Coverage
Mitchell’s ROH Results & Report! (6/29/23)
Is ROH tranquilo?
ROH opens its own Forbidden Door!
Post Forbidden Door, ROH welcomes NJPW back with open arms! And Los Ingobernables de Japon challenges The Mogul Embassy for the World Six Man titles!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Preston Vance & Dralistico w/ Jose The Assistant VS Mark Wheeler & Vikram Prashar; Vance & Dralistico win.
- Alex Reynolds & John Silver w/ Evil Uno VS The Righteous w/ Stu Grayson; The Righteous win.
- Diamante VS Leila Grey w/ Mark Sterling; Diamante wins.
- 8 Man Tag: El Hijo del Vikingo, Komander & The Lucha Brothers w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Gringo Loco, Shane Taylor & The Workhorsemen; Vikingo, Komander & The Lucha Brothers win.
- Lee Moriarty & “Big Bill” Morrissey VS KAROU & TARIQ; Moriarty & Morrissey win.
- ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships: The Mogul Embassy VS Los Ingobernables de Japon; The Mogul Embassy wins and retains the titles.
- El Desperado VS Willie Mack; Desperado wins.
- Yujiro Takahashi & SHO VS Roppongi Vice; Roppongi Vice wins.
- Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS Action Andretti, Darius Martin & Christopher Daniels; Action, Darius & Daniels win.
- ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground Match: Athena VS KC Spinelli; Athena wins and denies Spinelli a title match.
- ROH World Championship Proving Ground Match: Claudio Castagnoli VS Chuck Taylor; Claudio wins and denies Chuck a title match.
PLAY BY PLAY
Backstage interview with Tony Khan & Stokely Hathaway.
Lexi Nair is with two-thirds of the ROH Board of Directors, and says they have a very exciting card here tonight. Tony thanks Lexi and says yes they do, it will be a great night for ROH. This has been a very special week. They had an amazing Forbidden Door on Sunday, and some of the top stars in NJPW are here in town for a massive show tonight. Multiple ROH champions in action tonight, including the ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships on the line! Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony take on Los Ingobernables de Japon! With NJPW here, Tony feels he needs to be backstage all night at gorilla with Jerry Lynn.
Stokely assures Tony that Stokely can handle everything backstage, he’s got his back. Tony appreciates that, so if Stokely needs anything, he knows where to find Tony. Great show tonight, and they throw it over to commentary. Will the ROH X NJPW Forbidden Door adjacent live up to the hype?
Preston Vance & Dralistico w/ Jose The Assistant VS Mark Wheeler & Vikram Prashar!
La Faccion Ingobernable is in action again, looking to add to their ROH win streak! Will Perro Peligroso y the Prince of Silver & Gold start heading for some gold?
The Code of Honor is upheld, but then Vance short arm LARIATS Wheeler while Dralistico SUPERKICKS Prashar! LFI puts Wheeler in a corner, they CHOP and CHOP and double whip corner to corner. Dralistico runs in to SPLASH, Vance hits a clothesline! Snapmare and basement dropkick! Fans are torn but Vance tells ’em up theirs. Dralistico stomps Wheeler, fans chant “PRESTON SUCKS!” Dralistico kicks Wheeler around, taunts him, then brings him up. But Wheeler UPPERCUTS! Dralistico CHOPS! SOBATS! KNEE LIFT! SCREW HIGH KICK! Fans do cheer that, and Dralistico puts Wheeler in the corner.
Dralistico runs side to side, and SUPERKICKS! Dralistico lounges up top, tags in Vance, and LFI drags Wheeler up. Feed to the SPINEBUSTER! Vance stands on Wheeler for a cocky cover, but Prashar breaks it! Vance eggs Prashar on, so Prashar throws a forearm! And another! And a CHOP! Vance dusts himself off, and DECKS Prashar! Vance brings Prashar up for Dralistico to SPRINGBOARD CODE BREAKER! Wheeler returns but gets caught into a ripcord, and KNEE! Then DISCUS LARIAT! Vance drags Prashar over, they stack and cover, LFI wins!
Winners: Preston Vance & Dralistico, by pinfall
La Faccion Ingobernable makes quick work of their opponents tonight and keep the win streak going. Will they soon take over the ROH Tag Division and make it tranquilo?
Alex Reynolds & John Silver w/ Evil Uno VS The Righteous w/ Stu Grayson!
The Dark Order has been struggling to keep friends, just look at AEW Dynamite last night. But is there still hope they can get Stu Grayson back? Or are Dutch & Vincent his brothers now?
The Righteous hold out their hands for the Code of Honor, but the Dark Order throws haymakers! The bell rings, the brawl is on, and Reynolds has Dutch while Silver ROCKS Vinnie! Dutch HEADBUTTS Reynolds, runs in, but Reynolds dumps him out to DIVE! Down goes Dutch and fans fire up! Silver keeps on Vinnie with forearms, whips, but Vinnie reverses. Silver ducks ‘n’ dodges to UPPERCUT Vinnie outta the ring! Fans fire up as Silver goes out and brings Vinnie up. But then Stu distracts Silver! Vinnie RAMS Silver into the apron! Vinnie puts Silver in the ring, but then Uno gets at Stu. Fans fire up and Stu wants Uno to get in the ring.
The ref tells Stu to get off the apron, but Uno spots Vinnie with a chair! Uno stops Vinnie but that means Uno now has the chair! The ref sees Uno and Uno tries to explain! But the ref EJECTS Uno! Fans boo as Stu & The Righteous suckered Uno into this! Vinnie grins but Silver grabs him by his hair! But Vinnie HOTSHOTS Silver, and Dutch hits the SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Dutch clamps onto Silver, CLUBS him in the chest, and grins. Fans boo but Vinnie soaks it up. Dutch UPPERCUTS Silver to the corner, tags in Vinnie, and Vinnie throws body shots. Stu eggs Silver on and Silver hits Vinnie back with body shots, forearms and kicks!
Silver runs but Vinnie CLOBBERS him! Cover, ONE!! Vinnie rains down fists and then drags Silver up. Vinnie puts Silver in the corner, tags Dutch, and The Righteous mug him. Dutch CLUBS Silver down, then brings him around. Dutch ROCKS Silver, taunts Reynolds and runs in, but Silver BOOTS him! Silver DECKS Vinnie, Dutch knees Silver low! Dutch reels Silver in, but Silver suplexes Dutch! Fans fire up for Silver and he crawls, hot tags to Reynolds and Vinnie! Reynolds TACKLES Vinnie and rains down fists! Fans fire up, Vinnie pushes free, but Reynolds BOOTS Dutch! And then TACKLES Vinnie again!
Vinnie gets away again, but Reynolds is after him in the corner! He fires clotheslines and forearms, and roars as he goes corner to corner. Fans fire up as Reynolds runs in to KNEE Vinnie! Reynolds brings Vinnie up but Vinnie bails out. Reynolds goes out after Vinnie to SMACK him off railing! And RAM him into them! And then whip him into more railing! Dutch storms up to scoop, but Reynolds slips free and POSTS him! Silver BOOTS Dutch from the apron, and Reynolds TORNADO DDTS! Silver DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans fire up for The Dark Order as they get Vinnie in the ring. STUFF PILEDRIVER to BRAINBUSTER!
The Dark Order vow to end this, and they get Vinnie up. “You want us to be more aggressive, huh!?” But Dutch drags Silver out to RAM him into steel steps! Reynolds sees that, and the ref is busy with Vinnie. Vinnie is claiming bad shoulder, but Stu runs in to KNEE Reynolds down!! Stu gets away with it, Vinnie cradles, The Righteous win!
Winners: The Righteous, by pinfall
But they’re not done! Dutch RAMS Silver into barriers! And rains down fists on him! Vinnie rains down fists on Reynolds! Fans boo but Uno returns with that chair! Uno stares Vinnie down, but then Stu gets in and stands between them! Uno hesitates but Stu dares him to hit him! Fans want to see it, too, but Uno can’t bring himself to do it. Stu kicks the chair away, then pushes past him. Stu & The Righteous leave, Stu says Uno needs to show him what he’s got. Even Reynolds says Uno should’ve done it, but will this battle only rage on?
Diamante VS Leila Grey w/ Mark Sterling!
Last week, The Cuban Diamond refused to throw the match to split the winner’s purse, and got cheated out of the entire thing! Will she give The Last Baddie Standing a receipt? Or will Leila only double her winnings?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and the two circle. They tie up, Leila headlocks but Diamante powers up, only for Leila to hold on tight. Leila grinds the headlock, gives Diamante a noogie, but Diamante rolls her to a cover! ONE, and Leila keeps on the headlock. Diamante fights up, pries free and hammerlocks to a headlock. Leila throws body shots, wrenches out, and wristlocks. Diamante rolls, kips up, breaks free and ELBOWS Leila! Fans fire up as Diamante arm-drags Leila around! Diamante grinds the armlock, Leila fights up and reaches out, but Diamante wrenches her and whips her to ropes.
Leila holds ropes, bails out, and fans boo. Sterling coaches Leila but Diamante goes out. Diamante CLUBS Leila, and whips her into steel steps! Sterling protests but Diamante tells him to shut up. Diamante puts Leila in the ring, goes up the apron, but Sterling keeps barking. Leila BLASTS Diamante off the apron! Fans boo but she tells them to shut up. Leila goes out to stomp Diamante, puts her in the ring, and hurries after her. Leila CHOKES Diamante on the ropes! The ref counts, Leila lets off at 4, and then she KNEES Diamante in the back! And again! Diamante goes to a corner but Leila brings her up.
Leila snap suplexes, then soaks up the heat before she covers. TWO, and Leila grows annoyed. Leila grabs the arms for a motorcycle stretch, and Diamante endures the knee in her back. Fans rally, Diamante fights up, turns things around, but Leila turns it back around to wrangle Diamante with a chinlock! Diamante endures more, the fans rally up again, and Diamante fights up. Diamante throws body shots, then JAWBREAKERS! Leila staggers away, Diamante ROCKS her with forearms! Diamante dodges Leila’s clothesline to LARIAT! And again! Leila tries again but Diamante waistlocks, O’Conner Roll, CHAOS THEORY!
Fans fire up while Leila flounders to a corner. Diamante locks ‘n’ loads, Sterling shouts and Leila goes to the apron. Diamante is annoyed, grabs at Leila, but Leila HOTSHOTS her away! Leila hurries back in, clinches, SIDE EFFECT! Cover, TWO! Diamante is still in this and Leila grows frustrated. Leila argues the count then reels Diamante in. Diamante fights the underhooks, waistlocks, GERMAN SUPLEX! Fans fire up, Diamante reloads and runs in, HYDRAULIC DROPKICK! Cover, Sterling helps the ropebreak! Fans boo and Diamante is furious! Diamante drags Sterling up to the apron by his jacket!
Leila rolls Diamante up, Diamante rolls through, CLUBS Leila and dragon sleepers, CROSS RHODES!! Cover, Diamante wins!
Winner: Diamante, by pinfall
And now they’re even! Will Diamante use this win to get up towards the ROH Women’s World Champion?
Backstage interview with Claudio Castagnoli.
Lexi Nair is with the ROH World Champion and says he has beaten challenger after challenger, so what’s next? Claudio says honestly, he has to ask himself that, as well. Not a lot of people seem to mention Claudio on ROH. No one wants to step up. He gets that, look at him and look at everyone else. But in walks Chuck Taylor! He says hi, and says that if Claudio’s looking for challengers, well, Chuck doesn’t like him. And he’s also beaten Claudio before so if Claudio wants a challenge, look right here. Chuck is ready to fight. Stew on that, Chuck will go get out of here, sorry to interrupt you, bud.
Claudio sighs, and says, “Just for the record, I’m not his buddy. Secondly, people like him call me ‘sir.’ Third of all, if he wants a shot, that’s fine. But it’s gonna be an Eliminator and it’s just gonna be a Proving Ground. And we’re gonna scrap that whole time limit thing. Because if you want to earn a shot at this, Chuck Taylor, you will have to beat me!” Will the Kentucky Gentleman regret tugging on the cape of the Swiss Superman?
8 Man Tag: El Hijo del Vikingo, Komander & The Lucha Brothers w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Gringo Loco, Shane Taylor & The Workhorsemen!
The Lucha Amigos ride again! Will the AAA Mega Champion, the Commander and the ROH World Tag Team Champions be standing tall against this fearsome foursome?
The Code of Honor is skipped and the teams sort out. Fans rally between “CERO MIEDO!” and “GRINGO LOCO!” Penta and Loco circle, and then Penta tells Shane to hush. Penta swaggers up, tells Gringo to listen, “CERO! MIEDO!” Pie face! Gringo shoves Penta, fans rally up more, and Penta pulls off the glove. Pass to Alex, perfect catch! Penta then says “CERO! MIEDO!” but Gringo blocks it! Fenix SUPERKICKS Gringo from behind! Anthony Henry CLOBBERS Penta from behind! Fenix kicks Henry, runs, but Henry WHEEL KICKS! Vikingo SCREW HIGH KICKS! Shane DECKS Vikingo! Komander springboards, but Shane catches him!
Shane goes to ropes but Komander RANAS Shane up and out! JD runs in to SHOTGUN BOOT Fenix! Penta SUPERKICKS JD down! Gringo SOBATS, runs, but into a half nelson, pump handle, MADE IN MEXICO! Cover, TWO!! Fans fire up as Gringo survives! Penta stalks Gringo, brings him up, and tags in Fenix. Fenix goes up, “CERO! MIEDO!” but Gringo wrenches out to send Penta into Fenix! Gringo tags in Shane and they mug Fenix. They double whip but Fenix KICKS Gringo. Shane bobs ‘n’ weaves to HEADBUTT Fenix! Gringo trophy lifts and FACEBUSTERS! Shane SPLASHES down! Cover, Penta breaks it!
Fans fire up as Shane complains. The ref reprimands, Penta backs off, and Shane drags Fenix up. Shane reels Fenix in, says “CERO! F YOU!” But Fenix slips out to SUPERKICK! Tag to Komander and he springboards in, but Shane gets under. Komander ducks one lariat but not the SOUTHPAW! Shane tags Henry and Henry tags JD. Tag to Gringo, Henry KNEES Komander! JD CANNONBALLS! The Workhorsemen then get Komander up, FACEBUSTER to SHINING WIZARD! Gringo goes up to BEST MOONSAULT EVER! Cover, Vikingo breaks it! Henry goes after Vikingo and Gringo tags in JD.
The fans rally up but JD & Gringo mug Komander. JD keeps Komander from his corner and CHOPS him off his feet! JD drags Komander up but Komander KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! JD DECKS Komander! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up but JD brings Komander up to a scoop. Komander fights free, ducks and PELES! JD wobbles, Komander tags Vikingo! Springboard MISSILE DROPKICK for JD! Vikingo dodges Henry to HEEL KICK him! Gringo runs in, Vikingo goes up to stand on Gringo’s shoulders! Then RANA! Fans are thunderous but Shane POUNCES Vikingo away! Fenix tags in, Vikingo BOOTS Shane!
Fenix mule kicks, SUPERKICKS, then SCREW HIGH KICKS Shane down! Tag to Penta and the Lucha Brothers get JD with DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Double mule kicks, then “UNO! DOS! TRES!” DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! And then wheelbarrow VICTORY SPLASH! Cover, TWO! JD survives but Penta fires up with the fans. Penta drags JD up, and KICKS him in the leg! JD hobbles, fans want “OTRA! OTRA!” So Penta KICKS JD again! “CERO! MIEDO!” Underhooks, but JD wrenches out! Penta dodges the lariat, both men run, DOUBLE LARIATS take them down! Fans fire up as they both crawl, hot tags to Fenix and Henry!
Fans rally as Henry and Fenix trade shots! Forearms and CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Then back to forearms! Fans are thunderous for the scrap, and Fenix ROCKS Henry with shot after shot! Fenix fires up, but Henry bobs ‘n’ weaves to palm strike and ENZIGURI! PENALTY KICK! Fisherman, AOI SHOUDO! Cover, all the luchadores break it! Shane runs in, he swats Komander but Vikingo dumps Shane out! Gringo runs in, Vikingo dodges to SPINNING RANA! Gringo bails out, Vikingo goes up top! Vikingo stands on the very corner post itself, and Komander tightrope walks in! ARIHARA MOONSAULT and SUPER FLYING RANA!!
Fans are thunderous but things speed up in the ring! Fenix Tiger Feint Rewinds to HEEL KICK! Down goes Henry! Tag to Penta, They DOUBLE SUPERKICK JD, and then DOUBLE SUPERKICK Henry! The Lucha Brothers coordinate, “This is Awesome!” “CERO! MIEDO!” DOUBLE STOMP FEAR FACTOR!!! Cover, the luchadores win!
Winners: El Hijo del Vikingo, Komander & The Lucha Brothers, by pinfall
Another huge win for this incredible quartet, and they dance in celebration! Will there be a fiesta in Chicago? Will anyone be able to stop these champions of lucha?
Samoa Joe speaks.
“Hello, Samoa Joe here, your ROH Television Champion. And this week, I take on Roderick Strong in the Owen Hart Cup. Roderick, you are a fantastic athlete, you are a dangerous individual in the ring. But if there’s one thing that’s always been true, Roderick, is that when it comes to facing me, you always come up short. And this week, it will be no different. Thanks to my marvelous benefactor, Tony Khan, I have my brand new championship-” Stokely applauds and says yes, show the gratitude. Tony’s at gorilla, working hard, that is why Stokely “The Big Dog” is here running things. Why not show him that same gratitude?
Oh, Stokely runs things? Yes, sir! Joe can actually get behind that. Can he tell Stokely why? Because when he thinks somebody is gonna handle business, he thinks Stokely Hathaway, “The guy who is gonna take ROH to another level.” Yeah, Stokely likes that. Stokely Hathaway, the big boss. Yeah! Stokely Hathaway, the man who only has to adhere to one rule to get things right. And you know what that one rule is? What is it? Stokely runs things! Yeah, yeah! “And I run you.” Stokely is afraid with Joe’s hand on his head. Joe pats Stokely on the head and says he looks forward to working with him. Has Stokely just signed his life away?
Lee Moriarty & “Big Bill” Morrissey VS KAROU & TARIQ!
#TAIGASTYLE and the human tower continue to roll as a duo, looking to take over the ROH Tag Division. Will they build a firm foundation? Or will they end up melting down in the Summer heat?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings and Moriarty starts against Karou. They approach, but then Moriarty backs off to tag in Big Bill! Fans fire up as Bill makes Karou look normal! But Karou UPPERCUTS and CLUBS Bill! Bill just stands up, glares at Kaoru and CLUBS him on the back! Karou CLUBS Bill back! Bill CLUBS and CLUBS and CLUBS Karou, then runs to BOOT Karou down! Bill roars and fans are torn. Tariq tags in, ducks ‘n’ dodges and LARIATS but Bill stays up! Tariq fires hands and kicks and a CHOP, then repeat! And again! Bill stays up, Tariq runs, but into the SCRAPBUSTER!
Fans fire up with Bill and he tags Moriarty in. Ghost pin, TWO!! Tariq escapes but Moriarty brings him up. Tariq JABS Moriarty, but Moriarty gets mad and CLOBBERS Tariq! And then HAMMERS away on him! Bill loves it but the ref has Moriarty let off. Then Moriarty sucker punches Karou! Moriarty drags Tariq up but Tariq fights back. Moriarty gets around to clamp on a cobra twist! Tariq fights it so Moriarty KNEES low! Moriarty whips, Tariq reverses and RANAS! Moriarty stands up and sees Karou glaring at him. Moriarty wants the big guy to calm down, but then he turns around into a CHOP from Tariq!
Tariq tags Karou, Karou runs in to SPLASH! And then he runs to ROCK Bill! Karou roars, runs, but Moriarty dodges! Bill runs in to SPLASH! Tariq tags in before Bill clotheslines Karou out of the ring! Tariq leaps over Bill but Moriarty ENZIGURIS! Fans fire up as Moriarty hooks Tariq up, BOW ‘N’ ARROW SLAM!! BORDER CITY STRETCH!! Tariq endures but he taps, Moriarty & Morrissey win!
Winners: Lee Moriarty & “Big Bill” Morrissey, by pinfall
Morrissey & Moriarty are all fired up, and Moriarty does his dance. Will these two find themselves aiming at the top soon enough?
ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships: The Mogul Embassy VS Los Ingobernables de Japon!
Brian Cage, Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun keep on winning, having all but cleared out ROH. But now NJPW is visiting, and Bushi, Hiromu Takahashi & Shingo Takagi are looking for some action! Will the Black Mask, Ticking Timebomb & Rampaging Dragon be able to take these titles from The Machine & The Gates of Agony? Or will the Embassy be anything but tranquilo?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see if LIJ kicks down the Forbidden Door!
The Code of Honor is skipped and the trios sort out. Bushi starts against Cage, runs in, but Cage runs him over! Fans boo and Bushi gets up to tag Takagi. Takagi runs in to RAM Cage! Cage stays up but Takagi smiles. Takagi runs to RAM Cage again! Takagi dares Cage to try so Cage runs, and they RAM shoulders! Takagi backs off and fans fire up as Hiromu tags in. Hiromu revs up, fans fire up more, and Hiromu runs in, to get run over! Cage whips Hiromu to a corner, runs in but Hiromu dodges. Bushi back elbows! Takagi clotheslines! Snapmare, BASEMENT DROPKICK SANDWICH! Fans fire up, Hiromu covers, ONE!!
Cage has power still so Hiromu hurries to scoop. Cage is too big, he scoops and SLAMS Hiromu! Cage whips Hiromu to a corner but Hiromu dodges. Hiromu runs in but Cage puts him on the apron. Cage blocks a shot to ROUNDHOUSE Hiromu! The Gates BLAST Bushi & Takagi! Cage drags Hiromu up, deadlift SUPERPLEX! Cage drags Hiromu up and over, tags Kaun in, and Kaun puts Hiromu up top. Liona tags in, Kaun has Hiromu for the TOP ROPE BACKBREAKER! Hiromu ends up on the apron, Liona SENTONS him! Cover, TWO! Hiromu survives and Nana argues the count, but Liona clamps a claw into Hiromu’s shoulder!
Hiromu fights up, kicks Liona low, but Liona whips Hiromu to a corner. Liona RAMS into Hiromu, hoists him up top, but Hiromu fires off hands! Hiromu BOOTS Liona, leaps, but into Liona’s arms! Liona swings Hiromu but Hiromu uses that to DDT! Fans fire up while both men crawl. Hiromu and Liona crawl, hot tags to Takagi and Kaun! Takagi knees Kaun, whips him, but Kaun reverses. Takagi dodges Kaun, keeps moving, Kaun dodges the Pumping Bomber but runs into an ELBOW! JAB! YUKON LARIAT! Fans fire up and Takagi runs in at the corner. Takagi blocks the boot, and clotheslines through!
Takagi fires off shots but Cage gets in to CLUB him! Cage & Kaun double whip, but Takagi ducks, sends Kaun into cage, and DOUBLE LARIATS! Neither man falls, surprising to Takagi. But Takagi still catches Kaun to a clinch, kicks Cage low and reels him in, COMPLETE SHOT DDT COMBO! Fans fire up again and Takagi drags Kaun up. Suplex high and hard! Cover, TWO! But Takagi says it’s time! Fans fire up more and Takagi drags Kaun up. Kaun throws a forearm, Takagi gives it back, they go back and forth! Kaun gets the edge, but Takagi fireman’s carries! Kaun slips free, BACKSTABBER!
Kaun drags Takagi up, underhooks, but Takagi wrenches free. Kaun breaks the wristlock, but Takagi feints lariat to DDT! Fans fire up and Takagi tags in Bushi. Bushi gets the fans fired up even more as he climbs up, MISSILE DROPKICK! Bushirooni! Liona runs in, throws Bushi to the corner, but Bushi dodge! Liona tumbles up and out, and Bushi DROPKICKS Cage! Hiromu joins in, he and Bushi double whip Kaun! Hiromu clotheslines, Bushi back elbows, and Takagi clotheslines! Feed to mule kick, front kick, LARIAT! FISHERMAN SCREW! Cover, TWO!! Bushi aims from a corner as Kaun rises.
Bushi runs in, but Kaun denies the Code Breaker to then LARIAT! Nana shouts for Kaun to finish this and Kaun fireman’s carries. But Hiromu dropkicks the legs out! Cage runs in to ROCK Hiromu, fires off shots, but Takagi fires off shots on Cage! Takagi & Hiromu double whip but Cage DOUBLE LARIATS! Cage scoops Takagi but Hiromu goes up to add on! But Cage stays up!? POWERBOMB POWERSLAM COMBO!! Fans are thunderous for the power levels! Cage goes out after Bushi, the ref is there, and Bushi BLACK MISTS Cage!! Nana protests but Liona grabs Bushi! Bushi rakes Liona’s eyes!
Bushi fires off hands, Kaun returns but Bushi fires off shots on him! Bushi fights the Gates of Agony, roars and runs, but into double shoulders! The Gates get Bushi up, DOUBLE FACEBUSTER! Cover, The Embassy wins!
Winners: The Mogul Embassy, by pinfall (still ROH World Six Man Tag Team Championships)
LIJ pushed the Embassy better than most, but the Gates still slammed shut on them. Will any team ever be able to dethrone Cage, Kaun & Liona?
The United Empire speaks.
Kyle Fletcher says, “Now, you’ve been seeing my beautiful face, Kyle Fletcher & Aussie Open, running both AEW and ROH as of late, but this week is about opening up the Forbidden Door, so I brought two of my beautiful friends from NJPW, TJP and Jeffrey Cobb, baby.” Jeff is a bit confused by hearing his full name, but TJP wants to make this clear to those from ROH stepping to them. “The UE holds the crowns, and boys, you simply couldn’t touch us if this match took place in a phone booth. But perhaps, lucky for you, or maybe not so lucky, big man in here can’t fit in a phone booth.”
Cobb says that to be honest, it doesn’t matter what pairing of the UE it is, what company it is, from ROH to AEW to NJPW, “all pandas having fun,” because at the end of the day, the United Empire runs the world. #CrownsUp.
El Desperado VS Willie Mack!
The Rogue Luchador has been busy lately, but he’s more than ready to bring Strong Style to ROH. Will Desperado be rolling into next week’s “Final Death” with Jon Moxley? Or will the Return of the Mack send him packing back to Japan?
The Code of Honor is upheld and fans already chant “This is Awesome!” The bell rings and the two circle. They run in, RAM shoulders, and Mack stays up. Desperado runs, RAMS Mack, but Mack still stays up. Desperado applauds and dares Mack to go. Mack says okay, he runs, but Desperado drops then ELBOWS! Mack stays up against ropes, Desperado runs but Mack hurdles! Desperado leaps over, but runs into a CALF KICK! Fans fire up and Mack nods. Mack covers, TWO! Fans rally, Mack brings Desperado up, and he ROCKS Desperado! Desperado goes to a corner, but he comes back with a CHOP!
Desperado CHOPS and CHOPS but Mack ROCKS him! Mack CHOPS right back! Desperado falls and fans fire up with Mack. Mack pushes Desperado to a cover, ONE! Desperado shakes his head, and fans rally up. Desperado rises, Mack fireman’s carries, but Desperado fights free. Desperado waistlocks but Mack breaks it to switch. Desperado flails and goes to ropes to buck Mack away. Desperado runs in but into a SAMOAN DROP! Fans rally up, and Mack kips up! Not as smooth as Mack wants it, but he adds a bit of the Mack-a-rena to then STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Fans fire up while Desperado writhes.
Mack stalks Desperado to a corner, then ROCKS him! Fans duel between Desperado and Mack, and Mack whips corner to corner. Mack runs in but Desperado dodges! Mack hits buckles, Desperado comes in but into an ELBOW! Mack winds up, but Desperado dropkicks the legs! Mack staggers, Desperado CHOPS! Desperado puts the and leg on ropes and pulls! The ref counts, Desperado lets off, and he BOOTS the leg! Desperado then gets Mack out of the corner, snapmares, and he grabs the bad leg. Desperado YANKS the leg and Mack clutches the knee. Desperado then SPLASHES the leg! Cover, TWO, but Desperado keeps on the leg.
Desperado steps over to HIP DROP, and then he ties Mack up in the INDIAN DEATHLOCK! Fans rally, Mack keeps his shoulders up but Desperado taunts him. Mack ROCKS Desperado, and again! And again! Desperado falls over and puts more pressure on the hold! Mack crawls to the ROPEBREAK! Desperado sits up to undo the hold, and “Oops!” he drops knees on the knee! Fans rally up, Desperado drags Mack up but Mack ROCKS him! And ROCKS him again! Desperado KICKS the bad leg! Mack drops to a knee, and Desperado brings him up. Mack ROCKS Desperado again! And again!
Desperado wobbles, Mack powers up, but Desperado KICKS the bad leg again! Desperado puts Mack in a corner, whips him corner to corner, but the leg won’t let Mack get that far. Desperado runs in but Mack pops him up to BLAST him! Fans fire up while both men are down! Mack huffs and puffs and goes to a corner. Desperado goes to the other, fans rally and duel, and Mack runs corner to corner, CANNONBALL! Fans fire up while Mack covers, TWO! Desperado is still in this but Mack shakes the bad leg out. Mack goes up the corner, and FROG FLOPS!! Desperado hurries to get the leg, STRETCH MUFFLER!!
Mack rolls Desperado to a cradle! TWO!! Desperado escapes, kicks the leg out, and then reels Mack in! But Mack fights the underhooks to DECK Desperado! Mack calls his shot, suplexes, but Desperado fights free. Desperado wrenches and dropkicks the leg! Underhooks and PINCHE- NO, Mack fights it, wrenches and ROUNDHOUSES! Fans fire up as Mack hobbles around. Mack drags Desperado up, reels him in, and gets him up, but Desperado fights free! Underhooks and PINCH- NO, Mack powers out with a back drop! Fans fire up as Mack throws off the elbow pads. Mack runs in, but Desperado wrenches, spins, and backslides!
Mack rolls through, but Desperado has the arms! PINCHE LOCO!!! Cover, Desperado wins!
Winner: El Desperado, by pinfall
Mack gave Desperado a great fight, and Desperado makes it a great win! Will this help Desperado be NJPW Strong next week against Moxley?
Yujiro Takahashi & SHO VS Roppongi Vice!
The Tokyo Pimp and Murder Machine are here representing The House of Torture, and going against a team that knows them, ROH and NJPW very well. Will Yujiro & Sho use every trick in the book to embarrass Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero? Or will Sho’s former mentors humble him once and for all?
RPG Vice wait on Sho & Yujiro for the Code of Honor, but they don’t wanna. Trent & Rocky shake hands then, only for Sho & Yujiro to attack! The bell rings, Sho kicks Rocky to a corner while Yujiro CLUBS Trent to the opposite. Yujiro knees low, Sho climbs up to smother Rocky, but the ref counts. Sho lets off, he and Yujiro whip Trent & Rocky at each other, but RPG Vice dosido and DOUBLE DROPKICK in return! Fans fire up, Rocky whips Sho into Yujiro! Trent whips Rocky into back body block them both! Trent then wheelbarrows Rocky and helps him DOUBLE KNEE Yujiro! Fans fire up as RPG Vice high-five!
Rocky drags Yujiro up to UPPERCUT! Rocky wrenches Yujiro, tags Trent, and they double whip to ropes. Double hip toss, and then Rocky runs to PENALTY KICK! Trent STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Trent drags Yujiro up, but Yujiro kicks low! Yujiro facelocks, suplexes, but Trent fights it! Trent suplexes but Yujiro fights it, and BITES Trent’s hand! The ref reprimands, fans boo, but Yujiro whips. Sho gets a cheap shot but Trent DECKS him! Yujiro runs in but Trent tosses him! Fans rally as Trent aims, PLANCHA takes out Tokyo Pimp! Fans fire up with Trent but Sho CLOBBERS him!
Fans boo but Sho drags Trent up. Rocky rushes over but Sho kicks and CLUBS him! Sho RAMS Rocky into barriers! Fans rally for RPG Vice but Sho claws Trent’s eyes. Sho puts Trent in, Yujiro slides in and grins. Yujiro brings Trent up to CLAW the eyes! Sho distracts the ref, Yujiro lets off on his own time, but fans still boo. Yujiro kicks Trent, tags Sho, and Sho goes after Trent. Sho rakes eyes, whips Trent, and back drops him! Cover, ONE!! Trent is tough, Sho is upset, and Sho whips Trent corner to corner. Sho runs in but Trent BOOTS him! Trent CHOPS Sho, then ROCKS him! Sho wrenches the arm to bring Trent to his knees!
Sho KICKS, KICKS and SUPERKICKS! Then deadlift suplex! Cover, TWO! Sho is annoyed and he tags Yujiro in. Fans rally, Yujiro drags Trent up and bumps him off buckles. Yujiro fires forearms and elbows in the corner, then backs up to run in, but Trent dodges! TORNADO DDT! Both men are down and fans fire up! Trent and Yujiro crawl, hot tags to Sho and Rocky! Sho swings, Rocky dodges to CHOP and ROCK and repeat! Rocky whips Sho, Sho reverses but Rocky ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Fans fire up with Rocky and he has Sho in a corner. Rocky climbs up to rain down fists! But Yujiro stops Rocky at six!
Yujiro whips Rocky corner to corner, runs in, but Rocky dodges! Rocky clotheslines Sho! Then Yujiro! Then back again! And again! But Sho dodges, only for Rocky to DOUBLE LARIAT the House! Fans rally up, Rocky drags Sho up and tags in Trent. Trent hangs Sho out to dry and Rocky DOUBLE STOMPS Sho down! SLIDING KNEE from Trent! Cover, TWO!! Sho survives, he is a former champion in his own right. But then Trent picks Sho up, Rocky climbs, only for Yujiro to SHOVE Rocky down! Sho turns things around on Trent, but Trent fights the piledriver. Trent gets around HALF ‘N’ HALF!
Sho flounders and fans rally up. Trent snarls while the ref checks Sho, and Yujiro slides in with his pimp cane! Trent blocks the pimp cane, kicks Yujiro low, and takes the cane from Yujiro! But Sho shows the ref what’s going on! The ref takes the cane, Yujiro BOOTS and Sho SPEARS! Fans boo but Sho drags Trent up and reels him in. POWER BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!!! Trent survives and Sho is furious! The fans fire up, Sho tags Yujiro and they drag Trent back up. They double whip Trent to a corner, Sho runs in and clotheslines! Yujiro runs in to BOOT! Yujiro puts Trent up top and then climbs up after him. SUPER FISHERMAN BUSTER!!
Sho blocks Rocky as Yujrio covers, but Rocky powers through to break the cover! Fans fire up again as Rocky CLUBS away on Yujiro! Rocky and Sho throws forearms back and forth, and Rocky roars! Rocky fires off a flurry, but Sho BENDS the fingers! The ref reprimands, Rocky kicks free and runs, but the ref is ushed as a shield! JUMP KNEE! Sho runs, but into DOUBLE JUMP KNEES!! Rocky builds speed to DIVE onto Sho! Trent stands, Yujiro runs in, but into a spin and backslide! Roll through, Alabama Lift! Rocky is up top, STRONG ZERO!! Cover, RPG Vice wins!
Winners: Roppongi Vice, by pinfall
The OG duo pulls it off, they knock down the House of Torture! But then Sho CLOBBERS them both from behind! Fans boo the sore losers as Sho & Yujiro beat down on Trent & Rocky! But wait! Here comes Orange Cassidy! Freshly Squeezed is a friend, so he’s “storming” down to the ring! Yujiro & Sho decide to bail out, they don’t want to deal with the AEW International Champion. Oh, hold on. Cassidy and RPG Vice GROUP HUG! You GOT to- Oh, wait, Excalibur isn’t here. Will Cassidy tip the scales in favor of Chaos? Or will the House of Torture find a way to stack the deck like they do in NJPW?
Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS Action Andretti, Darius Martin & Christopher Daniels!
Kyle Fletcher, TJP & Jeff Cobb spoke their minds earlier, and now they look to back it all up with action! But will the Aussie Arrow, Public Enemy and Imperial Unit conquer all levels of ROH? Or can the Sight to See, Air Wolf & Fallen Angel lead the resistance?
The Code of Honor is upheld, and the trios sort out. Fans chant “AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!” “OI OI OI!” but we start with TJP and Action. The two circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. TJP spins and wrangles Action to the mat, but action rolls back. TJP wrenches but Action spins and bridges, then handsprings and wrenches back to a wristlock. Fans cheer the exchange but TJP rolls, cartwheels and headscissors for the twisting headscissors! TJP keeps Action down, but Action headscissors back. TJP headstands, fans rally up, and TJP then slowly pops free to pat Action on the knee. Fans cheer, and then TJP runs in!
Action ducks the kick, rolls TJP up, TWO! TJP kicks, whips but Action reverses. TJP RANAS but Action handsprings through! Action wags his finger, things speed up, and Action RANAS, but then TJP handsprings through! TJP soaks up the cheers and jeers, but turns around into a DROPKICK! Fans rally up as Action runs, springboards, IMPLODER TORNILLO! Cover, TWO! Action brings TJP over, tags in Darius, and fans rally as the two double whip. TJP ducks ‘n’ dodges and sends Action into Darius! Tag to Kyle and he runs in, but into a CHOP! KICK! Snapmare and PENALTY KICK to a BASEMENT DROPKICK!
Tag to Daniels and he runs in to clothesline Kyle in the corner! SAIDO! Cover, TWO! Daniels keeps his cool and fans rally. Daniels brings Kyle up but Kyle scoops to SLAM! Kyle growls, tags in TJP, and TJP runs in but into a hip toss! Daniels CHOPS TJP down! Daniels bumps TJP off buckles, CHOPS him down again, and whips TJP to ropes. TJP ducks ‘n’ dodges then goes Spider-Man in the ropes. Daniels runs in but TJP dumps him out! Daniels gets back up, Kyle runs in but Daniels DECKS him! TJP runs in but Daniels ROCKS him! But Cobb YANKS Daniels off the apron, pops him up, and POSTS him!
Cobb still carries Daniels, puts him in the ring and TJP brings Daniels around. TJP KNEES Daniels in the back, covers, TWO! Fans rally up, chant for “JEFF COBB!” so TJP tags in Cobb. Fans fire up as Cobb brings Daniels around. Daniels throws hands and forearms, but Cobb CLUBS Daniels in the back! Cobb runs Daniels over, GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Daniels survives but Cobb suplexes him up! Cobb carries Daniels over, Kyle tags in, and Kyle takes the handoff! Kyle holds Daniels for a few more seconds, then SLAMS Daniels down! Cover, TWO! Tag to TJP and they mug Daniels.
TJP bumps Daniels off buckles, stomps Daniels down and scrapes laces off Daniels’ face! Fans rally up, the ref counts, and TJP goes side to side. But Daniels avoids the boot wash! Clinch and EXPLODER! TJP flounders, Daniels crawls, hot tag to Darius! Darius rallies on the Empire! CHOP for Kyle, forearm for Cobb, then Darius pops Kyle up for an atomic drop! ENZIGURI, then TORNADO DDT! Cobb gets in to knee low! Cobb runs, but Darius follows to BULLDOG HOTSHOT and GAMANGIRI! Then step-in COMPLETE SHOT! TJP runs in, Darius goes up and over and blocks a kick to kick back.
TJP blocks, slips through, BIG SAIDO! Darius tags Action, he dodges TJP to mule kick, knee lift, TJP ducks the enziguri but not the PELE! Fans fire up and Action whips. TJP reverses but Action handsprings, BACK ELBOW! Fans fire up with Action and he whips. TJP goes Spider-Man again, slides under Action, but Action stays up to deadlift suplex! FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO!! TJP survives but Action shakes his head. Fans fire up as Action runs in but TJP goes up and over! TORNADO DDT! Action flounders away to a corner, Kyle runs in to GAMANGIRI! Whip to Cobb’s ATHLETIC PLEX!
Kyle drags Action into position, MAMBA SPLASH!! Cover, Darius and Daniels break it! Cobb & Kyle toss them out, then help TJP up. They get Action up, whip him to a corner, and then they send TJP in, but Action dodges! Daniels & Darius drag Kyle & Cobb out of the ring! Action ROCKS TJP, then he and Darius whip Daniels in to forearm smash! Feed to the SWINGING SIDE SLAM!! Cover, Action and team win!!
Winners: Action Andretti, Darius Martin & Christopher Daniels, by pinfall
The United Empire is shocked! Action & Darius pull off another shocking underdog win, when will they stop being seen as underdogs and start being seen as contenders?
Backstage interview with Jerry Lynn and The Kingdom.
Lexi is with the other part of the ROH Board of Directors, as well as Maria Kanellis, Mike Bennett & Matt Taven. Jerry wanted to address a few comments The Kingdom made last week. Like, he didn’t realize they loved Cracker Barrel. He loves it, too! He and Lance Storm always had Cracker Barrel napkins in their bags. And also, how could they possibly hate ECW? Oh, Mike will tell you a thing about ECW! Maria hushes Mike and Taven steps in. Taven loved ECW! He saw Jerry at Wonderland Ballroom in Boston, and used to stay up to one in the morning to watch him on the Spanish channel.
Jerry’s the man! Former ECW World Champion, and a former ROH World Champion, just like The Trend! And that is the problem. That is why Stokely has a problem with Jerry. Jealousy is a stinky perfume, and Stokely’s smelling like a portapotty popsicle right about now. He is jealous of the legend that is Jerry Lynn! Jerry IS ROH! Mike agrees there, Jerry is the history of ROH. And speaking of history, remember back to December of 2012, ROH Final Battle. Taven wants Mike to stop there but Mike says he’s got this. That was Jerry’s last ROH match, right? Who did Jerry wrestle that night? Who was it? Mike has been looking around for that guy.
Oh right, it was MIKE! Mike retired Jerry in Hammerstein Ballroom. Does Jerry remember that night? Yes, actually. And rather vividly. Didn’t Maria have something to do with that? Maria would never! Jerry says fine, they have made some valid points. He will go over Stokely’s head, and he’ll give the Kingdom a tag match. But not the typical kind of tag match. It will be a Six Person Tag. See how well you do against combat ready soldiers in their prime. That’s right, Mixed Six, Trish Adora & The Infantry VS The Kingdom! Good luck. Jerry leaves, the OGK are confused, and Maria blames Mike. As does Taven. So they’re not going to Cracker Barrel?
Mike’s gonna be on the couch while he’s in the proverbial dog house, but can he, Taven and Maria find a way to defeat the AfroPunk, Captain Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo? Or is the Kingdom about to fall?
ROH Women’s World Championship Proving Ground Match: Athena VS KC Spinelli!
The Fallen Goddess has yet to be stopped, and that includes a win in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament at Forbidden Door. Will Athena continue until she has dominated ROH and AEW? Or can the Maid of Honor prove she is made of honor?
The Code of Honor is upheld, the bell rings, and we’re on the clock. Fans rally for KC, she and Athena tie up, and KC hits a headlock takeover. Athena fights up but KC hits another takeover. Athena fights up again, but KC hits yet another takeover! KC grinds Athena and Athena gets frustrated. Athena fights up yet again, powers up and out, but KC runs her over! Fans cheer and KC runs, but Athena gets up, side steps and trips KC! Athena slingshots to SPLASH! Cover, ONE!! Athena is annoyed but she asks, “This the best you got, Canada?” Athena cheers herself on but KC backslides! TWO!
They stay hooked up, KC spins and fireman’s carries to a SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! KC CLUBS away on Athena, brings her up and half nelsons then dragon sleepers! KC locks ‘n’ loads but Athena fights out to CLUB KC, KNEE her, and then just CLUB away on her! KC hits back but Athena just HAMMERS KC down to the mat! Fans cheer and jeer, but Athena drags KC up again. Athena whips then UPPERCUTS KC! Athena goes side to side to ROCK KC! Athena snapmares, and tells the “piece of garbage” to get up! KC stands, Athena DECKS her! Cover, Athena wins!
Winner: Athena, by pinfall (denies KC Spinelli a title opportunity)
Angel Face goes down, and will probably wake up with a shiner in the morning. But will anyone anywhere be able to stop The Fallen Goddess from adding the Queen of Harts belt to her collection?
Wait, Athena isn’t done with KC, she SHOTGUNS her on the outside! And throws her into the steel steps! “This is MY show!” Athena then runs in to KNEE KC against the steps! Fans boo but Athena says it’s after the bell, the ref can’t do anything! Will management look to finally do something about Athena’s mean streak?
ROH World Championship Proving Ground Match: Claudio Castagnoli VS Chuck Taylor!
The Swiss Superman said it himself, if the Kentucky Gentlemen wants his shot at the title, he can’t just last ten minutes, he has to win! Will Chuck still have Claudio’s number in 1v1 competition? Or will Claudio tear Chuck down and prove no one is worthy?
The Code of Honor is upheld but barely, and the bell rings. The two tie up, Claudio puts Chuck in a corner then shoves him. Chuck shoves back, Claudio shoves again, and the forearms start flying! Chuck stomps away in the corner, then climbs up to rain down fists! Fans count all the way to TEN, and Chuck lets off to throw Claudio out. Chuck then goes out after Claudio and SMACKS him off steel steps! Chuck ROCKS Claudio, Claudio ROCKS Chuck back! Claudio fires body shots and forearms but Chuck returns those! Claudio gets in the ring, knees Chuck low, then whips him to ropes. Chuck reverses to hit SOLE FOOD!
Claudio tumbles out of the ring, Chuck pursues! Chuck brings Claudio around to whip, but Claudio reverses and Chuck hits barriers! Claudio runs in to UPPERCUT Chuck up and over into the timekeeper’s area! Claudio gets in the ring and fans cheer. The ring count climbs, Chuck drags himself back out of the timekeeper’s area, and gets in the ring. But Claudio BOOTS him right back out! The count starts again while Claudio soaks up cheers and jeers. Claudio lets that happen, Chuck gets back up, and Claudio BLASTS him back down! Claudio goes out, drags Chuck up and SMACKS him off the desk! And again! And again!
Claudio brings Chuck around to UPPERCUT him into the crowd! Claudio goes up and over, DDT onto a chair! Claudio hurries back into the ring, he wants the ring count to handle this. Chuck is down at 3 of 0, but wait, Trent & Rocky return. They cheer on their best friend, Chuck drags himself up and over as the count reaches 8 of 10! Chuck hurries up and in at 9! But Claudio runs in, only for Chuck to toss him back out! Fans fire up as Chuck FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Claudio! Fans fire up more and Chuck puts Claudio in the ring. Claudio staggers around, into a COMPLETE SHOT! KOJI KLUTCH!
Fans fire up as Claudio endures and reaches out! ROPEBREAK! Chuck lets go in frustration but he pounds the mat. Fans rally up with Chuck and he brings Claudio up. But Claudio fights the piledriver and UPPERCUTS! Chuck ROCKS Claudio! Claudio UPPERCUTS! Chuck forearms, Claudio fires off shots! Claudio UPPERCUTS in the corner! Claudio keeps moving, and he UPPERCUTS again! Claudio goes in again, into a SEXY CHUCKIE KNEE! STUFF PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Fans rally up for “CHUCKIE T! CHUCKIE T!” Chuck throws hands on Claudio and then runs, but into a POP-UP UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO!!
Chuck survives but Claudio stays right on him! GOTCH- NO, jackknife bridge! TWO!! Both men run in, Claudio LARIATS Chuck! Then RICOLA BOMB!!! Cover, Claudio wins!
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli, by pinfall (denies Chuck Taylor a title opportunity)
The time limit wasn’t needed, because Claudio still beat Chuck fast! And he barely keeps the Code of Honor this time, too. The Swiss Superman’s busy in AEW, but will he manage to find time for ROH this Summer?
My Thoughts:
A really good episode for ROH here, especially with the NJPW crossovers. Though, I’m a bit torn on Embassy VS LIJ. It is still impressive for Embassy to be undefeated this long, but I just knew Bushi was gonna take that loss no matter what. I’m not gonna say ROH World Six Man titles have been booked into a corner, but they’re going down a narrow alley where I can’t even figure out who could take those titles. And quite the surprise that the United Empire lost to Action, Darius & Daniels. The UE was running pretty hot, but I suppose they can take one loss. Darius & Action count as Junior Heavyweights, I would love if they got a shot at the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag titles after Catch 2/2 deals with Bullet Club.
Great stuff from Desperado VS Mack, and good win from Desperado to have momentum going into next week’s NJPW Independence Day events. Desperado & Jun Kasai VS Moxley & Homicide in a No Disqualification tag, and then Desperado VS Moxley in “Final Death,” those matches are going to be wild. And great stuff out of Roppongi Vice VS House of Torture. This is the one time House of Torture didn’t use Evil, Dick Togo and other shenanigans, but that’s cuz Evil & Dick probably didn’t make the trick. Great win for RPG Vice, and great save from Cassidy. I would love to get full House of Torture VS Cassidy, Rocky, Trent & Chuck but Forbidden Door is only an annual thing.
And even the pure ROH material was good stuff. Good win for Diamante in the rematch, good win for Moriarty & Morrissey as well as for LFI taking on new teams, and great win in the 8 Man Tag for Vikingo, Komander & Lucha Bros. Great promo from Samoa Joe to call out Roderick Strong and to intimidate Stokely, and great promo from Kingdom and Jerry Lynn. I just knew the Mixed Six was coming, that is going to be great stuff. I feel like it’d work better in story if Adora & Infantry won here, and maybe the Kingdom can escalate things like they did with Action & Darius. I feel like ROH has to figure out how to do the ROH Tag Team Championship story, Lucha Bros are doing more on AEW than they are here. There’s a tag tournament in AEW, why not do a big tag contender match in ROH?
The Righteous VS Dark Order wasn’t quite what I expected given how they were building things. Where is the No Disqualification Tag match? No Disqualification Trios match? I will say it was still a clever way to sucker Uno like that and that helps Righteous win, but we should get to a blowoff already. Athena of course wins another Proving Grounds match, and commentary keeps it in mind that she and Willow Nightingale are facing off in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup. Maybe if Willow wins their match, Willow can come back for another shot at the ROH Women’s title at Death Before Dishonor.
And good promo from Claudio and Chuck to set up their own Proving Ground match. I suppose Claudio winning is fine, he’s a lot busier in AEW right now with Blood & Guts set for just days before Death Before Dishonor. There’s also plenty of heat still between Claudio and Eddie Kingston, they could run it back at DBD, but that assumes either guy is in any shape after Blood & Guts. ROH has only been back 18 weeks and it already feels like a mess because there isn’t a hard divide between the ROH roster and the AEW roster. Whoever they get to face Claudio should really beat Claudio and then stay dedicated to ROH so there can be better stories.
My Score: 8.5/10
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IF YA SMELLALALALALALA~…!
As Cody Rhodes teams with Damian Priest & Braun Strowman against Solo Sikoa’s Bloodline, FINALLY, The Rock has come back to SmackDown!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Drew McIntyre VS Jimmy Uso; Jimmy wins.
- The Miz & Carmelo Hayes VS R-Truth & LA Knight; Miz & Melo win.
- Tiffany Stratton VS Candice LeRae w/ Nia Jax; Tiff wins.
- Naomi w/ Bianca Belair VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez; No Contest.
- WWE Tag Team Championships: #DIY VS Pretty Deadly; Pretty Deadly wins, by disqualification, and DIY retain the titles.
- Six Man Tag: Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa, Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga; changed to…
- Damian Priest & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu w/ Tama Tonga; Priest & Braun win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Cody Rhodes talks with Nick Aldis backstage.
They shake hands, but the SmackDown General Manager tells the WWE Champion there’s been a change: Cody’s out of the Six Man Tag match. What? Why would Aldis do that? It is out of Aldis’s hands. Wait, Solo Sikoa shows up to do what he did, but they can’t do the Six Man Tag that they advertised? How is this out of Aldis’s hands? Who do they need to talk to so they can do the match? Aldis says there’s no one either of them can call, if you smell what’s cooking. This is coming from The Final Boss, and The Final Boss wants to see Cody in the ring tonight. What business could The Great One have with The American Nightmare?
Drew McIntyre VS Jimmy Uso!
The Scottish Terminator rubbed it in Big Jim’s face that only one of them is going to Elimination Chamber in Toronto, which Big Jim was able to brush off. But McIntyre harping on how only one Uso is going to WrestleMania was a step too far. These two look to have it out, but is Jimmy just playing into McIntyre’s hands? Or will McIntyre get embarrassed by “the other Uso” this close to that big time match?
Speaking of, Jimmy has a message for Drew as he heads to gorilla. “Everybody know you’re going to Elimination Chamber, right? But Big Jimmy got a question for the Big Easy: Will Drew go onto the Elimination Chamber and win that? Will Drew go onto WrestleMania and win that? Ey, Drew, I think we got an answer for you, Uce. The answer is…” “NO YEET!” Jimmy makes his entrance, the bell rings, and the fans rally behind Jimmy. Jimmy and Drew jaw, and then Drew raises his hands, to say UP YOURS! But Jimmy ROCKS and CHOPS away! Drew puts Jimmy in a corner, Jimmy dodges to CHOP!
Jimmy climbs and he rains down fists! The fans count, Drew dumps Jimmy tot eh apron at 5, but Jimmy GAMANGIRIS! Jimmy goes up, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Jimmy hurries to CHOP, then he whips. Drew reverses to send Jimmy to the corner. Jimmy BOOTS back, goes up, and leaps, but into a clinch! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Jimmy flounders to a corner, Drew runs up to SPLASH and OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Jimmy flounders again, the ref has Drew hold on, and Jimmy bails out. Drew storms out to get Jimmy and he whips Jimmy HARD into barrier! The fans boo but Drew looms over Jimmy.
The ring count starts, Drew mockingly calls him “Jey,” then puts Jimmy in the ring. Drew says NO MANIA for Jimmy. Drew stands Jimmy up, ROCKS him, then runs up, only for Jimmy to put him on the apron! Drew blocks a superkick, but not the DRAGON WHIP! Drew drops, Jimmy DIVES! Down goes Drew and the fans fire up! Jimmy grins, goes back to the apron, and then aims. But Drew stops the Penalty Kick to THROW Jimmy down! Drew then has Jimmy in the Reverse Alabama Lift! REVERSE ALABAMA SLAM onto the steel steps! Drew stands on the desk to say “NO YEET!” while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Drew revels in the heat from New Orleans, then he leaves Jimmy behind. The ref checks Jimmy, he’s able to continue, so a ring count starts. Drew paces while Jimmy stirs. Jimmy drags himself up using the desk, then lunges in at 9! Drew is annoyed but he rains down fists! Drew stomps Jimmy, then eggs him on. Jimmy rises as the fans rally, but Drew is right on him in the corner. Drew winds up, but Jimmy counter punches! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! And whips, only for Drew to reverses. Jimmy goes up, but Drew KICKS him out of the air! Drew then hauls Jimmy up, snap suplex! Cover, TWO!
Drew says okay, Big Jim. He clamps onto Jimmy with a top wristlock and grinds the arm. Jimmy fights up, fireman’s carries, but Drew elbows free. Drew bumps Jimmy off buckles, then hauls him up to the top rope! Drew CLUBS Jimmy on the back, climbs up, then CLUBS Jimmy more. Jimmy fires elbows and Drew drops back. But Drew runs up to CLUB Jimmy again! SmackDown returns to single picture as Drew CLUBS away on Jimmy again! Jimmy keeps taunting “Jey,” then drags him up. Jimmy fights the back suplex! The fans rally, Jimmy fires hands and a HEADBUTT! Jimmy SMACKS Drew off the post!
Jimmy rises to USO IN THE WIND! Down goes Drew and the fans fire up! A standing count starts while both men stir on the mat. They both stand at 5, and Drew swings! Jimmy counter punches, then fires more shots! Mule kick, UPPERCUT, but then Jimmy dodges Drew! SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Drew is tougher than that, but Jimmy hurries to a corner. Jimmy aims as Drew goes to the other corner, “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Jimmy runs, but Drew FLYING HEADBUTTS! The Glasgow Kiss stuns Jimmy, and Drew hits a SPINEBUSTER! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Jimmy shows his own toughness, and the fans rally behind him.
Drew paces, then he stalks Jimmy. Drew stands Jimmy up, reels him in, but Jimmy fights the underhooks! Jimmy wrenches, UPPERCUTS, but Drew ROCKS Jimmy back! Jimmy UPPERCUTS, Drew HAYMAKERS! Drew whips, Jimmy reverses and Drew ends up on the apron! Drew ROCKS Jimmy first, then climbs the corner! FLYING- SUPERKICK! Jimmy runs to SPEAR! Cover, TWO!! Drew survives, Jimmy’s spear doesn’t hit quite like The Tribal Chief’s. Jimmy goes to the corner, climbs up, and the fans rally up. USO- NO, Jimmy rolls through as Drew moves! Drew dodges a lariat to NECKBREAKER!
Both men are down, the fans rally, and Drew kips up! Drew scowls as he aims at Jimmy. “THREE! TWO! ONE!” CLAY- SUPERKICK!! Jimmy hits first! GLASGOW KISS returns! Drew reels Jimmy in, “This is your WrestleMania! This is as close as you get!” Drew shouts Jimmy is nothing, then ROCKS him with forearm after forearm! GLASGOW KISS! Another Reverse Alabama, but Jimmy victory rolls it! JIMMY WINS!!!
Winner: Jimmy Uso, by pinfall
Drew is furious, but his own ego caught him there! But then Drew CLOBBERS Jimmy! The fans boo Drew being a sore loser, but he puts Jimmy back in the ring! Drew rains down fists, then he DRIBBLES Jimmy off the mat! The ref reprimands, the fans boo, but Drew says that was Jimmy’s Mania Moment! Drew will win the Chamber, he will go to Mania, and he will win there! Jimmy means NOTHING to Drew! Drew puts Jimmy up against the post, then takes aim! The fans boo, but refs and producers rush out here! They swarm Drew to keep him from going after Jimmy again. Drew says fine, fine, then takes his leave.
Producers help Jimmy to his feet, but then Drew BLASTS through the refs! CLAYMORE for Jimmy!! The Scottish Terminator hits his target, then laughs as he actually leaves. Will McIntyre make this his Road to WrestleMania?
A car pulls into the parking lot.
And out steps Solo Sikoa. Solo heads inside, and he finds Jacob Fatu & Tama Tonga waiting. Solo tells them that last week with Tama, that was an accident. Jacob says yeah, it’s all good, Uce. But keep it 100: If it wasn’t an accident, Solo wouldn’t be standing here right now. Well, good! Glad to see we’re all on the same page. Solo says he will be in the corner during the match for Jacob & Tama. Uh, no, Solo, no disrespect, but Jacob & Tama have been running things on SmackDown these past couple weeks. So tonight, it’s Jacob & Solo running the play? Yadada mean? Yeah, of course. And that right there, Jacob, is exactly why Solo loves him.
Solo says he’ll be back, he has to talk with Nick Aldis. Solo heads out, but will he really just step right back into place from before he lost the ula fala?
Carmelo Hayes is backstage.
R-Truth calls out to Melo, and says for the first time ever, Truth VS Melo! What’s Truth talking about? Duh, they have a match. No, Truth, Melo knows. But they had a match last week. Truth says he has never met Melo in his life, but they have a tag match tonight. What? No, they don’t. Who even made this match? Him. Truth, they are not going through this H1M who’s on first thing again. Melo is H1M. No, him made the match. The Miz!? Miz says he’s H1M. So now there’s two of you? No no no! Melo is H1M, this is The Miz! Yeah, #MeloDon’tMiz! NO! That’s not a thing! Tonight, they are. Who’s Truth’s partner?
Truth says he’s got a guy. A Louisiana legend! In fact, he just got here, so Truth’s gotta go. Laters. Miz says he has been workshopping this, and the fans love it. Think about it: Melo Don’t Miz! Melo Don’t Miz! And we are…! Melo shakes his head. Truth steps in and says Miz just wants Melo to say, “Awesome.” Miz offers a fist bump, Melo says no. Will Melo wish he had missed tonight’s show? Or will Miz actually help H1M get another win?
Zelina Vega speaks.
“My whole life, people have taken one look at me, and they try to define me. My size has never stopped me before. It never stopped me from becoming tag team champion. Or my personal favorite, the history-making first-time-ever Queen of the Ring. That’s me. Make no mistake about it, I’ve never had it easy. I had to scratch and claw to get anything around here. But this is a fresh start. Because I have something to prove. And my dreams are a lot bigger than your measuring stick. It ain’t over until Zelina Vega says it’s over.”
The Miz & Carmelo Hayes VS R-Truth & ???
Miz makes his entrance but Melo kinda steps all over it. So he already missed his cue… But who did Truth find to team with him in the Big Easy? We’ll see, after the break.
SmackDown returns and Truth makes his entrance. “What’s up?” Well, more like who is his partner? He’ll tell us! His tag team partner is a local legend, born and bred right here in New Orleans! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Louisiana Knight! Wait, he means L A Knight! Yes, Louisiana abbreviated is LA, but that’s not… Oh, Truth… Truth gives Knight a Po’ Boy and some Mardi Gras beads, so Knight embraces it. The teams sort out, and Truth calls out him! Does he mean Miz or Melo? Well, Melo says he is H1M, so that’s who starts. The fans cheer on Knight while Truth and Melo tie up. Melo KNEES low, whips, but Truth reverses.
Melo springboards, FADEAWAY JUMPER! Melo makes his free throw, but Truth drop toeholds! Truth headlocks, Melo powers up and out but Truth whips! Melo turns hip toss into lateral press, TWO! Truth has a ghost pin, TWO! Melo trips to cover, ONE! Truth trips to cover, ONE! Melo runs up, Truth does the splits, and then hits a BIG hip toss! The fans fire up, Truth counts, Melo gets up at TWO, but Truth was just goofing. The ref explains to Truth that he is the ref, not Truth! Melo is annoyed, he runs up on Truth, but Truth wrenches him around! Melo pulls hair but Knight tags in. The fans fire up as Knight fires hands!
Knight ROCKS Melo, whips Melo, but Melo reverses! SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Knight drags Melo up to tag Truth back in, and Truth ROCKS Melo! Melo staggers, but he refuses to tag! Truth arm-drags Melo, then grinds the arm. Melo insists he’s got this, then arm-drags free. Truth staggers up, he and Melo bump heads! Truth staggers around more, and he tags Miz?! Truth forgot The Awesome Truth isn’t a thing anymore! Again! Melo BLASTS Truth off the apron, the fans boo, but Miz tags himself in! Melo is annoyed, but Miz goes to fetch Truth while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns again, and Melo has Truth. Truth ROCKS Melo, but Melo holds onto the wristlock! Truth reaches for Knight, Knight reaches for Truth, but Melo holds on. Truth takes a swing, but into an O’Conner Roll! TWO and Melo BLASTS Knight! Truth rolls Melo up, TWO! Melo kicks low, calls his shot, but Truth suplexes for a STUNNER! The fans fire up while both men are down! Truth and Melo crawl, hot tags to Miz and Knight! The fans fire up as Knight rallies on Miz! “YEAH! YEAH!” Knight whips, Miz reverses, but Knight lEAPING LARIATS! Knight TOSSES Melo in for good measure!
Knight stomps a mudhole into Melo, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” LARIAT for Miz! KNEE for Melo! Knight scoops and POWERSLAMS Miz! Knight keeps running, JUMP ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO! Knight stays on Miz as he brings Miz up. Knight ROCKS Miz, then ROCKS him again! Knight whips, Miz grabs the ropes. Miz KICKS, then takes a swing, but into a back suplex! Miz lands out, tag to Melo! Miz ELBOWS Knight, but Knight scoops! Miz tilt-o-whirls through, Melo SUPERKICKS Knight down! cover, TWO! Knight stays in this but Melo says he’s got this! Melo waits on Knight, then leaps, but NO 48!
Knight kicks low, but NO B F T! Tag to Truth! Knight ELBOWS Melo, Truth runs in! CENA SHOULDER TACKLES! Then the SPIN OUT BOMB! Truth says it’s time! “YOU CANT SEE ME~!” truth runs for the FIVE KNCUKLE SHUFFLE! Truth then fireman’s carries, but Melo slips free! Melo shoves, Truth dodges, and Truth hits the LIE DETECTOR! Truth then gets Melo in the S T R-TRUTH! But Miz CLOBBERS Truth! Knight ROCKS Miz, then LARIATS him up and out! Knight then goes out to THROW Miz into barriers! The fans fire up again, but NAKAMURA ATTACKS KNIGHT!
The fans boo, but the sinister samurai then POSTS Knight!! Nakamura slithers away while Melo keeps the ref’s attention! Truth sees Knight is down, Melo runs up, but Truth dodges! Miz tags in, full nelson, and a FIRST 48 FINALE COMBO?!? Cover, Miz & Melo win!!
Winners: The Miz & Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall
Well, what do you know? Nakamura aside, Miz and Melo made it work! Okay, they’re both trying to hog the spotlight, but is there a future for Melo Don’t Miz? Will Knight only have more of a reason to take that title off Nakamura now?
Charlotte Flair speaks.
“The GOAT… doesn’t have to call themselves The GOAT. Now, I have crafted a legacy that no one, I mean no one, can touch. And I’m back.” The Women’s Royal Rumble Winner chose Tiffany Stratton, but will The Queen take back her throne? Or will WWE always be on #TiffyTime? Speaking of…
Tiffany Stratton VS Candice LeRae!
The WWE Women’s Champion may have gotten past Nia Jax, but now she knows Charlotte Flair is waiting for her at WrestleMania, and is going to be teaming with Trish Stratus in Toronto! Will she be in Tiffy Top Shape for that Tiffy Trishy dream match? Or will the Poison Pixie be quite the problem all on her own?
Before the match, Tiff grabs a mic while the fans cheer. Tiffy says, “I know, I know. You know it, you know it, and you know it. Ever since I won this title, everybody’s just been so obsessed with me. And last week, I had Nia Jax beat, until Candice LeRae decided to interfere and help her little meal ticket. And at Elimination Chamber, Trish Stratus and I make sure the Unstoppable Force comes to a definitive end!” The fans cheer that, but Tiff says enough about them. Let’s talk Charlotte Flair. The fans boo that name, but Tiff says Charlotte took her sweet old time, grabbed a chair, grabbed a mic, and she looked down on Tiff.
Charlotte chose Tiff as her WrestleMania opponent. In that moment, Tiff’s dream came true! And as she lied down there and looked up at Charlotte, she realized the rumors are true: No one loves to kick a girl when she’s down quite like Charlotte Flair. So at WrestleMania, Tiff isn’t coming for Charlotte’s legacy; that’s all Charlotte’s. Tiff is coming for the spot Charlotte desires the most: The number one spot as the top girl in the WWE! But here comes Nia & Candice to interrupt. Nia has a mic to tell Tiffy, “I Have to say, this is really cute. Like, it’s really cute that you actually think you were gonna beat me last week.”
Doesn’t Candice think that is cute? Candice says yes, it is so~ cute. And Tiff wouldn’t even be standing there if not for little Trish Stratus~. Exactly! And it’s even cuter that Tiff is out here talking about Charlotte when she wont’ even see WrestleMania! Because after Nia & Candide destroy Tiff at Elimination Chamber, Nia is coming back for her WWE Women’s Championship. Nia & Candice step up to the ring, and Nia says Tiff won’t even see the Grandest Stage of Them All. Tiff tells Nia to just give it up. This title isn’t even hers anymore. And once Tiff beats Candice tonight, Nia won’t have anyone to do her dirty work anymore!
Candice tells Tiffy that while they’re meant have a match right now, she and Nia are feeling impatient. Nia says they should just get rid of Tiff right now! But the ref steps in and says not gonna happen! Tiff VS Candice will, after the break.
SmackDown returns and Candice has Tiffy down with an armlock. Tiff fights up as the fans rally, but Candice wrenches to wristlock. Tiff spins through, goes to ropes, then up the corner to flip and arm-drag! The fans fire up as Tiff rallies on Candice! DROPKICK, and Tiff snarls! Tiff goes to the corner, and Charlotte makes her entrance? The Queen chooses to be fashionably late all so everyone looks at her, including Tiffy. Tiffy handsprings, but Candice dodges! Candice runs up to UPPERCUT, then she snapmares and NECK SNAPPERS! Jackknife bridge, TWO! Candice clamps onto Tiffy with a top wristlock.
The fans “WOO~” as Charlotte now chooses to join commentary. Tiff fights up, has the ROPEBREAK, but Candice CLUBS away on her! Candice backs off, runs up, but Tiff drop toeholds her to ropes! Tiff runs, HIP ATTACKS, and Candice flops back! Cover, TWO! Tiff stays on Candice with a whip, but Candice reverses. Candice CLOBBERS Tiff, covers, TWO! Charlotte corrects Tiffy’s words earlier: Charlotte isn’t the “top girl,” she is THE woman in WWE. Candice HIP DROPS Tiff but the fans rally up. Candice scuffs Tiff, then grinds an arm to drop a knee on the elbow! And another knee drop! Tiff endures and the fans rally up.
Candice keeps on that arm, thrashes it around, but Tiff fights up. Tiff fires body shots, then shoves Candice to Alabama Lift her! Candice sunset flips, Tiff rolls through, TIFFY STOMPS! Cover, TWO! Tiff is frustrated and Candice bails out. Tiff goes to the apron, goes up the corner, and ARIHARA MOONSAULTS! Direct hit on Candice and Nia, and Tiff almost stuck the landing! The fans fire up with Tiff and she goes into the ring. Tiff points to the WrestleMania sign, and then at Charlotte, but SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Tiff waits on Candice, Candice slides in, and Tiff stomps her down! Candice bails out, Nia is there to coach her, but Tiff lets the ring count start. Candice gets on the apron, Tiff kicks her, but Candice RAMS Tiff! Candice CLUBS Tiff, has her in the ropes, and hits a NECKBREAKER HOTSHOT! Candice climbs, aims, and leaps to MISSILE DROPKICK Tiff down! Cover, TWO! Candice is frustrated but this is why Tiff’s a champ. The fans rally, but Candice stomps Tiff! Candice scowls at the fans, stalks Tiff, then brings her up. Tiff fires body shots, then she rolls Candice up! TWO, and Candice CLOBBERS Tiff! Cover, TWO, into a ghost pin! TWO!
Candice escapes to hit a CODE BREAKER! Both women are down, but Candice scowls again as she crawls over to Tiff. Candice rains down fists, Nia tells fans to shut up, and Candice steps on Tiff’s face. Candice huffs ‘n’ puffs, pushes Tiff around, then scuffs her. Tiff rolls Candice up again, TWO! Candice DECKS Tiff! Cover, TWO! Charlotte is stoic on commentary as Candice drags Tiff up and puts her in a corner. Candice fires hands, then backs off. Candice runs up to ROCK Tiff again! Candice then runs, but Tiff dodges! SmackDown returns to single picture, and Tiff rallies with LARIAT after LARIAT! The fans fire up, Tiff handsprings, BACK ELBOW!
Tiff then reels Candice in for a SKY HIGH! High stack, TWO! The fans rally for Tiff, Nia coaches Candice, but Charlotte still seems nonplussed. Tiff and Candice rise, and Candice runs up. Candice puts Tiff on the apron, but Tiff ROCKS her! Tiff bumps Candice off buckles, then goes up, but Candice ROCKS her back! Candice climbs up, and she fires hands on Tiff! Tiff fights the suplex! Tiff DECKS Candice, then adjusts position, to SANTON- FLOP! Candice ghost pins, TWO!! Tiff escapes, but Candice hits the step-up SENTON! And then a LIONSAUL FLOP! Tiff hurries to fireman’s carry, ROLLING SENTON! And then PRETTIEST MOON- NO, Nia drags Candice out of the ring!
The fans boo, Nia tells them to shut up, but Tiff is on the apron! Nia swings, Tiff cartwheels over, and then she DROPKICKS Nia! Tiff Alabama Lifts Candice, to ALABAMA SLAM her into barriers! Tiff stares down Charlotte, tells her just wait for Mania, then she puts Candice in the ring. Tiff goes to the corner, PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Cover, Tiff wins!
Winner: Tiffany Stratton, by pinfall
Charlotte gives moderate applause, but Nia CLOBBERS Tiff from behind! The fans boo, but Nia just drags Tiff to a corner. Nia goes up, but wait! Trish is here!! The fans fire up for the legend as she rushes into the ring! Trish avoids a haymaker to CHICK KICK! Then THESZ PRESS for Candice! And then a SPINEBUSTER! Trish helps Tiff to her feet, but Nia grabs them both! Trish fires fast hands on Nia! Candice CHOP BLOCKS Trish! Tiff is still dazed, Nia HEADBUTTS her back down! Nia & Candice mug Trish, and then Nia HEADBUTTS Trish! Trish & Tiff are side by side, and Nia drags them into the drop zone! A-NIA-LATOR!!
The fans boo but there’s nothing can be done! Nia grins as she helps Candice away, will these two trash Trish & Tiff in Toronto? Charlotte steps into the ring, stands over Tiff, and points to the WrestleMania sign. Will The Irresistible Force & Poison Pixie unwittingly do the dirty work of The Queen of Flair?
Cody talks with Damian Priest backstage.
Priest asks why Cody’s boy, The Rock, is here tonight. Cody says given the time of year, his guess is as good as anyone’s. But tonight will surely be eventful. Cody congratulates Priest on entering the Elimination Chamber. Priest says what’s wild is, last year, they both walked out as champions. What sucks is that this year, only one of them can. Now, Priest is man enough and he respects Cody to say that after Chamber, he’s coming for that title. Cody says he wouldn’t have it any other way. Cody heads out, but what business does The Rock have tonight?
Braun Strowman steps in, and he tells Priest that congrats on winning, and good luck in the Chamber. But let’s be honest, Braun had Jacob dead to rights last week. If not for Solo Sikoa, things would look a lot different next week. Priest chuckles and says take it easy, he’s sounding like Drew with the excuses. But it is what it is, Priest just beat Braun to the punch. But that was last week. Tonight, Solo and Jacob, two of the baddest men in the business. Priest & Braun handling business? Oh, they’re handling business. The only business Braun cares about is getting his hands on those two. Priest says Braun definitely will.
Braun heads out, will the Monster of All Monsters and the Archer of Infamy make sure Solo & Jacob #GetTheseHands? Or will the rogues run roughshod all over SmackDown once again?
Backstage interview with Naomi & Bianca Belair.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions and brings up last week’s SmackDown, the security footage led us to believe Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez were the ones behind Jade Cargill’s attack. Now, hold on, Saxton. They don’t think, Naomi knows they were. Fair enough. But this Monday, they can get their revenge when they defend the tag titles against Liv & Raquel. How ready are they for this match? Bianca says so ready! They have been waiting for months for an update. Jade has been recovering, she hasn’t been able to call or text, so the GlowEST took matters into their own hands to get revenge.
Bianca & Naomi will handle Liv & Raquel, then move on to Elimination Chamber, where one of them is gonna win to face Rhea at WrestleMania. Not only will you #FeelTheGlowEST on Monday, but Liv feels it tonight! #Let’sGLOW! The champs head out, but will they clear their Road to WrestleMania of any other distractions?
Alexa Bliss speaks.
“When I was away, there was a lot of… change that happened in me. But when I look around, I see this place is still the same. The names and faces may be different, but the desperation and insecurity remains the same. You’ll see Toronto when I turn the Elimination Chamber into something of a playground of my own. I know the Chamber. I love the Chamber. I’ve won the Chamber. And for the other five women, it’s gonna be a Hell like they’ve never experienced before. Need I remind you, this is my division, and I am in charge.” Bliss smiles and says, “See you soon.” The film comes off the reel, but will things get twisted in Toronto?
Naomi w/ Bianca Belair VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez!
The Big Easy is all about having fun, and they’re fired up for Naomi’s entrance. But wait! Liv & Raquel don’t wait, they attack Bianca & Naomi while the lights are still down! They mug Naomi, but Bianca drags Liv out of the ring! Then Bianca storms in to fire off on Raquel! The fans fire up, but Liv returns to CHOP BLOCK Bianca! Raquel hauls Bianca up for a TEJANA BOMB!! Naomi runs up, fires more hands, but Liv brings Naomi around. Naomi fires hands on her, but Raquel throws her down! Liv runs up, OBLIVION!
Liv & Raquel stand tall, the refs rush out here, but clearly the singles match isn’t happening. Will we be getting something even meaner and nastier between these four on Monday?
The Rock arrives!
His truck pulls into the parking lot, but we’ll see him in the ring, after the break!
SmackDown returns and…
Aldis is chewing out Liv & Raquel for the attack. He doesn’t know what they get away with on Raw, but they can’t pull that crap here. Now get the hell out of his building. Liv & Raquel just laugh that off, but then Chelsea Green & Piper Niven walk in. Chelsea says have no fear, Chelsea & Piper are here to sub in for Bianca and Naomi at Elimination Chamber. Aldis sighs, and says they’re not missing the Chamber. What? But Chelsea had an outfit picked out! This is a travesty to not have the greatest Canadian export since maple syrup on a Canadian PLE! Does he know who she is? The first-ever, longest reigning, tallest, shortest, prettiest, richest, tannest, sparkliest, oldest, youngest Women’s US Champion! Piper asks what this is aboot, eh?
Aldis says this is them testing his patience. They need to pack their gear and whatever else they want, because they’ll be in action next week on SmackDown in Toronto. And oh, it’ll be a good one. Wait, they need more details! At least an e-calendar notification? Aldis is leaving Chelsea in the dark on what’s coming, will she absolutely hate it?
The Rock heads to the ring!
Wait, what is this New Orleans related remix? The Final Boss steps out on stage, he shows those goosebumps, then continues down the ramp, shaking hands with fans. The Rock hits his signature pose on the corner, but then takes the long way around to pick up a fan’s phone for them before going back into the ring. The fans all cheer for “ROCKY! ROCKY!” and he grabs himself a mic. He waits as the fans continue to chant his name, and then he says, “Ahh, you feel it, don’t you? You feel it. The Rock has got chills up and down his body because you know, on a Friday night, for the Final Boss to get inside his bird and fly all the way here, you know that I’m dropping some ish on you tonight!”
The fans fire up and The Rock smiles. Rock says, “Let’s get this show on the road.” The fans anticipate what’s coming but he says hold on, he’ll do it. “FINALLY! The Rock has come back…” “TO NEW ORLEANS~!” Rock smiles, and he adds, FINALLY, WrestleMania is coming back to New Orleans!! The fans are thunderous to hear that! WrestleMania 30, WrestleMania 34, and now WrestleMania 42!? Yes, next year, 2026, LIVE from the Superdome! One of the greatest cities on Earth in New Orleans, Louisiana! The pyro goes off to commemorate the occasion, and the logo is already on the tron! Rock smiles at that, then he smiles at the WrestleMania 41 Vegas logo.
The fans are losing their minds, as we now know April 11th and 12th, 2026, the Big Easy has the Grandest Stage of Them All. Rock says you damn right holy ish! Oh when the saints go marching in…! Oh how I’d love… Wait, no, this ain’t singalong with The Final Boss! Sit there, shut up, and let The Final Boss sing the song! The fans are torn, but Rock says he sings! Oh how I’d love, to be in that number~! Oh when the saints go marching in~! Okay, that’s good enough. You got him, that was a great duet. The Rock is singing with the largest collection of STD’d trailer trash he has ever seen! The fans can’t believe Rock would do that to them!
Rock says now, dropping this news wasn’t the only gift he was going to drop on us. The Final Boss came here to call somebody out. The Rock will call out a man who he respects, who he admires, and who we all admire. That man is our WWE Champion, the one and only, Cody Rhodes. The fans cheer as The American Nightmare makes his entrance! They sing along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” and we get Cody’s pyro before he goes to the ring. Cody gets his second “WHOA~ OH~!” and round of pyro, then he steps inside to join The Rock. The fans cheer Cody on, so he holds up the title and the fans cheer even more.
Cody grabs a mic, but Rock says, “That feels good, doesn’t it? I mean, that’s gotta feel amazing, right? They love you, man.” Cody tells NOLA, “I love you, too.” Rock says this is crazy. Pretty much no one knows this, but since after WrestleMania last year, they’ve actually become good friends. No, it’s true, they have. Last time they were together was the Raw Netflix debut. Rock gave Cody his flowers, told Cody he has carried the company like the incredible champion that he is, so thank you, Cody. Rock meant it, and that night, they went to the back, drank tequila for two hours and had a great ol’ time.
They chopped it up, had a blast, but Rock wants to call Cody out here for something important. Here’s the thing… The fans get a bit rowdy as they wait, and Rock says Cody is a great champion. A great WWE Champion. Cody knows that. Again, they’ve become good friends, so over the months, they’ve texted. Even their moms became good friends! Look! Mama Johnson & Mama Rhodes together after WrestleMania 40! It is a pleasure becoming Cody’s friend. But Rock wanted this face to face to tell him a few things. One: Cody has been a great champion, but he needs to understand. Yes, The Rock, The Final Boss, is on the Board of TKO. And TKO owns WWE.
The Rock is the Director of the Board of TKO. Don’t boo that! The Rock’s good friend, Ari Emanuel, who owns everything Endeavor, The Rock joked with Ari, “Can you believe that you own The WWE?” Ari says he doesn’t own the WWE, The Rock does. Rock said no, no, he doesn’t know if he owns the WWE. But The Rock knows he is the most powerful… Cody, you are a great champion. But Rock wants Cody to be something more. Rock wants Cody to be something more than just our champion. Rock wants Cody to be his champion. The fans don’t like where that’s going.
Cody says he did not expect them to become friends, nor their moms to become friends, nor the tequila. Cody didn’t have that on his bingo card. But becoming The Rock’s champion? The Rock of all people should know, Cody is the people’s champion. The fans cheer Cody more, and Rock says yes! Cody is their champion! Of course! The Rock is also The People’s Champion, he loves that about Cody. This is their universe, they were both born into this business. But Rock means something even bigger than just this. Rock knows Cody’s goal is to bring as much joy and happiness to everyone around the world, as many as possible.
The fans cheer, and Rock says that’s Cody. Cody is that guy, and everyone knows it. Cody is on social media, Instagram, millions of followers. Millions, and millions! The Rock has half a BILLION. That’s not a flex. But The Rock is the most followed American man in the world, that’s what he wants for Cody. Rock wants Cody to be even higher. If Cody becomes The Rock’s Champion, he will open doors to possibilities Cody never even imagined. If Cody becomes The Rock’s Champion, every dream he has ever had can come true. Every dream of Brandi’s, of their daughter’s. Think about how Rock brought them to the premiere of Moana 2, in Hawaii.
Thank you, by the way, for making that cross a BILLION dollars, fans, Rock loves you. Rock has met the Rhodes family, they’re amazing. But imagine it: Cody’s daughter’s children, their dreams, long after Rock and Cody are gone, all those dreams can come true. Rock just needs Cody to be his champion. The fans say don’t do it! Rock tells Cody to just think about it, though. Rock is a very lucky man, he has it all. Cody also has it all. They’re very fortunate. They’re Mama’s Boys, they’re Girl Dads, they’re lucky men. Fans say don’t do it, Rock tells them to shut up or he’ll slap the syphilis off their face! Rock is trying to have a moment here, shut your mouths!
The one thing that Rock has never had, that he wants more than anything, is a brother. And that is what Cody can be. Last year, WrestleMania, Rock’s goal was to face his cousin, Roman Reigns, for the title. Cody knows, the fans know. Rock talked with his friend, HHH. He talked with Nick Khan, who is his friend. They are also Cody’s friends. Rock knew it wasn’t in the plans, but they talked about moving Cody aside to make what was best for business: Rock VS Roman, WrestleMania 40! What’d Cody do? Cody pitched a b*tch fit! Cody told The Rock he ain’t doing it, and he stood up to The Rock. And y’know what else? Cody SLAPPED Rock!
No one does that and gets away with it. But that is why Cody is special. That is why Cody should be Rock’s Champion. And that is why Rock will take Cody from where he is to a level so far above. Rock will make sure every dream, every desire, for generations to come, it all comes true. Rock’s dad, Cody’s dad, Soul Man & American Dream, they are looking down right now. They were friends, Cody and Rock are friends, Cody should be Rock’s Champion. He doesn’t need to answer Rock tonight. He can think about it, talk with his wife and daughter, as will The Rock. Then Cody can think about it. Meet Rock in Toronto on March 1st to give him the answer.
Fans still say don’t do it, but Rock says it is okay. Before he leaves, this has been an amazing night, this is a hot crowd, thank you all very much. But before he leaves, Rock wants us to know this: The one thing Rock wants more than anything in this world… is that. Wait, the title? Cody’s title? The fans’ title? This is all this is about? No no no no! Brother… Rock doesn’t want the title. He wants Cody’s soul. The fans duel, “NO! NO! NO!” “SELL YOUR SOUL!” Rock pats Cody on the cheek and says see you in Toronto. The Rock leaves, giving Cody a lot to think about. Rock does give one last glance back at Cody, then smirks.
What will The American Nightmare choose: His integrity? Or his aspirations?
WWE Tag Team Championships: #DIY VS Pretty Deadly!
Did Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano got these titles thanks to Kit Wilson & Elton Prince? #YESBOY! Did they survive a couple title defenses thanks to Kit & Elton? #YESBOY! But when Pretty Deadly needed DIY, was DIY there for them? #NOBOY! So now, Kit & Elton are looking to give Ciampa & Gargano their comeuppance! Will we finally get another #SidePlateCheck? Or will Ciampa & Gargano remember for themselves, that if you wanna be champions, you gotta do it yourself?
But as DIY make their entrance, they have mics, and Johnny Wrestling tells NOLA, “Give it up one time for your TWO-TIME WWE Tag Team Champions…! The BTTITW (Best Tag Team In The World), D I Y~!” The fans boo instead. Ciampa says there is no denying that tonight has been electrifying. Gargano says this is a hot crowd. But please, if we could be somber for a second. Guys, this is serious. Two weeks ago, Pretty Deadly embarrassed DIY, and now reluctantly, DIY will return that favor by crushing their hopes and dreams of ever becoming WWE Tag Team Champions. So please, let us all rise to our feet… Yes, you in the LSU jersey, stand up.
Ciampa thanks Wade Barrett, and asks for everyone to remove their hands and bow their heads for a moment of silence for Pretty Deadly, beginning… now. The fans boo instead! And then Pretty Deadly make their entrance! The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who really needed who in this broken relationship!
But then DIY jumps Pretty Deadly! The ref reprimands, DIY whip but Pretty Deadly reverses! DOUBLE DORPKICKS! Then DOUBLE LARIATS send DIY up and out! The disco ball hasn’t even stopped spinning! The fans cheer while DIY throw a fit! They regroup, cool down, and go back to the ring. Gargano distracts Elton, Ciampa CLOBBERS him, and the bell rings. But Elton fires hands on Ciampa! Elton whips, Ciampa reverses and he pulls hair! The ref reprimands, Ciampa throws Elton to the apron and KNEES him down! Tag to Gargano and he aims, SUPERKICK! Elton goes down in a heap, DIY cheers themselves on, and SmackDown goes to break!
SmackDown returns, Gargano tags in, and DIY hits the BACK SUPLEX BOMBO COMBO! Cover, TWO! Elton stays in this but Gargano tags Ciampa back in. Gargano sends Ciampa in, but Elton ELBOWS him away! Gargano runs in, but Elton puts him on the apron! Gargano goes after Kit, but Kit blocks the kick! Kit BOOTS Gargano down, but then Ciampa BOOTS Kit! Elton dodges Ciampa to come back, DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Elton and Ciampa are down, sputtering and writhing, and the fans rally up. Elton crawls, Kit rises, hot tags to Kit and Gargano! Kit rallies on DIY with big forearms! Kit whips, Gargano reverses, Kit UPPERCUTS!
Kit UPPERCUTS Ciampa in a corner, then LARIATS! Kit runs to LARIAT Gargano! Kit pushes Gargano down, kicks him and hits a TWIST- NO, Gargano slips through to ROCK Kit! Kit yoyos, DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up, Kit tags Elton! They get Gargano up, but Gargano BOOTS Elton! Gargano ELBOWS Kit away, then runs up on Elton! Elton dodges, then gives Kit the boost, DRY MARTI-KNEES! Cover, TWO!! Gargano survives but Ciampa is in! Elton fireman’s carries Ciampa, but Ciampa slips free! Ciampa whips, Elton reverses, Kit UPPERCUTS Ciampa! Elton shows off his strength with the GOTCH LIFT PLEX!
Tag to Kit, but IN COME THE PROFITS! Ford SHOVES Kit down, Dawkins mugs him!!
Winners: Pretty Deadly, by disqualification; DIY retain the titles
Not again! Just like they did Motor City Machine Guns, The Profits make sure no one else takes these titles off DIY! URENAGE from Ford to Elton! Dawkins keeps hammering away on Kit, and then Ford POSTS Elton! Dawkins fireman’s carries Kit, to POST him, too! Looking like the All Mighty with that one! Gargano fires forearms in return, but ends up int he POUNCE GERMAN SUPLEX! Then Ciampa runs up into a FLAPJACK! Ford goes up top, then flies in FROM THE HEAVENS!! Direct hit on Ciampa! But wait! MCMG rushes out here, wanting their payback! The Profits brawl with MCMG, but Ford TOSSES Shelley to the apron!
Ford runs up, Shelley goes to kick, but Ford blocks it! Ford LARIATS Shelley down, Dawkins hits Sabin with THE BIG ENDING! The fans are torn as Dawkins whips Sabin, Profits get him for the REVELATION!! And if there’s been any revelation, it is that Ford & Dawkins don’t just want the smoke, they want to burn down the tag division to get it! Will nothing stop them once they’re back in action?
Kevin Owens speaks.
“You got what you wanted, huh? You got your match. You couldn’t, uh… You couldn’t just take the punishment that you deserved, that I’d already given you, and let it go. No, you… You wanted me and you to go again. You wanted to fight me, you want to hurt me, you want to end my career, which would hurt my family, by the way. Which is truly despicable. But what about your family, Sami? Huh? Have you thought of them? What about your family, huh?” Kevin reveals he is right outside the Zayn home! Kevin peers inside to watch Sami, his wife, and his son!
Kevin asks Sami via the video if Sami knows what he’s about to put them through, when they have to watch Kevin end Sami’s career. And what happens then, eh? When Sami can’t provide for them, and everything they have, like this nice house, the shelter, the security, the peace they have, when it’s all gone? And why? What for? Because Sami’s too proud? Because Sami’s selfish? Sami IS selfish. Because Sami is making Kevin do this to Sami’s family. Kevin will never forgive Sami for that. He’ll see Sami in Toronto. “But remember… You asked for this. It’s all your fault.” As if Kevin’s delusions aren’t already grand, will he continue to blame everyone else but himself?
Damian Priest & Braun Strowman VS Solo Sikoa & Jacob Fatu w/ Tama Tonga!
Elimination Chamber is on the horizon, and the Road to WrestleMania makes for strange bedfellows. Priest, Braun and Jacob were fighting each other just last week, but Solo’s return really threw things for a loop. Can Priest & Braun give Solo and the Samoan Werewolf their punishment? Or will everything (not) be fine in Solo’s Bloodline?
SmackDown returns as #OneBigSOB makes his entrance. As Solo, Jacob & Tama head to gorilla, we hear from Solo. “Tonight, we handle business. And it starts with Braun Strowman & Damian-” Jacob interrupts with, “Man, c’mon, DP! C’mon, Braun! I thought we did this! So tonight, we about to even up the score. If you ain’t know, I’m all gas, no brakes with it! See, since we touched the scene, we been dropping bodies like bread crumbs! Yadada mean!? FA-TUUU~! Hit my music!” The rogues enter to Jacob’s theme, is this alone proof he’s the new alpha? Or will the match be the last nail in that coffin?
The teams sort out, but Jacob stares down both Priest and Braun. NOLA seems to acknowledge Jacob, but Solo convinces him to stand down. Solo starts against Priest, the bell rings, and the two tie up. They go around, Priest powers Solo back, but Solo powers Priest back. They break, stare down, and Solo talks some trash. Solo shoves Priest, Priest shoves back. They circle again, tie up, and Priest puts Solo in a corner. The ref counts, Priest lets off at 4, but Solo stomps Priest’s foot! Solo throws hands, then a HEADBUTT! Priest staggers, but then he ROCKS Solo! And ROCKS him! And HEADBUTTS! That was a mistake!
Solo shakes his head to HEADBUTT Priest! Priest goes to a corner, Solo throws haymakers and body shots on repeat! The ref counts, Solo lets off and says see? Solo and Jacob as one! But Priest THROWS Solo to the corner to fire off haymakers of his own! Priest ROCKS Solo, the fans fire up, and Priest whips., Solo reverses to UPPERCUT! Solo talks smack but Priest ROCKS him again! Tag to Braun and the fans fire up! Braun stares Jacob down, tells him to shove it, then runs up to SPLASH Solo! Braun stares Jacob down again, goes back for Solo, and hits another LARIAT! Braun scoops, Solo slips free, but Braun runs up!
Solo ELBOWS Braun away, tags to Jacob, and Jacob runs in, but Braun dodges! Braun CROSSBODIES! Jacob is right up, but Braun BOOTS him right back down! Solo runs in but Braun TOSSES him! Priest hurries after Solo, Braun CLOBBERS Jacob! LEAPING LARIAT for Solo! Braun then gets on the track, STROWMAN EXPRESS SMACKS a chair out of Tama’s hand! The Good Bad Guy thought he was being sneaky! But then Jacob CROSSBODIES Braun into the timekeeper’s aera! The fans go wild as Jacob rises up, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Jacob hauls Braun up, drags him around the way, HEADBUTTS him, then brings him over to SMACK off the desk! Braun staggers, but he ROCKS Jacob in return! And THROWS Jacob into steel steps! Braun drags Jacob up, puts him in the ring, but Jacob SUPERKICKS Braun! Braun falls into the corner, Jacob HIP ATTACKS! Jacob’s all geeked up, then he tags in Solo. Solo soaks up some heat while Jacob HIP ATTACKS Braun again! Solo puts Braun on ropes to CHOKE him! The ref counts, Solo stops at 4, but Jacob gets a HEADBUTT in! Braun flounders, Solo taunts him and eggs him on, but Braun CHOPS him!
Solo HEADBUTTS Braun right down! Solo rains down fists, then lets off so he can put Braun on the ropes. Solo CHOKES Braun again, stops as the ref counts 4, and Jacob gets another cheap shot in! Solo tags Jacob in, then he HEADBUTTS Braun again and again! Jacob runs to BODY CHECK Braun! Jacob fires up, Braun flounders to ropes, but Jacob rains down fists! Tag to Solo, he soaks up heat from NOLA, then he stomps away on Braun! The ref counts, Solo lets off, then he keeps Braun from Priest by anchoring a leg. Tag to Jacob and Jacob climbs up, FROG SPLASH! Jacob roars while Braun writhes!
Jacob looms over Braun but he glares at Priest. Priest gets heated, but Jacob fires hands on Braun as SmackDown returns to single picture. Braun stands, but Jacob HEADBUTTS him again! Jacob runs for another BODY CHECK! And then a SENTON! Cover, TWO! Braun stays in this and he goes to a corner. Jacob snarls, tags Solo in, and the fans boo. Solo runs corner to corner to HIP ATTACK Braun! Solo grins as he copies Jacob’s geeking out. Tag back to Jacob and fans cheer! Jacob aims, runs, and HIP ATTACKS! Jacob keeps going, but Braun BOOTS from below!! The fans fire up while both men stagger to their feet.
Braun SPINEBUSTERS Jacob! Both monsters are down, the fans rally up, and they crawl, hot tags to Solo and Priest! Priest fires hands on Solo, then whips. Solo reverses but Priest SHOUDLER TACKLES Solo! Priest runs to BACK ELBOW! Jacob is back, but Priest dodges to WHEEL KICK! Priest then waits on Solo, but Solo catches Priest! Priest elbows free, but Solo SUPERKICKS! But Priest JUMPING ROUNDHOUSES! Solo comes back, Priest ROCKS him first! Solo swings, but into the FLATLINER! Cover, TWO! Solo survives but Priest puts him in a corner. Priest whips corner to corner, then runs, only for Solo to put him on th eapron!
Solo takes as swing, Priest dodges and ROUNDHOUSES! Priest then knuckle locks with Solo, goes up top, and he tightrope walks for some OLD SCHOOL! The fans fire up and Priest powers up the arm! Priest runs, but Solo ducks the Comebacker! Priest fights the fireman’s carry to BELL CLAP, ROUNDHOUSE, and then he reels Solo in! But Tama is on the apron! Priest DECKS Tama, but Jacob HOTSHOTS Priest! Solo hits the URENAGE! Cover, TWO!! Priest survives and Solo is stunned! Solo snarls, looks to his taped-up thumb, then he drags Priest up. The fans boo but Solo taunts the fans now. SAMOAN- NO! Priest grabs Solo!
But Jacob runs in! Priest ROCKS Jacob, ELBOWS Solo, then he dodges, so Jacob’s SUPERKICK hits Solo! An accident just like last week’s shot to Tama, but Jacob doesn’t seem as upset by it. Priest TOSSES Jacob, then CLOBBERS Solo! STROWMAN EXPRESS CLOBBERS Jacob & Tama!! Priest brings down the straps, the fans are thunderous, and Priest grabs Solo by the neck! SOUTH OF HEAVEN!! Cover, Priest & Braun win!
Winners: Damian Priest & Braun Strowman, by pinfall
Just as Solo thought it’d be like before, he and Jacob were not on the same page! Priest is rolling towards Elimination Chamber, will this be just what he needs to go back to WrestleMania?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown here, but with some interesting moves after the sudden change in plans with The Rock showing up. Naomi and Bianca had a good promo to hype up what was meant to be a full match of Naomi VS Liv, but word had already come out before the show that things were being cut for time. But at the very least, they did the right thing of making it a brawl that adds heat to the tag title match on Monday. Also, hilarious how Chelsea & Piper thought the beatdown on Bianca & Naomi was so bad that they would need to be pulled from the Chamber. I also can’t wait to see what happens on Toronto SmackDown.
As for The Rock, I do appreciate he used his authority to kayfabe change more things, all so he could have his promo with Cody. I also appreciate Rock blending his different roles and even different sides, both Heel and Face, to A) bring the news of WM42 being in NOLA, and B) recreate the Corporate Champion/People’s Champion story from the Attitude Era. That was some wild stuff he was saying to Cody. I’m sure quite a few people will try and talk with Cody next week in the go-home. Heels will say do it because they’d love to have what Rock can give, Faces will say not because Cody’s better than that. But naturally, Cody is not going to become The Rock’s Champion, causing Rock to turn on him and really up things going into WrestleMania 41 and perhaps even beyond.
Good stuff in the Elimination Chamber related stories. Jimmy VS McIntyre was great stuff to open, and how fitting that McIntyre loses to Jimmy after talking all that trash about Jimmy and Jey being the same. Jey got McIntyre with something quick, Jimmy got McIntyre with something quick, McIntyre’s ego is obviously his weakness. And at the same time, McIntyre of course destroys Jimmy after because that’s his other personality trait. Priest had good promos with Cody and Braun, and we got great stuff from Solo’s Bloodline. Naturally, we got a miscommunication spot to help finish, we’re really close to Solo VS Jacob, I can feel it. Priest & Braun get the win, mostly because Priest isn’t winning in the Chamber when you’ve got Punk and Cena in there.
Very good stuff with Tiffy Time, from the promos leading into the match to Charlotte being ringside just to watch. Nia & Candice of course get the better of Tiff & Trish, because Tiff & Trish are definitely winning the tag match in Toronto. Charlotte just seems to enjoy trolling Tiff with her presence, so Charlotte probably shows up in Toronto to then confront Tiff after the match. I expect the seven weeks after Elimination Chamber to really heat up, as will Charlotte’s involvement, where she’ll get more active verbally and physically. Also, hell, Rock should go full Corporation and have Charlotte be his Corporate Women’s Champion because of how established she is.
Hilarious stuff from Truth tonight, as always. Truth and Melo having their “who’s on first” again was good stuff, and of course Miz gets in on this story, too. Truth & Knight VS “Melo Don’t Miz” was really fun, but yeah, should’ve figured Nakamura would get involved, too. Melo & Miz making it work could also be really fun, and while Knight VS Nakamura is a rehash, I really hope they find a way to up things. It feels like we’re getting the same with the tag titles as Profits “ruined” that great tag match from DIY and Pretty Deadly, then brawled with MCMG to still come out on top. Last year had a ladder tag title match, so why not do one for these titles this year?
Speaking of escalating, Kevin filming a promo outside Sami’s house was some really well done stuff, as expected of someone as good as Kevin and in such a story as him and Sami. Their match should main event, it needs time to breathe, as it could be just as, if not more violent, than the Chamber matches. What a powerful closing moment we could have if it’s a bloody Kevin and Sami, and one of them is standing over the other, triumphant yet mournful because it was their best friend in the world that they just brutalized.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA LIVE! iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 2.20.2025
So the first live episode got fairly positive praise from everyone; will this continue the trend?
Filming at Full Sail seems to have set the stage nicely this week! Going into a Live episode we got Moose and The Hardy Boyz on NXT, as well as Jordynne Grace’s involvement with Steph and Giulia giving a little shine to TNA happenings since she’s newly WWE.
This episode should be interesting, we finally see Lei Ying Lee (fka Xia Li) back in action, Rascalz take on Tyson and Tyriek, Tessa should be seeing some action as well…so generally interesting happenings for the second Live iMPACT! of 2025. Let’s see how this one goes down!
No matter where @ManceWarner and @stephdelander go, @TheSamiCallihan WILL FIND THEM!
Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/NY8HgI02kY pic.twitter.com/mXz9U7m9PL
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 21, 2025
Ratings:
- Tyson & Tyriek w/Wes Lee vs The Rascalz w/Ace Austin: Rascalz win via Meteora/Swanton Combo – ***
- Lei Ying Lee vs Rosemary: Lei wins via Thunderstruck – **
- NoDQ Match: Leon Slater vs JDC: Dango wins via The System help – ** 3/4
- Masha Slamovich vs Mila Moore: Masha wins via Requiem – N/A
- Elijah & Joe Hendry vs The Colons: Elijah wins via Tombstone Piledriver – *** 1/4
Results:
Oh yeah, and another Hendry concert is…cut off by a commercial, LOLTNA. First Hendry is cut off by AXSTV’s new Anime Hour bumper, and now Primo and Epico are showing up in TNA. I definitely didn’t have this on my BINGO card. The crowd starts chanting “Where’s Carlito”, which they do acknowledge and play off of well. Oh they’re using their shoot names of Orlando and Eddie now…but before they attack the lights go out and we get another guitar strum! ELIAH/ELIAS/EZEKIEL/EBENERZER/EMERY/EL VAGABUNDO – shows up to back up Hendry. Okay I can apologize away the redundant concert since it played into an Elijah debut. The crowd is immediately popping and chanting “This is Awesome” 10 minutes into the show.
Tyson & Tyriek w/Wes Lee vs The Rascalz w/Ace Austin
Treehouse bros take it to the bigger men quickly, a few fast dives, a little MCMG style tandem strikes, Tyson fires and tries to take them out but they Low Bridge him. Tyriek comes in and they try similar things but Tyriek manhandles them both and throws them out of the ring, Trey is the first one back up and Tyriek and Tyson take his damn head off with his Corkscrew Running Euro Upper. Trey finally manages to flip out of the manhandle, tags in Wentz and Wentz goes for the hot and spicy cleaning house spot. Corner to Corner Knee Lifts for both big men, a Rolling Snapmare, into a Superkick for Tyson and Standing Shoot Star on Tyriek but only for two because Wes feints like he’s going to interfere.
Tyson and Tyriek pull off a tandem Assisted Backdrop Driver, but Wentz breaks it up, Tyson gets knocked out, Wentz hits the Tornillo, Wes tries to interfere again after Trey gets perched on the corner buckle but Ace runs around and trips Wes at the last second causing him to faceplant on the apron, Trey hits the Meteora, Wentz hits a Swanton from the other side of the ring and Trey gets the pinfall victory.
It was fast paced, all gas no brakes, but it didn’t overstay its welcome, so it was pretty fun all things considered.
After the match Wes grabs a mic, complains a little but challenges them to a 6 man match as Sacrifice. So we’re THAT’S where we’re getting the expected 3v3.
Fir$t Cla$$ comes out with an entourage of hot chicks and probably influencers or something. The “First Class Penthouse” , Gabby AF, Mafiosa Valentina, and Carolina are apparently known in their own way. Gabby I know was the awful one who did something for Impact a last year and sucked, but she’s part of the Busted Open Network I believe so that’s why she’s around. Two of them look like Noelle Foley and Frank the Clown…oh they actually are. Look at that. I do love KC Navarro as the Hype Man, they have this whole set up of AJ being mad that they haven’t gotten more Tag Title shots, so TNA placated him with his own Piper’s Pit and he’s *pregnant pause* totally happy with that. He says he loved Piper and hated Hogan before it was cool.
This is actually quality content and AJ is cutting a nice promo in this segment. They introduce their first guest, the greatest performer in TNA history, many whole say he’s Phenomenal with a whole lot of style….it’s A-J-Francis.
.@AJFrancis410 is GOING OFF!
Watch #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/NY8HgI02kY pic.twitter.com/kGehtp9iTE
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) February 21, 2025
Lei Ying Lee vs Rosemary
Things were slow until Rosemary took her into a corner quickly, hit the Upside Down, and we get a lot of Lei trying to avoid Rosemary’s offense. Rosemary goes for a Spear in the corner and Lei forward rolls, starts connecting with a bunch of right hands, backs Rosemary into the corner, goes for 10 Count Punches, pulls her out, Airplane Spin TKO for only a two count. Rosemary tries As Above So Below, Lei shrugs it off, Rosemary tries to go after Lei anyway and eats Thunderstruck! Lei Ying Lee wins!
After the match Rosemary catches Lei on the ramp and hits the Green mist in the eyes. Match was far too short and so many of Lei’s set up moves look better than her finish. We’ve seen Kofi Kingston do it for years so it’s not bad, just the current Knockouts Division are awful and don’t take the move well.
Eric Young and the jabronis come out, EY cuts a very basic power crazed psycho kind of promo, gets the “What” chants from the crowds. EY is trying to recruit Maclin even though Maclin made his line in the sand last week. EY tries to spin it as maybe he took out Josh FOR Maclin instead of in spite of his trust. This really doesn’t seem interesting at all, but that’s probably because I hate the two Jabronis EY is with.
NoDQ Match: Leon Slater vs JDC
I really don’t have any interest in Slater. He’s got no personality beyond “flippy guy with a British accent”.
Dango immediately powders, grabs a chair and goes to swing on him but misses. So Leon is making JDC look dumb by dodging the post chop, using the chair to shield himself from a punch by JDC, and then clapping Dango’s fingers between the chair. So typical System match, look inept for the first few minutes, then take advantage of something to take over. Oh look, Leon takes too long setting up the table, Dango gets in a few pot shots, tries to whip him into the table but Leon leaps over it, and then leaps back over to clobber Dango. Dango is still trying to recover so Leon hits his over the corner post con hilo, and the crowd appreciates it but I’m not interested. Leon panders to the crowd after the big spot and then eats an X-Plex into the chair from Dango.
JDC throws Leon back in, goes for a pinfall that’s only a two and we cut to a commercial. Coming out of the commercial JDC is in control with a Kendo Stick until he isn’t, Leon counters and takes the keno stick, brutalizes Dango a few times then comes off the ropes with the kendo shot for 2. Leon goes for another table, and again, at least the crowd is receptive to this match. Leon sets it up, looks for something off the apron but Dango stops him first until he eats a dropkick to fall onto the table, Leon hits the Swanton 450 through the table on the outside. Does it look cool? Sure. Do I care about dumbass moves? Nope.
Oh thankfully the rest of The System comes out to stop the pinfall, Shield Bomb Leon through the first table, and roll him back in for Dango to win.
The Hardy Boyz come out to try and make the save, but the numbers are against them, so Oba Femi’s music hits! Oba cleans house but doesn’t get his hands on Moose, so they’re at least building the eventual clash between Moose and Oba.
The crowd starts a “Tessa, we comin for you” chant before she even starts talking. Tessa is actually playing off the crowd well, Santino’s music hits and Tessa thinks he’ll help her out with the crowd and Santino calls bullshit basically. Santino says if Tessa doesn’t wrestle next week, she’s fired and Masha’s music hits. Masha decides to step in for Tessa’s enhancement talent match.
Masha Slamovich vs Mila Moore
Jobber tries to attack Masha early but Masha stops her, rocks her and Requiem ends the match.
Masha stares down Tessa, and then Cora Jade attacks from behind and hits Jaded.
Ryan Nemeth comes out to his Abyss music remix. What will Mokuba say today? “MYYYY BIIIGG BBRROOOOTTHHHEEEEER” he repeats at least 4 times and it’s hilariously cringe. He announces that Nic will return at Sacrifice, he literally just came out to give a PSA.
Elijah & Joe Hendry vs The Colons
Hendry starts with Eddie, after a brief tie up it seems like Hendry reads the room and points at Elijah and the crowd wants him in. So Joe tags in Elijah, a little back and forth, Shoulder Tackle from Elijah, Rope Walk with Elijah lays out Eddie and a tag to Joe allows for a quick tandem knockdown, but Eddie powders as the Walking and Talking Duo hold the ring going into the final commercial break.
We come back and Hendry is bouncing Orlando off the ropes as he return a strike, but Orlando is obviously losing, eats a Euro Upper, and then gets walked around in the Stalling Suplex for posterity. Eddie tries a sneak attack but gets caught and Sack of Shit, into Kip Up, turn and then Orlando with the ambush! A few quick short cuts and an Irish Whip/Dropkick combo gives the Colons a near fall. Hendry does get locomotion variation cradles, but eats a Dropkick to stop the attempt at momentum. Orlando stays on Joe, but Joe finally starts to fire up as the crowd starts to get behind him. Euro Uppers make some space, but a Snapmare says no.
Eddie gets tagged in and a quick Leg Sweep into a Front Chancery keeps Eddie in control. As Joe tries to get back up, Eddie turns it into a Guillotine, but finally the Suplex counter connects for Hendry! Simultaneous tags! Elijah bulls over Orlando, catches a Leap Frogging Orlando with the Manhattan Drop as Orlando retreats to a corner, Stinger Splash into Spinebuster for two. Elijah tries to keep up the attacks but Orlando finds a few ways to make space, launches himself from the middle rope and eats the Jumping Knee! Eddie breaks up the pinfall, Hendry takes Eddie out and Elijah hits the Tombstone Piledriver for the win!
Overall Score: 6/10
Well there were more live hiccups than the first episode, and this felt both more epic and less epic at the same time. Elijah and the Colons debuting was a nice way to kick things off, Oba Femi showing up for the save was fantastic. There were a few decent matches, but also a lot of really short and rushed matches. Tessa played off the crowd well, but Masha really is useless on the mic. Lei Ying Lee needs to framed stronger, her matches have done nothing to show off her ability. It just proves that the Knockouts don’t know how to sell a kick to the head because they all take it in the shoulder and fall in corny ways.
Viva La Sam could be something fun if the next 3 weeks are just hand cam footage of him being like “I’m Sami Callihan and I’m gonna kick Mance Warner’s ass”, Elegance Clique getting the rematch with a stipulation is nice to see and while I like Fir$t Cla$$, that segment went a little long for a cornball swerve payoff. It’s one thing to placate the Influencer squad especially when we’ve seen Logan Paul and Ishowspeed do so well in WWE…but these are like Z Tier Influencers that no one cares about. These kind of dorks stream on Kick because they aren’t relevant enough for Twitch, not because they chose Kick over it.
So yeah, the low lights were pretty low, and the highs were a little fleeting, but at least they were pretty fun. Not a bad show, just clunky with noticeable issues and Masha shouldn’t be allowed to speak English anymore. She’s such a charisma vacuum when she’s not rambling in Russian.
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