Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (3/6/23)
John Cena returns to Raw!
The Champ! Is! HEEEERE!
Raw is in Boston, so Boston’s own JOHN CENA returns! And Austin Theory is surely wanting to talk with him. Will The Now see Cena in the ring?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kevin Owens VS Solo Sikoa w/ Jimmy Uso; Kevin wins.
- Bianca Belair VS Carmella w/ Chelsea Green; Bianca wins.
- Omos w/ MVP VS Dolph Ziggler; Omos wins.
- Johnny Gargano w/ Dexter Lumis VS Finn Balor w/ The Judgment Day; Gargano wins.
- Nikki Cross VS Piper Niven; Piper wins.
- Baron Corbin VS Chad Gable w/ Otis; Gable wins.
- Sami Zayn VS Jimmy Uso w/ Solo Sikoa; Sami wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
The Bloodline arrives backstage.
The Wise Man, Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso are in town, they’ve got some problems to take cdare of. And Paul Heyman tells them that one more time from the top. Jimmy heard Roman Reigns last Friday. He was very explicit. Solve the Sami Zayn problem. And you know what happened? Sami Zayn escaped! Which means Sami survived, which means Sami is here live in Boston tonight. This means opportunity for the Bloodline. So Solo, he will solve the Kevin Owens problem tonight while Jimmy, whether Jey comes to his senses or not, will solve the Sami Zayn problem once and for all. Yeet. But as they head out, Heyman puts in the call to the Tribal Chief.
Kevin Owens VS Solo Sikoa!
The Prizefighter knows what’s coming, because you never face just one member of the Bloodline. The Enforcer of the Island will still have back-up, but will Kevin #JustKeepFighting until he’s beaten down The Bloodline?
The moment Solo’s through the ropes, Kevin goes after him! They spill out to the ramp and Kevin whips Solo into barriers! Kevin fires off more hands, then whips Solo, only for Solo to reverse and POST Kevin! Solo snarls, storms up on Kevin, and he throws haymakers! Solo POSTS Kevin again, Kevin gets in the ring, and Solo pursues. The bell rings, but Kevin TACKLES Solo! Kevin rains down fists, fires forearms, whips, but Solo reverses to CLOBBER Kevin! S0lo stomps Kevin, HEADBUTTS him, then stalks him to ropes. Solo CHOKES Kevin, the ref counts, and Solo lets off with a CLUBBING forearm!
Fans rally for Kevin and Kevin CHOPS! Kevin fires off hands, runs, but into a WHEEL KICK from Solo! Fans boo but Solo snarls. Solo sits Kevin up to HEADBUTT him again. Solo DECKS Kevin, then KICKS him in the back. Fans boo but Kevin throws hands! Solo DECKS Kevin again! Cover, ONE!! Kevin SLAPS Solo! Solo BOOTS Kevin down! Solo stomps away on Kevin in the corner but lets off as the ref counts. Solo drags Kevin but Kevin grabs the ropes. The ref counts, Solo stomps Kevin in the stomach! Solo snarls and fans boo, but Solo grinds his fingers into Kevin’s face in the corner. The ref counts and Solo lets off again.
Solo stomps Kevin but Kevin kicks back! And CHOPS! And ROCKS Solo with forearm after forearm! Kevin runs, but Solo kitchen sink knees him down! It gets Kevin rather low, and Solo adds a FALLING HEADBUTT! Cover, TWO! Solo looms over Kevin, drags him up by his beard and clamps on a chinlock. Fans rally as Kevin endures and reaches out. Kevin fights up, throws body shots, then ROCKS Solo! Kevin whips, Solo reverses but Kevin KCIKS him! And LARIATS! Solo stays up! Kevin LARIATS again, then stomps Solo’s foot! Kevin kicks Solo, then LARIATS! Solo drops, and Kevin drops a SENTON!
Fans fire up as Kevin goes corner to corner! But Solo bails out before the cannonball hits. Kevin goes out, to CLOBBER Solo! Boston is thunderous as Kevin looms over Solo. Kevin puts Solo back in, but here comes Jimmy! Jimmy gets on the apron to distract, and Solo UPPERCUTS Kevin! Solo ROCKET LAUNCHES Kevin off the corner! Solo runs in to HIP ATTACK!! Kevin flounders out of the ring but Solo goes out after him. Solo runs in, HIP ATTACK into the barriers! Fans boo but Solo soaks it up as Raw goes picture in picture.
Solo stares down the fans as they rally for Kevin. Solo drags Kevin up and into the ring, steps back in, and he paces around Kevin. Kevin crawls to ropes, and Solo CHOKES him again! The ref counts, Solo lets off, and now Jimmy gets a cheap shot in! Solo looms over Kevin while Jimmy talks trash with fans. Solo springboard stomps Kevin down! Solo and Jimmy taunt the fans, but the fans rally up for Kevin. Solo swings on Kevin but Kevin counter punches! Kevin fires forearms, Solo DECKS him! Jimmy applauds while Solo stomps Kevin again. Kevin grabs ropes but Solo stomps him again. Solo CHOKES Kevin on the ropes, but lets off as the ref counts.
Kevin goes to a corner, then gets up to SUPERKICK! Solo staggers after Kevin as he goes outside. Kevin trips Solo on the apron! Solo rolls into the ring, Kevin hurries to SENTON, but gets knees! Kevin crawls to a corner, Raw returns to single picture, and Solo throws down hands! The ref counts, Solo throws headbutts but lets off at 4. Solo hoists Kevin up top, climbs up after him, and fans boo as Solo brings Kevin up. But Kevin resists! Kevin throws body shots, and a HEADBUTT! Solo wobbles, Kevin ELBOWS him down! Kevin then hurries, but runs into a SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Kevin is still in this but Solo keeps his focus.
Solo goes to the opposite corner, he runs in, but Kevin avoids the splash! Then hits a DDT! Both men are down and fans fire back up! Jimmy looks around, watching for both Sami and Jey. Kevin fires off forearms on Solo! Solo UPPERCUTS back! Solo runs in at the corner, Kevin dodges and Solo POSTS himself! Kevin kicks but Solo denies the stunner! Kevin BLASTS Jimmy off the apron! Kevin blocks Solo’s boot to SUPERKICK! And SUPERKICK! Solo is in the corner, Kevin CANNONBALLS! Fans fire up as Kevin climbs up! SWANTON BOMB!! Cover, JIMMY BREAKS IT!
Winner: Kevin Owens, by disqualification
The fans boo as Jimmy stomps away, but this isn’t about wins or losses! Just like on Friday, the Bloodline wants to put Kevin away for good! They RAM Kevin into steel steps, then Solo clears the announce desk! Jimmy drags Kevin over, SMACKS him off the desk, then pushes him onto it. The Bloodline mugs Kevin, and Solo sets up on the barriers. But SAMI ZAYN flies in! He CLOBBERS Jimmy, then fires off hands on Solo! Sami POSTS Solo! And CLOBBERS Jimmy! Sami fires off on Jimmy, SMACKS him off the desk, then gets a chair! Fans are thunderous as Sami swings at Solo! Solo dodges and runs through the crowd!
Sami aims at Jimmy, but Jimmy also bails out! Boston is thunderous for The Great Liberator, but he locks eyes with Kevin. Sami puts the chair aside, and walks up to his best frenemy. Fans cheer as Sami offers a hand. Kevin slides out, refusing to take it. These two may have the same goal, but Kevin is not willing to forgive Sami. Will these two #JustKeepFighting the same fight until the end?
Bobby Lashley speaks.
“I’m tired of playing these kid games, Bray Wyatt. I came to SmackDown to confront you man to man. But you’re not a man, are you? I thought coming to your home would provoke you enough to do something and face me. But instead, you sent a guy wearing a mask to do your dirty work. Bray Wyatt, what is it going to take to face me like a man?” The screens glitch, that might be a sign… But will the All Mighty get his meeting with the Eater of Worlds?
Backstage interview with Carmella.
Byron Saxton is with The Princess of Staten Island, and tonight, she faces the Raw Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair,. what would a win mean to her? To be real, the only reason Mella got this match was to get her out of Adam Pearce’s non-existent hair. But what he’s done is set up his precious little champion to be humiliated before WrestleMania. If Pearce was any good at his job, he’d make this match a #1 Contender’s Match, and a win would give Mella a part in the Raw Women’s Championship match. But again, Pearce ruins everything. Chelsea Green walks in and says amen! Someone else finally sees Pearce is a Grade A Dumpster Fire.
Pearce can be seen walking up, and when he spots these two, he turns the other direction! Chelsea says that tonight, after Mella wipes the floor with Bianca, they go above Pearce’s shiny head and talk to his manager to get that Mania moment. Mella loves that! Where has Chelsea been all Mella’s life? In fact, Chelsea should be out there in Mella’s corner! That’d be great! Oh, sorry, Byron is still here? Is he really listening to this private conversation? Where is his journalistic integrity? Get outta here, you mouth breather! Go! Byron leaves, but Chelsea and Mella are excited. Will this be the most FABULOUS Raw?
Bianca Belair VS Carmella w/ Chelsea Green!
Raw returns and Mella makes her entrance, the Hot Mess with her after all. The bell rings and Bianca eggs Mella on. They circle, tie up, and Bianca headlocks for a takeover. Mella fights up, but Bianca throws her for another takeover. Mella headscissors but Bianca kips free. Chelsea says Mella’s still got this, and the two tie up. Mella headlocks, Bianca wrenches out and headlocks back. Mella powers out but Bianca runs her over! Bianca dusts herself off, runs, then handsprings over Mella’s dropdown. Bianca eggs Mella on., things speed up, Bianca hurdles but Mella stops herslf. Bianca runs in but Mella dumps her out!
Bianca grabs Mella’s legs but Mella boots her into the desk! Bianca comes back, chases Mella into the ring, but Mella goes back to the apron. Mella HOTSHOTS Bianca, hurries in and throws her down by her hair! Chelsea applauds but fans boo. Mella soaks it all up, brings Bianca up but Bianca blocks the whip! Bianca whips, Mella reverses but Bianca goes up and over and handsprings, then says kiss hits! Mella runs in, Bianca goes up and over and dropkicks Mella down! Bianca kips up, fans fire up, and Bianca runs at Mella in the corner. Mella gets around, Bianca switches, O’Conner Roll, TWO! Bianca goes up again, but Mella BOOTS her!
Mella YANKS Bianca off the ropes! Mella says SHE is the EST, and Raw goes picture in picture.
Mella soaks up the heat while Bianca checks her face. Mella bows and Chelsea cheers, but Bianca goes to a corner. Mella says for Bianca to kiss this and runs in, but Bianca slips out to the apron. Bianca bumps Mella off buckles, and again and again and again! Bianca slingshots, but Mella moves and Bianca only gets buckles! Mella throws back elbows over and over, then lets off to taunt the fans. Mella drags Bianca up, bumps her off her boot, and then moonwalks away. “Mella! Is! Money!” Mella runs in, FABULOUS BRONCO BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Chelsea complains on Mella’s behalf but Mella wraps on a chinlock.
Bianca endures as Mella leans on the hold. Bianca fights up, has Mella as a backpack, and she RAMS Mella into buckles! And again! And then she throws Mella away! Bianca runs in, Mella tilt-o-whirls, but Bianca swings Mella to whip her to the corner. Mella BOOTS back! Mella pushes Bianca to a cover, TWO! Chelsea says Mella still has this, she’s smarter. Mella hip drops Bianca and mocks her braid! Mella pushes Bianca but Bianca rolls Mella up! TWO, and Mella CLOBBERS Bianca! Chelsea applauds while Mella stalks Bianca. Mella mocks the fans but Bianca throws body shots. Mella CLUBS Bianca down!
Mella snapmares Bianca back into the chinlock as Raw returns to single picture. Bianca endures, Mella mocks the “E S T!” chants, then says SHE is the best. Fans rally, Bianca fights up, and Bianca scoops Mella! Mella slips free and throws Bianca down by her hair! Mella goes to the apron, climbs up the corner, and leaps! CROSSBODY, but Bianca rolls through! Fans fire up as Bianca scoops Mella but Mella pulls the braid! They tug-o-war, Bianca whips Mella, Mella ducks ‘n’ dodges. Mella tilt-o-whirls, but Bianca blocks again! Bianca has Mella for a BACKBREAKER! Mella writhes, Bianca handsprings, to MOONSAULT! Chelsea distracts! Bianca would’ve won by now!
Bianca grabs at Chelsea, but Mella FABULOUS KICKS!! Cover, TWO!! Chelsea and the ref argue, but Mella talks more trash. Bianca RAMS Mella into the corner! The ref counts, Bianca lets off to SLAP Mella! Bianca climbs up, and she rains down fists! Fans count along, and Bianca goes all the way to TEN! Bianca then backflips, but Chelsea runs in! Bianca TOSSES Chelsea, then goes out after her! Bianca TOSSES Mella up and out! Fans cheer, Bianca tells her to mind her business, but Mella rolls Bianca up! FEET ON ROPES! TWO!! Bianca torture racks, to KISS OF DEATH!! Cover, Bianca wins!
Winner: Bianca Belair, by pinfall
But Chelsea CLOBBERS Bianca! Fans boo as she and Mella mug Bianca! They sit Bianca up, but HERE COMES ASUKA!! The Empress of Tomorrow scares Mella and Chelsea, and she BLUE MISTS Chelsea!! Talk about a hot mess! Mella freaks out and gets Chelsea outta there! Asuka’s wild eyes then lock onto Bianca. Bianca smiles back, and she stands up with the title. The fans fire up seeing these two, will these two soon have the wildEST match for the title at WrestleMania?
Sami finds Kevin backstage.
Sami says he isn’t sure what to say. He isn’t sure what else to do. But can Kevin see what Sami’s been trying to tell him? Does Kevin see what he is trying to say? The Bloodline is too much for him, Sami or any one person. This isn’t a ploy to make everything okay again. Sami knows it’s complicated. They don’t need to be best friends again. They don’t need to ride together, or even team together. But they have the same objective, and neither can do it alone. They need to do this together. For once, just listen to Sami on this. When it comes to The Bloodline, Sami knows, because he was in it.
Yeah, Kevin knows that part. He remembers Sami staking his claim in this very city right here. At Kevin’s expense, too. Kevin remembers it all. But yeah, Sami is right, it is too much for one man, and Kevin knows because he’s been doing it alone for eight months! EIGHT. MONTHS. But yeah, maybe together, they could take the Bloodline down. But Kevin doesn’t want to do this with Sami. Maybe Kevin was wrong, that maybe Sami can go back, apologize, stroke the ego, and Roman will probably embrace Sami the way he’s always wanted. Kevin is done with Sami. Just leave him out of this. Does Sami understand that?
Sami walks away, but surely this isn’t over between them. What will it take for them to return to the way things were?
Rhea Ripley speaks.
“It’s time for complete and utter eradication. I’ve been in the ring with every single woman who thought they could take me out, and I have brutalized every single one of them. At WrestleMania, Rhea Ripley is walking out the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.” Will the Judgment Day’s Eradicator dethrone the Queen, Charlotte Flair?
The Miz is in the ring.
The Hollywood A-Lister and the host of WrestleMania 39 is here, and he says he knows what we’re thinking. Why would he ever set foot int he same right with Seth Rollins after what he did to Miz last week? Because Miz is going to moderate the face-to-face as preparations for his WrestleMania hosting duties. And as the host, Miz knows that he can’t have any biased towards any superstar. He will set that aside and let the show go on, moderating with the utmost professionalism. If anyone has an issue with that, then that someone shouldn’t have used Miz’s phone to set this up!
“So without any further ado, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome social media sensation, Logan Paul!” Fans boo as the ImPAULsive Influencer walks out to the ring. But he leaves Miz hanging on the handshake. And then without introductions, here comes Seth Rollins! Fans sing “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” as Rollins enters the ring and gets himself a mic. Miz raises his hand. Do you know what this means? “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” “When my hand goes up, your mouths go shut!” “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” Miz is the moderator, and he will keep things moving on! Miz says Boston is living up to its stereotypes!
But Rollins has Miz be quiet so we can hear the singing echo out. Logan says this segment has a time limit so shut up. Fans boo but Miz thanks Logan for saying it. The fans still sing anyway. Rollins says, “BOSTOOON~! Well, well, well, would ya look what the cat dragged in? Live in the flesh! He is gracing us with his presence! Social media superstar, Logan Paul…!” Boston chants “LOGAN SUCKS!” but Logan soaks it all up. Rollins says it sounds like Boston knows about Logan Paul. And even though they’ve had their run-ins, Rollins and Logan haven’t been formally introduced. So if you don’t know, he is a Visionary, he is a revolutionary, he is… SETH! FREAKIN! ROLLINS!
Logan says he knows who Rollins is. And fans sing again. Logan says Rollins is the clown he dumped at Royal Rumble, and the guy who’s head he stomped at Elimination Chamber. But Logan doesn’t know Rollins’ problem with him, other than that he’s embarrassed Rollins twice. And that Logan accomplished in one year what Rollins did in twenty. And that Logan is better at Rollins’ job than Rollins is. Logan is coming in, Rollins is on his way out. Logan works smarter, not harder, and he’s just naturally good at this. In fact, if Logan were Rollins, he wouldn’t like him either. Miz says not to take a side, but Logan made some good points.
Fans chant, “F YOU, LOGAN!” Logan revels in that, but Rollins says, “Here’s the thing. He does make some good points. But what you’re missing is none of that is the reason we don’t like you. So let me put this to you as simply as I can. We don’t like you because you are the SCUM OF THE EARTH! You’re a coward! You’re a troll! You’re a fraud! You’re, what do they call it? A human dumpster fire! And we don’t want you in our house!!” Fans fire up for that! Rollins knows Boston isn’t here to see them mince words. They are here to see Rollins get his pound of flesh! “So the time for talk is over! It’s time to FIGHT!”
Rollins throws off his jacket, Logan sets his feet, but Miz has them both stand down! It is his job to make sure that these two do NOT fight! Logan says Miz doesn’t speak for him. If Logan wants to fight Rollins in Boston, he’s gonna do that! Because if Logan wants something, he’s gonna do it! That’s just how he do. But guess what? He won’t. Fans boo but Logan says one thing he doesn’t do is fight for free. He is a premium act, and he isn’t fighting for free… in Boston. Get real! However, if the stage was bigger, the money was better, and they were somewhere with more star power, Logan would consider it.
Miz says he is the host of WrestleMania, and he could make Rollins VS Logan for Mania happen! He just- Wait, he can make that happen? All he has to do is go to the back and pull some strings? Yeah, absolutely! Right here and now? Yes! Then what’re we waiting for! Rollins throws Miz out of the ring! Logan kicks low! But Rollins avoids the stomp! Rollins goes after Logan, Miz pulls Rollins off him, but Rollins SUPERKICKS Miz down! ONE LUCKY PUNCH!! Logan takes Rollins out!! Logan tells Rollins, “When you wake up, let me know about WrestleMania. Oh, oh, and one more thing. Buy-bye, b*tch.”
Logan drops the mic and heads out, but will he regret sucker punching the Visionary?
Omos w/ MVP VS Dolph Ziggler!
The Nigerian Giant will get his battle with The Beast, Brock Lesnar, but that means he’ll need to be in the best shape possible. Will he get more than a tune-up with the Show-Off? Or will Omos stand tall on the Road to WrestleMania?
Raw returns and Ziggler makes his entrance. Wait, is that Mustafa Ali in the front row being a Ziggler fan? The bell rings, Ziggler tells Ali to shut up and go away. Ziggler and Omos circle, but Omos corners Ziggler. Ziggler slips away, jumps on for a SLEEPER, but Omos stays standing. Omos throws Ziggler off, runs in, but into an ELBOW! Ziggler BOOTS Omos, then runs, but into a BOOT from Omos! Ali says it’s okay, Ziggler can shake that off. But then Omos hits the MOUNTAINTOP SLAM!! Cover, Omos wins!!
Winner: Omos, by pinfall
Ali is surprised, though he did have a hand in making this match happen… Is Ali genuine in his support? Or is this his way of trolling Ziggler and getting even for before?
As for Omos and MVP, MVP gets the mic. “Brock Lesnar! You wanted me to hype up a match? This is all the hype I need right here! You should’ve NEVER put your hands on me, Brock! Because I give you my word, the 7’3″, 416 pound Nigerian Giant, Omos, tames the Beast at WrestleMania!” Omos is all fired up and could probably fight again. Will he get far more than a fight against Lesnar?
Maximum Male Models talks backstage.
That physique is so rotund. He does have that je ne sais quoi. It’s French. But Maxxine Dupri knows, he has “IT!” Really? Baron Corbin walks over and says all that means so much to him. All those compliments, it really helps. Things haven’t been going Corbin’s way. He lost money in poker, he has been losing matches, and he lost his mentor, JBL. EW! EW EW EW! NO! Corbin, they were NOT talking about you! They were talking about him. Otis! The width! The girth! Okay, what? What does Otis have that Corbin doesn’t? Charisma, uniqueness, and the “it factor.” HAIR! Hey, Bruce Willis is bald.
But you are NOT Bruce Willis, Corbin! You are a troglodyte! Maxxine calms Mansoor down, and says she sees some potential in Corbin. That is, if he can solve a problem for them. See over there, next to the “stunningly attractive beefcake,” the short ugly one. Gable? Yes. Handle him, and Maxxine will consider adding Corbin as a client. Then consider it done. Maxxine is plotting, but is she taking out two birds with one stone?
The Bloodline talks backstage.
Jimmy is preparing for his match with Sami, and Paul Heyman says that Jimmy is the man. Jimmy is the one who will take out Sami Zayn, the one who will solve the problem, and the one who will make sure that The Tribal Chief never has to hear the name “Sami” again. And to do that, with all the pressure that Jimmy must be feeling, and not be distracted by the fact that the Tribal Chief has given Jimmy until this Friday to bring Jey back into the fold… Wow. Because if that doesn’t happen, The Tribal Chief won’t blame Solo, nor will he blame Heyman. If Jimmy doesn’t get Jey back in the Bloodline by Friday, Roman Reigns will blame Jimmy.
Heyman leaves and Jimmy is surely feeling the weight now. Will he crumble under that pressure? Or will Jey return to spare Jimmy from Roman’s wrath?
Johnny Gargano w/ Dexter Lumis VS Finn Balor w/ The Judgment Day!
Speaking of Otis, Johnny Wrestling survived fighting the human tree trunk, but the Prince promised to finish things himself. Will this be Gargano’s Judgment Day? Or will Gargano be a speedbump on Finn’s Road to WrestleMania?
Raw returns and Gargano makes his entrance, accompanied by the Tortured Artist. The bell rings and the two circle. Finn and Gargano tie up, Finn knees low then CLUBS Gargano down. Lumis stares at the rest of Judgment Day while Finn headlocks. Gargano powers out, but Finn runs him over! Finn flexes, then he snapmares Gargano to elbow him in the shoulder. Finn chinlocks but Gargano slips out to hammerlock. Finn gets the ropebreak, Judgment Day protests, but Finn elbows Gargano away. Finn grabs Gargano’s arm and grinds it with an armlock. Gargano endures and Boston rallies up.
Gargano fights up, arm-drags free, then arm-drags to an armlock! Finn tries to headscissor but Gargano digs a knee into Finn’s face. Finn fights up, Gargano wrenches, but Finn fishhooks Gargano! Finn CLUBS Gargano and has the armlock again. Gargano endures and fights his way up. Finn wrenches the arm again but Gargano flips, kips up and ENZIGURIS! Finn rebounds to CLOBBER Gargano! Gargano goes to ropes but Finn is after him. Finn bumps Gargano off buckles, RAMS into him, then whips him corner to corner. Finn runs in but into BOOTS! Gargano runs to RANA! And then he DROPKICKS Finn out!
Fans fire up, Lumis is there! Finn doesn’t want any trouble, but Gargano DIVES! Direct hit and Raw goes to picture in picture.
Judgment Day is upset but Lumis is stone faced as always. Gargano brings Finn up and over, CHOPS him against barriers, then headlocks him. Gargano storms up to Judgment Day, and CHOPS Finn right in front of them! Fans rally for Gargano while Finn goes to the ring. Gargano hurries after, rolls Finn to SCHOOLBOY KICK! Cover, TWO! Rhea taunts Lumis but Gargano focuses on Finn. Finn wants timeout, and offers a handshake. Gargano considers it, and he shakes Finn’s hand. To kick him low! Gargano CHOPS Finn, whips him to ropes, but Finn reverses. Gargano sunset flips but Finn rolls through to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO!
Judgment Day cheers while Gargano goes to ropes. Finn stalks Gargano, chinbars and puts him in a corner, then CHOPS! Gargano staggers away but Finn is on him again. Finn CHOKES Gargano on the ropes! He lets off at 4, the ref argues with him, and Rhea sucker punches Gargano! Finn covers, TWO! Rhea and Priest still high five while Finn grinds Gargano down with a headlock. Gargano endures, fights his way up, and Judgment Day freaks out. But Finn hits a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Finn is frustrated but he kicks Gargano down at the ropes. Finn taunts the fans, kicks Gargano more, and Raw returns to single picture.
Finn stomps Gargano at the ropes, stomps him again, then springboard- BOOTS from Gargano! Finn staggers, swings but into counter punches! Gargano whips, Finn reverses, but Gargano ducks ‘n’ dodges to LEAPING LARIAT! Gargano rallies, Finn dodges and CHOPS! Gargano rebounds to DISCUS LARIAT! Fans fire up but Lumis is still stoic. Gargano ENZIGURIS Finn out of the ring. Finn avoids the plancha, but he sees Gargano on the apron, SLINGSHOT SPEAR! Cover, TWO!! Finn is still in this and Judgment Day calms down. Gargano runs corner to corner to DOUBLE KNEE, then he snapmares Finn.
Fans fire up as Gargano aims, but Finn SLINGBLADES first! Finn aims now, runs in, but into a SUPERKICK! Gargano resets, to SUPERKICK again! Cover, TWO!! Finn survives but Gargano runs to tilt-o-whirl, but Finn blocks! ELBOW DROP DDT! Cover, TWO! Finn snarls but Gargano is still down. Finn rains down fists, but Gargano turns that to a sunset! TWO!! Finn staggers up, into a GAMANGIRI! Gargano aims but Rhea distracts! Gargano jumps Priest’s swipe, and then CANNONBALLS onto Dom! Fans fire up but Gargano has to hurry away from Priest. Gargano gets in the ring, Finn trips and DOUBLE STOMPS him!
Finn aims from the corner, runs in, SHOTGUN! Gargano hits buckles and he ends up in the drop zone! Finn goes up, but EDGE IS HERE! The Judgment Day go tot he ramp, but the Rated R Superstar sneaks in from the crowd! He SHOVES Finn down! Finn hotshots off ropes! Gargano goes to the apron, for ONE FINAL BEAT!! Cover, Gargano wins!
Winner: Johnny Gargano, by pinfall
And then Lumis CLOBBERS Priest! Edge has Finn all alone now, and Boston is thunderous! Finn staggers up, into a SPEAR!! Edge says this isn’t over! Finn wanted a final fight with Edge, and he’s getting it! Will Judgment Day regret ever turning on their founder?
Backstage interview with Edge.
Byron catches up with the Rated R Superstar and wants to know, what does he have to say about costing Finn his match against Gargano tonight? Edge says that Finn cost Edge a match he never should’ve lost, so with no disrespect to Gargano, Edge just returned the favor and cost Finn a match he never should’ve lost. They’re affecting each other’s careers and neither man has time for that. They both wanna settle this, so Edge tells Finn that next week, Edge will be in the ring by himself to settle this. Let’s see if Finn has the same stones. Will the Prince do things 1v1 with Edge to finally end this?
Nikki Cross VS Piper Niven!
Anarchy incarnate is ready to take on a former teammate in the defense of Candice LeRae, her “new friend.” One way or another, we’re gonna see some serious lass kicking, but who comes out on top?
Raw returns and Piper makes her entrance. While Piper stands on the apron, Nikki JUMPS on her! Nikki thrashes Piper around with fingers in her face! The ref reprimands but this isn’t a match yet. Nikki drags Piper in, HAMMERS away, then jumps on for more thrashing! Piper’s own hair is being used to smother her! Nikki lets Piper go, climbs up the corner, the bell rings! Piper turns around, into a CROSSBODY! Nikki chases after but Piper bails out. Nikki swings her jacket around, Piper fumes and storms up to the apron. Nikki rushes in, but Piper HEADBUTTS her down! Piper gets in but Nikki DRPOPKICKS back!
Nikki throat chops, RAMS into Piper, then reels her in. But Piper wrenches out to whip and SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, Piper wins!
Winner: Piper Niven, by pinfall
Nikki came out of the gate fast, but she ran right into a wall named Piper! Will no one stop Piper from pulverizing everyone on her path towards the title?
Rick Boogs tries to deadlift a truck.
But he just can’t! He swears he can but Elias walks over. Boogs says what’s up, but Elias asks about his notes. Boogs realizes he doesn’t have them! Elias says it isn’t about the notes, though. What does Boogs remember? Uh, Bobby Lashley putting Elias in the Hurt Lock, and… Those massive pecs. Boogs, you’re missing the point of everything! Elias took the fight to Lashley! Everyone wants to Walk With Elias! Elias’ star power has raised. But the only way Boogs can learn is if he gets out there and does it himself. Look, there’s Bronson Reed. Boogs, go over there and challenge him. Is Elias sure? Elias tells Boogs to tell Bronson, “I want to fight you.”
Boogs goes over to Bronson, talks to him, and then Bronson walks up to Elias. Elias wants to fight Bronson, huh? Then it’s your funeral. See you next week. Wait, what? Boogs is proud he did it, but what did he say? That Elias wanted to fight him. That’s what Elias said, right? NO! He meant… Well, Boogs has a lot to learn. But, lips! Will the Drifter survive running into the Colossal Aussie?
John Cena heads to the ring!
The SIXTEEN TIME world champion and Boston’s own is back on Raw, and clearly the reaction he just heard got him a bit. Cena slides into the ring and fans fire up even more! Cena gets the mic, but then Austin Theory makes his way out. Theory goes to the ring, gets himself a mic, but the fans chant for Cena. Theory encourages them to keep going, so they do. “And just like them, John, I’ve got all the respect in the world for you. Hey, hey, all of you might not know this, but I only became a WWE superstar because of you. I remember watching you on TV with my mom, you inspired me, John. You did! The hustle, the loyalty, the respect, I thank you for that.
“Hey, no need to disrespect me, because I came out here with a gift for you, John. Yeah, a gift. A gift that is from the bottom of my heart. A gift that is bigger than any movie role that you’re gonna do. It’s a gift! Of me and you, one-on-one…” Fans chant for Cena even harder, and Theory likes it! “Cena it up,” because that gift is them on the Grandest Stage of Them All for the United States Championship! Theory VS Cena! Fans like the sound of that! Cena says, “No.” The fans and Theory are surprised. Cena says he thought about it, and the answer is no. He is not interested in Theory’s “gift,” because he hasn’t earned the right to give it.
Cena says he has been watching, and listening, and he doesn’t care. Just like every single person in here, they don’t care about Theory! Why? We don’t care about Theory because we don’t believe Theory. We don’t believe because Theory doesn’t believe. Theory is a generic kid in fancy sneakers and sunglasses indoors, but there’s nothing inside. And Cena isn’t talking from a high place. Cena’s walked in Theory’s shoes. There’s a sign right out in the crowd that says “Theory is a John Cena wannabe.” Fans cheer that they’re getting the shoutout.
Cena says he’s Theory’s Ghost of Christmas Future! And right now, Theory is in that phase of “Ruthless Aggression.” That phase almost got Cena fired! What a great opportunity it was, but we all saw Cena didn’t believe in himself, and the opportunity just wasn’t enough. Theory has been given opportunity after opportunity and he doesn’t believe in himself and the fans know it. Theory has no heart or soul. The fans are here out of respect because for 20 years, we’ve been yelling back and forth at each other, but they BELIEVE in Cena. They don’t believe in Theory. Theory is a pair of trunks away from being a jabroni.
Wait, wait, wait. No. Here’s a feedback sandwich, here’s something good. Theory has the best name in WWE history. Think about it! Stone Cold Steve Austin! The Rock! The Undertaker! There is no name better than Austin Theory. Fans boo but Theory likes where Cena is going. But Cena says that is exactly what Austin is: A Theory. In theory, Theory should be great! In theory, Theory is what every WWE executive looks for. He looks great, moves great, runs fast, etc. In theory, everyone should be here to see Theory. “But no one cares. And you’re wasting our time. So on behalf of Boston, we would like to give you a gift!”
Cena tells Theory to shut up, turn around, get out of this ring, and “we” will let him walk out of here in one piece. Fans fire up for Cena while Theory considers his options. Theory turns around, but then says he’s not going anywhere! Just like that bald spot on Cena’s head! Cena takes off his hat to show the combover. He’s proud of the senior circuit! Oh, he is? Cena’s got a comeback for everything, huh? But what’s funny is, Theory looks around at all the shirts. The same one Cena has right here: Never Give Up. But, wait. Is John Cena saying no? Is he saying that he’s giving up?
And the hat! The hat says “respect” but where’s the respect for all the fans? Cena has a golden ticket against the greatest US Champion at WrestleMania, and he’s gonna give it up? Where’s the hustle? The loyalty? The respect?! Doesn’t everyone wanna see Cena at Mania? Then shut up because Cena said no! Theory says what he’s realized, Cena being Theory’s childhood hero and all that. Boston, pay close attention. Because the saying may be said a lot but it’s right. NEVER meet your heroes. Because when you do, you just get disappointed. Fans boo, and some chant, “BEAT HIS ASS!”
Cena would rather be bald then have the company pipe in fake crowd noise because nobody cares. Theory can change the subject, he still sucks. Theory really is a dumb SOB. Cena didn’t say “no” because he was giving up. He said “no” to save Theory’s ass. Theory is not ready. Theory’s putting Cena against the wall but he doesn’t understand. If Cena and Theory have a match at Mania, and Cena wins, then Theory loses everything. He’s done! And if they have a match and Theory somehow wins, he still loses everything! Sure, sure, you win the day, but then you gotta go out the Monday after, all by yourself, and explain.
Theory won’t have Cena to lean on, it’ll be all on him against “the most harsh, vocal, ruthless, critical audience in the WWE, and they will eat you alive!!” They will see what Cena sees, and that is that Theory is full of crap! But Theory has left Cena no choice since he brought the fans into it. So Cena will ask Boston what they think. “Boston… Before we get all WrestleMania rowdy, I wanna thank my family for being here because it really means a lot to me. And I’m asking for help. I need your help way up there, I need your help right here, I need your help. We’re going to make a decision right here and now. Do you Wanna see Austin Theory VS John Cena at WrestleMania?”
“YES!!!” Fans continue to chant “YES! YES! YES!” Cena says to pardon the senioritis. It isn’t just his hair, it’s his hearing. Do they wanna see Theory VS Cena at Mania? “YES!!!” Cena may not care about Theory, but he’ll never give up on the fans. Theory will remember this moment as the biggest mistake of his life. At Mania, for the US Championship, it’ll be THEORY VS CENA!! Cena wishes Theory luck. “We all know you don’t have it here,” Cena says as he points to Theory’s head. “We all know you don’t have it here,” he says as he points to Theory’s heart. “And we all know you don’t have it here.” CUP CHECK! Work on that last one.
Cena leaves and Theory is furious, but Theory literally asked for this. And Cena stops at the stage. “in no way, shape or form are you ready for the WrestleMania stage. But Boston deserves to see somebody that is. Boston, Massachusetts, I introduce to you the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes!” Cody walks out on stage and fans cheer as he shakes hands with Cena and hugs it out. Will Theory regret asking for the legend?
Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.
Cathy Kelley tentatively walks up to Sami and says that so far, his attempts to reconcile with Kevin Owens have failed. How is he feeling going into tonight’s main event against Jimmy Uso? Sami wishes he could say Kevin is just being stubborn and angry and doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but Kevin’s right about what happened here just last November at WarGames. But everything has changed now! Everything’s different! The one guy who had Sami’s back through thick and thin in Jimmy Uso now has the responsibility of putting an end to Sami. This match is about survival, you understand?
Jimmy wants to end the Sami Zayn problem, but if he fails, it is the end of Jimmy! And Sami is not going anywhere until he sees the end of Roman Reigns and The Bloodline. So sorry, Jimmy, “my dawg,” but tonight is NOT gonna be your night. Sami heads out, but will he be able to survive a desperate and angry Jimmy Uso?
Baron Corbin VS Chad Gable w/ Otis!
The Lone Wolf is feeling down, but things could be looking up. Will he be able to clear “Master Gable” out of the way so MMM can make Otis into “Otīs? Or will this be another failing in Corbin’s career?
Raw returns as Corbin makes his entrance. The bell rings and Corbin ties up with Gable. Corbin throws Gable to a corner, SPLASHES him, then whips him corner to corner hard! Gable bounces off buckles and falls to the mat. Corbin stomps away as MMM watches backstage. Maxxine likes what she sees as Corbin drops an elbow on Gable’s back. Corbin drives elbows into Gable’s shoulders, but fans chant, “WE WANT OTIS!” Corbin Canadian Racks Gable, thrashes him around with the Canadian Backbreaker, but fans rally up. Gable fights free, and he back drops Corbin away! Fans rally as Gable goes to a corner.
Corbin runs in, misses, and Gable fires off forearms and uppercuts! Gable knees, UPPERCUTS, runs, dodges and tilt-o-whirls to waistlock. O’Conner, CHAOS THEORY! Fans fire up while Corbin writhes. Gable goes up the corner and Otis cheers him on. MOONSAULT, but Corbin dodges! CHOKE SLAM BACKBREAKER! Corbin roars, says Gable is nothing, but Gable picks an ankle! ANKLE LOCK!! Corbin flails, reaches out, but Gable GRAPEVINES! Corbin TAPS, Gable wins!
Winner: Chad Gable, by submission
Otis celebrates with Gable, “A THANK YEW~!” Corbin fails, will MMM never be able to add the round mound of manliness to their stable?
Becky Lynch is here!
The Man is in Boston, but she also has the legend, Lita! They’re the NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions after defeating Damage CTRL just last week, so they’re here to celebrate! Becky has a mic to say The Man and Lita have come around to Boston, here as the new tag team champions of the world~! “Because when a couple of legends like us step in the ring side by side, you better believe we’re not gonna miss.” Lita says when Becky gave her the opportunity to become a tag team champion, you either let that opportunity pass you by, or you make history like they did. Fans cheer that.
Lita knows Kai & Sky didn’t make it easy on them, but they made it worth it. Fans chant, “You Deserve It!” and Lita gives the belt a little kiss. Lita says that as Becky’s friend and tag partner, she sincerely wants to thank her. But there is a very, very special equalizer they have yet to thank tonight. Here she come! It’s TRISH STRATUS! Trish joins Lita and Becky in the ring, and Trish gets a mic to say, “First of all, Lita. You know I’ll always have your back. And to see you team up with The Man and capture gold, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. And to be fair, a couple months back in Toronto, I did tell Bayley that if she didn’t shut her mouth-”
Wait, here comes Bayley! The Role Model leads DMG CTRL out and says, “Um, a ding dong! You idiots love to show up when it’s convenient for you, doncha? You love to steal someone else’s spotlight if it means you can add something else to your damn trophy case.” DMG CTRL steps right in the ring and Bayley says that while the dumdums cheer them on, Bayley sees right through them! They’re selfish. Trish, Lita, you two are legitimately the reasons why they’re in this ring now. But DMG CTRL will be the reason they never come back! Trish tells Bayley she is good at interrupting, but not at listening.
Trish warned her that she could go from “I am to retired,” to “I was retired.” And y’know what? What better place to do it and shut Bayley up than on the Grandest Stage of Them All? So how about a Six Woman Tag at Mania? Bayley asks if that’s what they want, then they accept! Kai & Sky look at Bayley with confusion, a bit like when she accepted the title match for them. Kai & Sky then swing on the legends, but Trish & Lita both dodge! And they fire off forearms! They throw Kai & Sky out, and Becky gets in Bayley’s face. Fans fire up and Bayley dares Becky to do something. Bayley smirks, but then realizes she’s surrounded.
Fans fire up as Trish and Bayley talk some trash. Bayley swings on Becky! But Becky counter punches! Lita ROCKS Bayley, Trish DECKS Bayley! And then CHICK- NO, DMG CTRL gets Bayley outta there! Fans are ready for this star-studded Six Woman Tag, will Hollywood be the perfect place for this generational showdown?
Sami Zayn VS Jimmy Uso w/ Solo Sikoa!
Just like when Kevin fought Solo, we all know that The Bloodline always has back-up. Sami is walking into what is less a match and more a trap, just like it was on Friday. But even so, will Sami survive to see the mission through? Or is this the night the Bloodline solves its Sami Zayn problem?
The bell rings, and Sami hits a THESZ PRESS! Sami rains down fast hands, but lets off to clothesline Jimmy up and out! Fans fire up, Sami goes out after Jimmy, but Jimmy UPPERCUTS! Jimmy whips Sami into barriers while fans sing “OLE~! OLE OLE OLE~!” Jimmy runs in, but Sami tosses him into the timekeeper’s area! Sami watches Solo while Raw goes picture in picture.
Sami fetches Jimmy and throws haymakers. Sami brings Jimmy around, bumps him off the desk, then climbs up onto the desk! Sami leaps to AX HANDLE Jimmy down! Solo stays back but he watches Sami. Sami puts Jimmy in the ring, goes to the corner and hops up, to leap, into an UPPERCUT! Jimmy snarls while Sami writhes, and Jimmy stomps away on Sami at the ropes. They go to the apron, Jimmy brings Sami up, to APRON SNAP SUPLEX! Sami writhes even more but Jimmy seethes. Jimmy drags Sami up, brings him around, and POSTS him! Jimmy slides in the ring and lets the ring count handle this.
Fans rally for Sami while Solo stares at Sami. The count is 5 of 10, Sami staggers up at 7 and slides in at 8! Jimmy rains down fists right away! Jimmy lets off to throw up the finger, #WeTheOnes. Sami crawls to a corner, Jimmy says, “UCE! SO! UCE! SO!” Jimmy runs in to HIP ATTACK! Jimmy makes everyone ready the shirt, #WeTheOnes. Sami crawls to another corner, Jimmy rains down fists. The ref counts, Jimmy lets off, and he watches Sami sit up. “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jimmy runs to HIP ATTACK again! Sami flounders, Jimmy taunts him, and Raw returns to single picture. “I’m supposed to take you out!”
Jimmy swings, but Sami counter punches! And again! And again! And again! Sami whips, Jimmy reverses but Sami BOOTS back! Sami hops up, kicks away on Jimmy’s face, then reels him in, TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Jimmy is still in this but fans fire up for Sami as he goes to the apron. Sami goes up a corner, leaps, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Jimmy escapes but clutches a shoulder as he sits up. Sami brings Jimmy up and reels him in, but Jimmy throws elbows to fight he lift. Jimmy whips and UPPERCUTS Sami! Sami stays up against ropes, runs back in, but Jimmy throws him out!
Jimmy distracts the ref and Solo creeps up. But the ref sees Solo! The ref EJECTS Solo! Fans fire up and Jimmy is furious! Jimmy’s back-up is gone, and Sami reels him in! BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Jimmy survives and Sami is beside himself, but Raw goes back to picture in picture.
Sami thinks of what he has to do to finish this. Jimmy stirs, Sami drags him up, and suplexes. Jimmy fights it, UPPERCUTS, but Sami stays on his feet. Jimmy CHOPS! And whips, but Sami goes up and over! Jimmy dodges Sami, Sami runs, into a POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO!! Sami is still in this and Jimmy is frustrated. Jimmy glares at Sami, drags him up, but again Sami throws counter punches! They go back and forth with haymakers, Sami gets the edge, but Jimmy shoves him away! Sami blocks the kick but the DRAGON WHIP connects! Jimmy is fuming but he drags Sami back up.
Jimmy brings Sami around to a corner, hoists him up top, and then GAMANGIRIS! Sami wobbles, Jimmy climbs up, but Sami blocks the superplex! Sami CLUBS away on Jimmy, hitting him again and again! Then SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!!! Jimmy survives again and Sami can’t believe it! Sami drags himself up with the ropes, then goes back to the corner. Sami climbs again, Raw returns to single picture and Jimmy UPPERCUTS! And GAMANGIRIS! Jimmy goes back up after Sami, but Sami throws haymakers! Sami throws elbows, then he shoves Jimmy away. Sami leaps, into a SUPERKICK!
Both men are down and fans rally up. Wait! JEY IS HERE! Jey goes to ringside, and he gets on the desk, too! Jimmy smiles seeing his brother is back, but then he dodges Sami’s kick! Jimmy mule kicks, uppercuts and SAMOAN- NO, SUNSET FLIP! SAMI WINS!!!
Winner: Sami Zayn, by pinfall
The Sami Zayn problem is NOT solved! Jimmy is completely at a loss for words! Jey returned, but what of Roman’s ultimatum? Jey goes to the ring to join his brother, the two stare down, and fans are torn. Jey steps closer, puts his hands on Jimmy’s shoulders, and Jimmy asks where Jey stands. Jey grabs at the shirt, but he looks so conflicted. Jimmy asks him what’s wrong, and Jey walks past Jimmy. Jey looks at Sami, they both look at Jimmy, then back at each other. Sami is tentative but Jey says he trusts Sami!? Jey brings Sami in for a hug!!! Fans explode with excitement! Sami says he and Jey can take the Bloodline down now!
Jimmy looks crushed as he drops to a knee. Fans chant “UCEY! UCEY!” and Jey raises his finger. Sami raises his, too, they the ones! Sami says Jimmy can join them. It’s not too late. Fans lose their minds over this development, but then Jey SUPERKICKS SAMI!!! Jimmy grins as Jey shouts in Sami’s face! “Did you really think I would choose you?!” This is FAMILY, fool! Jey drags Sami up, throws him into the ring, and the Usos mug Sami! The cheers are now boos as Solo joins in, but here comes Cody!! The American Nightmare slides in and stands between them and Sami! Will the Bloodline only be stronger now that Jey is back?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw to mark us being just a month out from WrestleMania. The Bloodline story is again the best part of the night, and it was a great move to bookend the night with it. Jimmy giving Kevin the win with the beatdown, Sami showing up to fight the Bloodline off, and then Sami trying to get Kevin to see reason, all good stuff. And Jey showing up at the end of Sami VS Jimmy, that double swerve, that was genius. Cody making the save also works, not just because Cody’s building feud with Roman, but because it wasn’t Kevin. Kevin is understandably being stubborn about forgiving Sami, and this could drag out for a couple more weeks before the moment Kevin finally forgives Sami and is his partner against the reunited Usos.
We also got great promo segments throughout the night to set up big matches. The women’s segment comes off as the weaker one, but only because it was shorter and simpler. DMG CTRL want payback, but Bayley sticks her foot in her mouth, now she, Kai & Sky will face Becky and two legends, and there’s a very good chance Becky and the legends win, really straining DMG CTRL’s partnership. At this point, Kai & Sky can stick together but ditch Bayley, as they haven’t really benefited from being her cronies. They lost their belts, they look like they can’t do anything, they can prove they’re truly capable if they strike out on their own.
The Miz, Seth Rollins and Logan Paul had a really good promo, and of course Miz inserts himself as the moderator. It’s the only way Rollins didn’t just beat Logan up right here and now and have it be done. But Miz being the host, him making the match is a good detail, and of course Logan stands tall to put things on Rollins. And of course, promo segment of the night was Cena and Theory. Theory got a good jab about the bald spot, but Cena just tore into Theory otherwise. That line about Theory’s name being perfect for him was great, and pretty much everything Cena said was so good. Their match is going to be great stuff, too, but somehow, Theory surely wins because Cena can’t be a champion while being part-time and busy in Hollywood.
I like that Elias trying to mentor Boogs is backfiring on him, like when the two-faced cartoon character tries to get the innocent one in trouble but they end up in trouble instead. Bronson Reed is gonna squash Elias like Lashley did, and it’s odd but also clever that this is how Bronson is building his momentum. He isn’t in a story of his own, but he gets to help all these other stories move along. Lashley had a good promo, and Bray didn’t fully respond, but the White Rabbit tron hacking stuff is kinda his response. Bray heard it, that was like a twitch of his eye, and surely Bray will double down on the “games” just to get on Lashley’s nerves.
And of course the matches were all good, too. Well, Omos squashes Ziggler but that was to be expected. And though MVP had a good promo to call out Lesnar, that was really more for Ali introducing this Ziggler superfan angle that is of course all ironic and for the trolling. Ziggler will challenge Ali to a rematch, maybe Ziggler wins to get even, and we see where it goes from there. A quick match from Piper and Nikki with Candice apparently hurt by a backstage attack during Raw Talk. Piper VS Nikki should’ve been a thing when their team wasn’t working out and Nikki ditched being Almost a Super Hero. There was a point commentary used the phrase “unfamiliar foe” but they were a team, Piper would of course know Nikki. But perhaps it’s because “this” Nikki is different.
Baron Corbin getting in on the MMM and Otis story was pretty good. It adds to his own story, which is either the second coming of Bum Ass Corbin, or the rise of Bummed Out Corbin. He and Gable could’ve had a bigger match than that, as we’ve seen them feud before, but it does add to Corbin’s newest downward spiral. MMM are gonna have to wrestle Gable themselves if they wanna get “Otīs” to join them. Mella and Chelsea had a really good promo together, especially Adam Pearce’s cameo of him seeing them and running the other way. Mella VS Bianca went about as expected, in that Bianca wins. Asuka showing up to defend Bianca from Mella & Chelsea was great, too, but in those high heel boots she was wearing, Asuka was rly only gonna be able to blue mist.
And great stuff with Gargano VS Finn. Of course the Judgment Day interfere, but likewise, of course Edge shows up to turn that around. Edge doesn’t make a Mania match, but he does wanna fight Finn, maybe that brawl turns into a match for Mania. As cool as a purple paint Demon Balor could look, I feel like Finn’s moved on from that (mostly because Vince killed the Demon a couple Extreme Rules ago). But whatever they do, I feel like there needs to be a stipulation where it really is only Edge and Finn. No Judgment Day allowed ringside, no one Edge knows allowed ringside, we just get Edge VS Finn for an epic, possibly show-stealing match.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Coverage
Mitchell’s Road to Wrestling Dontaku Results & Report! (4/27/24)
Rural Revitalization continues!
Will Great-O-Khan be setting the table?
It’s Rural Revitalization in Hiroshima for the KOPW Championship! Can Yuya Uemura survive tires, lemons and a table? Or will Great-O-Khan conquer him for the United Empire?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Frontier Zone – Boltin Oleg & Toru Yano VS Rey Paloma & HANZO; Oleg & Yano win.
- Six Man Tag: Tiger Mask & Bishamon VS Bullet Club; Bullet Club wins.
- Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita VS Jeff Cobb & Francesco Akira; Cobb & Akira win.
- Six Man Tag: El Desperado, Shota Umino & Tomohiro Ishii VS The House of Torture; Desperado, Shota & Ishii win.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Katsuya Murashima VS Tomoaki Honma & Shoma Kato; Tanahashi & Murashima win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Sho & Yoshinobu win.
- NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo; TMDK wins and retains the titles.
- KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan VS Yuya Uemura; Yuya wins and becomes the new KOPW Champion.
- 10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships: TMDK w/ Zack Sabre Jr. VS El Phantasmo & Hikuleo w/ Jado!
Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls snatched the titles away during the Windy City Riot, but the Guerrillas of Destiny are getting their rematch! Will the Headbanga & Young Guerilla redeem themselves on the Road to Wrestling Dontaku? Or will they see The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if The Mighty stay NJPW Strong!
The teams sort out and Hysterical Haste starts against ELP. The fans rally up with the bell and the two circle. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but then Shane cording holds into a wrench and wristlock. ELP rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. ELP keeps Shane from ropes so Shane rolls, kips up, snapmares and KICKS ELP! The fans cheer while Shane shakes out his leg. ELP grimaces as he stands and shakes out the arm. The two reset, tie up, and ELP waistlocks. ELP goes for a chinlock but Shane standing switches. ELP switches, Shane switches again, and repeat. ELP headlocks, Shane powers out, then reels ELP in for a headlock.
ELP powers out, Shane runs him over, and then he sits ELP up to run. ELP drops under, hurdles over, but Shane shoves him. ELP rolls off Shane’s back to RANA! The fans fire up as ELP kips up and fixes his hair. The fans rally for “E L P! E L P!” while Shane is in a corner. Shane comes back to fire a forearm! ELP fires a forearm back! Shane fires another forearm so ELP gives it back. They go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans rally up! ELP gets the edge, but Shane UPPERCUTS! Shane CHOPS ELP, whips him corner to corner, but ELP goes up and over and keeps moving. ELP fakes Shane out to avoid the dropkick!
ELP goes to ropes to LIONSAULT but Shane moves! ELP sits up but avoids the Penalty Kick! The two stand off and the fans cheer! Shane and ELP reset, and Leo reaches out. ELP tags him in and the fans rally up. Shane tags Mikey, and he circles with Leo. They get face to face, and Mikey pie faces Leo! They tie up, Leo shoves Mikey away, but Mikey comes back. They tie up, Mikey headlocks but Leo lifts. Mikey thrashes the hold, Leo powers out and they RAM shoulders! Leo eggs Mikey on so Mikey runs and they RAM shoulders! Leo runs, Mikey ELBOWS him! Mikey runs, Leo runs him over! The fans fire up as Leo flexes.
Leo drags Mikey up, suplexes, but Mikey fights it! Mikey tries to suplex but Leo’s so tall! Leo suplexes, Mikehy slips free to waistlock, but Leo RAMS him into a corner! Leo runs in, Mikey dodges, only for Leo to LARIAT outta the corner! Tag to ELP and the Guerrillas get Mikey up. ELP BLASTS Shane while Leo whips Mikey to a corner. Leo SPLASHES, ELP clotheslines, then feed to the SIDEWALK SLAM and FALLING AX HANDLE! The Guerrillas high-five, ELP covers, TWO! ELP brings Mikey up but Mikey fights the suplex! Mikey powers out, whips, but ELP BLASTS Shane! ELP dodges Mikey, waistlocks, but Mikey swings. ELP ducks, into a DDT!
The fans fire up while Mikey shoves ELP over and tags in Shane. Mikey brings ELP up to TOSS him out, and then Mikey BLASTS Leo! Shane whips ELP into railing! Shane flexes, fans applaud, and Shane drags ELP up. APRON BACK SUPLEX! Shane shoves ELP in, covers, ROPEBREAK! The fans rally as ELP stays in this but Shane grabs one of ELP’s hands. Shane stretches out the arm to then KICK ELP in the shoulder! Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires forearms! Shane shoves ELP but ELP ELBOWS Mikey! ELP fires off on Shane, whips, but Shane reverses and Mikey trips ELP up! Shane basement dropkicks ELP and he spins around into a HAYMAKER from Mikey!
ELP flops to the floor, Mikey claims the apron is slippery, but the referee reprimands him all the same. The ring count starts but Mikey puts ELP in at 4 of 20. Shane covers, TWO! Shane keeps ELP down with body scissors. ELP endures, reaches out, drags Shane along as he crawls over, and the fans rally up. Shane grabs ELP’s arm and brings him into a cover, TWO! Shane whips ELP away into The Mighty corner! Tag to Mikey, he sends Shane in, but ELP puts Shane on the apron! ELP BOOTS Mikey, ROUNDHOUSES Shane, then runs, but Mikey catches him! Mikey RAMS ELP back into the corner!
Mikey taunts Leo then digs boots into ELP. The fans rally up and ELP throws body shots. Mikey eggs ELP on so ELP CHOPS! ELP tries to get under but Mikey grabs a leg and drags him back! Tag to Shane, and Shane stomps ELP down. Shane kicks ELP around, kicks him more, but ELP fires off hands! Shane back drops ELP up and away! The fans rally while Shane drags ELP back to a cover, but Leo breaks it! Shane drags ELP back, tags Mikey in, and TMDK mug ELP. ELP sputters, Mikey tags Shane back in, and Shane sucker punches Leo! Mikey hoists ELP up but ELP BOOTS Shane! ELP backs Mikey into the corner, then goes up and over Shane!
Shane runs into Mikey but Mikey still pursues ELP. Mikey drags ELP back but ELP ENZIGIRIS free! The fans fire up, but Shane gets ELP’s legs! ELP BOOTS Shane away, hurries up again, but Mikey BLASTS Leo first! Mikey then brings ELP around to back suplex! ELP lands on his feet, but Shane back suplexes! ELP still lands on his feet, then he ducks under TMDK to hot tag Leo! The fans fire up as Leo UPPERCUTS Shane, swings on Mikey, but Mikey dodges, only for Leo to BOOT him! Leo scoops Shane for SNAKE EYES and a BOOT! The fans fire up with Leo while Shane and Mikey go to opposite corners.
Leo runs in to SPLASH Mikey! Leo keeps going but Shane BOOTS him! Shane runs up but Leo ELBOWS him down! Leo runs to drop the JUMPING ELBOW on Shane! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up and Leo watches Shane stir. Shane rises, Leo choke grips! GODS- NO, Shane slips free and Mikey fires a forearm! Shane UPPERCUTS, Mikey LARIATS, but Leo stays up! Shane runs to LARIAT! Leo roars, but TMDK double kick! TMDK reels Leo in, but Leo DOUBLE SUPLEXES them instead! The fans fire up and Leo watches TMDK bail out. Leo tags ELP and ELP goes up. Leo helps him walk the tightrope, to ARIHARA MOONSAULT TMDK down at the ramp!
The fans fire up again, and Leo goes out to get Shane in. ELP & Leo get Shane up to CHOP, straitjacket torture rack, and then Leo runs. BOOT into the spin, BRAIN SALAD! Cover, Mikey breaks it! Mikey fires forearms on Leo & ELP, runs, but ELP hurdles so Leo can DDT! Mikey bails out, the fans fire up, and ELP tunes up the band. Shane rises, into SUDDEN- NO, Shane dodges! Shane runs up, but into Leo’s hands! ELP aims, but Shane pulls Leo into SUDDEN DEATH! Shane UPPERCUTS ELP and DROPKICKS Leo! Shane KICKS ELP, BOOTS him, then reels him in for an INVERTED EXPLODER! Cover, TWO!!
ELP survives and Shane is surprised! The fans fires up, Shane and ELP rise, and ELP staggers to a corner. Shane puts ELP up top, ROCKS him with a right, then climbs up. Shane brings ELP up but ELP fires body shots! ELP HEADBUTTS Shane down but Mikey tags in! Shane goes up, ELP sends him back down, so Mikey UPPERCUTS! Mikey gives Shane the boost, and they get ELP for the SUPERPLEX BOMB COMBO! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives but Mikey powers up and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! ELP survives again and the fans fire up! Mikey grows frustrated, he drags ELP up and reels him in.
ELP slips free of the Blue Thunder to kick and tuck the arms! But Mikey trips ELP to jackknife bridge, TWO! ELP rolling clutches! TWO and Mikey has the cover! TWO and ELP ghost pins, TWO!! Mikey escapes but ELP dodges! ELP DROPKICKS Mikey down and the fans fire up! Both men crawl, hot tag to Leo! Leo runs to BLAST Shane, then he turns to look at Mikey. Mikey eggs Leo on, then fires forearms! Leo ROCKS Mikey with just one! Mikey fires another flurry, but Leo ROCKS Mikey again! Leo eggs Mikey on and the fans rally. Mikey kicks low, ROCKS Leo, then runs, but into a scoop! Tag to ELP before the POWERSLAM!
ELP goes up to SWANTON BOMB! And then LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up, ELP tags Leo back in, and they tune up the band again! Mikey rises, but Shane trips Leo! Mikey ROCKS ELP, Shane UPPERCUTS ELP! Feed to the scoop but ELP slips free! ELP shoves Mikey into Shane, and Leo grabs them both! But both Shane & Mikey fight free of the choke slams! Shane KNEES, Mikey FOREARMS, but then ELP fires off on TMDK! ELP runs, but into a double trophy lift! THUNDER- DOUBLE DDTS!! ELP turns things around on TMDK, and the fans are thunderous! Mikey stands up into SUDDEN DEATH! ELP PLANCHAS onto Shane!
GODSEND for Mikey! ELP then climbs up the ropes, then climbs onto Leo! SUPER THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, but Shane barrels through ELP to break it!! The fans are thunderous again but ELP is frustrated. ELP fires off on Shane, runs, but Shane LARIATS! Shane dodges Leo but runs into the POWER TRIP! GOD- NO, Mikey rolls Leo up!! TMDK WINS!!
Winners: TMDK, by pinfall (still NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions)
Leo is furious! He is sure Mikey pulled tights there! He stomps at Mikey, pushes past ELP and goes after Mikey on the outside! Mikey and Leo push each other around, but there’s nothing Leo can do about this one. Will he and ELP just have to fight their way back up to the top? As for TMDK, will they continue to rock ‘n’ roll through the ranks with all this gold?
KOPW Championship Rural Revitalization: Great-O-Khan w/ Callum Newman & Francesco Akira VS Yuya Uemura w/ Taka Michinoku & Taichi!
It’s Rural Revitalization 2: Hiroshima Style! The Dominator just managed to make it past Tanga Loa, will he make it through the Heat Storm? Or will KOPW soon belong to Just5Guys?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who can put in the work!
This first round is Mazda tire carrying. Each man has a big orange cone placed in their corner, so they simply have to go fetch the tires from the stacks outside. Whoever gets four tires first wins the round! The bell rings, Yuya kicks Khan then heads for ropes, but Khan reels him in for a BIG back suplex! Khan goes out now, hurries up the ramp, and grabs two tires at once! The fans cheer and Khan gets those tires in the ring. Then he goes back for more! A risky move but that means four tires are on play. Yuya DROPKICKS Khan and here’s where the risk is involved! Yuya aims to PLANCHA but Khan chucks a tire!
Yuya falls back, Khan gets the tires in then drags Yuya out. Khan CLUBS away on Yuya against the apron, then uses a tire to bind Yuya’s legs! Khan CLUBS Yuya more, and Khan even ties Yuya up in the ropes! Khan sacrifices two tires to trap Yuya! The fans cheer the creativity, and Khan STOMPS Yuya on the apron before heading for more tires. Yuya works to get free as Khan brings two more tires to the ring. Khan sets those tires in, Yuya gets free, but Khan has stacked two tires. Then three, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Yuya takes the tires off Khan’s cones, leaving him with just one. Yuya goes out to get the last tires remaining!
Yuya brings tires to his cone, then clears out some space. Yuya has two tires, steals Khan’s one, but then Khan grabs Yuya for an IRON CLAW SLEEPER! Yuya fights free, but Khan Mongolian Chops him down! Khan throws the tires off Yuya’s cone, then throws the cone! We’re back to zero and zero, and Khan whips Yuya into a corner, to then clothesline him! The fans fire up as Khan climbs up and sits on his throne! Khan then hops down to Mongolian Chop! And Mongolian Chops! And Mongolian CHOP! Yuya sits down, Khan takes a tire, but then THROWS it at Yuya! Yuya goes up and over and AX HANDLES Khan down!
The fans rally as Khan grabs tires and cone, and he starts stacking! Yuya has two, then three! He just needs to find one more! Yuya grabs one from outside, but Khan reels him in! Khan DECKS Yuya, then undoes some of the stack. Khan confiscates a tire, makes sure it’s nice and bouncy, but also works up quite the sweat. The fans rally as Khan aims and takes a swing, only for Yuya to counter tire with tire! They clash again, and again! Then they set up for TIRE SUMO! And again, TIRE SUMO! They run in again, and Khan RAMS Yuya! Yuya is disarmed, and Khan CLOBBERS him with the TIRE SUMO!
The fans fire up while Yuya is down and Khan grabs tires. Khan says he’s not done with Yuya yet. Khan starts stacking tires at the center of the ring, then drags Yuya up. Khan clinches Yuya into HITSUJIGOROSHI! Yuya endures, even as Khan throws knees! Khan then scoops to SLAM Yuya on the tires! That’ll leave some skid marks! Khan then drags Yuya off the stack, brings him up and around, to then put a tire around his head. And then another! Yuya’s two tired to stand but Khan makes him! Khan throws a BODY BLOW, then he TRIPS Yuya into a TIRE DDT! The fans fire up while Khan grabs the other tires.
Khan stacks tires on his cone, that’s two. Khan hurries to find other tires on the outside, and he has a third. Khan considers his options, and takes one of the tires from Yuya. But Yuya clings to the tires, so Khan stomps him! Yuya refuses to let go of the tires! Khan stomps Yuya more but Yuya defends the tire with his body! Khan claws at Yuya, they tug-o-war over the tire, but Khan pulls on Yuya’s ear! Yuya kicks low, kicks again, then SMACKS Khan with the tire, and DROPKICKS Khan down! The tire goes tumbling out of the ring while Yuya fires up! Yuya takes Khan’s tires, hurries them over to his cone, that’s three right there!
Now Yuya has to hurry and find another! Yuya goes outside, grabs the tire, but Khan intercepts! They tug-o-war again, but then Khan RAMS Yuya into a corner! Khan takes this tire, that’s one. Khan finds tires on the outside and brings them in! Yuya hurries to cover tires again! Khan stomps Yuya, still stacks three, so it’s all down to this seventh tire! Yuya and Khan tug-o-war yet again, the fans rallying behind them! Khan grabs Yuya’s arm, but Yuya slips around to a SLEEPER! Khan fights up but Yuya squeezes tight! Yuya then CLUBS away on Khan, runs, but into a TIRE SWEEP! And a BASEMENT DROPKICK!
Khan grabs the final tire, but Yuya schoolboys him away! Yuya rolls through, snatches the tire, and complete his stack! Yuya wins the first round!
Khan: 0; Yuya: 1
Just like with Tanga Loa, Khan drops the ball in the first round! But then, will history repeat itself here as we prepare for the second round?
The tarps are set down, the table is set, and it’s time to eat up some Hiroshima lemons! Khan makes sure the people watching at home and around the world understand that Hiroshima lemons are the best, which probably means they’re the most sour. Khan puts on his bandana and takes his seat at the table. He and Yuya get some wet wipes to clean their hands, and it all comes down to who finishes their one lemon first. Ready, set, EAT! Yuya starts fast and that face shows how sour these are. Khan says hold on, and he just takes a HUGE bite! Yuya is suffering but Khan is reveling in the sourness! Khan’s already halfway through!
Yuya can barely keep the lemon in, but Khan’s eaten it all up! Can he get it all down before Yuya? Khan is chewing and chewing, Yuya is practically shaking from how sour it all is! Khan keeps going and… Yes, Khan has it all down! Khan wins!
Khan: 1; Yuya: 1
Khan now lets his body feel the stinging sweetness, and he says it was delicious! But then, that leaves us with this third and final round. And this time it’s a TABLES match! Who will be feeling sour and sore after this one?
The bell rings, both men rush in, Yuya dodges to fire haymakers! Yuya whips, Khan reverses but Yuya CLOBBERS him! Khan gets up, but Yuya DROPKICKS him down! Khan bails out, Yuya aims and PLANCHAS! Direct hit at the ramp, and the Heat Storm fires back up! The table is there, so Yuya drags Khan right up! Yuya goes to suplex but Khan blocks! Khan fights with body shots, turns things around, but Yuya fights the suplex! They fight for control, but Khan RAMS Yuya into the apron! The fans rally, Khan drags Yuya back up, and whips him into railing! Yuya tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land!
Khan storms out after Yuya and he asks fans move aside. Young Lions help the fans clear out while Khan drags Yuya up. Khan brings Yuya around and reminds everyone, No Disqualifications! Khan BOWLS Yuya through chairs, and that’s definitely a strike! The fans cheer Khan as he stands on chairs, but then asks more fans to move aside! Khan stomps Yuya, stomps a chair onto Yuya, then tosses that chair aside. Sorry to whoever had that seat… Khan then drags Yuya up and brings him around, but Yuya throws body shots! Khan Mongolian Chops Yuya down! Khan drags Yuya back up, and BOWLS him into more chairs!
Yuya is stuck on the seats, that wasn’t quite a strike. But Khan stacks chairs on Yuya to pick up the spare. Khan SMACKS chair with chair! Yuya sputters while fans applaud, and Khan goes back to fetch Yuya. Taichi and Taka are there but so are Newman and Akira. The Empire keeps the two out of five guys at bay while Khan drags Yuya to the back of the crowd. Khan whips Yuya into the emergency exit! Khan then SLAMS railing down on Yuya, and then SMACKS railing with railing! Khan talks trash while Taka and Taichi coach Yuya up. The ref checks Yuya, but he’s somehow able to continue, so Khan drags him up.
Khan brings Yuya around to drag him through the chairs! Khan brings Yuya back to ringside, then into the ring. The fans applaud, and then Khan goes looking under the ring. Khan eventually finds another lemon! Khan takes a big bite and uses the citrus to power up! Then he DIGS the lemon into Yuya’s face! The citric acid burns but the fans fire up! Khan goes to fetch the table from outside, puts it inside, and then sets it up in a corner. The fans rally up as Khan stalks Yuya. Khan drags Yuya up, reels him in to scoop, but Yuya slips free! Khan avoids hitting table, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! Yuya whips Khan into the blue corner, then DOUBLE CHOPS again!
The fans fire up and Yuya grits his teeth. Yuya roars, brings Khan up and reels him in for a BIG back suplex! The fans rally again and Yuya brings Khan up. Yuya clinches, but Khan fights the lift! Yuya still tries, but Khan fights it to a head ‘n’ arm clinch. Yuya gets around, headlocks, but Khan pops out to waistlock. Yuya fights being pushed around, then switches to get an arm. Khan clinches but so does Yuya. They fight for control, and Khan’s SAYANAGI takes Yuya down! The fans fire up and both men stir. Yuya flops out of the ring, but Khan crawls in pursuit. Khan drags Yuya up, then RAMS him into railing!
Yuya writhes, Khan goes looking under the ring, and he brings out another TABLE! Khan SMACKS Yuya with the table, then stands the table up at ringside. Khan drags Yuya up, SMACKS him off the apron, then climbs up. Khan drags Yuya up onto the apron, Mongolian Chops, then regular CHOPS! Khan UPPERCUTS, then clamps on the IRON CLAW! Khan scoops but Yuya fights free! Yuya DROPKICKS! Khan holds onto ropes to stay up, but Yuya hurries to run! Yuya LARIATS, but into the IRON CLAW!! Khan drags Yuya up and over, ELIMINATOR- NO, Yuya grabs ropes to fight that off! Khan kicks low, winds up, but Yuya traps the arm!
Yuya traps the other arm, takes aim, but Khan fights the Deadbolt with all his might!! The fans are thunderous as Yuya still tries! Khan BITES Yuya’s ear! And then POSTS him! But Yuya runs up, into a BOOT! Yuya falls back, Khan sits down, and the fans rally again! Khan undoes his hand tape, ends up pushing the table over, and then he folds it all up. Khan puts the table in the ring, pushes Yuya aside, and then he sets this table up again, in the blue corner. Yuya goes up top to CROSSBODY! The fans fire up as Yuya roars! Yuya has his choice as he hauls Khan up. Yuya traps the arms, but Khan makes it a BELLY2BELLY!
But Yuya rises back up! Yuya runs in, gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! But Khan’s right up! Khan LARIATS Yuya down! The fans fire up as Yuya is right back up, and URENAGES! Both men are down again and the fans are thunderous! Khan flounders around, he and Yuya crawl to center, and Yuya fires a forearm! Khan gives it back! Both men stand, and Yuya fires a haymaker! Khan comes back to forearm! Yuya wobbles, but he comes back to HAYMAKER! Khan staggers, wobbles, but comes back to FOREARM! Both men stagger, but Yuya fires another haymaker! Khan fires a flurry of forearms, but Yuya haymakers!
Khan ROCKS Yuya, but Yuya DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! And DOUBLE CHOPS! But Khan throws an IRON RIGHT! The fans fire up again as Yuya falls! Khan roars with Monster Rage and he hauls Yuya up! IRON CLAW, and then ELIMIN- NO, Yuya slips free! Yuya wrenches, traps the arms, DEADBOLT SUPLEX through the table!! YUYA WINS!!
Winner: Yuya Uemura, 2-1 (NEW KOPW Champion)
Yuya slammed the Deadbolt shut on Khan and now he takes the title from him! The Heat Storm is rising, how hot will he make the KOPW Division through the Summer?
10 Man Tag Elimination Match: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs!
These factions have been battling all over this Road to Wrestling Dontaku, but now they will fight ’til the last man! Will there be a roll call for Bushi, Hiromu, Takagi, Yota y Naito? Or will this alliance with the Good Looking Emperor, Jake Lee, help David Finlay, Gabe Kidd, Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney shoot down LIJ?
Wait, it seems Naito has brought backup of his own? It’s SLYLY! The dragon-like mascot of Hiroshima Toyo Carp, and half-brother to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Phillie Phanatic! Well, Naito does love him some baseball. Tensions are running high, and Finlay throws his shirt at Yota. Yota balls that shirt up, and throws a fastball over the plate! The teams sort out, Finlay pushes Yota around and Gabe talks trash on Takagi. Red Shoes gets them all to settle down, and the War Dogs bark and put up the Too Sweet. Jake joins in at the end there. LIJ mocks the barking before they fist bump, and the fans cheer.
Things finally sort out and Finlay starts against Yota. The fans fire up behind “YO~TA! YO~TA!” at the bell, and Yota makes sure Finlay hears that. Finlay gets on the corner but the fans all boo. The two circle, tie up, and Yota uses his size to put Finlay on ropes. Finlay turns that around to grind forearms in Yota’s face and push him around. Finlay then backs up to SPIT at him! The fans boo but Yota CHOPS Finlay in return! The fans cheer, Yota headlocks, and Yota grinds Finlay down. Finlay powers up and out to headlock back, but Yota powers up and out. They RAM shoulders, Yota rebounds to run Finlay over!
The fans fire up, things speed up, but Finlay bails out. The fans boo but Finlay says he’s got time. Yota barks at Finlay but Finlay just mockingly applauds. Finlay returns, kips up just to show off, but then Hiromu wants in! Yota tags Hiromu, Finlay tags Drilla. Hiromu fires forearms on Drilla, whips, to ROCK, trip, KICK the ropes, then run and SHOTGUN Drilla down! The fans fire up while Hiromu barks. Hiromu runs corner to corner to clothesline, snapmare and basement dropkick! The fans fire up but Connors runs in to knee Hiromu low! Connors barks, runs, but Hiromu kicks low! Bushi dropkicks legs out so Hiromu can basement dropkick!
The fans fire up but Drilla fires hands and CHOPS on LIJ. Hiromu CHOPS back, he and Bushi double whip to TU LO SABE! Cover, TWO! Drilla stays in this but Hiromu fires Hiroshima up. Hiromu fireman’s carries, but Drilla slips free to RAM Hiromu into the corner! The Dogs mug Hiromu while Jake Lee runs up to BLAST Naito! Finlay and Connors help out in mugging Yota and Bushi! Things have pilled out into the crowd in multiple areas while Naito fights back! Jake kicks Naito, then whips him hard into railing! Naito tumbles up and over into No Man’s Land! Gabe and Takagi throw HEADBUTTS back and forth!
Finlay snatches a phone? He’s taking pictures of Jake stomping away on Naito! But then Yota attacks Finlay! Finlay POSTS Yota, a ring count starts, but the Dogs just keep beating LIJ down! Drilla finds his way back to ringside, Hiromu manages to make his way in! Hiromu crawls in at 17 but Drilla is there to stomp him! Drilla bumps Hiromu off Finlay’s boot! Drilla tags Jake in, they mug Hiromu, and Jake digs his boot in while Finlay pulls Hiromu’s hair! Red Shoes is busy getting everyone to stop brawling! Jake lets off but Hiromu fires off CHOPS! Jake just kicks low, whips, and then HIP TOSSES Hiromu down!
Hiromu staggers up but Jake clamps on a SLEEPER! Tag to Finlay and they mug Hiromu in the corner. Red Shoes reprimands and counts, the fans boo, and Finlay lets off at 4. Finlay soaks up heat, then he takes Hiromu’s Kamaitachi mask and THROWS it to the crowd! Finlay then BLASTS Yota off the apron! The Dogs CHOKE Hiromu more, mug him while Finlay argues with Red Shoes, then Finlay brings Hiromu up. Finlay fireman’s carries and goes to dump Hiromu! Hiromu clamps onto ropes, Bushi runs in to make the save! Connors goes after Bushi so Takagi makes the save! But Connors goes after Takagi now!
Finlay puts Hiromu on the apron but Hiromu rolls back in, SAFE! The fans cheer while Finlay is frustrated. Finlay storms up on Hiromu in a corner but Hiromu CHOPS and CHOPS! Finlay knees low, whips corner to corner hard, and Hiromu flounders all the way back to where he started! Finlay drags Hiromu up and over, the fans still cheering him on, but Connors tags in. Connors BLASTS Naito off the corner, then snap suplexes Hiromu down! Connors runs to ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Hiromu stays in this but Connors stays on him with a seated full nelson. The fans continue to rally for “HI-RO-MU!” as he endures!
Hiromu fights around, even as Gedo barks at him to give up. Hiromu still gets the ROPEBREAK! Finlay pushes the foot away and that distracts Red Shoes, allowing Drilla to join in and stomp Hiromu! Drilla & Connors double whip but Hiromu gets around to lift Connors and throw him at Drilla, FORCED RANA! The fans fire up but Connors keeps Hiromu away from his corner! Hiromu blocks a kick, and a punch, to DRAGON SCREW! The fans rally again while both men are down! Hot tag to Naito! Naito rallies on Connors, BLASTS Drilla, swings on Jake, but Jake gets away. Connors CLUBS Naito, whips, but Naito reverses to arm-drag!
Naito atomic drops, runs, and ELBOWS Connors down, to then basement dropkick! The fans fire up while Naito stares Jake down. Naito covers Connors, TWO! The fans rally, Naito drags Connors up and dragon sleepers, for the NECKBREAKER! And then, LEG HOOK NELSON! Connors endures but Gabe stomps Naito! Gabe BLASTS Takagi, the rest of the Dogs attack, and Gabe stomps away on Naito! Gabe tells off the fans but the fans boo. Red Shoes reprimands so Gabe steps away, and Connors drags Naito up. Connors UPPERCUTS, whips, but Naito reverses to TORNADO- NO, Connors powers out!
Connors dodges Naito, redirects and POUNCES! Naito is down but the fans rally up. Naito and Connors crawl, hot tags to Takagi and Gabe! The fans fire up for the NEVER Openweight Championship appetizer! They RAM shoulders, Takagi ROCKS Gabe then runs to RAM him! Gabe rebounds to RAM Takagi, but Takagi rebounds to RAM Gabe! Gabe fires a forearm, whips Takagi to a corner then runs in to clothesline! Takagi says that’s not enough, so Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe says he’s a madman, then whips, only for Takagi to reverses. Takagi runs in, blocks a boot, and clotheslines through! The fans fire up with Takagi, but Gabe shoves him!
Takagi kicks and CLUBS away on Gabe, but Gabe BITES Takagi’s forehead! Red shoes reprimands, but Takagi spins Gabe around to suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! Gabe’s still in this but the fans rally behind “TA-KA-GI!” Takagi looks around, “Oi, Hiroshima! TOKI GA-” NO, Gabe CLOBBERS Takagi! It isn’t his time yet, and Gabe stands Takagi up to HEADBUTT again and again! Then Gabe suplexes high and hard! Cover, TWO! Takagi’s tougher than that but Gabe shakes his head. Gabe scuffs Takagi, eggs him on and runs, but Takagi blocks the Rebounder to HEADBUTT! Gabe HEADBUTTS! Both men shake their heads, and then Takagi HEADBUTTS!
Gabe HEADBUTTS! Takagi HEADBUTTS again and again, but then Gabe HEADBUTTS again and again! Takagi fires a forearm, Gabe gives it back, repeat! The fans fire up as the shots go back and forth! Gabe gets the edge, but Takagi fires boxing elbows! Gabe CHOP! Takagi ELBOWS! JABS! Gabe UPPERCUTS and YUKON LARIATS! But Takagi’s right up to LARIAT!! Gabe rises and shouts! Both men run in, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! And again! Gabe fires palm strikes, talks trash, but gets a JAB, HEADBUTT, and a PUMPING BOMBER take takes both men up and out! DOUBLE ELIMINATION!!
Fans go wild as Takagi’s sacrifice play makes things 4v4! Bushi and Drilla jump in and Drilla fires off shots! Drilla ENZIGIRIS, ripcords, but Bushi dodges to RANA! And DROPKICK! Drilla bails out but Bushi builds speed, only for Connors to SNAP POWERSLAM! Drilla gets in, he and Connors get moving, SPEAR GORE COMBO!! Cover, TWO!! Bushi survives but the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions coordinate. Connors BLASTS Naito off the apron before he climbs a corner, and Drilla gets Bushi up. Drilla suplexes, but Bushi slips free! Bushi shoves Drilla into Connors, then runs back in to CODE-
NO, Drilla blocks and aims for ropes! Bushi slips free, dodges Drilla, but Drilla ducks the enzigiri, only for the REWIND HEEL to hit! Bushi whips Drilla up and out and to the floor, Bushi ELIMINATES Drilla! We’re 4v3 in LIJ’s favor, but then Connors SPEARS Bushi! Connors says this is it, and he reels Bushi in for- NO! Bushi turns No Chaser into a backslide! BUSHI ROLL! Bushi ELIMINATES Connors!! The Black Mask singlehandedly handles the tag champs and the fans fire up! But then Finlay CLOBBERS Bushi and rains down fists! Finlay roars in rage, then he drags Bushi up. Canadian Rack, but Bushi slips free to backslide!
Finlay rolls through to UPPERCUT! Jake BLASTS Naito, BLASTS Yota, and then Finlay gets Bushi up! Finlay POWERBOMBS Bushi to the outside, onto Naito and the rest! Finlay ELIMINATES Bushi! We’re back to 3v2 as Finlay still has Jake but LIJ still has Naito, Hiromu and Yota. And speaking of Yota, he gets in to brawl with Finlay! Yota whips, Finlay reverses but Yota flipping RANAS! Then he BLASTS Jake! Yota runs corner to corner to STINGER SPLASH Finlay! Yota keeps moving, he runs Finlay over to then run and SPLASH! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up with Yota as he smiles and paces around.
Yota brings Finlay up and fireman’s carries, but Finlay slips free. Yota kicks, runs, but Finlay ELBOWS him down, then SENTONS on top! Finlay barks as he aims at Yota. Yota rises, Finlay runs in, and UPPERCUTS at the corner! Then clotheslines! Then FALCON ARROWS! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Yota but Finlay grows frustrated. Finlay drags Yota up, reels him in, but Yota fights the lift! Finlay CLUBS away on Yota, tries again, and he has Yota up, but Yota fights free of the bomb! Yota fires forearms, but Finlay UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS! And UPPERCUTS again! Finlay runs, but Yota backslides to KNEE Finlay down!
The fans fire up again as we pass 20 minutes, and Yota drags Finlay up. Yota goes up and up but Finlay shoves him over! Yota’s on the apron, he and Finlay brawl! Yota ROCKS Finlay, but Finlay gets in Red Shoes’ face! Jake grabs at Yota, Yota kicks him away, but Finlay BLASTS Yota down and ELIMINATES him! The fans boo but the Dogs have made this 2v2! Finlay and Jake stand together, and they dare Naito & Hiromu to join them. Naito and Hiromu oblige as they step inside. Naito stares Jake down, Hiromu stares Finlay down, and they start swinging! The fans fire up, but then Finlay fireman’s carries Hiromu! Finlay aims for ropes!
Naito gets past Jake to save Hiromu, but then Jake BOOTS Naito down! Jake scrapes Naito out of the ring and goes after him, but Hiromu fireman’s carries Finlay! Hiromu runs at ropes and dumps Finlay out! Finlay stays on the apron but Hiromu SUPERKICKS! Finlay holds onto ropes and wobbles, but Hiromu builds speed! Hiromu DIVES and SUNSET FLIPS, but Finlay still holds on! Finlay throws down hands, gets back inside, he’s SAFE! Hiromu is also safe because he went through the second rope. Hiromu runs back in, but avoids Blue Thunder to wheelbarrow! But Finlay turns that into an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER!
Hiromu writhes, the fans rally as hard as they can behind him, but Finlay drags Hiromu up. DOMINATOR! Cover, Naito breaks it! Jake stomps Naito and TOSSES him out! It was all second rope so Naito’s safe, but Finlay talks trash on Hiromu. Finlay drags Hiromu up, reels him in, suplexes, but Hiromu slips free! Finlay UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS, and UPPERCUTS! Flashback to the 23rd! Hiromu just takes UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT from Finlay, but he doesn’t stop! Then he SUPERKICKS! Hiromu runs, but into another UPPERCUT! Finlay gets Hiromu up, but Hiromu RANAS Finlay up and out to ELIMINATE him!!
The fans are thunderous as The Rebel is shocked! Hiromu mocks him, but then Jake runs in! Hiromu gets under the boot to get under Jake! Jake fights Hiromu off, snarls, and then runs up! Hiromu dodges to kick a leg! Hiromu runs, but Jake kitchen sink knees! Jake takes aim, runs up, and FACE BREAK SHOT! Hiromu tumbles up and out and to the floor, Jake ELIMINATES him! And now, at 25 minutes in, we’re down to just Jake and just Naito! Naito slowly rolls into the ring as the fans rally behind him. Jake watches Naito stand, and the two stare down. Jake runs in but Naito dodges to fire off forearms!
Naito whips but Jake reverses to KNEE low! Jake fires up but fans boo as he stands Naito up. Jake reels Naito in for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Naito protects the plate but Jake is aiming another heater! Jake waits as Naito stands, then winds up to choke grip! But Naito throws back elbows to get free! Naito then wrenches, TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up again while both men are down! Naito rises, he drags Jake up, and he throws those heavy back elbows! Jake crawls around, Naito brings him up, and Naito throws more heavy back elbows! Jake wobbles and staggers to the corner but Naito is right on him.
Naito brings Jake around for even more heavy back elbows! Jake falls over, the fans fire up, and Naito aims from the corner. Naito drags Jake up and in, but Jake BOOTS Naito down! Naito dangles off the apron! Red Shoes keeps the War Dogs from interfering, and Naito stands up. Jake aims, runs in, but Naito avoid the FBS! Naito drags Jake ot the apron, Jake elbows him back! Jake runs up, but into an ELBOW! Naito goes up and over, sweeps the legs, then BASEBALL SLIDE DROPKICKS! Jake falls, LIJ wins!!
Winners: Los Ingobernables de Japon, Naito as the lone survivor
It came down to the bottom of the ninth, technically speaking, and Naito just hit the walk-off homer! Jake is stunned and Finlay is frustrated, but Yota just smiles back at him. Finlay and Yota will have it out as part of Wrestling Dontaku Night One, who will be smiling then?
As for LIJ, they regroup in the ring and have their hands raised. Slyly’s even still hanging around! But uh, he’s a little too chunky to get in the ring, so he just settles for pumping up the crowd like he does at baseball games. Naito gets the mic to say that it was three months ago, the Splash Strong series back in January, since Naito was last in Hiroshima. Naito would like to thank the fans from coming here tonight, “Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer, and Naito continues by saying, “Hiroshima is my second home. I really long to have a match at Mazda Stadium.” The fans love the sound of that!
Naito does preface that him saying that doesn’t mean there’s anything planned. So please, tranquilo, be patient, and look forward to the day that finally happens. So, shall they do it? The fans cheer again! So then, for the first time in Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall in a year and eight months, is everyone ready? The fans cheer because they sure are! Well then, the only way to close The Road to Wrestling Dontaku here in Hiroshima… Bushi! Hiromu! Takagi! Titan! Yota! Slyly! Y Naito! NOSOTROS! LOS! INGOBERRRRNABLEEEES~! DE! JA! PON!! Slyly gets in on the roll call! Will all of LIJ have success as we reach Wrestling Dontaku next week?
My Thoughts:
A great event to conclude Road to Dontaku before getting to Wrestling Dontaku itself. An unfortunate change in the card, Sanada fell ill and could not compete, so his match alongside Taichi against Tanahashi & Tomoaki was changed into Tanahashi and a Young Lion VS Tomoaki and a Young Lion. Hopefully Cold Skull gets well soon. Great tag title match from TMDK VS GoD, and while I figured TMDK was going to retain, I didn’t think it’d be in a shady way like holding tights. While ZSJ VS Cobb for the NJPW World TV title is still to come, I doner of GoD shift gears and ELP becomes a singles guy so Leo and Loa can team up. Then ELP can challenge ZSJ in a battle of initials while the Brothers Guerrilla get to take on Shane & Mikey.
Great Rural Revitalization again, they managed to pull off great comeback spots each round. I was very surprised Yuya won out, I felt like Khan could’ve done one more Rural Revitalization before losing. But at the same time, Yuya feels like the unofficial fourth Reiwa Musketeer behind Narita, Shota & Tsuji. Yuya getting a title, any title, ahead of the others is good stuff for him, and could even bring about a feud with one of the Musketeers for the Summer. And then a great 10 Man Elimination Tag. I again really like that NJPW allows over the rope eliminations even in a tag match like this to really mix things up. Jake Lee not winning out for the War Dogs is really surprising, but I feel like that means Jake will defeat Naito 1v1.
My Score: 8.9/10
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It’s a violent end to a legendary friendship!
Former Best Friends, Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor, have been through many Parking Lot Brawls, but this is their first time as enemies! Will there be broken bones to go along with the broken hearts?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor; Trent wins.
- Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo; Rosa wins.
- “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell; Bill wins.
- Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions; Shibata & Garcia win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Parking Lot Brawl: Trent Beretta VS Chuck Taylor!
Years of friendship, thrown away, and why? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Freshly Squeezed having more success in AEW than them? Because #JustTrent had a problem with Cassidy as a person? Because #JustTrent turned out to be the selfish one in the relationship? Well, then will #JustTrent get his ass kicked? Or will he take advantage of how Chuckie T. is a Kentucky Gentleman?
Trent stares Chuck down while we hear the crowd of other wrestlers taunting him. Trent takes a swing, but Chuck dodges to fire off hands! The brawl is on, and Chuck gets the edge! Chuck ROCKS Trent, then SMACKS him off a car hood! And then off the car door! Chuck drags Trent up, but Trent RAMS Chuck into the car! And throat chops him just because! Trent gets space, runs back in, but Chuck dodges so Trent hits the passenger door! Chuck gets a trash can lid and he stands Trent up. Trent jumps through the open window but Chuck drags him back out. Trent kicks low, and he gives Chuck a CAR HOOD BACK SUPLEX!
Trent grabs the trash can lid, SMACKS Chuck right in the head and Chuck falls down! The crowd boos but Trent opens a car trunk to bring out a trash can, a dustpan and a baseball bat! Chuck storms up but Trent CHUCKS the trash can into Chuck’s face! Chuck flounders and Trent smirks. Trent SMACKS Chuck with the trash can, CLUBS him around, and Chuck is busted open! The white car has red polka dots on it now, and Trent talks trash, “This is what you wanted?!” Trent runs up, but Chuck POP UP POWERBOMBS Trent onto a car hood! Trent writhes, Chuck staggers around, and Chuck brings Trent around.
Chuck headlocks Trent before he SMACKS him off another car door. Trent goes around the back and then up onto a truck! Chuck follows, and he CLUBS Trent in the chest! But Trent slips under, and he CLAWS Chuck’s bloody face! Trent DECKS Chuck and Chuck falls through drywall sheets! Trent looms over Chuck as he crawls out of the wreckage. Trent stalks Chuck, brings him around and SMACKS him with the trash can lid! Trent hoists Chuck onto a car roof, SMACKS him again, then goes back to the truck. Trent climbs onto the roof of the truck, to FLYING ELBOW from car to car! Cover, TWO!!
Trent is furious, but Chuck is still in this as Rampage goes picture in picture.
Trent fumes, paces around, and goes back to the goodies. He brings out… Is that a screwdriver?! And he JABS Chuck in the head with it!! And then he DIGS it into Chuck’s forehead!! As if he wasn’t already bleeding badly!! Trent leaves Chuck behind, to fetch what looks to be a flat screen TV. Then he brings out a wood door!? Did someone visit Home Depot before coming here? Chuck CHOPS Trent in return then fires haymakers! Trent CLAWS Chuck’s face! Trent grabs that TV and CHUCKS it, only for Chuck to duck it! Rampage returns as TV screen hits windshield! Chuck kicks low to snap suplex Trent through the door!!
The crowd is losing its minds as Trent crawls. Chuck gets Trent’s legs, to CATAPULT him into the truck’s tailgate!! The crowd fires up while Chuck gets a sinister look on his face. Chuck takes a piece of that drywall to SMASH it on Trent! Chuck gets that trash can, he SMACKS Trent with it! Chuck sees the pile of extra goodies nearby, and he uncovers some light tubes! But first, he’ll clean up the mess, he SMACKS Trent with the dust pan! And SMACKS him again and again! And then one more shot with the trash can! Trent writhes, but Chuck drags Trent up. Chuck SMACKS Trent off the tailgate, then clears some space.
Chuck climbs up, but Trent ROCKET LAUNCHES him onto the light tubes!!! The tubes shatter under Chuck’s back! Trent sputters, he’s bloody now, too. Trent puts Chuck against the car hood and stands on him! Trent soaks up the heat, but Chuck TRIPS Trent! Trent writhes, Chuck reels Trent in, Canadian Rack, RAZOR’S EDGE onto a windshield!! Trent writhes while fans chant “HOLY CHUCK!” Chuck covers Trent on the hood, TWO!! Trent survives and hurries around the back of this sedan. Chuck snarls, goes up after Trent, and they meet on the roof. They’re both so bloody as they fire forearms back and forth!
The crowd cheers Chuck and boos Trent, and as the two swing wild, they end up HUGGING! You GOT to give the people what they want, right? They stand, Chuck ROCKS Trent and reels Trent in, but Trent LOW BLOWS!! Trent has Chuck now, PILEDRIVER ON THE CAR ROOF!!! And then, SNAKE BITE!! Trent is choking Chuck out!!! Chuck IS out, Trent wins!!
Winner: Trent Beretta, by submission
The Best Friends tore each other apart, but it is #JustTrent that stands tall in the end. He’s clearly lost the respect of his peers given how the other wrestlers are chanting “You Suck! You Suck!” But wait, Trent isn’t done? He has a monkey wrench!? Cassidy & Kris step forward to say no, this is going too far! Trent says this is all Cassidy’s fault! And SMASH, Trent hits Chuck’s leg with the wrench, and even shatters the glass behind it!! Chuck clutches the already recovering leg, and now Cassidy wants after Trent! Kris stops Cassidy, Trent’s still got the wrench! Trent escapes into the shadows of the arena, what darkness is living in Trent’s heart?
Don Callis is watching this.
And he seems to like the sadistic savagery he just witnessed. Trent may not have Best Friends anymore, but could he end up with a whole new family?
Backstage interview with Kyle O’Reilly.
Arkady Aura is with #CombatKyle and brings up his impressive showing in Dynamite’s Casino Gauntlet this past Wednesday. But we all want to know, what is next for her? Well, on Saturday, May 11th, AEW is coming to his hometown! Collision in Vancouver, British Columbia! The Rogers Arena, the same building an 11-year-old Kyle saw his first wrestling show ever. And at that show, Kyle told his dad that he was gonna do this one day. Papa O’Reilly said, “Oh yeah, sure you will, kid.” But somehow, Kyle pulled it off. 25 years later, he’s coming back home to do the one thing he’s ever been good at and that’s wrestling.
Kyle is going to take on the best wrestlers this world has to offer, right here in AEW, where the best wrestle. Kyle is ready for a fight, who will take him up on that in two weeks?
Thunder Rosa VS Deonna Purrazzo!
La Mera Mera and The Virtuosa could not coexist in the race for the AEW Women’s World Championship, and now they will Rampage against each other! Who will stand tall, ready for another shot at the title?
The bell rings and the fans rally up. Deonna and Rosa step up, talk a little trash, then Deonna pie faces Rosa! Rosa swings but Deonna catches the arm! Rosa avoids the takedown to knee low! They tie up again, go around and around, and Deonna puts Rosa in a corner. The ref counts, Rosa powers her way out but Deonna headlocks. Rosa powers up and out, but Deonna RAMS her! The two stay up, Deonna eggs Rosa on then kicks her low! Deonna whips, Rosa blocks the hip toss, but then Deonna blocks a hip toss! Rosa avoids the lariat to DECK Deonna! Rosa rains down fists but the ref reprimands.
Rosa sits Deonna up, clamps on a COBRA CLUTCH, and she grinds Deonna down. The fans rally but Deonna fights up. Deonna throws hands, then wrenches, but Rosa breaks free. Deonna BOOTS Rosa, then has the arm for the ARMBAR DDT! Deonna dusts herself off as she paces, then she KICKS Rosa’s arm. And KICKS it again! Rosa goes to ropes, Deonna pushes her down and ties her up in Paradise! Rosa is stuck, Deonna soaks up the cheers and jeers, and then runs to DROPKICK Rosa out of Paradise! Deonna stands Rosa up but Rosa ROCKS her first! Deonna stands, Rosa RAMS into her then bumps her off buckles.
Rosa goes up and up to leap, but Deonna blocks the rana and has a BOSTON CRAB! They’re in the ropes, the ref counts, and Deonna lets go. Rosa crawls to the corner, Deonna paces while soaking up the heat. Rosa stands, builds speed, and she WERCKS Deonna with a dropkick! Rosa fires up despite the pain in her back, and she kicks Deonna. Deonna stands, Rosa CHOPS her against the post! And CHOPS her again! Deonna ducks, Rosa chops post! Deonna SUPERKICKS Rosa down, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Deonna steps on Rosa’s face, steps away, and Rosa staggers up to railing. Deonna storms up but Rosa kicks her low. Rosa then runs Deonna side to side to POST her! But then Deonna RAMS Rosa into apron! And SMACKS her off it! Deonna snarls, brings Rosa around, and she puts Rosa in the ring. Cover, TWO! Deonna clamps onto Rosa to pull her arms in, for a straitjacket stretch! Rosa endures, fights up, but Deonna turns that into a BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Rosa is still in this, and she is feeding off the energy of the fans! Rosa stands, and she ELBOWS Deonna! And body shots! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again!
Rosa has Deonna in a corner to UPPERCUT! Rosa runs corner to corner and back again, but Deonna dodges! Rosa POSTS herself and falls to the apron! Deonna storms back over, brings Rosa up and wraps the bad arm against ropes! The ref counts, Deonna KICKS the ropes as she lets off, and Rosa clutches the elbow. Deonna returns but Rosa RAMS into her! Deonna CLUBS Rosa, has her in a corner, and HEADBUTTS the lower back as Rampage goes to break.
Rampage returns and Deonna runs in, but into an ELBOW! And then a BOOT! Rosa goes up to MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Rosa as she rises up! Deonna runs in, Rosa dodges to fire forearm after forearm! Deonna shoves, Rosa ENZIGIRIS! Rosa runs, to SHOTGUN BOOT! Deonna flounders to ropes, Rosa pounds the mat and the fans rally again. Rosa runs side to side to DROPKICK again! Cover, TWO!! Deonna toughs it out while Rosa shakes out her arm. Rosa drags Deonna up, but Deonna SOBATS! Deonna runs to KNEE LIFT and RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Deonna wants the Fujiwara but Rosa rolls free!
Deonna BOTOS Rosa down, covers, TWO! Rosa is still in this and the fans rally up. Deonna is frustrated but she fireman’s carries Rosa. Rosa fires elbows, waistlocks, but Deonna pries the hold open! Deonna waistlocks, Rosa victory rolls and STOMP 182! The fans rally up again and Rosa covers, TWO! Deonna stays in this but Rosa stays on her. Rosa drags Deonna to a drop zone, goes to a corner and climbs. But Deonna rises and catches the leap! FUJIWARA ARMBAR!! Rosa endures, reaches out, pushes Deonna over to get a REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Deonna is in the body scissors but she fights around!
Deonna rises, to BACKPACK SENTON! Deonna is free, the fans fire up, and Deonna brings Rosa back up. Deonna SLAPS Rosa, then reels her in! Gotch Hold, but Rosa jackknife bridges! TWO, Deonna sunset flips, TWO! Prawn hold, TWO! FUJIWARA!! Rosa rolls it to a cradle, ROSA WINS!!
Winner: Thunder Rosa, by pinfall
Deonna thought she had the perfect formula but Rosa says she just beat her at wrestling! But then Deonna CLOBBERS Rosa at the ramp! The fans boo but Deonna drags Rosa up to RAM her into the bleachers! Rosa slumps down, but Deonna digs her boot in! Deonna SLAPS Rosa around, tells the ref to shut up, and she SLAPS Rosa more! So Rosa SLAPS back! They brawl on stage and then out to the ledge of the upper level! The fans fire up as they keep going! Security rushes in, the fans boo, but Deonna flips Rosa off! It seems nothing was settled here, will these two look to go Double or Nothing?
Backstage interview with The Undisputed Kingdom.
Arkady Aura is with Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett as she notes Will Ospreay is the NEW #1 Contender to the AEW International Championship. Taven says hold on, before we get started here, “Not Lexy,” as three guys who care deeply about neck health, and as two guys who nursed someone from the brink of paralysis (aka Roddy), The Kingdom wishes a very speedy recovery to “the world’s greatest boss. TK, stay strong, buddy.” Roddy then shouts that “WILL… Ospreay. Congratulations, you did it! You have signed, sealed and delivered the downfall, demise and destruction of The Aerial Assassin at Double or Nothing.”
Roddy says the world can sing Ospreay’s praises, but none of that matters when you step in the ring with Roddy. Just like all the ones before, Roddy will dismantle Ospreay, he will BREAK Ospreay, and he will make Ospreay fall in front of The Savior of the Backbreaker. Roddy’s confidence is strong, but will Roddy be the one feeling the End of Heartache after taking on the #BillyGOAT?
“Big Bill” Morrissey VS Trevor Blackwell!
The human skyscraper says he wants to sit under the Learning Tree, but Chris Jericho’s gonna need a bigger tree if he’s to give guidance to Big Bill. Will Bill prove he is worthy of The Wizard’s sage advice?
The moment Bill is in the ring, he SPLASHES Trevor right in the corner! The bell rings, Bill runs to BOOT Trevor down! Trevor flounders around, Bill runs corner to corner and SPLASHES again! Trevor flops around, Bill wants Jericho to watch this. Bill said he’d show Jericho he is worthy, and we do see Jericho watching backstage, holding the FTW Championship on his shoulder and oddly still wearing a #LionHook shirt… Jericho nods as Bill CLUBS Trevor on the back! Bill then tells Jericho to watch him! Scoop and BIG BOSS SLAM!! Cover, but Bill lets off! Bill wags his finger, he wants Jericho to see more.
Bill brings Trevor up, reels him in, and short arm LARIATS! Cover, but again Bill lets off! Bill is having too much fun at poor Trevor’s expect. Bill says Jericho’s gonna wanna teach him. Bill hoists Trevor up for the SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAM!! One foot cover, a very Jericho move, and Bill wins!
Winner: “Big Bill” Morrissey, by pinfall
Trev might want to change his last name to Well-done, because he got roasted. Bill wants Jericho’s guidance, does he even need it when he can do all this?
BREAKING NEWS for Rampage!
Rampage won’t be following up Collision next week but it also won’t be back on Friday just yet. For AEW’s return to Canada, Rampage is going to be BACK TO BACK with Dynamite! Get ready for a truly All Elite Wednesday!
Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions!
The Wrestler said during Collision earlier tonight that he was going to take on Shane Taylor Promotions by himself if he had to, but then the Dragonslayer offered his help. Now they’re both going to take on #TAIGASTYLE and Big Bad Shaney T. himself! Garcia wears basic trunks and boots to match Shibata, will The Wrestlers win out? Or will STP rumble, bad man, rumble?
The moment all four men are in the ring, Shibata CLOBBERS Lee Moriarty and then he and Garcia both go after Shane! The fans fire up as they stomp and kick Shane right out of the ring! Then they go out to keep after him! Shibata whips and BOOTS Shane into railing! Garcia fires off on Lee, then Shibata adds an UPPERCUT! Shibata whips and BOOTS Lee against railing! Garcia stomps Shane, Shibata snap suplexes Lee to the floor! Shibata leaves them behind to go into the ring and sit cross-legged! Garcia sits with him! The fans fire up and the two go out again. The brawling continues but Shane throws heavy hands!
Lee ROCKS Garcia, Shane puts Shibata in, and Shane storms in after Shibata. Lee sends Garcia into railing, but Shibata fires hands on Shane! Shibata KICKS and KICKS, but Shane blocks the boot! Shane JABS Shibata and Shibata falls back! Shane talks trash, the fans boo, but Shane drags Shibata up. Shane HEADBUTTS Shibata, tags Lee, and they mug Shibata. Lee stomps a mudhole in, lets off as the ref counts, but he sneaks mule kicks on Shibata the whole time! Shibata trips Lee, stomps him, but Lee gets up to RAM into Shibata! Lee brings Shibata around, suplexes, but Shibata slips free to waistlock!
Lee elbows free, kicks, but Shibata blocks! Lee KNEES Shibata but Garcia tags in! Shibata BOOTS Lee, Garcia LARIATS! Garcia DROPKICKS Shane, gets around Lee, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! And then another TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Garcia brings Lee up again but Lee suplexes! Garcia slips free, spins Lee and kicks low, to then TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The trifecta is complete and the fans fire up! Garcia storms up on Lee, brings him up, and UPPERCUTS! The fans rally for Garcia, he CHOPS Lee to ropes. And CHOPS Lee against ropes! Garcia runs, but Shane trips him! Lee distracts the ref so Shane can DRAPING DDT to the floor!
Shibata protests but Lee mocks him by sitting cross-legged. The ring count climbs, Garcia drags himself up at 3 of 10, slides in at 5, but Lee stomps Garcia at the ropes! Lee drags Garcia up, bumps him off buckles, then tags Shane. Shane pushes Garcia against the buckles, to then CHOP! Garcia seethes and he fires forearm son Shane! The fans fire up, Garcia throws more shots, then leaps, but into Shane’s arms! Shane RAMS Garcia into a corner, then CHOPS! Shane runs up, but Garcia BOOTS! Garcia spins, but Shane ROCKS him first! And URENAGES! And then SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO!
Shane seethes but he keeps Garcia from Shibata, and Rampage goes picture in picture.
Shane mocks Garcia’s dance, drags him up, but Garcia CHOPS! Garcia staggers, but Shane fires body shots in the corner! Shane ROCKS Garcia, tags Lee, and STP mugs Garcia. Garcia flounders to ropes, Lee CHOKES him! The ref counts, Lee steps away, and he stomps Garcia around. Lee wraps an arm around the ropes, then fishhooks Garcia! The ref counts, Lee lets off, and Garcia feeds off the energy of the fans. Lee brings Garcia up but Garcia fires forearm sand CHOPS! Lee gets around, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Cover, TWO! Garcia stays in this but Lee stays on him with a wrench. Tag to Shane, and Lee hooks Garcia up in a COBRA TWIST, just so Shane can KNEE Garcia down!
Shane has Garcia on ropes, ROCKS him with a forearm, then scoops him for SNAKE EYES! Garcia slumps down in the corner, Shane drags him back up, and TOSSES him out! Shane goes out to then put Garcia against railing. Shane ROCKS Garcia, talks trash on fans, then brings Garcia around to scoop and SLAM him to the floor! Shane talks more trash on the fans, Lee has him cool off, and Shane brings Garcia up again. Shane puts Garcia in, tags Lee, and then Lee clamps on with a top wristlock and stretches Garcia out! Garcia endures, turns to fight the pressure, but Lee CLUBS him down. Lee drags Garcia up, tags Shane, and Shane scoop SLAMS!
Shane runs to SPLASH Garcia again! Rampage returns to single picture, Shane drags Garcia to a drop zone, and he goes up a corner. The fans boo but Shane blows them a kiss. FALLING SPLASH FLOPS as Garcia moves! T he fans fire up, but Lee KICKS him down! Lee hurries back and tags in, then he drags Garcia up. Lee wrenches, wristlocks, but Garcia endures. Lee SNAPS the fingers! The fans boo Lee being so villainous, but he drags Garcia up. Lee bumps Garcia off buckles, Shane holds Garcia up, but Garcia fights free with boots and haymakers and elbows! The fans fire up, Garcia sends Lee into Shane!
Lee hurries to waistlock but Garcia switches, SAIDO! The fans are thunderous as Lee and Garcia crawl! Hot tags to Shane and Shibata! Shibata BOOTS Shane! Shane roars, Shibata runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges and BOOTS! Shibata whips to BOOT Shane in the corner! Shibata fires forearms, the ref counts, but Lee runs up. Shibata DECKS him! Garcia RAMS Lee into a corner, climbs up, and while Shibata fires forearms on Shane, Garcia rains down fists! Garcia goes all the way to nine, then DOES HIS DANCE! Shibata and Garcia coordinate, DOUBLE HYDRAULIC DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Garcia stands Shane up. Shibata runs in to BOOT!
Shibata CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS Shane, then CHOPS, CHOPS and JABS! Garcia does his dance while Shibata JABS and CHOPS to the rhythm! The fans are loving this, as now Garcia runs in to KNEE Shane! Shibata & Garcia get Shane up, to DOUBLE SUPLEX!! Cover, ONE?!? Shane has power to spare, but Garcia BOOTS him! Shibata BOOTS him! They go again, but this time Shane DOUBLE SUPLEXES them!! The fans boo but Shane tags in Lee. Lee runs up to clothesline Shibata, and JAB! And CHOP! JAB! CHOP! JAB! CHOP! Shibata just scowls at Lee! Lee says okay, and he fires more JABS and CHOPS!
Shibata steps into the shots, so Lee eggs him on! Shibata ROCKS Lee! Shane runs up, HEADBUTTS, then Lee HALF HATCH SLAMS! Cover, TWO!! Shibata toughs it out and STP grows frustrated. Lee drags Shibata up, kicks then waistlocks, but Shibata fights the lift! Shane storms in, helps Lee put on the full nelson, and Shane promises to knock Shibata out! But Shibata BOOTS Shane first! Garcia jumps on for a SLEEPER! Shibata switches on Lee for a SLEEPER!! The fans fire up as STP start fading out! Shane fires up to RAM Garcia into buckles! But Shibata BOOTS him! And Garcia SAIDOS!! Shibata PENALTY KICKS Lee!! Cover, The Wrestlers win!
Winners: Katsuyori Shibata & Daniel Garcia, by pinfall
Shibata helps Garcia stand up, and Garcia is proud to have won alongside one of his heroes! And with the fans cheering him on, Garcia sets up… to DO HIS DANCE! Will this momentum help Shibata avenge Hook and take that FTW Championship off of Chris Jericho? Or will The Learning Tree have some things to teach Shibata?
My Thoughts:
A great Rampage here, though I was oddly more excited when I thought it was just Deonna VS Rosa and the Parking Lot Brawl. But even so, at least Bill squashing a dude was used in story. He was showing off, he’ll surely have Jericho’s blessing if he helps defeat Shibata on Dynamite, but a part of me almost wants this to be all a trap. Bill was teammates with Ricky Starks in a feud against Jericho, and if Jericho is being obliviously arrogant then maybe Bill is using that against Jericho, too. But either way, let’s just hope this story helps Bill get going rather than slow him down like the #JerichoVortex has always done.
The Parking Lot Brawl was moving maybe a bit fast for me, especially with how there were some obvious spots already set up when they arrived, such as the drywall draped across the truck bed. But they surely got bloody, and in the end, Trent won out because he was willing to sink to the lowest low. And then they’ve written Chuck off again with that monkey wrench to the shin, so Cassidy VS Trent is definitely a Double or Nothing match. And something is just telling me that if Kris is gonna turn out to be the villain in the Willow Nightingale story, she’s probably gonna screw Cassidy over to help Trent, too.
Really good match from Deonna VS Rosa, and with Rosa getting a quick pin then that brawl, we’re clearly getting more out of them. Good promo from Kyle O’Reilly to hype AEW’s newest Canada tour, and good promo from The Kingdom to tie in their old Neck Health Awareness gag to the Tony Khan piledriver angle. Roddy calling out Ospreay, I would definitely think Ospreay wins the title at Double or Nothing. And really good tag main event from Shibata & Garcia VS Shane Taylor Promotions. STP keeps getting great showings even in losing, but Lee took the loss here to keep Shane himself strong. Great win for Shibata but this just adds to the go-home math where Jericho retains the FTW Championship on Dynamite.
My Score: 8.7/10
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