Coverage
Mitchell’s NJPW Power Struggle Results & Report! (11/4/23)
The Struggle is real!
There’s so much on the line in Osaka!
Whether it’s the IWGP United States or United Kingdom Championship, Will Ospreay gives Shota Umino one last chance to take it from him! Will the Aerial Assassin deny the Roughneck once again? Or is this finally Shota’s time?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Frontier Zone: Ryusuke Taguchi, The DKC & Boltin Oleg VS Mochizuki Jr, Yoshiki Kato & Strong Machine J; Taguchi, DKC & Oleg win.
- Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman VS Oskar Leube & Yuto Nakashima; Cobb & Newman win.
- Fatal 4 Way Tag: Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS Master Wato & El Desperado VS YOH & MUSASHI VS Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita; Wato & Desperado win.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS Tama Tonga & Intergalactic Jet Setters; Tama & Jet Setters win.
- SANADA & Yuya Uemura VS Tetsuya Naito & Yota Tsuji; Naito & Tsuji win.
- Tanga Loa VS David Finlay; Finlay wins.
- Great-O-Khan VS Jon Moxley; Double Count-Out Draw.
- Falls Count Anywhere: Great-O-Khan VS Jon Moxley; Moxley wins.
- NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS TMDK; Okada, Tanahashi & Ishii win and retain the titles.
- 2023 Super Junior Tag League Finals: Catch 2/2 VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru; Catch 2/2 wins and will challenge for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships.
- IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori; Hiromu wins and retains the title.
- IWGP United States/United Kingdom Championship: Will Ospreay VS Shota Umino; Ospreay wins and retains the title.
PLAY BY PLAY
Fatal 4 Way Tag: Clark Connors & “Drilla” Dan Moloney VS Master Wato & El Desperado VS YOH & MUSASHI VS Robbie Eagles & Kosei Fujita!
The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions are not in the tournament finals, and now they’re having to face three teams at once! The titles aren’t on the line, but will they end up owing a golden ticket? Or will someone catch a stray from the Full Clip?
This Fatal 4 is gonna be tornado, so the War Dogs attack first! They hit everybody else, then focus on TMDK. The bell rings, Drilla TOSSES Fujita, and fans boo as he says “SUCK IT!” DespeWato stomp Fujita while the War Dogs double whip Eagles to a corner. Eagles dodges Drilla to RANA Connors, then he SOBATS Drilla! Desperado gives Connors some stomps while Eagles runs, but Drilla picks Eagles up! And pops him around into DRILLA- NO! Eagles lands out of Killa like he did last time! And steps through, but Drilla kicks him away. Eagles comes back, schoolboy bridge, DespeWato AND #MUSAKO break it!
DespeWato hit MUSAKO first, then have them in corners. They whip, Musako dosido, but DespeWato dodge. Desperado rushes Musashi and Wato rushes Yoh, but now Musako dodges to STEREO BACK ELBOW! Then Musako wrench and knuckle lock, and the fans fire up as they climb! Stereo Shinobi Walk! The War Dogs are back, but TMDK intercept! Musako hit Old School in stereo on DespeWato, and then TMDK CHOP the War Dogs! Now TMDK goes up, and they stereo Shinobi Walk! But they get tripped up by the War Dogs! TMDK falls out, Connors gets Yoh with a POWERSLAM! Drilla SPINEBUSTERS and DOUBLE STOMPS Musashi!
Desperado runs in, into Drilla’s POWERSLAM! Wato runs in, into Connors’ SPINEBUSTER and DOUBLE STOMPS! The Abunai Gaijin trade moves, then they stomp DespeWato. Drilla BLASTS Eagles off the apron to be sure. War Dogs double snap suplex Wato, Connors covers, TWO! Fans rally but Drilla stomps Wato around. The War Dogs mug Wato, egg him on, and Wato CHOPS Drilla! Drilla CHOPS back! Connors ROCKS Wato, CHOPS him in a corner, and Drilla bumps Wato off buckles. Drilla CHOPS Wato, Connors eggs Wato on. Wato fires forearms, but Drilla CHOPS him! Ripcord, but Wato KICKS in return!
Wato fires off forearms on Connors, runs, but Connors SPEARS! Drilla BLASTS Desperado off the apron! The War Dogs lock ‘n’ load and aim at Wato, but Wato moves! They run into each other! Musako is back to STEREO SUPERKICK! And STEREO FALCON ARROW! Fans fire up as Musako drags Wato up. Yoh suplexes, but Wato slips free to shove him into Msuashi! Wato then DROPKICKS Yoh down! Fans fire up, Wato rises and he sees the others grouping outside. Wato FLIES onto Yoh and the War Dogs! Fans fire up again, and Desperado is in to SPEAR Musashi! Desperado drags Musashi up to hit a BIG back suplex! Cover, TMDK breaks it!
Fujita traps Desperado in a corner while Eagles hits Musashi with TURBO BACKPACK! And then the RON MILLER SPECIAL! Musashi endures, but Desperado powers past Fujita. Fujita reels Desperado back in for a KIMURA! Musashi crawls, but Eagles drags him back! Desperado endures, reaches for ropes, but Fujita rolls him away! But Desperado uses that to get around and wrangle Fujita in EL ES CULERO! DESPEWATO WINS!!
Winners: Master Wato & El Desperado, by pinfall
Eagles can’t believe it! The Rogue Luchador sniped the Sniper of the Skies! And he just kinda barely fist bumps Wato. The odd couple is sticking together, will they eventually prove worthy of the tag titles?
Great-O-Khan w/ Callum Newman VS Jon Moxley!
The Dominator got this match in return for Will Ospreay giving Shota Umino the title shot tonight. But will Khan regret getting what he wished for? Or can he find a way to bring down the Maniac?
Just as Moxley finishes his entrance, Khan dumps him out of the ring! Fans boo and the bell rings, and Khan goes after Moxley to whip him into railing! And then into more railing! Khan then runs in, to BOOT Moxley over the railing! Fans rally up as Khan hops the railing to fire off on Moxley! The ring count starts as they go further into the crowd, and the forearms start flying! Moxley sends Khan into railing! And then more railing! The ring count is 10 of 20 but the brawling keeps going! We hit 15, Moxley hurries back towards ringside but Khan CHOKES him with a shirt! Moxley hits Khan with a microphone! They spill into the English commentary area!
THE COUNT HITS 20!! THIS IS A DRAW!
Double Count-Out Draw
No one can believe it, and then the two keep brawling! Fans boo, they wanted a match, not a scrap! Now Khan and Moxley are throwing things at each other! Moxley wants a mic while fans want them to restart. Khan is tossing chairs into the ring!? And not even folding chairs! Moxley finds the mic he was using earlier, and shouts, “HEY! Listen here, Great-O-Khan. I am not leaving Japan without a piece of your ass! So you can call the cops, cuz I’m not gettin’ out of this ring, I’m not leaving, until I get my hands on you and we finish what we just started. I challenge you to Falls Count Anywhere, anywhere in Osaka!”
Fans fire up as the stakes are now raised! Khan storms his way up with railing and tries to hit Moxley! He RAMS Moxley into railing, and the bell rings on that new match!
Falls Count Anywhere: Great-O-Khan VS Jon Moxley!
Fans fire up as these two brawl again, into the deep part of the crowd! And now fans have to watch out as Moxley props railing up against railing. Khan waistlocks Moxley but Moxley throws elbows. Moxley brings Khan around, aims for the railing, but Khan fights back! Khan turns things around on Moxley, to snap suplex him through the railing! Fans fire up as Khan rises and goes back to ringside. Khan goes looking under the ring, and he brings out… a handcart!? Khan brings that cart back to where he left Moxley, then BOOTS Moxley back down! Khan then drags Moxley over to put him on the cart!
Fans fire up because this is Great-O-Khan, and this is the Moxley Cart Chair Mower! He takes out half a row and the fans fire up! Khan drags Moxley up, they go to another corner of the ringside area, and Khan throws chairs around to make room. But Moxley hits back! Moxley whips, but Khan reverses and Moxley is sent into the wall! Khan drags Moxley around, and wraps him up in floor mats! Then Khan goes and grabs up a LOT of the railing to drag it over. Khan takes this cluster and SLAMS it on Moxley! Cover, TWO! Moxley is still in this, a crimson mask forming on his face. Khan clears out more space for more carnage!
Khan drags Moxley up, scoops him, and SLAMS him onto chairs! Cover on the chairs, TWO! Fans fire up again while Khan is annoyed. Khan drags Moxley up, they move on to another area, and Moxley whips Khan through railing! Khan takes chairs with him! Moxley takes that piece of railing and CHUCKS it at Khan! And then he CHUCKS a chair at Khan! Moxley DECKS Khan and Khan flounders through the seats. Moxley drags Khan along and we’re not at the ramp. Moxley drags Khan along, Khan fights back, but they go up to the ramp. Moxley drags Khan up the ramp by his ponytail, and fireman’s carries!
Khan flails and fights free, to then torture rack Moxley! Khan aims for the seating below! But Moxley fights free! Khan kicks Moxley, underhooks, and BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES Moxley on the ramp! Cover, TWO!! Moxley is still in this but Khan is on him with the HEAD ‘N’ ARM TRIANGLE! Khan leans all his weight on Moxley while fans rally up! Moxley fights but Khan shifts his grip to squeeze tighter. Moxley still gets to his feet, and he CLAWS Khan’s face! But Khan clamps on the IRON CLAW! And he aims for the seats! Moxley slips fere, and he SHOVES Khan off the ramp! Khan lands on the Young Lions!
Fans fire up as Moxley has a wild look in his eyes. HE BRINGS OUT SCISSORS!! Fans can’t even but Moxley vows to take a piece of Khan home with him! Moxley stalks Khan, drags him up by his ponytail, and they continue on towards another corner of the arena! Young Lions move chairs and fans aside, and Moxley CUTS THE PONYTAIL! Fans can’t believe it! If Khan had 100 Yen for every time someone cut his ponytail, he’d have 200 Yen. Which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it happened twice. Khan realizes what happened, and he’s FURIOUS! He TACKLES Moxley and fires down fists! Then puts Moxley in an ARMBAR!!
Moxley flails, fights around, slips free and has Khan’s legs! FIGURE FOUR! Khan endures, fights around, powers free and traps Moxley’s arm for the headlock. But then Moxley powers out to get a headscissors and ARMBAR! Khan flails, clasps hands, powers out and wraps Moxley in a TRIANGLE HOLD! Moxley endures, even as Khan bends the fingers! But Moxley fights up and out, to have a HEEL HOOK! But Khan fights up and out to have a chinbar armlock, then a full nelson! They move around, Khan THRASHES Moxley while moving through the crowd! Khan lets Moxley go to push him along the way.
Moxley eggs Khan on, half his face covered in his own blood! They start throwing strikes, Khan KICKS Moxley’s legs out! Moxley gets up, shoots in, waistlocks, and then half nelsons to spin and snapmare, into HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! The BCC trademark! Moxley then covers, TWO!! Khan survives and the fans fire up! Moxley stands, hobbles around, and he goes back for Khan. Khan fights the underhooks to wrench and IRON CLAW! Moxley breaks free, and DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men stay up! Khan LARIATS again, but Moxley stays up! They DOUBLE LARIAT again, and still both men stay up!
Khan goes to the wall, runs back in, but so does Moxley! DOUBLE LARIATS! Both men stagger around, Khan BOOTS Moxley! Then he uses a chair to jump off of, IRON SUPERMAN PUNCH!! Cover, TWO?!? Moxley survives and fans fire up again! Khan drags Moxley back up and slashes his throat! Khan scoops, but Moxley slips free to have a SLEEPER! Khan stays up, SMACKS at Moxley’s bloody face, and then SAYANAGI! Scoop and, T T D to the floor!! Cover, TWO?!?! Moxley survives again and the fans are thunderous! Moxley stands and hobbles away, fans moving aside as this now goes to the bleachers.
Khan pursues, letting his hair down since the ponytail is ruined anyway. Moxley goes all the way to the back row, but Khan moves chairs aside as he follows. Khan CHUCKS one into Moxley’s back! And then clamps on the IRON CLAW! Moxley wrenches to LOW BLOW! And then he BOOTS Khan down! Khan tumbles down the bleachers, and into those chairs! Fans are thunderous again as Khan finally stops tumbling! Moxley makes his way down the bleachers, drags Khan back to ground level, but Khan fights the underhooks! Moxley pushes Khan, Khan staggers around, and fans chant “Let’s Go, Moxley!”
Khan runs in, but Moxley spins him around! DEATH RIDER to the floor!! REAR NAKED CHOKE!! Khan is caught, he’s flailing, but he’s fading! Khan is OUT, Moxley wins!!
Winner: Jon Moxley, by submission
Khan wanted a fight, and he got a fight! Moxley is bloody but he’s the winner, and he wouldn’t have it any other way! Moxley says he does what he wants and takes what he wants, so will he look to take a NJPW title soon enough?
NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii VS TMDK!
The Dream Trio is back in action, and they’re up against “The Front Man,” Zack Sabre Jr, Hysterical Shane Haste and Mad Mikey Nicholls. Will the Rainmaker, Ace of the Universe and Stone Pitbull still be golden? Or will they find that The Mighty Don’t Kneel?
The introductions are made, the NEVER belts are raised, and we see which trio is mightier!
The trios sort out, and after Tanahashi shows off the muscles and the fans cheer, Ishii starts against ZSJ. Fans rally up at the bell, cheering for “I-SHI-I!” Ishii and ZSJ feel things out, circle around, and then ZSJ waistlocks. Ishii switches, ZSJ switches back. Ishii pries free to switch, ZSJ switches again, and they just keep going, switch for switch! Ishii shoves ZSJ to a corner, runs in, but ZSJ dodges. ZSJ comes back, Ishii dodges and then blocks a boot. ZSJ avoids the enziguri but Ishii avoids the Penalty Kick. Ishii catches ZSJ’s lariat, spins him around and reels him in, but ZSJ suplexes! Ishii fights to suplex but ZSJ fights free!
Ishii takes a swing, ZSJ ducks! ZSJ takes a swing, Ishii ducks! The two stand off and fans fire up! ZSJ grins and nods as he and Ishii reset. They tie up, ZSJ UPPERCUTS! ZSJ cravats, brings Ishii in and tags Mikey. Ishii gets loose, and he tags Tanahashi. Fans fire up and chant for Tanahashi as he circles with Mikey. They tie up, wrench, wristlock, but Mikey wrenches back. Tanahashi wrenches back, Mikey wrenches back, repeat, and then Tanahashi headlocks. Mikey powers Tanahashi to ropes, but lets off as the ref counts. But Tanahashi dodges Mikey’s cheap shot to CHOP! And forearm! And whip, but Mikey reverses, and Shane gets a cheap shot in!
Shane flexes and fans boo, but Tanahashi CLUBS Shane! But then Mikey CLUBS Tanahashi! Mikey shoves Tanahashi out to BLAST Okada & Ishii! Shane drags Tanahashi out to give him an APRON BACK SUPLEX! ZSJ goes after Ishii on the outside, Shane argues he was in the right for getting hit from behind. The fans rally for Tanahashi as Shane puts him in. Mikey covers, TWO! Tag to Shane, the “Young Punks” double whip to DOUBLE ELBOW, then FIST DROP SENTON COMBO! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up but Shane drags Tanahashi by his arm. Shane KICKS Tanahashi in the shoulder, then shakes out that leg.
Shane stomps Tanahashi, grabs a leg and has a HALF CRAB! Shane adds an arm to it, but Tanahashi endures, so Shane drops his knee! Cover, TWO! Tanahashi is hanging tough but Shane drags him up and over. Tag to ZSJ and ZSJ wrenches Tanahashi, and again, and again, and then he wrangles Tanahashi to STOMP the bad arm! ZSJ keeps Tanahashi from his corner to drop knees on the knee! And then he stomps the other knee! ZSJ is picking Tanahashi apart with his stomps! ZSJ eggs Tanahashi on but Okada coaches him. Tanahashi sits up but into a kick! And another kick! And another! Tanahashi gets mad and stands up!
Tanahashi fires off forearms, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS! ZSJ runs in at the corner, forearms, and UPPERCUTS, and whips corner to corner! But Tanahashi ELBOWS back! Tanahashi goes up to CROSSBODY! Fans fire up while both men are down. ZSJ and Tanahashi crawl for their corners, hot tag to Shane and both he and Mikey rush in! They get Okada and Ishii to back off, then they hoist Tanahashi up. But Tanahashi BOOTS Shane, ducks Mikey’s haymaker to SHOTEI! Then SHOTEI for Shane! Mikey and Shane roar before they both rush in, but Tanahashi dodges and the DOUBLE LARIATS take The Mighty down!
Fans fire up, The Mighty flounder and Tanahashi crawls, hot tag to Okada! Fans fire up as Okada rallies on The Mighty! He throws haymakers and elbows, then he scoop SLAMS Mikey! Then he scoop SLAMS Shane onto Mikey! Kick and DDT for Shane, and Okada kips up, to then PLANCHA Mikey! And he BOOTS ZSJ! Fans fire up with Okada and he storms back in. Okada dodges Shane, pops him up to the REVERSE NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Fans rally as Okada brings Shane up again. Okada wrenches and clamps on the MONEY CLIP! Shane endures, moves around, reaches out, and he powers Okada to a corner.
Shane arm-drags Okada away, then KICKS a leg! And JUMP KNEES! And hits an INVERTED EXPLODER! Fans fire up and both men crawl. Hot tag to Mikey, and Shane BLASTS Ishii. But Okada fires forearms on The Mighty! Mikey ROCKS Okada, The Mighty double whip and Shane runs in to UPPERCUT! Mikey clotheslines, then feeds to another UPPERCUT! BACK SUPLEX NECKBREAKER COMBO! Cover, Tanahashi breaks it! Shane LARIATS Tanahashi, Mikey SLIDING LARIATS! The Mighty call their shot, hoist Okada up, but Okada fights free and shoves Mikey into Shane! Okada runs, into a double trophy lift!
Okada fights out of Thunder Valley to DOUBLE DDT! Fans fire up while all three men are down! Okada crawls, as does Mikey, hot tags to Ishii and ZSJ! Fans fire up as Ishii dodges, ZSJ dodges, each other block a shot! Ishii waistlocks but he ducks ZSJ’s elbow. ZSJ waistlocks but he ducks Ishii’s elbow! Ishii avoids an uppercut! ZSJ avoids Ishii’s chop! Ishii catches ZSJ’s haymaker to spin him around, but ZSJ fights the suplex. ZSJ wrenches out but ducks a haymaker. ZSJ full nelsons, spins Ishii around, but Ishii fights the scoop to wrench. ZSJ avoids the short arm lariat to run, but Ishii avoids the boot!
Ishii runs, ZSJ ducks the lariat to SNAP GERMAN SUPLEX! Fans fire up with ZSJ, and Ishii rises up, to LARIAT!! Fans are thunderous as Ishii roars! ZSJ sputters up, Ishii runs, but ZSJ trips him! Body scissors and JAPANESE CLUTCH! TWO!! Both men are up, Ishii ROCKS ZSJ! ZSJ flops against Ishii! Ishii drags ZSJ up, but ZSJ trips him, cross-legged jacknife?! TWO!! ZSJ UPPERCUTS then SLEEPERS! Ishii endures, but he’s turning red! ZSJ shouts, “MADA MADA!” and shifts into a Cobra Twist! But Ishii hip tosses free! But ZSJ drags Ishii down to hook him up, EURO CLUTCH!! TWO?!?! Ishii escapes just in time!!
ZSJ eggs Ishii on, and they both throw shots. Ishii gets a Cobra Twist, right to GROUND COBRA! TWO!!! ZSJ escapes, fans rally up again, and ZSJ KICKS! Ishii grabs the leg! ZSJ UPPERCUTS! Ishii HEADBUTTS! ZSJ SLAPS! Ishii SLAPS! DOUBLE SLAP! Ishii GAMANGIRIS!! Both men fall and fans are thunderous again! The ref checks, both ZSJ and Ishii are still in this. They both rise, head for their corners, hot tag to Tanahashi! The Ace runs to CLOBBER ZSJ! Tanahashi BLASTS Shane & Mikey, too! Tanahashi then runs, but he blocks ZSJ’s boot! DRAGON SCREW! Shane gets in, but gets a DRAGON SCREW!
Mikey gets in, but Tanahashi catches him, for a DRAGON SCREW! Tanahashi runs, but ZSJ gets around to COBRA- NO, Tanahashi fights it to turn it around! Mikey runs in to CLUB Tanahashi! Okada runs in, Mikey kicks and runs, but into a FLAPJACK! Okada & Tanahashi double whip ZSJ to a corner, then Okada sends Tanahashi in to SPLASH! Okada runs in to clothesline! Okada reels ZSJ in to trip and CATAPULT, but ZSJ ROCKS Tanahashi and NECK TWISTS Okada! Tanahashi runs in, but into a backslide! TWO!! ZSJ has the ARMBAR!! ZSJ shifts to a behind-the-back grip! But Ishii CLOBBERS him!
Ishii stands ZSJ up, ZSJ rears back but Ishii HEADBUTTS him down! Shane ROCKS Ishii! Shane runs, but Okada DROPKICKS him! Fans fire up as Mikey kicks and runs, but into a SLINGBLADE! The Dream Trio fires up! ZSJ stands, into a BOOT! SHOTEI! BLINDSIDE LARIAT! Then the TRIO DDT!! Cover, TWO?!? ZSJ survives, but Tanahashi keeps moving. SLINGBLADE! Tanahashi goes up top while Okada & Ishii keep The Mighty out! HIGH FLY FLOP as ZSJ moves!! The Mighty get free, they haul Tanahashi up, but Okada saves him! But then Okada takes the TANK BUSTER!! Ishii runs in, but into a TANK BUSTER!!
The Mighty gets Tanahashi up, for HIGHWAY TO HELL!! ZSJ PENALTY KICKS!! Cover, TWO?!?! Tanahashi survives and no one can believe it, but the fans are thunderous! Mikey & Shane PLANCHA Okada & Ishii! ZSJ has the fans all fired up as he runs corner to corner, to UPPERCUT! And then scoop for ZACK- CRADLE!! DREAM TRIO WINS!!!
Winners: Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi & Tomohiro Ishii (still NEVER Openweight Six Man Tag Team Champions)
ZSJ is furious, how did he get caught by such a simple move!? But in the end, it wasn’t about being mighty but about being unbreakable! Will anyone ever take the titles from this incredible trio?
But wait! The lights go down, and on the tron… IT’S BRYAN DANIELSON! He tells Okada that they’ve faced each other two times already, and those two times, Bryan has won. But those two times also injured Bryan. First, it was his arm, but what happened? Bryan wrestled another 10 minutes and TAPPED OKADA OUT! “Because no matter how many bones you break, you can’t break my heart and you can’t break my spirit.” But Bryan has revenge on his mind. That is why he is challenging Okada for January 4th, WrestleKingdom 18, the Tokyo Dome! Bryan will get his revenge by breaking Okada’s arm, his right arm, and Okada will never make it rain ever again!
Fans are thunderous with “YES! YES! YES!” Okada gets the mic, and he tells Bryan, “Are you an idiot? Because I’M the one that wants revenge! I’ve broken your arm, I’ve broken your face, but I’ve never beaten you. If you think you can break my right arm, go ahead and try. January 4th, WrestleKingdom 18, huh? I will beat you with a Rainmaker. Bryan… YES.” And so the match is set! Will the New Year be the last time one of these living legends wrestles in one piece?
2023 Super Junior Tag League Finals: Catch 2/2 VS SHO & Yoshinobu Kanemaru!
TJP & Francesco Akira won the previous match-up against the Murder Machine & Heel Master, but didn’t get to celebrate very long. The House of Torture are sore losers, sore winners, and all-around underhanded, but will they fail to conquer the United Empire? Or will Public Enemy & Nova Fireball win the trophies to then go after the titles?
As Catch 2/2 gets closer to the ring, they slow up, because they know the House likes to attack first. But then they get ambushed from behind by Dick Togo! Fans boo as Yujiro & Evil also run up, and then Sho & Kanemaru go out so that they can stomp away 5v2! Fans boo but nothing can be done as the match hasn’t started yet! The ref reprimands but the mugging continues. Then Sho & Kanemaru put Catch 2/2 in the ring. They stomp away again, but the ref reprimands and the fans tell the extras to go away. Instead, Sho whips Akira to a corner, then sends TJP into him. Sho runs to the corner but TJP BOOTS him away!
Kanemaru runs in but TJP BOOTS him away! Then TJP sets up and Akira launches to DOUBLE SHOTGUN Evil & Yujiro! TJP SOBATS Dick, but Sho & Kanemaru stomp Catch 2/2. Sho & Kanemaru double whip, but Catch 2/2 reverses to DOUBLE DROPKICK! Fans fire up with “CATCH! NI NI!” TJP & Akira both run, but the ref has them stop. The ref tells Evil, Yujiro & Dick to go away, but then TJP whips Akira so he can FLY! Akira goes over the ref to wipe out the entire House! Fans are thunderous and Akira puts Sho in the ring. The bell finally rings, and Catch 2/2 whip Sho to SOBAT, KICK, trip and SHOTGUN!
Fans fire up and TJP bumps Sho off buckles. Sho whips corner to corner, runs in and back elbows, then sits Sho down. Fans rally as TJP scrubs Sho’s face with his laces. TJP runs, but Kanemaru is in the way! So TJP dropkicks him down! But Sho runs up to CLUB TJP and toss him out. Sho then BLASTS Akira, and Kanemaru whips TJP into railing! And DDTS to the floor! TJP clutches his neck but Kanemaru stomps him while he’s down! Kanemaru POSTS TJP, then pulls up floor mats. Kanemaru drags TJP over, DDT to the exposed concrete!! Kanemaru tags in while TJP writhes, and the ring count climbs.
Fans rally for “CATCH! NI NI!” but TJP is still down at 10 of 20. TJP rises, drags himself up with railing, and hobbles over at 15. TJP flops back over! TJP scrambles up, Akira helps, TJP is in at 18! Sho attacks Akira to RAM him into railing! Kanemaru whips TJP into a corner, BOOTS him then scoops, BRITISH FALL! Cover, TWO! Fans rally, Kanemaru rips TJP’s neck tape away! Fans rally for TJP but Kanemaru snapmares and headscissors! Kanemaru squeezes tight on the neck! TJP endures, pushes back, but Kanemaru pushes him back down. TJP tries again, but Kanemaru pushes him down again.
Kanemaru turns over to JAM TJP into the mat again and again! TJP endures, fights around, and has the ROPEBREAK! The fans cheer, Kanemaru lets off reluctantly, and Kanemaru kicks TJP around. Kanemaru brings TJP up but TJP throws body shots! And haymakers! Sho storms up but TJP elbows him away! But then Kanemaru CLAWS TJP’s eyes! The ref reprimands but Kanemaru lets off. Fans rally, Sho tags in and he cravats. Sho CHOKES TJP on the ropes like that! The ref counts, Sho lets off and pushes TJP out to the apron. Kanemaru runs up to DROPKICK! Sho then has the legs, and CATAPULT GUILLOTINES TJP!
Sho drags TJP to a cover, TWO! Fans fire up as TJP hangs in there. Kanemaru tags in, he drags TJP up and whips to ropes, to ELBOW TJP down! Kanemaru BOOTS Akira for good measure! Kanemaru then stands TJP up, to DDT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally up but Sho tags back in. Sho grins as he looms over TJP, and he drags TJP into a straitjacket stretch. TJP endures, fans rally, and TJP fights up! TJP pries the hold open, bridges and rolls to then hook Sho up, IRON OCTO- NO, Sho powers out to pop-up and ARMBAR! Kanemaru runs in to BLAST Akira! TJP fights around, but ends up in SNAKE BITE!!
Akira sends Kanemaru crashing into railing! And then he runs in to stomp Sho down! Akira coaches TJP, but Sho CLUBS Akira and TOSSES him out! Sho knuckle locks TJP, wrenches and brings him down to kick, KICK, and KICK again! But then TJP blocks the superkick! Only for Sho to rake the eyes! Fans boo but Sho whips. TJP Spider-Mans, slides under, but Sho grabs his hair! Sho kicks, but TJP blocks to slip around and SAIDO! Fans fire up and TJP crawls, hot tag to Akira! The Fireball storms up on Sho to fire off forearms, and a CHOP! Akira whips, Sho reverses, but Akira dodges to come back and clothesline!
Akira keeps going, but he dodges Kanemaru to put him in the Tree of Woe! Akira dodges Sho to dropkick legs out! Then Akira lines it up, jumps off Sho to DROPKICK Kanemaru! Akira then dodges Sho to RANA! The House boys bail out and fans fire up with Akira. Akira goes out to ASAI MOONSAULT! Direct hit on the House and the fans fire up again! Akira puts Sho back in, goes up a corner, and CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO! Akira keeps his cool while the fans rally. Akira drags Sho up and reels him in, but Sho bends fingers! Akira clubs free but Sho rakes eyes! Fans boo, Sho waistlocks, but Akira fights the lift!
TJP is back in, and Akira ducks so the SUPERKICK hits Sho! Akira then switches, chicken wings, and TIGER FIRE PLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Akira calls to TJP and has the fans start on “CATCH! NI NI!” again. They get Sho up, TJP still tries to Electric Chair Lift!? TJP fights through the pain, but it’s too much! He drops, and Kanemaru SHOVES TJP into Akira! Sho wraps TJP up, STRAITJACKET PILEDRIVER!! TJP flops out of the ring, Kanemaru tags in to DROPKICK Akira on the corner! Kanemaru then climbs up to get Akira, for a SUPERPLEX! Sho drags Akira right up to reel him in, POWER BREAKER!! Cover, TWO!!
Akira is still in this for his team, but now Kanemaru puts him in a BOSTON CRAB! Akira endures as Kanemaru sits deep! But Akira powers up! Only for Kanemaru to sit back down! But Akira still fights! Akira reaches out, but Kanemaru drags him back, and focuses on a HALF CRAB! Akira refuses to quit, so Kanemaru SMASHES the leg! FIGURE FOUR! Sho intercepts TJP while Kanemaru thrashes around! Akira reaches out, crawls and brings Kanemaru along, but Kanemaru works to turn him away from ropes! They roll and roll, but TJP goes up! TJP shoves Sho away to MAMBA SPLASH Kanemaru!
TJP flops back out of the ring but Akira is saved! Kanemaru goes to a corner, Akira runs in, but into a BOOT! Kanemaru runs, into a victory roll, STOMP 182! Fans fire up as Akira crawls to the corner, hot tag to TJP! TJP goes up again, for MAMBA- NO, he has to bail out as Kanemaru moves! And then Kanemaru shoves TJP into the ref! And of course that means the rest of the House returns! The ejection only counts if the ref can call it! Fans boo as the House all stomps TJP! Fans tell them to go away again but they don’t care. They drag TJP up, whip him corner to corner, then Dick runs in to ELBOW!
Yujiro runs in to BOOT! Evil runs in to clothesline and snapmare! They set TJP up for the- WAIT! CALLUM NEWMAN is here, and he ENZIGURIS Dick down! And Jeff Cobb CLOBBERS Evil! Fans fire up as the United Empire strikes back! They RAM Evil and Yujiro all around ringside, but then Dick leaps! Cobb catches him, tosses him to Oleg, and tells Oleg to get that Dick outta here! Oleg obliges, and then Cobb DECKS Evil! Cobb hauls the King of Darkness away and fans fire up again! Kanemaru is mad, but he grabs his whiskey! Kanemaru tags a big swig, then waits on TJP to get up. But Akira gets in to SUPERKICK!
The whiskey goes flying, Sho returns but Akira SUPERKICKS him! TJP sees Kanemaru’s bottle and grabs it. Akira runs at Kanemaru but Kanemaru dumps him out! Kanemaru sees TJP all alone, and he borrows Sho’s KOPW Championship belt. Kanemaru storms up, but TJP WHISKEY MISTS Kanemaru!! Roll up and the ref is there to count, TWO!! TJP staggers to a corner, Sho returns but TJP dumps him out. Akira runs in and TJP helps, RAILGUN DROPKICK! Down goes Sho, Kanemaru runs in, but TJP goes up and over to TORNADO DDT! Fans fire up and Akira has Kanemaru, for SPEEDFIRE!!
Akira calls to TJP and the fans rally up. “CATCH! NI NI!” They 2 BY 2 side by side!! Cover, Catch 2/2 wins!!
Winners: Catch 2/2, by pinfall (2023 Super Junior Tag League Champions)
They come in as the number one seed, and they win as the number one seed! Revenge on the House of Torture was sweet, but will revenge on the War Dogs be golden? Akira gets the mic to speak, but wait, the War Dogs rush out here!! They lost earlier and are still pissed! They CLOBBER Catch 2/2 with the belts!! Fans boo but Connors tells them to shut up. Connors has the mic to say, “Congratulations, Catch 2/2. You got exactly what you wanted. And not congratulations on winning this stupid tournament. Not even congratulations on getting a shot at these boys.” Connors holds up his IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag title, then puts it aside.
Connors says this is congrats because now they get to face the two best Juniro Heavyweights of all time on the biggest stage of ’em all! And compared to that, these trophies ain’t sh*t! Drilla SPITS on one and then Connors drops it! Drilla says these last three weeks, all these Super Juniors have been nipping at each other, biting each other’s ankles, all for a chance to face the War Dogs, the ABUNAI INU! But one problem, boys: “We ain’t bitin’ anybody’s ankles. We are rippin’ everybody’s heads off! We’re the monsters of this division! How many times we gotta kill you until you realize you gotta stay dead?!
“All you do, all you do, is bark, bark, BARK! And all we’ve done, all we do, all we’re gonna do forever, WrestleKingdom and after, all we gonna do is BITE. Load ’em up, baby!” The fans boo as the War Dogs stand Akira up, for the DOUBLE GORE! And then they make TJP look as Akira is down! Connors climbs, but here comes Callum again! He has a chair this time, and he gets Connors & Drilla to back off. What happened to the War Dogs? More like puppies! Drilla spits and cusses Callum out, then Connors says, “See you at WrestleKingdom!” The Cowboy & The Criminal take their leave, just as the fans tell them to leave.
As for Catch 2/2, TJP picks up the trophy that was thrown down, and part of the plaque chipped off. The War Dogs may have fired the first shot, but will TJP & Akira fire the last?
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship: Hiromu Takahashi VS Taiji Ishimori!
The Ticking Timebomb and Bone Soldier Reborn have had a storied rivalry, but this chapter is about settling a score! Will Hiromu no longer be seen as the Best of the Super Juniors? Or can he deny Taiji his revenge?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if Bullet Club adds any more gold!
The bell rings and the two rush in! Hiromu sunset flips, TWO! Taiji prawn holds, TWO! Hiromu sunsets but Taiji rolls through to high stack, TWO! Hiromu has the sunset, TWO! The two stand off, Hiromu kicks and whips but Taiji reverses. Taiji runs in, blocks boots, puts Hiromu in ropes and ENZIGURIS! Taiji runs but Hiromu gets loose to elbow him! Hiromu whips, runs in and clotheslines to then snapmare. Hiromu keeps moving but Taiji avoids the dropkick! Taiji whips, Hiromu reverses but Taiji goes Spider-Man. Hiromu runs in, Taiji slips under and around to then RAM into Hiromu and slingshot, but Hiromu ROCKS him!
Hiromu runs and leaps, but Taiji backflips out of the sunset bomb! Hiromu swings, Taiji ducks and waistlocks. Hiromu switches but Taiji wrenches out, to TORNADO ARMBAR DDT to the floor!! Fans fire up while Hiromu clutches his elbow and hurries away up the ramp. Taiji lets him be so he can untie the blue buckle pad. The Bullet Club Special is in effect while fans rally up. A ring count starts, Taiji waits on Hiromu as he sits up at 4 of 20. Taiji then goes out after Hiromu to CLUB the bad arm! Taiji brings Hiromu around and into the ring. Taiji wrenches Hiromu’s arm, hammerlocks, and then RAMS Hiromu into bare buckles!
Fans rally while Hiromu writhes, but Taiji drags Hiromu up. Taiji wrenches, whips, and WRINGS the arm, to then ARM SCREW! Taiji drags Hiromu up into a cobra clutch! Hiromu endures, fights up, but Taiji wrenches, RAMS and fireman’s carries into a SHANKLY GATES! Hiromu endures the wristlock camel clutch, and Hiromu fights to a ROPEBREAK! Taiji lets go, he taunts the fans and storms up on Hiromu. Hiromu CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! Taiji CLUBS the bad arm! And again! Taiji runs but Hiromu avoids the boot to roll him up! TWO, BONE- NO, Hiromu fights around, only for Taiji to have the ghost pin! TWO!!
Hiromu escapes but Taiji keeps cool. Taiji storms up on Hiromu, brings him up to CLUB the arm, and again, and again! Taiji runs but Hiromu follows to RANA! Fans fire up while both men are down. Taiji and Hiromu go to opposite corners, and Taiji runs in. Hiromu dodges to clothesline, snapmare and run, basement dropkick! Taiji bails out so Hiromu goes to the apron. Hiromu JOHN WOO DROPKICKS Taiji into railing! Taiji and Hiromu are both down on the outside, but Hiromu stands first. Hiromu puts Taiji in the ring, drags him up and suplexes, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO!
Fans rally while both men are down. Hiromu shakes out the bad arm and he brings Taiji back up. Hiromu fireman’s carries but Taiji slips free to shove him into a corner. Taiji runs in, and he blocks boots! He puts Hiromu back in the ropes, ENZIGURIS, runs and SLIDING GERMAN! Fans fire up while Hiromu flops out of the ring. Taiji stalks Hiromu, drags him up, and fireman’s carries! TKO with the railing! Hiromu flops into No Man’s Land and Red Shoes goes out to check him. Hiromu writhes but he’s still in this. Taiji leaves Hiromu behind for the ring count to start. Hiromu sits up at 5 of 20, and fans rally up.
Hiromu stands at 10, gets over railing at 11, and hobbles his way over at 13. Hiromu is in at 15, but Taiji hits COAST2COAST! Taiji then POSTS Hiromu in the blue corner! And hammerlocks the arm, to scoop and SHOULDER BREAKER! Taiji wants Red Shoes to call this but Hiromu refuses to quit. Fans rally for Hiromu but Taiji runs in, only for Hiromu to block La Mystica! Hiromu powers Taiji to a fireman’s carry! TIME- NO, Taiji slips free! Hiromu elbows him, but Taiji hits back! Taiji blocks the superkick, Hiromu blocks the knee! ROLLING ELBOW! Hiromu runs, Taiji follows, but into a SNAP GERMAN!
But Taiji rises! GERMAN SUPLEX for Hiromu! But Hiromu rises! Both men run in to DOUBLE LARIAT!! Both men flop over and fans fire up! Hiromu and Taiji go to opposite corners, drag themselves up, and Taiji runs in! Hiromu OVERHEAD SUPLEXES, but Taiji lands safe on the corner! Only for Hiromu to POWERBOMB him off the corner! High stack, TWO! Hiromu hurries to fireman’s carry and CORNER DEATH VALLEY! Fans fire up with Hiromu and he hauls Taiji up! Fireman’s carry and spin, but Taiji sunset flips it! TWO, but into STYLES- NO, Hiromu fights free, sits up, and he sunset flips! TWO!!
Taiji stands, Hiromu wrenches, but Taiji rolls free of the Hiromu-chan Cradle! Only for Hiromu to fireman’s carry again, TIMEBOMB 1.5! Cover, TWO!! Taiji survives and fans rally up again. Hiromu rises and he tells Taiji, “Just you wait!” Hiromu drags Taiji up, runs, but Taiji dodges the lariat! Only to run into HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER! Hiromu then hauls Taiji into a dragon sleeper, but Taiji slips around to return the favor! CIPHER UTAKI! But Taiji can’t make the cover! Fans rally up, both men stir, and Hiromu goes to a corner. Taiji stands, runs in, and clotheslines! Then COMPLETE SHOT! Fans rally as Taiji then goes to the apron.
Taiji climbs up the corner, takes aim, and 450- NO, Hiromu moves and Taiji rolls through! Taiji comes back, LA MYST- NO, Hiromu blocks again! And he tucks Taiji in, for a suplex and VICTORY- NO, Taiji drags Hiromu down for BONE LOCK!! Taiji counters Victory Royale right into the hold he wanted! Hiromu fights his way over but Taiji rolls him from ropes! To then suplex and BLOODY- NO, Hiromu rolls through that to fireman’s carry! Fans fire up and Hiromu spins for TIMEBOMB!! Cover, TWO!?! Taiji survives the OG Timebomb and both men are down! Fans fire up and Hiromu rises, shaking out the bad arm.
Hiromu sits Taiji up, runs, but Taiji gets under to send Hiromu at Red Shoes! Hiromu stops himself, Taiji whips Hiromu and pop-up LOW BLOWS!! Taiji then GEDO CLUTCHES! TWO?!?! Hiromu survives what Taiji used to steal the DDT-Pro Ironman Heavymetalweight title! Taiji aims, BANG, and he brings Hiromu up. BLOODY- ARM-DRAG! HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! Hiromu fires up and he dares Taiji to get up! Hiromu drags Taiji up, runs, HIROMU-CHAN BOMBER!! But Hiromu still isn’t done, he dragon sleepers and suplexes, TIMEBOMB- TAKEDOWN!? BONE LOCK RETURNS!!! Taiji squeezes the air outta Hiromu!
Fans are thunderous as Hiromu flails, but he’s fading! Red Shoes checks Hiromu, he’s turning red! But Hiromu revives and scrambles for ropes! Hiromu reaches out, Taiji pulls him away from ropes again! BONE LOCK!!! And it’s deep! Hiromu still fights, still reaches out, and he drags Taiji along with him! Fans rally as hard as they can, and Hiromu makes one last lurch to the ROPEBREAK!! Taiji lets go in frustration and fans fire up again! Taiji goes to the other side, aims a finger gun and says BANG, and then he drags Hiromu up. BLOODY- NO, Hiromu slips free! SUPERKICK! But Taiji JUMP KNEES in return!
Taiji runs in, LA MYST- NO, Hiromu slips through to HIROMU-CHAN ROLL! TWO?!?! But barely! Hiromu tries again, HIROMU-CHAN ROLL WITH BRIDGE!! HIROMU WINS!!!
Winner: Hiromu Takahashi, by pinfall (still IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion)
From the jaws of defeat, Hiromu snatches victory, and Taiji can’t believe it! Hiromu continues to evolve his moveset, will anyone stop him from proving he is THE Best of the Super Juniors? Hiromu gets the mic to say, “Ishimori-san. Let’s do this again! Glad to have you back.” Taiji Too Sweets that, when and where will the Bone Soldier Reborn be reloaded? And Hiromu says this is the first time he’s actually worn the belt since he won it on January 4th earlier this year. “Once again, I am Hiromu Takahashi the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion!” Fans cheer that.
Hiromu then asks himself, “Who’s the next challenger? If you’re backstage, ready to come out here, please don’t. Also, to the lighting guy, if a wrestler asks you to cut the lights, don’t listen! Please have the courage to refuse. I will name the next challenger for this belt!” Fans like the sound of that! Hiromu continues to say that he really wants to fight “this guy.” Hiromu feels he has to surpass this man. Hiromu calls out DESPERADO! The Rogue Luchador is now on commentary, so he’s already staring Hiromu down. Hiromu promises no one else will get involved, this won’t turn into a Triple Threat or Fatal 4. “Desperado, come up here.”
Fans cheer and Desperado goes from having fun to being serious. He leaves commentary and gets in the ring. Hiromu tells Desperado to face him at WrestleKingdom 18! Then he drops the mic at Desperado’s feet. Desperado picks it up, and says, “Okay.” Fans cheer that! Desperado then says that FYI, he’s kinda seeing two loudmouth Hiromus. Desperado needs surgery to put that back in order. So yeah, don’t expect any warm-up matches along the way. But he will be sure to be in top shape before facing Hiromu. Fans applaud that.
Desperado also hopes to make a few appearances before the big day. And he admits to being a bit worried being called out like that. “The bar has been raised.” And he’s pretty sure there’s an angry Taguchi chomping at the bit to come out here. So assuming Desperado is good to go, he’ll accept that title match. Fans cheer and Desperado hands the mic back over. Hiromu says, “Let’s have some fuuuun~!” Mic drop and Hiromu stares down his other storied rival. Will the Rogue Luchador be shooting straight before the new year? Or will another have to step up to the Ticking Timebomb?
IWGP United States/United Kingdom Championship: Will Ospreay w/ Callum Newman VS Shota Umino!
The American Assassin has defended this title against The Roughneck before, but those losses haven’t broken Shota yet! Will this final time be the charm for #SHOOTER? Or will this just be the final time?
The introductions are made, both forms of this title are raised, and in the end, only one man will walk away with them!
The bell rings and fans fire up as the two stare down. Osaka is strong for Ospreay, but he and Shota circle. They feel things out, back off, then circle again. They tie up, Shota wrenches, but Ospreay spins to wrench back. Ospreay full nelsons, then cravats, but Shota rolls free to wrangle Ospreay to a cording hold. Ospreay stands but Shota wrenches and hammerlocks. Ospreay reaches around but Shota cravats, then headlocks. Ospreay pushes Shota to ropes, but he can’t power out as Shota holds tight! Ospreay powers up to pry the hold open but Shota just clamps it on tighter. Ospreay back suplexes, but Shota lands on his feet! Shota headlocks for a takeover!
Fans cheer this technical exchange, but Ospreay pulls hair. Shota traps an arm, but Ospreay gets that free. Ospreay fights up to his feet, powers Shota to ropes, and Red Shoes calls the break. Ospreay lets off slowly, but Shota blocks the chop! Shota headlocks, Ospreay powers out but Shota runs him over! But Ospreay kips right back up! Shota sees that, but Ospreay still ROCKS him first! Ospreay grins and fans fire up behind him. Ospreay whips, Shota reverses, ELBOWS, and basement dropkicks! Shota fires up and the fans cheer again. Shota stomps Ospreay, brings him up and CLUBS him on the neck.
Shota reels Ospreay in to ROCK him in the back, then CLUB him down! Shota UPPERCUTS Ospreay, goes to a corner with him, and cravats again. Shota cranks the neck wrench, but Ospreay breaks free to ROCK Shota! Ospreay whips, Shota reverses and trips, then steps over, STF! Ospreay scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Fans cheer, Red Shoes reprimands, and Shota lets go at 2. Shota drags Ospreay up, bumps him off buckles, then stomps him. Shota ROCKS Ospreay, UPPERCUTS him, and whips corner to corner. Shota runs in but Ospreay BOOTS back! Ospreay runs, but Shota ELBOWS! Shota whips, Ospreay RANAS!
Fans fire up as Shota bails out, and Ospreay aims! PLANCHA! Down goes Shota and fans fire up again! Ospreay drags Shota up, brings him around, and ROCKS him! Shota flops against railing but Ospreay brings him up to whip into more railing! Shota falls over, and Ospreay goes looking under the ring. Ospreay brings out a TABLE! Ospreay sets that up by ringside and he drags Shota up. Red Shoes reprimands but Ospreay still reels Shota in. But Shota fights the lift! Shota back drops Ospreay, narrowly missing the table! Red Shoes tells Shota not to, but Shota still looks at the table. Shota reels Ospreay in, but then puts him in the ring.
Fans applaud Shota not going to extremes there, and Shota runs in, but into a FLAPJACK! Shota staggers from the ropes, into Ospreay’s BOOT! Ospreay then stands Shota up, to CHOP him! Shota is stinging as he goes to the corner, but Ospreay CHOPS him again! Ospreay digs his boots in, he scrapes and scrubs Shota’s face, then drags Shota up. Ospreay scoops to BACKBREAKER! Cover, ONE!! Shota hangs tough and fans cheer but Ospreay is annoyed. Ospreay stalks Shota, pushes him around to omoplata an arm, then he SLAPS Shota in the side to get the other arm! Ospreay pulls on that arm, and reclines back onto it! It’s a cradle, TWO!!
Shota gets out of that one and goes to a corner, but Ospreay stalks him. Ospreay gives Shota some Kawada Kicks, then ROCKS him with a forearm! Shota snarls to ROCK Ospreay! Ospreay eggs Shota on and Shota fires off forearms! Ospreay CHOPS! Shota staggers back to ropes, Ospreay whips but Shota ducks ‘n’ dodges and dodges again to CLOBBER Ospreay! Fans rally up, Shota whips Ospreay to a corner, and then he runs in. UPPERCUT, and then FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Shota’s not quite perfect but he doesn’t let that bother him. Shota brings Ospreay in but Ospreay blocks the lift!
Ospreay throws elbows but Shota snapmares, and HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! We saw Moxley here earlier tonight, Shota is using one of his favorites! Shota then drags Ospreay up, clinches, but Ospreay slips free. Shota mule kicks, whips, but Ospreay handsprings to NEURALIZER! Direct hit and down goes Shota! Fans fire up again and Ospreay goes to the apron. Ospreay springboards, PIP PIP CHEERIO! Cover, TWO! Ospreay is annoyed but he says Shota’s done now. Ospreay drags Shota up and reels him in, but Shota fights the lift! Fans rally, Ospreay fires more Kawada Kicks! And a CHOP!
Shota staggers to a corner, Ospreay runs in but Shota dodges! Shota runs back in but into BOOTS! Ospreay goes up but Shota ROCKS him! Shota climbs, Ospreay slips under and tucks Shota in! CHEEKY NANDOS! Shota is stuck up there, so Ospreay CHEEKY NANDOS again! Ospreay taunts Shota, “Is that all you’ve got?” Ospreay SPITS at Shota! Red Shoes reprimands but Ospreay just grins. But then Shota mule kicks Ospreay away! Shota checks, and he has a bloody nose! Shota’s mad now, but the fans rally up. Ospreay CHOPS, but Shota just steps forward! Fans fire up as Ospreay CHOPS again, but Shota still steps forward.
Shota dares Ospreay to try again, so Ospreay CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Shota DECKS Ospreay!! We’ve seen Scary Ibushi, is this Scary Shota?! Shota wipes the blood from his nose on his chest, and then he throws knee after knee into Ospreay! Shota stomps away at the ropes, Red Shoes tells him to stop, but Shota still gives mule kicks while Red Shoes turns him around! Red Shoes finally gets his son to let off on Ospreay, only for Shota to then SLINGSHOT APRON DDT!!! Fans are thunderous as Shota shows such viciousness! Ospreay flops to the floor, Shota lets Red Shoes check him, and fans rally up again.
Ospreay is somehow still in this and Callum coaches him up. But then Shota goes back out, drags Ospreay up and whips him hard into railing! Shota storms up on Ospreay to whip him hard into even more railing! Shota scuffs Ospreay, drags him back up, and whips him again! Ospreay stops himself, but Shota SHOTGUNS Ospreay up and over the railing! Ospreay even tumbles over English commentary’s table! Shota goes out to fetch Ospreay, and he tells fans to move aside. Just like Moxley and Khan earlier, Shota uses Ospreay’s body to go CHAIR BOWLING!! STRIKE! Red Shoes reprimands but Shota just drags Ospreay out of the mess.
Shota makes sure his dad sees that he’s taking Ospreay back. Except wait, they go through No Man’s Land to the timekeeper’s area. Shota asks, “You want tables? You want tables?!” Shota SMACKS Ospreay off the table! Shota says one more time! And he SMACKS Ospreay off the table again! Shota has Abe-san hold onto the belts while he clears off the table and brings it around. Shota CHUCKS the table at Ospreay!! Ospreay falls over and Red Shoes reprimands, but the fans rally up! Shota sets the timekeeper’s table next to the first one, and he says Ospreay started this. Shota puts Ospreay on the apron and goes up to join him.
Red Shoes reprimands again but Shota underhooks! Ospreay holds ropes but Shota CLUBS away. Ospreay LARIATS Shota into the ring! Fans fire up again and Ospreay goes up top. Shota stands, into the BLINDSIDE CHEERIO! Fans rally up again and Ospreay aims from a corner. HIDDEN- UPPERCUT! Shota runs, but into the Tiger Wall Kick! But he ducks the enziguri! But Ospreay slips under Shota, full nelsons, only for Shota to break free with an elbow. Shota ducks the Hook Kick! Shota ROCKS then spins, into the ROUNDHOUSE! Ospreay whips, Shota reverses, but Ospreay avoids the dropkick! STANDING SHOOTING STAR onto knees!
Shota whips again, to DROP- POWERBOMB!! Ospreay covers, TWO!! Shota survives the counter and Ospreay grows frustrated. But the fans rally up behind Ospreay, and he calls his shot. Ospreay springboards, into a DROPKICK! Now Shota counters, and both men are down. Shota and Ospreay rise, and Shota watches. Shota runs in, SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Shota goes to the apron, slingshots, CUTTER! Fans fire up and Shota aims. Ospreay rises, Shota runs in, underhooks, but Ospreay RAMS him to a corner. Ospreay runs back in, Shota dodges to POP-UP KNEE and EXPLODER! Fans fire up and rally behind Shota.
Shota mocks Ospreay, goes up and up and steals SUPER OSCUTTER!! Cover, TWO! Ospreay survives Shota’s imitation but Shota isn’t done with him. Shota drags Ospreay up, half nelsons, but Ospreay switches. Shota elbows free, runs, but into a SPANISH FLY! Both men are down and fans fire up again! Fans rally as Ospreay rises, and he fires up with “OI! OI! OI!” The fans echo it and Ospreay goes to a corner. Shota rises, Ospreay runs in, HELLUVA KICK! And then a scoop and SLAM! Ospreay goes up the corner, LEAP OF FAITH! Cover, TWO!! Shota survives and bails out but Ospreay pursues!
Ospreay calls his shot, goes up a corner, but Shota YANKS him down! And we’re by the tables again! Fans fire up as Shota underhooks, but Ospreay fights the lift! Ospreay gets free to ROCK Shota, and HOOK KICK! Ospreay underhooks now, to TIGER DRIVER through the tables!!! Fans are thunderous and Red Shoes checks both men. Ospreay gets clear of the wreckage but Shota is still down. Shota’s able to continue, though, and the fans rally back up. The ring count starts, and Ospreay rises at 5 of 20. Ospreay stands at 9 to roll in at 10, and Shota sits up at 13. Shota drags himself from the wreckage, to get in at 19!
Ospreay springboards, COAST2COAST! And then springboard, OSCUTTER!! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay snarls and goes to a corner, his arm prepared. Ospreay runs in, but Shota ducks Hidden Blade! Ospreay still kicks and whips, but Shota reverses to TORNADO- NO, Ospreay blocks to THROW Shota down, and HIDDEN BLADE!! Cover, TWO!?!? The fans are thunderous again but Ospreay prepares the elbow again. Ospreay waits for Shota to sit up, but Shota crawls his way over to Ospreay. Ospreay lets Shota drag himself up to his feet, and Shota throws a forearm. Ospreay ROCKS Shota right back!
Shota staggers about, and he throws another forearm. And another, and another, but Ospreay just ROCKS him again! Shota slaps himself to fire back up! Shota fires more forearms, but Ospreay ROCKS him, and SNAP HALF ‘N’ HALF! Then SUPERKICK! Ospreay vows to end this, but Shota swings! Ospreay dodges and Shota falls over! Red Shoes checks on Shota but Shota shakes his head. Shota refuses to give up so Ospreay eggs him on. Shota drags himself up, but Ospreay HOOK KICKS him! Shota holds onto the ropes to stay up, so Ospreay HOOK KICKS again! Shota lets go, drops to his knees, and then Ospreay BUZZSAWS! And HEEL KICKS!
Shota flops over and Ospreay looms over him. To HAMMER him with the forearm! And again! And again! But Shota scrambles to ropes! Ospreay drags him back, tries to cover but Shota flails and fights. Ospreay traps the arms, so Shota SPITS at Ospreay! Ospreay takes off the elbow pad, and he HAMMERS Shota! Jon Moxley is here now?! Moxley tells Shota to not take that crap and get his ass up! Ospreay throws hands, Shota still fights, and fans are thunderous! Shota bucks Ospreay free, and blocks his Penalty Kick! Shota swings, misses, and Ospreay HOOK KICKS! Ospreay runs in, into a LARIAT!!
Fans are thunderous again and Moxley tells Shota to keep it up! Shota drags Ospreay into an STF! Ospreay endures, fights, crawls, reaches out, flails, but Shota grabs the arm, COBRA CLUTCH STF! Ospreay still fights, the fans duel, and Ospreay powers his way forward to the ROPEBREAK! Shota lets go in frustration, and Moxley coaches him on. Shota drags Ospreay up, but Ospreay swings! Shota blocks to ENZIGURI! And then dragon sleeper, CROSS RHODES!! Shota drags Ospreay up again, inverted suplex, but Ospreay slips free! Ospreay underhooks and Canadian Racks, but Shota slips free!
Shota backslides Ospreay, but Ospreay rolls through, only for Shota to reel him in! EVOLVED DEATH RIDER!! Cover, TWO?!?! Fans are electric as Shota vows to end this! Shota drags Ospreay up, underhooks, but Ospreay wrenches to MOUSE TRAP! TWO, and Ospreay slips around to lift! Shota fights the bomb, and SATELLITE DDTS!! Fans fire up and Shota roars! Shota aims and runs in, TORNADO DDT! But that’s not all, he rolls Ospreay to underhook, and SWINGING PARADIGM SHIFT?!? Cover, TWO!!! Ospreay survives and the fans are electric again! Moxley coaches Shota, he’s almost there!
Ospreay goes to a corner, Shota runs in, BLINDSIDE KNEE! Shota puts Ospreay up top, climbs up, but Ospreay HEADBUTTS! So Shota UPPERCUTS! Shota goes up again, brings Ospreay to the very top, and underhooks?! Red Shoes is worried, Ospreay resists, but Shota CLAWS Ospreay’s back! Then the underhooks, for a SUPER DEATH RIDER!!! Shota has to crawl over to the cover, TWO?!?!?! Ospreay just barely lurches out of that, and the fans are electric for Shota! Shota aims from the corner, Ospreay sits up, BLAZE- NO, Ospreay just flops over! So Shota returns the favor and he traps Ospreay’s arms!
Moxley says do it! Shota HAMMERS away on Ospreay! Red Shoes wants Shota to hold on so he can check Ospreay. Shota lets off but goes back to the corner. Ospreay is dazed, Red Shoes is going for a standing count! Fans rally up as Ospreay is still down at 5 of 10! Ospreay sputters at 7, sits up at 8 and stands at 9, but kneels! BLAZE BLADE!!! And DEATH RIDER!! HIDDEN BLADE OUTTA NOWHERE!?!? The fans are in disbelief!! Both men are down but the fans rally as hard as they can! Ospreay and Shota stir, and they glare at each other. They crawl forward, and give junkyard dog headbutts!
Moxley coaches Shota as they just headbutt each other harder! Ospreay and Shota stand, and Shota ROCKS Ospreay with a forearm! And then again! Shota keeps Ospreay up with a wristlock, and Ospreay ROCKS Shota back! The forearms keep going back and forth, and they pick up speed! Faster and faster, then Shota gets the edge! Ospreay wobbles, but he growls and stands up, to fire forearms in return! Ospreay reels Shota in, for a HEADBUTT!! Shota reels Ospreay in, POP-UP UPPER! Just like Claudio! Shota underhooks, but Ospreay wrenches and spins and underhooks, to Canadian Rack! STORM- RANA?!?!? Cover, TWO!!!!
Shota almost had Ospreay and the fans are volcanic! Shota SHOTGUNS, Ospreay comes back with HIDDEN BLADE!!! Cover, ONE?!?!? HOW?!?!? Ospreay kicks, and steals DEATH RIDER!!! Ospreay drags Shota back up, Canadian Rack, TIGER DRIVER 1993!!! Cover, TWO?!?!? Shota survives again but Ospreay roars! Ospreay reloads, runs in, HIDDEN BLADE!!! And then STORMBREAKER!!!! Cover, Ospreay wins!!
Winner: Will Ospreay, by pinfall (still IWGP US/UK Champion)
Shota pushed Ospreay to the limit, but it still wasn’t enough to break through to the championship! However, it seems he did finally win Ospreay’s respect. What will it take for the Roughneck to finally have a title?
As for Ospreay, he starts calling out Moxley. Ospreay throws the US edition at him, and Moxley says okay then. Moxley gets in the ring, Ospreay mocks him as a part-timer, and that Ospreay is the one who made this belt relevant. Wait, someone CLOBBERS Moxley! It’s DAVID FINLAY! And he CLOBBERS Ospreay, too! Because he’s using his shillelagh!! Finlay CLOBBERS Callum with it, too! The Rebel beat the Silverback earlier tonight, and now it’s clear he wants to go for bigger prey. Finlay gets a mic while fans boo, and he says, “Aw, did I interrupt something, boys? Moxley, how nice of you to show up.”
Finlay tells Moxley he clearly didn’t get the memo, so he’ll fill Moxley in. “Nobody, and I mean nobody, steps foot in this ring without my permission. Billy Boy, that brings me to you, buddy. You and I have unfinished business, don’t we? I told you I was gonna end you, and I am here to make good on that promise. Now, you two wanna talk about fighting for these two championships at WrestleKingdom? Huh? These championships that you fought tooth and nail to make meaningful, these championships that your names are synonymous with. Hell, you won’t shut up about ‘The belt doesn’t make the man, the man makes the belt.’
“Well here’s the thing about me and these two belts right here. In the United Kingdom, they say I’m American. In the United States, they say I’m Irish. Now I know these belts mean the world to you two, but let me show you how little they mean to me.” Gedo gives Finlay a sledgehammer! And he SMASHES each belt in turn! Fans boo as the plates and gold come off the straps while Ospreay can only watch! Fans boo but Finlay soaks up the heat, and Gedo tells the Japanese fans, “Those belts mean NOTHING to him, ya bastards! Finlay deserves a new belt, made just for him!” What?!
Gedo then continues to say that, “The Rebel takes the F over everything! I need the Rebel! NJPW needs the Rebel! And the world needs the Rebel!” Fans boo, they don’t WANT the Rebel. But will whatever title replaces the US and UK Championships truly represent what Finlay represents? Or will he regret angering the Assassin and the Maniac?
My Thoughts:
A great event here for NJPW, Power Struggle has been turning into one of their big traditions for the year with stuff like this. I skimmed the matches I didn’t write up, and Frontier Zone seemed like another really fun crossover between NJPW and Japanese independents. And duh, the two Young Lions lost to Cobb & Callum. I covered the Fatal 4 Tag because I knew it’d be a lot of wild action and it definitely was. Great win for DespeWato, but apparently this kinda served as a strong way for Desperado to finish his year, given what he told us after the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship. Hiromu VS Taiji was awesome stuff, and I figured Hiromu would retain. Him wanting to face Desperado one more time is cool, so I really do hope Desperado makes a strong and quick recovery these next two months.
Khan VS Moxley having that count-out was actually a great way to give us the Falls Count Anywhere, and that was some awesome stuff. It wasn’t quite anywhere in all of Osaka but they used so much of the arena that it was still good enough. Moxley of course wins, he’s going strong in both NJPW and AEW and isn’t gonna lose here. Great Six Man Tag title match, but I figured the Dream Trio would retain since ZSJ is still NJPW World TV Champion. We might get Tanahashi VS ZSJ for that title, but how awesome that we’re getting Okada VS Bryan part 3! Regardless of who wins and loses, let’s just hope Bryan doesn’t get hurt again. If this is his last 12 months, he has to make it through the last 12 months!
Great finals for the Super Junior Tag League, and of course Catch 2/2 won so that we get classic Faces VS Heels for the tag titles. But what a swerve for Connors & Drilla to attack and ruin the celebration, same as Sho & Kanemaru did during the tournament. At this point, it would make a lot of sense for TJP & Akira to win to be the true heroes of the tag division, and also it totally makes sense now why DespeWato lost in the end since Desperado needs that surgery for his vision problems.
And then everything in that main event was awesome. Shota showed his BCC style edge against Ospreay here, with Dad Shoes a bit upset about how he couldn’t stop his son from doing any of it. Moxley showing up to coach Shota was great, too, and while Ospreay retains, it is clear Shota is right at the doorstep of that midcard champion level. The clear set up of Ospreay VS Moxley then being interrupted by Finlay was actually pretty wild, and now it’s some kind of Triple Threat for an Undisputed Midcard Championship, name to be determined later, which is pretty cool. Though, a midcard title constantly changing it’s name? Feels familiar… Like a certain wrestling fanfic series did that…
My Score: 9/10
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Could this be the biggEST and strongEST SmackDown of the year?
SmackDown in Knoxville sees the returns of Bianca Belair, Cody Rhodes and John Cena, along with some final Money in the Bank qualifiers!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax; Naomi wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
- R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa; Mateo wins.
- Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar; Los Garza win.
- Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration; Zelina wins.
- Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu; Andrade wins and advances to Money in the Bank.
PLAY BY PLAY
Bianca Belair is here!
Knoxville fires up for their strongEST, fastEST, quickEST, toughEST, roughEST, and greatEST hometown hero as she struts out to the ring. Bianca high-fives and hugs fans along the ramp, as well as mom and dad at ringside. Bianca then grabs a mic to say, “Man, it feels good to be in Knoxville!” The fans cheer and chant for “EST! EST!” Bianca says she loves them so much. And she couldn’t come out here without singing Rocky Top! Y’all ready? The fans cheer, and the music plays! Bianca conducts the fans as they sing for the University of Tennessee. In fact, the Lady Vols softball team is playing in the Super Regionals right now!
Bianca smiles and says this city is so special to her. Not just because it is her hometown, but because it is her safe space. She has her love and support from mom ‘n’ dad, and has all the fans who show up and show out for her. With everything Bianca’s been going through, losing at Mania, getting injured, losing tag titles and friends along the way, she just wanted to come back home to her safe space. The fans cheer, and Bianca says she came home to heal. While she’s not 100%, she is doing everything she can to get back to the ring and continue to show us why she is the EST of Tennessee and of WWE! The fans cheer that!
Bianca says with all that said, Knoxville, welcome to Friday Night SmackDown! But wait, she’s interrupted by Naomi! The fans boo but Naomi says, “Oh my gosh~! Finally! B, I am so glad you finally here on SmackDown!” Bianca says now is not the time, Naomi. Naomi asks Bianca to please hear her out. It has been way too long. Not a day has gone by when Naomi doesn’t think about what happened to them. What is there to talk about? What could Naomi say? What could she want from Bianca? The fans chant “YOU SUCK!” at Naomi, and Naomi says she just wants forgiveness. She is begging for it!
Naomi knows things go toff the rails, but she is here because she wants to fix it, she is trying to fix it, but she alone can’t fix it. Months have gone by, and Naomi has tried to communicate, to say the past can be the past and that they can move forward. Bianca has not responded back to Naomi once. Naomi even visited Bianca’s parent’s house! But no one would answer! WHAT?! Mom ‘n’ Dad don’t know about that, but Naomi says no one was home, so she let herself in! Naomi looked through the photo albums, the one right on the front coffee table. And in those photos, Bianca looked so happy. It reminded Naomi of how they were as tag team champions.
Bianca stops Naomi there. Naomi, Bianca will make this perfectly clear. They were best friends, but Naomi betrayed Bianca’s trust. Naomi took their friend, Jade, and threw her onto a car, then lied about it for months! Bianca said she was done with Naomi, she meant that, and if Naomi ever comes near her family again, what Naomi did to Jade will be nothing compared to what Bianca does to Naomi. The fans fire up for that! Naomi gets emotional, but then she gets mad. “Y’know, Bianca, it wouldn’t be good for you and your mama to be in a wheelchair.” The fans boo as Naomi laughs maniacally. Naomi says she’d hate if something happened to Bianca here and now!
Naomi storms up on Bianca, but then JADE makes her way out here! Naomi is even angrier now, but this Storm starts throwing hands! The fans fire up as Jade BOOTS Naomi down! Bianca and Jade look to each other, neither really saying or doing anything. Naomi runs up but Jade TOSSES her out! Jade and Bianca look to each other again, but then here comes NIA! The Irresistible Force won’t be left out of this, especially when this is the Women’s Triple Threat Qualifier for the night! This match now opens the night, who earns SmackDown’s final golden ticket to the Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match?
Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Jade Cargill VS Naomi VS Nia Jax!
SmackDown returns, this match is already going, and Naomi POSTS Nia! Naomi stalks Jade, rains down forearms, and the fans boo. Naomi stomps to BITE Jade’s hand! Jade still fights back, so Naomi has the arms to STOMP Jade down! Naomi flexes, the fans boo, and Naomi puts Jade in a corer. Naomi runs to DROPKICK Jade in the corner! Naomi SLAPS Jade, drags her into the drop zone, then goes up, up, and twerks! HIP DROP! Naomi covers, ROPEBREAK! Naomi is annoyed but she sits Jade up to stomp a mudhole in. But Nia runs up! Naomi dodges, the HIP ATTACK hits Jade! Naomi goes to the apron to ROUNDHOUES Nia!
Naomi reels Nia in for a HEATSEEKER! Nia flops to the floor, the fans rally for Jade, but Naomi kicks her around. Naomi goes up the corner, leaps, but Jade catches her! Jade FALL AWAY SLAMS Naomi, then kips up! Knoxville fires up with Jade and she runs up to LARIAT! And ELBOW! And SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, Nia breaks it! The fans boo but Nai huffs ‘n’ puffs and drags Naomi up. Nia whips Naomi, pops her up and HEADBUTTS her down! Then she SAMOAN DROPS Naomi! Nia soaks up heat, then lines the two up. Naomi grabs at Nia’s leg but Nia CLUBS her down! Nia stomps Jade for good measure, then drops a leg, brother!
Nia TOSSES Jade out, then goes up the corner. Nia SUPER LEG DROPS on Naomi!! Cover, TWO!!! Naomi survives and Nia is shocked! The fans rally while Nia stalks Naomi. Naomi clings to ropes as Nia pulls at her arm. Nia CLUBS Naomi, whips her to ropes, then SAMOAN DROP- NO, Naomi makes it a CRUCIFIX DRIVER! Ghost pin, TWO!! Nia survives the sudden turnaround, Naomi sees Jade crawling in, and Naomi goes after her as SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Naomi KICKS Nia while she’s down, then kicks her more. Naomi puts Nia in a corner, CHOKES her on the ropes, then clamps on with a SLEEPER! Nia THROWS Naomi away, then TOSSES her out. Nia soaks up heat, but Jade runs in and rolls Nia up! TWO! Nia stands, and she HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia looms over Jade, drags her up, but Jade fires forearms! Jade backs Nia down, then runs, and she CLOBBERS Nia outta the ring! Jade fires up and has the fans with her. Jade drags Naomi up from the apron but Naomi fires hands. Nia is back to HIP ATTACK Jade against the POST! Nia soaks up more heat, then taunts Naomi.
Naomi stands on the apron, argues with Nia, but they apparently agree to mug Jade for both their benefit. They put Jade in the corner, Naomi digs her boot in, and then Nia sends Naomi in for a SPALSH! Nia adds a SPLASH of her own! Naomi snapmares Jade, runs, and SLIDING LARIATS! Jade sputters and Nia taunts her. Nia and Naomi soak up the heat together, but Jade fights back! Nia HEADBUTTS Jade down! Nia drags Jade up, and Naomi KICKS Jade low! They soak up more heat, talk trash on Jade, and SmackDown returns to single picture. Nia scoops and SIDEWALK SLAMS! Naomi runs to SPLIT LEG DROP! Cover, but Nia drags Naomi away!
Nia and Naomi argue again, and then Naomi rolls Nia up! ONE, and Nia grabs Naomi to shove her to a corner! Nia SPLASHES, then pushes Naomi down. Nia runs to SENTON! Nia grins while Naomi sputters and the fans rally up. Jade rises to fire forearms on Nia! Then she ELBOWS Naomi in a corner! She ELBOWS Nia, but then Nia follows Jade! Jade dodges so Nia SPLASHES Naomi! Jade then SUPERKICKS! Nia wobbles, Jade SUPERKICKS again! And SPINEBUSTERS! But Naomi METEORAS! Cover, TWO! Jade survives and the fans rally up. Naomi goes up, SPLIT- LEG MOONSAULT on Nia! But Jade has Naomi in the chicken wings!
Jade brings Naomi around, JADED!! Cover, Nia CLOBBERS them both! The fans rally while all three women are down! Nia climbs a corner, Jade is after her with forearms! Naomi joins in, drags Jade back, but now they trade shots! Nia DOUBLE CROSSBODIES! Cover on Jade, TWO! Cover on Naomi, TWO! Nia grows frustrated but the fans rally up again. Nia drag Naomi up, fireman’s carries, and she climbs the corner! The fans already anticipate what’s coming, SUPER SAMOAN DROP!! Cover, JADE FROG SPLASHES IN!! Cover, TWO!!! The fans fire up while all three women are down again! “This is Awesome!”
Jade rises, she clamps onto Nia, but Nia HEADBUTTs her! And HEADBUTTS Naomi! Jade BOOTS Nia down! Cover, TWO! Jade runs up on Naomi but Naomi BOOTS her! Naoim goes up top but Jade is right on her! They fight for control, but then Nia joins in! TOWER OF DOOM!! Nia double stacks her opponents, for a A-NIA-LATOR!! Naomi avoids it, Jade takes it all! Naomi ghost pins Nia, AND WINS!!
Winner: Naomi, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Nia did a lot of the damage, but it is Naomi who wins out! Will everyone in the Women’s MITB Ladder Match now have to #ProceedWithCaution?
Solo Sikoa’s crew arrives.
Solo says they will win Money in the Bank together! Jacob Fatu, Solo Sikoa, whichever one wins MITB wins it fof the family! But then they hear R-Truth talking to… Lil’ Jimmy? Solo says Truth’s childhood hero beats him, and now he’s talking to ghosts. Truth taps Solo on the shoulder and asks if there’s something Solo wants to say. Solo says Truth is crazy touching him. JC Mateo steps up but Solo has him stand down. Truth says he wants to be honest. He’s never seen JC a day before in his life. Is this Solo’s son? He’s husky! Truth asks if he can teach Solo’s husky son a lesson in the ring. Solo says that sounds good to him.
Truth says he’ll go talk to Nick Aldis. “Boy, y’all big boneded!” Truth heads off, and Solo says don’t worry, they’ll take care of him. Let’s have fun. Fatu says keep it 100. They can have their fun, he’s got his own business to take care of. Yadada mean? The Imperial Unit against Truth, Samoan Werewolf in a qualifier, will everything go the family’s way?
Chelsea Green confronts Nick Aldis.
The Hot Mess hides behind a cardboard cutout of herself as she tells the SmackDown General Manager, “What happened on Saturday night was a deliberate-” Piper Niven has to direct Chelsea to point at Aldis, and Aldis says he can’t quite understand her from behind the cardboard mask. Piper holds the mask between Chelsea and camera, though we do get a glimpse of her fancy headgear. Chelsea repeats herself, but Aldis says she needs to be looking at him when they talk. Chelsea hides her face in shame, but she says it is still a deliberate hitjob put on by vicious Zelina Vega! Even her Secret Her-vice could not stop it!
Chelsea demands that Zelina be suspended, stripped of her title, and that Chelsea be reinstated as the champion! Chelsea, no need to be so ugly about this. Gasp! Aldis says what he means is, no suspensions, and we can talk a rematch down the road once Chelsea is medically cleared. Then he is doing nothing for what Zelina did to Chelsea?! Alba says if he won’t, then they will! Yeah, Zelina VS Alba! Tonight! Alba is a bit surprised, but Aldis says, “Chelsea knows best. Alba VS Zelina, I actually like the sound of that. I will make that official right now, if you do one thing for me. Please leave me alone.”
The Green Administration hurries away, but will Alba make sure Chelsea brand justice is served? Or will La Muneca just keep racking up the wins?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Byron Saxton is with the WWE Women’s Champion, and says that MITB is around the corner. Tiff successfully cashed in her own contract to become champion, but how is she handling the pressure of knowing the same thing could happen to her? Tiff says she can’t wait to see who wins MITB. Then she can handle the pressure by being prepared. Having this title makes her the top threat to the division, but let’s be fair. She’s always been the girl everyone has been obsessed with. So whoever wins, targeting her will be a big mistake. But then in steps Naomi.
Naomi says if Tiff thought Nia was a problem, then she ain’t seen nothing yet. Naomi vows to win MITB and cash in for Tiff’s title, wherever and whenever she wants. And in case Lil’ Miss Tiffy forgot, when Naomi was fighting for a championship, Tiff stayed in Naomi’s way. Wanna know what happens when people play with Naomi? Just ask Jade. Naomi heads out, and Alexa Bliss steps in. Alexa says she wouldn’t be so worried about Naomi. Be worried about Alexa. Alexa heads out now, Tiff clutches to the title a little bit tighter, who will be trying to run the clock out on Tiffy Time?
R-Truth VS JC Mateo w/ Solo Sikoa!
To Solo’s point, #RonCena could not make John Cena see the light at Saturday Night’s Main Event, and Truth might be relapsing if he’s talking to Lil’ Jimmy again. But will Truth relapse so far that we get the R-Truth that was once United States Champion? Or will a Tour of the Islands send Truth off the deep end?
SmackDown returns and JC makes his entrance, Solo backing him up. The bell rings and Truth runs up, only for JC to RAM him into a corner! JC RAMS Truth again and again, then lets off. JC whips corner to corner hard and Truth falls in a heap! JC whips corner to corner again just as hard, and Truth falls in a heap again. Solo talks trash but the fans rally behind Truth. JC runs up but Truth dodges! Truth SHOULDER TACKLES! JC stays up, so Truth runs and SHOULDER TACKLES! “What’s Up?” Truth runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and SHOULDER TACKLES! Then he hits the SPIN OUT- CROSSBODY! JC then gets up to GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT!
JC smirks as he looms over Truth, and Solo says to finish this off now. JC runs to SENTON but Truth moves! Truth calls for it! “YOU CAN’T SEE ME!” FIVE KNUCKLE SHUFFLE! Truth fireman’s carries JC, but JC is too much! Truth falls over again! Solo laughs, JC whips, TOUR OF THE ISLANDS!! Cover, JC wins!
Winner: JC Mateo, by pinfall
Truth tried to be like John Cena of old, but it just wasn’t meant to be. JC beats up on Truth more, then stands him up for Solo! But here comes BIG Jim! Jimmy has a chair, he runs JC off, but Solo stands his ground. Solo says his brother wouldn’t hit him with that chair, would he? Jimmy steps to Solo so Solo steps out, but that lets JC CLOBBER Jimmy! But then Solo has JC stand down! They’re family! Solo and JC leave, leaving Jimmy wondering what this is about. Will Jimmy make it clear to Solo that Jimmy’s not the one who has to come to his senses?
The Street Profits are here!
The WWE Tag Team Champions walk through the smoke to be on stage and the fans cheer. Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford hold up the titles, walk to the ring, then step inside. The fans cheer as they hold up the belts again, then the Profits grab the mics. Ford says, “Knoxville, Tennessee, oh I love everything about you, and what I have, too. But lemme rap to y’all real fast. This tag team division that we’re a part of, the greatest tag team division on any brand, any promotion… It’s on fire right now.” Dawkins says, “Talk to ’em.” Ford says, “But just like how the gorilla fears us, make no mistake about it, let’s not forget who’s leading the charge right now: The Street Profits.”
The fans cheer, and Dawkins says hey, they got all the teams coming at ’em! DIY, Motor City Machine Guns, Fraxiom, and now… The Wyatts?! The fans cheer that, and Ford says that’s sick. But what big bro is saying, it don’t matter who it is, the Profits will defend against anybody. Well hold on, here comes Fraxiom! Nathan Frazer & Axiom go to the ring to stand with the Profits, and they have mics. Frazer says alright, since the Profits are talking about defending the titles, well, Frazer & Axiom didn’t exactly get a fair shake. Ford says, “Fraxiom, is it?” He congratulates them for being on a roll, but up until the Wyatt Sick6 got in the Profits’ business…
Yeah, the Profits had them beat. Wow, oh, okay. Sure, maybe… But maybe not. Thanks to the Wyatts, we’ll never know. And now that those shenanigans are behind us, it is fair to say that Fraxiom and the Profits need to run it back! The fans like the sound of that! But wait, here come the Machine Guns! Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin have mics, and Shelley says okay, hold on, sorry to interrupt. Fraxiom’s entire basis for a rematch is that the Profits never beat them. Well, last time Shelley checked, the Profits never beat MCMG! So if they’re handing out title matches, MCMG will take one. But naturally, here comes DIY!
Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, and Candice LeRae have their own mics, and the Poison Pixie says no no no no. She is pretty sure “you losers” have had a million chances, and “the nerds” just got here. Whoa, hold on? Just got here? Sounds like Candice just got back, so she should do us a favor and shut up. Gargano says you shut up, idiot! The reason DIY brought in Gargano’s beautiful wife is to even the odds against all of what this is! Everyone can see there is a conspiracy in the tag team division to hold down the BTTITW! And now with the Wyatts showing up- Ciampa has Gargano ixnay on the amily-fay.
Do not talk about you know who, scratch that, let’s get to business. All these teams have all KILLED the tag division that DIY built! Matter of fact, let us hold a moment of silence for the death of the SmackDown Tag Division. Everyone, stand up, bow your heads, and give a moment of silence… now. OH NO! The lights go out! All the teams panic, because when the lights turn on, UNCLE HOWDY is on the corner! Howdy laughs, because the rest of the Wyatts flank the ring! Erick Rowan drags MCMG out to DOUBLE LARIAT! Dexter Lumis is up top to CANNONBALL onto the Profits and Gargano! Joe Gacy is in, and he handsprings to bring Fraxiom to the UPSIDE-DOWN!!
Lumis then runs, POWERBOMB SENTON COMBO on Axiom! Ciampa freaks out, turns around, and Nikki Cross is there! CROSSBODY onto Candice! The fans fire up, and Howdy has Frazer for SISTER ABIGAIL! “We’re here!!” It is just as the Profits said, and now it is clear. Will some killer combination of the Wyatts go right after the gold?
Rey Fenix & Je’Von Evans VS Los Garza w/ Santos Escobar!
Worlds Collide is just over a week away, and all four of these men will be involved. The Immortal Firebird and the Young OG are going after the NXT North American Championship in a Fatal 4 Way while Legado Del Fantasma will be taking on AAA’s Pagano, Psycho Clown y El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. Who will be heading for Los Angeles with all the momentum behind them?
Speaking of that North American Championship, the champion is here! Ethan Page joins commentary and says what a year for him, to be honest. Wade says that title has never looked better than on Ethan’s shoulder. Fenix makes his entrance now, followed by Je’Von’s. The teams sort out and Fenix starts against Angel. Angel and Fenix circle, the fans rally up, and the two tie up. Angel fires a forearm, Fenix fires back, repeat! Fenix gets the edge but Angel shoves then drops down. Fenix cartwheels over the dropdown, then comes back, ducks ‘n’ dodges, and RANAS! Angel tumbles, the fans fire up, and Fenix somersaults, but into a fireman’s carry!
Fenix slips free, ripcords to ROUNDHOUSE, but Angel HEADBUTTS! Both men stagger back, tags to Berto and Je’Von! Je’Von dodges and springboards to BOUNCY~ roll-up! TWO, and Berto mule kicks! Berto CLUBS Je’Von, whips, but Je’Von reverses and slips around. Berto bucks the O’Conner, springboards and CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO! Berto drags Je’Von up, but Je’Von kicks! Berto blocks, but the ENZIGIRI hits! Je’Von runs up, and BOUNCY~ RANAS! The fans fire up and Je’Von DROPKICKS! Berto bails out, Angel runs in, but Je’Von goes Matrix to dodge! Je’Von kips up, and STUNNERS! Angel flops back and the fans fire up!
Los Garza regroups, Je’Von tags Fenix, and they build speed, but have to dodge Angel first. Fenix SOBATS, Je’Von KICKS, and both men ENZIGIRI! Berto is up top, he leaps, but into DOUBLE SUPERKICKS! Cover, TWO! Fenix runs to basement CALF KICK! Cover, TWO! Berto stays in this for Los Garza while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Fenix drags Berto up to RAM him into the corner. Tag to Je’Von and they mug Berto. Berto fires hands back on Je’Von, but Je’Von headlocks. Berto powers up and out and Angel tags in. Berto drop toeholds Je’Von into Angel’s KNEE at the ropes! Angel TEARS OFF HIS PANTS! Angel drapes those over Je’Von before he KICKS Je’Von in the side! Angel stalks Je’Von to the corner, tags Berto, and they shove Je’Von for a double hip toss, TU LO SABE! Then DOUBLE SUPERKICK! Berto covers, TWO! Berto argues the count but the ref defends it. Berto shoves Je’Von to ELBOW him down! Berto then DUMPS Je’Von down to be under the ropes.
Tag to Angel and Berto sits Je’Von up on the apron. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von down! Santos joins in with Los Garza as they soak up the heat, and Angel drags Je’Von back in. Angel stands Je’Von up, hoists him to the top rope, then climbs up behind him. Angel CLUBS away on Je’Von, mocks the clapping, and he THROWS Je’Von down. Angel KICKS Je’Von in the arm and Je’Von clutches his hand. Angel drags Je’Von to the ropes, CHOKES him, and the ref reprimands. The ref counts, Angel steps off at 4, and Berto BOOTS Je’Von down. ANgel clamps onto Je’Von with an armlock and chinbar but Je’Von reaches for Fenix.
Angel keeps hold of Je’Von but Je’Von fires hands! SmackDown returns to single picture as Je’Von dodges the lariat, leaps, but Angel catches him! Angel puts Je’Von in a corner and through ropes. Angel pulls an arm and leg against the ropes, but stops as the ref counts. Angel runs to KNEE Je’Von in the ribs! Je’Von slumps to the apron, and Angel sucker punches Fenix! Angel goes back for Je’Von but Je’Von fires body shots! Angel blocks a kick, slips around and Gory Especials! Angel walks over, tags Berto, and Berto slingshots, GARZA ESPECIAL! Cover, TWO! The fans rally up for Je’Von but Berto clamps onto him with a chinlock.
Je’Von endures, even as Berto traps an arm. Je’Von fights up, pries the hold open, and he arm-drags Berto! Je’Von leaps but Berto grabs a leg! Ethan laughs from commentary, but Je’Von kicks free to SUPERKICK! Both men are down, Je’Von and Berto crawl, hot tags to Angel and Fenix! The fans fire up as Fenix rallies on Angel with forearms! Fenix then dodges a shot to springboard and FLYING ARM-DRAG, to a DOUBLE STOMP! Fenix fires off KICKS on Berto, then fires up with Knoxville! Fenix uses Berto to jump up and RANA Angel! Fenix then goes corner to corner to JUMP SOBAT! Fenix fires hands, shoves Angel aside, then goes up.
Fenix springboards to QUEBRADA! Cover, Berto breaks it! Berto whips Fenix, Fenix goes Spider-Man, and Je’Von tags in! Fenix says HASTA LA VISTA, BABY! Angel is up, he pops Fenix up to KICK him! But Je’Von springboards to FLYING LARIAT! The fans fire up, Berto springboards to FLYING CHUCK! All four men are down and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as Angel and Je’Von crawl. Angel CHOPS Je’Von, Je’Von CHOPS back, and the fans “WOO~!” Angel CHOPS again, so Je’Von CHOPS again! Angel fires a forearm, Je’Von fires back, and they go around with forearm after forearm! The fans fire up, Angel CHOPS, a
nd Je’Von SUPER PUNCHES!
Je’Von runs, BOUNCY- NO, Angel makes it a SIT OUT POWERBOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ethan is surprised and the fans rally up. Angel hoists Je’Von up top, tags Berto in, and they hoist Je’Von up even higher! But Fenix SHORYUKENS Angel down! Je’Von fires hands on Berto and SHOVES him down! Fenix climbs up to join Je’Von now, and ADIOS AMIGO DOUBLE STOMPS for Angel! Je’Von adjusts, to SUPER DUPER SWANTON onto Los Garza! Ethan says don’t get closer, keep this in the ring! He taunts both his challengers, Fenix and Je’Von stand down to put Los Garza in the ring. The fans rally up, but then Ethan CLOBBERS Fenix & Je’Von!
Ethan TOSSES Fenix over the desk! But Je’Von SUPERKICKS Ethan down! The fans fire up, Je’Von hurries in, and he dodges Angel! But Berto rolls Je’Von up, TWO!! Je’Von dodges Berto, rebound and RED DOT!! Berto is down, Angel gets up, but Je’Von DECKS him! Je’Von goes up, up, but Santos distracts the ref! Ethan SHOVES Je’Von down! The fans boo but Berto tags Angel! Los Garza hoists Je’Von up for M T Y!! Cover, Los Garza win!
Winners: Los Garza, by pinfall
All Ego grins as he screws over two of his three challengers, and now Legado is rolling towards Worlds Collide. But will these rudos get everything they deserve in LA?
The Wyatts speak.
“We won’t stop. Not until we get what’s owed.” A simple yet ominous threat, are the tag titles only the beginning?
Zelina Vega VS Alba Fyre w/ The Green Administration!
La Muneca held onto the WWE Women’s US Championship by smacking The Hot Mess in the face with a foot, and obviously Chelsea is not happy with it. But will Alba get payback on behalf of her fearless leader? Or will things only get uglier for the Green Regime?
The bell rings and Piper distracts Zelina so Alba can CLOBBER her! Alba fires off hands, then bumps Zelina off buckles. Alba bumps Zelina off more buckles, then more buckles! And then the fourth corner! Chelsea says Zelina should’ve never messed with her! Alba fireman’s carries but Zelina fights free. Zelina KICKS Alba, KICKS again, then KICKS, but Alba CLUBS Zelina. Alba whips, scoops, and- NO, Zelina swings through to RANA! Cover, ONE! Zelina headlocks but Alba fights up and lifts Zelina. Zelina holds on but Alba powers up and out to RUN Zelina over! The fans boo but Chelsea cheers as Alba stalks Zelina.
Alba ROCKS Zelina, whips her to ropes, but Zelina wheelbarrows and arm-drags! Zelina then runs up on Alba in the corner and rains down fists! Alba shoves Zelina away at three, but Zelina comes right back to rain down more shots! Alba stops Zelina at four now, but Zelina wants another go! Alba stops Zelina at four again, and RAMS her into the corner! The fans boo but Alba grins. Zelina BOOTS Alba, goes up, and FLYING RANAS! Alba tumbles out, Piper helps her up, and Zelina goes to the apron. Alba trips Zelina up, spins and ROCKS Zelina, then gets her up. Gory Especial, but Zelina flips through to arm-drag Alba onto ropes!
The fans fire up as Zelina dials up, but Chelsea is on the apron! The ref argues with Chelsea while Zelina redials, but Piper trips her up! The fans boo but Alba SUPERKICKS Zelina! Alba salutes to Chelsea, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Alba stands on Zelina’s hair while pulling Zelina’s arms! The ref reprimands, Alba steps off, and she drags Zelina up to suplex for the GOURD BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Zelina stays in this and Chelsea argues with the ref. The ref says the count is fair, so Alba clamps onto Zelina with a COBRA CLUTCH! Zelina endures, the fans rally, and Zelina fights up. Zelina fires body shots, Alba ripcords and wrenches to SUPERKICK! Zelina rebounds to SHINING WIZARD! Both women fall and the fans fire up! Piper coaches Zelina, the fans rally up, and both women rise up. Alba is on Zelina and brings her to a corner, but Zelina buckle bumps Alba first!
The fans rally as Alba stalks Zelina, but Zelina bumps her off buckles again! Alba tries again, but Zelina ELBOWS Alba away. Then BOOTS her away! Zelina fires forearms on Alba, backs her down, then whips. Alba reverses but Zelina dodges to LARIAT! The fans fire up as Zelina LARIATS again! Zelina blocks a kick, ELBOWS Alba, but Alba blocks the saido. But Zelina keeps Alba from running, SNAP SAIDO! The fans rally for Zelina as she runs corner to corner, METEORA! Zelina pushes Alba out and goes up top! The fans cheer for some Latina Heat, and METEORA! Cover, TWO! Alba survives and Chelsea is relieved.
Zelina grows frustrated, but she goes back for Alba. Zelina reels Alba in, suplexes, but Alba blocks! Alba knees low, suplexes, but Zelina hits STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Alba is down, Zelina goes up, MOONSAULT FLOPS! Alba goes up now, and she SWANTON BOMBS! Cover, TWO!?! Zelina survives and shocks Alba! Chelsea is upset again but Alba hurries to bring Zelina up. Alba KICKS Zelina out, and now Chelsea takes off her face mask?! She tells Piper to stand Zelina up! Piper does as told, and Chelsea takes a swing, but Zelina ducks! The face mask SMACKS Piper!! Chelsea is shocked, then furious, and then she chases after Zelina!
Zelina slips into the ring, Chelsea gets on the apron, but Zelina sends Alba at her! They almost collide, and then Zelina rolls Alba up! Zelina hops on, CODE RED!! Cover, Zelina wins!!
Winner: Zelina Vega, by pinfall
Chelsea tried so hard to screw Zelina over that she just screwed up her own team! Zelina survives again, will no one take down the Vega Administration?
The Miz pep talks Carmelo Hayes.
Melo looks good, and he just has to follow the plan. If Melo follows that plan, with no mistakes, they will win. Melo says he knows what he’s doing. Miz asks if he really does. Because Miz has taken Black Mass after Black Mass, sacrificing himself for Melo. Does Melo understand? Miz gave up this chance at MITB for Melo! Miz has already done it twice! If Melo wins this match tonight, Miz will guide Melo to make sure “we are Mr. MITB.” Wait, we? Miz says, “Who do you think got you in this position?” Melo says Melo did. Melo appreciates everything Miz has done for him, from sacrificing to taking hits for him, and helping him win the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
But nobody told Miz to do that. Melo will run the play exactly as Miz designed it, but what brought Melo to the dance is Melo’s talent. Melo goes out there and does it better than anybody else. Melo puts up 40 points on a bad day, because he is H1M. And Miz just needs to let Melo be H1M. They good? Miz nods, and Melo says okay, let’s do the thing. They are Melo Don’t Miz and they are Awes-H1M. Miz still nods, but he doesn’t seem genuinely happy. Will Miz let Melo be Melo? Even if that means letting H1M fail?
Giulia speaks.
“Throughout my entire career, even back when I started in Japan, I had one goal… It’s not to be ‘the best.’ Everyone says that. It’s hollow and empty. My goal is to be indisputable. You can love me or hate me, admiration or disgust, it means nothing. But I’m impossible to deny. My opponent doesn’t matter, because I only view them as an opportunity to build my legacy. Evidence you cannot refute. SmackDown, you will see. I will hit harder, move faster, think sharper, and conquer everything, just like I’ve always done. The question isn’t, ‘Who’s going to let me?” It’s, ‘Who’s going to stop me?'” She adds in Japanese, “If you can stop it, stop it.”
Will SmackDown and all of the WWE soon succumb to The Beautiful Madness?
Zelina returns backstage.
She refreshes for a second, but Giulia is there! And Giulia says she sees Zelina, but she also sees that title more. Zelina scoffs and leaves. Could Giulia be aiming for everything once she becomes Ms. Money in the Bank?
Damian Priest is here!
Knoxville cheers as The Archer of Infamy heads to the ring, victorious from Saturday Night’s Main Event and that brutal Steel Cage match. Priest grabs a mic to tell Tennessee, “Ever since I beat Drew on Saturday, it’s like I’m breathing in fresh air. Y’know, there was a time when I lived on the street, if we were beefing with another street, that war could go for years. But in WWE, you have a beef with somebody, you have a match and it’s over. But with Drew and I, we went well over a year, and that’s not normal. But we took that beef into a cage. Now, I can feel it, you can se it on my face, we went to war.
“At the end of this war, at Saturday Night’s Main Event, I gave him a Con-Chair-To, I walked out the door, and I put his ass in the past.” The fans cheer that. Priest says now he knows Drew is somewhere recovering from his scrambled brains, but he knows Drew is watching, so this is for Drew. “I still can’t stand yo ass. But the Drew McIntyre that stepped in that cage wasn’t the guy that hides behind his phone on social media. That was the old Drew, the warrior, and I appreciate that.” The fans applaud, and Priest says he won’t ask what is next for himself, he’ll just tell us all. And it is the same thing he wanted when he came to SmackDown: Championships!
The fans cheer, and Priest says this war with Drew cost him an opportunity at being in MITB. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have his eyes on a certain champion. Somebody who he has unfinished business with, and a champion he considers the most badass. The fans know that means Fatu, and he knows they know! Priest calls out Jacob Fatu! Priest respects Fatu. Priest knows where Fatu came from, what Fatu had to live through, how it feels to stand in this ring as a champion. Real talk, Priest is proud of Fatu, he congratulates Fatu, that’s real. But what Priest doesn’t respect is the crew that follows him around.
Wait, check that. What Priest doesn’t respect is the crew Fatu follows around. Priest knows at some point, they will get in this ring, handle business, but that’s for them. As for Fatu’s so-called family, if they wanna get involved, they can catch a fresh one, too. Priest won’t make it just a nickname or moniker, he wants this to be fact! Priest is and forever will be EL CAMPEON! The fans cheer that! But will the Archer soon take aim at the Samoan Werewolf? Well, speaking of, Fatu makes his way out here for tonight’s other Triple Threat Qualifier! Fatu nods to Priest, but if Fatu wins his way into the ladder match, will this showdown have to wait a little longer?
Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match Qualifier Triple Threat: Carmelo Hayes VS Andrade VS Jacob Fatu!
SmackDown returns and El Idolo makes his entrance, followed by H1M. The bell rings and Miz distracts Fatu and Melo attacks! Fatu ELBOWS Melo away, Andrade is on Melo with forearms, and then Fatu adds a LARIAT! Fatu looms mover Melo but then turns to stare down Andrade. The fans rally as these two step up. Andrade fires forearms but Fatu SHOVES him to a corner. Fatu runs up, Andrade dodges then whips. Fatu reverses, Andrade goes up and out to then ROCK Fatu! Andrade goes up, up, and CROSSBODIES! Cover, ONE! Melo CLUBS Andrade, TOSSES him out, and then CLUBS away on Fatu!
Miz says that’s the way! Melo HAMMERS and CHOPS, then whips, but Fatu blocks! Fatu whips Melo, Melo springboards, but into an UPPERCUT! The fans fire up and Fatu sees Melo go outside. Fatu builds speed, but Miz trips him up! The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Fatu drags Miz into the ring! Melo goes to roll Fatu up but Fatu stays up! Fatu YANKS Melo up, scoops, but Melo slips free! Melo SUPERKICKS and Miz DUMPS Fatu out! The fans boo but Melo builds speed, only for Andrade to LARIAT! The fans cheer, and now Miz sees he is in trouble. Fatu snarls, but Andrade DIVES, into a HAYMAKER!
Fatu then SUPERKICKS Miz! Fatu THROWS Miz into barriers! The fans fire up and Fatu grins. Fatu runs in, HIP ATTACK against the barriers! The Samoan Werewolf has dominated three men at once and the fans fire up while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Miz sputters and Fatu leaves him behind to go around the way. Melo is there to kick Fatu, RAM Fatu, but Fatu blocks another whip! Fatu ROCKS Melo and Melo staggers away. Fatu stalks Melo, Melo checks on Miz, but Fatu ROCKS Melo! Andrade goes after Fatu now, but Fatu THROWS Andrade into barriers! The fans cheer as Fatu lets Andrade go to the ring. Fatu brings Melo up, SMACKS him off the desk, then pushes him down. Fatu clears the desk off, but Melo CLUBS Fatu against the desk! Melo storms into the ring, brings Andrade up, but Andrade RAMS Melo into the corner! Andrade RAMS Melo, CHOPS Melo, then stalks Melo.
Andrade whips Melo, Melo reverses and Andrade hits buckles hard! Melo CHOPS Andrade down! Melo brings Andrade up, soaks up some heat, then makes it Latino Heat. But Andrade blocks the suplex to suplex Melo! Andrade hangs Melo out to dry, and Melo flops to the apron. Fatu is back but Andrade fires forearms first! Andrade whips, Fatu reverses, and Fatu BODY CHECKS Andrade! Fatu geeks out and the fans are with him while he stalks Andrade. Fatu drags Andrade up to HEADBUTT him into the corner. Fatu shoves Melo off the apron, then he HEADBUTTS Andrade again. Andrade sputters but Fatu is all fired up.
Fatu CHOPS Andrade, UPPERCUTS, and HEADBUTTS him again! Andrade CHOPS in return! SmackDown returns to single picture and Andrade CHOPS, CHOPS, CHOPS! Fatu UPPERCUTS and Andrade falls back! Melo stomps Andrade in the corner, then tells Fatu to come on in. Fatu runs up, but Andrade gets away! Hip attack hits buckles! Melo ENZIGIRIS Fatu, Andrade runs to dodge Melo and FLYING FOREARM! The fans fire up as Andrade kips up! Andrade has targets in the corners, and he rallies the fans with “SI! SI! SI!” CIEN KNEES for Fatu! CIEN- NO, Melo tilt-o-whirls and LA MYSTICA! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally, Melo runs to stomp away on Fatu, then he brings Andrade up. Fatu stands to CLOBBER Melo! Andrade SUPERKICKS Fatu! The fans rally, Melo brings Andrade up and springboards, but Andrade stops him at the ropes! SECOND ROPE SPANISH FLY! But Fatu SENTONS Andrade! The fans fire up as Fatu SENTONS Melo! Fatu drags Melo to a drop zone, then goes to the corner! The fans rally for Fatu as he goes up, up, but Andrade YANKS him down! Andrade goes up top, MOONSAULT DOUBLE!! Cover, Melo breaks it! The fans rally while all three are down! “This is Awesome!” as the three stir.
Melo brings Fatu and Andrade around, and he fires forearms on each of them. Andrade fires back on Melo, then Fatu UPPERCUTS! Andrade ROCKS Fatu, but Fatu UPPERCUTS Andrade! The fans rally as the three rise, and Melo springboards! DOUBLE FADE AWAY DDT!! Cover on Andrade, Fatu breaks it! Melo and Fatu stare down, and they run up! Melo dodges to hit the FIRST 48! Andrade adds a POISON-RANA! Melo slips around Andrade to KNEE and suplex, CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Andrade survives and Melo grows frustrated. The fans rally for Fatu while Melo shakes his hands out. Andrade is on the apron but Melo rises.
Melo brings Andrade up but Andrade trips Melo! They go out to brawl, and Melo SUPERKICKS Andrade down! But Fatu SUPERKICKS Melo! The fans fire up for Fatu as he lines up a shot. Fatu gets the fans even more fired up, then he geeks out! Fatu runs in the full length, but Andrade & Melo move! HIP ATTACK through barriers!! The fans go nuts as Fatu crashes into the timekeeper’s area! Fatu sputters as SmackDown goes back to picture in picture.
Fatu stirs while Andrade and Melo go to the ring. They roll in, Melo grabs at Andrade and vice-versa. Melo fires a forearm, then goes back outside. Andrade goes to the opposite end while Melo looks under the ring. Melo makes Knoxville happy by bringing out a table! But then Melo makes them mad by dropping it! Melo goes after Andrade but Andrade ROCKS him first! Andrade brings out a chair! Andrade aims, but Melo dropkicks the legs out! Andrade crawls, Melo shakes his head, and he grabs the chair now. Melo aims, but Andrade kicks Melo low! Andrade and Melo go into the ring, and Andrade puts Melo in a drop zone.
Andrade goes up the corner, but Melo trips him up! Andrade is stuck up top and Melo hits the SLINGSHOT PLEX! Melo flexes, then decides to step through on the legs! Andrade cradles that, TWO! Melo and Andrade stand, DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Both men fall and the fans look for Fatu. SmackDown returns to single picture as the fans rally, Melo and Andrade sit up, and Melo CHOPS! Andrade ROCKS Melo, then rolls away. Melo hurries to clamp onto Andrade with a facelock, but Andrade RAMS him into a corner! Andrade puts Melo up top but Melo fires forearms. Andrade drops back, Melo aims, but Andrade GAMANGIRIS!
The fans still want tables but Andrade climbs up to get Melo. They’re on the very top, but Fatu is back! Fatu makes the SUPER SPANISH FLY part ROCKER LAUNCHER!! The fans are thunderous as Fatu goes up now! SWANTON BOMB onto Melo! Cover, Andrade breaks it!! The fans rally up again and still want tables. Fatu runs at Andrade to SPLASH! Then Fatu runs at Melo, but Melo BOOTS him! Melo runs up, but into a pop-up! Melo fights the Samoan Drop, and Andrade adds the SHADOW ELBOW! But Melo makes it a ghost pin! Andrade adds a stack, TWO!!! Fatu survives the double cover, but here come Solo & JC!
The fans boo as Solo is here to coach Fatu up. Melo and Andrade trade forearms, then Melo dodges to springboard, FLYING LARIAT! Cover, Fatu breaks it! Fatu snarls, drags Melo up, and he HEADBUTTS Melo! Fatu finally notices Solo & JC, but Fatu puts Melo up top. Fatu CHOPS Melo, then he fireman’s carries Andrade. Fatu adds Melo to this, but Melo slips free. SAMOAN DROP for Andrade, and then Fatu goes to the corner. Solo says Fatu’s got this now! BEST MOONSAULT EVER FLOPS and Melo hits NOTHING BUT NET!! Cover, ANDRADE BREAKS IT! Andrade underhooks Melo, THE MESS- NO, Melo RANAS through! Cover, TWO!!
Andrade has a cover, TWO! Melo has a cover, TWO! Andrade has it, TWO! Both men stand, SHADOW ELBOW! FIRST 48!! SHADOW ELBOW AGAIN!! All three men are down and the fans are thunderous! Fatu crawls, Melo rolls to a corner, and Andrade stirs. Fatu rises, he brings Andrade up, IMPALER DDT! Then Fatu has Melo to RAM him into a corner. Fatu runs and HIP ATTACKS Melo! Andrade is up, Fatu hits him with another IMPALER DDT! Fatu puts Andrade in the drop zone, and he hits the BEST MOONSAULT EVER!! Solo says yeah, do that again! The fans boo but Fatu glares at Solo. JC says do what Solo is saying, Fatu!
But wait! Jimmy YANKS JC down, and SUPERKICKS him! The fans fire up, and then Melo RAMS Fatu into Solo! Then FIRST 48! But Andrade rolls Melo into THE MESSAGE!! Cover, ANDRADE WINS!!
Winner: Andrade, by pinfall (advances to Money in the Bank)
Solo just screwed things up for Fatu! Solo does his best to keep the peace between Fatu and JC, but the point is: Andrade is headed to Los Angeles! Will he make this El Idolo in the Bank?
Backstage interview with LA Knight.
Byron Saxton segues from congratulating Andrade for qualifying to welcoming in someone who already has qualified, but The Mega Star says, “My gawd. What is it with punching tickets around here? Everybody talks about punching tickets. WWE Instagram, punched tickets. Commentary, punched tickets. You’re talking about punched tickets. I guess I punched my ticket to MITB, it’s only eight days away. A few other guys who punched tickets, who are they? You got Andrade, you got Penta, you got what’s his name, Seth Rollins. You got Solo Sikoa! They’re all in it! They all punched their tickets!
“And everybody’s gonna be climbing that ladder, trying to get up, put everything on the line that they can. Now, if this was a one-on-one match, I’d go ahead and call my shot, and I’d say I’m gonna run up there, grab the case, and cash it in. But you gotta understand, this is my third year in a row, so I understand what this is. You can call me the vet in this match. Some people say maybe that Seth is the vet in this, but they would be wrong. For three years in a row now, you’re talking about the most robust and the most recent experience, YEAH. And what that means is now it’s anybody’s game. Anybody can come out with it, and I understand that.
“But with or without the case, what you need to understand is that the WWE title, the world title, they’re all in my future. With the way I’ve been running, at this point, they should be in my past, maybe even my present. Why don’tcha go ahead and punch that ticket? While we’re talking about-” Knight stops himself when he spots someone walking in. It’s Aleister Black! And Aleister says that win was supposed to be his. But he tells Knight, “You’re welcome, though.” The Dark Father lets the Mega Star shine, if only for now. Will LA win big in LA when we finally reach MITB?
Fatu and Solo regroup backstage.
Solo wants Fatu to listen. He was just trying to help. Fatu tells Solo to listen. For the last time, Fatu does not need his help! Fatu storms off, JC steps in, but Solo has nothing else to say. Is the Samoan Werewolf going to break away from this dysfunctional “family?”
Cody Rhodes is here!
Knoxville fires up and sings along, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, high-fives fans along the ramp and the front row, and even signs autographs. Cody goes to the ring, grabs a mic, and he hears the fans chant his name. Cody fires the fans up more, then hears them sing, “Cody! Cody Rhooodes~! Cody! Cody Rhooodes~!” Cody says, “So, Knoxville! Whaddya wanna talk about?” The fans cheer, and Cody says, “I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that we could talk about the record crowd here this evening!” The fans cheer that, too! Cody says he loves them, too, thank you very much.
Cody says they could also talk about WrestleMania 41. The fans boo, but Cody says after WrestleMania 41, he went home, he drowned his sorrows, might’ve touched the “Tennessee Cough Syrup” a little bit, and he had a moment of doubt. He reached out to a friend. A friend who helps him prepare to wonderful audiences like this one here, or speaking to everyone at home. Cody asked him, “Was I a good champion?” The fans cheer for that, but Cody says the friend told him wasn’t quite as simple as yes or no.
The friend told him, “With everything that you faced here in the ring in front of all the fans, and with everything that you faced behind the scenes, being pulled in different directions, the waters that you had to navigate that no champion has ever had to navigate, yes, I feel that you were a good champion.” Cody says he felt good hearing that, it turned into a hopeful moment, the silver lining on a dark cloud. Cody looked back on his whole year. He thought about AJ Styles faking retirement to get the drop on him. Cody thought about his friend, Kevin Owens, sucker punching him against his bus while Cody’s family slept inside.
Cody thought about his boss, Triple H, who pushed Cody to the limit, and sees something in Cody that Cody doesn’t even see in himself. Cody even thought about The Final Boss, how he asked Cody for his soul, and the entire world wondering what that meant. As preposterous as that sounded, The Rock was 100% serious. No matter how many times Cody said no, the offer still stands. And Cody also thought about John Cena. The fans initially boo, but the “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” starts up. Cody takes a moment, and then he says, “I thought about John Cena doing exactly what he said he was going to do. He forced me to make a choice, and I hesitated.
“I don’t know if John Cena is going to ‘ruin’ professional wrestling. But if he does, then I’m partially to blame. Now, I know, I’d love to say this to John Cena’s face. Not sure if he’s going to come out here right now, but if you are listening, if you are listening, Champ, I need you to know that I will never hesitate with you again!” The fans cheer that, and Cody says no matter how much Cena will tout the amount of days he has left, how much Cena will talk about what remains before he absconds with the WWE Championship and leaves all of us forever, that is NOT Cena’s expiration date! That is on the other side of Cody’s corneas, and it will burn Cena’s ass up!
The fans fire up for that, and Cody calms it down. Cody apologizes for that. This is his first night back on SmackDown, he is getting worked up. He thought so much about what he could do, what he could do for the fans. Hell, how about a surprise? The fans already “YEET! YEET! YEET!” so Cody says they’re hungry for it. Let’s yeet. Well, hold on, that’d be a very big surprise. That’d be the biggest surprise. That’d be Cody’s partner riding into battle for MITB, and hell YES he is here! Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for the World Heavyweight Champion, MAIN EVENT JEY USO! The fans go wild as Jey makes his way in from the pavilion!
The fans sing along with Day One Ish and bounce for that YEET! Jey makes his way down through the crowd to ringside, one verse at a time, and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Jey joins Cody in the ring now, mic in hand. Cody and Jey hear the fans want an encore, so we get even more YEET! But then John Cena makes his entrance to ruin the fun! The fans sing “JOHN CENA SUUUCKS~!” even though he wears that University of Tennessee orange and white. Cena goes to the ring, towel draped over his head, then grabs a mic before he joins Cody and Jey in the ring. Cena hears the fans boo, and he says, “I’m upset, too. If it isn’t professional wrestling’s biggest wannabes!” Cena tells Cody he is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe, and that Jey is nothing more than a Cena Wannabe.
The fans boo but Cena says they both wanna be Cena so bad, it makes him sick! Cody wants Cena’s fame, Jey wants Cena’s money, but they will get neither because Cody is too desperate and Jey is too lazy! There is only ONE other human being in the WWE who embodies hustle, loyalty and respect, and he’s got the fortune, fame and followers to back that up! Surprise, losers! Cena’s partner is here, too! The fans boo already, because “EY YO~!” Logan Paul IS here! The Maverick swaggers his way out, and Cena gives him a proper introduction. “Oh, you mad? You’re mad because Logan Paul does WWE better than any professional wrestler?”
Cena says Logan doesn’t need to pay his dues, because he is paying Jey’s mortgage! Everybody in this building did NOT come to see Jey! They came to see John Cena and Logan Paul! Logan asks, “What the hell you crying about, Knoxville? Look! I could walk on water, and y’all would still find a way to tell me it’s because I can’t swim! John Cena speaks the language of Logan Paul, and that is the truth! The truth! It is right in front of you! You deny it all you want, but look around, you stupid, stupid, simple Tennessee people! This is a moment in history! All of you get to witness the moment that John Cena stood side-by-side in the ring with Logan Paul.
“And look, all of you will live long, pathetic, miserable lives. But at least you will get to say that you saw that.” The fans tell Logan to STFU, and Cena tells Logan to ignore it. Logan says yeah, yeah, they’re so ungrateful. They don’t know what’s good for them. There is one problem, though. This does seem too perfect. The problem is… Logan should be standing next to THE WWE Champion as THE World Heavyweight Champion! Logan should’ve been the one to leave Saturday Night’s Main Event with that title around his waist. But look at him, Jey. Jey got lucky. Jey got lucky! He knows it, Logan knows, it, the fans know it, CODY knows it!
Jey needed Cody to save him! When Cody interfered with the match cuz these two cheaters can’t do a single thing in this business without it being handed to them! “These two nepo babies were born on third, thinking they hit a triple.” Logan points to himself and says, “Self-made man!” He points to Cena and says, “Self-made man!” Five years ago, nobody every would’ve believed Logan Paul would be a WWE superstar. And they certainly never ever would’ve believed that he’d be teaming with the Greatest Of All Time! But look at Logan now. He’s not just a superstar, he is THE superstar! His time is now! Cena told us that his time is almost up!
Cena is the Last Real Champion, Logan is the inevitable face of the WWE! So Jey, Cody, at MITB, if you want some, come get some. Jey tells Logan they don’t gotta wait! They can handle this right now! UH UH, YEET!! The mics drop, Cena and Logan talk this out, and Logan wants to throw hands while Cena wants to leave. Cody asks what they’re arguing about. They gonna go to the back so Logan can polish Cena’s Peacemaker? Now it’s a fight! The fans fire up as the hands are flying! Logan TOSSES Jey, Cena picks Cody up! Cody slips free, Jey is back to SUPERKICK! Cody hits the DISASTER KICK! Cena bails out, Jey PLANCHAS out onto him!
Logan goes to the apron, slingshot and- NO, Cody dodges the “Snapshot” Lariat and Jey SUPERKICKS Logan! Then Jey sets Logan up for the CODE D!! The fans fire up as Cody picks up the WWE Championship! Will Cody and Jey make it through Logan and Cena to then clear a path for the American Nightmare’s redemption? Or will Cena & Logan ruin wrestling together?
My Thoughts:
A very good SmackDown, but maybe with some wheel-spinning. As fun as Chelsea Green continues to be, can’t we move on from her and Zelina? Or are we about to do that with tonight’s win over Alba and then Giulia confronting her? Ironically, that seems to give away Giulia isn’t winning MITB. Giulia had a good promo video right before but they undercut it by giving us that confrontation. That said, Giulia deserves to be all the champions, but I suppose starting with the Women’s US Championship would be a good route. Very good promo from Bianca and Naomi to not just have Bianca’s homecoming, but to keep the feud between them alive.
The Women’s Triple Threat had a slow start but it turned out to be a very good match. Great win for Naomi, and good promo from her, Tiffany and Alexa to tease potential MITB winners. Great stuff in the tag match to build Worlds Collide just a touch. We only got one moment of Berto being passive aggressive towards Santos, and then Ethan Page screwing the Faces over, but that was still enough for the North American Championship. Of course, it depends on how many fans watch not just Raw and SmackDown but also NXT so that the fans already understand the story. But as someone who does, I do appreciate they’re bringing NXT story onto SmackDown.
Good promo from Priest to give some shoot respect to Drew and Fatu, but Priest wanting after the US title kinda gave away what was happening with the Men’s Triple Threat. It was a great Triple Threat, but of course Solo & JC cost Fatu. That team is just one moment away from breaking up, and it might be at MITB when Solo just expects Fatu to help him win the briefcase and Fatu refuses. And Fatu VS Priest will still be awesome whenever it happens. Good promo from Knight, and a good bit from Aleister with him, which I suppose means that’s the next feud for them. Was kinda hoping for Aleister VS Nakamura but that really depends if Nakamura is sticking with WWE or going home to Japan via Pro-Wrestling NOAH as rumored.
R-Truth relapsing to talking to Lil’ Jimmy is certainly a choice. I kinda wish he’d keep up the “Ron Cena” stuff, or they’d let Jeff Cobb do his own John Cena bit from NJPW, but I guess some things in WWE still won’t change. And closing with a big promo segment was also certainly a choice. Cody still did a good job, and nice surprise to have Jey show up. Not sure they needed to take a commercial break for Jey’s entrance, especially when they were obviously going to let Jey do his YEET encore. And Cena really must be brainwashed to put Logan over as if Logan’s on par with peak Cena. But naturally a brawl happened and the Faces stood tall.
Don’t count this as go-home math yet, they could easily revisit this on Raw and even next week on SmackDown. Even then, I still feel like Jey and Cody should win at MITB to properly set up Cody VS Cena 2 at SummerSlam. Raw on June 9th is still the move for the World Heavyweight Championship, but there’s also Saturday Night’s Main Event in July, who knows if Jey makes it to SummerSlam as champion.
My Score: 8.7/10
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
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Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 5.29.25
Stuff happens, maybe it doesn’t, Dreamer and Delirious can’t book.
Well Trick Willie is the new TNA champ and this is the first iMPACT since his win…so let’s just hear him talk about it.
"TNA turned into TRICK-NA. Lets talk about it"@_trickwilliams #WWENXT
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/StU4pmi3oy
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Ratings:
- The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System: Rascalz win via Meteora – ***
- Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali: Ali wins via…No Shit – Squash Garbage
- ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee: Lei wins via Spinning TKO – ** 3/4
- Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber: Mance wins via Hit the Pay Winda – Squash
- Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa: Team Robbie wins via shenanigans – **
- International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona: Maclin retains via KIA – ***
Results:
The Rascalz vs Fir$t Cla$$ vs Laredo vs The System
Octagon got jumped by The System earlier so Laredo is fighting alone. Another backstage jumping is getting a little dumb.
Laredo and Trey start. Typical Indie start with Simultaneous awful Dropkick spot and bad counters, AJ blind tag runs the smaller guys over, tags out to KC and the Rascalz instantly get the moment. KC is rocked, tags in Laredo and Laredo takes out the System before Lish gets on the apron and grabs Laredo. The referee kicks out Lish and Rehwoldt on commentary points out it’s a No DQ match so that’s dumb.
KC gets tossed at AJ, he catches him, Rascalz Dive and do their taunt as we go to commercial. We come back, Tennessee Whiskey into a KC tag in for the near fall on Laredo. Corner combo, Snapmare into Flip Forward Neck Breaker, KC is on a roll. AJ tags Laredo and starts talking crap to KC, they swerve and go Finger Poke of Doom, but it’s not a legal pin. Suddenly tornado attacks, System and Rascalz go for broke, AJ hits the Senton to break the eventual pin, Laredo counters AJ’s Chokeslam attempt. Trey clears out The System, Wentz sends himself and KC over and out, Laredo with a Corkscrew Moonsault, which looked cool but it’s the pile of morons waiting to get hit spot.
AJ hits the Down Payment on Laredo, but Trey blind tagged AJ. Meteora on AJ, Trey pins Laredo and Rascalz win.
Raj Singh vs Mustafa Ali
Raj looks like shit in the gear he came down in…and he wrestles equivalently. I would rather anyone else comeback…give me Anarquia.
Ali murders Raj, Instant Dropkick, Rolling Neckbreaker, Corkscrew Standing Moonsault, it’s not close. Raj tries to counter things but Ali Bellclap, a little Duck the left, connect the right. Raj even does a terrible looking Punch Combo, he’s in bad shape, a bad looking Ushigoroshi, Raj with a sloppy looking something, 450 ends it.
Fire Raj as quickly as you brought him back. You don’t need a comedically pathetic job guy when the roster is like 4 guys getting pushed and everyone else sucks. Stop being stupid. Ali still hates women too.
This Injury Report is the dumbest segment in the history of wrestling. Stop treating fake shit as “serious business”.
ASH by Elegance vs Lei Ying Lee
ASH mocks karate stuff, Lei throws a few Rising Crane kicks as ASH bails and then things slow down a little. But a Pump Kick, Sliding Kick and Low Dropkick cause ASH to cower and claim her tooth broke. It’s a bait to pull Lei into the turnbuckles and them get in a few stomps. Ash keeps Lei in the corner, Suplexes her ankles into the buckles and then Ash throws a few Booty Shots/Hit Attacks then starts a grounded stretch, Lei Headscissors her down, still sells the hips and ankles, but dodges and fires, combination strikes into the 10 Count Down Strikes. T-bone Suplex, into the pinfall, for only two.
Cheapshot into Running Meteora from ASH for two. Ash goes for the Miz Yes Kicks and Lei No Sells and asks for more. Gorgeous Capture Suplex into Thunder Struck and TKO with flair. My baby has a better finish now! Yay!
Mance Warner w/SDL vs Jobber
Hannifan cursing and being pissed at Trick for not even showing but is more entertaining than a squash match. Not that Mance’s offense is bad, but 2 out of 3 job matches is stupid.
.@milanmiracle and @AriannaGraceWWE make history as the first father/daughter tag team in TNA!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/GrBQpdX5g5 pic.twitter.com/3s8OhtYFPv
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) May 30, 2025
Santino Marella & Arianna Grace vs Robert Stone & Victoria Crawford w/Tessa
Marella tries to tie up with Robbie, but he bails and tags out to Victoria so Arianna comes in and aside from Alicia Fox’s silliness, the tie up was decent with Arianna and Victoria. Tessa interferes and the Referee throws her out. Victoria comes back in and aside from a slight miscommunication with how Arianna does her punches, Alicia Fox is making her look…pretty good. Transition moves, okay brawling and Arianna looks amazing in her outfit.
Rob and Santino distract the referee and Victoria hits a Figure Four into her Northern Lights Suplex, only for 2. Arianna finally Back Body Drop to find the tag, Santino and Rob, Santino does his split dodge into the Standing Headbutt, Arianna Cross Body onto Victoria. Rob pulls out the ref, then shoves the ref into Santino, Santino into the steps and Arianna attack but Alicia and Lish, the fix is in, Arianna eats the pin.
International Championship: Steve Maclin (c) vs Matt Cardona
A few quick brawl moves, Shoulder Tackles, Strikes, Back Breakers, Cardona does get dumped out and eats a SCUD. Maclin bounces Cardona’s face off the apron and hits an Elbow off the apron to keep Cardona reeling, but a dodged tackle sends Maclin into the steps. Cardona tries to Piledriver Maclin on the ramp, but Back Drop counter, into commercial.
Formulaic commercial etiquette of Cardona still in control, throws Maclin into the ropes, Diving Shoulder Tackle lays both dudes out and they get up by 8. Fighting Spirit spot, Cardona hits ropes and gets hit by Maclin twice, Thesz Press, Ground and Pound, Back Elbow and Olympic Slam has Maclin rolling. Splash into Lariat for two. Maclin has been all gas no brakes. Cardona tries to take a few shortcuts that turns into a Straight Jacket Takedown. Cardona to the top, Maclin cuts him off, Superplex spot. 1-2-kick out!
Maclin goes topside for a Jar Headbutt, Cardona hits the ropes so Maclin crashes into the corner, 2 Reboots connect, the third gets caught, counter into Busaiku Knee, Jar Headbutt. In and out, Cardona uses the middle rope for the Low Blow, Killswitch from Cardona but Maclin kicks out. Cardona dodges and shoves Maclin towards the ref, he puts the brakes on, Radio Silence! 1-2-Kick out! Maclin catches a top rope move, Power Bomb, Corner Splash, Tree of Woe, Caught in the Crosshairs, KIA and Maclin retains!
Overall Score: 4.5/10
Boring paint by numbers show, no Trick, System has one move, Robert Stone is a scumbag, too long to introduce new girls, lots of throw away segments and Rosemary sets up YET ANOTHER Monster’s Ball match. These aren’t interesting when there’s one every 3 months. So we can have terrible Monster’s Ball matches quarterly, Barbed Wire Massacre and Clockwork Orange House of Fun…BUT NO LOCKDOWN!?
Go home TNA, you’re drunk.
About Chairshot Radio Network
Launched in 2017, the Chairshot Radio Network presents you with the best in sports, entertainment, and sports entertainment. Wrestling and wrestling crossover podcasts + the most interesting content + the most engaging hosts = the most entertaining podcasts you’ll find!
MONDAY - Bandwagon Nerds (entertainment & popular culture)
TUESDAY - Musical Chairs (music) / Hockey Talk (NHL)
WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling)
THURSDAY - Keeping the news ridiculous... The Oddity / Chairshot NFL (NFL)
FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)
SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast
SUNDAY - The Front and Center Sports Podcast
CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS
Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)
TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends
Patrick O'Dowd's 5X5
Classic POD is WAR
Chairshot Radio Network Your home for the hardest hitting podcasts... Sports, Entertainment and Sports Entertainment!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
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Stuff happens, maybe it doesn't, Dreamer and Delirious can't book.
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