on the apron! Briggs DECKS Mark, then goes to the apron for a FLYING SHOULDER! Direct hit and Mark goes down! Jensen fires off on Wolfgang, whips, but Wolfgang blocks! Wolfgang ROCKS Jensen, then feeds him to Mark! Back drop onto the bare concrete!! Jensen writhes in pain and fans lose their minds! Briggs BOOTS Wolfgang, ROCKS Mark, and he puts Mark in the ring. Briggs climbs, leaps, FLYING CLOTHESLINE! And then a scoop to a SIDEWALK SLAM and SPLASH!
Fans fire up with Briggs but he realizes what happened to Jensen. Fallon calls to medics and they hurry over. Briggs goes back to Mark, Mark cradles! TWO! DOUBLE LARIATS take both men down! Kiana James rushes out here and pushes Fallon aside to check on Jensen. Fallon tells Kiana to give him space but Kiana says she’s here to be for him. Jensen wants the medics just to get him up on his feet. Fans rally for Jensen, Briggs fires off with Mark! They go forearm for forearm, Briggs gets the edge, and he ROCKS Mark! And he ROCKS Wolfgang! But Mark POLISH HAMMERS! Tag to Wolfgang, and they set Briggs up for the ENZIGURI POWERSLAM!! Cover, Gallus wins!
Winners: Gallus, by pinfall
Mark & Wolfgang beat Pretty Deadly and they may have just broken Briggs & Jensen! Will Jensen be able to compete again after getting tossed like that? Will New Day be the next team on Gallus’ list?
Duke Hudson gets Thea Hail hyped up.
He says she’s going to get her first win in NXT! Is she ready? She’s ready! To throw up… That’s good, kinda. Okay, not the throwing up, but good that she’s nervous. That means she wants it! Andre Chase walks in and asks why he’s phone’s been blowin’ up. Thea says that means they’re getting the new Chase U swimming pool! Uh, no… Duke asks if this is about Thea’s match. Oh, Duke knows what this is about. Chase shows us the footage. Someone was spying on Duke talking with another Chase U student. Duke said Thea’s match is a must-win, because the win-loss record is not reflecting well on the school, on Duke or on anyone else.
Duke defends that he doesn’t know who was filming that. Chase doesn’t care who was filming it, he cares that Duke said that! If he has something to say, he should say it to their face! Duke says that conversation was taken completely out of context! But more importantly, tonight is about Thea! She’ll get her first win! Thea says yes, they should worry about that video later. She has her match now, so can we please go? Chase says okay, and they head out. Was the infamous “NXT_Anonymous” the one who was watching? And in the end, does Duke have a point? Is this match critical for not just Thea but ALL of Chase U?
The Country Boys are in NXT Medical.
The medic checks Jensen’s back, and it’s sore. Jensen says he’s fine, he just got the wind knocked out of him. Briggs wants Jensen to listen to the doc. But then Fallon storms in and asks Jensen why the hell she ran out there. Well, first of all, Kiana James has a name. And second, she was checking on him. Well she did more harm than good! He cannot be that blind. Jensen says Kiana was more concerned for him than Fallon was. Fallon says Kiana has him wrapped around her finger! She doesn’t like Jensen, she’s just USING Jensen!! HEY! What is she using him for? Fallon still has the bar, right? Jensen likes Kiana, Kiana likes Jensen, and Fallon just has to deal with that.
Fallon says she doesn’t have to “deal” with anything! And when Kiana breaks Jensen’s heart, Fallon won’t help him pick up the pieces. Fallon storms off, but is she right about Kiana? Or is Fallon’s own judgment blinded by something else?
Thea Hail w/ Chase U VS Valentina Feroz!
Chase U’s top recruit has yet to get a win in NXT, and as the video shows, Duke Hudson put on the pressure by saying it is a must-win scenario. However, Thea’s up against a superstar who is also in dire need of winning a match all on her own. Something’s gotta give, who will avoid the worst case scenario?
The bell rings and fans rally for Thea as she circles with Feroz. They are both rather anxious, and Feroz rushes in. Thea avoids the takedown, they tie up, and they go around. Feroz headlocks, hits a takeover, but Thea powers free. Thea says “U!” and Feroz shouts, “C’MON!” They tie up again, Thea headlocks then wrenches to a wristlock. Feroz rolls, spins, and wrangles Thea down! Thea keeps her shoulders up, kips up and wrenches to a wristlock. Feroz fights it but Thea keeps on it. Feroz spins, trips Thea, but Thea BOOTS Feroz away! But Feroz sweeps and covers, ONE! Thea sweeps and covers, ONE!
Thea arm-drags Feroz, but Feroz SAYANAGIS Thea and SHOTGUNS her down! Cover, TWO! Feroz is frustrated, she clamps onto Thea’s arms and wraps her up. Thea kicks around, reaches out, but here comes Elektra Lopez! Lopez nods to Feroz while Thea fights up. Feroz whips, Thea gets around and goes for a crucifix, but Feroz stays up! Feroz moves Thea around, but Thea turns that to a sunset flip! Only for Feroz to sit on it! TWO!! Thea escapes and SLIDING KICKS, to a STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Feroz survives, Thea covers again, TWO! Fans rally as Thea tries another cover, TWO!
Thea grows frustrated but both Duke and Chase coach her. But Feroz drags Thea down to a cover, TWO! Feroz knees low, BOOTS Thea down, then whips Thea to ropes. Thea ducks ‘n’ dodges, but DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Fans fire up and Lopez approaches the apron. Lopez coaches Feroz, but Duke asks her why she’s here. Chase has Duke stand down to focus on Thea, but this also distracts the ref. Lopez slips Feroz the brass knuckles!! Feroz wonders what this is about, and then the ref sees those knuckles shining! Feroz takes them off and tells Lopez that she doesn’t need this! Feroz throws those away, goes up to Thea, but Thea wrenches!
Thea cravats, for a FACEBUSTER! Cover, THEA WINS!!
Winner: Thea Hail, by pinfall
Thea’s first win EVER, and it’s because Lopez tried to help Feroz! Lopez shakes her head, disappointed that Feroz didn’t do things her way. As for Chase U, winning supposedly fixes things, but has it gotten Chase to forget what Duke said?
Trick & Melo exit NXT Arena.
Melo says Apollo got his, but it’s cool. They’re even. Trick says that’s as even as they’re ever gonna be. But then Apollo walks over and says those visions didn’t turn out how they planned, huh? It sucks, right? You sit down, you put all your thoughts into words, put pen to paper, and it just doesn’t happen. That’s no fun. Okay, stop bragging about the tag match, acting like you beat Melo on your own. Get over it. Yeah, that’s cheap. Cheap? Aw c’mon, guys, you know a victory is never cheap when it comes to Trick & Melo. As a matter of fact, it calls for a celebration! That’s what Apollo will do! He’ll need a fresh cut. They know a good barber in town?
Melo & Trick can’t even as Apollo heads off. Mostly because Apollo ain’t got no hair. Will Apollo & Axiom return the favor that is the mockery?
BREAKING NEWS in regards to the wrestling community as a whole.
Sadly, one half of the ROH World Tag Team Champions, Jay Briscoe, has passed away. WWE and NXT want to give their condolences to Jay’s friends and family tonight.
Lopez finds Feroz in the locker room.
Lopez asks Feroz, “Why didn’t you take my help?” Feroz says she doesn’t cheat. Lopez sits with Feroz and says that “whether you play by the rules or you throw the rulebook away, you fight to win. You fight for respect.” Feroz says Lopez and Sanga clearly think the same. Well, yeah. So quit sulking over Sanga. Lopez has stood with men before, and she realized that to get what she wants, she had to stand on her own and do whatever it takes. She practices what she preaches, too, so watch her take on Wendy Choo next week. Lopez leaves and Feroz isn’t so sure about that, but will she soon see things La Madrina’s way?
The New Day is here!
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods are dressed in nice suits as they head to the ring. They get the mics as the fans cheer them on, “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Woods says, “Ladies and gentlemen! It’s ya bois, the NEW~ DAY~, and we look… GOOD!” Woods wants Kofi to explain why. Kofi asks if fans want to know why they look good, look dapper, and look sharp? It’s because today is a very special occasion. They are DONE with Pretty Deadly, BABYYY~! #YESBOY! But uh, if they’re not going up against Pretty Deadly at Vengeance Day, then who are they facing? Who who who? Kofi says they will go against the team that won the gauntlet match in this very ring!
Yes, that means The New Day is going against GALLUS~! They cross their arms to mock the Gallus pose, but then Pretty Deadly makes their way out here! Elton Prince says, “No no no no. Stop this absolute travesty!” Look at New Day, embarrassing themselves talking nonsense! Pretty Deadly hates nonsense! Kit Wilson says The New Day is making a mockery of them! Do they think this is funny? Fans chant ‘YES! YES!” Woods asks, “Do we think this is funny?” Fans say, “YES!” Well you heard the fans! Of course this is funny! It’s really funny considering Pretty Deadly LOST that gauntlet match! HAHAHAHA!
Woods says it’s funny especially because all they had to do before was get all the items on the wish list. If they’d just gotten Ahmed Johnson’s Legion of Doom shoulder pads, they wouldn’t be talking about this. Elton tells them to shut up! Shut your mouths! Kit adds on, and Pretty Deadly says they’ve been jumping through hoops for The New Day for a whole month, and it isn’t fair! Kofi realizes they missed an opportunity: they should’ve had Pretty Deadly literally jump through hoops! Kit says New Day isn’t getting it! Pretty Deadly is done with the games! This isn’t about Gallus, this is about Pretty Deadly, “the rightful #1 contenders to those NXT Tag Team titles.”
New Day knows it, Pretty Deadly knows it, and the fans know it! Fans boo, but then here comes Gallus! Mark & Wolfgang have mics, and Mark wants everyone to hold on. Did they hear that right? Did Pretty Deadly just claim to be the #1 contenders? No, Pretty Deadly, the New Day are gonna bang on, and Kit & Elton don’t deserve another chance at the titles after Gallus battered Pretty Deadly last week. Pretty Deadly says Gallus weren’t even supposed to be in the gauntlet! “In English, that is called a gross miscarriage of justice!” Gallus steps into the ring and Pretty Deadly backs off.
Mark says everyone’s chances of becoming NXT Tag Team Champions are done! Because Gallus is back! Nobody expected them, and after they put Pretty Deadly to bed, and now Briggs & Jensen, New Day is next. Fans boo, then chant “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Mark says Kofi & Woods like talking about records they hold. But here’s what Gallus is about: turning up, kicking off, and ruining everyone’s good time. Woods says, “Considering the fact that none of us understood a word you two just said… We can tell from the body language that you wanna fight. So we’re ready when you are.” But then Pretty Deadly CLOBBERS all four of them!
Fans fire up as the brawl is on! Woods and Kofi go after Elton, Kit has Wolfgang but then Mark storms over. Woods feeds Elton to Kofi’s BELLY BELT SHOT! Mark hits Kit with a HALF NELSON SLAM! New Day TOSSES Elton, Mark clotheslines Kit out! And then New Day and Gallus stare down. Officials rush out to stop Pretty Deadly from getting back in, and the brawl is now between Gallus and New Day! Fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!” but more officials rush out to stop this! New Day wants to move on, Pretty Deadly want a rematch and Gallus just wants the gold, how will Vengeance Day’s NXT Tag Team title match shape out?
Backstage interview with Roxie and Lyra.
McKenzie says in tonight’s main event, they team up for the first time ever and take on Toxic Attraction. How do they feel they will “gel” in the match? Roxie knows she and Lyra have common enemies. Whether it’s Toxic Attraction this week or Cora Jade last week, they both know what it’s like to be the new girl. And everyone knows that since day one, Toxic Attraction has been trying to make Roxie’s life a living hell. She won’t let that happen to Lyra. Lyra says she normally flies solo, but tonight she makes an exception. Roxie was there for her, so tonight, Lyra is there in the main event for Roxie. Toxic Attraction thinks-
Wait, Javier Bernal walks in with a guitar? Javi says he was looking all over for McKenzie. She knows his match is next, right? Uh, he knows she’s in the middle of an interview, right? Oh, okay. But his match- Oh, wait, did McKenzie buy his Christmas album? He heard it hit the Top 40. Hey, champ, wanna hear a song? No, she really doesn’t. Okay. How about new girl? Feliz Javidad is flying up the charts. Get out! Sheesh, tough crowd. Big Body Javi moves on, but will he use that guitar to sing his own praises after tonight?
Sit down interview with Bron Breakker.
Just as Vic Joseph interviewed Grayson Waller, Vic now sits with the NXT Champion to talk about the rematch. What’s been going through Bron’s mind since New Year’s Evil? He just wants the bad taste out of his mouth. No one wanted that match to end that way, including him. Bron wanted a definitive winner. He wanted to stand over Waller after having speared him in half, knowing he proved he’s better than Waller, and it didn’t happen. He didn’t get that satisfaction. Vic knows that it was tough because he saw Bron’s face at the end of it. And he saw Bron’s face after the Knee Seen Around the World. Vic admits, he thought he’d have to say, “And new.”
Bron is sure everyone thought that. Credit where it is due, Bron was setting up for the spear, but Waller caught him off guard. It took Bron everything to kick out. Waller then goes to the ropes for his elbow but the ropes break. That is the big question, “What if?” If Waller hit the elbow, would we have seen a new champion? Who knows, Bron can’t answer that. But there’s doubt now in the people’s minds. They don’t think Bron should be champion. And that’s fine, because all the questions will be answered on Vengeance Day. Vic says that’s coming in two weeks, Bron VS Waller, inside a STEEL CAGE.
Bron says that sounds good. He couldn’t be more excited. The cage is like icing on the cake. He couldn’t think of a better scenario. There’s nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. The trash talk, the mind games, trying to get under Bron’s skin, it won’t work. It all runs through Vengeance Day. Bron won’t climb out, he’s going to win in the ring. Then not to ruffle any feathers, but Vic brings up Waller walking around with his own belt. Bron says Waller’s the best trash talker around. He talks trash but gets his ass kicked. He’d be a disgrace as the leader of the brand because he’s selfish. Waller’s here for himself, not for the brand.
Bron says that over his dead body will Waller be the champion. Waller won’t be talking trash being thrown up against the cage and left in the center of that ring. HBK and the fans want a definitive winner, Bron will give that to us. Waller will be down and Bron will leave Charlotte still NXT Champion. Will Bron make sure he breaks Waller once and for all?
Tyler Bate VS Javier Bernal!
The Big Strong Boy is back, but Big Body Javi is about to do his best Elias impersonation. “In celebration of Feliz Javidad hitting the top 40, how about I play you guys a little concert? Thank you, Orland!” Javi starts singing, but then Tyler’s music stops that! Fans fire up already, will Tyler prove that he’s back and better than ever?
The bell rings, Bate and Javi circle and the fans cheer on the Big Strong Boy. Bate offers a handshake, but then leaves Javi hanging. Bate then tickles Javi to the corner! The ref counts, Bate lets off, and he ties up with Javi. Bate waistlocks, baits Javi into going for his leg, and then leap frogs over to slide under. Bate baits Javi in again, rolls Javi up, TWO! Javi runs in but into a headlock. Jaiv pulls hair, the ref reprimands, but Javi headlocks. Bate endures, powers up, and powers out to leap, drop down and dropkick! Bate arm-drags Javi to a wristlock and grinds Javi down. Javi endures but Bate brings him up.
Bate clamps onto the arm, but Javi pulls hair to bring Bate into ropes! The ref backs Bate off, but Javi pokes Bate in the eye! Javi CLUBS Bate, whips him to a corner and runs to BULLDOG! Then SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Javi pushes Bate down to rain down fists! Javi grinds his forearm in, the fans boo, but Javi lets off. Javi drags Bate up and talks trash, then he throws down more hands. Fans rally for Bate and Bate counter punches! And again! And UPPERCUTS! Bate UPPERCUTS Javi again, whips him, but Javi reverses. Bate rebounds, but he slips out of the bulldog! Javi gets up but Bate rallies on him!
Bate kicks, headbutts, whips, and CLOBBERS Javi! Fans fire up as Javi flounders to ropes. Bate storms up to fire off more uppercuts. Bate whips, Javi reveres, and Javi runs in. Javi blocks Bate’s boot, but Bate brings Javi down to KNEE him away! Bate then goes up to FLYING UPPERCUT! Fans fire up more as Javi swings into an EXPLODER! Bate kips up and hits a STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Bate drags Javi up, reels him in and underhooks the arms, but Javi wrenches out to CODE- NO, Bate blocks that and throws Javi back. Bop up, BANG! Javi staggers, swings on Bate, but Bate dodges to Bop up, and BANG again!
Javi flounders around, Bate runs, COMEBACKER LARIAT! Underhooks, Javi fights off the lift, but Bate gets him back up, TYLER DRIVER 98!! Cover, Bate wins!
Winner: Tyler Bate, by pinfall
Javi may have topped the charts, but he just dropped off with this one. Tyler Bate is back and here to stay, will he get back to the top of the mountain in NXT?
Chase U celebrates Thea’s win!
Duke carries Thea on his shoulders while the other students march through waiving banners and chanting her name! Chase still looks a bit upset about earlier, but Briggs & Jensen are also a bit bummed. At least someone won tonight, right? Go Chase U. Briggs says he’s going to get going as Fallon walks in, but Fallon tells him to stay. What’s she want? Fallon apologizes to Jensen for what she said earlier, but she just wants what’s best for him. He knows she does. And Fallon knows Kiana means a lot to him, so she’ll try to make this work. She means that? Yes, and she even asked for a tag team match. Her partner is… Kiana James!
That’s great! Jensen thanks her, but Fallon says she’s only doing this for Jensen. Okay? Of course! Bar tonight, drinks on Briggs. Fallon knows a place. Briggs is fine with that, since they’re gonna have drinks. But will Fallon really be able to work well with Kiana?
BREAKING NEWS for Vengeance Day!
After the big brawl between the three teams, the NXT Tag Team Championship match is now a TRIPLE THREAT! The New Day will defend against Gallus AND Pretty Deadly! Will Kofi & Woods still be your W, W, E, N, X, T, Tag, Team, Champions~?! Will Gallus Boys truly be on top? Or will Kit & Elton be vindicated when they win those titles back?
Roxanne Perez & Lyra Valkyria VS Toxic Attraction!
Just as the Prodigy said, she and the Morrigan are taking on some common enemies in Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne. Will the NXT Women’s Champion be able to overcome her challengers while the numbers are even? Or will this end up a preview of how Toxic Attraction will take the title back on Vengeance Day?
The teams sort out and Roxie starts against Jacy. They rush in, Roxie gets around and fires off forearms! Fans fire up and Gigi runs in, but Lyra intercepts her with a knee! Roxie DECKS Jacy, Lyra DECKS Gigi, and Toxic bails out! Lyra & Roxie high-five, and then Roxie builds speed to DIVE onto Jacy! Fans fire up with Roxie, but Gigi gets up in her face. Only for Lyra to WRECK Gigi with a dropkick! Fans fire up as Lyra sits on the ropes and Roxie drags Jacy up. Roxie puts Jacy in, covers, ONE! Roxie keeps on Jacy with an armlock, then wrenches to YANK the arm. Roxie brings Jacy over, tags Lyra, and Lyra KICKS the arm.
Lyra knees low, throws more knees, then UPPERCUTS Jacy down! Lyra brings Jacy up, headlocks, but Jacy powers out. Roxie tags in, Lyra slips under to hold Jacy still, and Roxie wheelbarrows to victory roll, run and basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Roxie grins as she has the arm again. Roxie steps over, La Magistrol, TWO! Roxie keeps Jacy down with a facelock, and she brings Jacy around. Roxie wrenches, tags Lyra, and Lyra goes up to DOUBLE STOMP the arms! Lyra drags Jacy up, wrenches, but Jacy pulls hair! Jacy knees low, tags Gigi, and Gigi runs in, but into a hip toss! Lyra covers, TWO! Lyra keeps Gigi down with a cravat.
Gigi fights up, but Roxie tags in. Lyra headbutts low, Roxie runs and CLOBBERS Gigi with that uppercut! Cover, TWO! Roxie waistlocks Gigi but Gigi runs. Jacy tags in., Roxie O’Conner Rolls but Jacy hits a NECKBREAKER! Jacy rains down fists on Roxie but fans boo as Jacy shrieks. Fans cheer on Roxie but Jacy tells them they all suck. Jacy CLUBS Roxie, whips her to the corner, then runs in to back body block! Jacy trips Roxie, tags Gigi, and Jacy gives Gigi a boost into the BRONCO BUSTER! Jacy adds on her CANNONBALL, then Gigi drags Roxie out to a jackknife bridge. TWO, and Gigi is annoyed as she drags Roxie from Lyra.
Gigi fires off Kawada Kicks but fans boo. Gigi drags Roxie over, tags Jacy in, and Gigi hits a KOKESHI HEADBUTT! Jacy adds on a SENTON! Cover, TWO! Jacy grows frustrated but Lyra coaches Roxie up. Fans rally, but Jacy pushes Roxie around. Jacy drags Roxie away, CLUBS her, then tags in Gigi. Jacy whips Roxie into Gigi’s BOOT, then Jacy LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Gigi drags Roxie away as fans duel, tag to Jacy. Jacy runs to BLAST Lyra off the apron! Jacy suplexes but Roxie slips free! Jacy ELBOWS Roxie, runs, but Roxie ducks and comes back, DOUBLE FACEBUSTERS take them both down!
Fans fire up as Roxie and Jacy both crawl, hot tags to Gigi and Lyra! Lyra rallies on Gigi with clotheslines! SOBAT! Front kick! HEADBUTT! AX KICK! Jacy runs in but Lyra dodges to ENZIGURI! Gigi runs back in, but into an EXPLODER! Lyra roars, fans fire up and she goes to the corner. Lyra climbs, but Jacy distracts the ref as CORA JADE rushes out! Cora shoves Lyra down! Fans boo as Cora again screws Lyra! Gigi tags Jacy, Jacy drags Lyra but Lyra BOOTS her away! Hot tag to Roxie! Roxie hits a THESZ PRESS and rains down fists on Jacy! Lyra DIVES onto Cora!! Fans fire up as Lyra throws hands on Cora!
Roxie runs in to UPPERCUT Jacy! Lyra chases Cora to the back as Roxie runs in to UPPERCUT Jacy again! Roxie wrenches, hooks Jacy up, but Gigi runs in to BOOT Roxie down! Tag to Gigi, Toxic Attraction sets up, but Roxie avoids Toxic Annihilation! The BOOT hits Gigi!! Jacy freaks out, fans are fired up, and Roxie smirks as she hooks Jacy up, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! SOBAT for Gigi, and then POP ROX!! Cover, Roxie & Lyra win!
Winners: Roxanne Perez & Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall
The common enemies tried to take them down, but the numbers didn’t work in their favor! Roxie found a way to win against Gigi & Jacy here tonight, will she be able to do the same thing on Vengeance Day?
My Thoughts:
A really good NXT, especially in terms of building the Vengeance Day card. Really good interview promos from Waller and Bron, and I like the detail that they both want to end this in the ring. Honestly, HBK should just make the stipulation that escape doesn’t count as a win, so that there isn’t even the possibility of Waller changing his mind and going for the door or something. Good promo from Tony & Stacks to both reference Two Dimes but also strengthen the bond of the team. If Stacks is now the Underboss, I hope that means they’re thinking of expanding and adding new members. Dijak also had a decent promo in calling out Wes Lee, but I still think Wes wins their match.
Good promo from Tiffany and Indi with Indi putting Tiffany in her place and setting up a match between them. Tiffany will surely win that since it’s her return match, and honestly, Indi should’ve been called up a little bit ago. Maybe Indi will be a Royal Rumble entrant, maybe she’ll show up closer to WrestleMania, who knows. With Gargano hurt and no real plans for Lumis right now, The Way can’t really reunite on Raw just yet so Indi can hang around NXT to help the newer superstars. Really good stuff from Diamond Mine, especially Ivy getting the Creeds to focus. I hope we still get Creeds VS Indus Sher, because that can at least serve towards sending one team towards the titles.
Stevie Turner the Twitch streamer is only into week two and it’s already failing to land right. She wasn’t reacting, she was recapping. She should’ve been laughing, making jokes, going “OMG!” like she had no idea what happened last week. Clearly HBK is trying to show he knows the kids today and the technology we use, but he didn’t give Stevie the right direction in this promo. But what he can do is get Stevie in action sooner rather than later and let her show the US audience what she can do. And we got a good promo out of Toxic Attraction to just barely touch on the dysfunction forming. It also set up the main event well with Lyra and Roxie showing up and brawling.
The main event was a great match, too, with no real dysfunction until the end. Cora interfering should’ve been obvious, and I thought it was going to cost Lyra & Roxie, but Lyra runs Cora off to further their building feud. Lyra is surely winning her match with Cora to better establish herself on NXT. And Roxie using Gigi & Jacy against each other was great, that is of course the plan she’ll use for the Triple Threat. It worked here, who knows if it works at Vengeance Day, but I would think it does. As great as Gigi & Jacy are both individually and together, Roxie just got the belt so she’s gotta make it to Stand & Deliver with the title.
Really good opening match with Axiom, Apollo and Trick Melo Gang. Things were a bit sloppy at the start, but Apollo and Axiom get a good win. Apollo kinda rubbing it in as Trick & Melo were leaving was a good touch. I think we’ll get a rematch of Apollo VS Melo for Vengeance Day, that can be the blow-off that then sends Melo towards the NXT Championship for Stand & Deliver, where I hope Melo will win that title. Really good match out of Fyre VS Sol, and what a great surprise that Fyre lost. Sol’s finisher isn’t the most practical, but it is unique a least. Fyre going after the ref was a nice touch, and I bet Isla Dawn ends up Fyre’s tag team partner, even if she claims she doesn’t need one. As great as KC Squared are, Fyre & Dawn taking the titles would be pretty cool.
Good match for Bate’s return, but Javi might’ve been legitimately dazed from something. He should’ve been able to jump for that Tyler Driver but he ends up getting folded up more than he should have. Tyler can definitely build his own momentum towards a title while giving us great matches along the way. And it seems NXT Anonymous strikes again, this time exposing Duke Hudson. I agree with Duke, Chase U needs to start getting wins, and we got great story blending where Thea gets a win over Feroz to finally get that goose egg off her record. And it helps Feroz and Lopez move their story along. I think they’ll feud first, then become a team.
And speaking of, Fallon and Kiana will surely be a dysfunctional tag team that somehow wins. They’ll be tense the entire time, Jensen will end up in the middle, as will Briggs. With teams like Feroz & Lopez, Fallon & Kiana and Fyre & Dawn forming, it feels like HBK is making sure NXT is strong in all divisions. This will help so that there will be strong call-ups for all the divisions on RawDown. KC Squared should definitely show up on SmackDown post-WrestleMania so they can be contenders on that brand for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Great tag match out of Gallus VS Briggs & Jensen, great win for Gallus, and then great promo from Gallus, New Day and Pretty Deadly to give us a brawl and the Triple Threat tag title match. That situation gives New Day a way to lose without being hurt, and I would love to see Gallus win that so they can join Pretty Deadly in the NXT & NXT UK Tag Champs Club. But where’s Joe Coffey? Maybe Joe is waiting to pounce on the North American title scene.
My Score: 8.4/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
London calling to the champion crowns!
SmackDown brings gold to London as LA Knight defends his WWE US Championship and The Street Profits defend their tag team titles! Will the landscape change this close to WrestleMania?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Pretty Deadly; The Profits win and retain the titles.
- Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS The Secret Her-vice w/ Chelsea Green; The Secret Her-vice wins.
- WWE United States Championship: LA Knight VS Braun Strowman; Braun wins, by disqualification, and Knight retains the title.
- Charlotte Flair VS Mia Yim w/ B-Fab; Charlotte wins.
- Randy Orton VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.
- Jimmy Uso VS The Miz; Jimmy wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Cody Rhodes is here!
We follow The American Nightmare as walks to gorilla, then through the curtain, and London sings along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, says hello to fans along the ramp, and then we get the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and pyro. Cody goes to the ring, grabs a mic, then kneels down to kiss the WWE logo on the mat. The fans continue to sing along all the way to the end, “I AM MY KINGDOM!” The fans then cheer, and Cody holds up the belt to fire them up even more! The fans now sing for “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” and he soaks it in. The fans cheer again as Cody smiles, and he finally says, “So, London~! Whaddya wanna talk about?”
The fans chant “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” Cody hears that dueling, and he smiles again. The song of “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” returns, then they cheer. Cody says, “At WrestleMania 41, I will be facing John Cena…” The fans boo, but Cody says, “I will be facing John Cena as he goes to break the record and win 17. But that is WrestleMania 41. In just a few nights, I will be standing face to face with John Cena in this very same city, in this very same arena.” The fans cheer that, but then here comes Randy Orton! Now the fans sing along with Voices as The Viper heads to the ring. Orton also high-fives fans before he joins Cody.
Orton grabs a mic, paces while the fans keep singing on their own, and then the fans cheer. Orton says he’s not really the sentimental type, but for Cody and for London, screw it. The fans chant “R K O! R K O!” and Orton tells Cody, “Look at you. Look at who you are now, the man you are now. Look at where he came from.” The fans cheer and sing “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” and Orton says he remembers a Cody in his early 20s, just breaking into the business. Cody was busting his ass harder than anyone else. He wasn’t exactly happy, and in fact, he was frustrated. But Cody was man enough, smart enough, to know he needed to grow, and that he couldn’t grow in the WWE.
Cody wasn’t exactly treated fairly in the WWE, so Cody left the WWE! That took some big ass balls to do what he did! Cody changed the business singlehandedly, and everyone in the back knows it. And Orton appreciates Cody for it. But then Cody came back, as they all knew one day he would. And the industry has been changed forever since the day Cody came back to the WWE. Cody is a bit teary eyed as Orton says Cody’s still the same guy, he just did what he set out to do, and he grew. Orton teases he would sing along with the fans, but the fans might leave. The fans again sing “CODY! CODY RHODES~!”
Orton asks if they remember when Cody Rhodes faced Seth Rollins in Hell in a Cell. The fans cheer because they do. Orton says that was impressive, and even impossible, as he started with a partially torn pec and then ended with a fully torn pec! His body changed all kinds of shades of purple that Orton’s never seen on a human body. The pain he must have been in. Cody persevered not just for himself. Maybe not even at all for Cody. It was not even for his family legacy; it was for each and every single fan out there! Then Cody went on to WrestleMania, beat Roman Reigns and finished the story!
But there’s always another story, isn’t there? And Cody’s right in the middle of one. Cody is in charge of his legacy, and it is a privilege for Orton to watch Cody take control of it. Ticket sales have been up, there’s more intrigue around the world, and listen to the people! It is 99.9% all because of Cody! The fans cheer that, and of course they sing. Orton says what he’s trying to say is a long-winded version of he respects Cody, loves him, and is very, very proud of him. The fans cheer that! Orton then says, “But… But now it is time for WrestleMania.” They both look to the sign, and Orton says he can guarantee Cody that Orton will kick Kevin Owens so hard in the head…!
Orton can just feel it already! He forgets how many days are left, but he can’t wait to remove Kevin’s head from his shoulders. And Orton knows Cody will enter champion, exit champion, but not before he beats the holy hell outta Cena all up and down the Vegas strip! But after all the smoke clears and the dust settles, just like Orton wants Number 17, there will come a time when Orton will want Number 15. But Orton won’t kick Cody in the balls like a coward. Orton will look Cody in the eye because he respects Cody, is proud of Cody, and sees him as an equal. Orton will look Cody in the eye and tell him that he’s coming for the title.
The fans cheer but wait! Drew McIntyre is here! The fans cheer the Scottish Terminator as he steps out on stage, mic in hand, and has a wry smile on his face as he looks at the ring. Drew waves as the fans now sing, “OH~ Drew McIntyre~!” Drew says, “Isn’t this wonderful? A couple of nepo babies having a love fest in the middle of the ring> It makes me absolutely sick. What’d you just say, Randy? if Cody gets through Cena at WrestleMania, you’re coming for that title? What exactly have you done since that big comeback to justify that title match? Aside be Randy Orton. The only big moment I can remember is you being on the shelf for months and months and months.
“People like to make jokes about it, but more people talk about my five-minute-45-second title reign than your entire comeback so far! So get to the back of the line, sunshine! As for you, Cody, you should’ve listened to me. But you shunned me. You attacked me. Everybody should’ve listened to me about John Cena, but they didn’t. And the next night, he kicked you right in the twig ‘n’ berries, proving me right as usual. And the main event of WrestleMania should be Cody Rhodes VS The UK’s only ever world champion, Drew McIntyre!” Fans do like that idea. But sadly, it’s not, because of that guyliner wearing Temu Undertaker, Damian Priest!
Drew wants to talk about what is happening. And what’s gonna happen! Drew steps up to the ring while fans sing for him again. Drew says it will not be Randy that takes the title from Cody, should he get through Cena; it’ll be McIntyre. The fans cheer, but Orton says they were trying to have a moment. Can Drew just cut the crap already? Drew says okay, sure. He’ll tell the truth, because that’s all he ever does. The truth is, Kevin might have a point! If those Voices are talking to Orton again, then they know Drew very, very well. And he’s thinking, “My God, Randy looks great! Absolutely jacked! On the outside.”
On the inside, that back is hanging by a thread. And if Orton provokes McIntyre, McIntyre will break him. And as for Cody- Cody kicks Drew and UPPERCUTS him! The fans fire up, and Orton R- NO, Drew gets away! The fans boo, but the battlelines are drawn! Even if Cody makes it out of the frying pan that is Las Vegas, it’ll be into the fire that is these contenders waiting in line! Will the American Nightmare be ready for whoever comes for the crown?
WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Pretty Deadly!
Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins are finally golden again, but it’s time to put the titles on the line already! And while they’re ready for the grind, they’re up against the hometown heroes! Will the Profits still be up in the O2? Or will Kit Wilson & Elton Prince say #YESBOY to a new reign of their own?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who really wants the smoke!
The teams sort out and Kit starts with Dawkins. They tie up, Dawkins headlocks, but Kit powers up and out. Dawkins runs Kit over, the fans fire up, and Dawkins fires hands on Kit in the corner! The fans rally for Pretty Deadly, Dawkins whips Kit to a corner, but Elton takes that bump! Kit CLOBBERS Dawkins, then tags Elton! Atomic drop into DROPKICK! Ford runs up, but into a DOUBLE HIP TOSS! Dawkins whips, Elton reverses, and then Elton hurdles so Kit can DDT! The fans fire up with Pretty Deadly while the Profits bail out. Pretty Deadly has control while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Elton is right on Dawkins as he gets in, and UPPERCUTS him to the corner. Elton clinches Dawkins for another UPPERCUT! Tag to Kit, and Elton RAMS into Dawkins so Kit can UPPERCUT! Dawkins flops over, Kit drags him up to wrench the arm. Kit whips, Dawkins reverses, but Kit grabs ropes. Kit ELBOWS Dawkins, DECKS Ford, but Dawkins CLOBBERS Kit! The ref reprimands but Dawkins RAMS Kit into the corner again and again! The ref counts, Dawkins fires fast hands, then he tags in Ford. Ford says, “SUCK IT!” then he KICKS Kit! Ford scuffs Kit, then drags him to a cover, TWO!
Ford keeps Kit down with a facelock, but Kit endures the grind. Kit fights up, fires body shots, but Ford whips him away. Kit sunset flips! Ford rolls through, and PENALTY KICKS! Ford mocks Elton with the Scott Hall fingers, and the ref has to keep Elton back. Ford drags Kit up, tags Dawkins, and the Profits mug Kit. Dawkins CLUBS Kit down, then stalks him. Dawkins stays between Kit and Elton, then whips Kit into the Profits’ corner. CYCLONE- NO, Kit dodges! Ford tags in, he keeps Kit from Elton now, but Kit slips out of the suplex! Kit fakes high to go low, hot tag to Elton! Elton rallies with LARIAT after LARIAT!
Elton kicks and whips Ford to a corner, then UPPERCUTS! Elton whips the other way, UPPERCUTS again, and then does it again! Elton adds to the hattrick with a lift, Ford says a quick prayer before the SUPLEX! Ford flounders, gets to his feet, but Elton dodges to springboard and FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Ford stays in this, but Elton stays on him. SmackDown returns to single picture and fans rally for Pretty Deadly as Elton gives Ford a back suplex. Ford lands out, waistlocks, but Elton switches and shoves Ford. Ford CLOBBERS Elton in return! Ford is also dazed but he covers, ONE!
Kit reaches out, Elton and Ford both crawl, hot tags to Kit and Dawkins! The fans fire up as Dawkins wrenches Kit, underhooks and SILENCER! Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts Kit, Ford climbs, but Kit slips free! Kit shoves Dawkins into Ford! Ford falls to the floor, but Dawkins ENZIGIRIS Kit! Elton tags in, and Kit LARIATS Dawkins! Pretty Deadly combine for DRY MARTI-KNEES! Cover, TWO!! Dawkins survives and the Profits are a bit unsure of what to do next. Dawkins crawls to a corner, Elton runs up, but Dawkins dodges! Elton hits buckles and Dawkins TOSSES Kit, then Dawkins hits a SKY HIGH on Elton!
Dawkins hurries to tag Ford and Ford climbs up! But Kit pushes Elton out of the way! Kit takes FROM THE HEAVESN, and Elton ghost pins Ford! TWO!! Ford escapes, and he ROCKS Elton! Elton UPPERCUTS Ford! Dawkins sneaks a tag, Ford SUPERKICKS! POUNCE SAIDO COMBO!! Cover, KIT BREAKS IT! The fans fire up while all four men are down! The teams go to opposite ends, then they all stand up in the corners. They all roar, all run in, and Kit SPEARS Ford while Elton FLYING UPPERCUTS Dawkins!! London is thunderous, and Kit hurries to tag in! Pretty Deadly gets Dawkins up, for SPILT MILK!! Cover, FORD BREAKS IT!
The fans are shocked, as is Elton, but Ford saves this for his team! “This is Awesome!” as Ford runs up and Elton TOSSES him out! Now DRY MARTI- NO! Dawkins doesn’t accept the second serving, and he DUMPS Kit out! Kit skins the cat while Dawkins DECKS Elton! Dawkins catches Kit to an Electric Chair! Ford rises, DOOMSDAY BLOCKBUSTER!! Cover, Profits win!
Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall (still WWE Tag Team Champions)
Pretty Deadly put up a heroic fight, but the hometown heroes could not capture the gold. Dawkins & Ford hold onto the gold, will this be the strongest the Profits have ever been?
Kayden & Katana talk with Zelina Vega.
Carter & Chance know La Muneca got screwed over by The Green Administration. Chelsea thinks she’s untouchable, but someone’s gonna stop them eventually. Well, speaking of, Alba Fyre leads the way in as she & Piper Niven “scope the perimeter.” There’s one small threat. They frisk the “miniscule” threat, but nothing they haven’t dealt with before. Chelsea struts in and says, “The Eagle has landed~!” Zelina says she is so glad the “Bootleg Men in Black” have crashed the party. Now, yeah, they all know she’s small. But clearly this small “threat” is a big threat to Chelsea’s title reign. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have taken all three of them to beat her.
KC Squared agree with that. How about tonight, we see what happens when the odds are even? Chelsea says that’s fine, because Agents P & A are ready. The Secret Her-vice has been given their next mission, but will they be able to crash the party? Or will the party crash them?
Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS The Secret Her-vice!
SmackDown returns and The Green Administration makes their entrance. The teams sort out, Alba starts against Katana, and the two tie up. Alba KNEES low, CLUBS Katana down, then fireman’s carries. Katana fights free, tags Kayden, and they KICK, double whip, and then trip Alba up for the basement DROPKICK! Katana adds a slingshot SENTON, Kayden covers, TWO! Kayden tags Katana, they double whip Alba to a corner, then Kayden runs in. Alba DUMPS Kayden out, ROCKS Katana, and she tags Piper! Katana arm-drags Alba out, then goes out to run up. Kayden gives her a boost, Katana CROSSBODIES Alba down!
The fans fire up, but Piper goes up and out?! CANNONBALL and down goes KC Squared! Piper salutes Chelsea and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns, Kayden rallies on Alba while the fans rally up. Kayden fires up, runs in and whips, but Alba reverses. Kayden wheelbarrows, victory rolls, then SUPERKICKS! Kayden fires up again but the fans are torn. Kayden runs in at Alba to BOOT WASH her against the ropes! Chelsea protests, Kayden kicks at her, then Kayden springboards for a LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Alba survives, Kayden whips, but Alba KICKS back! Tag to Piper, but Kayden jackknife bridges Alba! The ref explains bout the tag, Piper runs up, but Kayden moves! The SENTON hits Alba! Piper panics, Kayden tags Katana!
Katana goes up onto Kayden’s shoulders, VICTORY ROLL LAUNCHER, but Piper catches Katana! Katana fires hands, BOOTS, and then hurries to go up again. Kayden ROCKS Piper, and fireman’s carries?! SAMOAN DROP! Kayden then gives Katana the boost, for the KEG STAND SPLASH!! Cover, ALBA BREAKS IT! Kayden runs up on Alba to BOOT her out! Katana gives Kayden the boost now, SUPER CROSSBODY onto Alba! Kayden hurries to tag back in, and she brings Piper up. Piper swings, Kayden dodges and SUPERKICKS! Katana goes up, Piper staggers over that way, but Chelsea distracts the ref!
The fans are torn as Alba grabs Katana. Katana kicks Alba down, chases Chelsea off, but Piper sends Kayden into her! Piper scoops to PIPER DRIVER!! Cover, Secret Her-vice wins!
Winner: The Secret Her-vice, by pinfall
The Women’s US Champion helps her team, and now they all mug Kayden & Katana! But here comes Zelina! Vega runs down the ramp, CLOBBERS Alba, and then she gets in the ring! Zelina tilt-o-whirl DDTS Piper! And she KNEES Alba off the apron! But Chelsea CLOBBERS Zelina! Chelsea fires up, the UK is oddly with her, and she chicken wings Zeina. But Zelina fights free to fire forearms and body shots! And a BACK ELBOW! Zelina reels Chelsea in, CODE- SUPERKICK from Alba! SENTON from Piper! The Green Administration is just too much for Zelina to fight against alone! But can she, Kayden & Katana find a way to turn things around?
WWE United States Championship: LA Knight VS Braun Strowman!
Did the Mega Star just get this title back from Shinsuke Nakamura? YEAH! Did he help the Monster of All Monsters fight off Solo Sikoa’s rouge bloodline? YEAH! And now, does he have to defend this title against the monster he just helped? YEAH!! But will Knight still reign this close to WrestleMania? Or will Braun #GetTheseHands back on a championship?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s time for Knight’s biggest challenge, YEAH!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two circle. The two tie up, and Braun SHOVES Knight away. Knight comes back, Braun SHOVES him down again! Knight gets up, gets around, and he headlocks. Braun powers up to back suplex, but Knight lands out! Knight tries but Braun’s too big to suplex! Braun ELBOWS Knight, storms up on him, but Knight fires haymakers! Knight whips, Braun reverses, but Knight KICKS back! Knight runs, but Braun HIP TOSSES! Cover, TWO! Knight stays in this, but Braun brings him up. Braun puts Knight in a corner, CHOPS, then runs, for a SPLASH! Knight sputters along ropes, Braun keeps moving, but Knight DUMPS him out!
The fans fire up as Knight then WRECKS Braun with a dropkick! Knight keeps moving, and he WRECKS Braun again! The fans fire up with Knight, but then Braun BOOTS Knight down! The fans are torn but Braun stands tall as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Braun puts Knight back in the ring. The fans cheer as Knight KICKS Braun! Knight tries again, but Braun’s still too big to back suplex! Braun CLUBS Knight, then runs in at the corner. Knight BOOTS Braun, goes up, and FLYING BULLDOGS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Knight and Braun rise back up, and Knight dodges a shot to JAB! Then he dodges to JAB! JAB! JAB! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” But Braun KNEES low! Braun scoops, Knight slips free, and Knight RAMS Braun into buckles! Then the BACK SUPLEX! The fans fire up and Knight rises again! Knight spells it out, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO!
Braun has plenty left in the tank but the fans rally for Knight. Knight stands Braun up to kick low, but Braun THROWS Knight away! Knight rises, and Braun LARIATS Knight up and out! The fans fire up as Braun rips the shirt! Braun gets on the track, and he runs in, STROWMAN EXPRESS MEETS JACOB FATU!! The Samoan Werewolf strikes Braun down!
Winner: Braun Strowman, by disqualification; LA Knight retains the title
The fans boo as Jacob now goes after Knight! He just ruined what was becoming a great match, but Jacob fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT on Braun! SAMOAN DROP onto the desk!! The desk doesn’t budge, but Braun might’ve been broken in half! The UK fires up for Fatu as he puts Braun in the ring! Jacob fires more HEADBUTTS, then HEADBUTTS away on Braun in the corner! The fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE, FATU~, FATU~!” Jacob runs corner to corner, but Knight kicks him first! Knight fires haymakers, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Jacob denies the BFT to POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! And then HIP ATTACK for Braun anyway!
Jacob keeps going, HIP ATTACK for Braun again! Jacob throws off his jacket, glares at Braun, and he runs in for a third HIP ATTACK! Braun flounders into the drop zone, so Jacob goes up, up, BEST MOONSAULT EVER! Direct hit on Braun, but the fans want that “ONE MORE TIME!” Jacob obliges, BEST MOONSAULT EVER! The Samoan Werewolf just tore up #OneBigSOB and LA Knight, will there be no stopping him from taking the United States Championship?
Backstage interview with Jimmy Uso.
Jackie Redmond is with #BigJim, and she says that while she knew WWE was going global this month, she did not know they’d get the slap heard ’round the world! Jimmy says he’d do it again, and he’ll slap Gunther as many times as he needs! Jimmy knows Jey is up in his own head, doubt is creeping on him. But just because Jey’s 0-3 against Gunther doesn’t mean Gunther’s unbeatable! The Ring General CAN be got! Jimmy’s going to Raw this Monday, he will bust Gunther’s ass, Jey will go to Mania and bust Gunther’s ass to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. And then they leave Las Vegas just like this: YEET!
Jimmy heads out, but then The Miz & Carmelo Hayes walk by. Miz is mocking Jimmy’s words, and he asks excuse me. Miz says it’s just funny that suddenly, Jimmy is a tough guy, even though for most of his career, he’s been “The Other Uso.” Doesn’t Jimmy get it? Jimmy and Jey are career sidekicks while Gunther is a main character. Gunther is the lead, neither Jimmy nor Jey can beat him. And here’s another thing: The Usos are just blips on the trailer that was Roman Reigns’ Bloodline. Melo says Jimmy & Jey are stuck outside the club, they can’t even get in.
Miz says as a former WWE Champion, a former WrestleMania main eventer, Jimmy will never know what it is to carry this industry. And after this year’s WrestleMania, neither will Jey. Oh, and by the way, if Jimmy ever slapped Miz like that, Jimmy would still be on the ground. Jimmy feints the slap and Miz freaks out. Jimmy says it may be him and Gunther on Monday, but he’ll holler at Aldis real quick so it can be Jimmy VS Miz here tonight. Yeah, YEET! Jimmy heads out, Melo says he thought Miz was gonna do something about the slap. Will Miz have to do something about running his mouth before he gets his teeth kicked in?
Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga find Jacob Fatu backstage.
Solo asks Jacob what the Hell he was doing out there. Jacob goes out there alone without saying a thing to them? Jacob says he ain’t gotta say nothing to nobody! Matter fact, didn’t Solo not tap in with him last week? Tama says, “But Jacob,” only for Jacob to say, “But nothing, Tama!” Solo wants Jacob to lower his tone, but Jacob says okay. Let him be very clear with them. When it comes to Braun Strowman, Jacob WILL be the last man standing. Y’all better get in where you fit in, cuz that US title? Oh, Jacob’s bringing it home to the family. And he will do it with them, or without them! Yadada mean? Fatu heads out, is the Samoan Werewolf no longer following Solo?
Naomi speaks.
“I mean… How did we even get here? I don’t know. One thing that I do know is that I’ve always been the woman to do the right thing. I’ve always been the woman to do the right thing. So Bianca, what makes you think that my attack on Jade was anything different from me doing the right thing? When I sit here and I think about all that I’ve sacrificed, all that I’ve given, and that’s what really breaks my heart. Because through all of that, I’m made to be the bad one in this situation. I just don’t understand, how does Jade come in outta nowhere and take my place with you? I want you to ask yourself this, Bianca. Who inspired you? Hmm?
“Who’s inspired women over the last decade? Who’s always had your back from day one of you being here? Me. Not Jade. Hmm. But you know what? What I’ve learned through all of this: You teach people how to treat you. And I’m done with being treated as a third wheel. I’m done being pushed to the side, I’m done with being too nice, I’m done with being undervalued, underutilized, underappreciated! So moving forward, hmm… Moving forward, here’s my message to you, Jade. If you continue to be in my way, I strongly advise you to proceed with caution.” The Glow shows her dark side, but will the storm be moved?
Nick Aldis meets with Jade Cargill.
Speaking of, the SmackDown General Manager understands things have been rather difficult for her as of late. Jade says she’s been trying to get her hands on Naomi for the past few weeks, now where is she? No one has seen her all day, so as far as anyone knows, Naomi’s not here. Well, when Jade catches Naomi, it’s on sight. Jade leaves, B-Fab & Michin are there. They let her know that what Naomi did to her was straight trash, totally uncalled for behavior. And after Jade gets her hands on Naomi, she’ll handle that business. Jade agrees. Mia says they’ve all got business to handle. Jade’s got Naomi, and Mia’s gonna get Charlotte for messing with her girl, B.
B-Fab says Naomi’s got what’s coming to her: no sympathy, no regrets. Jade, just do what you gotta do. Oh, she will. Jade also wishes Mia luck tonight. Mia & B-Fab head out, will the Head Baddie in Charge make the Queen bow down in London?
The darkness approaches.
“You are as I was. As I am, you will be.” The shadows are starting to take shape, but is SmackDown about to fade to black?
Charlotte Flair VS Mia Yim w/ B-Fab!
The Queen looks down on everyone, so it’s no surprise that everyone else wants to take her down. Charlotte may have checked off B-Fab, but will the HBIC be a much different story? Or will Charlotte only sharpen her edge before facing Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania?
WAIT! NAOMI ATTACKS B-FAB & MICHIN! Naomi drags Mia up for a FACEBUSTER! Naomi rains down fists, the ref reprimands and the fans boo, but Naomi tells the ref to back off. Naomi then BOOTS B-Fab off the apron! Naomi goes out after B-Fab to THRWO her into barriers! Naomi SLAPS B-Fab, tells her to stay down, but B-Fab gets up. Naomi fires hands, then she SMACKS B-Fab off the desk! Naomi rains down fists, but here comes Jade! Jade hurries down the ramp, she runs around the way, but Naomi runs away! Jade makes sure B-Fab is okay, but refs have to help her to the back. And what of Mia? Will she even be able to compete?
Charlotte makes her entrance, not really caring about what Naomi just did to Mia. But that means she also crosses paths with Jade. The fans like the look of this stare down, but Jade and Charlotte both let the other slide. Charlotte gets her pyro, and it seems she’ll still get her match. Will Mia be little more than an appetizer now?
The bell rings, and Charlotte BOOTS Mia down! Cover, TWO! Mia stays in this and the fans rally up. Charlotte just struts around while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns, Charlotte has Mia down with a chinlock, but the fans rally up. Mia fights up, fires body shots, and she then blocks a shot to ROCK Charlotte! Mia ROCKS Charlotte again and again, then reels her in for a TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up as Mia hurries to cover, TWO! Mia drags Charlotte up, wrenches, but Charlotte says no to Da Feet! BIG back suplex! Mia stagger sup, Charlotte whips her, but Mia reverses! Charlotte goes up and out, BOOTS her away, then slingshots in and rolls Mia! Mia rolls through and BUZZSAWS! Mia runs corner to corner, but Charlotte avoids the cannonball!
Charlotte YAKUZA KICKS Mia down, then fires herself up! The fans “WOO~!” as Charlotte has Mia in the drop zone,. Charlotte steps on her, goes up the corner, but Mia gets underneath her! SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO! Charlotte survives and Mia is shocked! Mia nods as the fans rally back up, and she brings Charlotte up. But Charlotte ROCKS Mia! Mia SOBATS, PELES, and then runs to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Charlotte stays in this, Mia grows frustrated, but the fans continue to rally. Mia uses that energy to stay focused, and she stalks Charlotte to waistlock. But Charlotte ELBOWS her away!
Charlotte CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOSP! Charlotte winds up, and she CHOPS again! Mia sputters, but then she dodges the boot! Charlotte is caught, and Mia hits a SAIDO! Charlotte flounders to a corner, the fans rally behind Mia, and Mia runs up, CANNONBALL! Mia hurries to wrench and EAT- NO, Charlotte shoves Mia away! Charlotte gets under, back suplexes, but Mia lands out! EAT DA FEET!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Charlotte’s long legs help her survive by a literal foot! Mia is beside herself while Charlotte bails out. Mia storms after Charlotte, runs up, but Charlotte dodges! Mia’s kick hits steel steps!
Mia hobbles away, goes to the apron, but Charlotte CHOP BLOCKS the bad leg out! Charlotte grabs Mia’s leg, drops a KNEE on the knee, but fans chant, “We Want Tiffy!” Charlotte just steps through, FIGURE FOUR, into FIGURE EIGHT!! Mia taps, Charlotte wins!
Winner: Charlotte Flair, by submission
Charlotte got more of a fight out of Mia than expected, but she still won. Will The Queen be more than ready to reign again after WrestleMania?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Jackie Redmond is with the WWE Women’s Champion and says Charlotte certainly looks confident. Let’s be real, Charlotte came at Tiff pretty hard. It got a lot of people talking. Tiff says yes, people talk. And Charlotte sure loves to hear herself talk. Ten years into the business and Charlotte is still so insecure that she can’t let a “rookie” get a word out. But last week, Tiff did learn something: She learned that walking into WrestleMania, she isn’t the one with something to lose. Truth is, if Tiff loses, then she lost to the great Charlotte Flair, as just a 25-year-old rookie with one year into SmackDown.
But if Charlotte loses… Well, then she lost to an “undeserving, delusional, unoriginal, backflip doing, blonde-hair-having, little girl.” Did she get it all? And Tiff can’t wait to hear the look on Charlotte’s face when they hear the words, “And STILL!” Then maybe Charlotte will finally shut up for the sake of literally everyone! They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and Tiff will make damn sure what stays is Charlotte’s massive ego. Tiff is walking into and out of Mania as the WWE Women’s Champion. Tootles! Tiff heads out, will it still be #TiffyTime after WrestleMania?
Randy Orton VS Drew McIntyre!
The Viper told Cody how proud he was, but also how he wants the next shot after John Cena. The Scottish Terminator took offense to that, and basically said he is taking that shot instead. Will this match be an unofficial #1 contender’s match between these two former world champions?
SmackDown returns and McIntyre makes his entrance. The bell rings and the fans sing, “OH~, Drew McIntyre~!” and chant “R K O! R K O!” Drew and Orton circle, tie up, and they go around in a deadlock. Drew powers Orton to a corner, but Orton headlocks back. Drew powers up and out, then he runs Orton over! Orton hurries to ropes and Drew mockingly asks, “How’s the back feel, Randy?” Orton stands, he and Drew reset, and the fans duel some more. Drew calls for a knuckle lock, Orton accepts, but then Drew kicks low! Drew bumps Orton off buckles, then climbs up, but he panders for too long and Orton YANKS him down!
The fans fire up as Orton climbs now! Orton rains down fists, and the fans count to nine. Orton hops down, brings Drew around, and POSTS him for ten! Drew tumbles out of the ring, Orton goes out after him, and they’re by the desk! But Drew kicks Orton first and SMACKS him off the desk! Drew clears the desk, and he brings Orton up for the DESK- NO, Orton fights free! Orton turns things around, DESK BACK SUPLEX for Drew! The fans fire up while Orton leaves Drew behind, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Drew writhes on the floor, but Orton goes out to fetch him! Orton brings Drew around, UPPERCUTS him, then says one more time! DESK BACK SUPLEX! Drew writhes as that desk stays standing! Orton grins, refreshes the ring count, and then he storms up on Drew. Drew pokes Orton in the eye! Drew POSTS Orton now, then brings him around to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP into barriers! Orton slumps down, and Drew also grits his teeth from that double-edged attack, but Drew fires up as he stands tall. Drew drags Orton up, puts him in the ring, then stalks Orton. Drew looms over Orton, and HIP DROPS him!
Orton sputters, Drew says one more time, and he winds up for the HIP DROP! Drew paces around Orton, says maybe one more time, and he pretends he can’t hear the fans. Drew winds up again, but Orton flips over! Hip drop meets kneecaps! And then Orton pokes Drew in the eyes! The ref reprimands but Orton rises up. Drew sputters and flounders, Orton ROCKS him with a right! Drew ROCKS Orton back! Drew storms up, Orton kicks low, but Drew fires another haymaker! The haymakers go back and forth, Orton gets the edge, but Drew GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTTS! Cover, TWO! Drew clamps onto Orton with an armlock!
SmackDown returns to single picture and the fans rally up. Orton fights up, pries at the chinbar, and then throws right hands! Drew CHOPS Orton in return! The fans “WOO~” and Drew winds up. Drew ROCKS Orton again, eggs him on, then CHOPS again! Drew shoves Orton to a corner, CHOPS again, then dares Orton to fight! Drew whips corner to corner, but Orton comes back to LARIAT! And LARIAT! Drew swings, Orton dodges, SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up as Orton stalks Drew to the apron. Drew HOTSHOTS Orton first! Drew then runs in, but Orton puts him through the ropes!
The fans fire up as Orton has Drew for the DRAPING DDT! The fans fire up for Orton, and Orton hears those voices! Drew rises, but then Orton spots KEVIN OWENS! The Prizefighter is on the ramp, Orton glares at him, but then he turns around into a CLAYMORE!! Cover, DREW WINS!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
Kevin’s mere presence costs Orton, and now Drew has a huge win propelling him down the Road to WrestleMania! As for Orton, Kevin drags him out of the ring, SMACKS him off the desk, and then climbs up to join him! The fans boo but Kevin and his hot pink sneakers have Orton in position, but Orton slips free and TRIPS Kevin up! Kevin hits the desk then the floor! Orton staggers around, the fans rally behind him, and Orton stalks Kevin to the corner of the barriers. Orton lines up the shot! Orton runs in, but Kevin jumps over barriers! Security is there to stop Orton from pursuing, so Kevin runs away into the night!
The fans boo, but The Viper was that close! Will Orton be able to strike Kevin down and completely take him out?
Fire, thunder, smoke…
The force of nature is drawing ever closer. And he’s ready to fly! REY FENIX arrives next Friday Night SmackDown!
Jimmy Uso VS The Miz!
#BigJim gave Gunther a piece of his mind and a mark on his cheek, but it seems not everyone got the message. Will the Hollywood A-lister soon star in the Uso Penitentiary? Or will he prove Jimmy is NOT ready for a world champion level opponent?
The bell rings and the two tie up. Jimmy powers Miz to a corner, Miz turns things around, and the ref counts. Miz takes a swing, Jimmy ducks it to CHOP! And CHOP! Miz shoves Jimmy back, then runs up, but Jimmy TACKLES Miz! Jimmy rains down fists, Miz shoves him away to go to ropes, but Jimmy storms back up. Miz ELBOWS Jimmy away, then runs back up, only for Jimmy to LARIAT him down! The fans fire up while Jimmy storms up on Miz. Jimmy CHOPS Miz, has him in a corner, then whips corner to corner. Miz reverses, Jimmy goes up and over, then UPPERCUTS! Miz staggers back to ropes, but Jimmy is right on him.
Jimmy whips, Miz reverses and kitchen sink knees! Then basement BOOTS! The fans fire up, Miz scowls, and Miz KNEES Jimmy in the back again and again. Miz stalks Jimmy to the ropes now, and he CHOKES Jimmy! The ref counts, Miz runs, and Miz STRADDLE ATTACKS! The fans boo, but Miz runs again. Jimmy ducks the boot, then dodges a lariat! Jimmy runs up to LARIAT Miz up and out! The fans fire up and Jimmy builds speed, but Miz runs away! Jimmy smirks as he goes out the side, and UPPERCUTS Miz over the barriers! Jimmy makes sure Gunther knows he’s coming to get him, but SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and both men are down. Miz and Jimmy crawl, and Jimmy pounds the mat. The fans rally, Jimmy rises and runs up to LARIAT! And LARIAT! And mule kick! Jimmy then UPPERCUTS Miz, dodges a lariat, then SAMOAN DROPS! The fans fire up, Jimmy goes to the corner, “UCE! OH!” Jimmy runs in, but Miz puts him on the apron! Jimmy UPPERCUTS again! Jimmy climbs, leaps, but Miz gets under! Miz then waistlocks, ripcords, and MOVIE MAKER! Fans boo that blatant parody, but Miz full nelsons! Jimmy drops, victory rolls, TWO! Miz has the cover, TWO! Miz hurries to BASEMENT DDT! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally up as Jimmy survives! Miz stalks Jimmy, the fans rally up more, and Miz fires a KICK! And then another KICK! The fans say “YES! YES! YES!” to the It Kicks, but then Miz winds up. Jimmy ducks the buzzsaw, Miz blocks the superkick, but the DRAGON WHIP connects! Miz rebounds to B-MOVIE KNEE!! Cover, TWO!! The parodies don’t get it done, but Miz still has his original work to fall back on. The fans rally for “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Miz runs in, A-LIST LARIAT! Miz shoves Jimmy down, then springboards, but into a SUPERKICK! Jimmy hurries up top, for the USO SPLASH!! Cover, Jimmy wins!
Winner: Jimmy Uso, by pinfall
Miz may be a movie star, but Big Jim’s the one winning this main event! Jimmy then borrows Joe Tessitore’s headset to call out Gunther! He’s coming after dat ass on Monday! Gunther won’t be the ring general, he will be “Private Gunther,” and he will salute Big Jim! Uh, uh, YEET! Will Jimmy be the one making examples out of the World Heavyweight Champion? Or will everything come crashing down when Gunther gets his turn?
Drew McIntyre returns backstage.
And he says hey to Lewis Capaldi, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, and also a big fan of Drew’s. They’re ready to have a good night in the pub, but Jackie Redmond walks over to congratulate him on the win tonight. She was hoping to get some thoughts on that victory and what happened with Orton and Kevin. Drew says it’s alright, this is what happens. He doesn’t care about anybody else’s business, but no one gets away with screwing him over. And when no one meddles in his business, he wins! Drew called out Priest, where is he? Priest doesn’t have the balls! So time to get mad in the pubs, everyone’s invited!
Drew turns the corner, but PRIEST IS THERE! Priest ROCKS Drew, SMACKS him off the door, then throws him into road cases! Priest ROCKS Drew, SMACKS him off the trunk of a car, and then again! Or since it’s London, “the boot.” The driver complains, but Priest BODY SLAMS that guy through a table! Drew comes back to KNEE Priest low, SMACK him off the trunk, and then off the side! They go to the hood, or bonnet for UK. Drew drags Priest up, but Priest CLAWS Drew’s eyes! Priest then sends Drew SOUTH OF HEAVEN through the windshield! Priest tells security that he’s done for now. Any more jokes, Drew? Didn’t think so! RIP, jackass!
Priest leaves, the producers hurry to help Drew, and Drew’s got glass in his eye! Will that glass help Drew see why he shouldn’t piss off the Punisher?
CM Punk heads to gorilla.
He has a security detail with him, and he passes by Drew writhing in pain. Punk chuckles, then continues on. Will his contract signing with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins be just as brutal? We find out, after the break.
Nick Aldis is in the ring.
The SmackDown General Manager welcomes us back, and says it is his honor and privilege to be here in the O2 in London. Now, we all know why he and this table is here, and why additional security is here tonight. Tonight, we are here to sign a contract for a Triple Threat. Perhaps the biggest Triple Threat in the history of WrestleMania: Seth Rollins VS CM Punk VS Roman Reigns! The fans cheer all those names, and here comes the OTC! London puts the ones up, and Paul Heyman accompanies THE Tribal Chief out on stage. Roman raises his finger to the sky for the pyro, then security follows him to the ring.
SmackDown goes picture in picture as Roman’s entrance continues, and he raises his finger to the sky for the second round of pyro. Roman steps into the ring, SmackDown returns to single picture, and Heyman hands him a mic. The fans sing, “ROMAN! ROMAN REIGNS~!” Roman nods, the fans cheer, and now they chant, “O T C! O T C!” Roman tells London, “ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” The fans cheer again, and again chant, “O T C! O T C!” Roman smiles, but he sees the chairs are not to his liking. Heyman makes sure to put one at the head of the table. Heyman also dusts the chair off while Roman enjoys the singing of, “ROMAN! ROMAN REIGNS~!”
Roman takes a seat and says that was beautiful. The way they sing to their Tribal Chief, it’s just beautiful. The singing continues, and Heyman even joins in! Roman smiles, and he says that is what he’s talking about. That’s the OTC for you, baby! The biggest star on the planet! The OTC came here for two reasons. One: to be acknowledged; check! And two: to sign this contract. Roman does just that, and he says he’s checked both boxes. That means- “BURN IT DOWN!” Seth Rollins interrupts! The fans now sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins struts out in his red wine paisley suit and conducts the O2 Choir all the way into the ring.
The fans cheer while Roman frowns, but Rollins takes the seat to Roman’s left. Rollins offers Heyman a chance to sing to this song, but Heyman frowns. Rollins chuckles, and he says the fans do have beautiful singing voices. He doesn’t know why Roman is in such a hurry to leave, though! This is their building! There’s a lot of history here! 12 years ago, they landed on the roof of this place in a helicopter! They came down those stairs over there, “ready to burn down the old guard!” They put the Undertaker down through the desk, and they were going to remake this company in their image!
Now don’t get him wrong, Rollins knows a lot has happened since then. They fought against each other, with each other, a little bit of love and a whole lot of hate. But Rollins dare says, as the fans continue to sing “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~,” that Rollins and Roman accomplished their mission. The fans start to chant for CM Punk, but Rollins tunes them out. Roman says, “We? We? You keep saying we. Our mission? We died a long time ago. It’s only been ME. You been here, but I done all the work! I’ve made this place what it is today! I took us to the level that we are here today! I made this place better than we found it!
“I’m the one that made us desirable to Netflix! I’m the one that took us into billion-dollar deals! Tell me, what have you done?” Rollins shouts, “I’ll tell you what I’ve done! YOU, YOU, YOU, it’s that mindset that keeps me having to screw you! You understand that? And your biggest mistake is not understanding the danger that’s right in front of us! The danger that’s right in front of you! You let the biggest snake in the world, CM Punk, into the garden! And you could’ve cut his head off at WarGames! But instead, you shook his hand. You could’ve let me finish him inside the cage at The Garden, but you didn’t. And now, I am left to do what I always do: Clean up your mess, again.”
Rollins drops his mic, picks up the pen, and signs his part. And now, here comes CM PUNK! The fans fire up and sing along with Cult of Personality, then join in on saying, “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME~!” Punk goes to the ring, but as he grabs a mic, he goes up a corner, just like he did last Friday. “I have come here to chew bubblegum and sign a contract. And I’m all outta bubblegum.” The fans cheer the Rowdy Roddy Piper reference, and Punk hops down to take his seat on Roman’s right. Punk looks over said contract, but Roman asks if Punk needs a highlighter or something. What’s he doing? Just go to page four, clause five.
Punk does as Roman says, but Roman says Punk needs to hurry, this is precious TV time. Punk reads the segment, Roman tells Heyman to just smarten Punk up. Heyman tells Punk he knows what Punk is looking for. It is in there. They’re closing the show at WrestleMania. The fans go wild hearing that! Heyman tells Punk that he gets to live his dream of dreams. CM Punk will be a WrestleMania main eventer! The fans cheer and while Roman smiles, Rollins is furious. Roman says, “One man’s dream is another man’s favor! CHECK!” Wait, this was the favor? Rollins says no! This is not something to laugh at, and Punk does not get to tear up!
Punk is NOT deserving! He does NOT deserve this! The fans boo but Rollins continues to throw a fit! Main eventing WrestleMania is SACRED, the most important thing in the world to Rollins! More than anything! Except the fact that Punk NEVER gets to main event! This is all Roman’s fault! This is all Heyman’s fault! Rollins THROWS his mic down, paces angrily, but Punk picks up the mic. The fans cheer Punk on again, and Punk stands to thank London, to thank Chicago, to thank Louisville, Kentucky, and to thank ALL the fans. As corny as it sounds, he thanks the WWE Universe who stood by him and chanted his name for TEN LONG YEARS!
Roman says hold on, hold on. Punk shouldn’t be thanking the fans! He should be thanking the Tribal Chief! It is because of Roman that Punk gets this honor! So please, take this moment, close the show with that acknowledgement! Do this the right way. The credits are already rolling as Punk kneels before Roman!? Punk smiles, and he thanks “My Tribal Chief, the holder of the ula fala, the Head of the Table, the… Big Dog? Thank you for allowing a kid from Chicago to be graced by your presence. Thank you, My Tribal Chief, for allowing me to stand in your ring. And thank you so much. Thank you, Roman Reigns, so very much.
“But because of you, I will see you in the main event of WrestleMania.” And again, Rollins is agonizing over this. Punk finishes putting his signature on the contract, and London tells him, “You Deserve It!” Punk thanks Roman again, and then says, “But that’s not the favor that I’m owed.” WHAT?! Roman looks at Heyman and Heyman can’t look him in the eye! If getting this Triple Threat made into the main event isn’t the gift of the Wise Man, then what is?!
My Thoughts:
A good SmackDown, but they pulled off quite the paradox. They made it feel like they were struggling to fill three hours, yet they also filled the show to the point where that contract signing segment was almost bleeding over the three hour mark. Ironically, part of the problem was just how excited the London crowd was for this. The superstars still wanted to enjoy the chants and songs, but that’s time SmackDown doesn’t have to spare. It made the opening promo from Cody, Orton and Drew take longer, and it kinda did the same to the contract signing at the end. Even so, we still got a very good promo, and good stuff to set up Orton VS McIntyre.
Orton VS McIntyre was a great match, but of course Kevin costs Orton. McIntyre gets his win, Kevin and Orton have a bit of a brawl, but of course Kevin ends up on the losing end and runs off. McIntyre’s trash talk also comes back to bite him as Priest gets the better of him in their brawl. Here’s hoping Drew didn’t actually get glass in his eye, but that being the thing in kayfabe can be some good stuff. I can imagine McIntyre with an eyepatch, and he takes it off at the opportune time to get the better of Priest in their match. Also what a fitting choice for Punk to be passing by Drew suffering because of real glass.
Very good title matches tonight, but of course the status quo was kept. Pretty Deadly gets to look great here in London, but the Profits only just got the belts, they’re not going to be transitional champions like that. And Knight VS Braun was really good stuff, but honestly, Jacob Fatu going after them both should’ve been a given. Jacob also had a great promo with Solo & Tama to start adding to that divide between Jacob and Solo. I would hope Solo doesn’t screw Jacob out of the US Championship, but it feels like he will as Solo won’t stand for Jacob defying his authority, even though Solo’s been trying to make Jacob the champion all along.
Very good stuff from Jimmy Uso tonight, from his promo with #MeloDon’tMiz and then a great match with Miz. Their match ended up the de facto main event match, so that’s also great for both guys. Great win for Jimmy, but that’s likely because Jimmy is losing big time to Gunther on Monday. And it might just be me, but it feels like only now is the Jey VS Gunther build really moving, largely in part because Jimmy got involved. Jimmy’s promo after his match is something along the lines of what Jey should be saying. But I suppose as brothers, Jimmy is the one who knows Jey best and knows what Jey needs to be motivated again. And seeing Jimmy get beat up by Gunther will definitely motivate Jey…
Good final vignettes for Rey Fenix and Aleister Black. I’m a little surprised they confirmed Rey Fenix is showing up next week, and that they confirmed who Rey Fenix even is. I believe commentary confirmed Rey Fenix is Penta’s real brother, even namedropped “Lucha Brothers,” but all that is still surprising considering Fenix is going to start on SmackDown. Aleister’s vignette (at least I am fairly confident it’s his) was giving us glimpses of his silhouette, but I think there was usage of AI in the snake imagery. It was fine they did it for El Grande Americano because that is all trolling, but they really should try and do things the old fashioned way of photoshop and stock imagery.
Very good stuff in the Women’s Division tonight, though the WWE Women’s Championship portion was the weaker. Naomi’s got a great Heel persona going, her promo was great, and her going after B-Fab & Michin over them supporting Jade was a great detail. Jade runs Naomi off, helps B-Fab, but there was no helping Michin in being fed to Charlotte. Tiffany had a decent promo, and it does fit how Charlotte kept her from speaking so she finally gets things out here. It didn’t really add that much, though, but they already gave us a great brawl so not sure what more they can give.
KC Squared VS The Secret Her-vice was a very good match, but of course Chelsea made sure her team won. A Six Woman Tag of Zelina & KC Squared VS The Green Administration is certainly coming, to help give us Zelina VS Chelsea for the Women’s US Championship.
My Score: 8.7/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 3.27.2025
Bad news out of the TNA management side, but this is a taped episode from El Paso! So we won’t see any of the fallout just yet!
Now we all heard the news about the TNA change in hierarchy, and I…have no positive outlook on that. Delirious sucked at booking and creative in the dying days of ROH before it got bought as a B show. Dreamer having even more control is concerning because his ideas the last two years haven’t been much better.
Gail leaving makes more sense to me. Be it firing or a “you can’t quit, you’re fired” kind of situation, the Knockouts division is the worst it’s been in a long time and Gail was close with Scott D’Amore. So I don’t think Gail parting ways is as big of a problem since TNA has slowly been bleeding out with the Scott faithful.
Granted, I think the next few shows were already taped before the firing so things shouldn’t be completely unwatchable for at least a week or two. So let’s see where we’re going.
.@WeAreRosemary sends @XiaBrookside a CHILLING message!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/LaVxF6l2yc pic.twitter.com/srciTTbel0
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 28, 2025
Ratings:
- Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley vs Elegance Clique w/Personal Concierge: Ash wins via Rarefied Air – ** 1/4
- Fir$t Cla$$ & Frankie Kazarian vs Laredo Kid, Octagon Jr & Chavo Guerrero Jr: Chavo wins via Gory Bomb into Frog Splash – *** 1/4
- Jacy Jayne vs Masha Slamovich: Masha wins via Russian Death Device – ***
- Eric Young w/two losers vs Ace Austin: Eric wins via Piledriver – ** 1/2
- Seto & Mokuba – I mean – Nic Nemeth w/Ryan Nemeth vs Leon Slater: Nic wins via Danger Zone – *** 1/4
Results:
Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley vs Elegance Clique w/Personal Concierge
Ash and Gigi start off, Gigi with a little Rascalz after her first takedown. So both her and Wentz are making it obvious something’s going on between them, and I’m not mad at it. Good for my man Wentz.
Tatum and Gigi get some quick tandem offense in, Ash does manage to scurry off to a tag and Heather gets bent into a Pretzel. Some kind of Inverted Tarantula from Tatum, Gigi tags in, Bronco Buster on Heather followed by Kawada Kicks. Heather sells against the ropes, Gigi goes for a Hesitation Dropkick, but Concierge pulls her away so Gigi crashes and burns. Ref is distracted, Ash gets in some cheap shots and then the Elegant duo starts working over Gigi. A few quick tags, but once Heather comes in, Gigi fights out of the corner, gets the hot tag to Tatum. Tatum stacks up both Elegance members, Corner Stacked Crossbody, Butterfly Suplex and an Elbow Drop with some some flare. Tatum goes to the top rope, Heather pulls Gigi off the apron, Concierge shoves Tatum off the turnbuckle and Ash hits Rarefied Air for the win.
Post match the Elegance Clique wants to make their wish with the cake, they light the candles and Tatum and Gigi recover enough to do what we all expected last week, the cake in the face spot. Some…suggestive licking from both of our Hot Topic Hotties, so…no complaints here.
.@Ashamae_Sebera, @Heathereckless and @IamGeorgeIceman are having a meltdown!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/LaVxF6l2yc pic.twitter.com/FnKwPqm2ff
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 28, 2025
Fir$t Cla$$ & Frankie Kazarian vs Laredo Kid, Octagon Jr & Chavo Guerrero Jr
Chavo and Kaz start since he’s King Petty, a quick rope run turns into a Headscissor from Chavo. Kaz recovers, they lock up, Kaz hits the Knee Lift during the lock up to tag out to KC. KC pulls off some athletic dodges, gloats a bit so Chavo waits, measures and nails a gorgeous Dropkick. Laredo comes in on fire, quick high spots that send KC bouncing around like HBK against Hulk. KC powders after sells the Satellite Takedown, AJ checks on him and we go to commercial.
Back from commercial, Octagon is lighting up KC’s chest with overhand chops, he perches, Sunset Headscissor Flip from corner to corner, KC tries to Back Drop him but Octagon does a headstand, kicks KC away and lays him out with a high spot. AJ gets on the apron to stop Octagon from running the ropes, the referee has a stroke or something because he stops paying attention and AJ pulls Octagon out of the ring and chucks him. KC with the Tope con Hilo and tag (tag ropes haven’t mattered since the 80s we all know this). So AJ is getting taunted by the crowd in Spanish, but he’s manhandling Octagon since it looks like a Child fighting their parent. AJ knocks off Chavo and Laredo, Laredo pops up and tries to get involved but he’s caught on the shoulders, Octagon goes for the Crossbody but gets caught and AJ pulls off “World’s Strongest Wasteland” but Chavo breaks up the pinfall. AJ throws Octagon into the corner, Tennessee Whiskey, and tag out to KC. KC hits a few moves, but starts to lose the momentum until he connects with a Super Kick. Simultaneous rope run into the Dueling Crossbodies, so we get the timely tag outs from both sides. Kaz and Laredo come in, Laredo lands like two moves before Kaz hits a Sole Butt, Lariat and eats his lunch. KC and Kaz try to double team Laredo but he fights out and the crowd is chanting for Chavo.
Chavo tags in, and he’s rocking KC, Saito Suplex, Low Bridge to AJ, Reverse the Whip so Chavo goes to the corner and perches, KC feeds, Chavo Backflips to safety, rolls through and lays out KC. Chavo is feeling himself, 3 Amigos start on KC but only 2, Kaz comes in and Chavo switches to Kaz for the Amigos, only 2 again before AJ breaks it up. AJ goes for the disrespect, but Chavo counters and hits the 3 Amigos on the biggest Culero. Aztec Warriors dive to stop AJ and Kaz, KC tries a Dirty Victory Roll but Chavo kicks out. GORY BOMB into FROG SPLASH!
Chavo looked fantastic and he’s the one in the best shape in the ring. I wouldn’t be mad at more Chavito.
Jacy Jayne vs Masha Slamovich
I expect very little from this match.
Collar and Elbow, gator rolling for the first 30 seconds or so, then Jacy goes to some Hair Pull takedowns and does a little taunt before Masha pops back up and hits a Lariat into a Dive. Jacy sells it like she’s really hurt, even the ref tries to hold Masha back a little before Masha gets annoyed and just grabs her, Masha throws her in, looks for a Dive and Jacy sees it and powders. Masha tries to go back to the well for the Dive again but Jacy hits the Uppercut and then an Apron Run PK to drop Masha. Forearms rain down into a Foot Choke as Jacy continues to arrogantly play to the crowd. Another Foot Choke into a Cannonball, and near fall.
Masha gets space with a Sole Butt, tries to snap off Requiem but Jacy fights off, fights through a Sunset Flip another effective PK keeps Masha on her ass. Jacy looks for a kinda half-assed Camel Clutch as Masha is fighting up, but Jacy runs her into the corner, gets distracted mouthing off to the crowd, so Masha recovers, 5 Hole Up Kick sends Jacy into the corner, Yakuza Kick into Capo Kick for two. Requiem attempt again, but Jacy pushes off, a little back and forth, Masha tries a Backslide but Jacy gets away and hits a V-Trigger but only a 2 count. Jacy looks for the Discus Punch but Masha ducks it, they strike back and forth, but some dodges from both leave the exchange more even. Jacy with the Front Kick to the face sends Masha to the outside. Jacy wants another PK, but Masha blocks, Electric Chair Apron Snake Eyes. Masha throws her in, a PK into a near all. Requiem attempt 3, and thwarted from Jacy with a Superkick into a Neckbreaker. Senton misses from Jacy, Buzzsaw Kick, into Spinning Back Kick and Russian Death Device for the win.
Better than I expected, and Tessa attacks as soon as the bell rings. Xia Brookside and Lei Ying Li make the save after Tessa grabs the belt.
Eric Young w/two losers vs Ace Austin
Ace and Eric tie up, World of Sport start but as soon as Ace starts to get away EY punches him in the face. Eric looks at the camera and says “This is what trust looks like”, turns his back on Ace, when Ace looks to attack, the loser duo cut him off. EY takes advantage of the weird situation, but Ace with some Up and Over quick spots, into an Inside Cradle and La Magistral. EY kicks out of the quick flash attempts, but eats a Dropkick, and Ace goes all Speed Kils on him with fast strikes and then a face buster for another near fall. Strike spot very early in the match, Ace gets the best of it, goes for a Tear Drop Suplex but EY sits on it to block, Headlocks to keep him close and then a snap Lariat into beatdown bully tactics. EY takes the referee’s attention and one of the nerds punch Ace in the face.
Eric tries to lean on Ace, but Ace fires, a few strikes, Click Click Boom, the Miz Seated Lariats in the corner, Mochizuki Triangle Kick connects! Only a 2 count, but Ace seems to be in control. Ace puts EY on the ropes, a few strikes to keep him rocked, wants a Superplex, but EY blocks, bites the face and Macho Elbow gets a very close two count. EY tries the Piledriver but Ace turns it into a Jacknife Cradle,Spinning Heel Kick, calls for The Fold, but the losers hop on the apron to distract, Ace attacks them. Ace tries to time out the Triangle Kick again, but Eric dodges, throws Ace head first through the buckles. As Ace stumbles out of the corner, Piledriver, and it’s over.
Oh look it’s the “we’ll hear from Joe Hendry” segment. Again, I’ve loved this gimmick since Day 1, even didn’t hate his What Culture Pro stuff, but there is such a thing as milking a cow too much.
Elijah interrupts the whole “Who’s next” speech. When Elijah comes out he says he’s not the challenger and he believes in Joe. The crowd wants Elijah to turn on Hendry. Elijah pauses for a moment, and starts proving his friendship with stating his favorite color and a little “You Got a Friend in Me”. The crowd is into singing along and waving their cameras like Lighters to a 30 year old song. THANKFULLY Kaz breaks up the hug fest. Now he gets the “Culero” chant.
Kaz pulls out a Bass…what the hell is this Jam Session. Kaz has to warm up so he plays “La Cucaracha” on the bass. Kaz…is a national treasure. Hendry kicks Kaz out of the ring after his Heelish and playfully racially charged song choices. Kaz tries to sow dissension, but Joe and Elijah pinball Kaz between them. Kaz slips a power move and tries to shove Elijah into Joe but Elijah puts the brakes on, a small tense moment. But then Joe and Elijah play “Nah Nah Nah Nah, Hey Hey, Goodbye”…and that goes right into a commercial. Oddly…perfect.
Nic Nemeth w/Ryan Nemeth vs Leon Slater
Nic shoots the half immediately for a flash pinfall but Leon kicks out at one. Nic continues to keep things grounded with his amateur wrestling skills, and then does a little Dolph Ziggler show off. So Nic isn’t really taking this seriously, and Leon starts getting the best of things with an Arm Wringer, into drag, Shoulder Tackle and rope run as Nic tries to Leap Frog and Leon puts on the brakes and just shoves Nic on his ass. Nic gets annoyed, a few strikes, grinds his face along the ropes, but Leon keeps stringing some offense together, Back Handspring Elbow into his Corner con Hilo.
Ahh the classic formula of the commercial gives the heel the advantage, Twisting Suplex from Leon stops Nic’s offense momentum, right hand, Leon lifts Nic up for something, Nic slips it, kicks him in the gut, looks for the FameAsser, but Leon catches him into a Blue Thunder Bomb variation. Slater wants the Swanton 450, but Nic powders. Leon tries to adjust into a Dive, but Nic cuts him off, counter for counter and a FameAsser out of the counters for a two count. Nic starts the big brother tactics, bootwashes and arrogance, Slater fires, punches into a Yakuza Kick. Leon wants another Lethal Injection variant, but Nic catches him into a Rear Naked Choke. Slater tries to turn it into a pin so Nic breaks it. Leon wants a Leg Lariat but misses and gets unceremoniously dropped by Nic. Nic puts Leon up on the buckles, Superplex possibly but Slater counters, tries to collect himself for a move, but Nic falls into the ropes to crotch Leon, and finally hits the Superplex.
Twist of Slate from Leon, Swanton 450 but knees get up. Locomotion Cradles from both but they kick out, Ryan picks the ankle to trip up Leon just a touch and then Danger Zone ends the match.
Ryan starts the post match beatdown, but the Hardy’s music hits and they come down to the ring for the save. Matt challenges the Nemeths for Rebellion because they’re not medically cleared yet.
Overall Score: 6.5/10
Decent story motion, no match was offensive, and there was actually some solid match action for television standards. I don’t have a ton to complain about aside from the Knockouts Division is in a weird spot, and giving Hendry a lot of just talking and hollow payoff segments feels stupid. If we need to hear from him every week, give him a talk segment like Highlight Reel or something. Yes I know First Class just got The Penthouse, but if Hendry is going to talk more than wrestle, give him a talk segment for us to sink our teeth into.
There was the announcement that Xia, Lei Ying and Masha will face Tessa, Jacy and a mystery partner. So you gotta wonder if there’s going to be another NXT mercenary, a surprise return or if it’ll just be Rosemary since she’s got her issues with Xia. Also I just realized that Unbreakable is going to be on a Thursday, seemingly after iMPACT? I’m gonna have to see how they do it, because if there’s an Impact episode and 2-3 hour PLE…I do not want to be awake until 1am. People need to work, and I will be Unwakeable if things go that long.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
4 Corners Podcast: March Madness Bracket Breakdown
This week on 4 Corners Podcast we break down the Men's NCAA tournament bracket. Which of the top seeds will...
4 Corners Podcast- The Fantastic Four Nations Faceoff
The guys discuss Canada's big win in the Four Nations Faceoff and take a look at some early Spring Training...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: One For The Road
The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl Champions! Tune in as we recap an excellent NFL season and touch on a...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Super Bowl LIX Preview
The culmination of a season long journey is upon us. Andrew, Rey and Tunney break it all down for you...
The Front and Center Sports Podcast – NFL Conference Championships and Jimmy Butler
The Chairshot presents a new episode of The Front and Center Sports Podcast, with an NFL Conference Championship preview, and...
Bandwagon Nerds #281: Vengeful Abomination
This week the NERDS discuss Episode 4 of Daredevil Born Again and Villain Madness continues with the first round of...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (3/23/25)
Countdown to the Anniversary!
Attitude Of Aggression #304- Game Gone Wrong?- Part 1: When the Game was Great!
In Part 1, before getting to Season 8, the guys look back at the greatest moments from the first 7...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (3/21/25)
One step away from glory!
Bandwagon Nerds #280: The Rich And Powerful
This week the NERDS discuss the Season 3 finale of Invincible, episode 3 of Daredevil Born Again and the continuation...
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (3/28/25)
SmackDown in the UK!
DWI Podcast #469: Superplex Sunday
Will John Cena win the WWE Title and retire at Wrestlemania?
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 3.27.2025
Bad news out of the TNA management side, but this is a taped episode from El Paso! So we won't...
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (3/27/25)
Is there a new Minion in town?
Mitchell’s WWE Evolve Results & Report! (3/27/25)
Evolve enters the Fourth Dimension!
POD is WAR: It All Goes Back To The Spinner Belt
Andrew Balaz, Rey Cash and PC Tunney invite you to come along on a trip inside the minds of Los...
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (3/26/25)
ThunderStorm is TIMELESS!
Greg DeMarco Show: No Stipulation Needed
CM Punk vs Seth Rollins vs Roman Reigns? Are you buying this as a WWE WrestleMania 41 match? Does it...
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (3/25/25)
La Primera Double Header!
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (3/24/25)
ADRENALINE! IN GLASGOW!
