Coverage
Mitchell’s WWE NXT Results & Report! (11/7/23)
Countdown to Deadline!
And we’re on the clock!
NXT prepares for Deadline, and that means Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifiers! And to kill two birds with one stone, Tiffany Stratton and Fallon Henley settle their score while fighting for a spot in that match!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Noam Dar w/ Meta Four VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy; Dar wins and retains the cup.
- Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifier: Tiffany Stratton VS Fallon Henley; Tiffany wins and advances to NXT Deadline.
- Bron Breakker VS Von Wagner w/ Robert Stone; Bron wins.
- Lola Vice & Elektra Lopez VS Roxanne Perez & Kelani Jordan; Roxie & Kelani win.
- Otis w/ The Alpha Academy VS Drew Gulak w/ Charlie Dempsey, Myles Borne & Damon Kemp; Otis wins.
- Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifier: DIJAK VS Tyler Bate; Dijak wins and advances to NXT Deadline.
PLAY BY PLAY
NXT Heritage Cup Championship: Noam Dar w/ Meta Four VS Akira Tozawa w/ The Alpha Academy!
The Scottish Supernova ignored the Stamina Monster’s attempt at a challenge before, so Tozawa STOLE the cup out from under his nose! Dar and his crew went through the spookiest haunted house in NXT history, got the cup back, but had to give Tozawa this match in return. Will Tozawa say “ARIGATO~” by taking the cup fair and square this time? Or will the man who has linked himself to this championship still hold onto it?
The introductions are made, the cup is raised, and we see who raises a glass in celebration after tonight!
The bell rings on round one and the two circle. They feel things out, tie up, and Dar waistlocks to drag Tozawa down. Tozawa moves around, fights up and wrenches to a wristlock. Tozawa wrenches, Dar clinches and rolls to have a foot. Dar turns Tozawa over, facelocks, wrenches and ELBOW BREAKERS! Fans rally and duel as Tozawa rolls and trips Dar. Tozawa has a toehold but Dar pulls at the headband. The ref reprimands, Dar throws elbows, and he moves around, but Tozawa holds on to the foot! Dar rolls Tozawa to a cover, TWO! Dar puts Tozawa in a corner, the ref counts, and Tozawa avoids the cheap shot!
Fans fire up as Tozawa fires off fast hands! Dar goes to ropes, Tozawa whips but Dar reverses. Tozawa sunset flips, Dar stays up but Tozawa avoids the stomp and the kick to roll up! TWO, and Dar headlocks. We’re under 90 seconds but Tozawa powers out. Things speed up, Dar avoids the hurdle to sweep the leg! Fans boo and chant “YOU STILL SUCK!” Dar stomps Tozawa at the minute mark, then drags him up, but Tozawa suplexes first! Fans fire up while Tozawa stands, and he does his best Otis hip thrust! Tozawa runs in but Dar puts him on the apron. Tozawa GAMANGIRIS, then hurries up the corner!
We’re at 30 seconds as Tozawa reaches the top. But Meta Four distracts him! Tozawa hops down, and he looks at the cp. Dar goes out to grab Tozawa, but Tozawa hits a BIG back suplex! Ten seconds, Tozawa puts Dar in but goes up, and Dar gets him first! SUPERLEX at the bell!
Dar: 0; Tozawa: 0
Fans fire up while the teams argue, but then they go to help Dar and Tozawa refresh. The two stand back up and we start round two! Dar and Tozawa circle, Dar gives KICK and KICK but Tozawa blocks to trip him and fire off hands! Dar goes for an arm, Tozawa rolls to go for legs. Dar grapevines but Tozawa sits on it for a cover, TWO! Dar avoids the Penalty Kick, and rolls Tozawa up, with tights!! Dar scores!!
Dar: 1; Tozawa: 0
Tozawa protests the tight pulling, and then Dar DECKS him with a sucker punch!! As if fans weren’t booing before, Dar gets away with two cheats at once! The ref has to do all he can to keep Alpha Academy from attacking Meta Four, and NXT goes picture in picture!
Dar celebrates like he’s already won, but Gable and Maxxine help Tozawa get back into this. Tozawa stands up and he’s ready, here’s round three! But then Dar bails out of the ring! The ref reprimands and Tozawa is annoyed by these stall tactics. Seconds are ticking away but Tozawa goes out. The Meta Four is a wall in front of Dar, but then the Alpha Academy steps up. Otis is a wall unto himself! Lash talks trash on Otis, but Tozawa slips through to fire off on Dar! Tozawa puts Dar in, runs up and SHINING WIZARDS! Cover, TWO! Dar survives but Tozawa drags him back up to bump off buckles, and CHOP him in the corner!
Tozawa CHOPS again, whips corner to corner but Dar reverses. Dar runs in but into BOOTS! Tozawa goes up, but Dar sweeps the legs! Tozawa falls tot he mat, Dar taunts the Academy then covers, TWO! Dar is annoyed but we’re under 90 seconds already. Dar stomps Tozawa, drags him around and stomps an arm. Then he stomps the other arm! Dar flexes, taunts the fans, we’re at one minute and Dar drags Tozawa up. Dar KICKS, and KICKS, and KICKS! Tozawa falls, Dar covers, TWO! Dar is annoyed, Meta Four complains about the count, but then Dar digs his forearms in. Dar throws elbows, then clamps on a chinlock.
Tozawa fights up, fights around, but Dar wrangles him back down. Tozawa fights as we reach 15 seconds, runs, but into an UPPERCUT! Ten seconds, Dar runs into a BOOT! And a SUPERKICK! Dar fires off fists, Tozawa SOBATS, spins, slides under, and NXT returns to single picture as the round ends!
Dar: 1; Tozawa: 0
Dar still wants a sleeper! TRIANGLE HOLD! AND ELBOWS! The ref shouts, the fans boo, and the crews have to separate these two again. Dar gets away with even more than before, but the ref says he is on thin ice. A disqualification ends this automatically, but Dar seems fine with pushing the boundaries. The two men refresh, or as best as Tozawa can after all that nonsense. Round four begins and Dar rushes in! FLYING ELBOW! Fans boo but Dar reels Tozawa in for a NORTHERN LIGHTS! Dar aims from a corner, Tozawa rises, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Tozawa survives as Dar couldn’t gear up for his finishing kick.
Dar taunts the Alphas, goes back to Tozawa, and fans boo. Dar clamps on an ANKLE LOCK to taunt Gable directly! But Tozawa moves around, rolls and he throws Dar out of the ring! Tozawa builds speed, to DIVE! Direct hit but Tozawa doesn’t’ stop there! He DIVES and gets Oro! Main Man Mensah goes down, Tozawa brings Dar up, but Dar POSTS him! Dar aims, but Tozawa ducks! That kick hits POST! Dar hobbles into the ring, Tozawa runs in and dodges to victory roll and ANKLE LOCK! Just like coach taught him!! Dar flails, endures, we’re at 90 seconds! Fans want Dar to do it, and Dar TAPS! Tozawa scores!!
Dar: 1; Tozawa: 1
Fans are thunderous for Tozawa and we are already deep into the rounds! Next fall wins and everyone knows it! The refresh is over, time for round five! Dar staggers up, Tozawa BOOTS him in the corner! Tozawa runs to BOOT again! SAIDO!! Cover, TWO!! Dar survives and Meta Four is freaking out! Tozawa drags Dar up, fans are thunderous but Dar wrenches! Tozawa avoids a kick, Dar blocks a kick and BACK ELBOWS! Cover, TWO! Dar shakes out the bad leg but he puts pinkies up. Dar goes to a corner at the two minute mark, and he aims at Tozawa. Dar runs in, but Tozawa RANAS first! Cover, TWO!!
Dar escapes, both men get up, and Tozawa gest around to GERMAN SUPELX! Bridging cover, TWO! Dar is still in this but Tozawa keeps cool. But Dar snatches a leg! CHAMPAGNE SUPERNOVA KNEEBAR! But Tozawa pushes back, pulls Dar off the leg, GERMAN SUPLEX! Tozawa says “ARIGATO!” and SPIN KICKS! Tozawa puts Dar in a drop zone, heads up top, and we’re at the minute mark! But Oro runs up! Tozawa BOOTS him! Jakara hurries to help Oro, but also stays in the Alpha Academy’s way! TOKYO TOWER SENTON, but Lash drags Dar out to safety!! Tozawa crashes down, fans boo, and Dar hurries back in! NOVA ROLLA!!! Cover, Dar wins!
Winner: Noam Dar, by pinfall (still NXT Heritage Cup Champion)
With just 39 seconds left in the fifth, Supernova 11Â and his entire crew retain the cup. Fans boo, and then Oro gets in Tozawa’as face. Maxxine gets in Oro’s face, and SLAPS him! Gable GERMAN SUPLEXES Oro! And Meta Four can only watch as Otis SPLASHES Oro down! Dar may leave with the cup now, but will he be able to survive much longer with his crew taking the hits for him?
NXT hears from Mick Foley!
“Hello, NXT! It’s the Hardcore Legend here, WWE Hall of Famer, Mick Foley, and I’m so excited because HBK, Shawn Michaels, has granted me the honor of selecting the qualifying matches this week for the Iron Survivor Challenge. Let’s start with the women. Now I’ve been watching the NXT Women’s Division for a long time, and it’s extremely strong. There are two of the top women I want to specifically talk about, Fallon Henley and Tiffany Stratton. Now their match last week never took place due to Tiffany’s attack, so I say we absolutely see that match this week, and we up the stakes just a wee bit, with the winner punching their ticket to Deadline.
“As far as the men, aw man. Two guys I have been watching a long time, long before any of you knew their names. Dijak, we thought this guy was a future champion. But in order to get to Deadline, Dijak will have to get past the guy I’ve known and followed since he was a teenager, The Big Strong Boi, Tyler Bate! It is going to be a great match-up of different styles, I can’t wait to see these matches. Until then, have a nice day.” Foley has given us an incredible card for the night, who will be the first ones into this year’s wild ride that is the Iron Survivor Challenge?
The NXT Women’s locker room talks about the Breakout tournament.
Karmen Petrovic and Arianna Grace commend Kelani Jordan on making it to the finals, but then in walk Elektra Lopez and the tournament’s winner, Lola Vice. Lola is pretty sure she made that tournament look super easy. Lopez says she makes everything look super easy, she’s been the best since day one. But everyone should be happy that they’ll be remembered in the footnotes of Lola’s success. Right, Kelani? Kelani says, “Whatever helps you sleep at night.” But Lola should really split that contract with Elektra, because without her, Lola wouldn’t have won. Arianna defuses the situation by saying they cannot change the past.
But Elektra tells everyone that what “we” do with the contract is none of Kelani’s business. Don’t be jealous that you lost, Kelani. Uh, what is there to be jealous of? Arianna says, “We only lose when we quit.” Lola says Kelani IS jealous. But in walks Roxanne Perez with a sarcastic slow clap. “Wow, NXT Breakout winner. Congrats. Doesn’t look like it’s gone to your head at all. Let me explain something to you, Lola. It’s one thing to win that, but it doesn’t automatically mean that you become champion. If I were you, I wouldn’t make enemies out of the entire locker room.” Lola tells Roxie off in Spanish but Roxie claps back.
Lola & Lopez leave and Kelani thanks Roxie for having her back. They also head out, and Arianna tries another platitude, but Karmen tells her to shut up already. Arianna scoffs at Karmen, but is the locker room just a powder keg waiting for the right spark?
Lyra Valkyria is here!
The fans fire up for the NEW NXT Women’s Champion, and The Morrigan is back after her week of media, including back home in Ireland! Lyra gets a mic to say, “Well, I never dreamed it could happen the way that it did, but… Lyra Valkyria is your NXT Women’s Champion!” Fans cheer and chant “You Deserve It!” Lyra says whoever it was that said you should never meet your heroes, they clearly never met Becky Lynch. Becky is a true legend. Fans cheer that, and Lyra says she didn’t just meet her hero, she BEAT her! She defeated an icon! And now the finest prize iN NXT is around Lyra’s waist.
At Halloween Havoc, Lyra brought it. Becky sure as hell did, too, but something Lyra will remember forever is that the fans made this place feel like magic. “And we showed the world what a main event women’s title match is all about!” Fans cheer that, too. Lyra says we’ve all seen her story, and every bit of it is true. But she knows she’s not the only woman that dreams of holding this title. And that the locker room is packed full of hungry competitors who want to take it from her! And she knows that- Wait, who is coming down the stands? Xia Li!? Security wants to stop her, she’s a Raw superstar still in trouble for knocking Becky Lynch out!
But Lyra says it’s okay? Let her through? The fans boo but Xia steps over the barriers and to the ring. Xia gets a mic, and Lyra asks if she can help her. Xia chuckles, and she tells Lyra, “Did you see what I did to ‘your hero,’ Becky Lynch, last night?” Yeah, we all saw that attack. All because Becky told Xia that if she wanted a title match, she should go and win one. Xia laughs that off, and tells Lyra, “Now, I plan to take yours!” Security gets in there to cool this off, but then Xia HEEL KICKS one in the face!! Fans boo while that guy tries to remember where he is, and Lyra says if Xia wants it, then come get it!
Fans fire up as the Morrigan looks ready to fight the menacing Exterminator! But will Lyra come to regret it when the Deadline approaches?
Tyler Bate speaks.
“I’m aware I come across chilled. Zen, if you will. But do not mistake my way of being for a lack of drive and intensity, because I am always pinpoint laser focused. Now Mick Foley, he put me in this match because he sees what I see. The Iron Survivor Challenge is exactly something the Big Strong Boi can sink his teeth into. In fact, it’s something I need, because I am tired of living on the resumé of the past. It’s time to write my future. Now yes, Dijak is massive. He hits like a heavyweight and moves like a cruiserweight. But this David has slain many a Goliath in the past, and tonight will be no different when I take Mr. Hard Justice himself for an Airplane Spin on my way to NXT Deadline. Namaste, boys and girls.”
Josh Briggs & Brooks Jensen give Fallon Henley a pep talk.
It’s go time! Is she ready? Hell yeah! Because the games are over! She is getting in that Iron Survivor Challenge. Briggs says it’s about time one of them gets an opportunity again. Jensen asks if they’re needed out there, but Fallon says nope, she is locked in. Okay, then keep eyes on the back of your head, we all know Tiffany plays dirty. Fallon knows. But “Tiffy Time” is over! It’s Fallon Time now! Fist bumps for luck and Fallon heads out. Will the Cowgirl take the Wrestling Barbie for a rodeo ride she won’t get up from? Or will Tiffany again make herself the Center of the Universe?
The Alpha Academy regroups backstage.
Coach Gable reminds Tozawa that they knew this wasn’t gonna be easy. Shinsuke Nakamura last night, Noam Dar here tonight, that’s a tall order for anyone. Just listen to coach, okay? They’ll apply the Gable Method and unlock that full Tozawa potential. But coach! He wants it NOW! Maxxine says they know that, but don’t worry. Because next week, the Academy returns to NXT to be guests on the Supernova Sessions. Oh, really? Well, okay, A THANK- “What happened to you, Gable?” Drew Gulak and his crew walk over, and Gulak says Gable is a brilliant wrestler, a former NXT Tag Team Champion, and he chooses to be associated with this group?
Yes, this is his group. Well, Gulak leads a roster that exemplifies serious competition. Damon Kemp, disciplined. Myles Borne, tenacious. Charlie Dempsey, pedigree. Dempsey says the Heritage Cup should be off-limits to a group like the Alphas. They’ll stretch you all out and show no quarter! Stretch, huh? Well, Charlie, why don’t you show Otis how to stretch this? Otis shakes those hips and Gulak’s group says that’s disgusting! SHOOOOSH~! Shoosh, please. Gulak can’t stand that! Stand, huh? Well, Gulak, why don’t you stand across the ring from Otis tonight 1v1. Gulak says it’s on! Yeah, on and on and on!
The Alphas head out, Gulak and his group say they’ve got this, but then Gable adds one last, “A THANK YEW~!” Will the Philly Stretcher fail to fold up the tree trunk that is The Dozer?
Referee Adrian Butler finishes meeting with Shawn Michaels.
He thanks HBK for his time, and NXT Media asks him what that was about. Butler says that after much deliberation, HBK has instructed him to use his discretion during tonight’s match of Bron Breakker VS Von Wagner. With the history between those two, Mr. Michaels insists there be a definitive decision. So tonight, Butler promises there will be a winner. Wait, we see Ava Raine stepping into HBK’s office. What is her meeting with the NXT General Manager be about?
Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifier: Tiffany Stratton VS Fallon Henley!
NXT returns and Fallon makes her entrance. The bell rings and fans rally behind Fallon as Tiff talks trash. The two tie up, go around, and go along the ropes. They go along more ropes, the ref counts, and Fallon shoves. Tiff shoves back, gets around and throws Fallon by her hair! But Fallon gets up to SLAP Tiff, then throw her by her hair! Tiff wants a timeout and crawls to ropes, but Fallon YANKS her up to SLAM her down! Fallon runs, slides, trips and then hooks Tiff up in a HALF CRAB! Tiff endures, flails, reaches out, but Fallon drags hers away from ropes! Fans rally up and duel as Tiff endures and crawls again, to the ROPEBREAK!
Fallon lets off, Tiff bails out, but Fallon pursues. Tiff DECKS her! Tiff puts Fallon in the ring, goes up a corner, but Fallon ROCKS her first! Fallon climbs, brings Tiff up, and SUPERPLEXES! Fans fire up and Fallon covers, TWO! Fallon stalks Tiff, drags her from ropes, and steps over to HALF CRAB again! Tiff endures, fights forward again, but Fallon again drags her away! Fallon sits deep on that leg but Tiff still endures! Tiff fights, claws her way forward, and has the ROPEBREAK! Fallon lets go, but then slides out to ROCK her! Fallon says SHE is going to Deadline and fans fire up while NXT goes to break.
NXT returns and the forearms go back and forth! Fans fire up as Fallon ROCKS and CHOPS and repeat! Then Fallon waistlocks and lifts, but Tiff fights free! Tiff swings, Fallon blocks, but then Tiff blocks a shot! Fallon HEADBUTTS Tiff! And gets around to waistlock, and she sits Tiff down for a HOOK KICK! Cover, TWO! Tiff toughs it out but Fallon brings her up. Tiff kicks the leg out! And then she goes for it, but Fallon backslides! TWO, and Tiff ROCKS Fallon! Tiff scoops, and SLAMS Fallon into ropes! Fallon clutches her legs while shouting in pain, and she goes to a corner. Tiff storms up but Fallon CHOPS!
Fallon forces herself up the corner, to CROSSBODY! Tiff rolls through and deadlifts, to TOSS Fallon out of the ring! Tiff shows her mean girl side and fans are losing their minds! Tiff puts Fallon in, drags her to the corner, and has an evil grin as she SLAMS the leg on the post! And then she bends the leg against the post! Fallon pulls hair! And she KICKS Tiff in return! Tiff storms in, but into a roll-up! TWO, and Tiff kicks the bad leg! Tiff runs up, and hits a POP-UP SPINEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Tiff is furious and she SLAMS the leg on the mat! Tiff turns Fallon over, hooks the leg up, and has a BRIDGING DEATHLOCK!
Fans rally while Fallon endures, and she turns over to KICK Tiff down! Tiff staggers up, storms back over, but Fallon KICKS her away! Fallon stands, ELBOWS Tiff, and goes to a corner. Tiff runs in but into a BOOT! Fallon runs to run Tiff over! And UPPERCUT her down! And SOBAT! HAYMAKER! LARIAT! Fans duel, Tiff goes to a corner and Fallon roars! Fallon runs in to ELBOW Tiff, then she runs to FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Tiff is still in this and Fallon is beside herself. Fallon stands, but Tiff dropkicks the leg out! Tiff drags Fallon up, whips her to a corner, and Fallon goes up, only to get caught!
Tiff ROLLING SENTONS, then goes up, up, and PRETTIEST MOONSAULT- NO, Fallon dodges! And then gets around Tiff to O’Conner Roll, TWOÂ into buckles! Tiff CHOP BLOCKS the leg! Tiff goes up again, PRETTIEST MOONSAULT EVER! Cover, Tiff wins!
Winner: Tiffany Stratton, by pinfall (advances to NXT Deadline)
Seems time isn’t up on Tiffy Time, and she’s heading to the last WWE Premium Live Event of the year! Will Tiffany make sure she’s ringing in the New Year with a golden ticket back to the #TiffyTop?
Backstage interview with Wes Lee.
McKenzie Mitchell is grooving with the Cardiac Kid and welcomes him back to NXT. Wes says it is a celebration! High-five, and McKenzie says that after months away, Wes returned after the NXT North American Championship. What made him come back? What, you really think he could head out of here with his head hung low? He was on a never-ending hamster wheel, he had to go so hard, so fast, he couldn’t stop if he wanted to. So he hopped off track to slow down, and he’s back now. Head’s right, body’s right, and he has a whole list that he wants to take care of. Top of the list: Smack Dominik Mysterio in the mouth and take back the NXT North American Championship.
McKenzie says that’s fair, but then in walks Baron Corbin. Corbin says, “Look who decided to finally show up! Guess we’re back on the Wes Side, huh? Internet’s going crazy, people are exc… Nobody actually cares.” Wes asks why Corbin’s so mad. Is he still searching for relevancy? Corbin says what he could do is quit, be gone for three months, come back, and demand a title match with somebody he can’t beat. That’s what Wes does, right? Or just watch what Corbin did to Dragunov. Wes hopes Corbin knows Dragunov’s gonna beat the brakes off him and absolutely destroy him, right? And it’ll make Wes extremely happy to see that, given how Corbin’s been talking.
But what would make Wes happier is if he got to do it himself. Corbin says if Wes did it himself, then he and Dragunov would both have something in common: they’d both fail. Corbin leaves, Wes says he’s adding something to the list. Will Wes get back the gold from Dirty Dom? Will he shut up Mr. No BS along the way? Or will Corbin make sure this is truly the End of Days for Wes in NXT?
Backstage interview with Bron Breakker.
His match with Von Wagner is up next, and after what happened last week, is he at all concerned- Bron stops her there. Concerned? Bron heard the ref was told to use his discretion out there, so the only one who should be concerned is Von. This is gonna be the shortest comeback in WWE history, because Bron desecrates whatever is left of the corpse that is Von Wagner in that ring tonight! Then everyone will know that Von was the fool that thought he could beat Bron Breakker. Bron says he’s #MeanerThanEvil, but will he no longer be as badass as he thinks?
Dijak speaks.
“And here I thought Mick Foley liked Tyler Bate, respected Tyler Bate. Then why the hell did you put Tyler Bate in a qualifying match that he can’t win, Mick? A hardcore legend recognizing my talent is rewarding, but even more motivating. Mick Foley sees what I see: I possess the endurance, the discipline and the grit to thrive in the Iron Survivor Challenge. And the only person standing between me and Deadline is twinkle toes Tyler Bate. Bate, you’ve seen my vicious side before. And that was with nothing on the line. So just imagine what I am willing to do to you tonight to qualify for the Iron Survive Challenge tonight.”
Bron Breakker VS Von Wagner w/ Robert Stone!
NXT returns and Von makes his entrance, Suit Man Stone by his side. Fans fire up already, the bell rings, and Bron RAMS Von into a corner! Bron RAMS into Von more but Von turns it around to fire off haymakers! Von brings Bron around, bumps him off buckles, then ROCKS him! Bron falls out of the ring, Von pursues, but Bron knees low! Bron whips, Von reverses but Bron leaps up to leap at Von, only to get a BOOT for it! Fans fire up with Von and Stone, but Von has to steady himself. Von puts Bron in the ring, goes up the corner, and he rains down fists! Fans count all the way to eight but Bron pushes Von away.
Bron leaps, Von dodges, and Von goes up to FLYING LARIAT! Fans fire up and Von again has to steady himself. Is he overdoing it already? Bron KNEES Von down! Stone coaches Von but Bron throws hands in the corner! The ref counts, Bron lets off to shout “I’M THE MAN!” Bron goes back to Von, drags him up, but Von HEADBUTTS! And ELBOWS! But Bron TACKLES Von! Bron rains down fists, fans boo but Bron taunts Von. Bron waistlocks, then GERMAN SUPLEXES! Von flounders, Bron says he’s just getting warmed up! Bron storms up on Von and clinches, to OVERHEAD SUPLEX!
Bron grins, Stone coaches Von, but Bron tells Stone to shut up. Bron brings the straps down, ‘IT’S OVER!” Bron clamps onto the arms, for the STEINER RECLINER!! Von endures, Stone coaches and the fans rally, and Von fights up! Bron is surprised and concerned, as Von RAMS Bron into buckles! Bron staggers away, but he comes back to ROCK Von! But Von stands up?! Von fires up, and he fires off haymakers of his own! Von whips Bron to ropes to LEAPING LARIAT! Von rallies with more big clotheslines, then he BUTTERFLY SUPLEXES! Fans fire up as Von runs, to SPLASH in the corner! And then BOOT Bron down!
Fans fire up with Von and Stone! Von shakes the ropes, scoops Bron to a fireman’s carry, but Bron slips free. Bron runs, but into Von’s JUMP KNEE! Cover, TWO! Bron bails out but Von pursues. Fans chant “We Want Tables!” and Von obliges as he clears off the desk! Booker and Vic move, Von brings Bron up and around! But Bron slips out of the bomb to RAM Von into steel steps! The very steps Bron used to smash Von before! Stone has a chair?! Stone tells Bron not to dare try it again, but the ref stops Stone from betting any closer. Bron LOW BLOWS Von!! Bron outsmarts Stone there!
Fans boo but then Bron storms up on Stone. Stone goes for the chair but Bron steps on the chair! Bron trophy lifts Stone! But then Von makes the save! Fans fire up, Von checks on Stone, but Bron runs in! Bron SPEARS Von down!! Stone’s cost Von twice now! Bron puts Von in the ring, takes aim again, and SPEARS Von down!!! Cover, Bron wins!
Winner: Bron Breakker, by pinfall
Fans boo but Stone gets in with that chair! SMACK to the back! Suit Man Stone avenges himself if nothing else, but Bron gets back up! Fans tell Stone he messed up now! Bron SWATS the chair away, chases Stone outside of the ring, but Stone says fine! Do what he will to Stone! Bron says he’s gonna put Stone in the hospital now! But wait, VON is back up!! Von turns Bron around, kicks low and gets him up, POWERBOMB through the desk!! Fans fire up again as Von stands tall! Stone says that’s right! Von did it! He finished Bron! Stone offers a handshake, and Von takes it! They hug it out! Fans cheer, will these best buds reach the top together now?
Backstage interview with Carmelo Hayes.
McKenzie is now with #HIM, and brings up how emotions must be running high. A lost last week to Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Championship, and then Trick Williams’ surprise return. Footage replays of the moment, and Melo looking like he was seeing a ghost. Trick stood Melo up after the loss, but Melo asks what about that? He was just shocked Trick returned after such a brutal attack. How does Melo know it was a “brutal” attack? Because Melo was there when they loaded Trick into the ambulance. He knows what McKenzie’s trying to do, so he’s gonna tell her and the entire world right now: Melo did NOT attack Trick.
Another reason for Melo’s reaction was the look in Trick’s eyes when he stood Melo back up. Melo could tell Trick is listening to all the outside voices pointing their fingers at Melo. So Melo knows what Trick wants, and that is answers face to face. That is what Melo will do, because that is what Melo owes Trick. Why does Melo owe Trick that? Melo says because they’re Trick Melo Gang, and they always gonna be here. Melo goes off to prepare for that moment, but who will Trick believe?
The Brawling Brutes speak.
Ridge Holland tells #OutTheMud that they heard the story. Pete Dunne asks, “Are you lot mad? We grew up on the streets! But different pavement.” Ridge says on these streets, danger is around every corner. And Dunne says if you didn’t scrap, you didn’t survive. But at the end of the day, they were the ones standing tall. They were the ones to make ends meet. For Northern Grit, it was a decade spent running through people on the rugby field. For the Bruiserweight, it was him at 12 years old scrappin’ grown men all over the UK in pubs and workingmen’s clubs. And no matter the scrap, the numbers were always fair. There was NO snake behavior!
If you make a racket, you face the consequences. “OTM, we have different principles.” “We don’t run up on people when their backs are turned!” “You’ll see us face to face next week…” “And we’ll look you dead in the eyes, and knock your teeth down your throats.” “Buckle up, fellas. The Brutes are coming.” Will Scrypts, Lucien Price & Bronco Nima wish they hadn’t picked a fight with these blokes after next week?
Lola Vice & Elektra Lopez VS Roxanne Perez & Kelani Jordan!
That verbal confrontation in the locker room is now going to be a physical one in the ring! Will the Women’s Breakout Tournament Winner(s) get the job done together tonight? Or will the original breakout star and the Gym Princess show them what real winners look like?
NXT returns as the Prodigy and Kelani make their entrance. The teams sort out and wait, Arianna Grace makes her way out here? “As Miss NXT, I, Arianna Grace, would love to wish you four lovely ladies the bestest of luck tonight. I look forward to watching you showcase your talents. I love you all.” Arianna gets emotional, and someone brings her a chair to sit in. The others are confused, but then Lopez ROCKS Roxie with a sucker punch! The bell rings, Lopez throws Roxie by her hair, then drags her up. Lopez whips, Roxie reverses and ROCKS Lopez! And again and again! But Lopez throat chops! Lopez scoops to FALL AWAY SLAM!
Lola tags as Lopez storms up on Roxie. Lopez puts Roxie in ropes and THRASHES her around! Lopez lets off and Lola AX KICKS! Cover, TWO! Lola keeps on Roxie with an ARMBAR! Roxie rolls Lola up, TWO! Roxie wrenches, YANKS the arm, and wrenches it again. Roxie wristlocks, then spins her and knuckle locks. Roxie CHOPS, then CHOPS again! Roxie goes up and up the ropes, tags Kelani and FLYING ARM-DRAGS! Kelani then slips in, waistlocks, but Lola bucks the O’Conner. But Kelani comes back to slingshot arm-drag Lola away! And DROPKICKS her down! Fans fire up as Kelani covers, TWO!
Kelani keeps Lola from Lopez, only for Lola to RAM her into the corner! Lopez tags in, she runs up and ELBOWS Kelani in the corner. Then short arm LARIATS! And ELBOW DROPS! Cover, TWO! Lopez tags Lola back in, they put Kelani in the corner, and Lopez digs her boots in while Lola tosses her hair and shouts, “Viva Latinas!” HIP ATTACK! Lopez mocks Kelani’s pain, Lola taunts Roxie and she whips Kelani. But Kelani ducks ‘n’ dodges to CROSSBODY! Cover, ONE, and Roxie tags in! Roxie hits a THESZ PRESS, and rains down fast hands! Roxie ROCKS Lopez, too! Lola body shots and kicks in return!
Tag to Lopez, she runs and Lola coordinates, HIGH LOW on Roxie! Cover, TWO!! Roxie survives but Lopez rains down elbows! Lopez drags Roxie around, tags in Lola, but the fans rally hard for Roxie. But the devious duo double hip sandwich Roxie! Lola drags Roxie from her corner, sits her up to talk trash and says she’s the breakout star now! Roxie fights up and throws body shots! Roxie then gets around to RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! Roxie kips up, fans fire up, and Kelani tags in! Kelani rallies on Loa, hits Lopez for good measure, then CLOBBERS Lola! And kips up! Fans fire up as Kelani kicks, hooks, and OVERDRIVER! Cover, Lopez breaks it!
Fans boo but Kelani storms up on Lola. Tag to Roxie but Lola YANKS Kelani into ropes! Roxie keeps Lola from Lopez, brings her back, but Lola spins to KICK Roxie! Tag to Lopez, and Lopez picks Roxie up. Roxie fights free with elbows and sends Lopez into Lola! Then Roxie SHOTGUNS them both! Lopez stays up, but Roxie SOBATS! She hops on for POP ROX! Tag to Kelani and Kelani goes up so that Roxie can DIVE onto Lola! Kelani goes up and up and SPLIT-LEG MOONSAULT! Cover, Kelani & Roxie win!
Winners: Roxanne Perez & Kelani Jordan, by pinfall
Arianna hijacks the announcement from Alicia Taylor, and says that while Roxie & Kelani lucked out tonight, the real winners are all the fans! Because- KARMEN ATTACKS ARIANNA! “Will you shut up already!?” Arianna says she’s so mean! But will The Prodigy & The Princess prove they’re the ones more worthy of a title opportunity than the Breakout Star?
Joe Gacy speaks.
“When it started, it was a whisper. It used to be something I could handle. But as I got older, it got louder. It was like somebody in the back of my ear just constantly yelling at me to the point where I saw nothing but red. And the people around would just look at me and judge me and label me, call me ‘The Weird Guy.’ Some even called me a maniac. But I mean, it’s just me. This is how I was built, this is how I was brought into this world, and then all the people that I surrounded myself with somehow kept the voice so quiet. I barely heard it, but it was still there. And it’s like they were never in a room full of people, and never felt more alone.
“Now, it’s like I’m in my own personal hell, and I don’t even know what to do. But maybe I do. Maybe I do know what to do.” Just what is it that Gacy knows now that he’s all alone?
Ilja Dragunov speaks.
“Last week, I needed to use every gram of energy to dispatch Carmelo Hayes. I could barely put one foot in front of the other, that’s how drained I was from our trilogy. He is a warrior. And all of that felt me in our set of battles. But as I turned the corner, I got dropped by a force last week. Baron Corbin, you saw a little window of opportunity and you took it. But y’know, my eyes are the window to my soul. So take a good look. Because now you are on my radar. We may have met before, but with this title on my shoulder, I’m a different animal. So Baron, if you remember one thing, remember this: The only person who can slay the Dragon is the Dragon himself!”
Corbin watches this message.
Edris Enofe & Malik Blade watch it, too, and so do Hank ‘n’ Tank. That dragon spittin’ fire! Yeah, if they were Corbin, they’d be worried. Corbin chuckles and says that’s why they’ll never be anybody. Corbin may be Mr. NO BS, but is he the one oblivious to what’s coming his way?
Otis w/ The Alpha Academy VS Drew Gulak w/ Charlie Dempsey, Myles Borne & Damon Kemp!
The Meta Four cheated “Cadet” Tozawa and the Philly Stretcher had to pile on. Now The Dozer steps up for his team! Will he run through Gulak and his big mouth? Or will Gulak’s goons help him win like Dar’s did?
NXT returns and Gulak makes his entrance, his crew with him. Hmm, Catchpoint hand sign. The bell rings, Gulak and Otis circle and fans rally behind Otis. Otis and Gulak tie up, Gulak headlocks but Otis powers out. Otis runs Gulak over and shakes those hips! Fans fire up, Gable goes to a corner and Otis taunts him with the hips. The two reset, go again, and Gulak kicks low to headlock. Otis pries free, shimmies and shakes, and he reels Gulak in to short arm LARIAT! Otis brings Gulak up to RAM him with the gut! And again! Fans fire up and Gulak goes to a corner. Otis runs in to RAM Gulak into the corner!
Fans fire up and Otis brings Gulak up. Otis whips corner to corner, runs in but Gulak dodges and Otis POSTS himself! Otis falls to the floor, the Academy is there to coach him, but Gulak lets the ring count climb. Otis rises, he rolls in, but Gulak runs in to UPPERCUT! Gulak then goes out and up the corner, to FLYING LARIAT! Cover, TWO and with authority! Fans fire up as Otis rises, but Gulak wrenches an arm. Gulak drops to TRIANGLE HOLD, but Otis stays up! Gulak shifts, drags him down, and keeps Otis from grabbing the ropes by grabbing both arms! Maxxine coaches Otis and fans rally up as he endures!
Otis fights up, stacks Gulak, TWO! But Otis tries again, TWO as Gulak gets the other arm up. So Otis deadlifts and POWERBOMBS Gulak down! Fans fire up as Otis goes to a corner. Gulak runs in but Otis catches him, BIG back suplex! Gulak flounders away and both men are down. The fans rally, Gable coaches Otis while Gulak’s team coaches him. Otis runs, he busts through the clothesline, and then busts through another! Otis somersaults and stands to POUNCE Gulak! Fans fire up as Otis then WRECKER ELBOWS, and WRECKER ELBOWS, and WRECKER ELBOWS again! Gulak is in a corner and Otis whips him! WRECKER ELBOW in the corner!
DISCUS LARIAT puts Gulak down! And off comes the shirt! The fans are thunderous for the CATERPILLAR ELBOW! Otis drags Gulak up to then POP-UP POWERBOMB!! Cover, Otis wins!
Winner: Otis, by pinfall
The Academy now celebrates as Otis gets the big win! And they all do the Tozawa shuffle! That’s naaaasty! But will things be even wilder next week on the Alpha Academy’s debut on Supernova Sessions?
Kiana James talks with Tiffany Stratton backstage.
Kiana congratulates Tiffany on beating Fallon tonight, and Tiffany thanks her for it. But did Kiana really expect anything else? And now Tiff gets to sit back, relax, and watch as the next four women are determined. And Kiana says one of those spots has her name on it. And they can both agree that they cannot let Roxie win the Iron Survivor Challenge again. This Women’s Division is the hottest in all of WWE thanks to these two. They are carrying this division on their backs! Which is why they can’t let anyone else, new or established, to knock them off their perch. Like Fallon Henley! She doesn’t even deserve to breathe the same air as them.
Or Roxie! Kiana did NOT deserve what Roxie did to her in the Devil’s Playground match. Absolutely! But guess at Deadline, it comes down to the two of them in the end. And Tiffany says we all know who is winning. Kiana says so does she. Kiana heads out, and Tiffany says she actually doesn’t hate Kiana. Are these two mean girls actually bonding over being mean girls? But then who will be the meanest of them all when it comes down to the Deadline?
Wait, Boa is in the background, but we can’t see who it is at this angle. They step forward, and it’s Dante Chen. But with face paint like Boa’s?! These two head off, just what is brewing in the shadows?
NXT checks in with Chase U.
Jacy Jayne paces around while ranting about how she scratched his back but he won’t scratch hers. He thinks he can get away with that? No he will not! But then Tony D’Angelo’s cousins walk in asking for Mr. Chase. Sorry, he’s not here right now. Well, make sure he gets this letter. Who is this from? Oh, he knows exactly who this is from. Okay… Jacy takes a peek, and sees some rather incriminating pictures! But Chase snatches the envelope from her and says, “Seriously, Jacy?!” Jacy says she didn’t do anything. Jacy, opening other people’s mail is illegal! And this is not something she wants to get involved with.
Duke Hudson & Thea Hail walk in and Duke says look at these two, getting along and all. Almost like they’re becoming besties. Thea asks what they were talking about. Jacy says nothing, just how the match went last week. Chase nods and Jacy says good news is, our men’s NXT Tag Team Champions have their first title defense next week. Duke is surprised to hear that but Jacy says it’s the rematch with Tony & Stacks. When was Mr. Chase gonna tell Duke? He was gonna do that right now but it slipped his mind and Jacy beat him to it. Anyway, class dismissed, everyone can go. Yeah, good idea. Time to strategize! That’s why Chase is the professor.
Y-Yeah, that’s why. Thea and Duke head out, and Jacy gives Chase a knowing look. Chase goes to the envelope, and sees the things for himself. Just what kind of dirt does The Don have on The Professor?
Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifier: DIJAK VS Tyler Bate!
Though he is big and strong, Hard Justice isn’t the Big Strong Boi! And while Bate has had all the gold NXT UK had to offer, he still wants THE gold in NXT! Will Bate finally be able to move on from former glory? Or will Dijak feast his eyes on the Deadline?
The bell rings and fans fire up as the two rush in! Bate headlocks, Dijak powers out and Bate RAMS shoulders, but Dijak doesn’t budge! Dijak then DECKS Bate! Fans rally, Dijak grins and he stomps Bate. Dijak stands Bate up in the corner to ROCK him, ELBOW him, and whip him corner to corner. Dijak runs in, blocks boots, but Bate brings Dijak down to KNEE! Bate goes up to FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Dijak catches his breath but Bate headlocks. Fans rally as Bate SMACKS Dijak with a boot! And then again! Dijak crawls, Bate brings him up and around, but Dijak blocks! Dijak fireman’s carries, but Bate fights free!
Bate waistlocks, Dijak switches and whips, but Bate stops himself to ENZIGURI Dijak out of the ring! Bate builds speed and he FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Dijak! Fans fire up as Bate stands and Dijak crawls. Bate runs in, to CROSSBODY, but Dijak catches him this time! Dijak KNEES Bate int he side, then spins to TOSS Bate over the barriers! Fans boo but Dijak grins as NXT goes picture in picture.
Dijak stands, the ref reprimands, but Dijak drags Bate up and over the barriers to dump him down. Dijak drags Bate up, puts him in the ring, and covers, TWO! Dijak pushes Bate down to rain down fists! The ref reprimands, Dijak lets off to cover, TWO! Bate sputters but Dijak stomps him around. Dijak drags Bate up, whips him to ropes, but Bate ducks ‘n’ dodges and UPPERCUTS! Dijak stays up so Bate keeps moving, to UPPERCUT again! And UPPERCUT again! Bate keeps moving, but he blocks a boot, to reel Dijak in and EXPLODER! Both men are down but then Bate kips up! And STANDING SHOOTING STARS! Cover, TWO!
Bate keeps cool and he stalks Dijak to a corner. Dijak goes to the apron, Bate drags Dijak up, and Bate throws hands! Bate climbs up the corner, stands Dijak up and rains down fists. Dijak throws hands in return! Dijak climbs up now, but Bate throws more hands! Bate brings Dijak up to SUPER- NO, Dijak fights to be back on the corner! NXT returns to single picture as Bate tries again, for a STALLING SUPERPLEX!! Fans are thunderous while both men are down! Fans rally, both men sit up, and Bate throws hands. Dijak hits back! Bate fires a flurry, but Dijak ROCKS him with just one! Bate stands to fire more shots!
Dijak fires shots in return, and even more shots! But Bop up, BANG hits! Dijak staggers, Bop up to BANG again! And then Bop up, but Dijak choke grips! HIGH JUSTICE!! Cover, TWO?!? Bate survives and fans rally up. Bate goes to the corner, Dijak runs in to CYCLONE- NO, Bate gets under the boot to fireman’s carry! AIRPLANE SPIN!! Fans fire up as Bate goes around and around and around and around, for TEN! FIFTEEN! TWENTY before the DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Dijak survives and Bate is beside himself. Fans rally up as Bate and Dijak crawl to ropes. Bate drags himself up while the fans cheer him on.
Dijak wobbles, Bate hobbles, and both men swing, but miss wild from being so dizzy! Dijak and Bate stand up again, Dijak swings wild and almost hits the ref! Bate ROCKS Dijak! Dijak SUPERKICKS Bate! Dijak CYCLONE- NO, Bate dodges, REBOUNDER! Cover, TWO!! Dijak is still in this but Bate drags him up! But Dijak suplexes, TIME TO FLY! Bate ends up in a corner, Dijak storms over and he climbs that corner. Bate is in the drop zone and Dijak reaches the top, but Bate goes up after him! SUPER GERMAN SUPLEX! But Dijak lands on his feet?!? Dijak then CYCLONE BOOTS!! Cover, TWO!!! Bate survives and the fans are thunderous!
“This is Awesome!” while both men are down. Dijak stands, he drags Bate up, and he reels Bate in to the torture rack. FEAST YOUR- NO! Bate lands out! Bate ROCKS Dijak! ROCKS him again! And then reels him in! Underhooks and- NO, Dijak back drops free! Bate lands on his feet to run, and he baits Dijak into the ring. Dijak blocks a boot but Bate again knees him back! Bate goes up to leap, into the torture rack!! FEAST YOUR EYES!! Cover, DIJAK WINS!!
Winner: Dijak, by pinfall (advances to NXT Deadline)
Fans can’t believe it, but the Big Strong Boi falls short! Will Dijak turn the Iron Survivor Challenge into an action movie with him as the big bad boss villain?
Trick Williams pulls into the parking lot!
Trick rolls up in style and he storms into the arena in style, but this isn’t about looking good, this is about looking for the truth! Will Trick get to the bottom of who attacked him? Or does he already know?
More Iron Survivor Challenge qualifiers are on the way!
We saw Mick Foley pick his two match-ups tonight, but there will be even MORE WWE Legends helping make the matches! Jerry “The King” Lawler, John Bradshaw Layfield, and the one and only Lita will all be giving their choices in the following weeks! They will be looking over the entire NXT roster, each superstar’s body of work in 2023 as well as their intangible traits to determine who is worthy. And there’s always a chance diamonds in the rough who are hungry for opportunities stands out. Lita is on the clock now, who will she name in her dream match-ups?
Carmelo Hayes is in the ring.
NXT returns and Melo has a mic to cut to the chase. “This thing is bigger than the NXT Championship. This is about my friend, this is about my brother. Trick, come out here, man, let’s talk about it.” And so Trick Williams makes his way out! Fans chant “WHOOP DAT TRICK!” and Booker feels it as Trick also has a mic. Trick takes the sunglasses off to get serious but Melo stops him to say he understands exactly why Trick is upset. Trick got blindsided and the opportunity of a lifetime got taken away from him. Melo understands why Trick is feeling the way he’s feeling. But Trick needs to understand, roadblocks are part of the journey.
Melo wants Trick to look at their own journey. Melo needed someone by his side, who did he call? He called Trick Williams. He put Trick on game, won championship after championship, and shared that glory with Trick, his best friend! Without Trick, there’d be no Melo. So before- But now Trick cuts Melo off! This is exactly why Trick is having such a hard time figuring this whole thing out. Because over the last two years, Trick’s done nothing but put Trick Melo Gang first. Melo’s success has been Trick’s success. Whenever Melo won a championship, Trick was so happy, it was like he won a championship himself.
And he heard all the critiques, took all the beatings on the side, and Trick said that whenever Melo shoots, he don’t miss. Melo nods and says it worked. Because he didn’t miss! They were like Shaq & Kobe, Jordan & Pippin! Whenever Melo won, Trick won. That’s exactly Trick’s point! Whenever Melo won. It’s easy to talk like that when you got the ball, when Melo’s taking all the shots. But what about now? Now that Trick has the ball, now that Trick’s taking all the shots, why can’t Melo be there exactly the same way Trick was there for Melo?
Or better yet, here’s the better question, the question the whole world wants to know, and the question that Trick needs to know. “Melo, did you-” “Did I do what, Trick? Did I believe in you? Yes! Before Trick Williams became the hottest star in NXT, before the Whoop Dat chants, all of that, I was there for you, Trick. Look, man, you need to understand that. I knew you were destined for greatness from the beginning. When the NFL didn’t work out, all of that. Look, man, everything that Cena told you, I told you months ago. I knew you were destined for greatness. I knew that you had the potential to be a once in a lifetime performer.
“So does that answer your question, Trick?” Trick tells Melo he just wants to do his own thing, have his moments, have his main events. Melo had his moments, so why can’t he see that Trick deserves that, too? Melo says that’s why he wants Trick by his side! But Trick says he can’t help but think back on this. He had Melo’s back. When Melo needed him, Trick was there. When Melo needed the fancy entrances, Trick poured his heart and soul into them and made them the bets entrances in all of WWE! But where is Melo when Trick needs him? When he got jumped! When he got attacked! Trick didn’t even see what happened, he just knew Melo wasn’t there!
Melo double checks. Trick didn’t see who it was? No, all Trick knows is that he got hit in the head and went down. When he came to, the refs were beside him, and the only voice he heard was Melo’s. Boom, in the ambulance. Only thing Trick could think of were that his chances at the NXT Championship were gone. No, no, hold on. Let’s run that back. Trick for real didn’t see who attacked him? What is Melo’s mind on right now? Is that all he can think about? Trick got attacked, and here Melo is, talking about wanting this, wanting that, Melo chooses this. But look where they at, Trick! EXACTLY! So let’s clear all the ice and address the elephant in the room.
Trick asks Melo, “Did you attack me?” Fans seem convinced, but Melo takes his time. Trick wants the truth? Yes. But wait! Lexis King makes his way out here? “Well, well, well. Ladies and gentlemen, we have quite the paradox here, don’t we? We got the friend who was brutally assaulted. And the first man at the scene of the crime was his best friend. Am I wrong, Melo?” Melo says he knows King is new here and all, but do us a favor and shut up and mind your own business! Fans cheer that. Trick says real talk, this isn’t King’s business, so mind your mouth while grown folks is talking. Fans cheer that, too!
King tells everyone to relax. He is just trying to help get to the bottom of this. And seems to him like everyone knows who did it. Don’t they? Though, it could’ve been someone else. Someone new, someone trying to make an impact. Someone dark and dirty like you’ve never seen! Someone with a mind so twisted, his thoughts so unclean… Now ask yourselves, are you sure that it was Melo that assaulted Trick? Trick said it before, get on out while grown folks is talking. King wants Trick to say it! He wants Trick to say what everyone here is thinking! Trick has been sucking his thumb for weeks, and- Trick takes a swing on King! But King ducks and Trick DECKS Melo!!
King gets away and everyone is stunned! Trick is furious with King, he wants to help Melo up, but Melo slaps Trick’s hand away. Trick still offers, and Melo accepts the second time. Trick Melo Gang still stands together, but Melo still scowls. Is he mad at King? At Trick? At himself? Or D, all of the above?
My Thoughts:
A great NXT to get things going towards Deadline. I like that we’re getting Hall of Famers to “book” the qualifiers, and I’m also okay with not having it in a roundtable discussion format. Less talking to get to the point of great match-ups, which we definitely got tonight. Tiffany VS Fallon was a great match to “make up” for the no contest last time, but I figured Tiffany was going to win that. And great promo from Tiffany and Kiana to plug Kiana as a potential choice. Though I’d love if they made Kiana sweat and have her be one of the last chosen. And Dijak VS Bate was awesome stuff, great main event match, and what a surprise that Dijak won!
Also I love NXT using the same Easter egg “watch the background” stuff during Tiffany and Kiana talking. Boa has now brought Chen into the same spookiness as before, I really hope this means Tian Sha returns soon. Which in some relation, Xia Li being here to go after the NXT Women’s Championship is also a nice surprise. Xia may be feuding with Becky on Raw but she also still wants the title she felt Becky let go on purpose. Great knockout on that big security guard, and Xia VS Lyra is going to be great stuff for Deadline. And at the same time, Xia is that kind of opponent that could do a lot of damage even though she loses, and then Lola Vice tries to MITB that title off Lyra.
Really good group promo from the various female superstars tonight, with everyone getting something to say. Great match of Lola & Lopez VS Roxie & Kelani, and great win for Roxie & Kelani. Also, great bit of Arianna being a somewhat two-faced Heel, trying to hog the spotlight while giving backhanded comments to the others, only for Karmen to call her out on it and go after her for it. Karmen VS Arianna will be really good stuff, and could even be part of the Iron Survivor Challenge qualifiers. And good promo from Joe Gacy here. NXT Stand & Deliver Philly should be Joe Gacy VS his intrusive thoughts in a cinematic match.
Great Heritage Cup match to open the night, but of course Tozawa lost because duh, that dang Meta Four is always gonna get in the way. They’ve all learned well from the Roman Reigns Bloodline strategy books. I don’t know who is gonna take that cup away from Dar, but they might just need to be someone gigantic and with the strength to win by knockout. Hell, make it Von. Von may have lost to Bron in a really good match, but he got the last laugh tonight putting Bron through the table. And while Robert Stone isn’t enough to counter all of Meta Four, maybe, just maybe, the Robert Stone Brand can rebuild. Or also continuity with how Maxxine used to be Sophia and she could help out.
Good promo from the Alpha Academy and Gulak’s Not Catchpoint, and really fun match of Otis VS Gulak. Otis is also a possibility since he’s a big man who could literally squash Dar to get a pinfall, and maybe even make it so Dar is deemed unable to continue because he got squashed that badly. At the same time, that seems kinda mean since Otis would just be another RawDown star winning an NXT prize. Corbin had some good promos with Wes Lee and then the other tag team guys, but Dragunov’s promo was great. Dragunov VS Corbin is going to be great but yeah, Dragunov definitely wins to retain.
And what great use of the whodunnit story tonight. Melo defended his side, but McKenzie was fishing for clues. Was Melo really trying to deflect things onto Cena with the whole “Trick couldn’t see the attacker” line? That seems like a silly move. But Lexis King joining this story is a nice little detail. And that look on Melo’s face after getting hit by Trick, that’s very telling in its own way. I said last week that I’d like for Melo VS Trick to happen separate of the Iron Survivor Challenge, so I guess we’ll have to see what happens these next few weeks.
My Score: 8.8/10
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Is Orange Cassidy coldblooded? Or just in control?
Before their AEW World Championship match at Full Gear, Jon Moxley puts Wheeler Yuta in Orange Cassidy’s way! Will Cassidy destroy The Decoder before going for The Maniac?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- 8 Man Tag: Will Ospreay, Mark Davis, Ricochet & “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS The Don Callis Family; The Don Callis Family wins.
- Kris Statlander VS Hikaru Shida; Kris wins.
- 2v1 Handicap: Bobby Lashley w/ The Hurt Syndicate VS Joe Keys & Cheeseburger; Lashley wins.
- Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli; Claudio wins.
- Orange Cassidy VS Wheeler Yuta w/ The Death Riders; Cassidy wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
8 Man Tag: Will Ospreay, Mark Davis, Ricochet & “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS The Don Callis Family!
This All-Star 8 Man is going to make for a massive match! The Aerial Assassin, Dunk Zilla, The One & Only and the man the family foolishly forgot are now teamed together against Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Brian Cage & Lance Archer! Will Ospreay lead this team to victory ahead of the grudge matches at Full Gear? Or will Callis’ Alpha, Aussie Arrow, Machine & Murderhawk Monster make sure #EverybodyDies?
Well forget sorting out, Ospreay leads his team in attacking the Callis Family right on the ramp! The fans fire up as Hobbs is after Archer, Davis is after Cage, and of course Ricochet is after Konosuke while Ospreay is after Kyle! Hobbs smacks Archer off railing, Kyle CLUBS Ospreay on the back, but Ospreay kicks low. Ospreay sends Kyle into railing, rips the tearaway pants right off him, and then LASHES him with them! Davis sends Cage into railing while Ospreay uses those pants to SLING Kyle into more railing! Davis CLUBS away on Cage, Ospreay blows snot on Kyle’s pants, and Davis sends Cage into more railing.
Kyle turns things around to send Ospreay into railing! Konosuke helps Cage against Davis but Hobbs still throws hands on Archer. Kyle CLUBS Ospreay, CLUBS Ricochet, but Konosuke puts Davis in the ring. The bell rings and this is finally a match. Konosuke headlocks Davis but Davis fires body shots. Davis powers up and out, but Konosuke RAMS him! The fans fire up as Davis stays up. Davis runs to RAM Konosuke! Konosuke stays up and the fans rally. Konosuke runs to RAM Davis, but Davis runs. Konosuke bypasses, leaps, but Davis catches him for a TOSS! And a SENTON! The fans fire up with Davis, and Ricochet reaches out.
Davis tags Ricochet in , then holds the way open, for Ricochet to FOSBURY FLOP onto Konosuke! But Cage CLOBBERS Davis! Cage then RAMS Ricochet into the apron, POSTS him, but Ospreay PENALTY KICKS Cage! The fans fire up as Ospreay goes up, but Kyle UPPERCUTS him! The fans boo as Kyle goes up, CLUBS away on Ospreay, and Ospreay falls to the floor. But now Hobbs is up! Kyle says wait! Then he fires hands! Hobbs just CHOPS Kyle! Hobbs climbs up to get Kyle, but Archer CLUBS Hobbs! Archer drags Hobbs down, throws hands, then puts Hobbs in between steps and post! Hobbs fights back, but Cage sends Ospreay into the steps!
The fans boo as Hobbs’ leg is crushed between steps and post! Archer puts Ricochet in the ring while a medic checks Hobbs. Archer brings Ricochet up but Ricochet slips free to fire off fast strikes! Hobbs is being helped to the back and Ospreay is concerned that this is now 4v3. Ricochet still fires strikes on Archer, but Archer grabs Ricochet by the neck! CHOKE- NO, Ricochet RANAS Archer first! Archer tumbles, stands up, and Ricochet springboards, but Archer CLOBBERS Him out of the sky! Archer BLASTS Davis, then catches Ospreay out of the air! Archer TOSSES Ospreay away and fans boo. But Ricochet springboards back in!
Archer catches Ricochet, and he CHOKE SLAMS Ricochet out onto Ospreay and Davis! The fans boo as the Don Callis Family is in control, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Cage & Kyle flex to soak up the heat, then Archer goes out after Ospreay and the rest. Konosuke fetches Ricochet into the ring, waistlocks, and then brings him away from the corner. Archer beats up on Ospreay while Konosuke fires knees into Ricochet. Ricochet tumbles to ropes but Konosuke is on him. Davis fires hands on Archer, then sends him into railing! Davis fires more hands, but Konosuke CHOKES Ricochet at the ropes! The ref counts, Konosuke steps off and tags Kyle. Kyle stays between Ricochet and his corner. Kyle taunts Ricochet, stomps him around, then whips him to ropes. Kyle ELBOWS Ricochet down, then stalks him to a corner.
Kyle stomps away on Ricochet while Archer intimidates commentary. Kyle shouts at the camera while the ref counts, and Kyle steps off of Ricochet’s neck. Kyle bumps Ricochet off buckles, tags Cage, and Cage stands Ricochet up. Cage CHOPS Ricochet, then whips him to ropes for an ELBOW! Cage flexes while he taunts Ospreay & Davis. Cage drags Ricochet up but Ricochet RAMS him! And RAMS him! And fires forearms! Cage ROCKS Ricochet, then runs, but into a tiger wall kick and ENZIGIRI! Konosuke tags in and storms after Ricochet. Konosuke stomps Ricochet, then rains down fists! The ref reprimands while Dynamite returns to single picture.
Konosuke argues with the ref while Ospreay rallies the fans. Konosuke stays between Ricochet and his team, but Ricochet SLAPS Konosuke! Konosuke ROCKS Ricochet for it! Ricochet fires forearms and an UPPERCUT! Konosuke keeps Ricochet from his corner, reels Ricochet in, but Ricochet victory rolls! TWO, and Ricochet ducks a chop to handspring BACK ELBOW! The fans fire up while both men are down! Ricochet and Konosuke crawl, hot tags to Kyle and Ospreay! The fans fire up as these two fire fists and forearms! Kyle kicks and whips but Ospreay ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Kyle!
Ospreay whips, Kyle reverses, Ospreay handsprings to NEURALIZER KICK! Kyle staggers, Konosuke tags back in! Ospreay dodges Konosuke to BLAST Cage & Archer! Ospreay fires fists on Konosuke, but Konosuke CLAWS Ospreay’s face! Konosuke runs, but Davis intercepts with a fireman’s carry! AUSSIE DENTAL PLAN! Or maybe in this case, just a United Empire Dental Plan! But in any case, Davis scoops Konosuke, for the LAWN DART CUTTER! Cover, TWO!! Konosuke survives but the fans fire up. Ospreay & Davis bring Konosuke up, double pump handle, but the #MurderMachines make the save!
Archer puts Davis in a corner, Cage ducks Ospreay’s haymaker to waistlock. Archer runs up, BOOT GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO! Davis fires hands on Archer but Cage waistlocks, ripcords, and ROCKS Davis! Then fireman’s carry into the ASSISTED NECKBREAKER! The fans boo but the Murder Machines DOUBLE RIPCORD Ospreay up for Konosuke’s BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! Cover, TWO!! Ospreay survives and shocks everyone! Archer argues with the ref but the count was fair. Konosuke tags Kyle while fans rally up behind Ospreay. Kyle smirks as he stalks Ospreay. Kyle BOOTS Ricochet off the apron for good measure!
Kyle tells Ospreay that this is how he wants it, right? All about Ospreay! Kyle stomps away on Ospreay in the corner, then digs his boots in! The ref counts but wait! Here comes Hobbs! Hobbs hobbles but Kyle hurries to send Ospreay to the Callis corner. Tag to Konosuke and then Kyle slides out. Kyle runs up on Hobbs, but Hobbs CLOBBERS him! The fans fire up as Hobbs makes his way to the corner. Ospreay fights free of the corner but Konosuke holds him back! Ospreay fires forearms, reaches out, repeat! The fans rally as hard as they can, but Konosuke reels Ospreay in! Konosuke hits a back suplex, but Ospreay lands out!
Ospreay dodges Konosuke, hot tag to Hobbs! The Powerhouse powers up to rally on Konosuke! The fans fire up as Hobbs TOSSES Kyle, but the Murder Machines attack! They reel Hobbs in, but Hobbs fights the double suplex! The fans fire up but the Murder Machines double whip. Hobbs DOUBLE LARIATS! The fans fire up as Hobbs has targets in all corners! SPLASH for Konosuke! SPLASH for Cage! SPLASH for Kyle! SPLASH for Archer! The fans are thunderous and Hobbs brings the straps down. Archer kicks low, then runs, but Hobbs dodges, to SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up again, and Hobbs tags Davis!
Davis runs up to BOOT Konosuke, BOOT him again, but Konosuke just fires up! Ospreay CANNONBALLS onto Kyle while Konosuke fires hands! Konosuke spins, but Davis DECKS him! Davis roars, stands Konosuke up, but Konosuke backdrops back! POWER- NO, Davis stops the knee to ENZIGIRI! Davis gut wrenches Konosuke, for a PILEDRIVER!! Cover, KYLE BREAKS IT! The fans boo but now Aussie Open is face to face! Kyle pie faces Davis, talks trash, but Davis glares at him. Kyle SLAPS Davis, so Davis TACKLES Kyle! Davis throws hands, Kyle gets up, and Davis runs up! Kyle dodges and Konosuke DECKS Davis!
Ricochet springboards, FLYING LARIAT on Konosuke! But Cage POP-UP POWERBOMBS Ricochet! Hobbs SPINEBUSTERS Cage! Archer CHOKE SLAMS Hobbs! Ospreay hits the PIP PIP CHEERIO FOREARM on Archer! Ospreay dares Kyle to man up and fight him! Kyle snarls, gets in, and they fire forearms again! Kyle swings, Ospreay catches him, but Kyle breaks the full nelson with an elbow! Ospreay HOOK KICKS Kyle! Ospreay runs, Kyle dodges, but then Ospreay slips through the lariat! Kyle slips through the bomb, hoists Ospreay up, but Ospreay slips free! Kyle ducks the hook kick to SUPERKICK! Kyle runs, into the SPANISH FLY!!
The fans are thunderous as Ospreay takes aim from a corner! Kyle rises, so does Davis, and Ospreay runs up, Kyle uses Davis as a shield from the HIDDEN BLADE!! Ospreay freaks out, Kyle SUPERKICKS Ospreay out of the ring! Then Kyle DIVES onto Ospreay! Konosuke brings down his kneepad, aims at Davis, POWER DRIVE KNEE!!! Cover, Don Callis Family wins!!
Winners: The Don Callis Family, by pinfall
The Alpha stands tall over Davis as friendly fire takes out Ospreay’s team. But what happens when things divide into 1v1 matches? Will Konosuke still be International Champion after he and Ricochet go #OuttaThisWorld? Will Kyle prove that he IS The Protostar after tearing down Will Ospreay?
Jon Moxley & The Death Riders speak.
“Despite recent discoveries that Orange Cassidy is a snake, coldblooded, uncaring, unmoving, a serpent lurking in the darkest corners of the battlefield, my objective remains the same, my job on Saturday night remains the same. You may be this borderline sociopath, you may be a great guy just like everybody thinks. I don’t care if you’re a great guy. I don’t care what kind of person you are. When the bell rings on Saturday night, and the AEW World Championship hangs in the balance, you are a threat to my people. And I will destroy you.
“There’s so much more going on behind Orange Cassidy’s eyes than any of us could’ve imagined. You may make it to Full Gear with your mind in tact, but your body… For that matter, Darby Allin’s body… Still up for grabs.” Claudio jumps in, speaking in German about what he’ll do to Darby. Then in English, he says, “Tonight, I’m gonna end you.” Moxley pats Claudio on the shoulder. Will The Maniac’s top henchmen do his dirty work for him when they dismantle Cassidy & Darby? Or will it just be fuel on the fire for Freshly Squeezed & The Relentless One? Speaking of…
Darby Allin speaks.
“Claudio, I’m gonna keep this really short. Let’s not forget you’re the one who put the chair around Bryan’s neck and pulled the trigger on his career. Every single one of you Death Riders will have your day. And Claudio, today’s your day.” Will Moxley’s men be dealt with in brutal fashion before he suffers the same?
The Hurt Syndicate arrive.
Renee Paquette waits in the parking lot as an SUV pulls up, and she welcomes Montel Vontavious Porter, Shelton Benjamin & Bobby Lashley to the show. She heard MVP has a surprise in store, what’s he got planned? MVP says yes, there is a special treat for the AEW audience, and that is this announcement: The All Mighty Bobby Lashley will be in action here tonight on Dynamite in Reading, Pennsylvania, prior to his PPV debut on Saturday! Renee asks if MVP is at all concerned to put Lashley in a match- OH NO, Swerve attacks!! Swerve knocks Lashley over, then laughs as he gets away!
Shelton helps Lashley up but that ambush might’ve been with Swerve’s own silver chain. Will Lashley elect not to compete tonight after all? Or is he about to make an example out of whatever poor soul is put in front of him?
Adam Cole is here!
Reading fires up as the Panama City Playboy makes his way to the ring. They join in with the “BOOM!” and “ADAM COLE, BAYBAY!” Cole grabs a mic to ask, “Who’s ready for Storytime with Adam Cole, Baybay?” Reading sure is ready! Cole wishes so so badly that he could get his hands on MJF this Saturday, but he’s not. MJF did everything in his power to make sure he and Cole didn’t fight on Saturday, and he succeeded. But do you know who else succeeded last week? Roderick Strong did! The fans cheer as Cole says he and Roddy have the exact same goal: Give MJF the ass whooping of a lifetime! And that is exactly what happens at Full Gear!
The fans cheer, and wait, Kyle O’Reilly makes his way out here. The longtime friend of Cole & Roddy makes his way out here, and already has a mic. Kyle isn’t sure if Cole remembers, but 14 years ago, right here in Reading, PA, Cole and Kyle had their second match ever against each other. They’ve come a long way. Being associated with Cole has given Kyle some incredible highs, and some serious lows. And through those lows, Kyle knows Cole better than anyone. Which makes Kyle the only one willing to tell Cole the truth. The truth is, this crusade against MJF has got to end before someone gets hurt.
This obsession, Cole needs to wash his hands of it. His ankle has already been reconstructed, what’s next? Cole has friends willing to take a bullet for him, Kyle included, but Cole has got to stop having his friends fight his battles. Roddy barely makes it out alive last week, and now he wants to fight MJF! He wants to END MJF, all because of Cole. Kyle just doesn’t have a good feeling about any of this. Cole asks Kyle what he’s trying to say here. Kyle doesn’t think Roddy can handle MJF? Kyle asks Cole if he really thinks MJF isn’t already three steps ahead. MJF hasn’t been here for weeks but he’s pulling all the strings.
Cole should know that dealing with MJF is like playing with fire, and Kyle doesn’t wanna see his friends get burned. Cole needs to realize why so many of his friends are willing to go to war for him, and it’s because he is a great leader, an elite pro-wrestler, and a great friend, who doesn’t wanna see his friends get hurt. At least, so Kyle thinks. But Cole has to face facts: MJF is more of an evil bastard than Cole will ever be, and that is a good thing. Kyle drops his mic and walks away. Cole drops his mic, and has a lot to think about. Does Kyle have a point? Can Cole just let Roddy handle MJF and then move on?
Orange Cassidy speaks.
“A little later tonight, I’m gonna make an example out of you, Wheeler Yuta. And I’m gonna show everybody exactly what I’m gonna do this Saturday to you, Jon Moxley. And that’s walk down to that ring and beat you, alone.” But The Conglomeration steps in. Mark Briscoe has Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii with him as he asks Cassidy, “What sense does that make, man?” Moxley said himself, there’s five Death Riders, one Cassidy. Conglomeration has his back, they are here for him. Cassidy says no, no one else needs to get hurt. Get hurt? What’s Cassidy talking about? The Conglomeration are ready to scrap!
PLEASE!! Cassidy is asking them… They don’t have to believe him or even understand him. But just promises him they’ll stay back here. If Cassidy insists, then so be it. Cassidy says there you have it, Jon. Five of you, one of him. Do what you’re gonna do. Because at Full Gear, Moxley’s gonna need all the help he can get. Cassidy is himself wanting the best for his friends, but will that work out for the betterment of AEW? Or is he just playing into Moxley’s hands?
Kris Statlander VS Hikaru Shida!
The #BornAgainKristen bodied the bullies that are Mercedes Mone & Kamille the last time she saw them, but she still needs to tune up for Full Gear. However, taking on the THREE-TIME AEW Women’s World Champion might be more than just a workout. Win, lose or draw, will the Shining Samurai get Kris ready for The CEO?
The bell rings, Kris and Shida shake hands and the fans applaud. The two circle, tie up, and Kris wrenches to a wristlock. Shida handsprings and wrenches back, then hammerlocks. Kris reaches back, hits a headlock takeover, but Shida headscissors. Kris kips free and the fans cheer while the two reset. Shida and Kris circle again while the fans fire up. The two tie up, Shida wrenches and hammerlocks, then CLUBS Kris on the back. Shida CLUBS Kris again, then waistlocks. Kris fights the lift with elbows, then switches. Kris SLAMS Shida, then flips her over. Shida kips up to arm-drag Kris! Kris ends up in a corner, and Shida runs up to KNEE her!
Shida climbs up and the fans cheer as she rains down fists! But Kris stops Shida at 5 and carries her out of the corner! Shida slips free, Kris blocks a lariat to SWEEP the leg! STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Shida is tough and she goes to ropes, but Kris whips her to a corner. Kris runs up but into a RANA! Kris cartwheels through! Then she CLOBBERS Shida! The fans fire up while Kris flexes. Kris drags Shida into a motorcycle stretch but Shida endures. The fans rally up and Shida fights to her feet. Shida arm-drags Kris down, and wraps her in a straitjacket stretch! Kris fights up with a bridge, but Shida hops on!
The fans rally while Kris RAMS Shida into a corner! Shida holds onto the straitjacket and pulls! The ref counts, Shida lets go at 4, and then MISSILE DROPKICKS! Kris tumbles and the fans duel as Shida fires up! Shida goes outside, drags Kris to the apron, and CLUBS her! Shida runs to KNEE LIFT! Kris flops to the floor and fans cheer while Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Shida brings Kris up again, and whips her into railing hard! Kris writhes, Shida drags her up, and then Shida whips Kris into more railing! Kris writhes again and Shida refreshes the ring count. Shida sits Kris in a corner to rain down fists! The fans fire up but the ref reprimands, so Shida stops. Shida brings Kris around, pushes her into the ring, and then stalks her. Shida stomps Kris around, brings her up, and snap suplexes! Kris writhes but Shida brings her up again. Shida then snap suplexes Kris into a corner! Shida drags Kris to a cover, TWO! Kris stays in this but Shida stays on her with a chinlock stretch!
Kris endures being bent back, and she reaches out with her free arm. Shida pulls back more but Kris rises up! Shida is again a backpack, but then she slips down. Kris fires body shots, slips around and lifts for a BIG back suplex! Kris huffs ‘n’ puffs as she rises up, but then Shida dodges the sliding forearm! Ghost pin! TWO, and Kris has a cradle! TWO! Shida ROCKS Kris, but Kris PELES! Shida staggers, but she comes back to ENZIGIRI! Both women are down and the fans fire up! The ref checks both women and they’re okay to continue, so a standing count begins. Shida and Kris stir at about 4 of 10, then rise up at 6.
Kris grabs Shida, but Shida fires a forearm! Dynamite returns to single picture as the shots go back and forth. Shida fires a flurry, then whips Kris to ropes. Kris ducks ‘n’ dodges, then dodges a knee! SNAP POWERSLAM! The fans fire up with Kris as she whips Shida to a corner. Kris runs up to UPPERCUT, then she goes side to side for a KNEE LIFT! Shida ends up in ropes but Kris reels her in. Fisherman BUSTER! Cover, TWO! Shida survives and the fans fire up again! Kris hoists Shida up, gut wrenches, but Shida slips free! DOUBLE LARIATS collide! Shida eggs Kris on, then dodges her to fire forearms! Kris just shakes her head!
Shida fires more shots, but Kris fireman’s carries! But Shida slips free, straitjacket roll-up! TWO!! KNEE STRIKE! And then short arm LARIAT! Shida takes aim, but she starts to doubt the Katana! Shida runs up but Kris dodges the boot to then scoop and INVERTED SLAM! Then Kris aims, DISCUS- NO, Shida backslides her! TWO!! Shida reels Kris in, suplexes, FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO?!? Kris survives and Shida is shocked! Shida brings Kris up but Kris fires body shots and forearms! Shida ROCKS Kris, but Kris wrenches to kick! Kris runs, but into the JUMP KNEE! Shida hurries to suplex, but Kris turns it around!
Shida slips out of Kris’ suplex to slip around, GERMAN SUPLEX! Shida roars, aims, KATA- NO, Kris gut wrenches! Tuck and STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER!! Cover, Kris wins!!
Winner: Kris Statlander, by pinfall
Shida gave Kris a powerful match, but clearly Shida has to iron out her own crisis of confidence. Kris still shows Shida respect by helping her up. But wait, here comes Mercedes Mone & Kamille! The fans boo The CEO & Brickhouse but Mone has a mic. “Readiiiiing~! Say hello to your C E O!” The fans boo instead. Mone asks Kamille if she wants to hear a fun fact about Pennsylvania. The 76ers have had yet another terrible season! Embarrassing~! But shoutouts to Mone’s Celtics for another incredible victory. The fans boo Boston but Mone says another person with an incredible win was Kris Statlander. Mone is rarely impressed by her competition.
Does anyone else want to hear another fun fact? “NO!!” Well, Mone has held the TBS Championship longer than Kris! So at Full Gear, Mone will NOT lose, because she is The CEO, the greatest TBS Champion of all time! And she will NEVER lose this title! Fans tell The CEO to STFU, but Mone tells Kamille go get the job done! She is so pissed off! GO! NOW! Kamille walks up the steps past Mone, but with only one good arm! Mone says hurry up, but Kamille looks at both Shida and Kris. Kamille takes as swing, but Kris blocks to ROCK her! Shida QUESTION MARK KICKS Kamille! Then Kris & Shida TOSS The Brickhouse!
Shida goes out after Kamille, but then Mone goes after Kris! Mone goes for the backstabber, but Kris holds onto ropes! Mone is almost stuck up there, but Kris pops her around! STATURDAY NIGHT FEVER!! The fans fire up as Kris stands tall over The CEO! Will Kris once again become the Face of TBS? Or will Mone find a way to win even without her insurance policy?
The Hurt Syndicate has a cameraman with them.
MVP says hold on, he and Shelton have found Swerve. They go after the man in the big fur jacket, but that’s not Swerve! Swerve gave his jacket to the guy, but MVP & Shelton still beat this guy up for helping Swerve. MVP says they’ll find Swerve later, Lashley has his match up next. And it’ll be a 2-on-1 Handicap?! The All Mighty really IS mad, what poor duo is about to be destroyed?
AEW hears from Jay White and Hangman Adam Page.
“Hangman. You and I are on that same path to that same destination, trying to grasp at that same prize. 2024 still has some time left for The Switchblade to share the spotlight with Hangman once more!” But the Blackhat Cowboy asks White if he knows “Who the hell I am?! I am the Hangman! I am THE man! They named this whole godforsaken PPV after ME!” White says when he makes Hangman TAP, it will be a public declaration! But Hangman says White can’t make him tap, even if his life depended on it! These two vicious gunslingers will write one more chapter in their storied rivalry, but who comes out riding off into the sunset?
2v1 Handicap: Bobby Lashley w/ The Hurt Syndicate VS Joe Keys & Cheeseburger!
The All Mighty thought he’d have an easy night getting in a little warm-up, but The Realest quickly reminded him why he’s the most dangerous man in AEW! Lashley’s now doubling down to make a point, will there be nothing left of Keys & Cheese after tonight?
The bell rings and while the fans rally for Cheeseburger, he and Keys each argue the other should start. Lashley runs up and TOSSES Burger across the ring! Keys runs away, Lashley runs to RAM into Burger! Lashley brings Burger up, Keys runs in, but Lashley catches him for a COMPLETE SHOT DDT COMBO! Lashley drags Keys up and TOSSES him out! Lashley then turns to look at Burger in the corner. The fans rally for Burger, but Lashley CLOBBERS him! The fans boo but MVP & Shelton high-five Lashley. Lashley drags Burger up to gut wrench, Canadian Rack, and DOMINATOR! Keys runs in to break the cover!
The fans cheer Keys as he fires hands, but Lashley just gets angrier! Keys short arm LARIATS, but Lashley stays up! Keys runs, into a MILE HIGH SPINEBUSTER! Lashley storms around, then aims at Keys. Keys staggers into the SPEAR! Lashley isn’t done there, and he clamps on the HURT LOCK! Keys can’t open that lock, he is OUT! Lashley wins!
Winner: Bobby Lashley, by submission
MVP & Shelton join Lashley in the ring to celebrate, but then “Whose House?” “SWERVE’S HOUSE!” The fans fire up, and here comes Prince Nana with a chair! Nana eggs the Hurt Syndicate on so Shelton storms out after Nana. MVP watches the rest of ringside for Swerve, but Swerve slides out from under the ring! The fans fire up as Swerve slips in to CHAIN PUNCH Lashley!! MVP gets on the apron but Swerve DECKS MVP with a chain punch! And then Shelton eats a chain punch! The fans are thunderous as Swerve aims, and hits a HOUSE CALL on Lashley! Swerve hurries to the top rope, and he gives Lashley a KILL STOMP!!
The fans are thunderous as Swerve stands over Lashley! MVP & Shelton get up and get in, but Swerve escapes, chain draped on his neck! Will AEW then, now and forever be whose house? “SWERVE’S HOUSE!”
Backstage interview with Mariah May & Mina Shirakawa.
Renee is now with the AEW Women’s World Champion and her best friend, the Rev-Pro Undisputed British Women’s Champion. They are planning their Championship Champagne Celebration for Full Gear, BUT Friday Night Rampage will feature the two of them teaming up for the first time in just over a year. Mariah says no champion deserves a celebration more than her. Her rise to the top was meteoric, and her reign will be historic. She takes ish and makes it shine, any time and any show, against anyone. In Mariah’s division, you hold this title, or you die.
Mina says yes, Mariah has been working so hard. She came back to tell her she is so very proud. And Mina will give Mariah a celebration she’ll never forget! Mariah says the “H Cup Angel” (Mina) and the “Woman from Hell” (Mariah herself) are going to make Rampage into Glampage. Everyone wants Mina, but Mina wants Mariah. And then… They’ll dance! These two shimmy and shake their way out, will they finally be toasting their victories at Full Gear?
Darby Allin VS Claudio Castagnoli w/ The Death Riders!
The Relentless One told The Swiss Superman that revenge was coming, and here is Darby’s chance! Will Darby avenge Bryan Danielson? Or will he just be the next to fall?
The bell rings and Darby stares Claudio down. Darby takes some deep breaths then circles with Claudio. Darby slips around to waistlock but Claudio flings him off, only for Darby to roll to his feet. They circle again, and the fans rally behind Darby. Darby and Claudio feel things out, tie up, and Darby headlocks. Claudio lifts Darby but Darby thrashes the hold. Claudio throws Darby off, runs up, but Darby uses that to get around and springboard arm-drag! The fans fire up while Claudio bails out, and Darby taunts Claudio with some drop steps. Claudio snarls, but then Darby fakes him out with a slingshot!
Claudio is annoyed and takes a swing but Darby slingshots up and over! Darby taunts Claudio again while the fans rally up. Claudio cools off before he storms up the steel steps. Claudio pops Darby up but Darby keeps from hitting buckles! Darby ELBOWS Claudio away, goes up, then leaps, but Claudio catches him! Claudio SLAMS Darby down, flips him back to his feet, but Darby slips around to waistlock. O’Conner Roll, TWO! Darby springboards to SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Claudio bails out but the fans fire up. Darby goes up a corner, and he SUPER COFFIN SPLASHES into a waistlock! Claudio swings and THROWS Darby away!
Darby staggers to his feet but Claudio runs up, to POUNCE Darby into railing! Darby writhes against the railing, but Claudio runs up to UPPERCUT Darby up and over! Fans freak out as Darby hits the floor! Claudio leaves Darby behind while the ring count climbs, but Darby drags himself up at 7. Claudio goes back out after Darby to suplex! Claudio holds Darby up while he marches up the steps! The fans fire up for this feat of strength and balance, and then Claudio TOSSES Darby back into the ring! Darby writhes again while Claudio steps back in. Claudio stalks Darby, talks some trash, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Claudio looms over Darby, then deadlift gut wrenches for a GUTBUSTER! And then another GUTBUSTER! And then another GUTBUSTER! Darby writhes while Claudio stands over him again. Claudio watches Darby crawl towards a corner and stalks him. Claudio drags Darby up, brings him around, and ROCKS Darby with a forearm! Darby pushes Claudio, then CHOPS! Claudio DECKS Darby! Darby tumbles out of the ring! The ref wants Claudio to stay back while Darby drags himself up. Darby is back in before the count starts, but then Claudio DOUBLE STOMPS him! Claudio kicks Darby around, then clamps on with a neck wrench!
Darby endures, fights up, but Claudio powers him down. Darby BITES Claudio’s hand! The ref reprimands but Darby fires off forearms on Claudio. Claudio HIP TOSSES Darby up and out of the ring! Darby hits the floor and flounders around while the ref reprimands Claudio. Claudio again waits on Darby, and then he DOUBLE STOMPS Darby the moment he’s in! The ref counts as Claudio stands on Darby at the ropes. Claudio steps off at 4, brings him around, and clamps on an armlock and chinbar. Darby endures, fights around, and manages to fireman’s carry Claudio! But Claudio rains down elbows! HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL even!
Claudio clamps on with a double wristlock and he grinds Darby down. Darby still endures and the fans rally up again. Darby fights around and Dynamite returns to single picture. Darby fires body shots but Claudio knees low! Claudio then HIP TOSSES Darby into a corner! Darby tumbles out of the ring but Claudio pursues! Claudio SWINGS Darby into railing! Then Claudio fireman’s carries, to TOSS Darby back in the ring! Claudio storms in while Darby flounders away. Darby flops back out of the ring but Claudio pursues him again. Darby trips Claudio up and traps him in the apron skirt! Darby then fires forearms, and BITES Claudio’s ear!
The fans fire up but Claudio shoves Darby away. Darby slides into the ring then DIVES onto Claudio! And then runs to DIVE again! Down goes Claudio and the fans fire up! Darby crawls over to bring Claudio up and into the ring. The fans fire up as Darby climbs up a corner, though slowly given all the damage to his back. That lets Claudio trip Darby up! Darby is stuck up top, and Claudio climbs up after him. Claudio gut wrenches for a SUPER GUT WRENCH PLEX!! Cover, TWO!! Darby survives and Claudio can’t believe it! The fans fire up but Claudio calls for the swing! Claudio grabs the legs, but Darby twists to a victory roll! TWO!!
Claudio escapes and runs up, but Darby ducks ‘n’ dodges, roll and- WHOA, Claudio has to fight to stay up, and then he deadlifts Darby! Darby pops through to CODE RED!! Cover, TWO!! Claudio survives and the fans fire up again! “This is Awesome!” as Darby and Claudio crawl for ropes. Claudio runs up to UPPERCUT! And UPPERCUT again and again and again! The ref backs Claudio off, but then Claudio fires off body shots! Darby flops over but Claudio has the legs. Claudio FLIPS Darby up and over the ropes, but Darby lands on the apron! Claudio BOOTS Darby down! The ref wants Claudio to hold on but Claudio goes out after Darby.
Claudio drags Darby by his legs, then SWINGS him around! Into steel steps!! The fans lose their minds, the ref reprimands Claudio, but Claudio doesn’t care. The fans tell Claudio he is sick, but Claudio TOSSES Darby over the announce desk!! Schiavone, Excalibur & Matt Menard narrowly avoid becoming collateral damage! But Claudio clears the desk and brings Darby up. Claudio puts Darby on the desk, then stands over him. The ref reprimands but Claudio just ignores him. Claudio drags Darby up, and gorilla presses him! SUPER DUPER TOSS onto the timekeeper’s table!! The fans lose their minds as Darby is down but that table’s somehow still standing!
The ref checks on Darby but Claudio storms right over! The ref tells Claudio to stop so they go to the ring. Claudio lets the ring count start, and yet Darby somehow stirs at 4 of 10! The fans rally as hard as they can and Darby crawls his way over! Darby is still far away at 7! But then he powers up and LEAPS in at 9!! But Claudio LARIATS Darby inside-out!! Cover, Claudio wins!
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli, by pinfall
Darby truly is relentless, with durability like no other, but it just wasn’t enough against the strength and brutality of Claudio! Will no one stop The Death Riders from running roughshod over AEW?
Backstage interview with Private Party.
Renee is with Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy and brings up that at Full Gear, the AEW World Tag Team Championships are on the line in a Fatal 4 Way. Private Party takes on The Acclaimed, The Outrunners and The Kings of the Black Throne. In such a match, the champs do NOT have to be pinned or submitted to lose their titles, so what is their strategy? Brother Zay says they obviously can’t tell her that, the other teams are watching. But it seems like the odds are against them. Fortunately, the odds have been against them their whole lives, their whole careers, just like against The Young Bucks.
But look what happened: Private Party defied the odds, beat The Bucks, and are your AEW World Tag Team Champions. That is the same thing that happens on Saturday. They leave Newark, New Jersey still your tag team champions. Because there ain’t no party like a Private Party, that’s a flex. Oh, speaking of! It’s AJ & Big Justice! They’re fired up to be here, but Justice wants to know what that face Zay made was last week. Oh, right, this one, with the chin scratching. And AJ says they’ve got a BIG announcement coming up after this! Maybe some double chunk chocolate cookies? BOOM!!
A green Porsche Taycan pulls up to the middle of nowhere.
And out steps MJF. The Wolf of Wrestling tells the hobo to “go get it” as he throws spare change off to the side like birdseed. MVP then sits back and tells Roderick Strong, “You’ve been through so much. The kid who grew up trailer park trash with two abusive alcoholic parents. For crying out loud! Your own mother shot your father right in front of you. That’s traumatizing. And as you know, Roddy, trauma is the result of an overwhelming sense of danger, powerlessness and fear. However, healing is a result of feeling safe, empowered and supported. That’s why you’d do anything for Cole. He makes you feel all those positive things that you lacked.
“It’s why I was no different than you. It’s why I trusted him. Unfortunately, the difference between you and I: Cole for me was a mirage of what I wanted him to be. A fraud, a liar. And whilst Cole is a fraud, I do actually believe deep down, in his narcissistic, sociopathic, frail, feeble frame, is a man who cares about Roderick Strong. This is precisely why upon further contemplation, I am happy you won, Roddy. Because I want Adam Cole to watch a person he cares about suffer! And because of your White trash upbringing, you aren’t intelligent enough to realize that you don’t have a prayer. And I’m sending you back to where you belong. To your grimy little trailer park.
“And after the match, you’ll be in so much physical anguish, you’ll wish your mother hadn’t shot your father, but instead shot you.” As if this scumbag couldn’t stoop any lower, he brings up Roddy’s past to hurt him. But will Roddy make sure MJF’s future is the one full of pain and suffering?
Backstage interview with AJ & Big Justice.
Renee is with the Costco Tiktok sensations and says that in the Full Gear Zero Hour, we will see #BigBoomAJ take on QT Marshall in a match 20 YEARS in the making. AJ says it may have been 20 years in the making for QT, this all started for AJ when QT threw the double chunk chocolate cookies down! Renee says AJ has not been in the ring in those 20 years, is he concerned about how his body will hold up? AJ isn’t worried about that, because he just has one strategy, and that’s the strategy they use each and every day. That strategy is to bring the BOOM~! But hey, there’s another special announcement.
Because when AJ rings QT’s bell, and he Power-Booms QT right in the middle of that ring, there is only one guy they want ringing the bell: Big Justice’s best friend, THE RIZZLER! Time to bring the BOOM~! Will QT be sleeping on the mat for The Rizzler? Will he be skibidi? Fanum Tax? Why are those even words?
Tony Schiavone is on stage.
And he welcomes out The Undisputed Kingdom! The fans cheer as Roderick Strong makes his way out, accompanied by Matt Taven & Mike Bennett. Schiavone brings up Roddy VS MJF at Full Gear, and we just heard all that disgusting stuff MJF had to say. Roddy’s response is that to be honest, he has not slept a wink since last week. IT is finally happening! Roddy feels like a kid on Christmas morning. He finally gets his hands on “MAAAAAX~!” The fans echo that, and Roddy says if MJF was here tonight, and not hiding out there, Roddy would ask him: Is Roddy supposed to be ashamed of his childhood?
Is Roddy supposed to be ashamed of his parents? You don’t think Roddy’s heard that stuff before? His whole LIFE, that is what people brought up! His mom’s an addict, his dad’s an addict, mom shot dad. Good job, Max, you made Roddy feel like he was in elementary school again. And people may look at Roddy’s past and feel sorry for him, but Roddy asks us not to. Because looking at MJF, Roddy feels sorry for him. Understand this, Max. With Roddy’s life, he learned that to get the most out of life, you have to earn it. If you wanna break the cycle, you have to earn it. And that is what Roddy’s done ever since he was a kid!
And now looking at MJF, he’s been spoon-fed everything. And when something doesn’t go his way or something happens and he doesn’t like it, MJF throws a temper tantrum like a baby until that changes. So Roddy wants MJF to do something for him: Look in the mirror and think about all the things that MJF has done to people. The manipulating, the backstabbing, the using. MJF needs to realize, when the bell rings at Full Gear, MJF will pay for all those sins. With every chop, with every punch, with every elbow, with every backbreaker! And when it is all over, Roddy walks to his hotel room for the best night of sleep in his life because he earned it.
Especially because Roddy will know he has broken MJF’s back, and left him humbled! Roddy is all fired up, and the fans are with him! Will MJF finally get what’s coming to him? Or will he give Roddy nightmares for the rest of his life?
AEW shares footage taken from last Saturday night.
First, a recap video of Daniel Garcia thwarting Jack Perry’s attempts to abduct and torture Matthew Menard, as well as the joyride they took in the Scapegoat bus, with Perry as the hood ornament. And now, they have Perry strapped into a chair, the bus headlights as the only source of light. Menard is behind the camera as he asks Perry how he’s feeling. How’d that work out for him, huh? Garcia splashes Perry with water to wake him up, and says “Let’s have a conversation. I’m all ears.” Perry chuckles and says Garcia thinks he’s so much better than him. Look at where they are! Garcia shouts back that he doesn’t wanna be here!
Garcia just wants to wrestle, but AEW is full of savages! Perry tried to take Daddy Magic’s life! And those in power just sit back and watch, pretending that nothing’s going on. So what do they do? Gotta take the power back, right? Perry counters with, “Everybody’s got a code. Everybody cares about right and wrong until it costs them something. Until they have to SACRIFICE!” Garcia gets in Perry’s face, grabs him by the mouth, and says Perry’s always going on about sacrifice but Perry has no idea what Garcia’s had to go through! Perry has NO idea what Garcia’s had to sacrifice to be here!
Garcia knows where Perry wants him to go, but Garcia promises that he’s never gonna go there. Perry smirks, then SPITS in Garcia’s face. Garcia wipes that off his face and says bet. Garcia’s got something for Perry, so just wait right there. Garcia goes to the bus while Perry mockingly asks what he’s gonna do. Menard tells shut up, Jack! Life must be so hard for him! What’s Jack got to be sad about?! Garcia comes back and he has a crowbar! Perry dares him to go ahead. Garcia raises the bar, but he SMASHES up the bus! Garcia throws the crowbar away and Perry laughs. Is that it? Garcia tells Menard they’ll get out of here. What? Where’s Garcia going?
Perry says yeah, walk away. Menard tells Perry that Garcia’s gonna whoop his ass! Just wait! Menard leaves, Perry shouts into the night, but will The Face of TNT soon be the one sacrificed for the greater good?
Renee Paquette presides over the ROH World Championship contract signing.
She welcomes us backstage to the signing for this match, which will happen next week, Dynamite: Thanksgiving Eve, in Chicago. The challenger, Tomohiro Ishii, is on her left, and the champion, Chris Jericho, is on her right. Jericho, as champion, you have the honors to sign first. Jericho smiles and waves as he says, “Hi, guys.” But Renee, you should know better. A champion of Jericho’s caliber does not just sign a contract thrust at his face randomly. He has a whole legal team that needs to approve this contract. Renee says it was sent to said legal team last week. Oh, really? What about today? The now! Jericho lives in the now!
Jericho says he’ll get this checked by his legal eagles one more time. But for now, wait here. Choto matte kudesai. Jericho steps around the corner and then down the hall. He smiles at his own picture on the wall. What a good looking guy. But wait, Ishii has followed Jericho to the hall. Jericho is a bit worried as he keeps moving. Jericho tries to block Ishii’s path but a trash can isn’t enough. Jericho tells staffers that Ishii wants to talk to them. They step in the way but Ishii pushes them aside. Jericho moves faster, pushes more people in the way, but Ishii pushes them aside. Was that RJ City?
Jericho goes up some stairs but Ishii follows. Ishii’s even gaining ground! Jericho goes through a doorway and ends up in the concourse! Fans cheer as Jericho and Ishii keep up their cat ‘n’ mouse game. Jericho decides to go into the stands! Ishii follows, and they head down the bleachers towards ringside! Jericho hurries over railing but so does Ishii. They go into the ring, and now Jericho tells Ishii to stop following him! Jericho wants a mic, a mic is brought, and Jericho says hey, listen, Ishii. Jericho would sign this contract, but he doesn’t have a pen. Ishii has a pen! Oh. Ishii clicks it for Jericho, and pushes it into him.
Jericho takes the pen, looks at the contract again, and still hesitates. Jericho signs his part, and then hands things over to Ishii. But then BRYAN KEITH & BIG BILL ATTACK! It was all a massive set-up! Bad Apple & Redwood beat down Stone Pitbull, and then sit him up! Jericho has the pen ready, but here comes The Conglomeration! Mark Briscoe & Rocky Romero rush in, and Mark TACKLES Jericho! Rocky fires off on Bill while Mark CHOKES Jericho! Keith saves Jericho from Mark but Mark fires hands on Keith! The fans fire up, but then Bill SKYSCRAPER- NO, Mark UPPERCUTS Bill first! Rocky adds on!
The fans fire up as The Conglomeration pinballs Bill, and then Ishii CLOBBERS him! Bill tumbles out, but Rocky DIVES! Bill is sent into railing! Keith stands up, into a kick and underhooks! JAY DRILLER! Jericho stands up, Ishii has him, and hits a BRAINBUSTER!! Conglomeration stands tall over The Learning Tree and his Branches, and now Ishii signs his part! The match is now official, and Ishii is looking to take a bite out of Jericho! Will The Conglomeration have the ROH World Championship to be thankful for this year?
Backstage interview with Jamie Hayter.
Renee is with the former AEW Women’s World Champion and notes that last time, we were going to hear from her, only for her to be interrupted by Julia Hart. What is Hayter’s reaction to that? Well, yeah, she isn’t angry, but she is baffled why Julia chose to interrupt Hayter. They’ve never really spoken or interacted, or even wrestled each other. Hayter is just curious as to why Julia felt it was okay to do that. Granted, Julia can do whatever she wants, Hayter moves to the beat of her own drum just as much as Julia. But… if Julia wants to have a chat-
Uh oh, something is happening to the video! Brody King’s message echoes, “It’s time to come home.” Julia Hart walks through the woods. Brody says The House is her foundation. She has seen her rebirth. Now it is time to rebuild. She has woken up stronger, more determined, and more dangerous than ever. Julia aims her arrow to shoot down a target: her past self. Her obstacles are just bull’s eyes. She is the Princess of the Black Throne, and the Keeper of Secrets. She is Julia Hart, and her heart grows harder. She hits her mark, but will she find Hayter Hits Hard?
Orange Cassidy VS Wheeler Yuta!
Freshly Squeezed has been accused of being coldblooded and uncaring, but he got pretty heated as he told The Conglomeration to keep themselves safe tonight. He goes 1v1 with The Decoder, a young man who was once Cassidy’s student, and who left him behind to join the then Blackpool Combat Club. If anyone is uncaring, it is Yuta with how he would then follow Jon Moxley’s lead in the destruction of Bryan Danielson and Chuck Taylor. Who will be the more ferocious fighter tonight, this close to Full Gear?
The bell rings and Yuta SHOTGUNS Cassidy! Yuta follows Cassidy to a corner to CHOP, then ROCK, then CHOP again! Yuta whips corner to corner but Cassidy goes up and out. Cassidy bumps Yuta off buckles, climbs up top, but has to leap over. Yuta comes back but Cassidy catches him to a backslide! TWO, but Cassidy reels Yuta in for a cradle! TWO! Yuta pulls on an ear! But Cassidy arm-drags and wrangles Yuta into the SEATBELT! TWO!! Yuta escapes and the fans fire up as these two stand off. Yuta huffs ‘n’ puffs, but Cassidy shows he wants a grapple. They feel things out, knuckle lock, but Cassidy blocks a kick!
Cassidy reels Yuta in for a headlock, but Yuta powers up and out. Cassidy ducks ‘n’ rolls, tilt-o-whirls, but Yuta suplexes! Into STUN DOG MILLIONAIRE! Yuta tumbles out and fans fire up! Cassidy builds speed to DIVE! Down goes Yuta and the fans fire up again! Cassidy brings Yuta up, whips, but Yuta reverses to reel Cassidy in! Cassidy fights the suplex, but then Yuta fights a suplex. Yuta suplexes, to RAILING BRAINBUSTER!! Cassidy writhes and fans are stunned! Yuta stomps Cassidy, then leaves him behind for the ring count. Cassidy crawls into the ring, Yuta exposes a crossbar, and then he GRINDS Cassidy’s face into the steel!
The fans boo, the ref reprimands, but Yuta steps off at 4. Cassidy seethes as he rises up, but Yuta has him at the corner. Cassidy kicks Yuta’s legs out and Yuta falls onto a turnbuckle! Yuta falls back, Cassidy climbs, but Yuta grabs Cassidy first! Yuta drags Cassidy down but Cassidy fires hands. Yuta squeezes the facelock tight, then hits an APRON DDT! The fans boo Yuta while Cassidy writhes, and Dynamite goes picture in picture.
Cassidy clutches his neck while Yuta waits in the ring. A ring count starts and Yuta eggs Cassidy on. Cassidy reaches up as the count reaches 5 of 10, but he doesn’t sit up until 6. Cassidy hobbles up, stumbles and falls, but springs back to life! He slides in at 9! Only for Yuta to be right on him! Yuta reels Cassidy in, but Cassidy turns that into BEACH BREAK! Cover, TWO!! Yuta survives but Cassidy is too sore to be frustrated. They both sit up, and Yuta crawls his way over to a corner. Cassidy rises, checks his neck, then runs up, but into an ELBOW! Yuta goes up, but Cassidy JUMP FOREARMS! Cassidy positions Yuta just right before he climbs the corner.
Yuta resists but Cassidy still brings Yuta up. Yuta continues to fight the suplex, throws body shots, then shoves Cassidy down. Cassidy rolls back to his feet, runs back up the corner, but Yuta again fights the suplex! Cassidy fires hands, but Yuta fires back! They brawl up top, Cassidy HEADBUTTS Yuta! But Yuta HEADBUTTS back! They both wobble, but then Cassidy BITES Yuta! The ref reprimands, but Cassidy CLAWS Yuta’s back! This is very Moxley of him to do! And then Cassidy hits the SUPERPLEX! Both men are down and the ref checks. They’re both okay to continue, so a standing count begins!
Cassidy sits up, spots Yuta, and heads that way. Yuta sits up, they fire forearms as they stand! Dynamite returns to single picture as these shots go back and forth. The fans fire up for Cassidy but boo Yuta as the shots go faster and faster! Yuta BITES Cassidy’s forehead! Yuta spits then runs, but Cassidy dodges! BODY BLOW! SUPERKICK! Yuta sits down, Cassidy runs, PENALTY KICK! Cassidy slashes his throat, hauls Yuta up, BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Yuta survives but Cassidy seethes. Cassidy rains down fists on Yuta! The ref reprimands about closed fists and hair pulling, but Cassidy doesn’t stop until the ref counts 4.
Cassidy stands, and he throws off the elbow pad! Cassidy aims at Yuta, runs up, but Yuta ducks the punch! GERMAN SUPLEX! Yuta runs to CHOP in the corner! And then a wrench and PAIN THRILLER! The fans boo while Yuta seethes and stands over Cassidy. Yuta sits Cassidy up, for HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! But Cassidy blocks one! And bends fingers, to then SNAP them! The fans fire up as Cassidy SNAPS finger after finger! Yuta swings, Cassidy BOOTS him, then serves up SOLE FOOD! Scoop and MICHINOKU DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Cassidy is busting out all his best friends’ best moves, but he hasn’t gotten it done!
Cassidy aims, loads up, and ORANGE- NO, Yuta ducks! Orange fights the suplex, switches to O’Conner Roll! TWO, Yuta dodges Cassidy, scoops him, and CROSS LEG TOMBSTONE!! Cover, TWO?!? Cassidy survives and Yuta is furious! The fans are thunderous, but Yuta rains down HAMMER ‘N’ ANVIL ELBOWS! Cassidy grits his teeth but he’s almost a ragdoll! Yuta lets off to then hook the arms, CATTLE MUTILATION!! Cassidy endures as Yuta thrashes him around! Cassidy powers up as the fans rally, and he kicks around to the ROPEBREAK!! Yuta holds on, the ref counts, and Yuta finally lets go at 4!
The ref reprimands Yuta, but Yuta pushes past the ref to go outside the ring. Yuta grabs a chair! Yuta storms into the ring while the fans boo, and the ref says don’t do it! Cassidy dodges the chair shot! Victory roll, CASSIDY WINS!!
Winner: Orange Cassidy, by pinfall
Yuta is in disbelief! Cassidy beat him with a technical move! Yuta snarls but the ref keeps him back. Cassidy did what he promised in beating Yuta, but then he stares his former student down. Is Cassidy going to offer a handshake? WAIT, PAC ATTACKS! The Bastard BOOTS Cassidy down so we’ll never know what Cassidy was going to do! The fans boo more but Pac & Yuta stand on Cassidy. The rest of the Death Riders appear, and Marina Shafir has duct tape! The AEW World Trios Champions stomp away on Cassidy, like vultures picking the bones. Moxley steps into the ring while Marina hands the tape over to Pac.
Claudio puts Cassidy’s hands in his pockets, and then Pac tapes them in! Cassidy is physically bound, and Moxley paces around. Cassidy is pushed around by all the Death Riders, then Moxley DECKS him! Claudio hauls Cassidy back up, the Death Riders keep bullying him, and then Moxley SLAPS Cassidy down! But the bullying continues as they stand Cassidy up. Cassidy “kicks” Moxley! Defiant to the end! But Moxley DECKS him again! Moxley paces around more, then stomps Cassidy right on the face! Moxley leads The Death Riders away, and The Conglomeration finally comes out here.
Mark has scissors to cut Cassidy loose, and the fans boo as The Death Riders still retreat. Cassidy tries to stand up, but he has to use ropes to do it. Even so, Cassidy stands on his own two feet. Moxley eggs on the fans while Cassidy puts his sunglasses on. And then hands up, and then into the pockets! Try as they might, The Death Riders could not break the Freshly Squeezed fighting spirit! Will Cassidy finally become AEW World Champion? Or will Moxley find a way to break Cassidy at Full Gear?
My Thoughts:
A great go-home Dynamite here, though it felt like it contracted Go Home Syndrome. A lot of recap and other promos, but good promos all the same. Good follow-up from last week with Hayter and Hart, that will probably really get going after Full Gear. Good promo from Mariah & Mina to hype up their celebration segment for Full Gear, and with Toni Storm’s announcement of her retirement, you can bet Toni is anything but retired! Toni Storm most assuredly will return very soon, maybe even to ruin the celebration and spark another feud. I still want us to get to Mariah VS Mina but maybe Storm moves things back so that Mariah VS Mina happens in 2025.
Good promo from Private Party to also have AJ & Big Justice show up. The promos didn’t really add much to any of the matches, though. I’m very sure AJ does hit the BOOM on QT to win, and then Private Party finds a way to survive the Fatal 4. Great stuff with Perry, Garcia and Menard, that was another very action movie kind of promo, maybe even like that grittier Batman movie. But with Garcia not sinking to the same lows as Perry, that will be why Garcia loses. Honestly, why not just have Perry blatantly get himself disqualified? What great heat for Perry while keeping Garcia strong in not becoming TNT Champion.
Great promos in this MJF story. I appreciate Cole throwing his support behind Roddy was good, as well as Kyle O’Reilly wanting Cole to just leave it at this. MJF of course insults Roddy over his past while also trashing Cole at the same time, but great response from Roddy. Also I’m not a car guy so it took me a little too long to Google out what car MJF was driving. Anyway, given all these promos, I am very confident MJF wins at Full Gear and then Cole still wants after MJF, only for Kyle to have to fight Cole to make him stop. Then we’ll maybe get Cole VS MJF at Worlds End, or even some time in 2025.
Very good stuff with The Hurt Syndicate, even with them getting jumped by Swerve. Poor Cheeseburger, that’s one fan favorite that got fed to Bobby Lashley. But Swerve getting the better of the Hurt Syndicate again and again tonight, all the more reason Lashley wins at Full Gear. Very good promo vignette from White and Hangman to hype up their grudge match, which still feels it could go either way since they’re tied on the year. And Jericho and Ishii had perhaps simultaneously the most clever and most ridiculous contract signing segment ever. And of course Jericho worked out some sort of trap, only for it to go badly for him and his team. But with that, that means Ishii is losing next week, as I figured he would.
Awesome opening match with the 8 Man, and I liked that they had Hobbs do the “fighting through the pain” angle in the match. Also, great bit with Kyle Fletcher sending Davis into harm’s way so that the Callis Family can get the better of Ospreay’s team. I thought the Faces were going to win here, but the math now says Ospreay finds a way to beat Kyle, and maybe Ricochet takes the International Championship from Konosuke Takeshita. The Continental Classic is coming, and they could easily use that round robin to get Konosuke back to a feud with Kazuchika Okada and they battle for the Continental Championship at Worlds End like we should’ve gotten at WrestleDream.
Awesome match from Kris VS Shida, and I appreciate the crisis of confidence for Shida. Kris gets a great win to go into Full Gear, and then Kris and Shida get the better of Mone & Kamille, so all the more reason Mone finds a way to survive. As for Kamille, I feel like she should ditch Mone for being treated like crap by Mone, and maybe we can get a feud of Mone VS Kamille going into 2025. And of course, plenty of promos from Death Riders and “Team AEW” members. Moxley just kinda went on and on about stuff he’s already said in reference to Cassidy, but I did like Claudio going bilingual in talking trash on Darby.
Awesome matches from those stories, of course. Darby really got thrown around but he continues to show that toughness. Claudio getting the win mostly keeps Darby back so that Darby can build towards a world title match at Worlds End. Cassidy VS Yuta was great stuff, too, with great back and forth of Cassidy wanting to end it quick, having to grit it out with Yuta, and then Cassidy still finding a way to end it with a quick pin. And they did a good job muddying the math. Cassidy wins the match, but the Death Riders beat him down, only for Cassidy to literally stand tall at the end of the show. I still don’t see him taking the world title from Moxley, though, with Darby still in the wings, but this could end up Cassidy’s best match yet.
My Score: 8.9/10
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Will this be the mightiest Tag League yet?
It’s time for NJPW World Tag League 2024, and this year already looks mighty good as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Zack Sabre Jr, is in the A Block! Will he and Ryohei Oiwa make everyone #JustTapOut?
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Kickoff – Shoma Kato VS Masatora Yasuda; Kato wins.
- Six Man Tag: Hiroshi Tanahashi, Jado & Katsuya Murashima VS Taiji Ishimori & The Filip Brothers; Taiji & The Filip Brothers win.
- Six Man Tag: Toru Yano, Boltin Oleg & Tiger Mask VS The House of Torture; The House of Torture wins.
- Six Man Tag: Taichi, Douki & Taka Michinoku VS The United Empire; Taichi, Douki & Taka win.
- Six Man Tag: Los Ingobernables de Japon VS TMDK; TMDK wins.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman; Cobb & Callum win.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji VS Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi; Takagi & Tsuji win.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Bishamon VS KENTA & Chase Owens; Bishamon wins.
- World Tag League 2024 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa VS Gabe Kidd & SANADA; ZSJ & Oiwa win.
PLAY BY PLAY
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma VS Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman!
The Roughneck is bringing Everyone’s Kokeshi along for the ride, but this league might already be too much to handle. Can Honma help Shota bring about his Paradigm Shift? Or will they just get conquered by the United Empire?
The teams sort out and Shota starts against The Imperial Unit. The bell rings and Shota runs up to RAM Cobb! And RAM! And RAM! Cobb stays up so Shota kicks low. Shota runs to RAM Cobb, but Cobb rebounds to CLOBBER Shota! The fans cheer while Cobb stalks Shota. Cobb brings Shota up to whip him to a corner. Shota comes back to RAM Cobb! Cobb stays up, so Shota clinches! Cobb fights free with elbows, but Shota dodges a lariat to RAM Cobb! Cobb falls over! The fans fire up with Shota, and he brings Cobb up again. Callum runs in so Shota shoves Cobb aside to catch Callum. Shota shoves Callum at Honma for a shoulder tackle!
The fans fire up as Shota keeps moving and he SOMERSAULT SENTONS Callum! Shota then sets up so he and Honma can tabletop Cobb! Cobb sits up into Shota’s SHOTGUN! The fans fire up and Shota tags Honma. The fans rally behind Honma as he CLUBS Cobb. Honma reels Cobb in, but Cobb suplexes first! Cobb SLAMS Honma down, then calls for Callum. Callum rises but Cobb says hold on. The “Cobby Cat” mocks Honma by bopping himself on the head. Cobb then runs to FALLING KOKESHIÂ FLOP! Honma winds up and runs, but Callum is in the way! Cobb runs up, Honma dodges the lariat but Callum tags in.
Cobb dodges Honma, then shoves him at Callum. They pinball Honma around, and Callum BOOTS Honma while Cobb BLASTS Shota! Then Callum & Cobb coordinate to HIGH LOW with a shoulder tackle and leg sweep! The fans cheer and Cobb says You Can’t See Him! Callum stomps Honma, then KICKS him in the back. Honma gets mad but Callum scuffs him again and again. Honma rises, CHOPS, and CHOPS again! Callum CHOPS and pretends that hurt his hand. Callum CLUBS Honma down but the fans rally up. Honma rises to CHOP! And CHOP! And CHOP! Callum kicks low, reels him in, but Honma fights the suplex!
Honma catches Callum’s lariat to spin and DDT! The fans fire up while both men are down! Callum and Honma crawl, but Honma hot tags Shota! Shota rallies on Callum with big elbows! Shota whips, Callum reverses, but SHota ducks ‘n’ dodges to CLOBBER Callum! Cobb runs up, but Shota arm-drags him, then dropkicks the legs out! Cobb bails, Shota fires up, and the fans rally again. Shota whips Callum corner to corner, runs up on him, and UPPERCUTS! Shota reels Callum in for a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO! Not quite perfect but Shota doesn’t let that slow him down!
Shota waits on Callum, then runs, but Callum avoids Ignition to hook Shota! Shota fights the backslide so Callum whips him to a corner. Callum runs up but Shota dodges! Shota runs up but Callum goes up and over! Callum keeps moving, but Shota ROCKS him, UPPERCUTS him, and runs! Callum follows to ROCK Shota at the ropes! Callum runs, but then stops to fake out Shota’s dropkick! Shota sits up, but he ducks the Penalty Kick! Shota rolls Callum but Callum rolls through. Shota ROCKS Callum, then spins, but Callum dodges the rolling elbow! DREAMCAST KICK! Shota drops to his knees and the fans fire up!
Callum and Shota crawl, hot tag to Cobb! Cobb runs up to waistlock Shota for a deadlift! Shota fights with elbows, goes to run, but Cobb reels him in for a forearm to the back! Cobb runs, but Shota DROPKICKS him! The fans fire up again and Shota heads for his corner. Hot tag to Honma! The fans rally as Honma CHOPS Cobb, and CHOPS, and CHOPS! Honma puts Cobb in a corner, whips him corner to corner, then runs up. Honma ELBOWS Cobb and hits a BULLDOG! The fans fire up as Honma shows Cobb how it’s done! FALLING KOKESHI- NO! Now Honma FLOPS as Cobb moves! Callum runs up to SHOTGUN Shota off the apron!
The fans fire up as Cobb RAMS Honma into the corner! Callum runs up to forearm SMASH! Callum drops down and Cobb LEAPS over to ELBOW Honma! Callum comes back and Cobb pops him up to the apron! ENZIGIRI, then fireman’s carry! Callum climbs, DOUBLE STOMP ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT! PENALTY KICK and GACHIMUCHI MOONSAULT! Cover, Shota breaks it! The fans fire up and Shota TOSSES Callum! Cobb kicks Shota, whips, but Shota reverses to TORNADO DDT! Shota shouts to Honma and the fans fire up again. Honma rises and he storms up on Cobb. Honma & Shota double whip corner to corner!
Honma runs up to LARIAT! Honma feeds Cobb to Shota’s UPPERCUT! Honma LARIATS, Shota clinches, EXPLODER!! The fans cheer and Honma runs, SLIDING KOKESHI! Shota keeps moving, IGNITION! Honma covers, Callum breaks it! Shota stomps Callum out of the ring and leaves the rest to Honma. Honma drags Cobb up, but Cobb fights the suplex! Cobb ROCKS Honma, whips him, but Honma grabs ropes! Honma BOOTS Cobb, and Shota joins in! DOUBLE RUNNING KOKESHI! And then they DOUBLE FALLING KOKESHI! Cover, TWO!! Cobb survives but Shota goes after Callum! CANNONBALL to the floor!
The fans fire up again as Honma climbs! FLYING- NO, Cobb catches Honma! SPINEBUSTER, and FALLING HAMMER! Cover, TWO!! Honma survives and the fans fire up again! But then Cobb reels Honma in, for a TOUR OF THE ISLAND!! Cover, United Empire wins!
Winners: Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Shota & Honma earn 0)
A powerful showing from “The Kokeshi Brothers,” but they could not bring down Callum & Cobb. With the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships already on Great-O-Khan & Henare, will The United Empire completely dominate the NJPW Heavyweight Tag Division?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji VS Alex Zayne & ???
Los Ingobernables de Japon’s heavy formation is in this block, ready to rampage like twin dragons. If only The Sauce could’ve brought his own monster back. Who will be the substitute for Lance Archer? And can he help heat things up?
Zayne makes his entrance before anyone else, and asks to speak on the mic. A mic is given, and Zayne says, “Kon’nichiwa.” The fans applaud, and Zayne explains that when he was contacted this year for WTL, he was also informed that Lance Archer could not make it. Zayne knew he had to do one thing: find the most “delicious” tag partner he could find. And that man is… RYUSUKE TAGUCHI!? The fans can’t believe the Funky Weapon is joining Zayne in this tournament! And he wears a green version of Zayne’s gear! Are things about to get really spicy now?
The teams sort out, and Takagi is in disbelief. LIJ fist bumps and the fans applaud. Taguchi and Zayne bow, “Itadakimasu,” and Zayne starts against Yota. They circle, tie up, and Yota powers Zayne back. But Zayne powers Yota back! Yota powers up to power Zayne onto the ropes, but Zayne turns things around. The ref counts, Zayne lets off slowly with a pat on the shoulders, but Yota plays with Zayne’s hair. Zayne smirks and Yota grins as the two reset. They circle, tie up, and are in a deadlock. Yota headlocks, but Zayne powers up and out. Yota RAMS Zayne but neither man falls. Fans cheer as Yota grins and Zayne plays with his own hair.
Things speed up suddenly, and Zayne sidesteps. Yota bucks the O’Conner Roll, then gets around Zayne. Zayne ELBOWS Yota away to a corner. Zayne runs up to BACK ELBOW and go to the apron in one go! Then he slingshots to RANA! Yota has a rough tumble, but he stands back up. Zayne runs up again, dodges the lariat and waistlocks, only to bring Yota back and run. Yota sidesteps Zayne then drops down, only for Zayne to IMPLODER KNEE DROP! The fans fire up but Zayne keeps moving, STANDING MARIPOSA! The fans cheer more while Zayne grins at Takagi. Zayne brings Yota up, tags Taguchi, and they double whip.
“Funky Sauce” misdirects Yota to hit a BULLDOG then basement dropkick! Cover, TWO! The fans cheer and Taguchi stomps Yota. Taguchi brings Yota up, kicks low, then whips. Yota reverses but Taguchi RANAS! A little slippery, but then Zayne BLASTS Takagi off the apron! Funky Sauce takes aim, Taguchi PLANCHASÂ but flops as Yota moves! Zayne is on the apron but Takagi YANKS Zayne down! The fans rally but Takagi hauls Zayne up to whip him into railing! Yota drags Taguchi up and puts him in the ring. Takagi gets the fans fired up, then he stands Taguchi up. LIJ double whip Taguchi to then DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE!
The fans cheer and then Takagi SENTONS! Yota SPLASHES down! Cover, TWO! Taguchi stays in this but Yota tags Takagi. The fans rally and duel while Takagi stands Taguchi up. Takagi bumps Taguchi off buckles, RAMS into him again and again, then digs his shoulder in. The ref counts, Takagi steps back, and he snapmares Taguchi down. Tag to Yota and Yota drags Taguchi up. Yota snapmares Taguchi to ROCK him in the back! Taguchi falls back, Yota tags Takagi, and LIJ drags Taguchi up. They DOUBLE ATOMIC DROP! Taguchi hobbles in pain, falls to his knees, and Takagi BLASTS Zayne off the apron!
Takagi gets annoyed with this Funky Sauce, but Taguchi fires off CHOPS! Taguchi runs, but Takagi easily dodges the hip attack! Takagi then suplexes Taguchi high and hard! Cover, TWO! Taguchi survives and the fans fire up. Takagi hears the fans dueling as he stomps Taguchi. Takagi KNEES Taguchi against the ropes again and again, then whips, for another KNEE! Takagi runs, but into a SOMERSAULT HIP ATTACK! The fans fire up while both men are down! Taguchi and Takagi crawl, hot tag to Zayne! Zayne jumps in and DECKS Takagi, then he BLASTS Yota! Zayne swats a lariat to fire elbow after ELBOW!
Takagi blocks the superkick to CLUB the leg! Yota joins in, LIJ whips Zayne, but Zayne KICKS Takagi, mule kicks Yota, and runs, DOUBLE SOMERSAULT KICKS! The fans fire up and Zayne runs at Takagi. Takagi ELBOWS Zayne, BOOTS him, then goes up. Zayne returns to JUMPING STEINERS! The fans fire up while Zayne covers, TWO! Takagi stays in this but Zayne brings him right up. Zayne goes to scoop but Takagi fights it! Zayne CHOPS, scoops, and BAJA- NO, Takagi slips free! SLIDING- NO, Zayne dodges! Zayne mule kicks, runs, but into the ELBOW! JAB! YUKONÂ feint and DDT! Both men are down again and the fans fire back up!
Takagi pounds the mat, the fans rally behind him, and he crawls, hot tag to Yota! Yota fires up and the fans are with him. Yota brings Zayne around to whip, but Zayne stops himself. Zayne dodges Yota, Yota dodges Zayne, and both men kick low! Yota comes back to BOOT! The fans cheer and Yota brings Zayne up again. Yota fireman’s carries but Zayne fights free. Yota ROCKS Zayne first! Yota tries another fireman’s carry but Zayne sunset flips it! TWO, and both men stand! Zayne rolls Yota, BASEMENT ENZIGIRI! Zayne hurries to hot tag Taguchi! Taguchi HIP ATTACKS in a corner! Taguchi goes corner to corner, for another HIP ATTACK!
Taguchi keeps moving, but Yota runs up! Taguchi dropkicks Yota’s legs out! The fans fire up and Taguchi keeps going! Another dropkick to legs, then a LEG SWEEP! Taguchi rolls Yota into the OH MY GAH ANKLE!! Zayne BOOTS Takagi off the apron! Yota scrambles to the ROPEBREAK! Taguchi lets go but he brings Yota back up. Taguchi traps Yota and Zayne runs in to ELBOW! Zayne then sets up and Taguchi runs, SHOTGUN IN MOTION! Taguchi then brings Yota out to GOURD BUSTER! The fans fire up as Zayne climbs! But Yota KICKS Taguchi away, then GAMANGIRIS Zayne off the corner!
Taguchi kicks Yota, runs, but into a scoop and BACKBREAKER! Takagi slides in, and he finds the camera, “TOKI GA KITA!” The fans fire up as the time has come, and they join in on a chant of “OI! OI! OI!” LIJ whips Taguchi to a corner, then Yota runs in to ELBOW! Takagi whips Yota back in to SPLASH! Takagi adds a LARIAT, then feeds Taguchi to a BOOT! BLINDSIDE LARIAT! SUPERKICK! Taguchi is down, Yota covers, TWO! Taguchi stays in this and the fans fire up. Takagi stands Taguchi up and throws him to Yota for a POWERBOMB! Cover, Zayne breaks it! Takagi drags Zayne up, LIJ mugs him, but he fights back with CHOPS!
The fans fire up but Yota spins Zayne around to facelock, and Takagi wheelbarrows. Yota helps Takagi swing Taguchi down, then up for a BOOSTED WHEELBARROW GERMAN!! The fans fire up and Takagi leaves it to Yota. Yota takes aim and the fans rally. Taguchi rises, Yota runs in, GENE- LEG DROP!? And then La Magistrol! TWO!! Yota escapes in time, but Taguchi spins him to a backslide! TWO!! Yota escapes again! But Taguchi ENZIGIRIS! Taguchi fires up and the fans are with him! But Takagi LARIATS! GENE TRIGGER! PUMPING BOMBER!! And now Yota loads up, for the GENE BLASTER!! Cover, LIJ wins!
Winners: Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Zayne & Taguchi earn 0)
The Funky Sauce was hot, but they’re the ones that got burned! Will they be able to spice things up in the second round? Will Takagi & Tsuji keep the tag league tranquilo?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Bishamon VS KENTA & Chase Owens!
Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi once again clash with The Fang & The Jewel, both sides hungry for gold. Will it be Lights Out in the opening round? Or will someone just #Go2Sleep?
The teams sort out but then Bullet Club just attacks! Chase is after Goto and Kenta is after Hashi, and they put each man in corners. The bell rings to get this on record as Kenta TOSSES Hashi. Chase CHOKES Goto in the corner, then stands on him! The ref reprimands and Chase lets off to bring Goto up. Chase ROCKS Goto, whips him, and Kenta POSTS Hashi! Chase hits a big hip toss then covers, TWO! The fans rally up while Chase stomps Goto’s leg. Chase scrapes his sole off Goto’s face, and Kenta whips Hashi again. Hashi reverses and Kenta hits railing in front of English commentary! Chase ROCKS Goto, CHOPS him, then whips.
Goto grabs ropes to stop, then he BOOTS Chase! Hashi returns and Bishamon DOUBLE SHOULDER TACKLE! Then ZENMAI! Kenta returns but Bishamon kicks him first. “Se no!” Bishamon BEATS Kenta like a drum! The fans cheer and Bishamon flexes. Goto then goes back to Chase to stomp and CLUB him down. Goto kicks Chase, Chase shoves Goto and ROCKS him with a forearm! Goto knees Chase low, runs, but Chase TOSSES Goto out! Goto hurries back up, he counter punches Chase, and then counter punches Kenta! Chase slips out to YANK Goto down and THROW him into railing! Kenta intercepts Hashi with a kick!
Kenta whips Hashi away into railing while Chase sends Goto into other railing! The ref reprimands but Chase brings Goto through the gate. Chase has fans move out of the way, but then brings Goto back to ringside. Chase grins as he trolls the fans and pushes Goto into the ring. Kenta CLUBS away on Hashi before leaving him behind. Chase pulls on Goto’s arms then TWEAKS Goto’s neck! Not a twist, but equally painful. Chase tags Kenta while the fans rally for “GO-TO-O! GO-TO-O!” Kenta pushes Goto into the corner, Goto hits Chase, but Kenta RAMS Goto! The ref reprimands and counts as Kenta RAMS Goto more!
Kenta sits Goto down, and digs his boot in! The ref counts, Kenta stops at 4, and he tags Chase back in. They stomp Goto more, then Chase headlocks for a sucker punch! Cover, TWO! Chase drags Goto up and he bumps Goto off Kenta’s boot. Tag to Kenta and Bullet Club double whips. They DOUBLE ELBOW Goto down then Kenta covers, TWO! Kenta covers again, TWO! Kenta argues with the ref but the count was fair. Kenta drops an elbow, drops another elbow, then covers, TWO! Kenta gets mad at Hashi for no reason, but the fans rally up for Goto. Kenta CLUBS Goto, but Goto fires CHOPS in return!
Kenta knees low, whips Goto to a corner, but Goto reverses. Goto runs up but into a BOOT! Kenta runs but Goto follows! Goto avoids Chase’s cheap shot to LARIAT Kenta! The fans fire up while Goto and Kenta are down! Goto crawls, hot tag to Hashi! The fans fire up as Hahsi BLASTS Chase! Kenta kicks Hashi low then whips him to a corner. Kenta runs up but Hashi CHOPS in return! And mule kicks! And turns Kenta for a NECKBREAKER! The fans fire up and Hashi watches Kenta. Hashi waits on Kenta to rise, then runs up to CHOP! Hashi hoists Kenta up to hang him out to dry! The fans fire up as Hashi runs, and he DROPKCISK Kenta down! Cover, TWO!
The fans cheer Hashi on as he brings Kenta up. Hashi reels Kenta in, lifts, but Kenta fights with fists! Kenta slips free of the bomb, then slips around Hashi to spin and- NO, Hashi suplexes first! But Kenta slips free again, and he spins Hashi around, to SPIKE DDT! Hashi is stood up on his head before falling over, and Kenta tags in Chase. Chase brings Hashi up and fireman’s carries. Hashi fights free of that, but Chase slips around to half nelson, lift, and SWINGING FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Hashi survives but Chase says time to end this! Chase takes aim, C- NO, Hashi dodges the trigger! Chase knees low, runs, but Hashi dropkicks the legs!
The fans fire up whiel both men are down! Chase clutches his leg while Hashi crawls. Hot tag to Goto! Goto runs at Chase to LARIAT in the corner! Goto whips corner to corner, runs up again, but Chase BOOTS him! But Goto comes back! Only for Chase to BUCKLE SHOT and STO, then SENTON! Kenta steps in and Bullet Club drags Goto up. But Goto fires forearms and CHOPS! Kenta SOBATS! Chase KICKS! Kenta ROUNDHOUSES! Goto sits up into the “I HATE YOU!” PENALTY KICK! Cover, but Hashi breaks it! Kenta TOSSES Hashi then goes out after him. Chase drags Goto up and reels him in.
Chase tucks the arms but Goto fights the lift! Goto wrenches out but Chase ROCKS him first! Chase runs, Goto follows, but Chase ENZIGIRIS! Goto stays up, but the C-TRIGGER hits! Cover, TWO!! Goto survives but Chase hurries up! C-TRIGGER POINT BLANK!! And then the tuck for the PACKAGE PILE- NO, Hashi hits a BLOCKBUSTER! The fans fire up, Kenta BOOTS Hashi! Goto fireman’s carries Kenta but Kenta slips free! Kenta shoves Goto into Hashi, then waistlocks Goto. Goto fights the lift, and then ducks, HIDDEN GAP SUPERKICK for Kenta! The fans fire up as Bishamon regroups.
Hashi drags Chase up, whips him to Goto, but Chase BOOTS Goto! Chase swings on Hashi but Hashi ducks the lariat. Hashi powers Chase to ropes, Goto BLINDSIDE LARIATS, and then Hashi rolls Chase. Goto drags Chase up, Hashi has the legs! Chase BOOTS Hashi away! Chase then slips around to dragon sleeper, to steal G T- NO, Goto drops down to victory roll! Chase stands up, into a SUPERKICK! Goto drags Chase around while Hashi BLASTS Kenta! Dragon sleeper and SHOTO!! Cover, Bishamon wins!!
Winners: Bishamon, by pinfall (gain 2 points; Kenta & Chase earn 0)
Another classic in this storied rivalry, worthy of the titles themselves! Will this first win be the win that leads the Fierce Warrior & Headhunter back to the titles? Can Kenta & Chase borrow a page from Bishamon and #GetBackUp in the next round?
World Tag League 2024 A Block: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa VS Gabe Kidd & SANADA!
TMDK has a team in each block, doubling their chances of taking this league. But perhaps burying the lead is the fact that THE IWGP World Heavyweight Champion is joining in the fun! Will The Front Man & The Mullet rock this league right from the start? Or will the Mad Man and the turncoat Cold Skull get this tournament #WarReady?
The teams sort out but Oiwa gets in Gabe’s face. Gabe pushes Oiwa, they start, and they tie up at the bell. The fans rally as Oiwa and Gabe are in a deadlock. They go around at center, then Oiwa digs his heels in to push Gabe back. Gabe turns things around to put Oiwa on ropes, but Red Shoes calls the break. Gable lets off, to then CHOP! Gabe scoops and SLAMS Oiwa, then he goes for legs. Oiwa UPKICKS Gabe, then stands up to scoop and SLAM Gabe! Gabe UPKICKS back, both men get up and go face to face. Then they go forearm for forearm! The fans rally as Oiwa gets the edge, but Gabe CHOPS!
Gabe headlocks. Oiwa powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Gabe eggs OIwa on and he runs to RAM Gabe! They both run now, and they RAM shoulders again, and again, and again! Gabe CHOPS then runs, but Oiwa CLOBBERS Gabe! The fans fire up while Gabe bails out. Oiwa eggs Gabe on and Gabe snarls. Gabe shakes the railing in frustration, then he paces around the outside. Gabe cools off, slides in, but then tags Sanada. Sanada steps in slowly, so Oiwa tags in ZSJ. The two rivals circle and the afns rally behind “ZAKKU! ZAKKU!” ZSJ and Sanada feel things out, knuclke lock, and ZSJ rolls to wrench.
Sanada is already frustrated so he kicks ZSJ low! Sanada TOSSES ZSJ out and then Gabe goes after Oiwa! Gabe CHOPS away on Oiwa while Sanada sends ZSJ into railing! And then more railing! Gabe does the same to Oiwa, and Sanada storms up on ZSJ. Sanada CLAWS ZSJ’s back, a definite attitude change showing. Gabe Too Sweets with Taiji Ishimori on commentary while Sanada pushes ZSJ into the ring. Sanada whips ZSJ to a corner, but ZSJ goes up, under, around, and RAMS into Sanada! ZSJ snapmares, Sanada handsprings through, but ZSJ UPPERCUTS him down! Tag to Oiwa and he BLASTS Gabe!
Oiwa goes back to Sanada and stands him up. Oiwa wrenches an arm, YANKS it, then wrenches to YANK it again. Oiwa tags ZSJ and ZSJ brings Sanada around to wrench, step over, and wrangle into a mounted armbar! Sanada endures as ZSJ bends the fingers and isolates the arm, to STOMP it! The fans cheer, ZSJ tags Oiwa, and Oiwa CLUBS Sanada’s arm. Oiwa headlocks for a takeover, then isolates the arm in an short arm scissor! The fans rally while Sanada endures and kicks around. Sanada reaches out, ROPEBREAK! Red Shoes calls it, Oiwa lets Sanada go, but then Oiwa brings Sanada up.
Oiwa whips, Sanada reverses, and Gabe trips Oiwa up! Sanda BLASTS ZSJ while Oiwa drags Oiwa out of the ring! Now things spill out into the crowd! Gabe CHOPS Oiwa, then SMACKS him off empty chairs! Sanada BOWLS ZSJ into chairs! Not quite a strike, so Sanada JAMS ZSJ up with a chair! That picks up the spare, and we can hear Gabe’s CHOPS on Oiwa echo out. Gabe stomps Oiwa while Sanada CHOKES ZSJ with a chair! Red Shoes reprimands the War Dogs, but Gabe POSTS Oiwa! Gabe says War Dogs run this, but Red Shoes starts a ring count. Gabe flexes on Oiwa, then drags him up at 7 of 20.
Gabe puts Oiwa in at 10 and Sanada covers, TWO! Oiwa stays in this and the fans rally behind him. Sanada is annoyed but he brings Oiwa up. Sanada CLUBS Oiwa, then bumps him off Gabe’s boot. Oiwa sputters while Sanada tags Gabe in. Gabe drags Oiwa up, mockingly asks where Zack-senpai went, then he UPPERCUTS Oiwa down. Gabe TOSSES Oiwa out, and he BLASTS ZSJ off the apron! Sanada whips Oiwa into railing! Gabe lifts ZSJ bu tZSJ wrenches free to KIMURA! Gabe powers through, to BITE ZSJ on the forehead! Sanada sends Oiwa into more railing, Gabe sends ZSJ through railing and into chairs!
Sanada BOWLS Oiwa into chairs now, there is the strike! Sanada continues to show his new edge as he JAMS Oiwa up with a chair. Red Shoes reprimands so Sanada brings Oiwa back to ringside. Sanada puts Oiwa in for Gabe and Gabe pushes Oiwa to a cover. Red Shoes says no, all the shenanigans were not right. Gabe gets in Red Shoes’ face about that, but Red Shoes stands his ground. Gabe storms around while the fans rally behind Oiwa. Gabe drags Oiwa up, to CHOP! Oiwa wobbles but he rises up. Oiwa CHOPS, and CHOPS, and fires forearms! Gabe DECKS Oiwa with just one! The fans still rally for Oiwa but Gabe stands on Oiwa’s face!
Gabe soaks up the heat, scuffs Oiwa and stomps him around. Oiwa sits up, Gabe runs, but Oiwa reels him in! Gabe fights the waistlock, runs, but into a SNAP GERMAN! The fans fire up while both men are down! Oiwa and Gabe crawl, hot tags to ZSJ and Sanada! The fans fire up as ZSJ dodges Sanada, full nelsons, then spins him to a headlock. Sanada powers out but ZSJ catches him to a COBRA TWIST! Sanada powers out to HIP TOSS, but ZJS UP KICKS! Sanada avoids the Penalty Kick, blocks the boot, but ZSJ steps through the dragon screw to NECK TWIST! And basment DROPKICK! The fans fire up and we’ve only hit 10 minutes!
ZSJ drags Sanada up, UPPERCUTS him, then UPPERCUTS again! Sanada blocks the next to spin and suplex, but ZSJ says no to the Magic Screw! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Sanada escapes but ZSJ stays focused. ZSJ stands Sanada up to scoop, but Sanada slips free. ZSJ fights the waistlock, runs, but into a dropkick to the legs! Sanada then DROPKICKS ZSJ down! Sanada fireman’s carries but ZSJ slips free, to have the IRON OCTOPUS! The fans rally while Sanada endures, and Sanada powers out to have a leg! DROPPING DRAGON SCREW! ZSJ clutches the leg and Sanada takes aim! SHINING-
NO, ZSJ ducks, but Sanada catches him to a backslide! ZSJ rolls through to NECK TWIST! Tag to Oiwa and Oiwa BLASTS Gabe off the apron! Oiwa goes back to Sanada and brings him up. Oiwa whips Sanada to ropes, ELBOWS Him down, then ZSJ PENALTY KICKS Sanada! Oiwa deadlift GUT RWENCH PLEXES! Cover, Gabe breaks it! Gabe CHOPS away on ZSJ and Oiwa, but ZSJ blocks! Oiwa DOUBLE CHOPS! ZSJ UPPERCUTS! ZSJ & Oiwa DOUBLE DROPKICK Gabe down! The fans fire up with Oiwa and he clamps onto Sanada with a SLEEPER! Sanada endures and fights up, but Oiwa thrashes him around!
Sanada still fights to his feet, slips around the back, and shoves Oiwa to ropes. Gabe trips Oiwa up! Oiwa kicks at Gabe but Sanada kicks ropes to jam Oiwa up! Sanada suplexes Oiwa into the MAGIC SCREW! Both men are down but the fans rally up again. Sanada crawls over, tag to Gabe, and Gabe storms right up on Oiwa. Gabe UPPERCUTS Oiwa right down! Gabe then puts Oiwa in a corner to fire off forearm after forearm! Red Shoes reprimands and counts, but Gabe digs his boots in while talking trash. Gabe shoves Red Shoes aside so he can keep stomping away on Oiwa! The fans rally and Red Shoes backs Gabe off.
Gabe seethes but the fans continue to rally for Oiwa. Oiwa grits his teeth as he sits up, but Gabe ROCKS him with another shot! Oiwa still looks up defiantly at Gabe, so Gabe fires shots! Gabe says Oiwa’s not worthy of being his NJPW Strong Openweight Challenger. Gabe says Oiwa’s just some “weak ass kohai!” Gabe SPITS on Oiwa, but Oiwa gets in Gabe’s face! Gabe fires slapping strikes, blocks a shot, then SLAPS Oiwa again! Oiwa spins to DOUBLE CHOP Gsbe down! Sanada runs up and kicks low! Sanada whips, Oiwa reverses, but Sanada reverses back, RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP! ZSJ PENALTY KICKS Sanada!
Gabe runs up, ZSJ BOOTS him first! Gabe runs back in, slips out of the scoop, and he scoops ZSJ for EMERALD FLOWSON!! But Oiwa spins Gabe! Gabe avoids The Grip, runs, but into a LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Oiwa is frustrated but the fans rally behind him. Oiwa hauls Gabe up, ANACONDA PLEX!! Cover, TWO!! Gabe survives again but Oiwa roars! Oiwa drags Gabe up, reels him in, but Gabe fights the gut wrench! Gabe CLUBS Oiwa on the back, then he gut wrenches! Oiwa fights back, wrenches out, and he blocks a lariat to spin. Gabe HAYMAKERS, and SAIDOS!! Gabe crawls his way to the cover, TWO!!
The fans are thunderous as Oiwa survives! Gabe snarls and he drags Oiwa up. Gabe says this is the end. But Oiwa fights the suplex! Oiwa suplexes, but Gabe fights it! Oiwa still tries, but Gabe slips out to waistlock. Sanada DROPKCIKS Oiwa, Gabe UPPERCUTS! Gabe & Sanada work together to DOUBLE SUPLEX! Gabe suplexes again, BRAINBUSTER!! Cover, ZSJ BREAKS IT! Sanada TOSSES ZSJ out and tells Gabe to finish this! ZSJ RAMS Sanada, they brawl outside, and Gabe slashes his throat. Gabe drags Oiwa up, reels him in, but Oia slips through the gut wrench to backslide! TWO, and Gabe UPPERCUTS!
Gabe runs, but ZSJ is back! He BOOTS Gabe but Gabe SLAPS ZSJ! ZSJ KICKS the haymaker away to then ROUNDHOUSE Gabe! Sanada’s in to dragon sleeper! ZSJ arm-drags free, but Sanada comes back to SHINING WIZARD! Sanada then drags ZSJ up, but ZSJ scoops first! ZACK DRIVER!! ZSJ and Sanada flop out of the ring, leaving Oiwa and Gabe to rise up. They run at each other, to DOUBLE LARIAT! neither man falls, they DOUBLE LARIAT again! Gabe UPPERCUTS! Oiwa PALM STRIKES! Gabe PALM STRIKES, CHOPS, JABS, rebounds, into a roll-up! Hig stack, TMDK WINS!!
Winners: Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa, by pinfall
Gabe is in shock! He gets right in Red Shoes’ face but Red Shoes says it was a fair count! Gabe then goes after Oiwa to CLOBBER him! The fans boo and Young Lions rush in, but Gabe eggs Oiwa on! So Oiwa obliges and they brawl among the fans! The Young Lions rush in to separate the two, but Gabe gets loose to CLOBBER Oiwa! They scrap, ZSJ joins in, and he pulls the two apart. Gabe kicks a chair in frustration, then goes into retreat. Wait, Oiwa chases Gabe to the ramp and beats him down! Young Lions again scramble in to stop this, but it just heads to the back! Sanada shrugs it off, will the #ColdWarDogs just have to try harder in the next round?
As for the winners, well, they’re no longer ringside so there won’t be any in-ring closing words. Backstage interviews begin, Gabe promises Oiwa will be put in the ground! Will the Mad Man show The Mullet what it takes to be NJPW Strong? As for ZSJ, he gathers himself, and tells NJPW Media that he doesn’t know where The Mullet went. Actually, no, he has an idea: The Mullet must be smashing the s*it outta Gabe. “Roy The Mullet” is the next NJPW Strong Openweight Champion! Oiwa will hit Gabe so hard, his legs will turn into trombones! As for ZSJ, there is something rare happening in this year’s WTL, isn’t it?
Yes, it’s that the IWGP World EFFIN’ Heavyweight Champion is involved, as this should be! The first time the world champion’s been in this tournament in roughly a decade! ZSJ said he was gonna be a different kind of world champion for NJPW, and that he promises to take NJPW back to the top! Now obviously, a conflict of interests, as this tournament is Shane Haste’s & Mikey Nicholls’ to win, but ZSJ won’t give the boys an easy ride. ZSJ is dreaming~ of an all TMDK World Tag League finals! Then who knows, maybe Zack & Roy get the job done.
But ZSJ knows the Tokyo Dome is coming soon. And Shota Umino wants to be ZSJ’s challenger. ZSJ says he will be keeping his eyes wide open for Shota. ZSJ says he’ll have a DOUBLE main event in the Tokyo Dome, it’s in the bag. What about you, Shota? The Front Man heads out, having put the pressure on his challenger, but will all of NJPW soon belong to TMDK?
Here are the A Block standings!
Zack Sabre Jr. & Ryohei Oiwa: 1-0, 2 points
Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman: 1-0, 2 points
Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji: 1-0, 2 points
Bishamon: 1-0, 2 points
Gabe Kidd & Sanada: 0-1, 0 points
Kenta & Chase Owens: 0-1, 0 points
Alex Zayne & Ryusuke Taguchi: 0-1, 0 points
Shota Umino & Tomoaki Honma: 0-1, 0 points
My Thoughts:
A great start to World Tag League 2024, with just A Block opening things tonight. I will say those tune-up matches were interesting. Even though David Finlay is the Global Champion, it’s Taiji Ishimori that has apparently become Bullet Club’s international ambassador. Taiji brought Robbie X into the group, now he teamed with The Filip Brothers, Tome & Stevie, who knows who else Bone Soldier will recruit. Taiji’s team beating Tanahashi’s team, House of Torture cheating and beating Tanahashi’s friends, this is all putting the pressure on The Ace, meaning The Ace will win out at WrestleKingdom 19.
Shota Umino teaming with Tomoaki Honma, I wonder if this is to hold Shota back somehow. He is apparently still heading for WrestleKingdom and a world title match with ZSJ, so it’s not like Shota needs to win WTL, but I guess NJPW just wants Shota to give the fans a good time alongside a fan favorite like Honma. Also, Callum & Cobb have a fun new shirt for their team-up. I figured Zayne would need to improvise now that #MonsterSauce is no longer happening, and Taguchi was a great surprise choice. But #FunkySauce making its debut against a team as strong as Takagi & Tsuji was a shame because of course LIJ was winning that. Maybe Zayne & Taguchi can pull off a spoiler victory later on, but I don’t see Funky Sauce going that strong.
Bishamon VS Kenta & Chase really was an awesome match, and it is so surprising how Chase has grown in just the past couple years. Great win for Goto & Hashi, though, as they’re clearly the solid utility choices in the tag division. And what an awesome main event, with Sanada bringing out the most Heel stuff he’s done perhaps ever. A bit jarring really, but that’s just kinda old fashioned Heel turns for ya. Great win for TMDK, though, and definitely an unorthodox way of closing by having Oiwa and Gabe brawl all over ringside and into the back.
While ZSJ says it is big for the world champ to be in this tournament, which I do agree with on some level, it also makes some of the A Block action seem secondary. Gabe and Oiwa having their grudge was kinda the main motivator behind this match, and then it’ll be similar when Shota & Honma VS ZSJ & Oiwa happens. There is the added drama of, “What if someone pins ZSJ? Will they get a world title match before WK19?” Maybe Shota solidifies his WK title match by being the one that pins ZSJ in their match, but it all just feels like more flash than substance. No one else is going to pin ZSJ, Oiwa probably takes whatever losses their team will take, so A Block’s story suffers for it.
My Score: 8.9/10
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