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 FROGÂ 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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And with the first overall pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects…
The WWE Draft returns for 2024, the first four rounds being right here on Friday Night SmackDown! With champions protected, who ends up where to challenge them?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee w/ Zelina Vega & Carlito VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo; Rey & Dragon win.
- Bron Breakker VS Cedric Alexander; Bron wins.
- WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton; No Contest.
- Cody Rhodes VS Carmelo Hayes; Cody wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Backstage interview with Paul Heyman.
Kayla Braxton is with the Wise Man and says that here on night one of the Draft, there are already rumors circulating, including those about The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Heyman will clarify these are not rumors regarding The Tribal Chief, Roman… Reigns. These are facts! Ladies and gentlemen, Your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, has voluntarily withdrawn from eligibility for this year’s Draft. That is not a negative but a positive. Who built SmackDown since the Pandemic? Roman Reigns. Who is the biggest star in the entire industry? Roman Reigns. Why would Roman Reigns hog the number one draft pick spotlight when he won’t be returning in the immediate future?
Read into his words, Kayla, that is not what a real Tribal Chief would do. Instead now, the pressure is on Nick Aldis. Because if Roman Reigns isn’t the first draft pick, then who is? The first two picks make history in a brand new era. And Heyman doesn’t know about you, but he is intrigued. No Tribal Chief up for grabs, who gets their opportunity to shine in the spotlight?
SmackDown throws it to the NXT Performance Center.
Jackie Redmond says the emotion down here is palpable! There is excitement, hope, and a little bit of nerves. But for these NXT Superstars, tonight is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work, dedication, a little bit of luck and a whole lot of self-belief. It was just last year that the NEW WWE Tag Team Champion, Grayson Waller, was hoping his name would be called. And it is funny this is NXT, but time to buy a vowel, throw in an E! Who is next? We find out tonight! The draft pool is deep, who rises to the top of the list?
Corey Graves is in the ring.
Corey welcomes Cincinnati and all of us at home to night one of the 2024 WWE Draft. Understandably, the GMs have their hands full, so Corey will be moderating the contract signing for the WWE Championship match that takes place next Saturday for Backlash: France. Without further ado, it’s the #1 contender, The Phenomenal AJ Styles! Styles makes his entrance, taking a seat at the table on camera right. And now, the Undisputed WWE Champion, the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes! Cincy fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” as Cody makes his entrance and gets his pyro before joining everyone in the ring.
Styles looks over the contract, absolutely tuning out the fans going wild for “CODY! CODY!” Styles then gets the mic to say before he signs, he doesn’t know if we realize that we’ve got two Georgia boys about to mix it up for the first time, and for the biggest prize in the game. Styles understands why they boo, but they gotta know that he doesn’t respect LA Knight, LA Knight got under his skin. He accepts that. But that’s why Styles lost at Mania. But what happened? Styles got his composure back and realized that he is Phenomenal. Styles BEAT Knight to earn the right to face Cody Rhodes at Backlash.
Now unlike Knight, Styles does respect Cody. They hadn’t crossed paths yet, but they’ve been down the same roads. They had to prove themselves outside of the WWE. And Styles is willing to believe that the same man who gave him advice a long time ago gave Cody the same advice, on how to stand on their own two feet and be the men they are today. That man was The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes. The fans cheer for “DUSTY! DUSTY!” Styles learned a lot from Dusty. Styles gets a little emotional thinking about Dusty, he was a good man. Dusty taught Styles how to carry himself, and to carry the weight of a championship.
And Styles looks at this WWE Championship here. The weight of this isn’t just the leather and gold. And at Backlash, we see if Cody can carry it. Styles goes back to his table, signs the contract, and then hands it off to Corey. Corey brings that to Cody, and Cody picks up his mic. “So… Cincinnati…! Whadda we wanna talk about? Certainly, we can talk about respect. There is not a locker room on Earth that you’ll find where everyone in it, every single person, they all respect AJ Styles. Last week, I went on to say you are the modern day Excellence of Execution. I respect the roads that you have traveled down to get here, the parallel paths that perhaps you and I have.
“Mutual respect, much respect. But that respect goes by the wayside at Backlash. I can feel it in your words to a degree. You’ve been here before. And it seems you’re implying that I cannot carry the weight of that championship. Well, good thing the man who trained me not far from where I sit now used to tell me all the time, it’s not about winning the title, it’s about keeping it.” The fans cheer that. Cody says boy does he respect Styles’ familiarity with Cody’s last name. But when you put C O D Y in front of it on this paper, that means they’ve never touched before. That means Backlash is a level playing field.
That means no matter how Phenomenal Styles is, this isn’t a dream match for Cody. It’s a must-win! Cody signs while the fans cheer, and it is official! Cody even throws the pen to the crowd as a free souvenir. Cody then offers a handshake, and Styles says y’know what? It was a beautiful thing to see Cody #FInishTheStory and win the title. But it’s a shame that Cody’s title reign will end at Backlash. Styles still shakes Cody’s hand, and then walks away. Cody picks up the belt and holds it high, will he get to hold it high again in Lyon, France?
Triple H is here!
Just as Cody was on his way to the back, The Game makes his way out here! HHH raises Cody’s hand, then invites him over to the podium. HHH welcomes us to the first round of the 2024 WWE Draft. It is a night that changes the landscape of the WWE going into the future, and things are a bit different this year. As the GMs ponder their next steps, they have to understand it is about protecting the roster they have as it is making the roster they want. Meaning that when they use their picks, they have just as much of a chance gaining a superstar as they do losing one they already have.
HHH just felt that since champs are protected and Cody will be staying here on SmackDown, maybe Cody could help read the SmackDown picks and HHH can read the Raw picks. And since SmackDown goes first, Cody reads first. Cody takes the card to say that with the first pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects… The E S T, Bianca Belair! The stongEST, fastEST, roughEST, toughEST stays on Friday nights! HHH reads that for the second pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, Raw selects… YEET! JEY USO! Monday nights will still have Main Event Jey Uso! And the fans “YEET!” Cody says for the third pick, SmackDown selects… NXT’s Carmelo Hayes!
The fans fire up as SmackDown manages to snag… HIM! The former NXT Champion makes history again by being the first NXT superstar to be chosen this high in the Draft! HHH says that’s a hell of a pick. But then the fourth and final pick of this first round, Raw selects… SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! It is still going to be Monday Night Rollins as the Visionary stays on the red brand! Cody and HHH shake hands, and then Melo makes his way out! Melo has the mic to say when they talk about who’s next up, about who’s the hottest out, they don’t call them “the hottest out,” they just call him “Carmelo Hayes.”
The fans chant “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” to remind Melo how he’s leaving NXT. Melo says okay, okay. But then to Cody Rhodes, ever since Cody won the title, he’s been talking about “If you aim for the king, you best not miss.” Well, funny how that works. Because when Melo shoots, Melo don’t miss. And as a first round draft pick, what better way to shoot his shot on SmackDown than to shoot it right at Cody? Melo leaves the mic with Cody but Cody picks it up to say, “Fortune certainly favors the bold, but I dunno. You folks don’t wanna see me in action tonight, do ya?” The fans go wild! Oh, but what if Cody forgot his gear?
Oh that’s right! He didn’t forget his gear! And this title right here, for Cody, means absolutely 100%, Melo’s on! They shake on it, and we’re about to see a huge first-time-ever showdown! But will this bold first move work out for… HIM?
Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee w/ Zelina Vega & Carlito VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo!
The LWO is still not convinced Legado Del Fantasma had nothing to do with the beating that took the Boy Wonder out ahead of WrestleMania. Will the King of Lucha help get to the bottom of things? Or will Angel & “Berto” make it as easy as ABC, 1-2-3?
The teams sort out, Dragon runs up on Humberto but Humberto LARIATS him down! Humberto drags Dragon up, tears the shirt away and CHOPS! Humberto whips, Dragon ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Humberto tumbles out, Dragon builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Humberto! The fans fire up as Dragon pushes Humberto into the ring, goes up a corner, and then CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Dragon facelocks to drag Humberto up, but Humberto wrenches out to CLUB Dragon down. Humberto waistlocks but Dragon throws elbows. Angel tags in as Humberto shoves Dragon. Dragon ducks but Angel holds ropes open, and Dragon tumbles to the floor!
The fans boo and LWO hurries to check on Dragon! Angel & Humberto just soak up the heat as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and both Dragon and Humberto are down! They crawl, hot tags to Angel and Rey! The fans fire up as Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirl RANAS! Angel ends up in a corner, he puts Rey on the apron, but Rey ROCKS Angel! Rey goes up to SEATED SENTON! Rey keeps moving, wrenches and kicks, then hops on! CODE RED! Cover, Humberto breaks it! The fans boo but Humberto hauls Rey up. Rey fights and RANAS Humberto up and out! But Angelo kicks, scoops, but Rey slips free! Angelo kicks low, reels REy in, and underhooks, but Rey fights those to RANA Angel onto ropes! Rey dials it up to 619!
Tag to Dragon and he takes aim! Angel stands, into the tilt-o-whirl, PROJECT DRAGON!! Cover, LWO wins!
Winners: Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee, by pinfall
Carlito and Zelina hug it out with the team, but then Santos Escobar & Elektra Lopez walk out here. Santos says whoa, whoa, whoa, hold that celebration. Because Santos is many things, but a liar is not one of them. And when Santos said he did NOT attack Dragon that night before Mania, he meant it. Elektra has been working for weeks to track down the security footage from that night. And Rey… Oh, Rey. What you’re about to see, you will find very, very interesting. The footage plays, and it was CARLITO!! Carlito throw Dragon around backstage! No one can believe it, because of how well Carlito fooled even Dragno.
Speaking of, Carlito RAMS Dragon into Rey, then hits a BACKSTABBER! Never has that move’s name been more fitting! Carlito runs away in a panic, and Rey stands back up in a rage! Santos says he told Rey that he was right all along. They were supposed to be family, and yet look how that turned out. How will the LWO recover from this shocking development?
Bron Breakker VS Cedric Alexander!
The Big Bad Booty Nephew has been making a case for himself ever since showing up on SmackDown, and he’s already bringing the straps down! Is he going to break PRIMED Alexander while also breaking match time records? Or will Cedric prove he’s too fly for Bron?
The bell rings and Cedric dodges Bron to CHOP and ROCK! Cedric whips, Bron reverses and Cedric handsprings, into a SPEAR!! Cover, Bron wins!
Winner: Bron Breakker, by pinfall
Well, hard to say if that’s an all-time fast match, but that was a fast match! QR Code stuff going on, but will we all see Bron take the world by storm?
Nick Aldis heads out.
And waiting is Tiffany Stratton. She asks if he saw what she did last week. Wait, of course he did. Because she is the Center of the Universe. She dropped Naomi and Bayley, where is her title match? Aldis tells Tiff to look at his watch. It is NOT set to #TiffyTime. And he was this close to sending her to the back of the line. But then someone convinced him otherwise, good for her. Tonight, she goes 1v1 with Naomi again, and the winner faces Bayley for the title at Backlash. Whose stupid idea was that?! Bayley says DING DONG, it was hers. It is a win-win situation here. If Naomi wins, she gets the match she got cheated out of.
And if Tiff wins, then she’ll find out when she attacks the Role Model. Tiff gasps as she has a #TiffanyEpiphany. Bayley should be ringside for that match so she can see Tiff do what Bayley couldn’t, and that’s beat Naomi. Tootles. Tiff leaves, but will the only thing she gets is to #FeelTheGlow?
Michelle McCool and Torrie Wilson are here!
One is a former WWE Women’s Champion, the other is a WWE Hall of Famer, but they’re both here to present Draft picks! Michelle says with the first pick of the second round, SmackDown selects… The Viper, Randy Orton! SmackDown will still have to watch out for an RKO outta nowhere! Torrie says that with the second pick of the second round, Raw selects… BRON BREAKKER! We just saw Bron make quick work of opponents here on SmackDown, but now he’s gonna be rampaging on Raw!
Michelle says that with the third pick of the second round, SmackDown selects… NIA JAX! The Irresistible Force may have to change targets from the Women’s World to the Undisputed Women’s title, but will she be unstoppable all the same? And with the fourth and final pick of this round, Raw selects… LIV MORGAN! The Revenge Tour will still be part of Monday nights, will we watch Liv rise to the top?
The Bloodline arrives backstage.
Paul Heyman is there to greet them and open the door to the SUV. He apologizes for not being faster about that, but Solo Sikoa asks The Bloodline if they’ve been drafted. Not yet. Then give Solo the details. Okay, well, Roman Reigns withdrew right before the show began, and then Solo keeps adding members, so no one really knows what they’re getting if they draft The Bloodline! Solo sighs, and here comes Tama Tonga. Heyman asks they be patient but Solo wants Heyman to repeat that for him. Heyman gets scared, but then KEVIN OWENS jumps in! Kevin fires off on Tama, security and refs rush in to stop it!
The Prizefighter wants Solo’s “MFT” to bring the fight like he did last week! Security still drags Kevin away, but will he get that fight he wants?
Kayla Braxton is on stage.
SmackDown returns and Kayla welcomes us back to the show. And please welcome out the first overall pick, Bianca Belair! The fans fire up as The EST walks out on stage, and Kayla congratulates her on being the first overall pick. But let’s talk Backlash. Breaking news, Bianca and Jade Cargill are going to challenge for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, against the Kabuki Warriors. How satisfying would it be to dethrone them on the stage of this magnitude? Bianca says so satisfying. She really hopes Jade gets drafted to SmackDown because given all this history with Damage CTRL, all the partners by her side, Bianca has never been the one to finally end it with them.
For everything they’ve done to her and this division, Bianca feels Jade is the perfect woman to help her end this. Now, DMG CTRL is falling apart piece by piece, and that final piece is the tag titles. So once Bianca & Jade take the gold at Backlash, the Kabuki Warriors won’t even have a reason to come back to SmackDown. But wait, they’re here now! Asuka & Kairi walk out here and Kayla moves aside. The Empress of Tomorrow and the Pirate Princess taunt the EST, but here comes The Storm! Jade makes her way to stand right by Bianca’s side. The four shout and argue, but this will be settled on May 4th!
WHOA! Tama and Kevin are brawling their way out here! The ladies move aside so the gentlemen can brawl all the way down to ringside! Tama hits low, gets in the ring, but Kevin pursues! Kevin TACKLES Tama, but Solo CLOBBERS Kevin! The fans boo as The Bloodline beats Kevin down! The refs hurry out here but clearly Solo’s Bloodline won’t listen! Tama DECKS producers, DECKS guards, HEADBUTTS them, throws hands and even THROWS the guards! Tama and Solo beat Kevin down again, but here comes Randy Orton! The Viper is still on SmackDown and he’s still pals with Kevin, so here he comes!
Orton DECKS Tama, fires hands on Solo, then RK- NO, Solo gets free and gets away! Orton wants to pursue, almost runs Jamie Noble and refs over to do it, but the Bloodline has gotten away! The fans cheer Randy on, and KAevin even hugs him! But then Kevin and Randy try to give chase! Security stops this, when and where will we see #RKKO strike down Solo and Tama?
The Dudley Boyz are here!
The fans fire up as Bubba Ray & D-Von are both here for the next round of picks! Cincy chants for “E C DUB! E C DUB!” Bubba and D-Von look at the cards, it’s hard to read. So out come the glasses! Bubba says with the first pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects… L A KNIGHT! YEAH!! The Mega Star stays on Fridays! D-Von says with the second pick of the third round, Raw selects… RICOCHET! Mondays still has the One and Only, is Ricochet going to bring that WWE Speed Championship home to Raw, too?
Bubba says with the third pick of the third round, SmackDown selects… THE BLOODLINE! That means Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga and Paul Heyman are staying right here on Friday nights. And D-Von says with the final pick of this round, Raw selects… SHEAMUS! The Celtic Warrior just got back, but he won’t have to worry about going anywhere else but Monday nights.
WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton!
It’s time to run it back once again! The Glow got robbed by the Spoiled Rich Girl, but supposedly, it’s #TiffyTime. Will Naomi prove there’s no such time on the clock? Or will Bayley be the one feeling the Backlash over giving Tiffany one more chance?
The bell rings and Naomi hits a THESZ PRESS! Naomi rains down fists, Tiffy shoves her away and goes to ropes, but Naomi gets up in Tiff’s face. Naomi whips, Tiff holds ropes to bail out and fans boo. Naomi scowls, runs in and WRECKS Tiff with a dropkick! Naomi then gets Tiff up, SMACKS her off the apron, and then SMACKS her off it again! And again! Naomi puts Tiff in, goes up a corner, but Tiff gets under the jump! Naomi runs back up but Tiff YANKS her into ropes! Tiff runs to HIP ATTACK! Naomi sputters, Tiff scowls and drags Naomi up, to then put through ropes. But Naomi RAMS into Tiff!
Naomi reels Tiff in, for a HEATSEEKER! Tiff flops to the floor, and then Naomi SPLIT LEG DROPS! Naomi says it’s #NaomiTime, but SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Naomi runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO! Naomi survives and Tiff is frustrated but the fans rally up. Tiff drags Naomi up, whips her to a corner, but Naomi goes up and sunset flips! TWO! Tiff escapes, knees Naomi low, then whips. Naomi slides under the lariat to then mule kick! Then she headscissor SPIKES Tiff down! Cover, TWO! Tiff survives but barely, and Naomi keeps her cool. Naomi headlocks, but Tiff shoves her into buckles! Tiff runs, but Naomi follows, DOUBLE RUNNING FACEBUSTERS take them both down! The fans fire up as the two rise!
Naomi KICKS, ROCKS and ROCKS Tiff again! Naomi fires shots again and again but Tiff knees low! Tiff reels Naomi in, but Naomi wrenches out to ENZIGIRI! And then BUCKLE BULLDOG! But then NIA JAX attacks Bayley!? Nia SMACKS Bayley off buckles, rains down fists, and this momentarily distracts Naomi. Naomi refocuses, but by now, Tiff’s slipped away! Nia KICKS Bayley in the side, so Naomi goes out to ROCK her! Nia POSTS Naomi and that throws the match out!
No Contest
The fans boo as Nia ruins the fun, then runs Bayley over! Nia smiles as she blows kisses to Cincy. Tiff smiles, she drags Naomi up and puts her in the ring. Then she drags Bayley in! Tiff wants a repeat of last week as she puts them side by side in the drop zone! Tiff then goes up and up for the PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Tiff says it’s her time, but the #1 contendership is still in question. Who gets their shot at the Role Model at Backlash?
B-Fab and the Street Profits meet up backstage.
Angelo Dawkins has a “WHO-DEY” sign, but Montez Ford is wondering where Bobby Lashley is right now. B-Fab says calm down, he’ll be here. Byron Saxton walks over and apologizes for interrupting. He doesn’t know what the Draft destination for this group will be until Monday Night Raw, but we do know that The Profits will challenge A-Town Down Under for the WWE Tag Team Championships. YESSIIIIIIR~! B-Fab says it doesn’t matter where they get drafted. The Profits are going to take down A-Town Down Under and take those titles. Then they’ll have their first class tickets right back to SmackDown.
SmackDown? Did someone say SmackDown~? In walk Austin Theory & Grayson Waller, showing off the titles. And Theory says you can’t have SmackDown without the GREATEST undefeated tag team of all time. And sorry, Dawkins, but these are championships, something the Bengals know nothing about! B-Fab keeps Dawkins back, but then in steps Bobby Lashley! The All Mighty scares Theory & Waller right off, and Dawkins says see y’all next Friday! Will there be nothing keeping these Profits down the night before Backlash?
The Final Testament speaks.
Karrion Kross says good evening. What’s going on here? You guessed it! More random acts of violence! Just follow him. Kross & Scarlett lead the way to show The Authors of Pain beating down New Catch Republic! Rezar beats down Pete Dunne while Akam victimizes Tyler Bate! Paul Ellering says they will know about sacrifice! Kross says whether they get drafted to Raw or stay on SmackDown, the violence will continue until they get what they want! So sayeth The Final Testament!!
Teddy Long and JBL are here!
The Hall of Famer General Manager and the Hall of Famer WWE Champion are both here, ready to give us the fourth and final round of picks tonight! Teddy gets right to it! The first pick of the fourth round, SmackDown selects… AJ STYLES! The Phenomenal One is really an obvious choice, because one way or another, the WWE Championship stays with SmackDown! JBL says the second pick of the fourth round, Raw selects… THE ALPHA ACADEMY! Raw keeps Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri & Akira Tozawa, A THANK YEW~!
Teddy says with the third pick of this round, SmackDown selects… ANDRADE! A big move as now El Idolo will be part of Friday nights. And with the final pick of this fourth round, Raw selects… NXT’S Kiana James! The Calculator, the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, has the Raw hat to put on, and after a quick hype package, Jackie Redmond is there to interview her. Kiana, congratulations! You are heading to Monday Night Raw! How much does this mean to her? This means the world to her. She is filled with gratitude, but also knows every decision she has made up to this point has been by design to get her here.
Kiana is so proud of her time in NXT, but she’s ready to show Raw why she is the One Percent. Was she surprised? Of course she was! HBK is here to wish her luck and congratulations. Is Kiana going to start the hostile takeover of the Raw Women’s Division?
Backstage interview with Nick Aldis.
Kayla is with the SmackDown GM and says that with night one in the books, how does he feel about SmackDown’s selections? He feels really good about them. SmackDown’s future is bright, he can’t wait for the new recruits to show up and show out for the blue brand. But he also wants to turn attentions to Backlash, because he’s got some new matches to announce! The first PLE in France, this is exciting stuff, Kayla. Aldis says that the WWE Women’s Championship will now be on the line in a Triple Threat! Bayley VS Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton! Will the odds make it that much harder for the Role Model to succeed?
There’s one more match to announce, but Aldis will let the GM GOAT take it from here. Teddy Long steps in, and don’t forget. We’ll talk about this tag team match. The Bloodline VS Kevin Owens & Randy Orton! Holla, players. Solo & Tama will have to face The Viper and the Prizefighter, will #RKKO strike fast and strike hard?
Cody Rhodes VS Carmelo Hayes!
The American Nightmare just put pen to paper for his match with the Phenomenal One, but he isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. The former NXT Champion is shooting his shot, but will this be nothing but net? Or will it be a frustrating airball?
The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, the fans rally for Cody as he puts Melo in a corner then arm-drags him away. Melo runs up, Cody headlocks, Melo powers out then drops. Melo hurdles, but Cody kicks low to RHODES UPPERCUT! Melo staggers to ropes, the fans fire up, but then melo throat chops and springboard FLYING LARIATS! Melo says that’s why he’s a first round pick! But then Cody CLOBBERS him! Cody asks if Melo’s ready for this, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns once again and Cody has a headlock. Cody hits a takeover, Melo flails and kicks around, but Cody grinds him down. Melo pushes with his forearm, then headscissors, but Cody kips free. Melo CHOPS, the fans “WOO~!” but Cody brushes himself off. Melo pie faces Cody! Cody fires forearms on Melo, then whips, but Melo reverses. Melo ELBOWS Cody, then runs up to KICK him in the side! Melo fires forearms and CHOPS in a corner, then throws body shots. Melo digs his boot in, the ref counts, and Cody goes to another corner. Cody eggs Melo on, Melo storms up, but Cody puts him in the corner to CHOP!
Cody swings, Melo dodges and CHOPS! Cody turns things around to CHOP! The fans rally, Cody whips corner to corner, then he back drops Melo away! Melo staggers up, Cody runs, and he rallies on Melo with forearms! Cody goes up and over in a corner but Melo tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! Melo springboards, FADE AWAY! Cover, TWO! Cody survives that flying DDT, but we see the NXT roster all fired up watching Melo take it to the champ. Melo sits Cody up, drags him into a facelock, but the fans rally for Cody. Cody fireman’s carries but Melo slips free to dragon sleeper! Melo grins, but Cody cradles! TWO!!
Melo swings, Cody boots, then Cody springboards to BEAUTIFUL DISASTER! Melo flips inside-out, Cody covers, TWO! Melo is still in this and he snarls up at Cody. Melo gives a forearm, Cody gives it back, and the fans rally up. Cody scoops Melo, storms around, and then hits a RUNNING POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Melo survives and Cody grows frustrated. Cody pounds the mat, the fans rally up, and then Cody goes to ropes. Cody springboards again, CODY CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives yet again, proving why he’s a former NXT Champion, on top of NXT North American Champion! But then Cody drags him up!
Cody back suplexes, Melo lands out of it, then FIRST 48! Doe goes Cody and Melo goes up! Melo is setting up for the game winner! NOTHING BUT- NO, Cody avoids the flying leg drop! Melo rolls through, Cody dodges to SUPERKICK! Cody brings Melo around, but Melo gets free! They both run, both springboard, but completely miss each other, and Cody takes a rough landing! Melo drags Cody up, reels him in, but Cody wrenches out to dragon sleeper! CROSS RHODES!! Cody shakes out the bad arm but still makes the cover, and Cody wins!
Winner: Cody Rhodes, by pinfall
Melo took his shot but it was blocked! Even so, Cody sits Melo up to show him respect and tell him he’s still the future. But did this match end up more of a trap game for Cody after that crash landing? Or will he be alright in time for Backlash and his phenomenal opponent?
Speaking of, Styles sneaks right into the ring! Cody sees him in time and Styles stays back. Cody and Styles stare down, but Styles says it was that close. Styles offers a handshake, and Cody takes it. There’s still respect here, for now. But will nothing stop Styles from turning Cody’s story into a tragedy after all?
My Thoughts:
A great SmackDown to open the WWE Draft but to also set up Backlash. To recap, SmackDown took Bianca, Melo, Orton, Nia, LA Knight, The Bloodline, Styles and Andrade while Raw took Jey, Rollins, Bron, Liv, Ricochet, Sheamus, The Alpha Academy, and Kiana. Many of those choices made sense, as picks won’t be wasted on keeping champions on brands, and just need to be used to keep most stories alive and change up a few others. Kiana is perhaps one of the more surprising moves, but well-deserved. She has been a solid character and solid in-ring performer almost from the start, she’s a solid addition to Raw.
Bron of course demolished his opponent tonight, it’s just a shame it was Cedric and not local enhancement talent. But Bron will also be a good addition to Raw, but maybe he can move past his squash match phase and get right to story. Melo being a first round pick was great stuff, and he had a great promo with Cody to give us tonight’s main event. That double springboard whiff was definitely a timing problem, but at the same time, a Fade Away countered into a Cody Cutter would’ve been way too epic just for TV. Cody with a great win, and we got a really good contract signing segment, but you can bet Cody retains.
Really good tag match from LWO VS Legado but naturally Rey & Dragon won. I knew it was only a matter of time before Carlito was outed, and how he handled being exposed was pretty good. And with Andrade being drafted to SmackDown, you just know that means Andrade joins the LWO. The Final Testament attacking New Catch Republic was a wild moment, I almost thought Ellering was going to use the pliers in his hands to grab at fingers. Maybe we get that next week for SmackDown in France. Good promos from A-Town Down Under and the still technically unnamed faction of Bobby Lashley’s. As great as The Profits are, it feels like Theory & Waller will cheat to retain.
Really good promo with Tiff and Bayley to set up Naomi VS Tiff round 3, but I did not think Nia Jax would disrupt all that. A Triple Threat at Backlash is good stuff, it will protect Bayley if she loses, but can also protect Naomi and Tiff if Bayley uses them against each other to win. Good promo from Bianca that then turned into the shouting match of Bianca & Jade with Kabuki Warriors. Their tag title match is official, and I’m pretty sure Bianca & Jade win. I also liked that this segment ended up having Kevin and Tama brawl right through it. Orton saving Kevin was a great move, RKKO VS Solo & Tama is going to be awesome stuff, I can’t wait to see it.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.25.2024
We just got done with Rebellion, and Under Siege is two weeks away! Gotta see how these dots connect!
Rebellion had quite a few returns, Mike Santana, Sami Callihan and Broken Matt Hardy. All three of these guys could easily be main event players, and its nice to mix up and expand what felt like a rather small pool of potential challengers.
Under Siege is only like 2 weeks out, so we’ll see how the dots connect in such a short period of time.
.@AJFrancis410, Rich Swann, and rap legend @BunBTrillOG are IN THE HOUSE Meanwhile, @joehendry announces he will deliver an apology to Fir$t Cla$$ NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT! pic.twitter.com/4GNe2xWfyU
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
Ratings:
- Mike Santana vs Myron Reed w/Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz: Santana wins via Spin the Block – ** 1/2
- #1 Contender: Frankie Kazarian vs Josh Alexander: Josh wins via Grapevine Ankle Lock – ***
- ASH by Elegance vs Xia Brookside: Xia wins via School Girl Roll-Up – ** 3/4
- Sami Callihan vs The Good Hands: Sami Callihan wins via Cactus Driver ’97 – SQUASH
- Eddie Edwards w/Alisha Edwards & Brian Myers vs Nic Nemeth: Eddie wins via Boston Knee Party – *** 1/4
Results:
Did @NicTNemeth say BROKEN? @MATTHARDYBRAND has arrived in the iMPACT Zone! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/HbkUangt6e
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
A weird opening that is just framed to put Nemeth and Hardy together against The System. Feels a little awkward, but who knows how it will play out.Â
.@JordynneGrace vs @miyu_tjp NEXT WEEK on #TNAiMPACT will now be for the Knockouts World Championship! pic.twitter.com/YnKZjb9yjx
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
Mike Santana vs Myron Reed w/Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz
Ahh I didn’t really pay attention to Santana’s theme at Rebellion, but its pretty damn cool. Good stuff.Â
Rascalz blindside Santana early, but the heel advantage doesn’t last more than a few moves. Santana whips Myron from corner to corner, hits a few Hip Attacks before Myron finally dodges one and starts using his unique offense and agility to his advantage. Matrix dodge, into an Leaping Outside Back in Slingshot Codebreaker. Some more offense and Santana powders to the ramp, Myron jumps over the rope and tries a Flying Cutter, but Santana blocks it, turns things around, gets pushed forward and hits the Rolling Cutter. Santana takes out the Rascalz, heads back into the ring, Myron tries to catch him unawares but eats the Spin the Block off the rope run! Santana wins fairly quickly.
Maclin’s music hits, he tries to employ the help of The Rascalz to attack Santana, but as soon as Maclin positions himself to get in, The Rascalz bail and flip off Maclin. Maclin makes it out of the confrontation relatively unscathed, but at least we know where he’s going for Under Siege probably.
OH FUCK ME WITH RUSTY KNIVES. Because Cardona is hurt Kon is paired with SDL, and she just challenges Jordynne and PCO to a tag match. WHY!? STOP IT. This is hot garbage.Â
Josh Alexander comes out…I wonder who’s Super Finisher he’s gonna conveniently kick out this time? Brian Myers? Frankie Kazarian? Rich Swann? Because yes, I’m still annoyed that Hammerstone has been in TNA for half a sandwich, he already connects with a Super version of his finish on tacks, and that’s not a finish. Oh Kaz’s music hits. Okay, so time for Josh to kick out of Fade to Black or Flux Capacitor. Kaz talks smack, says he won his match too so he should have a say in who’s number one contender. Josh challenges him, Kaz says not right now, but a referee runs out and says the match is official.Â
#1 Contender: Frankie Kazarian vs Josh Alexander
Kaz throws his jacket on Josh’s head, and attacks him with some strikes before Josh fights back and throws Kaz out. Commercial break, we see Kaz misses his Apron Guillotine, Josh goes for the Low Crossbody but Kaz dodges and Josh goes flying. Kaz starts throwing some chops and claws at the cauliflowered ears of Josh. Russian Leg Sweep from Kaz for a near fall. Josh swings wildly and Kaz ducks the strike and levels Josh with a Lariat.
Josh blocks a Vertical Suplex attempt, but Frankie pulls off a Fisherman’s Suplex after a few overhead strikes for a near fall. Josh stands up and connects with a straight right, rocks Kaz, Back Body Drop, into a Charging Forearm, Rolling Senton, 2 count! C4 Spike attempt countered into a Back Stabber and then Chicken Wing, but Josh fights it off, rolls through and into an Ankle Lock, Kaz kicks off and into a Head and Arm Cradle for a near fall and then the Guillotine Leg Drop into Slingshot DDT spot from Kaz for another 2 count!
Fade to Black, but its fought off, Big Boot but then Kaz counters the next move with a Power Slam into the Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop, but Josh grabs the Ankle Lock! Locomotion German Suplex time from Josh, Halfhatch Suplex after the Germans, floats over for a 2 count! C4 Spike attempt again, but Kaz fights it off, dumps him over the top rope, slingshots him in and into the Cutter for a near fall for Kaz! After the 2 Kaz grabs a chair and chain, the referee stops the chair of course, so he tries the chain, EY runs down and grabs the chain so Kaz pulls the Eddie Guerrero and the referee admonishes EY, but doesn’t DQ Josh. So as Kaz is busy laughing at EY, Josh picks the ankle, Ankle Lock with the Grapevine, Kaz taps.
Tensions are sky-high between @alexhammerstone and @JakeSomething_! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/LLCUJOCy7H
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
ASH by Elegance vs Xia Brookside
Both are jawing at each other and then throw hands before Xia gets the upper hand with a Headscissors from the Top Turnbuckle, Charging Knees, a Flurry of Kicks, but when the ref forces some space in the corner, ASH is finally able to dodge and work over Xia with her Twisting Body Splash, a few choking moves, a corner Stomp into a Snap Suplex for 2. ASH is in charge elegantly, but the referee keeps forcing space on both of them when they go for corner attacks. Xia manages to take advantage a little, but ASH regains control, kicks Xia up the ramp and then lands her Cartwheel Back Elbow up the ramp. It actually looks pretty cool executed like that.
Headlocks and Hair Pulling to keep Xia down and using energy to kick out. ASH is getting frustrated but Xia is remaining persistent. ASH goes back to the Headlock, but Xia fights up, Jawbreaker, Back Elbow, Kick to the gut and Drop Toe Hold sends ASH face first into the middle buckle. Xia rips off 4 Double Knee Smashes to the back of ASH’s head into her Flying Crossbody for a close 2! Xia pulls her up, but ASH spins out, then Xia slips it, but ASH kicks her in the chest and deposits her to the outside and demands a count from the referee. Iceman puts Jeweled Knuckles/Rings on ASH’s hand, the referee catches her, removes the stuff from her fingers and Xia hits the School Girl Roll-Up for the flash win.
Fraud has thrown the Ballot Box Battle into chaos, but also paved the way for an explosive showdown between @TheTreyMiguel and @The_Ace_Austin NEXT WEEK to determine the #1 Contender for the X Division Championship! #TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/lYHrtgNrc3
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
Sami Callihan vs The Good Hands
So the Good Hand Jobs are about to do their job to Sami. I’m just gonna assume Sami beats the hell out of both and wins with a Cactus Driver ’97. If anything interesting happens I might actually cover it, but come on now.
.@SteveMaclin has a proposition for @FrankieKazarian#TNAiMPACT pic.twitter.com/XY6lMdmSWo
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 26, 2024
Kaz makes a Metallica reference with the “Wash Your Back So You Won’t Stab Mine”…and Sweet Amber is the only good song on St. Anger. So…I ain’t mad.
Eddie Edwards w/Alisha Edwards & Brian Myers vs Nic Nemeth
A little early ground wrestling and headlocks for control from both men. Nothing super flashy to start until we get to the rope run and Nemeth goes for the Flying Body Press to drop Eddie. Before Nemeth can follow up, Lish grabs his foot. Nic does have his brother Ryan in the crowd, trying to get chants going and do the old school ‘power up the babyface’ thing, but Eddie has been in control since Lish got involved. Simple offense, chokes, strikes, Snap Suplexes, Knee Drops, simple yet effective. But then Eddie ducks his head too early, Nemeth kicks him in the face, bounces his head off the buckles a few times, Dropkick sends Eddie reeling to the corner, Nemeth starts the 10 Count Punches but Myers hits the apron to distract and Eddie manages to slip the situation and push Nemeth to the floor.
Commercial break happens, Nemeth is trying to fight back with Chops, but a Kitchen Sink from Eddie puts Nemeth on the floor again! Clubbing blow from Eddie, but Eddie then misses the Hip Attack in the corner and Nemeth counters with the Rude Awakening into the 10 Count Rain of Elbows. Fame Ass-er miss, Eddie tries something but Nemeth turns it into that hesitation DDT for 2! Tuning up the band starts to build and Eddie powders to avoid it. Nemeth throws Eddie back in, goes to the top, but Eddie crotches him, rises up and hits the Superplex into Tiger Driver for 2! Eddie starts mocking with Tuning Up the band but Nemeth hits his own Superkick into an Olympic Slam for 2!
Both men just trade strikes Fighting Spirit style, Eddie says “Always Trust the System” and Nemeth shuts him up with a Headbutt. Danger Zone is blocked, Boston Knee Party gets ducked, they level each other with Lariats! Myers and Ryan Nemeth start fighting to distract the referee, Moose hits the ring and hits Nemeth with the belt. Eddie lands Boston Knee Party and The System wins again!
Overall Score: 6/10
A lame opening segment, a squash match, ASH by Elegance getting her first loss, and a weird way of just pulling the number one contender out of mid air makes for an awkward show. Also Kon still be involved in, literally anything, is negative. However, I can say there was a ton of stuff thrown at the wall this episode, so there’s a chance that some things landed better with other people than myself. The ballot segments were amusing, they overused the “I need to talk to you Santino” gimmick a bit much and personally I feel like having Jake versus Hammerstone is booking yourself into a weird corner.
But hey, the main event was fun, Nemeth getting laid out to the point that there could be a story reason to take him out of the Under Siege match. Kaz with the Metallica reference was pop worthy and I guess its a lot of ‘let’s see where it goes’ kind of angle creation. So it wasn’t complete trash, but its definitely a wait and see episode.
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