Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (8/21/23)
SHOOOOOOOOOOOSH!
Will Chad Gable stop Der Ring General?
Gunther is weeks away from the all-time longest WWE Intercontinental Championship reign, but Chad Gable looks to stop him tonight on Raw!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Drew McIntyre & Matt Riddle VS The New Day; The New Day wins.
- WWE Intercontinental Championship: GUNTHER VS Chad Gable; Gable wins by count-out, Gunther retains the title.
- Rhea Ripley w/ Dominik Mysterio VS Candice LeRae w/ Indi Hartwell; Rhea wins.
- The Miz VS Akira Tozawa; Tozawa wins.
- Chelsea Green & Piper Niven VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance; Chelsea & Piper win.
- Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS Finn Balor & Damian Priest w/ The Judgment Day; Finn & Priest win, by disqualification.
- Six Man Tag: Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Cody Rhodes VS The Judgment Day; Kevin, Sami & Cody win.
PLAY BY PLAY
Sami Zayn is here!
Quebec City, Quebec is all fired up for their hometown hero! The Great Liberator heads to the ring, borrowing a fan’s Quebec flag for a moment to show his love for his home. Fans continue to sing along with his theme and Sami revels in the moment. The music dies down but the fans chant for “SAMI! SAMI!” as hard as they can. Sami gets the mic, and the fans change to singing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~!” Sami fires up and the fans fire up with him! Sami shows the goosebumps on his arm and the hair standing on end, and the singing just keeps on going! Then the chanting for “SAMI! SAMI!” returns!
Sami finally says, “Madame and monsieur! Bienvenu to Monday Night Raw!” But then The Judgment Day makes their way out! Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio and even Finn Balor walk out and head for the ring as fans boo. The Judgment Day flanks the ring and have Sami all alone. Sami says, “Alright, hey. Before you do whatever it is you’re about to do, I just have one question for you.” In French, he asks, “You know you’re in Quebec, right?” So did they think he’d come here of all places, alone? HERE COMES KEVIN OWENS! He DECKS Dom and stomps him down!
Fans fire up, Sami dodges Finn and Kevin trips Finn to drag him out! Damian has Sami, Sami fights free, and Kevin gives him a STUNNER! The Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions stand tall and Quebec is all fired up! Sami picks up the mic and hands it to Kevin, and fans fire up more as Kevin stares the Judgment Day down. Fans chant for “KEVIN OWENS! KEVIN OWENS!” and Kevin says, “It’s uh… It’s been far too long since I’ve had a match on Raw, so how ’bout this? Right here, tonight, Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn against any two of you!” Finn and Priest say they’re ready, so Kevin says, “Guess what?” In French, Kevin basically says they’re gonna kick Judgment Day’s ass!
Will The Prizefighter & Great Liberator not just #FightTogether but win together? Or will The Prince & The Punisher prove Judgment Day is on the same page?
Drew McIntyre & Matt Riddle VS The New Day!
The Scottish Warrior & The Original Bro are giving it a go in the tag division, but they’re up against one of the very best to ever do it! Will #GlasBro be a force to be reckoned with? Or will Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston remind us all that New Day Rocks?
Raw returns and Riddle makes his entrance, followed by McIntyre’s. The teams sort out, Woods starts against Riddle and the two tie up. Woods headlocks, Riddle powers out, things speed up and Riddle hurdles. Woods stops to pie face Riddle! Woods says, “You are NOT a real tag team!” Riddle says, “Yes we are!” Woods dodges Riddle to DROPKICK him! Woods kips up, runs in, clothesline and a tag to Kofi! Feed to the GAMANGIRI, then BIG back suplex to a double-jump SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Kofi brings Riddle up but Riddle slips around to back suplex! Kofi lands on his feet, and he dropkicks Riddle down!
Riddle scrambles to his corner, tag to McIntyre! Fans fire up as the two former WWE Champions tie up. Kofi waistlocks, headlocks, but McIntyre powers up and out. Kofi ducks ‘n’ dodges and slips around to then DROPKICK! McIntyre goes to a corner, Kofi runs in to clothesline! Kofi whips, McIntyre reverses but Kofi goes up and up and leaps, into McIntyre’s arms! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Woods runs in, he gets an OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY! Riddle runs in and he hugs McIntyre! Fans cheer and Riddle goes on about how cool that was. McIntyre grins, and he clinches Riddle? To OVERHEAD TOSS him onto the New Day!
Fans fire up and Riddle is surprised! He gives a thumbs up and McIntyre gives it back, #GlasBro is rolling as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns and Kofi covers Riddle, TWO! Kofi drags Riddle around with a double wristlock, but Riddle endures. Fans rally up, Riddle fights up, but Kofi waistlocks. Riddle reaches out for McIntyre, but he elbows free. Kofi clamps onto the other arm, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Kofi snapmares Riddle, runs and tags Woods, PENALTY KICK to SLIDING FOREARM to IMPLODER SPLASH to FIST DROP! Cover, TWO! Woods keeps cool, Riddle flounders, and Woods clamps on with an armlock and chinbar. Woods grinds his forearm into Riddle’s face but he endures. Fans rally, Riddle fights up, and Riddle breaks free!
Riddle fires off fast hands, but Woods blocks a kick! Woods ducks the enziguri! Woods runs, tag to Kofi before the SLIDING COMPLETE SHOT! Kofi goes up the corner, leaps, CROSSBODY to the back! Cover, TWO! Riddle survives but Kofi clamps on with another armlock and chinbar. Riddle endures all over again, and fights up as the fans rally. Riddle reaches out, McIntyre reaches out, but they’re fingertips away! Kofi kicks low, CLUBS and whips and trips Riddle, then hurries up a corner. Kofi aims as Riddle rises, FLYING- KNEE!! Riddle’s knee takes Kofi outta the sky! Hot tag to Woods and he CLOBBERS Riddle!
Woods wags his finger at McIntyre, puts Riddle in a corner, but Riddle puts Woods up top! Riddle paint brushes Woods with SLAPS! Riddle climbs up, fires off hands, then goes to the very top! Woods fights and fans fire up, Riddle has a leg! SUPER FISHERMAN BUSTER!! Fans are thunderous and McIntyre is feeling it! Riddle crawls, Woods stirs, and Woods grabs a foot. Riddle kicks at Woods with the other foot, but THE VIKING RAIDERS trip McIntyre!? Where’d they come from!? Kofi tags in, leaps over Riddle, spins him around, TROUBLE IN PARADISE!! Cover, New Day wins!!
Winners: The New Day, by pinfall
Then the Viking Raiders attack the New Day! They stand Woods up to CLOBBER him! And then they drag Kofi up, he fights back, but gets the HEEL KICK O’ DOOM! Fans boo but McIntyre is back! He GLASGOW KISSES Erik, but Ivar BOOTS him! Ivar runs, into a SPINEBUSTER!! McIntyre is all fired up, he clotheslines Ivar up and out! The Vikings regroup but McIntyre still wants more! Will #GlasBro look to end the raid once and for all?
Backstage interview with JD McDonagh & Finn Balor.
Jackie Redmond welcomes the Irish Ace and Prince, and asks McDonagh about this friendship with Finn and if it’s created only more tension between Finn and the Judgment Day. Finn shakes his head and McDonagh says he hopes not. He’s known Finn his whole life, Finn’s like his older brother. And if anything, he hopes this friendship makes the Judgment Day stronger. Finn adds that he isn’t sure what she’s doing, trying to stir the pot. They’re not having it. Last week, the Judgment Day laid out Sami Zayn AND Cody Rhodes because of JD! And if anything- Wait, Rhea & Dom walk in. They apologize to Finn & JD, but not to Jackie.
Jackie scoots away while Rhea says they need to talk about just who is facing Sami & Kevin. They go, but Rhea tells McDonagh to stay. Judgment Day only. Finn says it’s okay, he’ll catch McDonagh later. Will the Irish Ace be on the outside looking in?
Shayna Baszler speaks.
“Opera Non Verba. You are what you do, not what you say you do. I’ve watched all these frail toy soldiers parading as opposition for long enough. You’ve all got me in a vendetta kind of mood.” Highlights play of Shayna’s win over Ronda Rousey, and Shayna says no one understands. She’s not here to be a hero. She’s gonna set it all on fire. Their only hope is to survive. “Let the world burn.” Who will the Queen of Spades use to stoke the flames next?
Gunther speaks.
“Tonight, the world will witness the glory of the greatest Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion of all-time, Der Ring General, Gunther. Chad Gable thinks that time is my enemy. But indeed, time is my friend. Because with every day passing, I keep building my lifelong legacy. Chad Gable, I respect all your accomplishments. But you will not make a name for yourself on my expense. Your little fairytale story will end tonight!”
Chad Gable & The Alpha Academy are at gorilla position.
Byron Saxton is with them and brings up what Gunther had to say. Does Gable have any final comments before the biggest match of his career? Otis takes this first. “Coach, at the lowest point of my career, you brought me into the Alpha Academy, we became world tag team champions together. OH YEAAAAH~! But tonight, live in Quebec City, it’s your own golden opportunity.” Maxxine Dupri says that she could never have imagined becoming an in-ring competitor until Coach Gable showed her the way. “Chad has been working for this moment for ten YEARS! Some of you may think that disgusting ogre is unbeatable. Okay, but let me remind you, Byron, if anyone can do the impossible, it’s Chad Gable.”
Gable says he’s blushing. In this moment, there’s only one thing left to say. “A THANK YEW~!” The Academy heads out, will they leave Quebec with that Intercontinental Championship?
WWE Intercontinental Championship: GUNTHER VS Chad Gable!
Raw returns as Gunther makes his entrance, without Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci. This looks to be a truly 1v1 match-up so that there is no doubt when one of these great wrestlers wins the war. The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if an American Alpha can stop an Austrian Juggernaut!
The bell rings and fans rally up behind Gable. They circle, tie up, and Gunther powers Gable back to a corner. The ref counts, gets in there, and Gunther swings! Gable dodges to CHOP! Gunther storms up on Gable but Gable gets back. They tie up, Gunther wrenches and wristlocks then knuckle locks for the straight arm lever and SLAM! Gunther drops a knee on the arm, then shifts to have a cording hold. Gable endures, fights up, but Gunther twists the arm as part of a double wristlock. Gable endures, fans rally, but Gunther wrenches to hit a hip toss! Then back to the wristlock! Gable endures and fights up again.
Gunther keeps on that arm, but Gable CHOPS! And then rolls, bridges, handsprings and spins to headlock, spin, and drop toehold! Fans fire up as Gable facelocks! Gunther rolls, Gable rolls with him! And again! Gunther picks Gable up, and TOSSES him out of the ring! Gable tumbles, fans boo but Gunther eggs Gable on. The ring count climbs, Gunther crawls his way over, and he slides in at 5 of 10. Gunther CHOPS him down! Fans boo more while Gunther paces around, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Gable is outside the ring. The ring count is 6 of 10 but Gunther goes out to BOOT him down! And then BARRIER BACK SUPLEX! Gable flops to the ground and Gunther goes back into the ring. The ring count starts again, Gunther waiting on Gable. Gable crawls over, flounders at 6 of 10, drags himself up at 8 and in at 9! Fans fire up but Gunther drags Gable up, underhooks and lifts for a stalling Butterfly Suplex! Cover, TWO! Gable is still in this and Gunther is getting frustrated with him! Fans rally, Gunther drags Gable up and whips him hard into a corner! Gable bounces off buckles and falls back!
Gunther talks trash how this is HIS ring, then he kicks Gable around. Gunther drags Gable up, whips him to a corner, but Gable flops over before even making it! Gunther grins and mocks Gable, and the ref checks if Gable is okay. Gable drags himself to the corner, Gunther gives him kicks and mockingly asks what’s going on. The ref counts, Gunther lets off, but then grabs for a foot. Gable BOOTS him! And BOOTS him again! Gable goes up, BOOTS Gunther again and again and again! Gunther gets Gable’s leg, swings, but the chop is blocked! HANGING ARMBAR! The ref counts, Gable lets go at 4!
Gable sits up, leaps, but into a CHOP!! Gunther watches Gable stagger up, and runs in to LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Gable is still in this and fans fire up! Gunther storms around, eggs Gable on, and then runs, into a DROPKICK! Gable gets up again, but Gunther LARIATS! Cover, TWO!! Gunther is losing his cool as Gable keeps finding power to kick out! Gunther watches from the corner, shouts at Gable, and runs in, into an arm-drag! Ghost pin! TWO!!! Gunther CHOPS, then clamps on a SLEEPER!! Gunther falls back into body scissors! Gable flails, claws at the grip, and fans rally up! Gable fights around, Gunther is a backpack now!
Gable stands up with Gunther on his back?! But then Gunther CLUBS Gable! Gable comes back to throat chop! Gable runs, and forearms! And again! Gable ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Gunther gets another sleeper! But Gable spins it to a BIG back suplex!! Fans fire up again as both men are down! Gable crawls, as does Gunther, and Gable stands up first. Gable storms up to waistlock, but Gunther fights the lift! Gunther knees low and hard, backs away to a corner, then runs in, but Gable blocks the knee! Gable glares at Gunther, before the DRAGON SCREW! Into the ANKLE LOCK!! Gunther flails and freaks out!
Fans fire up as Gable leans on the hold! Then he drags Gunther from ropes! Gunther rolls and kicks at Gable! Gable holds on but Gunther kicks and kicks until he’s free! Gunther CHOPS Gable, Gable TACKLES Gunther! And fires off some fists for ground ‘n’ pound! Gable ROCKS Gunther, CHOPS Gunther, and deadlift GERMAN SUPLEXES!! Bridging cover, TWO!! Gunther survives and fans know “This is Awesome!” Gable goes to a corner, he climbs up, but Gunther SHOVES him off! Gable hits barriers on the way down! A ring count starts again and fans rally up. Gable rises, Gunther storms out after him, and CHOPS him again the barriers!
Gunther BOOTS Gable, has him against barriers, and says this is HIS ring! Gunther CHOPS Gable down again! Gunther shoves Gable, swings, but Gable dodges! The chop hits POST!! And then Gable POSTS Gunther! And then GERMAN SUPLEXES Gunther into the timekeeper’s area! Gable slides in, the ring count hits TEN!!
Winner: Chad Gable, by count-out (Gunther retains the title)
It’s a huge victory for Chad Gable, but he doesn’t win the Intercontinental Championship! And yet, Gunther is furious! He is more upset that he lost to Gable than anything! Imperium rushes out and they tell Samantha to announce the last part! Yes, and STILL champion, Der Ring General! That is the silver lining for Gunther, but Gable still rubs it in that he won! Gable will be back for more, will he take that title the very next time these two face off?
The Judgment Day talks backstage.
Rhea says they’ve been going on for too long, they need to figure out who is facing Kevin & Sami. Finn says he doesn’t know how many times he has to say it! He thinks the team should be him and Dom. Priest says yeah, fair, they’d make a great team. But seeing as how Dom is already NXT North American Champion, and Priest is Mr. MITB, that makes more sense. Finn asks what that’s supposed to mean. Priest says don’t get hot. Dom, what do you think? U-Um, Finn & Priest are both amazing. Mami, what’s your vote? She thought they buried the hatchet! They did! Then stop doing this! They don’t have time for this!
Rhea has her own beef with Candice LeRae, so it’s not like she can be in the match! Someone decide before Rhea & Dom get back, or she’ll make it for them. Mami & Dommy head out, are things not okay in the Judgment Day?
Imperium regroups backstage.
Gunther is upset with Ludwig & Vinci, again. He then storms off, and Ludwig says they have to make this right. What’s Vinci gonna do? Ludwig storms off and Vinci is left speechless. Why is it on him to do something? Is there anything Imperium can do about this?
Backstage interview with Cody Rhodes.
Byron Saxton is with the American Nightmare and congratulates him on last week’s win over Finn Balor. But how did he feel the way Raw ended last week? Cody smirks and says Finn sat on him like a piece of furniture. And what the hell is wrong with JD McDonagh? Head so big on a little body, he’s like a Funko Pop. Byron, y’know what? Sorry, but this isn’t working. This setting isn’t his vibe. Let’s take a walk. Cody wants to introduce Byron to some friends. They go from the backstage area to gorilla, to right on stage! Fans fire up for getting to see Cody with their own eyes, and Cody asks Quebec, in French, “Whaddya wanna talk about?”
Byron then asks Cody that since we’re out here now, what would Cody like to talk about? Cody says that first order of business, down the aisle from here, hello and welcome to the newest commentators, Wade Barrett and “the voice of the WWE,” Michael Cole! Fans cheer for them, and for Cody, it feels like the JBL Cole Show. Shoutout to the Cowboy, John Bradshaw Layfield. But we’ve all seen the clips, Judgment Day vying to be the strongest group in all of sports entertainment, and what do they have on their side? The numbers! Gotta respect that.
“But if there was one place on the map where the numbers didn’t matter, if there was one place on the map where the odds weren’t in their favor, it’d be down the road from where Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn grew up!” Cody wants to hear ya! Quebec gets louder and Cody says he wants the Judgment Day to hear this! Will they be in the corner of Kevin & Sami tonight? The fans cheer so that’s a yes! And Cody says they won’t be alone, either. There is no love lost between him and the Judgment Day. He will be watching very closely, but tonight is about Kevin and Sami as we watch the Judgment Day rise… and fall!
Fans cheer that, but will Cody’s backing help the tag team champions make it through the night?
Shinsuke Nakamura speaks.
In Japanese, the King of Strong Style says, “Everyone asks me what I whispered to Seth Rollins. What could I have possibly said to fill him with fear? Seth is a man who acts like he has it all. Prosperous, charismatic, a champion. But… I know Seth. And I know his weaknesses.” In English, he tells us, “I whispered to Seth, ‘I know about your back.’ Seth’s back has been broken for many years. He lives in pain, and this pain creates a void inside of him that nothing can fill. No matter how successful he is, he is still in pain. When he hugs his wife, he is in pain. When he picks up his child, he is in pain.
“He is a world champion, yet every day of his life is filled with pain. And now his worst fears are coming true. He knows that I can break him once and for all! You see, Seth and I are not so different. I have a void, too. We live by a code that others do not. In fact, that code is displayed on his back. The very same back that is failing to hold him together, just like he is failing to live by that code. His body has crumbled, under the pressure of his own vanity. Are you satisfied, Seth? With what you have done with your life? Are you satisfied, Seth? Because I will not be satisfied until I take this burden from you when I break you once and for all. Watch your back.”
Rhea Ripley w/ Dominik Mysterio VS Candice LeRae w/ Indi Hartwell!
The Women’s World Champion may be #MondayNightMami, but she isn’t going to be kind or caring here against #MamaWrestling! Will Rhea have her way with Candice? Or will Candice avoid being eradicated?
Raw returns and Candice makes her entrance, Indi by her side for the no-look high-five. The bell rings and the two rush in! They tie up, Rhea powers Candice back to a corner and fires off fast hands! The ref counts, Rhea lets off, and then runs in, but into a roll-up! ONE, Candice dodges and Rhea hits buckles! Rhea staggers, Candice goes up, but Dom gets on the apron! Indi drags him down! Indi chases Dom off, but Rhea catches the crossbody to a BACKBREAKER! And then pop into the pump handle! RIP- DDT!! Candice turns things around, then hurries to LIONSAULT! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally and Candice fires off haymakers! Rhea choke grips back! CHOKE- NO, Candice wheelbarrows, but Rhea blocks! PRISM TRAP!! Candice taps, Rhea wins!
Winner: Rhea Ripley, by submission
Dom says that’s right! Mami breaks Candice down one way or another, but wait! Here comes Raquel Rodriguez! She’s on a crutch, did her knee only get worse as she tried to get back to 100%? Dom & Rhea laugh at Raquel, but then Raquel holds the crutch up to throw it at Rhea! And BOOTS her down!! It was a fake out! Big Mami Cool RAMS Mami Rhea all around ringside! Fans fire up as Raquel puts Rhea in the ring, but Rhea BOOTS her! Rhea CLUBS away, but Raquel throws hands in return! Raquel TOSSES Rhea to a corner, then fires off more shots! Raquel brings Rhea around, but Rhea breaks free!
Rhea ducks one lariat, but not the SOUTHPAW! And then Raquel scoops for a FALL AWAY SLAM! Rhea tumbles out and retreats! Fans fire up and Raquel gets a mic to tell Rhea not to go anywhere. If it isn’t obvious, as of today, Raquel has been medically cleared for action! And don’t worry, she already spoke to Adam Pearce. It will be Rhea Ripley VS Raquel Rodriguez at PAYBACK! Fans fire up for that, and Raquel tells Rhea that there can only be ONE Mami, and there can only be ONE Women’s World Champion! Rhea says bring it on! Who will be La Mami del Mundo after these two throw down?
Tommaso Ciampa speaks.
“It has been nine weeks since I’ve returned to Monday Night Raw. A long, 63 days to reflect on the man I’ve been since returning. I’m the man who lied in that ring two weeks ago as Chad Gable celebrated with his son. And this is nothing against Chad Gable, he is a workhorse. But I would be lying to you if I said I didn’t want that Intercontinental title opportunity versus Gunther. This close. And heck, even before Chad Gable, I’m the man who Shinsuke Nakamura defeated, and now look at him: Challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship. This close.
“But I didn’t come back to be this close! I didn’t come back to be that guy. I came back to be THE guy! I’ve been him before, I know that feeling, I know that pressure. It’s like oxygen and I am dying to take a breath. So I’m going to be the change that I want to see. Do It Yourself! Because I ain’t here to play no more games. I am here to take over the game.” Ciampa storms off, just what is he aiming to do next?
The Miz VS ???
All to prove he’s the bigger and better “mega star,” The Hollywood A-Lister promised us last week that he’d be facing someone bigger, faster and stronger than anyone LA Knight has ever face! Then just who is going to face The Miz tonight? We find out, after the break!
Raw returns, Miz has the mic, and fans chant for Maryse. Miz says she is from Montreal, she would never come to Quebec City. Fans boo but Miz says in his best French, “Let me talk to yah!” Friday on SmackDown, LA Knight lost a match to earn a US Championship match, and everyone is blaming Miz! What Knight fails to realize is that on the big show, there is no room for excuses. Things happen! Champions know that! Roman Reigns knows it, Gunther knows it, and in the main event of WrestleMania, The Rock messed with The Miz’s match with John Cena and The Miz still retained the WWE Championship, because that is what champions do!
Miz is not a trend! Trends come and go! Miz evolves! 20 years from now, fans will remember Miz as a game changer, a trend setter! A two-time Grand Slam Champion and a WrestleMania main eventer! 20 years from now, we will remember Knight as “a blip on the radar, a human fidget spinner. The Hoobastank of WWE!” Miz says LA Knight is NOT on his level! And to prove it, Miz talked with Pearce and he got Pearce to let Miz handpick his opponent tonight. Miz went with someone faster, stronger, bigger and more dominant than anyone Knight has ever faced ever! So ladies and gentlemen, Miz’s opponent tonight is… Akira Tozawa?!
The Stamina Monster isn’t bigger than Knight himself! He’s a former Cruiserweight Champion who would still qualify as a Cruiserweight! Miz gives Tozawa his introduction, and brings up that Tozawa is a former WWE 24/7 Champion. A shame that title doesn’t exist anymore, because it is the perfect title for someone like LA Knight: “a watered-down throwback to the Attitude Era.” But this isn’t about Knight, this is about Tozawa! Is this the biggest match of Tozawa’s career? YEAH. Wow, Miz thought Tozawa would have more to say. YEAH! No, he didn’t finish his next question. And don’t say that word, Miz doesn’t like that word!
Tozawa asks, “Say what?” “Yeah-” “YEAH!” Really? YEAH! Really? YEAH! Really? YEAH! Really really really? YEAH YEAH YEAH! STOP IT, THIS IS STUPID! Miz is giving Tozawa the opportunity of a lifetime! Does he think this is funny?! Tozawa grins as fans say “YEAH.” And then Tozawa says “YE-” BOOT from Miz! Fans boo, the ref reprimands and Miz backs off. Miz puts his jacket aside and Tozawa gets back up. Tozawa still wants to fight, sot he bell rings. Miz and Tozawa approach, but then LA KNIGHT is here!! Quebec goes wild and Miz is furiously shocked! Tozawa SHOTGUNS Miz out of the ring!
Fans fire up as Knight goes to the ring and gives Miz some tissues so he can cry more. Fans fire up and Knight joins commentary! Miz gets in the ring, rushes up but Tozawa dumps Miz out! Miz sees Knight again and Knight tells him to pay attention. Tozawa DIVES and hits Miz into the desk! Fans fire up with Tozawa and Knight, “YEAH!” and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns as Miz hits an A-LIST LARIAT! Miz dumps Tozawa out of the corner, climbs up and leaps, AX HANDLE! Knight is on commentary saying Miz is going on about stuff that happened 12 years ago when he was a background dancer for The Rock and John Cena. Good for him! Talk about flash in the pan, but Miz hasn’t been a trend in the last 10 years. Miz gives Tozawa It Kicks and says Knight is in HIS space! Miz hits more kicks, then soaks up the heat. Miz runs in to BUZZSAW Tozawa down! Cover, TWO! Knight continues to mock Miz over him constantly bringing up his early years.
Miz runs but Tozawa ducks the boot! Tozawa KICKS and KICKS and stands up. Miz swings, Tozawa dodges and fires off haymakers! Miz throws hands, whips and pops Tozawa up, but Tozawa RANAS! Fans fire up for Tozawa and he runs to SHINING WIZARD! Fans fire up while Miz is down and Tozawa goes up the corner. But Miz BOOTS Tozawa down to the floor! Then Miz builds speed, to WRECK Tozawa with a dropkick! Miz asks Knight if he saw that! Knight says to keep his attention on Tozawa. Miz drags Tozawa up, and then sends him at Knight! But Tozawa goes up the desk to FLYING RANA! Miz is sent into steel steps!
Knight says that’s what he was talking about. Tozawa puts Miz in, then GAMANGIRIS! Tozawa goes up the corner, fans fire up, TOKYO TOWER SENTON onto knees! Knight says “Miz is what you get if Biff Tannen banged a frog and then pushed it down the stairs.” Miz glares at Knight and then soaks up the heat. Knight says Miz is an inspiration. Miz proved that even if you’re awful and boring, you can still make it in this business. Miz full nelsons Tozawa and mocks Knight’s usual spelling it out with “You Are Not Miz, YEAH!” But then Tozawa drops down to victory roll! TOZAWA WINS!!
Winner: Akira Tozawa, by pinfall
Knight says look at that! That IS a game changer! Tozawa celebrates for the first time in a long time and Miz is going nuts! But then Knight hits Miz with B F T!! YEAH!! Will Miz ever get over this? Will he ever get past LA Knight?
McIntyre & Riddle regroup backstage.
Riddle says it’s okay, they’re 2-1 and that loss wasn’t even their fault. They still have a future, just keep trying. McIntyre says okay, but just listen for a second. McIntyre appreciates Riddle’s enthusiasm, but we’ve seen what’s happened with McIntyre these last couple of years. He has enough drama of his own, and now the Viking Raiders. This team isn’t gonna work out. The New Day walk over and can’t believe what they’re hearing. Did they not hear the people out there? Don’t go so fast, they’ve got a good thing going! And they really showed The New Day something out there. They’ve got potential.
Matter o’ fact, The New Day has a name for this team. “McRiddle.” Get it? Bada ba ba ba~~! Riddle’s loving it! Is McIntyre loving it? Yeah, can’t get enough… Now, they have issues with the Viking Raiders, but so does the New Day. New Day VS Erik & Ivar is next week, and then after that, if #McRiddle wants a rematch, Woods & Kofi are down. And thanks for having their backs. Pound it. Fist bumps! And then paper covers rock. Thanks, Riddle, kinda ruined the moment. Oh, sorry. New Day heads out, and Riddle is fired up! If New Day says they have potential, and those guys won the tag titles tons of times, don’t give up on this yet!
McIntyre doesn’t give an answer, and Riddle says it wasn’t a no! Will #McRiddle get cooking and go for some gold?
Rhea & Dom return to the Judgment Day lounge.
Priest asks where’ve they been, and Rhea asks if he and Finn worked out the tag team problem. No. Priest tried, Finn didn’t wanna hear him out, claims he doesn’t trust Priest, and then went off to talk with JD McDonagh. Rhea says Priest also isn’t trusting Finn. Uh, do you blame him? He’s here, there, all over the place! What can Priest do? Oh, fine, then that’s how this is gonna be? Rhea gave them a chance to work it out, so now they do things Rhea’s way! Rhea storms off, and Dom says Mami is not happy. What is Rhea going to decide for the team? Will it work out in their favor?
Becky Lynch is here!
Time and time again, The Man has been denied vengeance on Trish Stratus! But a big time Steel Cage match is coming, what are Becky’s thoughts on that? We’ll hear her out, after the break.
Raw returns and Becky has the mic to say, “The Man has come around to Quebec City! And The Man has Trish Stratus in a Steel Cage at Payback! Now, over the last few brutal months of this rivalry, there’s been a lot talk about who’s the best. Who is the greatest? And really, ultimately, it comes down to legacy. What do you want your legacy to be? What are you in control of? What are you not in control of? And how can you take those so-called lemons,” as she points out her new merch shirt, “and turn them into lemonade?”
And Becky has realized that her legacy will not be defined by wins or losses, or by championships, but by survival! Fans like the sound of that. Because you can beat Becky, put her on the shelf for months on end, break her bones and tear hear ligaments, but she will always come back! And not because she is unbeatable, but because she is unstoppable! And she is unstoppable because she always wins, but because she always, always, ALWAYS FIGHTS! Which brings us back to Trish. Trish and Becky are going into a Steel Cage, but there is still business with Zoey Stark. Becky talked with Adam Pearce and-
Wait! Here comes Trish & Zoey! Trish asks what’s up Quebec, it is so nice to hear them. They’ve been having to be south of this beautiful country, dealing with those silly USA-Holes. To be in her home country of Canada, Trish is very emotional. The fans chant “Thank You, Trish!” But she says she should be saying, “Merci beaucoup, Quebec.” Fans cheer and Trish says she can’t tell us what it means to be here in her home country, and in Quebec City, because it means ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! HA! It’s not like this is Montreal. Or even Toronto! Fans boo but Trish says at least the Leaves made the playoffs.
Trish continues to the ring and says she wouldn’t be here tonight if not for this sourpuss running her mouth. Trish would’ve made like Trudeau and split. Trish steps into the ring with Becky, Zoey still by her side. The fans chant at Trish in French and she’s a bit surprised. But she also tells them the rest of the world doesn’t understand what they’re saying so this is pointless. As for Becky, Trish has some good news and some bad news. Good news: When Trish beats Becky 1v1, she will finally prove she is the greatest of all time. Not only of her generation but of this generation!
And the bad news: Becky has Trish in a steel cage. Trish has never been in a steel cage match. And is she scared? Is she? Fans think so, and Becky asks if she is. Trish admits, she is scared! But was she scared at 24 years old, and thrown into the WWE ring with almost no experience? Yes, but she killed it! Was she scared as the first female to ever main event Raw? Yeah, but she killed it! Trish’s entire career has been her thrown into the fire and shining! She has proven herself. Shove her into a steel cage? Guess what? She will stand tall! Fans continue to chant at Trish and she asks what the frogs are doing.
Trish continues to tell Becky that if we’re talking survival and legacy, then here she is, 23 years later, face to face with one of the best in the business. And y’know what? Trish finds herself once again having to prove herself to everyone! She is sick and tired of proving herself to everyone! And y’know what? When Becky gets into that cage with Trish, you’ll see a side of Trish we’ve never seen before, and if Trish were Becky, Becky would be scared! Because Becky will NOT survive this one, b*tch! Becky says she’s so~ scared~! Trish brings up how Becky brought up Zoey. Oh, yes, Becky had something to say before Trish so rudely interrupted!
Trish, in two weeks, it will be you and Becky locked in a steel cage. But next week, Zoey, it’ll be the exact opposite! It will be Becky VS Zoey, FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE! Welcome to the Big Time! Becky drops the mic and is all fired up! She even takes Trish’s cowboy hat! Will Trish’s protégé survive when Becky can take her anywhere and do anything to her?
Chelsea Green & Piper Niven are at gorilla position.
Byron Saxton walks over to ask The Hot Mess and her newest tag team partner that as the NEW WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, where are their heads at- Chelsea stops him there. She doesn’t know whatever “Bryan” was gonna talk about, but let’s talk about how Chelsea had to authorize WWE Management to make them the new Tag Team Champions after Sonya’s injury. Piper seems confused by that, as Chelsea was about to be stripped of the gold, but Chelsea continues to say she handled it, as she always does. And now they will do what champions do. This chemistry is off the charts!
Piper steps in to put a stop to this interview but Chelsea keeps wanting to talk. Piper then gets Chelsea’s attention. “Did I stutter? Move.” Piper ushers Chelsea on, and this new duo heads for the ring! Will the chemistry really be all Chelsea says it is? Or will they simply be added to the Highlight Reel?
Chelsea Green & Piper Niven VS Kayden Carter & Katana Chance!
Raw returns as KC Squared make their entrance. The teams sort out, Katana starts against Chelsea. The two tie up, go around, and Chelsea tosses Katana aside. Chelsea taunts Kayden but Katana DROPKICKS her down! Tag to Kayden, she trips Chelsea and drags her halfway out so that Katana can backflip and KNEE DROP! Then Kayden slides back in, facelocks to keep Chelsea from Piper, but chelae powers out to kick a leg! Chelsea then sucker punches Katana! Kayden swings, misses, and Chelsea ROCKS her with a right! Chelsea talks trash but Kayden ROCKS her in return! Chelsea staggers back and Piper tags in!
Chelsea runs in, Kayden dodges and she SUPERKICKS Piper! Chelsea superkicks but Kayden blocks, to then spin Chelsea and SUPERKICK her now! Hot tag to Katana and KC Squared set up in a corner. Kayden carries Katana on her shoulders, HANDSTAND SPLASH! Cover, but Piper is the legal one! And speaking of, Piper drags Kayden out to TOSS her at the desk! And then Piper storms in, Katana storms up, and Piper DECKS her! Piper runs to SPLASH! Cover, Piper & Chelsea win!
Winners: Chelsea Green & Piper Niven, by pinfall
Piper the Viper singlehandedly handles KC Squared, and singlehandedly celebrates while Chelsea writhes in the corner. Will Piper be just the thing Chelsea needs to make it through the Summer as champion?
Backstage interview with Seth Rollins.
Jackie is with the World Heavyweight Champion, but he stops her from asking her question. He knows they’ve been waiting all night long. Before they get to business, can’t we just take a second to “let, them, sing?” Fans sing “OH~ OHH~ OHHHH~” for Rollins and he soaks it all in. Rollins says now he presumes she’s going to ask about his back. Yes, is there an injury update? Or any truth at all to what Nakamura said about Rollins? Rollins takes off the sunglasses and says Shinsuke… He caught Rollins off guard bringing up the back injury, because the truth is, it isn’t something he talks about publicly.
“But if we’re being completely open here, I do have two fractures in my lumbar spine. I have been living with that injury for over four years, and it doesn’t get better by itself. As a matter of fact, it gets worse, and the truth is, I don’t really know, um… I don’t know what the endgame is, I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna be able to do this at the level I’m currently running at. And um, y’know what? That’s part of the gig. And it’s part of the gig if Shinsuke wants to bring up and target my injuries. And it’s part of the gig if Shinsuke Nakamura wants to take cheap shots, if he wants to play mind games.
“Hell, it’s part of the gig if Shinsuke Nakamura wants to question my character! Many have! He’s not the first, he won’t be the last. But if Shinsuke Nakamura wants to bring my family into it… My wife, and my daughter, and my livelihood into this, then he better be prepared… to face me man to man. But you’re not, are you, Shin? You’re not even here tonight, are you, Shin? You’re in a TV studio a thousand miles away, too afraid to face me!
“So here’s what I’m gonna do for you. Next week, I’m gonna give you one more chance to play your little mind games. Prove to the world that you are an honorable warrior, and I’ll repeat to you what I told you last week. I’m not a hard guy to find! I’ll be in the center of that ring, dressed to the nines, world title wrapped around my waist, with the whole world singing, my, song.” Fans sing again, “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” Will the Visionary and the King of Strong Style be face-to-face just days before their match at Payback? And what happens if they will?
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn VS ??? w/ The Judgment Day!
The Prizefighter is back in action, because he will always #JustKeepFighting! And with his best friend by his side, they #JustKeepFighting The Judgment Day! But who will it be that Mami decided will step up to them? And will it not keep the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions from getting a huge hometown win?
Raw returns and the Judgment Day makes their entrance. Priest is storming out, and Rhea drags Finn along?! She says THEY are tagging! So get it together already and win! Will the Prince & Punisher have no choice but to do that with Mami on their case? Finn & Priest rush in, they brawl with Kevin & Sami! Fans fire up but the ref wants this to sort out! Sami TOSSES Finn, Kevin TOSSES Priest, but then Finn & Priest drag them both out! So the brawling just continues outside! Kevin ROCKS and CHOPS Priest, Sami RAMS Finn into barriers! Priest throws hands, fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~!”
Sami goes after Priest now, puts him in the ring, and the match begins! Priest ROCKS Sami, CLUBS away on him, then fires off hands! Fans boo but Rhea cheers Priest on. Priest CLUBS Sami, whips him to ropes, but Sami ducks ‘n’ dodges and comes back to clothesline! Priest goes up and out, Sami goes out after him, on the desk! Sami fires hands, Finn runs over but Sami SMACKS him off the desk! Sami fires off on Finn now, but Priest UPPERCUTS Sami! Priest puts Sami back in the ring, then DECKS him with a big forearms! Fans boo, Finn tags in, and Finn brings Sami in, but Sami suplexes first!
Fans fire up as Sami tags in Kevin! Kevin dodges Finn, DECKS Priest, then fires off on Finn! Fans fire up with every haymaker, and then Kevin stomps away on Finn at the ropes! Kevin lets off and he’s all fired up! Fans are even more fired up as he goes out to LARIAT Finn and then LARIAT Priest! Kevin hurries right back into the ring, he DECKS Finn, and then CANNONBALLS Priest down! Kevin goes up a corner, takes aim, SWANTON BOMB!! Fans are thunderous for the Prizefighter as he watches Finn flounder. Finn stands up, Kevin kicks low, but no Stunner! Finn SLINGBLADES in return! Both men are down and fans boo.
Priest has the briefcase? But Sami CLOBBERS him first! Rhea is shocked, but now Sami’s bad elbow bothers him! JD McDonagh is here! McDonagh tosses the briefcase into the ring, but Kevin intercepts it! And CLOBBERS Finn with it! But the ref saw that!!
Winners: The Judgment Day, by disqualification
Kevin argues that the Judgment Day brought the briefcase in! But then Priest CLOBBERS Kevin! Priest asks what McDonagh is even doing! Why’s he touching Priest’s stuff!? McDonagh says he’s just trying to help! But then Sami CLOBBERS McDonagh! But then Dom attacks Sami! The Judgment Day beats down Sami and fans boo! Kevin gets up, but that’s still 3v2! Fans want to see Cody, and so here comes Cody! He runs down, weight belt in hand so he can LASH Dom! Finn & Priest get away, and now the American Nightmare stands tall with the hometown heroes as he says they are NOT ending Raw like this! THREE VS THREE, LET’S GO!
Quebec fires up and Judgment Day is upset. But they have no choice, because here comes Adam Pearce! He says they ARE doing it! Will Judgment Day finally pay for what they’ve been up to?
Six Man Tag: Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Cody Rhodes VS The Judgment Day!
Raw returns with this match underway! Dom whips Cody but Cody ducks ‘n’ dodges ‘n’ slides under, to then kick low and RHODES UPPERCUT! Dom staggers, Cody bumps Dom off buckles, and then tag to Sami. Fans cheer as Cody holds Dom and Sami goes up, AX HANDLE! Sami brings Dom around, ROCKS him with rights, but Dom knees low! Dom fires haymakers, fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~!” but Dom fires more hands and knees against ropes. The ref reprimands, Dom gives us some Latino Heat but the fans boo. Dom whips, Sami reverses and back drops Dom high and hard! Dom flounders to a corner and Sami storms over.
Sami brings Dom up but Dom powers him to a corner! Tag to Finn, he stomps Sami and bumps him off buckles. Finn fires off hands, whips corner to corner, then runs in, but Sami LARIATS first! Fans cheer as Sami bumps Finn off buckles and tags in Kevin. Kevin CHOPS Finn, whips him, and then body shots to a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP and SENTON! “SUCK IT!” to Priest and Dom! Fans fire up, but the ref keeps the Judgment Day back., Finn knees low and bumps Kevin off buckles! Tag to Dom and fans boo as he stomps a mudhole in. Dom throws hands, knees low, but Kevin ROCKS Dom in return!
Kevin and Dom scrap, Dom ROCKS Kevin then gives us more Latino Heat! “I run this!” Dom wraps on a chinlock and he grinds Kevin down. Fans taunt Dom more, but Rhea tells him to grind that hold. Kevin endures, fights up, and fans rally as Kevin fights up. Kevin throws body shots, but Dom knees low and TOSSES Kevin out. Fans boo as Dom goes out and leaps, into a body shot! Fans fire up again as Kevin brings Dom up to put him in the ring. But Priest runs up! Kevin ELBOWS him down, then DECKS Dom, and ELBOWS Finn! Dom HOTSHOTS Kevin, tags Finn, and Finn sweeps the legs!
Kevin lands hard on the apron, Finn & Dom distract the ref so Priest can RAM Kevin into barriers, and so Rhea can scoop SLAM Kevin! Rhea high-fives Priest and tells Kevin to suck it! Fans boo as Judgment Day soaks up the heat. Finn goes out to get Kevin, RAMS him into the apron, and shoves him in the ring. Finn then slingshot stomps Kevin down! Fans boo but Finn tags Priest. Priest taunts Cody and Sami, goes back to Kevin and brings him up, but Kevin ROCKS Priest! And again! And again! But Priest LARIATS Kevin down! Cover, TWO! The Judgment Day is still in control and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns once again and Finn stomps away on Kevin at the ropes! Fans rally for Kevin, the ref counts, and Finn lets off at 4. Kevin goes out, Finn goes out after him, but Kevin hits a back suplex to the desk! Rhea is stunned and Kevin flounders back to the ring. Rhea tells Finn to get up, Finn hurries in and tags Priest. Priest CLOBBERS Kevin, then taunts Sami and Cody. Priest drags Kevin over, tags Finn back in, and they mug Kevin. Finn fires hands, then snapmares Kevin to elbow him in the neck. Finn wraps on a chinlock but fans rally for Kevin. Kevin endures, fights up, but Finn facelocks now to grind him down!
Kevin still fights, but Finn powers him back. Kevin powers his way forward, but Finn powers him back! Kevin powers forward, then JAWBREAKERS free! And SUPERKICKS! But Finn bumps into Cody and sends him off the apron! Finn then staggers, HEADS COLLIDE! Both men go down and fans rally up! Finn and Kevin crawl, flounder, hot tags to Priest and Sami! Fans are all fired up for Sami as he fires off on Priest! Sami whips, Priest reverses but Sami springboards to go up and over and then LARIAT! Sami BLASTS Finn & Dom, then baits Priest into an ELBOW! Sami goes up, to AX HANDLE!
Fans fire up again as Sami spins Priest around, knuckle locks and CHOPS, then he goes up and up and TORNADO DDT! Cover, TWO! Priest is still in this and Rhea can breathe again. Sami positions Priest in a drop zone and fans rally up as he climbs. Rhea shouts to Dom, Dom hurries up but Sami DECKS him! Sami sees Finn and points him out to the ref, but that allows Rhea to trip Sami up! Fans boo as Sami staggers up, into Priest’s choke grip! SOUTH OF HEAVEN SLAM!! Cover, Kevin breaks it! Fans fire up, but Finn whips! Kevin reverses to TOSS Finn! Priest LARIAT Kevin down! Hot tag to Dom!
Dom climbs, aims, and FROG SPLASHES onto knees! Sami saves himself, and Cody rises! Fans fire up as Sami crawls his way over, hot tag to Cody! Cody runs in, dodges Dom, then springboards, BEAUTIFUL DISASTER! Cody dodges Priest, to hit DOUBLE CODY CUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Dom survives but fans fire up with Cody! Cody stalks Dom, drags him up, dragon sleeper but Finn runs in! So Cody gets Finn for CROSS RHODES instead! But Dom runs up, rolls Cody up, TWO!! Cody escapes, spins Dom around, CROSS RHODES!! Dom is in the corner, and Sami is back! Fans want it, Cody tags in Sami!
Sami aims at Dom, tags Kevin in first, then HELLUVA KICK!! Then feed to the STUNNER!! Cover, Kevin’s team wins!!
Winners: Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & Cody Rhodes, by pinfall
A massive victory for the WWE Tag Team Champions and American Nightmare, and a massive defeat for The Judgment Day! Sami gets the mic to say, “Hey, Judgment Day. Better luck next time, hey bud?” Then in French, Sami says that this title run is for Canada, and it is for Quebec. Merci beaucoup! Will anyone stop Kevin & Sami as they #FightTogether? Will this only cause Judgment Day to fight each other?
My Thoughts:
A really good Raw here, though maybe a bit redundant with how we got another Judgment Day VS Cody, Kevin & Sami match. Don’t get me wrong, all great stuff leading to it, like this returning dysfunction between Finn and Priest and how they played it with JD McDonagh. But it just seems like they’re relying a little too much on that combo again and again. JD McDonagh technically not costing them that 2v2 match was also clever, because Priest wasn’t even upset about the result but that it was McDonagh getting in the mix. This has to come down to like Finn & McDonagh VS Priest & Dom as Judgment Day starts falling apart more.
Rhea also had some great stuff tonight, with another quick win this week but against Candice. But then Raquel showing up and revealing she’s 100% and ready to go, we’re going to get a great title match from them at Payback. No idea who wins that, but I feel like Rhea finds a Heelish way to win so that she’s the one person in Judgment Day with any success. Great stuff out of the tag match of Chelsea & Piper VS KC Squared, especially that handstand splash combo KC Squared cooked up. Piper being the powerhouse keeping that team from losing is going to be a fun story, like the combo of Piper & Eva Marie if Eva Marie had a Heel persona that worked.
Great tag match from McIntyre & Riddle VS New Day, though I did not see them throwing Viking Riders into this. I’m not going to outright say this is just a rehash of RKBRO, but it’s dangerously close to it. The nickname, “McRiddle,” is pretty clever, though. If it comes down to it, I wouldn’t mind seeing a Triple Threat Tag to determine #1 contenders to Sami & Kevin, assuming Judgment Day falls apart before getting their own shot. Then, if #McRiddle loses, McIntyre turns on Riddle for their feud. At least, if WWE isn’t going to try and make McRiddle a thing. Which they might, though McIntyre deserves a shot at the new world title.
Speaking of, great promo from Nakamura, especially with that plot twist of the aggravating back injury for Rollins. And great promo from Rollins in response, with some real heat going into next week’s go-home episode. The back injury (assuming it is exaggerated for sake of story) could very well be how they have Rollins lose and write him off TV so he can do filming with the next Marvel Captain America project. But if not and he keeps going past Payback, then Rollins VS Heel McIntyre for Fastlane in October.
Becky had a really good promo segment with Trish and Zoey, and I like that Zoey was keeping Trish back as Trish was trying to step to Becky while also finally raising her voice. Becky VS Trish in the Steel Cage for Payback will be great, but Becky VS Zoey in Falls Count Anywhere for the go-home is a wild choice. But at the same time, that could be how Becky takes Zoey out of the equation, or at least thinks so until Zoey shows up and still interferes with the cage match anyhow. And again, please let Lita show up and get back in the story, it just makes sense.
Really good promo from Ciampa about how he has been the guy who others springboard off of to get to the titles. And he used the phrase “Do It Yourself,” DIY, his old tag team with Johnny Gargano. I hope they get back together and get into the tag title scene, too. And just great stuff from Miz, LA Knight and Tozawa. I should’ve known Miz wasn’t going to face someone actually big and strong. And Knight got me to legitimately laugh out loud with that line about Biff Tannen banging a frog, as stupid as that is. Great win for Tozawa out of this story, and we have to see Miz VS Knight at Payback at this rate. Miz probably even shows up on Friday to make the challenge.
And great stuff out of the Intercontinental Championship scene. Really good promos before the match, and the match itself was awesome. Maybe a bit too like “Lex Luger beating Yokozuna by count-out” from 30 years ago, just without the locker room celebrating with Gable. But Gunther getting so upset was great, because he was so confident he’d beat Gable. I’m sure we get yet another rematch at Payback, because then the deadline to Honky Tonk Man’s record reign will be even closer. If they can take the same energy from tonight’s match and somehow escalate it, the Intercontinental Championship could steal the show.
My Score: 8.7/10
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The Road to the Tokyo Dome goes through KOPW!
As 2024 nears an end, Great-O-Khan defends the KOPW Championship one more time, against a former KOPW Champion in Taichi! Who will be THE 2024 King of Pro-Wrestling?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Chase Your Dream Match: Shoma Kato VS Hiromu Takahashi; Hiromu wins.
- Boltin Oleg VS Satoshi Kojima; Boltin wins.
- Triple Threat Tag: Jeff Cobb & Jakob Austin Young VS Ryohei Oiwa & Hartley Jackson VS Ren Narita & Yujiro Takahashi; Narita & Yujiro win.
- DOUKI & Taka Michinoku VS El Desperado & Master Wato; Desperado & Wato win.
- Fatal 4 Way: Kevin Knight VS Robbie Eagles VS Francesco Akira VS “Drilla” Dan Moloney; Eagles wins.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club War Dogs; LIJ wins.
- Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita; ZSJ & Fujita win.
- KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi; Khan wins and is the definitive 2024 KOPW Champion.
PLAY BY PLAY
After the Triple Threat Tag…
The House of Torture of course cheated to win, but they wouldn’t leave it at that! They waited until the United Empire and TMDK argued with each other to then attack them all! Yujiro Takahashi CLUBS Oiwa down while Narita shoves Cobb into big Hartley Jackson! And then Narita JAMS Cobb with the pushup bar! The fans boo but Narita JAMS Oiwa up, too! The Souled Out Son of Strong Style is so proud of himself as he holds up his NJPW World TV Championship, but wait. Christmas music starts playing? The fans clap along as surprise! Santa and his reindeer are here! Well, one reindeer. But shouldn’t the House of Torture be on the naughty list?
Santa Claus walks over, and he gets the mic. He sounds familiar as he tells, “Narita-san… You have a Christmas present waiting. Would you like it now?” Narita asks what the heck is going on. Santa steps into the ring and offers Narita the little tiny bag. Narita snatches the bag, then he and Yujiro look at it. The fans asks, “Nani nani? <What is it?>” Narita tells them to shut up. Narita gets the bag open and pulls out… Blue sunglasses! With LED lights! The fans cheer as the lights go down! “E! L! P!” EL PHANTASMO IS HERE! The Headbanga has been battling cancer, but he’s here in Korakuen Hall!
Narita is furious but ELP slides right into the ring! Narita & Yujiro run away, but the fans cheer ELP on as he stands side-by-side with Jado Claus. ELP gets the mic now, and the fans cheer him on. ELP takes a moment before saying, in Japanese, “Cancer. Cancer… I’ve beaten cancer! And I love Korakuen!” But ELP asks Jado-san how to say a certain something in Japanese. He whispers it, but then Narita & Yujiro attack! The fans boo these cowards, but then Narita says Merry Christmas! But ELP BOOTS him, ELBOWS Yujiro, then dodges Narita to SUDDEN DEATH! Jado Claus DECKS the Tokyo Pimp!
ELP again asks Jado, and Jado says on behalf of ELP, that ELP is going to wrestle tomorrow night! And… Then he’ll be at the Tokyo Dome! ELP grabs the NJPW World TV Championship! ELP looks it over, and looks to the crowd, and then to Jado, but then Jeff Cobb and Ryohei Oiwa get in the ring. Cobb asks if ELP’s good. ELP is good. Are they good? Then let’s turn it up a notch! FATAL 4 WAY for the TV Championship! Narita snatches his belt, gets out of the ring, and tells everyone to shut up! The odds just got stacked against the House of Torture, will the New Year have a NEW NJPW World TV Champion one way or another?
Shota Umino & Hiroshi Tanahashi VS Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita!
Ahead of battling for THE IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, The Roughneck and The Front Man bring some back up! The Ace is also preparing to fight Evil, will he and Shota bring a Once in a Century Paradigm Shift? Or will ZSJ and the Japanese Young Punk prove The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The teams sort out and Shota starts against ZSJ. The fans cheer this WrestleKingdom preview, and Korakuen duels between “SHOTA! SHOTA!” and “ZAKU! ZAKU!” ZSJ and Shota feel things out, then knuckle lock. ZSJ clinches but Shota fights back with his own clinch. ZSJ slips around to chinbar but Shota wrenches to a wristlock. ZSJ rolls, tries another chinbar but Shota cranks the wristlock. ZSJ bridges, spins, slips around and wrangles Shota! Shota kips up to WRING the arm, but ZSJ UP KICKS! The fans cheer as the two reset. Shota and ZSJ circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. ZSJ then stands on Shota’s hand!
ZSJ has another hand and twists the wrist! Then he has both arms for a motorcycle stretch but Shota fights up. Shota turns things around, and he fights ZSJ as ZSJ tries to turn them back. ZSJ keeps trying, and he pushes through, but Shota spins things right back around! The fans cheer while Shota digs a foot into ZSJ’s back. ZSJ flips, kips up, spins things around, but Shota spins them back! The fans cheer, and Shota spins ZSJ. ZSJ dodges the lariat, Shota blocks a kick, but ZSJ ducks the enzigiri! Shota avoids the Penalty Kick and arm-drags ZSJ, but ZSJ headscissors! Shota kips free, avoids a leg pick, and the fans cheer!
Shota dares ZSJ to go for the leg but the two reset again. They feel things out, knuckle lock, and each man breaks free of one. They back off, and Shota tags in Tanahashi. The fans cheer, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Korakuen strongly supports President Ace. Tanahashi and Fujita circle, tie up, and Tanahashi powers Fujita back. The ref counts, Tanahashi lets off slowly, but then Fujita turns things around! Tanahashi turns things around, and repeat! The ref counts, Fujita lets off slowly, but then both men block a kick! They argue over who lets go first, and eventually agree for a mutual break. They set the feet down, but then Fujita holds on!
Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi, then whips. Tanahashi reverses but Fujita ducks ‘n’ dodges to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Fujita aims from a corner. Fujita runs corner to corner but Tanahashi BOOTS him! Shota CLOBBERS Fujita, then eggs ZSJ on! ZSJ runs up, Shota blocks a kick and he sends ZSJ into Tanahashi’s ELBOW! Shota CLOBBERS ZSJ and the fans fire up. Shota pursues ZSJ to the outside and CLUBS him down! Shota clamps onto ZSJ with a chinlock but the ref reprimands. Tanahashi CHOPS Fujita, but Fujita CHOPS Tanahashi! The fans fire up as Fujita storms back up, but he blocks a boot!
Fujita DRAGON SCREWS Tanahashi’s leg! Fujita kips up, ZSJ sends Shota into railing, and Fujita stomps Tanahashi. The fans rally and Fujita brings Tanahashi up to CHOP! Fujita eggs Tanahashi on, CHOPS him again, then CHOPS again! Tanahashi flounders and ZSJ tags in. ZSJ drags Tanahashi up to UPPERCUT! Tanahashi ends up in the TMDK corner, ZSJ UPPERCUTS him again! ZSJ says, “Mada mada!” and he UPPERCUTS again! Tanahashi falls, ZSJ tags in Fujita, and Fujita brings Tanahashi up. Fujita CHOPS again, and then CHOPS again! Tanahashi is stinging and using the ropes for defense while the fans rally up.
Tanahashi storms up but Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi CHOPS, Fujita CHOPS! Tanahashi falls and Fujita BLASTS Shota! Tag to ZSJ and he grabs a leg. Fujita also grabs one, they drag Tanahashi to center, and then they both go after arms. Then they shift, ZSJ has an arm while Fujita has a leg! Then they both have legs again! Then ZSJ has a leg and Fujita has an arm! Then back to the arms! They both isolate the arms for DOUBLE STOMPS! The fans cheer, the ref reprimands and ZSJ “apologizes” with a bow. ZSJ stands on one of Tanahashi’s legs to then twist the other! Tanahashi endures, even as ZSJ TWEAKS the ankle!
ZSJ twists the foot the other way, flips Tanahashi over, and shifts around to have a headscissor and armlock! Shota stomps ZSJ but Fujita goes after Shota! Fujita TOSSES Shota, ZSJ tags Fujita back in. Fujita stomps Tanahashi, KICKS him in the back, but Tanahashi gets mad! Fujita KICKS Tanahashi but Tanahashi fires up! Fujita KICKS and CHOPS, but Tanahashi fires forearm after forearm! Fujita CHOPS again! Tanahashi grits his teeth but Fujita CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! SHOTEI! Fujita falls but so does Tanahashi! The fans rally up while both men crawl, hot tag to Shota! Shota rallies on Fujita with big forearms and elbows!
Shota whips, Fujita reverses, but Shota dropkicks the legs out! ZSJ runs up and RAMS Shota! Then ZSJ runs, but into Shota’s DROPKICK! The fans fire up and Shota goes to Fujita. Shota whips corner to corner, runs up, and UPPERCUTS! Shota reels Fujita in, FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t mind. Shota clinches but Fujita fights the suplex with elbows. Shota runs up, but Fujita wrenches, waistlocks, but Shota ELBOWS free! Shota whips, Fujita reverses and DROPKICKS! Both men are down and the fans fire up again! Fujita crawls, hot tag to ZSJ!
ZSJ runs up to BOOT Shota! Shota stays up so ZSJ runs to BOOT him again! And BOOT him again! Shota roars and ROCKS ZSJ! Shota runs to ROCK ZSJ again! ZSJ UPPERCUTS, Shota eggs him on, repeat! Shota UPPERCUTS and ZSJ roars! ZSJ UPPER- NO, Shota hooks the arm, but ZSJ wrenches out of the backslide to PELE the arm! Then ZSJ basement DROPKICKS Shota! The fans fire up while Shota clutches a leg and an arm. ZSJ kicks him around, scuffs him and taunts him. The fans rally, the ref checks Shota, but Shota is okay to continue. ZSJ stands Shota up to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT!
Shota clinches to EXPLODER! Both men are down and the fans rally again! Shota crawls, hot tag to Tanahashi! Fujita runs up, but Tanahashi blocks a kick to DRAGON SCREW! Payback for earlier! Tanahashi runs up at ZSJ in a corner, blocks a boot, and DRAGON SCREWS! Tanahashi put some stank on that one! Then he goes up the corner for a SUNSET SENTON! Cover, TWO! ZSJ stays in this but the fans continue to rally! “GO ACE! GO ACE!” echoes out as Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ catches him into a COBRA TWIST! Tanahashi endures, then throws elbows into ZSJ’s leg. Tanahashi gets free to DRAGON SCREW again!
ZSJ writhes, Tanahashi ties the legs up, but ZSJ kicks at him! Tanahashi blocks a kick to GROUND DRAGON SCREW! And now, TEXAS CLOVER- NO, ZSJ fights the turnover and reels Tanahashi into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Tanahashi endures and the fans rally up, but Shota gets in! Shota stomps away on ZSJ, but then Fujita MISSILE DROPKICKS Shota! Fujita brings Tanahashi up but Tanahashi SHOTEIS him down! ZSJ is after Tanahashi but he avoids the shotei! ZSJ SLAPS Tanahashi, then PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO!! Tanahashi survives but ZSJ gives him a NECK TWIST! The fans fire up as ZSJ stand Tanahashi up.
ZSJ scoops but Tanahashi fights that, to a TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! The fans fire up but Tanahashi isn’t done! TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Tanahashi stands ZSJ up again, but ZSJ scoops to ZACK DRIVER!! Cover, ZSJ & Fujita win!
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Kosei Fujita, by pinfall
Shota can’t believe The Ace fell, but this is why ZSJ is the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion! Will ZSJ do this all to Shota when they’re 1v1 in the Tokyo Dome? Or will Shota prove he’s mightier than The Mighty?
KOPW Championship Three Stages of Hell: Great-O-Khan VS Taichi!
The Dominator has, well, dominated as KOPW Champion for a long stretch of 2024, but the Holy Emperor did close out 2023 with this title. Granted, Taichi says that win, lose or draw, this is his final KOPW Championship match. As such, tonight’s stipulation is a sort of “Best Of” compilation as we go Best 2 Out of 3. Part one: a no ropes Sumo Rules match! Part two: Yoshinobu Kanemaru as special guest referee? Well, he would be a neutral party… And part three, if needed, will be a LAST MAN STANDING MATCH! Will Taichi “retire” from this truly freestyle division standing tall? Or will Khan truly conquer KOPW for the United Empire?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, but Taichi also brings back the trophy for the occasion, and it’s time to end the year in style!
Sumo Rules!
Both men finish preparations with weight belts and some stretching. They square up, the ref says go and they RAM into each other! The fans rally as both men go for those weight belts to use as leverage. They go around, get very close to the ring edge, but then Khan moves things away. Khan THROWS Taichi, but Taichi stays on the ring so the sumo match continues. They reset and go again! Taichi pushes Khan back with both hands, but Khan digs in his heels! They clinch, go around, and Taichi goes for the edge! Khan pulls on Taichi’s leg to get around, but Taichi uses that to steer Khan to another edge! But Khan hits a fireman’s carry takeover!
Khan drags Taichi up but Taichi fights off the throw! They clinch and fight for control again. They each try to lift with the belt! Khan has Taichi near the edge, but then Taichi has Khan near the edge! Khan is teetering and the fans fire up! Taichi THROWS Khan to the floor, Taichi wins the fall!
Khan: 0; Taichi: 1
Special Guest Referee!
The fans are thunderous as Taichi takes the Sumo Rules fall, but now we go to a much more complicated situation. The ropes have to be put back up, sure, but now the Heel Master of all people is going to be the referee! The time it takes to set up the ropes is a reprieve for both sides, especially Khan as he has to catch his breath and refocus. Once the ropes are up, both men wait in the ring. All that is left is the buckle pads, and of course, Kanemaru himself. Kanemaru gets a proper introduction and entrance before he goes to the ring, and wow, he’s even wearing an official NJPW referee shirt with the lion mark on it.
Referee Kanemaru does his check and he even tells Taka Michinoku to watch himself. Kanemaru does a far less thorough check of Khan than Taichi! Did the Empire pay Kanemaru off?! Kanemaru has Taichi cool off, then whispers something to Khan! The bell rings, the fans rally for Khan, and Khan circles with Taichi. They tie up, Taichi powers Khan to ropes, and Kanemaru calls for a ropebreak. Then he has a fast count! Taichi lets off before 4 and argues with Kanemaru! Kanemaru says that’s his count, deal with it. Khan and Taichi reset, tie up, and Khan puts Taichi on ropes. Kanemaru pays more attention to Taka than Taichi!
The fans can’t help but laugh as Kanemaru finally does count, and now it’s really slow! Taichi protests, but Khan pulls Taichi’s arms. Then he CHOPS Taichi and stops at “3!” Khan then goes after Taichi, wrenches and wristlocks, and Kanemaru is asking if Taichi gives up!? Taichi tells him to shut up, but Khan kicks and CLUBS Taichi. Khan whips, Taichi BOOTS Khan down, then covers! Kanemaru strolls over to count! And it’s so slow! “TWO” and the fans cheer. Taichi is upset, but Khan rolls Taichi up! SO FAST!! TWO!! Taichi is getting pissed but Kanemaru backs away. Taichi stomps Khan, and Kanemaru’s untying a buckle pad?!
Taichi stomps Khan around, Khan leaves the pad there loosely, and Taichi whips. Khan reverses, and SURPRISE! bare buckles! Taka protests but Kanemaru SMACKS him with the pad! Khan plays dumb, and then he stands on Taichi’s lower back. Taichi has the ropes, but Kanemaru kicks the arm away! Khan has Taichi’s other arm, Taichi keeps grabbing for ropes but Kanemaru keeps kicking the hand away! Khan drags Taichi up, brings him around, and ROCKS him in the back! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan Mongolian Chops him on the back! And Mongolian Chops again! And Mongolian Chops again! Kanemaru doesn’t bother counting at all!
Taka protests, Kanemaru warns him, but then Khan hops up to sit on his throne! The fans cheer while Taichi endures, and only now does Kanemaru count! Khan asks hold on, hold on, so Kanemaru stops counting! Khan hops down, and then he puts Kanemaru up on the throne! Khan gets the fans to join in on the “Ohh…! HMPH!” Kanemaru isn’t into it so he hops down. Khan apologizes to Kanemaru, then he kicks Taichi around. Taichi gets up to fire hands! Khan kicks low, whips, but Taichi reverses to wrench and HOOK KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down. Taichi stands, and he drags Khan up into SEITEI JUJIHOU!
Kanemaru might be stuck, he can’t ignore Khan tapping. But then Kanemaru drags Khan over to the ropes! Taichi is frustrated with Kanemaru but Kanemaru says that’s a ropebreak. Taichi storms up on Kanemaru, but then Khan waistlocks! Ripcord and SAYANAGI! Both men are down again and the fans rally up! Taichi goes to a corner, Khan runs in, but Taichi dodges! GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up and Taichi snarls. Taichi TAKES OFF THE PANTS! The pants were a bit stubborn, but still. But then Kanemaru “checks” Khan just to stay between him and Taichi! Taichi says move or else! Kanemaru says he’s the ref!
Kanemaru kicks Taichi, CLAWS Taichi’s eyes, then traps his arms! Khan gets up to IRON RIGHT!! Kanemaru “scolds” Khan, then “checks” Taichi. Khan rests in a corner and Kanemaru drags Taichi up for him. Taichi CHOKES Kanemaru! Kanemaru kicks low! Kanemaru whips Taichi into a corner, ELBOWS him, then Khan LARIATS! Khan snapmares and covers, Kanemaru wants more first! Khan sits Taichi up for a BASEMENT DROPKICK! Now cover, TWO!! Taichi survives so Kanemaru hurries to get his whiskey! Khan takes a swig, and Kanemaru sets Taichi up! WHISKEY MIST into Kanemaru! Taichi hits the GEDO CLUTCH, but Kanemaru really can’t count now!
Taichi lets off of Khan since there was no count to be had. Taichi drags Kanemaru up, but Khan WHISKEY BOTTLE SHOTS Taichi! IRON CLAW!! Kanemaru calls for the bell? He just hands the win to Khan without counting, so now we’re all tied up!
Khan: 1; Taichi: 1
Kanemaru has fulfilled the contract, Khan gives him the envelope of money. Khan even makes sure we all see how many thousands that is! Kanemaru heads out, is he going to party hard for the holidays? But that aside, it is time for the final fall!
Last Man Standing!
Taichi gets the mic first, and tells Khan that if that’s how Khan wants to do it, then Taichi will get down and dirty with Khan! No lumberjacks, no special guests, just the straight up ten count, and it can happen anywhere in Korakuen Hall! Khan says bet! The announcement is made for the official rule change, and now we have the final fall! Khan rushes Taichi on the outside, then whips him into railing! And we’re already going into the crowd! Khan throws Taicihi at English commentary, but big Hartley is a solid wall for Chris. Khan then drags Taichi up into the bleachers, and the fans clear out of the way!
Khan CHOKES Taichi with a chair, then lets off to clear chairs out of the way. The Young Lions try to help but Khan gets mad at them and pushes them aside. Khan drags Taichi up, knees him low, and then reels him in! But Taichi fights the sayanagi! Taichi SHOVES Khan, Khan falls to the floor but gets up, only for Taichi to CROSSBODY! Down goes Khan and Red Shoes hurries over. Both men are down but Taichi sits up. The count starts and Khan is still down at 5 of 10! Khan hurries to get up, and Taichi stomps him down! Taichi drags Khan back up into the bleachers, but we go the other way.
Taicih KICKS Khan down, Young Lions keep the fans back again, and Taichi drags Khan along. They keep moving through the crowd, and Taichi shoves Khan into chairs! Khan sputters but Taichi drags him up again. Taichi KNEES Khan, then drags him up. They go back down to floor level, and then Taichi aims at chairs! Taichi whips but Khan reverses and he BOWLS Taichi into chairs! Not quite a strike but he got a good number of those chairs! Khan pops the railing loose from the special corner piece, and he brings that corner piece over! Khan SMACKS Taichi with the steel! Taichi staggers away but he sits in a chair.
Khan starts folding chairs to stack them on the floor. Khan then uses one chair as a leash to drag Taichi over! Khan CLUBS Taichi, adds that one chair to the pile, and then snap suplexes Taichi onto the chairs! Taichi writhes but Khan rises up. Khan roars and the fans fire up! The count begins again but Taichi slowly sits up at 4. Taichi rises up, and he stands at 8! Khan brings Taichi around in a headlock, and they go to the orange bleachers! Khan uses the gate to smother Taichi, then they go up to the higher level! The fans fire up but then fans have to move! Khan KNEES and CLUBS Taichi, then whips Taichi at the exit door!
Taichi tumbles into the hallway! Khan drags Taichi back into the arena and uses the HITSUJIGOROSHI against the chairs! Taichi endures as Khan chokes him, then Khan lets him go! Red Shoes checks on Taichi, Taka coaches him, but the count begins. Khan sits in a chair to relax while he waits. Taichi sits up at 7, and stands at 9! Khan storms up on Taichi to CLUB him on the back! Khan headlocks Taichi, brings him to the other section, and he gets up close to the fans for photo ops. Khan then whips, but Taichi reverses, and Khan is sent into the wall! Taichi leaves Khan behind while the count begins again.
Khan sits up so Taichi KICKS him back down! Taichi drags Khan up, KICKS him again, and Khan falls to his knees. Taichi drags Khan up by his ponytail, and he goes close to the stairs that lead to the back! Khan fights the suplex, and for his life, but then he turns things around! Taichi fights the suplex, throws hands, and then DDTS Khan to the floor! Red Shoes checks both men, then starts the count. Taichi shakes out his arms and sits up at 4. Taichi stands at 6 but Khan is still down at 8! Khan drags himself up at 9! Taichi CLUBS Khan down, then brings him back up. Taichi brings Khan back to ground level, then snapmares him hard for a KICK!
Khan is in agony but Taichi drags him back up. But Khan RAMS Taichi into the railing! Taichi sputters while also sitting in a chair. Khan staggers away to ringside, and he goes looking under the ring. Khan brings out a trolly cart? Khan JAMS Taichi up using his own mic stand, then leaves him behind. Khan brings out a TABLE! Fans rally up as Khan puts the table on the trolly, then he staggers over to Taichi. Khan CLUBS Taichi down, then SHOVES him onto the table trolly combo. Khan has fans clear out, and then he SNOW PLOWS the chairs with Taichi on the cart!! The fans fire up as Khan stands over Taichi.
Khan drags Taichi up, and he brings the table along, too. Khan kicks chairs out of the way as he returns to the upper deck! Khan SMACKS Taichi off the edge, then he clears out space. Khan sets the table up, then he goes up to fetch Taichi. Khan JAMS Taichi up with a chair, then SMACKS him! Taichi writhes, fans rally, and Khan drags Taichi up. Khan vows to end this! IRON CLAW, and ELIMI- NO! Taichi fights Khan off! Taichi stumbles away through the crowd, but then grabs himself a chair. Taichi runs up to JAM Khan right in the face! Taichi then steals Khan’s idea to choke grip and CHOKE SLAM down through the table!!!
Khan writhes and the fans go nuts! Taichi hobbles around while Red Shoes counts Khan. Khan is still down at 5! Still down at 7! 9! KHAN GRABS RED SHOES’S HAND!! Khan survives, and though he has a couple bloody cuts on his back, he crawls his way to the ring. Taichi eggs Khan on and the fans are thunderous! Khan drags himself into the ring, Taichi runs, AX BOMBER!! The fans fire up and the count returns! Khan is still down at 5, stirs at 6, sits up at 7, and he rises at 8! So Taichi just runs up to AX BOMBER!! Khan drops to his knees, flops over, but he’s already pushing himself back up! Taichi runs again, AX BOMBER!!
Khan staggers around but he stays on his feet! Taichi says fine, AX- SAYANAGI!! Khan turns things around, and he AX BOMBERS in return!! Both men are down and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and Khan crawls for ropes at 5! Taichi slowly sits up at 6, and both men go to corners at 7! Red Shoes waits on them to rise up, and then Taichi fires up! Taichi runs up, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Neither man falls, so Taichi BOOTS! Khan BOOTS back! Taichi URAKENS! Khan MONGOLIAN CHOPS! Taichi SOBATS! Khan BODY BLOWS! Both men drop to knees, but they also grab at each other.
The fans rally as Khan and Taichi slowly rise. They are forehead to forehead, and then Taichi AX BOMBERS! Khan drops to his knees, Taichi BUZZSAWS, but Khan blocks it! Khan ROCKS Taichi with a right! And then Khan reels Taichi in, but Taichi Alabama Lifts! BLACK- NO, Khan fights into a GUILLOTINE! Taichi is stuck in the body scissors!! Taichi flails, even taps out, but that’s not how Last Man Standing works! Khan squeezes tighter and tighter, Taichi fades, and Red Shoes checks! Khan lets Taichi go and the count begins! Khan rises at 6, and Taichi is somehow up at 9!! So Khan clamps on an IRON CLAW!
Khan lifts Taichi, but Taichi slips free! Taichi shoves Khan and ROCKS him! DANGEROUS SAIDO!! But Khan is staggering to his feet?! Khan goes to a corner, flounders along ropes, but he isn’t down yet! The fans rally hard while both men fight to their feet! SUPERMAN PUNCH from Khan! PELE from Taichi! Both men are down again! Red Shoes starts the count on them both, and the fans rally even harder! Taichi is up at 7! Khan grabs Red Shoes at 9 again!! Taichi roars, Korakuen is with him, and he powers up! TENSHI JUJI- NO!! Khan blocks, and he hooks Taichi! Taichi CLUBS away on Khan, but Khan still lifts! ULTIMATE ELIMINATOR!!
Both men are down again and the fans rally as hard as they can! The count is on both men, and they’re both down at 5! At 7! 9! Khan pushes up, but he FLOPS back down!! DOUBLE TEN! IT’S A DRAW!! What does that mean for the belt!? Red Shoes goes out to talk with Abe-san, and then the announcement is made. In the end, with it being 1-1-1, a true draw, it all goes to KHAN!
Winner: Great-O-Khan, by pinfall (DEFINITIVE 2024 KOPW Champion)
Khan flips Taichi off, one last insult added on top. Khan is given the belt back, but Taichi grabs his trophy. Taichi steps up to Khan, and gives him the trophy, saying it is rightfully his now. Taichi shows Khan that respect, and Khan returns it with a handshake. Khan “retires” Taichi from KOPW, what will the Holy Emperor look to do in 2025?
As for Khan, he grabs the mic, and he asks Taichi to wait a moment. “You served this title for three years. We will honor your glory!” The fans applaud that, and Khan asks the previous champion to come closer. No, closer. The fans cheer Taichi on as he steps closer to ringside. Khan says Taichi served this title well, so here is his reward. Khan is giving the trophy back? Taichi says no, he gave that to Khan out of respect. Khan says to Taichi and to everyone to listen well. “We are the last KOPW Champion!” Everyone is a bit surprised to hear that.
Khan says, “As an alternative, on January 4th in the Tokyo Dome… as THE last KOPW Champion, We demand that the January 4th match determine the next IWGP World Heavyweight Championship challenger!” The fans are really intrigued by that idea! Khan throws down the belt, and Chris makes sure English speakers understand what Khan is suggesting. The New Japan Ranbo determining a #1 contender? Khan says that these are the words of the final KOPW Champion, The Great-O-Khan! “HAIL US, PEASANTS!” A New Year, a new era? Will Khan’s revolution bring glory to the United Empire?
My Thoughts:
A very good night for Road to Tokyo Dome, though I did skip a lot just because I didn’t have a lot of time today. But luckily I was skimming through, or I would’ve missed ELP’s great return. Congratulations on him beating cancer, and I like that they’re adding him to the NJPW World Television Championship match. It makes sense given ELP’s beef with the House of Torture, and honestly, why not just have ELP win? Not even so much for getting over cancer (though kind of that, too) but because fans love ELP and it’d help him solidify his singles run with Hikuleo long gone for WWE.
Really good stuff in the other tune-up matches, such as #DespeWado winning and the chaotic end to the Fatal 4 Way. Eagles won to help him and Fujita have momentum, but there is still more to the Road to Tokyo Dome first. Honestly that tag Fatal 4 could really go any which way they want so I’m not sure how the go-home math would even work. And Gedo of course took the loss against LIJ. Yota Tsuji is aiming for David Finlay and the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, but who knows how things go before we get to WrestleKingdom.
Very good tag match from Shota & Tanahashi VS ZSJ & Fujita, and it was technically a surprise for Tanahashi to take the loss. This works on many levels, as Tanahashi should be figuratively on the ropes going into his match with Evil, and this gives Fujita equal momentum alongside Eagles. And then great main event, Khan and Taichi really went the distance with this one. And it all makes sense after Khan reveals this is the end of the KOPW Division. Khan wants to make the New Japan Ranbo to basically be the Royal Rumble and that is pretty cool. I think they could keep the belt to represent that contender’s status the same as the G1 Climax having a briefcase, because that KOPW belt actually looks pretty nice.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Rockin’ around the Christmas Collision!
The Continental Classic continues on Christmas Collision, with crucial points on the line this close to AEW Worlds End! Who will finally take the lead in Gold League?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Will Ospreay VS Ricochet; Ricochet wins.
- Kris Statlander VS Penelope Ford; Kris wins.
- AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Shelton Benjamin VS Daniel Garcia; Garcia wins.
- AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Mark Briscoe VS The Beast Mortos; Briscoe wins.
- AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli; Claudio wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Here are the current Continental Classic Gold League standings!
Claudio Castagnoli: 2-1, 6 points
Will Ospreay: 2-1, 6 points
Ricochet: 2-1, 6 points
Darby Allin: 2-1, 6 points
Brody King: 2-2, 6 points
Komander: 0-4, 0 points [ELIMINATED]
Here are the current Continental Classic Blue League standings!
Kyle Fletcher: 3-1, 9 points
Kazuchika Okada: 2-1-1, 7 points
Mark Briscoe: 2-2, 6 points
Shelton Benjamin: 2-1, 6 points
Daniel Garcia: 1-1-1, 4 points
The Beast Mortos: 0-4, 0 points [ELIMINATED]
Ian Riccaboni is in the ring.
He has Big Boom AJ & Big Justice with him in the Hammerstein Ballroom, and yes, they’re ready to bring the BOOM~! They’re ready to watch the action tonight, and even the final face-to-face of MJF and Adam Cole. AJ says if MJF is gonna bring the doom, then you know he and Big Justice will bring the BOOM~! But tonight, their guy, Adam Cole will bring the BOOM~ too! And of course we have big Continental Classic action! Daniel Garcia VS Shelton Benjamin in a critical showdown, and while Shelton is tough, Garcia is going to bring the BOOM~! Plus, Mark Briscoe battles The Beast Mortos! The Chicken is their guy, time to bring the BOOM~!
In Gold League, we have Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli, and the Swiss Superman is a DOOM~! Let’s go, Darby, bring that BOOM~! And then a match everyone wants to see, the fireworks rematch of Will Ospreay VS Ricochet! If you’re a fan of high-flying wrestling, this is the right night to be right here in AEW! Ricochet and their guy, Ospreay, will bring the BOOM~! But speaking of, that match is up first! The Aerial Assassin joins AJ & Big Justice in giving a BOOM~, but will Ricochet make sure tonight is #OuttaThisWorld?
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Will Ospreay VS Ricochet!
Wait, are the fans throwing white streamers or is that… No, yeah, it’s toilet paper! Ospreay laughs at the fans basically calling Ricochet crap. Ricochet throws the toilet paper back! The bell rings and we’re on the clock. The fans fire up for Ospreay as he and Ricochet circle. The fans also sing, “F HIM UP, OSPREAY, F HIM UP!” Ricochet shrugs that off, he and Ospreay tie up, and then Ricochet rolls. Ospreay shoots in, waistlocks, but Ricochet switches. They go around, Ricochet gator rolls with Ospreay, then floats to a headlock. Ricochet wrenches, hammerlocks then headlocks again. Ospreay powers up and out, Ricochet runs him over, but Ospreay kips up!
The fans cheer and Ospreay smiles as he and Ricochet reset. They tie up, go around, and Ricochet wrenches to a wristlock. Ospreay rolls, wrenches and wristlocks, but Ricochet spins and wrenches to hammerlock. Ospreay reaches back, headlocks and hits a takeover. Ricochet rolls to a cover, TWO! Ospreay holds onto the headlock but Ricochet powers up and out. Ospreay runs Ricochet over, Ricochet bails out, and then Ospreay handsprings to fake Ricochet out! The fans cheer as Ospreay superhero lands out, and Ricochet is annoyed. Ospreay holds ropes open for Ricochet, but Ricochet goes around the way to step in on his own.
The fans boo Ricochet being a bad sport but Ricochet ignores that. Ospreay and Ricochet knuckle lock, then Ricochet kicks low! And CHOPS! Ricochet whips, Ospreay reverses, but Ricochet rolls off Ospreay’s back! Things keep moving, Ospreay avoids the handspring to then duck ‘n’ dodges and RANA! But Ricochet handsprings through! The fans fire up, and Ospreay arm-drags Ricochet down! The fans cheer while Ricochet endures the grind. Ricochet fights up and puts Ospreay on ropes. The ref counts, Ricochet and Ospreay slowly let g o, and Ricochet SLAPS Ospreay! Ospreay CHOPS Ricochet!
Ospreay takes a swing, Ricochet ducks under to roll back and RANA! But now Ospreay handsprings through! Ricochet dodges to waistlock but Ospreay bucks the O’Conner. Ricochet arm-drags Ospreay down, but Ospreay headscissors back! Ricochet pops free but Ospreay arm-drags! Ricochet headscissors, Ospreay pops free, and Ospreay handsprings, but Ricochet catches him! Ricochet then THROWS Ospreay into the Tree of Woe, and Ospreay falls down! The fans boo while Ospreay bails out, but Ricochet FOSBURY FLOPS! The fans boo but Ricochet takes the toilet paper to wipe himself, then he SMOTHERS Ospreay with it!
The fans boo that literally disgusting act of disrespect, but Collision goes picture in picture.
Ricochet taunts the fans, then drags Ospreay up. Ricochet puts Ospreay in, soaks up more heat, then KNEE-BOARD SENTONS! Ricochet swaggers to taunt the fans more, then he goes back to Ospreay. Cover, ONE!! Another cover, TWO! Ricochet taunts the fans more, then goes back for Ospreay. Ricochet stands Ospreay up to CHOP, and Ospreay goes to a corner. Ricochet RAMS into Ospreay, RAMS him again, then snapmares to UPPERCUT in the back! Cover, TWO! Ospreay stays in this but Ricochet drags him into a motorcycle stretch. Ospreay endures while Ricochet digs a knee into the back. Ospreay fights up, fights with elbows, then runs, but into a DROPKICK!
Ospreay is down in a daze but Ricochet has to shake out the stars in his own head. Ricochet covers, ONE! Ospreay then uses that one to flip off Ricochet. Ricochet RAMS Ospreay in the back! Ricochet then clamps on with a chinlock, and he digs his knee into Ospreay’s back. Ospreay endures, even as Ricochet JAMS Ospreay. Collision returns to single picture as the fans rally for Ospreay again. Ospreay fires up, fires hands, but Ricochet RAMS him into a corner. Ricochet runs up, RAMS into Ospreay, then goes to the apron. Ospreay takes a swing but Ricochet dodges and gets around him to GERMAN SUPLEX! Ospreay lands out!
Ospreay runs, handsprings, NEURALIZER KICK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Ospreay goes to the apron, takes aim, and he springboards to PIP PIP CHEERIO! Down goes Ricochet, Ospreay covers, TWO! Ospreay stays focused and the fans rally up. Ospreay drags Ricochet up, CHOPS him, then CHOPS him again! Ricochet staggers, Ospreay runs, but Ricochet TIGER WALL KICKS! Forearm, SOBAT, and Ricochet runs, but into a POP-UP, and STYLES- NO, Ricochet sits up, slips free, and he underhooks Ospreay for a FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ospreay survives but Ricochet goes up.
Ricochet has to double clutch, the fans let him hear it, but Ricochet still MOONSAULTS! Ricochet lands out as Ospreay moves, and Ospreay runs up, but into an ELBOW! Ricochet handsprings, but into a pop-up, Electric Chair, spin around, STYLES CLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Ricochet survives and Ospreay is surprised. Ospreay pulls on the elbow pad and the fans fire up! “This is Awesome!” as Ospreay aims, but Ricochet bails out! The fans boo but Ospreay storms after Ricochet. They’re both on the apron and Ospreay goes up a corner. Ricochet anchors Ospreay first! Then Ricochet has the Electric Chair Lift!
Ospreay fights free, fights off a nelson, then he KICKS Ricochet! Ospreay runs, but into a pop-up APRON DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! The fans chant “You Still Suck!” but Ricochet adds a SHOOTING STAR PRESS! Ricochet puts Ospreay in, then springboards to 450 SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives, but then Ricochet AX KICKS! Dragon sleeper, inverted suplex, VERTIGO! Cover, TWO!? Ospreay survives and Ricochet is shocked! Ricochet snarls and he aims from a corner. The fans rally for Ospreay but Ricochet loads up. SPIRIT- NO, Ospreay ducks under! Ospreay gets up, Ricochet blocks a kick!
Ricochet V-TRIGGERS, then he reels Ospreay in! But Ospreay fights out of the bomb, but then Ricochet returns the favor! Ricochet suplexes, into STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Ospreay springboards for the OSC- CUTTER FROM RICOCHET!! Ricochet hurries to get Ospreay up, powerbomb into fireman’s carry, DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! SPIRIT- HIDDEN BLADE!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Ospreay and Ricochet both slowly sit up and the fans rally as hard as ever. Ricochet and Ospreay stare down, talk a bit of trash, then stand up. Ospreay draws a line in the sand and dares Ricochet to step up.
Ricochet steps right up, they stand toe to toe, literally! They start firing forearms! The fans cheer Ospreay, boo Ricochet, and Ricochet wobbles! But then Ricochet comes back with forearm after forearm! Ospreay wobbles, but he grins as he rises and roars! Ospreay fires a flurry on Ricochet, then ROCKS him! Ricochet flops over, Ospreay hauls him up! But Ricochet grabs at the ref! Ospreay kicks Ricochet’s arm away, but then Ricochet RAMS Ospreay into the ref! The fans boo but then Ricochet hurries to HOOK KICK! And VERTI- NO, Ospreay slips free to underhook! STORM BREAKER! Cover, but the ref is down!
The fans count, Ospreay would’ve won twice over! Ospreay calls to the ref, the ref sputters around, and Ospreay goes up. But then Ricochet kicks the ref into ropes! Ospreay gets tripped up and the fans boo more! Ospreay is confused as to what happened, but SPIRIT GUN hits the mark!! Cover, RICOCHET WINS!
Winner: Ricochet, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Ospreay earns 0)
The One & Only got away with murder, but there’s nothing that can be done now! Ricochet has NINE points, will he be headed to Worlds End?
Adam Cole heads to the ring!
The fans cheer as the Panama City Playboy returns to the Hammerstein Ballroom, and yes, they join in for the “BOOM~!” and the “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY~!” Cole grabs a mic, but he keeps his eyes on the ramp. That’s because we all know who’s next. MJF makes his entrance, but with a handful of security guards in front of him first. And not even AEW security, that’s his own personal security. MJF grabs a mic and has them cut his music. The fans boo but MJF tells them, “If I wanted your help, I’d ask for it. Sit down and shut up.” The fans tell MJF to STFU, but MJF shrugs that off.
MJF tells Cole that MJF is frustrated. It’s because for the past few months, MJF has had to listen to Cole say MJF is Cole’s biggest enemy! If memory serves, and MJF’s memory always does because unlike the fans here, he isn’t a complete moron… Didn’t Cole turn on MJF? But then does Cole realize he has bigger enemies out there? Like spray tan, cracks in the floor, gusts of win, and maybe… a cavity. Because last MJF heard, Cole’s dentist isn’t seeing him anymore. Cole was already staring daggers into MJF, but now he’s pissed. MJF has Cole calm down, and he tells the fans to shut up so he can shoot straight.
When MJF was the longest-reigning and greatest AEW World Champion of all time, Cole was nothing more than MJF’s cute little sidekick. That ate Cole up inside. Cole wanted to be MJF. Cole wanted #TripleB. But the sad truth is, Cole had many opportunities to win the title before MJF got anywhere near it. It’s almost like when it comes to Cole being elite enough to become world champion, just like his “s*itty little ankle,” Cole blows it. MJF laughs at his own joke, and then tells the fans he is talking, it is not that complicated. But this is why MJF doesn’t buy the hogwash that Cole turned on MJF because MJF would turn on Cole first.
Cole turned because he, like all these shmucks, is jealous of MJF. And who can blame Cole? MJF is rich, handsome, funny, entertaining, and then look at Cole. For crying out loud, Cole used to be ADAM COLE BAYBAY. Now, he’s just a crack baby! Cole asks if MJF is done. Was that the last line? Because it felt like MJF practiced that for two weeks in front of a mirror. But MJF killed it, really. Cole could come back with childish comments to hurt MJF’s feelings, but he won’t. Cole could mention MJF has had two surgeries on that fake head of hair of his while only in his 20s, which is hilarious, but he won’t.
Cole could talk about how MJF pulled some strings to get his girlfriend hired, like the real politician he is, but Cole won’t go there. Cole could talk about how every single time MJF enters a room, everyone waits for him to leave because he is loud, obnoxious and annoying as hell. But Cole won’t go there. Because Cole is not like MJF. They are nothing alike. That is why the friendship was ruined. Because, MJF, the truth is you say Cole is a failure, but in virtually every wrestling company Cole has worked for, he is the longest-reigning champion in so many!
In this very building, Cole bled BUCKETS against Kyle O’Reilly, wanting to prove he was one of the best in the world, and that is exactly what he did! Does Cole have regrets? Sure. Are there things Cole wishes he could take back? Absolutely. But Cole does NOT regret turning on MJF. The only reason it drives MJF insane is because Cole beat MJF to it. That’s MJF 101: Get close to someone, then turn on them. It’s what MJF does. Cole just did it better than MJF, and MJF knows it.
But Cole has been thinking, trying to understand what’s going on in MJF’s head, and he finally figured it out. MJF is terrified of having anyone close to him, because he feels it is a weakness. That hit a chord? Because not only does MJF act like a child, he thinks like a child! MJF knows in his heart that he was going to be the one to turn on Cole first! DAMN RIGHT HE WAS!!! MJF realizes he let the cat out of the bag. MJF says congrats, Cole, he solved the mystery! A regular Scooby-Doo! Great job, Adam.
But you want the truth? Here it is. The fact of the matter is, last year at Worlds End, MJF had every intention on stabbing Cole in the back that night. Cole just got lucky. When #BetterThanYouBaybay started, MJF didn’t give a damn about Cole. Cole was nothing more than a pawn. But MJF will admit, he did eventually start to care. For the first time in MJF’s life, he cared about someone else. Fans mockingly go, “Aww…” But MJF says that is just when Cole became a liability. And since Cole’s “a fragile little freak,” him jumping off that ramp and exploding his ankle made him a distraction!
Distractions, liabilities, emotions, there are no room for those when all you should be concerned with is maintaining the world championship! But Cole doesn’t get it, does he? Last year was a fluke. Cole ain’t the Devil, he just beat the Devil to it. But this year, Worlds End, December 28th, the same show where Cole tried to end MJF’s world, MJF ENDS Cole!! MJF throws down the mic and the fans are torn. Cole smirks and says MJF ends things then? Well, how about Cole ends this? COLE DECKS MJF! The guards rush in, but Cole fights them off! MJF sends more but Cole SUPERKICSK! And SUPERKICKS! And SUPERKICKS!
But then MJF LOW BLOWS Cole! MJF tells the fans to shut up! MJF takes out the Dynamite Diamond Ring! But then The Kingdom rushes out here! MJF runs away from Matt Taven & Mike Bennett, but he vows this ends at Worlds End. We have one week left, is that the last week Cole has in AEW? Or will MJF finally lose the one thing he has left in that diamond ring?
Backstage interview with Kris Statlander.
Lexy Nair is with the #BornAgainKristen and brings up her trying to make amends with Willow Nightingale last night, as well as making the save when Harley Cameron & Penelope Ford were beating Willow up. Kris says what she and Willow have to discuss is between them. But as far as her and Penelope go, they’ve got a lot of history, and if Ford wants a fight, Kris will give her a fight. Then speaking of history, Kris still has her eyes set on the TBS Championship, can she tells us more on that?
Kris says she looked back on 2024 and she had a downward spiral that started with losing that title. Maybe if she wins it back, Kris will right her wrongs. On that note, Mercedes Mone, you don’t have an opponent for Worlds End so here Kris is. Let her know when you’re ready for round two. Kris heads out, will she prove to everyone that she is still the Galaxy’s Greatest?
Backstage interview with Orange Cassidy.
AEW returns and Lexy is now with Freshly Squeezed. In exactly one week, he will compete against three other men for the AEW World Championship. There are a lot of combustible elements at play, and Cassidy says yeah, we saw that on Dynamite. Jay White, Hangman Page and Cassidy can’t exactly have a conversation. So really, Cassidy wants them to listen. “Between now and Worlds End, Jon Moxley can run and hide. He can hide behind his goons, he can run away in a pickup truck. But when that bell rings in seven days, he has nowhere to go. He will be in the ring with us. Us three. And you both know that we need to remove Jon Moxley from the equation.
“We can. We’ve done it. And after that, us three, we can fight for the AEW World Championship and one of us will become the AEW World Champion. Just something to think about. See you guys on Dynamite.” Cassidy is ready to remove the Maniac from the throne, but will the Switchblade and Cowboy listen to reason?
Kris Statlander VS Penelope Ford!
As Kris just said, she’s calling out The CEO in hopes of one more TBS Championship match. But will the Superbad Girl be more like the Grinch for Kris this Christmas?
The bell rings and the fans rally as Kris circles with Ford. They tie up, Kris powers Ford to a corner, then throws Ford back into the corner! The ref counts, Kris lets off, but Ford shoves her! Kris ROCKS Ford, TOSSES her, then runs up on her. Kris whips, drops down, then hurdles over. Kris CLOBBERS Ford and the fans fire up as she flexes. Kris drags Ford up, reels her in, and suplexes, and she holds Ford up! The fans cheer and Kris goes all the way to TEN, but Ford slips into a SLEEPER! Kris pries the hold open and she brings Ford around for another suplex! The fans fire up as Kris holds Ford up for five before the SLAM! Cover, TWO!
Kris drags Ford up, whips her to the corner, but Ford goes up, only for Kris to Electric Chair Lift! Kris climbs, Ford fights with fists, and she shoves Kris down! Ford steadies herself, then hits a FLYING BLOCKBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ford is frustrated but she storms up on Kris. Ford bumps Kris off buckles but the fans rally behind Kris. Ford stomps a mudhole, but she lets off as the ref counts. Kris goes to the apron, but Ford jumps up to drop KNEES on her! The fans boo but Ford soaks up the heat, and Collision goes picture in picture.
Ford brings Kris around to THROW her into railing! Ford soaks up more heat, then drags Kris up and RAMS her into the apron! Ford refreshes the count, then stalks Kris around the way. Ford whips Kris into the steel steps! Kris falls over in a heap but Ford drags her up into the ring. Ford covers, TWO! Kris stays in this but Ford kicks her around. Ford CHOKES Kris on the ropes, thrashes around, but lets off as the ref counts. Ford drags Kris up and whips her to ropes, then LARIATS as Collision goes to break.
Christmas Collision returns and Ford CHOKES Kris on the ropes again! The ref counts, Ford lets off and Kris sputters to the apron. Ford runs and goes up, up, and KNEE DROPS on only apron! Kris then SHOTGUNS Ford off the apron! The fans fire up and Kris brings Ford up, to THROW into railing! Kris puts Ford in the ring, the fans fire up, but Ford kicks low. Ford reels Kris in, but Kris suplexes, FISHERMAN BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ford flounders to a corner but Kris has the fans rallying behind her. Kris runs up to UPPERCUT! Kris goes side to side but Ford dodges the knee! Ford hits a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!
Ford wasn’t quite perfect there but she watches Kris go to a corner. Ford runs corner to corner, handsprings, but Kris catches her! The fans fire up as Kris GERMAN SUPELXES, but Ford lands out! but Kris goes Matrix to dodge! So does Ford! STUNNER! Ford runs, Kris does her best to follow, but Ford hops up for a POISON-RANA! Cover, TWO!! Kris survives and the fans fire up! Ford is beside herself, but she drags Kris to a drop zone. Ford goes up top, and MOONSAULTS BUT FLOPS as Kris moves! Kris hurries to deadlift GERMAN SUPLEX! And then GERMAN SUPLEX again! The fans fire up as Kris scoops to tuck Ford in! STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER! Cover, Kris wins!
Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall
Ford gave Kris quite the fight, but Kris came out on top! Wait, here comes Mone! Kris did call the CEO out, so Santa Mone says, “Ho, ho, ho ho ho! New York Citaaaay~! Please say hello to your C E O! Kris, after the year I’ve been having, I was planning on taking Worlds End off. I was planning on going to the Ritz in Boston.” The fans boo Boston, but Mone says since it’s the holidays, Mone feels like being nice. She already beat Kris once anyway, so she’ll just beat her twice! At Worlds End, you see that money changes everything, because Mone is the greatest TBS Champion of all time!
The challenge has been accepted, and Mone is looking to be busy before the New Year. Will Kris make her regret it?
Big Boom AJ & Big Justice return to the ring.
They’re getting Christmas Collision ready to bring the BOOM, but out comes Chris Jericho, who is still ROH World Champion after overcoming Matt Cardona last night at Final Battle. And he has Bryan Keith & “Big Bill” Morrissey with him as he asks if AJ has a permit for being here tonight. Did they talk with Mayor DeBlasio? Because they certainly didn’t run this past Jericho. Do they know who he is? Big Justice says yeah, he knows! “You’re a JACKASS!” Jericho is taken aback, but the fans agree with Justice. The Bad Apple says this is why dumbass kids should be sitting and not heard. Jericho says yeah!
And if being a jackass means he’s the King of New York, then Jericho’s the biggest jackass! And besides, Jericho talks for everyone here saying we do not want AJ & Justice here! The fans boo, they disagree with Jericho. But Jericho says they don’t even have Costcos in New York! New Yorkers shop at bodegas. Fans are torn, because they kind of agree. Jericho says his favorite is the Walgreens a few blocks over in Flushing. And speaking of Flushing, that’s where AJ & Justice belong: in the toilet! This is the Hammerstein Ballroom, the House that Jericho built! The fans boo that, it’s the House that Hardcore built.
But Jericho says there’s no time for goofy gimmicks like BOOM~, or bandit masks, or scissoring! Scissor me, Bad Apple~! But then wait! The Acclaimed is here! Well, Anthony Bowens is, at least. Bowens pushes past The Learning Tree and he joins AJ & Justice in the ring. Bowens has the music cut, and he tells Jericho that he doesn’t get why Scissor King is catching strays, but you caught his attention. Jericho is trying to intimidate a man in a walking boot and an 11 year old child while spouting nonsense about being the King of New York. Why doesn’t Jericho do what he has asked so many others in the past: SHUT THE HELL UP!
The fans cheer but Big Bill says, “As the Learning Tree always says, when a man tries to silence another man, he’s probably afraid of the truth.” The fans do cheer Big Bill because he is from New York. Bowens says he has no idea what that means, Bill. But he does know we’re live on TNT, Christmas Collision, Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City! So Chris, why not walk your ass to this ring and get it whipped by the Scissor King?! Jericho says if Bowens wants him to do that, then not tonight. Jericho waves bye, but AJ says hold on, listen up. We know Jericho is running scared, but we know at some point, Bowens will get to bring the-
Bowens stops the Boom? Because he wants to scissor! AJ says okay, and they SCISSOR BOOM~! But is that true? Will Anthony Bowens be the one to tear down the Learning Tree and be a champion?
Backstage interview with The Vendetta.
Lexy is now with Deonna Purrazzo & Taya Valkyrie, and they’ve got a hot streak going. Deonna’s message last week was ominous, but who was it for? Taya says there are so many options. Everyone deserves a slice of The Vendetta. There’s Mercedes, Mariah, Toni Storm, even Lexy could get some, so watch your back. Speaking of Toni, she stumbles in and apologizes for interrupting. She just wants to say hi to everyone, hello. Oh, Deonna, a pleasure. Deonna says she knows who Toni is. R-Really? So cool! Taya says she’ll make a guess: Toni has a tattoo on her leg, a little duck with a knife through it.
Wow, how’d Taya know? Deonna says no no no, she is not doing this again. She does not get what sick crap Toni’s up to, but she is already done with it. So for Dynamite’s Miracle on 34th Street, Toni VS Taya! Taya says she’ll make Toni forget everything! Toni nervously thanks The Vendetta, and says this is a big opportunity to face someone like Taya. Toni leaves, Deonna and Taya sigh, and Lexy has no idea what to say. Is Toni’s mind unraveling before our eyes? Or is there still a bit of Timeless inside Toni Time?
AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Shelton Benjamin VS Daniel Garcia!
This showdown was inevitable, but it’s even more fitting after The Standard of Excellence beat up the TNT Champion just because he stood up to the Hurt Syndicate. Will Shelton continue to bring the pain? Or will he not survive Red Death?
The bell rings and Garcia goes right at Shelton! Garcia fires hands but Shelton RAMS him into the corner! Shelton fires hands but Garcia turns things around to fire more shots! The ref counts, Shelton shoves Garcia back, but Garcia runs up to fire hands! Shelton shoves Garcia again, but Garcia gets under the lariat to waistlock. Shelton fights the lift but Garcia shoves him to SLAP! And CHOP! Shelton just grins and he picks Garcia up again! Shelton TOSSES Garcia away and Garcia goes to ropes. Shelton brings Garcia back up, scoops and SLAMS him, then brings him up again. Scoop SLAM! Shelton drags Garcia up and puts him in a corner.
Shelton whips corner to corner hard and Garcia falls! The fans sing, “We Hurt People!” Shelton drags Garcia around, stomps him around, then TOSSES Garcia out hard! Garcia sputters but Shelton storms outside. Shelton brings Garcia up but Garcia fires hands! Shelton RAMS Garcia into the apron, then railing, then back to the apron! And repeat! Garcia falls in a heap and the fans fire up. Shelton grins as he drags Garcia up, to then THROW into steel steps! Shelton leaves Garcia behind and the ring count climbs on Garcia. Garcia drags himself up at 7 but Shelton goes out after him again.
Shelton puts Garcia in the ring, then grabs at him. Garcia grabs ropes but Shelton stomps him. Shelton stands Garcia up to DECK him! The fans cheer but Shelton brings Garcia up again. Garcia fires a forearm, then he CHOPS! Shelton eggs Garcia on, so Garcia CHOPS! Shelton grins, Garcia CHOPS, but Shelton DECKS him again! The fans duel but Shelton whips Garcia to ropes, for a BIG backdrop! Garcia flounders and Collision goes picture in picture.
Shelton stalks Garcia to the ropes, brings him up and around, then puts him on other ropes so he can CHOKE him! The ref counts, Shelton steps off, and Garcia coughs and sputters to a corner. Shelton stalks behind Garcia, stands him up, and winds up to ROCK Garcia! Garcia flounders against ropes then falls to the mat! Shelton stands over Garcia, drags him up and puts him in the corner. Shelton throws hands and Garcia stumbles. Garcia falls, but Shelton stands on him. Shelton stomps Garcia, drags him up, but Garcia fires up! Garcia breaks free to fire CHOPS and forearms on repeat!
Garcia whips, Shelton reverses and Shelton BOOTS Garcia down! Cover, TWO! Shelton is still amused, and he clamps onto Garcia with a chinlock. Garcia endures as Shelton grinds him down, and Garcia fights up, only for Shelton to wrangle him back down! Shelton leans all his weight on the hold and he squeezes tight. Garcia fades but the fans rally, and Garcia gets a second wind! Garcia fights up, Christmas Colilsion returns to siongle cipture, and the fans duel as Garcia fires hands! Garcia runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then SHOTGUNS SHelton down! The fans fire up and Garcia aims from a corner. Garcia runs up, Shelton gets around, GERMAN SUPLEX!
The fans are torn while Shelton storms around. Shelton waits on Garcia, waistlocks, GERMAN SUPLEX! Garcia flops around but Shelton stalks him to the ropes. Shelton goes to the apron, runs up, but Garcia BOOTS him! Garcia takes a swing, but Shelton waistlocks! Garcia holds ropes to fight off the suplex to the floor! Garcia stands up and elbows Shelton away! Then Garcia LEAPS, but into Shelton’s clinch! OVERHEAD BELLY2BELLY to the floor! Garcia flounders, fans sing, “We Hurt People!” Shelton runs up but Garcia drop toeholds him into a chair! Shelton sputters and the fans rally up. Garcia makes Shelton take a seat, then rains down fists!
The fans count along and Garcia goes to nine, puts up the dukes, then hits TEN! Garcia gets space, runs back in, and he SHOTGUNS Shelton outta the chair! The fans are thunderous as Garcia goes back for Shelton. Garcia drags Shelton up but Shelton pushes him away. Shelton LARIATS Garcia, then rolls into the ring. The ring count starts, the fans help Garcia stand, and the fans fire up! Garcia hurries to the ring, but Shelton BOOTS, only for Garcia to block! DRAGON SCREW! Garcia runs, Shelton gets around, GERMAN SUPLEX! Even with a bad leg, Shelton has so much strength! Shelton storms up in the corner, but Garcia dodges!
Shelton’s knee hits buckles, and Garcia leg scissor rolls him! Garcia steps through for the DRAGON TAMER!! Shelton endures and the fans fire up! Garcia sits on the hold, but Shelton powers up! Shelton powers out of the hold, has Garcia’s legs, and he turns Garcia over into a QUEEN ANGELITO STRETCH! Garcia endures, reaches out, and he army crawls his way forward! But Shelton drags Garcia back! Garcia cradles Shelton! TWO!! Shelton escapes, but Garcia BOOTS him! Shelton SUPERKICKS Garcia! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous! Shelton covers, TWO!! Garcia barely gets out of that and Shelton is furious!
“This is Awesome!” as Shelton looms over Garcia. Shelton drags Garcia up, but Garcia trips Shelton! Jackknife bridge, GARCIA WINS!!
Winner: Daniel Garcia, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Shelton earns 0)
A Christmas Collision miracle? Who knows! But Garcia is still alive in the C2, but Lashley snatches Garcia into a SLEEPER! The fans boo but MVP hands the pimp cane to Shelton! But here comes Mark Briscoe, and he has a chair! Security wants this to stop before it gets out of hand, and even producers get out here! But wait! Is that Swerve Strickland rushing in from the crowd?! It is! He goes right up top to SUPER SWERVE STOMP the Syndicate and security guards! Garcia gets free of the pile, Mark Briscoe is with him, and now the locker room hurries out here to stop this from getting worse!
The fans chant, “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” and Nana eventually hands the mic to Swerve. “Bobby FREAKIN’ Lashley! Didn’t I say I was gonna get my hands on you by the end of ’24? By the end of 2024, I said I was gonna get my hands on you, and that’s what I did, courtesy of the most dangerous man in AEW. Whose house?!” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Swerve is still aiming for Lashley’s head, will he and Lashley have it out at Worlds End?
AEW Continental Classic, Blue League: Mark Briscoe VS The Beast Mortos!
After getting a couple shockers, The Sussex County Chicken could easily jump up to the front of the block with one more! But will he #ManUp and bring down the menacing minotaur? Or will The Beast be a massive spoiler for Briscoe?
The bell rings and we’re on the clock again. The fans rally and duel while both men fire up. They RAM shoulders, and then fire forearms! The fans fire up as Mark gets the edge, but Mortos swings! Mark dodges to CHOP, then fire forearms! Mark ROCKS Mortos, whips, but Mortos reverses and SPLASHES Mark! Mortos runs but Mark follows to LARIAT! Mark runs, Mortos follows, but Mark dodges to CHOP! And CHOP! And forearm! And Mongolian Chop! Mark fires forearms against the ropes, then roars. Mark runs but Mortos follows to UPPERCUT! The fans fire up, Mortos runs but Mark follows to FOREARM!
Mark runs, Mortos follows, and he slingshots to hook and backslide, TWO! Mark trips Mortos to jackknife, TWO! Mortos gets around, hammerlock and cradle, TWO! Mark slips around to roll Mortos, TWO! Both men stand, both men dodge, and the fans cheer the standoff. The fans cheer “BOTH THESE GUYS! BOTH THESE GUYS!” as they reset. Mark and Mortos run up to RAM shoulders again! And again! Mortos is getting the better of this, and he CLOBBERS Mark! The fans cheer Mortos while Mark goes to ropes. Mortos runs in but Mark TOSSES him up and out! Mortos clutches a leg, stands up, but Mark runs!
Mortos slides in, dodges, and he SPEARS Mark! The fans fire up and Mortos roars while Collision goes picture in picture.
Mark rolls to a corner while Mortos headbutts buckles. Mortos then runs corner to corner to DROPKICK Mark! Mark sputters, Mortos drags him to a cover, TWO! Mark stays in this but Mortos drags him into a chinlock. Mark endures, even as Mortos leans on the hold. Mark fights up as the fans rally, and Mark fires body shots. Mortos THROWS Mark down! Mortos then CRANKS Mark’s neck, then KICKS him in the chest! Cover, TWO! Mark is still in this and he goes to ropes. Mortos storms up but Mark CHOPS! Mortos SMACKS Mark and Mark falls into a corner. Mortos stomps Mark, then digs his boots in!
The ref reprimands and counts, Mortos steps off, then Mortos snapmares Mark so he can step on Mark’s face! Then NECK TWIST! Cover, TWO! Mark stays in this and he goes back to ropes. Mortos waits on Mark to stand, then SMACKS him down! Mark dangles out of the ring in the ropes, but Mortos goes after a leg while Collision goes to break.
Christmas Collision returns and Mortos has Mark in a corner. Mortos whips corner to corner, then runs up to UPPERCUT, CHOP, and HEADBUTT! Mark staggers and the fans rally up for Mortos. Mortos brings down his kneepads, runs corner to corner, but Mark dodge! Mortos hits buckles then falls to the outside! The fans fire up as Mark then WRECKS Mortos with a dropkick! Mark builds speed and he DIVES, direct hit on Mortos! The fans fire up and Mark even hugs a few! Mark tosses a chair into the ring, and fans rally for #DEMBOYS. Mark sets the chair up, but Mortos anchors Mark’s legs! Mortos then SMACKS Mark!
Mortos drags Mark to the apron, Mark fires forearms. Mortos shoves Mark, but Mark fireman’s carries! Mortos fires elbows to get free! Mark REDNECK KUNG-FU UPPERCUTS! Then APRON GERMAN SUPLEXES! Mortos falls to the floor while the fans lose their minds! Mark rises up, takes aim, and he fires the fans up more. Mark goes up a corner, for a SUPER SKY TWISTER! The fans are thunderous and Mark high-fives the front row. Mark then goes back to the ring and builds speed! Mark uses the chair to FLY! Direct hit and Mark even lands on his feet! The fans fire up and Mark hurries to get Mortos back up.
Mark puts Mortos in the ring, “This is Awesome!” as Mark takes aim. FROGGY-BOW onto knees! Mortos saves himself there, and then roars! Mortos whips Mark, scoops him, and has the torture rack! BEAST BACKBREAKER! Then Mortos hauls Mark up for a POWER BREAKER!! The fans fire up for Mortos and he DISCUS- NO, Mark dodges, runs, but into a POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO!! Mark survives and the fans fire up again! Mortos snarls, hauls Mark up, and then scoops! But Mark slips free! Mark crane kicks, then underhooks! But Mortos backdrops free! Mark rises, Mortos runs, but into a fireman’s carry!
Mark hits a ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Then Mark goes up the corner, and the fans fire up for the FROGGY-BOW!! Cover, TWO?!? Mortos survives but Mark shakes his head. Mark just goes back up top! Mortos sits up and roars! But Mark still FROGGY-BOWS!! And then he underhooks, lifts, JAY DRILLER!! Cover, Mark wins!
Winner: Mark Briscoe, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Mortos earns 0)
And with that, Mark is now even with Kyle Fletcher, who Mark already beat earlier on! That is all the difference between the one seed and the two seed, how will this final round shake out?
Julia Hart speaks.
“Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. I’m no coward. What you call tricks, I call advantages. I suggested that you watch your back. I gave you all the warnings. So I’m not understanding why you feel the need to call me classless and sneaky. I thought I was being more than reasonable. I know you’re strong, but are you smart? Are my ‘tricks’ too much for you? I guess we’ll find out January 1st, Fight for the Fallen. But remember: The House Always Wins.” The Princess of the Black Throne is ready, but will she learn Hayter Hits Hard?
Backstage interview with Mariah May.
Alex Marvez is with the AEW Women’s World Champion and says in one week’s time, it will be Mariah VS Thunder Rosa for the title, in a Tijuana Street Fight! Marvez notes that Mariah not only had some harsh words for Rosa, but for her father, as well. Mariah says, “Aw~, Papa Rosa is gonna be in the front row. Is that to watch the match? Or does Thunder need a new mami?” But speaking of Rosa, she RAMS Mariah right into the door! And dribbles her off it, too! Mariah pulls hair, Rosa tries to choke Mariah, and then Mariah shoves Rosa away. Mariah calls Rosa crazy, but Rosa says she’s not done with Mariah!
Rosa storms after Mariah into the hall, and then to the stage area! Mariah has made it to ringside, Nigel tries to warn her, but Rosa CLOBBERS Mariah! Rosa rains down fists, then stomps away! Rosa SMACKS Mariah off steel steps, then grabs a chair! Mariah sputters, but gets away before Rosa swings the chair! Security rushes out here for the third time tonight, and Rosa LEAPS! The cluster keeps her away from Mariah but fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!” Rosa holds up the AEW Women’s World Championship, will she send the “Woman From Hell” back where she came from in order to have the gold again?
AEW Continental Classic, Gold League: Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli!
While The Relentless One has been after each and every Death Rider, he gets one served up to him on a silver platter. But will Darby bring down the Swiss Superman before the final round? Or will Claudio crush Darby’s hopes and dreams this close to Christmas?
But before Claudio even gets in the ring, Darby DIVES out onto him! The fans fire up as Darby fires fast hands! Claudio gets away but Darby pursues, jumps on, and throws more hands! Claudio carries Darby up the ramp to then THROW him down! Darby writhes, Claudio drags him up, and Claudio gorilla presses! Darby slips free, goes to the entry, and then dodges Claudio to send him into the light truss! And then he shoves Claudio into it again! Claudio falls, and now Darby climbs up!? The fans fire up as Darby is up on the camera balcony! Darby SUPER CROSSBODIES Claudio down!
Claudio tumbles down the ramp and Darby sputters while fans lose their minds. The ref checks Darby, his fall was still really wicked. Claudio sits up in a daze as he’s now ringside, and somehow Darby pursues! They both get in the ring, the bell rings, and Darby runs up! But into a POP-UP UPPERCUT!! Cover, TWO!! Darby survives and Claudio is already frustrated. Claudio drags Darby by his legs, to GIANT SWING~! The fans count as Darby goes around and around, and Claudio goes past TEN, past FIFTEEN, past TWENTY, and all the way to THIRTY!! Darby flounders out of the ring while Collision goes picture in picture.
The ref goes out to check on Darby, and somehow he’s okay to continue. Claudio steps out to fetch Darby, and lift shim up with one hand! Claudio then gut wrenches and carries Darby, to SLAM him onto railing! And DUMP him down! Claudio drags Darby up again, gut wrenches again, and he TOSSES Darby onto the railing! Darby flops back down and clutches his lower back, but Claudio leaves him behind. The ring count begins but Darby sits up. Claudio goes out after him again, and brings him up to CHOP! Darby staggers away to a corner, Claudio storms up and CHOPS again! Darby flops down but Claudio looms over him.
Claudio gets space, runs up, and he UPPERCUTS Darby against railing! Darby stumbles away, Claudio goes to the ring, but Darby rolls in, just to roll back out. Darby earns himself some time, but then Claudio storms out after him. Darby hurries int he ring to get away, but Claudio is after him there, too. Claudio stands on Darby’s hands, then stomps them! Darby writhes, but Claudio stomps his hands more! Darby goes to a corner. Claudio stands him up and CHOPS! Claudio UPPERCUTS, CHOPS, and Christmas Collision returns to single picture. The fans duel, Darby fires hands, but Claudio UPPERCUTS!
Claudio whips, Darby springboards, COFFIN- NO, Claudio catches Darby! Darby fights free, runs, but Claudio runs up! Darby DUMPS Claudio, then runs to DIVE! Direct hit at the ramp! The fans fire up again and Darby puts Claudio in. Claudio rolls out the far side but Darby DIVES again! Claudio is sent into railing but Darby goes up a corner! The fans fire up for the SUPER COFFIN SPLASH! Direct hit and both men are down again. The ref starts the ring count, the fans rally up, and Darby refreshes the count. Darby LEAPS onto Claudio for a SLEEPER! Claudio goes to steel steps and he steps up, but Darby squeezes tight!
Claudio steps back down, and he runs into the timekeeper’s area! BACKPACK SENTON through the table! The fans lose their minds again while Claudio leaves Darby behind in the wreckage. Darby stirs, the ref starts another ring count, and Darby crawls. “This is Awesome!” as Darby leaps in at 7! Claudio runs but Darby slips around! O’Conner Roll, TWO, springboard and SPALSH! Cover, TWO! Ghost pin, TWO! Claudio is up, but Darby sunset flips! Claudio stays up, and DOUBLE STOMPS! Claudio deadlifts Darby to then TOSS him out of the ring! Darby hits apron on the way out and fans tell Claudio he’s sick!
Claudio goes out after Darby and drags him up again. Claudio scoops and then POSTS Darby! And POSTS him again! Claudio TOSSES Darby aside, rolls into the ring, but only to refresh the count. Claudio then drags Darby by a leg and brings him over. Claudio SWINGS Darby into steel steps!! Claudio puts Darby in the ring, stands him up, and runs to LARIAT! Darby flips through the air! Claudio covers, TWO!! Darby survives and Claudio is frustrated. The fans rally for Darby but Claudio rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Then Claudio tucks the arms, RICOLA- CODE RED!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio escapes in time!
The fans rally while both men are down again. Darby and Claudio slowly rise, and Ricochet watches, very amused as Darby is his next opponent in the round robin. Darby crawls to a corner, climbs up, but Claudio UPPERCUTS! Claudio HEADBUTTS Darby, then climbs up again. Claudio brings Darby up and suplexes, but Darby fights around! SUPER SCORPION DEATH DROP!! The fans are thunderous for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” as Darby rises up. Darby climbs to the very top, COFFION DROP onto knees! Claudio saves himself, then he hauls Darby up. Straitjacket and RICOLA~ BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!?
Darby survives and shocks Claudio! Claudio argues with the ref but the count was fair! Darby’s just that tough! Claudio goes back to Darby and ripcords him into the RICOLA~ BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!?! HOW?!? Claudio goes outside, and he brings out something from under the ring. He also has a chair! The ref takes the chair from Claudio, but Claudio has BRASS KNUCKLES! BRASS KNUCKLE PUNCH!!! Cover, CLAUDIO WINS!
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli, by pinfall (gains 3 points; Darby earns 0)
The Swiss Superman screws over Darby, but then he gets that chair back. But wait, Ospreay slides into the ring! And HE has the brass knuckles that Claudio tossed aside! Ospreay dares Claudio to do something, but Claudio simply leaves. Does this mean Ospreay’s ready to ride against the Death Riders with Darby? Or will we see a Miracle on 34th Street send Ospreay and Darby to Worlds End?
My Thoughts:
A great Collision here as the last one before Worlds End, and therefore a bit of a go-home in itself. While the continued feud of MJF and Cole has still been a bit clunky since they did the double turn, their faceoff did a good job addressing some of that. They got good digs at each other as always, and MJF snapping and revealing “the truth” was their big move to recover this story. We of course got a brawl, and good save by The Kingdom. It feels like MJF still finds a way to hold onto the diamond ring, but c’mon, how fitting is it for Cole to get a diamond.
Good bit with Toni Storm and The Vendetta, and Deonna’s reaction to Toni was great. Deonna is justified in thinking this is still an act from Toni, not a legitimate psychological problem, and Toni VS Taya will be good stuff. Good promo from Kris Statlander, good match from her and Penelope Ford, and of course a good win for Kris. Good promo from Mone to make Worlds End official, but as I’ve been saying, Mone is more likely to lose the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship as part of the big NJPW Tokyo Dome weekend. The irony is, Mina Shirakawa is her challenger and Mina shows up plenty in AEW, so I don’t know how that math is supposed to work.
Good promo from Mariah May as it also turned into a brawl with Thunder Rosa. As it stands, Rosa standing tall holding up the belt means she is NOT winning at Worlds End, but they could still give us a little more from Rosa and Mariah on Dynamite’s Christmas episode to turn the tables. Good promo from Julia Hart to respond to Jamie Hayter, they’ll have a good match. Good promo from Orange Cassidy to try and reason with Jay White and Hangman Page, but that’s all the more reason Moxley likely uses the challengers all against each other like he did on Wednesday. Though, it would be fun if they at least started the match all annihilating Moxley with their finishers, making us think it’ll work out in favor of “Team AEW.”
Good stuff with Big Boom AJ & Big Justice here tonight, both hyping up the show but also interacting with Jericho’s group and even Anthony Bowens. They’re adding some more foreshadowing to The Acclaimed breaking up, and I guess we’re supposed to see this as a positive move, Bowens feuding with Jericho. Unless Bowens is going to be the guy that dethrones Jericho for whatever ROH cable TV debut/return is planned, the Jericho Vortex strikes again. Bowens should be going for an AEW midcard title, but right now, those are all tied up what with the C2 going on and the International Championship being tied up in Worlds End and NJPW plans.
Speaking of the C2, great stuff with all the matches tonight. Shelton VS Garcia was great stuff, and while Garcia gets the win, they’re still giving us some set-up for a TNT Championship match of Garcia VS Shelton. Mark Briscoe of course made the save, but great surprise for Swerve to show up. Lashley VS Swerve for Worlds End just needs to be said, it already feels a given. All that brawling was also a good segue into Mark VS Mortos, and another great showing for Mortos, even in losing. But as Mark has already had all his matches and is at 9 points, Kyle doesn’t even need to win against Garcia, he just needs to draw so that Mark will be out, and Garcia with him.
While Ospreay VS Darby on Wednesday raised the bar, Ospreay VS Ricochet still had great stuff of its own. Plus, Ricochet is bringing out more of his Heel side what with using the ref, and Ricochet’s win puts the pressure on Ospreay for Christmas Dynamite. Now, no offense to Brody King, but I’m thinking Ospreay wins that to take one of the semifinal spots. Darby VS Claudio tonight was also great, but Darby doing his best Sting off the truss was not the best when he gets that whiplash on the floor. I really thought that match was going to be called for concussion protocol, but Darby’s weirdly indestructible.
Claudio still cheats this win so there’s more heat on the Death Riders and Darby is also behind the 8 ball. Ospreay making the save was good, we can definitely have another “Team AEW” VS Death Riders with Ospreay joining Darby and a couple others, but the way they did the order of matches, Claudio’s got a seemingly easy ride against Komander for Christmas. Though, how awesome would it be if Komander pulled off the spoiler? Or if they were really going to add some drama, they should create a situation where the Death Riders end up ringside, violating the Continental Rules of no cornermen and that disqualifies Claudio. Claudio misses out on the semifinals because of a technicality, sending Ospreay and maybe Ricochet to the semifinals.
My Score: 8.8/10
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TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
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