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Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (9/19/23)

Welcome to N BEX T!

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NXT White 'n' Gold Era

NXT has truly hit The Big Time!

Becky Lynch won the NXT Women’s Championship just last week, and she opens tonight’s festivities! What will The Grand Slam Man do next?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • NXT Global Heritage Invitational Tournament, Group A: Tyler Bate VS Pete Dunne; Dunne wins and advances to the finals.
  • NXT Global Heritage Invitational Tournament, Group B: Joe Coffey w/ Gallus VS Duke Hudson w/ Andre Chase; Duke wins and forces a tie.
  • Roxanne Perez VS Lola Vice w/ Elektra Lopez; Roxie wins.
  • Carmelo Hayes VS Dominik Mysterio; No Contest.
  • NXT Global Heritage Invitational Tournament, Group B Triple Threat: Joe Coffey w/ Gallus VS Duke Hudson w/ Andre Chase VS Nathan Frazer; Coffey wins and advances to the finals.
  • 2v1 Handicap: Tiffany Stratton & Kiana James VS Becky Lynch; changed to…
  • Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria VS Tiffany Stratton & Kiana James; Becky & Lyra win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Becky Lynch is here!

And the fans are all fired up as the NEW NXT Women’s Champion heads to the ring! The Grand Slam Man defended this title just last night in Salt Lake City against Natalya, but she’s right back in Orlando to say, “The Man has come around to N BEX T~!” Fans fire up and chant for “N BEX T! N BEX T!” Becky says the NXT Women’s Championship World Tour continues! She brings the fight every damn night! It doesn’t matter the name, the game is the same. Gigi Dolin, Elektra Lopez, Thea Hail, Roxanne Perez, Becky assures you she’ll be here awhile and will go the extra mile. SO how ’bout a scrap, Ivy Nile?

Becky gets Natty, she’ll beat that baddie. Give her Jacy Jayne, you know I’ll retain. You want this, she’s the mountain to climb. So welcome all, to the Big Time! Fans cheer that! Becky says she loves it here so much, it is so good to be back. It feels so good to represent them! They are what makes this happen. But speaking of time… Time, time, time, TIFFY TIME is over! Fans chant “BECKY TIME!” But Becky says credit where credit is due. Last week, Tiff hung with The Man, pushed her to her limits, and for that, Tiff will get her rematch whenever she wants it, she has earned it. She may be an idiot and an arse, but she is- here! Tiffy heads to the ring!

Tiff says excuse her, but she’s heard enough. Fans boo as Tiff appreciates the flowers. But did Becky really think the rematch was going to be optional? Are you kidding? She didn’t earn a rematch, she DESERVES a rematch. She knows Becky is a WrestleMania main eventer, The Man, the number one, but she is TIFFANY STRATTON! She is the future of the WWE, and she is the future TWO-TIME NXT Women’s Champion! Fans keep booing but Tiff says if Becky’s a fighting champion, then Big Time VS Tiffy Time, Round 2, for the title, TONIGHT!! Fans like the sound of that! And Becky is even smiling!

Tiff knew they’d love it. That’s why it’s NOT happening! Tiff says these losers actually cheered her every week until Becky showed up. Tiff wants her rematch on a bigger stage. She wants her rematch in Bakersfield at No Mercy! Becky says Tiff can have it whenever she wants it, but the result will be the same. And not because Tiff ain’t good enough, but because she’s not hungry enough! You think Becky hasn’t seen this? People like Tiff come in, rocket strapped to her back, and they become entitled! But this NXT, with these fans, have the same feel as the NXT Becky came up in. And it comes down to who wants it more!

And even after ten YEARS here, Becky wants it more! Aw, cute. Becky should be thanking Tiff for this return. If Becky’s name never came outta Tiff’s mouth, Becky would have never returned! And instead, Becky would be driving to the nearest retirement home for the next Hall of Famer for Becky to beat to get more clout! Okay, okay, Tiffany. For one thing, she’s a better fighter than a talker. But instead of going word for word with The  man, just go punch for punch! And then Becky fires off on Tiff! But then KIANA JAMES attacks! Fans boo as the Calculator uses numbers to her advantage!

Kiana drags Becky up, Tiff gets a chair! But Becky still fights them both off! Fans fire up as Becky fires forearms, then gets the chair! Tiff runs for it, then Kiana does, too! The Man is ready for a fight, will she get one tonight?

 

Tony D’Angelo & Channing Lorenzo talk backstage.

Stacks is impressed by the research The Don has done going into finding contenders. But that means there’s a lot of eyeballs on them. Stacks says that’s just the price of being NXT Tag Team Champions. What’re they gonna do? Tony says they’ll offer everyone a seat at the table, and then do what they do best. What’s that? Eat! Some tortellini, some shrimp scampi, ah c’mon~! Stacks is getting hungry. Well he asked for it. But who are they inviting? The Creeds? They’ve got history but they’re straightforward, so that allows The Family to be straightforward with them. And then Garza & Carrillo. Keep friends closer but enemies closer? Eh. Gotta respect that.

But what about these two big teams right here? Hank ‘n’ Tank or Nima & Price? To be honest, Tony likes both teams, but only one seat at the table. These teams need to impress The Don. Who wants it more? They’ll fight it out to show us who’s really hungry.

 

Backstage interview with Ilja Dragunov.

McKenzie Mitchell is with The Mad Dragon, and brings up how the fans are still buzzing after that instant classic with him and Wes Lee just last week. Now Ilja heads to No Mercy for a rematch with Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship. Ilja says he is still suffering from the pain Wes inflicted upon him. But he will still finish what happened at the Great American Bash. And this time, the Mad Dragon will cover his wings in gold. As for tonight, Dragunov will watch Melo VS Dom.

Becky storms in and Dragunov acknowledges she is in a bad mood. He will let her have the stage. Becky tells Tiff & Kiana that “you two dopes” didn’t have to attack her to get a fight with her. You wanna go 2v1? Fine! Let’s do that in the main event! See you there! The Man wants a handicap match against two top talents? Is that a bit reckless?

 

Kelly Kincaid is in the Meta Four Lounge.

But before she can ask anyone a question, Lash Legend says “SKRRRT!” AKA put on the brakes. Noam Dar welcomes us to the Matrix! But that’s enough from Agent Smith. They, the chosen ones, are once again ready to watch these dafties compete for the honor, NO! The privilege of losing to Dar at No Mercy. It doesn’t matter if it’s Group A or Group B, or if they take the red pill or the blue pill. The result will remain the same: Dar as champion. But then here comes Pete Dunne! Fans cheer as he shuts the Meta Four up! Will it be the Bruiserweight or the Big Strong Boy that wins the block?

 

Trick Williams is on the phone.

He says it’s all good, but then Dominik Mysterio walks over. “Look who it is! Tricky Williams!” Trick says hey to Dirty Dom, and look! Dom has a knack for sucking all the positive vibes out of any room, just like that. Dom says he’s glad he ran into Trick. That makes one of them. No, Dom is being for real. As someone who lived in his dad’s shadow, he understands Trick’s situation. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Trick don’t live in no shadow. Look at him! He don’t fit in no shadows. Dom says he’s serious, though. The Judgment Day helped him step out and shine. Now it’s time to see what Trick can do in the spotlight.

Trick tells Dom that they are not from the same place. Trick ain’t built like that. Nothing and no one will drive a wedge between Trick Melo Gang. Believe that. Dom chuckles and says he used to say the same thing about him and Rey. Just think about it. Dom leaves, but will his recruitment case be hurt losing to HIM?

 

NXT Global Heritage Invitational Tournament, Group A: Tyler Bate VS Pete Dunne!

NXT returns and Bate makes his entrance. The bell rings and we’re on the clock for this must win match!

Dunne and Bate stare down, then tie up. Fans rally up as the two go around. Dunne wrangles Bate with a wristlock and writhes, but then Bate kips up. Bate headlocks, Dunne powers Bate down and slips out the back, then bends that arm! Dunne then bends the fingers! And CLUBS the hand! Dunne clubs it again and again and again! “Neo” Dar watches as Dunne drags Bate up to wrench and again. Bate flips through to headscissor takedown! Dunne kips free, Bate kips up, Bop up, but Dunne SLAPS! Dunne knows that trick too well! Bate snarls, Dunne smirks, and the two tie up. Bate headlocks, Dunne powers out, things speed up and Dunne hurdles.

Bate leaps, but Bop up, to BANG!! Cover, TWO!! Bate drags Dunne up by his beard to SLAP him back! Dunne and Bate throw hands, Dar tries to contain his emotions, but Bate backs Dunne into a corner! Bate fires off, the ref counts, and Dunne CHOPS Bate down! Dunne stomps Bate, the fans rally behind him, and he twists on Bate’s ear. Dunne whips Bate to a corner, Bate goes up and under and knuckle locks to step over, headlock, bait again and leap to slide under. Dunne steps on Bate’s foot to DECK him! Fans fire up, Dunne runs in but Bate boots then KNEES back! Bate goes up, FLYING- FOREARM from Dunne! Cover, TWO!

Dunne scowls but he stomps Bate’s leg! The Global Heritage Invitational Watch Party is going on, everyone feeling sore just watching. Dunne stands Bate up to CHOP him down! Dunne goes up the corner but Bate ROCKS him first! Bate CHOPS, climbs, and he powers Dunne to the top rope! Stalling SUPERPLEX! Cover, TWO! Dunne is still in this but Bate stays focused as NXT goes picture in picture.

Bate crawls as he watches Dunne rise. Then Bate junkyard dog headbutts! And again! Dunne stares him down, then catches him for a GUILLOTINE! Bate fights up to his feet, but Dunne turns him for a NECKBREAKER! Bate writhes while Dunne looms over him. Dunne sits Bate up to SLAP and KICK and KICK and KICKS! Bate just frowns, but Dunne stands him up. Bate DECKS Dunne! Bate keeps close, rains down forearms, but Dunne grabs the other arm for a double wristlock! Dunne shifts around to trap that arm, and he grinds Bate’s ear with forearms! Then Dunne stomps Bate’s head! Dunne then runs to KICK Bate in the side!

Dunne paces, sits Bate up, and CHOPS him back down! And then DECKS him again! Dunne has the arms for DRAGON STOMPS! Then he drops into an ARMBAR!! Bate hurries to move around, and he throws kicks from below! But Dunne grabs the leg for a toehold! Then he STOMPS the foot! Bate writhes, but he keeps his leg guard up. Bate kicks and kicks but Dunne drops knees on the knee! And he SLAPS Bate down again! Dunne drags Bate up, CHOPS him, and CHOPS him again! Bate snarls as Dunne CHOPS more and more! Bate ROCKS Dunne, Dunne CHOPS Bate, repeat! They go back and forth, faster and faster!

NXT returns to single picture as the fans are thunderous for this brawl of Brits! Dunne then DECKS Bate! Dunne smothers Bate, rains down more forearms, “This is Awesome!” and Dunne finally lets off. Dunne drags Bate up while Meta Four looks worried. X PL- NO, Bate lands out of it to STANDING SHOOTING STAR! Then deadlift BACK SUPLEX! Cover, TWO!! Bate drags Dunne up, underhooks, TYLER DR- NO! Dunne has a TRIANGLE HOLD! Bate stays up on his feet, but Dunne throws elbows! Bate endures, Duke heads out because his match will be soon. Joe Coffey toasts his Gallus boys before also heading out.

Bate fights up to deadlift Dunne, but Dunne slips around! Bate uses that for an AIRPLANE SPIN!! Bate goes around and around and around and around and around, then staggers, only to DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Dunne is still in this and even Meta Four can’t believe that. Dar says time’s running out, too. Fans rally, both Bate and Dunne grab each other by beards, and they throw hands! Two minute warning as Bate hits a GERMAN SUPLEX! Bate has the underhooks, Dunne slips free! To steal the TYLER DRIVER!! Cover, TWO!!! Fans fire up as Dunne pump handles, BITTER- DDT!!

Bate is up, he pump handles? To STEAL BITTER END!!! Cover, TWO?!!? Dar is freaking out as Bate and Dunne rise. Bate has Dunne’s hand, and he bends the fingers! To SNAP!! That’s Dunne’s thing! But then Dunne Bop up, BANG!! Bate dodges, REBOUNDER!! Fans fire up as Bate goes up the corner! SKY TWISTER onto knees!! Pump handle, BITTER END!!!! Cover, TWO!?!?? How?!? Dunne won’t let off, he drags Bate up but we’re at 30 SECONDS! Dunne pump handles again, BITTER PILEDRIVER!! Cover, DUNNE WINS!!

Winner: Pete Dunne, by pinfall (gains 2 points; Bate earns 0)

The Bruiserweight is NOT someone Dar wants to face, but he’s a finalist! And in the end, he still shows respect to his old friend and rival. Will Dunne tear down whoever it is that comes out of Group B?

Here are the NEW Group A standings!

Pete Dunne: 2-0-1, 5 points
Tyler Bate: 2-1, 4 points [ELIMINATED]
Axiom: 0-1-1, 1 point [ELIMINATED]
Charlie Dempsey: 0-2, 0 points [ELIMINATED]

 

Thea Hail & Jacy Jayne go shopping.

Thea pumps herself up. She’s not a little girl anymore, she’s a grown woman. She may not like change but change is good. Jacy asks Thea if she’s okay. She doesn’t- NO, she needs to! She’s not a kid! Let’s go! Okay, okay, woosah. They step into ASC and Jacy looks through the selection. She tosses what she likes at Thea, sticking toa red and black aesthetic. Time for the fashion show! Thea can’t walk out in this first one. What? She came this far, at least show us what it looks like. Okay, fine. Red skirt and lacey top. Okay, yeah, maybe a bit much. The snake skin boots on the second one is good, but they need MORE leather.

Full leather dress? Yes, this is the vibe Jacy is talking about. Next! Thea returns in a vest top. Bingo! But still next. And then… That’s the one!! Really? Thea does really like this. They’re going with it. They finish up and Jacy can’t wait for the world to see the new and improved Thea Hail.

 

NXT Global Heritage Invitational Tournament, Group B: Joe Coffey w/ Gallus VS Duke Hudson w/ Andre Chase!

Bate VS Dunne was must-win to determine a finalist, and this is pretty much that but on an even bigger scale! If the Iron King wins, that’s it, this is his kingdom! But if the Chase U MVP pulls out the win, we go to a very interesting three man tie. What will the fate of Group B be?

NXT returns and Gallus has made their entrance. The bell rings and we’re back on the clock! Duke and Joe circle, fans rally for the MVP as they tie up. They break, tie up again, and then break again. They tie up, Joe headlocks, but Duke powers out. They RAM shoulders but neither man falls! Duke headlocks, Joe powers out and they RAM shoulders again! Joe eggs Duke on, he and Duke RAM and RAM and DOUBLE LARIAT! They stay up, Duke breaks through the next lariat to finally run Joe over! Duke whips, Joe reverses, but Duke RANAS!? The Watch Party now opened things up so others, like Ikemen Jiro and Dani Palmer, can watch.

Duke storms up on Joe in the corner to JAB! Duke whips corner to corner then back drops him away! Cover, TWO! Duke keeps cool and brings Joe in, but Joe fights the lift! Joe RAMS Duke into the corner, RAMS into him again and again, then fires off body shots! Joe hoists Duke up to HOTSHOT off the ropes! Duke sputters, Joe BOOTS him down, then stomps him around! Fans rally for Duke but Joe drags him up. Joe whips Duke into a corner hard, then whips him back in even harder! Joe scoops to BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Duke stays in this but Joe stomps him. Joe throws hands, then storms around.

Fans rally up and duel as Joe talks trash. Joe sits Duke up to throw hands but Duke counter punches! And again! Duke JABS! JABS! JABS! Flip, flop and “U~!” But Joe runs away! Fans boo but Duke goes out after him, Joe RAMS Duke into the apron! And SMAKCS him off it! Joe puts Duke in and storms up into the ring. Fans rally as Joe goes up, to MISSILE DROPKICK! Joe then waistlocks to drag Duke up to GERMAN SUPLEX! Duke flounders, Joe aims from the corner, GLASGOW SENDOFF! Duke hits buckles and Gallus is rabidly fired up! Joe runs, ALL THE BEST- Duke ducks it! Roll up, DUKE WINS!!

Winner: Duke Hudson, by pinfall (gains 2 points, Joe earns 0)

AND NOW WE HAVE A TIE!!! We go to the GHI Watch Party where Kelly asks Frazer about this situation. Frazer says let’s go! He has life in the tournament! Joe beat him, he beat Duke, Duke beat Joe. So now… Triple Threat next week! But Kelly says hold on, breaking news! The Triple Threat isn’t next week, it’s later tonight! Whoa, really? Well then, Frazer’s gotta get ready! Off he goes! Will the Jersey Island Rocket make a big comeback? Or will Joe get even with Duke inside that Triple Threat?

Here are the NEW Group B standings!

Joe Coffey: 2-0, 4 points
Nathan Frazer: 2-1, 4 points
Duke Hudson: 2-1, 4 points
Akira Tozawa: 0-3, 0 points [ELIMINATED]

 

Robert Stone tweets.

“Saw Von. Not good. He appreciates all the well wishes.” When and where, if ever, will we see Von Wagner again?

 

Roxanne Perez VS Lola Vice w/ Elektra Lopez!

The Prodigy’s new edge has carried her through against quite a few opponents, but the MMA Mamacita says Roxie has no idea about true aggression. Will Lola teach Roxie how it’s done? Or will Roxie be unstoppable on her rise back to the top?

NXT returns as Lola makes her entrance, La Madrina by her side. The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, go around, and Roxie wrenches an arm to a wristlock. Lola kicks and then SLAMS Roxie down! Lola clamps onto the arm, Roxie fights up but Lola wrenches to a wristlock. Roxie spins and spins and slips through to wrangle Lola to a La Magistrol then shifts to a jackknife! TWO, and Lola has the SLEEPER! Roxie rolls back to cover, TWO! They both stand, Lola kicks low and hard! Lola talks trash, fans duel, and Lola brings Roxie up. Roxie CHOPS back! Lola swings, Roxie wrenches and knuckle locks to CHOP!

Roxie goes up and up, but Lola shoves her down! Roxie hits off the ropes, staggers in, but Lola mule kicks! Lola wrenches, ELBOW BREAKERS, then wrenches to WRING the arm! Fans duel, Lola talks trash and she AX KICKS Roxie on the back! Lola grabs an arm, wrap sit up, then CLUBS away on Roxie to get the other! Lola swivels the hips before the ARM SNAPPER! Cover, TWO! Roxie goes to ropes, Lola is after her, hammerlock and a RAM into the corner! Roxie clutches the arm but Lola drags her up. Lola hammerlocks and whips, but Roxie reverses! Lola hits buckles, Roxie wrenches and clinches, but Lola fights out to WRING the arm!

Lola has the omoplata, and she pulls on that bad arm! Roxie endures, even as Lola SLAPS her and CLUBS her! Lola pushes up on the arm, Roxie endures and fans continue to duel. Roxie fights around, rolls, but Lola holds onto the bad arm. Roxie ROCKS Lola with her good arm! And again! Lola KICKS low, talks some trash, then whips. Roxie BOOTS from the corner, then goes up! FLYING THESZ PRESS! And fast hands! Fans fire up as Roxie SHOTGUNS Lola into the corner! Roxie roars, runs corner to corner, and she UPPERCUTS! Roxie goes up to rain down fists! Fans count along but Lola slips out to YANK Roxie into buckles!

Lola drags Roxie out, wrenches, ELBOW BREAKER! Roxie screams in pain but she rolls through the wringer! She ducks a kick to give a kick, then hips on! Lola pops her off, drags her down, OMOPLATA! Roxie fights to a stack cover, ROXIE WINS!!

Winner: Roxanne Perez, by pinfall

Lola showed Roxie all about edge, but Roxie showed Lola all about perseverance! Will Roxie use everything she’s learned to find her way back to the top title?

 

Eddy Thorpe goes to his meditation place.

He sees the damage done to the tree by Dijak. Dijak says Eddie needs to embrace his wild side? You don’t think he knows what Dijak is doing? What he’s really trying to say? Then say it, coward! Eddie’s what? A savage? Is that it? Guess what! Perhaps there is something, deep down inside of Eddie, that is a merciless Indian savage! Dijak has insulted Eddie’s culture and desecrated sacred land! So how about this? Next time they face off, they do it in a way that Eddie can return the favor, by ripping the flesh from Dijak’s body the same way Dijak did the bark on this tree. That’s right, a STRAP MATCH! “You wanted a savage? You’ve got one!”

 

Becky sits backstage.

She has that anger in her eyes, but then Roxie walks in. Hey, is she okay? That was a hell of a match. And Becky says whatever Roxie’s doing, just keep doing it, because she’s been kicking ass. Roxie thanks Becky for that. In a way, Roxie took a page out of Becky’s book. She was letting people walk all over her, and decided it just wasn’t for her. Becky knows that feeling. And so if they’re on the same page, then Becky doesn’t have to face Tiff & Kiana alone tonight! Roxie wants to tag in! The Man and the Prodigy? Sounds good. But Roxie needs arm on that arm first. Becky ain’t the Man for nothing. But thanks for the offer.

Roxie heads out, will Becky really be alright on her own?

 

Carmelo Hayes VS Dominik Mysterio!

Both champions will defend these titles at No Mercy, though that’s if Dirty Dom makes it through Dragon Lee next week on Monday Night Raw. But for now, this is about establishing who is the alpha champ of NXT! Will it be Mami’s Latino Heat? Or will it be none other than HIM?

As he makes his entrance, Melo has a shirt just for Dom, with him right in the purple crosshairs. But the moment Melo’s in the ring, Dom goes right after him! Dom fires off in the corner, then he picks up THE NXT Championship and smiles as he holds it up. But Melo storms up to Dom, to ROCK him with haymakers! Melo whips, Dom reverses but Melo ducks ‘n’ dodges to springboard LARIAT! Dragunov has magically appeared on commentary to watch this match, and Melo RIPS the shirt he was wearing. Free souvenir for the fans, and the bell finally rings! Dom rushes up but Melo dodges to CHOP!

Melo whips corner to corner, Dom bounces off buckles and into a back drop! And then a DROPKICK! Fans fire up as Melo storms up to whip Dom corner to corner again. Fans taunt Dom with “Mami’s Feelin’ Ucey!” Melo snapmares to then SUPER- NO, Dom bails out! Fans boo and Dom is upset not having anyone with him. Melo slides out to ROCK Dom! Melo whips but Dom reverses, only for Melo to stop himself! Melo ROCKS Dom, runs in, but Dom FLAPJACKS Melo off barriers! Dom puts Melo in, fans boo more but Dom soaks it up. But Melo KICKS Dom in the ropes, to then FADE AWAY! Cover, TWO!

Melo keeps his cool as he stalks Dom. Dom wants mercy but there’s no mercy in his future. Dom YANKS Melo into ropes! Dom runs, into a SUPERKICK! Melo runs, to tilt-o-whirl, LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO! Dom survives, bails out again, but Melo dares him to come back as NXT goes to break.

NXT returns and Dom has Melo in a chinlock. Fans rally as Melo fights up, and even Dragunov is cheering Melo on. Melo throws body shots but Dom throws a knee! Then Dom throws Melo by his hair! Cover, TWO! Dom drags Melo up as fans taunt Dom with “Mami’s Gonna Beat~ You!” Dom suplexes, Uno Amigo! Then some Latino Heat before Melo hits the suplex CUTTER! Fans rally up for “MEL~O! MEL~O!” Melo goes to the ropes, he and Dom stand and Dom runs in. Melo ELBOWS Dom, then kicks, KICKS and throws him to the corner! Melo fires off fists, the ref counts, and then the ref backs Melo down.

Dom runs in, but into a spin and KNEE SMASH! Melo whips, Dom reverses but Melo ducks the kick to pump handle and SPIENBUSTER! High stack, TWO! Dom scrambles to ropes but Melo drags him back in! Dom holds onto the apron skirt, then the ropes! Dom BOOTS Melo, kicks low and DDT! Cover, TWO! Dom drags Melo around, has the legs, and he CATAPULTS Melo onto ropes! Dom dials it up, 619! Dom goes up the corner, for the FROG SPLASH, but he has to bail out! Turn around into the CODE BREAKER! Melo then goes up the rope, takes aim, but Dom trips him up! Melo flops to the apron and Dom goes out after him.

Dom whips, Melo reverses, and Dom goes into Dragunov!! Fans lose their minds and even Melo is shocked by what happened! Did Melo mean to do that? But it doesn’t matter, because now Dom YANKS Melo into Dragunov! Dom puts Melo in the ring, talks smack to Dragunov, then SMACKS Dragunov!! Fans lose their minds again as Dom angers the wrong man! Dragunov runs in to CLOBBER Dom and Melo!!

No Contest

Dragunov fires off on Dom and fans fire up, ENZIGURI! The Mad Dragon FOREARM BOMBS! Fans are loving this as Dragunov goes to the corner! “UN! BE! SIEG! BAR!!” But Dom sends Melo into the TORPEDO MOSCOW!! Dom runs away, but wait! Dragon Lee storms up behind him! SUPERKICK!! Fans are loving it as The Wonder Boy stands over Dirty Dom! Will Dragon Lee take the North American title and the No Mercy spot from Dom? As for Dragunov and Melo, is this only fuel for the fire going into their rematch?

 

Trick Williams is watching.

And he does not like how that all played out. But then The Schism walks in. Joe Gacy tells Trick that everyone wants to be their own man, but no one ever thinks how that’d affect everyone else. Ava Raine says Trick left his best friend all alone. Trick asks if they just came in here to talk crazy. Ava says being alone is written all over his face. This isn’t loneliness! This is olive oil. But just because he is his own man doesn’t mean he’s alone. Trick, just look around you! There is no one else here! The Schism isn’t too different from Trick. They know what he’s going through, and they can help him. Just come with them.

Trick, joining The Schism? Hmm… NO. He wants nothing to do with their roots or trees, he’s seen this movie before so he knows how it ends. Gacy says Trick is so charismatic. If only Melo took Trick up on that offer. Some friend. The Schism leaves, but Trick says it’s Trick Melo Gang 4 Life. Will the bond between these two be unbreakable, no matter who tries?

 

Duke and Chase regroup backstage.

Chase says that was amazing! Did you see the Chase U student section? They were going crazy! Thanks, Mr. Chase. Duke just needs like an hour to recover. An hour? Duke, time is relative! The Triple Threat has no time limit! And though Duke has already proved a lot of people wrong, he has to do it again. Yeah, yeah, just understand, Joe Coffey is as big as an ox, and Frazer is faster than Usain Bolt! Chase asks Duke a question. Who is the MVP? What? Duke is. Then as of now, who is none as The Spoiler? Duke is…! And with the entire student section, the entire country of Australia, and the entire NXT Universe cheering him on, who is gonna go out there and give those others an Andre Chase University sized ASS WHOOPIN?! DUKE IS!!

WHO? DUKE! WHO?! DUKE!! LET’S EFFIN GOOOOO~! Duke is reenergized, but will this be enough against two opponents? The moment of truth is up next!

 

SCRYPTS and the boys run a side hustle.

They’re playing dice for big money, and here it comes. SEVENS! The loser gets mad but he can’t fight men as big as Nima & Price. They and Scrypts divide up the winnings, and Nima says they are shaking up this whole tag division! Price says there are teams talking like they don’t understand the language. But these hands speak it fluently. Scrypts says they’re all just clowns. But Tony D & Stacks think things are real sweet. Just wait until they feel the pressure. Scrypts says that bond is why he rocks with them. They know what it is to go to sleep with no dinner. Fast losers and slow winners. Reaching for cash in your pockets, nothing there.

But by any means, they gotta eat. True hustlers. Look at ’em n ow! Making it happen, no handouts! Self made, from the dirt to making it out the mud. O T M! They’re gonna take it all!

 

Backstage interview with Hank ‘n’ Tank.

McKenzie says we all just heard from Bronco Nima & Lucien Price, another young and hungry team. Hank says Bronco & Lucien are powerful dudes, and Tank says they know firsthand. Those two have Scrypts with them now, but still going nowhere. Though, neither are Walker & Ledger. Tank says they’re easygoing guys, but right now, there’s an opportunity in sight. That means no more games, turn up the intensity. Hank says Stacks & Tony want them to earn their way to that table, so consider this challenge accepted! Hank & Tank haven’t missed many meals, but they’re not just here to eat. They’re here to FEAST on the tag division!

If Nima & Price wanna get in the way, then Hank & Tank have no problems working up quite the appetite! They head out, who wins the BIG battle between these heavy hitters?

 

NXT Global Heritage Invitational Tournament, Group B Triple Threat: Joe Coffey w/ Gallus VS Duke Hudson w/ Andre Chase VS Nathan Frazer!

NXT returns as Duke and Joe are back in the ring. The bell rings, and Joe CLOBBERS Duke! Joe fires off, Frazer runs up but Joe shoves him away. So Duke fires off on Joe now! Frazer jumps back in but Duke shoves him away! Duke throws big elbows, but Frazer SHOTGUNS Duke into Joe! Frazer fires off hands and CHOPS on Duke, whips, but Duke reverses. Duke runs in but into an elbow! Frazer goes up, Duke gets under the leap, but then Frazer slides under Joe. Joe ROCKS Duke, Frazer DROPKICKS Joe! Fans rally up as Frazer ELBOWD Duke out of the ring. Frazer builds speed, but Joe CROSSBODIES him first!

Fans fire up as Joe grinds Frazer’s face in to laces! The “Matrix” Four is back in the lounge, cheering on anyone but Frazer. Joe suplexes, Frazer slips free, and then he TOSSES Joe to the apron! GAMANGIRI! Joe falls, Frazer aims, and Frazer builds speed. But Duke FLAPJACKS Frazer! Cover, TWO! The Watch Party is having some fun now, except maybe Dempsey since he’s not getting to fight. Duke stomps Frazer at the ropes, Dar and Oro do Matrix leaning, and then Duke goes after Joe. Joe HOTSHOTS Duke away! Joe runs in but Duke is ready, they DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT! And DOUBLE LARIAT!

Fans fire up as they go again and again, then Joe RAMS into Duke! Joe fires hands, Duke ROCKS Joe back, and ROCKS him again! Joe RAMS into Duke, throws more hands, then CLUBS Duke down! Joe DECKS Frazer, stomps Duke, then stomps Frazer. But Duke throws hands back! Duke and Joe go back and forth, fans rally and duel, and Frazer runs past them both, ducks ‘n’ dodges, keeps going, and he SHOTGUNS them both out of the ring! Fans fire up as Frazer fires himself up. Frazer builds speed to DIVE! Direct hit on both behemoths and Frazer is roaring! Lash likes the dive at least.

Frazer puts Duke in, throws hands, and then he CLUBS Duke. Duke throws hands but Frazer stomps. Frazer CLUBS Duke, throws hands, and he has Duke in a corner. Frazer runs in, but into an URENAGE! Fans fire up but then Joe trips Duke, to YANK him into the post! Joe pulls on Duke’s legs to put that post where the sun don’t shine! Oro and Dar feel for Duke here as NXT goes to break.

NXT returns again and Joe has Frazer down with a top wristlock. Frazer endures, and fans rally as Duke drags himself up to the apron. Dar and Oro are “sparring” while Frazer fights up. Joe ROCKS Frazer, throws him down and then DECKS Duke! Joe says he’s winning this, but Frazer throws hands! Frazer ROCKS Joe, but Joe scoops to SLAM Frazer! Fans boo as Joe crosses his arms in the Gallus pose. Joe then deadlifts Frazer, but Frazer victory rolls! TWO!! Joe escapes, and he pop-up UPPERCUTS Frazer! GLASGOW SENDOFF! Joe runs, but Duke SHOVES Frazer aside, to roll Joe up! TWO!!! Joe escapes this time and shocks Duke!

Fans fire up and the watch party is just eating this up! Duke tells Joe it was that close to a repeat. The two stand, throw hands, and fans are fired up for the MVP! Duke JABS! JABS! JABS! Flip, flop and “U~!” ELBOW! Duke then scoops to SIDEWALK SLAM! Cover, TWO! Frazer reaches out feebly while Duke hauls Joe up. Frazer stands to SUPERKICK! Then he QUEBRADAS to catch Joe, and he kicks Duke low, DOUBLE DDT COMBO! Cover on Joe, TWO! Cover on Duke, TWO! Frazer is frustrated but the fans are thunderous as all three men are down. Frazer goes to the apron, Meta Four doesn’t want this.

Frazer springboards but stops as he sees Joe show haymaker! Frazer then ROCKS Joe, springboards again, but Joe gets under. Joe comes in, GLASGOW- SUPERKICK! Frazer sees Duke but Duke hits him first! SLINGSHOT GERMAN SUPLEX! Duke sees Joe running up, swings, but Joe waistlocks. Duke elbows free, runs, and he BOOTS Joe down! Frazer staggers up, into a scoop and SWINGING SLAMS! Cover, TWO!! Frazer survives but the fans fire up again! Duke scoops Frazer, spins and spins and SWINGING SLAMS!! Cover, Joe breaks it! Fans are torn and Meta Four cannot believe this match.

Frazer drags himself to a corner, Joe fires hands on Duke! Duke rebounds, but he TOSSES Joe out! Duke then sees Frazer in a corner. Duke runs in, but into BOOTS! Frazer runs up but Duke pops him up, RANA!! Duke got spiked!! Frazer goes up, PHOENIX SPLASH!! But Joe drags him up and TOSSES him out! Frazer skins the cat, but gets a GLASGOW SENDOFF!! ALL THE BEST FOR THE BELLS!!! Cover, JOE WINS!!!

Winner: Joe Coffey, by pinfall (advances to the finals)

Frazer was so, so close, but the Iron King steals this one! Dunne shows up to stare Joe down, ready to go even now! But then they both look at Dar, and Dar holds up the Heritage Cup. Will it be the Bruiserweight or the Iron King that meets Dar in the Golden State?

 

Backstage interview with Mustafa Ali.

McKenzie says The Beacon requested this time, so what is on his mind? Ali says that it has been 24 hours, yet no one is in an uproar other than himself! An uproar? Over what? Ali says HE is the rightful #1 contender to the North American Championship, and that is FACT, not opinion! Plus, Ali promised Dragon Lee that should Ali win at No mercy, Dragon would get the very first title opportunity, afterward. And yet, while Ali is watching Raw last night, a graphic shows up to advertise Dominik Mysterio VS Dragon Lee for the North American Championship, next week on Monday Night Raw!

Ali has to ask us, HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?! How does the man he beat get a title match before he does?! Ali could say this is a travesty, but that word doesn’t even fit here! Neither of those men deserve that title. Dom is a criminal, Dragon is a liar! And Ali… Ali is going to deal with this. With both of them! Next week, on Monday Night Raw! Ali heads out, but just how is he going to handle this?

 

Tiffany finds Kiana backstage.

Tiff says good looking out tonight. Kiana says it’s not really what either of them wanted, though. Tiff just wants to be honest for a minute. Kiana got Tiff so ready for Becky. Kiana says same back. Iron sharpens iron. Now, they may not be each other’s number one fan, but they do have one thing in common: They both despise Becky Lynch. And since Becky has zero friends and no one likes her, they can do some serious damage together. Then they will decide who the next NXT Women’s Champion is around here. Kiana says finally, a woman with some sense. Plus, Tiff has a special surprise. She’ll tell on the way.

But little do they know, Becky’s watching the show. Will The Man be ready for whatever the Wrestling Barbie has up her proverbial sleeve?

 

Fallon Henley, Brooks Jensen & Josh Briggs watch last week’s Six Man Tag back.

Namely, where Myles Borne reveals his true colors and screws their team over. Why would he do this? Briggs puts this on Fallon but she asks what he means by that. Myles was her idea, she said he could be trusted! Jensen has them calm down, and Fallon says she thought Myles was a good guy. She feels he still is, but he’s hanging out with the wrong people. Briggs wants Fallon to listen to herself. That guy is a snake, stop making excuses! She isn’t making excuses! Yes, she is! But then Baron Corbin walks over and asks what is going on. What’re they even arguing about? Not that he actually cares. No one here cares.

This isn’t high school, so whatever this is, get over it. Either way, shut up so Baron can enjoy his massage. Briggs is glad Corbin could actually hear them. Briggs was worried Bron Breakker popped those eardrums last week. Corbin turns back around and tells Briggs that just because they got outsmarted by a rookie on his first night doesn’t mean they have to puff out their chests and get all tough. Oh, Corbin says everyone here is soft yet is the one getting the massage. Book another one very soon. Briggs and the group head out, when and where will Briggs and Corbin throw down?

 

NXT Media catches up with Melo.

They ask him about how he’s feeling after earlier. Melo says Dragunov walks around with a lot of confidence, like he’s already got the championship. But he doesn’t, Melo has the championship because he’s the champion. At Great American Bash, Melo knocked Dragunov down. At No Mercy, Melo knocks him down again. Next week, Melo lets Dragunov know where he stands. The contract signing is coming, how wild will it get before the bell rings?

 

2v1 Handicap: Tiffany Stratton & Kiana James VS Becky Lynch!

Tiffy Time is over but she looks to change that at No Mercy. Will the Calculator helping her with the numbers game be the first step to that? Or will neither of them be ready for The Big Time?

But wait! That surprise Tiff mentioned is a surprise attack at the ramp! Fans boo as Tiff & Kiana don’t wanna play fair! They stomp Becky, then RAM her into steel steps! They stomp her more, drag her up, and put her in the ring. Fans boo more and the ref wans them to stand down, but Kiana & Tiff mug Becky in the corner! They stomp her, but here comes LYRA VALKYRIA! She dodges then CLOBBERS Kiana! And she LARIATS Tiff! And LARIATS Kiana! Lyra sends Tiff into Kiana, then she and Becky both CLOBBER them! Tiff & Kiana bail out, and it seems The Man is willing to take The Morrigan’s help!

But that means numbers are even, so of course Tiff & Kiana want out. They go up the ramp, so Becky & Lyra pursue! They CLOBBER Kiana & Tiff from behind, brawl their way back down the ramp, and fans are loving this! Becky SMACKS Kiana off the apron, shoves her in, and fans rally up as this is finally a match!

Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria VS Tiffany Stratton & Kiana James!

Becky drags Kiana from the ropes, clinches and BECKSPLODERS! Fans fire up as Kiana staggers around, and Becky storms up on her. Becky bumps Kiana off buckles, then brings her over to bump off more buckles. And then a third corner! And again, and again, and again! Fans rally, the ref counts, and Becky lets off at 4. Becky glares at Tiff, Tiff glares back, and Becky drags Kiana up to send her to the corner. Tiff doesn’t wanna tag in? Becky runs in but Tiff catches her to ROCK her! But Becky blocks the buckle bump (say that five times fast) and bumps Tiff! Becky then drags Tiff up and into the ring!

Becky bumps Tiff off more buckles, then throws her to the mat! Becky goes for the arm but Tiff trips her and runs! DOUBLE- NO, Becky sunset flips the stomps! Tiff rolls through, Becky SOBATS her to the corner! FOREARM SMASH! Tag to Lyra, and fans fire up as the lasses double whip, trip and sliding dropkick! Lyra covers, TWO! Lyra keeps her cool and brings Tiff around to wrench. Tiff ROCKS Lyra, tags in Kiana, and Kiana runs in, into a drop toehold! Lyra facelocks, grinds Kiana then headlocks, but Kiana fights up. Fans rally, clapping Lyra’s theme, and Becky tags in as Kiana powers out.

Lyra slides under Kiana, anchors her feet, and Becky hits a BULLDOG! Cover, TWO! Becky has the fans rallying up even more, and she brings Kiana up to clinch. Kiana fights the slam, throws haymakers, and Tiff fires up! Kiana runs in but Becky dumps her out! Becky runs, and she WRECKS Kiana with a dropkick! Then FLYING FOREARM off the apron! Tiff runs in, Becky dodges, and Lyra WRECKS Tiff with the dropkick! Fans are all fired up as NXT goes picture in picture.

Becky and Lyra high-five, then Becky fetches Kiana. Becky puts Kiana in, avoids a shoulder and kicks, to then ROUNDHOUSE! Becky goes up, to MISSILE- NO, Kiana gets under! Kiana runs in but Becky wrangles her! Kiana fights up, whips Becky away but Becky BOOTS back! Tiff runs in again, but Becks DECKS her! Only for Kiana to attack from behind! Kiana puts Becky in the corner, stomps away, then tags in Tiff. Tiff stomps a mudhole into Becky! Then she CHOKES Becky on ropes! Tiff lets off to run and HIP ATTACK! Cover, TWO! Tiff drags Becky around into a STRETCH PLUM!

Becky endures, fights up, but Tiff whips her to the corner. Tiff fires forearms, then stomps away! Tag to Kiana, Kiana stomps Becky, then RAMS into her! And again! Kiana digs her shoulder in, Tiff tags in, and Kiana handsprings to RAM into Becky! Tiff handsprings corner to corner to back elbow! Tiff fires off back elbows, then snapmares to DOUBLE STOMP!! Cover, TWO!! Tiff is frustrated and she drags Becky up. Becky fights back as NXT returns to single picture. Tiff CLUBS Becky, whips her to a corner, then runs in, into a BOOT! Becky brings Tiff in, goes up, but Tiff YANKS Becky down to the mat!

Tiff drags Becky over, tags in Kiana, and they mug Becky. Kiana drags Becky up to RAM into her, and again, and then brings her around to throw her by her hair! Fans boo but Kiana wraps on a chinlock. Becky endures, fans rally up, but Kiana leans on the hold. Becky fights up but Kiana throws Becky down! Kiana grinds the hold, Becky still endures and fights up. Fans rally, Becky arm-drags free, and Becky ROCKS Kiana! And again, and again! Kiana blocks the kick to throw Becky down! Kiana drags Becky up, RMAS her in the corner, and again, then Tiff tags in. Kiana handsprings, but into a BOOT!

Tiff hurries to whip Becky into another corner, then she handsprings again, but Becky dodges! Tiff hits buckles and scrambles to tag Kiana! Kiana runs up to drag Becky away from Lyra! But Becky avoids the elbow drop! Hot tag to Lyra! Lyra rallies on Kiana and Tiff! KICK, KICK and then she dodges them both, to springboard DOUBLE CROSSBODY! Fans fire up as Lyra ENZIGURIS Tiff! And SOBATS Kiana, front kicks, CHOPS and AX KICKS! Lyra then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, but Tiff breaks it! Fans rally as Tiff brings Lyra up. Kiana joins in, they double suplex but Becky makes the save!

Becky and Lyra swing, miss, and Kiana & Tiff kick low. But Becky TOSSES Tiff, Lyra TOSSES Kiana, and they have them in the ropes! Becky & Lyra fires off the strike fest! They both go up corners, and fans fire up for the DOUBLE GUILLOTINE LEG DROPS!! Cover, TWO!! Kiana survives for her team but Lyra keeps her cool. Lyra drags Kiana up, wrenches and facelocks, but Kiana fights to facelock back. Kiana back suplexes, Lyra lands on her feet! Lyra ducks ‘n’ dodges but Tiff trips up the springboard! So Becky fires off on Tiff! But Tiff POSTS Becky! Kiana ROCKS Lyra, scoops and POWERBOMBS!

Tag to Tiff and she goes up, to SWANTON BOMB! Cover, Becky breaks it! Fans are thunderous as all four women are down! Becky and Kiana bail out, Lyra and Tiff crawl for their corners. Hot tags to Becky and Kiana! Kiana storms in but Becky goes up, to MISSILE DROPKICK! Tiff runs in to scoop, but Becky slips out! Becky has a dragon sleeper, then she kicks Kiana! DOUBLE DDT COMBO! Cover, TWO! INTO THE DISARM-HER!! Fans are thunderous as Kiana endures, fights up, and rolls Becky! Kiana BOOTS Becky, Lyra sneaks a tag. MANHANDLE SLAM, and then the FLYING SPLASH!! Cover, Lyra & Becky win!

Winners: Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall

The Man & The Morrigan teamed up and kicked some lass! But then Tiff SMACKS Becky with a chair! And JAMS Lyra! And SMACKS Becky again! And again! And again! Tiff throws the chair down, grabs the belt and holds it up over Becky. Fans boo but will this be what we see at the end of No Mercy? But wait, Becky crawls over to ropes and grabs herself a mic. “Tiffany! That’s how you wanna play it? Then at No Mercy, it’s gonna be you and me, EXTREME RULES!!” Fans fire up as Becky raises the ante!! Will Tiffy Time even survive this rematch?


My Thoughts:

A great NXT here, with a lot set up for both next week’s go-home episode and No Mercy. For one, great bookending of “N BEX T” with the women’s title story. Really good opening promo from Becky, with good response from Tiffany, and then Kiana jumping in was a logical move given Kiana got all up in Becky’s face. I like Roxie offered her help to Becky, but Becky was right for saying that after that great match against Lola Vice, Roxie should rest up. Lyra saving Becky from the ambush and joining the match was also a logical move given their friendship, and that was a great main event.

Lyra getting the pin is great for her, and then Tiff and Becky setting up an Extreme Rules match for No Mercy is awesome. For one, with it being anything goes, Tiff can win the belt back after using all sorts of weapons, or also getting help from Kiana. Just as Tiff set herself up to fail in the original match, this could be Becky playing into Tiff’s hands this time. Tiff can be two-time women’s champ, Becky can return to the WWE Women’s World Championship story with a familiar foe in Nia Jax, but also with all the other great names on Raw.

Jacy and Thea had a decent segment, very much a modern and bad girl version of the 80s to 90s trope of the shopping spree fashion montage. These two could become a good tag team, as could Kiana & Tiff if they really wanted. Seriously, have the WWE Women’s Tag Champions show up on NXT already, or else what was the point of unifying the tag titles? Hell, where are Alba Fyre & Isla Dawn? They haven’t been on TV but word is, they wrestled a dark match for SmackDown. Those two need a huge comeback in the tag title story in time for Halloween to really scare Chelsea Green for the lulz.

Melo VS Dom ending up a No Contest, or whatever the official decision was, makes sense in the end given everything going on. Dom is great but he ain’t beating Melo, but then Dom needs some sense of momentum going into what could be two title matches in one week. Dragon got the better of Dom here, and then Ali has a good promo addressing the honestly surprising move to have Dom VS Dragon happen on Raw. Ali might be the reason Dragon doesn’t win against Dom on Monday, but maybe Dragon ends up the reason Ali doesn’t win at No Mercy? Or maybe, just maybe, we get a Triple Threat after all.

Great promos from the tag teams tonight, such as Tony & Stacks setting up this dinner meeting idea. Good promos from Team Scrypts and Hank ‘n’ Tank in response, their tag match is going to be great stuff, but it feels like Bronco Nima & Lucien Price win. Tony & Stacks are Faces, The Creed Brothers are Faces, I feel like Garza & Carrillo are Faces (or at least Tweeners) given they’re now representing familia, so Nima & Price would be the Heels in the mix. At most, we get a Fatal 4 Way for the titles like back in the Black ‘n’ Gold Era. But more likely, we get a Triple Threat of the other teams, winner goes to No Mercy to face The D’Angelo Family.

And really, just awesome stuff out of the Global Heritage Invitational Tournament. Bate VS Dunne going down to the last 13 seconds was awesome, Duke beating Coffey to force the Triple Threat was awesome. I am very surprised by the choices for finalists, but at the same time, so great that Dunne and Coffey are getting the nod to even get this far. Dunne VS Coffey is going to be just as awesome as tonight’s matches, and I can’t be sure who wins. It’d be great if Coffey did, but then I fear it’d be another case of Joe Coffey “not winning the big one.” And as an aside, very surprised Meta Four went with The Matrix and not another Disney related theme. But I guess Bakersfield is north of Los Angeles which is basically Hollywood, so any hit movie/franchise is fair game.

My Score: 8.9/10


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Coverage

Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/26/24)

It’s Draft Day!

Published

on

And with the first overall pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects…

The WWE Draft returns for 2024, the first four rounds being right here on Friday Night SmackDown! With champions protected, who ends up where to challenge them?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

  • Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee w/ Zelina Vega & Carlito VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo; Rey & Dragon win.
  • Bron Breakker VS Cedric Alexander; Bron wins.
  • WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton; No Contest.
  • Cody Rhodes VS Carmelo Hayes; Cody wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Backstage interview with Paul Heyman.

Kayla Braxton is with the Wise Man and says that here on night one of the Draft, there are already rumors circulating, including those about The Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns. Heyman will clarify these are not rumors regarding The Tribal Chief, Roman… Reigns. These are facts! Ladies and gentlemen, Your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns, has voluntarily withdrawn from eligibility for this year’s Draft. That is not a negative but a positive. Who built SmackDown since the Pandemic? Roman Reigns. Who is the biggest star in the entire industry? Roman Reigns. Why would Roman Reigns hog the number one draft pick spotlight when he won’t be returning in the immediate future?

Read into his words, Kayla, that is not what a real Tribal Chief would do. Instead now, the pressure is on Nick Aldis. Because if Roman Reigns isn’t the first draft pick, then who is? The first two picks make history in a brand new era. And Heyman doesn’t know about you, but he is intrigued. No Tribal Chief up for grabs, who gets their opportunity to shine in the spotlight?

 

SmackDown throws it to the NXT Performance Center.

Jackie Redmond says the emotion down here is palpable! There is excitement, hope, and a little bit of nerves. But for these NXT Superstars, tonight is the culmination of a lifetime of hard work, dedication, a little bit of luck and a whole lot of self-belief. It was just last year that the NEW WWE Tag Team Champion, Grayson Waller, was hoping his name would be called. And it is funny this is NXT, but time to buy a vowel, throw in an E! Who is next? We find out tonight! The draft pool is deep, who rises to the top of the list?

 

Corey Graves is in the ring.

Corey welcomes Cincinnati and all of us at home to night one of the 2024 WWE Draft. Understandably, the GMs have their hands full, so Corey will be moderating the contract signing for the WWE Championship match that takes place next Saturday for Backlash: France. Without further ado, it’s the #1 contender, The Phenomenal AJ Styles! Styles makes his entrance, taking a seat at the table on camera right. And now, the Undisputed WWE Champion, the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes! Cincy fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” as Cody makes his entrance and gets his pyro before joining everyone in the ring.

Styles looks over the contract, absolutely tuning out the fans going wild for “CODY! CODY!” Styles then gets the mic to say before he signs, he doesn’t know if we realize that we’ve got two Georgia boys about to mix it up for the first time, and for the biggest prize in the game. Styles understands why they boo, but they gotta know that he doesn’t respect LA Knight, LA Knight got under his skin. He accepts that. But that’s why Styles lost at Mania. But what happened? Styles got his composure back and realized that he is Phenomenal. Styles BEAT Knight to earn the right to face Cody Rhodes at Backlash.

Now unlike Knight, Styles does respect Cody. They hadn’t crossed paths yet, but they’ve been down the same roads. They had to prove themselves outside of the WWE. And Styles is willing to believe that the same man who gave him advice a long time ago gave Cody the same advice, on how to stand on their own two feet and be the men they are today. That man was The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes. The fans cheer for “DUSTY! DUSTY!” Styles learned a lot from Dusty. Styles gets a little emotional thinking about Dusty, he was a good man. Dusty taught Styles how to carry himself, and to carry the weight of a championship.

And Styles looks at this WWE Championship here. The weight of this isn’t just the leather and gold. And at Backlash, we see if Cody can carry it. Styles goes back to his table, signs the contract, and then hands it off to Corey. Corey brings that to Cody, and Cody picks up his mic. “So… Cincinnati…! Whadda we wanna talk about? Certainly, we can talk about respect. There is not a locker room on Earth that you’ll find where everyone in it, every single person, they all respect AJ Styles. Last week, I went on to say you are the modern day Excellence of Execution. I respect the roads that you have traveled down to get here, the parallel paths that perhaps you and I have.

“Mutual respect, much respect. But that respect goes by the wayside at Backlash. I can feel it in your words to a degree. You’ve been here before. And it seems you’re implying that I cannot carry the weight of that championship. Well, good thing the man who trained me not far from where I sit now used to tell me all the time, it’s not about winning the title, it’s about keeping it.” The fans cheer that. Cody says boy does he respect Styles’ familiarity with Cody’s last name. But when you put C O D Y in front of it on this paper, that means they’ve never touched before. That means Backlash is a level playing field.

That means no matter how Phenomenal Styles is, this isn’t a dream match for Cody. It’s a must-win! Cody signs while the fans cheer, and it is official! Cody even throws the pen to the crowd as a free souvenir. Cody then offers a handshake, and Styles says y’know what? It was a beautiful thing to see Cody #FInishTheStory and win the title. But it’s a shame that Cody’s title reign will end at Backlash. Styles still shakes Cody’s hand, and then walks away. Cody picks up the belt and holds it high, will he get to hold it high again in Lyon, France?

Triple H is here!

Just as Cody was on his way to the back, The Game makes his way out here! HHH raises Cody’s hand, then invites him over to the podium. HHH welcomes us to the first round of the 2024 WWE Draft. It is a night that changes the landscape of the WWE going into the future, and things are a bit different this year. As the GMs ponder their next steps, they have to understand it is about protecting the roster they have as it is making the roster they want. Meaning that when they use their picks, they have just as much of a chance gaining a superstar as they do losing one they already have.

HHH just felt that since champs are protected and Cody will be staying here on SmackDown, maybe Cody could help read the SmackDown picks and HHH can read the Raw picks. And since SmackDown goes first, Cody reads first. Cody takes the card to say that with the first pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects… The E S T, Bianca Belair! The stongEST, fastEST, roughEST, toughEST stays on Friday nights! HHH reads that for the second pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, Raw selects… YEET! JEY USO! Monday nights will still have Main Event Jey Uso! And the fans “YEET!” Cody says for the third pick, SmackDown selects… NXT’s Carmelo Hayes!

The fans fire up as SmackDown manages to snag… HIM! The former NXT Champion makes history again by being the first NXT superstar to be chosen this high in the Draft! HHH says that’s a hell of a pick. But then the fourth and final pick of this first round, Raw selects… SETH! FREAKIN’! ROLLINS! It is still going to be Monday Night Rollins as the Visionary stays on the red brand! Cody and HHH shake hands, and then Melo makes his way out! Melo has the mic to say when they talk about who’s next up, about who’s the hottest out, they don’t call them “the hottest out,” they just call him “Carmelo Hayes.”

The fans chant “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” to remind Melo how he’s leaving NXT. Melo says okay, okay. But then to Cody Rhodes, ever since Cody won the title, he’s been talking about “If you aim for the king, you best not miss.” Well, funny how that works. Because when Melo shoots, Melo don’t miss. And as a first round draft pick, what better way to shoot his shot on SmackDown than to shoot it right at Cody? Melo leaves the mic with Cody but Cody picks it up to say, “Fortune certainly favors the bold, but I dunno. You folks don’t wanna see me in action tonight, do ya?” The fans go wild! Oh, but what if Cody forgot his gear?

Oh that’s right! He didn’t forget his gear! And this title right here, for Cody, means absolutely 100%, Melo’s on! They shake on it, and we’re about to see a huge first-time-ever showdown! But will this bold first move work out for… HIM?

 

Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee w/ Zelina Vega & Carlito VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo!

The LWO is still not convinced Legado Del Fantasma had nothing to do with the beating that took the Boy Wonder out ahead of WrestleMania. Will the King of Lucha help get to the bottom of things? Or will Angel & “Berto” make it as easy as ABC, 1-2-3?

The teams sort out, Dragon runs up on Humberto but Humberto LARIATS him down! Humberto drags Dragon up, tears the shirt away and CHOPS! Humberto whips, Dragon ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Humberto tumbles out, Dragon builds speed and FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Humberto! The fans fire up as Dragon pushes Humberto into the ring, goes up a corner, and then CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Dragon facelocks to drag Humberto up, but Humberto wrenches out to CLUB Dragon down. Humberto waistlocks but Dragon throws elbows. Angel tags in as Humberto shoves Dragon. Dragon ducks but Angel holds ropes open, and Dragon tumbles to the floor!

The fans boo and LWO hurries to check on Dragon! Angel & Humberto just soak up the heat as SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and both Dragon and Humberto are down! They crawl, hot tags to Angel and Rey! The fans fire up as Rey ducks ‘n’ dodges and tilt-o-whirl RANAS! Angel ends up in a corner, he puts Rey on the apron, but Rey ROCKS Angel! Rey goes up to SEATED SENTON! Rey keeps moving, wrenches and kicks, then hops on! CODE RED! Cover, Humberto breaks it! The fans boo but Humberto hauls Rey up. Rey fights and RANAS Humberto up and out! But Angelo kicks, scoops, but Rey slips free! Angelo kicks low, reels REy in, and underhooks, but Rey fights those to RANA Angel onto ropes! Rey dials it up to 619!

Tag to Dragon and he takes aim! Angel stands, into the tilt-o-whirl, PROJECT DRAGON!! Cover, LWO wins!

Winners: Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee, by pinfall

Carlito and Zelina hug it out with the team, but then Santos Escobar & Elektra Lopez walk out here. Santos says whoa, whoa, whoa, hold that celebration. Because Santos is many things, but a liar is not one of them. And when Santos said he did NOT attack Dragon that night before Mania, he meant it. Elektra has been working for weeks to track down the security footage from that night. And Rey… Oh, Rey. What you’re about to see, you will find very, very interesting. The footage plays, and it was CARLITO!! Carlito throw Dragon around backstage! No one can believe it, because of how well Carlito fooled even Dragno.

Speaking of, Carlito RAMS Dragon into Rey, then hits a BACKSTABBER! Never has that move’s name been more fitting! Carlito runs away in a panic, and Rey stands back up in a rage! Santos says he told Rey that he was right all along. They were supposed to be family, and yet look how that turned out. How will the LWO recover from this shocking development?

 

Bron Breakker VS Cedric Alexander!

The Big Bad Booty Nephew has been making a case for himself ever since showing up on SmackDown, and he’s already bringing the straps down! Is he going to break PRIMED Alexander while also breaking match time records? Or will Cedric prove he’s too fly for Bron?

The bell rings and Cedric dodges Bron to CHOP and ROCK! Cedric whips, Bron reverses and Cedric handsprings, into a SPEAR!! Cover, Bron wins!

Winner: Bron Breakker, by pinfall

Well, hard to say if that’s an all-time fast match, but that was a fast match! QR Code stuff going on, but will we all see Bron take the world by storm?

 

Nick Aldis heads out.

And waiting is Tiffany Stratton. She asks if he saw what she did last week. Wait, of course he did. Because she is the Center of the Universe. She dropped Naomi and Bayley, where is her title match? Aldis tells Tiff to look at his watch. It is NOT set to #TiffyTime. And he was this close to sending her to the back of the line. But then someone convinced him otherwise, good for her. Tonight, she goes 1v1 with Naomi again, and the winner faces Bayley for the title at Backlash. Whose stupid idea was that?! Bayley says DING DONG, it was hers. It is a win-win situation here. If Naomi wins, she gets the match she got cheated out of.

And if Tiff wins, then she’ll find out when she attacks the Role Model. Tiff gasps as she has a #TiffanyEpiphany. Bayley should be ringside for that match so she can see Tiff do what Bayley couldn’t, and that’s beat Naomi. Tootles. Tiff leaves, but will the only thing she gets is to #FeelTheGlow?

 

Michelle McCool and Torrie Wilson are here!

One is a former WWE Women’s Champion, the other is a WWE Hall of Famer, but they’re both here to present Draft picks! Michelle says with the first pick of the second round, SmackDown selects… The Viper, Randy Orton! SmackDown will still have to watch out for an RKO outta nowhere! Torrie says that with the second pick of the second round, Raw selects… BRON BREAKKER! We just saw Bron make quick work of opponents here on SmackDown, but now he’s gonna be rampaging on Raw!

Michelle says that with the third pick of the second round, SmackDown selects… NIA JAX! The Irresistible Force may have to change targets from the Women’s World to the Undisputed Women’s title, but will she be unstoppable all the same? And with the fourth and final pick of this round, Raw selects… LIV MORGAN! The Revenge Tour will still be part of Monday nights, will we watch Liv rise to the top?

 

The Bloodline arrives backstage.

Paul Heyman is there to greet them and open the door to the SUV. He apologizes for not being faster about that, but Solo Sikoa asks The Bloodline if they’ve been drafted. Not yet. Then give Solo the details. Okay, well, Roman Reigns withdrew right before the show began, and then Solo keeps adding members, so no one really knows what they’re getting if they draft The Bloodline! Solo sighs, and here comes Tama Tonga. Heyman asks they be patient but Solo wants Heyman to repeat that for him. Heyman gets scared, but then KEVIN OWENS jumps in! Kevin fires off on Tama, security and refs rush in to stop it!

The Prizefighter wants Solo’s “MFT” to bring the fight like he did last week! Security still drags Kevin away, but will he get that fight he wants?

 

Kayla Braxton is on stage.

SmackDown returns and Kayla welcomes us back to the show. And please welcome out the first overall pick, Bianca Belair! The fans fire up as The EST walks out on stage, and Kayla congratulates her on being the first overall pick. But let’s talk Backlash. Breaking news, Bianca and Jade Cargill are going to challenge for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships, against the Kabuki Warriors. How satisfying would it be to dethrone them on the stage of this magnitude? Bianca says so satisfying. She really hopes Jade gets drafted to SmackDown because given all this history with Damage CTRL, all the partners by her side, Bianca has never been the one to finally end it with them.

For everything they’ve done to her and this division, Bianca feels Jade is the perfect woman to help her end this. Now, DMG CTRL is falling apart piece by piece, and that final piece is the tag titles. So once Bianca & Jade take the gold at Backlash, the Kabuki Warriors won’t even have a reason to come back to SmackDown. But wait, they’re here now! Asuka & Kairi walk out here and Kayla moves aside. The Empress of Tomorrow and the Pirate Princess taunt the EST, but here comes The Storm! Jade makes her way to stand right by Bianca’s side. The four shout and argue, but this will be settled on May 4th!

WHOA! Tama and Kevin are brawling their way out here! The ladies move aside so the gentlemen can brawl all the way down to ringside! Tama hits low, gets in the ring, but Kevin pursues! Kevin TACKLES Tama, but Solo CLOBBERS Kevin! The fans boo as The Bloodline beats Kevin down! The refs hurry out here but clearly Solo’s Bloodline won’t listen! Tama DECKS producers, DECKS guards, HEADBUTTS them, throws hands and even THROWS the guards! Tama and Solo beat Kevin down again, but here comes Randy Orton! The Viper is still on SmackDown and he’s still pals with Kevin, so here he comes!

Orton DECKS Tama, fires hands on Solo, then RK- NO, Solo gets free and gets away! Orton wants to pursue, almost runs Jamie Noble and refs over to do it, but the Bloodline has gotten away! The fans cheer Randy on, and KAevin even hugs him! But then Kevin and Randy try to give chase! Security stops this, when and where will we see #RKKO strike down Solo and Tama?

 

The Dudley Boyz are here!

The fans fire up as Bubba Ray & D-Von are both here for the next round of picks! Cincy chants for “E C DUB! E C DUB!” Bubba and D-Von look at the cards, it’s hard to read. So out come the glasses! Bubba says with the first pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects… L A KNIGHT! YEAH!! The Mega Star stays on Fridays! D-Von says with the second pick of the third round, Raw selects… RICOCHET! Mondays still has the One and Only, is Ricochet going to bring that WWE Speed Championship home to Raw, too?

Bubba says with the third pick of the third round, SmackDown selects… THE BLOODLINE! That means Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga and Paul Heyman are staying right here on Friday nights. And D-Von says with the final pick of this round, Raw selects… SHEAMUS! The Celtic Warrior just got back, but he won’t have to worry about going anywhere else but Monday nights.

 

WWE Women’s Championship #1 Contender’s Match: Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton!

It’s time to run it back once again! The Glow got robbed by the Spoiled Rich Girl, but supposedly, it’s #TiffyTime. Will Naomi prove there’s no such time on the clock? Or will Bayley be the one feeling the Backlash over giving Tiffany one more chance?

The bell rings and Naomi hits a THESZ PRESS! Naomi rains down fists, Tiffy shoves her away and goes to ropes, but Naomi gets up in Tiff’s face. Naomi whips, Tiff holds ropes to bail out and fans boo. Naomi scowls, runs in and WRECKS Tiff with a dropkick! Naomi then gets Tiff up, SMACKS her off the apron, and then SMACKS her off it again! And again! Naomi puts Tiff in, goes up a corner, but Tiff gets under the jump! Naomi runs back up but Tiff YANKS her into ropes! Tiff runs to HIP ATTACK! Naomi sputters, Tiff scowls and drags Naomi up, to then put through ropes. But Naomi RAMS into Tiff!

Naomi reels Tiff in, for a HEATSEEKER! Tiff flops to the floor, and then Naomi SPLIT LEG DROPS! Naomi says it’s #NaomiTime, but SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns and Naomi runs, but into a SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO! Naomi survives and Tiff is frustrated but the fans rally up. Tiff drags Naomi up, whips her to a corner, but Naomi goes up and sunset flips! TWO! Tiff escapes, knees Naomi low, then whips. Naomi slides under the lariat to then mule kick! Then she headscissor SPIKES Tiff down! Cover, TWO! Tiff survives but barely, and Naomi keeps her cool. Naomi headlocks, but Tiff shoves her into buckles! Tiff runs, but Naomi follows, DOUBLE RUNNING FACEBUSTERS take them both down! The fans fire up as the two rise!

Naomi KICKS, ROCKS and ROCKS Tiff again! Naomi fires shots again and again but Tiff knees low! Tiff reels Naomi in, but Naomi wrenches out to ENZIGIRI! And then BUCKLE BULLDOG! But then NIA JAX attacks Bayley!? Nia SMACKS Bayley off buckles, rains down fists, and this momentarily distracts Naomi. Naomi refocuses, but by now, Tiff’s slipped away! Nia KICKS Bayley in the side, so Naomi goes out to ROCK her! Nia POSTS Naomi and that throws the match out!

No Contest

The fans boo as Nia ruins the fun, then runs Bayley over! Nia smiles as she blows kisses to Cincy. Tiff smiles, she drags Naomi up and puts her in the ring. Then she drags Bayley in! Tiff wants a repeat of last week as she puts them side by side in the drop zone! Tiff then goes up and up for the PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Tiff says it’s her time, but the #1 contendership is still in question. Who gets their shot at the Role Model at Backlash?

 

B-Fab and the Street Profits meet up backstage.

Angelo Dawkins has a “WHO-DEY” sign, but Montez Ford is wondering where Bobby Lashley is right now. B-Fab says calm down, he’ll be here. Byron Saxton walks over and apologizes for interrupting. He doesn’t know what the Draft destination for this group will be until Monday Night Raw, but we do know that The Profits will challenge A-Town Down Under for the WWE Tag Team Championships. YESSIIIIIIR~! B-Fab says it doesn’t matter where they get drafted. The Profits are going to take down A-Town Down Under and take those titles. Then they’ll have their first class tickets right back to SmackDown.

SmackDown? Did someone say SmackDown~? In walk Austin Theory & Grayson Waller, showing off the titles. And Theory says you can’t have SmackDown without the GREATEST undefeated tag team of all time. And sorry, Dawkins, but these are championships, something the Bengals know nothing about! B-Fab keeps Dawkins back, but then in steps Bobby Lashley! The All Mighty scares Theory & Waller right off, and Dawkins says see y’all next Friday! Will there be nothing keeping these Profits down the night before Backlash?

 

The Final Testament speaks.

Karrion Kross says good evening. What’s going on here? You guessed it! More random acts of violence! Just follow him. Kross & Scarlett lead the way to show The Authors of Pain beating down New Catch Republic! Rezar beats down Pete Dunne while Akam victimizes Tyler Bate! Paul Ellering says they will know about sacrifice! Kross says whether they get drafted to Raw or stay on SmackDown, the violence will continue until they get what they want! So sayeth The Final Testament!!

 

Teddy Long and JBL are here!

The Hall of Famer General Manager and the Hall of Famer WWE Champion are both here, ready to give us the fourth and final round of picks tonight! Teddy gets right to it! The first pick of the fourth round, SmackDown selects… AJ STYLES! The Phenomenal One is really an obvious choice, because one way or another, the WWE Championship stays with SmackDown! JBL says the second pick of the fourth round, Raw selects… THE ALPHA ACADEMY! Raw keeps Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri & Akira Tozawa, A THANK YEW~!

Teddy says with the third pick of this round, SmackDown selects… ANDRADE! A big move as now El Idolo will be part of Friday nights. And with the final pick of this fourth round, Raw selects… NXT’S Kiana James! The Calculator, the former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, has the Raw hat to put on, and after a quick hype package, Jackie Redmond is there to interview her. Kiana, congratulations! You are heading to Monday Night Raw! How much does this mean to her? This means the world to her. She is filled with gratitude, but also knows every decision she has made up to this point has been by design to get her here.

Kiana is so proud of her time in NXT, but she’s ready to show Raw why she is the One Percent. Was she surprised? Of course she was! HBK is here to wish her luck and congratulations. Is Kiana going to start the hostile takeover of the Raw Women’s Division?

 

Backstage interview with Nick Aldis.

Kayla is with the SmackDown GM and says that with night one in the books, how does he feel about SmackDown’s selections? He feels really good about them. SmackDown’s future is bright, he can’t wait for the new recruits to show up and show out for the blue brand. But he also wants to turn attentions to Backlash, because he’s got some new matches to announce! The first PLE in France, this is exciting stuff, Kayla. Aldis says that the WWE Women’s Championship will now be on the line in a Triple Threat! Bayley VS Naomi VS Tiffany Stratton! Will the odds make it that much harder for the Role Model to succeed?

There’s one more match to announce, but Aldis will let the GM GOAT take it from here. Teddy Long steps in, and don’t forget. We’ll talk about this tag team match. The Bloodline VS Kevin Owens & Randy Orton! Holla, players. Solo & Tama will have to face The Viper and the Prizefighter, will #RKKO strike fast and strike hard?

 

Cody Rhodes VS Carmelo Hayes!

The American Nightmare just put pen to paper for his match with the Phenomenal One, but he isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. The former NXT Champion is shooting his shot, but will this be nothing but net? Or will it be a frustrating airball?

The bell rings and the two circle. They tie up, the fans rally for Cody as he puts Melo in a corner then arm-drags him away. Melo runs up, Cody headlocks, Melo powers out then drops. Melo hurdles, but Cody kicks low to RHODES UPPERCUT! Melo staggers to ropes, the fans fire up, but then melo throat chops and springboard FLYING LARIATS! Melo says that’s why he’s a first round pick! But then Cody CLOBBERS him! Cody asks if Melo’s ready for this, and SmackDown goes to break.

SmackDown returns once again and Cody has a headlock. Cody hits a takeover, Melo flails and kicks around, but Cody grinds him down. Melo pushes with his forearm, then headscissors, but Cody kips free. Melo CHOPS, the fans “WOO~!” but Cody brushes himself off. Melo pie faces Cody! Cody fires forearms on Melo, then whips, but Melo reverses. Melo ELBOWS Cody, then runs up to KICK him in the side! Melo fires forearms and CHOPS in a corner, then throws body shots. Melo digs his boot in, the ref counts, and Cody goes to another corner. Cody eggs Melo on, Melo storms up, but Cody puts him in the corner to CHOP!

Cody swings, Melo dodges and CHOPS! Cody turns things around to CHOP! The fans rally, Cody whips corner to corner, then he back drops Melo away! Melo staggers up, Cody runs, and he rallies on Melo with forearms! Cody goes up and over in a corner but Melo tilt-o-whirls, LA MYSTICA! Melo springboards, FADE AWAY! Cover, TWO! Cody survives that flying DDT, but we see the NXT roster all fired up watching Melo take it to the champ. Melo sits Cody up, drags him into a facelock, but the fans rally for Cody. Cody fireman’s carries but Melo slips free to dragon sleeper! Melo grins, but Cody cradles! TWO!!

Melo swings, Cody boots, then Cody springboards to BEAUTIFUL DISASTER! Melo flips inside-out, Cody covers, TWO! Melo is still in this and he snarls up at Cody. Melo gives a forearm, Cody gives it back, and the fans rally up. Cody scoops Melo, storms around, and then hits a RUNNING POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Melo survives and Cody grows frustrated. Cody pounds the mat, the fans rally up, and then Cody goes to ropes. Cody springboards again, CODY CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives yet again, proving why he’s a former NXT Champion, on top of NXT North American Champion! But then Cody drags him up!

Cody back suplexes, Melo lands out of it, then FIRST 48! Doe goes Cody and Melo goes up! Melo is setting up for the game winner! NOTHING BUT- NO, Cody avoids the flying leg drop! Melo rolls through, Cody dodges to SUPERKICK! Cody brings Melo around, but Melo gets free! They both run, both springboard, but completely miss each other, and Cody takes a rough landing! Melo drags Cody up, reels him in, but Cody wrenches out to dragon sleeper! CROSS RHODES!! Cody shakes out the bad arm but still makes the cover, and Cody wins!

Winner: Cody Rhodes, by pinfall

Melo took his shot but it was blocked! Even so, Cody sits Melo up to show him respect and tell him he’s still the future. But did this match end up more of a trap game for Cody after that crash landing? Or will he be alright in time for Backlash and his phenomenal opponent?

Speaking of, Styles sneaks right into the ring! Cody sees him in time and Styles stays back. Cody and Styles stare down, but Styles says it was that close. Styles offers a handshake, and Cody takes it. There’s still respect here, for now. But will nothing stop Styles from turning Cody’s story into a tragedy after all?


My Thoughts:

A great SmackDown to open the WWE Draft but to also set up Backlash. To recap, SmackDown took Bianca, Melo, Orton, Nia, LA Knight, The Bloodline, Styles and Andrade while Raw took Jey, Rollins, Bron, Liv, Ricochet, Sheamus, The Alpha Academy, and Kiana. Many of those choices made sense, as picks won’t be wasted on keeping champions on brands, and just need to be used to keep most stories alive and change up a few others. Kiana is perhaps one of the more surprising moves, but well-deserved. She has been a solid character and solid in-ring performer almost from the start, she’s a solid addition to Raw.

Bron of course demolished his opponent tonight, it’s just a shame it was Cedric and not local enhancement talent. But Bron will also be a good addition to Raw, but maybe he can move past his squash match phase and get right to story. Melo being a first round pick was great stuff, and he had a great promo with Cody to give us tonight’s main event. That double springboard whiff was definitely a timing problem, but at the same time, a Fade Away countered into a Cody Cutter would’ve been way too epic just for TV. Cody with a great win, and we got a really good contract signing segment, but you can bet Cody retains.

Really good tag match from LWO VS Legado but naturally Rey & Dragon won. I knew it was only a matter of time before Carlito was outed, and how he handled being exposed was pretty good. And with Andrade being drafted to SmackDown, you just know that means Andrade joins the LWO. The Final Testament attacking New Catch Republic was a wild moment, I almost thought Ellering was going to use the pliers in his hands to grab at fingers. Maybe we get that next week for SmackDown in France. Good promos from A-Town Down Under and the still technically unnamed faction of Bobby Lashley’s. As great as The Profits are, it feels like Theory & Waller will cheat to retain.

Really good promo with Tiff and Bayley to set up Naomi VS Tiff round 3, but I did not think Nia Jax would disrupt all that. A Triple Threat at Backlash is good stuff, it will protect Bayley if she loses, but can also protect Naomi and Tiff if Bayley uses them against each other to win. Good promo from Bianca that then turned into the shouting match of Bianca & Jade with Kabuki Warriors. Their tag title match is official, and I’m pretty sure Bianca & Jade win. I also liked that this segment ended up having Kevin and Tama brawl right through it. Orton saving Kevin was a great move, RKKO VS Solo & Tama is going to be awesome stuff, I can’t wait to see it.

My Score: 8.8/10


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Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 4.25.2024

We just got done with Rebellion, and Under Siege is two weeks away! Gotta see how these dots connect!

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Rebellion had quite a few returns, Mike Santana, Sami Callihan and Broken Matt Hardy. All three of these guys could easily be main event players, and its nice to mix up and expand what felt like a rather small pool of potential challengers.

Under Siege is only like 2 weeks out, so we’ll see how the dots connect in such a short period of time.

Ratings:

  • Mike Santana vs Myron Reed w/Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz: Santana wins via Spin the Block – ** 1/2
  • #1 Contender: Frankie Kazarian vs Josh Alexander: Josh wins via Grapevine Ankle Lock – ***
  • ASH by Elegance vs Xia Brookside: Xia wins via School Girl Roll-Up – ** 3/4
  • Sami Callihan vs The Good Hands: Sami Callihan wins via Cactus Driver ’97 – SQUASH
  • Eddie Edwards w/Alisha Edwards & Brian Myers vs Nic Nemeth: Eddie wins via Boston Knee Party – *** 1/4

Results:

A weird opening that is just framed to put Nemeth and Hardy together against The System. Feels a little awkward, but who knows how it will play out. 

Mike Santana vs Myron Reed w/Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz

Ahh I didn’t really pay attention to Santana’s theme at Rebellion, but its pretty damn cool. Good stuff. 

Rascalz blindside Santana early, but the heel advantage doesn’t last more than a few moves. Santana whips Myron from corner to corner, hits a few Hip Attacks before Myron finally dodges one and starts using his unique offense and agility to his advantage. Matrix dodge, into an Leaping Outside Back in Slingshot Codebreaker. Some more offense and Santana powders to the ramp, Myron jumps over the rope and tries a Flying Cutter, but Santana blocks it, turns things around, gets pushed forward and hits the Rolling Cutter. Santana takes out the Rascalz, heads back into the ring, Myron tries to catch him unawares but eats the Spin the Block off the rope run! Santana wins fairly quickly.

Maclin’s music hits, he tries to employ the help of The Rascalz to attack Santana, but as soon as Maclin positions himself to get in, The Rascalz bail and flip off Maclin. Maclin makes it out of the confrontation relatively unscathed, but at least we know where he’s going for Under Siege probably.

OH FUCK ME WITH RUSTY KNIVES. Because Cardona is hurt Kon is paired with SDL, and she just challenges Jordynne and PCO to a tag match. WHY!? STOP IT. This is hot garbage. 

Josh Alexander comes out…I wonder who’s Super Finisher he’s gonna conveniently kick out this time? Brian Myers? Frankie Kazarian? Rich Swann? Because yes, I’m still annoyed that Hammerstone has been in TNA for half a sandwich, he already connects with a Super version of his finish on tacks, and that’s not a finish. Oh Kaz’s music hits. Okay, so time for Josh to kick out of Fade to Black or Flux Capacitor. Kaz talks smack, says he won his match too so he should have a say in who’s number one contender. Josh challenges him, Kaz says not right now, but a referee runs out and says the match is official. 

#1 Contender: Frankie Kazarian vs Josh Alexander

Kaz throws his jacket on Josh’s head, and attacks him with some strikes before Josh fights back and throws Kaz out. Commercial break, we see Kaz misses his Apron Guillotine, Josh goes for the Low Crossbody but Kaz dodges and Josh goes flying. Kaz starts throwing some chops and claws at the cauliflowered ears of Josh. Russian Leg Sweep from Kaz for a near fall. Josh swings wildly and Kaz ducks the strike and levels Josh with a Lariat.

Josh blocks a Vertical Suplex attempt, but Frankie pulls off a Fisherman’s Suplex after a few overhead strikes for a near fall. Josh stands up and connects with a straight right, rocks Kaz, Back Body Drop, into a Charging Forearm, Rolling Senton, 2 count! C4 Spike attempt countered into a Back Stabber and then Chicken Wing, but Josh fights it off, rolls through and into an Ankle Lock, Kaz kicks off and into a Head and Arm Cradle for a near fall and then the Guillotine Leg Drop into Slingshot DDT spot from Kaz for another 2 count!

Fade to Black, but its fought off, Big Boot but then Kaz counters the next move with a Power Slam into the Springboard Guillotine Leg Drop, but Josh grabs the Ankle Lock! Locomotion German Suplex time from Josh, Halfhatch Suplex after the Germans, floats over for a 2 count! C4 Spike attempt again, but Kaz fights it off, dumps him over the top rope, slingshots him in and into the Cutter for a near fall for Kaz! After the 2 Kaz grabs a chair and chain, the referee stops the chair of course, so he tries the chain, EY runs down and grabs the chain so Kaz pulls the Eddie Guerrero and the referee admonishes EY, but doesn’t DQ Josh. So as Kaz is busy laughing at EY, Josh picks the ankle, Ankle Lock with the Grapevine, Kaz taps.

ASH by Elegance vs Xia Brookside

Both are jawing at each other and then throw hands before Xia gets the upper hand with a Headscissors from the Top Turnbuckle, Charging Knees, a Flurry of Kicks, but when the ref forces some space in the corner, ASH is finally able to dodge and work over Xia with her Twisting Body Splash, a few choking moves, a corner Stomp into a Snap Suplex for 2. ASH is in charge elegantly, but the referee keeps forcing space on both of them when they go for corner attacks. Xia manages to take advantage a little, but ASH regains control, kicks Xia up the ramp and then lands her Cartwheel Back Elbow up the ramp. It actually looks pretty cool executed like that.

Headlocks and Hair Pulling to keep Xia down and using energy to kick out. ASH is getting frustrated but Xia is remaining persistent. ASH goes back to the Headlock, but Xia fights up, Jawbreaker, Back Elbow, Kick to the gut and Drop Toe Hold sends ASH face first into the middle buckle. Xia rips off 4 Double Knee Smashes to the back of ASH’s head into her Flying Crossbody for a close 2! Xia pulls her up, but ASH spins out, then Xia slips it, but ASH kicks her in the chest and deposits her to the outside and demands a count from the referee. Iceman puts Jeweled Knuckles/Rings on ASH’s hand, the referee catches her, removes the stuff from her fingers and Xia hits the School Girl Roll-Up for the flash win.

Sami Callihan vs The Good Hands

So the Good Hand Jobs are about to do their job to Sami. I’m just gonna assume Sami beats the hell out of both and wins with a Cactus Driver ’97. If anything interesting happens I might actually cover it, but come on now.

Kaz makes a Metallica reference with the “Wash Your Back So You Won’t Stab Mine”…and Sweet Amber is the only good song on St. Anger. So…I ain’t mad.

Eddie Edwards w/Alisha Edwards & Brian Myers vs Nic Nemeth

A little early ground wrestling and headlocks for control from both men. Nothing super flashy to start until we get to the rope run and Nemeth goes for the Flying Body Press to drop Eddie. Before Nemeth can follow up, Lish grabs his foot. Nic does have his brother Ryan in the crowd, trying to get chants going and do the old school ‘power up the babyface’ thing, but Eddie has been in control since Lish got involved. Simple offense, chokes, strikes, Snap Suplexes, Knee Drops, simple yet effective. But then Eddie ducks his head too early, Nemeth kicks him in the face, bounces his head off the buckles a few times, Dropkick sends Eddie reeling to the corner, Nemeth starts the 10 Count Punches but Myers hits the apron to distract and Eddie manages to slip the situation and push Nemeth to the floor.

Commercial break happens, Nemeth is trying to fight back with Chops, but a Kitchen Sink from Eddie puts Nemeth on the floor again! Clubbing blow from Eddie, but Eddie then misses the Hip Attack in the corner and Nemeth counters with the Rude Awakening into the 10 Count Rain of Elbows. Fame Ass-er miss, Eddie tries something but Nemeth turns it into that hesitation DDT for 2! Tuning up the band starts to build and Eddie powders to avoid it. Nemeth throws Eddie back in, goes to the top, but Eddie crotches him, rises up and hits the Superplex into Tiger Driver for 2! Eddie starts mocking with Tuning Up the band but Nemeth hits his own Superkick into an Olympic Slam for 2!

Both men just trade strikes Fighting Spirit style, Eddie says “Always Trust the System” and Nemeth shuts him up with a Headbutt. Danger Zone is blocked, Boston Knee Party gets ducked, they level each other with Lariats! Myers and Ryan Nemeth start fighting to distract the referee, Moose hits the ring and hits Nemeth with the belt. Eddie lands Boston Knee Party and The System wins again!

 

Overall Score: 6/10

A lame opening segment, a squash match, ASH by Elegance getting her first loss, and a weird way of just pulling the number one contender out of mid air makes for an awkward show. Also Kon still be involved in, literally anything, is negative. However, I can say there was a ton of stuff thrown at the wall this episode, so there’s a chance that some things landed better with other people than myself. The ballot segments were amusing, they overused the “I need to talk to you Santino” gimmick a bit much and personally I feel like having Jake versus Hammerstone is booking yourself into a weird corner.

But hey, the main event was fun, Nemeth getting laid out to the point that there could be a story reason to take him out of the Under Siege match. Kaz with the Metallica reference was pop worthy and I guess its a lot of ‘let’s see where it goes’ kind of angle creation. So it wasn’t complete trash, but its definitely a wait and see episode.


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