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Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (8/18/23)

On this day…!

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Edge celebrates his 25th WWE Anniversary on FIGHT NIGHT!

For the first time ever, The Rated R Superstar takes on Sheamus in a 1v1 match! Will Edge truly be celebrating on this, his 25th Anniversary in WWE?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • WWE United States Championship #1 Contender’s Match: LA Knight VS Austin Theory; Theory wins and will challenge Rey Mysterio for the title.
  • Damage CTRL w/ Dakota Kai VS Charlotte Flair & Bianca Belair; Charlotte & Bianca win.
  • The Street Profits VS The Good Brothers w/ Mia Yim; The Profits win.
  • Edge VS Sheamus; Edge wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

SmackDown opens with the Grayson Waller Effect!

The Aussie Icon, the Dynamite from Down Under, the Moment Maker is already in the ring and on set, and he welcomes us to his show in Toronto, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Edge! Waller can’t wait until later tonight when Edge says thanks to Waller for making him relevant again. Okay, calm down, Beth. Waller loves hot moms. But enough about Edge, we’ll hear about him tonight plenty. But first, let’s get to who is getting the Waller rub! Welcome Santos Escobar, and the NEW WWE United States Champion, Rey Mysterio! Fans fire up as The LWO’s leading men make their way out to the ring.

Rey holds up the title belt and Escobar walks as best he can in that heavy knee brace, and the two head to the ring. They join Waller at his desk, and Waller says Rey is a legend and a Hall of Famer still making moments. How is he feeling? Rey thanks Waller for that, and he thanks the fans for cheering him on. Rey has to admit, it feels great to be US Champion once again. Oh, Waller can imagine it feels incredible. Right, Santos? Santos can imagine it. Hah, funny. But what Austin Theory did was try to cook up a plan, but one that Santos and Rey ruined. Oh, so they worked together. Are they co-champions?

No, but it doesn’t matter who won it. The fact is, the US title is with the L W O! Okay, okay. Waller is just confused. He thought there’d be tension since Rey stole that opporutnity. Rey didn’t steal anything! Waller paints a picture here: Santos, on the roll of his life, takes on some of the biggest stars week after week- Escobar says Waller included. Well, yes. And he beat Rey, too! But when it was Santos’ big night, his own mentor not only stole the opportunity, he- Rey again defends he didn’t steal anything! Waller says this is what legends do, right? It wasn’t enough that Rey had it once before, he wanted it again! Rey’s reluctant to pass the torch!

Escobar keeps Rey calm as Waller says Rey hordes it all. Escobar then tells Waller to callete, aka shut up! Escobar says, “Excuse me, perro,” but the only person Escobar is livid with is that “lowlife good-for-nothing Austin Theory.” Waller gets that. Santos gave Rey his blessing because he has the utmost respect, which Waller has none, for the man, the myth, the legend, his mentor, Rey Mysterio! Fans cheer that and Escobar makes sure Waller hears it. Escobar says Waller’s play isn’t gonna work on familia. Now, Theory got what he deserved! And hear Escobar out. Once he is fully healed…

Wait, here comes Austin Theory. Waller claims this isn’t on him. Fans boo as Theory makes his way to the ring. He has a mic to say “congratulations” to Rey on becoming a three-time US Champion. That’s great and all, but where’s the Father of the Year award? Who’s even running this show?! What happened last week was a tragedy! Theory got played! Escobar and his one leg wasn’t man enough to step up to the GREATEST US Champion! Fans boo more but Theory tells them to shut up. Theory says Rey was not supposed to have that match! Pearce is gonna hand Theory back what is rightfully his!

Fans boo as Theory shouts for Adam Pearce, and he says he is not playing around. But Pearce says he figured this would happen. No one wants to hear Theory complain tonight! Wait, LA KNIGHT is here! Fans are thunderous for the Mega Star as he struts past Pearce, and he says, “LEMME TALK TO YA!” Knight says that he did NOT just hear Theory say he is the greatest US Champion of all time. Theory says he DID just say that! Well if Knight recalls, Theory once in three months defended his title, and what’d he do? He fumbled the ball! Here’s an idea. Theory is talking about what he deserves, Knight congratulates Rey on the win.

But it doesn’t matter who’s the champion, whether Theory, Rey or Escobar, some time or another, that title’s coming home with Knight! So Theory talks about being the greatest, but Knight hasn’t tasted that gold. But what he did was go through 20 other men at the SummerSlam Battle Royal, so it ain’t gonna be a problem going through Theory! So what he sees is Theory is dressed to fight, Knight’s dressed to fight, so here’s a little something. Rey is there with the US Championship and Knight thinks to himself, what if it was for a shot at the title? Theory VS Knight, YEAH! Fans like it, and Pearce thinks it over.

Fans chant for “L A KNIGHT! L A KNIGHT!” and Pearce can’t argue with that. In fact, the only thing that makes it better is to do it right now! YEA!H That means that cross-eyed halfwit has a first class ticket to a BFT! With everybody saying “L! A! KNIGHT!” YEAH! Knight moves Waller’s ferns aside, will he also toss Theory aside to get after the gold?

WWE United States Championship #1 Contender’s Match: LA Knight VS Austin Theory!

SmackDown returns and THE MIZ shows up? The Hollywood A-Lister teased he might show up here, and so he has! The Miz has beef with Knight after the SummerSlam Battle Royal, is he looking to settle things tonight?

The bell rings and Theory goes right after a distracted Knight! Fans boo but Theory RAMS into Knight, then throws elbows and stomps! Theory lets off, but he ROCKS Knight and throws point blank lariats! Miz joins commentary as Theory hits a FALL AWAY SLAM! Theory storms up on Knight and Miz denies he is jealous of Knight, because Knight has not had all the titles in WWE like Miz has. Theory stomps and whips corner to corner, but Knight comes back to LARIAT! Fans fire up, Knight suplexes high and hard, then he goes up a corner. Fans spell it out, “YEAH!” and Knight elbow drops! Cover, TWO!

Knight drags Theory up, whips him to ropes, but Theory kicks him away! But Knight still gets Theory for a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Knight stalks Theory to a corner as fans fire up even more. But then Theory YANKS Knight out of the ring! Theory goes out but Knight kicks him low! Theory hits back, SMACKS Knight off the apron, and Miz cheers as Theory throws hands. Theory smacks Knight off the barriers, mocks LA Knight’s mannerisms, then CLUBS him. Theory puts Knight in the ring then kicks him back out. Fans fire up as Knight hits Theory and SMACKS him off the desk! And he does it again and again and again!

Miz talks trash on Knight but the fans “YEAH!” every time! Miz says Knight is just a catchphrase but Knight says Miz better watch himself. But then theory dropkicks Knight! Knight blocks the bump to SMACK Theory off the desk again! Knight glares at Miz, brings theory around, and THROWS him into Miz!! Fans fire up as The Now and the A-Lister both fall over! Knight has control as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Theory has a chinlock, but Knight fights up. Knight throws hands, runs, then runs Theory over! Things keep moving, Knight sunset flips, TWO! Theory staggers to the corner, Knight runs in but Theory drop toeholds him into buckles! Theory then somersault SHOTGUNS Knight down! Cover, TWO! Miz says he’s still here, despite what happened. Theory stalks Knight, has a wristlock then stomps him. Theory drags Knight up to short arm LARIAT! Miz says he’s gonna be the reason SmackDown gets big ratings but Michael Cole says those will be about Edge.

Theory aims, slingshots in, but Knight catches him for a BIG back suplex! Fans fire up as both men are down! Knight and Theory go to corners, stand up, and Theory run sin, Knight throws counter punches! Knight whips corner to corner, Theory bounces off buckles, so Knight whips him into more buckles! And more buckles! And hits a JUMPING NECKBREAKER! Fans fire up and Knight stands Theory up again. Theory swings, but into a RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Knight runs to BASEMENT BOOT! Cover, TWO! Knight stalks Theory to a corner, and starts stomping a mudhole in! Fans chant “YEAH!” with each one!

The ref reprimands and counts, Knight lets off and then runs corner to corner, to KNEE Theory down! Fans fire up as Theory sputters up. Knight waits, reels him in, but Theory slips out of the back suplex! Theory CHOP BLOCKS, then ROCKS Knight with a left! Theory calls his shot, fireman’s carries, but Knight slips free! Knight shoves, scoops, and SLAMS! Fans fire up with Knight but Miz gets on the apron! Knight runs him off and fans boo. Theory runs up, but Knight kicks him for a BIG DDT!! Knights then chases after Miz! Miz slides into the ring. swings but misses, and Knight clotheslines Miz up and out!

Fans fire up but Theory rolls Knight up! With tights! Theory wins!!

Winner: Austin Theory, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the WWE United States Championship)

Knight is upset because he knows he should’ve known better. Will Knight make sure Miz gets all the spotlight he wants when he comes for revenge?

 

Superstars speak on Edge’s anniversary.

“Edge! This is your archnemesis, John Cena, saying congratulations on 25 years in the WWE. We are amazed by your professional dedication and passion.” Sheamus says that from the day he walked in the WWE, Edge has been nothing but a mentor and someone he’s looked up to. Edge is a legend, and a friend. Natalya says Edge is one of the best to ever do it, and is only getting better. She thanks him for being such a dear friend to her. The Miz says that before he was awesome, Edge reeked of awesomeness. Congratulations!

Charlotte Flair was 21 when she was in the front row to see Edge VS Ric Flair in a ladder match. That was one of her most memorable experiences, and now she’s here in her own wrestling gear, wishing him a happy 25th. Sami Zayn says it is a true testament to the kind of person Adam Copeland is when people speak more about who he is as a person rather than how he’s done it all in the WWE. So Edge, Adam, thank you for being you. Thank you for inspiring us all.

 

WWE looks back at 25 years of Edge.

They have footage from a Canadian talk show where a young, mullet-sporting Adam Copeland asked Bret Hart how to crack into the business. Bret told him to get experience, and just never say never. “Embrace the Edge.” Booker T says that from the beginning, it was clear Edge was a major star. Paul Heyman says even Edge will tell you, that he lives to perform. The Brood, the E & C Connection, the first ever TLC match, the five second poses, winning tag titles, playing on kazoos. Mick Foley says Edge was the perfect mix of athlete and showman. Edge mocking Flair, The Rock, Kurt Angle, and taking the fight to them, too.

Stone Cold says Edge has always tried to give fans more. Cena admits to being in awe watching Edge. The Undertaker knew Edge was someone willing to risk it all to entertain the fans. Becoming the first Mr. Money in the Bank, the first ever cash-in, becoming “The Rated R Superstar,” the Hardcore match with Mick Foley and that burning table! Creating Rated RKO with Randy Orton, winning the Royal Rumble, facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania, and then… His forced retirement 11 years ago.

Edge himself says, “If someone took away the thing that you loved the most, and after that, you started a beautiful family, you did all of these things, but someone dangles that carrot of ending it the way you want to, how many people are gonna say no?” His return at Royal Rumble 2020, creating The Judgment Day and everything that came with that. Batista says Edge is the rockstar of WWE. Everyone loves doing the Edge entrance with the rock ‘n’ roll fingers. Hulk Hogan says Edge has left a mark on this business. He created a masterpiece fans will look back on forever. #ThankYouEdge.

 

Damage CTRL w/ Dakota Kai VS Charlotte Flair & Bianca Belair!

Just last week, The Role Model and the NEW WWE Women’s Champion took the fight to former champion, Asuka, and The Queen, Charlotte Flair. The EST returns to get back in the ring and to get back at DMG CTRL, will Belair & Flair be able to take them down? Or will DMG CTRL still be in control?

As DMG CTRL makes their entrance, Bayley has a mic to say now now, turn the music down because they have something beautiful for you! Even though the Toronto “dum-dums “aren’t worthy, they will be graced with a champion! She knows they aren’t used to seeing those, either! Bayley introduces the Evil Genius of the Sky, the one and only IYO SKY! Iyo makes her entrance now, and the trio continues down to the ring. Will Iyo & Bayley continue the momentum from the SummerSlam cash-in? We find out, after the break.

SmackDown returns and Bianca makes her entrance first, followed by Charlotte. The teams sort out and Bayley starts against Bianca. Fans rally up, the two circle, and Bayley wants that bad leg. Bianca stays back but Bayley still shoots in. Bianca waistlocks but Bayley stomps the bad foot! Takedown and cover, ONE! Bianca kips up, that leg is fine now. Fans rally and the two go again. Bianca waistlocks, SLAMS, and keeps on Bayley. Bianca headlocks, Bayley fights up, and fans sing. Bayley powers out, Bianca goes up and over then RAMS into Bayley! Bianca reels Bayley in to snap suplex! Bianca kips up again and fans cheer.

Bianca stalks Bayley to the corner, tags in Charlotte, and the two mug Bayley as fans “WOO~!” The ref counts as Charlotte stomps a mudhole. Charlotte bumps Bayley off buckles, then CHOPS her off her feet! Fans “WOO~!” again and Charlotte tells Iyo that she sees her. Charlotte whips but Bayley sunset flips! Charlotte rolls through to BASEMENT BOOT! Charlotte drags Bayley up, scoops her, but Bayley slips off to throw Charlotte by her hair! Bayley tells fans to shut up about Charlotte, and then tags in Iyo. DMG CTRL mugs Charlotte, Iyo CHOPS like a Flair! But then Charlotte BOOTS Iyo, ELBOWS Bayley and CHOPS Iyo!

Fans fire up, Charlotte SPLASHES Iyo in the corner! Then throws her to the apron! Charlotte runs up to BOOT Iyo down! Fans fire up as Charlotte goes to the apron, and she CANNONBALLS Bayley & Iyo down! Toronto fires up for The Queen while SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Bayley has Charlotte in a chinlock. Fans rally and “WOO~” and Charlotte fights up. Charlotte throws body shots but Bayley knees low. Bayley whips Charlotte to a corner, runs in, but into a BACKBREAKER and BUCKLE SHOT! Fans fire up as Charlotte goes up! But Bayley ROCKS Charlotte first! Bayley TOSSES Charlotte down, then covers, TWO! Bayley points to Iyo then tags her in. DMG CTRL mugs Charlotte, Dakota says that was chef’s kiss quality. Iyo clamps on a headlock and she grinds Charlotte, but Charlotte fights up. Fans rally, Charlotte back suplexes, but Iyo slips free!

Iyo shoves, ducks ‘n’ dodges, then tilt-o-whirls to LA MYSTICA! CROSSFACE!! Charlotte flails, reaches out, powers up and arm-drags free! Iyo stays between her and Bianca, then sunset flips! But Charlotte rolls through! Iyo kicks low, reels Charlotte in and underhooks, but Charlotte fights the lift! Charlotte back drops Iyo away! Fans fire up as both women crawl! Bayley says don’t tag, attack! Iyo changes course and she BLASTS Bianca! Iyo drags Charlotte up, and CHOPS her! Charlotte crawls, Bayley directs traffic and Iyo stands Charlotte up. Iyo whips, Charlotte holds ropes but Iyo DROPKICKS her down! Cover, TWO!

Iyo keeps on Charlotte but Charlotte FLAPJACK HOTSHOTS her down! Charlotte and Iyo crawl, now Bayley wants the tag! But Bianca tags in first! The EST rallies on Iyo with big shoulders and a DROPKICK! Then a spin and facelock, for a stalling suplex, before the SLAM! Bianca kips up and fans fire up! Bianca runs in and RAMS Iyo, then goes up to rain down fists! Fans count along and Bianca goes to TEN! Bayley runs in, Bianca flips up and over! Then scoop and BACKBREAKER! Iyo runs in, into a SPINEBUSTER! Then Bianca HANDSPRING MOONSAULTS but only gets Bayley! Iyo dropkicks the bad leg!

Fans rally, Bayley calls to Iyo now, and Iyo drags Bianca all the way over. Tag to Bayley and she takes that bad leg, to DDT the foot! Cover, ONE!! Bianca is hanging tough but Bayley drags Bianca up by her ponytail! Th ref reprimands, Bianca fights, kicks free, and then turns Bayley, but Sky runs in! Bianca kicks her, NECKBREAKER DDT COMBO! Fans are thunderous as Bianca crawls past Bayley & Iyo, hot tag to Charlotte! Charlotte goes up to DOUBLE CROSSBODY! Fans fire up and Charlotte CHOPS Iyo! And CHOPS Bayley! CHOPS back and forth! Then an EXPLODER on Iyo! Bayley runs in, Charlotte dodges and scoops, FALL AWAY SLAM!

Fans are thunderous again as Charlotte handsprings corner to corner to LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Bayley survives but fans rally as Charlotte goes up again. But Bayley SHOVES Charlotte down! Bad landing against barriers and Charlotte clutches her foot! Bayley WRECKS Bianca with a dropkick, then distracts the ref so Iyo can stomp away on Charlotte! Bayley goes out after Charlotte, puts her in, then covers, TWO! Charlotte is still in this but Bayley drags her to a drop zone! Tag to Iyo and she goes up top! OVER THE MOON- NO, Charlotte manages to move! But a SHOTEI rocks Charlotte!

Fans fire up as Iyo runs in, but Charlotte moves and Iyo POSTS herself! Bayley tags in, has the bad leg, lets out a “WOO~!” but Charlotte DECKS her for it! Tag to Bianca! Bayley dodges Bianca but Charlotte BOOTS her! Bayley staggers back into a torture rack! KISS OF DEATH!! Cover, Belair & Flair win!

Winners: Charlotte Flair & Bianca Belair, by pinfall

Charlotte has a bit of a bloody nose, but she smiles through it as she and The EST just took down DMG CTRL! Will one or both of them be heading towards a title opportunity in the near future?

 

More superstars send messages to Edge.

Cody Rhodes says that Edge has had an incredible run. AJ Styles says Edge is an inspiration. Dolph Ziggler says thank you, and Bobby Lashley thanks Edge for all the memories. Bayley congratulates Edge, as does Ricochet. Cody recalls when Edge learned about the condition of his neck, and that Edge still went overseas with the others, Cody being among them. Edge still made sure that all those fans got to see him, even though he couldn’t compete. You can count on only so many hands how many people are special like Edge.

Kevin Owens says that he had a list of people, if he ever got to WWE, he would want to wrestle. Edge was one of them, and he can’t put into words how much it meant to him to have Edge back. Becky Lynch thanks Edge for looking out for her and the whole roster. He is a hell of a leader and a hell of a man. Rey Mysterio says Edge knows how much he loves him. Happy 25th Anniversary! Kurt Angle congratulates Edge on making it to 25 years. He is definitely one of the greatest of all time. Oh it’s true, it’s damn true.

 

Backstage interview with Bianca Belair.

Cathy Kelley is with the EST to talk about how DMG CTRL has been a thorn in her side again. But was tonight any sense of payback- OH NO! Bayley SMACKS Bianca in the back with a chair!! And then Iyo RAMS her into road cases! The braid gets trapped by the lid! Bayley CLUBS away on Bianca, gets her braid free, and says that’s what she gets! Iyo CHOKES Bianca with the chair, and Bayley puts another around Bianca’s leg! Bayley holds Bianca down so Iyo can CON-CHAIR-TO the leg!!! A very Edge-esque move tonight, is Bianca going to be out of action because of this?

 

The Street Profits VS The Good Brothers w/ Mia Yim!

Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins not only have a new wardrobe of suits and slacks, they have new ring gear! Will they make Bobby Lashley proud with a win here tonight? Or will Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows make Toronto just too sweet?

SmackDown returns as The OC make their entrance. The teams sort out, Ford starts against Big LG, and he fires off fast hands! But Gallows YAKUZA KICKS! Gallows HAMMERS away on Ford, puts him in a corner, and he throws heavy body shots! Then an UPPERCUT! Tag to Anderson and the Good Brothers double whip Ford, for a SPLASH in the corner, and a JUMP KICK! Cover, TWO! Anderson keeps on Ford as he UPPERCUTS and CHOPS! Anderson runs, but Ford follows then LARIATS! Fans fire up as Ford tags in Dawkins and they get Anderson up to mug him! They hammer away, stomp away, and the ref counts!

Ford lets off, Dawkins drags Anderson up and whips him to a corner. Dawkins runs in but Anderson BOOTS him away! Anderson CHOPS, ROCKS and then runs up, but Dawkins catches him for a half nelson FALLA WAY SLAM! Dawkins DECKS Gallows for good measure! Tag to Anderson, SILENCER on the Machine Gun! Ford goes up, FROM THE HEAVENS!! Cover, Gallows breaks it! Dawkins runs in, Gallows UPPERCUTS, but Dawkins TOSSES Gallows! Ford tags Dawkins back in, then Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts Anderson. Anderson slips free, Ford leaps over as Anderson POSTS Dawkins! SPIENBUTSESR for Ford!

Tag to Gallows and the Good Brothers get Dawkins up. BACK SUPLEX NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO!! Tag back to Anderson, they drag Dawkins up to MAGIC- NO, Dawkins BOOTS free! And dodges Gallows! ENZIGJURI is enough to rock Gallows, and Ford clotheslines Gallows up and out! Anderson whips, Ford doges and FLIES to take Gallows out! Dawkins whips Anderson but Anderson SHOTGUN BOOTS! Ford sneaks a tag, Anderson whips Dawkins. Dawkins reverses, SKY HIGH NECKBREAKER!! Cover, The Profits win!

Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall

New look, new attitude, and a new finisher even! And then Bobby Lashley makes his way out on stage to celebrate with them! Will this new chapter for the Profits be the mightiest one yet?

 

Backstage interview with Paul Heyman.

Kayla Braxton hopes for an update on the current state of The Bloodline. Heyman says no. Well, alright. What about the headspace of Roman Reigns? Kayla has been hearing rumors- Oh, rumors? Rumors? Kayla is coming at Heyman, about rumors? What rumors does she have? Something about Roman Reigns’ cousin, Jey Uso? The Jey Uso that abandoned the WWE Universe? That quit? The Jey Uso that quit the Bloodline, quit SmackDown and quit the WWE? Or maybe passing rumors about Roman’s family? What about Kayla’s family, huh? Let’s talk about those rumors. How’s her mom? Is she good? Heard from her lately? Heyman’s heard rUmOrS~!

Heyman’s heard stuff about her dad, too! Been on a daddy-daughter date lately? Have a nice time? Or maybe her cousins? But no, she doesn’t wanna talk about those. She wants to talk about the Tribal Chief. She’s not even coming to him to ask about Edge! The celebration of 25 years! How about Austin Theory and his victory over this “wannabe flash int he pan,” L A KNIGHT. No no no. She can’t ask about that. She wants to ask about… Heyman says “As they say in Quebec, which is a real province.” Actually, what do they say? A call comes in on Heyman’s phone and he says oh no, nothing’s going on, just an interview on live television.

Heyman’s snark stops as whoever it is tells him something. Really? Well, thank- Hello? They hung up. Well, bye to you, too. Kayla asks if he cares to share this with us. Why yes he does. And it’s not a rumor, it’s a fact that this is a spoiler: Jimmy Uso will be live here on SmackDown next week! Care to share the source? Oh, he’d “love” to share that. But even Heyman wouldn’t dare. The Special Counsel heads out, what happens when the Last Uso Standing returns to SmackDown?

 

Edge VS Sheamus!

The Rated R Superstar owes much of his 25 years to SmackDown, and he owes the Celtic Warrior for inspiring his return! But in their very first 1v1 showdown, will Edge “thank” Sheamus by defeating him on FIGHT NIGHT?

SmackDown returns and Toronto goes wild as Edge makes his entrance! He hugs wife, Beth Phoenix, and his daughters in the front row, then high-fives the rest of the front row before getting in the ring. The fans are already thunderous as he stands there across from Sheamus. The bell rings, the two shake hands, and they circle. Fans fire up, the two tie up, move around, but are rather even. Edge headlocks, Sheamus powers out, but Edge runs Sheamus over! Fans fire up again while Sheamus stands up. They circle again, tie up, and Sheamus wrenches to a headlock. Edge powers out, but Sheamus runs him over now!

Edge shakes that off, fans chant “This is Awesome!” already as the two tie up again. Edge whips and KNEES Sheamus against ropes, then whips again. Sheamus wrenches, clinches, and hits an IRISH CURSE BACKBREAKER! Fans boo The Fella as he stands over The Rated R Superstar, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns again and Edge throws body shots on Sheamus! Then he throws a forearm! Edge runs, ducks ‘n dodges, and manages to springboard for a back elbow! Both men are down, fans rally and Edge goes to ropes. Edge rallies with big clotheslines, then an EDGE-O-MATIC! Cover, TWO! Edge stands and snarls as he brings Sheamus in. Sheamus shoves Edge away, runs in, but Edge dumps him to the apron! Edge then slides under, to POWERBOMB Sheamus to the floor! Fans lose their minds, the ring count starts, and Edge brings Sheamus back up. Edge puts Sheamus in, then climbs a corner.

Fans rally for Edge as he aims at Sheamus, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Sheamus is still in this but Edge crawls over to keep on him. Fans rally, Edge steps through the legs, but Sheamus kicks Edge away hard! Fans boo, both men stand, and Sheamus scoops to POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Edge is hanging tough now and he rolls to the ropes. Sheamus storms over that way as Edge crawls to the apron. Fans rally, Sheamus drags Edge up, and Sheamus has Edge against the ropes! Fans boo but here come the BEATS OF THE- NO, Edge blocks the first one! Edge fires haymakers and fans count along with that! Edge gets TEN!

Edge steps in, has the arms wrapped around the ropes, and he throws knees! The ref counts but fans count along, too! Edge stops at five knees and Sheamus flops down. Edge runs to then SPEAR Sheamus off the apron! Fans fire up and even The Glamazon is loving this as SmackDown goes to break!

SmackDown returns once again and Sheamus has Edge in the CLOVERLEAF! Edge reaches out and fans fire up, but Sheamus drags him away from the ropes! Sheamus sits deep on the hold but Edge still endures. Fans rally even harder, and Edge fights his way onto his side, so he can CLUB away on Sheamus’ legs! Sheamus lets go of the hold, and then Edge CLUBS Sheamus down into a facelock! Sheamus fights but Edge powers him down for the CROSSFACE! Sheamus endures now, reaches out, powers his way over, and has the ROPEBREAK! Fans boo and Edge lets go more out of exhaustion than anything.

Fans rally up as Edge and Sheamus crawl. Sheamus goes to a corner, Edge stands, and Edge runs in, but into BOOTS! Edge is down, and Sheamus skins the cat to the top rope! Sheamus steadies himself, but Edge hurries to BOOT him! Edge then hurries up after Sheamus, brings him to the very top, SUPER DUPER PLEX!! And then a roll through?! To an IMPALER!! Cover, TWO!!! Sheamus survives the Edge-o-cution and fans are thunderous! They tell Edge, “You Still Got It!” and Edge goes up the corner! But Sheamus BOOTS Edge in return! Edge is stuck up top, Sheamus goes up after him, but Edge throws hands!

Sheamus ROCKS Edge and throws body shots! Sheamus goes up, fireman’s carries, and hits a SUPER WHITE NOISE!! But Sheamus isn’t done there, he hauls Edge up to a crucifix! CELTIC CROSS!! Cover, TWO!!! Edge survives and the fans are electric! Sheamus is shocked, and he watches Edge flounder his way to the apron. Sheamus drags Edge up, has him against ropes, and fans boo as the BEATS OF THE BODHRAIN start! Sheamus goes all the way to TEN! Edge wobbles. Beth and the girls look worried, but Edge flips Sheamus off! So Sheamus ROCKS Edge, for MORE BEATS OF THE BODHRAIN!

Sheamus goes past ten, all the way to TWENTY! Edge flops back down and fans boo but Sheamus soaks it all up. Sheamus says Edge asked for this and he warned him about it. But then Edge SLAPS Sheamus! Sheamus staggers, snarls, but then Edge LARIATS him down! Fans fire up again and Edge has a wild look in his eyes! Fans are electric again as Edge goes to the corner! Edge takes aim as he has so many times before! But Sheamus KNEES Edge first! Then BROGUES!!! Cover, TWO!?!?! Edge survives and Beth is almost in tears from shock! Fans boo as Sheamus says thumbs down, and he aims from the corner now.

Sheamus runs in, but Edge avoid the Brogue to roll Sheamus up! TWO, and SPEAR!!! Cover, TWO!?!?! No one can believe it, but both men have survived the other’s best shot! Edge crawls his way back to a corner, as does Sheamus. Fans chant “This is Awesome!” as both men stand. Edge runs in again, to SPEAR!!!! Cover, EDGE WINS!!

Winner: Edge, by pinfall

Toronto erupts as their hometown hero finds a way to win! And of course, Edge gets his pyro! It’s a standing ovation for The Rated R Superstar, and he even hugs it out with Sheamus! Edge has made it 25 years in the WWE, but is it 25 years and counting?


My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown, especially with all the love shown to Edge. Great bits and pieces of messages to Edge put together, and just a great career retrospective on his 25 years. Edge VS Sheamus was an awesome main event, and they were busting out stuff I didn’t think they would. Of course Edge wins, and of course Toronto loved it. It sounds like tonight was Edge’s last match under contract, so it is totally up to him if he renews the contract or at least makes a deal to do something at WrestleMania 40. He checked off an opponent he hadn’t faced yet in Sheamus, not sure what Edge would do for a retirement match now.

This was one of the first SmackDown in years where there was little done with The Bloodline. However, Heyman still gives us a great promo, and he teases Jimmy returning, so we’ll be getting another big step in the story next week. And of course, something has to lead to Jey coming back, even though he kayfabe quit. Great tag match from Profits VS Good Brothers, pretty good new gear for the Profits though teal/aqua isn’t really the best color to me. That Sky High Neckbreaker combo is a great finisher, too. Lashley, Ford & Dawkins need to officially come up with a name for the trio so we can start saying “[that trio] is gonna take over SmackDown,” because they should.

Really good tag match from Flair & Belair getting one over on DMG CTRL, and pretty wild backstage ambush from DMG CTRL on Bianca. I would think this leads to a match at Payback since Cathy said the word “payback.” But at the same time, that con-chair-to to the knee could be used to keep Bianca away, she returns closer to Fastlane in October, maybe even joins Lashley & Profits cuz she and Ford are married. Plus, Asuka can step back into this story, Shotzi still needs her blowoff with Bayley, and it’ll come down to either Charlotte, Asuka or both going after Iyo Sky for the title.

Pretty good Grayson Waller Effect, and of course Santos picks up on Waller trying to drive a wedge between him and Rey over how the US Championship situation went. Theory and Knight getting in on the segment was also good, and it turning into a #1 contender’s match was a good move. Miz showing up to be why Theory wins was fine, too, as Knight VS Miz is the clear path for this next part. Plus, there’s a chance that during Rey VS Theory, Escobar gets involved. And then, whether Escobar costs Rey or actually helps him win, maybe there really can be tension between them. The former is obvious, Escobar apologizes but he really is glad Rey lost since Escobar wants to be champion.

In the latter, Rey can get upset that he didn’t wanna win by bending the rules and Escobar doesn’t understand why. Sure, that comes off a little like a rehash of the Judgment Day dysfunction between Finn and Priest, but it can still work since they’d actually be winning.

My Score: 8.8/10

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Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (12/9/24)

Tonight’s going to be brutal!

Published

on

Everyone is showing raw emotion!

The New Day’s no longer positive, Drew McIntyre’s back for revenge, and Rhea Ripley battles Raquel Rodriguez, all on one Monday Night Raw!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • 8 Man Tag: The Miz & The Final Testament VS The Wyatt Sick6; The Miz & Final Testament win.
  • Dakota Kai VS Liv Morgan; Liv wins.
  • WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Lyra Valkyria VS Zelina Vega VS Ivy Nile; Lyra wins and advances to the next round.
  • Anything Goes: Rhea Ripley VS Raquel Rodriguez; Rhea wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

The New Day arrives backstage.

Xavier Woods wants high-fives, but no one is accepting. Kofi Kingston says hey to Natalya & The Alpha Academy, but they don’t return it. Their verbal shaming of Big E isn’t sitting well with anyone, will Woods & Kofi figure out who’s really in the wrong here?

 

Gunther is here!

Wichita, Kansas is a little torn as Der Ring General heads to the ring, dressed rather casually compared to other times, but he seems to have gotten over those multiple Coup de Grace double stomps from last week. Gunther grabs a mic, smiles as the fans both cheer and jeer, and he says, “As everybody has seen, quite obviously Finn Balor has made a grave mistake. And whether he deserves it or not, he now has my undivided attention. And I guarantee you right now, Saturday Night’s Main Event will not end up like Survivor Series for me.” But before he can continue, The Prince makes his way out here!

Finn, accompanied by The Judgment Day, also gets a mixed reaction from Wichita. But Finn tells Gunther that Gunther could’ve just given him the title match like he deserved. But instead, Gunther tried to mess with Finn by giving it to someone who didn’t deserve it, like Dirty Dom. The fans boo more but Finn says let’s be real! Finn is the only reason Gunther is still World Heavyweight Champion! And hearing what he said, Gunther is right about one thing: SNME will be NOTHING like Survivor Series. Because at Survivor Series, Gunther retained the title thanks to Finn. And at SNME, Gunther loses the title because of Finn!

And after eight long YEARS, Finn Balor walks out as the NEW World Heavyweight Champion! The Judgment Day applauds but the fans boo. Gunther tells Finn he’ll set one thing straight: Finn did NOT earn his title match. Finn’s audacity of claiming any responsibility of GUNTHER being champion is what did it. But Gunther gets it, Finn is frustrated. Eight years ago, Finn was the first-ever Universal Champion. And at that point in Gunther’s career, he looked up to Finn. Gunther respected Finn. But over the time, that respect kept fading and fading. Not because Gunther chose to, but because Finn chose to cut corners.

Finn chose to take shortcuts! Finn chose to hang out with a bunch of weirdos in a clubhouse! The fans cheer that but Gunther also adds that Finn chose to play second fiddle to Damian Priest. Finn gets heated, JD McDonagh keeps him back, and Gunther says, “So here we are now. Standing across from each other with no respect left. And I figuratively and literally am looking down on you. Eight years ago, you were the best in the world… for one night. I am the best in the world RIGHT NOW and for THOUSANDS of days to come! And this title proves it!!” The fans do cheer that.

Gunther tells Finn there is one reason he won’t leave Saturday as World Heavyweight Champion: Finn is NOT on Gunther’s level, and he never will be! Finn chuckles, and then The Judgment Day storms up to the ring! Gunther stands his ground, but here comes Damian Priest! Finn and his boys are shocked that The Punisher is storming down the ramp! Priest DOUBLE LARIATS JD & Carlito, KICKS and THROWS Dom aside, then fires hands on Finn! The fans fire up as Priest then THROWS Carlito down, then gives JD SNAKE EYES off railing! Finn goes after Priest now, and he sends Priest at the ring. Priest stops himself and fires hands on Finn

Priest puts Finn in the ring, and Gunther is there to CHOP him down! Priest SUPERKICKS Finn out of the ring! But then Gunther LARIATS Priest! The fans are torn as Gunther rains down fists on Priest, the guy who tried to help him! Gunther says he does not need help, and he TOSSES Priest out! Gunther storms out, clears off the desk, and now the fans are really fired up! Gunther brings Priest over, but Finn SLINGBLADES Gunther down! The Prince ends up saving Priest and he DROPKICKS Gunther into steel steps! But then Finn SMACKS Priest off the desk! Finn puts Priest in, climbs a corner, just to COUP DE GRACE Gunther!!

Judgment Day rushes Priest but he TOSSES Dom, throws JD into Carlito, then gives JD a FLAPJACK! SUPERKICK for Carlito! Dom throws hands, but Pries tis just pissed. Finn CLOBBERS Gunther on the outside, then hurries into the ring to save Dom! FINAL CUT! The Judgment Day mugs Priest now while fans boo. The boys set Priest up and Finn runs in, SHOTGUN! Priest hits buckles and falls! Judgment Day mugs Priest more while Finn goes up! COUP DE GRACE for Priest!! Finn wants more, his boys set Priest back up, COUP DE GRACE!! The fans boo even harder, but Finn wants another! Finn hits a third COUP DE GRACE on Priest!!

Wichita boos but Finn eyes the world title. Finn grins as he picks it up. Will Finn be a DOUBLE CHAMPION after Saturday Night’s Main Event? Or can Der Ring General stand against all of Judgment Day?

 

Judgment Day regroups backstage.

They’re all very excited after taking Gunther and Priest at the same time, and in steps Adam Pearce. He has to hand it to them. Another Monday, another night Judgment Day is causing chaos. But he is here as a courtesy to Finn. Pearce spoke with Gunther, and that conversation has brought about a change to Saturday Night’s Main Event. Huh? It will be Gunther VS Finn… VS PRIEST!! Finn is furious but then he says fine. Because it’ll make it even more satisfying when Finn beats both Gunther and Priest to become the NEW World Heavyweight Champion! The Judgment Day agrees, but Pearce has something else to say.

Since Finn is so worried about the other champions, here’s an opportunity to lead by example. Next week on Raw, Finn & JD will face the War Raiders again, for the tag titles again, and the best part? The rest of Judgment Day is BANNED FROM RINGSIDE! Pearce leaves, Judgment Day is furious, but the Liv says Finn should relax. He’s got everything under control. Though, she was wondering if Finn’s got any advice for Raquel’s match tonight. They wanna listen to Finn so they’ll win. Finn says yeah, Sis, just give him a couple minutes. Finn heads out, JD follows, and Liv says she feels good about tonight. Will Judgment Day be (not) fine?

 

8 Man Tag: The Miz & The Final Testament VS The Wyatt Sick6!

The Hollywood A-Lister’s sins came back to haunt him, but he aligned himself with men who are without conscience. But will any of them be conscious after facing Uncle Howdy and the new Wyatt Family? Or will Kross make Bo Dallas #FallAndPray?

The fans fire up for the Wyatts, and Bo talks to the rocking chair to say this is for the family. Then with a “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah~!” Bo and the Wyatts rush the ring! The fans fire up as the brawl is on and the bell rings! Lumis scares Miz and slithers after him while Gacy has Akam, Rowan has Rezar and Bo of course goes after Kross! The Wyatts manage to LARIAT the AOP up and out of the ring, then Bo CLOBBERS Kross! Bo clinches but Miz drags Kross out to safety! The Final Testament regroups while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and Akam has Gacy down. The fans boo, Miz soaks it up, and Rezar tags in. AOP double whip to DOUBLE SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! The fans rally but Rezar DRIBBLES Gacy’s face off the mat! Rezar then drags Gacy up, fires body shots, then talks trash. Rezar whips Gacy but Gacy BLASTS Kross! Gacy BOOTS Rezar, heads for his corner, but Rezar whips! But Gacy handsprings and comes back from THE UPSIDE-DOWN! The fans fire up while both men crawl, hot tags to Miz and Rowan! Big Red, the Ramblin’ Rabbit, rallies on Miz AND Akam! Then LARIAT in the corner for Miz, LARIAT in the corner for Akam!

Rowan runs back at Miz, but Miz BOOTS him! Miz runs but Rowan grabs him and TOSSES him! Miz lands hard out by Akam, and Rowan builds speed!? Rowan WRECKS Akam and Miz with a dropkick! The fans fire up as Rowan puts Miz in, and he BOOTS Akam! The fans fire up and Rowan slides in. Miz KICKS Rowan, but that just pisses Rowan off! Rowan suplexes for the CUTTER! Cover, AOP breaks it! AOP BLAST The Wyatts, then they hoist Rowan up! DOUBLE POWERBOMB!! But Gacy & Lumis get in to fire hands! They dodge, DROPKICK and SUPERKICK in stereo! Then Lumis whips Gacy so he can DIVE onto AOP!

Lumis goes up, Gacy sets AOP for the CANNONBALL! All four men are down and Miz is freaking out! Rowan crawls, hot tag to Howdy! Bo CLOBBERS Miz, then LARIATS in a corner! Bo reels Miz in, suplexes, and puts Miz on ropes for the MAGIC SCREW! The fans are thunderous and Bo waits on Miz. Miz rises up, scrambles to ropes, and he throws an elbow! Kross tags in, but Bo ROCKS Kross first! Bo LARIATS Kross up and out! The fans fire up for Bo, he builds speed, but Scarlett trips him up! The fans boo as the Femme Fatale gets away with that one. Or does she? NIKKI CRSS creeps out from nowhere, and she creeps Scarlett out!

Nikki waves, Scarlett runs away but into the ring! The ref tells her to get out, which she does, but Nikki is there on the other side! FLYING THESZ PRESS! Bo clinches Kross, but Miz CLOBBERS him! The fans boo but Miz thinks he’s got him> Bo GRABS Miz with the MANDIBLE CLAW!! Miz flails desperately, but PAUL ELLERING is back! POCKET SAND!! Kross scoops Bo for the FINAL PRAYER! Cover, Final Testament wins!

Winners: The Final Testament, by pinfall

That mastermind, Ellering, returns when Kross needed him most! But is this only the first battle in a war with the Wyatts?

 

Sit-down interview with CM Punk.

Jackie Redmond is with the Second City Saint and thanks him for taking the time. He thanks her for inviting him, he appreciates it. Punk then teases if she’s going to belittle his Chicago Blackhawks, she’s in for a fight. Jackie says no, she’ll be asking something much more important. It is all anyone’s talking about, anyway: the promised favor from Paul Heyman! What is it? Can he hint anything about it? No, this isn’t the right time for that. That’s a personal thing. Punk and Heyman go back many years, the favor is between them.

Jackie accepts that and then asks about Seth Rollins. Last week, Punk let Rollins know that Punk doesn’t think about Rollins at all, but Rollins made it clear that he has his sights set on Punk. Rollins is willing to force the issue, so how will Punk handle it? Punk says it is no secret that he doesn’t shy away from a fight. If you go after him, he’ll start swinging. But when it comes to Rollins’ hatred for Punk, Punk is more confused than anything. Punk doesn’t hate Rollins. To understand, you have to talk about the history between them, which also goes back years.

We’re talking about a 16-year-old Seth Rollins coming to Punk to ask Punk to train him, for free. Now, that’s the key part everyone leaves out. Rollins’ entitlement gets carried over into adult Rollins, who wants to be the best in the world, in everyone’s Top Ten List. But Punk remembers when Rollins was on the top ten list of those to be fired from here. Punk “shielded” Rollins from that. If Punk had to live in his shadow, Punk would hate Punk, too. Rollins is a multiple time world champion, a Mr. Money in the Bank winner, but everything he’s done, Punk did before and did it better.

Now, Punk doesn’t claim to do those things because he wanted a thank you. He did recognize Rollins had all the potential in the world. And in Punk’s absence from the WWE, Rollins did a fantastic job filling to void. But simply put, the starting player is back, Rollins has to go back to the bench. Jackie appreciates the honesty, and thanks Punk for his time. But is Punk really telling the truth that he doesn’t hate Rollins with how he just talked down about him? Will Rollins’ hate for Punk only grow exponentially now?

 

Dakota Kai VS Liv Morgan!

#CobraKai is already into the second round of the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament, but she could capture a golden ticket off of the Women’s WORLD Champion here in Wichita. Will Damage CTRL be doing damage to Judgment Day for the holidays? Or will Liv simply use Kai to prepare for Iyo Sky?

The bell rings, Liv runs up and the two tie up. Dakota headlocks, but Liv pulls hair to get free! Liv shoves, drops down, but Dakota stops herself. Dakota bypasses Liv, then hurdles. Liv jumps over, comes back, but Dakota arm-drags her around and around! Dakota snapmares Liv to then NECK SNAPPER! Jackknife bridge, TWO!! Liv escapes and scurries away to a corner. Dakota runs up but Liv TOSSES her up and out! Dakota SMACKS off steps before hitting the floor, and Liv grins while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns and Liv SLAMS Dakota down! Dakota writhes but Liv kicks her around. Wait, Pure Fusion Collective make their way out here? They must be upset on Shayna Baszler’s behalf for how Dakota won that Triple Threat. Anyway, Liv hits a snap suplex, then rolls, that was Una Amiga! Now she hits Dos Amigas! And then Liv gives some Latina Heat for Daddy Dom, but Dakota hits a suplex first! The fans fire up while Liv flounders away. Liv runs back up but Dakota ROCKS her first! And again, and again, and again! Liv shoves Dakota, but Dakota LARIATS! And LARIATS! Then DROPKICKS! The fans fire up with Dakota as she goes after Liv!

Dakota whips Liv corner to corner hard, and Liv sits down! Dakota then runs side to side to BOOT WASH! Liv flounders to the apron but Dakota puts her in ropes, DRAPING STOMP! Cover, TWO! Liv survives and now Dakota notices PFC. They wave mockingly and also mockingly coach her. Dakota fireman’s carries Liv, but Liv slips free to shove! Dakota comes back with a SCORPION KICK! Dakota runs, Zoey is there, so Dakota BOOTS her! And PERNALTY KICKS Shayna! The ref tells PFC to back up, but Liv runs up! Dakota avoids ObLivion, rolls Liv up, TWO! Liv dodges a kick to hit a CODE BREAKER!

Dakota staggers to a corner, Liv runs up, SHINING WIZARD! Liv kicks Dakota out, then goes up, FLYING- POWERBOMB!! The fans fire up but Sonya gets on the apron! Dakota BOOTS her down! Dakota runs Around the World, but Liv dodges the boot! Dakota hobbles, Liv runs up, OBLIVION!! Cover, Liv wins!

Winner: Liv Morgan, by pinfall

The Women’s World Champion snatches her belt and leaves, but PFC goes after Dakota! They really ARE upset over last week’s Triple Threat! They mug Dakota, then drag her up. But wait, here comes DMG CTRL! Iyo Sky RAMS Shayna, Kairi drags Sonya out! URAKEN for Sonya! Zoey & Shayna dodge the handspring, but Iyo comes back to DOUBLE SHOTGUN! Iyo kips up while Wichita fires up, and Kairi joins in! Iyo gives Kairi a hand to go up, up and AWAY! TRIPLE CROSSBODY!! PFC goes down, the fans fire up more, but then Iyo turns around into OBLIVION!! Liv gets the final shot on the Evil Genius, will this be how things go at Saturday Night’s Main Event?

 

Drew McIntyre speaks.

“Hell in a Cell was the most violent match of my 24-year career. And in the end, I succumbed to massive blood loss. I could’ve been at Raw post Bad Blood, against doctor’s orders. I proved time and time again The Scottish Warrior isn’t just a catchy nickname, it is earned. But I had to go back to Scotland. My family needed me. 2024 should’ve been a career year for Drew McIntyre, but time and time again, I kept getting screwed over at the finish line. While I was home in Scotland, that same thought kept going through my head, burning in my brain. ‘What if I’m wrong? What if everyone else was right? What if people truly can change? What if my gut was wrong?’

“Then I turned on Survivor Series and I saw Roman Reigns standing side by side with CM Punk. Who was by their side? Sami, Jimmy, Jey, with their stupid fingers in the air. After everything they know, Roman just snaps his fingers, they put their tails between their legs, they run right by his side? At least CM Punk took a bribe! They all sold out for absolutely nothing. That’s when it was clear, that’s when I knew I had to come back. That’s when I knew I was gonna take out Sami. That’s when I knew I was gonna take out Jey Uso. Spending time back home, I realized there’s no changing the past, no matter how much I want to.

“But I can change the present. And I will change the future.” The Scottish Terminator has new targets, or perhaps old depending on how you look at it. But will there be no running for Jey and Sami now that McIntyre’s making it his mission to destroy them?

 

Adam Pearce exits his office, with Cody Rhodes!

The Raw General Manager shakes hands with the Undisputed WWE Champion, and then The New Day walk by. They see the American Nightmare, and Cody says he’s known them both for a very long time. Cody and Woods have even known each other since they were kids. Cody says they should be ashamed of themselves. Woods laughs that off and says good coming from that guy, like he was so good in high school. The New Day continues on, who else will the find disapproves of this new attitude?

 

Seth Rollins is here!

Wichita sings for The Visionary, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” while he goes to the ring. Rollins grabs a mic and welcomes Wichita to Monday Night Rollins~! And he is your host tonight! He is a Visionary, he is a Revolutionary, he IS Seth FREAKIN’ Rollins! And there’s a lot to talk about tonight. Wichita, give it up for CM Punk, huh? The fans are torn but Rollins tells “Punker,” when you’re done in the ring, Punk can be a politician! That right there earlier tonight, that was a master class in how to spin the truth. Take a little bit of the truth, play the victim, and Punk’s been doing that his entire life!

Rollins says Punk is a fraud, a conman, and Rollins will share the truth between them. Punk was right, Rollins did go to get trained by The Best in the World, no doubt about it. Rollins looked up to Punk, idolized him, and Punk helped Rollins get his foot in the door here in the WWE. Rollins respected Punk, and they were once friends. And if the story ended there, you might wonder, too: Why does Rollins hate Punk? The part of Punk’s story that he left out will tell you why. When Punk walked out the door of WWE eleven years ago, Rollins called and texted as a friend and how he respected what Punk stood for.

What’d Rollins get in return? Nothing! Rollins got ghosted! And not just Rollins, it was everyone who was a friend of Punk’s here in WWE! Because if you didn’t quit your dream job, and your priorities didn’t line up with Team CM Punk, then you were evil. And if the story ended there, okay. But that’s not what happened! Because for the next ten years, all Punk ever tried to do was tear WWE down! That’s all he did! Punk talked crap, took pot shots, and when Punk finally walked back in here, do you know why that was? Because Punk FAILED at everything else, burned every single bridge that would lead him to water, and… the money was right.

The fans are still torn, but plenty of fans still chant “CM PUNK! CM PUNK!” Rollins says yeah, once upon a time, he used to chant for Punk, too. He used to respect Punk, used to want to be just like Punk, follow in his footsteps. But somewhere along the way, Rollins realized Punk was a fraud and that he wanted to be BETTER than Punk! And Rollins was! Everything Punk did, Rollins did it TWICE! And he did the one thing Punk could never do, and that was main event WrestleMania! But wait, here comes Sami Zayn! Rollins tells Sami to stay outta this but the fans cheer Sami on as he goes right down to the ring.

Sami steps in with a mic in hand, and Rollins says if Sami is out here to defend Punk again, then they’re gonna be fighting again. Rollins does not wanna hear it, he has no time for it. Sami says last week, Rollins was angry, Sami was angry, they said some things and had it out in the ring. That’s bound to happen when they’ve known each other for as long as they have. But it was wrong of Sami to assume Rollins dropped Jey. Sami’s known Rollins long enough so he was wrong, and for that, he is sorry. The fans cheer the apology, and Rollins says he is glad Sami brought that up.

Because the thing that’s been eating Rollins up is, as far back as they go, 20 YEARS, and their kids play together, they’re tight! But when Jey went down, Rollins was the first person Sami thought of! And Rollins wants to know why. Well there is a reason! The way Rollins was talking, he was outta his mind! No, go back and watch. Rollins wasn’t talking like Rollins, he wasn’t like the guy Sami’s known those 20 years. Rollins was being someone who points his fingers at everyone else, that blames everyone else, and acts like they’re the only person with moral clarity. He wasn’t being Seth Rollins, he was being Drew McIntyre!

Rollins stares Sami down and says, “I am not Drew McIntyre.” Sami says he knows that, because Rollins is a better person. But this thing with Rollins and Punk, it is bringing out the worst in Rollins. And maybe Sami shouldn’t have gotten involved. Sami saw a guy he’s known forever and a guy he’d just gone to war with, they were fighting, and Sami got involved when he shouldn’t have. That is why he is here. Sami has to tell Rollins that this thing with Punk is worse than Sami thought possible, so Sami will let Rollins deal with it however he wants. Rollins thanks Sami for that, that is all Rollins has wanted.

Okay, so what about them? Are Sami and Rollins good? The fans chant “HUG IT OUT! HUG IT OUT!” Rollins says, “Yeah, Sami, we’re good, man.” Rollins appreciates Sami letting him handle things with Punk, and notes it seems Sami has something with Drew. Rollins heads out, and Sami says yeah, that’s good advice. Sami will handle things with Drew! Sami says this thing with Drew, they won’t run it back like before. Sami won’t listen to Drew coming out here, week after week, talking about everyone else is wrong and he is wrong and is some martyr. Sami’s gonna end this as quickly as it started, so this is how it goes!

Sami has already spoken with Adam Pearce. The fans cheer that! Sami says Saturday Night’s Main Event, Sami VS Drew, and Sami will see Drew in Long Island!! The fans fire up as SNME just gets that much bigger. Sami heads out, but then McIntyre CLOBBERS Sami on the stage!! The fans boo, producers and refs rush out, and they have to drag McIntyre off of Sami. McIntyre grins and says okay, he’s done with Sami, for now. Will McIntyre put Sami out of action like he did to Jey last week? Or can Sami stop the Scottish Terminator before he gets started?

 

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship Tournament Opening Round Triple Threat: Lyra Valkyria VS Zelina Vega VS Ivy Nile!

Another spot in the semifinals awaits, and we’ll see The Morrigan, La Muneca & The Diamond Pitbull battle it out! Will Lyra fly on to the second round? Will the LWO have the Queen of the Ring representing them? Or will this tournament soon be American Made?

The bell rings and Zelina SHOTGUNS Ivy! Lyra rolls Zelina, TWO! Zelina and Lyra clinch, Lyra whips, but Zelina leaps to FACE SMASH! Then BASEMENT HEEL KCIK! The fans fire up and Zelina dials it up, 619! Lyra flops back but Ivy YANKS Zelina down! Ivy runs up, whips Lyra, then tilt-o-whirl POWERSLAMS! Cover, TWO! Ivy stomps away on Lyra, then stands on her face! The fans boo and the ref reprimands while Raw goes to break

Raw returns and Lyra rallies the fans before she builds speed. Lyra WRECKS Ivy and Zelina with one dropkick! Lyra puts Ivy in, brings her around, and then runs up a corner! TORNADO DDT! Then a roll through to fisherman and BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Ivy stays in this but Lyra stays on Ivy. Lyra fireman’s carries, but Ivy fights around to an ARMBAR TAKEDOWN! Ivy clasps hands and fights around, and she rolls back, but into a DISARM-HER! Ivy references The Man but Lyra rolls Ivy, TWO! Ivy lets go and runs up, but Lyra sunset flips! ONE, and Ivy jackknife bridges! ONE as Lyra rolls and rolls, but Zelina is up top! SWANTON BOMB!!

Zelina covers Ivy, TWO!! A cover on Lyra, TWO!! Zelina is annoyed but she builds speed to SLIDING SUNSET BOMB! A shoutout to Rey Mysterio and Zelina hurries up top. Zelina climbs up and the fans rally for the FLYING METEORA! Cover, Ivy BOOTS it apart! The fans boo but Ivy throws Zelina to a corner. Zelina BOOTS Ivy, goes up, and CROSSBODIES! Ivy catches Zelina for a SWINGING SIDE SLAM! Cover, Lyra breaks it! The fans fire up and all three women are down! The fans rally, Ivy drags Lyra up to waistlock, GERMAN SUPLEX! Ivy holds on, Lyra scrambles around, and Lyra grabs Zelina! Ivy DOUBLE GERMAN SUPLEXES!

Bridging cover on Lyra, TWO!! Lyra stays in this but Ivy stays on her! Lyra fights #SuplexIvy to switch, but Ivy switches for a BIG back suplex! Cover, TWO! Lyra stays in this, but Zelina hops on! CODE RED for Ivy! Cover, Lyra breaks it again! Lyra hurries to get Ivy up, fireman’s carries, and hits the NIGHTWING DRIVER! Cover, LYRA WINS!

Winner: Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

The Morrigan finds her opening, and now she’s flying back to a “shiny shiny!” But the next match will have Alba Fyre VS Kairi Sane VS Natalya, who wins that Triple Threat to meet Lyra in the semifinals?

 

Rhea Ripley prepares backstage.

Priest finds her, and he simply tells her, “Eradicate.” They fist bump and Priest heads out. Will Rhea do exactly that when she and Raquel Rodriguez go Anything Goes?

 

Backstage interview with The New Day.

Cathy Kelley is with Woods & Kofi and brings up last week’s celebration becoming anything but “don’t you dare be sour,” the very phrase they coined ten years ago. What was the intention behind them berating their longtime friend, Big E? Kofi says hold on, she is supposed to be neutral, why is she asking a question like that? Woods says Cathy is cleary biased, so they’re going to go talk to the people they need to, and that’s the fans. Can’t he just answer the question? Woods says no, Cathy, please. Now hand Woods the camera. What? Woods doesn’t care if John Cena’s his best friend, the cameraman is gonna hand it over!

Woods takes the camera from this guy, then he and Kofi head on through the backstage area and towards gorilla. The fans can be heard booing as they do, and The New Day make their entrance without music or fanfare. The fans instead chant “NEW! DAY SUCKS! NEW! DAY SUCKS!” Woods asks, “What’d we do?” Kofi and Woods go into the ring, we get a different camera perspective while they get mics. Kofi says no no no no no, but the fans just boo more. “You mean to tell me… after the ten years of positivity that Woods and I have given you, you mean to tell me you’re this mad, all from one day?”

The fans boo and give thumbs down, but Woods says that New Day came out here… The fans chant “We Want Big E! We Want Big E!” and “NEW! DAY SUCKS! NEW! DAY SUCKS!” Woods says they didn’t even do anything to Big E! The fans boo because yes they did! Kofi says they could’ve hit Big E with a steel chair! They could’ve hit him with a sledgehammer! The fans chant for Big E more, and Woods says, “Y’know what? We were gonna try to come out here and talk…” The fans boo more so New Day just gives up and drops their mics. New Day leaves, acting like they’re somehow NOT in the wrong, but will someone get it through their heads what they did?

 

Anything Goes: Rhea Ripley VS Raquel Rodriguez!

After weeks of being this close to getting even with Liv Morgan, and yet being so far from revenge because of Big Mami Cool, these two finally have it out 1v1! No disqualifications, no count outs, no holding these two back from what they really wanna do to each other! Who will be the Top Mami after tonight?

Raw returns and Raquel makes her entrance. But Rhea goes after her at the ramp! Rhea fires hands, then she whips Raquel into barriers! The fans fire up as this match is happening in front of them, and Raquel sends Rhea into the railing! And then the barriers! Then she CLUBS away! Rhea hits back, they brawl, and Rhea SMACKS Raquel off a trash can! The fans fire up but Rhea has them move aside. Rhea makes Raquel take a seat so she can CHOP and CHOP and CHOP! Rhea then runs and TOSSES Raquel over the barriers! We’re finally ringside and Rhea CHUCKS a trash can at Raquel! The trash flies everywhere while Rhea storms up on Raquel.

Rhea puts Raquel in the ring, where a lot of items are already waiting! Rhea gathered those during commercial it seems, and Rhea hits a FACE SMASH then LARAIT! Raquel stays up, so Rhea SMACKS her with a kendo stick! Raquel falls, and Rhea SMACKS her again! Raquel grabs the stick, throws Rhea to a corner, but Rhea BOOTS in return! Rhea goes up, up and MISSILE DROPKICKS! Down goes Raquel and the fans fire up! Raquel tumbles out, Rhea builds speed and WRECKS her with a dropkick! The fans fire up with Rhea, and she looks under the ring. Rhea brings out a TABLE! The fans love it!

But then Raquel RAMS Rhea into the post! Raquel scoops Rhea, to FALL AWAY SLAM her onto the desk! Rhea tumbles, Wade Barrett & Joe Tessitore get clear, and Raquel roars while Raw goes to break.

Raw returns again and Rhea DOUBLE BOOTS Raquel! Both women are down and Wichita fires up! Rhea and Raquel rise, Rhea wrenches Raquel to short arm LARIAT! And then ROUNDHOUSE! Rhea grabs a chair, tosses it to Raquel, then DROPKICKS the chair into her! The fans fire up and Rhea runs, but into a KNEE! Raquel hoists Rhea up, ALLEY-OOP into buckles! Cover, TWO! Rhea stays in this but Raquel is furious! Fans want tables but Raquel sets up a chair. Raquel gut wrenches Rhea but Rhea slips free! Rhea gets around, and atomic FACEBUSTERS Raquel off the chair! Then Rhea SMACKS Raquel with another chair! Cover, TWO!

Rhea is seething and she piles chairs together. Rhea hauls Raquel up, pump handles, but here comes Liv! Liv taunts Rhea, Rhea runs up to TOSS Liv into the ring! Liv flounders, almost hitting those chairs on that landing! But Raquel CLOBBERS Rhea! Raquel decides to use that chair pile herself! Scoop and SLAM onto the chairs! Cover, TWO!! Rhea survives but Raquel sits a chair up upside-down! Raquel aims Rhea at the chair legs, but Rhea slips free! Rhea HEADBUTTS Raquel! Then she pump handles, but Liv jumps on for a SLEEPER! Liv thrashes but Rhea THROWS her down! Rhea runs up and tells Liv that she’s gonna pay!

Raquel runs up but Rhea SUPERKICKS her! But Liv gets Rhea into OBLIVION!! But wait, Iyo Sky is here! Payback with a MISSILE DROPKICK! The fans fire up as Iyo kips up! Iyo then builds speed and DIVES! Down goes Liv! But Raquel covers Rhea! TWO!! Rhea survives again but Raquel brings that table up! The fans are torn because they like the table but the want Rhea to rise up! Raquel hoists Rhea up, but Rhea slips free again! Raquel runs up, but is sent into a CORNER CHAIR!! Rhea then hauls Raquel up, pump handles, and RIPTIDE through the table!!! Cover, Rhea wins!!

Winner: Rhea Ripley, by pinfall

That was brutal to be sure, but Rhea grins as she gets one over on Raquel. Rhea spots the world title, but so does Iyo. They both grab it, then stare down with each other. With Iyo facing Liv this Saturday, could the Evil Genius be leaving Long Island the NEW Women’s World Champion, and Rhea’s new target?


My Thoughts:

A great Raw tonight, especially as the go-home to Saturday Night’s Main Event. There were also more hints at this WWE Transfer Window, with Tiffany Stratton in the background as Rollins was on his way to gorilla, and then Cody Rhodes having his moment with Adam Pearce and The New Day. As I said for SmackDown, this is clearly Netflix wanting THE Undisputed WWE Championship on Raw, and we’ll basically get a direct trade of Cody for Gunther. But speaking of The New Day, brilliant stuff out of them. They’re Heels who don’t realize they’re Heels, but everyone else does, and that is definitely something special for this next chapter of The New Day’s careers.

Great 8 Man Tag from Wyatts and Final Testa-Miz, but it got overbooked real quick. Scarlett was a given, as was Nikki Cross, but I did NOT see Ellering showing up and throwing that HUGE amount of sand or powder. I do commend them for this, as cheating was really the only way anyone was gonna beat The Wyatts. I hope the rematch lets them let loose with a No Disqualification stipulation, maybe even something rather Bray Wyatt in style. Though at the same time, we’re almost at Christmas so they could do like, a Nightmare Before Christmas match so that it’ll be themed for the holidays, but also spooky for The Wyatts.

Great promo from McIntyre to help us understand it really was him who attacked Jey Uso, and to quickly establish he and Sami are gonna fight it out. Great promos from CM Punk, Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn, too, and even though the Royal Rumble is first, I feel like we’ve got a great field for Elimination Chamber already. Punk, Rollins and McIntyre all hate each other, but McIntyre also hates those who help Roman Reigns, which will bring Sami into it. And the match itself could be for a top championship, or at least a shot at it, so you can throw in just about anyone, it really depends on how this Transfer Window sorts out.

The World Heavyweight Championship going from 1v1 to a Triple Threat is some wild stuff. Great promo segment from Gunther with Finn & The Judgment Day, and then of course Priest gets involved. I feel like with the Triple Threat, that’s their way of keeping the title on Gunther while keeping everyone strong. Or also letting Judgment Day get involved so they can tilt things in Finn’s favor, but then still let Gunther get away with the title. Finn & JD VS War Raiders next week, probably with Finn NOT World Heavyweight Champion, and NO Judgment Day allowed ringside, that has to be a title change, right?

Great Triple Threat from Lyra, Zelina and Ivy, but it also felt a little secondary with everything else going on tonight. Great win for Lyra, and I feel like it’s either Alba Fyre or Natalya who meets her in the next round. Dakota VS Liv was a good match to give Liv some momentum going towards SNME, but it was also a vehicle for Pure Fusion Collective to get involved. I feel like we’ll be getting a Six Woman Tag of PFC VS DMG CTRL after Saturday, assuming Iyo doesn’t win the title on Saturday. Liv of course got involved with the Anything Goes main event tonight, which cued Iyo to return the favor, and that helped Rhea win.

The main event was still awesome even without the overbooking, but now they’re teasing Rhea VS Iyo. Iyo might win, but maybe Tiffany Stratton shows up with her Money in the Bank briefcase. Tiff could cash in and take that title from Liv and Iyo, setting up some Tiff VS Rhea, but then what happens to Iyo? Again, we’ve got a good field for a Women’s Elimination Chamber right there: Liv VS Rhea VS Iyo VS Tiff VS… I dunno, two women in this Women’s Intercontinental Championship tournament that don’t win. Again, the Transfer Window will have to sort out who is where first, then we’ll go from there.

My Score: 8.8/10

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Coverage

Mitchell’s NJPW World Tag League Results & Report! (12/8/24)

And the trophies go to…!

Published

on

Will heads for the Tokyo Dome?

Gabe Kidd & Sanada won A Block handedly while Naito & Hiromu came out of B Block’s chaotic finale, but only one team can win World Tag League!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Tiger Mask VS Daiki Nagai; Tiger Mask wins.
  • Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls VS Shoma Kato & Katsuya Mursahima; Shane & Mikey win.
  • Bishamon VS The Filip Brothers; Bishamon wins.
  • Six Man Tag: The United Empire VS Taichi, Taka Michinoku & DOUKI; Taichi, Taka & Douki win.
  • Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Bullet Club; LIJ wins.
  • 10 Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg, Tomoaki Honma & Jado VS The House of Torture; The Houes of Torture wins, by disqualification.
  • Six Man Tag: TMDK VS Shota Umino, Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi; TMDK wins.
  • 2024 World Tag League Finals: Gabe Kidd & SANADA VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi; Naito & Hiromu win.

PLAY BY PLAY

10 Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg, Tomoaki Honma & Jado VS The House of Torture!

The Ace, The Joker & The Rook are joined by a couple knights of NJPW to stand against The King of Darkness and his army of scumbags! With WrestleKingdom on the horizon, which side of this war wins this crucial battle?

But as The House makes their entrance, Team Ace turns the tables by going after them first! The fans cheer as Tanahashi goes right after Evil and The House panics! Yano brawls with Narita, Oleg and Jado take care of Kanemaru and Yujiro, and Tanahashi headlocks Evil. Tanahashi brings Evil to ringside to POST him! Evil falls but Tanahashi drags him back up to wrench and whip into railing! The fans cheer more and Tanahashi CLUBS Evil. Tanahashi whips Evil at more railing, and Evil hits so hard that he tumbles up and over! The rest of the team keeps The House down all around ringside while Tanahashi fetches Evil.

Tanahashi brings Evil into the ring, then follows, and finally the bell rings! The fans cheer as Tanahashi stalks Evil to a corner. Tanahashi stomps Evil, throws forearms, and the ref counts. Tanahashi shoves the ref! The President is getting really rough with his employees, but he stalks Evil. Tanahashi drags Evil up to fire a BODY BLOW! And another! Tanahashi whips, Evil reverses, and then Evil gets in the ref’s face so Dick Togo can trip Tanahashi up! Then the House rushes in and BLASTS Team Ace off the apron! The ref reprimands everyone but Evil CHOKES Tanahashi with the tag rope!

The fans boo but The House beats up on Team Ace, and then Evil throws away the evidence of his crime. Dick passes the mic to Evil, and Evil grabs it so he can shout in Tanahashi’s face about just giving up now and sparing himself the embarrassment at WrestleKingdom! Tanahashi tells Evil he’ll never surrender, and the ref reprimands Evil. Evil stops choking Tanahashi and throws the mic away. Evil tags Narita and the Souled Out Son of Strong Style stomps away on Tanahashi’s legs! Narita then clamps on a KNEEBAR! Evil and Yano shout at each other, but Tanahashi fights his way to the ROPEBREAK!

The ref counts and Narita lets go at 4. Narita stomps Tanahashi more, then he tags Tokyo Pimp. Narita & Yujiro have the legs, and they split the wishbone! Yujiro then drops an elbow on the bad leg! Yujiro taunts Tanahashi, then ROCKS him with a forearm! Tanahashi ends up on ropes, so Yujiro ROCKS him, then CHOPS him! Yujiro stands Tanahashi up, Narita & Sho anchor Tanahashi in place, and Yujiro BOOTS him! The ref reprimands everyone but Yujiro snapmares for a cover! TWO, the fans rally, but Kanemaru tags in. The Heel Master YANKS the leg, then whisp Tanahashi to ropes. Kanemaru dropkicks the leg out!

Kanemaru hurries to step through, FIGURE FOUR! The House BLASTS Team Ace again! The ref reprimands and the fans rally up while Tanahashi endures. Honma clears Evil out, and he runs to FALLING KOKESHI on Kanemaru! The fans cheer as Tanahashi is saved, but Narita goes after Honma! The fans boo as Narita TOSSES Honma, but Kanemaru tags Sho. Sho stomps the leg, then DDTS the foot! The fans rally for Tanahashi but Sho scuffs him around. Tanahashi stands up and he fires forearms! Sho CLAWS Tanahashi’s eyes, but Tanahashi CLAWS Sho’s eyes! The ref reprimands them both, but Tanahashi blocks a kick! DRAGON SCREW!

The fans fire up as Tanahashi crawls over, hot tag to Oleg! The fans fire up as BARS CLOBBERS Sho! Evil gets away before Oleg can get him, and Yujiro attacks from behind! Yujiro & Narita double whip, but Oleg CLOBBERS them both! Kanemaru kicks and whips, but Oleg reverses to scoop Kanemaru! Oleg SMACKS Sho using Kanemaru! Then Oleg SLAMS Kanemaru, and gut wrenches! The fans fire up for the Shake, Shake, Shake! GUT WRENCH PLEX! Oleg kips up and the fans fire up! Oleg then deadlifts Sho for the gut wrench. But Sho bends fingers and wrenches free! Sho runs, SPEARS, but he bounces right off of Oleg!

The fans fire up and Oleg deadlifts Sho again! Shake, Shake, Shake! GUT WRENCH PLEX! And another kip up! The fans fire up with Oleg and he runs to BODY PRESS! Cover, TWO! Oleg drags Sho right up into his arms, then pops him to a fireman’s carry! But Sho CLAWS Oleg’s eyes! Sho slips free, but Oleg kicks Sho! Sho runs to dropkick Oleg’s legs! Sho whips, and TADA! Bare buckles! Oleg suffers The House Special, and Evil DROPKICKS Tanahashi! Sho & Evil double whip Oleg into the bare buckles! Oleg hobbles forward, into a DOUBLE- NO! Oleg fights to DOUBLE SUPLEX them first! The fans fire up and Oleg crawls, and Tanahashi is adamant about getting in!

Oleg isn’t sure about it, but he tags Tanahashi back! Tanahashi fires a strike fest on Evil, and goes an extra round before the SHOTEI! Tanahashi runs to SLINGBLADE! The fans fire up while Tanahashi stalks Evil to a corner. Tanahashi stomps a mudhole into Evil but the ref counts. Tanahashi is not stopping! He SHOVES the ref away! Tanahashi’s rage is getting the better of him as he UPPERCUTS Evil! Tanahashi goes corner to corner, runs back in, but Evil sends him into the ref! And then The House attacks again! Dick stomps away on Tanahashi while Evil recovers! The fans boo and tell Dick to go away!

Narita brings in chairs! Dick stomps Tanahashi more, and the House has all their favorite items! Dick has his Spoiler Choker, Narita with his pushup bar, Sho with the “Torture Tool,” Yujiro with the pimp cane, and Kanemaru with his whiskey bottle. The fans boo as Evil stands on Tanahashi’s face and The House closes in. Evil drags Tanahashi up, and Dick clamps on the SPOILER CHOKER! And then The House CLOBBERS Team Ace with all their weapons! Evil takes aim, but Tanahashi BOOTS him first! Tanahashi THROWS Dick away, but Evil JAMS him up! Tanahashi blocks the chair shot! Tanahashi kicks low, and he SMACKS away on Evil!

The fans fire up as Tanahashi breaks the chair on Evil’s back! Narita runs up, Tanahashi JAMS him first! And then he JAMS Yujiro! And he JAMS Kanemaru! And he JAMS Sho! Then Tanahashi uses the frame to SMACK Evil! The ref is back, he tells Tanahashi to stop, but Tanahashi shoves the ref again! Tanahashi’s rage explodes as he beats Evil down with the chair! Team Ace is DISQUALIFIED!!

Winners: The House of Torture, by disqualification

Tanahashi keeps beating Evil to serve justice, but Young Lions rush in and stop him! Evil writhes, but Tanahashi gets a new chair! Tanahashi SMACKS Evil again and again! His team isn’t even sure what to do, so they let him just BASH away on Evil! Tanahashi tells Evil this is what he gets! One more chair shot! AND THEN ANOTHER! Evil scrambles out of the ring, and Young Lions have to get in Tanahashi’s way to stop the beating! Tanahashi drops the chair to grab the mic, and he shouts, “EVIL, YOU BASTARD! Shut up about my retirement! Oi, oi, you want me to leave so badly? I get it. You want it a year earlier, huh?

“Then in our match on January 4th, I’ll put my career on the line right then!!” The fans are shocked, but Evil says good! And there’s no going back now that he said it! But Tanahashi adds that Evil won’t be able to rely on his goons! It will be a LUMBERJACK MATCH! Now YOU remember that!! Team Ace and The House will wage war once again in the Tokyo Dome! And given Evil only won tonight because Tanahashi lost his cool, will Tanahashi dish out his final justice?

 

Six Man Tag: TMDK VS Shota Umino, Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi!

Zack Sabre Jr. took the pin when he and Ryohei Oiwa faced Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma in the tournament, so an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match is set for WrestleKingdom! Will the Roughneck burn The Front Man again with the help of Funky Sauce? Or will we see even now that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?

The teams sort out and after Shota stares at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, and his paper replica to compare, he steps up to the champ. The bell rings and the fans cheer as we get this WK19 preview. Shota and ZSJ stare down, the fans rally up, and it sounds pretty even between “SHOTA! SHOTA!” and “ZAKU! ZAKU!” Shota and ZSJ get their fans even more fired up, and then the two circle. They feel things out, knuckle lock, but then ZSJ rolls to wrench. Shota wrenches back and he WRINGS ZSJ out! ZSJ UPKICKS, and the two reset. The fans cheer and the two circle again. Shota avoids a leg pick but ZSJ avoids an enzigiri!

Shota avoids the Penalty Kick, then spins ZSJ to underhook! ZSJ flips that but Shota fights the scoop! ZSJ avoids the uppercut but Shota blocks the uppercut! Shota wants the backslide but ZSJ spins that around, only for Shota to arm-drag! But ZSJ headscissors! Shota kips free and the fans cheer the standoff! Shota dares ZSJ to take the leg, but ZSJ just pushes the foot away. The two reset and feel things out again. They knuckle lock, go forehead to forehead, but then each man kicks a knuckle lock apart. ZSJ and Shota back off, and ZSJ dares Shota to bring it. Shota steps back up, they go forehead to forehead, and then ZSJ offers a free shot.

Shota says no, the champ should take the free shot. ZSJ decides to tag in Oiwa instead. Shota says fine, and he tags Taguchi. The fans rally as Taguchi and Oiwa circle. They tie up, Oiwa headlocks, but Taguchi pries the hold. Oiwa clamps on tighter but Taguchi fires body shots. Taguchi powers up and out, but Oiwa runs him over! Things speed up, Taguchi hurdles and DROPKICKS Oiwa down! Cover, TWO! Fujita slides in but Zayne intercepts! Zayne kicks the Japanese Young Punk and then throws him out! Funky Sauce double whip Oiwa to then BULLDOG and BASEMENT DROPKICK! The fans cheer and Taguchi stalks Oiwa.

Taguchi HIP DROPS Oiwa again and again, then uses the ropes to go up, out, and slingshot back in, but he hip drops onto Oiwa’s knees! Taguchi hobbles away and Oiwa storms up to whip. Taguchi reverses, runs up, but Oiwa pops him up onto the top rope! Taguchi is stuck right on the Funky Weapon! The ref checks but Oiwa SHAKES the ropes! Taguchi suffer, then he slowly tilts to one side! Oiwa gut wrenches Taguchi off the ropes! Tag to ZSJ and ZSJ UPPERCUTS the butt! Then he UPPERCUTS the butt again! And again! Taguchi falls over and ZSJ tags Fujita. Taguchi backstrokes towards his corner, but Fujita stomps him down!

Fujita drags Taguchi up, CHOPS him, then whips him to a corner. Fujita runs up and CHOPS again! Fujita snapmares Taguchi to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Taguchi stays in this and the fans rally up. Fujita drags Taguchi up, but Taguchi CHOPS! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Fujita CHOPS back! Fujita runs, Taguchi jumps, but Fujita CHOPS the hip attack! Taguchi hobbles away while Fujita says he’s too smart for that. Fujita runs, but Taguchi somersaults to HIP ATTACK! Hot tag to Zayne and he fires forearms on Fujita! Zayne whips, hip tosses, then STANDING MARIPOSAS! The fans fire up while Zayne brings Fujita up.

Zayne fires more elbows, then a mule kick! Zayne runs to ROLLING AX KICK! Fujita goes to a corner, Zayne runs in, but Fujita BOOTS him away! Fujita hops up but Zayne comes back to JUMPING DRAGON RANA! The fans fire up and Zayne storms over to Fujita. Zayne scoops and B AJA BLASTS! Cover, TWO! Fujita survives but the fans rally behind Zayne. Zayne brings Fujita up, straitjackets, but Fujita fights free to CHOP! Zayne BOOTS! Fujita kicks but Zayne ducks! Fujita rolls off Zayne’s back and runs to GAMANGIRI! The fans fire up while both men are down! Fujita and Zayne crawl, hot tags to ZSJ and Shota!

The fans fire up as ZSJ BOOTS Shota, and Shota ROCKS ZSJ! Shota eggs ZSJ on so ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Shota UPPERCUTS in return! They UPPERCUT back and forth, harder and harder! The fans rally as they now go faster and faster! ZSJ gets the edge with UPPERCUT after UPPERCUT, but Shota roars! Shota UPPERCUTS again and again, ZSJ roars, but Shota UPPERCUTS him down! Shota hurries to FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota stays fired up! Shota clinches ZSJ but ZSJ fights the lift! ZSJ goes for the arm but Shota waistlocks. ZSJ spins around to FACELOCK GUILLOTINE!

Shota endures and stays on his feet, even as ZSJ has the body scissors! The fans duel as ZSJ thrashes, but Shota powers through to suplex ZSJ up and over! Both men are down and the fans fire up again. Shota rises, then he brings ZSJ up to dragon sleeper. ZSJ spins and PELES the arm! But Shota blocks a roundhouse to PELE! But ZSJ PENALTY KICKS! Both men are down again and the fans rally more! ZSJ and Shota crawl, but ZSJ tags in Oiwa! Oiwa runs in at the corner to DROPKICK! Oiwa has the single leg but Shota fights off the suplex! Oiwa swings but Shota clinches, so now Oiwa fights free!

Shota ROCKS Oiwa, spins, but Oiwa ROCKS Shota! Oiwa runs, into a clinch! EXPLODER! The fans fire up while both men are down! The fans rally, Shota and Oiwa crawl, hot tag to Taguchi! Taguchi calls to Zayne and then BLASTS Fujita! Funky Sauce whips Oiwa to a corner, then Zayne sends Taguchi in. HIP ATTACK! Taguchi goes up, Zayne RANAS Oiwa into the butt! Backslide, roll through, KETSUYE! Cover, TWO! Oiwa survives but Taguchi signals for that. Taguchi and Zayne use the power of Strong Style, and then “ITADAKIMAAAS~!” Oiwa stands, into a DOUBLE HIP ATTACK SANDWICH! Cover, Fujita breaks it!

Zayne ROCKS Fujita, he and Taguchi double whip, but Fujita ducks the lariats to shove Zayne into Taguchi! Zayne blocks a kick but not the DRAGON WHIP! Shota dropkicks Fujita’s legs! ZSJ BOOTS Shota! Shota roars, but ZSJ BOOTS him again! ZSJ whips, Shota reverses and TORNADO DDTS! ZSJ flounders away and the fans fire up with Shota! Shota tells Taguchi to finish it off, and Taguchi runs at Oiwa! And he sliding kicks! Oiwa tumbles, Taguchi grabs the leg to OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Oiwa endures, reaches out, but Taguchi drags him back! Oiwa gets up to LARIAT! Both men are down and the fans fire up!

Oiwa fires up and he brings Taguchi around. Oiwa whips, then clamps on a SLEEPER! But Taguchi slips right out! Taguchi has the headlock, but Oiwa slips out to hit a BIG atomic drop! Taguchi hobbles and Oiwa clamps on the SLEEPER! Taguchi flails but he’s fading already! The fans rally and Oiwa spins Taguchi, for THE GRIP!! Cover, TMDK wins!

Winners: TMDK, by pinfall

The Mullet gets the better of The Funky Weapon, but Shota still dares ZSJ to go for the leg. ZSJ ignores Shota’s bait and just gives him the paper belt. “This is the closest you’ll get to the effin’ title.” ZSJ SLAPS Shota with it! Shota says don’t be rude to the kids! A fan made that for him. Shota dusts off the paper belt, and claims that he’s gonna get the real deal soon enough. ZSJ says yeah, sure. ZSJ will make Shota a real nice toy belt himself so he can keep dreaming. ZSJ mockingly puts something together using his old wrist tape! Shota says wow, thanks. With not even a month left, who will win out when the real belt is on the line?

 

2024 World Tag League Finals: Gabe Kidd & SANADA VS Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi!

It’s the moment of truth as The Mad Man & Cold Blooded take on The Uncontrollable Charisma & Ticking Timebomb. There is still a lot of uncertainty regarding the tag titles given Henare’s knee injury, but for right now, it’s time to answer one question: Who will be the 2024 World Tag League Champions?

As Naito enters the ring, Gabe stays right at the center, but Naito completely ignores him. Then Naito takes his time with his entrance attire, as always, but Gabe and Sanada both stay calm. Gabe paces but Sanada keeps his eyes closed. Hiromu fires up Kumamoto and Naito finally does away with the pants. The teams finally sort out, and Gabe eggs on “the Junior.” Hiromu grins, then he fist bumps Naito, and yes, it seems Hiromu and the NJPW Strong Openweight Champion will start! The bell rings and both men run in! They DOUBLE LARIAT, but it’s Hiromu who falls! Hiromu gets up to CHOP, but Gabe CHOPS!

The fans fire up as the CHOPS go back and forth already! Hiromu backs down, but for only a moment! Hiromu CHOPS again, so Gabe CHOPS again! The CHOPS go back and forth, but Hiromu backs down again. Gabe eggs him on so Hiromu CHOPS! Gabe CHOPS again! Hiromu clutches his chest but he CHOPS again! Gabe CHOPS again, then braces himself. The CHOPS keep going, then they get forehead to forehead. Gabe winds up to CHOP! Hiromu drops back, and Gabe kicks at him. Gabe eggs Hiromu on so Hiromu CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! Gabe spins to CHOP! Hiromu backs down, but runs up to LARIAT!

Gabe stays up, so he and Hiromu both run, but to take out Naito and Sanada! Then Hiromu runs up to kick Gabe low! Hiromu CLUBS Gabe, CHOPS, and Gabe feels that one. Hiromu whips, Gabe reverses, and Sanada gets a cheap shot in! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands, but the War Dogs double whip. Hiromu grabs ropes to stop, and Naito runs in! Naito CLOBBERS Sanada and Hiromu kicks Gabe! LIJ mugs Gabe then double whips, to DOUBLE CHOP! Then they DOUBLE BASEMENT DROPKICK! Gabe flounders away while the fans cheer. Hiromu tags Naito and Naito storms up on Gabe.

Naito CLUBS Gabe again and again, then snapmares for a chinlock. Gabe endures the knee in his back, even as Naito digs it in deeper. Naito then shifts to have a headscissors! Naito pushes up to put on the pressure, but Gabe still endures. Naito lets Gabe go and Hiromu sits in the ropes. Hiromu assures Red Shoes it isn’t what he thinks, but then Naito bumps Gabe off Hiromu’s boots! It WAS what it looked like! The fans cheer but Red Shoes reprimands, and Naito tags in Hiromu. Hiromu CHOPS Gabe to a corner, then CHOPS again! Naito joins in and they double whip Gabe corner to corner. Gabe comes back, Naito drops down and Hiromu CROSBODIES!

Sanada storms in but Hiromu CROSSBODIES! Hiromu goes out and chases down Gabe, CROSSBODY! Hiromu keeps moving, and Naito sets Sanada up for the CROSSBODY! The fans fire up with Hiromu as he goes back to the ring. Gabe storms around in frustration, then pushes his way to No Man’s Land. He eggs Hiromu on, so here he comes! But Sanada was lurking! He attacks first, then sends Hiromu into chairs! Naito and Gabe brawl, and Naito CLUBS Gabe around. Fans are told to move aside, and Naito whips. Gabe reverses and he BOWLS Naito into chairs! Not quite a strike but Gabe just flips off the fans.

Sanada is beating Hiromu down somewhere in the upper deck, and Gabe drags Naito back up. Gabe UPPERCUTS Naito, but Hiromu fights back against Sanada! Sanada CLAWS Hiromu’s face! Hiromu stops the suplex, then suplexes Sanada! Sanada fights that, and he CLAWS Hiromu’s face again! As for Gabe, he BITES Naito’s forehead, then SMACKS him down! At least they’re at ringside. But then Gabe looks under the ring, and he brings out a table! Gabe sets the table up, but Naito fires forearms on Gabe! Gabe SMACKS Naito again! Gabe hauls Naito up to POWERBOMB through the table!!

The fans go wild as Gabe looms over Naito. Gabe slides in and mocks Naito’s pose! The fans are torn but most boo. Red Shoes reprimands Gabe, and it seems Sanada has retuned to ringside, with Hiromu somewhere in the crowd. A ring count starts, but Gabe SPITS at Naito! The count is 7 of 20 and the spotlight shows Hiromu is still so far away! We pass 10, then 12! Hiromu hobbles at 15 and he’s finally in the aisle! Hiromu runs and slides in safe at 19! The fans cheer but Gabe drags Hiromu up. Gabe CHOPS Hiromu in the corner, then CHOPS again! And then JABS! Tag to Sanada and he CLAWS Hiromu’s back while Gabe talks trash on Naito.

The fans rally for Hiromu but Sanada stomps him in a corner. Sanada digs his boot in, but he stops as Red Shoes counts. Sanada drags Hiromu up, TOSSES him out, and Gabe quickly runs Hiromu back to the back of the crowd and up the bleachers! Gabe ROCKS Hiromu with a straight right hand! Then SMACKS him again! Hiromu flops over and Gabe leaves him behind again. The ring count returns while Hiromu sputters. The fans cheer Hiromu on as he’s up, but he’s still so far away at 10! Then 15! Hiromu returns at 18 to slide in at 19.5!! Sanada is on Hiromu, but Hiromu dropkicks the legs out! But Naito isn’t at the corner!

Sanada tags Gabe and he stomps away on Hiromu in the corner! Red Shoes reprimands but Gabe drags Hiromu up. The fans rally for Hiromu, but Gabe whips him hard into the corner! Gabe eggs Hiromu on, saying he’s not “Despy” or Douki. Hiromu rises up to CHOP! Gabe snarls but Hiromu CHOPS again! Hiromu roars and he CHOPS! Gabe finally wobbles, but he keeps Hiromu from Naito! Gabe throws Hiromu down by his hair, then he WRECKS Naito with a dropkick! Gabe mocks the tranquilo and the fans boo. Gabe tags Sanada and the War Dogs bring Hiromu up. The fans rally but the War Dogs double whip, only for Hiromu to DOUBLE CROSSBODY!

Hiromu crawls, reaches out, but Sanada keeps him from Naito! Hiromu breaks free, blocks a kick, and a punch! Sanada CLAWS Hiromu’s eyes! Sanada runs but Hiromu bolts for the corner! Hot tag to Naito! Naito kicks and fires off on Sanada, but Gabe CLUBS him! The War Dogs double whip, but Naito reverses to send Sanada away! Then he sends Gabe into Sanada! Gabe falls, Naito dodges Sanada to arm-drag! And ELBOW! Naito keeps moving, basement DROPKICK! Gabe ROCKS Naito! Gabe whips, Naito reverses and runs up to ELBOW him down! Sanada runs up but is sent into the corner! Naito blocks boots to put Sanada in ropes, DRAPING NECKBREAKER!

Naito hurries to stand Sanada up, turn him, and stall for the NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up as Naito does the pose himself. Cover, TWO! Sanada is tougher than that but Naito drags him up. Naito dragon sleepers for another NECKBREAKER, and then it’s the LEG HOOK NELSON! Sanada endures as Naito puts on the pressure, and Sanada kicks around. Naito puts on more pressure, but Sanada has the ROPEBREAK! But of course Naito claims he needs a little help. Red Shoes counts, Naito lets the hold go, and he brings Sanada to a corner. Naito drags Sanada up, reel shim in, but Sanada stops Esperanza! So Naito BOOTS him!

Naito whips corner to corner but Sanada goes up and out, and even to the floor! Naito slides out but Sanada goes to the apron. Naito hurries back up, but Sanada KICKS ropes to jam Naito up! The fans boo and Red Shoes reprimands but Sanada tags Gabe. Gabe drags Naito up, has him in a corner, and CHOPS! HEADBUTTS! Repeat! Gabe wobbles a bit, but he rolls back and returns to LARIAT! Then SAIDO! Naito gets flung, Gabe hurries to cover, TWO! The fans fire up but Gabe drags Naito right up to suplex and BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Naito survives but Gabe seethes. The fans rally for Naito as hard as they can, which annoys Gabe.

Gabe drags Naito up, reels him in, but Naito fights the lift! Gabe CLUBS Naito but still Naito fights! Gabe DOUBLE CHOPS Naito’s back, then powers through! But Naito powers out and throws those heavy back elbows! Gabe SPITS at Naito! Naito SLAPS Gabe! Gabe rebounds, Naito dodges, tilt-o-whirl CRADLE! TWO!! Gabe SMACKS Naito, reels him in, “I’m a MAD MAN, y’know!” But Hiromu SUPERKICKS him first! Sanada DROPKICKS Hiromu! Naito dropkicks Sanada’s legs! But Gabe KNEES Naito down! Hiromu fireman’s carries Gabe! TIMEBOMB 1.5! Sanada runs up, into a wrench and FACLON ARROW!

Sanada flounders out and Hiromu brings Gabe over to Naito! BOOSTED TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up and Naito brings Gabe back up! Wrench and tilt-o-whirl, DESTINO!! Cover, SANADA YANKS RED SHOES OUT!! The fans boo Sanada but he just soaks up the heat. Hiromu goes to the apron and he CROSSBODIES Sanada down! Hiromu helps Red Shoes up, Naito wrenches Gabe again, DESTIN- NO! TOMBSTONE!! Gabe and Naito are down and the fans rally even harder! There is some dueling in here, but the “GABU! GABU!” is still overwhelmed by the “NA-I-TO! NA-I-TO!” Both men stir while Red Shoes returns.

Gabe clutches his neck while rolling away from Naito. Naito changes course and rolls for his corner, hot tags to Sanada and Hiromu! Hiromu dodges Sanada’s boot but Sanada blocks the lariat! Dragon sleeper, but Hiromu spins that around! Sanada fights the suplex so Hiromu dropkicks a leg out! Hiromu KICKS and fireman’s carries, and flips Sanada into the dragon sleeper! Sanada spins that around, but Hiromu fights a suplex! Hiromu suplexes but Sanada slips free to dragon sleeper! SKULL END! Hiromu endures but Sanada drops back into the body scissors! The fans rally and Hiromu fights around!

Sanada squeezes as tight as he can and Hiromu is fading! Red Shoes checks, Hiromu faintly comes back to life, but Sanada goes to his old ways! Sanada goes up and up to ROUNDING BODY PRESS, but onto knees!! Hiromu saves himself and the fans rally up! Hiromu feeds off the energy to fire back up. Hiromu runs to HIROMU- NO, Sanada dodges the lariat, but the HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER still finds him! Fireman’s carry, TIMEBOMB 1.5!! Cover, TWO!! Sanada survives and Hiromu grows frustrated. The fans rally up behind him and Hiromu drags Sanada up. Hiromu fireman’s carries but Sanada slips free.

Sanada waistlocks but Hiromu switches. Sanada grabs at Red Shoes, Red Shoes gets away, and Hiromu avoids the low blow kick! Hiromu SUPERKICKS Sanada, then runs, but Sanada slips around! Sanada shoves Hiromu at Red Shoes and Red Shoes almost ends up falling out of the ring! Sanada whips Hiromu to POP-UP LOW BLOW! And then O’CONNER BRIDGE!! Cover, NAITO YANKS RED SHOES OUT!! Naito returns the favor and grins at Sanada. Gabe storms in with a chair! Naito runs and shoves Hiromu out of harm’s way! Naito then dodges Gabe to POP-UP LOW BLOW!! Another bit of returning the favor!

The fans are thunderous as Gabe writhes and rolls out of the ring. Naito drags Sanada up, Hiromu helps, BOOSTED TORNADO- NO! Sanada slips free, but Naito sends him into a SUPERKICK! ENZIGIRI! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! The fans fire up with Hiromu as he fireman’s carries Sanada, for the OG TIMEBOMB!! Cover, TWO?!?! Sanada survives and shocks everyone! Hiromu roars and the fans are with him! Hiromu clinches in a dragon sleeper, but Gabe BITES Hiromu’s face! Gabe DECKS Naito, then he drags Hiromu up. Hiromu CHOPS, CHOPS , and CHOPS! Gabe just UPPERCUTS!

Gabe scoops and SLAMS Hiromu, then goes up the corner! MAD MAN MOONSAULT! Gabe calls to Sanada to get Hiromu, and Sanada goes up! ROUNDING BODY PRESS!! Cover, TWO!!! Hiromu survives and Sanada is furious!! Red Shoes defends his count and the fans are electric for Hiromu! Gabe reels Hiromu in, PILEDRIVER!! Feed to the DEAD- NO, Naito CLUBS Sanada! Naito dodges Gabe, comes back, DESTINO!!! SHINING WIZARD from Sanada!! Sanada hauls Hiromu up but Hiromu pump-handles! HIROMU-CHAN CRA- NO! SHINING WIZARD!! Sanada roars, fans are torn, but he drags Hiromu up.

Sanada clinches, DEAD- NO, Hiromu slips free, wrenches, pump handle, HIROMU-CHAN CRADLE!!! LIJ WINS!!!!

Winners: Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (World Tag League 2024 Champions)

Sanada cannot believe it, but Kumamoto absolutely loves it!! The War Dogs tore through A Block, but it was the team that survived the extra Triple Threat match that takes the whole thing! What does this mean for the combination of Gabe and Sanada in the future? Is there a future for them?

As for LIJ, Naito drags himself into the ring, crawls over to Hiromu, and master and student hug it out! Red Shoes brings them the trophies, and LIJ sets them side by side before they stand back up. Naito gets his hat back on while Hiromu rests on the mat again. And after a little water to refresh themselves, Naito gets the mic. “Buenas noches, KUMAMOTOOOO~!” The fans cheer, and Naito says, “The way things work, it should be Hiromu, the main event winner, on the mic right now. But it looks like he took some damage. In that case, I’ll say my part first.” The fans applaud that.

Naito thanks all the fans that came out to the Grand Messe Kumamoto for the WTL Finals. “Gracias, amigos.” The fans cheer that, and Naito adds that he won the main event here back in April of 2018. He sent a message to all the fans here that night. Does anyone remember what he said about “having the courage to take that step?” The fans applaud as it seems they do. Naito says, “Make no mistake, we won the World Tag League thanks to Hiromu.” The fans applaud again, and even chant for “HI-RO-MU! HI-RO-MU!” Naito says that Hiromu’s refusal to give up under any circumstance made Naito feel he had to take that step, too.

“And that step brings me to that singles match we were set to have before the pandemic.” Fans are intrigued hearing that. Naito says how about doing it January 4th in the Tokyo Dome? The fans cheer for Hiromu in support of that idea. Hiromu takes the mic now and asks if it takes Naito that long to take a step. The fans chuckle, and Hiromu stands. Hiromu says thanks to that, they were able to enter WTL and win it all. Hiromu thanks Naito for that, both arigato and gracias. The fans applaud, and Hiromu reviews the idea: January 4th, WrestleKingdom, Naito VS Hiromu. “The answer is, of course…! Let’s do it.”

The fans cheer as the match is now set! Hiromu thanks Naito for letting him know this is how he felt! “It’s important to say what we feel, isn’t it? Everyone, do you have something you want to say as well? It could to a friend, a lover, a parent, a teacher, a senpai, a kouhai! I’m reminded once again how important it is to share what we are feeling. Naito-san, do you mind if I tell you something, too?” The fans are again intrigued. “Naito-san, thank you for teaching me how to be a wrestler!” Hiromu bows and the fans applaud. Hiromu then says January 4th can’t come soon enough! “Everyone, we only live once, so enjoy it to the fullest!”

First, think of the life you wanna live, and then enjoy it to the fullest! And during that time, if pro-wrestling can bring you even a bit of joy, Hiromu will be satisfied! So then, let’s have more… The fans echo back, “Moto!” Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! Moto! MOTO fun in life enjoying pro-wrestling together~! The confetti goes off as the WTL winners must take a different route for WrestleKingdom. Will it be teacher or student who proves themselves the better man in the Tokyo Dome?


My Thoughts:

An awesome finale to WTL 2024, even with a lot of the other matches just kind of filler since there weren’t tag titles to be defended here and a lot of WrestleKingdom 19 stuff to be set up. I made sure to do the 10 Man Tag because it of course fed Tanahashi VS Evil, but I certainly didn’t see it happening that way. Tanahashi going wild because of all the frustration he has with Evil was some great stuff, and a Lumberjack match is a great move so that Tanahashi’s allies, aka all of The House of Torture’s enemies, are gonna be ringside with them. But moving up the retirement stipulation is a shock. Was saying 2026 would be when Tanahashi retires just a smokescreen so this would be more shocking? Or is this the smokescreen to put more drama on a match we’re pretty sure Tanahashi still wins?

The Six Man Tag of TMDK VS Shota & Funky Sauce was really good, and a really good win for Oiwa there. This was all still just secondary to building heat on Shota and ZSJ, but it was rather funny for Shota to have that paper (and I think soft foam?) belt and ZSJ mocking him with the wrist tape. If Shota ends up winning, I think NJPW is guilty of making him their “Super Cena,” their “Cena Wins LOL” guy, and that’s a disservice to Shota and especially Zack. Zack needs to make it through a WK with that belt, let Shota fight his way back up through the New Japan Cup or something.

And awesome, incredible main event with the WTL finals. I figured Naito & Hiromu were winning, just because Gabe’s got his NJPW Strong title and the Kenny Omega match for that Tokyo Dome weekend. Not sure what it means for Sanada, but I don’t think he’s leaving War Dogs already (as funny as that would be). And I suppose with Henare’s knee in question, they’re just going to leave the Heavyweight Tag Team Championship match for another time. Naito VS Hiromu, the World Champ VS Junior Heavyweight Champ match we never got four years ago for the anniversary show, is a great move for WK19. There’s no place better than WK for a match like that, and they can’t wait on this match with Naito having said he’s getting closer and closer to retiring.

That said, maybe Hiromu wins to put him over and get him into that next level where he’s going for big titles. Granted, NJPW is literal about the “heavyweight” part of the World Heavyweight Championship, and I don’t know if Hiromu’s going to be able to pull off a 205+ frame. He’s already ~195, he’s already 35, but hey, maybe he can get a short reign in just so he can say he was on top of both weight classes in his career.

My Score: 9/10

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