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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London calling to the champion crowns!
SmackDown brings gold to London as LA Knight defends his WWE US Championship and The Street Profits defend their tag team titles! Will the landscape change this close to WrestleMania?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Pretty Deadly; The Profits win and retain the titles.
- Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS The Secret Her-vice w/ Chelsea Green; The Secret Her-vice wins.
- WWE United States Championship: LA Knight VS Braun Strowman; Braun wins, by disqualification, and Knight retains the title.
- Charlotte Flair VS Mia Yim w/ B-Fab; Charlotte wins.
- Randy Orton VS Drew McIntyre; McIntyre wins.
- Jimmy Uso VS The Miz; Jimmy wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Cody Rhodes is here!
We follow The American Nightmare as walks to gorilla, then through the curtain, and London sings along with the song, “WHOA~ OH~!” Cody gets his pyro, says hello to fans along the ramp, and then we get the second “WHOA~ OH~!” and pyro. Cody goes to the ring, grabs a mic, then kneels down to kiss the WWE logo on the mat. The fans continue to sing along all the way to the end, “I AM MY KINGDOM!” The fans then cheer, and Cody holds up the belt to fire them up even more! The fans now sing for “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” and he soaks it in. The fans cheer again as Cody smiles, and he finally says, “So, London~! Whaddya wanna talk about?”
The fans chant “Let’s Go, Cena!” “CENA SUCKS!” Cody hears that dueling, and he smiles again. The song of “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” returns, then they cheer. Cody says, “At WrestleMania 41, I will be facing John Cena…” The fans boo, but Cody says, “I will be facing John Cena as he goes to break the record and win 17. But that is WrestleMania 41. In just a few nights, I will be standing face to face with John Cena in this very same city, in this very same arena.” The fans cheer that, but then here comes Randy Orton! Now the fans sing along with Voices as The Viper heads to the ring. Orton also high-fives fans before he joins Cody.
Orton grabs a mic, paces while the fans keep singing on their own, and then the fans cheer. Orton says he’s not really the sentimental type, but for Cody and for London, screw it. The fans chant “R K O! R K O!” and Orton tells Cody, “Look at you. Look at who you are now, the man you are now. Look at where he came from.” The fans cheer and sing “CODY! CODY RHODES~!” and Orton says he remembers a Cody in his early 20s, just breaking into the business. Cody was busting his ass harder than anyone else. He wasn’t exactly happy, and in fact, he was frustrated. But Cody was man enough, smart enough, to know he needed to grow, and that he couldn’t grow in the WWE.
Cody wasn’t exactly treated fairly in the WWE, so Cody left the WWE! That took some big ass balls to do what he did! Cody changed the business singlehandedly, and everyone in the back knows it. And Orton appreciates Cody for it. But then Cody came back, as they all knew one day he would. And the industry has been changed forever since the day Cody came back to the WWE. Cody is a bit teary eyed as Orton says Cody’s still the same guy, he just did what he set out to do, and he grew. Orton teases he would sing along with the fans, but the fans might leave. The fans again sing “CODY! CODY RHODES~!”
Orton asks if they remember when Cody Rhodes faced Seth Rollins in Hell in a Cell. The fans cheer because they do. Orton says that was impressive, and even impossible, as he started with a partially torn pec and then ended with a fully torn pec! His body changed all kinds of shades of purple that Orton’s never seen on a human body. The pain he must have been in. Cody persevered not just for himself. Maybe not even at all for Cody. It was not even for his family legacy; it was for each and every single fan out there! Then Cody went on to WrestleMania, beat Roman Reigns and finished the story!
But there’s always another story, isn’t there? And Cody’s right in the middle of one. Cody is in charge of his legacy, and it is a privilege for Orton to watch Cody take control of it. Ticket sales have been up, there’s more intrigue around the world, and listen to the people! It is 99.9% all because of Cody! The fans cheer that, and of course they sing. Orton says what he’s trying to say is a long-winded version of he respects Cody, loves him, and is very, very proud of him. The fans cheer that! Orton then says, “But… But now it is time for WrestleMania.” They both look to the sign, and Orton says he can guarantee Cody that Orton will kick Kevin Owens so hard in the head…!
Orton can just feel it already! He forgets how many days are left, but he can’t wait to remove Kevin’s head from his shoulders. And Orton knows Cody will enter champion, exit champion, but not before he beats the holy hell outta Cena all up and down the Vegas strip! But after all the smoke clears and the dust settles, just like Orton wants Number 17, there will come a time when Orton will want Number 15. But Orton won’t kick Cody in the balls like a coward. Orton will look Cody in the eye because he respects Cody, is proud of Cody, and sees him as an equal. Orton will look Cody in the eye and tell him that he’s coming for the title.
The fans cheer but wait! Drew McIntyre is here! The fans cheer the Scottish Terminator as he steps out on stage, mic in hand, and has a wry smile on his face as he looks at the ring. Drew waves as the fans now sing, “OH~ Drew McIntyre~!” Drew says, “Isn’t this wonderful? A couple of nepo babies having a love fest in the middle of the ring> It makes me absolutely sick. What’d you just say, Randy? if Cody gets through Cena at WrestleMania, you’re coming for that title? What exactly have you done since that big comeback to justify that title match? Aside be Randy Orton. The only big moment I can remember is you being on the shelf for months and months and months.
“People like to make jokes about it, but more people talk about my five-minute-45-second title reign than your entire comeback so far! So get to the back of the line, sunshine! As for you, Cody, you should’ve listened to me. But you shunned me. You attacked me. Everybody should’ve listened to me about John Cena, but they didn’t. And the next night, he kicked you right in the twig ‘n’ berries, proving me right as usual. And the main event of WrestleMania should be Cody Rhodes VS The UK’s only ever world champion, Drew McIntyre!” Fans do like that idea. But sadly, it’s not, because of that guyliner wearing Temu Undertaker, Damian Priest!
Drew wants to talk about what is happening. And what’s gonna happen! Drew steps up to the ring while fans sing for him again. Drew says it will not be Randy that takes the title from Cody, should he get through Cena; it’ll be McIntyre. The fans cheer, but Orton says they were trying to have a moment. Can Drew just cut the crap already? Drew says okay, sure. He’ll tell the truth, because that’s all he ever does. The truth is, Kevin might have a point! If those Voices are talking to Orton again, then they know Drew very, very well. And he’s thinking, “My God, Randy looks great! Absolutely jacked! On the outside.”
On the inside, that back is hanging by a thread. And if Orton provokes McIntyre, McIntyre will break him. And as for Cody- Cody kicks Drew and UPPERCUTS him! The fans fire up, and Orton R- NO, Drew gets away! The fans boo, but the battlelines are drawn! Even if Cody makes it out of the frying pan that is Las Vegas, it’ll be into the fire that is these contenders waiting in line! Will the American Nightmare be ready for whoever comes for the crown?
WWE Tag Team Championships: The Street Profits VS Pretty Deadly!
Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins are finally golden again, but it’s time to put the titles on the line already! And while they’re ready for the grind, they’re up against the hometown heroes! Will the Profits still be up in the O2? Or will Kit Wilson & Elton Prince say #YESBOY to a new reign of their own?
The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who really wants the smoke!
The teams sort out and Kit starts with Dawkins. They tie up, Dawkins headlocks, but Kit powers up and out. Dawkins runs Kit over, the fans fire up, and Dawkins fires hands on Kit in the corner! The fans rally for Pretty Deadly, Dawkins whips Kit to a corner, but Elton takes that bump! Kit CLOBBERS Dawkins, then tags Elton! Atomic drop into DROPKICK! Ford runs up, but into a DOUBLE HIP TOSS! Dawkins whips, Elton reverses, and then Elton hurdles so Kit can DDT! The fans fire up with Pretty Deadly while the Profits bail out. Pretty Deadly has control while SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Elton is right on Dawkins as he gets in, and UPPERCUTS him to the corner. Elton clinches Dawkins for another UPPERCUT! Tag to Kit, and Elton RAMS into Dawkins so Kit can UPPERCUT! Dawkins flops over, Kit drags him up to wrench the arm. Kit whips, Dawkins reverses, but Kit grabs ropes. Kit ELBOWS Dawkins, DECKS Ford, but Dawkins CLOBBERS Kit! The ref reprimands but Dawkins RAMS Kit into the corner again and again! The ref counts, Dawkins fires fast hands, then he tags in Ford. Ford says, “SUCK IT!” then he KICKS Kit! Ford scuffs Kit, then drags him to a cover, TWO!
Ford keeps Kit down with a facelock, but Kit endures the grind. Kit fights up, fires body shots, but Ford whips him away. Kit sunset flips! Ford rolls through, and PENALTY KICKS! Ford mocks Elton with the Scott Hall fingers, and the ref has to keep Elton back. Ford drags Kit up, tags Dawkins, and the Profits mug Kit. Dawkins CLUBS Kit down, then stalks him. Dawkins stays between Kit and Elton, then whips Kit into the Profits’ corner. CYCLONE- NO, Kit dodges! Ford tags in, he keeps Kit from Elton now, but Kit slips out of the suplex! Kit fakes high to go low, hot tag to Elton! Elton rallies with LARIAT after LARIAT!
Elton kicks and whips Ford to a corner, then UPPERCUTS! Elton whips the other way, UPPERCUTS again, and then does it again! Elton adds to the hattrick with a lift, Ford says a quick prayer before the SUPLEX! Ford flounders, gets to his feet, but Elton dodges to springboard and FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Ford stays in this, but Elton stays on him. SmackDown returns to single picture and fans rally for Pretty Deadly as Elton gives Ford a back suplex. Ford lands out, waistlocks, but Elton switches and shoves Ford. Ford CLOBBERS Elton in return! Ford is also dazed but he covers, ONE!
Kit reaches out, Elton and Ford both crawl, hot tags to Kit and Dawkins! The fans fire up as Dawkins wrenches Kit, underhooks and SILENCER! Dawkins Electric Chair Lifts Kit, Ford climbs, but Kit slips free! Kit shoves Dawkins into Ford! Ford falls to the floor, but Dawkins ENZIGIRIS Kit! Elton tags in, and Kit LARIATS Dawkins! Pretty Deadly combine for DRY MARTI-KNEES! Cover, TWO!! Dawkins survives and the Profits are a bit unsure of what to do next. Dawkins crawls to a corner, Elton runs up, but Dawkins dodges! Elton hits buckles and Dawkins TOSSES Kit, then Dawkins hits a SKY HIGH on Elton!
Dawkins hurries to tag Ford and Ford climbs up! But Kit pushes Elton out of the way! Kit takes FROM THE HEAVESN, and Elton ghost pins Ford! TWO!! Ford escapes, and he ROCKS Elton! Elton UPPERCUTS Ford! Dawkins sneaks a tag, Ford SUPERKICKS! POUNCE SAIDO COMBO!! Cover, KIT BREAKS IT! The fans fire up while all four men are down! The teams go to opposite ends, then they all stand up in the corners. They all roar, all run in, and Kit SPEARS Ford while Elton FLYING UPPERCUTS Dawkins!! London is thunderous, and Kit hurries to tag in! Pretty Deadly gets Dawkins up, for SPILT MILK!! Cover, FORD BREAKS IT!
The fans are shocked, as is Elton, but Ford saves this for his team! “This is Awesome!” as Ford runs up and Elton TOSSES him out! Now DRY MARTI- NO! Dawkins doesn’t accept the second serving, and he DUMPS Kit out! Kit skins the cat while Dawkins DECKS Elton! Dawkins catches Kit to an Electric Chair! Ford rises, DOOMSDAY BLOCKBUSTER!! Cover, Profits win!
Winners: The Street Profits, by pinfall (still WWE Tag Team Champions)
Pretty Deadly put up a heroic fight, but the hometown heroes could not capture the gold. Dawkins & Ford hold onto the gold, will this be the strongest the Profits have ever been?
Kayden & Katana talk with Zelina Vega.
Carter & Chance know La Muneca got screwed over by The Green Administration. Chelsea thinks she’s untouchable, but someone’s gonna stop them eventually. Well, speaking of, Alba Fyre leads the way in as she & Piper Niven “scope the perimeter.” There’s one small threat. They frisk the “miniscule” threat, but nothing they haven’t dealt with before. Chelsea struts in and says, “The Eagle has landed~!” Zelina says she is so glad the “Bootleg Men in Black” have crashed the party. Now, yeah, they all know she’s small. But clearly this small “threat” is a big threat to Chelsea’s title reign. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have taken all three of them to beat her.
KC Squared agree with that. How about tonight, we see what happens when the odds are even? Chelsea says that’s fine, because Agents P & A are ready. The Secret Her-vice has been given their next mission, but will they be able to crash the party? Or will the party crash them?
Kayden Carter & Katana Chance VS The Secret Her-vice!
SmackDown returns and The Green Administration makes their entrance. The teams sort out, Alba starts against Katana, and the two tie up. Alba KNEES low, CLUBS Katana down, then fireman’s carries. Katana fights free, tags Kayden, and they KICK, double whip, and then trip Alba up for the basement DROPKICK! Katana adds a slingshot SENTON, Kayden covers, TWO! Kayden tags Katana, they double whip Alba to a corner, then Kayden runs in. Alba DUMPS Kayden out, ROCKS Katana, and she tags Piper! Katana arm-drags Alba out, then goes out to run up. Kayden gives her a boost, Katana CROSSBODIES Alba down!
The fans fire up, but Piper goes up and out?! CANNONBALL and down goes KC Squared! Piper salutes Chelsea and SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns, Kayden rallies on Alba while the fans rally up. Kayden fires up, runs in and whips, but Alba reverses. Kayden wheelbarrows, victory rolls, then SUPERKICKS! Kayden fires up again but the fans are torn. Kayden runs in at Alba to BOOT WASH her against the ropes! Chelsea protests, Kayden kicks at her, then Kayden springboards for a LEG DROP! Cover, TWO! Alba survives, Kayden whips, but Alba KICKS back! Tag to Piper, but Kayden jackknife bridges Alba! The ref explains bout the tag, Piper runs up, but Kayden moves! The SENTON hits Alba! Piper panics, Kayden tags Katana!
Katana goes up onto Kayden’s shoulders, VICTORY ROLL LAUNCHER, but Piper catches Katana! Katana fires hands, BOOTS, and then hurries to go up again. Kayden ROCKS Piper, and fireman’s carries?! SAMOAN DROP! Kayden then gives Katana the boost, for the KEG STAND SPLASH!! Cover, ALBA BREAKS IT! Kayden runs up on Alba to BOOT her out! Katana gives Kayden the boost now, SUPER CROSSBODY onto Alba! Kayden hurries to tag back in, and she brings Piper up. Piper swings, Kayden dodges and SUPERKICKS! Katana goes up, Piper staggers over that way, but Chelsea distracts the ref!
The fans are torn as Alba grabs Katana. Katana kicks Alba down, chases Chelsea off, but Piper sends Kayden into her! Piper scoops to PIPER DRIVER!! Cover, Secret Her-vice wins!
Winner: The Secret Her-vice, by pinfall
The Women’s US Champion helps her team, and now they all mug Kayden & Katana! But here comes Zelina! Vega runs down the ramp, CLOBBERS Alba, and then she gets in the ring! Zelina tilt-o-whirl DDTS Piper! And she KNEES Alba off the apron! But Chelsea CLOBBERS Zelina! Chelsea fires up, the UK is oddly with her, and she chicken wings Zeina. But Zelina fights free to fire forearms and body shots! And a BACK ELBOW! Zelina reels Chelsea in, CODE- SUPERKICK from Alba! SENTON from Piper! The Green Administration is just too much for Zelina to fight against alone! But can she, Kayden & Katana find a way to turn things around?
WWE United States Championship: LA Knight VS Braun Strowman!
Did the Mega Star just get this title back from Shinsuke Nakamura? YEAH! Did he help the Monster of All Monsters fight off Solo Sikoa’s rouge bloodline? YEAH! And now, does he have to defend this title against the monster he just helped? YEAH!! But will Knight still reign this close to WrestleMania? Or will Braun #GetTheseHands back on a championship?
The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and it’s time for Knight’s biggest challenge, YEAH!
The bell rings and the fans rally up as the two circle. The two tie up, and Braun SHOVES Knight away. Knight comes back, Braun SHOVES him down again! Knight gets up, gets around, and he headlocks. Braun powers up to back suplex, but Knight lands out! Knight tries but Braun’s too big to suplex! Braun ELBOWS Knight, storms up on him, but Knight fires haymakers! Knight whips, Braun reverses, but Knight KICKS back! Knight runs, but Braun HIP TOSSES! Cover, TWO! Knight stays in this, but Braun brings him up. Braun puts Knight in a corner, CHOPS, then runs, for a SPLASH! Knight sputters along ropes, Braun keeps moving, but Knight DUMPS him out!
The fans fire up as Knight then WRECKS Braun with a dropkick! Knight keeps moving, and he WRECKS Braun again! The fans fire up with Knight, but then Braun BOOTS Knight down! The fans are torn but Braun stands tall as SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and Braun puts Knight back in the ring. The fans cheer as Knight KICKS Braun! Knight tries again, but Braun’s still too big to back suplex! Braun CLUBS Knight, then runs in at the corner. Knight BOOTS Braun, goes up, and FLYING BULLDOGS! Both men are down and the fans fire up! Knight and Braun rise back up, and Knight dodges a shot to JAB! Then he dodges to JAB! JAB! JAB! “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” But Braun KNEES low! Braun scoops, Knight slips free, and Knight RAMS Braun into buckles! Then the BACK SUPLEX! The fans fire up and Knight rises again! Knight spells it out, “L! A! KNIGHT! YEAH!” ELBOW DROP! Cover, TWO!
Braun has plenty left in the tank but the fans rally for Knight. Knight stands Braun up to kick low, but Braun THROWS Knight away! Knight rises, and Braun LARIATS Knight up and out! The fans fire up as Braun rips the shirt! Braun gets on the track, and he runs in, STROWMAN EXPRESS MEETS JACOB FATU!! The Samoan Werewolf strikes Braun down!
Winner: Braun Strowman, by disqualification; LA Knight retains the title
The fans boo as Jacob now goes after Knight! He just ruined what was becoming a great match, but Jacob fires HEADBUTT after HEADBUTT on Braun! SAMOAN DROP onto the desk!! The desk doesn’t budge, but Braun might’ve been broken in half! The UK fires up for Fatu as he puts Braun in the ring! Jacob fires more HEADBUTTS, then HEADBUTTS away on Braun in the corner! The fans sing “OLE~ OLE OLE OLE, FATU~, FATU~!” Jacob runs corner to corner, but Knight kicks him first! Knight fires haymakers, “YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!” Jacob denies the BFT to POP-UP SAMOAN DROP! And then HIP ATTACK for Braun anyway!
Jacob keeps going, HIP ATTACK for Braun again! Jacob throws off his jacket, glares at Braun, and he runs in for a third HIP ATTACK! Braun flounders into the drop zone, so Jacob goes up, up, BEST MOONSAULT EVER! Direct hit on Braun, but the fans want that “ONE MORE TIME!” Jacob obliges, BEST MOONSAULT EVER! The Samoan Werewolf just tore up #OneBigSOB and LA Knight, will there be no stopping him from taking the United States Championship?
Backstage interview with Jimmy Uso.
Jackie Redmond is with #BigJim, and she says that while she knew WWE was going global this month, she did not know they’d get the slap heard ’round the world! Jimmy says he’d do it again, and he’ll slap Gunther as many times as he needs! Jimmy knows Jey is up in his own head, doubt is creeping on him. But just because Jey’s 0-3 against Gunther doesn’t mean Gunther’s unbeatable! The Ring General CAN be got! Jimmy’s going to Raw this Monday, he will bust Gunther’s ass, Jey will go to Mania and bust Gunther’s ass to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. And then they leave Las Vegas just like this: YEET!
Jimmy heads out, but then The Miz & Carmelo Hayes walk by. Miz is mocking Jimmy’s words, and he asks excuse me. Miz says it’s just funny that suddenly, Jimmy is a tough guy, even though for most of his career, he’s been “The Other Uso.” Doesn’t Jimmy get it? Jimmy and Jey are career sidekicks while Gunther is a main character. Gunther is the lead, neither Jimmy nor Jey can beat him. And here’s another thing: The Usos are just blips on the trailer that was Roman Reigns’ Bloodline. Melo says Jimmy & Jey are stuck outside the club, they can’t even get in.
Miz says as a former WWE Champion, a former WrestleMania main eventer, Jimmy will never know what it is to carry this industry. And after this year’s WrestleMania, neither will Jey. Oh, and by the way, if Jimmy ever slapped Miz like that, Jimmy would still be on the ground. Jimmy feints the slap and Miz freaks out. Jimmy says it may be him and Gunther on Monday, but he’ll holler at Aldis real quick so it can be Jimmy VS Miz here tonight. Yeah, YEET! Jimmy heads out, Melo says he thought Miz was gonna do something about the slap. Will Miz have to do something about running his mouth before he gets his teeth kicked in?
Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga find Jacob Fatu backstage.
Solo asks Jacob what the Hell he was doing out there. Jacob goes out there alone without saying a thing to them? Jacob says he ain’t gotta say nothing to nobody! Matter fact, didn’t Solo not tap in with him last week? Tama says, “But Jacob,” only for Jacob to say, “But nothing, Tama!” Solo wants Jacob to lower his tone, but Jacob says okay. Let him be very clear with them. When it comes to Braun Strowman, Jacob WILL be the last man standing. Y’all better get in where you fit in, cuz that US title? Oh, Jacob’s bringing it home to the family. And he will do it with them, or without them! Yadada mean? Fatu heads out, is the Samoan Werewolf no longer following Solo?
Naomi speaks.
“I mean… How did we even get here? I don’t know. One thing that I do know is that I’ve always been the woman to do the right thing. I’ve always been the woman to do the right thing. So Bianca, what makes you think that my attack on Jade was anything different from me doing the right thing? When I sit here and I think about all that I’ve sacrificed, all that I’ve given, and that’s what really breaks my heart. Because through all of that, I’m made to be the bad one in this situation. I just don’t understand, how does Jade come in outta nowhere and take my place with you? I want you to ask yourself this, Bianca. Who inspired you? Hmm?
“Who’s inspired women over the last decade? Who’s always had your back from day one of you being here? Me. Not Jade. Hmm. But you know what? What I’ve learned through all of this: You teach people how to treat you. And I’m done with being treated as a third wheel. I’m done being pushed to the side, I’m done with being too nice, I’m done with being undervalued, underutilized, underappreciated! So moving forward, hmm… Moving forward, here’s my message to you, Jade. If you continue to be in my way, I strongly advise you to proceed with caution.” The Glow shows her dark side, but will the storm be moved?
Nick Aldis meets with Jade Cargill.
Speaking of, the SmackDown General Manager understands things have been rather difficult for her as of late. Jade says she’s been trying to get her hands on Naomi for the past few weeks, now where is she? No one has seen her all day, so as far as anyone knows, Naomi’s not here. Well, when Jade catches Naomi, it’s on sight. Jade leaves, B-Fab & Michin are there. They let her know that what Naomi did to her was straight trash, totally uncalled for behavior. And after Jade gets her hands on Naomi, she’ll handle that business. Jade agrees. Mia says they’ve all got business to handle. Jade’s got Naomi, and Mia’s gonna get Charlotte for messing with her girl, B.
B-Fab says Naomi’s got what’s coming to her: no sympathy, no regrets. Jade, just do what you gotta do. Oh, she will. Jade also wishes Mia luck tonight. Mia & B-Fab head out, will the Head Baddie in Charge make the Queen bow down in London?
The darkness approaches.
“You are as I was. As I am, you will be.” The shadows are starting to take shape, but is SmackDown about to fade to black?
Charlotte Flair VS Mia Yim w/ B-Fab!
The Queen looks down on everyone, so it’s no surprise that everyone else wants to take her down. Charlotte may have checked off B-Fab, but will the HBIC be a much different story? Or will Charlotte only sharpen her edge before facing Tiffany Stratton at WrestleMania?
WAIT! NAOMI ATTACKS B-FAB & MICHIN! Naomi drags Mia up for a FACEBUSTER! Naomi rains down fists, the ref reprimands and the fans boo, but Naomi tells the ref to back off. Naomi then BOOTS B-Fab off the apron! Naomi goes out after B-Fab to THRWO her into barriers! Naomi SLAPS B-Fab, tells her to stay down, but B-Fab gets up. Naomi fires hands, then she SMACKS B-Fab off the desk! Naomi rains down fists, but here comes Jade! Jade hurries down the ramp, she runs around the way, but Naomi runs away! Jade makes sure B-Fab is okay, but refs have to help her to the back. And what of Mia? Will she even be able to compete?
Charlotte makes her entrance, not really caring about what Naomi just did to Mia. But that means she also crosses paths with Jade. The fans like the look of this stare down, but Jade and Charlotte both let the other slide. Charlotte gets her pyro, and it seems she’ll still get her match. Will Mia be little more than an appetizer now?
The bell rings, and Charlotte BOOTS Mia down! Cover, TWO! Mia stays in this and the fans rally up. Charlotte just struts around while SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns, Charlotte has Mia down with a chinlock, but the fans rally up. Mia fights up, fires body shots, and she then blocks a shot to ROCK Charlotte! Mia ROCKS Charlotte again and again, then reels her in for a TORNADO DDT! The fans fire up as Mia hurries to cover, TWO! Mia drags Charlotte up, wrenches, but Charlotte says no to Da Feet! BIG back suplex! Mia stagger sup, Charlotte whips her, but Mia reverses! Charlotte goes up and out, BOOTS her away, then slingshots in and rolls Mia! Mia rolls through and BUZZSAWS! Mia runs corner to corner, but Charlotte avoids the cannonball!
Charlotte YAKUZA KICKS Mia down, then fires herself up! The fans “WOO~!” as Charlotte has Mia in the drop zone,. Charlotte steps on her, goes up the corner, but Mia gets underneath her! SIT-OUT POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO! Charlotte survives and Mia is shocked! Mia nods as the fans rally back up, and she brings Charlotte up. But Charlotte ROCKS Mia! Mia SOBATS, PELES, and then runs to PENALTY KICK! Cover, TWO! Charlotte stays in this, Mia grows frustrated, but the fans continue to rally. Mia uses that energy to stay focused, and she stalks Charlotte to waistlock. But Charlotte ELBOWS her away!
Charlotte CHOPS, and CHOPS, and CHOSP! Charlotte winds up, and she CHOPS again! Mia sputters, but then she dodges the boot! Charlotte is caught, and Mia hits a SAIDO! Charlotte flounders to a corner, the fans rally behind Mia, and Mia runs up, CANNONBALL! Mia hurries to wrench and EAT- NO, Charlotte shoves Mia away! Charlotte gets under, back suplexes, but Mia lands out! EAT DA FEET!! Cover, ROPEBREAK!! Charlotte’s long legs help her survive by a literal foot! Mia is beside herself while Charlotte bails out. Mia storms after Charlotte, runs up, but Charlotte dodges! Mia’s kick hits steel steps!
Mia hobbles away, goes to the apron, but Charlotte CHOP BLOCKS the bad leg out! Charlotte grabs Mia’s leg, drops a KNEE on the knee, but fans chant, “We Want Tiffy!” Charlotte just steps through, FIGURE FOUR, into FIGURE EIGHT!! Mia taps, Charlotte wins!
Winner: Charlotte Flair, by submission
Charlotte got more of a fight out of Mia than expected, but she still won. Will The Queen be more than ready to reign again after WrestleMania?
Backstage interview with Tiffany Stratton.
Jackie Redmond is with the WWE Women’s Champion and says Charlotte certainly looks confident. Let’s be real, Charlotte came at Tiff pretty hard. It got a lot of people talking. Tiff says yes, people talk. And Charlotte sure loves to hear herself talk. Ten years into the business and Charlotte is still so insecure that she can’t let a “rookie” get a word out. But last week, Tiff did learn something: She learned that walking into WrestleMania, she isn’t the one with something to lose. Truth is, if Tiff loses, then she lost to the great Charlotte Flair, as just a 25-year-old rookie with one year into SmackDown.
But if Charlotte loses… Well, then she lost to an “undeserving, delusional, unoriginal, backflip doing, blonde-hair-having, little girl.” Did she get it all? And Tiff can’t wait to hear the look on Charlotte’s face when they hear the words, “And STILL!” Then maybe Charlotte will finally shut up for the sake of literally everyone! They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and Tiff will make damn sure what stays is Charlotte’s massive ego. Tiff is walking into and out of Mania as the WWE Women’s Champion. Tootles! Tiff heads out, will it still be #TiffyTime after WrestleMania?
Randy Orton VS Drew McIntyre!
The Viper told Cody how proud he was, but also how he wants the next shot after John Cena. The Scottish Terminator took offense to that, and basically said he is taking that shot instead. Will this match be an unofficial #1 contender’s match between these two former world champions?
SmackDown returns and McIntyre makes his entrance. The bell rings and the fans sing, “OH~, Drew McIntyre~!” and chant “R K O! R K O!” Drew and Orton circle, tie up, and they go around in a deadlock. Drew powers Orton to a corner, but Orton headlocks back. Drew powers up and out, then he runs Orton over! Orton hurries to ropes and Drew mockingly asks, “How’s the back feel, Randy?” Orton stands, he and Drew reset, and the fans duel some more. Drew calls for a knuckle lock, Orton accepts, but then Drew kicks low! Drew bumps Orton off buckles, then climbs up, but he panders for too long and Orton YANKS him down!
The fans fire up as Orton climbs now! Orton rains down fists, and the fans count to nine. Orton hops down, brings Drew around, and POSTS him for ten! Drew tumbles out of the ring, Orton goes out after him, and they’re by the desk! But Drew kicks Orton first and SMACKS him off the desk! Drew clears the desk, and he brings Orton up for the DESK- NO, Orton fights free! Orton turns things around, DESK BACK SUPLEX for Drew! The fans fire up while Orton leaves Drew behind, and SmackDown goes picture in picture.
Drew writhes on the floor, but Orton goes out to fetch him! Orton brings Drew around, UPPERCUTS him, then says one more time! DESK BACK SUPLEX! Drew writhes as that desk stays standing! Orton grins, refreshes the ring count, and then he storms up on Drew. Drew pokes Orton in the eye! Drew POSTS Orton now, then brings him around to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP into barriers! Orton slumps down, and Drew also grits his teeth from that double-edged attack, but Drew fires up as he stands tall. Drew drags Orton up, puts him in the ring, then stalks Orton. Drew looms over Orton, and HIP DROPS him!
Orton sputters, Drew says one more time, and he winds up for the HIP DROP! Drew paces around Orton, says maybe one more time, and he pretends he can’t hear the fans. Drew winds up again, but Orton flips over! Hip drop meets kneecaps! And then Orton pokes Drew in the eyes! The ref reprimands but Orton rises up. Drew sputters and flounders, Orton ROCKS him with a right! Drew ROCKS Orton back! Drew storms up, Orton kicks low, but Drew fires another haymaker! The haymakers go back and forth, Orton gets the edge, but Drew GLASGOW KISS HEADBUTTS! Cover, TWO! Drew clamps onto Orton with an armlock!
SmackDown returns to single picture and the fans rally up. Orton fights up, pries at the chinbar, and then throws right hands! Drew CHOPS Orton in return! The fans “WOO~” and Drew winds up. Drew ROCKS Orton again, eggs him on, then CHOPS again! Drew shoves Orton to a corner, CHOPS again, then dares Orton to fight! Drew whips corner to corner, but Orton comes back to LARIAT! And LARIAT! Drew swings, Orton dodges, SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up as Orton stalks Drew to the apron. Drew HOTSHOTS Orton first! Drew then runs in, but Orton puts him through the ropes!
The fans fire up as Orton has Drew for the DRAPING DDT! The fans fire up for Orton, and Orton hears those voices! Drew rises, but then Orton spots KEVIN OWENS! The Prizefighter is on the ramp, Orton glares at him, but then he turns around into a CLAYMORE!! Cover, DREW WINS!
Winner: Drew McIntyre, by pinfall
Kevin’s mere presence costs Orton, and now Drew has a huge win propelling him down the Road to WrestleMania! As for Orton, Kevin drags him out of the ring, SMACKS him off the desk, and then climbs up to join him! The fans boo but Kevin and his hot pink sneakers have Orton in position, but Orton slips free and TRIPS Kevin up! Kevin hits the desk then the floor! Orton staggers around, the fans rally behind him, and Orton stalks Kevin to the corner of the barriers. Orton lines up the shot! Orton runs in, but Kevin jumps over barriers! Security is there to stop Orton from pursuing, so Kevin runs away into the night!
The fans boo, but The Viper was that close! Will Orton be able to strike Kevin down and completely take him out?
Fire, thunder, smoke…
The force of nature is drawing ever closer. And he’s ready to fly! REY FENIX arrives next Friday Night SmackDown!
Jimmy Uso VS The Miz!
#BigJim gave Gunther a piece of his mind and a mark on his cheek, but it seems not everyone got the message. Will the Hollywood A-lister soon star in the Uso Penitentiary? Or will he prove Jimmy is NOT ready for a world champion level opponent?
The bell rings and the two tie up. Jimmy powers Miz to a corner, Miz turns things around, and the ref counts. Miz takes a swing, Jimmy ducks it to CHOP! And CHOP! Miz shoves Jimmy back, then runs up, but Jimmy TACKLES Miz! Jimmy rains down fists, Miz shoves him away to go to ropes, but Jimmy storms back up. Miz ELBOWS Jimmy away, then runs back up, only for Jimmy to LARIAT him down! The fans fire up while Jimmy storms up on Miz. Jimmy CHOPS Miz, has him in a corner, then whips corner to corner. Miz reverses, Jimmy goes up and over, then UPPERCUTS! Miz staggers back to ropes, but Jimmy is right on him.
Jimmy whips, Miz reverses and kitchen sink knees! Then basement BOOTS! The fans fire up, Miz scowls, and Miz KNEES Jimmy in the back again and again. Miz stalks Jimmy to the ropes now, and he CHOKES Jimmy! The ref counts, Miz runs, and Miz STRADDLE ATTACKS! The fans boo, but Miz runs again. Jimmy ducks the boot, then dodges a lariat! Jimmy runs up to LARIAT Miz up and out! The fans fire up and Jimmy builds speed, but Miz runs away! Jimmy smirks as he goes out the side, and UPPERCUTS Miz over the barriers! Jimmy makes sure Gunther knows he’s coming to get him, but SmackDown goes to break.
SmackDown returns and both men are down. Miz and Jimmy crawl, and Jimmy pounds the mat. The fans rally, Jimmy rises and runs up to LARIAT! And LARIAT! And mule kick! Jimmy then UPPERCUTS Miz, dodges a lariat, then SAMOAN DROPS! The fans fire up, Jimmy goes to the corner, “UCE! OH!” Jimmy runs in, but Miz puts him on the apron! Jimmy UPPERCUTS again! Jimmy climbs, leaps, but Miz gets under! Miz then waistlocks, ripcords, and MOVIE MAKER! Fans boo that blatant parody, but Miz full nelsons! Jimmy drops, victory rolls, TWO! Miz has the cover, TWO! Miz hurries to BASEMENT DDT! Cover, TWO!
The fans rally up as Jimmy survives! Miz stalks Jimmy, the fans rally up more, and Miz fires a KICK! And then another KICK! The fans say “YES! YES! YES!” to the It Kicks, but then Miz winds up. Jimmy ducks the buzzsaw, Miz blocks the superkick, but the DRAGON WHIP connects! Miz rebounds to B-MOVIE KNEE!! Cover, TWO!! The parodies don’t get it done, but Miz still has his original work to fall back on. The fans rally for “UCE! OH! UCE! OH!” Miz runs in, A-LIST LARIAT! Miz shoves Jimmy down, then springboards, but into a SUPERKICK! Jimmy hurries up top, for the USO SPLASH!! Cover, Jimmy wins!
Winner: Jimmy Uso, by pinfall
Miz may be a movie star, but Big Jim’s the one winning this main event! Jimmy then borrows Joe Tessitore’s headset to call out Gunther! He’s coming after dat ass on Monday! Gunther won’t be the ring general, he will be “Private Gunther,” and he will salute Big Jim! Uh, uh, YEET! Will Jimmy be the one making examples out of the World Heavyweight Champion? Or will everything come crashing down when Gunther gets his turn?
Drew McIntyre returns backstage.
And he says hey to Lewis Capaldi, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, and also a big fan of Drew’s. They’re ready to have a good night in the pub, but Jackie Redmond walks over to congratulate him on the win tonight. She was hoping to get some thoughts on that victory and what happened with Orton and Kevin. Drew says it’s alright, this is what happens. He doesn’t care about anybody else’s business, but no one gets away with screwing him over. And when no one meddles in his business, he wins! Drew called out Priest, where is he? Priest doesn’t have the balls! So time to get mad in the pubs, everyone’s invited!
Drew turns the corner, but PRIEST IS THERE! Priest ROCKS Drew, SMACKS him off the door, then throws him into road cases! Priest ROCKS Drew, SMACKS him off the trunk of a car, and then again! Or since it’s London, “the boot.” The driver complains, but Priest BODY SLAMS that guy through a table! Drew comes back to KNEE Priest low, SMACK him off the trunk, and then off the side! They go to the hood, or bonnet for UK. Drew drags Priest up, but Priest CLAWS Drew’s eyes! Priest then sends Drew SOUTH OF HEAVEN through the windshield! Priest tells security that he’s done for now. Any more jokes, Drew? Didn’t think so! RIP, jackass!
Priest leaves, the producers hurry to help Drew, and Drew’s got glass in his eye! Will that glass help Drew see why he shouldn’t piss off the Punisher?
CM Punk heads to gorilla.
He has a security detail with him, and he passes by Drew writhing in pain. Punk chuckles, then continues on. Will his contract signing with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins be just as brutal? We find out, after the break.
Nick Aldis is in the ring.
The SmackDown General Manager welcomes us back, and says it is his honor and privilege to be here in the O2 in London. Now, we all know why he and this table is here, and why additional security is here tonight. Tonight, we are here to sign a contract for a Triple Threat. Perhaps the biggest Triple Threat in the history of WrestleMania: Seth Rollins VS CM Punk VS Roman Reigns! The fans cheer all those names, and here comes the OTC! London puts the ones up, and Paul Heyman accompanies THE Tribal Chief out on stage. Roman raises his finger to the sky for the pyro, then security follows him to the ring.
SmackDown goes picture in picture as Roman’s entrance continues, and he raises his finger to the sky for the second round of pyro. Roman steps into the ring, SmackDown returns to single picture, and Heyman hands him a mic. The fans sing, “ROMAN! ROMAN REIGNS~!” Roman nods, the fans cheer, and now they chant, “O T C! O T C!” Roman tells London, “ACKNOWLEDGE ME!” The fans cheer again, and again chant, “O T C! O T C!” Roman smiles, but he sees the chairs are not to his liking. Heyman makes sure to put one at the head of the table. Heyman also dusts the chair off while Roman enjoys the singing of, “ROMAN! ROMAN REIGNS~!”
Roman takes a seat and says that was beautiful. The way they sing to their Tribal Chief, it’s just beautiful. The singing continues, and Heyman even joins in! Roman smiles, and he says that is what he’s talking about. That’s the OTC for you, baby! The biggest star on the planet! The OTC came here for two reasons. One: to be acknowledged; check! And two: to sign this contract. Roman does just that, and he says he’s checked both boxes. That means- “BURN IT DOWN!” Seth Rollins interrupts! The fans now sing, “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~!” Rollins struts out in his red wine paisley suit and conducts the O2 Choir all the way into the ring.
The fans cheer while Roman frowns, but Rollins takes the seat to Roman’s left. Rollins offers Heyman a chance to sing to this song, but Heyman frowns. Rollins chuckles, and he says the fans do have beautiful singing voices. He doesn’t know why Roman is in such a hurry to leave, though! This is their building! There’s a lot of history here! 12 years ago, they landed on the roof of this place in a helicopter! They came down those stairs over there, “ready to burn down the old guard!” They put the Undertaker down through the desk, and they were going to remake this company in their image!
Now don’t get him wrong, Rollins knows a lot has happened since then. They fought against each other, with each other, a little bit of love and a whole lot of hate. But Rollins dare says, as the fans continue to sing “WHOA~ OH~ OHH~,” that Rollins and Roman accomplished their mission. The fans start to chant for CM Punk, but Rollins tunes them out. Roman says, “We? We? You keep saying we. Our mission? We died a long time ago. It’s only been ME. You been here, but I done all the work! I’ve made this place what it is today! I took us to the level that we are here today! I made this place better than we found it!
“I’m the one that made us desirable to Netflix! I’m the one that took us into billion-dollar deals! Tell me, what have you done?” Rollins shouts, “I’ll tell you what I’ve done! YOU, YOU, YOU, it’s that mindset that keeps me having to screw you! You understand that? And your biggest mistake is not understanding the danger that’s right in front of us! The danger that’s right in front of you! You let the biggest snake in the world, CM Punk, into the garden! And you could’ve cut his head off at WarGames! But instead, you shook his hand. You could’ve let me finish him inside the cage at The Garden, but you didn’t. And now, I am left to do what I always do: Clean up your mess, again.”
Rollins drops his mic, picks up the pen, and signs his part. And now, here comes CM PUNK! The fans fire up and sing along with Cult of Personality, then join in on saying, “IT’S CLOBBERIN’ TIME~!” Punk goes to the ring, but as he grabs a mic, he goes up a corner, just like he did last Friday. “I have come here to chew bubblegum and sign a contract. And I’m all outta bubblegum.” The fans cheer the Rowdy Roddy Piper reference, and Punk hops down to take his seat on Roman’s right. Punk looks over said contract, but Roman asks if Punk needs a highlighter or something. What’s he doing? Just go to page four, clause five.
Punk does as Roman says, but Roman says Punk needs to hurry, this is precious TV time. Punk reads the segment, Roman tells Heyman to just smarten Punk up. Heyman tells Punk he knows what Punk is looking for. It is in there. They’re closing the show at WrestleMania. The fans go wild hearing that! Heyman tells Punk that he gets to live his dream of dreams. CM Punk will be a WrestleMania main eventer! The fans cheer and while Roman smiles, Rollins is furious. Roman says, “One man’s dream is another man’s favor! CHECK!” Wait, this was the favor? Rollins says no! This is not something to laugh at, and Punk does not get to tear up!
Punk is NOT deserving! He does NOT deserve this! The fans boo but Rollins continues to throw a fit! Main eventing WrestleMania is SACRED, the most important thing in the world to Rollins! More than anything! Except the fact that Punk NEVER gets to main event! This is all Roman’s fault! This is all Heyman’s fault! Rollins THROWS his mic down, paces angrily, but Punk picks up the mic. The fans cheer Punk on again, and Punk stands to thank London, to thank Chicago, to thank Louisville, Kentucky, and to thank ALL the fans. As corny as it sounds, he thanks the WWE Universe who stood by him and chanted his name for TEN LONG YEARS!
Roman says hold on, hold on. Punk shouldn’t be thanking the fans! He should be thanking the Tribal Chief! It is because of Roman that Punk gets this honor! So please, take this moment, close the show with that acknowledgement! Do this the right way. The credits are already rolling as Punk kneels before Roman!? Punk smiles, and he thanks “My Tribal Chief, the holder of the ula fala, the Head of the Table, the… Big Dog? Thank you for allowing a kid from Chicago to be graced by your presence. Thank you, My Tribal Chief, for allowing me to stand in your ring. And thank you so much. Thank you, Roman Reigns, so very much.
“But because of you, I will see you in the main event of WrestleMania.” And again, Rollins is agonizing over this. Punk finishes putting his signature on the contract, and London tells him, “You Deserve It!” Punk thanks Roman again, and then says, “But that’s not the favor that I’m owed.” WHAT?! Roman looks at Heyman and Heyman can’t look him in the eye! If getting this Triple Threat made into the main event isn’t the gift of the Wise Man, then what is?!
My Thoughts:
A good SmackDown, but they pulled off quite the paradox. They made it feel like they were struggling to fill three hours, yet they also filled the show to the point where that contract signing segment was almost bleeding over the three hour mark. Ironically, part of the problem was just how excited the London crowd was for this. The superstars still wanted to enjoy the chants and songs, but that’s time SmackDown doesn’t have to spare. It made the opening promo from Cody, Orton and Drew take longer, and it kinda did the same to the contract signing at the end. Even so, we still got a very good promo, and good stuff to set up Orton VS McIntyre.
Orton VS McIntyre was a great match, but of course Kevin costs Orton. McIntyre gets his win, Kevin and Orton have a bit of a brawl, but of course Kevin ends up on the losing end and runs off. McIntyre’s trash talk also comes back to bite him as Priest gets the better of him in their brawl. Here’s hoping Drew didn’t actually get glass in his eye, but that being the thing in kayfabe can be some good stuff. I can imagine McIntyre with an eyepatch, and he takes it off at the opportune time to get the better of Priest in their match. Also what a fitting choice for Punk to be passing by Drew suffering because of real glass.
Very good title matches tonight, but of course the status quo was kept. Pretty Deadly gets to look great here in London, but the Profits only just got the belts, they’re not going to be transitional champions like that. And Knight VS Braun was really good stuff, but honestly, Jacob Fatu going after them both should’ve been a given. Jacob also had a great promo with Solo & Tama to start adding to that divide between Jacob and Solo. I would hope Solo doesn’t screw Jacob out of the US Championship, but it feels like he will as Solo won’t stand for Jacob defying his authority, even though Solo’s been trying to make Jacob the champion all along.
Very good stuff from Jimmy Uso tonight, from his promo with #MeloDon’tMiz and then a great match with Miz. Their match ended up the de facto main event match, so that’s also great for both guys. Great win for Jimmy, but that’s likely because Jimmy is losing big time to Gunther on Monday. And it might just be me, but it feels like only now is the Jey VS Gunther build really moving, largely in part because Jimmy got involved. Jimmy’s promo after his match is something along the lines of what Jey should be saying. But I suppose as brothers, Jimmy is the one who knows Jey best and knows what Jey needs to be motivated again. And seeing Jimmy get beat up by Gunther will definitely motivate Jey…
Good final vignettes for Rey Fenix and Aleister Black. I’m a little surprised they confirmed Rey Fenix is showing up next week, and that they confirmed who Rey Fenix even is. I believe commentary confirmed Rey Fenix is Penta’s real brother, even namedropped “Lucha Brothers,” but all that is still surprising considering Fenix is going to start on SmackDown. Aleister’s vignette (at least I am fairly confident it’s his) was giving us glimpses of his silhouette, but I think there was usage of AI in the snake imagery. It was fine they did it for El Grande Americano because that is all trolling, but they really should try and do things the old fashioned way of photoshop and stock imagery.
Very good stuff in the Women’s Division tonight, though the WWE Women’s Championship portion was the weaker. Naomi’s got a great Heel persona going, her promo was great, and her going after B-Fab & Michin over them supporting Jade was a great detail. Jade runs Naomi off, helps B-Fab, but there was no helping Michin in being fed to Charlotte. Tiffany had a decent promo, and it does fit how Charlotte kept her from speaking so she finally gets things out here. It didn’t really add that much, though, but they already gave us a great brawl so not sure what more they can give.
KC Squared VS The Secret Her-vice was a very good match, but of course Chelsea made sure her team won. A Six Woman Tag of Zelina & KC Squared VS The Green Administration is certainly coming, to help give us Zelina VS Chelsea for the Women’s US Championship.
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!
Powered by RedCircle
Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!
Coverage
Andrew’s TNA iMPACT! Results & Match Ratings: 3.27.2025
Bad news out of the TNA management side, but this is a taped episode from El Paso! So we won’t see any of the fallout just yet!
Now we all heard the news about the TNA change in hierarchy, and I…have no positive outlook on that. Delirious sucked at booking and creative in the dying days of ROH before it got bought as a B show. Dreamer having even more control is concerning because his ideas the last two years haven’t been much better.
Gail leaving makes more sense to me. Be it firing or a “you can’t quit, you’re fired” kind of situation, the Knockouts division is the worst it’s been in a long time and Gail was close with Scott D’Amore. So I don’t think Gail parting ways is as big of a problem since TNA has slowly been bleeding out with the Scott faithful.
Granted, I think the next few shows were already taped before the firing so things shouldn’t be completely unwatchable for at least a week or two. So let’s see where we’re going.
.@WeAreRosemary sends @XiaBrookside a CHILLING message!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/LaVxF6l2yc pic.twitter.com/srciTTbel0
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 28, 2025
Ratings:
- Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley vs Elegance Clique w/Personal Concierge: Ash wins via Rarefied Air – ** 1/4
- Fir$t Cla$$ & Frankie Kazarian vs Laredo Kid, Octagon Jr & Chavo Guerrero Jr: Chavo wins via Gory Bomb into Frog Splash – *** 1/4
- Jacy Jayne vs Masha Slamovich: Masha wins via Russian Death Device – ***
- Eric Young w/two losers vs Ace Austin: Eric wins via Piledriver – ** 1/2
- Seto & Mokuba – I mean – Nic Nemeth w/Ryan Nemeth vs Leon Slater: Nic wins via Danger Zone – *** 1/4
Results:
Gigi Dolin & Tatum Paxley vs Elegance Clique w/Personal Concierge
Ash and Gigi start off, Gigi with a little Rascalz after her first takedown. So both her and Wentz are making it obvious something’s going on between them, and I’m not mad at it. Good for my man Wentz.
Tatum and Gigi get some quick tandem offense in, Ash does manage to scurry off to a tag and Heather gets bent into a Pretzel. Some kind of Inverted Tarantula from Tatum, Gigi tags in, Bronco Buster on Heather followed by Kawada Kicks. Heather sells against the ropes, Gigi goes for a Hesitation Dropkick, but Concierge pulls her away so Gigi crashes and burns. Ref is distracted, Ash gets in some cheap shots and then the Elegant duo starts working over Gigi. A few quick tags, but once Heather comes in, Gigi fights out of the corner, gets the hot tag to Tatum. Tatum stacks up both Elegance members, Corner Stacked Crossbody, Butterfly Suplex and an Elbow Drop with some some flare. Tatum goes to the top rope, Heather pulls Gigi off the apron, Concierge shoves Tatum off the turnbuckle and Ash hits Rarefied Air for the win.
Post match the Elegance Clique wants to make their wish with the cake, they light the candles and Tatum and Gigi recover enough to do what we all expected last week, the cake in the face spot. Some…suggestive licking from both of our Hot Topic Hotties, so…no complaints here.
.@Ashamae_Sebera, @Heathereckless and @IamGeorgeIceman are having a meltdown!
WATCH #TNAiMPACT on TNA+: https://t.co/LaVxF6l2yc pic.twitter.com/FnKwPqm2ff
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 28, 2025
Fir$t Cla$$ & Frankie Kazarian vs Laredo Kid, Octagon Jr & Chavo Guerrero Jr
Chavo and Kaz start since he’s King Petty, a quick rope run turns into a Headscissor from Chavo. Kaz recovers, they lock up, Kaz hits the Knee Lift during the lock up to tag out to KC. KC pulls off some athletic dodges, gloats a bit so Chavo waits, measures and nails a gorgeous Dropkick. Laredo comes in on fire, quick high spots that send KC bouncing around like HBK against Hulk. KC powders after sells the Satellite Takedown, AJ checks on him and we go to commercial.
Back from commercial, Octagon is lighting up KC’s chest with overhand chops, he perches, Sunset Headscissor Flip from corner to corner, KC tries to Back Drop him but Octagon does a headstand, kicks KC away and lays him out with a high spot. AJ gets on the apron to stop Octagon from running the ropes, the referee has a stroke or something because he stops paying attention and AJ pulls Octagon out of the ring and chucks him. KC with the Tope con Hilo and tag (tag ropes haven’t mattered since the 80s we all know this). So AJ is getting taunted by the crowd in Spanish, but he’s manhandling Octagon since it looks like a Child fighting their parent. AJ knocks off Chavo and Laredo, Laredo pops up and tries to get involved but he’s caught on the shoulders, Octagon goes for the Crossbody but gets caught and AJ pulls off “World’s Strongest Wasteland” but Chavo breaks up the pinfall. AJ throws Octagon into the corner, Tennessee Whiskey, and tag out to KC. KC hits a few moves, but starts to lose the momentum until he connects with a Super Kick. Simultaneous rope run into the Dueling Crossbodies, so we get the timely tag outs from both sides. Kaz and Laredo come in, Laredo lands like two moves before Kaz hits a Sole Butt, Lariat and eats his lunch. KC and Kaz try to double team Laredo but he fights out and the crowd is chanting for Chavo.
Chavo tags in, and he’s rocking KC, Saito Suplex, Low Bridge to AJ, Reverse the Whip so Chavo goes to the corner and perches, KC feeds, Chavo Backflips to safety, rolls through and lays out KC. Chavo is feeling himself, 3 Amigos start on KC but only 2, Kaz comes in and Chavo switches to Kaz for the Amigos, only 2 again before AJ breaks it up. AJ goes for the disrespect, but Chavo counters and hits the 3 Amigos on the biggest Culero. Aztec Warriors dive to stop AJ and Kaz, KC tries a Dirty Victory Roll but Chavo kicks out. GORY BOMB into FROG SPLASH!
Chavo looked fantastic and he’s the one in the best shape in the ring. I wouldn’t be mad at more Chavito.
Jacy Jayne vs Masha Slamovich
I expect very little from this match.
Collar and Elbow, gator rolling for the first 30 seconds or so, then Jacy goes to some Hair Pull takedowns and does a little taunt before Masha pops back up and hits a Lariat into a Dive. Jacy sells it like she’s really hurt, even the ref tries to hold Masha back a little before Masha gets annoyed and just grabs her, Masha throws her in, looks for a Dive and Jacy sees it and powders. Masha tries to go back to the well for the Dive again but Jacy hits the Uppercut and then an Apron Run PK to drop Masha. Forearms rain down into a Foot Choke as Jacy continues to arrogantly play to the crowd. Another Foot Choke into a Cannonball, and near fall.
Masha gets space with a Sole Butt, tries to snap off Requiem but Jacy fights off, fights through a Sunset Flip another effective PK keeps Masha on her ass. Jacy looks for a kinda half-assed Camel Clutch as Masha is fighting up, but Jacy runs her into the corner, gets distracted mouthing off to the crowd, so Masha recovers, 5 Hole Up Kick sends Jacy into the corner, Yakuza Kick into Capo Kick for two. Requiem attempt again, but Jacy pushes off, a little back and forth, Masha tries a Backslide but Jacy gets away and hits a V-Trigger but only a 2 count. Jacy looks for the Discus Punch but Masha ducks it, they strike back and forth, but some dodges from both leave the exchange more even. Jacy with the Front Kick to the face sends Masha to the outside. Jacy wants another PK, but Masha blocks, Electric Chair Apron Snake Eyes. Masha throws her in, a PK into a near all. Requiem attempt 3, and thwarted from Jacy with a Superkick into a Neckbreaker. Senton misses from Jacy, Buzzsaw Kick, into Spinning Back Kick and Russian Death Device for the win.
Better than I expected, and Tessa attacks as soon as the bell rings. Xia Brookside and Lei Ying Li make the save after Tessa grabs the belt.
Eric Young w/two losers vs Ace Austin
Ace and Eric tie up, World of Sport start but as soon as Ace starts to get away EY punches him in the face. Eric looks at the camera and says “This is what trust looks like”, turns his back on Ace, when Ace looks to attack, the loser duo cut him off. EY takes advantage of the weird situation, but Ace with some Up and Over quick spots, into an Inside Cradle and La Magistral. EY kicks out of the quick flash attempts, but eats a Dropkick, and Ace goes all Speed Kils on him with fast strikes and then a face buster for another near fall. Strike spot very early in the match, Ace gets the best of it, goes for a Tear Drop Suplex but EY sits on it to block, Headlocks to keep him close and then a snap Lariat into beatdown bully tactics. EY takes the referee’s attention and one of the nerds punch Ace in the face.
Eric tries to lean on Ace, but Ace fires, a few strikes, Click Click Boom, the Miz Seated Lariats in the corner, Mochizuki Triangle Kick connects! Only a 2 count, but Ace seems to be in control. Ace puts EY on the ropes, a few strikes to keep him rocked, wants a Superplex, but EY blocks, bites the face and Macho Elbow gets a very close two count. EY tries the Piledriver but Ace turns it into a Jacknife Cradle,Spinning Heel Kick, calls for The Fold, but the losers hop on the apron to distract, Ace attacks them. Ace tries to time out the Triangle Kick again, but Eric dodges, throws Ace head first through the buckles. As Ace stumbles out of the corner, Piledriver, and it’s over.
Oh look it’s the “we’ll hear from Joe Hendry” segment. Again, I’ve loved this gimmick since Day 1, even didn’t hate his What Culture Pro stuff, but there is such a thing as milking a cow too much.
Elijah interrupts the whole “Who’s next” speech. When Elijah comes out he says he’s not the challenger and he believes in Joe. The crowd wants Elijah to turn on Hendry. Elijah pauses for a moment, and starts proving his friendship with stating his favorite color and a little “You Got a Friend in Me”. The crowd is into singing along and waving their cameras like Lighters to a 30 year old song. THANKFULLY Kaz breaks up the hug fest. Now he gets the “Culero” chant.
Kaz pulls out a Bass…what the hell is this Jam Session. Kaz has to warm up so he plays “La Cucaracha” on the bass. Kaz…is a national treasure. Hendry kicks Kaz out of the ring after his Heelish and playfully racially charged song choices. Kaz tries to sow dissension, but Joe and Elijah pinball Kaz between them. Kaz slips a power move and tries to shove Elijah into Joe but Elijah puts the brakes on, a small tense moment. But then Joe and Elijah play “Nah Nah Nah Nah, Hey Hey, Goodbye”…and that goes right into a commercial. Oddly…perfect.
Nic Nemeth w/Ryan Nemeth vs Leon Slater
Nic shoots the half immediately for a flash pinfall but Leon kicks out at one. Nic continues to keep things grounded with his amateur wrestling skills, and then does a little Dolph Ziggler show off. So Nic isn’t really taking this seriously, and Leon starts getting the best of things with an Arm Wringer, into drag, Shoulder Tackle and rope run as Nic tries to Leap Frog and Leon puts on the brakes and just shoves Nic on his ass. Nic gets annoyed, a few strikes, grinds his face along the ropes, but Leon keeps stringing some offense together, Back Handspring Elbow into his Corner con Hilo.
Ahh the classic formula of the commercial gives the heel the advantage, Twisting Suplex from Leon stops Nic’s offense momentum, right hand, Leon lifts Nic up for something, Nic slips it, kicks him in the gut, looks for the FameAsser, but Leon catches him into a Blue Thunder Bomb variation. Slater wants the Swanton 450, but Nic powders. Leon tries to adjust into a Dive, but Nic cuts him off, counter for counter and a FameAsser out of the counters for a two count. Nic starts the big brother tactics, bootwashes and arrogance, Slater fires, punches into a Yakuza Kick. Leon wants another Lethal Injection variant, but Nic catches him into a Rear Naked Choke. Slater tries to turn it into a pin so Nic breaks it. Leon wants a Leg Lariat but misses and gets unceremoniously dropped by Nic. Nic puts Leon up on the buckles, Superplex possibly but Slater counters, tries to collect himself for a move, but Nic falls into the ropes to crotch Leon, and finally hits the Superplex.
Twist of Slate from Leon, Swanton 450 but knees get up. Locomotion Cradles from both but they kick out, Ryan picks the ankle to trip up Leon just a touch and then Danger Zone ends the match.
Ryan starts the post match beatdown, but the Hardy’s music hits and they come down to the ring for the save. Matt challenges the Nemeths for Rebellion because they’re not medically cleared yet.
Overall Score: 6.5/10
Decent story motion, no match was offensive, and there was actually some solid match action for television standards. I don’t have a ton to complain about aside from the Knockouts Division is in a weird spot, and giving Hendry a lot of just talking and hollow payoff segments feels stupid. If we need to hear from him every week, give him a talk segment like Highlight Reel or something. Yes I know First Class just got The Penthouse, but if Hendry is going to talk more than wrestle, give him a talk segment for us to sink our teeth into.
There was the announcement that Xia, Lei Ying and Masha will face Tessa, Jacy and a mystery partner. So you gotta wonder if there’s going to be another NXT mercenary, a surprise return or if it’ll just be Rosemary since she’s got her issues with Xia. Also I just realized that Unbreakable is going to be on a Thursday, seemingly after iMPACT? I’m gonna have to see how they do it, because if there’s an Impact episode and 2-3 hour PLE…I do not want to be awake until 1am. People need to work, and I will be Unwakeable if things go that long.
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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