Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (10/17/23)
Who’s heading for Halloween Havoc?
Bada bing, bada boom, a battle royal and triple threat, too!
NXT prepares for Halloween Havoc by holding huge #1 contenders matches! Who will be facing Ilja Dragunov and The D’Angelo Family next?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Bada Bing Bada Boom Tag Team Battle Royal: Chase U wins and will challenge Tony D’Angelo & Channing Lorenzo for the NXT Tag Team Championships at Halloween Havoc, Night 1.
- NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament, Opening Round: Karmen Petrovic VS Jaida Parker; Karmen wins and advances to the next round.
- Lyra Valkyria VS Tegan Nox w/ Natalya; Lyra wins.
- Kiana James VS Shotzi Blackheart; Shotzi wins.
- NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament, Opening Round: Arianna Grace VS Brinley Reece; Arianna wins and advances to the next round.
- NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Triple Threat: DIJAK VS Baron Corbin VS Carmelo Hayes; changed to…
- NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Dijak VS Baron Corbin VS Carmelo Hayes VS Trick Williams; changed back to…
- NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Triple Threat: DIJAK VS Baron Corbin VS Carmelo Hayes; Melo wins and will challenge Ilja Dragunov for the title at Halloween Havoc, Night 2.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bada Bing Bada Boom Tag Team Battle Royal!
Cody Rhodes said bookin’ ain’t easy, and this one is a bit complex. Ten teams enter, they throw each other over and out until there’s only two, and then they go 2v2 in a standard match, the winners facing The Don & Stacks next week for Halloween Havoc. Who will be the last team standing to go trick or treatin’ with The D’Angelos?
Speaking of, Tony, Stacks and many of Tony’s cousins are watching from the perch while enjoying some spaghetti. The bell rings and the brawling is on! And right away, Briggs & Jensen DOUBLE CLOTHESLINE Kemp up and out to ELIMINATE Kemp & Gulak! Kemp is in shock, but he has to exit. But then OTM throws Tank over and a ref gets clipped! Tank stays on the apron, Hank helps out, but Nima DECKS Tank to ELIMINATE Hank ‘n’ Tank! Two teams down, still a lot of teams to go! Julius whips Briggs to a corner, Gallus goes after Garza, but then Nima fires off on Mark. Dunne fights off Price, and fans rally up for Chase U.
Briggs tosses Wolfgang up and out but Wolfgang holds on! Wolfgang drags Briggs out while Ridge Holland brawls with Price. Wolfgang and Briggs throw hands on the apron, they both ROCK each other! Jensen whips Mark, Mark reverses, and Wolfgang DUMPS Jensen, Gallus ELIMINATES the Country Boys! And then Mark BLASTS Briggs for good measure! Gallus then go after Julius and Nima. Fans rally for “Malik, Da Freak!” as he and Edris rally on Ridge! They double whip but Ridge slams on the brakes to lift them both! DOUBLE BACK DROP, Ridge ELIMINATES Malik & Edris! Fans boo but the Brawling Brutes move on to other targets.
Gallus brawls with the Brutes given their Pub Brawl last week, but Dunne then has to fight off OTM. Duke stops Garza & Humberto from throwing Chase out, and then Wolfgang slips under the ropes to save Mark. But then BRUTUS SMASH and the Creeds ELIMINATE Gallus! Fans fire up there and Tony is liking what he’s seeing. Dunne has Nima’s fingers and bends them! And SNAPS them! Ridge scoops Nima to dump him to the apron! Price tries to save Nima but Dunne’s on him! SCRYPTS runs in to BLAST them all, DOUBLE ELIMINATION! The Brutes brawl with OTM but the refs say to go to the back already!
Los Lotharios have Julius, Brutus fights off Chase U, only one team needs to be eliminated before we move to the 2v2. The fans rally for the Creeds but Garza CLUBS Julius. Julius ROCKS Garza but then Carrillo runs up. But Julius DUMPS Carrillo to ELIMINATE Los Lotharios! Fans fire up as now Diamond Mine and Chase U- NO wait, Los Lotharios runs in to TOSS Diamond Mine!? And because the refs weren’t watching, this is the elimination that counts!! Fans boo but then rally behind Chase U as we now have our tag match!
Chase U w/ Thea Hail & Jacy Jayne VS Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo!
Chase and Garza fire off hands, Chase gets the edge! Fans fire up as Chase tags Duke and they whip, body shot and DOUBLE SLEDGE! Duke wrenches to RAM Garza, wrenches again and tags Chase. Duke whips Garza, Chase drop toeholds, Duke drops a BIG elbow! Chase covers, TWO! Fans fire up while NXT goes picture in picture.
Chase headlocks, Garza powers up but can’t get out as Chase holds tight. Chase grinds the headlock, Garza fights up and powers out this time, to then reel Chase in for a KNEE! Tag to Carrillo and he runs in, but Chase arm-drags him around! And DORPKICKS him down! But Garza sneaks a tag back in, Carrillo drop toeholds Chase into Garza’s GAMANGIRI! Chase sputters, Tony & Stacks enjoy what they see as Garza basement dropkicks Chase to the corner. Garza puts Chase up top, CLUBS hi over and over and over again, then soaks up the heat. Garza then puts Chase in a Tree of Woe to stomp a mudhole into him.
Tag to Carrillo and he stomps Chase. The ref counts, Carrillo lets off at 4, then tags Garza. They both stomp a mudhole in! The ref reprimands, they let off and drag Chase from the Tree. Cover, ONE!! Chase is hanging in there but Garza drags him up to put back int he corner. But Chase fights back with boots and elbows! But Garza SUPERKICKS Chase down! Garza stands on Chase, tags Carrillo, and they drag Chase up so Carrillo can mule kick! Carrillo pushes Chase to a cover, TWO! Chase scrambles but Carrillo anchors a leg. Carrillo drags Chase back, stomps on that leg, then grinds the leg with a toehold.
Chase endures, Carrillo stands and turns Chase, but Chase resists! Chase kicks with his free leg and Carrillo lets go. Chase hurries, but Carrillo drags him back again. Chase ROCKS Carrillo! And ROCKS him again! And again! Carrillo swings back, NXT returns to single picture as Carrillo whips, trips and then drags Chase out so Garza can KNEE Chase down! Garza says Chase ain’t going anywhere! Fans still rally and Duke is seething as Garza puts Chase in. Cover, TWO! Garza rains down fists, even as fans boo! Garza throws down headbutts now! Fans still rally for Chase U as Garza stands Chase against ropes.
Tag to Carrillo, he runs and they LEAP FROG ATTACK! Garza ROLLING ELBOWS! Carrillo pushes Chase to a cover, TWO!! Chase is tough but Carrillo kicks him around. Carrillo CHOKES Chase on the ropes, the ref counts, and Carrillo lets off at 4. Carrillo argues with the ref and Garza gets a cheap shot in! Carrillo digs his boot in as Jacy & Thea protest. Carrillo brings Chase up, shoves him back in and SPLASHES! Tag to Garza, and Garza whips Carrillo at Duke to DROPKICK! Garza runs in but Chase dodges, Garza POSTS himself! Carrillo runs in but Chase dumps him out! But Chase has no one to tag! And then Garza GAMANGIRIS Chase down!
Garza stays between Chase and Duke, talks a lot of trash, then stands Chase up. But Chase throws haymakers! Again and again, and then he leaps! Garza catches Chase, keeps him just out of reach, but then Chase dodges! Hot tag to the MVP! Duke rallies on Carrillo, CLOBBERS Garza, then hits an OVERHEAD Belly2Belly on Carrillo! JAB, JAB, JAB! Garza runs in, he gets JAB after JAB! Flip, flop and “U~!” ELBOW for Garza! Carrillo kicks but Duke blocks, to FLIP Carrillo onto Garza! Then Duke runs up to SENTON Garza and whip Carrillo. Carrillo reverses, but runs into an U-RENAGE! Cover, Garza dropkicks it apart!
Fans fire up and Thea has all her energy in cheering. Duke TOSSES Garza, tags Chase, and Chase FLYING RANAS Garza! Fans fire up and even Thea is surprised Chase can do that! Duke ELBOWS Carrillo, Chase CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO!! Fans rally up as Chase keeps his focus. But then Garza YANKS Duke down and RAMS him into steps! DDT to the floor! Roll up on Chase, TWO!! Carrillo sunset flips, ONE but LIGER BOMB from Carrillo! Cover, TWO?!? Chase survives and the student section is on fire! Even Tony’s impressed. Jacy & Thea check on Duke while Garza tags in. Los Lotharios coordinate, but Brutus distracts!
Julius YANKS Carrillo out, Chase has Garza! Brutus tells the ref to watch the match!! The ref sees the pin and counts, CHASE U WINS!!!
Winners: Chase U, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the NXT Tag Team Champions)
Diamond Mine makes sure justice is served, and you can’t spell justice without U! Will Chase & Duke finally be champions? Or will The Don & Stacks be more than ready for the professor and his star pupil?
Blair Davenport speaks.
“Now that things are back to normal around here, Gigi Dolin, if you thought that your fleeting victory was the end of our rivalry, you are sorely mistaken, my dear. Due to an incompetent referee, you escaped like a thief in the night with the biggest win of your career. But Gigi, after everything we’ve been through, do you think that makes me weak? Or more dangerous than I was before? I don’t want to erase your victory, I want to derail your career. But I understand if you want to take the cheap victory and run. But if you want to prove that you’re as tenacious and resilient as you claim, surprise me. Face me at Halloween Havoc.”
Will the Toxic Avenger accept the challenge of the Ichiban Gaijin? And how will the stakes be raised to give us a definitive winner?
Lexis King watches more film.
More people talk about his father, Brian Pillman. Dusty Rhodes himself said he knew Pillman was going to be a star. King says superstars of the past would share such stories with him, all the good times and all the good things. How much they loved him. Stone Cole saw him as his best friend. And all King did was lie through his teeth and say he loved him, too. But you don’t know what love is at four years old. Brian spent more nights in a hotel than he ever did at home. And you expect King to “love” that man? He is in no one’s shadow. And Halloween Havoc will be the start of King’s career, not the continuation of someone else’s.
King vows to be bigger than his father ever was! And that all starts next week! Who will the King look to dethrone upon his NXT debut?
Carmelo Hayes heads to the ring.
Though he has a part to play in tonight’s Triple Threat main event, Melo walks out now so he can speak to the fans. “Ey yo! It’s good to be Melo, am I right? Hey, last week, I stood in this very ring with the Greatest of All Time, John Cena, let’s talk about it! Not to mention, I stood right there on that aisleway, shoulder to shoulder with the Phenom, the Hall of Famer, The Undertaker!” Fans cheer that. Melo says life is crazy, he feels like this is Universe Mode in the video game, for real. But wait, here comes Baron Corbin. Corbin tells Melo to listen. Corbin’s listening to Melo be a fanboy, and he isn’t gonna let that happen for ten minutes.
Corbin thought Melo was different than the rest, but Corbin was wrong. Y’know where fans should be? In the stands, not the ring. Corbin went by HBK’s office, and Melo went on about Cena for over an hour! An HOUR. Then he asked for a picture and autograph, and then he did the same with Cody, and then he shared that image of him and Taker on social media. Melo might even have it framed on his wall! But maybe, Melo should concentrate more on being a superstar than a fan and he might still have his title. But then here comes Dijak!
Dijak tells Corbin and Melo if they’re talking about what they can do and wanna do, but focus on what Dijak WILL do, and that is beat them both and take that NXT Championship from Dragunov after he beats him! Dijak tells Melo that believe it or not, Corbin’s right! All the showboating, the pandering, it won’t make a difference standing across the ring from Dijak and looking him in the eyes. Corbin says no one’s looking Dijak in the eyes, he has sunglasses on indoors. Dijak asks Corbin what he said. Corbin says the sunglasses. Oh, real cute.
Fans sing “CARMELO HAYES~!” but Dijak says Corbin stands and cries in the back because people don’t shake his hand, because they don’t respect him and his experience. Corbin wants people to be afraid of him? Well, newsflash: Melo’s never put Dijak’s name on a jersey, and Dijak ain’t afraid of no man, especially not Corbin! Corbin asks what Dijak’s even yelling about. If he’s not afraid, then it’s for one of two reasons: either Dijak doesn’t now Corbin, or he’s just stupid. Oh is that so? Melo says it’s both. And sure, he isn’t on a jersey, but Melo can definitely custom make one for his big ass any day of the week. Dijak wants to beat Melo, he’ll get put on a jersey.
Dijak shouts that HE is the man that dropped Dragunov, and will drop Corbin and Melo tonight! There’s nothing- Dragunov speaks up via the tron. Gentlemen, please. Well, “gentleman” doesn’t fit Dijak after what he did last week. But instead of talking, why don’t they concentrate on the fierce battle that awaits them? Dragunov will be watching to see who emerges as a contender to Dragunov’s title, who he will face on Night 2 of Halloween Havoc. But for now, he leaves them with this: Last week was historic. But before Cody left his duties as General Manager, he made one last decision. The Triple Threat is now a FATAL 4 WAY! And the fourth man is… TRICK WILLIAMS~!
Melo is the most shocked of all as his best friend is now one of his opponents! Trick has the music cut, and he ain’t gonna lie, IT IS WHAT IT IS~! The match is now a Fatal 4! Trick steps into the ring, and fellas, let’s talk about it. Yeah, Dijak wants to point out Trick stabbing his best friend in the back! Corbin agrees but Trick says, “Hold on there, 12, let’s talk about how you keep sticking that crooked ass finger in everybody’s business!” Corbin says how about them ugly pants. Oh, Corbin, c’mon, Trick likes you. But Corbin’s the last man to be talking about “ugly.” Trick ain’t here to talk about ugly, but about the match. HIs moment!
If Trick wins, he’ll be NXT Champion! But Melo, Trick knows Melo is good with this, right? This doesn’t change anything. Corbin says it changes everything! Look at how shook ya boi is! You stabbed him in the back! Last week, Melo was being a fan with Cena, Cody, and Taker, but Trick went into business for himself. Trick got himself put in a match he doesn’t even belong in. But Melo, listen to Corbin. The worst part of this… is that Trick did it all behind Melo’s back and never even told you. Melo says no no no, he won’t let anyone throw him off. Melo knows who he is and he knows who Trick is!
And Melo knows what it takes to win the NXT Championship, and he’s gonna put anyone down to end up back on top. Dijak says what if it’s Trick? Trick Melo Gang look each other in the eyes, but then they get jumped! Melo DUMPS Dijak, Trick ROCKS Corbin! Melo SUPERKICKS Dijak, and now Melo sees it’s just him and Trick. Melo takes off the jacket, but then stands side to side with Trick. Trick Melo Gang stands together now, but will they have to take each other down in the main event?
Fallon Henley speaks with the Women’s Breakout Tournament field.
She knows this tournament is the launchpad of their careers, and while some of them are in and some are out, they’re all on their way to stardom. Fallon was in last year’s tournament, and while she didn’t win, it wasn’t long before she was a champion. It can be nerve wracking, but- Tiffany Stratton walks in and asks if this is story time. Who wants to hear about that tournament from someone who made it to the finals? Fallon says of course Tiffany has to take over. Tiff says of course she made it to the finals, Fallon Huntley. Uh, it’s Henley and you know it. Is it? Well, Huntley sounds better. But right, she beat Fallon!
See, this is the perfect example of who these girls shouldn’t become: A self-absorbed, egotistical b- So what Fallon is saying is they shouldn’t be a main eventer? A former champion? They should be someone like Fallon, spending time in a horse barn with dirt under their nails. Gross. It’s getting poor in here. Tiffany leaves, but another Breakout match is next! Will Karmen or Jaida join Kelani and Lola in the semifinals?
NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament, Opening Round: Karmen Petrovic VS Jaida Parker!
Anyone else getting Beatrix Kiddo vibes? Karmen is a third-degree blackbelt and has 23 YEARS of combat experience. Will she be unforgettable after tonight? Or will Jaida glide all the way to the top?
The bell rings, the two tie up, and they go around. Karmen has Jaida on the ropes, the ref counts and Karmen lets off, for Jaida to DECK her! Jaida scoops, Karmen slips free but Jaida switches the waistlock. Karmen headlocks, hammerlocks, then ducks the elbow. Jaida avoids the sweep once but not twice! Things speed up, and Karmen CLOBBERS Jaida! Karmen storms up on Jaida, whips, but Jaida blocks! Karmen KNEES low, tilt-o-whirls and RANAS! Jaida gets up, but Karmen PENALTY KICKS! Cover, TWO! Karmen goes to the corner, she swings, but Jaida blocks to HOTSHOT an arm!
Jaida drags Karmen to stomp her, then she drags Karmen up to wrench and RAM her down! Jaida steps over, drags Karmen back up and RAMS her down again! Jaida then WRINGS the arm, clamps on, and HIP DROPS the shoulder! Karmen clutches the arm but Jaida HIP- NO, Karmen rolls her up! TWO, and Karmen blocks, wrenches and HOOK KICKS! Karmen whips, Jaida blocks to wrench and whip. Karmen hits buckles hard, Jaida scoops her and puts her in the ropes! The ref reprimands but Jaida CHOPS Karmen, then jumps up to ELEVATED HIP DROP! Jaida grins and covers, TWO! Karmen survives but Jaida clamps on with a chinbar.
Karmen endures, fights up, and the rest of the field watches from the watch party room. Fans rally, Karmen stands, pries the hold and throws body shots! Jaida KNEES low and fans are torn. Jaida runs, into another leg sweep! Karmen fires up, to SUPER PUNCH! And DISCUS LARIAT! Karmen fires up more and the fans are with her! Karmen handsprings and somersaults, to ROUNDHOUSE! Karmen pushes Jaida down to RIDER KICK! And then, she hits the KANTANA KICK!! HEADSCISSOR CLUTCH, Jaida TAPS! Karmen wins!
Winner: Karmen Petrovic, by submission (advances to the semifinals)
Mama Petrovic applauds, and now we have Karmen VS Lola in the next round! Who of these vicious strikers will kill it in the next round?
Natalya visits Tegan Nox backstage.
Tegan asks Natty what she’s doing here but Natty says she believes in Nox and sees big things for her. Last night, Nox was there for Natty against Piper & Chelsea, so this is her returning the favor. The Welsh Firecracker is about to battle the Morrigan, will having the Queen of Harts by her side help her come out on top? Or will Lyra be soaring into her NXT Women’s Championship match against Becky Lynch?
Lyra Valkyria VS Tegan Nox w/ Natalya!
NXT returns as Lyra makes her entrance. The bell rings and the two circle. They feel things out, tie up, and go around. Lyra headlocks, Nox moves around, but Lyra wrenches to have the armlock. Nox slips around, hooks the arms and then wrenches to wristlock. Lyra rolls, spins, drop toeholds, and then floats to a facelock. Nox rolls out to hammerlock back, and then she goes to hook the other arm. Nox digs knuckles into ribs but Lyra fights up and around. Lyra wrenches, wristlocks, then facelocks. Cradle takedown, TWO! The two stand off and fans rally. They tie up again, and Lyra headlocks.
Nox powers up and out, but Lyra goes up in the corner. Nox still snapmares her down then runs her over! Nox shakes out her arms, Natty and the fans applaud, and things speed up. Lyra hurdles, Nox leaps, then Nox ducks the heel kick! Lyra runs up but Nox DECKS her! Lyra goes to ropes, Nox storms up and brings her around. Nox whips Lyra to a corner, Lyra goes up and over, then handsprings away! Fnas fire up as Nox runs in and Lyra sunset flips, TWO! Nox goes after an arm and grinds it down, but Lyra fights up. Fans rally, Nox wrenches, but Lyra spins and spins and spins to then headlock for teh takeover!
Lyra then shifts to have arm, cradle, TWO! Nox has the cover, TWO! Lyra ghost pins! ONE, and the two stand up, Nox UPPERCUTS Lyra down! Fans fire up and Nox hurries to a corner. Nox climbs, Lyra runs up and TOSSES her down! Lyra builds speed to then WRECK Nox with a dropkick! Fans fire up and Lyra hurries to fetch Nox. Lyra puts Nox in the ring as NXT goes to break.
NXT returns again and Lyra has an arm. Nox throws a body shot, Lyra knees and whips, but Nox ducks ‘n’ dodges. Both women get moving, DOUBLE CROSSBODIES collide! Fans fire up and Natty is stunned as both women are down! Nox and Lyra stir, Natty and the fans rally up, and Lyra fires a forearm! Nox fires one back! They go back and forth, then they throw SLAP shots! They SLAP and SLAP and fans fire up! Lyra blocks to backslide, TWO!! Nox escapes, but Lyra SOBATS, KICKS and RAMS Nox, to then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Nox is free and Lyra is frustrated but the fans rally up more.
Lyra sits Nox up to KICK her in the chest! And KICK her again! Nox eggs Lyra on and Lyra KICKS! And KICKS! Nox ducked but into the kick! Lyra covers, TWO!! Fans rally and duel, “TEGAN!” “LYRA!” Lyra kicks, Tegan ducks this one clean, and then catches Lyra to a FALL AWAY BRIDGE!! TWO!! Fans fire up but Nox CLUBS away on Lyra! Nox suplexes, to GOURD BUSTER! Lyra flounders to a corner and Nox runs in, CANNON-BOAR! Nox drags Lyra to a cover, TWO!! Lyra survives again and fans continue to rally. Nox suplexes but Lyra fights free to whip. Nox reverses, Lyra goes up and over again, to ENZIGURI!
Nox leans against the corner, Lyra hoists her up top! Lyra climbs, Nox fights back with body shots! Lyra CLUBS, Nox HEADBUTTS, and now Nox has Lyra! SUPER GOURD BUSTER! Nox stands, MOLLY-GO-ROUND! Cover, TWO!! PENALTY KICK! Lyra flops out of the ring and Nox goes to the apron, CANNONBALL to the floor! Fans fire up and Nox puts Lyra in. But wait, Chelsea & Piper are here? Nox covers, TWO! And now Nox & Natty notice the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions. Natty stares them down as they mock Nox, but Nox goes out to join Natty. Fans rally for all these ladies, but Nox returns to the ring.
Nox gets around Lyra, O’Conner Roll, TWO! Lyra HEEL KICKS! Cover, Lyra wins!!
Winner: Lyra Valkyria, by pinfall
Chelsea laughs at Nox, but then Nox & Natty go after the champs! They all brawl towards the back and fans fire up! Lyra gets the mic to say that she wasn’t gotta let ANYOEN get between her and her title match! Not Tegan, not Indi, nobody! Every drop of sweat, every decision she’s ever made, good or bad, has been leading to this match with Becky. And when Becky came home to her old wrestling school, she saw something in Lyra. And it lit a fire under Lyra that took her all the way here! But all these years, Lyra was working towards becoming the first Irish Born NXT Women’s Champion, and Becky took that from her.
But if there’s one thing Lyra’s learned, if someone closes the door in your face, you kick down another one! Lyra may not have beaten Becky to the NXT Women’s Championship. But she sure as hell will beat Becky for it! Speaking of Becky, she’s on the tron! She congratulates Lyra on the win! She’s been gaining momentum for months! But Becky’s been watching her for years. And Becky remembers, right before Lyra got to NXT, their late friend Dean would send Becky videos of Lyra and saying watch out for her. And he was right. Becky saw Lyra as number one on her list to face her.
Becky felt that way not because it’d be historic for two Irish girls going head to head in a WWE ring. No, it is because Lyra is good. Really, really good. But Becky’s still better. Becky respects Lyra, but when you come for the title, you come for the reason Becky leaves her house every week. The reason she leaves her child so that her child can be proud of her mother. And so Becky now has to fight like her life depends on it. So Lyra, you can say Becky is her hero, this is a dream match, all that.
But in the ring, you’ll have to despise Becky. You’ll have to put the same chip on your shoulder that got you here back on. Because that is the only way that you’re gonna stand a chance. Welcome to the Big Time. The Man has spoken, will the Morrigan make history by bringing her down?
Trick Melo Gang regroup backstage.
Melo asks Trick what the hell! Trick blindsides him! They talked about how Trick was gonna get his North American title back and how Melo was gonna get THE title back. What happened? No, MELO said that. “We” never agreed on it. We? What, we speakin’ French now? Trick said he talked with Cena, he gave them both advice. Time is important, and Trick beat Dom for the title. And it felt so good, Trick wants more of it. But Melo should know how that feels, because Trick’s at the same spot Melo was last year! But yeah, Trick is sorry for not telling him first. But understand, Trick was nervous.
About what? Melo is Trick’s biggest fan! Melo’s been with Trick every step of the way! Trick could’ve told Melo, they could’ve come up with a game plan. Trick Melo Gang against the world, just like old times. But now… They’re going against each other. And Trick knows Melo better than anyone, Melo’s gonna do what he’s gotta do. Same energy, dog. But hey, no matter what, they still Trick Melo Gang. And they always gonna be here. Trick heads out, but is Melo really on board with that last part?
NXT Media catches up with Gigi Dolin.
What’s her reaction to Blair’s challenge? Gigi says Halloween is her favorite time of year, and Halloween Havoc is her favorite time of the year. And in the spirit of spooky season, Gigi doesn’t think Shotzi & Scarlett would mind if she does this. She reveals the wheel! Blair wants a match, let’s SPIN THE WHEEL, MAKE THE DEAL! The wheel goes ’round and ’round, and it lands on… LIGHTS OUT! Blair, next week, Gigi will turn your lights out, B*TCH!
BREAKING NEWS on Von Wagner’s medical condition.
It was almost a month ago that Bron Breakker tried to absolutely CRUSH Von’s head with the steel steps. Von was at TriOpt earlier this week to do physical rehab, learning how to walk and use his arms again. Robert Stone was with him every step of the way, literally and figuratively, even as Von felt like giving up. Stone encouraged Von to keep at it, but Von felt weak not being able to pull the resistance band. The physical therapist said it’s fine, it takes time. Stone says Von just needs to focus. Von? Focus? Stone, you risked your own health at No Mercy. Bron Breakker could’ve hurt you even worse than he did Von.
Yeah, but Stone did that because of what Bron did to Von. Stone hates seeing Von like this. Stone started this, but he knows that when Von is 100% healthy and ready, he will finish it. Then hand him the damn band. Von pulls and pulls, will he be even stronger than he was before?
Kiana James VS Shotzi Blackheart!
The Calculator didn’t account on the Wild Child helping out The Prodigy last week, so now Kiana has to handle business herself. But will Shotzi be the one to #TCB instead?
The bell rings and the two circle. Fans rally up as the two tie up and Kiana kicks low! Kiana SMACKS Shotzi off the mat, pushes her around, talks a lot of trash, then SMACKS Shotzi off the mat again! Shotzi just laughs and that upsets Kiana. Kiana SLAPS Shotzi, so Shotzi SLAPS Kiana! Shotzi arm-drags Kiana to a corner, fires off forearms, then goes up, only for Kiana to get under. So Shotzi CROSSBODIES! Shotzi swings, Kian ducks and shoves but Shotzi slides under and howls! Then Shotzi ducks the buzzsaw, roll up, TWO! Kiana swings, misses, and Shotzi hops on for a SLEEPER! Kiana scrambles and RAMS Shotzi into a corner!
Kiana is free, she runs in but Shotzi BOOTS her! Shotzi headscissors for a HANGING HEADSCISSOR! The ref counts, Shotzi lets off at 4, and she hurries back up. Kiana KICKS Shotzi, POSTS her, then BOOTS her down! Fans boo but Kiana says no one embarrasses her as NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Shotzi fires forearms! Kiana shoves and RAMS Shotzi into a corner, then RAMS her more and more! Kiana handsprings, runs in, but Shotzi BOOTS her! Fans fire up, and Shotzi goes up and wheelbarrows to send Kiana into ropes! Shotzi dials it up but Kiana LARIATS first! Cover, TWO! Kiana snarls, drags Shotzi into a chinlock and she squeezes tight. Shotzi endures, fans rally, and Shotzi fights around. Shotzi fights up to her feet but Kiana wrangles Shotzi to then ELBOWS her in the shoulder again and again! Kiana clamps back on with the chinlock but Shotzi fights back up as fans rally.
Shotzi arm-drags free, and then goes to a corner. Kiana runs in, Shotzi goes up and over then rallies with clotheslines! ROUNDHOUSE! ROLLING ELBOW! QUESTION MARK KICK! Shotzi runs in but Kiana puts her on the apron. Shotzi ROUNDHOUSES back, reels Kiana in, and APRON DDTS! Fans fire up as Kiana staggers away. Shotzi goes into the ring, builds speed, and she DIVES! Direct hit at the ramp and fans fire up! Shotzi puts Kiana in the ring, goes up a corner, but Kiana shoves Shotzi down! Shotzi hits the floor and Kiana looks to her bag. But Roxie has the bag! Fans cheer as Roxie takes the BRICK away!
Kiana is furious, but then the ref sees Roxie and Kiana! Roxie distracts, Shotzi ROCKS Kiana with the bag, then plays a little Eddie Guerrero trick! The ref argues with Kiana, takes the bag, and then Kiana runs in. Shotzi dodges and Kiana POSTS herself! Shotzi goes up, to BALLPIT SENTON! Cover, Shotzi wins!
Winner: Shotzi Blackheart, by pinfall
The Halloween Havoc host is rolling into the party! Roxie gets her own revenge on Kiana, will things get even wilder now?
Backstage interview with Meta Four.
McKenzie Mitchell is with Oro Mensah and Lash Legend while Lash is on the phone. As McKenzie notes, Jakara Jackson was meant to be in the Women’s Breakout Tournament but is not medically cleared and must now withdraw. McKenzie wants to ask where Jakara is now but Lash slams on the brakes. Noam Dar is on the phone. He’s at the hospital right now with Jakara. He begs Jakara not to go towards the light! Lash wants Dar to tell Jakara she and Oro love her and miss her. Is she going to make it? Dar asks the doc what the chances are, and then says she might lose the whole arm!? McKenzie says the report said it wasn’t even that severe.
Lash & Oro don’t care what the report says, and Dar mocks the “big brain” on Dr. McKenzie. But then Tozawa walks in? He wants to know where Dar is. Oro asks if Tozawa’s eyes are working. He’s obviously not here, so go away. Well okay, but tell Dar that Tozawa’s looking for him. Dar asks who that was? Lash says don’t worry, just take care of Jakara. McKenzie says sold on, something else is happening right now. We cut to TRICK down and out by road cases! Melo asks what the hell happened and refs shout for medical! Who just jumped Trick? Is the Fatal 4 back down to a Triple Threat?
NXT returns with Kelly Kincaid in the parking lot.
NXT Medical Staff has just sent Trick to a local hospital for further evaluation, ruling him OUT of tonight’s main event. It is back to being a Triple Threat, but no one knows who attacked Trick or why. But clearly, they didn’t want Trick to have a chance to challenge for NXT Championship. Kelly sends it over to McKenzie, who is in the NXT lounge area, and she asks Dominik Mysterio about his run ins with Nathan Frazer. Dom says he doesn’t even know “who that kid was” until last week. Dom is done with him. But then Frazer runs up to SHOVE Dom! No refs around here! But the other superstars are watching as Frazer fires off!
Frazer throws so many hands, then he runs Dom off! The NXT locker room is behind Frazer as he and Dom now brawl into the hall! Refs are here now to try and stop this but this brawl keeps going past gorilla and to ringside! Fans fire up as Frazer and Dom scrap down to ringside, and Dom puts Frazer int eh ring! Dom hurries in, but Frazer TRACKLES Dom! Frazer throws down hands, Dom kicks Frazer back! Dom blocks a kick but not the DRAGON WHIP! Frazer then spins Dom to ANARCHY! Dom flounders, Frazer goes up! PHOENIX SPLASH, but Frazer has to roll through as Mami saves her baby!
The Jersey Island Rocket has just put Dirty Dom on notice. Will Dom be careful the next time he talks trash on NXT?
Shotzi and Roxie regroup backstage.
Shotzi tells Roxie that this ain’t the same little Roxie that teamed with her against Damage CTRL on SmackDown. This one is sure of herself, ballsy, and Shotzi likes it. Roxie says it’s not that hard when dealing with Kiana. What’s her obsession with Roxie anyway? Roxie gets it, they crossed paths before, but Kiana doesn’t get it that she’s just in her own way. Shotzi hears that. But hey! Speaking o Kiana, the wheel is here. Roxie knows Shotzi is the host, but she’s not gonna play Kiana’s games no more. Mind if she takes this for a spin? Of course! Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal! Roxie and Kiana are going to have… A DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND MATCH!!
Roxie says she’s already shown thee world just how far she’s willing to go, so this Devil’s Playground is gonna be Kiana’s hell! Shotzi loves it!
NXT Women’s Breakout Tournament, Opening Round: Arianna Grace VS ???
The Beauty Queen is already in the ring, waving to the fans with a big smile and a mic in hand. “It’s always devastating to see someone get injured. My heart goes out to Jakara Jackson, it truly does. I understand the pain of being sidelined with an injury. I, too, was sidelined with an injury. An injury far worse than Jakara’s. And look at me! I came back better than ever!” Fans cheer that, and Arianna hopes Jakara comes back better, too. And though it pains Arianna that she has to say this, but she gracefully accepts her bye into this tournament’s- WAIT. Who is that? It’s BRINLEY REECE!
Arianna is furious that someone else stepped up to have a match! But will Reece pump it up and show the world why she was always a contender?
The bell rings and the two circle. Arianna offers a handshake, fans are wary of it, but Reece wristlocks! Fans fire up, Reece whips, and then Arianna bumps off buckles into a scoop! Reece SLAMS Arianna, fires up, and then whips her to another corner. Reece runs in, Arianna dodges the splash to CLUB Reece! Arianna SAYANAGIS, then snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Arianna stomps Reece, lets off, and she blows kisses. Arianna covers, TWO! Arianna is annoyed, she drags Reece up and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Reece hangs tough but Arianna clamps onto the arm. The watch party is still having fun as Reece endures.
Reece fights up, fans rally, but Arianna says Reece won’t ruin her moment! Reece fights up, but Arianna knees low! Arianna whips but Reece sunset flips, TWO! Arianna runs up but into a roll-up, TWO! Arianna kicks low, but Reece blocks the suplex! Reece snap suplexes! And then she snap suplexes again! Fans fire up with Reece but Arianna doesn’t want anymore! Well she gets one more snap suplex! Reece whips, handsprings and LARIATS! Fans fire up with Reece and she pumps up! Fireman’s carry, but Arianna claws the face! Arianna shoves Reece into buckles, hits a SAYANAGI, and covers! Arianna wins!!
Winner: Arianna Grace, by pinfall (advances to the semifinals)
The self-proclaimed “Miss NXT” moves on, and she will face Kelani Jordan next week! Halloween Havoc is gonna be scary good, but who makes it through to the finals?
Backstage interview with Bron Breakker.
McKenzie is with #MeanerThanEvil and brings up how buzzworthy the return of American Badass- Bron stops her there. Yes, last week was the most talked about NXT ever, because of Bron. He’s the biggest attraction this brand has ever seen! But then in walks Stone. Bron asks the “little guy” how their buddy, Von, is doing. Stone says not great, but improving. Yeah, Bron doesn’t really care. So why not run back to that idiot to teach him how to put one foot in front of the other? Stone says Bron really doesn’t care, does he? He just goes on living life, buddies with Heyman, moment with Taker. Time has STOPPED for Von.
But y’know what? Stone’s kids ask him almost ever day if Von is gonna be okay. And Stone has to look them in their eyes, tell them he doesn’t know, because he doesn’t! He can’t get that image out of his head of Bron SMASHING Von with the steel steps! And Bron thinks this is funny? Stone should slap that look off Bron’s face and make him pay for it! Then do something about it. Oh Stone will! Them, 1v1, Halloween Havoc! Whoa! Bron thinks that is a great idea. Because then Bron will do to Stone what he did to Von. Call the hospital now. Bron heads out, will he completely destroy the Robert Stone Brand?
We get a card break down of for Halloween Havoc, Night 1!
It’ll be stacked already as we get: the NXT Women’s Championship, Becky VS Lyra; Gigi VS Blair in Lights Out; BOTH matches of the Women’s Breakout Tournament Semifinals; Roxie VS Kiana on the Devil’s Playground; the in-ring debut of Lexis King; and the NXT Tag Team Championships, Tony & Stacks VS Chase U!
NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Triple Threat: DIJAK VS Baron Corbin VS Carmelo Hayes!
What was going to be a Fatal 4 got brought back down to the original Triple Threat after the whodunnit of Trick Williams being taken out. All three men in this match are suspects, even #HIM, but only one can go on to face The Mad Dragon on Halloween Havoc, Night 2! Who proves they’re the most dangerous and determined in NXT today?
The bell rings, fans chant “We Want Trick!” but then Dijak and Corbin storm up on Melo. But then they each JAB the other! Melo takes the opening to fire off on them! Dijak choke grips but Melo fights free! Corbin choke grips but Melo fights free! Back to Dijak, then Corbin join in, but Melo breaks free of the double choke slam! Dijak still blocks Melo’s kick, and he ELBOWS Corbin away! Melo ENZIGURIS Corbin, kicks Dijak, but Corbin ROCKS Melo Dijak hits a CHOKE SLAM BACKBREAKER! Both bigger men want the cover but they stare down now. And then Dijak fires off! Dijak runs, but Corbin CLOBBERS him!
Fans rally, Corbin turns around into the FLYING LARIAT from Melo! Melo whips, Corbin blocks, and Corbin sends Melo up and out. Melo GAMANGIRIS back, then ROCKS Dijak. Melo goes up, he leaps, CROSSBODY but Dijak catches him! Dijak KNEES Melo, then SLINGS him away! Corbin staggers while Dijak stomps Melo. Corbin shoves Dijak, the big men brawl with forearms, and fans rally up. Dijak ROCKS Corbin, ROCKS him again and again, but Corbin comes back with shots! Both men wobble, and Melo springboards, DOUBLE- NO, the jumper gets blocked! Both big men lift Melo, but he uses that to DOUBLE DDT after all!
Fans fire up as Melo covers Corbin, TWO! Melo covers Dijak, TWO! Fans rally as Melo drags Corbin to another cover, ONE!! Melo is frustrated but NXT goes picture in picture.
Fans rally and Melo waits for Dijak. Dijak BLOCKS the First 48, to DEATH VALLEYD RIVER! Cover, TWO! Dijak is frustrated, and he snarls as he WRECKS Corbin with a dropkick! Dijak goes out to RAM Corbin into steel steps! Dijak goes back to the ring but Melo WRECKS him with a dropkick! Melo goes out to whip but Dijak reverses, and he POSTS Melo! Dijak puts Melo back in, covers, TWO! Melo is tough but Dijak KICKS him in the side! Melo throws body shots but Dijak shoves and ROCKS him! Melo CHOPS, Dijak CHOPS back! Melo ROCKS Dijak, CHOPS Dijak, and repeat! Melo runs, but Dijak CLOBBERS Melo! Cover, TWO!
Dijak goes out after Corbin and brings him around, but Corbin knees low! Corbin sends Dijak into steel steps, knocking them over! Corbin drags Dijak up and into the ring, but he rains fists down on Melo! Corbin RAMS Melo into buckles, then runs in. Melo dodges and Corbin POSTS himself! NXT returns to single picture as Melo sees both big men in corners. Melo runs in to ROCK Corbin, then he runs to ROCK Dijak! Corbin dodges to CLOBBER Dijak! And SPLASH Melo! But then Dijak dodges to ELBOW Melo! Corbin BOOTS Dijak, but Dijak SUPERKICKS Corbin! Fans fire up as Dijak storms up on Melo but into a SUPERKICK!
Melo runs up, reels Dijak in, but Dijak says TIME TO FLY and he THROWS Melo into Corbin! All three men are down and the fans are thunderous for “NXT! NXT!” Melo stirs, Dijak rises, and Corbin drags himself up with ropes. Dijak fireman’s carries Corbin, but Corbin slips off to SAIDO! But Melo springboards, Corbina voids the Fade Away and BOOTS Melo away! Corbin then goes up!? FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO!! Melo survives as Corbin busts out something new! Corbin and Dijak brawl, Dijak knees low and clotheslines Corbin up and out! Dijak grabs Melo, to CHOKE- NO, CODE BREAKER!!
Fans fire up as Melo now sets up on the top rope! But Corbin YANKS Melo right down, and fireman’s carries! DEATH VALLEY to the floor! The fans boo but Corbin rises. “This is Awesome!” after all, even as Corbin puts Melo in the ring. But Dijak BOOTS Corbin first! Dijak then SUPERKICKS Corbin to the floor! Dijak runs up on Melo, but Melo blocks the cyclone kick to trip him! Corbin is back, he scoops but Melo uses the Deep Six to send Corbin into Dijak! HIGH JUSTICE!! Cover, Melo SUPERKICKS it apart! Cover on Dijak, TWO!! Fans fire up again as all three men are down!
Melo rises and he brings Dijak up. Melo fires forearms but Dijak hits back! They go back and forth, then Melo SUPERKICKS! Melo runs, into the CYCLONE KICK!! Cover, TWO!!! Melo survives and no one can believe it! Fans cheer for “NXT! NXT!” as Dijak and Melo rise. Dijak puts Melo in a corner then ELBOWS him! And ELBOWS again! And CLUBS him! But Melo ROCKS Dijak! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Dijak BOOTS Melo right down! Fans boo as Dijak drags Melo up and to the top rope. Dijak ROCKS Melo but Melo BOOTS Dijak! Dijak ROCKS Melo again, CLUBS him, but Melo hits back! They brawl and Dijak climbs!
Fans rally for Melo as he resists the superplex! Melo throws body shots, slips under, but Corbin BOOTS Melo down before he can bomb Dijak! Then Corbin goes up after Dijak and waistlocks?! Fans fire up as Dijak resists, and then Melo rises! Melo adds back on, TOWER OF DOOM!! Fans are thunderous for the Powerbomb German Suplex combo! All there men are down, but they’re all somehow still in this! Fans rally for Melo as he rises. Dijak is in the far corner so Melo fires hands on Corbin. Melo runs up, Corbin puts him on the apron, but Melo RAMS into Corbin! Melo slingshots, into a HAYAMKER!
Corbin storms up on Dijak, choke grips, CHOKE SLAM- NO, Dijak flips through! SUPERKICK! Torture rack! FEAST YOUR EYES- ON END OF DAYS!!! Corbin turns it around, but into NOTHING BUT NET!!! Cover on Dijak, MELO WINS!
Winner: Carmelo Hayes, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT Championship)
The three pointer outta nowhere to win the game, we now know Dragunov will have one more match with #HIM. Will Melo put Dragunov back on a jersey in the rafters? Or will he fail to break the unbreakable?
Lyra is watching backstage.
She nods as Melo wins to be #1 contender, and then looks to a picture of her and Becky from a few years ago. Lyra says in one week, that title is hers. Lyra RIPS UP the picture, doing just as Becky said. Will the Morrigan be able to rage her way into a reign? Or will she not be ready for the Big Time? Wait, speaking of time, Jade Cargill is now on screen! And she’s tapping her watch! Does that mean it is almost time for the storm to hit NXT?
My Thoughts:
A great NXT, especially as the go-home to the big Halloween Havoc two week extravaganza. For one, great stuff with having the wheel spins tonight to save time on the broadcast next week. Gigi and Blair have good promos, but having their blowoff be Lights Out is awesome stuff, they’re going to go wild with that one. Likewise, really good match from Kiana and Shotzi with Roxie helping Shotzi win, and Roxie VS Kiana in Devil’s Playground is going to be even wilder. And both of those are on Night 1 so that’s pretty wild, too.
Speaking of, the Women’s Breakout Tournament being big for Night 1 is good, too. For one, a good promo from Fallon and Tiffany as they give the new field two different examples of former competitors that didn’t win. A shame about Jakara Jackson not being able to compete, but hilarious promo from Meta Four to help announce it. And great opportunity for Brinley, though only so much since she lost to Arianna rather easily. And great match from Karmen and Jaida, with a big win for Karmen. Arianna VS Kelani and Lola VS Karmen are going to be really good semifinals, but a part of me feels like Kelani is a shoe-in given she’s already had TV time and story even before this.
Great match from Lyra VS Nox, and nice little surprise that Chelsea & Piper showed up to ruin things for Nox. Clearly, Nox & Natty are getting tag title opportunities. Lyra has momentum going against Becky, and we got a good promo from Becky to fire Lyra up more. Great closing moment from Lyra, as well as Jade. As I said last night for Raw, they’re doing a great job teasing Jade for each brand because she (in kayfabe) has her pick of the litter. But for the sake of her eventual legacy, it would make sense if she started with NXT so she could get that NXT Women’s Championship to then have on her resume before getting the other titles, paralleling Charlotte, Asuka and Rhea.
Good promo from Lexis King/Brian Pillman Jr. before his in-ring debut next week. He’ll have a good start, but given what we saw of him in AEW, I’m not sure the “I hate my dad” thing actually lasts that long with so many of those names who knew Pillman in the WWE. Great promo from Von and Stone, and great follow-up with Stone and Bron. Pretty sure Bron wins his match against Stone, but it’d be great if it brought about the comeback of Von to go after Bron on the road to… whatever will be next after Halloween Havoc and what not. And I like that Tozawa got in on the Meta Four promo, I am very confident Tozawa will want his shot at the Heritage Cup for Halloween Havoc.
Great tag team battle royal to open the night, and very clever way to distract refs from seeing eliminations. Clearly, they’re setting up Brawling Brutes VS Out The Mud as well as Creed Brothers VS Garza & Carrillo, and I was pleasantly surprised that Chase U won the whole thing. Tony & Stacks VS Chase & Duke is going to be great, I just hope Jacy & Thea don’t do the “throw in the towel” revenge now after all this time. Let Chase & Duke stand or fall on their own merits, not on some passive aggressiveness when Duke & Chase can’t even fight Thea & Jacy.
And what awesome stuff in this title contender story. Trick is in, gets taken out for a brand new NXT whodunnit, which is a shame for Trick but is definitely setting up a big feud for him and the culprit. There are parallels to HHH betraying HBK back in the day, but I would hope they go away from the obvious. It should be Joe Gacy, who has been lost without Schism ever since he lost to Trick quick. Gacy won’t allow Trick to get the top title before he does, which is why he attacked and has let everyone think it’s Melo. Melo winning the Triple Threat was still the right move, as we get one final match between him and Dragunov, and that’ll be awesome stuff.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Time to defy the odds!
A tag team gauntlet and a Fatal 4 Way determine contenders that will challenge for NXT gold this Saturday at Stand & Deliver: Las Vegas!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT North American Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Eddy Thorpe VS Lexis King VS Wes Lee VS Ethan Page; Ethan wins and will challenge Ricky Saints for the title at Stand & Deliver.
- NXT Women’s North American Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Tatum Paxley w/ Gigi Dolin VS Lola Vice; Lola wins and advances to Stand & Deliver.
- NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Gauntlet: Hank ‘n’ Tank win and will challenge Fraxiom for the titles at Stand & Deliver.
- NXT Women’s North American Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Karmen Petrovic w/ Ashante THEE Adonis VS Thea Hail; Thea wins and advances to Stand & Deliver.
PLAY BY PLAY
NXT North American Championship #1 Contender’s Fatal 4 Way: Eddy Thorpe VS Lexis King VS Wes Lee VS Ethan Page!
The Absolute holds what many want, but only one gets their shot. Will the Alpha Wolf be one step closer to his “birthright?” Will the Drama King look to go for another crown? Will the Wes Side return to former glory? Or will it be All Ego that meets Saints in Sin City?
But speaking of Saints, Ricky makes his entrance after everyone else is already in the ring! The fans fire up as the champion decides to join commentary. The bell rings and Eddy kicks at Ethan but Ethan blocks, only for Lexis to DECK Ethan! Wes then rolls Eddy up, but Lexis shoves Wes away! Lexis basement SUPERKICKS Eddy! Wes and Lexis stare down, things speed up, and Lexis hurdles, but Wes leaps over. Wes dodges Lexis, but Lexis steps on Wes’s dropdown! The fans are torn, but Eddy is up. Lexis wants Eddy to calm down, but then Ethan is also up. Lexis tells them both to calm down, but now Wes is up.
Lexis finds himself surrounded, and Wes feeds Lexis to Eddy’s KICK, and Ethan’s HAYMAKER! Wes adds a HAYMAKER, then Eddy KIKS again! Ethan HAYMAKERS, Wes ENZIGIRIS, and Lexis wobbles. Eddy TOSSES Lexis, the fans fire up, but then Ethan DECKS Wes! Eddy ROCKS and KICKS, KICKS, and SOBATS on Ethan! Wes runs up, Eddy gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX! Wes tumbles to a corner, Eddy BOOTS Ethan! Eddy runs and BOOTS Wes! Lexis is back, but Eddy dodges to BUSAIKU KNEE! Cover, Ethan breaks it! Ethan ROCKS Eddy, but Wes ROCKS Ethan! Eddy spins Wes, but Wes BODY BLOWS!
Wes KICKS, KICKS, and ENZIGIRIS Eddy, to then DOUBLE STOMP him down! Wes runs to ELBOW Ethan in a corner, mule kick, and AX KICKS! Wes then runs at Lexis, but Lexis dodges! Lexis dodges Eddy so Eddy runs into Wes! Lexis dodges Ethan, Ethan runs into Wes & Eddy! Lexis then SUPERKICKS Ethan into them both! Lexis runs corner to corner, but everyone clears out! Lexis POSTS himself! Wes BOOTS Ethan, Eddy kicks Wes, then Eddy reels Wes in. Wes wrenches out, slips around, but Eddy elbows free. Eddy runs, Wes dodges, and Ethan holds the ropes down! Eddy tumbles up and out and to the floor!
Wes runs up, Ethan puts him on the apron, but Wes RAMS into Ethan! Eddy grabs at Wes, Wes kicks him away, but Ethan ROCKS Wes! Wes is stuck in the ropes, so Ethan hits a DRAPING CODE BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Wes survives, Ethan drags Wes up, but then he sees Lexis climbing a corner. Ethan pushes Wes aside to ROCK Lexis! Ethan then climbs up to join Lexis, reels him in, but they both fire body shots! Lexis CLUBS Ethan, Eddy UPPERCUTS Lexis! Eddy climbs up to work with Ethan, but then Wes throws hands on the legs! Wes gets under all of this, and the fans fire up for the TOWER OF DOOM!!
All four men are down while the fans cheer on “NXT! NXT!” for making this the opener! Lexis flops out of the ring, Ethan and Eddy flounder, but Wes runs, SHOOTING STAR on Ethan! Cover, Eddy breaks it! The fans fire up as Wes and Eddy stand to trade forearms! Wes fires a body shot then a forearm, but Eddy fires a forearm, an UPPERCUT, and a KICK! Eddy snarls, but Ethan waistlocks! Eddy fires elbows to get free, but Wes BOOTS Eddy! Ethan DUMPS Eddy out, Wes DECKS Ethan! Wes builds speed and he DIVES into Lexis! Ethan let Lexis take that shot while he grabs Eddy. Eddy blocks the apron bump to elbow Ethan!
Eddy runs up, Ethan dodges, and Eddy almost hits Ricky! Ricky says watch it, but then Ethan SHOVES Eddy into Ricky! The fans go nuts, Ricky is pissed, and he THROWS Eddy aside to get at Ethan! The ref tries to stop this, but Ricky is too heated, so the ref EJECTS Ricky from ringside! The fans boo but Ethan just mockingly waves bye-bye. Ricky warns Ethan, the fans chant, “Ref, You Suck!” but NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and Lexis ROCKS Wes. Lexis reels Wes in, but Ethan BOOTS Lexis down! Ethan then scoops Wes to SLAM him onto Lexis! Ethan then THROWS Lexis into Eddy! Ethan drags Lexis up, but Lexis slips free of the Canadian Rack! Lexis grabs the arms, crosses them, then reels Ethan in, but Ethan trips Lexis up! Ethan turns Lexis over, BOSTON CRAB! The fans are torn as Lexis endures, and Lexis claws at the mat! Lexis crawls forward, but Ethan drags him back from the ropes! Wes runs up, Ethan ducks the lariat, but then Eddy YANKS Wes outta the ring! Eddy clamps onto Lexis with a CROSSFACE!!
Lexis endures double submissions, but then Wes STOPS Lexis from tapping!! The fans are thunderous, but Eddy is furious! Eddy lets go of Lexis to STOMP Wes down! Eddy then BOOTS Ethan down! Eddy goes up a corner as the fans duel, and Lexis UPPERCUTS Eddy! Lexis climbs, fires forearms on Eddy, and Eddy falls to the apron! Ethan CLUBS Lexis! Ethan has an Electric Chair, then he has Eddy in a facelock! But Wes goes up, up, and CANNONBALLS onto a DOOMSDAY DDT COMBO!! The fans are going nuts all over again while all four men are down! But then Ethan crawls to cover Eddy while Wes crawls to cover Lexis! Double covers, TWO!!
The fans fire up while Wes and Ethan grow frustrated. They stare down, then they throw hands! Wes fires a flurry, but Ethan ROCKS Wes with one! Wes PELES in return! Wes hurries to go up a corner! But Lexis SHOVES him down! Wes hits apron, Lexis climbs, SWANTON BOMB on Ethan! But Eddy is up top! He MACHO ELBOWS the cover apart! Eddy then drags Lexis up, but Wes rises! METEORA for Eddy!! Cover, Lexis YANKS Wes up! CORONATION!! But Ethan has Lexis! TWISTED GRIN!! Cover, ETHAN WINS!
Winner: Ethan Page, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contender to the NXT North American Championship)
Ethan smirks as he takes advantage of this golden opportunity. Ethan grabs a mic to say, “Well, I guess that makes me the man then, huh?” The fans are torn but Ethan says he is the #1 contender. Ethan knows he isn’t the guy Ricky wanted to win, and he has every right to believe that. Because everyone remembers their first. And the first championship in WWE for Ricky was ruined by Ethan Page! At Stand & Deliver, Ricky’s first title defense will also be ruined by- RICKY SPEARS ETHAN!! No more ringside ban, and the champ gets some payback! But will Las Vegas be absolute? Or will All Ego’s ego only expand exponentially this Saturday?
Jordynne Grace speaks.
“What you see today as The Juggernaut, multiple time TNA Knockouts Champion, this wasn’t how I started. I wasn’t scouted, I never had ‘star power,’ never really been a beauty queen. If it were possible to have negative aura, that is who I was. I was just a little girl wrestling in half-empty gyms, trying to find a place to fit in a world that didn’t seem built for me. I knew what people saw, or really rather what they didn’t see. But something I did have that not a lot of people in wrestling do, is self-awareness. So I finally stopped wishing that I had what I was supposed to have, and started building what I could become.
“I turned insecurity into intensity, doubt into discipline, and that was the day The Juggernaut was born. I fell in love with getting stronger. I became laser focused into building my body into an atomic bomb. Waking up at 3AM to train, jumping into a car to drive 8 hours to wrestle, hit another gym session after that, then sleep two hours and do it all over again the next day. And as hard as that was, I was obsessed with it. It was a way that I could stand out against all the other women. And to me, it was the only way. I wanted the WWE Universe to say, ‘Yeah, the WWE women are killing it, but have you seen Jordynne Grace over in TNA? That’s Jordynne Grace!?’
“I’ve put in the work so that no one could ignore me. I forced my way into the conversation and made people believe in The Juggernaut the way I believed in myself. Now, the biggest hurdle of my career is right in front of me this Saturday, when I have the opportunity to become NXT Women’s Champion. And just like I’ve been my entire career, I’m aware of exactly what I’m gonna have to do to leave Vegas with my first WWE championship.” Jordynne is ready, but will Grace survive in Sin City?
The NXT Women’s Division holds another watch party.
Sol Ruca asks Zaria who she thinks will take the last two spots in the Women’s North American Championship Ladder Match. Zaria isn’t sure, but it won’t matter when the outcome will be the same. Sol agrees there, because it’ll be one of them as the champ. Oh, really? Doesn’t Sol mean Zaria? Kelani Jordan hears this and takes offense. She thought #ZaRuca was fine. Uh, they are. New shirts and everything, thanks for asking. Well, it won’t be either of them, because Kelani’s going to be a TWO-TIME Women’s North American Champion. And she’ll show everyone why no one can do it like Lan- Izzi Dame interjects.
Izzi says good one, idiots. But y’know who Izzi misses these days? The old Kelani. She was way more likeable. Old Kelani, new Kelani, it won’t matter when Izzi’s the one on top of the ladder, holding the title, and bringing it home to The Culling. Keep dreaming, Izzi, it’ll never happen. Those two both head out, and Sol says it’s just like she said, either her or Zaria will walk out as champion. Zaria says sure, something like that. But to the point, who will get the remaining spots and fill out the six pack?
NXT Women’s North American Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Tatum Paxley w/ Gigi Dolin VS Lola Vice!
The weird girls are hungry for some gold, but so is the MMA Mamacita! Will Tatum take over? Or will there be a Vice in Sin City?
The bell rings and the two tie up. Tatum rolls Lola, TWO, and Tatum narrowly avoids the roundhouse! The fans rally as the two reset and tie up. Tatum waistlocks, Lola switches, and Lola SLAMS Tatum down. Lola holds on as Tatum fights around, and Gigi coaches Tatum up. Tatum pries free, backflips up and over to then Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Lola has Tatum in a modified CROSSFACE! Tatum endures, fights to stack Lola, TWO! Lola runs up but Tatum kicks her away. Tatum wrenches, UPPERCUTS, then CLUBS the arm. Tatum grinds Lola down, the fans duel, and Lola endures. Tatum hits a BRIDGING FUJIWARA!
The fans rally, Lola fights around and reels Tatum into a TRIANGLE HOLD! Tatum high stacks, TWO! Lola lets Tatum go, but then BODY BLOWS! Tatum drops to her knees, Lola clamps on with a headlock, and Lola hits a takeover. Tatum fights around, but Lola puts on the pressure. Tatum fights up, Lola thrashes, but Tatum powers up and out. Lola ducks ‘n’ dodges to then whip Tatum, and Lola catches Tatum to a SLEEPER! The fans rally, Tatum powers out fast, but then Lola hits a SPINEBUSTER! Tatum bails out, Lola rushes after her! Tatum crawls under the ring? Lola grabs at Tatum but Tatum kicks her away!
Tatum scurries under the ring, Gigi taunts Lola, but Lola tells Gigi she’s estupida. Lola goes looking for Tatum, but Tatum YANKS her into the ring frame! Tatum laughs, Gigi says that’s what Lola gets, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Tatum taunts Lola, brings her up and into the ring, then drags Lola up to KNEE the arm again and again! Tatum wrenches and WRINGS the arm, then JUMPING ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO! Tatum grabs Lola’s arm, stomps it, then twists the wrist! Lola endures, but Tatum SLAMS the arm off the mat! Tatum bends the fingers, mockingly high-fives the hand, but Lola kicks her away! Tatum comes back and wrenches again, but Lola wrenches and WRINGS it in return! Lola SOBATS Tatum, whips and KNEES her low, and Tatum is in the ropes. Lola goes to the apron to AX KICK Tatum down! Tatum flounders into the ring but Lola pursues.
Lola whips and KICKS Tatum, then drags her up to reel her in. Lola snap suplexes! That’s Una Amiga as Lola gets up, for Dos Amigas! Lola drags Tatum up again, gives some Latina Heat, and hits THREE AMIGAS! Cover, TWO! Tatum stays in this and Lola grows frustrated. Lola stalks Tatum to the ropes, stands her up, and whips her to KNEE- NO, Tatum rolls Lola up! TWO, and Lola KICKS Tatum back down! Lola drags Tatum around, then clamps on with a chinlock. Tatum endures, even as Lola thrashes her around. Tatum fights up, RAMS Lola into a corner, but Lola holds on! Tatum RAMS Lola into another corner, but Lola clamps on again!
Tatum pries at the hold, RAMS Lola into the corner again, and now she’s free. Only to run up into headscissors! Tatum brings Lola off the corner to POWERBOMB! NXT returns to single picture as both women rise. Tatum dodges a kick, and she CLOBBERS Lola! And CLOBBERS her again! And ENZIGIRIS! Tatum wrenches Lola for a NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up while Tatum runs corner to corner and CROSSBODIES Lola in the corner! Tatum whips corner to corner to CROSSBODY again! Tatum goes for a third, but Lola KNEES the crossbody down! The fans rally, Gigi coaches Tatum, but Lola AX KICKS again!
Lola fires LIGHTNING KICKS and she backs Tatum up into the corner! The fans fire up for Lola as she reminds us, “I’m a Latina~!” HIP ATTACK! Lola drags Tatum out of the corner, covers, TWO!! Tatum survives and the fans fire up! Lola drags Tatum up, lifts her up, but Tatum sunset flips! TWO, and Tatum hurries to a corner. Lola runs in, but Tatum dodges! Lola gets stuck in ropes, Tatum CROSSBODIES again! Tatum brings Lola around to hoist her up top, and the fans duel even harder! Tatum climbs, Lola fires body shots, and Lola shoves Tatum down! Tatum comes back to GAMANGIRI! Tatum then climbs up, brings Lola up, and SUPERPLEXES!
The fans fire up, Tatum crawls to the cover, TWO!! Lola survives, but Tatum doesn’t stop! She hooks Lola up, but Lola pops free! SLEEPER!! Lola drags Tatum down, but Tatum rolls back to a cover! TWO!! Lola lets go in time, but Tatum throat chops! Tatum goes up the ropes, springboards, but into a SUPERKICK! And then the BUENAS NOCHES BACKHAND!! Cover, Lola wins!
Winner: Lola Vice, by pinfall (advances to Stand & Deliver)
Lola got the knockout, and now she’s punched her ticket to Las Vegas! Will everything come up LV this Saturday?
Giulia speaks.
“For the past few weeks, I watched Stephanie bask in the glory of being a double champion. I waited and waited for her to give me a rematch, but it never happened. Friendships only go so far when it comes to the NXT Women’s Championship. Last week, I reminded Stephanie of what Beautiful Madness is. Jaida Parker? I don’t know her, but I can tell she is very confident. She likes to dish out punishment, but she doesn’t like to take it. Jordynne Grace is strong, but on Saturday, I will introduce her to Strong Style. Jordynne and Jaida are obstacles in my way to Stephanie. My goal was to win the NXT Women’s Championship. Losing it only made me more dangerous.
“Last year at Stand & Deliver, I introduced myself. This year, I leave as the NXT Women’s Champion.” Giulia is ready, will all succumb to the Beautiful Madness?
A car pulls up real fast.
And out steps Trick Williams! #CrashOutTrick looks ready for a fight, will he find one this close to his NXT Championship Triple Threat?
Ava Raine is arguing with The Fatal Influence and Meta Four!
The NXT General Manager is trying to get Fallon Henley, Jacy Jayne, Jazmyn Nyx, Lash Legend and Jakara Jackson to all listen to her, but then Gigi & Tatum stumble in. Gigi brings up this other opportunity Ava talked about last week, and Ava says yes, that’s what this is about. But Jacy says it won’t be an opportunity for Gigi & Tatum. Ava says hold on, hold on. Everyone will get their opportunity at Stand & Deliver. There will be a Triple Threat Tag Team match, and after talking it over with Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis, the winners will get a WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match for the NXT after WrestleMania.
Tatum & Gigi are fired up, as are the Meta Girls and Fatal Influence, but then Roxie storms in and says she just knew Ava would do this. Every single woman is going to be on Stand & Deliver except for Roxie, the woman who made this division the best Women’s Division in the WORLD! Ava says yes, hi, how are you, Roxie? Good job losing to Tiffany on SmackDown last Friday. But clearly she didn’t get enough because she’s back here bothering Ava. But hey, if Roxie can charm herself a tag partner, then Ava will happily make this a Fatal 4 Way. The others chuckle and Roxie says Ava has always had it out for her,
Roxie storms off and the others sarcastically wish her luck. Will Roxie be able to salvage one of the many bridges she’s burned around here? Or will the Prodigy be out of luck this close to Stand & Deliver?
NXT Tag Team Championships #1 Contenders Gauntlet!
Speaking of luck, the luck of the draw is going to be tested, and the team that survives the odds will battle Nathan Frazer & Axiom for the titles! But who do we have first? It’s Hank ‘n’ Tank! The Street Profits told them to just be themselves and it’ll be alright, but will Hank ‘n’ Tank be able to run the table?
Starting with them are Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont! Will Ty & Ty represent for the Wes Side?
Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Tyriek Igwe & Tyson Dupont!
The teams sort out and Tank starts against Tyson. They circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. They break, circle again, then tie back up. Tyson waistlocks, full nelsons, but Tank powers up. Tyson spins Tank to KNEE him in the face! Tyson runs and UPPERCUTS Tank down! Cover, TWO! Tyson storms up but Tank fires a body shot. Tyson ROCKS Tank, SPLASHES in the corner, then tags Tyriek. Tyson feeds Tank to Tyriek for a kitchen sink knee! Tyriek UPPERCUTS, then KICKS a leg out, to then BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Tank is toughing it out, but Tyriek bumps him off buckles. Tyriek runs, but Tank BOOTS him back!
Tank storms up, Tyriek headlocks, but Hank tags in as Tank powers up and out! Tank blows past Tyriek, Tyriek gets distracted, and Hank CLOBBERS him! Tank dodges Tyson’s sucker punch to triangle jump LARIAT! Hank ‘n’ Tank take the corners, and as Tyriek stands up, “HONK! HONK!” BIG BELLY SANDWICH! Hank scoops, Tank runs up, GRIDIRON! Cover, Hank ‘n’ Tank ELIMINATE Ty & Ty! The fans fire up while Wes is freaking out! But no time to rest, here comes Niko Vance & Brooks Jensen! Will Hank ‘n’ Tank be victims of The Culling?
Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Niko Vance & Brooks Jensen!
Jensen keeps Vance back, they have to do this the right way. Vance does start against Hank, and the two tie up. Niko RAMS Hank into the corner, then Jensen throws hands! Jensen tags in, and he ROCKS Hank! Jensen whips corner to corner but Hank reverses. Hank runs up and SPLASHES, then he runs side to side! Tank tags in, Hank LARIATS again! Tank adds a LARIAT! Niko runs up, Hank hits him with an atomic drop! Niko hobbles to a corner, Tank runs up to LARIAT! Hank LARIATS Jensen, then Hank ‘n’ Tank switch, more LARIATS for Jensen & Niko! And then more LARIATS! HONK HONK, BIG BELLY SANDWICH for Niko!!
Jensen staggers up, Tank gives Hank the boost into the SEATED SENTON! Cover, TWO! Jensen survives but Tank clamps on, and NXT goes picture in picture.
Jensen endures, fights up, and he bumps Tank off buckles. Jensen gives Tank more buckle bumps, but then Tank stops that! Tank keeps Jensen from running away to give him buckle bumps of his own! Shoutout to Matt Hardy with these “DELETE!” bumps, and then he SLAM DUNKS Jensen off the corner! Tag to Hank, and Tank puts Jensen up top. Hank ‘n’ Tank coordinate, and they DOUBLE HEADBUTT Jensen in the ribs! Hank pushes Jensen down, covers, TWO! Jensen stays in this but Hank stays on him. Hank whips Jensen to a corner, runs up, but Jensen BOOTS him! Jensen brings Hank over, tags Niko, but Hank gets loose!
Hank ROCKS Jensen, DECKS Niko, then dodges Jensen, only for Jensen to DUMP Hank to the apron! Jensen ROCKS Hank, and Niko Electric Chair Lifts Hank! Jensen lines up the shot, DOOMSDAY BULLDOG to the desk!! Hank goes down in a heap while The Culling stands tall! Niko then drags Hank up, bumps him off the apron, and Hank sputters around the way. Niko puts Hank in the ring, stomps him around, then drags him from his corner. Niko bumps Hank off buckles, then CHOKES him! The ref counts, Niko lets off, and he stalks Hank to a corner. Niko whips Hank corner to corner hard!
Niko tags Jensen, Jensen throws hands on Hank, then JABS, JABS, JABS! Jensen DECKS Hank, covers, TWO! Hank stays in this, even with blood in his mouth, but Jensen ELBOWS him in the head. NXT returns to single picture as Jensen whips and CLOBBERS Hank! Cover, TWO! Tank coaches Hank, the fans rally up, but Jensen clamps onto Hank with a chinlock. The fans rally harder, Hank fights up to his feet, and Hank fires body shots! The fans cheer, but Jensen turns Hank! Hank turns that to a backslide! TWO, and we see Fraxiom watching backstage as Jensen grabs Hank’s leg! Jensen drags Hank back, tag to Niko.
Niko stomps Hank again and again, then talks trash. Hank fires body shots in return, but Niko CLUBS him down! Niko taunts Tank, Tank warns Niko, and Hank LARIATS Niko down! The fans fire up, but Niko grabs Hank’s leg! Hank still crawls, but Jensen distracts the ref! The ref misses Hank’s hot tag! The fans boo as Tank has to go back! Niko scoops Hank, Jensen goes up, ASSISTED POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Hank survives and the fans are thunderous! Jensen & Niko have no idea how this is possibly, but Niko facelocks Hank. Hank fights up, fights forward, but Niko CLUBS him down!
Niko tries to suplex but Hank blocks it! Hank suplexes Niko, but Jensen reaches out to push it down! The ref reprimands, but Niko suplexes! Hank slips free, shoves Niko away, Jensen tags in, but Hank hot tags Tank! The fans fire up as Tank rallies on The Culling! Tank LARIATS Niko up and out! Then he dodges Jensen to OVERHEAD SUPLEX! Tank dodges Niko to ROCK him! Tank runs to BLAST Niko off the apron! Jensen runs up, Tank cartwheels and LARIATS! A shoutout to the War Raiders, perhaps? Tank covers, Niko breaks it! The fans boo, but Hank is back! Hank and Niko grapple, Niko TOSSES Hank, but Tank TOSSES Niko!
But Jensen rolls Tank up! TWO, and Jensen runs! Tank ducks under the leg lariat, goes up, up, but leaps into a WHEEL KICK! Niko tags in, then he tags Jensen back! They hoist Tank up to the Electric Chair, and Jensen goes up, DOOMSDAY BELLY2BELLY!? Tank turns things around on Jensen, and Hank trips Niko! Tank covers, HANK ‘N’ TANK ELIMINATE THE CULLING!! Blink and you might’ve missed it! But Hank ‘n’ Tank have to regroup quickly, because here comes the No Quarter Catch Crew! Will Myles Borne & Tavion Heights be the ones to go the distance?
Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Myles Borne & Tavion Heights!
Myles & Heights rush in, they dodge Hank ‘n’ Tank, and Myles DROPKICKS Hank! Tavion fireman’s carries Tank for the DEATH VALLEY DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Tank survives but Tavion knows he has Tank where he wants him! Tavion ROCKS Tank, whips Tank, and LARIATS Tank! Tag to Myles, the NQCC double whip to then DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Tank is still in this, but Myles drags him up. Myles ROCKS Tank, ROCKS him again, and then tags Tavion. Feed to the fireman’s carry throw! Cover, TWO! The fans duel while Tavion rains down forearms! Tavion clamps on a chinlock but Tank endures the squeeze.
Tank fights up, the fans rally harder, and Tank fights up to his feet. Tank fights around, and JAWBREAKERS free! Myles tags in, but Tank tags Hank! Hank DUMPS Tavion, then fires haymakers on Myles! The fans fire up as Hank swings away, then fires fast hands from all sides! Hank whips, ELBOWS and then DECKS Myles! Myles staggers to a corner, Hank runs corner to corner, SPLASH and BULLDOG! The fans fire up as Hank goes to the outside, and he gets on the tracks! He uses the steps to FLYING BODY ATTACK on Tavion! The fans are thunderous as Tank is up, too! HONK HONK, BIG BELLY SANDWICH for Tavion!!
Wait, Myles FLIES?! Down goes Hank ‘n’ Tank and the fans are thunderous as NXT goes picture in picture!
Myles drags Hank up, puts him in the ring, and pushes him to a cover, TWO! Hank is still in this, but Myles KNEES him in the back. Myles drags Hank up, ROCKS him, then UPPERCUTS him! Hank flops against the ropes, Myles stomps away, but then stops as the ref counts. Tag to Tavion, and Tavion stomps away on Hank on the apron! Tavion steps in, kicks Hank to the floor, then takes a bow. Tavion goes out to fetch Hank for an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Hank writhes, Tavion pushes him in and covers, TWO! Hank is showing true grit, but Tavion fires forearms! Tavion whisp Hank to ropes, then LARIATS him down! Cover, TWO!
Tavion drags Hank up, whips him into a corner, then tags Myles. Tavion stands Hank up to feed him to the SNAP POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO! Myles is frustrated, but he sits Hank up to KNEE him int he back! Myles CLUBS Hank, ROCKS him, then fires body shots! Hank fires hands in return but Myles kicks low. Myles reels Hank in but Hank blocks the suplex! Hank cradles Myles, TWO! Myles stomps Hank down, then drags him up to ROCK him with a right! Hank flops over, Myles stomps him and taunts him, then ROCKS him again! Hank fires a body shot in return! Myles fires another haymaker! Myles stalks Hank, but Hank ROCKS Myles!
Myles comes back to ROCK Hank, but Hank ROCKS Myles! NXT returns to single picture as the hands keep going! Hank ROCKS Myles, both men flounder to their corners, hot tags to Tavion and Tank! Tank and Tavion fire fast ‘n’ furious fists and the fans fire up! Tavion RIPOS Tank’s shirt off! Tank ROCKS Tavion again and again! Tank whips, Tavion reverses to LARIAT! Tavion runs, but Tank ELBOWS him! Then Tank hits a BIG back suplex! Tavion is up!? Tavion hits a BIG back suplex! But Tank is up!? The fans are thunderous as these two run up, LARIAT from Tavion again! Cover, Hank just breaks it in time!
Myles storms in and TOSSES Hank! NQCC get Tank up, fireman’s carry, but then Hank drags Myles out! Tank shoves Tavion, rolls him up, HANK ‘N’ TANK ELIMINATE NQCC!! What a hot streak! But now, the final team is none other than Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura! Will Hank ‘n’ Tank get past the Bullhead Brawler & Great Rush? Or will being themselves only get them this far?
Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura!
Tank steps outside, but Briggs just goes after him! Briggs THROWS Tank into the steel steps while Inamura runs up on Hank! Inamura wrenches Hank to fire those fast hands! Then Inamura hits a BIG suplex! Cover, TWO!! Hank still has something but Briggs tags in. Briggs CLUBS Hank, talks trash, but Hank fires a haymaker! Briggs likes the fighting spirit and eggs Hank on. Hank fires more hands, but there’s not a lot of mustard. Briggs BOOTS Hank, whips him, then scoops him, SIDEWALK SLAM and a SPLASH! Cover, TWO!! Hank still has something left, and Fraxiom likes where this is going. Briggs tags Inamura and Inamura CHOPS Hank!
Inamura CHOPS and JABS on hyper speed! Tag to Briggs, he runs side to side and BOOTS Hank! Briggs brings Hank around, tags Inamura, CHOP into the CHOKE SLAM BACKBREKER COMBO!! Cover, TANK BREAKS IT! The fans cheer and Tank coaches Hank. The fans rally as hard as they can, but then Inamura runs up! Tank takes the CHOP for Hank! Briggs BOOTS Tank down, then he and Inamura double whip Hank! Hank ducks Briggs, shoves him into Inamura, then cradle for Briggs!! Inamura leaps but Tank anchors him! HANK ‘N’ TANK WIN!?!?
Winners: Hank ‘n’ Tank, by pinfall (NEW #1 Contenders to the NXT Tag Team Championships)
Incredible! Hank ‘n’ Tank start and finish this gauntlet, and now they’re headed to Las Vegas! Fraxiom may #NeverSlowDown, but Hank ‘n’ Tank never give up. What happens when irresistible forces meet immovable objects at Stand & Deliver?
Stevie Turner talks with Kali Armstrong.
The Evolve General Manager, and Ava’s assistant NXT GM, is very impressed with Kali, which is why she’s in the Fatal 4 Way main event of tomorrow night’s Evolve! Kali will take on Brinley Reece, Kendal Grey, and Chantel Monroe. Kali likes that, and says thanks for the opportunity, Stevie. Kali heads out, and Ava is there to say Kali’s gonna be a big star one day. Robert Stone agrees. But how stoked are we that Hank ‘n’ Tank just won the tag team gauntlet? He is so happy for those guys. Stevie agrees, the tag title match is set. But alas, there’s one last spot in the Women’s North American Championship Ladder Match to fill.
Ava says yes, but she found a last minute entry for that match. Oh? Who? Ava says don’t worry, you’ll know when the music hits. Ava teases something big, who will make a surprise entry? And will that certain someone soon Stand & Deliver?
A truck pulls into the parking lot.
And it’s Oba Femi! The Ruler brings his NXT Championship with him, but wait! Is that Dark State sneaking up behind him!? Are they going to go after the champ and ruin Stand & Deliver?
Jaida Parker speaks.
“When you see Jaida Parker, you’ve already made your mind up. Because of my old life, people have already made assumptions about me. And to be honest, I don’t care, because I never fit in anywhere anyways. People think just because you look the part that it’s easy. But just because I carry something with ease don’t mean that it ain’t heavy. See, this path to Stand & Deliver started right here, in Port St. Lucie. I laughed in these streets, I cried in these streets, and I started making a damn name for myself in these streets. And Stephanie, Jordynne, and Giulia, they all come from somewhere. I’m the only homegrown talent in this match.
“And yeah, other women might be intimidated by that. Hell, the entire world IS intimidated by that. But I learned right here in Port St. Lucie that if I can hang with the boys, then I can hang with anybody. Because baby, I am pressure. And I ain’t talking about the pressure that burst pipes. I’m talking about the pressure that creates diamonds! Because growing up, if you didn’t apply it, it was damn sure applied to you. See, my dad’s a coach, and he would never let me play football like my brother did. So I decided to go for the next best thing: Soccer. And that physicality, what? Man, I loved it.
“But with my dad also being my coach, people already made the assumption about me. I’ve been in a women’s locker room my whole life, so I know exactly how vicious it can be. All women wanna do is try and cut you down. And out here in NXT, we have the best division in the world. But I know deep down, none of them want me to succeed before they do. And that’s not my problem. My best friend is actually my uncle. Man, you talk about a support system, You wanna talk about keeping a smile on my face. That’s exactly what he did to me. And when I lost him, I learned real early on that I couldn’t trust nobody. Because if I could lose my best friend, who else can I trust?
“See, people assume I have an attitude. Nah, I’m just the way that I am because that’s what happens when you don’t fit other people’s agendas. That’s what happens when you lose the purpose of this all. Life made me hard. So nah, I don’t need no damn friends in no damn locker room. All I need is that big game situation. The moments that make or break you. And ain’t nobody been able to break me. And come this Saturday in Las Vegas, I’m gonna show the entire world that Jaida Parker don’t play. And I’m taking that NXT championship with me.” Miss Parker got #OutTheMud, but will she get that gold?
The D’Angelo Family arrives!
Stacks, Rizzo, Luca, and a few other cousins are here, but where’s Tony? Where’s The Don? Stacks says T ain’t coming. This was Stacks’ call. Wait, Stacks didn’t run this by Tony? Stacks tells Luca that he doesn’t need to justify his decisions, he’s the Underboss, this is his call. Are they with him or not? Luca says they’ve never backed down from a fight before, they sure won’t do that tonight. Dark State is already waiting, so it’s go time! Stacks has Rizzo move aside, and the boys get the crowbars out! Rizzo hurries to call Tony, but the fight is on! The crowbars hit first and they hit hard! The random cousins get taken out, but Stacks & Luca stand their ground!
Luca’s got Dion, Stacks has Saquon, they drag those two inside, but then Dion & Saquon fight free! They brawl around backstage, knocking into ladders and walls. Luca CHUCKS a trash can at Dion! Saquon SMACKS Luca with the trash can’s lid, then throws it into Stacks! Saquon grabs a chair, but Stacks grabs it from him! Luca SMACKS Saquon with another chair! But now Cutler & Osiris have caught up! They’re throwing off the other cousins, as well as security, and Cutler CLOBBERS Luca! Security still tries, but Cutler ELBOWS one, and CHOKE SLAMS another through a table! But then Stacks & Luca get Cutler with a DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX through a table!
Osiris shakes free of security to run up on Luca with a crowbar! Stacks gets Luca outta the way, and that crowbar goes into the wall! Then Luca & Stacks DOUBLE SPEAR Osiris through that wall!! Security drags Luca & Stacks up, Saquon and Dion are back, this brawl moves down some other hallway! They’re in the storage area, they crash into spare pipes, and Dion THROWS Stacks up against some spare lockers! And then Dion SLAMS the lockers down! Stacks avoids disaster, Luca SMACKS Dion off the lockers! Saquon comes back, armed with a fire extinguisher! Cutler & Osiris are back up, they brawl with the D’Angelos, but Saquon just BLASTS everybody!
Saquon is going wild, but then he JAMS Luca up with the extinguisher itself! Cutler THROWS Stacks against someone’s car! Security steps in, but one of them is sent into the car! Stacks CHUCKS a cinderblock! Cutler dodges, the block shatters on the ground, and Cutler scoops Stacks to LAWN DART him into the garage door! Saquon SMACKS Luca off the side of the car, then Dark State gets him up. DOUBLE URENAGE onto the hood! Another car pulls up, and it’s TON! CROWBAR SHOTS FOR EVERYBODY! Dark State is going into retreat as the cops get involved! Tony helps Stacks up, and he says HE called the police.
Tony now asks what the hell Stacks is doing! Going over his head?! Risking the family for something Tony didn’t sign off on?! Stacks says Dark State disrespected the family! Tony says yeah, but Tony had a plan. Stacks says he got caught up, and Tony says yeah, and Stacks should’ve listened instead. Because while Stacks got caught up in whatever the hell this was, Tony was handling business the way it’s supposed to be handled. They all want Dark State, okay? But not in some street, in some parking lot. They’ll do it in front of the entire world, on the biggest stage: Stand & Deliver! Because that’s what they do.
Tony knows what is best for the family. Stacks, do NOT question him again. Understood? Understood. Tony hugs it out with Stacks, but will the D’Angelos be able to end Dark State the right way?
Stephanie Vaquer speaks.
La Primera went home to Chile, and not only does she get to see family and friends again, but she’s also part of Chilean TV specials on this Road to WrestleMania. She is very happy to represent Chile at Stand & Deliver as well as all of WrestleMania Week, the most important week of the year. She reviews how she is not only the first woman to hold both the NXT Women’s & NXT Women’s North American Championships at the same time, but she’s the first Chilean women’s champion.
She then goes to her hometown of San Fernando to have a media moment with the mayor, Pablo Silva Perez, who is very proud that one of their own is now a world class professional wrestler. Vaquer tells the story of when, years ago, she told her father she wanted to be a wrestler. He was of course worried, but she told him she would one day be a champion in the WWE. During her career, she was winning titles all over the world, but he never got to see that because she couldn’t come home. But now, she gets to give him a big surprise, because she brought home replicas of the titles she won in NXT.
Vaquer feels so blessed to be home to have all the love and support of her people in Chile. And at Stand & Deliver, she promises to continue representing them with pride, passion and courage, always keeping Chile’s name high. Vaquer is ready, but will La Primera still be THE champion here in NXT?
Backstage interview with Hank ‘n’ Tank.
Kelly Kincaid is with tonight’s big gauntlet winners, and says they’re going to Stand & Deliver! Yeah, baby! Here we come! These past few weeks, they’ve gotten tons of advice from teams on Raw, SmackDown, and beyond. Some was good, some not so good. But tonight, Hank ‘n’ Tank stayed true to who they are, and they pulled it off! They learned who they are! But they also learned who they’re not. They didn’t change who they are, and they left it all in the ring! They took the gauntlet and gave it a bodacious belly boy booming twice! And now… They’ve got a chance at the titles at Stand & Deliver!
But in steps Frazer & Axiom. Axiom loves it! Hank ‘n’ Tank found themselves and they did it! Now they’re ready to put themselves to the test on the biggest stage, against the best tag team in NXT. Axiom looks forward to it. Frazer says he knew they could do it! He knew the entire time. Uh, no, Frazer gave them the worst advice possible. Oh, did he? They ran the entire gauntlet, but it’s just a shame they did it for nothing. Axiom is annoyed by Frazer, but Tank says agree to disagree. See you at Stand & Deliver. Hank ‘n’ Tank offer handshakes, Frazer says, “We most certainly will,” and then heads out? Axiom shakes hands, so at least one champion is respectful.
But will Frazer also learn to respect the bodacious belly boys? Or will Fraxiom, dysfunctional once again, still pull off the win?
Roxie meets with Ava again.
Roxie is so upset! Even Hank ‘n’ Tank get to go to Stand & Deliver and she doesn’t? Stone says those two beat four other teams, they deserve it. Well so does Roxie! Ava asks if Roxie found a tag partner. Actually, yes. Roxie thought about it, and she realized she’s a Prodigy for a reason. She’ll just be her own tag partner. That’s not how that works… And one Roxie is plenty anyway. Ava asks how bad she wants this. Really badly! Oh, is that so? Cora Jade steps in! Does Roxie want it so bad that she’s willing to apologize? Roxie is speechless, but she’s only got 4 days left. Will Roxie swallow her pride to go for glory with an old friend?
BREAKING NEWS for Stand & Deliver!
It seems during commercial, Roxanne did apologize to Cora, and now the mean girls are back in action! The Fatal 4 Way Tag match is now an ELIMINATION MATCH, and set for the Stand & Deliver Countdown Show! Who will start off their WrestleMania Weekend with a big win and head right for the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles?
NXT Women’s North American Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Karmen Petrovic w/ Ashante THEE Adonis VS ???
It’s the main event and there’s one spot left in that six pack challenge! Karmen is ready to represent for Team SHING SHING, but who’s she up against? We find out, after the break.
NXT returns and wait, Andre Chase is talking with Uriah Connors & Kale Dixon. The boys want Mr. Chase to reconsider reopening Chase U, but he tells them that while he’s thankful for everything they’ve done for him, he’s… He’s just scared. What if he ruins their lives like he has everyone else’s? “You didn’t ruin mine.” THEA HAIL!? She’s back! And Thea says Mr. Chase has her blessings. He can reopen Chase U. Does that mean she’s back in? No, but she’ll always be a proud alumni. For now, she’s qualifying for the Women’s North American Championship Ladder Match! Then go get ’em, champ! Thea fist bumps Mr. Chase and fires up!
The music starts, “I’m a grown ass woman!” Thea runs out there, the fans go nuts already, Thea almost licks the title! Will everyone be shouting #HailYeah this Saturday in Las Vegas?
The bell rings, the fans chant “Welcome Back!” and even Karmen is happy to have Thea back. But then Karmen kicks, only for Thea to block! Thea spins Karmen, rolls her up, ONE! Karmen trips and covers, ONE! The two stand off and the fans cheer. Karmen and Thea reset, then things speed up. Thea rolls over the dropdown, then arm-drags! And arm-drags again! The fans fire up with Thea, she runs in and ELBOWS Karmen! Thea clinches for an EXPLODER! Karmen bails out, Adonis coaches her, but Thea builds speed! Thea DIVES, but into a GAMANGIRI! Karmen storms in, runs up, and she SLINGBLADES!
Karmen dares Thea to get up, then whips her, only for Thea to reverse. Karmen goes up to JUMP SOBAT! Thea flounders, Karmen DISCUS LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Karmen is annoyed but she rains down fists! Thea kicks free, but Karmen brings her up for a KICK! And KICK! And KICK, but Thea blocks it! Thea HEADBUTTS Karmen, then dodges a lariat to ELBOW Karmen down! And ELBOW her again! And then wrench and kick to the leg! BASEMENT CLOTHESLINE! The fans fire up and Thea runs, ROLLING NECKBREAKER! Thea hauls Karmen up, scoops and POWERSLAMS! The fans fire up with Thea as she shakes the ropes!
Thea SEANTONS, then TRUST FALLS! The fans fire up and Karmen flounders. Thea runs in, floats over, and underhooks for the BUTTERFLY TWIST! Then KIMURA!! Karmen TAPS, Thea wins!
Winner: Thea Hail, by submission (advances to Stand & Deliver)
Thea makes a return in a big way, and she’s on to perhaps the biggest match in her career! Thea looks around at ringside, we see #ZaRuca up in the perch, while Izzi Dame, Kelani Jordan and Lola Vice have appeared in different parts of the crowd. The six pack is complete, but who will be toasting their victory at Stand & Deliver?
Trick Williams heads to the ring!
The fans fire up and chant “Whoop Dat Trick!” as he makes his way out for what is to be one final faceoff between the NXT Championship Triple Threat competitors. Trick grabs a mic to keep that Booker T energy going, “Huh? I like it!” Trick says he’s been doing a whole lot of thinking lately about who he is. A couple weeks ago, Young OG came out here and said Trick… is the new Carmelo Hayes… But Trick gets it now. Because you either die the hero, or live long enough to become the villain. But Trick Willy still alive! And heavy is the head that wears the crown. Oba, your head may be heavy, but on Saturday, Trick’s coming for that crown, dawg!
And Je’Von, that means better luck next year for you! The fans cheer, but here comes Oba Femi! The Ruler changes the mood as he has belt around his waist and mic in his hand. Oba tells “Mr. Williams, it’s funny how you still talk like you’re the man around here. Well guess what? You’re not the man. What you are is a broken record playing the same hits over and over, and over and over again. And nobody is singing along, because you are the only one who is still whooping dat trick!” The fans disagree as they chant, “Whoop Dat Trick!” Oba says he’ll give Trick a word of advice: The spotlight is moving on, so Trick should do the same.
Trick gets one last chance to stand in the spotlight alongside Oba at Stand & Deliver on Saturday, and that will be Trick’s last time. Because when Oba is done with him, Oba is moving on, as well. Trick wants to ask, do Oba’s ears not work that good? Are those braids too tight? The fans are still chanting Whoop Dat Trick around the world, let’s talk about it! The fans cheer, and they again chant for Trick. But hey, what’s Oba got? He’s still The Ruler? It takes more than a few Black Panther chants to be the man around here, dawg! Trick says he’ll help Oba out, because it looks like Oba is struggling to hold that title up ever since Trick let him have it.
Trick will take that from Oba, that’ll help Oba out, and- Here comes Je’Von Evans! The Young OG has them cut his music, and he tells Trick, “Please, please, PLEASE shut yo’ ass up! Oh, I mean, I dunno, I could be trippin’, gang. But like, I guess the Young OG was right about Trick a few weeks ago. I mean, bruh, you come here week, after week, after week, after week, after week, after week… talking about a match that you deserve. And honestly, I’m gonna speak for some people here, at least for some. We tired of that! Like, if you gon’ talk, talk about something else. But you already know how I feel about you, so Trick Williams, you’re dismissed.
“Let’s talk about the Ruler now! HOO!” Je’Von steps in, fans chant “O~BA! O~BA!” Je’Von says, “I ain’t gonna lie, that’s cool. I ain’t gonna lie. Real recognizes real, OG. You’ve been glued to a championship ever since you got to NXT. Y’know what I mean? It’s like you’re on track to success. You walk into a room, and everybody knows who you are. And honestly, I’m not trying to be a smart ass fool, but those two times I dropped you, I was hype about it. Cuz I didn’t drop a regular wrestler, Oba. I dropped the NXT Champion! You feel me? That’s real talk.” The fans do cheer that. Je’Von asks how many times are we gonna hear, “Oba Femi will main event WrestleMania in a couple of years.”
And that’s not an “if,” it’s a “when” Oba gets drafted. And c’mon, Big O. C’mon, champ. Je’Von pats him on the shoulder and says yeah, he did that. But c’mon! Oba from the University of Alabama! Roll Tide! Roll Tide! The fans here being from Orlando, Florida, they’re not as into that. But Je’Von says bruh, Oba was supposed to get to Raw, SmackDown, and be great! But he walks around this arena, around the Performance Center, and around NXT like all this revolves around here. Deadass right now, bro bro… This kid from North Carolina wasn’t supposed to make it to WWE. But what’d he do? He did that!
And you think Oba is the favorite? But little do you know, that’s how Je’Von likes it. YERRR! Oba chuckles, and says, “Ladies and gentlemen, Je’Von Evans!” The fans cheer, and Oba says, “The Young OG! This is what 20 years looks like. Look at him. 20 years old. You’ve had a phenomenal rookie year. If anybody knows anything about having a phenomenal rookie year, it’s The Ruler, isn’t that right? And you’re the future of this place. But like I said, I’m the present. The future is not here yet. And you’re right about one thing: This place does revolve around me, because I have this!” Oba holds up the NXT Championship.
“Because I have this, that makes me the man! Because I have this, I’m the top dog! And you cannot handle this, because you are a CHILD!” The fans boo that, and Je’Von brushes that off. Trick says he’ll hope both of them out. After they’re done hugging and giving compliments, they’ll talk about what matters, and that’s Trick getting that title back. Belee dat! Je’Von says if they’re gonna talk about Saturday, it’ll be how neither Trick nor Oba can touch Je’Von in this ring. Because we all know Je’Von can wrestle circles around both of them, and that’s facts. The mics drop, but then Trick & Oba SHOVE Je’Von out of the ring!
And now Trick and Oba start throwing hands! The fans fire up, Je’Von returns, but he gets TOSSED out this time! Trick and Oba throw more hands, but Je’Von springboards in! DOUBLE O G CUTTER!! Je’Von stands tall over Trick and Oba, then holds up the title! Is this what we’ll see at the end of Stand & Deliver?
My Thoughts:
A great go-home NXT here, especially with the “last minute” builds to some big matches. I was a little surprised the Fatal 4 Way went first, but I suppose it was the match that needed time to breathe, while also one of the matches they couldn’t adjust on the fly if they needed to cut something for time. That technical stuff aside, it was an awesome opener with all four guys looking strong. Ethan did a great job sniping the finish there, but great stuff with Ricky being ejected just to come back and spear Ethan down. I hope Ricky doesn’t lose given he stood tall, but he and Ethan will have a great match for this title.
Very good stuff in the Women’s North American Championship build. Good promo from Sol, Zaria, Kelani and Izzi, and good stuff in connection. Thea Hail making her TV return was a great move, and a great win over Karmen here. Also, I do appreciate she gave Mr. Chase the encouragement to restart Chase U. Lola VS Tatum was also a very good match, and very good win for Lola. I can’t really be sure who wins the ladder match, but I feel like it’d be boring for Kelani to win again, she has to have a proper feud with someone before she becomes a two-time Women’s North American Champion. It’d be the most fun if Thea finally got a title reign with this match.
Branching off from that, good stuff with building a Fatal 4 Way tag. Roxie having to make amends with Cora is an interesting twist but I figured that would happen. I don’t know their chances when we’re talking an Elimination Fatal 4, but I suppose Roxie & Cora wouldn’t reunite if they weren’t going to have a strong showing. At the same time, it really depends on if Liv & Raquel are meant to win against Lyra & Bayley. Speaking of Lyra & Bayley, I’m surprised Hank ‘n’ Tank ran the table just like they did, but it was done in an awesome way. Hank ‘n’ Tank VS Fraxiom will be awesome, and this really will come down to how Hank ‘n’ Tank are of like minds while Frazer & Axiom keep disagreeing.
The backstage brawl of Stacks & Luca VS Dark State was both a bit cheesy but also really good. Tony making the save was great, and now we’re getting a big Six Man Tag out of it. It feels like this will be the make or break for the D’Angelo Family, as Stacks keeps pushing the boundaries of his authority within the family. Great cameo from Kali Armstrong to help plug Evolve, that’ll be a great Fatal 4 Way over there. Great promos from the women in the NXT Women’s Championship Fatal 4 Way. Jaida’s promo felt like the longest and most in-depth, but Vaquer’s was pretty close. I feel like it’ll be between the two of them for who wins the title. I’m leaning towards Vaquer retaining, but Jaida really does deserve some kind of title reign before her NXT run is over.
And a great promo segment from Trick, Oba & Je’Von to close the show. All three made strong points, but then Je’Von standing tall was quite the surprise but also a great image. The math would now say he doesn’t win, but it’s a Triple Threat so maybe there’s a way for him to still win out. It could even have to do with all these theories of someone leading Dark State, but that’s only if there is someone else leading Dark State. It’d be a great way to kick off a new chapter for NXT if Dark State had the NXT Champion leading them, and their feud with the D’Angelos continued as Tony tried to go after that title to complete his Grand Slam.
My Score: 8.9/10
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It’s a truly star-studded Raw!
Ahead of their WrestleMania 41 Night 1 Main Event, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, CM Punk & Paul Heyman are all here on Monday Night Raw!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Bayley w/ Lyra Valkyria VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez; Bayley wins.
- Rey Mysterio w/ The LWO VS Julius Creed w/ Team American Made; Rey wins.
- AJ Styles VS Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux; Styles wins.
- PENTA VS Finn Balor; Finn wins, by disqualification.
PLAY BY PLAY
Gunther is here!
Sacramento boos Der Ring General as he storms to the ring. Michael Cole was going to interview the World Heavyweight Champion later tonight, but it seems Gunther wants to get to it. Gunther and Cole meet in the ring, Cole says two weeks ago, he left Jimmy Uso bloodied in this ring. That caused Jey Uso to march out here last week- Gunther cuts Cole off to says that last week, Jey walked out here, looked Gunther in the eyes, and claimed he’s not afraid anymore. The fans boo as Gunther says this week, he is here to look us all in the eyes to tell us that Jey Uso is full of crap! Cole understands the fans are upset, but speaking of that, it seems Gunther is also upset.
We saw last year at WrestleMania, when… The fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” and Gunther says screw the questions! Screw Jey Uso! Screw everything Jey stands for! And screw everybody who stands with Jey! The fans boo more, and Gunther says ever since he stepped for in the WWE, he is the greatest gift this company has ever received! For 80% of his time in the WWE, he has been a champion! And now, he is the GREATEST World Heavyweight Champion of all time! The fans boo more, but Gunther says he refuses to let somebody like Jey Uso ruin that for him. The fans “YEET!” more and he says fine, do it as much as you want!
Gunther tells Jey to puff his chest out, walk into WrestleMania with the most confidence he’s ever had, because it won’t matter! In the end, the bell has to ring! And when that happens, Jey still can’t lace Gunther’s boots! Gunther will put Jey down for a FOURTRH time! These last two weeks, Gunther has been accused, told he went too far, that he lost control. Jey, trust one thing: In 37 years of LIFE, Gunther has never lost control! The fans chant “You Suck! You Suck!” Gunther says two weeks ago, when he took a bath in Jimmy’s blood, Gunther was in full control, and he LOVED it!
And Jey, go pray to the Lord, thank Him for how Gunther was in control, or else he would’ve drowned them both in Jimmy’s blood! Gunther looks forward to next week, calling his mother and telling her how much he enjoyed beating the living hell out of Jey, and is STILL World Heavyweight Champion! Gunther storms off, having done his part for tonight. Will nothing and no one stop Der Ring General from destroying Jey?
Bianca Belair speaks.
“I’ll be the first to admit that lately, I’ve been in my head. Everything that’s happened with Jade and Naomi, it really messed me up. And now, this whole situation with Iyo and Rhea has brought out a different version of me. But different isn’t wrong. My Road to WrestleMania has filled with nothing but blood, sweat and tears. Not no complaining, no whining, no excuses. No, just straight facts. I’ve been doing nothing but standing up for myself and speaking the truth, something that anybody would do. Something I would hope people are teaching their kids to do. And you don’t have to like the truth, but you can’t deny it.
“Just like I can’t deny now it’s a Triple Threat. Yeah, I’ve been through a lot. But I’m still the best. So I’ma use the bit of everything that I’ve been through to be the Bianca I know I can be. I’m the Bianca that won Elimination Chamber, I’m the Bianca that’s never been pinned at WrestleMania, and I’m the strongest, the fastest, the roughest, the toughest, the quickest, the greatest, the best Bianca that you have ever seen. So it doesn’t matter if it’s a Triple Threat, because there’s nothing that Rhea or Iyo can do to stop me from getting my flowers and walking out of WrestleMania as champion. Because you cannot spell WrestleMania without E S T.”
Bayley w/ Lyra Valkyria VS Liv Morgan w/ Raquel Rodriguez!
The Role Model and the Morrigan ran the table on Friday Night SmackDown’s tag team gauntlet, and now they’re going to WrestleMania! Will they have even more momentum going into that WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship match? Or will the leading ladies of Judgment Day refuse to give up the spotlight even now?
Raw returns and Bayley has made her entrance, Lyra by her side. The bell rings, the fans rally up, and Bayley circles with Liv. They approach, and Liv SLAPS Bayley! Liv laughs, but Bayley smirks. Liv apologizes, then runs away! Bayley chases Liv around the outside, but then they slip into the ring. Liv stomps away on Bayley, the fans are torn but the ref counts. Liv stops at 4, and Liv bumps Bayley off buckles. Liv stomps a mudhole, but again stops at 4. Liv then stomps another mudhole in, and shouts, “OKAAAY~!” as she lets off. The fans are torn, Liv stands Bayley up, but Bayley fires forearms! The fans fire up, Liv swings, but into a fireman’s carry!
Liv fights free, ducks ‘n’ dodges Bayley, but Bayley hits a THESZ PRESS! The fans fire up and Bayley hits a NECK SNAPPER, then a SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Bayley stomps Liv around, glares at Raquel, but Liv kicks from below. Bayley rains down fists on Liv, the fans rally behind her, and Bayley whips. Liv reverses, then avoids the up ‘n’ over to DROPKICK Bayley! Liv runs corner to corner, and BACK BODY BLOCKS! Liv rolls, but Bayley follows to LARIAT! The fans fire up again and Bayley looms over Liv. Bayley glares at Raquel, then bumps Liv off buckles. Bayley ELBOWS Liv, then ELBOWS her again.
Bayley brings Liv around, the fans cheer her on as she bumps Liv off buckles. The fans duel, Bayley brings Liv in and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Liv is tougher than that but Bayley stays on her. Bayley brings Liv over but Liv stops the buckle bump to give a buckle bump! Liv runs up, but Bayley ELBOWS her! Bayley goes up to FLYING ARM-DRAG! Then she gest around to SAIDO! Liv bails out, Raquel checks on her, but Bayley smiles. Bayley aims, builds speed, and DIVES, but into a forearm! Liv drags Bayley out to snap suplex to the floor! That’s just Una Amiga as Liv gets Bayley up again! Dos Amigas to the floor!
Liv drags Bayley up again, but Bayley stops that to wrench and KNEE low! Bayley RAMS Liv into steel steps! The fans fire up, Bayley runs up, but Liv dodges! Bayley hits steps, then Liv STMOPS Bayley’s hands! Liv drags Bayley up, THREE AMIGAS to the floor, from OFF the steps! Liv gives some Latina Heat while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Liv has Bayley in the ring. Liv grinds Bayley down with a chinlock but the fans rally up. Bayley fights to her feet, then JAWBREAKERS free! Liv staggers, comes back, but Bayley blocks to fire forearms! Bayley fires forearm after forearm, but Liv KICKS in return! Liv kicks again, but Bayley KNEES her down! Liv flounders, Bayley runs up, but Liv dodges! Bayley is sent into the buckles! The ref checks Bayley and she’s still in this, so Liv basement ENZIGIRIS! Cover, TWO! Bayley is tougher than that but Liv gives her cheap hammer fists. Bayley hits back but Liv stomps her down.
Liv goes up the corner, waits on Bayley to rise, and FLYING- NO, Bayley grabs Liv’s legs! Liv fights the turnover, pops Bayley into the sunset flip, TWO! Bayley runs up, Liv ducks the knee to roll her up, TWO! KNEE!! Liv flounders around again, Bayley runs in, SUNSET FLIP BUCKLE BOMB! The fans fire up as Bayley drags Liv to a cover, TWO! Liv stays in this but Lyra coaches Bayley. Raquel coaches Liv while Liv crawls away. The fans duel and Liv stands. Bayley grabs a leg but Liv kicks at her! Liv BOOTS Bayley away, but Bayley comes back and slides out! But Liv gets her for a CODE BREAKER! Bayley flops down, and Liv snarls as she rises up.
Liv aims and MISSILE DROPKICKS to the floor! A little double-edged given that landing, but Liv hurries to get Bayley up and into the ring. Liv crawls to the cover, TWO! Bayley survives and Lyra is relieved. Liv snarls again and waits on Bayley. Bayley goes to the ropes, Liv runs up, OBLIV- NO, Bayley puts her on the apron! Bayley ROCKS Liv, has her in the ropes, but Liv denies the hotshot! GAMANGIRI! Liv storms in, gets moving, she goes up, up, and FLYING- STUNNER! Bayley turns things around on Liv, and hits a BAYLEY2BELLY!! Bayley crawls to the cover, Raquel gives Liv the ROPEBREAK!
The fans boo, they all saw Raquel do it! Lyra goes after Raquel, Raquel fights her off and BOOTS her down! The fans boo, but Bayley DECKS Raquel, and hits the HOTSHOT in the ropes! The fans fire up but Liv hits Bayley with a BACKSTABBER!! And then OBLIV- NO, Lyra anchors Bayley’s feet! Bayley jackknife bridges, AND WINS!
Winner: Bayley, by pinfall
A huge bit of teamwork leads to a huge win over one-half of the tag champions! Liv is livid, will she and Raquel get their revenge at WrestleMania?
Paul Heyman waits backstage.
And like usual, he’s waiting on The Tribal Chief. Will Roman Reigns even bother with The Wise Man knowing he’ll be in CM Punk’s corner at WrestleMania?
Rhea Ripley speaks.
“Bianca, I can see right through you. You said you were just out there to watch, and then you said you were just out there to call it down the middle. But I can see your true intentions now: You thrive on playing with my emotions, winding me up like I’m some sort of toy to you so you can get what you want and make it seem like I’m the bad guy. The thing that you failed to understand is that when I lose something that I love, I wills top at nothing to get it back. And Iyo, I never had to give you a championship match. But watching you pout and moan, it really pulled on the heartstrings that I had left. So I pulled a page out of your book, and I got what I wanted, too.
“So Iyo, I advise you to cherish every single moment you have with the Women’s World Championship. And Bianca, I can’t wait to make you feel what it’s like when I’m the bad guy. Because at WrestleMania 41, I get back what belongs to me.”
Rey Mysterio w/ The LWO VS Julius Creed w/ Team American Made!
Before going up against the supposed greatest luchador of a generation, El Grande Americano, the King of Lucha will take on one of the Creed Brothers. But is this going to be far more than just a tune-up? Or will Rey speed-dial the 619 here in Sacramento?
Raw returns and American Made has made their entrance. The bell rings, Rey and Julius circle, then Rey waistlocks. Julius backs Rey into a corner, the ref counts, and Rey lets go. Julius elbows Rey down! The fans boo but Julius pushes Rey around. Julius wrenches Rey, wristlocks, but Rey endures. Julius uses a straight arm lever to lift Rey! Then he drops Rey, grinds the arm down, but Rey fires forearms! Rey uses the ropes to flip through, then he KICKS, KICKS, and KICKS! Julius wrenches, hammerlocks, but Rey reaches back! Rey jumps up, FLYING-MARE! Julius runs back up to CLOBBER Rey!
Julius talks trash, American Made soaks up the heat, and Julius whips Rey. Rey reverses, then blows past to tilt-o-whirl and RANA! The fans fire up as Julius tumbles to a corner! Rey fires up, but Julius comes back to CLOBBER him again! Cover, TWO! The fans rally for Rey but Julius clamps on a chinlock. Rey endures, the fans rally up more, and Rey fights up. Rey throws body shots, runs, but Julius kitchen sink knees him down! Julius stands Rey up, whisp him to ropes, but Rey KICKS back! Rey dropkicks the legs and Julius ends up on ropes! Rey dials it up, but Julius dumps Rey out! Rey RAMS into Julius, ROCKS him, then climbs up!
The fans fire up, but Brutus distracts the ref! This lets Gable trip Rey up! The fans boo but Julius is right up top! So now Wilde distracts, and that lets Dragon Lee trip Julius! Turnabout is fair play, but now both teams are protesting! So the ref EJECTS everybody! Things will truly be 1v1, after the break!
Raw returns again and Julius has a neck wrench on Rey. Julius whips Rey hard to a corner, runs up, but Rey ELBOWS him! And BOOTS him! Rey goes up, up, but Julius Electric Chair Lifts! Rey fires hands, then spins to MYSTERIO RANA! Both men fall out of the ring pretty hard, but Rey gets back inside! Rey WRECKS Julius with a dropkick, the fans fire up, and Rey builds speed to SLIDING- NO, Julius stuffs Rey into a deadlift suplex! Julius marches with Rey, and then goes up the steel steps! Julius has Rey at the ropes, but Rey fights free! Julius BOOTS Rey back! Julius runs up, Rey moves, Julius POSTS himself!
The fans fire up while Julius flops into the ring. Rey hurries back up, climbs the corner, and FLYING RANAS! Julius ends up in a corner, Julius climbs up again, and he rains down fists! The fans count all the way to TEN! Rey fires up, the fans are with him, and Rey whips Julius corner to corner. Julius springs right up, goes over, but then Rey QUEBRADAS! But Julius catches him! Rey swings through to DDT! Cover, TWO! The fans fire up while both men are down! “This is Awesome!” as Rey rises, and he brings Julius around. Julius blocks the whip, shakes his head, and he whips Rey. Rey slides under, comes back, but Julius KNEES Rey down!
Julius brings down the straps, runs up, but Rey DUMPS Julius out tot he floor! Wait, El Grande Americano is here! Rey runs up, grabs him by his mask, but then Julius rolls Rey up! TWO!! Julius gets up, swings, but Rey shoves Julius into El Grande! Rey dropkicks Julius onto the ropes! Dial it up, 619!! Slingshot, DROP THE DIME! Cover, Rey wins!
Winner: Rey Mysterio, by pinfall
But then El Grande CLOBBERS Rey! The fans boo, the LWO returns, but Julius holds them off! Grande CLOBBERS Cruz, but Dragon Lee fires off forearms! Dragon Lee whips, but Grande FLYING HEADBUTTS! The fans boo, but now Grande goes up top! DIVING HEADBUTT onto Rey! “UH GRACIAS~!” That mask is definitely loaded like last week, but will Rey be able to overcome that tactic and win for the honor of true lucha libre?
The War Raiders speak.
Ivar says, “Xavier, Kofi, you run your mouths about how the New Day is the greatest tag team of all time.” Erik says, “The fact of the matter is, the War Raiders have blazed a path of world domination for more than a decade. We’ve won gold on multiple continents.” “And last week, we had you beat, dead to rights.” The New Day took the cowardly way out because they knew they couldn’t beat the Raiders. The New Day says this is about the titles, but it has gotten much more personal. Kofi & Woods took this to a whole new level. They didn’t come for these titles, they came for Erik’s neck! They tried to put Erik on the shelf! They tried to end his career!
So at WrestleMania, this won’t be a match! It’ll barely be a fight! This is WAR!
The New Day is backstage.
They’re busy playing the Clash of Clans WWE crossover game, not that they’re in it. But Jackie Redmond walks over to talk with them. The New Day says that is rude, they’re busy playing a game. This lack of respect is audacious. Jackie does apologize, but she brings up the War Raiders saying that this match at Mania is now a war. War? New Day’s been in war from how they’ve been treated this whole time! The whole time! But the warpath stops when they take back what belongs to them, and that’s their WWE World Tag Team Championships! The entire world will see that ya bois, the NEW DAY~, are the best team on the face of Planet Earth!
Last week was just a taste of what they’re willing to do to get those titles back. And after Mania, Erik will wish they took his head off so that he and Ivar wouldn’t have to catch the beating they’re getting this weekend. At WrestleMania, every irrelevant and immature member of the WWE Universe will have no choice but to drop to their knees and THANK GOD for the New Day! Woods & Kofi head out, but will they survive this WrestleMania weekend?
AJ Styles VS Karrion Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux!
Before taking on The Maverick, Logan Paul, at WrestleMania, the Phenomenal One is going to prove to Mr. & Mrs. Doomsday that this AJ Styles IS the AJ Styles that can get the job done! Does that mean Raw is going to be Too Sweet? Or will Kross be disappointed?
Raw returns as Kross makes his entrance, his femme fatale by his side. Kross is really taking this mirroring stuff to another level, wearing tights very similar to what Styles would wear. Kross still wants Styles to understand, Styles has to be like the Styles of the past in order to finally humble Logan Paul and save professional wrestling. Styles gets mad, but Kross shoves him! Styles RAMS Kross into the corner, RAMS him again and again, but lets off as the ref counts. Styles storms back up, whips corner to corner, but Kross reverses. Kross runs up, but Styles BOOTS him away. Kross comes back to BOOT Styles down!
The fans boo but Kross stomps Styles around. Kross talks trash, but Styles KICKS Kross! And CHOPS! Kross YANKS Styles into ropes, then CHOKES him! The ref counts, Kross says it doesn’t have to be this way, but he lets off as the ref pulls him back. Scarlett CLAWS at Styles’ face in the distraction! The fans boo but Kross stomps Styles. Kross drags Styles up, but Styles JAWBREAKERS back! Styles runs up, but into a SAIDO! The fans boo, Kross stalks Styles to a corner, then he stomps away. Kross whips corner to corner hard, and Styles clutches his ribs as he falls. Kross laughs at Styles’ pain, then stomps him more.
Kross drags Styles up, but Styles DRPOKICKS Kross down! The fans cheer, Kross bails out, and Styles slides to DROPKICK! Kross hits barriers, then Styles PLANCHAS! Kross moves, Styles lands safe on the apron, but Kross sweeps the legs! Kross then whips Styles hard into barriers! Styles almost falls onto that guy cosplaying the Prime bottle. Kross whips Styles hard into more barriers, and Styles falls into the timekeeper’s area! Scarlett kisses Kross’ hand while he soaks up heat, and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns Kross has a chinlock. Styles fights up, fires body shots, but Kross KNEES low! Kross scoops and hits a BACKBREAKER! Kross scoops again, but Styles slips free! Styles goes for a leg but Kross stifles that and shoves Styles to a cover, TWO! Kross drags Styles up, reels him in, but Styles fights the bomb! Kross stops the rana, fireman’s carries, FINAL PRAYER! Cover, TWO!! Styles survives but Kross asks if Styles is sandbagging. Kross looms over Styles, the fans rally up, and Kross smirks as Styles rises. Kross swings, but Styles counter punches! And counter punches! And CHOPS, CHOPS, KICKS!
Styles KICKS Kross again, then whips. Kross hobbles then falls over, clutching his knee! The fans boo, thinking this is an act. Scarlett checks Kross as he clutches the ankle. Styles asks the ref about this, but then Kross sucker punches Styles! It WAS an act, and the fans boo that Kross got away with it! Kross shimmies and shuffles, then taunts Styles. Styles runs up to CLOBBER Kross! Styles fires off the PHENOMENAL BLITZ! SLIDING FOREARM! The fans fire up, Styles runs in at the corner to LARIAT Kross! Fireman’s carry, but Kross slips free! Kick and DDT! Kross vows to end it, and the fans boo as Kross throws off his elbow pad.
Styles rises as Kross winds the hands of time. KROSS- NO, Styles ducks the hammer and fireman’s carries! USHIGOROSHI! Kross hobbles, Styles runs up, but Kross puts him on the apron! Styles HOTSHOTS Kross, then DECKS him! The fans fire up, Kross rises, PHENOMENAL FOREARM! Cover, Styles wins!
Winner: AJ Styles, by pinfall
Kross put Styles to the test, and that was definitely Styles acing that test! But then Logan Paul appears! Sacramento boos Logan as he walks out with mic in hand. Logan asks what’s up with the hostility. Chill, he’s here to congratulate Styles. No, seriously, good win! He did it! In front of Sacramento, “a bunch of people who weren’t cool enough to live in Los Angeles, or work smart enough to live in San Francisco.” But Styles showed these “generic California losers” why Styles VS Logan is gonna cook! But hey, why not show them why it’ll make money? Here is what Styles is up against. Please enjoy this piece of cinema.
Logan has his own hype video package, “I accomplish more in one weekend than you all will in your entire lives. I didn’t join the WWE to take part, I joined to take over.” Styles grabs a mic to say that’s a cute video, smartass. But let’s start Mania earlier! Get your ass to the ring right now! The fans fire up for that! Logan says okay, and he steps closer. But Kross runs up on Styles! Styles ROCKS Kross, ROCKS Logan, repeat! Styles DECKS Logan, ROCKS him again, btu Kross scoops! Styles slips free, REVERSE DDT! Styles snarls at Kross, but Logan is up! ONE LUCKY RIGHT!! Then the PAUL-VERIZER!! The Maverick is feeling so “humble,” but will he be humbled at Mania?
Paul Heyman is still waiting…
Will he be waiting all night at this rate?
Jey Uso is here!
The fans fire up as Main Event Jey pops right through the curtain to walk down the bleachers. Sacramento bounces for him and they “YEET!” along with the song, but Jey is once again very serious. Jey goes to the ground level, but then stands on the desk for everyone to see him. Jey grabs the mic while the bouncing continues, and the fans cheer as the song dies down. Jey takes a breath, fans “YEET! YEET! YEET!” and chant “One More Time! One More Time!” Jey says okay, and the song starts up again! The bouncing starts up again, and then Jey paces as he waits for the music to die down.
“Aight, check it. I said what I had to say to Gunther last week.” “YEET!” “But I really wanted to come out here and holler at y’all.” “YEET!” Jey says what up, Sac Town! Mama out here somewhere in the crowd. But everyone keeps on asking Jey, “Jey, where your mind at?” Is he crashing out? HELL YEAH he’s crashing out! But he’s locked in! Locked in for him! For his family! And for y’all! Check it out, though. Listen to Gunther out here talking. Y’know what that made Jey feel like? He mad. Nah nah nah… Gunther’s afraid! Yeah, Gunther’s afraid! Afraid that Jey will whoop that ass in front of 60 THOUSAND and the world! See you Saturday, Uce!
Jey says one time for the one time… Hey, Uce, please, PLEASE hit his music! UH UH, YEET!! The fans fire up as the bouncing starts up yet again! Jey has all the confidence, all the fire, all the momentum. But will he have it all when it’s all said and done in Las Vegas?
Backstage interview with Bron Breakker.
Cathy Kelley is with the Badass WWE Intercontinental Champion and brings up this Sunday, the Fatal 4 Way that stacks the odds against him. How is he handling what could be the biggest defense of his career? Bron says obviously, this is the biggest match of his career. And- JUDGMENT DAY ATTACKS! Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio & Carlito mug Bron! They stomp him around, then THROW him onto a road case! They still rain down fists, and Finn says the dog’s bark is worse than his bite! They CHUCK Bron into more road cases! Adam Pearce and producers storm in and stop The Judgment Day, but will Bron be alright in just 6 days?
As for Finn, he has a match to get to! Will The Prince be ready for #CeroMiedo?
PENTA VS Finn Balor!
Raw returns and Finn makes his entrance, only for Penta to DROPKICK him off the apron! Penta then FLIES and takes Finn down! Penta strikes first since Finn did that to Bron, and the fans love it! Penta puts Finn in the ring, then storms in after him. The bell rings, the fans fire up as Penta runs up, but Finn puts him on the apron. Penta GAMANGIRIS, then goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Finn kicks Penta low, then brings Penta around. Penta WRINGS free, then traps that arm! But Finn trips Penta! Penta BOOTS Finn away, then pump handles! Finn pops free, dragon sleepers, but Penta drops to KICK from below!
Penta runs up to ENZIGIRI in the corner, then he headstands and SWINGING DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Finn stays in this, the fans cheer for “CERO! MIEDO!” Penta nods and storms up on Finn to KICK the leg out! Finn flounders, stands back up, but Penta KICKS the leg again! Penta stalks Finn, and KICKS Finn’s leg out again! The fans fire up while Finn flounders around more. Penta has Finn on the ropes, hushes the fans, and he CHOPS! Finn is stinging as he staggers away, and the fans fire up as they want even more of that! Penta whips, Finn reverses, but Penta sunset flips. Finn rolls through to basement DROPKICK! Cover, TWO!
Finn keeps Penta down with an ELBOW, then a chinlock. Finn grinds Penta down, Penta endures, and the fans rally. Penta fights up, but Finn yanks the mask! Finn has Penta down, and he soaks up the heat. Finn drags Penta, then jumps stomps! Finn soaks up more heat, jump stomps again, then argues with the ref. Finn taunts Sacramento, stomps Penta again and again and again! The ref counts, Finn stops, but he soaks up more heat. Finn goes back to Penta and says “Just Too Sweet!” They go to the apron, and Penta scoops! Finn slips free, and APRON EYE OF THE HURRICANE! Both men are down on the outside while Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Finn has Penta up top! And then the very top! SUPER DUPER PLEX! Cover, TWO!! Penta stays in this and the fans fire up! Finn grows frustrated, but he clamps onto an arm for a FUJIWARA ARMBAR! The fans rally up, Penta fights to his feet, and Penta fires hands. Penta arm-drags free, then ducks ‘n ‘dodges, for a RANA! Finn flounders up, Penta LARIATS! And LARIATS! The fans fire up again as Penta then SUPERKICKS Finn! Finn wobbles, Penta whips, but Finn reverses, only for Penta to go up and over! BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO! Finn survives and Penta is frustrated, but the fans fire back up.
Penta stalks Finn, the fans sing, “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~! CERO~! MIEDO~!” Penta has Finn in the corner, he puts Finn up top, and then he CHOPS! Penta calls his shot and the fans cheer that. Penta climbs up and he goes to the very top! But Finn fires body shots! Penta hops down to the apron and CHOPS again! Then he jumps up to FLYING RANA! Finn staggers back up, Penta BOOTS him! Penta then runs to SLING-DOG! Penta keeps moving, but Finn SLINGBLADES! The fans rally, both men stand, and Finn aims from a corner! SHOT- NO, scoop and BACKBREAKER! Penta has the arm, traps it, and then pulls on the other! “CERO! MIEDO!” SACRIFICE!!
The fans fire up while Finn writhes! Penta stalks Finn, clamps onto him again, “This is Awesome!” as the PENTA- NO, Finn victory rolls the driver! TWO!! DOUBLE LARITS collide! Penta fires body shots, a SOBAT, a KICK, then a SUPERKICK! Finn flops down, but Penta goes to a corner. But then Carlito & Dom rush out here! Penta glares at them, they back off, but Finn rolls Penta up! TWO!! Penta escapes, Finn ducks ‘n’ dodges, SLINGBLADE! Finn aims, SHOTGUN! Penta hits buckles, then ends up in the drop zone, but HERE COMES BRON! You can’t keep a good dog down! Carlito fears for his life after last week…!
Carlito runs away, so Bron runs in and CLOBBERS Finn!! But that lets Finn win!
Winner: Finn Balor, by disqualification
Bron keeps beating up on Finn, so Dom runs in and TACKLES Bron! Carlito joins in now that they have the advantage! They mug Bron 2v1, but Bron fights back! Bron dodges, and he DOUBLE SPEARS!! Sacramento barks for Bron as he aims at Penta! Bron roars, runs up, but Penta KICKS first! And mule kicks! And SUPERKICKS! And then tilt-o-whirl RANA! Bron tumbles out of the ring and the fans fire up! Penta builds speed to go up, up, and SUPER CROSSBODY! Penta wipes out Bron, Dom & Carlito, but where’d Finn go? Finn is already up the ramp! The Prince got handed the win tonight, but will Penta take it all with his #CeroMiedo?
Iyo Sky speaks.
“This message is for Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley. You keep forgetting that I’M the Women’s World Champion. You push me out of the way of your petty squabbles like I mean nothing. But I’m the whole reason you’re fighting in the first place, aren’t I? Because I have the one thing you both want: The Women’s World Championship! So, I’m done being ignored. I’m done being forgotten. Because you have to go through ME to get this title, and I’m not afraid to take you both on to defend it. I’ve beaten both of you before, and I’ll beat you again! At WrestleMania, you will never forget the name Iyo Sky, Women’s World Champion.”
Paul Heyman is still waiting, but CM Punk joins him!
Punk sits down with a coffee and says he’s never seen The Wise Man so stressed. Look in his eyes, what do you see? The Cult of Personality? No, a real friend. A friend who would never do anything to put Heyman in harm’s way. But then a car is pulling up. It’s ROMAN! Roman sees Punk and Heyman being buddy-buddy, and he storms off! Heyman tries to catch up to his Tribal Chief, but Roman won’t even look at him. Will this favor cause the break-up of Roman and Heyman?
Roman goes to the ring!
The fans cheer and put the ones up as The OTC makes his entrance, Wise Man trailing behind. What will happen with Roman, Heyman, Punk, and Seth Rollins, all in the building this close to WrestleMania? We find out, after the break.
Raw returns rather quickly, and Roman is now in the ring. He raises his finger up for the pyro and the fans cheer. Heyman has the mic while the fans chant “O T C! O T C!” Heyman tentatively holds it out for Roman, but Roman doesn’t take it! Roman gets a mic for himself, leaving Heyman a bit dismayed, but the cheering continues. Roman tells, “Sacramento…! ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” The fans cheer and put up the ones as they cheer on “O T C! O T C!” Roman says, “The whole world can feel that. The whole world can hear that you love and acknowledge your Tribal Chief. And now the whole world understands that you would never betray your Tribal Chief.
“But not everybody’s like you. Some people would betray me. Sacramento, you got any guesses on who that might be?” Obviously it’s Heyman that Roman is referring to, but Roman asks The Wise Man, “How could you betray me?” The fans tell Heyman he messed up. Roman says Heyman can’t hear that well, say it louder. The fans get louder with it, and Heyman is a bit surly about that. Heyman goes to talk, but he reconsiders. Roman still asks him why, and Heyman is at a loss for words. The fans boo, but some do chant for “C M PUNK! C M PUNK!” Roman smirks as Heyman finally says, “My Tribal Chief… It was not a betrayal. I paid back a favor that I owed.”
Roman doesn’t seem to like that answer, but he still smirks. Sacramento, maybe Roman’s a little confused here, but the way favors work is, you usually pay it back yourself, correct? The fans say yes. Roman says it feels the only one getting screwed here is him! And if there’s one thing about Roman Reigns, if there’s one thing about The Tribal Chief, it’s that he’d never ask for a favor. No, Roman takes what he wants! So Roman doesn’t owe a favor, because he never asked for any help, for anyone to join him at WarGames, so how is he supposed to cover the tab for Heyman’s dumbass favor? But now, “BURN IT DOWN!”
Seth Rollins makes his way out, and Roman is no longer in any good mood as the fans sing “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins struts out in a leather vest and black pants that both have a lot of pockets. Rollins steps into the ring, grabs himself a mic, and the fans continue to sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins tells Sacramento, “Let’s give it up for Your Tribal Chief! Because after over a decade, you’re finally getting it, man! You’re finally putting the pieces together all by yourself! You’re almost there, you’re just missing one little piece, and it’s a real shame it’s too little, it’s too late, cuz I still gotta end you at WrestleMania.”
Rollins says it is for the same reason that it always has been: It’s the right thing to do! This Triple Threat at WrestleMania is the BIGGEST, most IMPORTANT one in the history of Mania, of the WWE, of professional wrestling! Because the winner of this match will define the future of this industry. And it can’t be Roman, it can’t be Punk. Because this business is filled with people like Roman, people who show up when it is convenient, expecting everyone else to do all the work. That’s how this business dies! Roman finally sees it can’t be Punk, either.
This business is filled with too many “little Punks” running around who wanna pick up their ball and go home when it gets tough, only to come back and leech off the profits of other people’s success, and that’s how this business dies! The fans chant for Punk but Rollins says okay, they want this business to die? Rollins doesn’t! If there are more people in this business like Rollins, who always sacrifices physical and mental well-being to do what is best for business, then the business not only lives, but it thrives! There can be only one, and it’s gotta be Rollins.
As for that one little piece that Roman hasn’t quite figured out… “Favors don’t happen by chance, Roman. Favors are a choice. I chose not to put Paul Heyman in the hospital last week, and now Paul Heyman can choose whether or not he pays that debt to me. But your Wise Man, he is dishonorable as they come, he is a scumbag, and I expect nothing from him.” The fans boo and Heyman frowns, but Rollins says Heyman is not in CM Punk’s corner by chance. Heyman has made a choice. It isn’t just a betrayal, Roman. What Roman needs to ask himself, what that final piece is, Heyman isn’t just returning a favor, he’s choosing. So why is Heyman choosing Punk over Roman?
Heyman tells Roman he’s not doing that, but Roman seems to be thinking Rollins has a point. Roman tells The Wise Man that Rollins is right, Heyman made his choice. But Roman has made his. LARIAT FOR ROLLINS! The fans fire up as Roman then POSTS Rollins! Rollins flops out of the ring, Heyman is very pleased, and he says he acknowledges his Tribal Chief! Roman nods, but then he PIE FACES Heyman!? Heyman is stunned, but here comes CM Punk! The fans fire up as Punk runs down to the ring, and he dodges Roman to fire hands! The fans fire up as they brawl, and then Punk LARIATS Roman up and out!
The fans are torn as Punk helps Heyman up. Heyman is distraught, but Roman is back! SPEAR for Punk!! Roman HAMMERS away on Punk! Roman shouts at Punk, HEADBUTTS him, but then Rollins returns! And with a chair! SMACK to the back of Roman Reigns, just like the night it all started! Sacramento is all fired up, and Rollins hits a CURB STOMP on Punk! And then CURB STOMP on Roman! Heyman is freaking out as both his guys are down! Rollins stares Heyman down, is Rollins’ favor going to come into play after all?
My Thoughts:
A great Raw, especially for the go-home to WrestleMania. Great promo from Gunther with how he “doesn’t wait” for the proper interview with Michael Cole, and very good response promo from Jey. Gunther definitely sounds a bit on edge, and considering he might lose two WrestleManias in a row as the start of his WrestleMania career, I suppose I would be, too. And very good promos from Bianca, Rhea & Iyo to hype up their match, though I can’t say that changes anything for the go-home math. Iyo stood tall last time, so there’s a chance Rhea or Bianca take the other out to get the win. Rhea and Bianca talking about who’s the bad guy in this, could we see Bianca go Heel?
Good promo from War Raiders and New Day, but unless they add a stipulation, I don’t necessarily see this being “a war” of a match. Well, maybe they can break something like ringside barriers. But I feel like New Day is going to win so that this Heel turn has actual results. Very good match from Bayley VS Liv, but Bayley winning here surely indicates Liv & Raquel retain. Rey VS Julius was really good, but the LWO and American Made all being ejected, that of course meant El Grande Americano would show up. Rey wins here, but then El Grande stands tall, so I would think Rey wins at Mania to expose Grande as Gable.
Very good match from Styles VS Kross, and naturally Styles won. That along with Logan & Kross getting the better of Styles after, this has to mean Styles wins at Mania. I don’t think it’s possible to get anything Bullet Club related, but WWE works with TNA pretty closely now so maybe they can use one of Styles’ themes from TNA to really bring us back to “the Styles that can beat Logan Paul.” Very good stuff with the Men’s Intercontinental Championship build, with Bron being jumped by Judgment Day, then Judgment Day trying to cost Penta, only for Bron to actually cost Penta and give Finn the win. Penta standing tall now sadly might cross him off, but I personally do think Dom pinning Finn or Finn pinning Dom is the better route going forward.
And of course, great stuff with the Punk-Rollins-Reigns story. Heyman finding himself stuck between Roman and Punk, with Roman starting to distance himself from Heyman, that’s also very good stuff going forward. Rollins stands tall again, so not sure if that means he takes the loss or is just not in the decision. No matter who wins, Heyman no longer being Roman’s manager is the best move. Roman needs to do things on his own again, and Heyman can reunite with Punk and perhaps help Punk towards a title. Punk did say that he’d be coming for THE WWE Championship at some point, Heyman by his side for that like 10 years ago would be something.
My Score: 8.8/10
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