Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (2/27/23)
Paving the Road to WrestleMania!
Will the Man and the Legend take control?
Raw prepares for a Beast meeting a Giant, The Miz’s WrestleMania Hollywood announcement, and the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships! Will Becky & Lita take those titles to the Big Time?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa VS The Street Profits; Jimmy & Solo win.
- Cody Rhodes VS Chad Gable w/ Otis; Cody wins.
- Asuka VS Carmella; Asuka wins.
- Candice LeRae VS Piper Niven; Candice wins.
- Bobby Lashley VS Elias; Lashley wins.
- Otis w/ Maximum Male Models VS Johnny Gargano; Gargano wins.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Damage CTRL w/ Bayley VS Becky Lynch & Lita; Becky & Lita win and become the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
PLAY BY PLAY
Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa VS The Street Profits!
The Bloodline is back on Raw, but it isn’t how you think. Jey was still stuck in the middle between family and Sami, and that puts his brothers in the middle between him and Roman Reigns. Jimmy gets a mic to say, “Grand Rapids! The Bloodline is now in your city! I know what y’all thinking. I saw the posts, I saw the Tweets. Y’all out here talking about that there’s problems in the Bloodline, like the Bloodline got cracks in it. From outside looking in, I’m sure it do look that way. But if you come from a family, and you got family, and you love your family, you already know that family fight all the time.”
Fans chant for “SAMI! SAMI!” but Jimmy says, “Well check this out. If you come for one member of the Bloodline, you come for all the members of the Bloodline. Let’s just see everybody who thought there was cracks in the Bloodline. Kevin Owens at Royal Rumble. Do you think he got one on the Bloodline? NOPE! Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber, in his hometown, Montreal. Do you think he got one on the Bloodline? NOPE! And ya boy, Cody Rhodes.” Fans chant for “CODY! CODY!” now. Jimmy says at WrestleMania, do you think he’ll get one on Your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns? Fans chant “YES! YES!” but Jimmy says, “HELL NO!”
Speaking of the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns will be back this Friday to remind everybody who runs SmackDown. But tonight, Jimmy and his little brother, Solo Sikoa, are here to remind them who runs Raw. But here come the Street Profits! Montez Ford has a mic to say to Grand Rapids, “Oh my God, look, Dawks!” “I see ’em!” “It’s the Bloodline!” They got SOLO~! But he ain’t got no shoes on so those bunions can breath. And there’s Jimmy! “Who hotta than Jim Dolla? NOBODY.” And also the one who got a 90 in the new WWE video games, Jey- Oh. Jey must be in the back. Or through the stands? Jey, where you at? “Oh, Jey~!”
Oh, y’know what? Ford can’t blame Jey, either. If he was the bridge who always kept the Bloodline together, Ford would be tired of them, too. Ooooh… And now y’all walking in, boasting and bragging like y’all hard. You run Raw AND SmackDown? You can’t even run your own family. Cracks in the armor! And you have the nerves to show up on their show to enforce their absent chief’s orders? Jimmy tells Tez that he talks so much trash, especially for someone who already got bodied by the Bloodline. Keep the Tribal Chief’s name up out your mouths. Or what? Or what? Oh, forget all that, this is Grand Rapids! And the Profits want the smoke!
And they start throwing hands! Fans fire up for the brawl, Dawkins POUNCES Jimmy, then ROCKS Solo! Ford SUPERKICKS, Dawkins ENZIGURIS, and the Profits double clothesline Solo up and out! This match is ready to fire off, but has to wait until after the break!
Raw returns and the bell rings! Jimmy and Dawkins tie up, Dawkins powers Jimmy to a corner, Jimmy turns it around, but Dawkins dodges to ROCK Jimmy! Dawkins stomps, fires more forearms, then whips corner to corner. Dawkins runs in but Jimmy dodges the Cyclone! UPPERCUT! Dawkins staggers, Jimmy tags Solo and they mug Dawkins in the corner. Solo ROCKS Dawkins, ROCKS him again, and his headbands comes off! Solo stands Dawkins up to CHOP him in the corner! Solo whips corner to corner, Dawkins goes up and over, RAMS Solo, then hurdles! Solo shoves Dawkins, Dawkins cartwheels to DROPKICK!
Fans fire up as Dawkins tags Ford and the Profits double whip. Solo shoves them away but the DOUBLE DROPKICKS take him down! Ford KICKS Solo in the back, covers, ONE! Ford wraps on a headlock, Solo powers up and Jimmy tags in. The Bloodline mugs Ford with a hard right, then Jimmy snapmares and runs to SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Jimmy clamps on a chinlock and he grinds Ford down. Ford endures, fights up, but Jimmy HEADBUTTS him down! Jimmy raises the finger, #WeTheOnes, and he brings Ford up, But Ford DROPKICKS back! Tag to Dawkins, the Profits whip, trip and DROPKICK!
Dawkins runs in at the corner, CYCLONE! ENZIGURI! And then underhooks, but Jimmy wrenches out! UPPERCUT! Jimmy headlocks, hits a takeover, and he grinds Dawkins down. Fans rally, Dawkins fights up, and Dawkins powers out. Solo sneaks a tag, Jimmy reverses, Dawkins hurdles, but into a LARIAT from Solo! Fans boo while Solo roars, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Solo has Dawkins’ arm. Dawkins fights with forearms while reaching out, but Solo reels Dawkins in for a SAMOAN DROP! Solo stays between the Profits, then stalks Dawkins to a corner. Solo rains down fists, the ref counts, and Solo lets off. Solo goes to the opposite corner, and he runs corner to corner, HIP ATTACK! Jimmy applauds but fans boo. Solo SUPERKICKS Ford down! Then Solo goes back to the corner, he runs back in, but Dawkins UPPERCUTS Solo down! Fans fire up, Solo and Dawkins crawl, and Ford is ready! Hot tags to Ford and Jimmy! Ford dodges then first JAB after JAB, then LARIATS!
Fans fire up as Ford UPPERCUTS Jimmy! Jimmy blocks a kick, flips Ford but he lands on his feet to hit a BIG back suplex! Ford kips up, STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Ford snarls but he watches Jimmy crawl to a corner. Jimmy drags himself up, Ford runs in, but Jimmy puts him o the apron. Ford ROCKS Jimmy, KICKS Solo, then GAMANGIRIS Jimmy! Ford goes up top and fans fire up again! But Jimmy stands first and UPPERCUTS! Jimmy GAMANGIRIS in return, then climbs up after Ford. Jimmy brings Ford up, but Ford resists! Ford powers up to HEADBUTT! Jimmy falls, Ford CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO!!
Fans can’t believe it but Jimmy survives! Ford brings Jimmy up but Jimmy UPPERCUTS! Ford mule kicks! Front kicks! But Jimmy kicks! Ford blocks but gets the DRAGON WHIP! Ford still ENZIGURIS in return! Solo tags in, Ford DECKS him first! But Jimmy fireman’s carries, only for Ford to slip free. Ford shoves Jimmy to hit a SPINEBUSTER! Tag to Dawkins, he grabs Jimmy, and Ford climbs up. But Solo SHOVES Ford down! Jimmy feeds Dawkins to Solo’s SUPERKICK! And then, SAMOAN SPIKE!! Cover, The Bloodline wins!
Winners: Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa, by pinfall
It may not be Day One, but this is still blood brothers going to work! And then Solo and Jimmy start beating down the Profits! They throw Dawkins out, and Solo gets a chair! Solo puts it around Ford’s head while Jimmy stomps Dawkins on the floor. Solo goes to the opposite corner, but KEVIN OWENS slides in! SUPERKICK for Solo! STUNNER for Jimmy! Fans fire up and Solo is furious! The Prizefighter is not done with the Bloodline, but how will it end?
Brock Lesnar is here!
The Beast is in Grand Rapids and he’s going right to the ring, before MVP and his VIP Lounge are even ready! Lesnar looks at the nice couches and gets comfortable. Now MVP makes his entrance, rather wary of Lesnar. “Mr. Lesnar, when I invited you to accept the challenge, this isn’t exactly how I envisioned it.” Lesnar says, “Good evening, Michigan. Uh, pardon me for being a little earlier. My apologies. But please, join me, if you wish.” MVP says he’s good, he can talk from the ramp. Lesnar says he has no beef with MVP. “Brock Lesnar is all about business.” Fans chant, “Suplex City!” and MVP wants them to calm down.
MVP tells Lesnar not to listen to the fans. Now what is this about business? Yes, Lesnar is here to listen to MVP here in this “beautiful VIP Lounge that you have set up.” And he’s here to listen to MVP to help sell the people here, at home, and Lesnar himself “a fight.” So we’re talking business? MVP doesn’t have to worry about going to Suplex City? Lesnar says no suplexes tonight. Fans boo but MVP knows Lesnar is a man of his word. MVP gets in the ring and they sit down. Lesnar wants to hear this first hand, since he’s a “coward.” MVP is scared, but Lesnar says he’s kidding. MVP didn’t insult him with what he said last week, nor could he insult him any further tonight.
Now, sell Lesnar and the people on this fight. Do what you do best, MVP! Lesnar is here to possibly do business. So, okay, he’ll hyep it up. Lesnar is the Beast Incarnate. And when Lesnar put his hands on a man, that man has no chance. If Lesnar takes someone to Suplex City, they are literally in a world of hurt. And if Lesnar hits a man with the F5, that man is done for! “However, Brock Lesnar, you had your hands full with the ALl Mighty, Bobby Lashley, and I wasn’t even in his corner. So you couldn’t have your way with Brock Lesnar, but for whatever reason, you think you, the Beast Incarnate, can have his way with the 7’3” tall, 416 pound Nigerian Giant?
“You see, you put your hands on a man and you can do whatever you want with that man. But you put your hands on a giant, that giant puts his hands back on you!” Fans boo but Lesnar is liking this. MVP says the issue here is that the Beast can destroy any man, but a Giant will subdue and conquer the Beast. So the bottom line here is, Lesnar can suplex and F5 virtually any man he wants, but he cannot do whatever he wants to the 7’3″ tall, 416 pound Nigerian Giant, Omos. Lesnar says that was good! He got goosebumps! Good job! High-five! And y’know what? MVP, that was damn good. Lesnar accepts the challenge!
So then we have business? Big business! Not only does Lesnar accept the challenge, he thinks they should shake on it, and drink on it! MVP says a handshake and a toast to Lesnar VS Omos at WrestleMania! Lesnar couldn’t have said it any better, but he will. “Ladies and gentlemen. Fighting…! At WrestleMania…! BRRROCK! LESNARRR! VS OMOS! And… MVP in his corner.” Very nice, MVP likes that. handshake, done. And now, they will pop a bottle and raise a glass. No, no, c’mere. Lesnar says MVP is a baller, a hype man, but Lesnar is a farmer. He grows the good stuff himself. If we’re having a toast, then it’s gonna be the good stuff.
Lesnar brings out a flask. Here’s to Lesnar VS Omos at WrestleMania! Lesnar chugs his flask, and it’s GOOD! MVP will toast with the champagne if that’s alright. Fans boo, and Lesnar pushes the flask into MVP’s hands. “You ain’t gonna make me drink alone, are ya?” No, of course not! But what is this, exactly? Where Lesnar’s from, that’s called White Lightning. Well alright. Here’s to Lesnar VS Omos! MVP chugs up, and then SPITS IT ALL OVER LESNAR! Fans chant, “YOU F’D UP!” MVP hurries to clean Lesnar off, but Lesnar takes his flask back. Lesnar puts the flask away, wipes himself off and even blows his nose, and then puts the handkerchief back in MVP’s pocket.
Then he fireman’s carries MVP for an F5!! That wasn’t a suplex! And now, the fight is on! Will Lesnar VS Omos look like the Clash of Titans at WrestleMania?
Backstage interview with Lita & Becky Lynch.
Cathy Kelley is with tonight’s contenders for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. How have they been preparing? And what is going through their minds right now? Lita says that some of her most favorite highlights have been alongside some of the most legendary tag teams in this business. So to walk out tonight as tag team champs, that is a true bucket list item. She’s been making history over two decades, and she’s not done yet. And Becky’s had it on her bucket list to win those tag titles, too. But it was a long kept secret because, well, Becky doesn’t play well with others.
But there is no other woman she would rather fight alongside with, that she respects more than Lita. So one way or another, they’re walking out with the titles. And Bayley can get involved if she wants, but they’ll take care of her, too. Come hell or highwater, you will see the most groundbreaking tag team champions of all time! The legend and The man are ready, but will they be able to take control back from Damage Control?
Cody Rhodes VS Chad Gable w/ Otis!
The American Nightmare is preparing for WrestleMania, so he wants to sharpen himself against Raw’s best! And after seeing what “Master Gable” has been able to do against men twice his size, this will be quite the test! Will Cody be more than ready for Roman Reigns? Or will Gable fish out a weakness in the #1 contender?
The bell rings and the two circle. Cody gets a leg, Gable rolls free but Cody waistlocks. Gable switches, Cody drop toeholds, fans chant for him as he switches to a facelock, but Gable rolls free to facelock back. They roll together, Cody fights up to a fireman’s carry, and he puts Gable down in a corner. Cody lets off, but Gable sucker punches! Otis says that’s right, and Gable whips. Cody goes up and over to victory roll, TWO! Gable has the ANKLE LOCK! Cody rolls to send Gable into buckles! Cody runs in but into a BOOT! Gable goes up but Cody CLUBS him! Cody climbs up, brings Gable into a dragon sleeper, INVERTED SUPERPLEX!
Fans fire up but Gable bails out. Cody has control as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Gable has a leg. Cody fights up, but Gable back suplexes! Cody lands on his feet but his leg jams. Cody goes to a corner, Gable runs in and blocks the boot! Gable puts that leg in the ropes, gets the other, DRAGON SCREW! Cody clutches his knee, but Gable brings him up for a BIG back suplex! Gable goes to the corner, climbs up top, and Otis cheers him on while fans boo. Gable DIVING HEADBUTTS but FLOPS as Cody moves! Gable staggers, but he ROCKS Cody! Gable runs, but Cody follows to CLOBBER him! Kick and RHODES UPPERCUT! Cody goes to a corner, Gable runs in but Cody goes up and over, only for his leg to jam again!
Gable comes back, but into the POWERSLAM! Cody roars and fights through the pain, DISASTER KICK! Cover, TWO! Gable is still in this and Otis coaches him up. Cody stands, fans rally, and Cody brings Gable up. But Gable shoots around! Cody reaches down to trip Gable, and he has the FIGURE FOUR! Gable flails as he endures and fans “WOO~!” Gable sits up, but Cody puts on the pressure! Gable drags himself over, reaches out, but he CHOPS Cody and gets the ROPEBREAK! Cody lets off and Otis paces as he coaches Gable. Cody brings Gable up to headlock and punch! Cody then runs, but Gable catches the springboard to a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!
Gable and Cody slowly rise, and Gable waistlocks again. Cody fights, goes up the corner, and goes up and over! But Gable gets Cody into a crucifix! CLIFFHANGER DDT! Gable hurries up top, for the MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO!! Cody survives and Gable is shocked! Fans rally for Cody but Otis coaches on Gable. Gable puts Cody in the corner, CHOPS him, but Cody snarls. Cody turns things around and he CHOPS Gable! Cody eggs Gable on, they go forehead to forehead, and Gable turns Cody around to CHOP! Cody turns Gable around to CHOP! Fans fire up as Cody runs, but Gable goes to hip toss! Cody blocks, but then Gable blocks Cody’s hip toss!
They go back and forth, blocking hip toss again and again, until Cody hip tosses Gable up and out of the ring! Fans fire up as Gable shouts for Otis. Cody DIVES to take out Gable! And where IS Otis?! Otis is looking for someone else. Cody puts Gable in, and then looks with Otis. Oh, there she is! Maxxine Dupri is in the back. Otis realizes it’s Cody, and asks him what he’s doing. Cody is just helping him look. Cody backs away but Otis storms up after him, only to be sent up and over barriers! Cody returns to the ring, dodges Gable, goes up and up and SUPER CODY CUTTERS!! Fans fire up with Cody and he dragon sleepers, CROSS RHODES!! Cover, Cody wins!
Winner: Cody Rhodes, by pinfall
“Otīs” got distracted by his new honey bee, and Gable still got caught by the American Nightmare! Cody gets a mic to say, “I think we are 33 days away from WrestleMania. I have yet to stand in the same ring as my opponent, our Undisputed Champion, Roman Reigns.” Fans boo, but Cody says, “But he is on SmackDown this Friday, and I am ecstatic that Roman Reigns is on SmackDown this Friday because… I’ll be there, too.” Cody has made it clear, he won’t let the Tribal Chief just relax on his Island of Relevancy! Will SmackDown be a nightmare for the champion?
Backstage interview with Baron Corbin.
Byron Saxton says Corbin has requested this time to send a message to the WWE Universe. “Yeah, look. It’s no secret, things have not gone my way, and I hear all of you. One of those things they’re saying is the things JBL said, and-” Wait, Kevin Owens is walking over! Byron cuts this interview short to ask Kevin about his attack on Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa. Is he worried about any consequences? Consequences? The ones who should be worried about that are Jimmy, Solo and the Bloodline. They’re suffering from the consequences of their actions! And others are suffering from those, too.
But Kevin has said it for months: He wants to see The Bloodline fall, and he won’t stop until he gets what he wants. And he doesn’t need or want any help in doing that. Kevin heads out, but did he add that bit at the end for a certain someone?
The Judgment Day speaks.
Damian Priest says, “You know what time it is. All rise of the Judgment Day!” Dominik Mysterio says “hi” to dad, and says they had a little Mysterio family reunion on SmackDown. “What a joke. I showed the whole world exactly what you are. The same competitor as you are a father: A loser who does nothing. Don’t worry, Mami has a match this Friday with Liv Morgan, and I’ll be by my mamacita’s side and we can have that little heart to heart. And I’ll show the world what a coward you really are. Because at the end of the day, you’re not going to do a thing about it, and your in Ex-Con Dom’s prison now.”
Rhea Ripley says she didn’t have to say a single word to Charlotte Flair. “Because just being in the same building as me I could tell had her shook. When I stepped into that ring and looked into her eyes, I saw something. It wasn’t fear. It was something much worse. Acceptance. Cuz no amount of confidence or anything she had to say Friday could change her fate. And her fate is that at WrestleMania, Rhea Ripley’s walking out the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.” Finn tells Edge, “You thought this was over at Elimination Chamber? You don’t get to decide when this is over. This is over when I say it’s over!”
Finn says Edge is playing checkers but The Prince is playing chess. And there’s still one more move. So if Edge accepts the challenge, they end this at WrestleMania. Checkmate. The Judgment Day has spoken, but will they still run things on this Road to WrestleMania?
Otis waits outside the trainer’s room.
Maxxine and Maximum Male Models walk over and ask if he’s considered the offer. Oh, right, Otīs doesn’t need words to be professional. In fact, if he were to have a match tonight, the MMM would love to be in his corner to watch his raw, natural talent. Otis says okay. He’ll go get Pearce! Otis says he needs a match, and right now! MMM is pleased, but will they still like what they see at ringside?
Asuka VS Carmella!
The Empress of Tomorrow is on her way towards WrestleMania, but the Princess of Staten Island wants to prove that not only is she ready for Asuka, she can beat Asuka and should be going to Hollywood in her place. Will this story have a fabulous plot twist? Or will Mella’s Hollywood dream be over before it begins?
Raw returns as Mella makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. Mella talks trash and then ties up with Asuka. They go around, Asuka shoves Mella away, and they go again. Mella pulls hair, throws hands on Asuka, but Asuka turns things around to fire off forearms! The ref backs Asuka off, Mella sucker punches her! Asuka grins to SOBAT and throw knees! SWITCHBLADE KICK! Mella ducks a buzzsaw but kicks into an ANKLE LOCK! Mella rolls, kicks Asuka way, then kicks her down! Asuka goes to ropes and Mella mocks the fans chanting for Asuka. Mella puts Asuka in a corner, throws back elbow after back elbow, but lets off as the ref counts.
Mella says Asuka’s not ready for her! Mella drags Asuka up, brings her around and bumps her off her boot. Mella moonwalks and says, “Mella! Is! Money!” FABULOUS BRONCO BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Mella is annoyed but she brings Asuka up. Mella whips but Asuka reverses to pop-up KNEE! Cover, TWO! Asuka grabs at Mella but Mella scurries away to the outside. Fans boo, but Asuka pursues! Asuka chases Mella back into the ring, dodges her, then holds ropes to BOOT! Mella scurries away again, Asuka runs in, but Mella dumps her out! Mella then FABULOUS KICKS Asuka down! Mella mocks Asuka and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Mella still talks trash as she grinds Asuka down with a chinlock. Fans rally, Asuka endures, and Asuka fights up. Asuka throws body shots, but Mella throws her by her hair! Fans boo but Mella says she’s not scared of Asuka. Mella’s beat Asuka before, she’ll do it again. She pie faces Asuka, but Asuka just gets mad. Mella pie faces Asuka again, but Asuka URAKENS! URAKENS! SOBATS! Front kick, URAKEN! Low kick, ROUNDHOUSE, HEEL KICK! Asuka then GERMAN SUPLEXES Mella! And BUZZSAWS! Mella flounders and fans fire up with Asuka! Mella bails out but Asuka is on the apron, SLIDING KNEE!
Asuka drags Mella up and puts her in the ring. Asuka goes up the corner now, Mella stands up, for the MISSILE- NO, Mella avoids the dropkick to FABULOUS KICK! Cover, TWO! Mella is shocked! Fans rally while both women are down, but Mella stands first. Mella looms over Asuka, but Asuka drags Mella into a cradle! TWO!! Mella hurries to reel Asuka in but Asuka trips her to a jackknife bridge! TWO, into the CODE OF SILENCE! Asuka powers out, Mella ducks the buzzsaw and she rolls Asuka up, TWO! Asuka has the arms! RINGS OF SATURN!! Mella endures, but she taps! Asuka wins!
Winner: Asuka, by submission
Mella may have beaten Asuka in the past, and she fought hard, but she was unable to stop this Asuka! And Asuka gets the mic to shout in Japanese, “HERE WE GO! HERE WE GO!” Asuka tells Bianca to come out now! So here she comes! Fans fire up as the RawEST Women’s Champion struts to the ring, and asks if Asuka’s calling her out. She isn’t sure what Asuka said but she doesn’t like her tone. She hopes Asuka wants to tell everyone how they’re going to tear the house down at WrestleMania. Because if Asuka said anything else, Bianca will remind her that SHE is the EST of the WWE, and you can’t spell WrestleMania without EST.
But then Mella shoves Asuka into Bianca! Fans boo but Mella laughs as she leaves. Bianca is fuming, but Mella says it doesn’t matter if Bianca’s the EST, Mella is money! Will Bianca show Mella what’s what before we arrive in Hollywood?
Candice LeRae VS Piper Niven!
The Poison Pixie has a lot on her plate with Johnny Gargano banged up after the Elimination Chamber and Crazy Cross creeping around. Will she be able to focus on the Scottish Viper before her? Or will her body and spirit both be crushed this close to WrestleMania?
Raw returns and Candice makes her entrance. And Nikki Cross is sneaking out behind her! Nikki said she just wants a friend, is she trying that even now? The bell rings and Piper CLOBBERS Candice! Piper drags Candice up to DECK her, then has her at the ropes. Piper CHOKES Candice, saying this is to teach her a lesson. Piper then scoops Candice, but Candice slips free! Candice KICKS away at the leg, runs, tilt-o-whirls, but Piper blocks the crucifix takedown. Candice shifts to a sunset, but Piper JUMPS! Only for Candice to move out of the way! Piper clutches her tailbone, Candice runs in to NECK SNAPPER! Jackknife cover, TWO!
Piper goes to a corner, Candice runs in but gets caught! URENAGE! Piper runs to SENTON! Cover, TWO! Candice survives but Piper is annoyed. Piper CLUBS Candice, wraps on a cobra clutch and she thrashes Candice around! Candice endures, fans rally, and even Nikki cheers her on. But Piper RAMS Candice into a corner! Piper runs in, but into an elbow! Piper runs in again, but only gets buckles! Candice goes up, but Candice SHOVES her down! Candice falls to the floor, sits up in a daze, but Piper goes out after her. Nikki looks worried but Piper throws Candice back in. Then she throws Nikki into barriers!
Piper goes back into the ring, but Candice rolls her up! CANDICE WINS!!
Winner: Candice LeRae, by pinfall
Piper is pissed! Nikki helped out without really meaning to, will Candice think of her as a friend now?
Backstage interview with Johnny Gargano.
Byron is with Johnny Wrestling, they say congrats to Candice. And it turns out, Johnny has a match of his own later on tonight. Johnny says Candice did great against Piper, and yes, he does have a match, because this is Monday Night Raw! You gotta be ready for anything! Johnny walked into the locker room, put his bags down, and Otis ran up to him. And he says he wants “hot action” tonight. That was alarming, but then Gargano realized Otis just meant a match. So Gargano accepted. Otis won a few months back, and though Gargano isn’t 100%, he- Judgment Day walks in and they can’t believe this is happening. Who’s Gargano ever beat?
Priest asks Byron if this is the level of superstar he’s interviewing now. Gargano says Byron is just tired of talking to “a bunch of adults going through a goth phase who can’t fight their own battles 1v1.” Oh, wow, goth~! Corny, but Gargano’s got stones. The last time Priest saw Gargano, he laid him out inside the Elimination Chamber. Priest is getting this urge to do it again now. Finn tells Priest to tranquilo, he’ll talk with Johnny. Finn tells Johnny that Otis is gonna flatten him like a pancake! And if by some miracle, Otis doesn’t cover Gargano in syrup and gobble him up, then trust Finn, he’ll finish the job himself.
“Sounds delicious. I’ll see you next week.” The Judgment Day heads out, will Johnny Wrestling climb mountains and conquer monsters on Monday Night Raw?
The Miz is here!
The Hollywood A-Lister is ready to host a Hollywood edition of MizTV, and he might just reveal what was in that golden envelope last week. We’ll see what’s what on the Road to WrestleMania, after the break.
Raw returns and Miz welcomes us back to the Most Must-See WWE Talk Show, and says we are on the Road to WrestleMania! Before he brings out his celebrity guest, he wants to talk about his “beautiful, gorgeous, sexy wife, Maryse,” and the anniversary gift she gave him last week. He did say he’d reveal what it said tonight, so he will. They’ve been married for nine years, Maryse is the gift that keeps on giving. She has given him two beautiful daughters, unconditional love and support, and this gift is life-changing! To help Miz announce this highlight worthy news, he wants to bring out a special guest.
This year’s host of WrestleMania, it’s… HIMSELF! Yes, he is tonight’s guest, he is the host of MizTV, and the host of WrestleMania 39! He’s gonna make this bigger than the Golden Globes, bigger than the Oscars! You thought Chris Rock getting slapped by Will Smith was big? Wait until you see what Miz has in store! But the thing that irks him is that his wife had to ask! Who else could host this monumental event? Logan Paul? Fans boo. Miz says it is WrestleMania Goes Hollywood, not WrestleMania Goes YouTube.
But nonetheless, this year, Miz will make WrestleMania viral, buzzworthy, and must-see with matches like Charlotte Flair VS Rhea Ripley! Asuka VS Bianca Belair! Cody Rhodes VS Roman Reigns! Miz has to say, he is so happy, there is nothing- “BURN IT DOWN!” Seth Rollins makes his way out to the ring! Miz is upset now as fans sing “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” Rollins gets a mic but Miz puts up his hand. “Do you know what this means? Do you know what this means?! When my hand goes up, your mouths go shut!” And what is Rollins doing here? This is MIZ’S moment! Everyone, shut up!!
Rollins laughs, and says Miz doesn’t need to get his panties in a bunch. Rollins is just here to congratulate him. He doesn’t wanna rain on Miz’s parade. Yeah, but the thing is, Rollins has been raining on Miz’s parade for the past three weeks! Well, Miz, two weeks ago, Rollins stomped him with the big red boots because Miz was being… a bit of a jerk. And last week, Rollins had to stomp him not once, not twice, but three times, because well, Miz was being a B-Hole. HEY! Miz is not a B person, he is an A! So then, he’s an A-Hole? NO!! That’s not what he meant! Hey, hey, Rollins didn’t say it, Miz did. But fans say it for them both.
Rollins promises he didn’t mean to ruin anything. He just has a favor to ask. Rollins has been trying to get a hold of Logan Paul. It’s been a little difficult, but since Miz taught Logan everything he knows, they’re friends, Miz is the host of WrestleMania and surely has Logan on speed dial, so Rollins was just thinking, they could give him a call. Miz says that’s all? Call Logan Paul? Yes! Get him on FaceTime or something! Let’s do it! Miz asks if the fans want that, too. Fans cheer and Rollins is fired up! But Miz says no. Miz is not gonna do anything Rollins wants for him, because Logan is Rollins’ problem, not Miz’s.
In fact, Miz is going to WrestleMania and not Rollins! Two nights! Miz is the A-Lister, the celebrity! Rollins is just a goofball in a stupid jacket! Rollins SUPERKICKS Miz! Fans sing again, “OH~, OHH~, OHHH~!” Rollins sees Miz’s phone, and he picks it up. Fans fire up and Rollins taps around. The phone won’t open, so Rollins scoots over to where Miz is out on the mat. Rollins holds Miz’s eyes open so he can open the phone! Rollins then gets chairs out of the way, gets a mic, and looks through the apps. Boop and… He’s calling Logan! Logan answers, thinking it’s The Miz. “HAHAHAHA! Surprise~! Sorry, LP, The Miz is a little out of commission.”
But Rollins is calling to ask about Logan about his baby brother, Jake. Is he okay after that fight? But here’s a proposition. We’re all sick of this cat ‘n’ mouse game, so maybe next week, Logan grows a pair, shows up on Raw, stands in the ring, and is face to face with Rollins! Logan likes the sound of that. Deal! Logan will love to see Rollins run his mouth when they’re face to face. Then it’s on, baby~! HAHAHA! Logan, one more thing. “Buh-bye, b*tch! HAHA!” Rollins hangs up, throws the phone down, and swaggers away. Until Miz crawls his way over. CURB STOMP!! Miz is down and fans fire up! Will Rollins’ ImPAULsive behavior get him what he wants?
Backstage interview with Damage CTRL.
Cathy Kelley brings up to Bayley, Dakota Kai & Iyo Sky that earlier tonight, Becky & Lita said they would walk out tonight the NEW tag team champions. How do they respond? Bayley is glad those two are confident, because the three of them have been all over Raw, SmackDown, the Premium Live Events, and all over the world proving to phony teams like Becky & Lita that they have no chance. Kai & Sky are the greatest tag team of all time! But this is more than about titles. This is their story. This is their legacy! You go tell those idiots that. Bayley leads Kai & Sky away, and then in walks Austin Theory.
The Now says that Cathy just interviewed the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. They’re great champions. But we all know Theory is THE greatest champion in the WWE. And speaking of, Theory is shocked that he isn’t being talked about. His achievements, his accomplishments. But everyone talks about John Cena. Cena is going to return to Raw next week, but the thing is, fans just like the Hustle, Loyalty & Respect. Look at Theory! His hustle: The Elimination Chamber! He faced five of the best in WWE, he hustled and beat them all!
His loyalty: There ain’t nobody more loyal to this title than Theory! Theory had only 48 hours after that grueling Chamber match and defended the title. Who did he beat? The Hall of Famer, the Rated R Superstar, the man who has held every title possible, Edge! And Theory has hustle, loyalty, but respect? Oh, he’s got a lot of respect for John Cena. That is why next week, in Cena’s hometown of Boston, Theory will stare Cena in the face and give him all the respect he deserves. The only thing Theory asks is Cena gives him the same. Will The Now make another great champion of the past acknowledge him?
Bobby Lashley VS Elias!
The All Mighty answered The Drifter’s challenge last week and demolished him! But Elias wants another try, now that both men are ready. Will Lashley have to #WalkWithElias? Or will Elias not even be able to walk out of the arena?
Raw returns and Elias makes his entrance. The bell rings and Elias runs in to CLOBBER Lashley! Elias fires off hands, the ref counts, but Lashley blocks a stomp! Lashley CLUBS Elias, scoops him, and SLAMS him! Elias writhes, Lashley throws him up and out of the ring! Lashley then goes out after Elias while Rick Boogs is taking notes again. Lashley fireman’s carries, but Elias slips off! Elias throws Lashley into barriers, fireman’s carries, and FLAPJACKS him on barriers! Then the SYMPHO-KNEE! Elias eggs Lashley on, Boogs takes notes as fast as he can, and Elias gets in the ring with Lashley.
Elias aims from a corner, swings, but into a COMPLETE SHOT! Lashley then drags Elias up, runs, and SPEARS! But Lashley won’t end it there, and fans fire up! HURT LOCK!! Elias taps, Lashley wins!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by submission
Boogs got notes, but it may have been another case of what not to do. Lashley gets a mic, and he says, “I’m not in a good mood right now. Because I owned Brock Lesnar at the Elimination Chamber. And instead of Brock tapping out to the Hurt Lock, he resorted to a low blow. So I won the match. But I wanted more. And for proving my dominance over Brock Lesnar, I get Bray Wyatt playing his little kid games. His little secret, who knocks at the door. I don’t play little kid games. Because I’m the All Mighty Bobby Lashley. So Bray Wyatt, keep my name outta your mouth. Or I will hurt you.” Lashley has issued an ultimatum, how will the Eater of Worlds respond?
Wait! Bray already has something! It’s a music video! “Now shake those hips! And let your backbone slip! Pull up your pants and do the Muscle Man Dance!” It’s a remix of the Muscle Man Dance, with clips of Lashley thrown in now! “Now wiggle your behind, erase your mind. Pull up your pants, and to the Muscle Man Dance!” Lashley is getting more and more annoyed with every passing second. Then Bray gets serious. “You. Should. Run!” Will Lashley run from Bray? Or will he run Bray over?
Chelsea Green visits Adam Pearce’s office.
She thinks he’s never been to Ottawa, Illinois, or else he’d know the SCUM in Ottawa, Illinois. She shows him her phone. How was she to know there was an Ottawa, Canada? Chelsea, aren’t you Canadian? And if she has it on her phone…! But then Mella walks in and asks what Pearce wanted. Well, he saw what she did to Asuka and Bianca and- Chelsea shouts that she’s still here! What is Pearce going to do about this? Pearce says he has a call to take, so he needs to get going. But if Mella wants to put her hands on Bianca, she can do it in a match next week. Okay! Pearce then leaves, Chelsea says Pearce is rude. But she loves Mella’s outfit. They get to know each other, is this a match made in migraines?
Otis w/ Maximum Male Models VS Johnny Gargano!
As promised, Maxxine, Maçé & Mansöôr accompany “Otīs” to the ring, and they are ready to watch him work! Will this prove Otis is WWE’s next top model? Or will Johnny Wrestling prove he’s ready for big things at WrestleMania?
Raw returns and Gargano makes his entrance. The bell rings and Otis runs in, but Gargano dodges to fire off boxing elbows. Otis shoves Gargano, Gargano ducks ‘n’ dodges and RAMS Otis! Otis rebounds for the WRECKER ELBOW! Maxxine loves it as Otis SPLASHES! Otis drags Gargano to the corner, and then Otis runs in to SPLASH! Gargano is dazed, Otis runs back in, but into BOOTS! Otis is dazed now, he runs but into an elbow! Gargano goes to another corner, Otis runs in, but Gargano POSTS him! Otis staggers, Gargano LARIATS! Otis stays up so Gargano LARIATS again! Gargano runs, but into a choke grip!
Gargano fights free, ROLLING ELBOWS, but Otis stays up! Otis scoops, Gargano slips off, and DROPKICKS! And DROPKICKA! Otis still stands, but Gargano ENZIGURIS! And SUPERKICKS! Otis tumbles out of the ring and to the feet of MMM. Otis then looks up and sees Maxxine. Maxxine says Otis should keep his hands up and focus. Otis turns around, Gargano PLANCHAS! Otis catches Gargano! And SLAMS him on the desk! Maxxine loves it as Otis goes back into the ring. Otis argues with the ref, Mace and Mansoor have Gargano! Mansoor prepares his fanny pack, but LUMIS GRABS MACE!!
Mansoor tries to save Mace, but Gargano SUPERKICKS him down! Maxxine panics, but then she and Gargano lock eyes. Otis gets mad, he leans over the ropes but Gargano GAMANGIRIS! APRON DDT! Gargano shoves Otis in, ONE FINAL BEAT!! Cover, Gargano wins!
Winner: Johnny Gargano, by pinfall
Lumis had Gargano’s back from the shadows, and that helped him seal the deal! But what about Otis’ modeling career? Did this loss just lose him a future with MMM?
Backstage interview with Paul Heyman.
Cathy hopes to get his thoughts on Cody’s announcement that he’ll be on SmackDown this Friday. Heyman says he loves it. “This is my favorite time of year, WrestleMania season. Where every single television show, the ante gets upped and upped and upped and upped, like this Friday night on SmackDown. The American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes, showing up to confront Roman-” What? Cathy interrupts because Cody didn’t explicitly say he was going there to confront Roman. He just said, “I’ll be there, too.” Well, Heyman feels rather disrespected being both interrupted and corrected on worldwide television.
“Let’s read between the lines what this really means. He’s gonna show up? Cody Rhodes is a Raw talent, and he’s gonna show up? No, he’s going to invade Friday Night SmackDown. Cody Rhodes is going to crash the gates of the Island of Relevancy. Let’s up the ante. This Friday night, live on SmackDown, Cody Rhodes will confront Roman Reigns… Or this Friday night, live on SmackDown, Cody Rhodes will be confronted by the Tribal Chief, the Head of the Table, the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman… Reigns.” Heyman grins and leaves, but which way will the story go on SmackDown?
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships: Damage CTRL w/ Bayley VS Becky Lynch & Lita!
To the Role Model’s point, #CobraKai and the Evil Genius have held onto these titles for the longest time. But to The Man’s point, that’s because they hardly ever defend the titles! Bayley backed her own team into a corner, will Kai & Sky be able to fight out of it? Or will there be some Big Time new champions going into WrestleMania?
Raw returns as DMG CTRL make their entrance. The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if these teams get extreme!
The teams sort out, Sky and Becky start, and they circle. They tie up, Becky headlocks, but Sky throws body shots. Sky powers out, Becky runs her over! Becky flexes, fans fire up, and Becky wrenches to YANK Sky’s arm. Becky brings Sky around, but Sky breaks free before the tag. Sky tags Kai, Becky tags Lita, and fans fire up again! Kai and Lita tie up, Lita headlocks, but Kai powers out. Lita runs Kai over and fans rally, “Let’s Go, Lita!” Lita has the facelock but Kai powers out of the Twist! Tag to Sky, and Sky runs up, but into a kick! Tag to Becky, she and Lita double suplex! Cover, ONE!
Becky brings Sky back up, tags Lita back in, and they double whip Sky to double hip toss! Kai runs in, but also into a double hip toss! Kai and Sky are in opposite corners, Becky and Lita run in to SPLASH them both! Lita feeds Sky to Becky to send into Kai! Then Becky sets up, and fans fire up, POETRY IN MOTION! Lita then climbs up while Becky holds Kai, and they both rain down punches! Fans count along, all the way to TEN! Lita snapmares Sky down, climbs up, but Sky bails out! Lita tags Becky, and she CANNONBALLS! Down go Kai AND Sky, fans fire up for Becky and Lita as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Becky throws Kai into Sky! Then Becky fires off on Kai in the ropes! Kai is stuck, Becky goes up, GUILLOTINE LEG DROP! Becky just gets enough of Kai, but Sky runs in! Becky turns her around, gets Kai, too, DOUBLE DDT COMBO! Cover on Kai, TWO! Bayley is relieved, but Becky paces around Kai. Becky brings Kai up, Kai whips her away, but Becky BOOTS back! Becky reels Kai in, DIAMOND DUST! Cover, TWO! But into the DISARM-HER! Fans rally but Kai endures! Kai reaches out, fights, and Sky runs in to SHOTGUN Becky! Becky bails out, Lita hurries over. Bayley backs off, but Sky grabs Lita!
Sky SMACKS Lita off the desk! Kai tags Sky, and she ASAI MOONSAULTS Becky! Bayley is fired up for her team while the ring count climbs. Sky puts Becky in, covers, TWO! DMG CTRL is still annoyed, but Sky wraps Becky in a straitjacket stretch. Fans rally while Becky endures. Becky fights up, arm-drags free, but Sky DROPKICKS her down! Tag to Kai, she and Sky get Becky up to double whip. They kick, trip, and AX KICK, into the DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Becky is still in this and DMG CTRL is further frustrated. Kai keeps Becky back with a facelock but Becky fights her way forward!
Becky reaches out, but Kai shoves her away! SCORPION KICK! Kai covers, TWO! Kai says THEY are the champions, and she keeps Becky from Lita. Becky throws shots, Kai holds on, then Kai whips Becky into the corner! Kai runs in, Becky elbows her! Becky DECKS Sky, but DOUBLE LARIATS take her and Kai down! Fans fire up while both women crawl, but Bayley throws a belt into the ring! The ref reprimands, gets the belt out of the ring, but Bayley uses that distraction to trip Lita! Fans boo but Kai tags Sky! And Sky SHOTEIS Becky! Ski & Kai both single leg lift, for the DMG PLEX! Cover, TWO!!?
Becky survives and shocks DMG CTRL! And wait! TRISH STRATUS!? Trish is here to hep her rival and best friend Lita, by TACKLING Bayley! And then she DECKS her! Trish runs around the way to help Lita up and fans fire up. Sky tags Kai, but Becky JAWBREAKERS! Tag to Lita and she runs in to rally on Sky! Lita whips, Sky reverses, Lita tilt-o-whirls to throw Sky! Sky comes back, waistlocks, but Lita hits VERTIGO! Cover, TWO!! Lita goes up top, but Sky drags her down! Sky throws Lita away, goes up top now, OVER THE MOON- FLOP!! Lita gets Sky with the facelock! TWIST OF FATE!! And now Lita goes up top again!
But Bayley scurries back up! Trish YANKS Bayley down! CHICK KICK!! But now Kai runs in! Becky YANKS Kai down, and has a DISARM-HER on the apron! Lita finally has a clear path, for her MOONSAULT!! Cover, LITA & BECKY WIN!!!
Winners: Becky Lynch & Lita, by pinfall
Fans are thunderous, and Trish gets to celebrate with Lita and The Man! And the pyro makes it official, history has been made! WrestleMania 39 is already going Hollywood, but will it hit the Big Time now?
My Thoughts:
A really good Raw, and I’m a bit surprised there was no picture in picture tonight. Does that mean they didn’t see this week’s Raw as big as last week’s which did have PIP? Weird, given that great main event. I expected Trish would help, given how this story has been going, but I did not think they’d pull the trigger and give Becky & Lita the belts. At the same time, title changes happening on TV is what RawDown really needs to get people paying attention again. It gives fans who go to these shows a reason to be excited and gets buzz going. But now it gives Raw a clear contender for what I still feel/hope will be a Fatal 4 Way. Becky & Lita VS DMG CTRL VS Ronda & Shayna VS an NXT team who might already be on their way out, like Kayden Carter & Katana Chance.
Great stuff to open the show, like Jimmy’s promo, the Profits’ promo, and the match of Profits VS Jimmy & Solo. Jimmy & Solo winning does hurt the Profits a bit, but it was great for Kevin Owens to get after Jimmy & Solo. Kevin says he doesn’t need or want help, aka work with Sami, but he was wearing a hoodie as he ambushed them, much like Sami. So again, whether Kevin admits it or not, he and Sami are going to be reunited through fighting The Bloodline. Also, great consistency of having Kevin showing up interrupting Baron Corbin’s interview. Surprisingly, it felt like Corbin was going to open up about his feelings for once. But chances are he’ll fight Kevin like he has Cody and Sami, and lose to give Kevin some momentum.
Cody had a really good match with Gable, but of course the presence, or at least the thought of Maxxine Dupri, distracted Otis. Even so, Cody was still gonna beat Gable. Cody promising to show up on SmackDown and Heyman’s response was good stuff, too, and we’re going to get some good stuff on Friday. Otis then having MMM with him for his match with Gargano was good stuff. Mace & Mansoor continue to really sell being just the most eccentric people, and I would think we’re going to see Lumis & Gargano VS Mace & Mansoor after that confrontation at ringside. And I’m sure Gable will be a bit upset that Otis left the trainer’s room just to hang out with Maxxine.
Candice VS Piper was decent, but I didn’t think Nikki would inadvertently help Candice, I thought she was going to inadvertently cost her. Asuka VS Mella was really good stuff, and naturally Asuka won to keep her momentum going. Good promo from Bianca, but of course Mella gets after her, too. Mella VS Bianca will be good stuff, but I think Mella loses again to give Bianca momentum. Chelsea Green continues to be annoying but also really funny with this persona, and I’m surprised Pearce hasn’t exploded. Chelsea interacting with Mella in a friendly way makes me wonder if they’ll end up a tag team of their own.
Really good group promo from Judgment Day to call out everyone they’re feuding with, and of course Dom is going back to SmackDown with Rhea. Finn challenging Edge was the logical next step, it all felt like it was going this way, but I also do like that Finn wants a piece of Gargano. If Judgment Day moves to SmackDown after Mania, this could be the only opportunity for Gargano VS Finn to happen on Raw. And great segment from Lesnar and MVP to make Lesnar VS Omos official. Lesnar showing up first is a great example of Lesnar just doing what he wants, regardless of being Face or Heel. But facing Lesnar is going to be a real test for Omos. He is so big and tall, I don’t think he’ll be able to take any German Suplexes. The F5 is a different matter, since he can fall safer from that than the suplexes.
Lashley VS Elias was only a step more competitive than when Lashley just demolished Elias last week. I do like that Boogs continues to take notes. I hope he reads some for us at some point, just so he can inadvertently make fun of Elias by reading off everything not to do. And just as I was hoping Bray would have an immediate response ready to Lashley’s promo, we get the Muscle Man Dance 2023 remix. It could’ve been goofier in regards to poking fun at Lashley, but Lashley still sold being pissed off perfectly. Lashley says these are “little kid games” but I think he’s going to find out Bray can be a lot creepier than that.
And of course, The Miz shared his big news for Mania. When he said “celebrity,” I did expect him to have someone else, maybe someone in Hollywood the WWE has worked with before. But I should’ve known, it was making Miz the host of Mania since he’s technically someone in Hollywood. Rollins showing up makes sense, too, as he somehow has to get Logan Paul to show up again. Rollins getting into Miz’s phone was cheesy because of the sound effects, but it was still kinda funny. Rollins calling out Logan was good stuff, and we’ll get a good face-to-face next week to officially set up their Mania match. And that will be awesome stuff because love him or hate him, Logan Paul can pro-wrestle.
My Score: 8.7/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
The Road to the Tokyo Dome goes through KOPW!
As 2024 nears an end, Great-O-Khan defends the KOPW Championship one more time, against a former KOPW Champion in Taichi! Who will be THE 2024 King of Pro-Wrestling?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Chase Your Dream Match: Shoma Kato VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
- Boltin Oleg VS Satoshi Kojima; Boltin wins.
- Triple Threat Tag: Jeff Cobb & Jakob Austin Young VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson VS Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi; Narita & Yujiro win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS El Desperado & Master Wato; Desperado & Wato win.
- Fatal 4 Way: Kevin Knight VS Robbie Eagles VS Francesco Akira VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Eagles wins.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
- Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; ZSJ & Fujita win.
- KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi; Khan wins and is the definitive 2024 KOPW Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
After the Triple Threat Tag…
The House of Torture of course cheated to win, but they wouldn’t leave it at that! They waited until the United Empire and TMDK argued with each other to then attack them all! Yujiro Takahashi CLUBS Oiwa down while Narita shoves Cobb into big Hartley Jackson! And then Narita JAMS Cobb with the pushup bar! The fans boo but Narita JAMS Oiwa up, too! The Souled Out Son of Strong Style is so proud of himself as he holds up his NJPW World TV Championship, but wait. Christmas music starts playing? The fans clap along as surprise! Santa and his reindeer are here! Well, one reindeer. But shouldn’t the House of Torture be on the naughty list?
Santa Claus walks over, and he gets the mic. He sounds familiar as he tells, “Narita-san… You have a Christmas present waiting. Would you like it now?” Narita asks what the heck is going on. Santa steps into the ring and offers Narita the little tiny bag. Narita snatches the bag, then he and Yujiro look at it. The fans asks, “Nani nani? <What is it?>” Narita tells them to shut up. Narita gets the bag open and pulls out… Blue sunglasses! With LED lights! The fans cheer as the lights go down! “E! L! P!” EL PHANTASMO IS HERE! The Headbanga has been battling cancer, but he’s here in Korakuen Hall!
Narita is furious but ELP slides right into the ring! Narita & Yujiro run away, but the fans cheer ELP on as he stands side-by-side with Jado Claus. ELP gets the mic now, and the fans cheer him on. ELP takes a moment before saying, in Japanese, “Cancer. Cancer… I’ve beaten cancer! And I love Korakuen!” But ELP asks Jado-san how to say a certain something in Japanese. He whispers it, but then Narita & Yujiro attack! The fans boo these cowards, but then Narita says Merry Christmas! But ELP BOOTS him, ELBOWS Yujiro, then dodges Narita to SUDDEN DEATH! Jado Claus DECKS the Tokyo Pimp!
ELP again asks Jado, and Jado says on behalf of ELP, that ELP is going to wrestle tomorrow night! And… Then he’ll be at the Tokyo Dome! ELP grabs the NJPW World TV Championship! ELP looks it over, and looks to the crowd, and then to Jado, but then Jeff Cobb and Ryohei Oiwa get in the ring. Cobb asks if ELP’s good. ELP is good. Are they good? Then let’s turn it up a notch! FATAL 4 WAY for the TV Championship! Narita snatches his belt, gets out of the ring, and tells everyone to shut up! The odds just got stacked against the House of Torture, will the New Year have a NEW NJPW World TV Champion one way or another?
Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita!
Ahead of battling for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, The Roughneck and The Front Man bring some back up! The Ace is also preparing to fight Evil, will he and Shota bring a Once in a Century Paradigm Shift? Or will ZSJ and the Japanese Young Punk prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The teams sort out and Shota starts against ZSJ. The fans cheer this WrestleKingdom preview, and Korakuen duels between “SHOTA! SHOTA!” and “ZAKU! ZAKU!” ZSJ and Shota feel things out, then knuckle lock. ZSJ clinches but Shota fights back with his own clinch. ZSJ slips around to chinbar but Shota wrenches to a wristlock. ZSJ rolls, tries another chinbar but Shota cranks the wristlock. ZSJ bridges, spins, slips around and wrangles Shota! Shota kips up to WRING the arm, but ZSJ UP KICKS! The fans cheer as the two reset. Shota and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. ZSJ then stands on Shota’s hand!
ZSJ has another hand and twists the wrist! Then he has both arms for a motorcycle stretch but Shota fights up. Shota turns things around, and he fights ZSJ as ZSJ tries to turn them back. ZSJ keeps trying, and he pushes through, but Shota spins things right back around! The fans cheer while Shota digs a foot into ZSJ’s back. ZSJ flips, kips up, spins things around, but Shota spins them back! The fans cheer, and Shota spins ZSJ. ZSJ dodges the lariat, Shota blocks a kick, but ZSJ ducks the enzigiri! Shota avoids the Penalty Kick and arm-drags ZSJ, but ZSJ headscissors! Shota kips free, avoids a leg pick, and the fans cheer!
Shota dares ZSJ to go for the leg but the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and each man breaks free of one. They back off, and Shota tags in Tanahashi. The fans cheer, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Korakuen strongly supports President Ace. Tanahashi and Fujita circle, tie up, and Tanahashi powers Fujita back. The ref counts, Tanahashi lets off slowly, but then Fujita turns things around! Tanahashi turns things around, and repeat! The ref counts, Fujita lets off slowly, but then both men block a kick! They argue over who lets go first, and eventually agree for a mutual break. They set the feet down, but then Fujita holds on!
Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi, then whips. Tanahashi reverses but Fujita ducks ‘n’ dodges to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Fujita aims from a corner. Fujita runs corner to corner but Tanahashi BOOTS him! Shota CLOBBERS Fujita, then eggs ZSJ on! ZSJ runs up, Shota blocks a kick and he sends ZSJ into Tanahashi’s ELBOW! Shota CLOBBERS ZSJ and the fans fire up. Shota pursues ZSJ to the outside and CLUBS him down! Shota clamps onto ZSJ with a chinlock but the ref reprimands. Tanahashi CHOPS Fujita, but Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Fujita storms back up, but he blocks a boot!
Fujita DRAGON SCREWS Tanahashi’s leg! Fujita kips up, ZSJ sends Shota into railing, and Fujita stomps Tanahashi. The fans rally and Fujita brings Tanahashi up to CHOP! Fujita eggs Tanahashi on, CHOPS him again, then CHOPS again! Tanahashi flounders and ZSJ tags in. ZSJ drags Tanahashi up to UPPERCUT! Tanahashi ends up in the TMDK corner, ZSJ UPPERCUTS him again! ZSJ says, “Mada mada!” and he UPPERCUTS again! Tanahashi falls, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Fujita brings Tanahashi up. Fujita CHOPS again, and then CHOPS again! Tanahashi is stinging and using the ropes for defense while the fans rally up.
Tanahashi storms up but Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi CHOPS, Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi falls and Fujita BLASTS Shota! Tag to ZSJ and he grabs a leg. Fujita also grabs one, they drag Tanahashi to center, and then they both go after arms. Then they shift, ZSJ has an arm while Fujita has a leg! Then they both have legs again! Then ZSJ has a leg and Fujita has an arm! Then back to the arms! They both isolate the arms for DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans cheer, the ref reprimands and ZSJ “apologizes” with a bow. ZSJ stands on one of Tanahashi’s legs to then twist the other! Tanahashi endures, even as ZSJ TWEAKS the ankle!
ZSJ twists the foot the other way, flips Tanahashi over, and shifts around to have a headscissor and armlock! Shota stomps ZSJ but Fujita goes after Shota! Fujita TOSSES Shota, ZSJ tags Fujita back in. Fujita stomps Tanahashi, KICKS him in the back, but Tanahashi gets mad! Fujita KICKS Tanahashi but Tanahashi fires up! Fujita KICKS and CHOPS, but Tanahashi fires forearm after forearm! Fujita CHOPS again! Tanahashi grits his teeth but Fujita CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! SHOTEI! Fujita falls but so does Tanahashi! The fans rally up while both men crawl, hot tag to Shota! Shota rallies on Fujita with big forearms and elbows!
Shota whips, Fujita reverses, but Shota dropkicks the legs out! ZSJ runs up and RAMS Shota! Then ZSJ runs, but into Shota’s DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Shota goes to Fujita. Shota whips corner to corner, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! Shota reels Fujita in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t mind. Shota clinches but Fujita fights the suplex with elbows. Shota runs up, but Fujita wrenches, waistlocks, but Shota ELBOWS free! Shota whips, Fujita reverses and DROPKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita crawls, hot tag to ZSJ!
ZSJ runs up to BOOT Shota! Shota stays up so ZSJ runs to BOOT him again! And BOOT him again! Shota roars and ROCKS ZSJ! Shota runs to ROCK ZSJ again! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Shota eggs him on, repeat! Shota UPPERCUTS and ZSJ roars! ZSJ UPPER- NO, Shota hooks the arm, but ZSJ wrenches out of the backslide to PELE the arm! Then ZSJ basement DROPKICKS Shota! The fans fire up while Shota clutches a leg and an arm. ZSJ kicks him around, scuffs him and taunts him. The fans rally, the ref checks Shota, but Shota is okay to continue. ZSJ stands Shota up to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT!
Shota clinches to EXPLODER! Both men are down and the fans rally again! Shota crawls, hot tag to Tanahashi! Fujita runs up, but Tanahashi blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! Payback for earlier! Tanahashi runs up at ZSJ in a corner, blocks a boot, and DRAGON SCREWS! Tanahashi put some stank on that one! Then he goes up the corner for a SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! ZSJ stays in this but the fans continue to rally! “GO ACE! GO ACE!” echoes out as Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ catches him into a COBRA TWIST! Tanahashi endures, then throws elbows into ZSJ’s leg. Tanahashi gets free to DRAGON SCREW again!
ZSJ writhes, Tanahashi ties the legs up, but ZSJ kicks at him! Tanahashi blocks a kick to GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And now, TEXAS CLOVER- NO, ZSJ fights the turnover and reels Tanahashi into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Tanahashi endures and the fans rally up, but Shota gets in! Shota stomps away on ZSJ, but then Fujita MISSILE DROPKICKS Shota! Fujita brings Tanahashi up but Tanahashi SHOTEIS him down! ZSJ is after Tanahashi but he avoids the shotei! ZSJ SLAPS Tanahashi, then PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives but ZSJ gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans fire up as ZSJ stand Tanahashi up.
ZSJ scoops but Tanahashi fights that, to a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up but Tanahashi isn’t done! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi stands ZSJ up again, but ZSJ scoops to ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, ZSJ & Fujita win!
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita, by pinfall
Shota can’t believe The Ace fell, but this is why ZSJ is the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! Will ZSJ do this all to Shota when they’re 1v1 in the Tokyo Dome? Or will Shota prove he’s mightier than The Mighty?
KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi!
The Dominator has, well, dominated as KOPW Champion for a long stretch of 2024, but the Holy Emperor did close out 2023 with this title. Granted, Taichi says that win, lose or draw, this is his final KOPW Championship match. As such, tonight’s stipulation is a sort of “Best Of” compilation as we go Best 2 Out of 3. Part one: a no ropes Sumo Rules match! Part two: Yoshinobu Kanemaru as special guest referee? Well, he would be a neutral party… And part three, if needed, will be a LAST MAN STANDING MATCH! Will Taichi “retire” from this truly freestyle division standing tall? Or will Khan truly conquer KOPW for the United Empire?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, but Taichi also brings back the trophy for the occasion, and it’s time to end the year in style!
Sumo Rules!
Both men finish preparations with weight belts and some stretching. They square up, the ref says go and they RAM into each other! The fans rally as both men go for those weight belts to use as leverage. They go around, get very close to the ring edge, but then Khan moves things away. Khan THROWS Taichi, but Taichi stays on the ring so the sumo match continues. They reset and go again! Taichi pushes Khan back with both hands, but Khan digs in his heels! They clinch, go around, and Taichi goes for the edge! Khan pulls on Taichi’s leg to get around, but Taichi uses that to steer Khan to another edge! But Khan hits a fireman’s carry takeover!
Khan drags Taichi up but Taichi fights off the throw! They clinch and fight for control again. They each try to lift with the belt! Khan has Taichi near the edge, but then Taichi has Khan near the edge! Khan is teetering and the fans fire up! Taichi THROWS Khan to the floor, Taichi wins the fall!
Khan: 0; Taichi: 1
Special Guest Referee!
The fans are thunderous as Taichi takes the Sumo Rules fall, but now we go to a much more complicated situation. The ropes have to be put back up, sure, but now the Heel Master of all people is going to be the referee! The time it takes to set up the ropes is a reprieve for both sides, especially Khan as he has to catch his breath and refocus. Once the ropes are up, both men wait in the ring. All that is left is the buckle pads, and of course, Kanemaru himself. Kanemaru gets a proper introduction and entrance before he goes to the ring, and wow, he’s even wearing an official NJPW referee shirt with the lion mark on it.
Referee Kanemaru does his check and he even tells Taka Michinoku to watch himself. Kanemaru does a far less thorough check of Khan than Taichi! Did the Empire pay Kanemaru off?! Kanemaru has Taichi cool off, then whispers something to Khan! The bell rings, the fans rally for Khan, and Khan circles with Taichi. They tie up, Taichi powers Khan to ropes, and Kanemaru calls for a ropebreak. Then he has a fast count! Taichi lets off before 4 and argues with Kanemaru! Kanemaru says that’s his count, deal with it. Khan and Taichi reset, tie up, and Khan puts Taichi on ropes. Kanemaru pays more attention to Taka than Taichi!
The fans can’t help but laugh as Kanemaru finally does count, and now it’s really slow! Taichi protests, but Khan pulls Taichi’s arms. Then he CHOPS Taichi and stops at “3!” Khan then goes after Taichi, wrenches and wristlocks, and Kanemaru is asking if Taichi gives up!? Taichi tells him to shut up, but Khan kicks and CLUBS Taichi. Khan whips, Taichi BOOTS Khan down, then covers! Kanemaru strolls over to count! And it’s so slow! “TWO” and the fans cheer. Taichi is upset, but Khan rolls Taichi up! SO FAST!! TWO!! Taichi is getting pissed but Kanemaru backs away. Taichi stomps Khan, and Kanemaru’s untying a buckle pad?!
Taichi stomps Khan around, Khan leaves the pad there loosely, and Taichi whips. Khan reverses, and SURPRISE! bare buckles! Taka protests but Kanemaru SMACKS him with the pad! Khan plays dumb, and then he stands on Taichi’s lower back. Taichi has the ropes, but Kanemaru kicks the arm away! Khan has Taichi’s other arm, Taichi keeps grabbing for ropes but Kanemaru keeps kicking the hand away! Khan drags Taichi up, brings him around, and ROCKS him in the back! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan Mongolian Chops him on the back! And Mongolian Chops again! And Mongolian Chops again! Kanemaru doesn’t bother counting at all!
Taka protests, Kanemaru warns him, but then Khan hops up to sit on his throne! The fans cheer while Taichi endures, and only now does Kanemaru count! Khan asks hold on, hold on, so Kanemaru stops counting! Khan hops down, and then he puts Kanemaru up on the throne! Khan gets the fans to join in on the “Ohh…! HMPH!” Kanemaru isn’t into it so he hops down. Khan apologizes to Kanemaru, then he kicks Taichi around. Taichi gets up to fire hands! Khan kicks low, whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down. Taichi stands, and he drags Khan up into SEITEI JUJIHOU!
Kanemaru might be stuck, he can’t ignore Khan tapping. But then Kanemaru drags Khan over to the ropes! Taichi is frustrated with Kanemaru but Kanemaru says that’s a ropebreak. Taichi storms up on Kanemaru, but then Khan waistlocks! Ripcord and SAYANAGI! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan runs in, but Taichi dodges! GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Taichi snarls. Taichi TAKES OFF THE PANTS! The pants were a bit stubborn, but still. But then Kanemaru “checks” Khan just to stay between him and Taichi! Taichi says move or else! Kanemaru says he’s the ref!
Kanemaru kicks Taichi, CLAWS Taichi’s eyes, then traps his arms! Khan gets up to IRON RIGHT!! Kanemaru “scolds” Khan, then “checks” Taichi. Khan rests in a corner and Kanemaru drags Taichi up for him. Taichi CHOKES Kanemaru! Kanemaru kicks low! Kanemaru whips Taichi into a corner, ELBOWS him, then Khan LARIATS! Khan snapmares and covers, Kanemaru wants more first! Khan sits Taichi up for a BASEMENT DROPKICK! Now cover, TWO!! Taichi survives so Kanemaru hurries to get his whiskey! Khan takes a swig, and Kanemaru sets Taichi up! WHISKEY MIST into Kanemaru! Taichi hits the GEDO CLUTCH, but Kanemaru really can’t count now!
Taichi lets off of Khan since there was no count to be had. Taichi drags Kanemaru up, but Khan WHISKEY BOTTLE SHOTS Taichi! IRON CLAW!! Kanemaru calls for the bell? He just hands the win to Khan without counting, so now we’re all tied up!
Khan: 1; Taichi: 1
Kanemaru has fulfilled the contract, Khan gives him the envelope of money. Khan even makes sure we all see how many thousands that is! Kanemaru heads out, is he going to party hard for the holidays? But that aside, it is time for the final fall!
Last Man Standing!
Taichi gets the mic first, and tells Khan that if that’s how Khan wants to do it, then Taichi will get down and dirty with Khan! No lumberjacks, no special guests, just the straight up ten count, and it can happen anywhere in Korakuen Hall! Khan says bet! The announcement is made for the official rule change, and now we have the final fall! Khan rushes Taichi on the outside, then whips him into railing! And we’re already going into the crowd! Khan throws Taicihi at English commentary, but big Hartley is a solid wall for Chris. Khan then drags Taichi up into the bleachers, and the fans clear out of the way!
Khan CHOKES Taichi with a chair, then lets off to clear chairs out of the way. The Young Lions try to help but Khan gets mad at them and pushes them aside. Khan drags Taichi up, knees him low, and then reels him in! But Taichi fights the sayanagi! Taichi SHOVES Khan, Khan falls to the floor but gets up, only for Taichi to CROSSBODY! Down goes Khan and Red Shoes hurries over. Both men are down but Taichi sits up. The count starts and Khan is still down at 5 of 10! Khan hurries to get up, and Taichi stomps him down! Taichi drags Khan back up into the bleachers, but we go the other way.
Taicih KICKS Khan down, Young Lions keep the fans back again, and Taichi drags Khan along. They keep moving through the crowd, and Taichi shoves Khan into chairs! Khan sputters but Taichi drags him up again. Taichi KNEES Khan, then drags him up. They go back down to floor level, and then Taichi aims at chairs! Taichi whips but Khan reverses and he BOWLS Taichi into chairs! Not quite a strike but he got a good number of those chairs! Khan pops the railing loose from the special corner piece, and he brings that corner piece over! Khan SMACKS Taichi with the steel! Taichi staggers away but he sits in a chair.
Khan starts folding chairs to stack them on the floor. Khan then uses one chair as a leash to drag Taichi over! Khan CLUBS Taichi, adds that one chair to the pile, and then snap suplexes Taichi onto the chairs! Taichi writhes but Khan rises up. Khan roars and the fans fire up! The count begins again but Taichi slowly sits up at 4. Taichi rises up, and he stands at 8! Khan brings Taichi around in a headlock, and they go to the orange bleachers! Khan uses the gate to smother Taichi, then they go up to the higher level! The fans fire up but then fans have to move! Khan KNEES and CLUBS Taichi, then whips Taichi at the exit door!
Taichi tumbles into the hallway! Khan drags Taichi back into the arena and uses the HITSUJIGOROSHI against the chairs! Taichi endures as Khan chokes him, then Khan lets him go! Red Shoes checks on Taichi, Taka coaches him, but the count begins. Khan sits in a chair to relax while he waits. Taichi sits up at 7, and stands at 9! Khan storms up on Taichi to CLUB him on the back! Khan headlocks Taichi, brings him to the other section, and he gets up close to the fans for photo ops. Khan then whips, but Taichi reverses, and Khan is sent into the wall! Taichi leaves Khan behind while the count begins again.
Khan sits up so Taichi KICKS him back down! Taichi drags Khan up, KICKS him again, and Khan falls to his knees. Taichi drags Khan up by his ponytail, and he goes close to the stairs that lead to the back! Khan fights the suplex, and for his life, but then he turns things around! Taichi fights the suplex, throws hands, and then DDTS Khan to the floor! Red Shoes checks both men, then starts the count. Taichi shakes out his arms and sits up at 4. Taichi stands at 6 but Khan is still down at 8! Khan drags himself up at 9! Taichi CLUBS Khan down, then brings him back up. Taichi brings Khan back to ground level, then snapmares him hard for a KICK!
Khan is in agony but Taichi drags him back up. But Khan RAMS Taichi into the railing! Taichi sputters while also sitting in a chair. Khan staggers away to ringside, and he goes looking under the ring. Khan brings out a trolly cart? Khan JAMS Taichi up using his own mic stand, then leaves him behind. Khan brings out a TABLE! Fans rally up as Khan puts the table on the trolly, then he staggers over to Taichi. Khan CLUBS Taichi down, then SHOVES him onto the table trolly combo. Khan has fans clear out, and then he SNOW PLOWS the chairs with Taichi on the cart!! The fans fire up as Khan stands over Taichi.
Khan drags Taichi up, and he brings the table along, too. Khan kicks chairs out of the way as he returns to the upper deck! Khan SMACKS Taichi off the edge, then he clears out space. Khan sets the table up, then he goes up to fetch Taichi. Khan JAMS Taichi up with a chair, then SMACKS him! Taichi writhes, fans rally, and Khan drags Taichi up. Khan vows to end this! IRON CLAW, and ELIMI- NO! Taichi fights Khan off! Taichi stumbles away through the crowd, but then grabs himself a chair. Taichi runs up to JAM Khan right in the face! Taichi then steals Khan’s idea to choke grip and CHOKE SLAM down through the table!!!
Khan writhes and the fans go nuts! Taichi hobbles around while Red Shoes counts Khan. Khan is still down at 5! Still down at 7! 9! KHAN GRABS RED SHOES’S HAND!! Khan survives, and though he has a couple bloody cuts on his back, he crawls his way to the ring. Taichi eggs Khan on and the fans are thunderous! Khan drags himself into the ring, Taichi runs, AX BOMBER!! The fans fire up and the count returns! Khan is still down at 5, stirs at 6, sits up at 7, and he rises at 8! So Taichi just runs up to AX BOMBER!! Khan drops to his knees, flops over, but he’s already pushing himself back up! Taichi runs again, AX BOMBER!!
Khan staggers around but he stays on his feet! Taichi says fine, AX- SAYANAGI!! Khan turns things around, and he AX BOMBERS in return!! Both men are down and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and Khan crawls for ropes at 5! Taichi slowly sits up at 6, and both men go to corners at 7! Red Shoes waits on them to rise up, and then Taichi fires up! Taichi runs up, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so Taichi BOOTS! Khan BOOTS back! Taichi URAKENS! Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Taichi SOBATS! Khan BODY BLOWS! Both men drop to knees, but they also grab at each other.
The fans rally as Khan and Taichi slowly rise. They are forehead to forehead, and then Taichi AX BOMBERS! Khan drops to his knees, Taichi BUZZSAWS, but Khan blocks it! Khan ROCKS Taichi with a right! And then Khan reels Taichi in, but Taichi Alabama Lifts! BLACK- NO, Khan fights into a GUILLOTINE! Taichi is stuck in the body scissors!! Taichi flails, even taps out, but that’s not how Last Man Standing works! Khan squeezes tighter and tighter, Taichi fades, and Red Shoes checks! Khan lets Taichi go and the count begins! Khan rises at 6, and Taichi is somehow up at 9!! So Khan clamps on an IRON CLAW!
Khan lifts Taichi, but Taichi slips free! Taichi shoves Khan and ROCKS him! DANGEROUS SAIDO!! But Khan is staggering to his feet?! Khan goes to a corner, flounders along ropes, but he isn’t down yet! The fans rally hard while both men fight to their feet! SUPERMAN PUNCH from Khan! PELE from Taichi! Both men are down again! Red Shoes starts the count on them both, and the fans rally even harder! Taichi is up at 7! Khan grabs Red Shoes at 9 again!! Taichi roars, Korakuen is with him, and he powers up! TENSHI JUJI- NO!! Khan blocks, and he hooks Taichi! Taichi CLUBS away on Khan, but Khan still lifts! ULTIMATE ELIMINATOR!!
Both men are down again and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and they’re both down at 5! At 7! 9! Khan pushes up, but he FLOPS back down!! DOUBLE TEN! IT’S A DRAW!! What does that mean for the belt!? Red Shoes goes out to talk with Abe-san, and then the announcement is made. In the end, with it being 1-1-1, a true draw, it all goes to KHAN!
Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (DEFINITIVE 2024 KOPW Champion)
Khan flips Taichi off, one last insult added on top. Khan is given the belt back, but Taichi grabs his trophy. Taichi steps up to Khan, and gives him the trophy, saying it is rightfully his now. Taichi shows Khan that respect, and Khan returns it with a handshake. Khan “retires” Taichi from KOPW, what will the Holy Emperor look to do in 2025?
As for Khan, he grabs the mic, and he asks Taichi to wait a moment. “You served this title for three years. We will honor your glory!” The fans applaud that, and Khan asks the previous champion to come closer. No, closer. The fans cheer Taichi on as he steps closer to ringside. Khan says Taichi served this title well, so here is his reward. Khan is giving the trophy back? Taichi says no, he gave that to Khan out of respect. Khan says to Taichi and to everyone to listen well. “We are the last KOPW Champion!” Everyone is a bit surprised to hear that.
Khan says, “As an alternative, on January 4th in the Tokyo Dome… as THE last KOPW Champion, We demand that the January 4th match determine the next IWGP World Heavyweight Championship challenger!” The fans are really intrigued by that idea! Khan throws down the belt, and Chris makes sure English speakers understand what Khan is suggesting. The New Japan Ranbo determining a #1 contender? Khan says that these are the words of the final KOPW Champion, The Great-O-Khan! “HAIL US, PEASANTS!” A New Year, a new era? Will Khan’s revolution bring glory to the United Empire?
My Thoughts:
A very good night for Road to Tokyo Dome, though I did skip a lot just because I didn’t have a lot of time today. But luckily I was skimming through, or I would’ve missed ELP’s great return. Congratulations on him beating cancer, and I like that they’re adding him to the NJPW World Television Championship match. It makes sense given ELP’s beef with the House of Torture, and honestly, why not just have ELP win? Not even so much for getting over cancer (though kind of that, too) but because fans love ELP and it’d help him solidify his singles run with Hikuleo long gone for WWE.
Really good stuff in the other tune-up matches, such as #DespeWado winning and the chaotic end to the Fatal 4 Way. Eagles won to help him and Fujita have momentum, but there is still more to the Road to Tokyo Dome first. Honestly that tag Fatal 4 could really go any which way they want so I’m not sure how the go-home math would even work. And Gedo of course took the loss against LIJ. Yota Tsuji is aiming for David Finlay and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, but who knows how things go before we get to WrestleKingdom.
Very good tag match from Shota & Tanahashi VS ZSJ & Fujita, and it was technically a surprise for Tanahashi to take the loss. This works on many levels, as Tanahashi should be figuratively on the ropes going into his match with Evil, and this gives Fujita equal momentum alongside Eagles. And then great main event, Khan and Taichi really went the distance with this one. And it all makes sense after Khan reveals this is the end of the KOPW Division. Khan wants to make the New Japan Ranbo to basically be the Royal Rumble and that is pretty cool. I think they could keep the belt to represent that contender’s status the same as the G1 Climax having a briefcase, because that KOPW belt actually looks pretty nice.
My Score: 8.8/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Rockin’ around the Christmas Collision!
The Continental Classic continues on Christmas Collision, with crucial points on the line this close to AEW Worlds End! Who will finally take the lead in Gold League?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Will Ospreay VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
- Kris Statlander VS Penelope Ford; Kris wins.
- AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Shelton Benjamin VS Daniel Garcia; Garcia wins.
- AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Mark Briscoe VS The Beast Mortos; Briscoe wins.
- AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli; Claudio wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current Continental Classic Gold League standings!
Claudio Castagnoli: 2-1, 6 points
Will Ospreay: 2-1, 6 points
Ricochet: 2-1, 6 points
Darby Allin: 2-1, 6 points
Brody King: 2-2, 6 points
Komander: 0-4, 0 points [ELIMINATED]
Here are the current Continental Classic Blue League standings!
Kyle Fletcher: 3-1, 9 points
Kazuchika Okada: 2-1-1, 7 points
Mark Briscoe: 2-2, 6 points
Shelton Benjamin: 2-1, 6 points
Daniel Garcia: 1-1-1, 4 points
The Beast Mortos: 0-4, 0 points [ELIMINATED]
Ian Riccaboni is in the ring.
He has Big Boom AJ & Big Justice with him in the Hammerstein Ballroom, and yes, they’re ready to bring the BOOM~! They’re ready to watch the action tonight, and even the final face-to-face of MJF and Adam Cole. AJ says if MJF is gonna bring the doom, then you know he and Big Justice will bring the BOOM~! But tonight, their guy, Adam Cole will bring the BOOM~ too! And of course we have big Continental Classic action! Daniel Garcia VS Shelton Benjamin in a critical showdown, and while Shelton is tough, Garcia is going to bring the BOOM~! Plus, Mark Briscoe battles The Beast Mortos! The Chicken is their guy, time to bring the BOOM~!
In Gold League, we have Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli, and the Swiss Superman is a DOOM~! Let’s go, Darby, bring that BOOM~! And then a match everyone wants to see, the fireworks rematch of Will Ospreay VS Ricochet! If you’re a fan of high-flying wrestling, this is the right night to be right here in AEW! Ricochet and their guy, Ospreay, will bring the BOOM~! But speaking of, that match is up first! The Aerial Assassin joins AJ & Big Justice in giving a BOOM~, but will Ricochet make sure tonight is #OuttaThisWorld?
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Will Ospreay VS Ricochet!
Wait, are the fans throwing white streamers or is that… No, yeah, it’s toilet paper! Ospreay laughs at the fans basically calling Ricochet crap. Ricochet throws the toilet paper back! The bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans fire up for Ospreay as he and Ricochet circle. The fans also sing, “F HIM UP, OSPREAY, F HIM UP!” Ricochet shrugs that off, he and Ospreay tie up, and then Ricochet rolls. Ospreay shoots in, waistlocks, but Ricochet switches. They go around, Ricochet gator rolls with Ospreay, then floats to a headlock. Ricochet wrenches, hammerlocks then headlocks again. Ospreay powers up and out, Ricochet runs him over, but Ospreay kips up!
The fans cheer and Ospreay smiles as he and Ricochet reset. They tie up, go around, and Ricochet wrenches to a wristlock. Ospreay rolls, wrenches and wristlocks, but Ricochet spins and wrenches to hammerlock. Ospreay reaches back, headlocks and hits a takeover. Ricochet rolls to a cover, TWO! Ospreay holds onto the headlock but Ricochet powers up and out. Ospreay runs Ricochet over, Ricochet bails out, and then Ospreay handsprings to fake Ricochet out! The fans cheer as Ospreay superhero lands out, and Ricochet is annoyed. Ospreay holds ropes open for Ricochet, but Ricochet goes around the way to step in on his own.
The fans boo Ricochet being a bad sport but Ricochet ignores that. Ospreay and Ricochet knuckle lock, then Ricochet kicks low! And CHOPS! Ricochet whips, Ospreay reverses, but Ricochet rolls off Ospreay’s back! Things keep moving, Ospreay avoids the handspring to then duck ‘n’ dodges and RANA! But Ricochet handsprings through! The fans fire up, and Ospreay arm-drags Ricochet down! The fans cheer while Ricochet endures the grind. Ricochet fights up and puts Ospreay on ropes. The ref counts, Ricochet and Ospreay slowly let g o, and Ricochet SLAPS Ospreay! Ospreay CHOPS Ricochet!
Ospreay takes a swing, Ricochet ducks under to roll back and RANA! But now Ospreay handsprings through! Ricochet dodges to waistlock but Ospreay bucks the O’Conner. Ricochet arm-drags Ospreay down, but Ospreay headscissors back! Ricochet pops free but Ospreay arm-drags! Ricochet headscissors, Ospreay pops free, and Ospreay handsprings, but Ricochet catches him! Ricochet then THROWS Ospreay into the Tree of Woe, and Ospreay falls down! The fans boo while Ospreay bails out, but Ricochet FOSBURY FLOPS! The fans boo but Ricochet takes the toilet paper to wipe himself, then he SMOTHERS Ospreay with it!
The fans boo that literally disgusting act of disrespect, but Collision goes picture in picture.
Ricochet taunts the fans, then drags Ospreay up. Ricochet puts Ospreay in, soaks up more heat, then KNEE-BOARD SENTONS! Ricochet swaggers to taunt the fans more, then he goes back to Ospreay. Cover, ONE!! Another cover, TWO! Ricochet taunts the fans more, then goes back for Ospreay. Ricochet stands Ospreay up to CHOP, and Ospreay goes to a corner. Ricochet RAMS into Ospreay, RAMS him again, then snapmares to UPPERCUT in the back! Cover, TWO! Ospreay stays in this but Ricochet drags him into a motorcycle stretch. Ospreay endures while Ricochet digs a knee into the back. Ospreay fights up, fights with elbows, then runs, but into a DROPKICK!
Ospreay is down in a daze but Ricochet has to shake out the stars in his own head. Ricochet covers, ONE! Ospreay then uses that one to flip off Ricochet. Ricochet RAMS Ospreay in the back! Ricochet then clamps on with a chinlock, and he digs his knee into Ospreay’s back. Ospreay endures, even as Ricochet JAMS Ospreay. Collision returns to single picture as the fans rally for Ospreay again. Ospreay fires up, fires hands, but Ricochet RAMS him into a corner. Ricochet runs up, RAMS into Ospreay, then goes to the apron. Ospreay takes a swing but Ricochet dodges and gets around him to GERMAN SUPLEX! Ospreay lands out!
Ospreay runs, handsprings, NEURALIZER KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Ospreay goes to the apron, takes aim, and he springboards to PIP PIP CHEERIO! Down goes Ricochet, Ospreay covers, TWO! Ospreay stays focused and the fans rally up. Ospreay drags Ricochet up, CHOPS him, then CHOPS him again! Ricochet staggers, Ospreay runs, but Ricochet TIGER WALL KICKS! Forearm, SOBAT, and Ricochet runs, but into a POP-UP, and STYLES- NO, Ricochet sits up, slips free, and he underhooks Ospreay for a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ospreay survives but Ricochet goes up.
Ricochet has to double clutch, the fans let him hear it, but Ricochet still MOONSAULTS! Ricochet lands out as Ospreay moves, and Ospreay runs up, but into an ELBOW! Ricochet handsprings, but into a pop-up, Electric Chair, spin around, STYLES CLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives and Ospreay is surprised. Ospreay pulls on the elbow pad and the fans fire up! “This is Awesome!” as Ospreay aims, but Ricochet bails out! The fans boo but Ospreay storms after Ricochet. They’re both on the apron and Ospreay goes up a corner. Ricochet anchors Ospreay first! Then Ricochet has the Electric Chair Lift!
Ospreay fights free, fights off a nelson, then he KICKS Ricochet! Ospreay runs, but into a pop-up APRON DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! The fans chant “You Still Suck!” but Ricochet adds a SHOOTING STAR PRESS! Ricochet puts Ospreay in, then springboards to 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives, but then Ricochet AX KICKS! Dragon sleeper, inverted suplex, VERTIGO! Cover, TWO!? Ospreay survives and Ricochet is shocked! Ricochet snarls and he aims from a corner. The fans rally for Ospreay but Ricochet loads up. SPIRIT- NO, Ospreay ducks under! Ospreay gets up, Ricochet blocks a kick!
Ricochet V-TRIGGERS, then he reels Ospreay in! But Ospreay fights out of the bomb, but then Ricochet returns the favor! Ricochet suplexes, into STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Ospreay springboards for the OSC- CUTTER FROM RICOCHET!! Ricochet hurries to get Ospreay up, powerbomb into fireman’s carry, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! SPIRIT- HIDDEN BLADE!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Ospreay and Ricochet both slowly sit up and the fans rally as hard as ever. Ricochet and Ospreay stare down, talk a bit of trash, then stand up. Ospreay draws a line in the sand and dares Ricochet to step up.
Ricochet steps right up, they stand toe to toe, literally! They start firing forearms! The fans cheer Ospreay, boo Ricochet, and Ricochet wobbles! But then Ricochet comes back with forearm after forearm! Ospreay wobbles, but he grins as he rises and roars! Ospreay fires a flurry on Ricochet, then ROCKS him! Ricochet flops over, Ospreay hauls him up! But Ricochet grabs at the ref! Ospreay kicks Ricochet’s arm away, but then Ricochet RAMS Ospreay into the ref! The fans boo but then Ricochet hurries to HOOK KICK! And VERTI- NO, Ospreay slips free to underhook! STORM BREAKER! Cover, but the ref is down!
The fans count, Ospreay would’ve won twice over! Ospreay calls to the ref, the ref sputters around, and Ospreay goes up. But then Ricochet kicks the ref into ropes! Ospreay gets tripped up and the fans boo more! Ospreay is confused as to what happened, but SPIRIT GUN hits the mark!! Cover, RICOCHET WINS!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Ospreay earns 0)
The One & Only got away with murder, but there’s nothing that can be done now! Ricochet has NINE points, will he be headed to Worlds End?
Adam Cole heads to the ring!
The fans cheer as the Panama City Playboy returns to the Hammerstein Ballroom, and yes, they join in for the “BOOM~!” and the “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY~!” Cole grabs a mic, but he keeps his eyes on the ramp. That’s because we all know who’s next. MJF makes his entrance, but with a handful of security guards in front of him first. And not even AEW security, that’s his own personal security. MJF grabs a mic and has them cut his music. The fans boo but MJF tells them, “If I wanted your help, I’d ask for it. Sit down and shut up.” The fans tell MJF to STFU, but MJF shrugs that off.
MJF tells Cole that MJF is frustrated. It’s because for the past few months, MJF has had to listen to Cole say MJF is Cole’s biggest enemy! If memory serves, and MJF’s memory always does because unlike the fans here, he isn’t a complete moron… Didn’t Cole turn on MJF? But then does Cole realize he has bigger enemies out there? Like spray tan, cracks in the floor, gusts of win, and maybe… a cavity. Because last MJF heard, Cole’s dentist isn’t seeing him anymore. Cole was already staring daggers into MJF, but now he’s pissed. MJF has Cole calm down, and he tells the fans to shut up so he can shoot straight.
When MJF was the longest-reigning and greatest AEW World Champion of all time, Cole was nothing more than MJF’s cute little sidekick. That ate Cole up inside. Cole wanted to be MJF. Cole wanted #TripleB. But the sad truth is, Cole had many opportunities to win the title before MJF got anywhere near it. It’s almost like when it comes to Cole being elite enough to become world champion, just like his “s*itty little ankle,” Cole blows it. MJF laughs at his own joke, and then tells the fans he is talking, it is not that complicated. But this is why MJF doesn’t buy the hogwash that Cole turned on MJF because MJF would turn on Cole first.
Cole turned because he, like all these shmucks, is jealous of MJF. And who can blame Cole? MJF is rich, handsome, funny, entertaining, and then look at Cole. For crying out loud, Cole used to be ADAM COLE BAYBAY. Now, he’s just a crack baby! Cole asks if MJF is done. Was that the last line? Because it felt like MJF practiced that for two weeks in front of a mirror. But MJF killed it, really. Cole could come back with childish comments to hurt MJF’s feelings, but he won’t. Cole could mention MJF has had two surgeries on that fake head of hair of his while only in his 20s, which is hilarious, but he won’t.
Cole could talk about how MJF pulled some strings to get his girlfriend hired, like the real politician he is, but Cole won’t go there. Cole could talk about how every single time MJF enters a room, everyone waits for him to leave because he is loud, obnoxious and annoying as hell. But Cole won’t go there. Because Cole is not like MJF. They are nothing alike. That is why the friendship was ruined. Because, MJF, the truth is you say Cole is a failure, but in virtually every wrestling company Cole has worked for, he is the longest-reigning champion in so many!
In this very building, Cole bled BUCKETS against Kyle O’Reilly, wanting to prove he was one of the best in the world, and that is exactly what he did! Does Cole have regrets? Sure. Are there things Cole wishes he could take back? Absolutely. But Cole does NOT regret turning on MJF. The only reason it drives MJF insane is because Cole beat MJF to it. That’s MJF 101: Get close to someone, then turn on them. It’s what MJF does. Cole just did it better than MJF, and MJF knows it.
But Cole has been thinking, trying to understand what’s going on in MJF’s head, and he finally figured it out. MJF is terrified of having anyone close to him, because he feels it is a weakness. That hit a chord? Because not only does MJF act like a child, he thinks like a child! MJF knows in his heart that he was going to be the one to turn on Cole first! DAMN RIGHT HE WAS!!! MJF realizes he let the cat out of the bag. MJF says congrats, Cole, he solved the mystery! A regular Scooby-Doo! Great job, Adam.
But you want the truth? Here it is. The fact of the matter is, last year at Worlds End, MJF had every intention on stabbing Cole in the back that night. Cole just got lucky. When #BetterThanYouBaybay started, MJF didn’t give a damn about Cole. Cole was nothing more than a pawn. But MJF will admit, he did eventually start to care. For the first time in MJF’s life, he cared about someone else. Fans mockingly go, “Aww…” But MJF says that is just when Cole became a liability. And since Cole’s “a fragile little freak,” him jumping off that ramp and exploding his ankle made him a distraction!
Distractions, liabilities, emotions, there are no room for those when all you should be concerned with is maintaining the world championship! But Cole doesn’t get it, does he? Last year was a fluke. Cole ain’t the Devil, he just beat the Devil to it. But this year, Worlds End, December 28th, the same show where Cole tried to end MJF’s world, MJF ENDS Cole!! MJF throws down the mic and the fans are torn. Cole smirks and says MJF ends things then? Well, how about Cole ends this? COLE DECKS MJF! The guards rush in, but Cole fights them off! MJF sends more but Cole SUPERKICSK! And SUPERKICKS! And SUPERKICKS!
But then MJF LOW BLOWS Cole! MJF tells the fans to shut up! MJF takes out the Dynamite Diamond Ring! But then The Kingdom rushes out here! MJF runs away from Matt Taven & Mike Bennett, but he vows this ends at Worlds End. We have one week left, is that the last week Cole has in AEW? Or will MJF finally lose the one thing he has left in that diamond ring?
Backstage interview with Kris Statlander.
Lexy Nair is with the #BornAgainKristen and brings up her trying to make amends with Willow Nightingale last night, as well as making the save when Harley Cameron & Penelope Ford were beating Willow up. Kris says what she and Willow have to discuss is between them. But as far as her and Penelope go, they’ve got a lot of history, and if Ford wants a fight, Kris will give her a fight. Then speaking of history, Kris still has her eyes set on the TBS Championship, can she tells us more on that?
Kris says she looked back on 2024 and she had a downward spiral that started with losing that title. Maybe if she wins it back, Kris will right her wrongs. On that note, Mercedes Mone, you don’t have an opponent for Worlds End so here Kris is. Let her know when you’re ready for round two. Kris heads out, will she prove to everyone that she is still the Galaxy’s Greatest?
Backstage interview with Orange Cassidy.
AEW returns and Lexy is now with Freshly Squeezed. In exactly one week, he will compete against three other men for the AEW World Championship. There are a lot of combustible elements at play, and Cassidy says yeah, we saw that on Dynamite. Jay White, Hangman Page and Cassidy can’t exactly have a conversation. So really, Cassidy wants them to listen. “Between now and Worlds End, Jon Moxley can run and hide. He can hide behind his goons, he can run away in a pickup truck. But when that bell rings in seven days, he has nowhere to go. He will be in the ring with us. Us three. And you both know that we need to remove Jon Moxley from the equation.
“We can. We’ve done it. And after that, us three, we can fight for the AEW World Championship and one of us will become the AEW World Champion. Just something to think about. See you guys on Dynamite.” Cassidy is ready to remove the Maniac from the throne, but will the Switchblade and Cowboy listen to reason?
Kris Statlander VS Penelope Ford!
As Kris just said, she’s calling out The CEO in hopes of one more TBS Championship match. But will the Superbad Girl be more like the Grinch for Kris this Christmas?
The bell rings and the fans rally as Kris circles with Ford. They tie up, Kris powers Ford to a corner, then throws Ford back into the corner! The ref counts, Kris lets off, but Ford shoves her! Kris ROCKS Ford, TOSSES her, then runs up on her. Kris whips, drops down, then hurdles over. Kris CLOBBERS Ford and the fans fire up as she flexes. Kris drags Ford up, reels her in, and suplexes, and she holds Ford up! The fans cheer and Kris goes all the way to TEN, but Ford slips into a SLEEPER! Kris pries the hold open and she brings Ford around for another suplex! The fans fire up as Kris holds Ford up for five before the SLAM! Cover, TWO!
Kris drags Ford up, whips her to the corner, but Ford goes up, only for Kris to Electric Chair Lift! Kris climbs, Ford fights with fists, and she shoves Kris down! Ford steadies herself, then hits a FLYING BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ford is frustrated but she storms up on Kris. Ford bumps Kris off buckles but the fans rally behind Kris. Ford stomps a mudhole, but she lets off as the ref counts. Kris goes to the apron, but Ford jumps up to drop KNEES on her! The fans boo but Ford soaks up the heat, and Collision goes picture in picture.
Ford brings Kris around to THROW her into railing! Ford soaks up more heat, then drags Kris up and RAMS her into the apron! Ford refreshes the count, then stalks Kris around the way. Ford whips Kris into the steel steps! Kris falls over in a heap but Ford drags her up into the ring. Ford covers, TWO! Kris stays in this but Ford kicks her around. Ford CHOKES Kris on the ropes, thrashes around, but lets off as the ref counts. Ford drags Kris up and whips her to ropes, then LARIATS as Collision goes to break.
Christmas Collision returns and Ford CHOKES Kris on the ropes again! The ref counts, Ford lets off and Kris sputters to the apron. Ford runs and goes up, up, and KNEE DROPS on only apron! Kris then SHOTGUNS Ford off the apron! The fans fire up and Kris brings Ford up, to THROW into railing! Kris puts Ford in the ring, the fans fire up, but Ford kicks low. Ford reels Kris in, but Kris suplexes, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ford flounders to a corner but Kris has the fans rallying behind her. Kris runs up to UPPERCUT! Kris goes side to side but Ford dodges the knee! Ford hits a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!
Ford wasn’t quite perfect there but she watches Kris go to a corner. Ford runs corner to corner, handsprings, but Kris catches her! The fans fire up as Kris GERMAN SUPELXES, but Ford lands out! but Kris goes Matrix to dodge! So does Ford! STUNNER! Ford runs, Kris does her best to follow, but Ford hops up for a POISON-RANA! Cover, TWO!! Kris survives and the fans fire up! Ford is beside herself, but she drags Kris to a drop zone. Ford goes up top, and MOONSAULTS BUT FLOPS as Kris moves! Kris hurries to deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! And then GERMAN SUPLEX again! The fans fire up as Kris scoops to tuck Ford in! STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER! Cover, Kris wins!
Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall
Ford gave Kris quite the fight, but Kris came out on top! Wait, here comes Mone! Kris did call the CEO out, so Santa Mone says, “Ho, ho, ho ho ho! New York Citaaaay~! Please say hello to your C E O! Kris, after the year I’ve been having, I was planning on taking Worlds End off. I was planning on going to the Ritz in Boston.” The fans boo Boston, but Mone says since it’s the holidays, Mone feels like being nice. She already beat Kris once anyway, so she’ll just beat her twice! At Worlds End, you see that money changes everything, because Mone is the greatest TBS Champion of all time!
The challenge has been accepted, and Mone is looking to be busy before the New Year. Will Kris make her regret it?
Big Boom AJ & Big Justice return to the ring.
They’re getting Christmas Collision ready to bring the BOOM, but out comes Chris Jericho, who is still ROH World Champion after overcoming Matt Cardona last night at Final Battle. And he has Bryan Keith & “Big Bill” Morrissey with him as he asks if AJ has a permit for being here tonight. Did they talk with Mayor DeBlasio? Because they certainly didn’t run this past Jericho. Do they know who he is? Big Justice says yeah, he knows! “You’re a JACKASS!” Jericho is taken aback, but the fans agree with Justice. The Bad Apple says this is why dumbass kids should be sitting and not heard. Jericho says yeah!
And if being a jackass means he’s the King of New York, then Jericho’s the biggest jackass! And besides, Jericho talks for everyone here saying we do not want AJ & Justice here! The fans boo, they disagree with Jericho. But Jericho says they don’t even have Costcos in New York! New Yorkers shop at bodegas. Fans are torn, because they kind of agree. Jericho says his favorite is the Walgreens a few blocks over in Flushing. And speaking of Flushing, that’s where AJ & Justice belong: in the toilet! This is the Hammerstein Ballroom, the House that Jericho built! The fans boo that, it’s the House that Hardcore built.
But Jericho says there’s no time for goofy gimmicks like BOOM~, or bandit masks, or scissoring! Scissor me, Bad Apple~! But then wait! The Acclaimed is here! Well, Anthony Bowens is, at least. Bowens pushes past The Learning Tree and he joins AJ & Justice in the ring. Bowens has the music cut, and he tells Jericho that he doesn’t get why Scissor King is catching strays, but you caught his attention. Jericho is trying to intimidate a man in a walking boot and an 11 year old child while spouting nonsense about being the King of New York. Why doesn’t Jericho do what he has asked so many others in the past: SHUT THE HELL UP!
The fans cheer but Big Bill says, “As the Learning Tree always says, when a man tries to silence another man, he’s probably afraid of the truth.” The fans do cheer Big Bill because he is from New York. Bowens says he has no idea what that means, Bill. But he does know we’re live on TNT, Christmas Collision, Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City! So Chris, why not walk your ass to this ring and get it whipped by the Scissor King?! Jericho says if Bowens wants him to do that, then not tonight. Jericho waves bye, but AJ says hold on, listen up. We know Jericho is running scared, but we know at some point, Bowens will get to bring the-
Bowens stops the Boom? Because he wants to scissor! AJ says okay, and they SCISSOR BOOM~! But is that true? Will Anthony Bowens be the one to tear down the Learning Tree and be a champion?
Backstage interview with The Vendetta.
Lexy is now with Deonna Purrazzo & Taya Valkyrie, and they’ve got a hot streak going. Deonna’s message last week was ominous, but who was it for? Taya says there are so many options. Everyone deserves a slice of The Vendetta. There’s Mercedes, Mariah, Toni Storm, even Lexy could get some, so watch your back. Speaking of Toni, she stumbles in and apologizes for interrupting. She just wants to say hi to everyone, hello. Oh, Deonna, a pleasure. Deonna says she knows who Toni is. R-Really? So cool! Taya says she’ll make a guess: Toni has a tattoo on her leg, a little duck with a knife through it.
Wow, how’d Taya know? Deonna says no no no, she is not doing this again. She does not get what sick crap Toni’s up to, but she is already done with it. So for Dynamite’s Miracle on 34th Street, Toni VS Taya! Taya says she’ll make Toni forget everything! Toni nervously thanks The Vendetta, and says this is a big opportunity to face someone like Taya. Toni leaves, Deonna and Taya sigh, and Lexy has no idea what to say. Is Toni’s mind unraveling before our eyes? Or is there still a bit of Timeless inside Toni Time?
AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Shelton Benjamin VS Daniel Garcia!
This showdown was inevitable, but it’s even more fitting after The Standard of Excellence beat up the TNT Champion just because he stood up to the Hurt Syndicate. Will Shelton continue to bring the pain? Or will he not survive Red Death?
The bell rings and Garcia goes right at Shelton! Garcia fires hands but Shelton RAMS him into the corner! Shelton fires hands but Garcia turns things around to fire more shots! The ref counts, Shelton shoves Garcia back, but Garcia runs up to fire hands! Shelton shoves Garcia again, but Garcia gets under the lariat to waistlock. Shelton fights the lift but Garcia shoves him to SLAP! And CHOP! Shelton just grins and he picks Garcia up again! Shelton TOSSES Garcia away and Garcia goes to ropes. Shelton brings Garcia back up, scoops and SLAMS him, then brings him up again. Scoop SLAM! Shelton drags Garcia up and puts him in a corner.
Shelton whips corner to corner hard and Garcia falls! The fans sing, “We Hurt People!” Shelton drags Garcia around, stomps him around, then TOSSES Garcia out hard! Garcia sputters but Shelton storms outside. Shelton brings Garcia up but Garcia fires hands! Shelton RAMS Garcia into the apron, then railing, then back to the apron! And repeat! Garcia falls in a heap and the fans fire up. Shelton grins as he drags Garcia up, to then THROW into steel steps! Shelton leaves Garcia behind and the ring count climbs on Garcia. Garcia drags himself up at 7 but Shelton goes out after him again.
Shelton puts Garcia in the ring, then grabs at him. Garcia grabs ropes but Shelton stomps him. Shelton stands Garcia up to DECK him! The fans cheer but Shelton brings Garcia up again. Garcia fires a forearm, then he CHOPS! Shelton eggs Garcia on, so Garcia CHOPS! Shelton grins, Garcia CHOPS, but Shelton DECKS him again! The fans duel but Shelton whips Garcia to ropes, for a BIG backdrop! Garcia flounders and Collision goes picture in picture.
Shelton stalks Garcia to the ropes, brings him up and around, then puts him on other ropes so he can CHOKE him! The ref counts, Shelton steps off, and Garcia coughs and sputters to a corner. Shelton stalks behind Garcia, stands him up, and winds up to ROCK Garcia! Garcia flounders against ropes then falls to the mat! Shelton stands over Garcia, drags him up and puts him in the corner. Shelton throws hands and Garcia stumbles. Garcia falls, but Shelton stands on him. Shelton stomps Garcia, drags him up, but Garcia fires up! Garcia breaks free to fire CHOPS and forearms on repeat!
Garcia whips, Shelton reverses and Shelton BOOTS Garcia down! Cover, TWO! Shelton is still amused, and he clamps onto Garcia with a chinlock. Garcia endures as Shelton grinds him down, and Garcia fights up, only for Shelton to wrangle him back down! Shelton leans all his weight on the hold and he squeezes tight. Garcia fades but the fans rally, and Garcia gets a second wind! Garcia fights up, Christmas Colilsion returns to siongle cipture, and the fans duel as Garcia fires hands! Garcia runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHOTGUNS SHelton down! The fans fire up and Garcia aims from a corner. Garcia runs up, Shelton gets around, GERMAN SUPLEX!
The fans are torn while Shelton storms around. Shelton waits on Garcia, waistlocks, GERMAN SUPLEX! Garcia flops around but Shelton stalks him to the ropes. Shelton goes to the apron, runs up, but Garcia BOOTS him! Garcia takes a swing, but Shelton waistlocks! Garcia holds ropes to fight off the suplex to the floor! Garcia stands up and elbows Shelton away! Then Garcia LEAPS, but into Shelton’s clinch! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY to the floor! Garcia flounders, fans sing, “We Hurt People!” Shelton runs up but Garcia drop toeholds him into a chair! Shelton sputters and the fans rally up. Garcia makes Shelton take a seat, then rains down fists!
The fans count along and Garcia goes to nine, puts up the dukes, then hits TEN! Garcia gets space, runs back in, and he SHOTGUNS Shelton outta the chair! The fans are thunderous as Garcia goes back for Shelton. Garcia drags Shelton up but Shelton pushes him away. Shelton LARIATS Garcia, then rolls into the ring. The ring count starts, the fans help Garcia stand, and the fans fire up! Garcia hurries to the ring, but Shelton BOOTS, only for Garcia to block! DRAGON SCREW! Garcia runs, Shelton gets around, GERMAN SUPLEX! Even with a bad leg, Shelton has so much strength! Shelton storms up in the corner, but Garcia dodges!
Shelton’s knee hits buckles, and Garcia leg scissor rolls him! Garcia steps through for the DRAGON TAMER!! Shelton endures and the fans fire up! Garcia sits on the hold, but Shelton powers up! Shelton powers out of the hold, has Garcia’s legs, and he turns Garcia over into a QUEEN ANGELITO STRETCH! Garcia endures, reaches out, and he army crawls his way forward! But Shelton drags Garcia back! Garcia cradles Shelton! TWO!! Shelton escapes, but Garcia BOOTS him! Shelton SUPERKICKS Garcia! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Shelton covers, TWO!! Garcia barely gets out of that and Shelton is furious!
“This is Awesome!” as Shelton looms over Garcia. Shelton drags Garcia up, but Garcia trips Shelton! Jackknife bridge, GARCIA WINS!!
Winner: Daniel Garcia, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Shelton earns 0)
A Christmas Collision miracle? Who knows! But Garcia is still alive in the C2, but Lashley snatches Garcia into a SLEEPER! The fans boo but MVP hands the pimp cane to Shelton! But here comes Mark Briscoe, and he has a chair! Security wants this to stop before it gets out of hand, and even producers get out here! But wait! Is that Swerve Strickland rushing in from the crowd?! It is! He goes right up top to SUPER SWERVE STOMP the Syndicate and security guards! Garcia gets free of the pile, Mark Briscoe is with him, and now the locker room hurries out here to stop this from getting worse!
The fans chant, “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” and Nana eventually hands the mic to Swerve. “Bobby FREAKIN’ Lashley! Didn’t I say I was gonna get my hands on you by the end of ’24? By the end of 2024, I said I was gonna get my hands on you, and that’s what I did, courtesy of the most dangerous man in AEW. Whose house?!” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Swerve is still aiming for Lashley’s head, will he and Lashley have it out at Worlds End?
AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Mark Briscoe VS The Beast Mortos!
After getting a couple shockers, The Sussex County Chicken could easily jump up to the front of the block with one more! But will he #ManUp and bring down the menacing minotaur? Or will The Beast be a massive spoiler for Briscoe?
The bell rings and we’re on the clock again. The fans rally and duel while both men fire up. They RAM shoulders, and then fire forearms! The fans fire up as Mark gets the edge, but Mortos swings! Mark dodges to CHOP, then fire forearms! Mark ROCKS Mortos, whips, but Mortos reverses and SPLASHES Mark! Mortos runs but Mark follows to LARIAT! Mark runs, Mortos follows, but Mark dodges to CHOP! And CHOP! And forearm! And Mongolian Chop! Mark fires forearms against the ropes, then roars. Mark runs but Mortos follows to UPPERCUT! The fans fire up, Mortos runs but Mark follows to FOREARM!
Mark runs, Mortos follows, and he slingshots to hook and backslide, TWO! Mark trips Mortos to jackknife, TWO! Mortos gets around, hammerlock and cradle, TWO! Mark slips around to roll Mortos, TWO! Both men stand, both men dodge, and the fans cheer the standoff. The fans cheer “BOTH THESE GUYS! BOTH THESE GUYS!” as they reset. Mark and Mortos run up to RAM shoulders again! And again! Mortos is getting the better of this, and he CLOBBERS Mark! The fans cheer Mortos while Mark goes to ropes. Mortos runs in but Mark TOSSES him up and out! Mortos clutches a leg, stands up, but Mark runs!
Mortos slides in, dodges, and he SPEARS Mark! The fans fire up and Mortos roars while Collision goes picture in picture.
Mark rolls to a corner while Mortos headbutts buckles. Mortos then runs corner to corner to DROPKICK Mark! Mark sputters, Mortos drags him to a cover, TWO! Mark stays in this but Mortos drags him into a chinlock. Mark endures, even as Mortos leans on the hold. Mark fights up as the fans rally, and Mark fires body shots. Mortos THROWS Mark down! Mortos then CRANKS Mark’s neck, then KICKS him in the chest! Cover, TWO! Mark is still in this and he goes to ropes. Mortos storms up but Mark CHOPS! Mortos SMACKS Mark and Mark falls into a corner. Mortos stomps Mark, then digs his boots in!
The ref reprimands and counts, Mortos steps off, then Mortos snapmares Mark so he can step on Mark’s face! Then NECK TWIST! Cover, TWO! Mark stays in this and he goes back to ropes. Mortos waits on Mark to stand, then SMACKS him down! Mark dangles out of the ring in the ropes, but Mortos goes after a leg while Collision goes to break.
Christmas Collision returns and Mortos has Mark in a corner. Mortos whips corner to corner, then runs up to UPPERCUT, CHOP, and HEADBUTT! Mark staggers and the fans rally up for Mortos. Mortos brings down his kneepads, runs corner to corner, but Mark dodge! Mortos hits buckles then falls to the outside! The fans fire up as Mark then WRECKS Mortos with a dropkick! Mark builds speed and he DIVES, direct hit on Mortos! The fans fire up and Mark even hugs a few! Mark tosses a chair into the ring, and fans rally for #DEMBOYS. Mark sets the chair up, but Mortos anchors Mark’s legs! Mortos then SMACKS Mark!
Mortos drags Mark to the apron, Mark fires forearms. Mortos shoves Mark, but Mark fireman’s carries! Mortos fires elbows to get free! Mark REDNECK KUNG-FU UPPERCUTS! Then APRON GERMAN SUPLEXES! Mortos falls to the floor while the fans lose their minds! Mark rises up, takes aim, and he fires the fans up more. Mark goes up a corner, for a SUPER SKY TWISTER! The fans are thunderous and Mark high-fives the front row. Mark then goes back to the ring and builds speed! Mark uses the chair to FLY! Direct hit and Mark even lands on his feet! The fans fire up and Mark hurries to get Mortos back up.
Mark puts Mortos in the ring, “This is Awesome!” as Mark takes aim. FROGGY-BOW onto knees! Mortos saves himself there, and then roars! Mortos whips Mark, scoops him, and has the torture rack! BEAST BACKBREAKER! Then Mortos hauls Mark up for a POWER BREAKER!! The fans fire up for Mortos and he DISCUS- NO, Mark dodges, runs, but into a POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO!! Mark survives and the fans fire up again! Mortos snarls, hauls Mark up, and then scoops! But Mark slips free! Mark crane kicks, then underhooks! But Mortos backdrops free! Mark rises, Mortos runs, but into a fireman’s carry!
Mark hits a ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Then Mark goes up the corner, and the fans fire up for the FROGGY-BOW!! Cover, TWO?!? Mortos survives but Mark shakes his head. Mark just goes back up top! Mortos sits up and roars! But Mark still FROGGY-BOWS!! And then he underhooks, lifts, JAY DRILLER!! Cover, Mark wins!
Winner: Mark Briscoe, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Mortos earns 0)
And with that, Mark is now even with Kyle Fletcher, who Mark already beat earlier on! That is all the difference between the one seed and the two seed, how will this final round shake out?
Julia Hart speaks.
“Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. I’m no coward. What you call tricks, I call advantages. I suggested that you watch your back. I gave you all the warnings. So I’m not understanding why you feel the need to call me classless and sneaky. I thought I was being more than reasonable. I know you’re strong, but are you smart? Are my ‘tricks’ too much for you? I guess we’ll find out January 1st, Fight for the Fallen. But remember: The House Always Wins.” The Princess of the Black Throne is ready, but will she learn Hayter Hits Hard?
Backstage interview with Mariah May.
Alex Marvez is with the AEW Women’s World Champion and says in one week’s time, it will be Mariah VS Thunder Rosa for the title, in a Tijuana Street Fight! Marvez notes that Mariah not only had some harsh words for Rosa, but for her father, as well. Mariah says, “Aw~, Papa Rosa is gonna be in the front row. Is that to watch the match? Or does Thunder need a new mami?” But speaking of Rosa, she RAMS Mariah right into the door! And dribbles her off it, too! Mariah pulls hair, Rosa tries to choke Mariah, and then Mariah shoves Rosa away. Mariah calls Rosa crazy, but Rosa says she’s not done with Mariah!
Rosa storms after Mariah into the hall, and then to the stage area! Mariah has made it to ringside, Nigel tries to warn her, but Rosa CLOBBERS Mariah! Rosa rains down fists, then stomps away! Rosa SMACKS Mariah off steel steps, then grabs a chair! Mariah sputters, but gets away before Rosa swings the chair! Security rushes out here for the third time tonight, and Rosa LEAPS! The cluster keeps her away from Mariah but fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!” Rosa holds up the AEW Women’s World Championship, will she send the “Woman From Hell” back where she came from in order to have the gold again?
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli!
While The Relentless One has been after each and every Death Rider, he gets one served up to him on a silver platter. But will Darby bring down the Swiss Superman before the final round? Or will Claudio crush Darby’s hopes and dreams this close to Christmas?
But before Claudio even gets in the ring, Darby DIVES out onto him! The fans fire up as Darby fires fast hands! Claudio gets away but Darby pursues, jumps on, and throws more hands! Claudio carries Darby up the ramp to then THROW him down! Darby writhes, Claudio drags him up, and Claudio gorilla presses! Darby slips free, goes to the entry, and then dodges Claudio to send him into the light truss! And then he shoves Claudio into it again! Claudio falls, and now Darby climbs up!? The fans fire up as Darby is up on the camera balcony! Darby SUPER CROSSBODIES Claudio down!
Claudio tumbles down the ramp and Darby sputters while fans lose their minds. The ref checks Darby, his fall was still really wicked. Claudio sits up in a daze as he’s now ringside, and somehow Darby pursues! They both get in the ring, the bell rings, and Darby runs up! But into a POP-UP UPPERCUT!! Cover, TWO!! Darby survives and Claudio is already frustrated. Claudio drags Darby by his legs, to GIANT SWING~! The fans count as Darby goes around and around, and Claudio goes past TEN, past FIFTEEN, past TWENTY, and all the way to THIRTY!! Darby flounders out of the ring while Collision goes picture in picture.
The ref goes out to check on Darby, and somehow he’s okay to continue. Claudio steps out to fetch Darby, and lift shim up with one hand! Claudio then gut wrenches and carries Darby, to SLAM him onto railing! And DUMP him down! Claudio drags Darby up again, gut wrenches again, and he TOSSES Darby onto the railing! Darby flops back down and clutches his lower back, but Claudio leaves him behind. The ring count begins but Darby sits up. Claudio goes out after him again, and brings him up to CHOP! Darby staggers away to a corner, Claudio storms up and CHOPS again! Darby flops down but Claudio looms over him.
Claudio gets space, runs up, and he UPPERCUTS Darby against railing! Darby stumbles away, Claudio goes to the ring, but Darby rolls in, just to roll back out. Darby earns himself some time, but then Claudio storms out after him. Darby hurries int he ring to get away, but Claudio is after him there, too. Claudio stands on Darby’s hands, then stomps them! Darby writhes, but Claudio stomps his hands more! Darby goes to a corner. Claudio stands him up and CHOPS! Claudio UPPERCUTS, CHOPS, and Christmas Collision returns to single picture. The fans duel, Darby fires hands, but Claudio UPPERCUTS!
Claudio whips, Darby springboards, COFFIN- NO, Claudio catches Darby! Darby fights free, runs, but Claudio runs up! Darby DUMPS Claudio, then runs to DIVE! Direct hit at the ramp! The fans fire up again and Darby puts Claudio in. Claudio rolls out the far side but Darby DIVES again! Claudio is sent into railing but Darby goes up a corner! The fans fire up for the SUPER COFFIN SPLASH! Direct hit and both men are down again. The ref starts the ring count, the fans rally up, and Darby refreshes the count. Darby LEAPS onto Claudio for a SLEEPER! Claudio goes to steel steps and he steps up, but Darby squeezes tight!
Claudio steps back down, and he runs into the timekeeper’s area! BACKPACK SENTON through the table! The fans lose their minds again while Claudio leaves Darby behind in the wreckage. Darby stirs, the ref starts another ring count, and Darby crawls. “This is Awesome!” as Darby leaps in at 7! Claudio runs but Darby slips around! O’Conner Roll, TWO, springboard and SPALSH! Cover, TWO! Ghost pin, TWO! Claudio is up, but Darby sunset flips! Claudio stays up, and DOUBLE STOMPS! Claudio deadlifts Darby to then TOSS him out of the ring! Darby hits apron on the way out and fans tell Claudio he’s sick!
Claudio goes out after Darby and drags him up again. Claudio scoops and then POSTS Darby! And POSTS him again! Claudio TOSSES Darby aside, rolls into the ring, but only to refresh the count. Claudio then drags Darby by a leg and brings him over. Claudio SWINGS Darby into steel steps!! Claudio puts Darby in the ring, stands him up, and runs to LARIAT! Darby flips through the air! Claudio covers, TWO!! Darby survives and Claudio is frustrated. The fans rally for Darby but Claudio rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Then Claudio tucks the arms, RICOLA- CODE RED!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio escapes in time!
The fans rally while both men are down again. Darby and Claudio slowly rise, and Ricochet watches, very amused as Darby is his next opponent in the round robin. Darby crawls to a corner, climbs up, but Claudio UPPERCUTS! Claudio HEADBUTTS Darby, then climbs up again. Claudio brings Darby up and suplexes, but Darby fights around! SUPER SCORPION DEATH DROP!! The fans are thunderous for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” as Darby rises up. Darby climbs to the very top, COFFION DROP onto knees! Claudio saves himself, then he hauls Darby up. Straitjacket and RICOLA~ BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Darby survives and shocks Claudio! Claudio argues with the ref but the count was fair! Darby’s just that tough! Claudio goes back to Darby and ripcords him into the RICOLA~ BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!?! HOW?!? Claudio goes outside, and he brings out something from under the ring. He also has a chair! The ref takes the chair from Claudio, but Claudio has BRASS KNUCKLES! BRASS KNUCKLE PUNCH!!! Cover, CLAUDIO WINS!
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Darby earns 0)
The Swiss Superman screws over Darby, but then he gets that chair back. But wait, Ospreay slides into the ring! And HE has the brass knuckles that Claudio tossed aside! Ospreay dares Claudio to do something, but Claudio simply leaves. Does this mean Ospreay’s ready to ride against the Death Riders with Darby? Or will we see a Miracle on 34th Street send Ospreay and Darby to Worlds End?
My Thoughts:
A great Collision here as the last one before Worlds End, and therefore a bit of a go-home in itself. While the continued feud of MJF and Cole has still been a bit clunky since they did the double turn, their faceoff did a good job addressing some of that. They got good digs at each other as always, and MJF snapping and revealing “the truth” was their big move to recover this story. We of course got a brawl, and good save by The Kingdom. It feels like MJF still finds a way to hold onto the diamond ring, but c’mon, how fitting is it for Cole to get a diamond.
Good bit with Toni Storm and The Vendetta, and Deonna’s reaction to Toni was great. Deonna is justified in thinking this is still an act from Toni, not a legitimate psychological problem, and Toni VS Taya will be good stuff. Good promo from Kris Statlander, good match from her and Penelope Ford, and of course a good win for Kris. Good promo from Mone to make Worlds End official, but as I’ve been saying, Mone is more likely to lose the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship as part of the big NJPW Tokyo Dome weekend. The irony is, Mina Shirakawa is her challenger and Mina shows up plenty in AEW, so I don’t know how that math is supposed to work.
Good promo from Mariah May as it also turned into a brawl with Thunder Rosa. As it stands, Rosa standing tall holding up the belt means she is NOT winning at Worlds End, but they could still give us a little more from Rosa and Mariah on Dynamite’s Christmas episode to turn the tables. Good promo from Julia Hart to respond to Jamie Hayter, they’ll have a good match. Good promo from Orange Cassidy to try and reason with Jay White and Hangman Page, but that’s all the more reason Moxley likely uses the challengers all against each other like he did on Wednesday. Though, it would be fun if they at least started the match all annihilating Moxley with their finishers, making us think it’ll work out in favor of “Team AEW.”
Good stuff with Big Boom AJ & Big Justice here tonight, both hyping up the show but also interacting with Jericho’s group and even Anthony Bowens. They’re adding some more foreshadowing to The Acclaimed breaking up, and I guess we’re supposed to see this as a positive move, Bowens feuding with Jericho. Unless Bowens is going to be the guy that dethrones Jericho for whatever ROH cable TV debut/return is planned, the Jericho Vortex strikes again. Bowens should be going for an AEW midcard title, but right now, those are all tied up what with the C2 going on and the International Championship being tied up in Worlds End and NJPW plans.
Speaking of the C2, great stuff with all the matches tonight. Shelton VS Garcia was great stuff, and while Garcia gets the win, they’re still giving us some set-up for a TNT Championship match of Garcia VS Shelton. Mark Briscoe of course made the save, but great surprise for Swerve to show up. Lashley VS Swerve for Worlds End just needs to be said, it already feels a given. All that brawling was also a good segue into Mark VS Mortos, and another great showing for Mortos, even in losing. But as Mark has already had all his matches and is at 9 points, Kyle doesn’t even need to win against Garcia, he just needs to draw so that Mark will be out, and Garcia with him.
While Ospreay VS Darby on Wednesday raised the bar, Ospreay VS Ricochet still had great stuff of its own. Plus, Ricochet is bringing out more of his Heel side what with using the ref, and Ricochet’s win puts the pressure on Ospreay for Christmas Dynamite. Now, no offense to Brody King, but I’m thinking Ospreay wins that to take one of the semifinal spots. Darby VS Claudio tonight was also great, but Darby doing his best Sting off the truss was not the best when he gets that whiplash on the floor. I really thought that match was going to be called for concussion protocol, but Darby’s weirdly indestructible.
Claudio still cheats this win so there’s more heat on the Death Riders and Darby is also behind the 8 ball. Ospreay making the save was good, we can definitely have another “Team AEW” VS Death Riders with Ospreay joining Darby and a couple others, but the way they did the order of matches, Claudio’s got a seemingly easy ride against Komander for Christmas. Though, how awesome would it be if Komander pulled off the spoiler? Or if they were really going to add some drama, they should create a situation where the Death Riders end up ringside, violating the Continental Rules of no cornermen and that disqualifies Claudio. Claudio misses out on the semifinals because of a technicality, sending Ospreay and maybe Ricochet to the semifinals.
My Score: 8.8/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Hockey Talk- Winter (Classic) Is Coming [121724]
Hockey Talk looks at Alex Ovechkin's recovery and when he might be back. Plus, the Winter Classic fast approaches. Is...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Are Those Chiefs Uprights Regulation Size Or What?!
Jump on board as Andrew and PC run down the entire slate of action for week 15 in the NFL!
Hockey Talk- Igor Gets Paid! [121024]
Hockey Talk looks at a coaching change in Chicago, the Four Nations Tournament, and Igor Shesterkin laughing all the way...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: Famous Jameis
As we head into the last week of byes on the NFL schedule, the gents run down their picks for...
Hockey Talk- A Bruins Loss, A Blues Gain [120324]
Hockey Talk celebrates Jeremy Roenick finally getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, 16 years after his last game and...
Bandwagon Nerds #268: Seasons Geekings
Your favorite Nerds invite you to the greatest Holiday Party in the Nerdosphere! That plus a review of the first...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (12/18/24)
Majora speaks.
Bandwagon Nerds #267: I’ve Had 16 Holes Already!
The Nerds convene for an extended trip to the Trailer Park and discuss big casting decisions affecting the MCU and...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (12/12/24)
Dinner is served.
Bandwagon Nerds #266: Silver Age Supermen
The Nerds conclude their review of Game 7, plus the latest trailers and the official launch of the new DCU!
Mitchell’s NJPW Road to Tokyo Dome Results & Report! (12/22/24)
Empire VS Emperor!
#TheOddity 023: Just Use A Baby Sock
Join Dave Wortz and PC Tunney for your weekly newsletter on the ridiculous and dumb of actual headlines from around...
Mitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (12/21/24)
Merry Collision!
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: The Saturday Night Wrasslin Show!
With Saturday Night's Main Event in our rear view mirror, we talk about the MAIN event.
Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (12/20/24)
Brody King is on a Rampage!
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (12/20/24)
Who's dreaming of a gold Christmas?
Mitchell’s ROH Final Battle Results & Report! (12/20/24)
Is this the end of the Forever Reign?
DWI Podcast Classic: Scrooge McBitch
As the snow falls, enjoy this holiday classic from 4 years ago!
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (12/19/24)
One last stop before Final Battle!
Classic POD is WAR: Banana Bamboo (112620)
The Chairshot, brings you THE podcast that will absolutely have you questioning everything you thought you knew about professional wrestling,...
