Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (5/22/23)
A final faceoff!
The Beast wants a fight, but will he get it?
Night of Champions is this Saturday, and both Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar will be here on Raw! Will they keep from throwing hands tonight?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Ricochet VS Bronson Reed; Reed wins.
- Candice LeRae VS Zoey Stark; Stark wins.
- The Alpha Academy w/ Maxxine Dupri VS The Viking Raiders; The Alpha Academy wins.
- Shinsuke Nakamura VS Finn Balor w/ Damian Priest; Finn wins.
- Raquel Rodriguez VS Sonya Deville w/ Chelsea Green; Raquel wins.
- Apollo Crews VS Dominik Mysterio w/ Rhea Ripley; Dom wins.
- Six Man Tag: Imperium VS Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle; Kevin, Sami & Riddle win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Cody Rhodes arrives backstage.
Only to be blindsided by Brock Lesnar into a table!! Water bottles, fruit and potato chip bags go flying! Lesnar drags Cody up while shouting, “You wanna fight!?” And then he RAMS Cody into ladders! And into road cases! “YOU WANNA FIGHT!?” Lesnar drags Cody up to throw him into more road cases, and then a bunch of kegs! Lesnar asks if Coyd’s ready to fight! And he throws Cody into the garage door! Lesnar dares Cody to get up and fight, and then he grabs a keg! Refs and security shout, but Lesnar SMASHES Cody’s hand with a keg!! Cody writhes and Lesnar leaves it at this. Will Cody even make it to Night of Champions now?
Paul Heyman is in the ring.
Fans boo as The Wise Man introduces himself. “And for the record, I had nothing to do with that.” Fans boo, they don’t really trust that. But Heyman says what we saw is something he can testify to as a mere example of what Cody Rhodes is in store for this Saturday afternoon, 1 PM Eastern, when he “attempts” to slay the Beast, BRRROCK, LESNAR. Now he understands how much his special appearance on Raw last week was so well received. He was clearly invited back this week to “enlighten” us. On the way to the Island of Relevancy, he stopped by the “hellhole” known as Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Fans boo but Heyman continues, “Just to hype you on one simple fact: This Saturday afternoon, there’s not one, there’s not two, there are THREE main events at Night of Champions, capped off by the historic battle in which ‘KO’ Kevin Owens and his miserable rat bastard of a partner, Sami Zayn, will LOSE the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships back to the Bloodline!” Fans boo that but Heyman says the Usos will watch proudly at home as the NEW Tag Team Champions will be Solo Sikoa… And Your Tribal Chief, the Undisputed WWE Universal Heavyweight Champion, Roman…! Reigns!
Fans boo even more but Heyman says, “Ladies, gentlemen, and things that live in Pennsylvania, for the final time ever before this Saturday’s Night of Champions, welcome to Monday Night Raw!” Heyman drops the mic, but here comes Kevin! And of course, that means here comes Sami! The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions go down to the ring and Heyman gets out. Fans sing Sami’s song and Sami says they did pretty good. By the way, where’d Heyman go? Sami’s never seen someone scurry off so fast. He must think that Sami & Kevin have a score to settle after everything last week.
But the truth is, they’re feeling pretty good. They are heading into the biggest possible title defense they could have when at Night of Champions, they face Solo Sikoa & Roman Reigns. Fans boo the Bloodline, but Sami says he’s said it already, and will say it again. This one is very personal for Sami. There’s nothing left to say, because Sami already said it all straight to Roman’s face. Kevin says he has something more to say. A couple weeks ago, Roman on SmackDown, “dedicated” the win he thinks they’ll have over Kevin & Sami to the Wild Samoans, Afa & Sika. So Kevin was inspired to do the same.
Tonight, Kevin officially dedicates their victory over Solo & Roman to… The true pillars of The Bloodline, The Usos! Sami says that’s pretty good. But that’s at Night of Champions. They have to remember, there’s business to take care of tonight! Tonight, they are in Six Man action against Imperium. But speaking of, here they come! Kevin knew that’d happen. Gunther leads Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci to the ring, and they flank Kevin & Sami on three sides. But here comes THE BRO! Matt Riddle slides in to join KO & Sami, and Imperium backs off! Kevin mockingly asks what’s wrong, it’s 3v3.
But wait! Imperium rushes back in! The brawl is on! Fans fire up as KO tosses Vinci and Sami tosses Ludwig! Gunther knocks Riddle down but Riddle comes back with a FINAL FLASH! KO & Sami double clothesline Gunther against ropes, then all three dump Gunther out! Fans fire up but Der Ring General is furious! Will Riddle be just the thing Kevin & Sami need to stop Imperium?
Byron Saxton waits on a medical update for Cody Rhodes.
It isn’t clear if Cody will even be able to make it to Night of Champions now, and Byron flags down Adam Pearce as he exits the medical room. Any updates? No, Cody is still being evaluated, so if you’ll excuse him. Byron asks Pearce about a rumor that Cody may have a broken arm. Pearce says he has no information at this time, thank you. Pearce leaves, but did Lesnar make sure he doesn’t have to worry about the American Nightmare?
Ricochet VS Bronson Reed!
The One and Only missed out on becoming #1 contender to Gunther’s title, but so did The Colossal Aussie. The chase is always on, so who will be in pole position for after Night of Champions?
Raw returns and Reed makes his entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. Ricochet throws kicks but Reed brushes them off. Ricochet slips away before he’s cornered, and then fires more kicks and hands. Reed blocks a kick to shove Ricochet down! Ricochet goes to a corner, Reed runs in but Ricochet dodges to fire off body shots. Reed shoves him again but Ricochet rebounds to dropkick the legs out! Ricochet keeps moving, but Reed scoops him! And throws him! But Ricochet lands on his feet to kick at the leg! Ricochet runs to dropkick the leg again! Ricochet tries a third time but Reed catches him!
Reed brings Ricochet up but Ricochet PELES! Fans fire up as Reed drops to a knee! Ricochet fires off on Reed with big hands and body shots. Reed shoves to BODY CHECK and ELBOW DROP! And then STEAMROLL SENTON! Ricochet sputters and crawls to the corner. Reed storms over after him and Ricochet bails out. Reed goes to the apron, to FLYING SHOULDER! Ricochet is sent into barriers and Reed says this is HIS show, as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Reed is holding Ricochet up in a suplex! How long has he been doing that? Ricochet throws knees, but Reed keeps him up! Ricochet slips out the back, goes to a corner, Reed runs in but into BOOTS! Ricochet runs, but into a SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Ricochet survives and goes back to the apron. Reed storms over, drags Ricochet up but Ricochet HOTSHOTS him! Ricochet hurries back up but Reed is on him. Ricochet HOTSHOTS again! Fans rally with Ricochet, he goes up the corner, but Reed runs in. Ricochet jumps over, keeps moving, and dropkicks the legs out!
Fans fire up, Ricochet fires off hands but Reed shoves him away. Ricochet comes back with a KNEE! Reed stays up so Ricochet SUPERKICKS! Reed is still up, and he grits his teeth! But Ricochet SUPERKICKS! And SHOOTING STARS! Cover, ONE?!? Ricochet hurries to LIONSAULT! Ricochet goes back to Reed, but Reed grabs him by the neck! Reed rises, Ricochet fights the grip. Ricochet throws kicks on the bad leg, then throws big forearms! Reed SWATS the next kick! Ricochet crawls to ropes, Reed clotheslines him up and out! Fans fire up and Reed goes back to the apron. FLYING- V-TRIGGER!!
Ricochet takes Reed out of the air and fans fire up again! Ricochet hurries to put Reed in the ring. Ricochet then GAMANGIRIS! “This is Awesome!” as Ricochet springboards, but Reed trips him up! Ricochet is in the corner, Reed SPLASHES, then POWERSLAMS! Fans boo as Reed puts Ricochet in a drop zone and climbs the corner. TSUNAMI!! Cover, Reed wins!
Winner: Bronson Reed, by pinfall
Battle tested and destructive, #Auszilla crushes Ricochet in the end! Will Reed be ready for whoever comes back from Night of Champions as Intercontinental Champion?
Backstage interview with Apollo Crews.
Apollo says long time no see, Cathy Kelley. But before we get going, Apollo hopes Cody is okay, that was rough. That aside, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t excited to be back! But in walk Dominik Mysterio & Rhea Ripley. Dom has things hold on. What is Cathy doing? This is Mami’s interview time. Sorry about the confusion, but Rhea’s interview was for after Apollo Crews. Apollo who? Crews. Don’t act like you don’t know who he is. Apollo’s everything that Dom is not. Whatever, man. But Apollo’s time is over, Rhea’s a very busy woman and she has something to say. Rhea thanks “Dom-Dom,” then takes the mic.
Rhea tells Natalya, “You’ve had a very legendary career here in the WWE, but you decided to get in my way. So this Saturday afternoon at Night of Champions, I’m gonna make an example out of you. I’m gonna make you not only regret getting drafted to Raw, but I’m gonna end your legendary career.” Apollo speaks up. No disrespect, Rhea, as you are a champion, but this was his interview. Dom tells Apollo not to interrupt Mami! Well he just did. Question is, what’s Dom gonna do about it? What’s Dom gonna do about it? Rhea says Dom’s gonna remind Apollo just who runs Monday Night Raw! Right, Dom-Dom? Dom says yeah!
Apollo grins and says okay. Can’t wait to see Dom try. Apollo’s return match is set, will he remind everyone just who he is?
Corey Graves’ interview with Seth Rollins continues.
We left off last week with The Visionary saying now is the perfect time for a new World Heavyweight Champion, “and we can do it the way it’s supposed to be done.” Then what are Rollins’ thoughts on Roman Reigns and his Universal Championship reign? Rollins takes off the sunglasses to be serious. “I… love Roman Reigns. But I don’t like Roman Reigns. That’s brothers, right? I will always have love for that man. When everybody in the world had made us their enemies, Roman was there for me. But the person he has become… and the champion he has become… I’ve got no respect for that.”
Rollins thinks Roman let his own ego poison him. And the biggest thing is that unified title. He is taking opportunities away from everybody else, and that is the most selfish someone can be. Rollins wants to be World Heavyweight Champion so that we can all forget about Roman Reigns. Then what does Monday Night Raw look like if Rollins is champion? And how will it be different from what we’ve come to know with Roman on top? Rollins says, “It can be the Land of Opportunity, it can be the catalyst for change, it can push the industry forward.
“Because I’m gonna be around, and I want challengers. I wanna know who wants my spot, and I want them to come try and take it from me. Somebody’s gotta carry the torch when I’m gone. When Roman’s gone. Who’s that going to be? I wanna know. That’s what I want.” But that means getting through the Phenomenal AJ Styles. They’ve competed before but these are the highest stakes. Rollins says Styles is unquestionably one of the greats. Graves opened this with saying Rollins is one of the greats, but Styles might argue that, and Rollins might argue that for him. Styles is truly special.
Rollins says that he and Styles have done this dance before. April of 2006, NWA No Limits Wrestling. And in 2016, Styles remembers back to that and thinking, “Holy cow!” After that match in question, Styles himself said Rollins is “The future of our business,” and Rollins was only 19! Styles knew Rollins was going to be a superstar, and he was right. Night of Champions won’t be any different. Rollins is at the top of his game, no one can touch him, and not to jinx it but he’s feeling invincible.
Graves points out Rollins has held ever title on the main roster, he’s in another historic title match, the resumé speaks for itself. Why is Night of Champions different? Why is the World Heavyweight Championship so special to Rollins? Because “this is it.” What does Rollins mean by that? The final part of this interview is still to come later tonight.
Raw shares footage from Raw Talk.
The Judgment Day interrupted Shinsuke Nakamura’s interview time (seems to be their thing), and Priest said that “this fool lost” and cost Priest his shot at the world title. Nakamura asked if was Priest gonna cry about it. Y’know, like he did after losing to Bad Bunny. Priest got mad, Finn kept him back. Finn says the Judgment Day just beat the Undisputed Tag Team Champions in the main event. Dom & Rhea were waiting, tranquilo, have tequila, they can deal with “the clown” next week.
Backstage interview with The Judgment Day.
Byron finds Finn & Priest and he asks them for a moment. Priest says Byron should know Finn’s getting ready for his match. Priest gets heated again and rants in Spanish but Finn has him calm down. Finn wants Byron to first congratulate them on their big win over the tag team champions. Byron does congratulate them, and then Finn brushes that off. Tonight, Finn faces Nakamura. Nakamura cost Priest an opportunity at the World Heavyweight Championship. And not only that, he rubs salt in the wounds by disrespecting him! If you disrespect one member of the Judgment Day, you disrespect ALL of them! For that, Nakamura will pay.
Finn vows tonight, he’ll mop the floor with Nakamura, and maybe just a little bit will be left over for Priest to pick the bones. Byron thanks them for their time, will the Prince be able to bring down the King of Strong Style?
Candice LeRae VS Zoey Stark!
The Poison Pixie stood up for Nikki Cross, but now she’s in the crosshairs of The Hunter! Will Candice simply be prey for Stark? Or will Stark be taught a little something about respect?
Raw returns and Stark has a video message first. “They say greatness comes from humble beginnings. From working day in and day out, and giving it your all, and being the least important person inside of a room. That is, until one day, you change it. Until one day, you become undisputable.” That is Zoey Stark. She is “clear, calculated, and vicious. You’re not going to like me. I’m going to take all of your favorite superstars, all of your idols, I am going to tear them apart. I am going to expose all of their weaknesses. The time of heroes is over. The Zoey Stark Era begins.” Stark then makes her entrance, will she back up those words with actions?
The bell rings and Stark RAMS Candice to a corner! Stark RAMS into Candice again and again, stomps away, but lets off at the ref’s count. Stark drags Candice up, whips her corner to corner then UPPERCUTS! And GAMANGIRIS! Stark brings Candice around, to HALF ‘N’ HALF SUPLEX! Candice is dazed and fans fire up with Stark. Stark runs to SLIDING KNEE! Cover, TWO! Stark rains down forearms on Candice, roars, and she clamps onto Candice with a chinlock. Candice endures, moves around, and fans rally up. But wait! Nikki Cross is here! Nikki cheers on Candice and the fans rally with her.
Stark shakes her head, but Candice fights up. Candice JAWBREAKERS free, then goes to a corner. Stark runs in but Candice BOOTS her away! Then DROPKICKS her away! Nikki gets fans to cheer for “CNADICE! CANDICE!” Candice back body blocks, snapmares and step-up SENTONS! Stark goes to the apron, Candice DROPKICKS her to the floor! Candice then goes out, and SPRINGBOARD CROSSBODIES! Fans fire up with Candice and she puts Stark in. But then Nikki wants to celebrate with her? Too soon, Nikki! And Stark CLOBBERS them both! Stark puts Candice in, scoops her, Z 360! Cover, Stark wins!
Winner: Zoey Stark, by pinfall
Crazy Cross costs Candice, and Stark comes away with a big win. Will Stark continue to tear through Raw until she’s heading for a title?
Backstage interview with Mustafa Ali.
Byron is with The Beacon at gorilla and brings up Ali’s feelings as he prepares for the biggest match of his career. Because Saturday, Night of Champions, for the Intercontinental Championship, it’s Ali VS Gunther. Ali seems speechless. He apologizes, he can’t do this. He knows Byron and the people are expecting a quote about positivity, but listen. This is just way too real for him now. He has been dreaming about this since he was a kid. “Dreaming about doing something great, dreaming about becoming a champion.
“But if you look back at my career, I haven’t even come close to that. It’s been failure after failure after failure, and no one believes that I can defeat Gunther and become the Intercontinental-” Whoa, wait, Brock Lesnar just walked past… The Beast tells Ali to get a life, and then goes through the curtain. Ali sighs and leaves, will The Beacon stand a chance against Der Ring General?
As for Brock, he’s going to the ring! Beating up on Cody Rhodes wasn’t enough, it seems, and Brock gets a mic. Fans chant for “CODY! CODY!” but Brock says, “So, Hershey, whaddya wanna talk about?” Fans boo his copying of Cody’s opening line, but Brock says he’d boo Cody, too. “Unfortunately, Cody will not be out here tonight. Cody will not be fighting Brock Lesnar at Night of Champions this Saturday, either. But don’t you worry, Brock Lesnar will not let you down. I’m gonna issue an Open Challenge for anybody back there to fight me at Night of Champions. All you gotta do is step out here, and step up to Brock… Lesnar!”
Brock waits, and eventually, it’s CODY!! Even with an arm in a sling, Cody is storming out to the ring! Refs and Pearce tell him to stop but he isn’t listening! Fans fire up for Cody as he gets closer, and even Lesnar is thinking he shouldn’t. But Cody still goes up the steps, and steps inside the ring! Cody takes off the sling! And the wrap, and the ice pack! Lesnar takes off his cowboy hat, drops it, and he RAMS into Cody! Cody CLUBS away with the good arm, but Lesnar gets the bad arm in the KIMURA!! Pearce shouts for Lesnar to let it go, but Lesnar shouts, “You wanna fight me? C’mon, Cody, fight me! FIGHT ME!”
Cody still endures, and then the arm POPS!! Lesnar lets go and Cody writhes like he did earlier tonight. Lesnar grins and fans boo, and then Lesnar stands on the broken arm! And he STOMPS it!! Lesnar picks up his hat, takes his leave, and Pearce calls for medics. If Cody wasn’t making it to Night of Champions before, he sure isn’t making it now. Right…?
The Alpha Academy w/ Maxxine Dupri VS The Viking Raiders!
Chad Gable and Otis are still a duo, but Maxxine is still trying to make Gable the third wheel. Will this business partnership be able to survive the raid? Or will they suffer Ragnarök?
The teams sort out and Gable starts with Erik. They circle, feel things out, and Gable shoots to a waistlock. Erik wrenches, wristlocks, but Gable rolls, bridges, handsprings and spins through to headlock, spin and drop toehold! But Erik stays up! Even Maxxine is worried as Erik drags Gable up. Erik hammerlocks but Gable reaches back to flying-mare Erik away! Gable goes up, “A THANK YEW~” and then headscissors! Fans echo, “A THANK YEW~!” and Erik runs in, but Gable arm-drags! Gable armlocks, wrenches, and reaches out. But Erik keeps Gable away from Otis, to CLOBBER Gable!
Erik tags Ivar, the Vikings mug Gable against ropes! Sarah Logan likes what she sees and Ivar beats his chest. Ivar then stomps Gable, brings him up, and fans chant for Otis. Ivar CHOPS Gable down, drops an ax handle, and drags Gable up. Tag back to Erik and Erik runs in, to SPLASH Gable! Feed to a LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Erik looms over Gable, drags him up and DECKS him! Gable crawls to the corner, fans still want Otis, but Erik bumps Gable off buckles. Erik RAMS into Gable, tags Ivar, and Ivar runs in to RAM Gable! Cover, TWO! Ivar clamps on a cobra clutch and he thrashes Gable around!
Fans rally, Gable fights up, but Ivar knees him low! Ivar whips Gable at the corner but Gable uses that to BLAST Erik! Gable CHOPS Ivar, ELBOWS Erik, leaps, but Ivar cathces him! Gable sunset flips, then lets go to go for his corner! Ivar keeps him back again, whips him in, but Gable goes up and over! Hot tag to Otis! Otis rallies on Ivar with big clotheslines! Erik gets in, Otis dodges to WRECKER ELBOW! Otis scoops Ivar to SLAM him! Maxxine cheers as Otis SPLASHES Erik! Erik falls, and fans fire up! Gable says to do it, and Otis tears off the shirt! Otis starts up the CATERPILLAR! ELBOW!!
Maxxine cheers and Otis runs in at Ivar, but Ivar dodges the splash! Gable tags in as Otis staggers, and Gable waistlocks Ivar! Erik saves Ivar from the suplex and tags in. Erik KNEES Gable down! Maxxine gets at Logan and Ivar is distracted. Logan scares Maxxine off, but Erik drags Gable up! But Gable BOOTS Ivar down! And O’CONNER BRIDGE! ALPHA ACADEMY WINS!
Winners: The Alpha Academy, by pinfall
Maxxine celebrates with her number one guy and Gable! “A THANK YEW~!” Will this huge win lead the Academy back to the gold?
Byron is backstage, hoping for another medical update.
Adam Pearce is back, he says not now, and he argues with Cody in the room. Cody tells them all to go away! Cody slams the door shut, is he going to go to Night of Champions no matter what the doctors say?
Indus Sher speaks.
Jinder Mahal says, “Last week was the first day of the end for many superstars. Veer and Sanga are forces of nature. Thunder is crashing, lightning is clashing, the storm is here. So what happens next on Monday Night Raw?”
Shinsuke Nakamura VS Finn Balor w/ Damian Priest!
The King of Strong Style and the Prince of Judgment Day are no strangers to each other, so this is just a new chapter in a storied rival. Will Nakamura continue to establish himself on Raw? Or will this be his punishment for poking fun?
Raw returns and Finn makes his entrance, Priest by his side. The bell rings, Nakamura and Finn circle. They tie up, Finn gest around to a waistlock and he SLAMS Nakamura down. Finn floats to a facelock, then floats around to a chinlock. Nakamura slips out, hammerlocks, and the two stand. Finn snapmares, headlocks, but Nakamura slips out to hammerlock again. Finn stands, reaches back, drop toeholds and has Nakamura down for a chinlock. Nakamura fights up, Finn gets an arm and wrenches to a double wristlock. Nakamura endures, reaches for ropes, but Finn keeps him away.
Fans rally for Nakamura and he rolls, kips up and spins to cartwheel and wrench back! Nakamura hammerlocks, but Finn spins around to hammerlock, headlock and hit the takeover. Nakamura headscissors, Finn kips free, but roles reverse as Nakamura gets the headlock takeover. Finn tries for the headscissors but Nakamura shrugs it off. So Finn pulls hair instead! The ref reprimands, but Finn gets the headscissors, and he stomps away on Nakamura at the same time! Fans boo as Finn lets off and stomps Nakamura on the back. Finn has Nakamura in a corner, he CHOPS, and CHOPS! Priest likes it as Finn whips corner to corner.
Finn runs in but Nakamura KNEES him in the gut! Finn sputters, Nakamura gives him stomps in the corner. And then some GOOD VIBRATIONS! Fans fire up but Finn pushes Nakamura back. Nakamura ENZIGURIS in return! Nakamura puts Finn on the top rope, for the TOP SHELF KNEE! Finn falls to the apron, Nakamura runs and baseball slides him to the floor! Fans fire up and Nakamura goes out to fetch Finn. Nakamura puts Finn in, but Finn hurries to kick him back! Finn argues with the ref, but Nakamura throws forearms! Nakamura suplexes Finn but Finn fights it!
Finn throws body shots, but then staggers back. It’s all a distraction so Priest can YANK Nakamura down, and CLOBBER him! Fans boo but the Judgment Day has control as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Finn has Nakamura down with a chinlock. Fans rally and Nakamura fights up. Nakamura fires off body shots but Finn knees him down! Finn talks trash and stomps Nakamura, but Nakamura growls. Nakamura blocks a stomp, stands up and Finn wants him to hold on. Nakamura CLUBS the leg! And ROCKS Finn with a forearm! Nakamura scoops but Finn slips to a dragon sleeper! But Nakamura drops to KICK Finn away! Finn staggers to a corner, Nakamura runs in but blocks boots. He puts Finn in the ropes, ROUNDHOUSES and SLIDING GERMANS! Fans fire up and Nakamura tells Priest, “C’MON!!”
Priest runs in, Nakamura dodges and then taunts him. Priest chases after Nakamura, Nakamura slides into the ring and dodges Finn. Nakamura scoops, Finn slips out again, and Finn ducks a roundhouse! But not the WHEEL KICK! Cover, TWO! Priest is worried, Nakamura drags Finn up to suplex and GOURD BUSTER! Then KNEES to the head and shoulders! Nakamura drags Finn up, turns him around, clinches, but Finn fights the lift! Finn throws down elbows, staggers, but Nakamura reels Finn in by the purple rag in his pocket! But Finn wheelbarrows to a victory roll, TWO! SLINGBLADE!
Fans fire up while Finn takes aim from the corner. Nakamura rises, Finn runs in, SHOT- DYNAMIC DROPKICK! Fans fire up with Nakamura now and he goes to a corner. “YAO~!” Finn rises, Nakamura runs in, but into a STANDING DOUBLE STOMP!! Finn puts Nakamura in a drop zone, hurries up a corner, and COUP DE- NO, Nakamura moves! BLINDSIDE KNEE!! Both men are down and Priest is freaking out, but the fans rally up. Nakamura goes to a corner, Finn rises again, and Nakamura powers back up! Finn goes to ropes, Priest drags him out to safety!
Fans boo and the ref reprimands, but Nakamura goes to the apron. FLYING KNEE takes out Priest! And then Nakamura fires off kicks and fast hands! And some knees! Nakamura clotheslines Priest up and over barriers! But Finn SHOTGUNS Nakamura into those barriers! Finn puts Nakamura in, goes up top again, COUP DE GRACE!!! Cover, Finn wins!
Winner: Finn Balor, by pinfall
The King of Strong Style was strong, but Priest was a big part of the Prince’s victory. Will this momentum help The Judgment Day truly take over Monday nights?
Raquel Rodriguez VS Sonya Deville w/ Chelsea Green!
Big Mami Cool took care of the Hot Mess last week, but now she has to take on the Pride Fighter. Will Raquel be rolling into next week’s WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship Fatal 4 Way? Or will the Complaint Department actually have something to be happy about?
Raw returns and Sonya makes her entrance, Chelsea by her side. The bell rings and Raquel circles with Sonya. But then Chelsea throws her sunglasses into the ring. Raquel is annoyed, and she STOMPS the glasses apart! But Sonya CHOP BLOCKS Raquel down! Sonya CLUBS away on Raquel, fans boo, but Sonya lets off to taunt Raquel. Sonya then runs to KNEE Raquel down! Cover, TWO! Sonya argues the count, but she runs in to forearm Raquel in the corner! Sonya pushes Raquel down, goes up and FLYING KNEES! Direct hit! Cover, TWO! Chelsea complains about the count but the ref says it was fair.
Sonya drags Raquel up by her hair, bumps her off buckles, and then Sonya fires off fast hands! The ref counts, Sonya lets off at 4, and Sonya soaks up the heat from the fans. Chelsea eggs the fans on even, and then Sonya goes back to Raquel. Sonya fires off more forearms, Raquel shoves her away and goes to another corner. Sonya taunts Raquel, but Raquel BOOTS her down! Raquel goes up, TWISTING VADER! Raquel hoists Sonya up, TEXANA BOMB!! Cover, Raquel wins!
Winner: Raquel Rodriguez, by pinfall
But Chelsea BOOTS Raquel in the head! Chelsea rains down fists and fans boo, but Chelsea sets Raquel up for a KNEE from Sonya! Wait, here comes SHOTZI! The Wild Child is here to ROUNDHOUSE Chelsea, dodges Sonya, and Raquel BOOTS Sonya down! The Ballsy Badasses reunite! They coordinate, Raquel goes up the ropes to hold them open, so Shotzi can DIVE! Down goes the Complaint Department! Shotzi may not be Liv Morgan, but will she get just as wild in the chase for the tag titles?
A ref talks with Adam Pearce.
He explains that they’ve tried talking to Cody but Cody is very angry. Cody is shutting everyone out of his locker room, but he is hurting badly. Pearce thanks the ref for this, and then Trish Stratus walks in. She says she’s been really busy, thriving and all, but she is ready for the contract signing. He thanks her, and she’s glad he “gets it.” Anyway, speaking of the contract signing, Becky is a little… Uh, feisty, fiery. Y’know how gingers can be. But then maybe they should have a No Contact policy for tonight. Keep the professional environment, the sets are expensive and all that. So maybe Pearce will consider that?
Pearce says there’s a lot going on tonight, in case Trish hasn’t noticed. Frankly, he isn’t sure there’s a need for a No Contact clause. So thank you, Trish, but it’s not happening. Pearce heads out, the contract signing is up next! Will The Man get her hands on Trish even before Night of Champions?
Matt Riddle speaks.
“The greatest mistake you can make in life is fearing that you’ll make one.” The Bro has faced champions, monsters, men bigger than him, and faster than him. “But what’s the point of being afraid? You learn your own strength by challenging the impossible. By laughing in the face of adversity. This is my time. If you doubt me, bro, that’s a mistake you can’t afford to make.” Riddle is standing beside Kevin & Sami once again, will they be triumphant against Imperium?
Becky Lynch heads to the ring!
Fans fire up as Hershey enters the Big Time! Corey Graves is in the ring already to preside over this contract signing between The Man and the Chick. Becky grabs a mic and says, “The Man has come around to Hershey!” She takes a seat and says there’s business to take care of, so Trish needs to get her ass out here to handle this. Becky already signs her part of the contract and kicks up her high heel boots onto the table. Trish makes her entrance and fans boo as she joins the others in the ring. Trish takes her seat and grabs her mic to say, “Look at you, you little keener. You jumped right into it. Great, so eager.”
Trish says it’s funny. Becky wasn’t that eager to come back to Raw after Trish kicked her head off, huh? Trish has to say, this is kind of a big moment. This is her first contract signing! It’s a big deal. She wants to enjoy this, especially since The GOAT has come around to… Wait, where are we? Hershey? Like the chocolate? Trish says Becky’s being all cool and casual, kicking back with her weird hand sunglasses on. Because contract signings aren’t a big deal to Becky, right? She’s had so many of them. And do you know why Becky’s had so many of them? Because of Trish. Because of the work Trish did.
Because Trish single-handedly changed women’s wrestling where Becky could get down doing her Irish jigs in some dump of a restaurant and come back. Contract signings were just normal a part of the women’s wrestling landscape for Becky, because of Trish. Becky doesn’t respond, and Trish says Becky claims Trish is only back because she wants to be number one again. “Honey, I am number one, I am still number one, and I will always be number one. In fact, I was number one the minute I walked into the WWE, and it didn’t take a broken nose for me to get there.” Becky smirks and sighs, but Trish continues.
“You say you’re ‘It?’ Well what happens when I beat you at Night of Champions? I guess that makes me ‘it.’ And what will happen to you? Will you crawl back into a dark, deep place and have to go through your stuff again?” Becky, Trish has you figured out. Trish sees your weak spots. Becky’s biggest problem is Becky! Becky is Becky’s worst enemy! When Becky said she wanted to find a name and a face for the “badness” in her head, it had a name all along, staring back at you in the mirror. So Trish will sign the contract, the fans don’t have to tell her what to do. But isn’t it ironic? This is Trish’s first signing, and it’ll be Becky’s last!
Trish signs her part, Graves takes the contract, and Becky takes off the sunglasses and picks the mic back up. Fans rally behind Becky and she says, “You’re scared, aren’t you, Trish? I saw that little thing with you and Adam Pearce in the back. You’re scared that I’m gonna hurt you. Don’t worry, Trish, I’m not gonna hurt you. I want you at the full of your health at Night of Champions. But you’re scared of something bigger, aren’t you? That’s what all of this is about. You’re scared that history is forgetting you. Time is passing all of us by, everyone is getting better, but you just stayed the same.
“And what’s more, and this is a problem for you, is that they remember you as being better than you are. But I, I’m even better than you think that I am. So you don’t need to worry about why I was gone, you just need to worry that I’m back.” Fans cheer that! Becky says if Trish wants her flowers, flowers, flowers, that’s all this is about! We’re all past that but okay, here it is to your face: Thank you, Trish. Thank you for being everything Becky hopes she never becomes. Because Trish is vapid, Becky is passion. Trish is trashy, Becky is soul, heart and fashion. Trish is cold, Becky is hot. Becky is it, Trish is NOT! Nice rhyme.
Becky says that Trish can stab people in the back and all, but Becky will punch you in the face every single time. And that’s why she can look at herself in the mirror, know she’s not perfect unlike how Trish thinks she is, and know that Becky can carry on regardless. And that is why, even with the badness in her head, Becky’s had a career Trish can only dream of. Trish has done things that would give Becky nightmares. “And if you think barking like a dog is embarrassing… Just wait until I whoop your ass at Night of Champions! Welcome to the big time, b*tch, WOOF WOOF!” Trish tosses the table, but Becky blocks it!
Fans fire up as Trish storms off in a huff. Becky glares at Trish and Trish tries to smile it off. But will Trish have only herself to blame for getting in this deep with The Man?
Adam Pearce is on the phone.
He tells the other person that they have all the same info he does. Yes, it’s bad. Cody’s arm is “mangled,” but Cody won’t reason with anyone or listen. He gets rid of medical personnel the second they try, so that’s why Pearce is calling. Pearce is at a loss for what to do. He nods and agrees with this other person, but just what is the solution to Cody’s stubbornness?
Backstage interview with Raquel & Shotzi.
Byron asks for a word with this new alliance. He has to know, what was Shotzi’s motivation for coming to Raquel’s rescue? Shotzi says everyone has to know how much respect she has for Raquel. And Raquel, Shotzi wants you to know that she has your back whenever you need it. Raquel says she has Shotzi’s. Seems she found her new tag partner! And next week, they walk out the NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions! Shotzi’s fired up, will the Ballsy Badasses be golden badasses?
Apollo Crews VS Dominik Mysterio w/ Rhea Ripley!
Apollo went back to NXT in search of things he never had before. Instead, he perhaps found what he needed all along. Apollo is back thanks to the WWE Draft, will he make this run an even better one? Or will the Prodigal Son ruin things out of his own selfishness?
Raw returns and Apollo makes his entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. Apollo and Dom tie up, Apollo wrenches and headlocks, but Dom powers out. Apollo runs Dom over, gives a little Latino Heat, then things speed up. Apollo slides under Dom, waistlocks, but Dom bucks the O’Conner. Dom runs in, Apollo hurdles and drops, then CLOBBERS Dom! Fans rally, Apollo suplexes Dom and holds him up! Fans fire up and Apollo waits until TEN to SLAM Dom! Dom goes to a corner, he BOOTS Apollo, then runs in, but into a trophy lift! Apollo carries Dom around, Rhea freaks out, and Apollo SLAMS Dom down again! Cover, TWO!
Dom wants mercy but Apollo says really? Dom gets to his feet, offers a handshake, but Apollo says no, this is a match. Dom kicks low, whips, but apollo reverses. Apollo runs in, Dom puts him on the apron. Apollo ROCKS Dom, Apollo climbs, but Dom trips Apollo up! Apollo lands hard on the mat and Dom stomps away! The ref counts, Dom lets off to give some Latino Heat of his own. Fans boo but Dom says Judgment Day runs Monday nights! Dom brings Apollo up, snap suplexes, Uno Amigo! Fans boo but Dom then shoves Apollo down to deny the rest of teh Amigos. Cover, ONE! Dom wraps on a chinlock.
Apollo endures, fans rally, Dom tells them to shut up and Rhea says to choke Apollo out. Apollo fights up, throws body shots, and Fans chant “We Want Mami!” Dom KNEES low, CLUBS Apollo, then whips. Apollo reverses but Dom ducks ‘n ‘dodges, but leaps onto a FALL AWAY SLAM! Dom flounders and Rhea worries. Dom goes to a corner, Rhea coaches him up, but apollo SPLASHES him! Apollo snapmares Dom, goes up, and FLYING BLOCKBUSTERS! Dom staggers, Apollo goes up the other corner! CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Dom is still in this and Rhea is relieved, but Apollo reels him in!
Dom slips out of the back suplex and he dropkicks Apollo onto ropes! Dom dials it up but Apollo ducks the 619! Apollo drags Dom out to CLOBBER him! Apollo roars and fans fire up! But then Rhea stands in Apollo’s way. Fans fire up, but Dom goes looking under the ring. Apollo jukes Rhea, but Dom YANKS him into steel steps! Dom gets back in the ring, distracts the ref, and Rhea POSTS Apollo! The Judgment Day helps each other out as always, and the ring count starts. Rhea counts along to mock Apollo, Dom relaxes in a corner, and we’re past 5 of 10! Apollo drags himself to the desk at 8, but shoots in at 9!!
Fans fire up, but Dom FROG SPLASHES all the way there!! Cover, Dom wins!
Winner: Dominik Mysterio, by pinfall
The one impressive thing about this win was that long distance splash! But Mami has to help Dommy again, will Dom ever get things down on his own?
Raw shares the rest of the Seth Rollins interview.
Rollins is a WWE Grand Slam Champion, but why is the World Heavyweight Championship match at Night of Champions different? Why is this so special? Rollins brings it back to where they started this interview: “It is time for change.” Because Rollins has always felt like he was never pegged to be “The Guy,” it made him work harder to take that spot. This is his first love. Since he was four years old, as long as he can remember, pro-wrestling has been everything he’s ever dreamed of. It has given him a life beyond his wildest dreams. He just wants to see it “be the best it can be.”
The World Heavyweight Championship IS that thing. This is the moment to do something special. Rollins is putting all his chips in, all in on the World Heavyweight title. he’ll give it everything he’s got. He wants to create something legendary, something that’ll live forever. He is Seth Rollins, the change we’ve been waiting for. He wants to be someone the future can look to and see as the guy to carry things forward. The Visionary, the Revolutionary, Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins is ready, but will he make his dreams come true by becoming THE World Heavyweight Champion?
BREAKING NEWS for next week’s Raw!
Money in the Bank is on the horizon, but qualifying matches are set to begin! Who will earn their golden tickets to the first ever MITB in London and those high stakes ladder matches?
Six Man Tag: Imperium VS Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle!
The Intercontinental Champion did not appreciate the “disrespect” shown to his soldiers, Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci, but the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions told him it was the other way around. But either way, the battlelines have been drawn! Will Der Ring General make Monday Night Raw sacred? Or will the Prizefighter, Great Liberator, and Original Bro bring Imperium down this close to Night of Champions?
Raw returns and Riddle makes his entrance, followed by Kevin, and then by Sami. The teams sort out and Ludwig starts against Sami. They tie up, go around, and Sami wrenches to a wristlock. Ludwig powers Sami to a corner, the ref counts, and Ludwig throws body shots and stomps! The ref counts, Ludwig throws down fists but lets off at 4. Ludwig drags Sami up but Sami turns things around to CHOP and CHOP and ROCK and wrench! Sami brings Ludwig around, tags Riddle, and Riddle KICKS Ludwig. Riddle whips, Ludwig holds ropes and UPPERCUTS! Tag to Vinci and he BOOTS Riddle down!
Vinci bumps Riddle off buckles, CLUBS him in the chest, UPPERCUTS him, and UPPERCUTS him, and then argues with the ref. Vinci whips corner to corner, but Riddle goes up and over. Riddle KICKS Vinci down! Riddle gut wrenches Vinci up to SUPLEX! Vinci gets away to his corner, and Gunther tags in! Fans fire up as Gunther stares down with Riddle. They circle, Riddle shoots in but Gunther holds off the takedown. Gunther puts Riddle in a corner, the ref counts, and Gunther swings! Riddle avoids the chop to KICK and KICK and KICK! Gunther blocks a kick to KICK Riddle’s leg out!
Gunther hauls Riddle up to CHOP him back down! Gunther frowns and Riddle sputters while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Riddle reaches out for his corner, but Ludwig keeps him back. Riddle ROCKS Ludwig, and ROCKS him, but Ludwig still holds on! Ludwig pulls hair, whips Riddle away, and tilt-o-whirl SLAMS Riddle down! Cover, TWO! Ludwig taunts Sami, bumps Riddle off buckles, and then tags Gunther in. Gunther CLUBS Riddle down, taunts Sami and Kevin, then BOOTS Kevin! The ref keeps Sami back and Gunther goes to Riddle. FINAL FLASH KNEE from Riddle! Both men are down, fans fire up, and they crawl, but Ludwig just rushes in! Riddle TOSSES him back out!
Gunther grabs Riddle’s leg to keep him from Sami, but Riddle BOOTS him away! But then Ludwig trips Sami off the apron! Gunther BOOTS and LARIATS Riddle! Cover, TWO!! Riddle survives the double whammy, but Gunther deadlifts him! Riddle fights the German Suplex, to switch and GERMAN SUPLEX in return! Fans fire up, both men crawl, hot tags to Vinci and Kevin! Kevin fires off on Vinci with fast hands! And stomps against the ropes! The ref counts, Kevin lets off and fans fire up! Kevin whips, Vinci KICKS, but Kevin LARIATS! And SENTONS! Kevin waistlocks to GERMAN SUPLEX Vinci to a corner!
Fans fire up again, “SUCK IT!” Kevin CANNONBALLS Vinci! Cover, TWO! Vinci is still in this but Kevin drags him to a drop zone. Kevin goes up the corner and fans rally up. But Ludwig rushes in! Kevin ROCKS Ludwig, kicks him and reels him in, but Vinci DROPKICKS Kevin! Ludwig tags in, Imperium HIGH LOWS Kevin on the apron! Kevin falls, Imperium is back in control, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns once again and Kevin is up top! FROG SPLASH onto Vinci! Fans fire up but Kevin bounces off the cover! He and Vinci crawl for their corners, hot tags to Sami and Ludwig! Sami rallies on Ludwig with big lariats! Sami whips, back drops Ludwig, and then runs to BLAST Gunther! Ludwig UPPERCUTS Sami, whips, but Sami goes up and over! Sami scoops to MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Sami hurries up, he aims at Ludwig, and he goes corner to corner, but Ludwig BOOTS back! Gunther sneaks a tag before Sami TOSSES Ludwig out! Gunther CHOPS Sami! Gunther talks trash, then CHOPS Sami again!
Sami grits his teeth as Gunther talks even more trash. Gunther has Sami by the throat, Sami breaks free, and then Sami dodges the clothesline to get around! BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, Vinci breaks it! Riddle gets in to kick but Vinci ducks. Vinci shoves Riddle, Riddle BOOTS him back! Riddle goes up, but Vinci trips him up! But Kevin is there, STUNNER!! Ludwig whips Kevin out of the ring, talks trash, but Sami clotheslines Ludwig out! Fans fire up, Sami runs at Gunther, but into a SLEEPER!! Gunther wraps Sami up, has a rear mount even, but Riddle is back up! FLAOTING BRO onto Gunther’s back!!
Gunther lets Sami go and flounders away. Tag back to Vinci, he runs in but Sami catches him, EXPLODER into the buckles! Fans fire up and Sami goes corner to corner again, but Gunther anchors Sami! Kevin SUPERKCIKS! Riddle FINAL FLASH KNEES! Riddle then TOSSES Gunther over the announce desk! Fans fire up, Ludwig runs at Sami but Sami TOSSES him out! Vinci runs in to clothesline! But Sami just follows through to HELLUVA KICK!! Tag to Kevin, he’s up top, SWANTON BOMB!! Cover, Team KO wins!
Winners: Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Matt Riddle, by pinfall
Imperium falls to the bros! Will Gunther be able to regroup and be ready for Mustafa Ali at Night of Champions? As for the Undisputed Tag Team Champions, they are rolling into their final war with The Bloodline! Sami dares Roman to try his best, but on Saturday, the tag titles stay with them! Will the Sami & Kevin #JustKeepFighting until the end?
Someone knocks on Cody Rhodes’ door.
He says he doesn’t need any help, but in walks TRIPLE H! HHH says he just wants to talk. They sit down, and HHH says Cody is a heck of a talent. And he understands Cody has that fire burning inside him. Cody says he knows what HHH is trying to do, Cody has respect for it. HHH knows Cody knows, but this is the position we’re in. HHH says Cody needs medical attention but Cody says he doesn’t. Cody told everyone already. HHH can tell just looking at the arm that it is broken. And HHH can see the look on Cody’s face that Cody knows it, too.
HHH says no one is questioning how tough Cody is, and HHH knows Cody is afraid that- Afraid? Afraid?! What does Cody have to be afraid of? HHH says Cody is afraid that if a doctor comes in here, looks at the arm, says it’s broken, that HHH won’t let him go to Night of Champions to face Lesnar. Oh, over this? An arm? HHH used to do the same thing Cody did. Cody’s legs are just fine, he can walk to the ring! HHH says Cody has nothing to prove! This isn’t about toughness! HHH saw Cody go to the ring at Hell in a Cell with a torn pec! Never seen anything like it! No one questions for a second Cody’s toughness.
But this is different. Think about that year Cody spent on the shelf after that match. A year of his career, a year of his life. Cody tries to say he understands, and that year was terrible. But what is far worse is what would happen if Cody was a coward! If he came back a shell of himself and didn’t go to NOC to fight! And again, of all people, HHH… what would you do? What has HHH done? HHH has fought! That’s what Cody is going to do. Cody is going to NOC to fight Brock Lesnar. Cody does his best to pack his things with one arm, and HHH sits down again. HHH pats Cody on the shoulder, and leaves. Is that HHH’s way of giving Cody permission? Or his way of wishing Cody luck?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw, even for a go-home, but thankfully not with the Go Home Syndrome recapathon. Though in all honestly, the rest of Seth Rollins’ interview promo wasn’t quite as shocking or controversial as they were making it feel. Of course he doesn’t approve of what Roman’s been up to, we heard him say that before. It’s just more of Rollins (and perhaps HHH through him) criticizing the booking of Roman Reigns (by Vince McMahon up until last year). And in the end, it still feels very clear, all but inevitable, that Rollins is going to win the World Heavyweight Championship to solidify his spot at the top.
Great bookending of the show with Cody Rhodes, too. Cody getting ambushed and brutalized by Brock Lesnar right at the start was a wild way to kick things off. I did not think it’d escalate like it did, but perhaps I should’ve expected it to go that way. HHH talking with Cody at the end was a great surprise, given how Cody was referencing HHH so much over in AEW. But their conversation, while not really well recorded, was a logical one. Cody fought with a torn pec, he’ll fight with a busted arm, but it almost feels like too much for Cody to win this time. Sure, Cody swept Seth Rollins in their feud, but Cody’s gonna start entering “Cena Wins LOL” territory at this rate.
Great bit with Mustafa Ali where he brings back his genuine self rather than more “Positive Ali,” but also wow, Lesnar just insulting him for being there. A little surprised Ali didn’t get any further involved with Imperium tonight, but Imperium ended up losing in a great Six Man Tag main event against Kevin, Sami & Riddle anyway. Riddle and Gunther feels like the next title feud after Night of Champions, as also implied by that battle royal and how Riddle taunted Imperium. Riddle got a good video package to show his more serious side, and obviously Riddle VS Gunther is going to be awesome stuff, no matter who wins. But after that Six Man Tag, I really wanna see Gunther VS Kevin and Gunther VS Sami in 1v1 matches just for the hell of it.
A little disappointed in Stark VS Candice, but only because of how short it was. Nikki shows up, and almost immediately costs Candice the match. Why does it feel like none of Candice’s matches on Raw have been even allowed to live up to her NXT stuff? Raquel VS Sonya was also pretty quick, and a little surprised Raquel won rather than be cheated by Sonya & Chelsea. But of course this was to introduce Shotzi back into the tag title scene. But the way Byron worded it, “new alliance,” they’re trying to retcon things like Shotzi & Raquel weren’t a team months ago on SmackDown and that annoys me. But even so, it still feels like Ronda & Shayna are going to win the tag titles.
Really good match from Alpha Academy VS Viking Raiders, but it feels like they’re taking a bit too long on the story of Otis/Otise. Where’s the promo where Mace & Mansoor confronting Maxxine? It’s almost like Maxxine is joining the Alpha Academy rather than getting Otis to join MMM. Good promo from Jinder for Indus Sher, and I’m hoping that one, they decide to go after the other factions here on Raw, like Imperium and Judgment Day, and two, get entrance graphics that better fit them. Really good contract signing segment from Becky and Trish, but those golden hand glasses were really odd. But with Becky standing tall in the contract signing, I wonder if Trish cheats to win and this feud extends through the Summer.
And great stuff from Judgment Day. Good promo from Apollo, Dom and Rhea, with Rhea having a good though perhaps redundant promo aimed at Natalya. Dom VS Apollo was a very good match, but of course Rhea helps Dom. I feel like while Kofi Kingston still recovers, Xavier Woods should make an alliance with Apollo so at least someone can have a fair match with Dom. Then good promo from Raw Talk and then tonight as part of Finn VS Nakamura. Great match from Finn VS Nakamura, but of course Priest is the reason Finn wins. Throw Nakamura into the mix with Apollo and Woods and that’s quite the unique trio to take on Judgment Day.
My Score: 8.5/10
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El Phantasmo defeated cancer, and he won the NJPW World Television Championship! But will this feel good story take a Tour of the Island?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Katsuya Murashima VS Masatora Yasuda; Murashima wins.
- Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Daiki Nagai; Tanahashi wins.
- Six Man Tag: Shota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi & Master Wato VS The United Empire; Shota, Taguchi & Wato win.
- Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi VS Togi Makabe & Tomoaki Honma; Naito & Hiromu win.
- Taichi & Taka Michinoku VS SANADA & Clark Connors; Sanada & Connors win, by disqualification.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; Bullet Club wins.
- 10 Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & El Desperado VS TMDK; Goto, Hashi, Yoh, Ishii & Desperado win.
- NJPW World Television Championship: El Phantasmo VS Jeff Cobb; ELP wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
10 Man Tag: Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & El Desperado VS TMDK!
We saw The Fierce Warrior and Front Man lead teams before in a Six Man Tag, but now we raise the bar! Will Chaos plus Despy defeat The Mighty? Or will Zack Sabre Jr, Ryohei Oiwa, Robbie Eagles, Kosei Fujita & Hartley Jackson prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The teams sort out, and we get tense stare downs. ZSJ and Goto, Oiwa and Hashi, Fujita and Despy, Eagles and Yoh, Hartley and Ishii. The ref tells everyone to settle down, and eventually it’s Despy and Fujita starting off. The bell rings and the fans rally. Chants “FU-JI-TA!” and “DE-SU-PEY!” are fairly even, and the two circle. They feel things out, Fujita goes for a leg but Despy facelocks to counter. Fujita spins to use his leg guard but Despy gets around to go for the headlock again. Fujita waistlocks, Despy wrenches an arm, but Fujita slips away. The fans cheer as the two reset. They circle, tie up, and Despy wrenches an arm.
Fujita fires elbows, wrenches back, but Despy slips around to wrench and hammerlock. Fujita wrenches out to hammerlock in return, and they switch the hammerlock onto each other again and again. Despy wrangles Fujita with a top wristlock and grinds him down. Fujita fights up, Despy cording holds, but Fujita whips him, to then wrench and wrangle in return! Fujita STOMPS Despy’s arm and the fans cheer. Despy storms up on Fujita, then CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS, but Despy doesn’t flinch! The CHOPS go back and forth, faster and faster, and the fans fire up as they just keep going! Despy starts to feel that stinging, but then he YANKS Fujita’s arm!
Despy drags Fujita up, CHOPS him again, then brings him over to the corner. Tag to Yoh, but Fujita fires forearms on Despy! Yoh CLUBS Fujita, Despy stomps Fujita down, then Yoh stomps Fujita. Yoh drags Fujita up, kicks him low, then fires a forearm. Eagles sneaks a tag and Fujita whips Yoh away! Trip, KICK, SENTON, and basement DROPKICK! Fujita then BLASTS the Chaos corner! Eagles drags Yoh by a leg, steps through, but Yoh fights his way to a ROPEBREAK! Eagles drags Yoh back, Yoh scrambles to another ROPEBREAK! Eagles drags Yoh back again, but Yoh scrambles to yet another ROPEBREAK!
The ref counts, Eagles finally lets go, and he follows Yoh to the center. Eagles CHOPS Yoh to a corner, then runs in, only for Yoh to put him on the apron! Eagles ROCKS Yoh first, then springboards, but Yoh dodges! Yoh then drop toeholds Eagles, and basement DROPKICKS him! The fans cheer while Eagles scrambles away. Eagles tags Oiwa, so Yoh tags Hashi. Mighty Mullet and Headhunter RAM, and RAM, and then Oiwa runs, but Hashi dodges to BLOCKBUSTER! Goto & Ishii BLAST ZSJ & Hartley! Then Bishamon whips Oiwa to a corner! Goto LARIATS, then feeds Oiwa to DOUBLE SHOULDERS from Hashi & Ishii!
Goto sits Oiwa up for a CHAOS TRIPLE KICK! Cover, TWO! Hashi brings Oiwa up, but Oiwa CHOPS! Oiwa fires a forearm, Hashi CHOPS, and the fans fire up! Hashi brings Oiwa up but Oiwa CHOPS! Hashi CHOPS, Oiwa CHOPS, repeat! The fans fire up as the CHOPS go back and forth! Oiwa runs, but into a CHOP! And then DOUBLE CHOP! Hashi runs, but Oiwa RUNS Hashi over! The fans fire up and Oiwa tags in #BigJag! Hartley CHOPS Hashi! And then he suplexes Hashi high and hard! Then BIG ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives but Hartley BLASTS the Chaos corner! Then Hartley plays defense while TMDK swarms Hashi!
ZSJ and Oiwa have Hashi’s arms, Fujita & Eagles have Hashi’s legs! Then they rotate! And rotate! And rotate again! The ref reprimands and counts them all, and all five TMDK members put their hands up, even though Hartley wasn’t doing anything. But then Hartley SENTONS onto Hashi! The fans cheer, Hartley covers, but Yoh & Despy break it! TMDK throws Yoh & Despy back out, then Hartley tags ZSJ. The fans cheer as ZSJ brings Hashi up in a cravat. Hashi endures the neck wrench, throws body shots, then a CHOP! ZSJ eggs Hashi on, then blocks a chop to JAB low! ZSJ facelocks Hashi, but Hashi powers out with a suplex!
The fans fire up while both men are down! Hashi and ZSJ crawl, hot tag to Goto! The Fierce Warrior runs ZSJ over, intercepts Goto, and snap suplexes him onto ZSJ! Goto then BLASTS Hartley & Fujita! Goto brings ZSJ up, fires forearms, then whips him to a corner. ZSJ reverses, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! ZSJ keeps moving but Goto LARIATS ZSJ in the corner! The fans fire up with Goto, but ZSJ stops the hip toss to THROW Goto down! And NECK TWIST! ZSJ then runs to PENALTY- NO, Goto blocks the kick! Goto ROCKS ZSJ, but ZSJ fires up! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, but Goto fires up!
Goto fires a forearm, ZSJ UPPERCUTS, repeat! The forearms fly, Goto ROCKS ZSJ again and again! But ZSJ UPPERCUTS right back! ZSJ runs, but Goto follows, only for ZSJ to wrangle him! FUJIWARA ARMBAR! TMDK BLASTS the Chaos corner! Goto endures, ZSJ shifts, DISARMER! Goto still endures, so ZSJ shifts to trap that arm and grab the other! CLARKY CAT! Goto endures, reaches out, but ZSJ pulls that arm way back! Goto still kicks his way to the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer and ZSJ lets go in frustration. ZSJ drags Goto up, reels him in, ZACK- NO, Goto slips out, but ZSJ elbows him away.
ZSJ runs up but Goto dodges to schoolboy with some stank on it! Cover, TWO! ZSJ escapes, but Goto fireman’s carries! Goto feints Ushigoroshi to have the dragon sleeper! G T- NO, ZSJ drops down to victory roll and EURO CLUTCH!! TWO!! Goto escapes but ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Goto rises to LARIAT!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! ZSj and Goto crawl, hot tags to Hartley and Ishii! The big meaty men DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT! Ishii ducks a lariat to LARIAT back! Hartley DROPKICKS Ishii!! Hartley SPLASHES in the corner, then short arm LARIATS! Cover, TWO!
Hartley reels Ishii in but Despy LOCO MONOS! Fujita runs up, Despy dodges, but then Fujita dodges Despy! Despy blocks a kick, knees low, then sends Fujita at the corner. Eagles puts Fujita on the apron, BOOTS Despy, then Fujita MISSILE DORPKICKS Despy! Fujita runs, into Yoh’s SUPERKICK! Eagles SOBATS and ASAI- NO, Yoh slips free! But Eagles avoids the elbow to ROUNDHOUSE, SUPERKICK and PELE! But Yoh says I’LL BE BACK, SUPERKICK!! Yoh aims, but Hartley stops the plancha! Yoh elbows free, but Hartley CROSSBODIES! The fans fire up as Hartley now has Ishii! Fireman’s carry, but Ishii fights free!
Ishii waistlocks, but Hartley is too big to German Suplex! Hartley elbows free, then sends Ishii to Oiwa. Ishii ROCKS Oiwa first! Then Ishii dodges to send Hartley into Oiwa! The fans fire up as Ishii feeds Hartley to Hashi’s SUPERKICK! Then Ishii GERMAN SUPLEXES Hartley!! The fans are thunderous, and Hashi dodges Oiwa to feed him to Ishii’s forearm! Hashi mule kicks, then he and Ishii whip Oiwa, but Oiwa DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans are thunderous as now Oiwa hauls Ishii up, THE- NO, Ishii swats the Grip, dodges again, but Oiwa DROPKICKS Ishii down! Oiwa hauls Ishii up, for the DAIGO SHIKI SAIDO!
Oiwa sets Ishii up for Hartley, BIG JAG DEATH VALLEY!! Cover, TWO!! Ishii survives and the fans are thunderous again! Hartley hauls Ishii up, reels him in, BIG JAG BOMB!! Cover, GOTO BREAKS IT! ZSJ UPPERCUTS Goto, UPPERCUTS again, and again! ZSJ whips, Goto reverses, USHIGOROSHI! Hartley is up, he DOUBLE LARIATS with Goto! Goto HEADBUTTS Hartley, Ishii HEADBUTTS Hartley, then Ishii LARIATS Hartley down! High stack, TWO!! Hartley survives but Ishii hauls him up. No way! Ishii suplexes Hartley!? BRAINBUSTER!!! Cover, CHAOS WINS!
Winners: Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi, Tomohiro Ishii, Yoh & El Desperado, by pinfall
That was definitely a mighty battle, and while The Mighty Don’t Kneel, Hartley sure fell hard! Eagles still goes after Yoh on the outside, their IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship battle still to come. The Young Lions separate them, but will Yoh & Rocky Romero revise who is on top? And what about Fujita and El Desperado? They battle tomorrow for THE IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, will the Rogue Luchador still be the Best of the Super Juniors?
NJPW World Television Championship: El Phantasmo VS Jeff Cobb!
The Headbanga fought cancer, and won. He fought three opponents in one match, and won! But now, he and the Imperial Unit are going to go 1v1, can ELP still win? Or will his “season” be over already?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see who’s the real main character of NJPW World!
The bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans rally up as Cobb and ELP step up. ELP and Cobb shake hands and the fans cheer. The two tie up, Cobb headlocks, but ELP powers up and out, only for Cobb to run him over! Cobb runs but ELP stays low, then ELP DROPKICKS Cobb! Cobb staggers to a corner while ELP kips up. The fans cheer and ELP goes to Cobb, but Cobb POUNCES him away! Cobb throws hands to put ELP in a corner, then he RAMS into him! Cobb then TOSSES ELP across the ring! Jado coaches ELP up and ELP stands. Cobb runs in, ELP goes up and over, then dodges to springboard, but Cobb catches him!
Cobb pops ELP up into a suplex, then THROWS him away! Cobb flexes and the fans cheer, but Jado still coaches ELP. Cobb drags ELP up, HEADBUTTS him to the corner, then whips corner to corner. ELP goes up and over, then spins to CHOP! ELP knuckle locks Cobb, CHOPS again, then goes up, up, jumps around, and FLYING- NO! Cobb stops the rana to then bring ELP up. ELP fires hands, and he manages to RANA Cobb out of the ring! ELP skins the cat, the fans cheer, and ELP builds speed. ELP DIVES, and he sends Cobb into railing! The fans cheer and ELP DUMPS Cobb into the front row! The fans step aside while ELP brings Cobb back up.
ELP ROCKS Cobb, Cobb ends up taking a seat, so ELP goes up the corner! The fans fire up already as ELP spells it out! “E! L! P!” SUPER ARIHARA MOONSAULT but no Cobb!? Cobb let the Young Lions take that hit for him! ELP crawls and Cobb drags him up from the chairs. Cobb brings ELP around to and tosses him to the orange seats! Cobb stalks ELP up the bleachers, brings him up, and he suplexes!? The fans freak out, but then Cobb carries ELP as he marches up the steps! The fans cheer, but ELP manages to slip free! ELP shoves Cobb into the side of the stairwell! ELP then uses Cobb as a step to get onto the ledge!
The fans freak out already as ELP takes aim, “E! L! P!” SUPER CROSSBODY! Direct hit and the fans fire up! Both men are down and Red Shoes wants them to get to the ring. However, the time hits five minutes, this is already working in ELP’s favor. ELP and Cobb stand, and ELP fires a forearm! Cobb staggers away, ELP follows, and ELP CHOPS! Cobb staggers away again, and ELP struts over to CHOP again! Cobb stumbles down the stairs, ELP pursues, and we return to the ground floor. ELP uses a fan’s ELP towel to blind Cobb, and ELP CHOPS him! ELP gives the towel a kiss before giving it back to the fan.
But Cobb fires body shots! Cobb POSTS ELP, then brings him around to APRON BACK SUPLEX! ELP writhes but Cobb slips into the ring. Cobb storms over, drags ELP up from the apron, and Jado already doesn’t like where this is going. Cobb deadlifts ELP for the stalling- NO, ELP slips free again! And he gets under, to carry Cobb out for a POWERBOMB! The fans fire up and ELP high stacks, TWO! Cobb survives that but the fans rally for ELP. Time is still ticking away, but ELP tunes up the band! ELP aims as Cobb rises up, SUDDEN- NO, Cobb blocks the kick and reels ELP in! FALL AWAY SLAM!
ELP flounders to a corner and Cobb flounders to the other. Both men drag themselves up, and Cobb runs in, LEAPING BACK ELBOW! Cobb huffs ‘n’ puffs but he clearly has a bloody nose. Cobb wipes the blood away, but ELP kicks from below! Cobb grabs the legs and he YANKS ELP right up into an ATHLETIC PLEX! Cover, TWO! ELP stays in this and the fans cheer. Cobb hauls ELP back up, whips him to ropes, but ELP grabs ropes to stop! ELP BOOTS back, runs up, but Cobb catches him! ELP BELL CLAPS free, then ROCKS Cobb! Cobb DOUBLE CHOPS, ELP mule kicks, front KICKS, then ENZIGIRIS!
The fans fire up and ELP throws off the elbow pads! ELP winds up and LARIATS! LARIAT! And LARIAT! ELP runs, but Cobb dodges to come back and LARIAT! Cobb hits so hard, he tumbles to the apron! ELP sputters while Cobb rises up. The fans rally for ELP, but Cobb climbs the ropes!? “JEFF! COB-BU!” THUNDER FLOP!! ELP rolls Cobb up, TWO! Cobb is still in this but ELP steps over, LA MAGIST- NO, Cobb smothers it to a cover, TWO!! ELP escapes, then hooks Cobb, but Cobb fights the backslide! Cobb switches the hooks to FLIP ELP! Cobb HEADBUTTS ELP, ELP staggers and rebounds, and Cobb SUPERKICKS!
ELP leans against ropes, Cobb reels him in, TOUR OF THE- CRUCIFIX TAKEDOWN! TWO!! Cobb escapes again! SUDDEN DEATH!! ELP covers, ONE?!? Cobb survives so ELP tunes up again! Cobb staggers up, into SUDDEN DEATH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Cobb survives again and ELP is stunned! Jado and the fans continue to rally for ELP and ELP vows to finish this! Three minute warning as ELP hooks Cobb up, but Cobb wrenches free! TOUR OF- DDT!! ELP hits a shocking counter, then goes to the apron! ELP climbs up, Cobb rises, CROSSBODY! Then he goes up the ropes again, THUNDERKISS 86!! Cover, ELP WINS!!
Winner: Jeff Cobb, by pinfall (still NJPW World Television Champion)
Cobb put a powerful fight worthy of a former champion like him. But in the end, he couldn’t “cancel” the Headbanga Show. ELP shows Cobb respect by helping him stand, but Cobb doesn’t want it! Cobb snatches the title, so that he can give it to ELP himself. Cobb shows ELP respect in return, but will Cobb be moving on to another title scene?
As for ELP, after catching his breath a bit, he grabs the mic to tell Korakuen Hall, “Daisuki desu! <I really like you~!>” The fans cheer that! ELP grabs a second mic so “Papa Jado” can also speak. Is he feeling good? Jado says yeah, he’s feeling good! ELP asks Korakuen if they feel good, and the fans cheer that they do. “Sugoi. <Amazing.>” ELP apologizes, he knows little Japanese. But ELP knows Jado knows a lot of Japanese! Maybe Jado can translate? Jado says yeah, it’s all good! The fans applaud, and ELP says it has been a long time since he was in the main event of NJPW! And yes, Jado translates.
The fans cheer, and ELP says he won’t use this time to put himself over. Jado hesitates, he isn’t sure how “put myself over” would translate… Jado just goes with, “Good luck with that.” ELP says he doesn’t want fans to cheer him, he wants fans to cheer for all the guys in the back who drove the bus for 9.5 HOURS to get here from Morioka. Jado translates that, and the fans do cheer. ELP wants fans to cheer for the cameramen who film this all day, while ELP only has to wrestle 15 minutes. The fans cheer already, and Jado still isn’t sure how to translate. ELP simplifies it to: I love the cameramen who work so hard. Jado can do that.
ELP wants cheers for Milano Collection AT and Hiroshi Tanahashi on commentary. They do way more work than him, so cheer them. The fans do cheer, but Jado’s translation is more about teasing Milano & Tanahashi than praising. ELP also points to the timekeeper, and English commentary’s Walker Stewart, who is doing this for like, the 12 English speaking fans who watch this live! The fans do cheer, and ELP says F Clark Connors, the guest commentator. ELP thanks the referees and office staff who help set up the ring and tear it down every show, and Jado translates. ELP says there are a lot of people who deserve more love than him.
So for everyone who isn’t a wrestler, but who makes NJPW run on a daily basis, make some noise! The fans cheer, and ELP says hold on, this is for the Osaka fans. ELP isn’t on the New Beginning show, but he will do an autograph signing there because of all the love they showed when he had his little cancer thing back then. “Osaka, see you soon.” The fans cheer, and ELP tells Korakuen, “I am the Headbanga! I am the NJPW World TV Champion! And I am… E! L! P!” The fans join in on that! Will The Headbanga Show continue to be the people’s show?
My Thoughts:
A great continuation of Road to New Beginning, though about as much filler as before, too. I do appreciate that Tanahashi is doing this series of “Final Road Connection” matches. With these Young Lions still in that phase of their career, Tanahashi will never get to wrestle them when they’re established stars, so this is nice of him as a veteran, an icon, a legend, to be giving back and paying it forward. Good stuff in the other matches, too, and Sanada finding another way to get Taichi disqualified is actually hilarious. Sanada is really leaning into being a sneaky, underhanded Heel, I feel like his blowoff with Taichi should be No Disqualifications just so he can’t frame Taichi.
The 10 Man Tag was good stuff, and with TMDK having won last time in the main event, it made sense for Goto’s team to win this time. It was also mostly to build momentum for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match tomorrow, and the tag title match for New Beginning in Osaka. Desperado VS Fujita is going to be great, but I don’t know if Fujita & Eagles really become a Junior Heavyweight Two Man Power Trip. The NJPW World TV Championship was a great main event, and that was a great win for ELP. ELP also gave a great promo where he showed love and appreciation for all the NJPW non-wrestler and production staff. Naturally he has a new lease on life, he’s learning to be grateful for everything, so this was a great way to show that.
My Score: 8.7/10
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Turning the corner on the Road to WrestleMania!
Charlotte Flair and Jey Uso are headed to WrestleMania 41, but will they choose the champions they’re after tonight on Raw? Or will they wait it out?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser; Penta wins.
- The New Day VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee; The New Day wins.
- Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Liv Morgan VS Iyo Sky; Liv wins, by disqualification, and advances to Elimination Chamber.
- Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: CM Punk VS Sami Zayn; Punk wins and advances to Elimination Chamber.
PLAY BY PLAY
Jey Uso is here!
And the winner of the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble is in the pavilion as he asks the production truck to hit his music! Uh, YEET! Cleveland is all fired up as Jey makes his way out through the crowd, and it’s time to YEET in The Land! Jey high-fives as he makes it to ground level, then high-fives with Pat McAfee and Michael Cole before going to the ring. The fans continue to bounce as Jey stands on the corner, then he goes to the other corner! Jey then grabs a mic, but the fans still wanna “YEET!” The fans now chant, “One More Time! One More Time!” Jey says sure why not! Jey gets on the corner and everyone YEETS again!
Jey goes back to the mic, and the fans chant, “You Deserve It!” Jey soaks it all in, then takes a breath before taking off the sunglasses. The fans then chant for “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jey goes to speak, but the positive energy is overwhelming. Cleveland continues to “YEET!” and Jey says, “Thank you guys for that. To be honest, I don’t even know what to say.” The fans say “YEET!” and Jey says besides that. Jey wants to rap at ya. Jey came in the game, like almost 15 years ago. Nah, he tried to make a good living with his twin brother to become pro-wrestlers. As far as carrying their family legacy, they did that, and that was cool.
Fast forward, pandemic, Jey goes with his family, The Bloodline. That was fire. They did cool chapters in his career. Jey was so scared, not confident in himself, to try and do this as a singles star. He didn’t have it, bruh. He didn’t. But coming out here tonight, Jey’s got it now! The fans cheer that! They again chant, “You Deserve It!” and Jey takes a breath. Jey says he worked, and worked, really hard, just to get to this spot. He worked hard to get in this position. But look. Jey’s got it. Jey has it because of every single fan. From his heart, from his family, thank you everyone! Every week with him! Jey gets teared up and the fans cheer more.
Jey says because of the fans, he is the 2025 Royal Rumble winner! EY EY! YEET!! And now, bruh, Jey is going to WrestleMania, the main event, and it’s just him, Uce! But wait! Gunther is here! Der Ring General, the World Heavyweight Champion, makes his way to the ring to stand across from Jey, a very familiar sight. The fans boo and Jey is frustrated, but Gunther tells Jey he’d offer congratulations here. But for what? In reality, Gunther is disappointed. Because honestly, this possible match up here, it doesn’t appeal to Gunther. Let’s be honest, Jey! Jey can’t even lace Gunther’s boots!
Gunther is the World Heavyweight Champion, he learned box office, and he learned how to make the fans all believe he’s barely holding on, when in reality, he is always in control! And y’know what? This time, Gunther refuses to do this with Jey again. Gunther asks if Jey even knows what it means to hold this world title. It means Gunther is in the process of building a legacy for himself. And quite honestly, beating Jey at Mania doesn’t add a thing to his legacy. Now, Jey, don’t give him that look. See Gunther’s expectations. Beating Roman, Cena, CM Punk, that would’ve added something to Gunther’s legacy.
So Jey, the situation here is clear. Jey has everything to gain and Gunther has everything to lose. So if Jey chooses Gunther, that forces Gunther into a position where he has to give himself something to gain. Gunther wants Jey to understand: If Jey chooses Gunther, every week is going to be Hell, With WrestleMania being the most horrible display of violence this business has ever seen! Gunther will hurt Jey. Gunther will put Jey down like a diseased dog! The fans boo, but Gunther says the good thing is, Jey has options. Gunther’s advice is to consider them. Gunther goes to leave but Jey says hold up, hold up.
Is Gunther not tired yet? Jey is. Cleveland, are you tired? YEET! Everyone telling Jey what he can and can’t be. YEET! Tag team guy. YEET! Not supposed to be in the main event. YEET! Not supposed to win the Royal Rumble! YEET! But Gunther, Jey is going to Friday Night SmackDown, holla at Cody, but he promises this: Whoever Jey chooses, he walks into WrestleMania as the 2025 Royal Rumble winner, and he guarantees us he walks out as Main Event Jey Uso, and as a champion! YEET! Jey hits the mic drop, but then who will he choose to main event with in Las Vegas?
WWE shares John Cena’s words from the Royal Rumble Post-Show.
John Cena announces now that he will compete in the Elimination Chamber. Because after 23 years of loyal service, that opportunity is earned. he is going in to win, and he is going to main event his final WrestleMania and win that 17th championship. Not for him, but to someday shake the hand of the person who wins 18. That is one spot already filled, who will win their way into the other five?
PENTA VS Ludwig Kaiser!
The Man with No Fear made the Impeccable German the man with a lot of embarrassment after only lasting six seconds in the Royal Rumble. Kaiser might hate Penta more than he does Sheamus now, but will he get his Royal Rumble revenge? Or will Kaiser learn how dangerous #CeroMiedo really is?
The bell rings, the two circle, and they tie up. Kaiser CLAWS Penta’s eyes through the mask, puts him in the corner, then UPPERCUTS him down! Kaiser stomps away on Penta, but the ref counts. Kaiser backs off, but then stands Penta up to whip. Penta KICKS Kaiser in return, then ducks ‘n’ dodges! Tilt-o-whirl RANA and Kaiser tumbles to a corner. The fans cheer, Penta runs up, GAMANGIRI! Penta sits Kaiser down, headstands, but Kaiser gets up to GAMANGIRI in return! Penta falls in a heap but Kaiser kicks him around. Kaiser shouts, “You wanna embarrass me?!” Kaiser pushes Penta around, then SPITS on him!
Kaiser stands Penta up to whip, but Penta reverses, and it’s a replay from the Rumble! The fans fire up and Kaiser is furious! Kaiser storms back up, but Penta blocks a shot to SOBAT! Penta then triangle jumps, but Kaiser UPPERCUTS first! Kaiser drags Penta up, fireman’s carries, and APRON KAISER ROLL! Penta falls to the floor, Kaiser dares Penta to embarrass him now, but Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Penta CHOPS Kaiser! And CHOPS again! Penta whips, Kaiser reverses, but Penta ducks ‘n’ dodges to tilt-o-whirl, only for Kaiser to SLAM him down! Sliding LARIAT! Kaiser rains down forearms on the back of Penta’s head! The fans boo but Kaiser drags Penta to his feet, short arm LARIAT! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Penta, but Kaiser PENALTY KICKS! Penta stays up and the fans rally more. Penta eggs Kaiser on, so Kaiser KICKS! Kaiser mocks Cero Miedo, but Penta shakes his head. The fans boo Kaiser, Penta eggs Kaiser on! “Listen! CERO! MIEDO!” Kaiser runs, but Penta CHOPS him down!
Penta CHOPS again, and again, and again! Penta whips, kaiser reverses, but Penta goes up and over to BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Kaiser sputters his way to a corner, but Penta runs up to GAMANGIRI! Penta sits Kaiser down, handstands, and he hits the SWINGING DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Kaiser stays in this, Penta is a bit frustrated, and the forearms go back and forth. Then Penta CHOPS! Kaiser CHOPS! Penta CHOPS again! Kaiser CHOPS again! They go CHOP for CHOP, then Kaiser knees low. Kaiser CLUBS Penta on the neck, then brings him up to the ropes. But Penta DUMPS Kaiser to the floor!
Penta builds speed and he FLIES! Down goes Kaiser at the ramp and the fans fire up! Kaiser gets in the ring first, but Penta goes to the apron at 5 of 10. Penta climbs a corner, Kaiser turns around, into the CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Penta is frustrated again but Kaiser CHOPS! So Penta CHOPS! The CHOPS go back and forth again, then Kaiser CLUBS Penta! Penta SUPERKICKS, and SUPERKICKS, then whips! Penta drops down, then jumps up, but Kaiser has him! KAISER ROLL again! Cover, TWO! Kaiser is furious but the fans fire up! Kaiser paces around, storms up on Penta, clinch and SIDE- NO, Penta slips free!
Penta half nelsons, Kaiser has the ropes, and then Kaiser elbows Penta! Kaiser uses ropes to roll Penta, but Penta slips through to trap the arm! FOR THE SACRIFICE!! Kaiser clutches his arm, but Penta clinches! PENTA DRIVER!! Cover, Penta wins!
Winner: Penta, by pinfall
Another big win on Raw and the Penta Era is undefeated! Jackie Redmond interviews Penta in the ring, congratulating him on the win streak. Penta said this is his era, so what can the WWE expect next? Penta thanks Jackie, but then Pete Dunne interrupts! The fans boo as The Bruiserweight makes his way out, but then Kaiser attacks Penta from behind! The fans boo as Kaiser is a sore loser, just like Dunne! Kaiser clinches Penta for the SIDEWINDER! The ref reprimands but the damage has been done! Will Kaiser and Dunne actually become an alliance over their disdain for the new kid on the block?
Judgment Day talks backstage.
While none of them won the Rumble, Liv is excited to get in on the Elimination Chamber. But then Finn Balor barges in, and wants to get this right. He’s gone for two weeks, recovering from that brutal Street Fight, and everything just falls to pieces. Not only did Dominik steal Finn’s tag title rematch, Dom stole Finn’s partner, JD McDonagh. And in the process, Dom got JD hurt! In the future, if Dom wants to call the shots, maybe he needs a babysitter. Dom says, “Is that so?” and Finn says yes it is. Liv & Raquel step in, and Liv says that’s not true! Dom had to step in or another team was going to get the title match. And The War Raiders hurt JD, not Dom.
Liv knows things are looking grim, but after tonight, she’ll qualify to be in the Elimination Chamber, and Liv & Raquel are promised a tag team title match! All thanks to Daddy Dom. Wow, so Dom does all this for Liv and nothing for Finn? Liv says no, Dom got Finn a Chamber qualifier, too. That was Dom? Yeah, cuz they’re family. And they will listen to Finn from now on. But Liv has to get ready for her match with Iyo, so she’s gotta go. Liv nuzzles noses with Dom before heading out, Raquel at her side. Dom says he told you so. Carlito asks what Dom got him. Dom got Carlito the apples. Will Finn make the most of Dom’s gifted qualifier? Will Judgment Day still (not) be okay?
Charlotte Flair is here!
The Land cheers as The Queen, the 2025 Women’s Rumble winner, the first-ever TWO TIME Women’s Rumble winner, is here! But much like Jey, she has a choice to make. Will Charlotte choose the champion she’s after? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and Charlotte has a mic. “Hi, Cleveland.” The fans are a little torn now, but Charlotte says here’s the thing. A year and a half ago, the booing would’ve bothered her. But she actually missed the fans. No, really, it has been a year and two months. She missed the booing and the cheering. Last year sucked! Actually, up until last year, she really thought she was unbreakable, but last year broke her mentally and emotionally. There was even a point last year, she didn’t know if her knee was ever going to be better. She didn’t know if she’d make it to Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, or even WrestleMania! They just don’t get it!
The fans continue to be torn, and Charlotte says she’ll embrace the boos, because she still loves all the fans. And do they know why she still loves them all? Because whether they’re wooing or booing, love to hate her, hate to love her, it doesn’t change the fact that she is the GREATEST WWE Superstar in the history of this industry! So boo her now. Or is that not what they wanted? Did they not want her saying how hard last year was for her? Because it broke her, yet she still fought every single day to get back here. This is what she loves, this is her passion, this is what she wants to be the very best at!
So when she was able to walk that aisle again and punch her ticket to WrestleMania, she knew she was- RHEA RIPLEY is here! Charlotte smiles and the fans cheer as the Women’s World Champion makes her way out. Mami grabs a mic to then stand face to face with The Queen. Charlotte says she was trying to have a moment with Cleveland, but hello, Mami. Rhea says okay, but this is her show. And now we seem to have the possibility of these two once again. Rhea says when you go to war with someone, that is when you earn their respect the most. So Rhea does respect Charlotte.
So then please, please pick Rhea. Because the last time they faced off at WrestleMania, Rhea beat Charlotte. Charlotte says that is a good point, and makes no excuses, but there was the first time they fought, and Charlotte beat Rhea. The fans didn’t like that, huh? Rhea says it’s fine, because it’s true. But then, Charlotte might not understand. Back then, Rhea was just a kid. Charlotte is aware, but she came out here just to get things started. Rhea’s jumping the gun. Rhea wants an answer, but Charlotte has nothing but time. Charlotte is going to NXT tomorrow night to see if Giulia “inspires” her. Then she goes to SmackDown to see if Tiffany Stratton “inspires” her.
Because Charlotte needs, wants, to be inspired. But Rhea came out here, jumped the gun, got impatient. That showed Charlotte that Rhea is still just a kid. So on that note, see you next week. But then Rhea steps in Charlotte’s way. Charlotte saying Rhea is still a kid shows she doesn’t respect Rhea the way Rhea respects Charlotte. So please, pick Rhea, so that Rhea can beat that respect into her! The fans like the sound of that! Did the Queen’s gambit pay off? Or will she take a different course of action?
Backstage interview with Sami Zayn.
Jackie Redmond is now with the Underdog from the Underground, and notes that while the Rumble was rather rough with him being eliminated by good friend, Jey Uso, he does have an Elimination Chamber qualifier tonight against CM Punk. Hard to believe these two have never been 1v1 before, but how is he feeling about it? Sami says yeah, it was difficult. He really thought this was his year to win the Rumble, he had the most momentum he’s had, but it happens. And he can still punch his ticket to WrestleMania through the Elimination Chamber, but that means getting through CM Punk. That is the only thing on his mind.
Well, the other big question is Kevin Owens’ status. Has Sami had a chance to talk with Kevin since Saturday and that brutal ladder match? Sami sees someone else and apologizes to Jackie, he has to go talk to them. Sami walks over to Jey Uso! Jey tells Sami that he wasn’t aiming for him that night, but sorry for kicking him in the face. Sami says stop! They hug it out and Sami is so proud of Jey! Jey did it when no one else thought he could. This is Jey’s moment. So it doesn’t matter if it’s Gunther or Cody, this is Jey’s time, so go out there and do it! Jey thanks Sami for that, they do their handshake, and Jey wishes Sami luck against Punk.
They hug it out again, Jey heads out, but Karrion Kross steps in. That was a very touching moment. Kross wants to ask, though: What is it like to watch everyone else live out Sami’s dreams? Sami says maybe he wasn’t clear. He is getting real sick seeing Kross. If Kross keeps coming up, they’re gonna have a problem. What? No, Kross isn’t here to be a problem. But he could be, at any given time. Kross heads out, will Sami be able to watch his back while trying to move forward?
Rhea Ripley returns backstage.
But then, Mami crosses paths with Iyo Sky. The Evil Genius says maybe she sees Rhea at WrestleMania. Rhea says maybe. Rhea continues on, only for Liv to attack Iyo! Rhea runs back up to run Liv off, but then Raquel CLOBBERS Rhea! The Judgment Day laid the trap and it worked out! Liv mockingly says she’ll see Iyo later, but has she only added fuel to the fire?
The New Day VS Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee!
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods finally have a new theme song to go with their new bad attitudes, but they look to settle the score with the King of Lucha & The Boy Wonder! Will Kofi & Woods prove New Day doesn’t suck? Or will we be calling the 619 here in The Land?
Raw returns and the LWO makes their entrance. The teams sort out and Lee starts against Woods. They circle, tie up, and go around. Lee headlocks but Woods pulls on the mask! The ref reprimands, but Kofi tags in. Woods powers out, Kofi trips Lee, and Woods fist drops! Kofi slingshot stomps! Kofi whips Lee to a corner, then runs in, but Lee dodges! Kofi hits buckles, but he puts Lee on the apron! Lee RAMS, bumps and ROUNDHOUSES Kofi away! Lee goes up and CROSSBODIES! Lee builds speed, ducks ‘n’ dodges then RANAS Kofi! Kofi goes to a corner, Lee runs in, and he JUMP KICKS! Leg sweep! COMBINACION CABRON! Cover, TWO!
Lee keeps on Kofi and he tags in Rey. LWO double whips Kofi, mule kicks, front kicks, then dropkicks the legs! Rey basement DROPKICKS then covers, TWO! Rey brings Kofi up, but Kofi powers Rey to the corner! Tag to Woods, New Day mugs Rey! The fans boo but Woods kicks Rey down. Woods stands on Rey in the corner! The fans boo but Woods soaks up the heat. Woods hops down to “apologize,” then he whips corner to corner. Woods runs up, but into an ELBOW! Rey goes up to FLYING RANA! Woods flounders, Rey RAMS him into the corner, then Rey rains down fists! The fans count to nine, Lee tags in, and SUPERKICK for ten! Cover, TWO!
Woods stays in this but Lee stays on Woods. But then Woods FLAPJACKS Lee! Tag to Kofi and he KICKS Lee to a corner! Kofi fires off, then hoists Lee up top. Kofi ROCKS Lee, climbs up, and he rains down fists! The fans boo, but Kofi goes to the very top. But Lee slips down to trip Kofi up! Lee KICKS Kofi, then runs corner to corner, DROPKICK! Lee then goes out to the apron, but LOGAN PAUL is here? Well, okay, he is Cleveland’s own, but he also wants to mess with Rey, his future opponent for an Elimination Chamber spot. But this distraction lets Kofi sit up to THROW Lee down, and then Woods SHOVES Rey into barriers!
The fans boo while Logan grins and asks what happened. Logan laughs at Rey’s pain while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Woods has Lee down with a chinlock. Lee endures, fights up, and Logan watches from ringside as Lee fires body shots. Woods CLUBS Lee, shoves and mule kicks him, then tags Kofi. Woods whips Lee for Kofi to drop toehold! Woods goes out to trap Lee on the ropes, and Kofi APRON SENTONS! While Logan argues with a fan, Kofi puts Lee in the ring and goes up the corner, AX HANDLE! Cover, TWO! Lee toughs it out but Kofi rains down fists! Kofi and the ref argue, then Kofi puts Lee in the ropes. Kofi runs side to side to knee lift! Tag to Woods, and he goes up the ropes to GUILLOTINE DOUBLE STOMP!
Woods soaks up the heat, then struts around before he flexes. The fans boo but Woods drags Lee up. Lee breaks free to ROCK Woods! Woods ROCKS Lee! Woods whips Lee, Lee slips through the lariat to lift and SITOUT POWERBOMB! The fans fire up while both men are down! Lee and Woods crawl, reach out, hot tags to Kofi and Rey! The fans fire up as Rey rallies on Kofi with LARIAT after LARIAT! Rey whips, Kofi reverses, but Rey tilt-o-whirls to RANA! Kofi ends up in a corner, Rey ROCKS him with a forearm! Rey then whips corner to corner, runs up, but Kofi slips out to SWING KICK!
Kofi goes up, up and leaps, but Rey dodges! Rey RANAS Kofi onto ropes! The fans fire up and Rey dials in, but Woods gets Kofi outta there! The fans boo, but Rey SEATED SENTONS Kofi instead! Only for Logan to get up in Rey’s face. The fans boo, Logan pats Rey on the head, but Rey SHOVES Logan down! The fans fire up, Rey ROCKS and POSTS Kofi! Woods kicks, Rey blocks, and Rey SLINGS the leg into the POST! Then Lee gives Woods a FLYING RANA to the floor! Rey puts Kofi in, but Kofi distracts the ref for Logan to YANK Rey out! Logan TOSSES Rey back in, and Kofi hits TROUBLE IN PARADISE! Cover, New Day wins!
Winners: The New Day, by pinfall
When you’re on the same wavelength as Logan Paul, you know that’s a bad thing! But New Day doesn’t care, they still won. Will they use this to get back to the WWE World Tag Team Championships? Will Logan be smiling when he and Rey fight next week for a spot in the Elimination Chamber?
Medical update on Roman Reigns.
They explain that they can really only share what The Tribal Chief is willing to disclose. They therefore cannot share what injuries Roman sustained when Seth Rollins attacked him after they both lost the Royal Rumble match. However, it would seem Roman Reigns will be out for the “foreseeable future.” Is Roman going to miss out on his first WrestleMania in years?
Backstage interview with CM Punk.
Cathy Kelley is with the Second City Saint and brings up how he didn’t get the win he wanted in the Royal Rumble, either. The good news is, he can go on to Elimination Chamber, after a match with Sami Zayn. Punk says the real good news is that while he didn’t win the Rumble, neither did Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. But yes, his course of action is facing Sami in a qualifier. Apologies in advance for Sami’s fans, but it won’t be Sami winning tonight. Punk has goals he has set, he needs WrestleMania, and maybe he put too much pressure on himself before. But this time, the pressure will be on everyone else. Punk excuses himself to go get ready, will he have his WrestleMania moment after all?
Iyo Sky heads to gorilla.
She’s still sore and upset from Liv’s ambush earlier, but we can also see Pure Fusion Collective watching. If Liv doesn’t put Iyo down, will Sonya, Shayna & Stark finish the job?
Women’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez VS Iyo Sky!
Raw returns with Iyo already in the ring, trying to work out her left shoulder from Liv’s attack. And speaking of, Liv now makes her entrance, Raquel naturally by her side. The bell rings and Liv runs away from an angry Iyo! Iyo still grabs at Liv in the ropes, but Liv uses that to trip Iyo! Iyo still ROCKS Liv, bumps her off barriers, then THROWS her into more barriers! Iyo SMACKS Liv off the apron again and again, then shoves her in. Iyo hurries in now, blocks a kick, and CLUBS the leg! Iyo fires forearms, Liv shoves her away, but then Iyo FLAPJACKS Liv! Iyo runs to basement DROPKICK! Cover, ONE!
Iyo is annoyed, but she drags Liv up by her hair. Iyo whips Liv to a corner, runs in, but Liv STOMPS her down! Cover, TWO! Iyo stays in this but Raquel coaches Liv. Liv CLUBS away on Iyo, talks trash that she’s going to the Chamber, then Liv whips Iyo to a corner. Liv runs in for a back body block, then she SHINING WIZARDS! Snapmare, basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Iyo stays in this but Liv stays on her with a clinch. Iyo fires body shots, but Liv shoves her away. Iyo returns, Liv ROCKS Iyo! And KICKS Iyo! Liv runs, Iyo dodges, but Liv avoids the handspring, only for Iyo to SHOTGUN Liv down!
Iyo kips up, the fans fire up, but then Liv TOSSES Iyo out! The fans rally, Liv runs, but Iyo slides in and ROCKS Liv first! Iyo runs, but Liv follows, only for Iyo to SHOTEI! Liv falls out of the ring and the fans fire up! Iyo builds speed, then DIVES! Direct hit at the ramp and the fans fire up with Iyo while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Iyo snapmares Liv, but Liv gets up to BOOT Iyo down! Liv grins, then brings Iyo up to reel her in. Liv suplexes, then brings Iyo back up, that’s Una Amiga! Another suplex, Dos Amigas! Then THREE AMIGAS! Raquel cheers and Liv gives some Latina Heat. The fans boo but Liv runs, only for Iyo to duck the enzigiri! Iyo KNEES Liv down! The fans fire up while Liv sputters. Liv crawls away but Iyo roars as she rises up! The fans fire up with Iyo, and she SHOTEIS! SHOTEIS! And then DROPKICKS! Iyo hauls Liv up, whips her, but Liv reverses. Iyo slips out to the apron, blocks Liv’s punch and HOTSHOTS the arm!
Iyo climbs, the fans cheer, and Iyo MISSILE DROPKICKS Liv! The fans fire up with another kip up from Iyo! Iyo waits on Liv, then runs in, wheelbarrow and STOMP 182! Liv sputters, Iyo pushes her to a cover, TWO! Liv toughs it out and Iyo grows frustrated. Liv crawls to a corner, Iyo says all aboard! SHINKAN- NO, Liv dodges, then hits a BACKSTABBER! Iyo tumbles, Liv lines up a shot! But Iyo stops Oblivion to have the CROSSFACE! Liv fights free, but Iyo BUZZSAWS her down! Iyo steps on Liv as she goes to the corner. Iyo goes up, up, but Raquel is on the apron! The ref reprimands but Liv SHOVES Iyo down!
The fans boo but Liv RAMS Iyo, then runs up, SLINGSHOT SUNSET FLIP, but Iyo holds on! Iyo STOMPS Liv! Liv sputters, Iyo lines up a shot, but then Liv YANKS her down! Liv swings, Iyo dodges, and Iyo GERMAN SUPLEXES Liv to the floor! Liv is dazed, Iyo goes back to the ring, and then Iyo goes up, up, and ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit and the fans fire up again! Iyo drags Liv back into the ring, goes up the corner again, and Liv stands. Iyo MISSILE- CODE BREAKER!! Liv covers, TWO!!! Iyo survives and Cleveland is thunderous! Raquel is furious and Liv is despairing! Liv hurries to put Iyo in a corner, then runs up, but Iyo dodges!
“This is Awesome!” as Iyo has the waistlock. Liv elbows free, then goes up, but Iyo GAMANGIRIS! Iyo roars, climbs, and brings Liv up. SUPER STEINER Liv flounders to the far side, and Iyo runs in, SHINKANSEN!! Then Iyo puts Liv in the drop zone to go up, up, but Raquel is there again! The ref backs Raquel off, Iyo resets, OVER THE MOON0 KNEES! Liv hurries, but Iyo dodges! Liv clings to ropes, but Iyo still GERMAN SUPLEXES!! Liv flops over, Iyo can’t make the cover, but RHEA rushes out here to CLOBBER Raquel!! The fans fire up as Mami gets the better of Big Mami Cool with a HEADBUTT!
Rhea stomps away, Liv grabs Rhea! Rhea SLAPS Liv, the ref sees that!!
Winner: Liv Morgan, by disqualification (advances to the Elimination Chamber)
Rhea realizes in trying to help Iyo, she only helped Liv! Liv & Raquel run away, having the last laugh! Will Liv find a way to get back to the championship? Iyo asks Rhea what happened, and Rhea apologizes for how it went down. Iyo pushes past Rhea, Rhea defends it was an accident, but will Iyo just have to look for another Road to WrestleMania?
Backstage interview with The War Raiders.
Cathy Kelley is with Erik & Ivar, the WWE World Tag Team Champions, and congratulates them on retaining their titles. But she does have to ask, what is next for them? Ivar says he never thought he’d say this, but last week, JD McDonagh actually won some respect from them. Erik says that no one on this planet knows what it takes to fight through injuries like the War Raiders. But then Chad Gable walks in, leading Team American Made, and he says he’s heard enough from the two of them. Just listen to themselves! They hurt JD McDude and just run away clinging to their belts. The Creed Brothers are real championship material, and they’ll wrestle circles around them.
Erik says he’ll just let Gable assume what he wants. But what will Julius & Brutus do when this becomes a fight? Ivar says if Gable’s boys want these titles, they better be ready to go to war. Erik & Ivar head out, and Gable says he must let his boys do this alone. He is going on a quest to conquer the dark arts of lucha libre. When he returns, he wants to see Ivy with the Intercontinental Championship, the Creeds with tag team gold, and American Made flourishing. Don’t disappoint him. Gable puts on sunglasses, and says, “I’ll be back.” Gable heads out, Julius asks if he really just quoted the Terminator, but Ivy has him let that go. But just who is Gable going to learn lucha libre from?
Backstage interview with Adam Pearce.
Cathy is with the Raw General Manager and brings up the rumblings that there’s a massive announcement tonight. Pearce says “massive” is an understatement. And while the Transfer Window has closed with Royal Rumble weekend, Pearce managed to make one more deal. Welcome to the Monday Night Raw roster, the PHENOMENAL AJ Styles! That IS big! But in steps Bron Breakker. Bron says Styles is on the roster now. Yes, and he’ll be here next week. Then do Bron a favor and keep that guy away from him. In fact, let’s talk about Bron. Who is next for him? Because it doesn’t seem to matter.
Pearce says Bron knows he respects Bron and that title. Then let’s go talk business about how much it matters to him. And now, please. Pearce excuses himself and Bron, they go off to talk business, so who will be next for the Badass Intercontinental Champion?
Seth Rollins is here!
The Land fires up for The Visionary as he looks like a cross between The Undertaker and Neo from The Matrix. Rollins was eliminated from the Royal Rumble alongside Roman Reigns by CM Punk, then took his anger out on them both. But what will he have to say as we continue down the Road to WrestleMania? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns and Rollins has a mic to tell Cleveland, “Welcome to Monday Night Rollins~! I am a Visionary. I am a Revolutionary! I am SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! And oh, baby, Cleveland, I’ve got a lot to talk about tonight. Some of it, you guys are gonna love. Some of it, you’re gonna hate. But I gotta get it off my chest.” Firstly: Jey Uso. He won the Royal Rumble, punched his ticket to WrestleMania. It stings for Rollins, but he is happy for Jey, he is proud of Jey, and he loves to see good things happen for good people. He loves seeing people getting what they deserve. That brings Rollins… to CM Punk.
Rollins says yeah, the Punk fans won’t like this. Punk LOST the Royal Rumble, his future for WrestleMania is up in the air, and Rollins loves to see it! That scumbag piece of trash embarrassment getting embarrassed by getting dumped out by that idiot, Logan Paul! Third: Roman Reigns. The fans chant “O T C! O T C!” Rollins says they really won’t like this. OTC LOST the Royal Rumble, and he may not even make it to WrestleMania at all. Now, you guys have been getting the vague updates about “out indefinitely,” untold injuries. Roman is hurt. Roman won’t admit it, Heyman won’t admit it, WEW won’t admit it, but Rollins will, because Rollins is the one who hurt Roman!
And yeah, he told you that you wouldn’t like it! Blame him all you want, but Rollins wasn’t wrong. For the past four years, Roman has done nothing but hurt everyone close to him. Friends, family, and he wouldn’t done the same to Rollins if he had the chance. The truth is, Roman and Heyman just love talk about the limited schedule, so Rollins just did Roman a favor. Now, he saved the best for last: himself. Rollins LOST the Royal Rumble… And that hurts. But luckily for him, that is the past, and there is a future that lies ahead. There are many different paths to WrestleMania, and his will go through Elimination Chamber.
Now, he has a qualifying match in a couple weeks against his old rival, Finn Balor. Rollins will handle that later. But there is someone else in a qualifier tonight that needs to handle business, and that man is Sami Zayn! The fans cheer Sami, and Rollins knows Sami is having his match real soon. But if Sami could come out here a few minutes early, Rollins wants to tell him some things, so Sami Zayn, c’mon down! Sami does make his way to the ring, and the fans cheer and sing along with the song. Sami joins Rollins in the ring, then Rollins starts a “Sami! Sami!” chant. Rollins says Sami is his guy! They go back a long ways, a LONG ways.
Rollins knows Sami will be at his best, he always ins. But it has been a tough month, especially between them. But the past is the past, the future is ahead of them, and it could be Elimination Chamber, it could be WrestleMania, but the immediate future is CM Punk. Now, the world knows Rollins hates Punk, that is a fact and Rollins isn’t afraid to admit it. These two are very different people, they handle problems differently. But what Rollins knows is that Sami hates Punk, too. And Sami puts on a good face, he did at WarGames, but tonight is not the night for that. Tonight is for the fight of his life!
Rollins knows Sami doesn’t like Punk! And after what Punk said weeks ago, that thing about Sami not being on Punk’s level, saying that to Sami’s face, that delusional narcissist, saying Sami isn’t on Punk’s level? No, this is SAMI ZAYN! Sami is a WrestleMania main eventer! He is a good man, and that is something Punk will never bee. So yeah, Sami isn’t on Punk’s level, he is levels above! So tonight is Sami’s night. Rollins wants the absolute best out of Sami to keep Punk out of the Elimination Chamber! People like Sami deserve to be in that match, and people like Punk, who don’t care about the fans, or about this company, do not!
Tonight, Sami, is your night! Put Punk’s WrestleMania dream in the dirt for good! Then he and Rollins can fight in that chamber! LET’S GO!! Rollins is fired up, will that help spark something in Sami Zayn? Wait, here comes Punk! Rollins turns around slowly to scowl at Punk, then he throws off his duster! Refs rush in to stop this, but Punk and Rollins get a couple shots in on each other! Rollins moves on for now, will Sami get rid of Punk for both their sakes? Or will Punk keep his Mania dream alive a little longer?
Men’s Elimination Chamber Qualifier: CM Punk VS Sami Zayn!
Raw returns and the bell rings on this main event. The fans fire up already as the two circle. Punk headlocks and grinds the hold, but Sami powers up and out. Punk runs Sami over, covers him, ONE! Punk says if there’s levels to this, show him what level you’re on, Sami! Sami and Punk reset, tie up, and Sami headlocks to grind the hold. Punk endures, fights up and powers out, only for Sami to run him over! Cover, ONE! Sami headlocks for the takeover, the fans duel as Punk headscissors, but Sami kips free. Punk hits the headlock takeover now, and he grinds the hold. Sami fights around, finds the ROPEBREAK, and Punk lets go.
Punk looms over Sami, so Sami shoves Punk, then SLAPS him! The fans rally as the two reset, tie up, and then Sami just pie faces Punk! Punk hits back, they clinch and end up on ropes. The ref counts, Punk and Sami go along ropes, and fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~!” Punk RAMS Sami, CHOPS him, but Sami CHOPS back! And CHOPS again! And again! The fans “WOO~” then Sami fires a forearm. The fans rally more as Sami whips corner to corner. Punk reverses to RAM Sami, then he wrenches the arm. Sami fights but Punk still hits the ELBOW BREAKER! Punk keeps the wristlock, and he stands Sami up to RAM his shoulder again.
Punk wrenches to RAM Sami yet again, then wrenches Sami to CHOP! Sami sits down and shakes out the arm. Sami goes to a corner but Punk’s on him with a CHOP! The fans “WOO~” again, and then Punk wraps the bad arm around ropes! The ref counts, Punk lets off at 4, and Punk brings Sami up. Sami fires a forearm, a CHOP, and repeat! Punk kicks low, then whips Sami to ropes. Sami goes up and over, LARIATS Punk down, and the fans fire up! Punk goes to a corner, Sami CHOPS him again! And CHOPS again! Sami bumps Punk off buckles, then Sami climbs up. Sami rains down fists, the fans count along, and Sami goes past ten to get to about TWENTY!
Punk sits down in the corner while the fans fire up. Sami hops down to then bring Punk up. Sami wrenches, whips, but Punk comes back to LARIAT! Punk then DECKS Sami, wrenches Sami, and hits a SWINGING NECKBREAKER! The fans are torn as Punk stands over Sami again. Punk goes up the corner, Cleveland gets louder, and Punk says hail to the king! But Sami ROCKS Punk first! Sami goes up to CLUB away on Punk, then hoists him up for a SUPER DUPER PLEX!! Both men writhe and The Land fires up while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Sami ROCKS Punk, but Punk wrenches and ELBOW BREAKERS! Punk hammerlocks the arm and RAMS Sami into buckles! Punk knuckle locks to wrench the arm, but Sami fires CHOP after CHOP! Sami goes up, up, and TORNADO DDTS! Sami has to drag Punk from the corner, but he can’t turn Punk over with the bad arm. The fans rally up, Sami shakes out the arm, and Sami drags Punk to his feet. Sami waistlocks Punk, but Punk fights the lift! Punk throws down elbows, then fireman’s carries. Sami fights free, ducks a shot, and hits a BLUE- NO, Punk fights free and ROUNDHOUSES!
Sami goes to a corner, Punk runs in, and he RAMS Sami in! Then SHINING WIZARDS! Then BULL- BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Punk survives and Sami is stunned! “This is Awesome!” as Sami rises up. Sami drags Punk up, but Punk breaks free! ARMBAR DDT! Sami clutches the elbow as he goes to a corner. Punk runs in, but Sami dodges, Punk POSTS himself! Sami goes to the far side, the fans fire up, and Punk turns around, HELLUVA- NO, Punk rolls Sami up, TWO!! Sami escapes, but Punk hits a headlock takeover! ANACONDA VICE!! Sami flails, reaches out, and the fans rally harder!
Sami kicks around, moves around, and now the “SAMI! SAMI!” is louder than the “C M PUNK!” Sami fights and fights, and finally has the ROPEBREAK! Punk lets go in frustration, but then he stomps Sami’s arm. Punk looks to the WrestleMania sign, and the fans duel as hard as they can. SHINING WIZARD in the corner! SHINING WIZARD again! Punk headlocks Sami, tells him to look at the WrestleMania sign, and says that’s for him! Punk runs, Sami follows! HELLUVA- NO, Punk dodges in time! Sami falls back, Punk says night-night! Fireman’s carry, GO TO- NO, Sami snatches Punk to a cradle! TWO?!?!
Even Punk has to check, and is relieved to find he is safe, if only barely. Punk ROCKS Sami with a haymaker, then ROCKS him again! Punk points to the sign, fires another shot, then another shot! Sami fires back! Sami fires forearm after forearm, but Punk hits back! They ROCK each other, then ROCK each other again! Sami runs up, into a fireman’s carry! Sami slips free, catches Punk, CORNER EXPLODER!! The fans are thunderous as Sami goes to the far corner! Punk rises, Sami runs in, but into a fireman’s carry! GO TO SLEEP!! Cover, Punk wins!!
Winner: CM Punk, by pinfall (advances to the Elimination Chamber)
Sami tried so hard, but maybe he went too hard, because Punk used that to his advantage! John Cena and CM Punk will be in the dreaded Elimination Chamber, both fighting for one more opportunity to go to WrestleMania. However, Punk does go back to Sami to show him respect. Sami does take the handshake, but then KEVIN OWENS ATTACKS THEM BOTH!? Kevin is somehow still walking after what happened at WrestleMania, and he reels Sami in!! PACKAGE PILEDRIVER!!! Kevin sits back, blackeye and battered ribs, and even wearing a Sami Zayn Forever shirt, but why did he do this?!
My Thoughts:
A great episode to follow the Royal Rumble and quickly shift towards Elimination Chamber. John Cena just taking a spot in that match is fairly fitting. For one, he’s not gonna wrestle to qualify for it, this is his last year and so why waste one of his appearances on Netflix? We then got great intertwining of stories in the qualifiers tonight. Then Judgment Day had a good promo to show their growing dysfunction. Dom doing his best to make amends is good, it really paints Finn as the troublesome element in this group. And when they said Finn has a qualifier, I could just feel it was going to be Seth Rollins, because that is just an awesome match anyway.
Speaking of Rollins, they apparently used what he did to Roman to write Roman off through Elimination Chamber. Like Cena, Roman’s not wrestling to qualify for that, and he can come back on the other side to set up something Rollins, maybe even with Punk. Punk had a good promo, and Rollins had a really good one, all to hype up Punk VS Sami. Kross and Sami also had a good promo, and between what Kross said and what Rollins said, that could explain Sami being so gung-ho by the end. Punk of course wins, though, that adds star power to the Chamber match. But I did NOT think Kevin would attack like he did, that was wild. Kevin VS Sami one more time?
We got parallel promos from Jey and Charlotte, in that Raw’s world champions confronted them to tease matches. Jey was definitely feeling real emotions, that’s why his promo was a bit hesitant at first. But then when it became kayfabe with Gunther, he was able to smooth it out. Though, that also felt the same as their other promos, with Jey getting the last word. Charlotte may have also been dealing with her own real emotions, given how the fans really were booing her that hard. But she played it off well, and she had good stuff with Rhea. I do appreciate Charlotte teases going to even NXT, since she did do that before when it was her and Rhea the first time around.
Liv & Raquel of course attacked Iyo ahead of Iyo VS Liv, and in kayfabe, Rhea may have been a bonus for them. Rhea going after Raquel only to cost Iyo was some clever stuff. There’s a lot of time between now and WrestleMania, I could see them give us Rhea VS Iyo as a title match at Elimination Chamber or something. It’d be a way for Rhea to make things up to Iyo, but also it teases that things could change for WrestleMania. And even though Charlotte namedropped Giulia and Tiffany, they literally pointed out how Rhea and Charlotte are tied for title matches at WrestleMania, so this year would be a great tiebreaker between them.
Very good tag team match from New Day VS Rey & Lee, but I should’ve figured Logan Paul would show up tonight given he’s from Cleveland. Logan helping the New Day win works given New Day kinda does need a win, and then Logan VS Rey for next week has some extra heat now. I have a bad feeling Logan wins that so he can get in the Chamber, mix it up with Cena, Punk, and whoever else. Good promo from War Raiders with American Made to start on a tag title story there, but also to start on Gable’s lucha libre “dark arts” training. Penta VS Kaiser was a great match, and a great win for Penta, but Dunne and Kaiser as a duo seems really odd.
AJ Styles joining Raw is great stuff, and good stuff from Bron talking with Pearce. I feel like Styles will end up challenging Bron for the Intercontinental Championship at some point, though. At the same time, I hope we get a huge match, where we can get a lot of big names in the match at the same time. Hell, intertwine stories here and make it Bron, Styles, Penta, Kaiser, Dunne, and… Sheamus! Sheamus can surely win a Six Pack Challenge to finally get that title, right? Right?
My Score: 8.8/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
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THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
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The Front and Center Sports Podcast – NFL Conference Championships and Jimmy Butler
The Chairshot presents a new episode of The Front and Center Sports Podcast, with an NFL Conference Championship preview, and...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: NFL Conference Championships
It's Championship Sunday and the gents have you covered as we breakdown both AFC and NFC title games!
Oblong Ball Foot Show: NFL Divisional Playoffs
Rey, Andrew and Tunney catch you up on the NFL coaching carousel and breakdown the Divisional round matchups.
Hockey (and Sports) Talk- Age Is Just a Number [011425]
The guys discuss Alex Ovechkin making more history plus a recap of the CFP Semi-Finals and much more.
Oblong Ball Foot Show: NFL Wildcard Weekend
Dave Wortz joins the show this week as we breakdown the NFL's Wildcard Weekend!
Bandwagon Nerds #274: Rey Cash Caught Sleeping On The Job
Tune in for another episode of BANDWAGON NERDS for your weekly fix in the world of Comics & Pop Culture!
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (1/31/25)
The Bracket of Courage!
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (1/30/25)
The Bracket of Wisdom!
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (1/29/25)
And it begins again!
Bandwagon Nerds #273: Too Soon for Supergirl?
All sorts of DCU, MCU, and Star Wars news, plus streaming service price increases and the latest from A24 studios!
#TheOddity 027: Gulf Of America
Join Dave Wortz and PC Tunney for your weekly newsletter on the ridiculous and dumb of actual headlines from around...
Mitchell’s NJPW Road to New Beginning Results & Report! (2/3/25)
It's the Headbanga Show!
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (2/3/25)
WOO~! YEET!
Greg DeMarco’s 2025 WWE Royal Rumble Results, Review & Reaction
We are firmly on the Road to WrestleMania, starting with the Royal Rumble! Greg has his initial thoughts and reactions...
The Front and Center Sports Podcast – NFL Conference Winners and NBA All Star
The Chairshot presents a new episode of The Front and Center Sports Podcast, discussing the NFL Conference winners, NBA All...
Mitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (2/1/25)
A Midsouth Street Fight?!
Mitchell’s WWE Royal Rumble Results & Report! (2/1/25)
There can only be one!
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: We’re On The Road To WrestleMania!
Royal Rumble is upon us and kicks off WrestleMania Season! We give our Rumble weekend predictions and start to discuss...
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (1/31/25)
One last stop before the Royal Rumble!
DWI Podcast #461: Romaine Reigns
It's time for PC Tunney and DPP's favorite time of the year...The Royal Rumble!
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Entertainment5 days ago
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (1/30/25)
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Podcasts3 days ago
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