Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (10/30/23)
Trick or treat, eat defeat!
Things that go bump in the night!
Crown Jewel is Saturday, but Halloween is tomorrow, so Monday Night Raw’s getting spooky! Will Natalya win her Trick or Street Fight with Chelsea Green?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Dominik Mysterio w/ Rhea Ripley VS Ricochet; Dom wins.
- The Alpha Academy w/ Maxxine Dupri & Akira Tozawa VS The Creed Brothers w/ Ivy Nile; The Creeds win.
- DIY VS Imperium; DIY wins.
- Candice LeRae w/ Indi Hartwell VS Xia Li; Xia wins.
- Seth Rollins VS JD McDonagh; Rollins wins.
- Trick or Street Fight: Natalya VS Chelsea Green w/ Piper Niven; Chelsea wins.
- Sami Zayn VS Damian Priest w/ The Judgment Day; Priest wins, by disqualification.
PLAY BY PLAY
Rhea Ripley is here!
Mami leads Dom Dom and the Irish Ace out to the ring, and she gets the mic to welcome us to Monday Night Raw, “the show that The Judgment Day runs.” But it’s not just a saying anymore, they’ve taken care of every single superstar that has stood in their way. Last week, Damian Priest absolutely shattered Cody Rhodes’ ankle! Fans boo but Rhea says that’s just the beginning. Tonight, her Latino Heat, which fans boo, is gonna put down Ricochet and remind him not to disrespect The Judgment Day. And then we have JD McDonagh, who will remind Seth Freakin’ Rollins exactly what it feels like to be an enemy of the Judgment Day.
As for Seth and McIntyre, they’ve got some decisions to make. And whichever one decides to make the right choice, then it really comes down to who walks out of Crown Jewel a loser like all of the fans, or as the World Heavyweight Champion! And speaking of Crown Jewel, Rhea has her own match, against four of the baddest women in the WWE. “But to me, that’s just another opportunity to prove to every single one of you who is the MOST DOMINANT woman in the WWE, and why Mami is always on top!” But then Sami Zayn shows up! Fans fire up as the Great Liberator makes his way out, and goes right to the ring.
Fans cheer Sami on, he apologizes for coming out when not invited, but he is so sick of hearing Rhea talk. He is so sick of her talking about power and how Judgment Day has all the titles, and how they run Monday Night Raw. But let him explain something about himself, in case they haven’t figured it out themselves. Sami’s entire career, his entire life, he has fought people like Judgment Day. People who think like the Judgment Day, that think that all that matters is power. And as long as you’re chasing power, you can do whatever you want! Be ruthless, cutthroat, rule with an iron fist, as long as it’s in the name of power!
So if that’s the name of their game, fine! But in that case, he isn’t Sami Zayn! He is rebellion! He is resistance! And he will fight, 1v1, 2v1, 3v1, 4v1, 5v1!! As long as he has breath in his lungs, he will fight, fight, FIGHT!! Fans fire up for Sami, and Sami says he will fight them and everything they stand for until the Judgment Day is no more. Rhea laughs, and tells Sami that it’s hilarious. Sami can resist all that he wants, it doesn’t matter! The Judgment Day doesn’t need numbers when it comes to him. So if management says it’s okay, why doesn’t Sami go 1v1 against… Damian Priest! Fans cheer that, and Dom says y’know what?
Fans boo Dom, but Dom continues by saying they should teach Sami a lesson right now! The mics drop, Sami is ready, but wait! Here comes Ricochet! The King of Flight has a fight with Dom tonight anyway, so he’s here now! Rhea bails out, but then JD rushes in! Ricochet DUMPSM JD, then swings on Dom! Dom falls back, but he’ll have to fight Ricochet anyway, after the break!
Dominik Mysterio w/ Rhea Ripley & JD McDonagh VS Ricochet!
Raw returns and Ricochet dodges Dom to RANA! Fans fire up as Ricochet DROPKICKS! Cover, TWO! Ricochet brings Dom around, CHOPS him to a corner, and then ROCKS him! Dom staggers around, Ricochet ROCKS him again, then CHOPS again! Rhea is frustrated but Ricochet whips. Dom holds ropes to stop himself, then Ricochet runs in, Dom puts Ricochet on the apron, blocks a boot and YANKS Ricochet into rope! Then Dom DROPKICKS Ricochet down! Rhea is happy now but fans boo. Rhea taunts Ricochet, Dom goes out, but fans chant “YOU SUCK! YOU SUCK!” Dom SMACKS Ricochet off the desk!
Dom soaks up the heat, Rhea & JD cheer him on, and Dom pushes Ricochet into the ring. Dom storms up on Ricochet, RAMS him into the corner, and again! Then Dom whips corner to corner hard, and Ricochet bounces off buckles. Fans taunt Dom but he just ignores them to bring Ricochet up. Dom stomps Ricochet, the ref counts, and Dom stands on the corner to soak up heat. Dom taunts the fans, then he stomps Ricochet back down. Dom drags Ricochet up, whips him corner to corner hard, and Ricochet falls! Fans continue to boo but Dom storms up on Ricochet. Dom throws hands, throws body shots, then whips.
Ricochet goes up and out and Dom hits buckles! Ricochet bumps Dom off buckles, then KICKS Dom away! Fans fire up and Ricochet springboards, but Dom gets under. Dom runs in but into a Tiger Wall Kick, and ENZIGURI! Fans fire up with Ricochet and he NORTHERN LIGHTS! Roll through to deadlift and BRAINBUSTER! Rhea panics as Ricochet STANDING SHOOTING STARS! Cover, TWO! Rhea can breathe again, and Dom gets out of the ring. Dom flops over and JD fans him off. Ricochet has the fans behind him, and Ricochet runs to DIVE! Direct hit on Dom! Fans are thunderous, Rhea freaks and JD seethes as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Dom has Ricochet down with a chinlock. Ricochet fights up, throws body shots, and then he ROCKS Dom with a right! And another! Dom kicks low, snap suplexes, and that’s Uno Amigo! Fans boo as Dom hits Dos Amigos! Fans boo more as Dom hits THREE AMIGOS! Rhea & JD like it as Dom gets the legs to CATAPULT Ricochet onto ropes! Dom dials it up, 619 MISSES as Ricochet ducks! Ricochet handsprings to BACK ELBOW! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Ricochet sits up first, Dom crawls to ropes, and both men stand. Dom swings but Ricochet counter punches! Ricochet fires off, whips, but Dom reverses.
Ricochet RAANS Dom down, then handsprings up! Fans fire up as Ricochet runs corner to corner to RAM into Dom! Ricochet goes tot he apron, springboards and CROSSBODIES! Then LIONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Dom survives and Rhea is again relieved. Ricochet drags Dom up, fireman’s carries, but Dom claws the eyes! Dom then runs to NECKBREAKER! Rhea cheers as Dom goes up a corner. Dom aims, but Ricochet avoids the splash! SUPERKICK! Rhea panics again as Ricochet drags Dom to a drop zone! Ricochet goes up and fans fire up, but Rhea distracts! JD runs up but Ricochet avoids him!
JD avoids the superkick! Dom rolls Ricochet up! With tights and the rope!! DOM WINS!
Winner: Dominik Mysterio, by pinfall
But Ricochet SUPERKICKS JD after all! And hits Dom with RECOIL!! Rhea is furious but that’s what her boys deserve! Ricochet goes up the corner but Rhea drags Dom to safety! Dom has to get ready for Halloween Havoc tomorrow night, will Nathan Frazer find a way past Mami to take that North American title?
Raquel Rodriguez speaks.
“I am going up against four of the most dominant women in this division. The biggest, the baddest, the best that this company has to offer. Not one of them has the fight that I have. The drive that I have. So they can consider me the underdog, they can put a chip on my shoulder. It’s okay. It’ll make it that much sweeter when I take each and every single one of them down. At Crown Jewel, I will show the entire world why I am the most dominant woman on Raw when I become Women’s World Champion.”
The Alpha Academy w/ Maxxine Dupri & Akira Tozawa VS The Creed Brothers w/ Ivy Nile!
In order to prove they’re still tag title worthy, Chad Gable & Otis put out an open challenge to any team from any brand! As such, NXT’s Julius & Brutus accepted! Will the Diamond Mine win big on their Raw debut? Or will Gable & Otis SHOOOOSH~ the doubters and get back to the tag titles?
Raw returns and the Creeds make their entrance. The teams sort out and Julius starts against Gable, They tie up, Gable wasitlocks but Julius slips around, They go facelock for facelcok, waistlock for waistlock, and Gable SLAMS Julius down! Gable brings Julius back up, but Julius arm-drags free. Julius shoots in to waistlock and SLAM! Julius brings Gable up, he slips free, and arm-drags! Julius arm-drags! The two stand off and the fans cheer the exchange. Gable and Julius shake hands, tie up, and Gable headlocks. Gable spins, spins and drop toeholds! Gable facelocks, but Julius deadlift suplexes from the floor!
Brutus tags in, he takes the handoff, and Brutus marches around with Gable! Brutus SLAMS Gable down! Fans fire up for the strength, and Brutus brings Gable up. Gable shoves to hip toss but Brutus handsprings through! Brutus fireman’s carries for the takeover! Gable hurries to his corner, tag to Otis! Fans fire up as those legs start shaking. Otis and Brutus tie up, Brutus waistlocks but Otis is too big! Otis throws Brutus away! Otis powers Brutus to a corner, the ref counts but Brutus gets away.
Otis runs to RAM Brutus down! Otis whips Brutus to a corner, runs in, but Brutus dodges! Otis hits buckles, Brutus pushes him away and leaps, DOUBLE AX HANDLES! Otis stays up but Julius tags in. The Creeds double whip Otis to the corner but Otis comes back to DOUBLE LARIAT! Fans fire up, Gable DOUBLE CROSSBODIES! Then the Academy DOUBLE EXPLODER! Fans fire up, the Academy says, “A THANK YEW~!” and Raw goes to break.
Raw returns, Brutus has Gable’s arm but Gable reaches out. Otis reaches but Brutus keeps them apart! Brutus whips, Gable ducks ‘n’ dodges and rolls to get a leg, ANKLE LOCK!! Brutus scrambles, fans fire up, Brutus victory rolls! TWO, and Gable runs up, but Brutus catches him! Fireman’s carry and SAMOAN DROP! Cover, TWO! Gable is still in this and Maxxine is relieved. Brutus snarls, watches Gable rise, and Brutus runs in at the corner, but Gable gets around! GERMAN SUPLEX! Fans fire up and Gable crawls for the corner! Brutus crawls, too, hot tags to Julius and Otis! Fans fire up as Otis runs through the double clotheslines!
Otis rolls under to come back and DOUBLE LARIAT! The fans are thunderous as Otis scoops and SLAMS Julius! And scoop SLAMS Brutus! Short arm LARIAT for Julius! Maxxine says go off, Otis! Otis SPLASHES Julius down, and he has a target! Otis rips the shirt off, and he starts up the CATERPILLAR ELBOW! Cover, TWO!! Julius survives, but Otis scoops. Julius slips free, JUMP KNEES, and he tags Brutus! Brutus goes up, to DOUBLE AX HANDLE! Down goes Otis, Julius STANDING SHOOTING STARS! Brutus STANDING MOONSAULTS! Cover, Gable breaks it! Gable dodges Julius and CROSSBODIES Julius and himself out of the ring!
Brutus and Otis stand and fans fire up! Otis runs up, Brutus dodges, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Brutus tries again but Otis stays up! Brutus LARIATS again but Otis just fires up! They run in again, Brutus ducks and goes up, to then CROSSBODY, but Otis catches him! WORLD’S STRONGEST SLAM! Cover, Julius 450 SPLASHES it apart!! But Gable’s up top, to MOONSAULT the pile!! Fans are thunderous as all four men are down! Maxxine gets on the apron but Ivy yanks her down! Ivy gets on the apron, but Maxxine yanks her down! Tozawa tells he ladies to relax, but Ivy just GERMAN SUPLEXES him for it!
Gable is distracted, Brutus DUMPS him out! Julius tags in, Otis CLOBBERS Brutus! Otis goes up but Julius CLUBS him! Julius gets Otis in an Electric Chair Lift?! Brutus goes up, for the BRUTUS BALL!! Cover, CREEDS WIN!!
Winners: The Creed Brothers, by pinfall
Gable can’t believe it! He put out the challenge, only to lose! But Gable still shows the Creeds respect. Julius & Brutus have a Tables, Ladders & Scares match tomorrow night, will they survive to have a solid spot here on Raw waiting for them?
The Judgment Day talks backstage.
Finn Balor & Damian Priest are discussing things, but then someone knocks on the door. “Trick or Treat!” What?! Trick or treat! It’s the New Day! They’re cosplaying as the NEW~ Judgment Day! Trick or treat! Put the candy in the- Wait, what is that? Priest doesn’t know? It’s the Money in the Bank Briefcase! No candy? But the light’s on! Lame. They’ll just go to the next house. But as they exit, Rhea and Dom walk in. Woods says hi to Mami, but Kofi tells him to move along. Dom is confused, Finn asks if he’s okay. Good win but what happened after was no bueno. Ricochet needs to pay! And he would’ve, if the entire Judgment Day was out there.
Hey, Dom still won, it is fine. They need to focus on business, okay? Speaking of which… Priest has a lot to focus on. He has Cody at Crown Jewel, and he might even cash in on a broken down Seth Rollins, or even on Drew McIntyre. Maybe even on Roman Reigns! Or he gives LA Knight the shortest title reign of all time. But uh, we’re all equals here, right? No leaders? Finn says yeah, no leaders. Then did Priest miss a meeting where they decided they could make matches for each other? Priest looks at Rhea and Rhea asks if what Cody said last week is bothering him. There are no leaders here, they’ve been through that.
But Rhea made the match for Priest VS Sami is because Priest is the Punisher of the Judgment Day! He takes care of everyone in their way! It’s what he does! Right, guys? Yeah! Okay, okay, take it easy. Then let’s not make tonight about Priest, but about the Judgment Day! They’re gonna show the world who runs this, right? YEAH! JD puts his hand in and the others tell him stop. Right, sorry. But let’s do it! The team is united and Rhea says they run Raw. But will Sami Zayn be just the rebel needed to bring them down?
Nia Jax speaks.
“Ever since my return to Raw, I did everything I said I was gonna do. I’ve squashed everyone. Shayna Baszler: squashed. Zoey Stark: squashed. Raquel Rodriguez: squashed. On my very first night back, I squashed the most dominant women’s champion, Rhea Ripley. At Crown Jewel, I’m gonna show the world that I am the most dominant woman on Raw, and become the next Women’s World Champion.”
The Miz is here!
The Hollywood A-Lister is ready to host perhaps the most prestigious episode of MizTV yet, as he has the WWE Intercontinental Champion, Gunther! We find out what Miz has in store for Der Ring General, after the break.
Raw returns and Miz has the mic to welcome us back to the Most Must-See WWE Talk Show, and says it is a very special Halloween edition. After the announcement of Bash in Berlin, Miz secured one of the biggest guests in MizTV history. And this is the very first time this man has been on any WWE talk show, so please welcome the longest reigning Intercontinental Champion in WWE history, THE RING GENERAL, GUNTHER! … Well, wait, where’s the music? Miz says it is Gunther’s first time, he must not know the protocol. Miz announces the guest, the guest comes out.
So once again, please welcome THE RING GENERAL…! GUNTHER! Still nothing. Does Miz have to say it in German? But Ludwig Kaiser comes out saying “Nein nein nein…!” He hates to break it to The Miz, but Der Ring General isn’t just gonna walk down because Miz tells him to! Ludwig & Vinci join Miz in the ring and Ludwig says especially not The Miz. The Miz is everything that is wrong with the WWE Universe today! The fans boo but Ludwig says Miz is the “embodiment of what we absolutely despise! You are nothing but a clown, Miz!”
Miz says he’s been called a lot of things, but he’s been another man’s sidekick like Ludwig. And that must make Vinci the third wheel! Vinci’s sorry, but wasn’t Miz Maryse’s sidekick on Total Divas? Miz takes his sunglasses off and says, “He talks! With such a deep voice! He said something! Give a round of applause, ladies and gentlemen! He spoke!” And um, it’s Miz & Mrs. And Vinci wishes could be yelled at by someone as hot as his wife, instead of being yelled at by Ludwig. By the way, Ludwig let Vinci talk? Isn’t he supposed to be in charge? Vinci says he talks when he wants to talk, but then Ludwig says Vinci talks when either Gunther or Ludwig wants him to!
But speaking of Gunther, here he comes! Gunther storms his way to the ring, belt on his shoulder as he wears a clean suit. Miz finally introduces us to Gunther! And he welcomes Gunther to the show and offers him a seat. Gunther does not sit, he just takes a mic. Since Miz didn’t understand the message, Gunther will say it: he is not Miz’s guest. He is here to make two things clear to Miz. First, it is the year 2023 and Miz wants to run a talk show? Second, this ring is SACRED to Gunther. And everything Miz does is beneath him. In fact, MIZ is beneath Gunther. Gunther does not respect Miz. Fans boo but Miz says that was one way to break the ice.
Miz says it’s also not the first time he’s heard all that, nor will it be the last. Miz will explain something to Gunther now: Miz interviewed Invisible John Cena, and that was more entertaining than Gunther. And he also explains that from movies to TV to this ring, Miz is the biggest star that WWE has! Gunther says see, this is Miz’s issue. Once the bell rings, it doesn’t matter how “entertaining” Miz is, when things get serious, the only thing that matters is how good of a wrestler you are! And that is why Miz is a talk show host, and Gunther is the GREATEST Intercontinental Champion of all time! Fans are a bit torn there.
Miz says if we’re talking serious, then he can be serious when he wants. He was serious when he beat Randy Orton to earn his first WWE Championship. Miz was serious when he beat John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania! Miz was serious when he won his SECOND WWE Championship over a decade later! And he wants Gunther to really understand this, so Miz will go slowly. Miz was very, very serious when he made the title on Gunther’s shoulder the most relevant title in ALL of WWE! Fans fire up for that one! And Miz has no problem doing it again. Gunther is amused now. Is Miz serious? Fans chant “YES HE CAN! YES HE CAN!”
Gunther says he gets it. Miz is one of the greatest sports entertainers of all time, he’s all about making moments. So why not create a MizTV moment we’ll never forget? Gunther tells Ludwig & Vinci in German what to do, and Ludwig takes one of the Jack O’ Lanterns. The one with the upside-down WWE logo that represents The Miz. Ludwig SMASHES it! Fans boo and Gunther asks what Miz is gonna do. Like always, NOTHING. Vinci & Ludwig get the chairs out of the ring, but Miz DECKS Ludwig and TOSSES Vinci! But Gunther CHOPS Miz down! Gunther looms over Miz and asks who he thinks he is! He is NOT in Gunther’s league.
Gunther takes his leave but Miz fires off haymakers! Fans fire up but the others are back for Gunther to BOOT Miz down! Fans boo as Miz is the one sent out of the ring. But wait! Here comes DIY! Gargano & Ciampa are going to face Ludwig & Vinci, will they get payback by proxy for Miz?
The Miz finds Adam Pearce in his office.
Miz asks if Pearce saw that out there. He has never been so disrespected and humiliated in his career! Is he sure about that? Not the point! Miz asks if Pearce is going to let Imperium do that to a future first ballot Hall of Famer. Pearce can’t imagine that felt good. No it did not! So Miz wants a match with Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship! Why should he do that? Does he need to rattle off the accolades? Two-Time Grand Slam Champion. EIGHT-Time Intercontinental Champion. EIGHT-Time Tag Team Champion. Yes, Miz, we know the credentials, but Pearce can’t just give Miz a title match!
If Miz will calm down, Pearce can give Miz the chance to earn one. In fact, Pearce is supposed to be meeting with someone who also has that in mind. Who? “ME!” Bronson Reed!? Unless Miz has a problem with that. Didn’t Bronson get his shot? Well, okay, Miz says it’s fine. Just know Miz is the one who takes that title off Gunther. Pearce and Bronson talk, what big plans are in store for the Intercontinental Championship scene?
DIY VS Imperium!
Raw returns and the teams sort out. Gargano starts against Vinci and they circle. They tie up, Vinci headlocks but Gargano powers out. Vinci runs him over, things speed up, and Gargano leaps, but into Vinci’s arms! Vinci scoops but Gargano slips free. Gargano ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA Vinci to the corner! Gargano CHOPS, then tags Ciampa. Gargano whips Vinci back into the corner, Ciampa taunts Ludwig before he and Gargano coordinate, DOUBLE KICK COMBO in the corner! Ciampa snapmares Vinci, stomps him down, then tags Gargano back in. Gargano dropkicks Vinci, then brings him around to tag Ciampa back in.
DIY mug Vinci, and Ciampa headlocks. Vinci claws the eyes, puts Ciampa on ropes, and he ROCKS and UPPERCUTS Ciampa. Fans chant “D I Y! D I Y!” as Vinci whips. Ciampa kicks but Vinci blocks to short arm LARIAT! Tag to Ludwig and Imperium stomps Ciampa to a corner. Vinci ROCKS Ciampa, Ludwig runs up, but blocks a boot! “NEIN!” UPPERCUT! Ludwig soaks up the heat, drags Ciampa up to whip but Ciampa ducks ‘n’ dodges. Gargano sneaks a tag, Ciampa CHOPS, Gargano CLUBS, Ciampa JAWBREAKERS! Gargano wrenches an arm, Ciampa LARIATS! Gargano runs, Vinci grabs him but Ciampa KNEES Vinci down!
Fans fire up as Gargano builds speed. Ciampa holds the ropes open and Gargano DIVES onto Vinci! They sit on the apron to applaud and pat themselves on the back! Fans cheer, Gargano ROCKS Vinci but Ludwig UPPERCUTS Gargano! Ludwig slides in, Vinci APRON BACK SUPLEXES Gargano, and Ludwig DROPKICKS Gargano back out! Fans boo but Imperium taunts Ciampa as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and Ludwig grinds Gargano down with a chinlock. Fans rally, Gargano fights up and throws body shots. Ludwig whips Gargano, scoops with a gut wrench and SLAMS him! Tag to Vinci, and Ludwig whips Gargano, only for Gargano to TOSS Ludwig out! Gargano DUMPS Vinci, and hurries for his corner! Fans fire up, but Vinci drags Gargano back. Gargano ENZIGURIS Vinci, but Ludwig YANKS Ciampa down! Fans boo but Vinci pops Gargano up for a BACKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Vinci taunts Gargano, drags him back up, and SLAPS him! Vinci eggs Gargano on, so Gargano SLAPS back!
Vinci knees low, reels him in, but Gargano turns powerbomb into DDT! Fans fire up while both men are down! Gargano and Vinci crawl, hot tags to Ludwig and Ciampa! The Psycho Killer rallies on Ludwig! Then on Vinci! Then a clothesline in one corner! Clothesline in another corner! Then he ducks ‘n dodges and DOUBLE LARIATS! Fans are thunderous for Ciampa and he whips Ludwig. THESZ PRESS and fast hands! Ciampa then gets around, ripcord and FOREARM! REVERSE DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Ciampa drags Ludwig up. Ciampa reels Ludwig in, underhooks, but Ludwig wrenches out to HAYMAKER!
Ciampa fires haymakers back, but Ludwig shoves him away. Ciampa rebounds, into the ROLLING DEATH VALLEY! Cover, Gargano breaks it! Vinci runs in but Gargano rolls him up, SCHOOLBOY KICK! But Ludwig PENALTY KICKS Gargano! Ciampa rolls Ludwig up, TWO! Both men scramble up, Ciampa BOOTS! Ciampa runs, into a DISCUS LARIAT! Fans boo but Ludwig huffs and puffs. Tag to Vinci, Ludwig goes up. Vinci brings Ciampa in, but Ciampa resists the bomb to back drop Vinci! Ludwig still leaps, into a SUPERKICK from Gargano! Ciampa sits on Vinci, TWO! Vinci has the sunset, TWO!
Vinci CHOPS, UPEPRCUTS and whips! Ciampa reverses, Vinci goes up and up and MOONSAULTS but FLOPS as Ciampa dodges! PSYCHO KNEE! Tag to Gargano, and they take corners! They MEET IN THE MIDDLE!! Cover, DIY wins!
Winners: DIY, by pinfall
Their first match together in three YEARS, and it’s like they never missed a beat! Will Gunther be furious with his men over this? Will DIY prove they are tag title worthy?
Shinsuke Nakamura speaks.
“I am still looking for the next sacrifice. Where are you? Do you want me to choose you? Or will you choose for me? Go ahead. Step forward. Awaken me. What are you afraid of? Poke the lion. That is what a strong, brave hero does. DO it! Show yourself! I am waiting.”
Xia Li speaks.
“A mighty warrior has their own way of fighting. Don’t turn away from your fears, embrace them. Destiny whispers softly in my ear, saying, ‘You cannot withstand the storm.’ I answer, ‘I AM the storm!'”
Candice LeRae w/ Indi Hartwell VS Xia Li!
The Poison Pixie is still trying to find her way to the top, but The Exterminator will not stop until she is the one standing over everyone! Will Candice show Xia all she’s earned is a Wild Ride? Or will this be Xia’s first step towards the title?
Raw returns as Xia makes her entrance. The bell rings and Xia rushes in! Candice dodges to fire off haymakers! Fans fire up but the ref counts. Candice lets off, runs in and back body blocks! Candice snapmares Xia, then step-up SENTONS! Cover, TWO! Candice CLUBS Xia out of the ring, goes after her at the apron, but Xia drags Candice out. Xia spins Candice to ROCK her, and CHOP her! Xia then smothers Candice with the apron skirt and KNEES her in the back! Fans are torn as Candice gets away and the ref reprimands. Xia runs in but into a BOOT! Candice ELBOWS Xia, rolls her up, ONE! Xia JUMP KNEES back!
Candice rebounds, into a SPINNING ROUNDHOUSE! Fans boo and the ref checks Candice. Xia wants after Candice but the ref keeps her back. Fans rally, Candice does manage to stand but on shaky legs. The ref checks with Candice, again has to keep Xia back, and the ref calls it!
Winner: Xia Li, by referee stoppage
Indi checks on Candice while Xia smiles triumphantly. If Xia is that dangerous, will anyone be able to stop her? As for Candice, medics check her but she insists she is fine. But is she really? Or will she have to be very careful the next time she’s in the ring?
Jey Uso finds Sami backstage.
They say what’s up and Jey loves the passion! He’s all fired up, too! But he also wishes Sami good luck against Priest, Sami has this. Sami thanks Jey, but then in walks Jackie Redmond. She wants a quick word with Jey. Sami says that’s fine, he’s gotta bounce. Yeet! Jackie asks Jey about Judgment Day. Yes, she knows that’s a sore subject, especially with Finn Balor costing Jey against Damian Priest. Jey says he’ll slide on Finn soon, and Sami’s gonna handle business tonight. Cody will handle business at Crown Jewel. But Jey thinks he and Cody can get those titles one more time. And then, we’ll see how Mami feels about it. YEET.
Shayna Baszler speaks.
“You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do. And what I plan on doing is ripping and tearing, limb by limb, four women who parade themselves around on Monday Night Raw as if they’re worthy competition. But not of them truly understand the pain that I am capable of inflicting. And at Crown Jewel, I’m going to show the world that I am the most dominant woman on Raw, and that I am the next Women’s World Champion.”
Candice gets checked backstage.
DIY is there for her, as are Kayden Carter & Katana Chance. Candice has an ice pack on her shoulder and is getting checked for a concussion. What will be the state of the Poison Pixie after tonight?
Drew McIntyre speaks.
The Scottish Warrior sits in the Performance Center. “One of the most memorable moments of my career happened during a time in history that nobody wants to remember. I find myself looking back and asking, ‘Was the sacrifice worth it?’ Of course. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t angry. Before the age of 30, I was named The Chosen One. Failed, then fired, forced to reinvent myself. And ultimately, I took my second chance. Finally, after 20 years of giving absolutely everything to this industry, I won the Royal Rumble. I had the fans behind me. There was gonna be a stadium full of people screaming my name when I slayed the Beast in the main event of WrestleMania.
“Then, everything changed overnight. WrestleMania was gonna be in front of nobody? You gotta be freakin’ kidding me. The Pandemic shut the world down. And although the WWE carried on, I was all alone. I beat Brock Lesnar, became WWE Champion, in this very building. The biggest moment of my career, with no one there to celebrate. Still, I did what I’ve always done: my job. I defended my title against the very best the WWE has to offer. Put my body through absolute hell. I needed to be a champion to be proud of. And when everybody finally returned, my moment had past.
“For years, I fought and clawed my way to get it back. When the WWE returned to the UK once again, everything aligned. I was gonna beat Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship with 60 thousand people screaming me on. Only for The Bloodline to cheat and take it all away from me. Unlike everyone else, I won’t forgive the Bloodline, I can’t erase the past. But at Crown Jewel, I can make it right. For Seth Freakin’ Rollins, this is just another defense in a Hall of Fame career. But for me, this is everything. We both live for this. Seth is willing to break his back to keep his championship. And I’m willing to break his back to take it from him.
“I need this. No more broken dreams. 2020 Seth Rollins was my first title defense. And at Crown Jewel, I will be his last.” The Scottish Warrior is ready, will he slay the Visionary?
Zoey Stark speaks.
“This match, this Fatal 5 Way match, is for me. See, when I’m inside that ring, I’m the Hunter. And the females that are standing in there with me, they’re my prey. Because I was born for this, this is my destiny, I am unstoppable! So at Crown Jewel, I am going to prove to the world that I am the most dominant female on the Raw roster, and become your new Women’s World Champion.”
Seth Rollins VS JD McDonagh!
Speaking of that Visionary, speaking of that Revolutionary, speaking of that WWE World Heavyweight Champion, he is here and ready to #BurnItDown! Will Rollins be rolling into Crown Jewel? Or will he be trumped by the Irish Ace?
Raw returns and Rollins revels in the fans singing his song, “OH~ OHH~ OHHH~!” Rollins then has the mic to tell Greenville, “Welcome to Monday Night Rollins!” He is the Visionary, he is the Revolutionary, he IS Seth Freakin’ Rollins! And Greenville, he is feeling like getting a little loose out here tonight. So he graciously agreed to beat the bejeezus out of the Judgment Day’s bag boy here tonight, And he will do that in preparation for Saturday, Crown Jewel, Seth Rollins VS Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship! And Rollins is a fan of McIntyre, so Rollins says this as respectfully as he can after hearing what McIntyre had to say earlier.
“Boo freakin’ hoo! Cry me a river, ya big Scottish baby! Nah, you wanna flashback to 2020, right? All of us were suffering in some way, alright? All of us were fighting our battles in some way! There were a lot of people who had it worse off than you did, okay? They didn’t know when they were gonna get their next paycheck. They didn’t know when they were gonna get their next batch of groceries. They didn’t know when they were gonna see their loved ones again. Some of them didn’t get to! So excuse me for not feeling sorry for you that you didn’t get to win the WWE Championship the way you dreamt it.”
Rollins says McIntyre wants to blame everything else on The Bloodline, his failures and shortcomings, again cry me a river and get in line! Look at Sami Zayn! At Cody Rhodes! You don’t hear those guys asking for pity, now do ya? But Rollins will say this: McIntyre was a hell of a champion. And Saturday at Crown Jewel, if McIntyre can take this title from Rollins, if he can pry it from Rollins’ waist, then Rollins will be the first man to shake McIntyre’s hand and call him the champ, just like he did back in 2020! Fans cheer that. But Rollins ain’t the same guy McIntyre beat back then. The Monday Night Messiah is long gone, he is not the Architect. There’s a reason the fans sing his song!
There is a reason- JD ATTACKS FROM BEHIND! Fans boo as JD stomps away on Rollins! The ref tries to stop him but JD fires down fists! JD lets off to take off his jacket and wants the match to start! The ref check with Rollins, and Rollins is fuming. Fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at JD, Rollins says do it. The bell rings, JD runs in, and Rollins BOOTS him down! Rollins TOSSES JD out, goes out after him, and fires haymakers! And CHOPS! And CHOPS again! Rollins keeps JD from running away into the crowd, and CHOPS him again! Rollins SMACKS JD off the apron, brings him around, and then RAMS JD into barriers!
Fans fire up with Rollins, Rollins puts JD in the ring, and JD wants him to show mercy. Fans sing the song, Rollins storms up, and he blocks the kick to CHOP! And CHOP! Rollins CHOPS JD in the corner, stalks him to another corner, but JD turns it around, JD swings, misses, and Rollins CHOPS JD down! JD crawls away while Rollins smiles. Fans rally and Rollins puts JD in a corner. Fans chant “WHOOP THAT TRICK!” as Rollins runs and RAMS JD into buckles! Rollins whips JD to then back drop him! Fans fire up while JD writhes, and Rollins storms up to drag Rollins up. “How do you like it, kid?”
Rollins whips JD to a corner, JD tumbles up and out and trips Rollins, to then slingshot and TORNILLO SENTON! JD snarls while Rollins goes to a corner. JD CHOPS Rollins, digs his boots in, but the ref counts. JD lets off at 4, Rollins sputters and JD CHOKES Rollins! The ref counts, JD lets off at 4 again, but fans rally for Rollins. JD drags Rollins up to DECK him! And DECK him again! Rollins hits back with haymakers! And a CHOP! Rollins storms up but into a JAWBREAKER! JD drags Rollins up, whips him to ropes, but Rollins holds ropes. Rollins ELBOWS JD away, JD runs in but Rollins TOSSES him up and out!
Fans fire up as JD hits the ground hard! Rollins builds speed and DIVES! Direct hit and JD is sent over the announce desk! The fans are thunderous and singing Rollins’ song as we go to break.
Raw returns and JD has Rollins down in a rear bearhug. Fans rally as Rollins endures, and Rollins fights up to throw elbows. JD shoves Rollins into a corner, runs in, but into a BUCKLE SHOT! JD sputters, Rollins catches his breath. Rollins ROCKS JD with haymakers, CHOPS, and repeat! Rollins fires CHOP after CHOP after CHOP and has JD against ropes! The ref counts, Rollins lets off but whips JD. JD reverses but Rollins reverses back to rally with clotheslines! Rollins mule kicks, front kicks and DISCUS LARIATS! Fans fire up and sing while JD goes to a corner. Rollins runs corner to corner, to forearm smash!
Rollins whips but JD dodges, only for Rollins to still LARIAT him down! Rollins hurries to get JD up, to suplex, but JD slips free! O’Conner Roll, TWO! JD goes to a corner, comes back, but into a SLINGBLADE! Rollins hurries to run and KNEE JD down! Cover, TWO! Rollins is frustrated but the fans continue to rally. Rollins aims from a corner, JD sits up, and Rollins run sin. But JD avoids the stomp! Rollins kicks first, underhooks, but JD slips under to then HEADBUTT Rollins down! Rollins flounders, JD goes up a corner! JD MOONSAULTS but has to roll through as Rollins moves! Rollins kicks low, underhooks, but JD trips and jackknife bridges! TWO as Rollins bridges up!
JD wrenches out of the underhooks and then ripcords, but Rollins KNEES JD down! Rollins runs, but JD gets him for a SPANISH FLY! Cover, TWO!! Rollins survives and JD is furious! JD hurries around, drags Rollins up and in, but Rollins slips free to get JD up! BUCKLE BOMB! JD falls, Rollins goes up! Fans fire up but here comes Damian Priest! Rollins still FROG SPLASHES, into knees! JD cradles, TWO!! Rollins sputters, Priest has his own ref! Could he cash-in tonight!? JD goes up, but Rollins trips him! Priest smirks as Rollins goes up, and JD throws elbows! Rollins falls, fans rally for him, and Rollins springs back up!
Rollins gets JD up for a SUPER BACK SUPLEX!! Both men are down but Rollins fires back up! Priest still smirks and Rollins dares him to make his move. JD kicks Rollins and underhooks! But Rollins back drops! JD sunset flips, Rollins rolls through and flips JD into the PEDIGREE!! And then the CURB STOMP!! Cover, Rollins wins!
Winner: Seth Rollins, by pinfall
The Visionary stares Priest down, but Priest still smirks. Rollins then storms out to stare Priest down face to face. Rollins again dares Priest to make his move. Priest holds up the briefcase, and says it is inevitable. Be careful what you wish for. Rollins says Priest better not waste it. Will the Punisher take down whoever it is that holds onto the World Heavyweight Championship on Saturday?
Ricochet talks with Pearce backstage.
Ricochet knows Pearce saw, just as everyone did, what happened out there with Dominik. Pearce did, but Ricochet still had a great showing. Here’s a way to make it up for him. Ricochet can earn a shot at the Intercontinental Championship. Well, that does sound good, but Ricochet still has a bone to pick with Dom. Pearce feels that. Ricochet heads out, and then in storm Chelsea & Piper, cosplaying Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart. Chelsea is furious that her match with Natalya is a Trick or Street Fight! Is he for real? Are they for real in this get-up? He has no time to discuss this, Hitman & Anvil. He has a lot on his plate. Yeah, he does! And cute costume.
What? He turns around and sees The Viking Raiders! Sarah Logan says the gods demand they speak about the Intercontinental Championship. See you in your office. Ivar & Sarah head out, and Pearce says he needs a drink.
BREAKING NEWS for Crown Jewel!
As part of the Crown Jewel Kickoff Show, it will be Sami Zayn VS JD McDonagh! The Great Liberator said he would rebel against the Judgment Day, but will he be able to get through JD?
Backstage interview with Becky Lynch.
Jackie Redmond is with The Man, and says it has been a few days since the epic battle in which Becky lost the NXT Women’s Championship. What’s Becky’s takeaway looking back at that title reign? Well, she’s a little lighter around the waist and a little heavier in the heart. But if anyone was gonna take that title from her, it had to be someone passionate, hungry and eats, sleeps and drinks this business, and that is Lyra Valkyria. But Becky isn’t afraid of losing, because that doesn’t keep her down and never will keep her down. In just 42 days, Becky defended her title more than Rhea Ripley has all year! More than Roman!
Becky is the catalyst for change, and is the reason why everyone who wanted their shot got one. Becky doesn’t need a title, the title needs her. But then in walks Xia. Xia asks if Becky is so scared that she lost the title so she wouldn’t have to face Xia. What’s she doing? Becky says if Xia wants to fight, we can do that here and now. Xia says they will fight, on her time. Her time? It’s been three weeks! When is it her time?
Trick or Street Fight: Natalya VS Chelsea Green w/ Piper Niven!
The Queen of Harts may not be a platinum recording artist, but she’s looking like bad bunny tonight. Will she quite literally whip the attitude out of the Hot Mess? Or will Chelsea look to establish herself as the best there was, the best there is, and the best there ever will be?
Raw returns and Chelsea makes her entrance, using the Bret Hart music! Natty is not amused. The bell rings and Chelsea kicks low then throws Natty by her bunny ears! Piper fetches a pie and Chelsea PIE FACES Natty! Then Chelsea dribbles Natty off the crust! But Natty trips Chelsea to get the legs! Chelsea kicks her away, BOOTS her down, then hurries out to get some candy bowls. Chelsea puts those in one at a time, and even a kendo stick and some chairs. Natty rushes out to kick Chelsea! Natty SMACKS Chelsea with the kendo stick! And DISCUS LARIATS her into the timekeeper’s area!
Fans rally as Natty hops up and over the railing, but then Chelsea SMACKS her down with a trash can lid! Piper fetches more items and Chelsea SMACKS Natty down again! The tag champs move the table closer and fans like that! Another SMACK with the trash can lid, and Chelsea puts Natty on the table. Piper helps Chelsea go up onto the barriers, and Chelsea grins as SENTONS through the table, but no Natty!! Natty avoided disaster, and she puts Chelsea in the ring. Chelsea hurries away but Natty pursues up the ramp! Natty drags Chelsea back to DUNK in the apple tank! Fans fire up as Chelsea sputters, but then Natty dunks her again!
Piper runs up but Natty SLAPS her! And trips her! Natty has the legs, but Chelsea runs up! Natty trips her, and has them both! But they both BOOT Natty into the POST! Piper tells Chelsea to keep on Natty, and Chelsea stomps Natty down. Chelsea drags Natty up to SMACK off the apron. Natty hits back, and has a pumpkin! Chelsea BOOTS Natty down first! Chelsea picks up the biggest pumpkin, something’s under it so Chelsea puts it back. Wait, what was under it? Chelsea picks that one up, and it’s NIKKI CROSS’S HEAD!? Chelsea freaks out, the pumpkin falls onto her head! She blindly staggers around and falls over!
Chelsea sits up, sees Nikki again and freaks outa gain! Natty dribbles Chelsea off the table! Natty whips, Chelsea reverses and Natty hits steel steps! Piper tells Chelsea to keep going and she puts Natty in the ring. Chelsea hoists Natty up top, Piper gets a black bag! Chelsea empties the bag out, to reveal CANDY CORN! Chelsea goes up the corner, but Natty slips under! POWERBOBM onto the candies!! Cover, TWO!!! But Natty gets the legs! SHARPSHOOTER!! Fans fire up, but Piper shouts at Natty! Natty runs up to ROCK Piper! Piper grabs Natty, Chelsea runs in, but Natty moves! The pie hits Piper! Natty runs in, Chelsea sends her into Piper!
Piper falls but Chelsea doesn’t care, she chicken wings for the I AM PRETTIER on the candy!! Cover, Chelsea wins!
Winner: Chelsea Green, by pinfall
The Hot Mess makes a mess of everything, but she still gets a win thanks to her tag partner! Will Natty ever live this down? Will Chelsea & Piper make it through Halloween Havoc and their tag title defense?
Rhea Ripley speaks.
“Every woman in this match thinks that this is their chance to make a name for themselves. Well, the reality is, it’s not. It’s nothing to do with them. It’s to do with me. This is MY chance to beat every single one of the top females here in this division all at once. To claim this as Mami’s show. And at Crown Jewel, I will prove to the world that I’m the most dominant woman here on Raw. And I will stay your Women’s World Champion.”
BREAKING NEWS for next week’s Raw!
To determine the next contender to the Intercontinental Championship, a Fatal 4 Way has been created! The Miz, Bronson Reed, Ricochet and Ivar will all battle it out, who will stand tall to challenge Der Ring General?
And to prove himself to Coach Gable, Akira Tozawa is accepting the somewhat open challenge put forth by Shinsuke Nakamura! Can the Stamina Monster defeat, let alone survive, the King of Strong Style?
Sami Zayn VS Damian Priest!
So long as the Judgment Day, or any force, thinks themselves the unstoppable dictators of the WWE, the Great Liberator vows to be there to stop them! Will he stop Senor Money in the Bank from rolling into Crown Jewel? Or will the Punisher make an example out of Sami Zayn?
Raw returns, the bell rings, and the two tie up. Priest powers Sami to a corner, the ref counts, but Priest lets off. Fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE~” for Sami but Priest ROCKS then DECKS Sami! Priest TOSSES Sami back to the corner, but Sami dodges to CHOP! CHPO! And fire haymakers! Sami bumps Priest off buckles, goes up and AX HANDLES him down! Cover, ONE! Priest bails out but Sami follows. Priest knees low, whips Sami at the barriers, but Sami goes up to QUEBRADA! Direct hit and fans fire up! Sami drags Priest up, puts him in the ring, and fans rally behind Sami. Sami runs in but Priest JUMP KICKS!
Priest snarls, soaks up the heat, and drags Sami up. Priest whips Sami to ropes, then DECKS him! Priest eggs Sami on as he paces around, then he drags Sami up to KICK him in the chest! And again! Then he ROCKS Sami with a forearm! Sami goes to a corner, Priest whips him corner to corner then runs in to STAGE DIVE ELBOW! Priest suplexes to BROKEN ARROW! Cover, TWO! Priest is annoyed but he stalks Sami back to the corner. Priest runs in, but into an ELBOW! Priest is annoyed, but Sami BOOTS him! Sami spins and wrenches to knuckle lock and CHOP! Sami goes up and up and TORNADO DDTS!
Fans fire up as Priest bails out. Sami takes aim, builds speed, but he has to stop as Priest moves. Sami goes out to rush Priest, but Priest catches him! APRON CHOKE SLAM! Sami writhes and fans boo as Raw goes to break.
Raw returns again and the forearms are flying! Fans fire up, Priest ROCKS Sami, then kicks him low. Priest soaks up the heat, whips Sami to ropes, but Sami goes up and over. Sami then LARIATS Priest down! Fans fire up, but here come Dom & Finn! Fans boo, Sami swipes at them, but then Priest choke grips again! SOUTH OF- NO, Sami wheelbarrows to victory roll, TWO!! Priest gets up, but runs into a BOOT! Dom gets up, Sami DECKS him! Sami storms up on Priest but Priest kicks low. Priest dragon sleepers, RECKONING!! AKA the Cross Rhodes! Priest grins and brings down the straps as he sends a message to the American Nightmare.
Priest goes back for Sami, hoists him up to a crucifix, but Sami slips free! Sami dodges the splash and Priest hits buckles! Finn gets on the apron to distract the ref, Dom DECKS Sami! Fans boo, but here comes JEY USO! Main Event Jey is gonna make sure his dawg has a fair fight, so he CLOBBERS Dom! And UPPERCUTS Finn! Dom gets up, Jey brings him around, but the ref reprimands them all. Jey lets Dom go so he can get in at Priest. Priest grabs at him, Jey SUPERKICKS Priest!
Winner: Damian Priest, by disqualification
Jey saves Sami but hands Priest the win. And now Finn & Dom attack anyway! Fans boo the 3v2 mugging, and Priest taunts Jey about where Cody went. But wait, here comes Cody! Priest says he’ll handle this! Cody runs in, and he fires hands with Priest! Fans fire up as Cody ROCKS then BOOTS Priest! Cody goes out to SMACK Priest off the desk! And again! And again! The brawl is now 3v3, and Jey DECKS Finn! Sami fires off on Dom! SUPERKICK for Dom, then Sami clotheslines Dom up and out! Sami & Jey nod, build speed, and they DOUBLE TOPE to take out the Judgment Day! Cody gets Priest and POSTS him!
Cody clears the desk! Fans fire up and Cody drags Priest onto the desk. But JD makes the save! Fans boo as Priest gets away, but a HELLUVA KICK hits JD!! Fans fire up again as Cody calls to Sami to set JD up. Sami says okay! They put JD on the desk, Cody drags him up, CROSS RHODES!! The Irish Ace suffers for sticking around the Judgment Day, and fans want that “One More Time!” Cody says why not!? Cody drags JD back up, for another CROSS RHODES!! Cody gets a mic to shout, “Hey, Damian! Last week, you took a steel chair, you wrapped it around my ankle and you tried to take me out. You were unsuccessful!
“I got back up, because that’s why my story is: the guy who gets knocked down and gets back up! What’s your story? 6’6″, 20 year pro, you’ve got a briefcase that you are this close, within a whisper of immortality, and yet you are not the leader of the Judgment Day? It’s because you’re a walk-behinder! You walk behind Finn Balor, you walk behind Rhea Ripley, and you even walk behind DOMINIK MYSTERIO! When you think it’s somebody else, when you’re like, ‘Oh, maybe, maybe it’s not Cody Rhodes.’ You gotta know something, Damian Priest. It’s ALWAYS me! I’m back on my path, and this Saturday at Crown Jewel, my path goes straight through you!!”
Fans are fired up with the American Nightmare, will he ruin everything for The Judgment Day this Saturday? Or can The Punisher still cash-in on the top champions to return stateside as a top champion?
My Thoughts:
A great episode for Raw, but being a go-home, it still had that go-home vibe that can kinda kill momentum. Great promos from all five women in the Fatal 5, but uh, Rhea’s was a bit redundant since she already talked to open the show. Also nice of them to give everyone the same closing line about being the most dominant woman and becoming champion over Rhea. Great promo out of Sami with that fire. He already experienced and fought against one faction that tried to be the top of the mountain at all costs, he ain’t gonna stand for it here.
And Rhea making the main event of Sami VS Priest was great for feeding Priest’s promo. There continues to be tension within the group, but it’s shifting from “Who is top champ?” to “Who is on top?” aka the leader. They all claim there isn’t a leader but clearly Rhea acts like it. Hell, take a cue from Shayna’s favorite saying, “You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.” Rhea takes charge, figures things out, comes up with a plan, she clearly wants to be a leader. Sami had a good promo with Jey and Jey had a good promo to say he still wants tag titles. That main event was great stuff, Jey makes a great save, as does Cody. Great momentum for Cody but I wonder if this means Priest wins their match now so he’ll be better primed for a cash-in.
Speaking of that, McIntyre had a great promo to reflect on his title history, and Rollins also had a great response. I see both sides, which is why the title match feels like it can go either way. Rollins VS McDonagh was great, as was Priest showing up to remind Rollins of the MITB. Now, the looming factor of Priest cashing in could be exactly what gets someone to lose. If McIntyre tries to stop Priest from cashing in, that could cost him against Rollins, but so could the reverse. Rhea said she’s just waiting for one of them to accept the offer, that could also come into play.
Pretty good stuff in the Trick or Street Fight, with Chelsea & Piper cleverly being the Hart Foundation to taunt Natty. Could’ve been a bit better, and maybe if Tegan Nox was healthy, Natty would’ve had her helping in this match. They didn’t really do a good job of that Nikki Cross under the pumpkin bit, and I don’t think fans are that into the black bag fake out. I believe AEW just did that on Saturday for their Fright Night Fight. But maybe with Nikki still hanging around, she and Natty will find a way to make this work to be a team. Great promo from Nakamura, and Tozawa is definitely getting destroyed, but Tozawa isn’t going to be that mysterious someone Nakamura needs to “awaken.”
Great tag match of Alpha Academy VS Creed Brothers, and I was really surprised the Creeds won. But at the same time, the Creeds easily could’ve been on RawDown by now, but maybe that moment is coming closer and closer. There’s half a chance Garza & Carrillo win tomorrow’s TLC tag match, sending Diamond Mine off to Raw in epic fashion. Really good MizTV segment with Miz standing up to Imperium as a Face of sorts, and great stuff setting up that Fatal 4 Way #1 contender’s match. On paper, Bronson and Ivar feel like top choices, but those guys work Heel and Miz can be rather opportunistic, I feel like Miz is going to find a way to win.
Great tag match from DIY VS Imperium, and great win for DIY. The Raw side of the tag division is getting really strong, there are plenty of teams that could take the Judgment Day on for. For that matter, I really liked New Day dressed up as Judgment Day to poke fun. I kinda wish Big E was at least traveling with Kofi & Woods, he could really add to moments like this. Candice VS Xia was good but I do appreciate them making Xia look strong with that knockout kick. And just as I figured last week after Becky lost to Lyra, Xia was gonna rub that in Becky’s face before they still have their own match. Becky’s promo was great, calling out Roman and Rhea, Becky will definitely be waiting on the other side of Crown Jewel.
My Score: 8.7/10
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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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This week on 4 Corners Podcast we break down the Men's NCAA tournament bracket. Which of the top seeds will...
4 Corners Podcast- The Fantastic Four Nations Faceoff
The guys discuss Canada's big win in the Four Nations Faceoff and take a look at some early Spring Training...
Oblong Ball Foot Show: One For The Road
The Philadelphia Eagles are Super Bowl Champions! Tune in as we recap an excellent NFL season and touch on a...
Bandwagon Nerds #284: Mission Unlikely
The Nerds break down a tremendous Episode 8 of Daredevil: Born Again. Plus, the Sweet 16 of Villain Madness and...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu News Report! (4/10/25)
It's gonna be May!
Bandwagon Nerds #283: Ice, Ice, Baby
Daredevil vs Muse, Villain Madness, news about Spider-Man 4, Superman, and the Nintendo Switch 2, plus the Nerds pay their...
Mitchell’s Hyrule Puro-Resu Results & Report! (4/1/25)
Happy Sixth Anniversary!
Bandwagon Nerds #282: Daddy Ganon & A Glass of Wine
A double dose of Daredevil, major Zelda news, a massive Avengers: Doomsday reveal, and Villain Madness Round of 32 matchups...
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (4/15/25)
Who will Stand & Deliver?
The Total Package Series – Raw and Smackdown 2025
The Chairshot and Rey Ca$h bring you The Total Package series for 2025, breaking down the superstars of Raw and...
DeMarco: The Biggest WrestleMania Match WWE Is Afraid To Book
Greg DeMarco breaks down the one match WWE was seemingly afraid to book for WrestleMania, despite setting it up over...
Chairshot Radio presents The State of Black Wrestling
Chairshot Radio and Rey Ca$h bring you a special look at the State of Black Wrestling!
Mitchell’s WWE Raw Results & Report! (4/14/25)
Run-up to Mania starts now!
Badlands: Best and Worst WrestleMania Main Events
Badlands makes it’s return for Ca$h-A-Mania week, discussing WrestleMania’s Best and Worst Main Events! Rey Ca$h and the returning Mags...
Mitchell’s AEW Collision Results & Report! (4/12/25)
Why, FTR, why?
Mindless Wrestling Podcast: Who Fumbled??
Join DJ, Rob and Jason weekly as they cover the world of professional wrestling!
Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (4/11/25)
Cody Rhodes returns to SmackDown!
Mitchell’s NJPW Windy City Riot Results & Report! (4/11/25)
Ace VS Alpha!
