Coverage
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (3/9/23)
A golden second episode!
Will the landscape of ROH soon change?
On just the SECOND episode back, ROH puts up the Women’s, Television and Pure Championships in three star-studded showdowns! Who will hold the gold in this new era of honor?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- ROH World Television Championship: Samoa Joe VS Tony Deppen; Joe wins and retains the title.
- Six Man Tag: Dalton Castle & The Boys VS Marcus Kross, Cody Chhun & Guillermo Rosas; Castle & The Boys win.
- La Faccion Ingobernable w/ Jose VS Spanish Announce Project w/ Luther; LFI wins.
- Trish Adora VS Billie Starks; Adora wins.
- The Trustbusters w/ Mark Sterling VS Jake Crist & Man Scout; The Trustbusters win.
- ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler Yuta VS Timothy Thatcher; Yuta wins and retains the title.
- Aussie Open VS Rhett Titus & Tracy Williams; Aussie Open wins.
- Eddie Kingston VS Ben Dejo; Eddie wins.
- ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena VS Willow Nightingale; Athena wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
ROH World Television Championship: Samoa Joe VS Tony Deppen!
While no longer the One True King of Wrestling Television, the Samoan Submission Specialist will not give up his final piece of gold without a fight. Will Joe still have a throne in ROH? Or will Deppen be steppin’ up to become The Czar of Honor?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who truly reigns in ROH!
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and fans rally for “JOE! JOE! JOE!” as he circles with Deppen. They tie up, fans sing “Joe is gonna kill~ you!” as Joe puts Deppen on ropes. The ref counts the break, Joe lets off cleanly and smirks as Deppen resets. The two circle, tie up, and Joe puts Deppen in the corner. The ref calls the break again, but Joe CHOPS Deppen as he lets off. Fans rally up for Joe again but Deppen shrugs that off. Deppen and Joe tie up again, go around, and Deppen wrenches to a wristlock. Joe wrenches right back, but Deppen rolls and hooks a leg. Joe twists the wrist but Deppen rolls back, stands up and CHOPS! And ROCKS! And CHOPS!
Deppen fires off on Joe in the corner but Joe HEADBUTTS! Then JAB, JAB, JAB! Joe fires off fast hands and a CHOP! Deppen falls and fans fire up! Deppen sits up and gasps, but he CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Deppen runs, but Joe CLOBBERS him! Joe looms over Deppen before he covers, TWO! Deppen goes to ropes but Joe stalks him. Joe JABS again, and again, and again! Joe stomps Deppen to the corner, stomps him more then digs his boot in. The ref counts, Joe lets off, but Deppen shoulders into Joe. Deppen eggs Joe on, so Joe CHOPS and KICKS him down! Joe drags Deppen up, back elbows then JABS, then HEADBUTTS!
Joe stands Deppen up but Deppen throws hands. Deppen backs Joe down, ELBOWS him, then CLUBS him on the back! Deppen whips corner to corner, Joe reverses and runs in to back body block, then PELE! Deppen goes down again and fans fire up! Fans rally behind Joe, and Joe drags Deppen up. Joe hoists Deppen up top as fans sing again. But Deppen fights the tuck to HEADBUTT! Joe CHOPS in return! Joe climbs up, clinches, but Deppen throws body shots! Deppen ROCKS Joe, stands and leaps, to MISSILE DROPKICK! Fans fire up, Deppen says Joe is dead, but Joje puts Deppen on the apron. Deppen dodges the haymaker to SLINGSHOT STUNNER!
Joe staggers, Deppen rolls Joe up, TWO!! Joe escapes but Deppen is focused! Deppen runs in, URENAGE and KNEE collide!! Both men fall but Deppen makes the cover, TWO!! Deppen almost had Joe but he isn’t sure what he has to do now. Deppen climbs the corner and fans rally up. DIVING- NO, Joe avoids the stomps! Deppen comes back, the URENAGE hits clean! Joe storms up on Deppen, reels him in, but Deppen drops! Victory roll, TWO!! Joe LARIATS Deppen! Joe then puts Deppen up top, tucks him in, and brings him out, MUSCLE BUSTER!! Cover, Joe wins!
Winner: Samoa Joe, by pinfall (still ROH World Television Champion)
Down goes Deppen, long live the king! Joe still reigns, and now he wishes to speak. “Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to welcome you to the new Ring Of Honor.” Fans rally for “R O H! R O H!” Joe continues to say that there is much to be celebrated, but one thing that remains true: “When it comes to this ring right here, and when it comes to ROH, and what happens in between these ropes, Samoa Joe always runs things around here. And as of right now, your champion needs contenders. So if anybody in the back wants to come out here and make their case, the champ will see you now.”
“Reach for the sky, boy!” MARK BRISCOE walks out! Fans fire up and Mark tells “Big Joe” that it’s been a long time. “What’s good?” Fans rally for Briscoe, and Joe says if Mark has something to say, he needs to man up and say it. Mark says, “You know just as well as I know what I’m about to say. That TV Championship, my man, that’s my destiny! So what do you say uh me versus uh you?” Fans like it, and Joe says, “Any day I get an opportunity to get in a fist fight with a Briscoe is a good day to me. I accept!” The Sussex County Chicken is ready to fly, will he be the one to dethrone the king?
Dalton Castle speaks.
“The night that those ROH Six Man Tag Team Championships got taken away from me and my Boys, it pained me. It ate me up inside because I thought we were prepared for the challenge that lied in front of us. The Embassy, and that fanny burp of a manager they call Prince Nana. But defeat isn’t something we haven’t tasted before. We’ve been beaten in the past. But my Boys, when they get knocked down, they become Chumba Wumba! We come back stronger than ever! More powerful!” Castle grabs the Boys by their shirts and shake them as he says, “More hungry! More strong! We’ve been moving furniture all weekend! Heavy, dense furniture!”
Castle says they are more ready for a challenge at those Six Man titles than they’ve ever been! “Embassy, I suggest you stay limber. Because you’re in for the fight of your life. Show ’em your teeth, boys.” The Tate Twins growl, will they and the Peacock devour the competition until they get after Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony?
Six Man Tag: Dalton Castle & The Boys VS Marcus Kross, Cody Chhun & Guillermo Rosas!
The Code of Honor is upheld, the trios sort out and fans rally for “Dalton Castle!” “And The Boys!” Castle starts against Kross and they circle. Fans fire up with Castle as he says he wants to set this place on fire. Kross fires up with Castle, Castle pats him on the chest, and then Kross CHOPS Castle again and again! Castle runs in, Kross sends him to a corner and CHOPS! Castle shoves Kross away, Kross dodges, but jumps into the Alabama! Kross grabs ropes, gets free, and dumps Castle out! Kross strikes a stance and Castle stands down. Fans rally while the Boys fan Castle off. Castle has the Boys beat on those abs to fire him up!
Castle gets back in the ring, Kross runs in but misses! Castle trips him, waistlocks, and SLAMS him down! Kross flounders away, tag to Rosas. Rosas runs into a waistlock and SLAM! Castle drags Rosas up and fans fire up for The Boys! Tag to Brendan, and he tags Brent. The Boys double whip and double hurdle to double HIP TOSS! They roll Rosas to his feet to DOUBLE LARIAT! Fans fire up as Brent covers, TWO! Brent brings Rosas up, whips him to the corner but Rosas reverses. Brent goes up and over, ducks a boot and dropkicks a leg out! Cover, TWO! Brent brings Rosas up, waistlocks, but Rosas elbows free!
Rosas RAMS Brent into the corner, tag to Chhun! Brent fires back but Chhun CLOBBERS him! Fans boo but Chhun DECKS Brent! Tag back to Rosas, Team C4 coordinate to double whip, and then Chhun whips Rosas in to SPLASH! Chhun adds a SPLASH while Rosas BLASTS Brendan! Then DROPKICK SUPLEX COMBO! Rosas drags Brent back up, tags Kross, and Kross goes up! Kross DIVING- NO, Brent avoids the stomps! Brent wrenches and SLICED-0 NO, Kross slips free, but Brent ENZIGURIS! Both men are down, they crawl for their corners, hot tags to Rosas and Castle! Fans are thunderous as The Peacock rallies on everyone!
Castle scoops Rosas for a FALL AWAY SLAM! Kross swings, into a FALL AWAY SLAM! Chhun runs in, into an EXPLODER! Fans fire up as Castle stands tall! “BRING ME A BOY!” Brendan gets in, Castle TOSSES him onto Chhun! Brent gest in, Castle TOSSES him onto Kross! Brendan returns, and Castle TOSSES him onto Rosas! The fans fire up, the Boys put Rosas in and Castle Alabama Lifts! BANGARANG!! Cover, Castle & The Boys win!
Winners: Dalton Castle & The Boys, by pinfall
New era, new intensity, the Peacock and the Twins are ready! Will they get back after The Embassy and avenge their loss?
The Kingdom speaks.
“My name is Maria Kanellis-Bennett, and I am the First Lady of Professional Wrestling. And this right here is Mr. Motivation, Mike Bennett. And this is The Trend, Matt Taven. And we are the OGK.” Taven says “He is I and I am him, I AM Matt Taven, and you Melvins might think my favorite color’s purple. That would make you stupid, because my favorite color is gold! And the trend of us being world tag team champions everywhere we’ve gone is continuing. Whether it’s ROH, whether it’s AEW, it doesn’t matter! You Melvins better get in your cry closets because you’re avoiding the inevitable!”
Mike says it is crazy, because just as Matt said, they’ve literally won gold everywhere they’ve gone! They practically hand titles to The Kingdom. And you think this place will be any different? Are you insane? It will not. But what is really pissing Mike off is that Top Flight ruined their moment at Final Battle! Their return to ROH was ruined! So if they think the business between them is done, they are sorely mistaken! Maria says that they always says diamonds are a girl’s best friend. But gold solidifies legacy. And Maria wants the OGK’s legacy to last forever! They ARE the OGK, but just call them The Kingdom.
La Faccion Ingobernable w/ Jose VS Spanish Announce Project w/ Luther!
Rush & Dralistico are ready to make ROH tranquilo, but they’re going to be off to a chaotic start going up against Angelico and Serpentico. Will the South African Submission Specialist and #SNAKEMAN bring down LFI? Or will El Toro Blanco (The White Bull) y El Principe de Plata y Oro (The Prince of Silver and Gold) be the ones shining bright tonight?
The Code of Honor is not upheld, but the fans rally for “RUSH! RUSH!” Rush is actually a little surprised, and he steps to Angelico. Angelico still offers the handshake, but Rush kicks it away! The bell rings all the same, Rush and Angelico circle. They tie up, Rush wrenches and YANKS an arm, but Angelico spins and steps through to then wrench and arm-drag! Rush gets up in a huff, Angelico sweeps the leg! Cover, ONE! Rush sweeps the leg and covers, ONE! Angelico spins and “HEEHEE!” a la Michael Jackson, but Rush shoves him to ropes. Angelico doesn’t let that kill the vibe, and fans rally up.
Fans duel now, “S A P!” “RUSH!” as the two reset. They tie up, Rush knees low and throws body shots. Rush tells fans to hush, but Angelico blocks the chop to wrangle Rush! Luther wants Angelico to break that arm with that top wristlock, but Rush kips up, knees low, and CHOPS! Angelico sputters and drops to a knee, but Rush eggs him on. Fans chant “One More Time!” and Rush wants Angelico to stand. Angelico asks Serpentico, “You want that one more time?” Serpentico nods, so Angelico tags him in! Serpentico is confused but he has no choice but to step in. Serpentico CHIOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS, but nothing happens!
Rush choke grips, but Serpentico breaks free to SUPERKICK! Serpentico fires up, only for Rush to CHOP him down! Fans want that “One More Time!” but Rush tags in Dralistico. Rush CHOPS Serpentico, Dralistico springboards to CROSSBODY! Dralistico CHOPS Serpentico now, and fans love that! Dralistico whips, Serpentico reverses, but Dralistico goes up and over and SOBATS, KNEES and HEEL KICKS! Serpentico staggers, into a SCREW HIGH KICK! Fans fire up and Dralistico drags Serpentico up. Dralistico pushes Serpentico in the corner, tags Rush, and he hushes fans. Dralistico CHOPS Serpentico!
Rush brings Serpentico around to ROCK, throw body shots, and whip corner to corner. Rush whips Dralistico in to SPLASH, then Rush hits a SPLASH! Snapmare and DOUBLE BASEMENT DROPKICKS! Fans fire up while the brothers Munoz raise the fist bump. But Angelico runs in to fire off JABS on each of them! Rush ducks and the ROUNDHOUSE hits Dralistico! Angelico runs, but into a mule kick! Dralistico dropkicks the legs out and Rush runs, to basement dropkick Angelico out of the ring! SAP regroups at the ramp but Dralistico builds speed, Dralistico FLIES! Direct hit on all of SAP!
Fans rally for Rush, Dralistico sets Serpentico up, but Rush just fakes us out to tranquilo! Fans are torn between cheers and jeers, but Dralistico POSTS Serpentico! Rush kicks Angelico, whips him into railing, and Dralistico does the same to Serpentico. They put Serpentico in the ring, fans rally up, and Dralistico goes to the apron. Rush has an extension cord to LASH Angelico with it while Dralistico springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK Serpentico! Cover, TWO! Rush LASHES Angelico more, then RAMS him into barriers! Dralistico fires off kicks on Serpentico, stomps a mudhole in, then digs his boot in.
The ref counts, Dralistico lets off, but Rush sends Angelico into more barriers! Dralistico bumps Serpentico off buckles, digs his boot in, and lets go of the ropes. That’s not the problem! Rush gets in, the brothers argue with the ref, and that allows Jose to get a cheap shot in! Fans boo but Jose just swaggers around. Rush storms over but Serpentico kicks back! Rush hoists Serpentico up onto the ropes, fans rally, and Dralistico springboards, GUILLOTINE LEG DROP!! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up with Serpentico! Serpentico stands, he gets Dralistico with CHOP after CHOP! Fans duel, but Dralistico CHOPS!
Dralistico KICKS a leg out, he and Rush both stomp Serpentico! Dralistico takes Serpentico’s “head,” and Rush PUNTS it into the crowd. The kick is good but LFI drag Serpentico up. They double whip Serpentico corner to corner, Rush whips Dralistico in to clothesline! Dralistico KICKS Serpentico, calls to Rush, but Serpentico fights back. Rush CHOPS Serpentinco, LFI double whip to ropes, but Serpentico holds ropes. Dralistico runs in but Serpentico puts him on the apron! Dralistico CHOPS Serpentico and holds him in place, Rush runs in, but Serpentico dodges! Rush BLASTS Dralistico!
Rush freaks out but Serpentico builds speed, and Serpentico FLIES out onto Jose and Dralistico! Fans fire up and Serpentico hurries back up. Rush is fuming but Serpentico springboards, into a HEADBUTT! Rush drags Serpentico into the corner, stomps away on him, then slashes his throat. Rush stomps around, goes to the far corner, runs corner to corner, but Angelico stops him! Rush jumps the sweep but the EDDY GORDO KICK knocks him down! Dralistico springboards in to FLYING CODE BREAKER! BIG forearm from Rush! Serpentico SUPERKICKS Dralistico, but runs into a waistlock.
Serpentico breaks free, runs, but into a GERMAN SUPLEX! Dralistico SPRINGBOARD DESTROYERS!! Cover, LFI wins!
Winners: La Faccion Ingobernable, by pinfall
But LFI isn’t done! Jose puts Serpentico back in the ring, so that Rush can SNATCH the mask! Rush and Dralistico RIP the mask apart! They even beat up on Luther now! Fans boo as LFI does what they want to who they want, and they even toss the mask pieces to the crowd! Will Rush stampede through ROH until he is champion once again?
Trish Adora VS Billie Starks!
While the women’s title is on the line later tonight, two young and hungry hopefuls are fighting to be one step closer to that goal! Who will be waiting in the wings with a win here tonight?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the two circle. Fans rally and duel, the two tie up, and they go around. Adora wrenches an arm to a wristlock and digs an elbow into the shoulder. Billie fights up but Adora twists the wrist. Billie rolls but Adora rolls with her! Billie gets the ropebreak, and Adora lets off. They go again, knuckle lock, and then Adora gets around to waistlock and SLAM Billie down. Billie sits up but Adora squeezes tight. Billie fights up, fans rally, and Billie wrenches out. But Adora wrenches back! Adora twists the wrist, Billie spins and arm-drags her away!
Adora goes out to steady herself, but Billie builds speed! Billie DIVES into an UPPERCUT! Billie flops to the floor, Adora scoops her and SLAMS her on the apron! Billie writhes and Adora smiles as she puts Billie in. Adora stalks Billie, grabs an arm and steps over, La Magistrol! TWO!! Billie is still in this but Adora double wristlocks an arm. Adora then waistlocks, lifts, but Billie fights free. Billie slips under, shoves, but Adora avoids the kick. Adora waistlocks and lifts but Billie flails and fights. GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Billie survives but Adora keeps right on her. CATTLE MUTILATION!! Billie endures, but Adora thrashes her around!
Fans rally, Billie fights around, but Adora is bridging deep! Billie reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Adora lets Billie go and Billie crawls to a corner. Adora runs in, but into an ELBOW! Adora shakes that off, comes back, but Billie BOOTS! Billie goes up, but Adora blocks the boot, only for Billie to KICK in return! Billie runs, into a PUMP KICK! Cover, TWO!! Billie survives again and Adora grows frustrated. Fans rally and duel again, Adora runs but has to jump over the dropdown! UPPERCUT! Adora keeps moving but Billie ROCKS her! Billie runs, but Adora reels her in! Adora swings but Billie ducks the blindside lariat!
Billie ROCKS Adora, Adora ROCKS Billie! They go back and forth with big forearms and fans rally up! This gets fast ‘n’ furious and fans love it! Billie shrieks and then fires off! HEEL KICK! But LARIAT TUBMAN OUTTA NOWHERE!!! Cover, Adora wins!!
Winner: Trish Adora, by pinfall
Adora shakes her head, she was not letting Billie get through her. But as aggressive as this got, the two keep the Code of Honor and even hug it out. Will Adora be ready for whoever comes out of tonight’s main event with the gold?
Backstage interview with Christopher Daniels.
Lexi Nair notes that the last time she and the Fallen Angel talked was at AEW Dark, where Daniels mentioned “opportunity.” What opportunities is he looking for in the new era of honor? A good question. This is the new era, but like in the previous, Daniels is in the thick of things. One of Daniels’ proudest achievements was becoming THE ROH World Champion. And in a perfect world, he’d happily give Frankie Kazarian a call in California and have him join Daniels one more time. But circumstances have made that impossible, and Daniels will be a man of his word in ROH.
But after 30 years, Daniels has been very fortunate with many partners by his side, and there just so happens to be another man in the ROH locker room ready for opportunity. That man is… MATT SYDAL! Sydal says there is an opportunity in front of him: them as a team. The answer is the same as the first time, Sydal will team with Daniels. Daniels has been a guiding light in Sydal’s career. He took Sydal from a backyard wrestler to an ROH Tag Team Champion. And since then, they’ve both gotten better, and not by a little but by a lot! They’re both the best in the world, and together, they will be tag team champions. Die flying or die trying.
They shake hands as Daniels thanks Sydal for this. Daniels tells Sydal that they’re gonna go out there and show all the tag teams in ROH “why they should say their prayers.” A reunion in ROH, will Sydal open his third eye to see gold in their future?
The Trustbusters w/ Mark Sterling VS Jake Crist & Man Scout!
Ari Daivari & Slim J split the difference in ROH’s return last week, but maybe together they can both cash in on a win. Will the Trustbusters be rolling in the winner’s purse against The Artist and the “Always Prepared” Jake Manning?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the teams sort out, and we start with Daivari Dinero and Man Scout. Seems Scout is still reading his field guide, but there can’t possibly be anything on how to handle the Trustbusters. Fans rally for Man Scout as he prepares to knuckle lock. Daivari snatches the guide! And TOSSES it! Fans boo and Scout gets upset, but Daivari kicks low. Daivari bumps Scout off buckles, bumps him off more buckles, then stomps a mudhole in! The ref counts, Daivari lets off and tells off the fans. Fans boo, but Daivari drags Scout up to bump off buckles. Daivari CHOPS, then tags Slim.
Slim ROCKS Scout, fishhooks his mouth, then CLUBS the lip! Slim scoops Scout to SLAM him! Cover, TWO! Tag to Daivari, the Trustbusters mug Scout, then Daivari bumps Scout off buckles. Daivari whips corner to corner, runs in corner to corner, but Scout dodges! Tag to Crist and he fires off on Daivari! Fans rally, Crist whips but Daivari reverses. Daivari runs in into a BOOT, ROUNDHOUSE and mule kick! Crist goes up for a FLYING FOREARM! Fans fire up as Crist kips up! Crist runs in but is put on the apron. Crist GAMANGIRIS, goes up top, and he CROSSBODY FLOPS as Daivari moves!
Tag to Scout and he fires off haymakers! Fans rally, Scout whips but Daivari reverses, and Slim kicks him in the back! Daivari then CLOBBERS Scout! Fans boo but Daivari tags Slim and Slim goes up. FLYING REVERSE DDT! And then STF! Scout taps, Trustbusters win!
Winners: The Trustbusters, by pinfall
Jake & Jake could not get it down, and Slim rips his tank top off like a Hulkamaniac! He even rips Daivari’s tank top off just because! But Sterling wants everyone to hold on. His client, “the richest man in pro-wrestling,” Ari Daivari, has something to say. Daivari takes the mic to say, “Last week, I beat Metalik all by myself! I pinned him in the middle of this ring, one two three, fair and square!” Fans boo because he didn’t. But wait, here comes Metalik! But Metalik gets mugged by the Trustbusters! Sterling says this is what he gets! Sterling even joins in! But wait, here comes BLAKE CHRISTIAN! All Heart has a CHAIR!
Blake chases the Trustbusters off and he helps Metalik up. Will Blake and Metalik combine their forces here in ROH like they have in NJPW Strong? Will Daivari put his money where his mouth is and face them?
ROH Pure Championship: Wheeler Yuta VS Timothy Thatcher!
The Decoder didn’t want the new era to start without him, so he gave an open challenge to the world last week. And almost immediately, the Professor of Pain answered! Will Thatcher prove he can be just as brutal as a Blackpool Combat Club member? Or will Yuta show that BCC ain’t nothing to mess with?
The introductions are made, the title is raised, and we see who is truly a technical master!
The Code of Honor is upheld, though Thatcher holds tight as Yuta tries to step back. The bell rings, Thatcher lets Yuta go with a push, and the two circle. Fans rally, the two feel things out, and Thatcher gets the FUJIWARA!! ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Thatcher lets go, and that is one of the three Yuta is allowed. Our judges at ringside, Christopher Daniels, BJ Whitmer and BOOM BOOM Colt Cabana, take note. Yuta and Thatcher regroup, Yuta shoots in but Thatcher holds him back. Thatcher turns Yuta around, has a chinlock, and shifts grips as he moves around. Yuta fights up, pries the hold open and pushes on a top wristlock.
Yuta wrangles Thatcher to the mat and fans applaud. Thatcher fights around, bridges, rolls and wrenches. Thatcher hooks a leg, chinbars on top of it, and then has the chinlock again. Fans rally and duel, Yuta fights but Thatcher has both arms! Yuta powers one arm free but Thatcher is after the other. Yuta rolls, Thatcher wrangles him, and Thatcher bends the fingers! Thatcher also pushes the elbow and shoulder, and JAMS the fingers into the mat! Thatcher KNEES Yuta in the back, then scoops and SLAMS! ELBOW DROP! Cover, ONE! Yuta hangs tough but Thatcher scoops and SLAMS, then drops another elbow! Cover, ONE!!
Thatcher smirks as he stalks Yuta. Thatcher stands Yuta up, scoops him again, but Yuta slips free to hook Thatcher up! Yuta hops on, IRON OCTOPUS! Fans fire up as Thatcher endures now! Thatcher fights his way over, ROPEBREAK! Yuta lets go and that is one of three for Thatcher. Yuta stomps a mudhole, lets off and then snapmares. Yuta has the top wristlock and isolates the arm. Yuta talks trash, “How’s it feel, huh!?” But Thatcher avoids the stomp! Thatcher trips Yuta to get the arm, but Yuta turns that around on Thatcher, to STOMP the triceps! Fans applaud while Yuta paces.
Yuta goes after the arm again, digs fingers into the triceps, but Thatcher KICKS Yuta in the back! And KICKS him again! Yuta eggs Thatcher on, Thatcher fights up and digs forearms into Yuta’s face. Yuta SLAPS Thatcher, then wrangles him back down! Yuta keeps on the top wristlock and he bends the fingers in return. Thatcher fights up, fans rally, and Thatcher HEADBUTTS! Yuta goes after the arm, goes up and hits a FLYING ARMBAR DDT! Fans fire up while Thatcher writhes. Yuta drops a SENTON! Cover, TWO! Yuta looms over Thatcher while fans rally. Yuta paces, drags Thatcher up, and he wrenches to UPPERCUT the arm!
Thatcher UPPERCUTS in return! But Yuta wrenches the bad arm to another UPPERCUT! But Thatcher uses that arm to catch Yuta, and UPPERCUT again! Yuta wrenches to UPPERCUT the arm again! Thatcher grabs at Yuta but Yuta WRINGS his bad arm out! Thatcher writhes, Yuta pushes him to a cover, TWO! Fans rally while Yuta keeps wrist control. Yuta BITES Thatcher’s ear! The ref reprimands, Yuta lets off, and he brings Thatcher up to throw forearms. Thatcher staggers, but he snarls and comes back to clinch and BELLY2BELLY! Both men are down and fans rally up again!
Thatcher and Yuta rise as the fans duel. Thatcher underhooks arms for a butterfly stretch, but Yuta breaks free to UPPERCUT and KNEE the bad arm! Yuta wrangles Thatcher, hammerlocks the arm and chinbars Thatcher! Thatcher moves around, reaches out, ROPEBREAK! That’s the second, Thatcher is metaphorically back against the ropes. Yuta toys with Thatcher now, rope a dope and then an elbow drop! Yuta SLAPS Thatcher, but Thatcher still wants a leg. Yuta stomps Thatcher, drags him up and UPPERCUTS! Yuta UPPERCUTS again, and again! Thatcher UPPERCUTS again and again and again!
Yuta goes to a corner, Thatcher is after him and brings him out, but Yuta wrenches the bad arm! Hammerlock and a wrangle, Yuta has Thatcher down again. Yuta leans on the hold but Thatcher endures. Fans rally, Thatcher fights up, but Yuta waistlocks now. Thatcher fights the lift, but Yuta CLUBS him! Thatcher just glares at Yuta! Thatcher UPPERCUTS again and again! Thatcher fires off in the corner, the ref counts, and Thatcher lets off at 4. Fans fire up while Thatcher clutches his bad arm. Thatcher drags Yuta up, puts him on the top rope and CLUBS him on the back! Thatcher then climbs up behind Yuta, but Yuta headlock punches him down!
The ref warns Yuta, that was a closed fist! Yuta just shrugs that off to turn around and leap, FLYING FOREARM! Fans rally and duel, Yuta ripcords to the OLYMPIC SLAM! Cover, ROPEBREAK! That’s Thatcher’s final ropebreak, Yuta has him right where he wants him! Yuta kicks Thatcher around, taunts Thatcher, and he fires forearms! Yuta eggs Thatcher on, throws more forearms, but Thatcher DECKS him! Yuta rewinds and shoots around, to GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO, into the KIMURA!! Thatcher pushes on Yuta, Yuta fights around, ROPEBREAK! Yuta uses his second, but Thatcher is getting closer.
Yuta goes to the apron, Thatcher storms over and brings him up to CLUB him in the chest! And CLUBS him again! The ref counts, Thatcher back suplexes Yuta back into the ring! Cover, TWO! Yuta survives but Thatcher drags him up into underhooks! BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Yuta survives again! Thatcher KNEES Yuta in the back! And again! And again! And then into the ribs and sides! Yuta goes to the ROPEBREAK! That’s the last one, this is anyone’s match! But Yuta BOOTS the bad arm! Yuta fires off forearms and CHOPS over and over and over! Yuta ROLLING ELBOWS! Fans fire up with Yuta, but Thatcher SLAPS Yuta down!
Thatcher stomps away on Yuta because neither man can use them as sanctuary! Yuta flops out of the ring but the ref wants Thatcher to stay in the ring. Thatcher pushes the ref away, and Yuta ROCKS Thatcher with a haymaker!! Fans boo but Yuta gets away with the cheat! Yuta gets Thatcher in the ropes, and has the IRON OCTOPUS!!! Thatcher TAPS, Yuta wins!!
Winner: Wheeler Yuta, by submission (still ROH Pure Champion)
Fans boo but The Decoder finds a way to hold onto his gold! Yuta then gets a mic to say, “Hey, hey, hey, I’m hearing a mixed reaction. But I told you, everyone, I told you. I told you that I am a champion. I told you that I roll with three of the greatest of all time. I’m not one of those dudes doing laundry, wearing a $50 tracksuit. Nah, man. I’m on the 96 Bulls! I got Jordan, I got Rodman, I got Pippen, and then you’ve got Wheeler Yuta! I’m tired of talking about mystery people, let’s name names. Let’s talk about these tracksuit boys, these LA Dojo boys.
“It really grinds my gears that you think you’ve accomplished something, because you haven’t. Even your trainer fell short in his biggest moment!” But wait! Here comes CLARK CONNORS! The Wild Rhino of the LA Dojo and a big name in NJPW Strong, he goes right to the ring! Fans fire up as Connors stares Yuta down then snatches his mic away. “Hey yo, hey yo, hey yo, cut the music.” Yuta says they already did. Connors says he isn’t sure if anyone remembers him, it’s been awhile since he was in ROH, but he is Clark Connors, and he’s from the LA DOJO!
Fans fire up, and Connors tells Yuta that he had a wonderful match with Thatcher. But man, he grabbed that mic and was about to put the people to sleep! Fans agree with that. So if Yuta is talking dojos and who is the best, with his BCC and “Jeeeeeeon~,” “Claud” and “Bryan.” Everyone of those guys wishes they trained under Katsuyori Shibata, a man Connors trained under for four years with blood, sweat and tears. But if Yuta is really a Pure Champion, then how about Yuta steps up next week. Yuta VS the Wild Rhino! What’s the big dog say? Yuta takes the mic back, but then drops it. Yuta leaves, fans boo, but then Yuta stops at the ramp.
Yuta turns around, stares Connors down, and shouts, “YOU’RE ON!!” Connors fires up and so do the fans! The Pure title will be on the line in back to back weeks, but will Yuta survive back to back defenses?
Aussie Open VS Rhett Titus & Tracy Williams!
Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis are representing the United Empire in AEW and ROH, and still have the FTR seal of approval as the future of tag team wrestling. Will the Aussie Arrow and Dunkzilla soon conquer another tag team division? Or will The Professional and the Hot Sauce be too much for even the former NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the teams sort out, and Fletcher starts against Titus. Titus and Fletcher circle, tie up, and go around, Titus clinches an arm, fireman’s carry takeovers, then has the armlock. Fletcher stands, Titus wrenches and RAMS Fletcher, then tags Tracy. Tracy KNEES the arm, then goes right after it. Fletcher gets free and rolls away, and fans applaud. Tag to Davis, he and Tracy circle. Davis runs in, but into a drop toehold! Tracy gets a facelock but Davis powers up! Tracy cranks the hold and brings Davis back down. Davis wrenches out but Tracy wrenches back to ELBOW BREAKER!
Tag to Titus, Tracy whips and Titus leap frogs to HIP DROP the arm! Titus wrenches the arm, but Davis CLUBS Titus away. Davis goes to the Aussie corner, and he says he’s good. Titus eggs Davis on, the two circle, and Davis BOOTS Titus down! Fletcher runs in to BLAST Tracy! Fans are torn but Aussie Open double whips and DOUBLE CHOPS, to then PENALTY KICK and SENTON! Fans fire up and Davis pushes Titus to a kneeling cover. ONE, but Davis brings Titus up. Davis CHOPS Titus again! Titus snarls and stays up, but Davis CHOPS him off his feet! Fans fire up for that one!
Davis paces around, drags Titus up, then bumps him off buckles. Tag to Fletcher, he stomps Titus. Fletcher brings Titus in, suplexes, and he holds Titus up! Fans rally as Fletcher walks over and Davis tags in. Davis takes the handoff, and he holds Titus up! Fans fire up more, and Davis SLAMS Titus down! Fans fire up while Titus writhes. Titus crawls but Davis drags him away to tag Fletcher back in. Fletcher GAMANGIRIS Tracy, Davis drags Titus up. Aussie Open double whip Titus to a corner, Davis runs in but Titus goes up and over! Davis POSTS himself, and Titus BOOTS Fletcher! Titus skins the cat to the top rope, jumps over Fletcher, hot tag to Hot Sauce!
Tracy blows past Fletcher, BLASTS Davis, then CHOPS Fletcher! Tracy blocks a kick, CHOPS Fletcher, and brings him around for a SAIDO! Fans fire up and Tracy runs in to clothesline in the corner! Tracy runs back in, he blocks Fletcher’s boot and dodges the superkick! Tracy BOOTS, goes up, but Fletcher blocks a kick! Fletcher YANKS Tracy off the corner, but Tracy uses that to hit a FLYING DDT! Cover, TWO! Fletcher survives but Tracy fires up! Fans rally with him, Tracy brings Fletcher up, but Fletcher fights the lift! They go to ropes, and Fletcher back drops Tracy to the apron. Tracy ROCKS Fletcher in return!
But Davis grabs at Tracy’s legs! Titus runs in and BOOTS Davis down! Fletcher runs in but Tracy dumps him out! Tracy eggs Fletcher on, Fletcher stands but he avoids Tracy’s flying knee! Tracy hits railing, Titus still jumps at Davis! But Davis catches Titus, steadies himself, and Fletcher drags Tracy up. SPINEBUSTER SANDWICH! Fans fire up as Aussie Open puts Tracy in the ring. Fireman’s carry, POP UP KICK! Tracy staggers from the Aussie Dental Plan, and Davis scoops him again! Fletcher goes up top, LAWN DART CUTTER! Cover, TWO!?! Tracy survives and shocks Aussie Open! Fans fire up while Fletcher fumes.
Fans rally, Fletcher tags Davis, and they drag Tracy up. Feed to the scoop, Fletcher aims, but Tracy slips off! Tracy shoves Aussie Open into each other and fires off CHOPS and forearms! But Aussie Open block, double wrench and DOUBLE FOREARM! And then fireman’s carry, POP-UP- NO! Tracy blocks the Dental Plan’s follow-up, and he DRAGON SCREWS Fletcher’s leg! Davis rushes in but into a clinch! Tracy wants the arm, but Davis whips him away. Scoop but Tracy tilt-o-whirl FACEBUSTERS! CROSSFACE!! Titus intercepts Fletcher to a HALF CRAB!! Titus sits deep while Tracy pulls back hard!
Aussie Open crawl to each other, Fletcher keeps Davis from tapping! Davis rolls to the ROPEBREAK! Titus and Fletcher also end up in ropes, and Fletcher kicks Titus onto Tracy! Davis is free, all four men are down, and fans rally back up. Aussie Open regroups on their side of the ring and Davis crawls. Hot tags to Fletcher and Titus! Titus runs in, dodges, and KNEES low! Titus runs to KNEE LIFT! Fletcher staggers, Titus runs in to clinch and BELLY2BELLY! Titus roars and fans fire up as he runs in. BOOT! Tag to Tracy, Titus goes side to side to BOOT! Whip to the ELBOW! DROPKICK into the DISCUS LARIAT! Cover, Davis breaks it!
Titus clotheslines Davis and himself out! Tracy aims from the apron, to KING KONG KNEE DROP Davis on the floor! Titus goes up, KING KONG KNEE DROP on Fletcher! Tracy is up top, FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!?! Fletcher survives and fans fire up again! Tracy grows frustrated but he just snarls and watches Fletcher flounder. Tracy drags Fletcher up, reels him in, but Fletcher fights the lift! Fletcher back drops Tracy away, sits down to cover, TWO!! Sunset flip, TWO!! Fletcher scoops Tracy for a SPINNING TOMBSTONE!! Titus runs in but Fletcher blocks the kick! And gives it over to Davis!
Fletcher SUPERKICKS Titus, Davis trips him! Davis yanks Titus up by those legs, Close Your Eyes and Count to F@#$!! Fans are thunderous and Aussie Open throws off the elbow pads! Tracy stands into the DOUBLE LARIAT SANDWICH!! And then, double pump handle, COREALIS!!! Cover, Aussie Open wins!!
Winners: Aussie Open, by pinfall
Former NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions defeat former ROH Tag Team Champions, because they are THE future of tag team wrestling. And though a bit sarcastically, they uphold the Code of Honor. Will Aussie Open help the United Empire conquer yet another tag team division?
Eddie Kingston VS Ben Dejo!
Last week, The Mad King shocked the world by quitting AEW, and then immediately shocked us again by showing up in ROH! And bigger than that, he wants after Claudio Castagnoli and the ROH World Championship! Will Eddie fight his way up to force Claudio’s hand? Or will he be the one shocked by the man also sometimes known as Jon Cruz?
Fans are thunderous for “EDDIE! EDDIE!” already. The Code of Honor is upheld and the bell rings. The two tie up, and Eddie puts Ben in the corner. The ref counts, Eddie lets off, but Ben CHOPS! That does nothing. Eddie turns things around to MACHINE GUN CHOP Ben! And then EXPLODER! Ben flounders up, into the URAKEN!! Cover, Eddie wins!
Winner: Eddie Kingston, by pinfall
And Eddie upholds the Code of Honor. But that Backfist to the Future isn’t done, he wants a mic! Eddie gets the mic to have the music cut, and he says, “HEY! Claudio! ROH World Champion! Come out here now. Do not be scared.” And so, Claudio appears! But then Eddie shouts for them to cut the music again. Eddie wants his shot! Give him his shot at the title! Fans are fired up for it. Claudio has a mic but Eddie dares him to be a champion. “For once in your life, do business correctly and fight me.” Claudio tells “Edward, a man without honor will never be Ring of Honor Champion.” Claudio drops the mic again and Eddie asks where he’s going.
Fans boo and Eddie is not settling for that! Eddie hurries to the back to chase after the Swiss Superman! We cut to Lexi Nair catching Claudio for an interview. She asks what that was about, and Claudio asks, “Did I stutter?” Claudio heads out but Eddie storms up. He thought he was coming here… Lexi, get outta here with the mic. Where’s Claudio? He just left. Oh of course he did! Eddie storms off, and even Lexi has to ask, just what is going on here? Will Claudio continue to duck Eddie? Or will rankings force him to face the Mad King?
Willow Nightingale speaks.
“Why hello there, Miss Athena. You just think I’m so happy to be here. But I am! I am. I’m so happy to be here, but there’s more. There’s more to me. I’m not coming out to the ring just so you can break me like porcelain. Of course I’ve bled, I’ve sweat for professional wrestling. We all do that. But I’ve fallen to my knees, cried. I’ve thrown up, I’ve shook throughout the night, with fear that I’m not good enough to do this.
“But y’know what? I’m in ROH because I am good enough to be here. And I’m gonna prove that to you, I’m gonna prove that to everyone watching at home, I’m gonna prove that to everyone watching in the back. Because I plan on walking out the ROH Women’s World Champion.”
Athena responds.
“Willow, you have the audacity calling my name out. You think you want this? You want my precious ROH championship? But you are in for a world of hurt! I don’t care how many people you’ve beaten, I’ve broken porcelain broad after porcelain garbage, left and right, week after week after week. And if you think that for one second, I’m gonna let you get your grimy little paws on this… Well, you’ve lost your damn marbles.” This is about to get wild, will the Fallen Goddess eclipse the Nightingale?
ROH Women’s World Championship: Athena VS Willow Nightingale!
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and the main event gets hyped!
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and fans rally as the two circle. Fans are on Willow’s side and Athena gets upset by that. Athena and Willow tie up, Willow wrenches and wristlocks, but Athena handsprings and wrenches to arm-drag! Athena kips up and fans do cheer the ability, and Athena waves mockingly at Willow. The two tie up again, Athena headlocks, but Willow powers out to run Athena over! Fans fire up, Willow flexes, then things speed up. Willow runs Athena over again! Willow keeps moving, she rolls over the dropdown to then bypass, and she even dodges the dropkick! CROSSBODY! Cover, ONE!! Athena is up but Willow is on her.
Athena ROCKS Willow with a forearm! Willow steadies herself, Athena talks trash and slaps her. Willow DECKS her! Willow snap suplexes, rolls, Una Amiga! Another snap suplex, Dos Amigas! And then the FISHER-AMIGA! Bridging cover, TWO! Athena escapes but fans fire up for Willow. Willow storms up on Athena in the corner, puts some stank on it, and she swings, but Athena ducks into the ropes. So Willow CHOPS Athena on the back! Fans fire up and Athena is feeling it! Willow runs in, Athena dodges, but then Willow puts Athena on the apron. Athena HOTSHOTS an arm! Fans boo but Athena stomps Willow down!
Athena snarls as she looms over Willow. Fans rally for Willow but Athena KICKS her in the back! Athena KNEES Willow in the back, covers, TWO! But Athena wraps on a straitjacket! Athena even fishhooks Willow’s mouth! The ref counts, Athena lets off, and fans rally up again. Willow throws body shots but Athena KNEES Willow to a corner. Athena stomps a mudhole into Willow, but she lets off as the ref counts. Willow kicks back from below but Athena FOREARMS Willow! Athena wraps the bad arm around ropes and pulls! She even digs a boot into Willow’s face! The ref counts and Athena lets off at 4.
Athena storms up on Willow, brings her up to CLUB her down! Fans feel that one, but Athena mocks Willow’s positivity. Fans boo, but then Willow KICKS Athena in the leg! Athena goes after her and dribbles her head into the mat! Athena drops a knee on the bad arm! Athena top wristlocks but Willow endures. Fans rally for Willow as Athena leans on the hard. Willow fights up, throws body shots, but Athena throws her down by her hair! Fans rally for Willow but Athena runs. Willow avoids the senton! Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Willow rolls Athena up, TWO! Willow tries again, O’Conner turns into a HOTSHOT! BAYONET FOREARM!
Athena rains down fists while fans boo, but the ref counts. Athena lets off, Willow goes to the apron, but Athena KICKS her down! Willow sputters, Athena runs to baseball slide dropkick Willow to the floor! Athena smiles but then gets upset hearing the fans boo. Athena goes out, brings Willow up but Willow throws body shots. Athena CLUBS away on Willow’s back, then she drags Willow back up. Athena puts Willow on the steel steps, puts the arm in the gap, but Willow fights back! Athena SMACKS Willow off the steps, then puts both arms in the gap! The fans boo, Athena pulls Willow against the post again and again!
The ref reprimands, Athena stops, but then she mocks the fans. And she DROPKICKS the steel steps! Willow falls back and writhes, clutching her arm! The ref reprimands but Athena just plays innocent in the ring. Fans chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” and that upsets Athena. The ring count climbs, Willow stands at 6 of 20, and she drags herself with her one good arm at 8. But Athena DROPKICKS Willow right back out! Athena then goes out to the apron, rallies the fans almost mockingly, and she leaps, but Willow blocks the rana! APRON POWERBOMB!! And then a fireman’s carry, for a DEATH VALLEY DRIVER to the floor!!
Both women writhe on the ground and fans are thunderous for “R O H! R O H!” The ring count is up to 5 of 20 again while Willow drags herself around. The count is 7, then 8. Both women sit up at 9, and Willow drags herself along the railing. We’re at 12 of 20 as Athena finally stirs. Athena finds her way to the ring, fans rally as we hit 15! Willow staggers about at 16, Athena flounders at 17. Both women slide in at 19!! Fans fire up as this continues! Athena says Willow ain’t ish! She SLAPS away on Willow, saying she’s fragile porcelain, then she starts pie facing. But Willow DECKS Athena! And back body blocks in the corner! And LARIATS! Snapmare and BOOT!
Fans fire up with Willow, she whips Athena, and hits a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO!! Willow roars and the fans are with her! Willow drags Athena back up, reels her in, gut wrenches, but the bad arm gives up! Athena wrenches to ARM CODE BREAKER! And then METEORA! And then CROSSFACE!! Willow endures, fans boo, but Athena pulls back on the hold! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!!! Willow fights, rolls it to a cover, TWO!! Athena lets go in time, and she METEORAS in the corner!! Fans boo but Athena tells them it’s over. She drags Willow up, wants the fans to say bye, and then Canadian Racks, CLIFFHANGER CODE BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Willow shocks Athena but the fans are thunderous again! Athena pulls at her hair, throws a tantrum, but fans declare, “This is Awesome!” Willow stirs, but Athena goes to the corner. Athena wants to finish this with her best shot, but Willow runs in! Athena jumps up and over, but runs into a POUNCE!!! Cover, TWO!?!? Now Athena shocks Willow! But fans are electric for Willow as she stalks Athena. Athena grabs at ropes, but Willow YANKS her up. Athena lands on her feet, to SUPERKICK! Athena runs, but Willow CLUBS her at the ropes! Gut wrench, double clutch, BAE BOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?!?
Fans are thunderous again as Athena survives! Willow grows frustrated, but the fans rally behind her again. Athena crawls to the outside but Willow snarls. Willow shakes her head and pursues. “This is Wrestling!” but Athena wants to leave? Willow chases her down at the ramp! But Athena CLAWS Willow’s face! Fireman’s carry, and WASTELAND SLAM to the ramp!! Willow rolls all the way to ringside, and Athena RAMS her into steel steps!! Athena puts Willow in the ring, goes up top, THE O-FACE!!! Cover, Athena wins!!
Winner: Athena, by pinfall (still ROH Women’s World Champion)
Willow proved she wasn’t porcelain but tough as nails! However, Athena still managed to bend that iron will and hold onto the gold! Athena then drags Willow up and puts the belt in place. The ref won’t let her do this, but Athena gest in the ref’s face now! The ref tells her to let off, but Athena grabs her belt. She chases after Willow to CLOBBER her with the belt at the ramp!! Fans boo but then Athena METEORAS Willow into the steel steps! Athena shakes Willow’s hand to barely keep the Code of Honor. Will anyone be able to stop the savagery the Fallen Goddess brings to the ring?
My Thoughts:
A great second episode for ROH’s return, and they went big with three title matches on one night. Great opener with the TV title, and of course Joe wins. I like that Mark Briscoe wants after the title next, I remember that being his mission in ROH years ago. Obviously, there’s still the issue of how to handle the ROH Tag titles, but that aside, Joe VS Mark will be a great match and could probably go either way. Great promo from Castle, and really good win for him and The Boys. They’re definitely going to be in the conversation for the ROH World Six Man titles going towards Supercard of Honor at the end of March.
Good promo from The Kingdom, though they’re definitely more likely to get the ROH Tag titles rather than the AEW Tag titles. I feel like LFI is going to be strong in ROH, too, though they didn’t have the smoothest match with the SAP. They might’ve just lost track of what spot was when because of just how fired up the fans were for Rush, a Heel. Aussie Open VS Titus & Tracy was awesome stuff, Aussie Open seems to bring out the best of everybody they face. Fletcher & Davis wins because they’re going to be strong across the board from NJPW and NJPW Strong to AEW and ROH. But somehow, someway, Aussie Open probably won’t get the ROH titles because they’re going all over the place.
Really good showing from Trustbusters VS the Two Jakes, but of course Daivari & Slim win. It was a bit lame for Metalik to show up to immediately flop in his fight against Trustbusters, but cool to see Blake Christian show up. All Heart & The King of Ropes will make a great duo but it feels like they’re just going to be fed to the Trustbusters. I feel like we need confirmation on how the Trustbusters and Varsity Athletes work together more than anything. Daivari runs a faction but is a teammate in another? Just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Great squash from Eddie beating down Ben Dejo, aka Jon Cruz (aka Serpentico so he lost twice tonight). Claudio being smug champion fits with the Heel turn of the BCC, and while Eddie quit AEW, he could still get Moxley involved in this story somehow. Great Pure Championship match from Yuta and Thatcher, but Yuta also shows his Heel turn by getting away with that cheating. Yuta was almost as smug as Claudio to have Connors waiting, but I like that he decided to accept the challenge after all. That’s going to be great stuff, as Connors almost had Zack Sabre Jr. for the NJPW World Television Championship, but I think Yuta cheats some other way next week to retain.
Good match from Adora and Billie, and for being so young, Billie definitely shows all the great potential of a future champion. But because that time isn’t now, Adora wins. And then, great move making the women’s title the main event. Good promos from both Willow and Athena, awesome match, and I was kinda hoping they’d shock us by giving us a new champion on the second episode, they’re clearly waiting until the PPV for anything even remotely like that. Athena has any number of possible contenders, I can’t be sure who they’ll choose but it’ll be great stuff.
My Score: 8.8/10
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One step away from the Cup!
David Finlay awaits in the New Japan Cup finals, and will either face Shota Umino or Shingo Takagi! Can the Roughneck slay the Rampaging Dragon?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Satoshi Kojima & Yuji Nagata; Kojima & Nagata win.
- 10 Man Tag: The United Empire VS El Phantasmo, Jado, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg & Daiki Nagai; The United Empire wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hontai VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
- Six Man Tag: Just4Guys VS Bullet Club War Dogs; War Dogs win.
- Six Man Tag: Bullet Club War Dogs VS House of Torture; Double Count-Out Draw.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS House of Torture; House of Torture wins.
- 2025 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Shota Umino VS Shingo Takagi; Shota wins and advances to the finals.
PLAY BY PLAY
Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS House of Torture!
Yota Tsuji was cheated out of the New Japan Cup by the King of Darkness, but that’s no surprise. However, that means Evil has a golden ticket to the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Will Dick Togo & Yujiro Takahashi help Darkness Fall? Or can Testuya Naito & Bushi help Yota keep everything tranquilo?
Even now, Naito takes his time with his elaborate entrance attire. Eventually, the pants are put aside, and Naito is wearing the new Tendedero merch shirt. LIJ fist bumps, but The House attacks! The fans boo but the bell rings so this is on record. Evil has Yota on the outside and he CLAWS Yota’s eyes! Yujiro CHOKES Naito, Dick bumps Bushi off buckles, and then Yujiro TOSSES Naito! Dick CHOKES Bushi now, then he and Yujiro double whip. Dick runs corner to corner but Bushi dodges! Bushi BOOTS Yujiro, then headlocks Dick! BULLDOG DROPKICK COMBO! The fans fire up and Bushi hurries to tag Naito.
Naito stomps Yujiro, Bushi joins in, and Evil protests. Evil runs in, but into an atomic drop! Evil staggers away to a corner, Naito & Bushi whip Yujiro into him! Evil falls, Naito kicks Yujiro, and holds him in place, for the NECKBREAKER! Naito poses and the fans cheer. Naito then covers, TWO! Tokyo Pimp is tougher than that, but Naito drags Yujiro up to cravat. Yujiro endures the neck wrench, Naito CLUBS him then whips. Yujiro reverses and Dick gets a cheap shot in! Yujiro runs, but Bushi gets as cheap shot in! Naito runs but Evil trips him up! Dick BLASTS Bushi, Yujiro BLASTS Yota, and Evil drags Naito out.
Evil RAMS Naito into the timekeeper! Abe-san again suffers at the hands of Evil! The fans boo and the ref reprimands but Evil drags Naito up. Evil pushes Naito into the ring, then he and Dick loosen the blue buckle pad. Yujiro covers Naito, TWO! Yujiro drags Naito up while the fans rally, but Yujiro snapmares to drop a leg! And he drops another leg! And another leg! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer, but Yujiro taunts LIJ. Yujiro drags Naito up, bumps him off Evil’s boot, and then he tags Evil in. Evil CLAWS Naito’s eyes then stomps away on the legs! The ref reprimands, Evil drags Naito out, and then Evil stomps the leg more!
Evil drops an ELBOW on the knee! Evil pulls on the leg in a toehold, then traps the leg in a leg scissors! Yota runs in and stomps Evil, but Dick TOSSES Yota back out! Evil pulls on the leg, almost has an ankle lock, but Naito has the ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, Evil lets go, and he tags in Dick. They split the wishbone on Naito! The fans rally for Naito but Dick throws down fists. Cover, TWO! Naito is tougher than that and the fans continue to rally. Dick is annoyed, but Naito fires body shots on him! Dick CLAWS Naito’s eyes! The ref reprimands but Dick whips. Naito reverses and ELBOWS Dick, to then arm-drag him!
Naito dropkicks Dick’s legs out! The fans rally, Dick and Naito crawl, hot tag to Yota! The fans fire up as Yota CLOBBERS Dick, then BLASTS the House! But Dick CLAWS Yota’s eyes! Yota runs, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Yota runs corner to corner, to SPLASH! Yota scoops and SLAMS to then run and BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he paces around. Yota drags Dick up, suplexes, but Dick fights that! Dick wrenches, hammerlocks, headlocks, then punches Yota! Tag to Evil and they mug Yota! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Dick & Evil stand Yota up.
Dick & Evil double whip to DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE Yota down! Cover, TWO! Yota is tougher than that and the fans rally up, but Evil tells them to shut up. Evil drags Yota to his feet, talks more trash on the fans, but the fans give that back. Evil “puts one out” on Yota, then fireman’s carries! Yota slips free to ROCK Evil! The fans fire up with Yota, he runs, but Evil goes the other way! But Yota catches the pounce into a clinch! BACKBREAKER, FLATLINER, and STOMP! The Gene Combination hits and the fans fire up! Evil sputters, Yota rolls and tags in Bushi. Bushi runs up to dropkick Evil’s legs out! Then Bushi BLASTS Dick!
Yujiro kicks Bushi, whips him to ropes, but Bushi reverses to dropkick the legs out! Evil is back but Bushi DECKS him! Bushi then builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and Evil is sent into railing! The fans fire up, Bushi puts Evil back in, and Bushi aims from a corner. Bushi runs corner to corner to ELBOW Evil, then he puts a leg in the ropes to DROPKICK it! Bushi brings Evil out and has the leg, but Evil pulls on the mask! Bushi breaks free, kicks, but Evil blocks, hands it to the ref, and mule kicks Bushi down! Dick & Yujiro BLAST Naito & Yota off the apron! They then double whip Bushi to a corner! Dick ELBOWS Bushi! Yujiro BOOTS! Evil LARIATS!
Dick goes up, Evil & Yujiro hold Bushi open, and the ref reprimands! No one to distract him this time! But then Evil just grabs the ref and turns him around! The ref can’t get free, Bushi suffers the DICK CHOP! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives and the fans fire up! Evil is stunned but he brushes that off. Evil paces around Bushi, slashes his throat, and vows to end this! Evil drags Bushi up, spins him, EVERY- NO, Naito gets in to kick Evil down! Yujiro is in, Evil distracts the ref, and Yujiro blocks a kick to LOW BLOW Naito!! The fans boo, but Yota runs up! Yujiro blocks his kick, and trips him up, to FALLING HEADBUTT LOW BLOW!!
The fans boo but Evil still holds onto the ref. Bushi stands, Evil shoves the ref at him! Bushi pushes the ref aside, and he blocks the low blow! But Dick LOW BLOWS from the other side! Evil & Dick get Bushi up, for MAGIC KILLER!! Cover, the House of Torture wins!!
Winners: House of Torture, by pinfall
But they’re not done, as they beat up on Yota now! They snatch the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship from him, and Evil holds it up. The fans boo, but Evil takes aim at Yota! But Yota LOW BLOWS Dick! And he dodges Evil’s attack to then pop-up LOW BLOW! Yujiro has his pimp cane! Yota blocks that, takes the cane, and LOW BLOWS Yujiro with it! The fans fire up behind Yota as he takes his belt back. Yota holds it up to show that not everything is Evil! Will the Gene Blast stop the House of Torture from having more gold?
2025 New Japan Cup Semifinal: Shota Umino VS Shingo Takagi!
The Paradigm Shift has certainly taken a turn after The Roughneck gave up his fiery red locks. Shota has changed up his style in the ring to match his new look, but will this Second Chapter lead to the Cup? Or will this young hero fail to slay the Rampaging Dragon?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. They’re strongly behind “TA-KA-GI! TA-KA-GI!” but Shota doesn’t let that bother him. Shota and Takagi slowly step forward, feel things out, then clinch. Takagi waistlocks but Shota turns around to facelock. Takagi wrenches out and has a wristlock, but Shota rolls, wrenches back, and then hammerlocks. Takagi reaches back to headlock and he hits the takeover, but Shota headscissors. Takagi kips free and the fans cheer the standoff. The two reset and feel things out again. They knuckle lock, then go shoulder to shoulder in a Test of Strength! Shota has the leverage but Takagi powers up.
Takagi breaks a grip, wrenches, headlocks, and he grinds the hold. The fans rally up while Shota endures. Shota pries at the headlock but Takagi keeps it on tight. Shota powers up and out the back, then headlocks in return. Takagi endures the grind now, and he powers up and out! They RAM shoulders, Shota keeps going to RAM Takagi! Takagi rebounds to RAM Shota, but Shota stands his ground! Shota fires a forearm, Takagi fires a DOUBLE CHOP! Takagi whips, but Shota reverses to scoop, HOTSHOT, and then he RUNS Takagi over! The fans fire up while Takagi bails out. Shota waits on Takagi, and the fans rally up again.
Takagi takes his time stepping back inside, and he resets with Shota. They knuckle lock, but then Shota shoots in and trips Takagi up. Shota stomps that leg, then he SMASHES the knee off the mat! Shota stalks Takagi to a corner, then puts the leg around ropes. The fans rally, Red Shoes reprimands, but Shota pulls on the leg. Shota then brings Takagi out to trip him, and Shota stomps away on the leg. Shota drops an ELBOW on the knee, and pulls on the toehold! Takagi endures, works his way back, and has the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go, but then he drops a knee on the knee! Red Shoes reprimands but Shota stomps Takagi’s leg again.
Shota drags Takagi up, facelocks and turns him, but Takagi elbows free! Takagi runs in at the corner but Shota BOOTS him! Shota runs, but Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! YUKON feint and DDT! Shota staggers around while the fans fire up, and Takagi LARIATS Shota up and out! Shota staggers into railing then slumps down. The fans rally behind Takagi while he shakes out the bad leg. Takagi goes out to fetch Shota, and he drags Shota back up. Takagi RAMS Shota into the apron, then RAMS him in again! Takagi whips Shota hard into railing and Shota slumps down! Red Shoes wants Takagi to get this back in the ring, so Takagi rolls in.
The fans applaud and the ring count begins. Shota is still down at 5 of 20, sits up at 8, and he rises up at 10. Shota stands at 13 and hobbles his way over. Shota rolls in at 15, but Takagi stands on him! Red Shoes reprimands but Takagi marches in place before he steps off. Takagi KICKS Shota in the back, then drags him up to whip. Takagi KNEES Shota at the ropes, then runs to CLOBBER Shota! The fans fire up and Takagi flexes. Takagi drags Shota up, reels him in and suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Shota is tougher than that, but Takagi looks to the camera. Then he wags his finger, it’s not time yet.
Takagi clamps onto Shota with a chinlock and squeezes tight. Shota endures, so Takagi sits him up and shifts around to also trap an arm. Shota endures being twisted and turned, and he kicks his way forward to the ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud, and Takagi lets go, only to BELL CLAP! Red Shoes reprimands but Takagi brings Shota around to SENTON! The fans cheer more and Takagi stands back up. Takagi looms over Shota, kicks him around, but Shota just gets mad. Shota glares at Takagi so Takagi eggs him on. Shota stands to fire a forearm! Takagi shakes his head, so Shota fires another forearm! And another!
Takagi wobbles a bit and Shota fires a flurry! But then Takagi blocks one to wrench and knuckle lock! Takagi goes up the ropes!? The fans fire up, but Shota breaks free! Takagi gives thumbs down, and the fans boo, but Takagi HIP ATTACKS Shota down! Takagi rallies the fans behind him, then reels Shota in. But Shota BACKDROPS free! Takagi gets up fast, but Shota dropkicks the legs! Shota turns Takagi for a NECKBREAKER! Shota snarls, goes to a corner, and the fans rally again. Takagi stands, Shota runs corner to corner and UPPERCUTS! Then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect, but Shota stays clam.
Shota drags Takagi up and reels him in, but Takagi fights the lift! Shota CLUBS Takagi, whips him to a corner, then runs up, but he blocks a boot! KNEE JAMMER, and then a SHIN BREAKER! Shota turns Takagi over for the STF! The fans rally as Takagi endures and Shota pulls on the hold! Takagi reaches out, crawls his way over, and fights his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and Shota lets go in frustration. Shota stands Takagi back up to reel him back in, but again Takagi fights the lift! Shota KNEES Takagi again and again, then tries again. Takagi still fights that lift! Takagi CLUBS at the legs, but Shota CLUBS away on Takagi’s back!
Shota UPPERCUTS into a spin! Takagi suplexes, Shota fights it, so Takagi hits a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Both men are down and the fans rally back up. Shota crawls away to a corner while Takagi slaps his leg into working. Takagi watches Shota stand, then he runs in. Takagi blocks a boot, CLUBS the leg, and he LARIATS Shota down! The fans fire up and Takagi gets them even more fired up. Takagi stands Shota up, but Shota fires forearms! Takagi SHOVES Shota down, but Shota is right up to fire more forearms! Takagi THROWS Shota down, but Shota’s right up to fire forearms! Takagi YUKON LARIATS outta nowhere!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Takagi rises and grabs at Shota but Shota shakes him off. Takagi still tries to stand Shota up but Shota kicks him now! So Takagi short arm LARIATS Shota down! And he short arm LARIATS again! Then a scoop for a SLAM, and Takagi goes up! YUKON ELBOW DROP! Takagi hauls Shota up, and hits a POWERBOMB! High stack, TWO!! Into an STF! Takagi gives Shota a taste of his own medicine! Shota endures, the fans rally, and then Takagi shifts to Just Facelock! Shota still endures, then fights around and reaches out. Takagi shifts to a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Shota still endures!
Shota reaches out but Takagi pulls on that arm! The fans rally, Takagi puts as much as he can into the Fujiwara, but Shota fights and reaches out, ROPEBREAK! The fans applaud while Takagi lets off, and he throws some elbows down for good measure. Takagi then brings Shota up, puts him on the top rope, and he fires ridge hand chops! Takagi climbs up, goes to the very top, and hits a SUPER DUPER PLEX! The fans fire up and Shota writhes! Takagi covers, TWO!! Shota survives and the fans fire up again. Takagi finally says, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as the time has finally come! They then join in with “OI! OI! OI!”
Takagi stalks Shota, brings him up, and pump handles, only for Shota to fight the lift! Shota slips free, half nelsons, but Takagi elbows free! Shota UPPERCUTS, then UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! Shota winds up and runs, but Takagi follows to LARIAT at the ropes! Takagi keeps moving, Shota gets around to SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! But Takagi’s right up to SNAP GERMAN! Shota’s right up, ducks a lariat, and he SNAP GERMANS! Shota roars, runs up, but into a PUMPING BOMBER!! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Takagi and Shota go to opposite ends, and the fans rally up.
Takagi goes to a corner, drags himself up, and Shota is in the other corner. The fans rally harder, and they both run in! DOUBLE LARIATS collide, but neither man falls! So they DOUBLE LARIAT again! Both stay up, Takagi SWATS a lariat to BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Then he whips Shota, but Shota reverses to TORNADO DDT! Takagi’s right up!? But Shota LARIATS him back down!! Shota also falls and the fans rally back up! Takagi and Shota stir, and Shota crawls his way over to Takagi. The “SHOTA! SHOTA!” fans are showing up now, and he reels Takagi in, for a POWERBOMB!! High stack cover, TWO!!
The fans fire up again and Shota fires himself up. Takagi slowly rises up, Shota runs, but Takagi swats the lariat! ELBOW! JAB! YUKON- SHOTGUN! But Takagi’s up to PUMPING BOMBER again!! Both men are down again as we hit 20 minutes! Takagi pounds the mat, the fans rally up, and Takagi crawls over to Shota. The dueling is starting to sound even, and Takagi brings Shota up. Shota fires boxing elbows, then a ROLLING- NO, Takagi catches him! Pump handle, MADE IN JAPAN! Cover, TWO!! Takagi shouts out Milano Collection AT with how he tucks Shota’s arms! TAKAGI DRIVER 98!! Cover, TWO!!
Shota survives but Takagi keeps moving, SLIDING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Takagi gets going again, and he PUMPING BOMBERS!!! Cover, TWO?!?! Shota survives and shocks everyone! Takagi thinks on what he must do now, and he brings Shota back up. The fans rally, Takagi pump handles and torture racks! But Shota kicks and flails to get free! Shota LARIATS, but Takagi stays up while Shota drops to his knees! Takagi shakes his head, brings Shota up again, but Shota ENZIGIRIS! Takagi goes to a corner, Shota fires forearms and an elbow, then a ROLLING ELBOW! Takagi stays up to ELBOW! JAB! And whip!
Shota reverses, and DROPKICKS! The fans fire up, Shota brings Takagi to his feet for the fisherman and SECOND- NO, Takagi fights that to scoop Shota! LANDSLIDE DRIVER!! The fans rally up again and Takagi watches Shota rise. Takagi runs, Shota dodges, but then Takagi dodges! DOUBLE LARIATS!! Shota falls on the cover, ONE?!?! Shota gest going again, SHOTA BOMBER!! Cover, TWO!!! Takagi will not be beat at his own game and the fans fire up! Shota goes to a corner as the fans are dueling, and Shota BUSAIKU KNEES! Then he hooks the leg, SECOND CHAPTER!!! Cover, SHOTA WINS!!
Winner: Shota Umino, by pinfall (advances to the finals)
The Rampaging Dragon has been slain! Perhaps if this was the Shota from before New Beginning, the story would be different, but the Second Chapter writes Takagi out of the tournament. Will Takagi battle his way to the top from a different path?
As for Shota, he decides not to say anything, and exits the ring. But wait! David Finlay & Gedo make their way out here! Gedo grabs the mic to ask, “Oi, kid, where’d you go? Get back out yere, you punk! Get back here, kid!” Shota responds to that taunting and makes his way back out. Gedo tells Shota, “I don’t know what’s going on in your head, but do you realize who you’re facing in the finals? The Savage King, David Finlay! He’s crazy strong, kid! Tougher than you can imagine! Whatever it took for you tog et here, in an instant, it’ll be destroyed! Get over here, ya punk! Get over here! I wanna know how much you want this!”
“You want to come in here, say your piece? Just try!” Gedo drops the mic for Shota, and then Shota stares Finlay down. Shota picks the mic up, and he tells Finlay, “I promise I will beat you.” Finlay likes the sound of that. These two stare down, and we are just days away from them battling for it all! Who will be the 2025 New Japan Cup Champion, and the man aimed squarely at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship?
My Thoughts:
Another great night for New Japan Cup, but with as much filler as yesterday’s event. The War Dogs sure have their hands in many things, as does the House of Torture with how Evil is building to a title match with Yota Tsuji. The War Dogs and House of Torture going to Double Count-Out Draw again was a good move, it keeps both sides equal as we wait for them to do whatever huge faction warfare match they’re planning. As for Yota VS Evil, hard to say at this point as House of Torture won the match but then Yota stood tall after that scrap. It’d be really weird if Evil gets that title off Yota just to be a transitional champion to Finlay so that Finlay can get “his” title back.
Shota VS Shingo was a great match, but the crowd really took a second to get into it. There still seems to be a number of fans who are uncertain on Shota so they didn’t feel like cheering right away, but Shota got them on his side as things heated up. Shota winning makes sense, he’s got this new attitude and so that’s part of the push. I hope he changes his aesthetic enough once we get to the finals on March 20th. Take those all white paints, airbrush something on them that helps represent what “Second Chapter” Shota is about, or even just go with a solid color like red or blue to indicate the change visually. As for who wins, that is anyone’s guess, as Finlay will have to circle back to the Bullet Club Civil War at some point.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Adrenaline in Brussels, every thought out of control!
Cody Rhodes has called him out and now it’s the moment of truth: Will John Cena return to Monday Night Raw live from Brussels, Belgium?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- No Holds Barred: PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser; Penta wins.
- Dakota Kai VS Ivy Nile; Dakota wins.
- Jey Uso VS Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller; Jey wins.
- The Creed Brothers VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee; Rey & Lee win.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS Finn Balor; Bron wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
JOHN CENA IS HERE!
Brussels erupts with booing as the traitorous GOAT makes his way out. He’s wearing the custom Belgium merchandise, but not even that is enough to appease the fans, and they still sing, “John Cena SUCKS~!” Cena grabs the mic and paces around while the fans boo and give thumbs down. The dueling does begin, “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” and Cena just stands there to let it play out. Then he drops the mic and turns to leave, but that makes everyone boo! Cena picks up the mic, fans chant, “You Sold Out!” so Cena drops the mic again. The fans boo, so Cena picks the mic back up.
Cena finally speaks, “When someone is properly grounded in life… They shouldn’t have to look outside themselves for approval.” Fans chant and sing at Cena some more, but Cena says they are making this so easy for him. “For 25 years, I’ve been the victim, okay? I have been the victim of an abusive relationship. No, no, no, you have lost your time to talk!” The fans say, “You Sold Out!” Cena says fine, take the floor. But what do they do with it? They just abuse and bully him into being their damn puppet, and expect him to do it with a smile on his face! NO MORE! The fans tell Cena off, and he lets them say it. “So very classy. Thank you.”
“Look, I am not a ‘baby face,’ I am not a ‘heel.’ I’m a human being. And each and every one of you has been AWFUL to me! Go ahead, go ahead! You’ve been awful!” The fans boo more, but Cena says it has been the same damn noise for 25 YEARS! When he first got here, the fans let him know really loud that they hated him. Moments of embarrassment and shame, they let him know he wasn’t worthy of them. So he changed himself, and it worked for a second, but then it wasn’t enough! So what’d he do? He worked hard like always, he started to win and win and win and win, and win and win and win and win!
But oh, he won a lot, and fans hated it! It wasn’t enough! So what’d Cena do? He spent 10 YEARS giving away everything he possibly could, and it still wasn’t enough! The fans tell Cena to STFU, but he just smirks and shakes his head. In his final moments, what’s the only thing he can do? He can walk away. Wow, and now you cheer. But he announced his retirement in a move no one has done before. He really is walking away at the end of this year. He tried one last time to get along with the fans. He tried one last time to do something nice, but they ruined it! Just like they ruin everything!
Because just like right here tonight, it was great for two seconds, and then it wasn’t enough! The fans sing “Hey Hey Hey~, Goodbye~!” Cena says, “Each one of these idiots is proving my point with every breath. My point is, no matter what I do, it is never enough, and you should all be ashamed of yourselves. All you ever do is take. You take, you take, and you take! And you only care about yourselves! I put my values on the line to make a very important choice in my life, and all you could think is, ‘What do we get?’ My story changed! ‘What do we get? John Cena’s coming to my town! What do we get? This is trending! What do we get?’
“Not one of you SOBs asked me how I feel. No one! It’s just ‘What do we get? What do we get?’ YOU GET NOTHING! You get what you have earned, and what you have earned is NOTHING! You don’t get a new look, because you dress like me, I don’t dress like you idiots! You don’t get new music! That is MY voice on that song, and your time is finally up! And my time is finally now! The only thing you get is to take a long look in the mirror to see how awful each and every one of you has been for 25 years to me!” The fans still boo, and even shift to, “We Want Cody!” Oh, they want Cody? OH~, of course! The brand new, shiny toy! Because they’re about to put this one out to pasture.
Like he said, they’re just proving his point that they’re awful people. And that’s every single person here! No one is safe, no one can hide, especially those he can pick out in the crowd. This guy, that guy in the front row, and that other guy. Yes, he sees them. The “Let’s Go Cena” people. They’re the ones who support Cena. The dueling begins again, and Cena says, “You hear that, world? The Cena Sucks Jagoffs, they have already proved themselves awful people. I’m about ot tell you why the Let’s Go Cena people are just as awful. You claim to support me? What have you ever done? What have you, you, you, what have you ever done to support me, huh?!
“What have you ever done for me? All you ever do is steal from me! You steal! You steal my personal moments! You steal my time! You have made me your freakin’ toy! I am an object to you! You have made me the butt to a stupid ‘invisible’ joke for 15 years, and you still think it’s funny! It is NOT funny! It is pathetic! You are pathetic.” Fans tell Cena off again, but Cena says they don’t wanna hear this, huh? Not ready to hear this? Not ready to lean into the uncomfortable conversation. The truth is, the fans don’t wear his merch to support him. They wear it to feel good. They wear words like Hustle, Loyalty, Respect, but Cena LIVES them.
The fans think they can buy the words “Never Give Up?” Cena is the definition of perseverance, and everyone here knows it! “You do not support me. What you do is you use me as an excuse for your pathetic failure of a life. Because all you’ve ever done there for 25 years is sit on your ass and watch me be great! NO MORE! This, everybody, including that one kid right there, is a toxic, dysfunctional relationship! Oh, you don’t wanna hear it, huh? It’s too tough for ya? Well listen to this. I’m breaking up with you. I’m done. I’m breaking up with every single person. Whether you like me or you don’t, you’re dumped.
“I don’t need you anymore. I don’t care about you. And you don’t matter to me. And here’s the thing. There’s no noise you can make, there is nothing you can do, because you know I’m right and you know you are wrong!” WAIT! Here comes Cody! Brussels erupts with cheers this time, and they sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, continues down the ramp and high-fives fans, and Cena just waits on Cody. We get the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and more pyro as Cody throws off his jacket and steps into the ring with Cena. Cody raises the Undisputed WWE Championship, the fans cheer, and then Cody gets himself a mic.
The fans cheer as the song dies down and Cena scowls. The fans sing, “CODY! CODY RHOOODES~! CODY, CODY RHOOODES~!” Cody lifts the belt again and the fans cheer more. Cody then finally says, “I think everybody was willing to hear you out, even myself. If I understood correctly from what you just said, they’ve given you their worst. Sure, they might’ve given you their worst. But they’ve also given you their best for 25 years, and they did that because you were special. They did that because you were special. They did that because you could take it. They did that because you could carry it!” The fans cheer that.
Cena says, “Look, kid,” but Cody tells him, “ENOUGH! And it’s certainly not ‘kid.’ It’s champion!” The fans cheer that, too! And Cody wants to ask Cena something. “Who the hell are you? Where’s the guy on this shirt? Right here! Even after what you did, I was excited at the prospect of going week to week, face to face, with John Cena. And instead, I got this. Well this better not show up at WrestleMania. Because if it does, I run it over, I run it out, because I already took its best shot and it wasn’t good enough, I retire it early! So go find John Cena, because I wanna wrestle him at WrestleMania 41, not this whiny b*tch!”
Cody drops his mic and leaves the ring, the fans all fired up! Cody gives Cena one last look before he makes his way back up the ramp. The fans sing for “CODY! CODY RHOOODES~!” again, and he again lifts the belt. Cena is still in the ring, so the fans boo. Cena drops his mic, exits the ring, and the fans again sing “Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye~!” Cena gives them one last look before he goes backstage. Will this Cena be all we get from now until the end of 2025?
No Holds Barred: PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser!
After going back and forth, and even adding Pete Dunne to the mix, the Man with No Fear and the Impeccable German have it out with nothing holding them back! Will Penta show Kaiser what #CeroMiedo looks like when it is fully unleashed? Or will Kaiser say NEIN to another loss?
Raw returns and Penta makes his entrance. The fans fire up with the pyro, and “CERO! MIEDO!” The fans even sing, “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~! CEROOO~, MIEDOOO~!” The bell rings and Penta eggs Kaiser on. Kaiser is annoyed with the fans, but then he and Penta start throwing hands! Kaiser gets the edge, but Penta avoids the lariat to CHOP Kaiser down! Kaiser staggers, Penta runs up, and Penta LARIATS Kaiser up and out! Then Penta slides out, runs up, but Kaiser THROWS him into the timekeeper’s area! The fans boo, but Penta gets up on the barriers! Penta tightrope walks his way to FLYING RANA Kaiser into the apron!
The fans fire up with Penta and he pursues, but Kaiser bails out. Kaiser grabs chairs, puts them in the ring, but Penta runs up to DROPKICK Kaiser down! Penta then builds speed and he FLIES! Direct hit, the fans fire up, but then the fans cheer as Penta clears the commentary desk! Penta puts Kaiser up there, CHOPS him, but Kaiser CHOPS back! They CHOPS go back and forth, the fans cheer and boo. Penta fires off a flurry, but Kaiser CLAWS Penta’s face! Then KAISER ROLL on the desk! The fans lose their minds while Kaiser stands tall, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns, Kaiser has Penta up top, and he CLAWS at the mask! But Penta fights Kaiser off! The fans fire up as Kaiser staggers, and Penta CROSSBODIES! Kaiser staggers up, Penta dodges and KICKS Kaiser in the leg! Then SLING-DOG! Kaiser flounders to a corner, Penta whips, but Kaiser reverses. Penta goes up and over to BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Penta rises. Penta aims from a corner, calls his shot, and runs up, but into a GAMANGIRI! Kaiser fireman’s carries, KAISER ROLL again, then cover! TWO! Penta survives, but Kaiser kicks him out of the ring. Kaiser UPPERCUTS Penta, then RAMS him into steel steps!
The fans boo, Kaiser leaves Penta behind, but only to go out the side. Kaiser gets running, wanting his favorite shot! But Penta BACKDROPS Kaiser onto the desk! The fans are thunderous as Kaiser writhes! Penta has the fans singing again, and he brings Kaiser off the desk to put in the ring. Penta stalks Kaiser, but Kaiser SMACKS Penta! The fans chant, “We Want Tables!” but Penta CHOPS! Kaiser fires a haymaker, Penta fires back, and the two stand. Kaiser ROCKS Penta, but Penta ROCKS Kaiser! The haymakers keep going, then Penta trades CHOPS with Kaiser’s haymakers! Penta fires a flurry of forearms, then says “CERO! MIEDO!”
Penta runs, tilt-o-whirls, but Kaiser SLAMS him down! BLINDSIDE SLIDING FOREARM! Cover, TWO! Penta survives but Kaiser stalks him to ropes. Kaiser tells Penta to listen to him! Penta will fear KAISER! Kaiser will teach Penta what it means to fear! Kaiser CLUBS Penta down, the fans sing for Penta, but Kaiser grabs a chair. Kaiser dares Penta to get up, and then he SMACKS Penta on the back! Penta scrambles to a corner but Kaiser grins as he storms up. Kaiser CHOKES Penta with the chair and shouts, “Are you scared? Say it!” Kaiser wants Penta to admit he’s afraid, but Penta just powers up! The fans fire up as Penta pushes Kaiser back! “CERO! MIEDO!”
Kaiser drags Penta up, clinches, but Penta WRINGS that arm, then has the other! THE SACRIFICE!! Kaiser writhes, clutches that elbow, but now Penta has the chair! Penta winds up but Kaiser wants mercy! Penta shakes his head but Kaiser says he gives up?! Kaiser says Penta wins? Penta isn’t sure about that, but then Kaiser CLAWS Penta’s eyes! Kaiser has th echair, but Penta SUPERKICKS the chair into Kaiser! Then he SMACKS Kaiser! Then he gives the chair back to SUPERKICK it into Kaiser again! Penta goes up, Kaiser staggers around, and Penta reels him in, FLYING MEXICAN DESTROYER on the chair!!
The fans are losing their minds, but Penta then hits a PENTA DRIVER!! Cover, Penta wins!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall
Brussels gives this brutal opener a standing ovation! Will Penta now leave Kaiser in the past to go for bigger and better prizes? Cathy Kelley interviews Penta on the ramp and congratulates him on the win. That was a definitive end to that match, and we’re on the Road to WrestleMania. What is next for Penta? Penta says first off all, THANK YOU, BRUSSELS! They are amazing, he loves ’em! But the Penta New Era is here! It is alive in Europe, but also in every continent in the world! What is next for Penta? Listen: THE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
Penta wants to tell everyone that he doesn’t care what he has to do, he WILL be champion! Because he is Penta, and he has CERO MIEDO! That very title is on the line later tonight, will Penta be aimed at Bron Breakker or Finn Balor for WrestleMania?
Dakota Kai heads to gorilla.
Iyo Sky gives her a pep talk before her match, but uh, is that Dominik Mysterio talking with Karrion Kross? Is Dom still trying to recruit new members? Or is Mr. Doomsday giving Dom some special advice of his own?
The Judgment Day is in the clubhouse.
Carlito is adding to the great graffiti backstage, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez talk about how Dominik should’ve taken the match with Bron Breakker instead of- Finn walks in! Liv & Raquel say hey, and they wish him luck tonight. Finn thanks them for that, and he wishes them the best of luck in their matches. Jade Cargill is gonna be another stop on the Liv Morgan Revenge Tour! And Raquel, by this time next week, they’ll both be Intercontinental- Oh, Dom walks in! Hey, bud! The man of the moment! Finn knows Dom knows, but Finn wants to say from the bottom of his heart, thanks for getting him the title match.
Dom says of course! Whatever it takes to get Judgment Day back on top. But here’s the thing… Dom was talking with some people, and he has an idea. Oh, an idea? Is Dom sure he should say this? Dom says it’ll be okay. Ever since JD McDonagh went down, they kinda lost some muscle around here. So Dom found the perfect person to add to the Judgment Day! Finn is annoyed and asks who. Penta! Finn wants to get something straight. After all this time, and after all they’ve been through, Dom goes behind Finn’s back, has all these conversations with all these people, and the one he lands on… is offering a spot to Penta, the guy who just declared HE wants Finn’s Intercontinental title?!
Finn seethes, and tells Dom he’s just a snake! Finn storms out, the mood ruined. Dom didn’t know Penta was gonna go for the title. Carlito says Dom doesn’t watch the product, huh? Well, Dom stepped in it this time. Is there some way he can he make it up to Finn? Or should he just give up on adding members?
Dakota Kai VS Ivy Nile w/ Team American Made!
Speaking of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, both #CobraKai and the Diamond Pitbull have fought for and failed to take that title from Lyra Valkyria. With Raquel Rodriguez facing Lyra next, who will prove they’re worthy of the shot after that?
What a surprise to see Chad Gable showing up. He apologizes for being late, and then he joins The Creed Brothers in Ivy’s corner. The bell rings, and Dakota fires off fast hands on Ivy! The ref reprimands as they’re in the corner, but Dakota backs off. Dakota runs up, but Ivy stops the flying-mare! Ivy throws Dakota away, Dakota keeps moving, but Ivy LARIATS! Ivy is already frustrated and she rains down fists! The fans boo, Ivy tells them to shut up, and Maggle taunts Gable about his lucha mask that he may or may not have. Ivy stands Dakota up, whips her to a corner, and Dakota bounces off buckles into Ivy’s GERMAN SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!
Ivy is annoyed but Gable coaches her on. Ivy drags Dakota up, reels her in, and she suplexes. Dakota cradle counters! TWO, and Dakota goes to a corner. Ivy runs up, Dakota ELBOWS her away, then Dakota BOOTS her! Dakota runs to DISCUS LARIAT! And then LARIAT again! And DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Dakota while Ivy ends up in a corner. Dakota runs in to BOOT WASH! Dakota then puts Ivy through ropes, and JUMP- NO, Ivy avoids the stomp! But Dakota GAMANGIRIS! The fans fire up again and Dakota builds speed, but Gable is on the apron! The fans boo, Ivy storms in, and Ivy scoops Dakota for a SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Cover, TWO!
Dakota survives, and here comes the LWO! They go after The Creeds for what Gable or not Gable did! Gable runs but gets flanked, so he goes into the crowd! The fans fire up as Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee chase after Gable! Ivy is shocked, but that lets Dakota run Around the World! BOOT! And then a fireman’s carry, GO TO KICK!! Cover, Dakota wins!
Winner: Dakota Kai, by pinfall
American Made falls apart in Brussels, and now #CapKota is in pole position for the title chase! Will she get one more shot on goal with Lyra? Or will she and her old rival, Raquel, meet again?
Iyo Sky heads to the ring!
The fans fire up as the Evil Genius, the NEW Women’s World Champion, is ready to sign on the dotted line! She and Bianca Belair are going to put pen to paper, but will that be all that happens? We find out after the break.
Raw returns as Bianca is in the ring, and Adam Pearce has joined them. Pearce welcomes everyone in French, and says it is now time to make this world title match official between challenger Bianca Belair, and champion Iyo Sky! The fans cheer that! Pearce says they know how this works. Two signatures makes this official, so the floor is theirs. Iyo and Bianca both take their seats, and Iyo picks up her mic first. “Bianca, you will not disrespect me again. Rhea will not disrespect me again. No one will disrespect me again. Because I am the Women’s World Champion!” The fans cheer that! “And after WrestleMania, I will still be the Women’s World Champion!” The fans cheer even more for that!
Iyo signs her part, the fans cheer again, and even chant, “You Deserve It!” Iyo bows in thanks for that. Now Bianca has her turn to speak. “Iyo, I have all the respect in the world for you. I really do. But last week, I gave you a pass because it was lowkey my fault, so I’ma tell you exactly what I told Rhea. If you put your hands on me and think you can get away with it, you don’t know me at all. So WrestleMania, you gonna find out exactly who I am. I am Bianca Belair, The EST of WWE, and I will be your NEW Women’s World Champion.” Fans are a bit more torn here, but Bianca signs her part. Pearce says it is now official!
The fans cheer and Pearce thanks them for being so professional. But then RHEA RIPLEY shows up! The fans fire up but Pearce, Bianca and Iyo are all shocked and upset about this. Mami has a mic as she storms down the ramp, but Pearce already calls in refs! Pearce asks what Rhea is doing out here, but Rhea asks them what they’re all doing out here. Because last she checked, Iyo slapped her in the face and she won’t do nothing about it, like Bianca over here. How the hell is Bianca acting like nothing happened? Well, for one, Bianca had to sign the contract for WrestleMania. That’s what she’s doing out here.
Rhea says real funny, coming from Bianca. Because Bianca had no business being out here for Rhea’s title match, but there she was. So time to take a page out of Bianca’s book, and she’s just out here to watch. Oh, then Rhea will be just watching WrestleMania! Bianca and Rhea argue, Iyo gets riled up, and she storms up like last time. But Bianca pie faces her first! Bianca says she ain’t getting smacked today! Well she gets a HEADBUTT from Rhea! Bianca ends up on the table, and then Rhea kicks Iyo! Rhea reels Iyo in, and hauls her up, to POEWRBOMB onto Bianca! The table doesn’t break, but Pearce has had enough of Rhea!
Rhea sees the contract on the floor, then picks it up. And she SIGNS IT, TOO!? Can she do that?! We have the two signatures, but is she making this into a Triple Threat?! Pearce argues with Rhea all the way to the back as she plays keep-away, but is Mami about to be on top one way or another?
Jey Uso walks ‘n’ talks.
“Yeah! Yeah! Main Event Jey Uso is now in your citaaay~! YEAH! I ain’t been myself lately. Been doubtin’ myself. Mind playin’ tricks on me. So I flew halfway around the world to whoop somebody’s ass! And that person tonight is Austin Theory. But at WrestleMania, it’s me and you, Gunther, when I shock the world and become World Heavyweight Champ! So Uce! Hey, Uce! Please hit my music-” GUNTHER IS AT GORILLA! Jey and Gunther get to shouting but Pearce and security barge in! Pearce says not tonight! Not after everything Rhea just did! Gunther says he talked to Jimmy on Friday, and he’s just as dumb as Jey!
Jey shoves Gunther, security ushers Gunther out, and Jey says he’ll see “G” out there! UH UH, YEET!! Jey makes his entrance, will he be even more fired up to fight #AllDay Austin Theory?
Jey Uso VS Austin Theory w/ Grayson Waller!
Raw returns and A-Town Down Under makes their entrance. The bell rings, Waller distracts Jey already, and Theory fires off haymakers! They end up in the corner, the ref reprimands and counts, but Theory talks trash on the Yeet! Theory drags Jey up, whips him corner to corner, but Jey goes up and over. Jey keeps moving, he ducks ‘n’ dodges then SPEARS!! Cover, Jey wins!!
Winner: Jey Uso, by pinfall
That was fast! Jey really IS fired up to fight Gunther for Mania! Waller storms in, but Jey SUPERKICKS him down! Jey then watches ATDU regroup, and Jey FLIES! Jey clips the ropes just a bit but he still takes ATDU down! Jey gets back up, but GUNTHER GETS HIM IN A SLEEPER!! Gunther squeezes tight, but Jey RAMS Gunther into a corner! Jey is free to fire haymakers! “YEET! YEET! YEET!” Jey pops, locks, but Gunther blocks the shot! Jey ROCKS Gunther with his off hand, and then he YANKS the title from Gunther!! The fans fire up, Gunther runs up in a rage, but Jey DUMPS him out! The fans fire up as Jey holds up the belt!
Gunther is furious, the fans cheer, but then Jey tosses the belt back. Der Ring General tried to punk out Jey, but Jey turned the tables! Will nothing stop Jey from proving he IS a main event player?
Pearce argues with Rhea.
Pearce will not allow Rhea to get away with what she’s doing! You can’t just write your name on a contract! Rhea says yes she can, she literally just did it! This is like talking to a child. Give him the contract! No! Yes! No! YES! NO! Rhea Ripley, give her the contract! Rhea says then he should put her in the match, her name’s on the contract! She shoves the contract into Pearce’s chest, he thanks her and takes his leave. But here comes Bianca! She and Rhea brawl! Bianca HAMMERS away, but now Iyo gets in, to go after Rhea! Bianca shoves Iyo aside and says Rhea is hers! Iyo DECKS Bianca, tells Bianca not to screw with her, but then Rhea SHOVES Iyo into a door!
Rhea goes after Bianca, and throws her into road cases! Pearce returns to have refs usher Rhea out of here! Rhea demands to be in that title match! Will Mami get what she wants? Or will she throw things out of whack until she does?
The Creed Brothers VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee!
After that wild encounter earlier tonight, this was a natural choice for all parties involved! Will Julius & Brutus get payback for Master Gable being run out of the building? Or will American Made learn not to mess with the L W O?
The teams sort out and Julius starts against Dragon. The bell rings, and Julius JUMP KNEES Lee down! The fans boo but Julius drags Lee up for a fireman’s carry. But Lee pops up to RANA Julius away! Brutus runs up but Lee dodges to SUPERKICK! Brutus tumbles out, Lee DIVES onto Brutus! Lee goes up a corner, then CROSSBODIES Julius! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up and Lee clamps onto Julius. Lee reaches out but Brutus YANKS Rey down! Julius turns things around and hits Lee with a ROLLING SPINEBUSTER! Then a SLIDING LARIAT! Julius scowls, the fans boo, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and the fans rally as Lee wipes out the Creeds! Lee crawls for his corner, hot tags to Julius and Rey! The fans fire up as Rey BLASTS Brutus, BOOTS Julius, then ELBOWS Brutus to dodge Julius! Tilt-o-whirl DEJA VU RANA! Julius flounders around, the fans fire up, and Rey climbs up on Julius. Rey rains down fists, and the fans count all the way to “Sept” (seven in French) before Julius carries him off the corner! Brutus is there and Julius hands Rey off! But Rey fights back, elbowing Julius away and raining fists down on Brutus! But Brutus THROWS Rey at Julius, and Julius catches Rey!
Julius powers up and brings Rey around, but Rey swings to DDT! Lee is back, FLYING RANA for Brutus to the floor!! The fans are thunderous and Rey goes up top! But Julius springs up after him! Only for Rey to HEADBUTT him away! Rey leaps, FLYING RANA and Julius is on the ropes! Rey dials it up and the fans cheer the 619! DROP THE DIME! Cover, LWO WINS!
Winners: Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee, by pinfall
The King of Lucha and his Boy Wonder took down the Creeds, but WAIT! That American Made luchador is back! He CLOBBERS Rey, dodges Lee, and then FLYING HEADBUTTS! El Americano rains down fists on Lee, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Rey storms up to fire forearms! The fans fire up, but Gable- er, uh, Americano waistlocks again! GERMAN SUPLEX and Rey lands on Lee! The fans boo “whoever this is,” but now he goes up top! The fans chant “You Suck! You Suck!” a la Angle, but Americano says SHOOOOSH! DIVING HEADBUTT on Lee!! “UH GRACIAS~!” Americano runs away as security rushes out here!
Gable was ran off from the building, yet this luchador returns. What is going on with this masked man mystery?
Seth Rollins is here!
Brussels sings his song, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” as The Visionary is in a comparatively normal outfit. Rollins high-fives fans and makes his way to the ring in his dark green suit and boots highlighted with gold chain and wristwatch. What will Rollins have to say about the shocking way Roman Reigns returned? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns as the fans continue to sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins revels in it while he has the mic in hand. The fans applaud as the singing just keeps going. Another round of applause, and then Rollins tells Brussels, “Welcome to Monday Night Rollins!” The fans cheer again, and Rollins says that by the sound of this, they already know it. In case you don’t, this is a Visionary, this is a Revolutionary, this is SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! The fans cheer more, the singing returns, and Rollins again smiles. The fans applaud, and Rollins says alright. He was coming out here mad as Hell, but it is hard to be mad with those beautiful voices serenading him.
Rollins takes a moment as fans start to chant “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Well, we’ll get to him, but Rollins wants to talk Roman Reigns first. “O T C! O T C!” Yes, you saw the footage last week. Is Rollins mad as Hell that Roman came for revenge? Absolutely not, cuz he’d have done the same damn thing! HAHAHA! “The problem is, even after all these years, and a Wise Man in his ear, Roman Reigns still can’t come up with a plan. He needs his Architect to do it for him.” Roman had the time, the place, the moment, but he left one detail out: That detail is the man the fans were all chanting for just a few moments ago.
The “C M PUNK!” chant returns and Rollins says yes, “The luckiest loser on the face of the planet.” Because of Rollins had just a few more seconds in that cage, he would’ve ended what he promised the world. He would’ve stomped Punk through the mat, ended the Mania dream, and put Punk’s career on ice! Rollins would’ve taken care of the Punk Problem for everyone, including Roman. But like the good ol’ days, Rollins is left to clean up Roman’s mess. The “O T C!” chants return, and Rollins says don’t worry, he’ll put OTC in his place along the way. And it just so happens that Rollins’ two favorite people are going to be in the same place at the same time this Friday Night SmackDown.
Oh, trust him, Brussels, Rollins wishes those two were here, too. But… Rollins was just thinking… Why let them boys have all the fun? Maybe Rollins makes a trip down to Italy, makes a trip to SmackDown, and he puts himself right in between Roman and Punk? What do the fans think about that? The fans cheer, and Rollins says yeah, that sounds like a nice way to solve a problem and clean up a mess. But that is Friday, this is Monday, this ain’t about SmackDown, this is about the fans! This has been one hell of a crowd all night long! They’ve been singing with their beautiful voices, there’s just one match left and that is the main event for the Intercontinental Championship!
So Brussels, sing Rollins’ beautiful song as he makes his way to SmackDown and we make our way to the main event! Give it to ’em, Brussels! “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins revels in it again, and he says, “It’s on. See you boys on Friday, HAHAHA!”
Backstage interview with AJ Styles.
Cathy is with the Phenomenal One and says he had a lot to say on the Raw Recap show about Logan Paul. Could he give us a bit of that here? Styles says he stands behind everything he said. Styles hears the fans sing for him, then says Logan Paul just doesn’t belong. But then Karrion Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux walk over. Kross asks if that’s really how Styles feels. Styles says he doesn’t need this. Kross says he is just offering a different perspective, but if Styles doesn’t want it… Kross turns to go but Styles says fine, let’s hear it. Maybe Styles isn’t mad about Logan Paul. Maybe Styles is mad at himself. That’s enough of that.
No, hey, hold on! Kross just wants Styles to think: How long did it take for Styles to get to the WWE and find validation? 16? Styles says it was 17. Okay, okay. But it didn’t take Logan that long, did it? Is Styles not able to respect a guy who just waltzed into the business and did everything Styles has ever wanted to in record time? Styles sees where Kross is going with this, and it’s not gonna work. Styles leaves, but Kross says it’s working. He and Scarlett do the Scott Hall fingers, will their mind games make Styles and Logan bitter enemies?
Bron Breakker heads to gorilla.
And Penta is there! Penta looks at the title, and Bron smirks. Will this be the match-up for the title? Or will this Road to WrestleMania take a detour thanks to The Judgment Day?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker VS Finn Balor!
The Big Bad Booty Nephew has been chewing up this roster ever since he got here, but The Prince claims he chews up “rookies” like Bron his whole career. But until these two fight it out, it’s all just talk. Whose bark is worse than their bite when the bell rings?
Raw returns and Bron makes his entrance. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s time to see who’s the real badass around here!
The bell rings and the fans rally up. In fact, they’re even dueling, “Let’s Go, Balor!” and then barking for Bron. Finn and Bron feel things out, knuckle lock, but then Finn backs away to ropes. The ref has Bron stay back, Finn leaves the ropes, and the two reset. They tie up, Finn headlocks, but Bron powers up and out. Bron RUNS Finn over, the fans bark, and Bron snarls as he storms up on Finn. Finn kicks low, CLUBS Bron on the neck, then headlocks. Bron blocks the takeover with pure brawn, then he hoists Finn up! The fans fire up, but Finn uses that to flying headlock takeover! The fans cheer while Finn grinds Bron down.
Bron endures as Finn thrashes him around. Bron rolls Finn to a cover, TWO, and Finn holds onto the headlock. The fans rally, Bron powers out and headlocks. Finn powers out, drops down, then bypasses Bron to TOSS him out! Bron lands on his feet! The fans fire up, Bron storms in, and he RAMS Finn into a corner! Bron RAMS Finn again and again, then snarls again. Finn staggers to another corner, but Bron runs up to LARIAT! Bron whips Finn to TOSS him out, and Finn tumbles! Bron goes out the side, and he builds up speed! The fans fire up, but Finn SLINGBLADES Bron down! Finn has control while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Finn has Bron in a corner. Finn CHOPS and the fans “WOO~!” Finn paces, then he goes back to Bron for a haymaker. Bron counter punches! And counter punches! Bron fires hands, whips, then scoops, but Finn tilt-o-whirls through to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Cover, TWO! Finn ELBOWS Bron in the neck, the fans rally up, and Finn stalks Bron. Finn scuffs Bron, SLAPS him, and talks trash. “You know who I am? I’m Finn Balor!” Finn keeps scuffing and slapping, and the fans tell Finn he done messed up! Finn fires hands, but Bron just snarls! Bron ROCKS Finn again and again, then whips. Finn reverses, but Bron LEAPING ELBOWS!
Bron storms up again, clinches, and EXPLODERS! Finn flounders, Bron whips again, but Finn KICKS the backdrop away. Finn runs, Bron dodges and then catches Finn for a POWERSLAM! The fans fire up and bark, and then Bron drags Finn up. But wait, here come Dom & Carlito! It was only a matter of time before Judgment Day pulled this move! They distract Bron and Finn rolls Bron up! TWO, and Finn runs up, but Bron catches him by the neck! Military press, but Finn slips free, EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Cover, TWO! Bron survives and Finn is frustrated, but Dom & Carlito cheer Finn on.
Bron crawls to ropes, Finn spins him around, and Finn JUMP STOMPS! The fans tell Dom he sucks, Carlito tells Dom to tune that out, and Finn gives more stomps! Finn asks Dom what he’s doing out here, so apparently this was another of Dom’s ideas. Finn CHOPS Bron, then whips, but Bron ducks ‘n’ dodges and builds up speed to CLOBBER Finn! The fans fire up and bark again while Finn bails out. Bron storms out after Finn and the ref tells Dom & Carlito to back off. Bron LEAPS from the apron and onto the desk! Both men go tumbling over and the fans lose their minds! Bron sputters, Corey Graves lost a shoe, and “This is Awesome!”
Bron and Finn slowly stir, and Bron is on his feet! Finn crawls, wants mercy, but Bron stomps him! Bron puts Finn in the ring, and he dares Dom & Carlito to pull something. Bron slides in and builds speed again! SLINGBLADE! Finn hits first, and then he hurries to go again! SHOTGUN and Bron hits buckles! Bron slumps down into the drop zone so Finn climbs up! The fans fire up as Finn reaches the top! COUP DE- NO, Bron dodges, runs up, but Finn hurdles over the Spear! Roll up, TWO!! Bron grabs Finn again, military press, BREAKKER SLAM! Cover, TWO! Finn survives, both men are down, and the fans are fired up!
Dom & Carlito coach Finn but Bron is up first. Bron has blood in his mouth, perhaps from a busted lip, but he doesn’t care. Bron runs in, but Finn KICKS him first! And ENZIGIRIS! Bron is down again so Finn goes back up! But Bron hurries to trip Finn! Finn CLAWS at Bron’s head, then throws hands! The fans rally, Finn stands, but Bron ROCKS him first! Bron climbs up and brings Finn to the top! But Carlito distracts the ref! Dom YANKS Bron into a HOTSHOT, but that trips Finn up, too! Finn lands on his prince and he’s pissed at Dom! Dom apologizes, but Bron is just as mad! Bron BLASTS Dom, BLASTS Carlito, then springs up after Finn! SUPER STEINER!!
The fans are thunderously barking, Bron hits the SPEAR!!! Cover, Bron wins!
Winner: Bron Breakker, by pinfall (still WWE Intercontinental Champion)
Bron is so badass, not even Judgment Day could cost him! But now Judgment Day attacks him! The fans boo but Dom goes to grab the belt. Carlito bumps Bron off buckles, but here comes Penta! The fans fire up as Penta slides in, and he dodges Dom to then SUPERKICK Dom down! Carlito runs up, into a SUPERKICK! Bron gives Carlito a SPEAR! But now Penta holds onto the title as he stares down Bron. The fans sing “OLE~, OLE OLE OLE~! CERO~ MIEDO~!” Penta hands the belt to Bron, and Bron holds it up. Will these two put it all on the line in Las Vegas?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for Raw in Brussels, and the Brussels crowd was just as fun as the Barcelona crowd on Friday. Cena and Cody opening with their big promo segment was the right move to give it time to breathe. Cena did a perfect job of using the fans as part of his promo because he took the trope of “I blame the fans!” to the ultimate level. He didn’t just use recent stuff, he used his entire 25 years and all the phases he went through as part of it, and he really dug into some personal feelings for both him and the fans. Cody therefore had the perfect counter to show Cena was only focusing on the negative, and how that’s not who Cena has presented to us. I think we’re getting another appearance of Cena next week, can’t wait to see how Glasgow treats him.
Iyo and Bianca had a good contract signing but I expected a touch more from both promos. Rhea joining in was the main element, and this is clearly heading for a Triple Threat. That quick brawl backstage was good, and I feel like we’re going to get Rhea VS Bianca to see if Rhea earns her spot in the match. Good stuff from Jey and Gunther again, but I kinda wish we’d just gotten only brawl. Jey squashing Theory was pretty wild, and he still gets the better of Gunther here, but it should’ve just been all Jey and Gunther. Gunther promised a living Hell for Jey, but I’m not sure we’re quite there yet. All the more reason Gunther should’ve beat up Jimmy on Friday as a way to stick it to Jey.
Good promo from Styles and Kross to add to this Styles VS Logan Paul build. Kross continues to be a great instigator, but when is he going to get back in the ring for his own desires? Or is he just waiting for the right opening to mess with the right champion? Honestly, as it feels like Jey is going to win the world title, Jey is the perfect target for Kross. Jey admitted to himself that there is insecurity right now, and the belt can help give him confidence again, but Kross can certainly find ways to tear that back down on the way to Backlash and beyond.
Very good stuff from American Made. Gable being run off by the LWO of course set up “El Americano” for that tag match segment, but it was also a good part of Dakota being Ivy. I feel like it’d be a bit much of Dakota gets a third match with Lyra, but I don’t know if that means Judgment Day screws Lyra out of the title. Cheating Lyra could be a way to keep her strong in the loss, and we could get some good stuff as Dakota takes on Raquel. Plus, DMG CTRL currently having the world title makes them an eventual target of Judgment Day, and the tag titles could also be in the mix for some serious Two Woman Power Trip teasing.
Judgment Day also had great stuff tonight. Dom thinking Penta would want to join Judgment Day is interesting, I wonder if that was Kross’s idea. Penta VS Kaiser was a great opener, but I feel they could’ve done more for a No Holds Barred match. Still good stuff to give Penta the win and move on from Kaiser to call out the Intercontinental Championship. Bron VS Finn was a great match, even with Dom & Carlito showing up. Dom accidentally messing Finn up was pretty clever, and that just adds to the Judgment Day tension. While Bron VS Penta will be awesome stuff, I was kinda hoping we’d get Finn VS Penta to add even more intrigue to the Judgment Day story, but I guess that’s something that doesn’t need a title.
My Score: 8.9/10
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