Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (4/3/23)
Raw Goes Hollywood!
What happens after the credits roll?
The yearly tradition of Raw After Mania now goes Hollywood! What will the WWE’s next chapter be for all its champions?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Omos w/ MVP VS Elias; Omos wins.
- Rey Mysterio VS Austin Theory; Theory wins.
- Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS The Street Profits; Kevin & Sami win.
- Bobby Lashley VS Mustafa Ali; Lashley wins.
- WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships #1 Contender’s Match: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez VS Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai; Liv & Raquel win and will challenge Becky Lynch & Lita for the titles.
- High Stakes Tag Match: Cody Rhodes & Brock Lesnar VS Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa w/ Paul Heyman; No Contest.
PLAY BY PLAY
The first hour of Raw After Manis is COMMERCIAL FREE!
Triple H is here!
Los Angeles is fired up as The Game walks out to the ring. HHH soaks up all the adulation from the fans before going to the corner for his signature pose. HHH then gets the mic to say, “Welcome to Monday Night Raw!” And he has to say, if he wasn’t already on a high before walking out here after this weekend, he sure is hell on one now. That was unbelievable! What a weekend it was. WrestleMania, 161 THOUSAND fans jam packed into SoFi Stadium! And for the ultimate spectacle, an event that truly lived up to its name: The Grandest Stage of Them All. “An event 40 years in the making. From one man’s vision for WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden, to four decades later.
“LA, SoFi Stadium, packed to the rafters, beyond my wildest expectations.” So HHH is out here to say thank you. To thank every superstar in the back, every performer that has every stepped through the ropes and graced this ring. “They lay their bodies on the line for all of us every single week, and I just wanted to take that moment to say, ‘Thank you.'” HHH also thanks the staff and the crew that make a weekend like WrestleMania possible. That make nights like tonight in the sold-out Crypto Arena on a Monday night possible! Everyone in the back, out here, and Stu manning the camera. Fans chant for “STU! STU! STU!” Stu says hi and fans cheer.
HHH has to say, the people behind the scenes make this all possible. He walked in to SoFi last night, and no matter how many times he’d seen the drawings, the photos, the videos of it being built, when he walked in and saw that set… It took his breath away. They truly make the spectacle of what they do possible. And HHH wants to take one more moment to thank the most important people: the fans. The WWE Universe, the people that make it possible to do what the WWE loves to do day in and day out: entertain the fans. Thank you, fans! Fans chant for “TRIPLE H! TRIPLE H!”
HHH says on a day where the WWE is dominating the news, this day after WrestleMania, when they are anything anyone talks about, WWE makes an announcement that is all anyone walks to talk about. But HHH is here to assure the fans, “we ain’t going nowhere! The same WWE that you love, the same WWE that put 161 THOUSAND people to the rafters in SoFi stadium is going nowhere! The same WWE that you love, the superstars, the action, the drama, all of it! We are going nowhere. We will be here, week in and week out, event after event, sold out arena after sold arena, packed stadium after packed stadium, because WE! ARE! THE WWE!”
Fans cheer that, and HHH says that just like the opening roll: Then, Now, Forever, Together! Fans cheer again, and HHH says with all that said, he wants to ask us one thing. Help him acknowledge one more person. Reigning for 946 days, please welcome the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion… ROMAN! REIGNS! Fans are mixed as the Tribal Chief makes his way out. Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa are with him, and HHH shakes each of their hands on his way out. Roman lifts the belts he still has after screwing over Cody Rhodes, and sets off the pyro. Then they all go to the ring, and Roman again lifts the belts for more pyro.
Fans boo while Heyman holds onto the belts. Roman grins, takes a moment to soak it all up, even as they chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” and “ROMAN SUCKS!” Roman then takes the mic to say, “I guess after last night’s performance, we should probably do it like this tonight. Hollywood! ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” Fans boo more but then the bass drums hit! CODY RHODES is here! Cody has the smoke, the pyro, the three piece suit, but he is clutching one of his sides a bit. Cody gets a mic as he gets in the ring for even more pyro. Fans chant for “CODY! CODY!” while Heyman has Solo stand down.
Cody looks at Roman, and says, “I know what I wanna talk about.” Roman’s surprised by that. Cody says today is turning out a lot differently than he anticipated, and a lot of people anticipated. We thought Cody would be here the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion. Roman and Heyman both say “NOPE.” Cody sees and feels it. He will acknowledge this: last night at WrestleMania 39 in the main event, Roman was the better competitor. Roman, Cody knows we always have to do this with the world watching, but he wishes this, meaning Solo and Heyman, wasn’t a factor.
Because Cody knows that Roman knows he’s won a lot of matches where he skated by, narrowly defeating people. Last night wasn’t the case. Last night, Cody HAD Roman! Roman shakes his head but the fans agree with Cody. Cody said he knows what he wants to say, and it boils down to just one word. And fans already know what that word is, as they chant, “REMATCH! REMATCH!” Cody says it himself, he wants a REMATCH! Roman smirks and Heyman steps forward. Fans say “YES! YES! YES!” but Heyman wants a word. Roman hands over the mic, and fans boo.
Heyman says, “I was thinking… On behalf of the Tribal Chief… When exactly would you like this hypothetical rematch?” Cody smiles, and says, “TONIGHT!” Fans are thunderous over that idea! Roman is flustered, but Heyman helps him calm down. Heyman says, “No rematch. Not tonight, not in Puerto Rico, not at SummerSlam, not at Survivor Series, not at the Royal Rumble, not in Madison Square Garden, not in San Francisco where life does exist in California. No, no, no, no, NO!” Fans boo harder and call BS. Heyman says that’s called calling the shots when you live on the Island of Relevancy.
Cody asks if Heyman thinks he’s in an normal mood. A mood for these games? For these chicanery? After everything Cody went through his entire career with what happened last night? WHILE Solo is standing here? Let’s read between the lines. Roman doesn’t wanna do a rematch tonight, to give fans what they want, right here and right now? Fans fire up again, and Cody says, “I know exactly how tough you are.” But it won’t change this. if Roman doesn’t wanna do the rematch, well, he fought both guys anyway. Let’s do SOMETHING here, and do SOMETHING, now! Fans chant “ROMAN’S SCARED! ROMAN’S SCARED!”
Heyman asks Roman’s permission to talk privately. Heyman whispers things to Roman, and in the end, a decision is made. Roman turns back around, and Heyman tells “Mr. Rhodes,” and the fans of LA, Heyman has been authorized to inform Cody that item one, the tag team rematch, is accepted. But two parameters: If, and that is IF, someone in that locker room is so stupid as to team with Cody against Roman, it has to be someone that wrestled this past weekend at WrestleMania; Cody will realize how alone he is, because anyone that walks down that aisle that agrees to this, they will NEVER get another title match against Roman Reigns as long as he is still the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion!
So uh, what does Cody wanna talk about now? Fans echo, “WHO WHO WHO?” BROCK LESNAR!! Roman, Heyman, and even Solo are shocked! But Lesnar is all smiles as he circles the ring and fans lose their minds. The Beast stands with the American Nightmare, and shakes his hand! Lesnar even brings Cody in for a hug! Roman keeps Solo back, then they both back out of the ring. Fans boo, but they’ll have to put up or shut up tonight! Will the Island of Relevancy survive this high stakes tag match?
Omos w/ MVP VS Elias!
The Nigerian Giant also fought at WrestleMania, but even he was shocked to have lost to Lesnar. Will Omos get back up at the expense of The Drifter? Or will even the Giant learn to #WalkWithElias?
The bell rings and Elias rushes in, but into Omos’ huge hand! Omos then CLOBBERS Elias with the other huge hand! Omos talks trash on Elias, drags him up, and scoops to SLAM him! MVP says to punish Elias and Omos kicks Elias around. Omos drags Elias up, scoops him, and SLAMS him again! Omos roars, drags Elias up again, and TOSSES him to a corner! Omos SPLASHES Elias in the corner and Elias falls to the mat. Fans boo but Omos just soaks it up. MVP tells Omos to take Elias for a ride, and Omos scoops Elias, to SNAKE EYES! Then he BOOTS Elias! Omos copies the Deadman in the biggest way possible!
Omos kicks Elias around, drags him back up, and with both hands, MOUNTAINTOP POWERBOMB!! Cover, Omos wins!
Winner: Omos, by pinfall
That was comparatively merciful from Omos. Will all of Raw, and even SmackDown, learn to fear the Nigerian Giant?
The Usos find Roman Reigns’ suite backstage.
They knock on the door, Heyman opens up and is happy to see the greatest tag team of all time. Yeah, they wanna see Big Uce. Oh, sorry, the Tribal Chief just stepped out with Solo to have a chief-to-enforcer talk about Cody and Lesnar. Have they seen that? LESNAR?! So, Roman and Solo are talking strategy. Roman wanted Heyman to tell the Usos that this was a wonderful WrestleMania… for some. Their contributes were greatly appreciated, the jet will be fired up so that as soon as Roman and Solo mop the floor with Cody and Lesnar, they can all get going. But he wants the Usos to go ahead, enjoy the seafood buffet. Well, alright. Yeet.
The Usos head out, but then Heyman steps inside and tells Roman that he took care of it! Is this more of Roman’s two-faced manipulation of his family?
Cathy Kelly is ringside to interview Bad Bunny.
Fans cheer for the host of Backlash, how excited is he to bring WWE back to Puerto Rico? Bunny first says hello to LA, and they cheer more. Bunny says he is very happy to be hosting Backlash on his island. Finally WWE is headed back to Puerto Rico, but today he is enjoying things like any other fan. See you all in Puerto Rico!
Rey Mysterio is here!
The King of Lucha Libre is still in LA after the big win over his son, Dominik, and he gives big thanks to Bad Bunny in person for that assist. Fans chant “619! 619!” while Rey gets the mic. Rey says, “What an emotional week. I just got inducted into the Hall of Fame.” Fans chant “You Deserve It!” Rey thanks them, because without them, he wouldn’t be here. “Gracias, mi raza!” Rey continues to say that he wants to take the time to thank the WWE Universe, because they’ve welcomed him with open arms. He thanks them, gracias ustedes, but Bunny, thank you, brother. Wait, here comes Austin Theory.
The Now gets booed as he walks out with a mic and the US Championship. Theory tells “Rey-Rey” that the two of them deserve more respect. They are the only two that did exactly what they said they were going to do at WrestleMania. Rey beat the product of his own bad parenting, and Theory beat a legend! Theory beat the greatest of all time, John Cena! But the difference is that Rey is too busy correcting the past. Fans chant “YOU TAPPED OUT!” at Theory but he says no, THEY tapped out because they didn’t believe in him! He’s the champ! But just like that, Dom didn’t believe in Rey, and all these totos didn’t believe in him!
Wait, that’s it! Fans call Theory names, but Theory says, “You hear that? That is exactly what John Cena had to be talking about. The Raw After Mania, where y’all were gonna eat me alive. Where’s it at? Huh? Because I’m on top of the world, and I can’t be touched.” Fans chant, “YOU STILL SUCK!” Theory says he doesn’t suck, he beat Cena! Fans love screaming for Cena at the top of their lungs, and the fans start chanting “CENA! CENA!” Theory says no, none of that. Cheer for him but he ain’t here, he’s a part-timer. But what about Rey? Rey’s like Cena. They should chant HIS name! Fans do chant for “REY! REY! REY!”
Theory says all that’ll happen is that he’ll beat Rey and add his ass to the collection. Collection? The only thing Theory will be collecting is his teeth after Rey hits the 619! Theory says okay, let’s go. The mics are put aside, the ref gets in the ring, and it is happening!
Rey Mysterio VS Austin Theory!
The bell rings, Theory and Rey tie up, and Theory powers Rey to a corner. Theory climbs up on Rey, talks trash, but lets off as the ref counts. Rey shrugs it off, circles with Theory and ties up with him. Theory headlocks, Rey powers out, but Theory runs Rey over. Fans boo Theory but Raw goes picture in picture.
Theory whips, Rey reverse and sends Theory out. Rey fakes Theory out, then dropkicks him down! Rey brings Theory up and around, and whips him, only for Theory to reverse! Rey hits barriers, then Theory RAMS him into steel steps! And then the announce desk! Theory drags Rey up, puts him back in the ring, and covers, ONE!! Theory fumes but he stalks Rey. Theory RAMS Rey into a corner, RAMS him more, then DECKS him! Rey gets out of the ring but Theory talks trash. Theory goes out after Rey, puts him against barriers, but Rey dodges to COHP! Fans fire up as Rey stalks Theory back into the ring.
Theory CLUBS Rey, has him on ropes, and CHOKES him! The ref reprimands and counts, Theory lets off and Rey sputters. Theory brings Rey up, brings him around, and ROCKS him with another haymaker. Theory looms over Rey, talks more trash, then reels Rey in for a suplex. Rey writhes but Theory keeps talking trash. Theory looms over Rey again while soaking up the heat. Rey goes to a corner, Theory drags him up, and Theory throws hands. Theory whips Rey corner to corner hard, then scoops Rey and carries him around. Theory talks trash, right into the BACKBREAKER! Rey writhes, Theory covers, TWO!
Theory brings Rey back up, snapmares and wraps on a chinlock. Rey endures and Raw returns to single picture. Rey fights up, throws elbows, but Theory knees low. Theory POSTS Rey, stalks up behind him in the corner, and then drags Rey up to the top rope. Theory CLUBS Rey, talks trash on the fans, and then climbs up. Rey fights the back suplex, throws punches, and fans fire up! Rey ELBOWS Theory away! Rey then adjusts, leaps, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Rey gets moving, but Theory CLOBBERS him! Cocky cover, ONE! Theory kicks Rey around, drags him back up, and Theory grins as he says it is HIS time.
Theory snapmares Rey, and he clamps onto an armlock and chinbar. Rey endures, fans rally, but Theory keeps talking trash. Rey fights up, throws hands, but Theory ROCKS Rey! Theory whips Rey corner to corner, but Rey goes up and over to TORNADO DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Rey and Theory stir, Theory runs in but into a BOOT! Rey drop toeholds Theory into buckles! Rey goes to the apron, climbs up, and fans fire up, only for Theory to ROCK Rey! Theory goes up after Rey, but Rey resists the superplex! Rey throws hands, knocks Theory away, and then SEATED SENTONS!
Rey keeps moving, he ducks ‘n’ dodges to springboard CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Theory is still in this but Rey stalks Theory to the corner. Rey RAMS into Theory, climbs up and he rains down fists! Fans count all the way to TEN, then Rey lets Theory go. Rey gives us Latino Heat, and then shoves Theory to another corner. Rey climbs up for more punches! Fans count, Theory slips out at five to CLUB Rey! Torture rack, spin and TOWER HACKER BOMB! Cover, TWO!! Rey survives and Theory grows frustrated but the fans rally back up. Fans chant “YOU TAPPED OUT!” at Theory but he fireman’s carries.
Rey fights, grabs ropes, gets to the apron and GAMANGIRIS! Then slingshots to RANA Theory onto ropes! Fans fire up, Rey dials it up, but Theory CLOBBERS Rey! Cover, TWO!! Theory snarls but Rey is still in this! Theory goes to the apron, says it’s still his time, and he slingshots, in, but into another RANA! Rey redials, but DOM is there! Rey DECKS Dom, goes after Theory, but Theory blocks! Pop-up and A-TOWN DOWN!! Cover, Theory wins!!
Winner: Austin Theory, by pinfall
Damian Priest tells Dom to go after Rey, so Dom rains down fists! Fans boo as Dom is nothing but a vulture! Dom then glares at Bad Bunny in the crowd. Bunny says what’s Dom looking at, but Dom starts creeping over. Fans chant for “BUNNY! BUNNY!” and Bunny says he did the right thing. Dom says his family is his business, not Bunny’s. Bunny says okay, just relax. He was just doing what he thought was right. Dom says okay, and then swings on Bunny! But Bunny COUNTER PUNCHES Dom!! Fans fire up and Priest sighs. Priest YANKS Bunny into ringside! Priest says all Bunny had to do was not get involved.
Bunny and Priest still being boys, Bunny shoves Priest. Then DECKS Dom again! Priest CLOBBERS Bunny!! Priest throws off his jacket to drag Bunny up. Priest clears off the announce desk! Priest drags Bunny up, choke grips, and CHOKE SLAMS Bunny through the desk!! Fans are losing their minds and commentary is in disbelief, but Dom is loving it! Dom then attacks Rey in the ring with stomps! Fans boo as Dom and Priest leave, will Bunny regret getting involved?
Adam Pearce admonishes Priest backstage.
Bad Bunny is one of the biggest names in music, and he is supporting the WWE, and this is how Priest treats him? Priest says what he did is the issue? YES! That same energy Pearce has now, is that the same energy he had seeing Bunny get involved at WrestleMania? Is that the same energy Pearce had seeing Bunny swing on Dom? But no, take it easy. If Bunny wasn’t Priest’s friend, Pearce would really have a reason to be angry. Priest heads out, but what is Pearce to do about all this?
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are here!
Fans fire up for the NEW Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions! They even have shirts commemorating the moment. They each get a mic, and fans chant, “You Deserve It!” Kevin says, “Y’know what? We DO deserve it!” But all the fans deserve it, too! Fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~!” for Sami, and Sami says, “Look, um… It’s been a pretty crazy year for me, that’s no secret. From last year’s WrestleMania with Johnny Knoxville, all the way to the main event of this year’s main event in Los Angeles! And look, I haven’t had a chance to say this, and I know it’s corny, so I’m gonna say this once and then move on.
“But none of this would be possible for me if it wasn’t for you, so thank you.” Fans cheer again, and Sami says, “Enough mushy-gushy stuff, because I’m pretty sure I’ve been coming to LA for a minute, and I know LA likes to celebrate!” Fans cheer that, too! Kevin agrees, that sounds pretty good. But hopefully, they celebrate the same way. Nothing says celebrating like a good fight. There’s something about being in LA and fighting your heart out and giving your all that seems like the perfect celebration. And there are surely a lot of people who wanna make a name for themselves against the NEW WWE Tag Team Champions!
And the best place to do that is here and now on the Raw After Mania! So if anyone wants some, these two are right here! “Come celebrate with us!” And who answers? The STREET PROFITS! Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford are also coming off a big win in that Fatal 4 Way Tag Team Showcase, and here come the Solo cups! Ford says, “LA~! Look who it is! It’s Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, your NEW WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions of the WOOORLD~!” Dawkins likes that. Ford says it is a marvelous day in the land of Los Angeles. So Kevin, Sami, this toast is for you. Because like the crowd says, you two deserve it.
Don’t they? YES! Don’t they? YES! One more time, say “YEAH.” “YEAH!” LA sounding good as hell. “YES! YES! YES!” But Dawkins does bring up, the Profits got a win, too. And ya boi sent Braun flying. But in seriousness, how about Kevin & Sami VS Profits in Tinsel Town? A tag team that wants to make a name for themselves? The Profits have been stamping their names over and over and over, but still no one knows their names. So how about a match tonight on Raw After Mania?! It just makes sense, because Ford woke up to live, breathe and die by four words. Tell ’em, Dawks! The Profits are up, and WE! WANT! THE SMOKE!
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire, and the fans are fired up! The Profits are getting their fight with the champs, after the break!
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS The Street Profits!
Raw returns, the bell rings, and Dawkins starts with Sami. They tie up, Sami wrenches an arm, then shifts to a hammerlock and headlock. Sami hits a takeover, but Dawkins headscissors. Sami kips free, Dawkins headlocks for a takeover but now Sami headscissors. Dawkins kips free, Sami arm-drags! Sami has the armlock, but Dawkins moves around. Ford coaches Dawkins up, Dawkins fights to his feet and whips, but Sami reverses. Dawkins runs Sami over and Ford fires up! Things speed up. Sami hurdles and arm-drags! And arm-drags again! And then spins Dawkins around to another arm-drag!
Fans cheer that exchange, and Sami has the armlock again. Dawkins fights back up while Ford gets frustrated. Dawkins powers Sami back but Kevin tags in. Fans cheer as the champs whip Dawkins to ropes, drop toehold and SENTON! Then Kevin drops another SENTON! Kevin blows a kiss to Ford, covers, TWO! Kevin SENTONS again! Cover, ONE!! Kevin argues but then brings Dawkins up. Tag to Sami, they mug Dawkins, then Sami ROCKS Dawkins, Sami whips, Dawkins hurdles, Ford tags in, and Dawkins UPPERCUTS Sami! Ford slingshot SENTONS! Cover, ONE!! Ford wrenches Sami and grinds the arm.
Sami endures, fights up, but Ford puts him in an open corner. The ref counts the break, Ford lets off slowly, but then he kicks low! Ford pretends to be surprised, then he CLUBS and whips Sami. Sami reverses Ford hard, then back drops Ford away! Fans rally, Sami covers, TWO! Sami keeps on Ford with a wristlock, then tags Kevin. Kevin kicks Ford, CLUBS him, then scoops for a BACKBREAKER! Kevin pushes on Ford in a backbreaker rack! Ford endures, Kevin pushes him to a cover, TWO! Kevin clamps on with a chinlock but Ford fights up. Kevin CLUBS Ford, back suplexes, but Ford lands on his feet!
Kevin kicks low but Ford denies the Stunner! Ford bails out, Kevin pursues, but Ford GAMANGIRIS! Tag to Dawkins and Dawkins DECKS Kevin! Cover, ONE!! Dawkins clamps onto the arm, tags Ford, and the Profits whip and DROPKICK Kevin down! Cover, TWO! Ford clamps onto Kevin’s arm and grinds the shoulder as Raw goes picture in picture.
Kevin endures, fights up, and he throws forearms. Kevin throws more forearms but Ford grinds the arm even more. Kevin reaches for Sami, but Ford keeps him away. Kevin throws haymakers, but Ford whips him into the Profits corner. Ford UPPERCUTS, then tags Dawkins. Ford whips Dawkins in to SPLASH Kevin! Dawkins pushes Kevin down to a cover, TWO! Dawkins keeps Kevin down with a chinlock. Kevin endures, even as Dawkins pushes up for more pressure. Kevin fights his way up, throws body shots, and he HEADBUTTS Dawkins! Kevin runs, into a DROPKICK! Dawkins covers again, TWO!
Dawkins keeps cool, Sami coaches Kevin, and Dawkins returns to the chinlock. Kevin endures as Dawkins leans on him, and Sami has the fans rally up. Kevin fights up, reaches out, but Dawkins keeps him back. Kevin throws hands, then DDTs! Both men are down but Dawkins crawls, hot tag to Ford! Ford leaps to keep Kevin from Sami! Ford stomps away on Kevin’s legs. Kevin gets up to CHOP! Ford CHOPS back! Ford stomps a mudhole into Kevin in the corner. Ford digs his boots in, lets off as the ref counts, and then brings Kevin up. Ford snapmares then goes to the apron. Ford blows a kiss before the slingshot SENTON!
Ford taunts Sami, goes back for Kevin, but Kevin throws hands! Ford ROCKS Kevin as Raw returns to single picture! Both men stand again, fans rally and Ford whips Kevin to a corner. Ford runs in, but Kevin dodges the cyclone splash! Hot tag to Sami! Sami goes up to CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Sami keeps focus, he throws hands, then he whips Ford to ropes. Ford reverses, kicks low, and reels Sami in. Sami wrenches out, knuckle locks and CHOPS, then he goes up and up and TORNADO DDTS! Fans fire up, Dawkins runs in but Sami throw shim out! Sami builds speed to FLY! Direct hit on the Profits at the ramp!
Fans fire up with Sami as he puts Ford back in. Sami then goes up top, takes aim, but Ford trips him up! Ford climbs up to join Sami but Sami throws hands. Sami CLUBS away on Ford, then adjusts to SUPER SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO!! Ford survives and Sami is surprised! Fans still rally for Sami and he brings Ford back up. Sami waistlocks but Ford fights the lift. Ford throws punches, then ENZIGURIS! Sami staggers, Ford tags Dawkins! Dawkins DECKS Kevin before he CYCLONE SPLASHES Sami! Then ENZIGURIS! Sami staggers around, Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts!
Ford tags in, climbs up top, “SUCK IT!” BLOCKBUSTER DOOMSDAY!! Cover, KEVIN BREAKS IT! Fans fire up and Sami flounders to a corner. “This is Awesome!” as Sami staggers up. Ford runs in, but into an EXPLODER into the corner! Hot tag to Kevin! Kevin BLASTS Deakins for earlier, then runs to SUCK IT!” CANNONBALL on Ford! Ford is in the drop zone, Kevin goes up top! SWANTON BOMB!! Cover, DAWKS BREAKS IT! Sami gets in but Dawkins sends him out. Kevin SUPERKICKS Dawkins, but Ford SUPERKICKS Kevin! Fans fire up as Ford says a prayer and builds speed, to FLY! Direct hit on Kevin & Sami, and Ford lands on his feet!!
Ford says ‘SUCK IT!” and he puts Kevin in. Ford climbs up, FROM THE- NO, Ford has to bail out! Kevin tags Sami! STUNNER and Ford staggers! Sami shoves him into the corner, to HELLUVA KICK!! Cover, Kevin & Sami win!
Winners: Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, by pinfall
The Profits stepped up but could not score against the new champions! Fans sing along, but what will be next for Kevin & Sami in their newly minted reign?
Backstage interview with Seth Rollins.
Cathy Kelly is with The visionary and says night one, Rollins beats Logan Paul. How is he feeling? Ooooh, he is feeling GOOD, baby! He is on Cloud Nine! It is WrestleMania Weekend, Raw After Mania, and on Saturday, Rollins hit the Stomp Heard ‘Round the World, and he sent Logan Paul, and KSI, back to the wasteland of Social Media. HAHAHAHAHA! But uh… Something’s not right. Something about tonight is missing. He can’t quite put his finger on. WAIT! He’s got it! The party isn’t back here. It’s out there! “Hey, Mr. DJ! Play! My! Soooong~!” BURN IT DOWN! HAHAHA!
Rollins heads out to gorilla and the fans are ready! “OH~ OHH~ OHHHH~!” The fans are fired up as Rollins runs around in his fluffy black ‘n’ white robe with faces on it. What will the Visionary do to celebrate his WrestleMania Moment? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and the fans are still singing Rollins’ song. Rollins soaks it all up, and then goes back out of the ring to swagger around. Rollins goes back up the ramp, is that all he wanted?
Backstage interview with Bobby Lashley.
Cathy asks the 2023 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal how he is feeling after that win. Lashley says it was huge. But he has some pent up frustration. He stood out in front of that WrestleMania crowd but didn’t get to compete. That burns him up. But then Bronson Reed walks in, very jovial. Can he call him, “Uncle Bobby?” No, he cannot. Oh, okay, hear him out. Lashley is like Bronson’s uncle, though. He teaches Bronson things. In fact, maybe Bronson could be Lashley’s pupil. After all, Lashley taught Bronson how to lose. Lashley won the battle royal, but eventually, the pupil will school the teacher.
Oh, so Bronson wants some? He wants to fight? Is that what Bronson thinks he can do? Bronson tells “tiger” to ease up. He can’t go tonight. School’s out. But eventually, Lashley will learn his lesson. Bronson leaves, and Ali walks in. That’s a whole lotta “no” coming Lashley’s way. A match with Bronson Reed: a no. A match at WrestleMania: a no. But whoa, hold on. Ali is just trying to help. If Lashley wants to change all this negative energy, then he needs to change the way he thinks. Lashley needs to think more #PositiveAli. Make sure you never, ever take no for an answer. Understand?
Right, don’t take “no” for an answer. Right! Then he should just take someone down to the ring and maul them, right? Yes! And since Ali’s here, it should be him, right? N-no! Well, he’s not taking “no” for an answer! So Lashley TOSSES Ali, beats him down, and Ali says he was just trying to help! Lashley TOSSES Ali through the curtain! Fans fire up as Ali scurries away from The All Mighty, but that just sends him closer to ringside! Lashley TOSSES Ali down the ramp! And then into the ring! The ref is still there, so here goes!
Bobby Lashley VS Mustafa Ali!
Ali freaks out, he goes up and over to dodge Lashley, and then says he was just trying to help! Lashley runs in, Ali slips out to the apron, and he ROUNDHOUSES Lashley away! Lashley just gets mad! Lashley runs in, Ali slingshots around. Ali ducks ‘n’ dodges but then Lashley follows to CLOBBER Ali! Fans fire up and Lashley drags Ali up. HURT LOCK!! Ali taps, Lashley wins!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by submission
Lashley lets go when he is positive Ali is done! Lashley is in a mood, will he be satisfied by tearing into the Raw roster all over again?
Roman sits with Heyman and Solo.
The Tribal Chief asks the Wise Man if his cousins, The Usos, have left. Yes, they went to the jet. Wise Man. Yes, My Tribal Chief? Did you know Brock would be here? Heyman says this is the day after Mania, Lesnar usually takes six to nine months off and just leaves everyone hanging. That is a life Roman rescued Heyman from, which is why Heyman loves Roman. Then how did this happen? Heyman looks to Solo but says, if Roman remembers, SummerSlam was the last match between Roman and Lesnar ever, so Lesnar can never get another title match against Roman. So who could’ve thought Lesnar would accept this challenge? Lesnar has nothing to lose!
Lesnar has nothing to lose. Great. Good. It doesn’t matter. That was one of Roman’s greatest accolades ever, smashing Lesnar. He’ll do it again. And when he’s done with Lesnar again, he’ll smash Cody like he did last night at WrestleMania. Hell, when Roman is done with Cody, he will tag Solo in, and then they can see who is ready now. Does Solo understand? Show Cody you are ready. Solo nods and looks at his wrapped thumb. Will nothing stop the Bloodline from clearing out the field?
Bianca Belair is here!
Fans cheer as the RawEST Women’s Champion heads to the ring. Bianca gets the mic and fans chant for the “E S T! E S T!” Bianca says, “That’s right. The EST of the WWE is still your Raw Women’s Champion! But y’know what? Like I always say, I cannot be the EST without stepping into the ring with the best. And Asuka… C’mon, I said, Asuka!” Fans cheer, and Bianca says Asuka is definitely one of the best, one of the Most dangerous, so Bianca has to give credit to Asuka and thank her for pushing her to be the best she can be. Because now, Bianca can proudly say we did it! THREEPEAT!
But wait! Here comes RHEA RIPLEY! The Eradicator is the NEW SmackDown Women’s Champion, and she smiles as she walks to the ring. “E S T. You walk around here, calling yourself the EST, but you really are just the luckiEST woman in the WWE. Because after my humongous Royal Rumble victory, I decided to challenge Charlotte Flair instead of you.” Fans cheer as Rhea steps in the ring, and tells Bianca that they will get back to this. And Rhea will beat Bianca like she did Charlotte at WrestleMania. Fans like the sound of that but Bianca wonders. “Hold up, hold up. So I’m the luckiEST because you decided not to choose me?
“Girl, uh-uh. Rhea, look, you made your decision for a reason. And you’re SmackDown Women’s Champion, so stand on that and that alone. Because like I said earlier, I’m all about getting in the ring with the best, and that includes you. So, one day, when you’re ready, we’ll really see which one of us is the best of the best.” Fans also like the sound of that! Rhea nods, drops her mic, and steps away, only for Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez to appear! They may not have won the Women’s Tag Team Showcase, but they’re ready to show you can’t keep them down. Raquel also looks at Rhea and that title.
Who wins their way to challenging Big Time Becky and Lita? We find out after the break!
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships #1 Contender’s Match: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez VS Iyo Sky & Dakota Kai!
Raw returns as Damage CTRL makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Raquel starts against old frenemy, Dakota. They tie up, Raquel throws Dakota down, then scoops her up! Dakota slips free, SMACKS Raaquel, but then Rauqel blocks the Scorpion Kick, into a STRETCH MUFFLER! Raquel SWINGS Dakota around, throws her down, then brings her up, Dakota JAWBREAKERS, SCORPION KCIKS, but Liv tags in! Liv runs in, Dakota dodges and follows but Liv ROCKS her! Liv pie faces, runs, but Dakota BOOTS her! Dakota laughs, runs, but Liv reels her in, BACKSTABBER! Hot tag to Sky!
Sky runs in but Liv DROPKICKS! Liv rolls back, runs in, and back body blocks! But Sky DROPKICKS her back! Liv sits up in a daze, Sky runs in, but Liv dumps her out! Kai runs in but Liv dumps her out, too! Tag to Raquel, and fans fire up as Raquel gives Liv the boost! POWERBOMB SENTON out onto DMG CTRL! Fans fire up and Raw goes to break.
Liv grins as she sits back up, and Raquel fetches Sky. Raquel puts Sky in the ring, covers, TWO! Raquel drags Sky up, whips her to the corner, tags Liv and RAMS into Sky! Liv blows kisses then Raquel whips her in to back body block! Liv then whips Raquel in for the SPLASH! Raquel pushes Sky down for Liv to basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! Liv keeps on Sky, but Sky bumps her off buckles! Sky runs in to ROCK Liv! Then runs in again, but into BOOTS! Liv goes up, Kai rushes over, but Liv BOOTS her away! Sky YANKS Liv down off the top! Sky wrenches Liv, whips her to the corner hard, and Liv bounces off buckles. Sky tags Kai, she covers, TWO!
Kai grins and brings Liv up, stomps away in the corner, then runs side to side, BOOT WASH! Cover, TWO! Kai is a little annoyed but she brings Liv up by her hair. The ref reprimands but Kai hip drops Liv! Tag to Sky, she drags Liv up and scoops to SLAM! Liv writhes, Sky mocks her pain and kicks her around. Sky drags Liv up, whips, but Liv reverse to send Sky out! Liv crawls but Kai runs in, only for Liv to dump her out! But Sky DROPKICKS Raquel before the tag! Liv swings, misses, Sky shoulders in! Sky springboards to MISSILE DROPKICK! Liv flounders, Sky covers, TWO! Sky argues the count but two is two.
Sky CLUBS Liv, drags her around, and wraps on a straitjacket stretch before the hip drop! Raw returns to single picture, Sky whips Liv to the corner, but Liv uses that to BLAST Kai! Sky runs in to UPPERCUT Liv! Sky grins and fans rally up. Sky sits Liv up, but Liv throws body shots! Liv fires off hand after hand but Sky kicks! Liv dodges the shotei to CODE BREAKER! Both women are down and fans fire up again! Liv and Sky crawl, hot tags to Kai and Raquel! Raquel rallies on Kai with big lariats! Kai dodges one but not the SOUTHPAW! Raquel scoops to FALL AWAY SLAM! Kai is in a drop zone, Raquel runs in to TWISTING VADER!
Kai scrambles to tag Sky! Sky tags Kai back in, and DMG CTRL mugs Raquel. But Raquel fights free! She LAWN DARTS Kai into Sky! And then TEXANA- NO, Sky saves Kai! Raquel POUNCES Kai into Sky! Sky falls, Dakota kicks, but into the lift! Liv tags in, TEXANA BOMB! And then ObLIVion!! Cover, Liv & Raquel win!
Winners: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions)
Morgan & Rodriguez are #LivingLarge! They get their opportunity at the champs next week! Will they be in the Big Time after next Monday Night Raw?
The Miz heads to gorilla.
The Hollywood A-Lister passes by Chad Gable arguing with Maxxine Dupri over how “Otīse’s” hair should be styled. But what will the Most Must-See Superstar have to say about his WrestleMania Weekend? We find out, after the break.
The Miz is in the ring!
Raw returns as Miz asks if everyone enjoyed WrestleMania. Fans cheer and Miz bet they did. It was full of surprises. Little did he know that the surprises were for him. As the host, he thought he would get to sing, dance, roast some people, not have three matches! More matches than anyone on that card! He took on four people! “The Dogg Father of WrestleMania was like, ‘Surprise~! He’s Pat McAfee! Surprise~! Here’s George Kittle,’ who basically made it a 2 on one Handicap match! Surprise~! Here’s jumping Shane McMahon! Yet surprise, I beat him so badly, he couldn’t finish the match!
“But then surprise~! Snoop Dogg sucker punches me! Basically uses his rings as brass knuckles, then proceeds to do the worst People’s Elbow in the history of People’s Elbows! But WrestleMania is over, and tonight starts a new season. And I am DONE with surprises! There will be no more-” “Bro…” Fans fire up for the return of MATT RIDDLE! The Bro is on his scooter and he heads down to the ring! The flip flops fly, the pyro goes off, and there are rainbow giraffes! Miz is in a sour mood as Riddle gets the mic and fans chant “BRO! BRO! BRO!” Riddle tells Miz, “Surprise~! Did you miss me?”
Miz attacks Riddle! Miz stomps Riddle in the corner with his fancy shoes, then lets off to throw off his jacket and tie. But Riddle ROCKS Miz with palm strike after palm strike! ROUNDHOUSE! Ripcord, FINAL FLASH! And then a scoop to a gut wrench, to a BRO DEREK!! Fans cheer, and Riddle wins without it being a match! Will Miz learn to expect the unexpected? Will The Bro rise back up in this new season of WWE action?
Backstage interview with Becky Lynch, Lita & Trish Stratus.
Byron Saxton is with Team Big Time, and asks them how it felt to win on the Grandest Stage of Theme All? Trish says to have been in a multi-generational tag match like they had with DMG CTRL, it was incredible. And to beat DMG CTRL, also incredible. Lita says she is still riding that high. And we’re just getting started. Becky says her life has been on repeat dealing with those DMG CTRL fools. But now that that chapter is done, they can go back to their goal of raising the prestige of these titles. And the best way to do that is to beat Raquel & Liv next week! Raw is gonna be Big Time, but will The Man & The Legend elevate things in Seattle?
High Stakes Tag Match: Cody Rhodes & Brock Lesnar VS Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa w/ Paul Heyman!
The Bloodline made a bet without knowing all the variables, and it may have just bitten them on the butt! Will the Beast help the American Nightmare win that Undisputed Universal Championship rematch? Or will the Tribal Chief and Enforcer of the Island end Cody’s story once and for all?
Raw goes picture in picture as Roman and Solo finish their walk into the ring and the pyro goes off again. Roman walks around with the belts raised high. Then Raw returns to single picture as Cody makes his entrance. Then Lesnar makes his! The introductions are made, the teams sort out, and LESNAR F5S CODY!?!? WHAT?!? Even Roman and Solo are shocked! Roman and Solo get out of the ring while fans lose their minds! Lesnar then drags Cody up to F5 him again!! WHY, LESNAR, WHY!?! Lesnar can’t get another shot at Roman, does he just not want Cody to get another shot? Fans boo as Lesnar stalks Cody to the ropes.
Lesnar stomps Cody, then stands on his neck! Lesnar steps on Cody, drags him up, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Fans boo as Lesnar looms over Cody. Lesnar drags Cody up by the rib tape to TOSS Cody out of the ring! Lesnar goes out after Cody, hauls him up, and RAMS him into the barriers! Fans boo as hard as they can while Lesnar stands over Cody. Lesnar drags Cody up to suplex him into the timekeeper’s area! Then Lesnar rings the bell himself, to then SMACK Cody with a chair! Lesnar tosses that chair to the ring, and he looms over the writhing Cody Rhodes. Cody crawls but Lesnar pushes past him to go to the steel steps!
Lesnar has the steps, and he RAMS Cody! Lesnar tosses the steps into the ring, then he stalks Cody. Cody barely stirs, but Lesnar still drags Cody up! Adam Pearce is here to tell Lesnar to stop, but Lesnar doesn’t listen to anyone! He F5s Cody onto the announce desk!! The Beast chases Pearce off, and then goes back to Cody in the wreckage. Cody tries to move but Lesnar brings him up first. Lesnar puts Cody in the ring, fans boo, but Lesnar positions the steel steps at center. Lesnar keeps the officials from dragging Cody out to safety, and Lesnar brings Cody up again. F5 ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!!
Fans boo but Lesnar just soaks it all up as he stands over the battered Cody Rhodes. Fans boo as Lesnar takes his leave. But then as he goes up the ramp, he decides to keep going! Lesnar chases off the officials and producers to grab a chair! Cody manages to sit up, only for Lesnar to SMACK Cody! And again! Lesnar even headbutts the chair himself! Lesnar CHOKES Cody with the chair, and shouts, “LOOK AT ME!!” Lesnar shouts at Cody, then lets off. Lesnar finally takes his leave, the damage done. Only God and Lesnar know why Lesnar just did all this, but did Lesnar just end the American Nightmare?
OH NO, LESNAR RETURNS AGAIN!! But then he just flips everyone off. The Beast is more unhinged than ever before, what can anyone do to stop him?
My Thoughts:
For a Raw After WrestleMania, or even any random Raw during the year, this was rather baffling. A commercial free first hour, but for what? To get all the recaps out of the way? That opening promo between Cody and the Bloodline was great stuff, probably the best stuff all night, even though I would’ve loved if Cody just came out and said what he really meant: Roman’s a coward for not winning on his own and always having his family save him. And Lesnar showing up to side with Cody in that moment was great, it was a really exciting idea.
But as we just saw at the end there, it was all just to swerve Cody. This really has to be a case of, “If I can’t face Roman, no one can.” Lesnar is going to force Cody to beat him in a match before Cody gets his rematch with Roman. For those who said Cody hasn’t faced enough adversity, are you happy now? The silver lining is that they’re building the passive aggressive dysfunction Sami has been talking about. The Usos were given the night off, as simply an excuse for Roman not to be around them after they lost and disappointed him. This has to break down around Backlash to justify keeping the title(s) on Roman.
And for a Raw After Mania, there should’ve been big surprises, like call-ups, returns or brand new stars. I like Matt Riddle, but he was not anyone on the list of people I expected when Miz was clearly setting himself up to be beat up. I suppose Riddle is a safer choice, though, than the possibilities I had in my head. Bron Breakker would’ve been good, except he might still have some heat from the NXT fans who still see him as “LOL Bron Wins.” Jay White would’ve been awesome, except that would rely on there being enough NJPW fans to recognize him. Instead, Riddle and Miz is a good warm-up feud for Riddle to get back in the swing of things before doing something else.
Rey had a good promo, and honestly so did Austin Theory. They had a really good match, but of course Dom got involved. It was good continuity that Priest didn’t have anything against Bad Bunny but Dom did, and so Priest was stuck between two friends and chose Dom because he’s Judgment Day. Bunny did great in selling the lariat, being a ragdoll as Priest picked him up. But Bunny may have overdone it because the Choke Slam through the desk seemed particularly rough. Hopefully Bunny is only kayfabe injured, and we’re probably getting Rey & Bunny VS Priest & Dom in Puerto Rico for a great hometown hero win for Bunny.
Lashley had a good promo, and I’m glad they’re setting up a feud with Bronson Reed like I was hoping on Friday. But Bronson is taking his time, Lashley takes his anger out on Ali to kinda feed Ali’s story of sticking his foot in his mouth all the time. Bronson VS Lashley def feels like a Backlash match, though, with the winner going onto a title match of some sort. And Rollins also should’ve tried to tease going for a title, but instead they simply had him revel in the singing. Which is fine for the live fans, they get to sing along with the most popular chant in WWE right now, but I wish there was more to that segment overall.
Omos VS Elias was a squash, because duh, but we didn’t even get any Boogs. If Boogs was with Elias or watching backstage, that would’ve been nice because it continues that story. Good promo from Bianca to show respect to Asuka, and good addition from Rhea to certainly tease things between her and Bianca. Is the WWE not separating these undisputed titles and instead doubling down by making an Undisputed Women’s Championship? And it seems Ronda’s elbow still isn’t 100%, or else she and Shayna would’ve been #1 contenders. Though, Raquel & Liv are getting their shot next week, not at Backlash, so maybe they just want to give Becky & Lita a successful defense before losing.
And we got a really fun promo from Kevin, Sami and the Profits, and a really great tag match out of them. Even if it was for the titles, I figured Kevin & Sami were winning this. Maybe the Usos will try and get a rematch of their own, as an attempt to appease Roman, but maybe them losing again will aggravate Roman more and things truly break down, right around the time Roman’s going to hit 1000 days. That would be May 27th, which is the King & Queen of the Ring event. Maybe the family drama will get so bad that by the time Roman has to defend against THE King of the Ring, Roman’s usual back-up just decides not to back him up. If they do this right, maybe Roman falls short of the Pedro Morales reign of 1028 days to add even more to the impact of the loss.
My Score: 8.2/10
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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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