Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (1/3/23)
NXT enters the New Year!
The countdown is on!
Ahead of New Year’s Evil, Grayson Waller and Bron Breakker sign on the dotted line for their NXT Championship match, on Waller’s talk show!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Apollo Crews VS Carmelo Hayes w/ Trick Williams; Melo wins.
- Trick Williams w/ Carmelo Hayes VS Axiom; Axiom wins.
- DIJAK VS Channing Lorenzo w/ Tony D’Angelo; Dijak wins.
- Extreme Resolutions: Alba Fyre VS Isla Dawn; Fyre wins.
- Oro Mensah VS Javier Bernal; Oro wins.
- Andre Chase w/ Chase U VS Drew Gulak w/ Hank Walker; Gulak wins.
- Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods VS Joe Gacy w/ The Schism; Kofi wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Apollo Crews VS Carmelo Hayes w/ Trick Williams!
While neither man is champion leaving 2022, both men still have all of 2023 ahead of them! But will Apollo make the future he sees a reality? Or will Melo prove that he is that man?
The bell rings and the two circle. Fans rally and duel, the two tie up, and Apollo headlocks. Melo powers out but Apollo runs him over! And then runs him over again! Things keep moving, Apollo handsprings over Melo’s dropdown! Then he hurdles, drops, and dropkicks! Fans are torn but Trick coaches Melo up. Apollo brings Melo up into a headlock but Melo powers out. Apollo reverses the whip, Melo ducks to SPRINGBOARD LARIAT! Fans rally, Apollo staggers, and Mello runs in, but he blocks boots! Melo puts Apollo in the ropes to ENZIGURI, then FADE AWAY! Trick dribbles while Melo covers, TWO!
Melo keeps focus and he brings Apollo up. Melo CHOPS and shoots his free throw. Seems he made his shot, then he ROCKS Apollo in the corner! And CHOPS him! Apollo CHOPS back! And CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Melo mule kicks, reels Apollo in, but Apollo suplexes first! Apollo holds Melo up for TEN before the SLAM! Apollo goes out, slingshots in and SENTONS! Fans rally, Apollo runs in at the corner to SPLASH! Apollo whips Melo, scoops and hits a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Apollo keeps cool while Melo crawls to ropes. Apollo is on Melo, CHOPS him again, then has Melo in a corner.
Melo headlocks, the ref counts, Melo lets off to ROCK Apollo with a sucker punch! Melo CLUBS Apollo down, brings him up and back suplexes. Apollo lands out of it, waistlocks and hits a GERMAN SUPLEX! Apollo holds on for another GERMAN SUPLEX! Melo fights the third, slips his arms in and snapmares free, but Apollo clinches! OVERHEAD Belly2Belly! Fans fire up, Apollo clotheslines Melo up and out of the ring! Then Apollo goes to the apron to ASAI MOONSAULT! Fans fire up as Melo goes down, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Apollo waits for Melo in the ring while Trick coaches Melo up. Apollo goes out after Melo, stares Trick down, and he bumps Melo off the apron. Apollo CHOPS Melo against the apron, but Melo fires back! They brawl, Apollo throws Melo into the ring, and Apollo drags Melo back up. Apollo ROCKS Melo, throws body shots, and snapmares. Apollo runs to hit a BIG elbow drop! Cover, TWO! Apollo clams onto a chinlock and he grinds Melo down. Melo endures, fights up, and claws at Apollo. Melo fights up to his feet, pries the hold open, but Apollo hits a headlock takeover! Apollo grinds Melo down but Melo fights around.
Melo headscissors and now he has Apollo down. Melo CLUBS Apollo in the chest, pulls on an arm, but Apollo endures. Apollo pries at the armlock, moves around and pops out of the headscissors to get the headlock back! Melo endures all over again, fights up to his feet, and he throws body shots. Apollo CLUBS Melo down, then stands him up to clinch into a bearhug! Melo endures as Apollo thrashes him around! Melo huffs and puffs and pushes Apollo but Apollo just wraps on tighter. Melo throws elbows, Apollo puts on the squeeze, and NXT returns to single picture. Fans rally and duel as Melo wraps on a facelock to fight back.
Apollo powers Melo to the corner, the ref counts, and both men let off. Melo pie faces Apollo! Apollo rushes in but Melo puts him on the apron! Trick takes a swipe but Apollo avoids it! Apollo boots at Melo but Melo blocks! Melo BOOTS the other leg! Apollo falls to the floor while Melo dribbles the ball. Melo goes out after Apollo, drags him up, and he RAMS Apollo into the steel steps! Apollo hobbles, Melo puts him in the ring and covers, ONE!! Melo is annoyed but he has Apollo on the ropes. Melo RAMS Apollo into the corner, wraps the bad leg around ropes and pulls! The ref counts, Melo lets off at 4, then he kicks the bad leg!
The ref counts as Melo stomps a mudhole in, but Melo lets off at 4 again. Melo says he is him, and he drags Apollo up. Melo whips but Apollo reverses. Melo is in the corner, but he dropkicks Apollo’s leg out! Melo brings Apollo up, reel shim in, POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO! But into the HALF CRAB! Melo pulls on the bad leg and fans duel as Apollo endures! Apollo powers up and Melo can’t believe it! Melo hurries to sit deep on the hold! Apollo still endures, but he still powers his way and turns over to throw Melo! Melo holds on but Apollo BOOTS him away! Fans fire up as both men rise, and Melo hurries after the bad leg! Apollo ENZIGURIS Melo down!
Both men are down and fans duel again. Melo sits up in a daze and shakes out the cobwebs. Apollo gets to ropes and drags himself up. Melo swings but Apollo counter punches! Apollo LARIATS, ELBOWS, and ROCKS Apollo to LARIAT again! Melo staggers around, Apollo whips him to ropes. Melo rolls off the back but Apollo avoids the kick to BACKSTABBER! Apollo whips again, LEAPING LARIAT! Fans fire up as Melo goes to a corner. Apollo gets the bad leg working, and he storms up on Melo. Apollo blocks a boot to GAMANGIRI! Melo flops to the apron, Apollo goes up the corner! Melo anchors a leg but Apollo deadlift SUPERPLEXES!!
Fans are thunderous and Apollo crawls to a cover, TWO! Melo is still in this and Trick is relieved. “This is Awesome!” and it’s just the first match of the night! Apollo hauls Melo up, OLYMPI- ARM-DRAG! BOOT! Apollo roars! And then BOOTS Melo! Apollo reels Melo in, but Melo suplexes for the CUTTER! Melo hurries to the corner and climbs up! Apollo stands, and avoids Melo’s Three Pointer! Apollo BOOTS Melo, goes up, and BLOCKBUSTER DDTS!! Cover, TWO!?! Melo survives but Apollo is too tired to be upset! Fans cheer “NXT! NXT!” for giving them this opener! Melo goes to a corner, Trick is on the apron! He pulls Melo to safety!
Apollo CLOBBERS Trick! And JUMP KNEES Melo!! GERMAN SUPLEX! Melo is right up, but into the trophy lift! DROP and STANDING- NO! Melo avoids the moonsault! CODE BREAKER!! Melo hurries up top, NOTHING BUT NET!! Cover, Melo wins!!
Winner: Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall
Trick with the assist again, he’s the real MVP! But either way, Melo gets another big win to continue things from 2022! But AXIOM DOUBLE CROSSBODIES Trick Melo Gang! He is going to face Trick up next, so he aims again, ARIHARA MOONSAULT to the outside!! Axiom puts Trick in the ring, will Trick have to win the second half on his own? We find out, after the break!
Trick Williams w/ Carmelo Hayes VS Axiom!
NXT returns with this match underway, and Axiom fights up out of an armlock chinbar combo. Trick wrangles him back down and keeps on that double hold. Fans rally while Axiom endures, and Axiom claws at the chinbar. Axion fights back up to his feet, pries free and ROCKS Trick! And CHOPS! Trick ROCKS Axiom back! Trick CHOPS Axiom in the corner! Fans “WOO~!” and Trick says he’s gonna do that one more time. Trick puts some stank on it, but Axiom dodges! Axiom CHOPS back! Trick staggers away, Axiom swings, but Trick uses the ropes as defense. The ref backs Axiom down, and Trick then BOOTS Axiom, and LEAPING LARIATS!
Trick whips Axiom to ropes, but Axiom flapjack DROPKICKS! Both men are down and Melo coaches Trick. Fans rally, both men stand, Axiom ROCKS and CHOPS and ROCKS! Axiom whips, and DROPKICKS Trick again! Fans fire up and Axiom runs in to GAMANGIRI Trick! Trick flounders, Axiom goes to the apron and climbs up. Axiom CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! ARMBAR! Axiom has the arm but Trick clasps hands! Trick kicks around, fights his way over, but Axiom pulls the arm back! Trick’s leg gets the ROPEBREAK! Axiom lets off quickly, and he avoids a leg sweep, but not the EDDY GORDO! SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!!
Trick is shocked, and even Melo can’t believe it! Trick goes to a corner, he runs in, but spins into a HAYMAKER! Axiom aims now, for the GOLDEN RATIO!! Cover, Axiom wins!
Winner: Axiom, by pinfall
The Undeniable Truth gets payback, but Trick anchors his feet for Melo to CLOBBER him! Melo and Trick mug Axiom! But here comes Apollo! Apollo is still hurting, but he isn’t going to let Trick Melo Gang do what they want anymore! Will Apollo’s vision and Axiom’s mind come up with a way to shut down Melo and his main man in the New Year?
The New Day gives Pretty Deadly another shopping list.
Xavier Woods tells Kit Wilson & Elton Prince that the New Day needs Big Boss Man’s nightstick, AND The Rock’s eyebrow. The whole eyebrow. Pretty Deadly heads off, but The Schism barges in. Rip Fowler tells Woods & Kofi that they’ve talked to every tag team except The Schism, and they were wondering why. But now The Schism understands, looking in their eyes. The New Day knows The Schism is the biggest threat to the tag title reign! Uh, no. The New Day doesn’t talk to y’all cuz you look like extras from Texas Chainsaw Massacre. #NoCap. In fact, the New Day thought Rip & Reed would need a permission slip signed by daddy Gacy first! Chain of command and all that.
Joe Gacy tells “Mr. Kingston” that there is no chain of command. They are four roots, one tree. And from time to time, they look to Gacy for guidance, the same as how Big E & Woods leaned on Kofi for years. Whoa, okay, hold on. They lean on each other. E is here in spirit, too. They’re one pair of hips, five cheeks. Wait… Gacy says that sadly, Kofi thinks he knows family. But what he sees here is a real family. Oh, wow~! And here the New Day thought there was gonna be a problem with Rip & Jagger. But lo and behold, the problem is with Gacy. Kofi and Gacy can solve that problem, in the ring.
Gacy says knocking off a former WWE World Champion and perhaps the greatest WWE Tag Team Champion of all time will only make The Schism stronger. Guess that’s a yes. Will The Schism learn why everyone loves Kofimania?
NXT has footage of last Wednesday morning.
It was 2 AM, and Channing Lorenzo woke up cuffed to a chair in a room. Dijak walked over and put a cassette in the recorder. “Lorenzo, I know you’re probably starting to really regret the way you walked into my locker room and talked to me.” Stacks says he does what ever The Don needs him to do. Well, that’s great. But loyalty has consequences, and disrespecting Dijak will never go unpunished. Tony D’Angelo and Stacks have their way of doing things, but so does Dijak. Tony says he’s The Don of NXT? When it comes to fear, you’re looking at the face of fear! Dijak then punches Stacks right in the stomach!
Dijak takes off his sunglasses to look Stacks in the eyes. Stacks says Dijak should man up, uncuff him, and settle this in the ring. Dijak plans on it. This is just the beginning. Recording session over, and Dijak drops the key on the table. Will Stacks feel #HardJustice be served tonight in the ring?
Andre Chase finds his students at Drew Gulak’s class!
Gulak is showing them the proper collar ‘n’ elbow tie-up, and how to transition to a headlock takeover. Chase wonders WTF is this. Duke Hudson says they were all just getting in some extra ring time while Chase was grading papers. Gulak didn’t mean to encroach on anyone’s territory, but he is an equal opportunity teacher. Chase says he understands. Seeing as how Charlie Dempsey is not medically cleared, his match with Hank Walker is off. Gulak doesn’t buy that, and Chase says neither does he. But either way, Gulak can’t be putting Chase’s students in the ring without permission.
Well, maybe Gulak was just trying to figure out what Dempsey meant when he said Chase U was soft. Oh, okay. And Gulak’s assessment is…? Mixed results. Chase gets fired up but Thea Hail stops him, and Duke steps up! On behalf of Chase U, he takes exception! Hank steps up to say that Gulak didn’t mean any offense. It was just what he believes. Chase says he’ll give Hank something to believe, “you [censored]!” Nobody who wears Chase U red ‘n’ black is soft! Chase is shutting this down, and taking his students back. Duke supports that and they exit. Is this the beginning of a school rivalry?
DIJAK VS Channing Lorenzo w/ Tony D’Angelo!
The Don is with Stacks, and they’re both heated over what Dijak did. But will they both get a taste of #HardJustice? Or will Stacks make Dijak #fogedaboutit?
The bell rings and Stacks ROCKS Dijak with big haymakers! Stacks then ducks a shot to knee low and fire off more hands! Dijak pushes Stacks away, but Stacks blocks the boot! Stacks avoids haymakers to wrench and knee away on Dijak’s face! But Dijak choke grips in return! Stacks kicks free, but Dijak mule kicks him down! Dijak whips Stacks to ropes then kitchen sink knees! Cover, TWO! Dijak rains down fists on Stacks and Tony wants Stacks to get outta there! Cover, TWO! Dijak hammerlocks Stacks and HAMMERS away on that arm! Cover, TWO! Dijak smirks, he seems to enjoy Stacks’ toughness.
Dijak anchors Stacks’ leg as fans rally. Stacks kicks away with the free leg but Dijak stomps him down! And again and again and again! Stacks sputters, clutching his battered ribs. Dijak drags Stacks up to scoop him, and throws knees into him! Then Dijak swings and TOSSES Stacks away! Cover, TWO! Stacks continues to show his toughness and Tony coaches him up. Stacks crawls to a corner, Dijak runs in but Stacks dodges! Dijak hits POST! Fans rally, Stacks runs in and UPPERCUTS! Stacks keeps moving, for another UPPERCUT! And then another! And then- CYCLONE BOOT!! Stacks is dazed as Dijak covers, TWO!?!
Dijak is furious with Stacks now and he drags him up! Fans rally for Stacks, Dijak throws another knee! Dijak swings but Stacks rolls him up! TWO!! Dijak KICKS Stacks, drags him up, slingshots suplex into the FEAST YOUR EYES! Cover, Dijak wins!
Winner: Dijak, by pinfall
The judge, jury and executioner has passed his judgment! But he isn’t done, he drags Stacks back up! Tony rushes in and fires off on Dijak! Tony clotheslines Dijak up and out! “You think you’re tough, Dijak, huh!?” The Don says Dijak wishes he had half the heart Stacks had! If Dijak is talking about justice, then New Year’s Evil will teach you street justice, the Tony D way! Dijak says challenge accepted! Who will personify justice in NXT after next week?
Backstage interview with Oro Mensah.
McKenzie Mitchell says Oro joined NXT in 2022, but what are we to expect from him in 2023? Oro says that in 2022, he got his feet wet. In 2023, he’s diving in headfirst! But then Javier Bernal walks in. He is sorry not sorry for interrupting, but he says that 2023 is gonna be the Year of Big Body Javi! And what better way than by releasing a Christmas album! Uh, isn’t it a little late for Christmas? Uh, anyone can release a Christmas album during Christmastime. But Javi is not just anybody. He’s Big Body Javi! FIFTEEN classics, such as the 12 Days of Javi, We Wish You a Big Body Christmas, and of course, the title track: Feliz Javidad!
Oro says that’s cringe. But hey, when they’re done in the ring tonight, Javi won’t have much of a singing voice left. See you then. Oro heads out, will Javi have to shift from Christmas to the blues?
Toxic Attraction heads to the ring!
Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne may only be a duo now, but they’re not letting that hurt their mood. What will they have to say about their Toxic 2023 plans? We find out, after the break.
NXT returns and Toxic Attraction has the mics. Gigi starts by saying, “Toxic Attraction was, is and forever will be the most dominant female faction this brand has ever seen. And now it’s 2023. It’s time we leave 2022 where it belongs: in the past. Now, all eyes are on Jacy and I, and those eyes will watch in remorse. Watch as we push the envelope further than we ever did in these last 18 months. Watch as we cut through this roster with reckless abandon.” Jacy says, “Bonded by our battle scars, this year, Gigi and I will be the ones calling all the shots. And we don’t do stupid new year’s resolutions. We do revenge!
“While the entire world watches our every single move, we only watch and care about one woman. One woman, one target, Roxanne Perez. You wanna take down our Toxic Empire? Oh, well we’re gonna rebuild it brick by brick.” Gigi says Roxie’s broken body will be the foundation! But wait! Here comes Indi Hartwell! She is SO sick of hearing about Toxic attraction! When Roxie won the title, she thought that was the last of Toxic Attraction. But she doesn’t mind finishing what Roxie started. It is time for new blood at the top of this division, and that starts with-
Cora speaks up with “AHEM! Surprise, surprise, it’s Tuesday, and Indi Hartwell’s complaining once again. What’s new?” Cora makes her way from the crowd as she insults Indi’s “lifeless personality.” It’s no wonder everyone in Indi’s life has left her. And it’s a wonder why no one wants her to be champion. Everyone wants CORA as champion! She already beat Roxie- But then Nikkita Lyons speaks up, also from the crowd! She’s surprised Cora’s ego even still fits inside the building! Cora claims she deserves the world, but all she deserves is a kick to the face. And y’know what? Indi has a point: there needs to be new blood! And Lyons will throw hands-
But then Zoey Stark interrupts! She knew she smelled bad TikTok and future regret. Why is Lyons even here? Doesn’t she have more important things to do? Like showing off her assets on Instagram? Stark says to get back to reality, Roxie’s attempt at a title reign will be oh so short. But then WENDY CHOO interrupts! She’s wearing Little Mermaid pajamas as she says Zoey is always so angy! Honestly, no one wants an angry champion. And while Stark and Lyons don’t like each other, they don’t have to insult each other. Wendy doesn’t like Cora, but you don’t see her calling Cora an egotistical, self-centered, self-entitled BI-
WHOA! HEY! Cora has had enough! O M G! Thea can’t believe how many female superstars are here! GIRL FIGHT~! Thea rushes to the ring, as do the others, and that’s exactly what we get! Toxic Attraction, Lyons, Stark, Indi, Cora, Wendy and Thea are all fighting al over the place! But here comes ALBA FYRE! She wants a piece, but then ISLA DAWN ambushes her! The Wicked Witch and the Fire Keeper are going to have their own fight soon enough, but now the rest of the NXT Women’s Division is spilling out to ringside! Fans are loving all of this chaos! Kiana and Fallon, Isla and Fyre, Lash Legend is in there somewhere, and refs rush out!
Fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!” but only two should be, and those two are headed outside! Fyre and Dawn are just fighting in the parking lot, but here comes the champ! Roxie has everyone calm down. They don’t need to fight each other yet. Roxie was just informed that next week on New Year’s Evil, there will be a TWENTY WOMAN BATTLE ROYAL! The winner will be the #1 contender to Roxie’s title, and they fight at Vengeance Day! Good luck to you all! But then the brawling is back on! Fyre and Dawn are still brawling and Dawn is sent into a dumpster! And then again! And again! And again!! Fyre then throws Dawn into a garage door!
Dawn kicks back, then she throws Fyre against the dumpster! Dawn hurries off into the shadows, but Fyre pursues! The first-ever Extreme Resolutions match is going to happen, but where will it end?
Extreme Resolutions: Alba Fyre VS Isla Dawn!
NXT returns and Dawn is choking Fyre against spare railing. The ref wants this to go to ringside but Fyre gets a Gory Especial! Dawn fights free, the forearms fly, and then Fyre sends Dawn into a road case! But Dawn sends Fyre into ladders! Dawn grabs a shelf rack and shoves it at Fyre! Fyre dodges, the shelves hit the ladders! Dawn throws forearms, and she keeps saying she knows “it” is inside Fyre! She wants Fyre to let it out! Dawn throws Fyre into the big X Bron Breakker once broke! Then she scoops! Fyre fires off elbows, then scoops to POWERSLAM Dawn on the X! More refs rush in, insisting this has to go to ringside!
Fyre and Dawn keep brawling, not listening to anyone. Fyre throws Dawn into a bin! Fyre tells the refs to shut up, but then Dawn SMACKS Fyre with spare signage! Fyre smacks Dawn off the road case, then she grabs a pipe! Dawn dodges before the pipe SMASHES the case! Dawn CHUCKS a trash can at Fyre’s head! Dawn grabs that pipe, she stalks Fyre, and she says she knows “it” is inside Fyre. But Fyre just JAMS Dawn with the pipe! Then DECKS her with a forearm! Fyre grabs a ladder, and throws it down! Dawn moves in time before being crushed! Dawn scurries back, HEADBUTTS low, but Fyre keeps pushing forward!
Dawn crawls to where spare ring mats are. She kicks Fyre away, climbs up, but Fyre is after her! They brawl up on top of the props! Dawn CLAWS Fyre’s eyes! Dawn then stands Fyre up but Fyre fires off forearms! Dawn wobbles, but she grabs hold of Fyre! Fyre HEADBUTTS Dawn! Dawn falls onto a pallet of chairs!! The refs say to stop this, now they need to get Dawn to medical. But Fyre doesn’t care, she drags Dawn up from the wreckage! Fyre drags Dawn over, sits her into an armchair, and wheels her towards gorilla! Dawn stops the chair but Fyre spins her around to DECK her out of the chair! Fyre grabs a trash can lid to SMACK Fyre on the back!
Dawn crawls, Fyre drags her up and makes her sit in a wheelbarrow! Fyre wheels Dawn the rest of the way, but they go around to the back end of ringside! Fyre DUMPS Dawn out in front of commentary! And then POSTS her! And then SMACKS her off the desk! Dawn sputters and fans fire up as this finally gets in the ring! Fyre grabs a chair! The bell rings to truly make this a match, and the two tug-o-war over the chair. Fyre RAMS Dawn into the corner, JAMS her again, then puts the chair down. Fyre drags Dawn up, but Dawn fights the suplex! Dawn throws body shots, to snap suplex Fyre into the corner! Fans boo Dawn as she crawls after Fyre. Cover, TWO!
Dawn drags Fyre around, SLAMS the arm down, then looms over her. Dawn pulls on Fyre’s arm, stands on the hand, and she grinds the fingers before she STOMPS them! Fyre shakes out her hand while fans boo. Dawn grabs the chair, and she JAMS Fyre in the stomach! Fans rally for Fyre but Dawn swings. Fyre BOOTS the chair away! Then SLAPS Dawn! But that’s the bad hand! Dawn eggs Fyre on, so Fyre CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Fyre whips Dawn to ropes, COHPS her again, then looms over her. Fyre drags Dawn up, fireman’s carries, but Dawn slips off to dragon sleeper! Fyre snapmares free to SUPERKICK!
Fyre Gory Especials, GORY BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Dawn survives but Fyre doesn’t even hesitate. She fetches the chair, brings it back over, and she SMACKS Dawn on the back! Dawn snarls but Fyre pushes the chair down into her. Fyre goes to a corner and climbs up top. Fans fire up as Fyre aims, but Dawn CHUCKS the chair into Fyre’s face!! Fyre falls to the floor as NXT goes picture in picture.
Dawn snarls and crawls her way tot he apron. Dawn drags herself up as Fyre staggers to her feet. Dawn METEORAS Fyre to the floor! Dawn is laughing even as she clutches her leg! The spirits are talking to Dawn, and she drags Fyre around. Dawn stomps Fyre, then goes looking under the ring. Dawn brings out a toolbox! Dawn opens it up, looks inside, and brings out a wrench! She grabs Fyre’s arm, wraps it around the ropes, and goes after the fingers! Dawn PULLS on the fingers! But Fyre SMACKS Dawn with her free hand! Fyre gets away but Dawn knees her down! Dawn grabs the bad hand again, and uses the wrench to TWIST a finger!!
Fyre endures as Dawn tortures her hand! Dawn lets off the index finger to go after the middle finger! Dawn grins as she bends that finger back more! NXT returns to single picture as fans rally for Fyre. Fyre fights against Dawn’s twisted twisting! Fyre fights up to her feet, arm-drags Dawn away, and ducks the tool shot to ROCK her! And ROCK her again! But Dawn ROCKS Fyre! Fyre ROCKS Dawn! The forearms go back and forth, but Dawn RAMS into Fyre! Dawn whips, Fyre reverses and reels Dawn in, GOURD BUSTER! Then PENALTY KICK! But Dawn ducks the second! Dawn rolls Fyre up, TWO! Fyre SUPERKICKS Dawn out of teh ring!
Fyre then DIVES to take Dawn out at the ramp! Fans fire up for “NXT! NXT!” Fyre snarls and fans are on her side as she stands again. Fyre goes looking under the ring now, and she brings out a TABLE! Fans love seeing that! Fyre sets the table up as best she can with one hand, and then she goes back to Dawn. Dawn throws body shots but Fyre CLUBS her down! Dawn fights the Gory Especial! She whips Fyre into steel steps! Fyre staggers away but Dawn is on her! Dawn puts the bad hand in the toolbox, to SHUT IT CLOSED!!! The fans lose their minds while Fyre’s hand is caught! Dawn has the hammer! Fyre gets her hand out in time!
Fyre SHOVES the box into Dawn! Dawn fights the suplex, wrenches the bad hand, and reels Fyre in. Dragon sleeper, but Fyre slips free! HEADBUTT!! Dawn wobbles, Fyre pushes her onto the table! Fans fire up again as Fyre climbs up. Fyre goes to the very top! But Dawn is smiling!? Dawn wants Fyre to do this! SUPER SWANTON BOMB!! Fyre clips Dawn, the table stays standing! Fans are freaking out, so Fyre GORY BOMBS Dawn through the table!! Fyre puts Dawn into the ring, covers, and wins!
Winner: Alba Fyre, by pinfall
“Extreme” almost doesn’t even cover this! Fyre and Dawn went far beyond their limits, and it was the Firekeeper who stands tall! Will Fyre rise up in 2023 to have gold once again?
Backstage interview with Grayson Waller.
McKenzie points out that Waller has Bron Breakker as his guest tonight, with their contract signing just one week away from New Year’s Evil. Waller wonders how many times she practiced that in the mirror. But he just spent the last ten days at home in Australia on holiday, “manifesting the inevitable.” His mind and body are aligned, and next week, Waller becomes NXT Champion! So make sure to tune in for another can’t miss episode of the Grayson Waller Effect! McKenzie doesn’t get how he’s so confident when he’s about to be in the ring with a man who wants to rip his head off. Oh, well that’s why he has a talk show and she doesn’t.
The last few weeks, Waller has outsmarted Bron “and turned him back into the HULK SMASH guy.” That is when Bron is his most vulnerable. Pay attention now, because Waller is gonna finish the job and make New Year’s Evil a cake walk. Waller then talks to “Bronovan,” and says he has Bron’s number. Bron may have that dog in him, but that doesn’t make him immune to the Grayson Waller Effect. Waller mocks the dog bark then hurries off, but will he be the one getting bit tonight?
NXT looks closer at Indus Sher VS The Creed Brothers.
Sanga says, “Back home, we have the respect and admiration of an entire nation. 1.4 million people cheer us.” Veer says in India, they are celebrities. Veer is India’s very first MLB baseball player while Sanga is a television star of two series. They are global figures whose minor appearance on NXT gets millions of views in India. But here in America, no one cares. They respect the Creed Brothers, despite the fans not respecting them. So the only way they can get respect is by destroying the Creeds, so that is what they will do!
Julius Creed brings up Indus Sher claiming this is all about respect. But that’s BS! They’ve never been stepping stones for anyone. Veer says the Creeds were the best tag team of NXT in 2022. But it won’t be the same in 2023. Julius says Indus Sher chose the wrong ones. They aren’t making a name off the Creeds. But Veer says the Creeds should listen to Ivy Nile. Sanga says Indus Sher has waited for the perfect moment. They could’ve beaten down the Creeds when they were less than 100%, but they didn’t want any excuses. Not from the Creeds, and not from the fans.
Julius says that while Indus Sher wants respect, all they’re getting at New Year’s Evil is body blows and body slams. Brutus says respect is earned, not given, and they’re not giving a single inch! Indus Sher promises a mauling, but will it take more than they have to crush the Diamond Mine?
Oro Mensah VS Javier Bernal!
The Hottest Superstar Under the Sun loves music and the club scene, but he wouldn’t be caught dead dancing to Feliz Javidad. Will Oro take the lead as NXT enters 2023?
Wait! Javi attacks Oro during his entrance! Javi fires off haymakers but Oro fires off hands in return! Oro CLUBS Javi, puts him in the corner, and fans rally for Oro as the bell rings. Javi runs in to LARIAT! Javi rains down fists, digs his forearm into Oro’s face, but the fans chant “JAVI SUCKS!” Javi snarls as he drags Oro up to CLUB him! But Oro ROCKS Javi back! Javi kicks low, back suplexes, then covers, TWO! Javi whips Oro to the corner, then runs to BULLDOG! Javi keeps moving, LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Javi is annoyed but he stomps Oro around. Fans boo but Javi drags Oro up to ROCK him!
Oro throws body shots but Javi CLUBS Oro again! Javi whips Oro to ropes, and he ELBOWS Oro down! Javi smirks as he covers, TWO! Javi is annoyed again, and he drags Oro up to reel him into a facelock. Oro wrenches out to CHOP! Javi staggers, but Oro CHOPS, UPPERCUTS, and LEG SWEEPS! Javi flounders, but he fights the clinch with elbows. Javi uses Oro’s hair to reel him in for a LARIAT! And then a DDT! Cover, TWO!! Oro survives, fans again chant “JAVI SUCKS!” but Javi drags Oro up. Javi talks trash, then fireman’s carries. Oro fights free with elbows, and fires off more elbows! Javi reels Oro in but Oro back drops free!
Fans fire up as Oro rises again. Oro waits for Javi to stand, to CLOBBER him! And again! Javi staggers into more forearms! Oro whips Javi to ropes but Javi reverses. Oro QUEBRADAS! Fans fire up again, Oro runs, but Javi blocks the boot! Javi flips Oro but Oro ROLLING AX KICKS! Oro runs, Javi tosses him out but Oro lands on the apron! Oro hops on, REAR NAKED CHOKE in the ropes! The ref counts, Oro lets off and clinches Javi, for an EXPLODER! Oro kips up and fans fire up! Oro aims from the corner and says he’s calling his shot. Oro runs in to MURAMASA in the corner! Cover, Oro wins!
Winner: Oro Mensah, by pinfall
And the new year is off to a great start for Oro! Will the Freshest Flavor be heading for some gold soon enough?
Fallon Henley, Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen talk backstage.
There was good music, good food, good everything, but how about Fallon fighting like an animal? BOOM! 2023 is gonna be their year! Hell yeah! And now that the bar business is squared away, Fallon’s gonna win that battle royal, go on to Vengeance Day, and win that title! But then Kiana James walks in. Kiana says she isn’t here to fight, just to congratulate Fallon on the win. That was all fair and square. And while Kiana still thinks her condos would look great there, she’ll honor the deal. So good luck and see you in the battle royal. Jensen tells Briggs he was right about Kiana. And then Kiana tells Jensen she’ll see him later tonight. Oh, yes, he will. Since when…? What?!
Katana Chance & Kayden Carter meet with NXT Medical.
However, it seems someone is sharing this without their permission! “@NXT_Anonymous” filmed this, and both Katana & Kayden got at them on Twitter with “Why would you film a private conversation with medical?” “WTF??? #CREEPER” Just who is behind this anonymous account? And what was the medical meeting even about?
Andre Chase w/ Chase U VS Drew Gulak w/ Hank Walker!
It’s teacher VS teacher, professor VS professor! Will Chase U win big to start the new term? Or will “Gulak Tech” be giving Chase the #TeachableMoment?
NXT returns and Gulak makes his entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. Fans rally for Chase U as the two tie up. Chase wrenches Gulak’s arm, YANKS it, then wristlocks. Gulak powers Chase to ropes but Chase slips around to hammerlock. The ref counts, Chase lets off, and the two shake hands to show there is sportsmanship here. They go again, Gulak hits a headlock takeover, then shifts right to a toehold! Chase moves around, stands up, but Gulak clinches. Gulak gets around, hammerlocks an arm, then chinbars! Chase hurries to the ropes! The ref counts the break, Gulak lets off, and again they shake hands.
Gulak and Chase reset, feel things out, knuckle lock, and Gulak wrenches to wrangle Chase down. Chase kips up but Gulak wrangles him again! Chase kips up again, slips around, headlocks, but Gulak powers out. Chase goes up and over, then arm-drags! Gulak is surprised and fans fire up! Chase says that was a TEACHABLE MOMENT! Gulak smirks as he shakes out his arms. They circle again, tie up, and Chase wrenches. Gulak wrenches to hit a BIG back suplex! Gulak clamps onto Chase’s arm and has a chinbar. Dempsey watches backstage, and he throws off his sling?! Dempsey storms off, but where to?
Gulak drags Chase up, reels him in, but Chase fights the suplex. Gulak powers through, bridging cover, TWO! Gulak hopes Hank took notes there. Gulak cravats, Chase endures and slips through to headlock. Gulak powers out, things speed up but Chase dropkicks the legs out! Chase whips, Gulak reverses but Chase reverses back, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Fans fire up and Chase says to spell it out! C! H! A! S! E! U! What’s that spell? CHASE U! Chase ties up the legs for a FIGURE FOUR! Gulak endures the legendary leg lock! Gulak drags himself over, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Chase lets off quickly, and he waits on Gulak.
Chase wants a handshake, but Gulak SLAPS Chase! And then fires off forearms and knees and a HEADBUTT! Gulak fires off haymakers, he whips, then he CLOBBERS Chase! No more sportsmanship, the Philly Stretcher is back! Gulak scoops Chase to SLAM him into ropes! Chase flounders, Gulak slashes his throat! The GU-LOCK!! Chase taps, Gulak wins!
Winner: Drew Gulak, by submission
But Gulak doesn’t let go! He’s breaking his own rule! But he does let go, and he is fired up! He tells Hank that is how it is done! Hank still tries to point out the little detail, but does bending the rules matter when you win?
Backstage interview with Wes Lee.
McKenzie says 2022 was a whirlwind of a year for him, to say the least. He likes that metaphor. McKenzie says Tony D and Dijak aren’t going anywhere. Right? Wes says Tony’s flapping his gums about Dijak being why Tony isn’t champion, and Dijak is here building a strong case of his own. But, even though they say they want this title, they seem to want to fight each other even more. Wes can’t wait to see them beat the hell outta each other.
In fact, he’ll get a front row seat. He’ll be with Booker T and Vic, have some popcorn, and then whoever wins gets their shot at his North American Championship. McKenzie says that’s a great idea. Happy New Year! Who wins the fight of “Hard justice” VS “street justice” to take on the Must-See Champion?
Kofi Kingston w/ Xavier Woods VS Joe Gacy w/ The Schism!
The New Day has only just begun their Triple Crown reign, but Mr. Inclusion wants to rain on their parade of positivity. Will #GrandSlamKofi humble the head honcho of the Schism? Or will the four roots of this one tree trip up one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions?
NXT returns and The Schism makes their entrance. Woods joins commentary as the bell rings. Woods confirms that because of the Freebird Rule, Big E is also an NXT Tag Team Champion. Kofi and Gacy circle, Kofi shoots in to waistlock but Gacy elbows free. Gacy runs to run Kofi over! Things speed up, Kofi hurdles and hurdles to then ELBOW Gacy down! Kofi pushes Gacy to a cover, ONE! Kofi keeps on Gacy, wrenches the arm, but Gacy kicks low. Gacy whips Kofi to the corner, Kofio goes up and up to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Kofi clinches, whips Gacy but Gacy reverses. Gacy runs in but Kofi slips out to SWING KICK!
Fans fire up and Kofi climbs but Rip Fowler distracts the ref! This allows Ava Raine to trip Kofi up! Fans boo but Gacy hurries over to climb up. Gacy brings Kofi up for a SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO! Gacy is annoyed and he stomps Kofi down. Gacy sits Kofi up to ELBOW him in the head! The Schism talks trash, Gacy stomps Kofi, and Gacy says, “Is this what you wanted?!” Gacy CLUBS Kofi, fans rally with “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Gacy CLUBS Kofi to the corner, whips him corner to corner, but Kofi goes up and up to MISSILE DROPKICK! Gacy staggers to a corner, Kofi runs in but into a BACKBREAKER!
Booker T runs down The New Day for showing up in NXT when they should be on SmackDown. Kofi is a FIFTEEN-TIME Tag Team Champion, on top of being a Grand Slam Champion, while Gacy is still comparatively new to this. But Woods says Gacy was the one man in the Iron Survivor Challenge to not be pinned, so Gacy isn’t some scrub. As such, Gacy drags Kofi up to scoop and hits another BACKBREAKER! Gacy CLUBS away on Kofi, then drags Kofi into a CAMEL CLUTCH! Fans rally as Kofi endures. Kofi fights up, throws elbows, and then arm-drags free. Gacy runs in but into a HEEL KICK! Both men are down and fans rally up!
Woods says this is what The New Day is here for. They’re here to make sure the NXT roster is rising to the occasion and becoming as good as we all know they can be. Kofi rallies on Gacy with chops and a DROPKICK! Gacy is back up, he dodges Kofi to swing, but into an S- NO, Gacy powers out of the SOS, pushes Kofi to the corner, but Kofi BOOTS back! Kofi goes up to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up, Kofi runs to PENALTY KICK! Kofi runs again, for the NEW~ DAY~ BOOM DROP! Fans fire up and clap along, “NEW! DAY ROCKS!” Kofi aims, spins, but Gacy avoids Trouble in Paradise to knee low and DDT! Cover, TWO!
The Schism coaches Gacy, Gacy drags Kofi up. Gacy fireman’s carries but Kofi fights free! Kofi mule kicks, reels Gacy in, LIGHTNING SPIRAL! Cover, TWO!! Gacy survives as Kofi busts out something different! Kofi goes back to a corner, he climbs up, but Jagger AND Rip distract! Kofi swipes at Reed and he runs off while Woods storms off commentary to get at Rip! Gacy ROCKS Kofi! Woods dares The Schism to do something, but Gacy drags Kofi up. Kofi dodges, to FLY! Down goes The Dyad! Fans fire up but Gacy drags Kofi in to whip and clinch! URE- NO, Kofi arm-drags free! TROUBLE IN PARADISE!! Cover, Kofi wins!
Winner: Kofi Kingston, by pinfall
The New Day defies the numbers game! Woods says that The Schism is good, but they’re not better than the New Day! Will Woods & Kofi prove these four roots, one tree is not big enough to get past them?
Gulak is still fired up backstage.
He again says that’s what Chase gets. Hank points out Gulak holding on, but Gulak says a win is a win is a win! Dempsey shows up and Gulak says, “Oh, Flower~! How’s the arm? Where’s your sling?” Dempsey says injured or not, it is on next week! Gulak says yeah it’s on! Hank will be ready. Dempsey better rest that arm, because Hank’s gonna rip it out of the socket! Yea- what? Hank is a bit stunned, but will he be able to stand up to Dempsey’s technical savagery?
Pretty Deadly is going over the list again.
Elton says they’re never going to pull this off. The New Day walks in, and is confused as to why Elton & Kit are still here. Kit says this list is impossible. Well, whether you can or you can’t, you’re right. Elton loses his cool! Enough talk, enough jumping through hoops! Pretty Deadly are the best tag team and the New Day knows it! Kofi wants him to calm down. Because the titles say the New Day are the best. As for second best, well, they don’t really worry about that. Kit tells Elton they need this. Kit says they’ll do it in the ring. They’ll run the gauntlet, taking on three of the best tag teams in NXT! And then Pretty Deadly will earn their title shot!
Woods says no one loves a gauntlet more than ya bois the NEW~ DAY~! But did they say three? Yes, three! Next week! Okay, then if they win, Pretty Deadly will be #1 contenders to the tag titles. Deal! Now go git! This is the New Day’s room.
The countdown is almost over.
And “the best way to predict the future is to create it. This will be my year.” But who is this that’s showing up at New Year’s Evil? We’ll just have to wait and see.
NXT presents an all new episode of the Grayson Waller Effect.
Waller himself welcomes us to this special edition of his talk show. It will be a night no one ever forgets, because it will be “the last public appearance of Bron Breakker as NXT Champion.” And what better way to celebrate than with live chat on Instagram? Keep that GWE Cam on him! He’s looking fresh! “In one week, I save NXT. I fulfill living that championship life when I claim the richest prize on this brand at New Year’s Evil.” But enough about him, put your “paws” together for the future former champion, Bron Breakker! But Bron interrupts the introduction with his entrance, and Waller takes his seat at the desk.
Bron enters the ring, Waller smiles and waves, and says this is the last time Bron raises that belt. Bron joins Waller at the desk and Waller says, “Look at this guy, interrupting me before I give him a big introduction.” But careful, “Bron-Bron.” Don’t break the TV like you did last week. Bron is oddly enthusiastic as he thanks Waller for having him on. Waller says Bron wants to rip his head off. Bron says we’ll see. But hey! Questions are coming in! So many people talking about this. But here’s one from, well, Grayson Waller! “What’s it like to play your hero, Goldberg, in the sequel to The Spear Seen Around the World?”
Bron must’ve felt so dumb! Why would Waller wear fur in Florida? Has Bron even watched Goldberg before? Bron says Waller did outsmart him there. Outsmarted? Waller turned Bron into a meme! He could watch that over and over and over! Yeah, Bron has seen some memes, that’s a point for Waller. A point? Well, alright. But if we’re talking points, it is Waller: two MILLION; Bron: ZERO. Yeah, that’s a lot of points. Waller is annoyed. What is Bron doing? Where’s angry Bron that wants to rip his head off and spear him out of his body? Is that Bron even still in there? If not, next week won’t be a contest, just a coronation of the NEW NXT Champoin!
Hold on, hold on, Waller is smarter than this. He knows what Bron is up to. Bron says Waller is good, he’s smart, he’s crafty, but Waller says okay, keep going. Bron gets to the good part. Okay, then. Everyone can shut up so that the former champ can say stuff about Waller. Bron says what separates Waller from everyone is that he knows how to get under anyone’s skin. Better than anyone else! Right. So, if you think about it, the best possible compliment Bron can give Waller is admit that Waller is outsmarting everyone else. It’s what he does. He is just better than everyone. All he does is go viral. That’s his thing.
But let’s talk about those viral moments. How about WarGames? Waller jumping off the cage: viral moment. Waller hitting Gargano in the back with a chair: viral moment. Waller jumping off that super tall ladder at Stand & Deliver: viral moment. Waller gets hyped, and says yeah, that’s what he does! He makes viral moment after viral moment! Bron must be jealous. Yeah, and what about blinding Apollo’s vision? But to Bron, those are just distractions. Bron knows at New Year’s Evil, Waller gives it his all. Some might even leave talking about Waller that night. But Bron leaves still NXT Champion. Oh, Bron thinks so? Yeah, and that, friend, in a nutshell, IS the Grayson-
Don’t you dare do that! That’s Waller’s thing! Waller…! STOP! NO!! This is Waller’s show, don’t you disrespect him! Effect. That’s pretty big, coming from an overrated champion whose only real accomplishment is stealing his dad’s gimmick. Uh oh… Bron was leaving, but now he turns around to get in Waller’s face. Waller wants Bron to get mad and do something to him, but Bron just laughs it off. Bron tells Waller, “I don’t give a damn what you say, I love my father. So see you next week.” But now Waller gets mad, repeating what he said, so Bron DECKS him!! Waller flounders up and staggers around, into the trophy lift! BREAKKER SLAM!!
Waller flounders out of the ring as Bron rips off his shirt. Bron gets Waller’s shirt and says here’s a viral moment. Bron FLIES to take out Waller! Fans fire up while Waller sputters at ringside. Bron has the fans barking as he holds up the belt and drops the phone. That is a viral moment right there, but will there be even more of them for New Year’s Evil?
My Thoughts:
A really good NXT as the go-home to New Year’s Evil, but I think one of NXT’s resolution for 2023 should be to somehow trim down on promos. I know that these new stars need to get their talking reps in, that’s one of the ways you build your character, but it feels like there’s just too many of them for just two hours. And why are we having “@NXT_Anonymous” on top of Scrypts being mysterious and targeting stars? I already foresee a “SmackDown hacker” level of disappointment where the person behind it isn’t even on paper yet. Why not have it be NXT Media being paparazzi-ish and upsetting KC Squared that way?
The Toxic Attraction promo turning into a cascade of promos was odd, but then it was rather comical how many superstars were showing up ringside. And Thea Hail being so over the moon about the impending brawl was great. Roxie is still a bit too sugary sweet in her promos, but it makes sense for the champion to announce a huge contender’s match like the battle royal. That match is going to be a lot of fun, and honestly, I can’t be sure who wins. It would make the most sense for either Gigi or Jacy to win, but it’d be great if someone unexpected rises up. This could be the fast track for Lyra Valkyria to get to the title, but it’d be a shame to pit her push against Roxie’s.
Great opening match from Apollo VS Melo, but of course Trick gets involved. Though with that, it was also great for Axiom to go after Trick & Melo, and then for Axiom to win really quickly. I sense a tag match brewing, and perhaps Trick Melo Gang loses, but that could really go either way. Dijak having Stacks in his mysterious interrogation room was very much an 80s to 90s action movie thing, which is totally what Dijak should be going for. Dijak VS Stacks was good stuff but I was surprised Stacks did so well. Tony D of course stood up for Stacks to set up the match I knew they’d have, and I like that in Wes’ promo, he makes it into a contender’s match. I would think Dijak wins, though, as he and Wes haven’t had a match yet.
Good promo from Oro and Javi, as Javi continues to be a great comedic Heel. Oro VS Javi was good stuff, but it makes sense for Oro to win. Good promo from Fallon, Briggs, Jensen and Kiana, with the best part of it being that Jensen and Kiana seem to be dating after all. Again, Valentine’s Day is on a Tuesday, I hope we get something big with that story. And who is this showing up next week? I thought it was Tiffany Stratton but the voice didn’t sound anything like her, unless she’s been putting on a voice this entire time. Actually, what would be big is if it IS Tiffany, she takes out someone before they enter the 20 Woman Battle Royal, and then she wins to challenge Roxie.
Really good stuff out of Chase U and Gulak. Of course, Chase is always great. Chase VS Gulak instead of Dempsey VS Hank was a nice substitute, and y’know what? I think they did what I expected. Last week, I said they should’ve given Hank more time to prepare, and because of Dempsey’s “injury,” they have! Gulak winning made sense, and I like that they’re playing on how Gulak is being rougher than the others expect. Dempsey VS Hank might even give us Gulak and Dempsey teaming up in Catch Point 2.0. Honestly, that’d be a great move, they’d be a very technical wrestling duo and I’d love to see them make a run at the tag titles.
Good promo from Indus Sher and the Creed Brothers, and their match is going to be awesome. Though, the winner of that won’t be the #1 contenders to the tag titles because of the great stuff out of Pretty Deadly, The New Day and The Schism. I do like the twist that Kofi himself pointed out, where Gacy was getting on his case. They had a great main event match, and it was a great move for Kofi to win. I like that Pretty Deadly defied the scavenger hunt, and that gauntlet match is going to be wild stuff. I suppose Pretty Deadly has to win that match, though. But at the same time, I want to see Dyad (Grizzled Young Veterans) VS New Day, that can also be a banger of a match.
And good stuff from the Grayson Waller Effect talk show. Though, despite them saying it was supposed to be a contract signing segment, I saw no contract or anyone representing NXT management. It just turned into the usual talk show segment of the Heel host egging on his Face guest and getting clobbered for it. But I do like that Bron was trolling Waller back by not getting upset. Then Waller still gets what he deserved and was asking for with Bron hitting him. Bron stands tall, but I feel like he’s going to defy go-home math and retain the title. I still feel like Melo will face Bron at Vengeance Day, and finally, on the road in front of a fresh audience, we see Bron lose and Melo begins a new era in NXT.
My Score: 8.6/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/27/24)
Rural Revitalization continues!
Will Great-O-Khan be setting the table?
It’s Rural Revitalization in Hiroshima for the KOPW Championship! Can Yuya Uemura survive tires, lemons and a table? Or will Great-O-Khan conquer him for the United Empire?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Frontier Zone – Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano VS Rey Paloma & HANZO; Oleg & Yano win.
- Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask & Bishamon VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita VS Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira; Cobb & Akira win.
- Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii VS The House of Torture; Desperado, Shota & Ishii win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Tomoaki Honma & Shoma Kato; Tanahashi & Murashima win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sho & Yoshinobu win.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; TMDK wins and retains the titles.
- KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan VS Yuya Uemura; Yuya wins and becomes the new KOPW Champion.
- 10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK w/ Zack Sabre Jr. VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado!
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls snatched the titles away during the Windy City Riot, but the Guerrillas of Destiny are getting their rematch! Will the Headbanga & Young Guerilla redeem themselves on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku? Or will they see The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if The Mighty stay NJPW Strong!
The teams sort out and Hysterical Haste starts against ELP. The fans rally up with the bell and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but then Shane cording holds into a wrench and wristlock. ELP rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. ELP keeps Shane from ropes so Shane rolls, kips up, snapmares and KICKS ELP! The fans cheer while Shane shakes out his leg. ELP grimaces as he stands and shakes out the arm. The two reset, tie up, and ELP waistlocks. ELP goes for a chinlock but Shane standing switches. ELP switches, Shane switches again, and repeat. ELP headlocks, Shane powers out, then reels ELP in for a headlock.
ELP powers out, Shane runs him over, and then he sits ELP up to run. ELP drops under, hurdles over, but Shane shoves him. ELP rolls off Shane’s back to RANA! The fans fire up as ELP kips up and fixes his hair. The fans rally for “E L P! E L P!” while Shane is in a corner. Shane comes back to fire a forearm! ELP fires a forearm back! Shane fires another forearm so ELP gives it back. They go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! ELP gets the edge, but Shane UPPERCUTS! Shane CHOPS ELP, whips him corner to corner, but ELP goes up and over and keeps moving. ELP fakes Shane out to avoid the dropkick!
ELP goes to ropes to LIONSAULT but Shane moves! ELP sits up but avoids the Penalty Kick! The two stand off and the fans cheer! Shane and ELP reset, and Leo reaches out. ELP tags him in and the fans rally up. Shane tags Mikey, and he circles with Leo. They get face to face, and Mikey pie faces Leo! They tie up, Leo shoves Mikey away, but Mikey comes back. They tie up, Mikey headlocks but Leo lifts. Mikey thrashes the hold, Leo powers out and they RAM shoulders! Leo eggs Mikey on so Mikey runs and they RAM shoulders! Leo runs, Mikey ELBOWS him! Mikey runs, Leo runs him over! The fans fire up as Leo flexes.
Leo drags Mikey up, suplexes, but Mikey fights it! Mikey tries to suplex but Leo’s so tall! Leo suplexes, Mikehy slips free to waistlock, but Leo RAMS him into a corner! Leo runs in, Mikey dodges, only for Leo to LARIAT outta the corner! Tag to ELP and the Guerrillas get Mikey up. ELP BLASTS Shane while Leo whips Mikey to a corner. Leo SPLASHES, ELP clotheslines, then feed to the SIDEWALK SLAM and FALLING AX HANDLE! The Guerrillas high-five, ELP covers, TWO! ELP brings Mikey up but Mikey fights the suplex! Mikey powers out, whips, but ELP BLASTS Shane! ELP dodges Mikey, waistlocks, but Mikey swings. ELP ducks, into a DDT!
The fans fire up while Mikey shoves ELP over and tags in Shane. Mikey brings ELP up to TOSS him out, and then Mikey BLASTS Leo! Shane whips ELP into railing! Shane flexes, fans applaud, and Shane drags ELP up. APRON BACK SUPLEX! Shane shoves ELP in, covers, ROPEBREAK! The fans rally as ELP stays in this but Shane grabs one of ELP’s hands. Shane stretches out the arm to then KICK ELP in the shoulder! Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires forearms! Shane shoves ELP but ELP ELBOWS Mikey! ELP fires off on Shane, whips, but Shane reverses and Mikey trips ELP up! Shane basement dropkicks ELP and he spins around into a HAYMAKER from Mikey!
ELP flops to the floor, Mikey claims the apron is slippery, but the referee reprimands him all the same. The ring count starts but Mikey puts ELP in at 4 of 20. Shane covers, TWO! Shane keeps ELP down with body scissors. ELP endures, reaches out, drags Shane along as he crawls over, and the fans rally up. Shane grabs ELP’s arm and brings him into a cover, TWO! Shane whips ELP away into The Mighty corner! Tag to Mikey, he sends Shane in, but ELP puts Shane on the apron! ELP BOOTS Mikey, ROUNDHOUSES Shane, then runs, but Mikey catches him! Mikey RAMS ELP back into the corner!
Mikey taunts Leo then digs boots into ELP. The fans rally up and ELP throws body shots. Mikey eggs ELP on so ELP CHOPS! ELP tries to get under but Mikey grabs a leg and drags him back! Tag to Shane, and Shane stomps ELP down. Shane kicks ELP around, kicks him more, but ELP fires off hands! Shane back drops ELP up and away! The fans rally while Shane drags ELP back to a cover, but Leo breaks it! Shane drags ELP back, tags Mikey in, and TMDK mug ELP. ELP sputters, Mikey tags Shane back in, and Shane sucker punches Leo! Mikey hoists ELP up but ELP BOOTS Shane! ELP backs Mikey into the corner, then goes up and over Shane!
Shane runs into Mikey but Mikey still pursues ELP. Mikey drags ELP back but ELP ENZIGIRIS free! The fans fire up, but Shane gets ELP’s legs! ELP BOOTS Shane away, hurries up again, but Mikey BLASTS Leo first! Mikey then brings ELP around to back suplex! ELP lands on his feet, but Shane back suplexes! ELP still lands on his feet, then he ducks under TMDK to hot tag Leo! The fans fire up as Leo UPPERCUTS Shane, swings on Mikey, but Mikey dodges, only for Leo to BOOT him! Leo scoops Shane for SNAKE EYES and a BOOT! The fans fire up with Leo while Shane and Mikey go to opposite corners.
Leo runs in to SPLASH Mikey! Leo keeps going but Shane BOOTS him! Shane runs up but Leo ELBOWS him down! Leo runs to drop the JUMPING ELBOW on Shane! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Leo watches Shane stir. Shane rises, Leo choke grips! GODS- NO, Shane slips free and Mikey fires a forearm! Shane UPPERCUTS, Mikey LARIATS, but Leo stays up! Shane runs to LARIAT! Leo roars, but TMDK double kick! TMDK reels Leo in, but Leo DOUBLE SUPLEXES them instead! The fans fire up and Leo watches TMDK bail out. Leo tags ELP and ELP goes up. Leo helps him walk the tightrope, to ARIHARA MOONSAULT TMDK down at the ramp!
The fans fire up again, and Leo goes out to get Shane in. ELP & Leo get Shane up to CHOP, straitjacket torture rack, and then Leo runs. BOOT into the spin, BRAIN SALAD! Cover, Mikey breaks it! Mikey fires forearms on Leo & ELP, runs, but ELP hurdles so Leo can DDT! Mikey bails out, the fans fire up, and ELP tunes up the band. Shane rises, into SUDDEN- NO, Shane dodges! Shane runs up, but into Leo’s hands! ELP aims, but Shane pulls Leo into SUDDEN DEATH! Shane UPPERCUTS ELP and DROPKICKS Leo! Shane KICKS ELP, BOOTS him, then reels him in for an INVERTED EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!!
ELP survives and Shane is surprised! The fans fires up, Shane and ELP rise, and ELP staggers to a corner. Shane puts ELP up top, ROCKS him with a right, then climbs up. Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires body shots! ELP HEADBUTTS Shane down but Mikey tags in! Shane goes up, ELP sends him back down, so Mikey UPPERCUTS! Mikey gives Shane the boost, and they get ELP for the SUPERPLEX BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives but Mikey powers up and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives again and the fans fire up! Mikey grows frustrated, he drags ELP up and reels him in.
ELP slips free of the Blue Thunder to kick and tuck the arms! But Mikey trips ELP to jackknife bridge, TWO! ELP rolling clutches! TWO and Mikey has the cover! TWO and ELP ghost pins, TWO!! Mikey escapes but ELP dodges! ELP DROPKICKS Mikey down and the fans fire up! Both men crawl, hot tag to Leo! Leo runs to BLAST Shane, then he turns to look at Mikey. Mikey eggs Leo on, then fires forearms! Leo ROCKS Mikey with just one! Mikey fires another flurry, but Leo ROCKS Mikey again! Leo eggs Mikey on and the fans rally. Mikey kicks low, ROCKS Leo, then runs, but into a scoop! Tag to ELP before the POWERSLAM!
ELP goes up to SWANTON BOMB! And then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, ELP tags Leo back in, and they tune up the band again! Mikey rises, but Shane trips Leo! Mikey ROCKS ELP, Shane UPPERCUTS ELP! Feed to the scoop but ELP slips free! ELP shoves Mikey into Shane, and Leo grabs them both! But both Shane & Mikey fight free of the choke slams! Shane KNEES, Mikey FOREARMS, but then ELP fires off on TMDK! ELP runs, but into a double trophy lift! THUNDER- DOUBLE DDTS!! ELP turns things around on TMDK, and the fans are thunderous! Mikey stands up into SUDDEN DEATH! ELP PLANCHAS onto Shane!
GODSEND for Mikey! ELP then climbs up the ropes, then climbs onto Leo! SUPER THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, but Shane barrels through ELP to break it!! The fans are thunderous again but ELP is frustrated. ELP fires off on Shane, runs, but Shane LARIATS! Shane dodges Leo but runs into the POWER TRIP! GOD- NO, Mikey rolls Leo up!! TMDK WINS!!
Winners: TMDK, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Leo is furious! He is sure Mikey pulled tights there! He stomps at Mikey, pushes past ELP and goes after Mikey on the outside! Mikey and Leo push each other around, but there’s nothing Leo can do about this one. Will he and ELP just have to fight their way back up to the top? As for TMDK, will they continue to rock ‘n’ roll through the ranks with all this gold?
KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan w/ Callum Newman & Francesco Akira VS Yuya Uemura w/ Taka Michinoku & Taichi!
It’s Rural Revitalization 2: Hiroshima Style! The Dominator just managed to make it past Tanga Loa, will he make it through the Heat Storm? Or will KOPW soon belong to Just5Guys?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who can put in the work!
This first round is Mazda tire carrying. Each man has a big orange cone placed in their corner, so they simply have to go fetch the tires from the stacks outside. Whoever gets four tires first wins the round! The bell rings, Yuya kicks Khan then heads for ropes, but Khan reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Khan goes out now, hurries up the ramp, and grabs two tires at once! The fans cheer and Khan gets those tires in the ring. Then he goes back for more! A risky move but that means four tires are on play. Yuya DROPKICKS Khan and here’s where the risk is involved! Yuya aims to PLANCHA but Khan chucks a tire!
Yuya falls back, Khan gets the tires in then drags Yuya out. Khan CLUBS away on Yuya against the apron, then uses a tire to bind Yuya’s legs! Khan CLUBS Yuya more, and Khan even ties Yuya up in the ropes! Khan sacrifices two tires to trap Yuya! The fans cheer the creativity, and Khan STOMPS Yuya on the apron before heading for more tires. Yuya works to get free as Khan brings two more tires to the ring. Khan sets those tires in, Yuya gets free, but Khan has stacked two tires. Then three, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Yuya takes the tires off Khan’s cones, leaving him with just one. Yuya goes out to get the last tires remaining!
Yuya brings tires to his cone, then clears out some space. Yuya has two tires, steals Khan’s one, but then Khan grabs Yuya for an IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Yuya fights free, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! Khan throws the tires off Yuya’s cone, then throws the cone! We’re back to zero and zero, and Khan whips Yuya into a corner, to then clothesline him! The fans fire up as Khan climbs up and sits on his throne! Khan then hops down to Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian CHOP! Yuya sits down, Khan takes a tire, but then THROWS it at Yuya! Yuya goes up and over and AX HANDLES Khan down!
The fans rally as Khan grabs tires and cone, and he starts stacking! Yuya has two, then three! He just needs to find one more! Yuya grabs one from outside, but Khan reels him in! Khan DECKS Yuya, then undoes some of the stack. Khan confiscates a tire, makes sure it’s nice and bouncy, but also works up quite the sweat. The fans rally as Khan aims and takes a swing, only for Yuya to counter tire with tire! They clash again, and again! Then they set up for TIRE SUMO! And again, TIRE SUMO! They run in again, and Khan RAMS Yuya! Yuya is disarmed, and Khan CLOBBERS him with the TIRE SUMO!
The fans fire up while Yuya is down and Khan grabs tires. Khan says he’s not done with Yuya yet. Khan starts stacking tires at the center of the ring, then drags Yuya up. Khan clinches Yuya into HITSUJIGOROSHI! Yuya endures, even as Khan throws knees! Khan then scoops to SLAM Yuya on the tires! That’ll leave some skid marks! Khan then drags Yuya off the stack, brings him up and around, to then put a tire around his head. And then another! Yuya’s two tired to stand but Khan makes him! Khan throws a BODY BLOW, then he TRIPS Yuya into a TIRE DDT! The fans fire up while Khan grabs the other tires.
Khan stacks tires on his cone, that’s two. Khan hurries to find other tires on the outside, and he has a third. Khan considers his options, and takes one of the tires from Yuya. But Yuya clings to the tires, so Khan stomps him! Yuya refuses to let go of the tires! Khan stomps Yuya more but Yuya defends the tire with his body! Khan claws at Yuya, they tug-o-war over the tire, but Khan pulls on Yuya’s ear! Yuya kicks low, kicks again, then SMACKS Khan with the tire, and DROPKICKS Khan down! The tire goes tumbling out of the ring while Yuya fires up! Yuya takes Khan’s tires, hurries them over to his cone, that’s three right there!
Now Yuya has to hurry and find another! Yuya goes outside, grabs the tire, but Khan intercepts! They tug-o-war again, but then Khan RAMS Yuya into a corner! Khan takes this tire, that’s one. Khan finds tires on the outside and brings them in! Yuya hurries to cover tires again! Khan stomps Yuya, still stacks three, so it’s all down to this seventh tire! Yuya and Khan tug-o-war yet again, the fans rallying behind them! Khan grabs Yuya’s arm, but Yuya slips around to a SLEEPER! Khan fights up but Yuya squeezes tight! Yuya then CLUBS away on Khan, runs, but into a TIRE SWEEP! And a BASEMENT DROPKICK!
Khan grabs the final tire, but Yuya schoolboys him away! Yuya rolls through, snatches the tire, and complete his stack! Yuya wins the first round!
Khan: 0; Yuya: 1
Just like with Tanga Loa, Khan drops the ball in the first round! But then, will history repeat itself here as we prepare for the second round?
The tarps are set down, the table is set, and it’s time to eat up some Hiroshima lemons! Khan makes sure the people watching at home and around the world understand that Hiroshima lemons are the best, which probably means they’re the most sour. Khan puts on his bandana and takes his seat at the table. He and Yuya get some wet wipes to clean their hands, and it all comes down to who finishes their one lemon first. Ready, set, EAT! Yuya starts fast and that face shows how sour these are. Khan says hold on, and he just takes a HUGE bite! Yuya is suffering but Khan is reveling in the sourness! Khan’s already halfway through!
Yuya can barely keep the lemon in, but Khan’s eaten it all up! Can he get it all down before Yuya? Khan is chewing and chewing, Yuya is practically shaking from how sour it all is! Khan keeps going and… Yes, Khan has it all down! Khan wins!
Khan: 1; Yuya: 1
Khan now lets his body feel the stinging sweetness, and he says it was delicious! But then, that leaves us with this third and final round. And this time it’s a TABLES match! Who will be feeling sour and sore after this one?
The bell rings, both men rush in, Yuya dodges to fire haymakers! Yuya whips, Khan reverses but Yuya CLOBBERS him! Khan gets up, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Khan bails out, Yuya aims and PLANCHAS! Direct hit at the ramp, and the Heat Storm fires back up! The table is there, so Yuya drags Khan right up! Yuya goes to suplex but Khan blocks! Khan fights with body shots, turns things around, but Yuya fights the suplex! They fight for control, but Khan RAMS Yuya into the apron! The fans rally, Khan drags Yuya back up, and whips him into railing! Yuya tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land!
Khan storms out after Yuya and he asks fans move aside. Young Lions help the fans clear out while Khan drags Yuya up. Khan brings Yuya around and reminds everyone, No Disqualifications! Khan BOWLS Yuya through chairs, and that’s definitely a strike! The fans cheer Khan as he stands on chairs, but then asks more fans to move aside! Khan stomps Yuya, stomps a chair onto Yuya, then tosses that chair aside. Sorry to whoever had that seat… Khan then drags Yuya up and brings him around, but Yuya throws body shots! Khan Mongolian Chops Yuya down! Khan drags Yuya back up, and BOWLS him into more chairs!
Yuya is stuck on the seats, that wasn’t quite a strike. But Khan stacks chairs on Yuya to pick up the spare. Khan SMACKS chair with chair! Yuya sputters while fans applaud, and Khan goes back to fetch Yuya. Taichi and Taka are there but so are Newman and Akira. The Empire keeps the two out of five guys at bay while Khan drags Yuya to the back of the crowd. Khan whips Yuya into the emergency exit! Khan then SLAMS railing down on Yuya, and then SMACKS railing with railing! Khan talks trash while Taka and Taichi coach Yuya up. The ref checks Yuya, but he’s somehow able to continue, so Khan drags him up.
Khan brings Yuya around to drag him through the chairs! Khan brings Yuya back to ringside, then into the ring. The fans applaud, and then Khan goes looking under the ring. Khan eventually finds another lemon! Khan takes a big bite and uses the citrus to power up! Then he DIGS the lemon into Yuya’s face! The citric acid burns but the fans fire up! Khan goes to fetch the table from outside, puts it inside, and then sets it up in a corner. The fans rally up as Khan stalks Yuya. Khan drags Yuya up, reels him in to scoop, but Yuya slips free! Khan avoids hitting table, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! Yuya whips Khan into the blue corner, then DOUBLE CHOPS again!
The fans fire up and Yuya grits his teeth. Yuya roars, brings Khan up and reels him in for a BIG back suplex! The fans rally again and Yuya brings Khan up. Yuya clinches, but Khan fights the lift! Yuya still tries, but Khan fights it to a head ‘n’ arm clinch. Yuya gets around, headlocks, but Khan pops out to waistlock. Yuya fights being pushed around, then switches to get an arm. Khan clinches but so does Yuya. They fight for control, and Khan’s SAYANAGI takes Yuya down! The fans fire up and both men stir. Yuya flops out of the ring, but Khan crawls in pursuit. Khan drags Yuya up, then RAMS him into railing!
Yuya writhes, Khan goes looking under the ring, and he brings out another TABLE! Khan SMACKS Yuya with the table, then stands the table up at ringside. Khan drags Yuya up, SMACKS him off the apron, then climbs up. Khan drags Yuya up onto the apron, Mongolian Chops, then regular CHOPS! Khan UPPERCUTS, then clamps on the IRON CLAW! Khan scoops but Yuya fights free! Yuya DROPKICKS! Khan holds onto ropes to stay up, but Yuya hurries to run! Yuya LARIATS, but into the IRON CLAW!! Khan drags Yuya up and over, ELIMINATOR- NO, Yuya grabs ropes to fight that off! Khan kicks low, winds up, but Yuya traps the arm!
Yuya traps the other arm, takes aim, but Khan fights the Deadbolt with all his might!! The fans are thunderous as Yuya still tries! Khan BITES Yuya’s ear! And then POSTS him! But Yuya runs up, into a BOOT! Yuya falls back, Khan sits down, and the fans rally again! Khan undoes his hand tape, ends up pushing the table over, and then he folds it all up. Khan puts the table in the ring, pushes Yuya aside, and then he sets this table up again, in the blue corner. Yuya goes up top to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Yuya roars! Yuya has his choice as he hauls Khan up. Yuya traps the arms, but Khan makes it a BELLY2BELLY!
But Yuya rises back up! Yuya runs in, gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Khan’s right up! Khan LARIATS Yuya down! The fans fire up as Yuya is right back up, and URENAGES! Both men are down again and the fans are thunderous! Khan flounders around, he and Yuya crawl to center, and Yuya fires a forearm! Khan gives it back! Both men stand, and Yuya fires a haymaker! Khan comes back to forearm! Yuya wobbles, but he comes back to HAYMAKER! Khan staggers, wobbles, but comes back to FOREARM! Both men stagger, but Yuya fires another haymaker! Khan fires a flurry of forearms, but Yuya haymakers!
Khan ROCKS Yuya, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! But Khan throws an IRON RIGHT! The fans fire up again as Yuya falls! Khan roars with Monster Rage and he hauls Yuya up! IRON CLAW, and then ELIMIN- NO, Yuya slips free! Yuya wrenches, traps the arms, DEADBOLT SUPLEX through the table!! YUYA WINS!!
Winner: Yuya Uemura, 2-1 (NEW KOPW Champion)
Yuya slammed the Deadbolt shut on Khan and now he takes the title from him! The Heat Storm is rising, how hot will he make the KOPW Division through the Summer?
10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
These factions have been battling all over this Road to Wrestling Dontaku, but now they will fight ’til the last man! Will there be a roll call for Bushi, Hiromu, Takagi, Yota y Naito? Or will this alliance with the Good Looking Emperor, Jake Lee, help David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney shoot down LIJ?
Wait, it seems Naito has brought backup of his own? It’s SLYLY! The dragon-like mascot of Hiroshima Toyo Carp, and half-brother to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Phillie Phanatic! Well, Naito does love him some baseball. Tensions are running high, and Finlay throws his shirt at Yota. Yota balls that shirt up, and throws a fastball over the plate! The teams sort out, Finlay pushes Yota around and Gabe talks trash on Takagi. Red Shoes gets them all to settle down, and the War Dogs bark and put up the Too Sweet. Jake joins in at the end there. LIJ mocks the barking before they fist bump, and the fans cheer.
Things finally sort out and Finlay starts against Yota. The fans fire up behind “YO~TA! YO~TA!” at the bell, and Yota makes sure Finlay hears that. Finlay gets on the corner but the fans all boo. The two circle, tie up, and Yota uses his size to put Finlay on ropes. Finlay turns that around to grind forearms in Yota’s face and push him around. Finlay then backs up to SPIT at him! The fans boo but Yota CHOPS Finlay in return! The fans cheer, Yota headlocks, and Yota grinds Finlay down. Finlay powers up and out to headlock back, but Yota powers up and out. They RAM shoulders, Yota rebounds to run Finlay over!
The fans fire up, things speed up, but Finlay bails out. The fans boo but Finlay says he’s got time. Yota barks at Finlay but Finlay just mockingly applauds. Finlay returns, kips up just to show off, but then Hiromu wants in! Yota tags Hiromu, Finlay tags Drilla. Hiromu fires forearms on Drilla, whips, to ROCK, trip, KICK the ropes, then run and SHOTGUN Drilla down! The fans fire up while Hiromu barks. Hiromu runs corner to corner to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! The fans fire up but Connors runs in to knee Hiromu low! Connors barks, runs, but Hiromu kicks low! Bushi dropkicks legs out so Hiromu can basement dropkick!
The fans fire up but Drilla fires hands and CHOPS on LIJ. Hiromu CHOPS back, he and Bushi double whip to TU LO SABE! Cover, TWO! Drilla stays in this but Hiromu fires Hiroshima up. Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Drilla slips free to RAM Hiromu into the corner! The Dogs mug Hiromu while Jake Lee runs up to BLAST Naito! Finlay and Connors help out in mugging Yota and Bushi! Things have pilled out into the crowd in multiple areas while Naito fights back! Jake kicks Naito, then whips him hard into railing! Naito tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land! Gabe and Takagi throw HEADBUTTS back and forth!
Finlay snatches a phone? He’s taking pictures of Jake stomping away on Naito! But then Yota attacks Finlay! Finlay POSTS Yota, a ring count starts, but the Dogs just keep beating LIJ down! Drilla finds his way back to ringside, Hiromu manages to make his way in! Hiromu crawls in at 17 but Drilla is there to stomp him! Drilla bumps Hiromu off Finlay’s boot! Drilla tags Jake in, they mug Hiromu, and Jake digs his boot in while Finlay pulls Hiromu’s hair! Red Shoes is busy getting everyone to stop brawling! Jake lets off but Hiromu fires off CHOPS! Jake just kicks low, whips, and then HIP TOSSES Hiromu down!
Hiromu staggers up but Jake clamps on a SLEEPER! Tag to Finlay and they mug Hiromu in the corner. Red Shoes reprimands and counts, the fans boo, and Finlay lets off at 4. Finlay soaks up heat, then he takes Hiromu’s Kamaitachi mask and THROWS it to the crowd! Finlay then BLASTS Yota off the apron! The Dogs CHOKE Hiromu more, mug him while Finlay argues with Red Shoes, then Finlay brings Hiromu up. Finlay fireman’s carries and goes to dump Hiromu! Hiromu clamps onto ropes, Bushi runs in to make the save! Connors goes after Bushi so Takagi makes the save! But Connors goes after Takagi now!
Finlay puts Hiromu on the apron but Hiromu rolls back in, SAFE! The fans cheer while Finlay is frustrated. Finlay storms up on Hiromu in a corner but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS! Finlay knees low, whips corner to corner hard, and Hiromu flounders all the way back to where he started! Finlay drags Hiromu up and over, the fans still cheering him on, but Connors tags in. Connors BLASTS Naito off the corner, then snap suplexes Hiromu down! Connors runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Connors stays on him with a seated full nelson. The fans continue to rally for “HI-RO-MU!” as he endures!
Hiromu fights around, even as Gedo barks at him to give up. Hiromu still gets the ROPEBREAK! Finlay pushes the foot away and that distracts Red Shoes, allowing Drilla to join in and stomp Hiromu! Drilla & Connors double whip but Hiromu gets around to lift Connors and throw him at Drilla, FORCED RANA! The fans fire up but Connors keeps Hiromu away from his corner! Hiromu blocks a kick, and a punch, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally again while both men are down! Hot tag to Naito! Naito rallies on Connors, BLASTS Drilla, swings on Jake, but Jake gets away. Connors CLUBS Naito, whips, but Naito reverses to arm-drag!
Naito atomic drops, runs, and ELBOWS Connors down, to then basement dropkick! The fans fire up while Naito stares Jake down. Naito covers Connors, TWO! The fans rally, Naito drags Connors up and dragon sleepers, for the NECKBREAKER! And then, LEG HOOK NELSON! Connors endures but Gabe stomps Naito! Gabe BLASTS Takagi, the rest of the Dogs attack, and Gabe stomps away on Naito! Gabe tells off the fans but the fans boo. Red Shoes reprimands so Gabe steps away, and Connors drags Naito up. Connors UPPERCUTS, whips, but Naito reverses to TORNADO- NO, Connors powers out!
Connors dodges Naito, redirects and POUNCES! Naito is down but the fans rally up. Naito and Connors crawl, hot tags to Takagi and Gabe! The fans fire up for the NEVER Openweight Championship appetizer! They RAM shoulders, Takagi ROCKS Gabe then runs to RAM him! Gabe rebounds to RAM Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to RAM Gabe! Gabe fires a forearm, whips Takagi to a corner then runs in to clothesline! Takagi says that’s not enough, so Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe says he’s a madman, then whips, only for Takagi to reverses. Takagi runs in, blocks a boot, and clotheslines through! The fans fire up with Takagi, but Gabe shoves him!
Takagi kicks and CLUBS away on Gabe, but Gabe BITES Takagi’s forehead! Red shoes reprimands, but Takagi spins Gabe around to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Gabe’s still in this but the fans rally behind “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi looks around, “Oi, Hiroshima! TOKI GA-” NO, Gabe CLOBBERS Takagi! It isn’t his time yet, and Gabe stands Takagi up to HEADBUTT again and again! Then Gabe suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi’s tougher than that but Gabe shakes his head. Gabe scuffs Takagi, eggs him on and runs, but Takagi blocks the Rebounder to HEADBUTT! Gabe HEADBUTTS! Both men shake their heads, and then Takagi HEADBUTTS!
Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS again and again, but then Gabe HEADBUTTS again and again! Takagi fires a forearm, Gabe gives it back, repeat! The fans fire up as the shots go back and forth! Gabe gets the edge, but Takagi fires boxing elbows! Gabe CHOP! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! Gabe UPPERCUTS and YUKON LARIATS! But Takagi’s right up to LARIAT!! Gabe rises and shouts! Both men run in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And again! Gabe fires palm strikes, talks trash, but gets a JAB, HEADBUTT, and a PUMPING BOMBER take takes both men up and out! DOUBLE ELIMINATION!!
Fans go wild as Takagi’s sacrifice play makes things 4v4! Bushi and Drilla jump in and Drilla fires off shots! Drilla ENZIGIRIS, ripcords, but Bushi dodges to RANA! And DROPKICK! Drilla bails out but Bushi builds speed, only for Connors to SNAP POWERSLAM! Drilla gets in, he and Connors get moving, SPEAR GORE COMBO!! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives but the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions coordinate. Connors BLASTS Naito off the apron before he climbs a corner, and Drilla gets Bushi up. Drilla suplexes, but Bushi slips free! Bushi shoves Drilla into Connors, then runs back in to CODE-
NO, Drilla blocks and aims for ropes! Bushi slips free, dodges Drilla, but Drilla ducks the enzigiri, only for the REWIND HEEL to hit! Bushi whips Drilla up and out and to the floor, Bushi ELIMINATES Drilla! We’re 4v3 in LIJ’s favor, but then Connors SPEARS Bushi! Connors says this is it, and he reels Bushi in for- NO! Bushi turns No Chaser into a backslide! BUSHI ROLL! Bushi ELIMINATES Connors!! The Black Mask singlehandedly handles the tag champs and the fans fire up! But then Finlay CLOBBERS Bushi and rains down fists! Finlay roars in rage, then he drags Bushi up. Canadian Rack, but Bushi slips free to backslide!
Finlay rolls through to UPPERCUT! Jake BLASTS Naito, BLASTS Yota, and then Finlay gets Bushi up! Finlay POWERBOMBS Bushi to the outside, onto Naito and the rest! Finlay ELIMINATES Bushi! We’re back to 3v2 as Finlay still has Jake but LIJ still has Naito, Hiromu and Yota. And speaking of Yota, he gets in to brawl with Finlay! Yota whips, Finlay reverses but Yota flipping RANAS! Then he BLASTS Jake! Yota runs corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH Finlay! Yota keeps moving, he runs Finlay over to then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he smiles and paces around.
Yota brings Finlay up and fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free. Yota kicks, runs, but Finlay ELBOWS him down, then SENTONS on top! Finlay barks as he aims at Yota. Yota rises, Finlay runs in, and UPPERCUTS at the corner! Then clotheslines! Then FALCON ARROWS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Yota but Finlay grows frustrated. Finlay drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the lift! Finlay CLUBS away on Yota, tries again, and he has Yota up, but Yota fights free of the bomb! Yota fires forearms, but Finlay UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! Finlay runs, but Yota backslides to KNEE Finlay down!
The fans fire up again as we pass 20 minutes, and Yota drags Finlay up. Yota goes up and up but Finlay shoves him over! Yota’s on the apron, he and Finlay brawl! Yota ROCKS Finlay, but Finlay gets in Red Shoes’ face! Jake grabs at Yota, Yota kicks him away, but Finlay BLASTS Yota down and ELIMINATES him! The fans boo but the Dogs have made this 2v2! Finlay and Jake stand together, and they dare Naito & Hiromu to join them. Naito and Hiromu oblige as they step inside. Naito stares Jake down, Hiromu stares Finlay down, and they start swinging! The fans fire up, but then Finlay fireman’s carries Hiromu! Finlay aims for ropes!
Naito gets past Jake to save Hiromu, but then Jake BOOTS Naito down! Jake scrapes Naito out of the ring and goes after him, but Hiromu fireman’s carries Finlay! Hiromu runs at ropes and dumps Finlay out! Finlay stays on the apron but Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Finlay holds onto ropes and wobbles, but Hiromu builds speed! Hiromu DIVES and SUNSET FLIPS, but Finlay still holds on! Finlay throws down hands, gets back inside, he’s SAFE! Hiromu is also safe because he went through the second rope. Hiromu runs back in, but avoids Blue Thunder to wheelbarrow! But Finlay turns that into an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER!
Hiromu writhes, the fans rally as hard as they can behind him, but Finlay drags Hiromu up. DOMINATOR! Cover, Naito breaks it! Jake stomps Naito and TOSSES him out! It was all second rope so Naito’s safe, but Finlay talks trash on Hiromu. Finlay drags Hiromu up, reels him in, suplexes, but Hiromu slips free! Finlay UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS! Flashback to the 23rd! Hiromu just takes UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT from Finlay, but he doesn’t stop! Then he SUPERKICKS! Hiromu runs, but into another UPPERCUT! Finlay gets Hiromu up, but Hiromu RANAS Finlay up and out to ELIMINATE him!!
The fans are thunderous as The Rebel is shocked! Hiromu mocks him, but then Jake runs in! Hiromu gets under the boot to get under Jake! Jake fights Hiromu off, snarls, and then runs up! Hiromu dodges to kick a leg! Hiromu runs, but Jake kitchen sink knees! Jake takes aim, runs up, and FACE BREAK SHOT! Hiromu tumbles up and out and to the floor, Jake ELIMINATES him! And now, at 25 minutes in, we’re down to just Jake and just Naito! Naito slowly rolls into the ring as the fans rally behind him. Jake watches Naito stand, and the two stare down. Jake runs in but Naito dodges to fire off forearms!
Naito whips but Jake reverses to KNEE low! Jake fires up but fans boo as he stands Naito up. Jake reels Naito in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Naito protects the plate but Jake is aiming another heater! Jake waits as Naito stands, then winds up to choke grip! But Naito throws back elbows to get free! Naito then wrenches, TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Naito rises, he drags Jake up, and he throws those heavy back elbows! Jake crawls around, Naito brings him up, and Naito throws more heavy back elbows! Jake wobbles and staggers to the corner but Naito is right on him.
Naito brings Jake around for even more heavy back elbows! Jake falls over, the fans fire up, and Naito aims from the corner. Naito drags Jake up and in, but Jake BOOTS Naito down! Naito dangles off the apron! Red Shoes keeps the War Dogs from interfering, and Naito stands up. Jake aims, runs in, but Naito avoid the FBS! Naito drags Jake ot the apron, Jake elbows him back! Jake runs up, but into an ELBOW! Naito goes up and over, sweeps the legs, then BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICKS! Jake falls, LIJ wins!!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, Naito as the lone survivor
It came down to the bottom of the ninth, technically speaking, and Naito just hit the walk-off homer! Jake is stunned and Finlay is frustrated, but Yota just smiles back at him. Finlay and Yota will have it out as part of Wrestling Dontaku Night One, who will be smiling then?
As for LIJ, they regroup in the ring and have their hands raised. Slyly’s even still hanging around! But uh, he’s a little too chunky to get in the ring, so he just settles for pumping up the crowd like he does at baseball games. Naito gets the mic to say that it was three months ago, the Splash Strong series back in January, since Naito was last in Hiroshima. Naito would like to thank the fans from coming here tonight, “Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer, and Naito continues by saying, “Hiroshima is my second home. I really long to have a match at Mazda Stadium.” The fans love the sound of that!
Naito does preface that him saying that doesn’t mean there’s anything planned. So please, tranquilo, be patient, and look forward to the day that finally happens. So, shall they do it? The fans cheer again! So then, for the first time in Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in a year and eight months, is everyone ready? The fans cheer because they sure are! Well then, the only way to close The Road to Wrestling Dontaku here in Hiroshima… Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Slyly! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRNABLEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!! Slyly gets in on the roll call! Will all of LIJ have success as we reach Wrestling Dontaku next week?
My Thoughts:
A great event to conclude Road to Dontaku before getting to Wrestling Dontaku itself. An unfortunate change in the card, Sanada fell ill and could not compete, so his match alongside Taichi against Tanahashi & Tomoaki was changed into Tanahashi and a Young Lion VS Tomoaki and a Young Lion. Hopefully Cold Skull gets well soon. Great tag title match from TMDK VS GoD, and while I figured TMDK was going to retain, I didn’t think it’d be in a shady way like holding tights. While ZSJ VS Cobb for the NJPW World TV title is still to come, I doner of GoD shift gears and ELP becomes a singles guy so Leo and Loa can team up. Then ELP can challenge ZSJ in a battle of initials while the Brothers Guerrilla get to take on Shane & Mikey.
Great Rural Revitalization again, they managed to pull off great comeback spots each round. I was very surprised Yuya won out, I felt like Khan could’ve done one more Rural Revitalization before losing. But at the same time, Yuya feels like the unofficial fourth Reiwa Musketeer behind Narita, Shota & Tsuji. Yuya getting a title, any title, ahead of the others is good stuff for him, and could even bring about a feud with one of the Musketeers for the Summer. And then a great 10 Man Elimination Tag. I again really like that NJPW allows over the rope eliminations even in a tag match like this to really mix things up. Jake Lee not winning out for the War Dogs is really surprising, but I feel like that means Jake will defeat Naito 1v1.
My Score: 8.9/10
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It’s a violent end to a legendary friendship!
Former Best Friends, Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor, have been through many Parking Lot Brawls, but this is their first time as enemies! Will there be broken bones to go along with the broken hearts?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor; Trent wins.
- Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo; Rosa wins.
- “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell; Bill wins.
- Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions; Shibata & Garcia win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor!
Years of friendship, thrown away, and why? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Freshly Squeezed having more success in AEW than them? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Cassidy as a person? Because #JustTrent turned out to be the selfish one in the relationship? Well, then will #JustTrent get his ass kicked? Or will he take advantage of how Chuckie T. is a Kentucky Gentleman?
Trent stares Chuck down while we hear the crowd of other wrestlers taunting him. Trent takes a swing, but Chuck dodges to fire off hands! The brawl is on, and Chuck gets the edge! Chuck ROCKS Trent, then SMACKS him off a car hood! And then off the car door! Chuck drags Trent up, but Trent RAMS Chuck into the car! And throat chops him just because! Trent gets space, runs back in, but Chuck dodges so Trent hits the passenger door! Chuck gets a trash can lid and he stands Trent up. Trent jumps through the open window but Chuck drags him back out. Trent kicks low, and he gives Chuck a CAR HOOD BACK SUPLEX!
Trent grabs the trash can lid, SMACKS Chuck right in the head and Chuck falls down! The crowd boos but Trent opens a car trunk to bring out a trash can, a dustpan and a baseball bat! Chuck storms up but Trent CHUCKS the trash can into Chuck’s face! Chuck flounders and Trent smirks. Trent SMACKS Chuck with the trash can, CLUBS him around, and Chuck is busted open! The white car has red polka dots on it now, and Trent talks trash, “This is what you wanted?!” Trent runs up, but Chuck POP UP POWERBOMBS Trent onto a car hood! Trent writhes, Chuck staggers around, and Chuck brings Trent around.
Chuck headlocks Trent before he SMACKS him off another car door. Trent goes around the back and then up onto a truck! Chuck follows, and he CLUBS Trent in the chest! But Trent slips under, and he CLAWS Chuck’s bloody face! Trent DECKS Chuck and Chuck falls through drywall sheets! Trent looms over Chuck as he crawls out of the wreckage. Trent stalks Chuck, brings him around and SMACKS him with the trash can lid! Trent hoists Chuck onto a car roof, SMACKS him again, then goes back to the truck. Trent climbs onto the roof of the truck, to FLYING ELBOW from car to car! Cover, TWO!!
Trent is furious, but Chuck is still in this as Rampage goes picture in picture.
Trent fumes, paces around, and goes back to the goodies. He brings out… Is that a screwdriver?! And he JABS Chuck in the head with it!! And then he DIGS it into Chuck’s forehead!! As if he wasn’t already bleeding badly!! Trent leaves Chuck behind, to fetch what looks to be a flat screen TV. Then he brings out a wood door!? Did someone visit Home Depot before coming here? Chuck CHOPS Trent in return then fires haymakers! Trent CLAWS Chuck’s face! Trent grabs that TV and CHUCKS it, only for Chuck to duck it! Rampage returns as TV screen hits windshield! Chuck kicks low to snap suplex Trent through the door!!
The crowd is losing its minds as Trent crawls. Chuck gets Trent’s legs, to CATAPULT him into the truck’s tailgate!! The crowd fires up while Chuck gets a sinister look on his face. Chuck takes a piece of that drywall to SMASH it on Trent! Chuck gets that trash can, he SMACKS Trent with it! Chuck sees the pile of extra goodies nearby, and he uncovers some light tubes! But first, he’ll clean up the mess, he SMACKS Trent with the dust pan! And SMACKS him again and again! And then one more shot with the trash can! Trent writhes, but Chuck drags Trent up. Chuck SMACKS Trent off the tailgate, then clears some space.
Chuck climbs up, but Trent ROCKET LAUNCHES him onto the light tubes!!! The tubes shatter under Chuck’s back! Trent sputters, he’s bloody now, too. Trent puts Chuck against the car hood and stands on him! Trent soaks up the heat, but Chuck TRIPS Trent! Trent writhes, Chuck reels Trent in, Canadian Rack, RAZOR’S EDGE onto a windshield!! Trent writhes while fans chant “HOLY CHUCK!” Chuck covers Trent on the hood, TWO!! Trent survives and hurries around the back of this sedan. Chuck snarls, goes up after Trent, and they meet on the roof. They’re both so bloody as they fire forearms back and forth!
The crowd cheers Chuck and boos Trent, and as the two swing wild, they end up HUGGING! You GOT to give the people what they want, right? They stand, Chuck ROCKS Trent and reels Trent in, but Trent LOW BLOWS!! Trent has Chuck now, PILEDRIVER ON THE CAR ROOF!!! And then, SNAKE BITE!! Trent is choking Chuck out!!! Chuck IS out, Trent wins!!
Winner: Trent Beretta, by submission
The Best Friends tore each other apart, but it is #JustTrent that stands tall in the end. He’s clearly lost the respect of his peers given how the other wrestlers are chanting “You Suck! You Suck!” But wait, Trent isn’t done? He has a monkey wrench!? Cassidy & Kris step forward to say no, this is going too far! Trent says this is all Cassidy’s fault! And SMASH, Trent hits Chuck’s leg with the wrench, and even shatters the glass behind it!! Chuck clutches the already recovering leg, and now Cassidy wants after Trent! Kris stops Cassidy, Trent’s still got the wrench! Trent escapes into the shadows of the arena, what darkness is living in Trent’s heart?
Don Callis is watching this.
And he seems to like the sadistic savagery he just witnessed. Trent may not have Best Friends anymore, but could he end up with a whole new family?
Backstage interview with Kyle O’Reilly.
Arkady Aura is with #CombatKyle and brings up his impressive showing in Dynamite’s Casino Gauntlet this past Wednesday. But we all want to know, what is next for her? Well, on Saturday, May 11th, AEW is coming to his hometown! Collision in Vancouver, British Columbia! The Rogers Arena, the same building an 11-year-old Kyle saw his first wrestling show ever. And at that show, Kyle told his dad that he was gonna do this one day. Papa O’Reilly said, “Oh yeah, sure you will, kid.” But somehow, Kyle pulled it off. 25 years later, he’s coming back home to do the one thing he’s ever been good at and that’s wrestling.
Kyle is going to take on the best wrestlers this world has to offer, right here in AEW, where the best wrestle. Kyle is ready for a fight, who will take him up on that in two weeks?
Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo!
La Mera Mera and The Virtuosa could not coexist in the race for the AEW Women’s World Championship, and now they will Rampage against each other! Who will stand tall, ready for another shot at the title?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Deonna and Rosa step up, talk a little trash, then Deonna pie faces Rosa! Rosa swings but Deonna catches the arm! Rosa avoids the takedown to knee low! They tie up again, go around and around, and Deonna puts Rosa in a corner. The ref counts, Rosa powers her way out but Deonna headlocks. Rosa powers up and out, but Deonna RAMS her! The two stay up, Deonna eggs Rosa on then kicks her low! Deonna whips, Rosa blocks the hip toss, but then Deonna blocks a hip toss! Rosa avoids the lariat to DECK Deonna! Rosa rains down fists but the ref reprimands.
Rosa sits Deonna up, clamps on a COBRA CLUTCH, and she grinds Deonna down. The fans rally but Deonna fights up. Deonna throws hands, then wrenches, but Rosa breaks free. Deonna BOOTS Rosa, then has the arm for the ARMBAR DDT! Deonna dusts herself off as she paces, then she KICKS Rosa’s arm. And KICKS it again! Rosa goes to ropes, Deonna pushes her down and ties her up in Paradise! Rosa is stuck, Deonna soaks up the cheers and jeers, and then runs to DROPKICK Rosa out of Paradise! Deonna stands Rosa up but Rosa ROCKS her first! Deonna stands, Rosa RAMS into her then bumps her off buckles.
Rosa goes up and up to leap, but Deonna blocks the rana and has a BOSTON CRAB! They’re in the ropes, the ref counts, and Deonna lets go. Rosa crawls to the corner, Deonna paces while soaking up the heat. Rosa stands, builds speed, and she WERCKS Deonna with a dropkick! Rosa fires up despite the pain in her back, and she kicks Deonna. Deonna stands, Rosa CHOPS her against the post! And CHOPS her again! Deonna ducks, Rosa chops post! Deonna SUPERKICKS Rosa down, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Deonna steps on Rosa’s face, steps away, and Rosa staggers up to railing. Deonna storms up but Rosa kicks her low. Rosa then runs Deonna side to side to POST her! But then Deonna RAMS Rosa into apron! And SMACKS her off it! Deonna snarls, brings Rosa around, and she puts Rosa in the ring. Cover, TWO! Deonna clamps onto Rosa to pull her arms in, for a straitjacket stretch! Rosa endures, fights up, but Deonna turns that into a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Rosa is still in this, and she is feeding off the energy of the fans! Rosa stands, and she ELBOWS Deonna! And body shots! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again!
Rosa has Deonna in a corner to UPPERCUT! Rosa runs corner to corner and back again, but Deonna dodges! Rosa POSTS herself and falls to the apron! Deonna storms back over, brings Rosa up and wraps the bad arm against ropes! The ref counts, Deonna KICKS the ropes as she lets off, and Rosa clutches the elbow. Deonna returns but Rosa RAMS into her! Deonna CLUBS Rosa, has her in a corner, and HEADBUTTS the lower back as Rampage goes to break.
Rampage returns and Deonna runs in, but into an ELBOW! And then a BOOT! Rosa goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Rosa as she rises up! Deonna runs in, Rosa dodges to fire forearm after forearm! Deonna shoves, Rosa ENZIGIRIS! Rosa runs, to SHOTGUN BOOT! Deonna flounders to ropes, Rosa pounds the mat and the fans rally again. Rosa runs side to side to DROPKICK again! Cover, TWO!! Deonna toughs it out while Rosa shakes out her arm. Rosa drags Deonna up, but Deonna SOBATS! Deonna runs to KNEE LIFT and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Deonna wants the Fujiwara but Rosa rolls free!
Deonna BOTOS Rosa down, covers, TWO! Rosa is still in this and the fans rally up. Deonna is frustrated but she fireman’s carries Rosa. Rosa fires elbows, waistlocks, but Deonna pries the hold open! Deonna waistlocks, Rosa victory rolls and STOMP 182! The fans rally up again and Rosa covers, TWO! Deonna stays in this but Rosa stays on her. Rosa drags Deonna to a drop zone, goes to a corner and climbs. But Deonna rises and catches the leap! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Rosa endures, reaches out, pushes Deonna over to get a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Deonna is in the body scissors but she fights around!
Deonna rises, to BACKPACK SENTON! Deonna is free, the fans fire up, and Deonna brings Rosa back up. Deonna SLAPS Rosa, then reels her in! Gotch Hold, but Rosa jackknife bridges! TWO, Deonna sunset flips, TWO! Prawn hold, TWO! FUJIWARA!! Rosa rolls it to a cradle, ROSA WINS!!
Winner: Thunder Rosa, by pinfall
Deonna thought she had the perfect formula but Rosa says she just beat her at wrestling! But then Deonna CLOBBERS Rosa at the ramp! The fans boo but Deonna drags Rosa up to RAM her into the bleachers! Rosa slumps down, but Deonna digs her boot in! Deonna SLAPS Rosa around, tells the ref to shut up, and she SLAPS Rosa more! So Rosa SLAPS back! They brawl on stage and then out to the ledge of the upper level! The fans fire up as they keep going! Security rushes in, the fans boo, but Deonna flips Rosa off! It seems nothing was settled here, will these two look to go Double or Nothing?
Backstage interview with The Undisputed Kingdom.
Arkady Aura is with Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett as she notes Will Ospreay is the NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship. Taven says hold on, before we get started here, “Not Lexy,” as three guys who care deeply about neck health, and as two guys who nursed someone from the brink of paralysis (aka Roddy), The Kingdom wishes a very speedy recovery to “the world’s greatest boss. TK, stay strong, buddy.” Roddy then shouts that “WILL… Ospreay. Congratulations, you did it! You have signed, sealed and delivered the downfall, demise and destruction of The Aerial Assassin at Double or Nothing.”
Roddy says the world can sing Ospreay’s praises, but none of that matters when you step in the ring with Roddy. Just like all the ones before, Roddy will dismantle Ospreay, he will BREAK Ospreay, and he will make Ospreay fall in front of The Savior of the Backbreaker. Roddy’s confidence is strong, but will Roddy be the one feeling the End of Heartache after taking on the #BillyGOAT?
“Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell!
The human skyscraper says he wants to sit under the Learning Tree, but Chris Jericho’s gonna need a bigger tree if he’s to give guidance to Big Bill. Will Bill prove he is worthy of The Wizard’s sage advice?
The moment Bill is in the ring, he SPLASHES Trevor right in the corner! The bell rings, Bill runs to BOOT Trevor down! Trevor flounders around, Bill runs corner to corner and SPLASHES again! Trevor flops around, Bill wants Jericho to watch this. Bill said he’d show Jericho he is worthy, and we do see Jericho watching backstage, holding the FTW Championship on his shoulder and oddly still wearing a #LionHook shirt… Jericho nods as Bill CLUBS Trevor on the back! Bill then tells Jericho to watch him! Scoop and BIG BOSS SLAM!! Cover, but Bill lets off! Bill wags his finger, he wants Jericho to see more.
Bill brings Trevor up, reels him in, and short arm LARIATS! Cover, but again Bill lets off! Bill is having too much fun at poor Trevor’s expect. Bill says Jericho’s gonna wanna teach him. Bill hoists Trevor up for the SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAM!! One foot cover, a very Jericho move, and Bill wins!
Winner: “Big Bill” Morrissey, by pinfall
Trev might want to change his last name to Well-done, because he got roasted. Bill wants Jericho’s guidance, does he even need it when he can do all this?
BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!
Rampage won’t be following up Collision next week but it also won’t be back on Friday just yet. For AEW’s return to Canada, Rampage is going to be BACK TO BACK with Dynamite! Get ready for a truly All Elite Wednesday!
Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions!
The Wrestler said during Collision earlier tonight that he was going to take on Shane Taylor Promotions by himself if he had to, but then the Dragonslayer offered his help. Now they’re both going to take on #TAIGASTYLE and Big Bad Shaney T. himself! Garcia wears basic trunks and boots to match Shibata, will The Wrestlers win out? Or will STP rumble, bad man, rumble?
The moment all four men are in the ring, Shibata CLOBBERS Lee Moriarty and then he and Garcia both go after Shane! The fans fire up as they stomp and kick Shane right out of the ring! Then they go out to keep after him! Shibata whips and BOOTS Shane into railing! Garcia fires off on Lee, then Shibata adds an UPPERCUT! Shibata whips and BOOTS Lee against railing! Garcia stomps Shane, Shibata snap suplexes Lee to the floor! Shibata leaves them behind to go into the ring and sit cross-legged! Garcia sits with him! The fans fire up and the two go out again. The brawling continues but Shane throws heavy hands!
Lee ROCKS Garcia, Shane puts Shibata in, and Shane storms in after Shibata. Lee sends Garcia into railing, but Shibata fires hands on Shane! Shibata KICKS and KICKS, but Shane blocks the boot! Shane JABS Shibata and Shibata falls back! Shane talks trash, the fans boo, but Shane drags Shibata up. Shane HEADBUTTS Shibata, tags Lee, and they mug Shibata. Lee stomps a mudhole in, lets off as the ref counts, but he sneaks mule kicks on Shibata the whole time! Shibata trips Lee, stomps him, but Lee gets up to RAM into Shibata! Lee brings Shibata around, suplexes, but Shibata slips free to waistlock!
Lee elbows free, kicks, but Shibata blocks! Lee KNEES Shibata but Garcia tags in! Shibata BOOTS Lee, Garcia LARIATS! Garcia DROPKICKS Shane, gets around Lee, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And then another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Garcia brings Lee up again but Lee suplexes! Garcia slips free, spins Lee and kicks low, to then TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The trifecta is complete and the fans fire up! Garcia storms up on Lee, brings him up, and UPPERCUTS! The fans rally for Garcia, he CHOPS Lee to ropes. And CHOPS Lee against ropes! Garcia runs, but Shane trips him! Lee distracts the ref so Shane can DRAPING DDT to the floor!
Shibata protests but Lee mocks him by sitting cross-legged. The ring count climbs, Garcia drags himself up at 3 of 10, slides in at 5, but Lee stomps Garcia at the ropes! Lee drags Garcia up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Shane. Shane pushes Garcia against the buckles, to then CHOP! Garcia seethes and he fires forearm son Shane! The fans fire up, Garcia throws more shots, then leaps, but into Shane’s arms! Shane RAMS Garcia into a corner, then CHOPS! Shane runs up, but Garcia BOOTS! Garcia spins, but Shane ROCKS him first! And URENAGES! And then SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO!
Shane seethes but he keeps Garcia from Shibata, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Shane mocks Garcia’s dance, drags him up, but Garcia CHOPS! Garcia staggers, but Shane fires body shots in the corner! Shane ROCKS Garcia, tags Lee, and STP mugs Garcia. Garcia flounders to ropes, Lee CHOKES him! The ref counts, Lee steps away, and he stomps Garcia around. Lee wraps an arm around the ropes, then fishhooks Garcia! The ref counts, Lee lets off, and Garcia feeds off the energy of the fans. Lee brings Garcia up but Garcia fires forearm sand CHOPS! Lee gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Garcia stays in this but Lee stays on him with a wrench. Tag to Shane, and Lee hooks Garcia up in a COBRA TWIST, just so Shane can KNEE Garcia down!
Shane has Garcia on ropes, ROCKS him with a forearm, then scoops him for SNAKE EYES! Garcia slumps down in the corner, Shane drags him back up, and TOSSES him out! Shane goes out to then put Garcia against railing. Shane ROCKS Garcia, talks trash on fans, then brings Garcia around to scoop and SLAM him to the floor! Shane talks more trash on the fans, Lee has him cool off, and Shane brings Garcia up again. Shane puts Garcia in, tags Lee, and then Lee clamps on with a top wristlock and stretches Garcia out! Garcia endures, turns to fight the pressure, but Lee CLUBS him down. Lee drags Garcia up, tags Shane, and Shane scoop SLAMS!
Shane runs to SPLASH Garcia again! Rampage returns to single picture, Shane drags Garcia to a drop zone, and he goes up a corner. The fans boo but Shane blows them a kiss. FALLING SPLASH FLOPS as Garcia moves! T he fans fire up, but Lee KICKS him down! Lee hurries back and tags in, then he drags Garcia up. Lee wrenches, wristlocks, but Garcia endures. Lee SNAPS the fingers! The fans boo Lee being so villainous, but he drags Garcia up. Lee bumps Garcia off buckles, Shane holds Garcia up, but Garcia fights free with boots and haymakers and elbows! The fans fire up, Garcia sends Lee into Shane!
Lee hurries to waistlock but Garcia switches, SAIDO! The fans are thunderous as Lee and Garcia crawl! Hot tags to Shane and Shibata! Shibata BOOTS Shane! Shane roars, Shibata runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and BOOTS! Shibata whips to BOOT Shane in the corner! Shibata fires forearms, the ref counts, but Lee runs up. Shibata DECKS him! Garcia RAMS Lee into a corner, climbs up, and while Shibata fires forearms on Shane, Garcia rains down fists! Garcia goes all the way to nine, then DOES HIS DANCE! Shibata and Garcia coordinate, DOUBLE HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Garcia stands Shane up. Shibata runs in to BOOT!
Shibata CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS Shane, then CHOPS, CHOPS and JABS! Garcia does his dance while Shibata JABS and CHOPS to the rhythm! The fans are loving this, as now Garcia runs in to KNEE Shane! Shibata & Garcia get Shane up, to DOUBLE SUPLEX!! Cover, ONE?!? Shane has power to spare, but Garcia BOOTS him! Shibata BOOTS him! They go again, but this time Shane DOUBLE SUPLEXES them!! The fans boo but Shane tags in Lee. Lee runs up to clothesline Shibata, and JAB! And CHOP! JAB! CHOP! JAB! CHOP! Shibata just scowls at Lee! Lee says okay, and he fires more JABS and CHOPS!
Shibata steps into the shots, so Lee eggs him on! Shibata ROCKS Lee! Shane runs up, HEADBUTTS, then Lee HALF HATCH SLAMS! Cover, TWO!! Shibata toughs it out and STP grows frustrated. Lee drags Shibata up, kicks then waistlocks, but Shibata fights the lift! Shane storms in, helps Lee put on the full nelson, and Shane promises to knock Shibata out! But Shibata BOOTS Shane first! Garcia jumps on for a SLEEPER! Shibata switches on Lee for a SLEEPER!! The fans fire up as STP start fading out! Shane fires up to RAM Garcia into buckles! But Shibata BOOTS him! And Garcia SAIDOS!! Shibata PENALTY KICKS Lee!! Cover, The Wrestlers win!
Winners: Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia, by pinfall
Shibata helps Garcia stand up, and Garcia is proud to have won alongside one of his heroes! And with the fans cheering him on, Garcia sets up… to DO HIS DANCE! Will this momentum help Shibata avenge Hook and take that FTW Championship off of Chris Jericho? Or will The Learning Tree have some things to teach Shibata?
My Thoughts:
A great Rampage here, though I was oddly more excited when I thought it was just Deonna VS Rosa and the Parking Lot Brawl. But even so, at least Bill squashing a dude was used in story. He was showing off, he’ll surely have Jericho’s blessing if he helps defeat Shibata on Dynamite, but a part of me almost wants this to be all a trap. Bill was teammates with Ricky Starks in a feud against Jericho, and if Jericho is being obliviously arrogant then maybe Bill is using that against Jericho, too. But either way, let’s just hope this story helps Bill get going rather than slow him down like the #JerichoVortex has always done.
The Parking Lot Brawl was moving maybe a bit fast for me, especially with how there were some obvious spots already set up when they arrived, such as the drywall draped across the truck bed. But they surely got bloody, and in the end, Trent won out because he was willing to sink to the lowest low. And then they’ve written Chuck off again with that monkey wrench to the shin, so Cassidy VS Trent is definitely a Double or Nothing match. And something is just telling me that if Kris is gonna turn out to be the villain in the Willow Nightingale story, she’s probably gonna screw Cassidy over to help Trent, too.
Really good match from Deonna VS Rosa, and with Rosa getting a quick pin then that brawl, we’re clearly getting more out of them. Good promo from Kyle O’Reilly to hype AEW’s newest Canada tour, and good promo from The Kingdom to tie in their old Neck Health Awareness gag to the Tony Khan piledriver angle. Roddy calling out Ospreay, I would definitely think Ospreay wins the title at Double or Nothing. And really good tag main event from Shibata & Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions. STP keeps getting great showings even in losing, but Lee took the loss here to keep Shane himself strong. Great win for Shibata but this just adds to the go-home math where Jericho retains the FTW Championship on Dynamite.
My Score: 8.7/10
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Hockey Talk- 2024 NHL Playoff Preview [042224]
Hockey Talk previews the 2024 NHL Playoffs and discuss the stunning news that the Arizona Coyotes are moving to Salt...
Hockey Talk- Metro Mayhem [040924]
Hockey Talk looks at an absolutely wild playoff situation taking shape in the Eastern Conference while, out West, the battle...
The Pick N Roll: Sweet Sixteen
Join Patrick O'Dowd and PC Tunney as they breakdown the sweet sixteen of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.
Hockey Talk- Reverse Psychology [032624]
Hockey Talk looks at the resurgent St. Louis Blues & Washington Capitals. Plus, the Rangers stay hot, and can anyone...
Down the Wire: Filling Out Our Brackets and Drafting Draft Busts
Join the Brothers Wortz as they cover professional sports in unprofessional ways!
Bandwagon Nerds #232: Superhero Madness- A Top Seed Falls
Superhero Madness continues and sees the first #1 seed fall!. Plus, a trailer for a new Transformers movie, and a...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (4/20/24)
HPW looks to the horizon.
Bandwagon Nerds #231: Disney News & Superhero Madness
Round two of Superhero Madness begins this week. Cinema Con gives us plenty of Disney news and a trip to...
Bandwagon Nerds #230: Superhero Madness- Resident Aliens
Superhero Madness continues with first round battles in the Aliens bracket, plus Invincible Season 2 comes to an excellent conclusion.
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (4/1/24)
We got five on it!
Mitchell’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/27/24)
Rural Revitalization continues!
Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (4/27/24)
Trent Beretta's on a Rampage!
Mitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (4/27/24)
It's a slam dunk!
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: What Happened Last Week?
After a two-week hiatus, DJ gets to the bottom of why there was no podcast last week. Then, we skewer...
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/26/24)
It's Draft Day!
DWI Podcast #427: Get Off My Back…lash
It's time to shake things up again!
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.25.2024
We just got done with Rebellion, and Under Siege is two weeks away! Gotta see how these dots connect!
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (4/25/24)
Champions need challengers!
Classic POD is WAR: @PattonOswalt
Tune in for another vintage episode of POD is WAR!!!
Mitchell’s AEW Dynamite Results & Report! (4/24/24)
Anybody can get it!
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Coverage4 days agoMitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (4/23/24)
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Classic Survivor Series7 days agoAttitude Of Aggression #289- The Big Four Project: Survivor Series ’92